Peace Order
Chapter 179 - 96: The First Alliance in the Chaotic Era!_2

Chapter 179: Chapter 96: The First Alliance in the Chaotic Era!_2

"The Xue Family possesses wealth, renown, and martial might."

"You little money-grubber, everything you eat, drink, and wear comes from the Xue Family. Could the old man possibly still expect to extract some benefit from you?"

"Moreover, with the wealth of the Xue Family, even if the descendants act recklessly, they couldn’t exhaust it in three hundred years."

"Having such a great fortune is not necessarily a good thing. As long as the old man is alive, he can keep it under control, but I fear that once I am gone, the Xue Family will probably decline to a mere third of its current state."

"The old man only has one hope, and that is for you to always remember your days with the Xue Family. In the future, no matter how vast the world or how much things change in times of chaos, I hope you will remember that the Xue Family..."

The elder extended his palm and said softly:

"Is your first alliance."

He represented the Xue Family’s five hundred years of aristocratic heritage, extending his palm that represented the wealth and connections of the Xue Family. Li Guanyi wiped his own palm and solemnly clasped hands with the elder in an oath. Then, the still young hero raised his hand and said softly:

"Li Guanyi swears here that no matter how the seas may change or the world may alter..."

"The Xue Family is my first and will be my last alliance."

"This vow will last until the day my bloodline and descendants cease."

He paused and spoke the following line:

"Where mountains are ridgeless, and the earth meets the sky..."

"From the thunderous winter, to the snowy summer rain..."

"Only then shall I dare part with thee."

These poetic lines, originally meant to convey feelings of affection, carried a heavier weight in this moment.

The two men clasped hands.

This was an oath that, just like the Red Emperor drawing his sword and winning the hearts of the ladies from the aristocratic families, would be recorded in the annals of history, an alliance that offered a wandering youth the full support of one of the world’s three wealthiest and most influential families.

Some say that the aging tiger saw his potential, which is why he offered such support.

Others say that Xue Daoyong was nothing more than a gambler through and through, believing not in the youth but in his own insight, convinced that he would not lose. And in the days leading up to the grand ceremony in Chen Country, Li Guanyi could finally relax, freed from Yuwen Lie’s intense oppression.

Li Guanyi picked up his pen to write a letter to his aunt in Guan Yi City.

Describing his recent experiences, he also told her that "everything is fine and no one bears hostility towards me; I have met with Ancestor Zu Wenyuan, and Elder Xue is also very kind to me, and in just over a month, I will come back to find you."

"Aunt, you must care for yourself; there are good pastries and fine tea in the Capital City."

"I’ll send some to you, so you can have a taste."

As he wrote, it was all trivial matters.

Yet somehow, with just such content, Li Guanyi found himself writing several pages. Finally, he wrote that, when spring turned to summer and the goose meat was tender, he would return and enjoy roast goose with his aunt — this time they needn’t settle for just half a bird.

Li Guanyi folded the letter and sent it back with a homing pigeon.

The selection for the Imperial Guard was set for the next day, and he had planned to train a bit more, but Elder Xue dragged him out, handing him a set of clothes and grumbling, "Get changed into these clothes, Guan Yi."

Li Guanyi looked at the brocaded robe, finer than anything he currently wore.

A blue robe embroidered with subtle patterns, pleasing to the touch and clearly valuable. He almost blurted out whether he could exchange it for silver, but the elder seemed to anticipate what the boy was about to say, glaring at him and chiding, "Hold your tongue, don’t even think it!"

"Quickly get dressed. My second daughter wishes to meet you."

Li Guanyi was startled: "Ah?"

Xue Daoyong said:

"Shuangtao sent you a letter asking you to write her a poem, didn’t she? She quite likes that poem. These past few days have been busy with the Emperor hosting feasts for different powers. Now that she has some free time, she’s holding a family banquet in her own palace, with just you, me, Changqing, and a few of the Xue family ladies."

"Enough talk. Hurry, get dressed and come to the palace banquet. It’s an opportunity not many get, you know?"

The palace?

Wouldn’t that bring him even closer to the Qilin?

A glint of light flashed in Li Guanyi’s eyes as he dressed in the elaborate attire; he fastened his hair with a jade hairpin, leaving his sword, bow, and Battle Halberd behind

He appeared as a gentle and refined gentleman; however, clenching his fists, he knew he could still break a stone monument with one punch.

Li Guanyi and Xue Changqing, both dressed in their elegant outfits, couldn’t help but laugh at each other.

They rode a carriage to the side entrance of the Imperial Palace, dismounting only when they arrived, with someone already waiting outside to show the way. What Li Guanyi had not expected was that the guide for the day would be none other than the Ritual Eunuch.

"Little Colonel, have you been resting well these past few days?"

Li Guanyi was surprised; he had taken a liking to this eunuch who had blocked his way previously and replied:

"Thank you for your concern, sir. I’ve been eating well and sleeping soundly."

The Ritual Eunuch smiled and said, "That’s good to hear. I’ve been worried that you may have been left uncomfortable after that scare from Yuwen Lie." Holding a delicate lantern, he led the way. Li Guanyi casually said, "I never thought that I would be entering the palace."

"Is this in accordance with court etiquette?"

The Ritual Eunuch responded with a smile, "Generally speaking, it would not be allowed; it’s not just the concubines in the harem who are restricted. Even ordinary palace maids can only meet with their families for the duration of an incense stick on the fifteenth day of every month at noon in Datong Palace, as a sign of imperial grace."

"And the brothers and fathers of the concubines are only allowed to enter the palace to see them when the Emperor permits."