Chapter 317 Acquaintance

As all four of them rose to bid farewells, there was a knock on the door.

Song Minfu raised his eyebrow as he put on the ring while Song Lingfei put on her necklace and put down the veil. He was surprised since the guards at the door were instructed not to let anyone disturb them.

"What is it?"

Chu Ren went to the door and cracked it open to ask, and hearing the answer from the other side, slid the door back to shut it.

"His Majesty the Emperor has asked for your presence in the throne room, the Palace insists that your guests accompany you"

Chu Ren's face was slightly strained, and Song Minfu's face became grim as well.

"Father..."

"If your grandfather wishes to see me there is no reason to decline, would you agree to accompany me to the throne room?"

Song Lingfei worriedly asked but the Crown Prince shook his head, and turned to Wu Long and Wu Mengqi.

"Sure, looks like the trouble caught up faster than we both expected"

Wu Long chuckled as he knew the polite language of this 'invitation' was a simple formality.

"Can I follow as well?"

Song Lingfei asked and after a momentary hesitation, Song Minfu nodded.

The group went out of the office and Wu Long was slightly surprised to see a familiar face.

Bi Rui's eyes widened as she saw him, unable to believe that the 'guest' she was to escort to the throne room regardless of his will was this more mature and even more handsome, but still familiar man. She was instantly captivated by his appearance which was even more dashing than she remembered.

He smiled at her and Bi Rui came out of her daze, averting her gaze as she was struggling to process the whole situation.

"Hehe, honey is given the cold shoulder"

Wu Mengqi looked at Wu Long and Bi Rui for a few moments and then giggled as she whispered to his ear as he wryly smiled.

"Captain Bi Rui? Ah, right you are acquainted, you can catch up with your old acquaintance as we walk"

Song Minfu raised his eyebrow and then remembered that Wu Long's alchemist lived together with Bi Rui, meaning they were at least acquainted. Bi Rui slightly blushed at his words as she did not know if a man who took her maidenhood could be called an 'old acquaintance'.

Wu Mengqi casually approached Song Lingfei and started a conversation which the latter eagerly accepted while the whole group started moving forward.

As they were walking, Bi Rui found a way to naturally blend in with the group and gradually approach Wu Long who was the last one walking, and they both slightly reduced the pace, opening a distance with the others.

"What did you do?"

Bi Rui asked with a slightly panicked but low voice as her mind raced with the possibilities of what trouble he caused and ways to get him out of it.

"Haha, a slight altercation with the overseas agents of the Empire, no big deal"

"A-altercation? D-did you kill them?"

"Yes"

"How is that no big deal?!?!"

She slightly raised her voice, but as Song Minfu and Chu Ren who walked ahead of the group turned to look straightened up as if it was not her who exclaimed. As the two turned to look in the front again she turned to Wu Long, lowering her voice.

"Do you need an opportunity to escape?"

"There is no need, this matter will be resolved without much problem" historical

Wu Long chuckled at the same time feeling a warmth from the realization that she was willing to commit a serious crime for him.

"By the way, I heard His Highness call you Captain? Congratulations on getting a promotion"

Wu Long said as he recalled the moment they came out of the office and also noticed that her uniform was quite different. She was in the Foundation Building Realm now, which would warrant of at least promoting her to the higher rank Imperial Guard, but she went further and earned a Captain position, which was her dream when she came to the capital.

"Is this time for congratulations? How will it be resolved?"

Bi Rui felt like going crazy as she was not able to concentrate, still in a slight panic.

"Relax, I told you it will be fine"

Wu Long chuckled and as she looked at his relaxed gait and expression she finally sighed with resignation, shaking her head at the futility of her worry when the main reason for it was so nonchalant about it.

"Anyway, thank you for the congratulations, I have you to thank for that, as my proficiency with the spear rose my cultivation broke through and my skill earned me the promotion"

She said slightly numb after such a rush of emotions.

"While it is true that I gave you some pointers it was your hard work and dedication that helped you progress. If I gave the same amount of same quality pointers to others I guarantee that not even half of them will achieve more than average results, and the absolute majority of them would not achieve what you have, so you can be proud of your achievements"

He smiled as he replied and she slightly blushed.

"You are too generous with the praise"

"Just honest"

Wu Long shrugged as the bobcut-haired beauty looked to the floor with a happy smile touching her lips.

They reached the throne room, which was a large, long hall.

"Good luck"

"Don't worry, we will catch up later"

As the doors opened Bi Rui reluctantly saw him off as he chuckled, reassuring her before stepping in after the others.

As they walked in hundreds of pairs of eyes turned to look at them, and Wu Long recognized by their clothes that they were all Imperial Family members.

Some were distant relatives by this generation, but the ones closer to the throne were closer and closer to the current ruling family.

On the throne sat a man who looked to be in late 40s. This was the current Emperor, and the descendant of the Imperial Ancestor, who himself was secretly a descendant of the Great Ancestor from the Azure Eagle Race.

"It is him! Fat-.."

"Silence"

As they drew closer to the throne a man who looked to be in early 30s stepped out of the crowd on one side and pointing to Wu Long exclaimed only to be silenced by the Emperor.

"Minfu, why don't you introduce your guest"

The Emperor looked at Song Lingfei for some time, and then turned his gaze to Song Minfu.

"Yes, Your Majesty, this is Wu Long, a disciple of the Yin Yang Unity Palace who I have personal dealings with"

Wu Long noted that Song Minfu called the Emperor formally, and the atmosphere between the two was quite distant. As far as he could tell this was not an act, and the Emperor was likely detached from his children, remaining an impartial side to the struggle for the right to succeed him.

"And yet it was that exact 'man you have personal dealings with' who massacred a branch of our Secret Imperial Guards in the Wood Spirit Empire's capital"

The man who spoke earlier raised his voice again but this time was allowed to speak, signifying that it was the speaking before the Emperor did which earned him the earlier silencing.

'Heh, interesting'

Wu Long inwardly chuckled as he anticipated a good show in this circus.