Chapter 2: The Enfeoffed Minister

  Yuè Moon waited at the gate of the Cold Palace and refused to leave, until another palace maid was sent from the Empress's palace. The maid scolded Yuè Moon a few times before dragging her into the Cold Palace.

  However, there was no one in the palace.

  That box of peach cream puffs couldn't fill her stomach that had been hungry for three days and three nights, on the grand palace building rooftop, a slender figure lightly jumped and sprinted forward in the late afternoon sunset.

  This body is like a fully functional model, but it needs to be charged in order to use it. Just by eating a box of peach blossom pastry, the power inside her body has already allowed her to move about as lightly and freely as a swallow.

  However, the palace was surprisingly large, and she ran for a long time without finding the legendary imperial kitchen. After circling around in vain several times, she sat down on the rooftop, her stomach growling again.

  Suddenly, a wave of meat fragrance wafted over, and Nalan Xianyu followed the scent to find that in the spacious room opposite, a table was filled with sumptuous food, and the eunuchs carefully placed their dishes before retreating.

  Nalan Xixi slightly curled up the corners of her mouth, jumped down and leaped into the courtyard, instantly flashing into the house, sitting in front of the table.

  She unceremoniously grabbed a duck leg and started devouring it in big mouthfuls. As the first mercenary of the 24th century, she had never spent more than 10 minutes eating a meal. On the battlefield, both hands were always needed to hold weapons at all times.

  One minute more spent on food is one minute more of danger.

  Suddenly, Nalan Xixi's chewing motion came to an abrupt halt. Someone!

  Listen carefully, that person should be extraordinary in martial arts, at least very skilled in lightness kung fu. If it weren't for Nalan Xianyu's special physique, no one would have noticed such a light footsteps sound.

  He was slowly approaching, Nalan Xianyu held her breath, she quickly stuffed a few more pieces of meat into her mouth, then sprang out the door and jumped onto the roof.

  Nalan Xixi was just about to leave when suddenly! A figure swooped in, flying up with a whoosh. With the sun at his back, his black robes outlined by the sunlight, his tall body presented perfect lines.

  He held a black long whip in his hand, looking like a demon from Western mythology, mysterious and coldly proud.

  The scorching sun shone directly on Nalan Xinxiao's face, she couldn't see the person's face clearly, but facing each other, the overbearing and arrogant aura that came straight at her made her certain that the opponent was not an ordinary person.

  How can ordinary people get into this palace? Can they still have such a sumptuous feast? Are they some kind of prince or king?

  It doesn't matter who it is, but now her killing skills have not recovered at all, only a body full of brute force, while the opponent is a top-notch master, the difference in strength is too great, and the fight can't be won.

  "Is it you?" At this time, the man in black opened his mouth, and his voice was cold and piercing.

  Nalan Xixi wanted to change positions to get a clear view of him, but at this moment, if she made any sudden movements, the other party would inevitably capture her with one move. Now, she also had no way to dodge him.

  "It's me." Never mind, answer first and talk later. It seems to be an acquaintance or something. However, in Nalan Xinnuo's impression, there was no existence of such a person.

  Her straightforward answer left the other party speechless. After a long while, he coldly said: "What does Your Highness intend to do?"

  What do you want to do? Isn't it obvious? Of course, it's eating. However, as the dignified Princess of Yunyun Country, sneaking onto someone else's dinner table to eat is also a bit unbelievable...

  "Just wandering around..." Nalan Xiong answered calmly.

  The other side fell into a long silence again, and after a while, that cold voice rang out. "Why didn't the princess go to the selection just now?"

  "What's going on?" Nalan Xixi asked.

  "The selection of the Emperor's Empress." An empress? In ancient times, there were indeed cases of marriage alliances and whatnot, but she wasn't interested.

  "Not interested." She replied bluntly.

  "...The other party fell silent again, and then spoke up once more, their tone even colder. The coldness was so palpable that she couldn't help but shiver slightly, yet the content of those words made her feel somewhat stifled. "Are you afraid of not being chosen?"

  Who is this person? Extraordinary skills, extraordinary temperament, nothing ordinary about him, yet why so gossipy, paying attention to the emperor's concubine selection and speaking coldly.

  "What does it have to do with you?" Nalan Xixi replied slightly impatiently, equally coldly. Immediately afterwards, she didn't wait for him to speak again and playfully asked: "Could it be that you like me?"

  The figure opposite him was slightly choked in the sunlight, this woman... really had no shame, actually saying such words.

  Seeing the opponent's slight emotional fluctuations, Nalan Xianyu immediately jumped up and flew directly to the rooftop opposite, then turned back, hooked a sarcastic smile at the black figure behind him, and left with a swagger.

  On the rooftop, that elegant silhouette gazed at Nalan Xiong who was getting farther and farther away. On his stunningly handsome yet extremely cold face, a meaningful smile slowly emerged.

  Back in the palace, Nalan Xianyu looked at her powerful hands, compared to those of the 24th century, these hands were too clumsy. Now the most important thing was to restore her survival ability and killing power from her previous life.

