The old man’s face was covered in deep wrinkles, though he was not hunched over. His eyes, however, were dim, like glazed tiles stained with a corner of shadow.

The palace guards were not far behind, and Qiuji had also left recently.

This place still belonged to the Qi Imperial Palace, and who knew how many strong cultivators resided within.

Yet, Jiang Wang still felt a hint of danger.

The sense of peril subtly emanated from the old man, but it wasn’t directed at him.

Jiang Wang asked, “Which Palace Lord?”

“Chang Sheng,” the old man replied.

Chang Sheng Palace Lord, Jiang Wuqi!

Why would this prince, who was “most like the current emperor,” suddenly invite him?

Because of Zhang Yong? Because of the Champion of the Yellow River? Because of Jiang Wuyou?

A myriad of thoughts flashed through Jiang Wang’s mind in an instant.

He could completely refuse.

He now had the qualifications to refuse an audience with any prince. Even the Eleventh Prince, who was once the most favored by Emperor Qi.

But he simply nodded, “Since the Eleventh Prince invites, please lead the way, Eunuch.”

Although his few encounters with Jiang Wuqi had not been entirely pleasant, he held no ill will towards Jiang Wuqi himself. On the contrary, he was quite curious.

The old man bowed slightly, then turned and walked ahead, leading Jiang Wang a few steps before stopping before a soft palanquin leaning against the palace wall.

“Qingyang Zi, please enter the palanquin.”

As he spoke, he lifted the curtain of the palanquin for Jiang Wang.

Jiang Wang glanced inside. The decorations were indeed magnificent, but it was empty.

“I thought the Eleventh Prince would be in the palanquin,” Jiang Wang said casually, not entering.

The old man replied, “The Palace Lord is meeting you openly, without any clandestine matters. Of course, he is in Chang Sheng Palace.”

This was to reassure Jiang Wang.

“I see the Eleventh Prince as an upright person!”

Jiang Wang smiled, bent down, and sat in the palanquin.

The curtain was lowered, and the four palanquin bearers in front and behind gently lifted the soft palanquin and began to move.

As they walked, there was not the slightest tremor.

Jiang Wang casually pulled open the small window, feeling the gentle breeze of Linzi City in the evening. Of course, he was also observing the situation outside the palanquin.

And the old man in the black eunuch’s robe walked beside the palanquin, with his hands clasped within his sleeves.

Holding one’s hands in one’s sleeves was usually a habit formed during the cold winter months for warmth.

But it was still July, and the weather was far from cold.

Furthermore, with the old man’s strength, he should have long been impervious to heat and cold.

The people in this Chang Sheng Palace seemed to be afraid of the cold.

Such a faint thought flickered in Jiang Wang’s mind, and he closed his eyes to rest, not intending to say anything more.

The journey was silent.

The palanquin moved very quickly. Jiang Wang had just finished a brief mental review of the Earth-grade Dao technique “Dragon Tiger” when the palanquin bearers stopped and set the palanquin down.

“Chang Sheng Palace has arrived,” the old man announced from outside the palanquin.

Jiang Wang then bent down and stepped out of the soft palanquin. He looked up and saw the vertical plaque hanging on the palace gate, inscribed with the two characters “Chang Sheng”.

These two characters were majestic and imposing. The vertical stroke in “Sheng” in particular gave a feeling of piercing through the sky. It was also like a person, with a straight back, questioning the heavens.

“These two characters were written by His Majesty. No other palace has them.”

The old man explained from the side, with a faint hint of pride in his tone.

Jiang Wang looked at these two characters again. Beyond the grand and imposing aura, he felt a father’s hope for his child.

“May you live long.”

The architectural style of the entire Chang Sheng Palace was also grand and magnificent. Even at this late hour, it gave a feeling of brightness.

Jiang Wang did not say much, just followed behind the old man and walked into Chang Sheng Palace.

Along the way, the passing palace maids smiled sweetly, and the patrolling palace guards stood tall and proud. The view was wide, the flowers and stones were clean, and the atmosphere in this palace was very clear.

It is said that “if you cannot sweep a room, how can you sweep the world?” And it is also said that “governing a country is like governing a family.”