  She turned into the backyard, and although the backyard was also old and worn out, it was still a place where people could live.

  In the distance, bookshelves were densely packed with various books. On the desk in front of the bookshelf, a yellowed book lay open, titled "National History".

  She picked up the book and stood up briefly.

  Feather Cloud Country, located in the southeast direction of Luo Tian Continent, is an island country. The land here is fertile and the people are at peace, and it has always been at peace with Luo Tian Continent.

  On the coast opposite, there were thirteen vassal states on the Luotian continent. The largest of these was the State of Luotian. Three years ago, the ruler of Luotian, Nangong Jin, ascended to the throne, unified the thirteen states and established the Luotian Dynasty, being revered by the people as the Luotian Emperor.

  Luo Tian Emperor? The person I just met said that today is the selection of Luo Tian Emperor's empress. So that's it, he is the overlord who unified the heavens, and naturally other small countries want to climb up this marriage.

  But she doesn't care. Whatever is in the world, if you want to take it, why rely on others, like a slave?

  She suddenly slowed down her breathing, and there was someone outside the door. Listening to the footsteps, there were at least a dozen people, but they were all women, with soft and weak footsteps, not martial artists.

  Before long, a eunuch led a team of palace maids into the back hall. Ruan Yue was among them, apparently serving the Empress and Second Princess. They carried pastries, food, and silk fabrics in their hands.

  At this time, the leading eunuch first saluted and said: "Princess, the Empress heard that the princess is not feeling well, so she sent me to bring some things to see the princess."

  Is your body uncomfortable? Nalan Xixi glanced at Wan Yue, her eyes were a bit flustered, it seemed that she was afraid of not being able to hand in the goods, so she told a lie. Anyway, Nalan Xixi nodded and said: "I know."

  The palace maids put the things away in the back hall, and the nanny made another bow, saying: "Her Majesty the Empress said that the two princesses are about to be married far away, and hopes that during these days, Your Highness will often visit the palaces of the two princesses and talk more about sisterly love.

  It turns out that the empress knew what her two good daughters had done, and was afraid that they would report it to the emperor, which would be a serious crime of murdering one's sister, an unforgivable sin.

  Nalan Xixi didn't say a word, and the nanny awkwardly bowed and said: "If Your Highness has no further instructions, this old slave will take her leave."

  She said that, leading the palace maidens back and forth. At this time, behind her, Nalan Xianyu calmly said: "Yue, you stay."

  The princess glanced at Yuèyuè, then pushed her out of the group and led the palace maids away. Yuèyuè anxiously twisted the hem of her dress as she walked over and said in a timid voice: "What are your orders, Princess?"

  "I heard that today, Luo Tian's messenger has come to select an imperial concubine?"

  He bowed his head and replied respectfully: "I report to Your Highness, today is the day for tribute."

  It turned out that the Luotian mainland had a tribute every year, and although the Feiyun country was not a vassal state of the Luotian dynasty, in order to maintain peace between the two countries and show friendship and respect, it still had to send something according to custom every year.

  Now that Nan Gong Yu's country has flourished and is in its prime, various countries have begun to offer tribute by marrying their princesses to him. If their own princess can gain his favor, this would be equivalent to flying up to the highest branch under heaven.

  However, there were rumors that Nan Gong Jin had no tender feelings towards women, especially being extremely ruthless in matters of the flesh. Women who served him in bed rarely survived the night.

  The countries behind began to get confused, and the princesses presented by each country were replaced with other women when they arrived in their own countries, which became a kind of blasphemy against Nan Gongyin and Luo Tian.

  Now, the princesses of all countries have been sent away, only the Kingdom of Lingyun has not sent the second and third princesses yet. Therefore, Emperor Luo Tian sent an envoy to personally select young and beautiful princesses to be sent into the palace as concubines.

  Luckily she didn't go, but even if she had gone, she definitely wouldn't have been chosen. Her face is not as pretty as the palace maids in the Luotian Kingdom's imperial palace.

  Suddenly, Nalan Xixi thought of someone. "Have you ever seen that envoy?"

  Yuè nodded and said: "I see, he's a general with unparalleled talent."

  Nalan Xixi almost spat out a mouthful of tea, and yet he was indeed extraordinary. However, if one were to say that someone was truly extraordinary, then that person would be worthy of those four words. "Is the envoy wearing black robes, tall and stately... with a good temperament?"

  Yuè Moon nodded repeatedly, and when she mentioned this person, she was so happy that she almost burst out laughing. "Yes, yes, it's that general!"

  It was really him... But why did he ask her so many questions? Could it be that he also intended to select her as an imperial concubine? No, no way, didn't he also say she wouldn't be selected?

  Nalan Xiong's eyes narrowed slightly as he took a light breath. He had never heard of an emperor sending out generals to serve as envoys, and this envoy was so extraordinary in both appearance and skill that the country of Luo Tian must be overflowing with talent.

  So, can Nan Gong Jin unify the thirteen countries?

  Hmph, what does it matter whether he's a general or Nan Gongyu? As long as she's given half a year, and her killing skills are fully restored, she'll definitely make the entire world submit to her feet!