The temperament of those in power can, to a large extent, be reflected in their “home.”

Of course, history tells people that before sitting on that dragon throne, everything may not be true.

After walking through the third palace gate, before reaching a side hall, the first thing that entered his ears was a violent cough.

The cough was short and rapid, violent and tight, as if he was about to breathe his last.

Hearing this sound, you would be very worried if he would cough out all his heart, liver, spleen, and lungs.

The old man walking in front’s footsteps staggered, and he had already disappeared.

Jiang Wang thought for a moment, then slowly walked into this side hall.

“It’s fine.”

Before stepping into the side hall, he first heard this sentence.

After stepping into the side hall, the first thing he saw was Jiang Wuqi.

At that time, Jiang Wuqi was sitting in front of the desk, wrapped in a thick white fox fur coat, probably comforting the old man standing behind him.

At this moment, he happened to turn his head and met Jiang Wang’s gaze.

His face was so pale that there was no color.

“You’ve made Qingyang Zi laugh,” he said with a smile.

His expression was calm, as if he didn’t care about his illness, and there was nothing to hide.

The old man in the black eunuch’s robe behind him had no expression on his face at this moment, not wanting to show any worry.

“Greetings, Eleventh Prince,” Jiang Wang bowed.

He did not discuss Jiang Wuqi’s illness.

Jiang Wuqi did not need comfort.

Jiang Wuqi coughed twice, then said, “I only heard that Qingyang Zi entered the palace today, so I asked someone to invite you. I didn’t think I could invite such a distinguished guest.”

He smiled calmly, “But I had to try.”

Jiang Wang said humbly, “How can Jiang Wang be considered a distinguished guest?”

“You are a hero of my great Qi, bringing glory to my great Qi. Of course you are a distinguished guest, ineffably distinguished.”

Jiang Wuqi said, while standing up and casually closing a book on the desk, placing it in the upper right corner, where a pile of books had already accumulated.

Meeting Jiang Wang’s gaze, he added, “I’ve had some free time recently, and I’ve read quite a few idle books… stories of benevolent people, righteous heroes, evil spirits, and chivalrous individuals.”

“Oh, idle books,” Jiang Wang said casually.

Jiang Wuqi seemed to be interested in this topic, “What, Qingyang Zi also enjoys reading idle books?”

Jiang Wang replied truthfully, “Not particularly.”

Jiang Wuqi seemed to be especially interested in this topic, “Why don’t you tell me what you’ve read.”

“Uh…” Jiang Wang had to prevaricate, “Legends of the Thousands of Prodigies from the Nations?”

After saying the title of the book, he felt a little more confident. After all, it was an idle book that Chong Xuan Fenghua also liked to read, so it couldn’t be bad. So he emphasized with certainty, “Yes. Legends of the Thousands of Prodigies from the Nations, it’s quite interesting.”

“Oh, I see,” Jiang Wuqi smiled, “This book is not easy to find.”

“Ah, yes.” Jiang Wang felt that if he continued talking, he would be exposed, and for some reason, the old man was looking at him with a strangely sinister gaze. He quickly changed the subject, “May I ask why Your Highness has invited me today?”

“Actually, it’s nothing too important.” Jiang Wuqi, wrapped in the white fox fur, was like a fragile jade carving, as if a light tap would shatter him.

With his long, thin fingers, he pressed the book and walked out from behind the desk.

“What my imperial sister did for you near the sea, I admit I could not have done at the time. So I have also given up the idea of recruiting you. Qingyang Zi, there is no need to be troubled.”

After Zhang Yong cried at the ancestral temple, Jiang Wuqi’s momentum plummeted. In the court and the public, countless people looked on with cold eyes.

But at this moment, as he slowly walked, he still appeared extremely noble.

Although he seemed thin and frail at first glance, he actually possessed a magnificent aura of inspecting mountains and rivers.

“Cough cough!”

He lightly clenched his fist and placed it in front of his lips, coughing violently twice.

The fur on his white fox fur coat trembled like a wave of snow.

He stopped coughing, then looked up at Jiang Wang and said very seriously, “Qingyang Zi, I want to see who is the number one Inner Mansion in the world. I wonder if you can satisfy me?”