Through the fairly large window on the north side of the residence, the first light of dawn began to shine on Xin Yuan's still tightly closed eyes.
The sound of birds chirping could be heard again, as if singing joyfully. The gently blowing wind slowly roused Xin Yuan from her slumber.
"MISS! Here are the books you asked for!"
A loud, clear voice echoed through Xin Yuan's room.
"Huh...?"
She slowly opened her eyes, then shifted to sit up. Her gaze remained fixed on Zhen Hua, who stood before her with a stack of books.
"You requested these books yesterday, didn't you? I brought them for you this morning,"
"But don't let anyone find out, okay?"
Zhen Hua handed the pile of old books to Xin Yuan, her face beaming with happiness. This was her first day serving as the attendant of the future empress.
"These books look worn out, and they discuss ancient knowledge. Where did you get them?"
"Well... These books were actually about to be discarded by the Celestial Library. But it'd be such a waste to throw them away! Luckily, I managed to get there just in time!"
Before proceeding, let's get acquainted with the bookworm, Zhen Hua. She is a Lily Flower who successfully cultivated and ascended to become a servant goddess. Due to her vast knowledge and love for reading, she was granted the position of personal attendant to Xin Meng.
Xin Yuan, still seated, placed the cultivation books on her lap. Some appeared yellowed, their text faded. But Xin Yuan wasn't the picky type.
She flipped through the books one by one until her attention settled on a particular one: *Purification, Pure Heart, Bright Path.* It seemed like the book she needed to study purification techniques.
"Thank you, Zhen Hua. You may leave now."
"Oh, Miss! Today is your welcome banquet. The Emperor is hosting it because you're the first human to ever become a candidate for empress!" Zhen Hua clapped her hands, her eyes curved with excitement, nearly disappearing.
"Really? What time?"
"Banquets in the Heavenly Realm usually start in the evening, so you still have plenty of time to read or prepare yourself!"
Xin Yuan smiled at Zhen Hua. This lily was truly overjoyed. But suddenly—
*Bwoosh!*
Zhen Hua vanished before Xin Yuan's eyes, leaving behind... a single pink lily flower.
"Don't worry, Miss! Every time I get too excited, I revert to my original form!"
Xin Yuan couldn't help but laugh. Before her stood a pink lily flower shouting loudly.
"Alright, I'll put you in a vase, okay?" Still chuckling, Xin Yuan picked up the lily and placed it in a flower vase.
"Prepare yourself, Miss! I'll return to my usual form in five minutes!"
Xin Yuan smirked slightly. She stood from her bed and opened the page on purification techniques in the ancient book.
Before preparing for the banquet, she needed to finish restoring the pond in her yard—before it turned into an entirely unknown ecosystem.
As someone with a foundation in cultivation, Xin Yuan didn't need much effort to learn the technique. In just about three minutes, she had mastered it.
"Zhen Hua, look, this cloth is dirty, isn't it?"
Yuan held up a white cloth stained with mud.
"Yes! Try practicing on that cloth, Miss!" Zhen Hua replied enthusiastically.
Xin Yuan nodded slowly. She went through the steps—gathering energy, channeling it, and finally...
*Boom!* The cloth turned white again. Though some stains remained, it was still impressive for a beginner cultivator from the human world, wasn't it?
Aside from the now-clean cloth, it seemed Zhen Hua had also returned to her physical form.
"Miss, you're the only person who's ever mastered a cultivation technique in just three minutes!"
"You flatter me too much, Zhen Hua. I'm sure if the Great Deity did it, he'd master it in seconds."
Xin Yuan replied calmly as she stepped toward the pond in the yard. The sun shone brightly, yet its rays weren't scorching—just warm.
In the yard, Xin Yuan repeated the steps from the cultivation book, directing her energy toward the pond. In an instant, the water cleared. Even the dead fish inside came back to life!
"Alright, Miss, now it's time to get serious, isn't it?"
As if switching personalities, Zhen Hua offered her hand to Xin Yuan, signaling that preparation time had arrived.
"So soon? It feels like I just started practicing cultivation techniques."
"There's a lot to prepare, Miss—soaking in rose-scented water, applying makeup, styling your hair, and so on. It's best if we start now."
Zhen Hua extended her hand, guiding Xin Yuan slowly back into the residence before closing the door of the small building.
Time passed swiftly, and before long, dusk painted the sky. The servant goddesses in the dormitory began their assigned tasks for Xin Yuan's banquet.
In the Grand Hall, the Emperor and the Empress sat before all the mid-to-high-ranking gods and goddesses.
To his right sat a Great Deity, the future Heavenly Emperor—Yun Zhaotian.
To his left sat another Great Deity—Yun Yanxiao.
The scent of roses enveloped the hall as a woman appeared at the entrance. Dressed in an elegant hanfu with exquisite hair ornaments, her makeup was natural, and every step exuded confidence.
"Xin Meng pays respects to the Emperor."
Xin Yuan bowed toward the Emperor before her.
"Xin Meng pays respects to the Empress."
She bowed again toward the Empress seated beside the Emperor.
"Xin Meng pays respects to Great Deity Zhaotian."
This time, she bowed to the right.
"Xin Meng pays respects to Great Deity Yanxiao."
Finally, she bowed to the left.
The gods and goddesses whispered among themselves. Xin Yuan knew—her heart was filled with doubt. Yet, she stood here as the future Empress.
"Take your seat, Xin Meng."
The Empress's gentle, caring voice echoed through the hall.
"Thank you for your guidance, Empress."
Xin Yuan followed Zhen Hua to her seat beside Great Deity Zhaotian.
"Tonight, we hold this banquet to welcome Xin Meng, the future Empress."
The Emperor spoke.
"The Grand Elder has arrived!!"
Before the chatter could begin, a white-haired man entered the hall. Dressed in white hanfu, his steps carried an air of authority.
"Forgive my tardiness, Your Majesty."
The man bowed before the Emperor.
"Grand Elder Wuye, there's no need for formalities. Please take your seat—the banquet has only just begun."
The Emperor replied with a smile.
But it seemed what the Grand Elder sought wasn't the Emperor's understanding—but Xin Yuan. His gaze locked onto her, just as hers did onto him.
Grand Elder Han Wuye—the highest authority, even above the Emperor. His wisdom was said to be boundless, and his counsel was the will of Heaven.
"Ugh..." Xin Yuan clutched her chest tightly. A familiar, painful feeling surged when she met Wuye's eyes.
"Miss! Are you alright?" Zhen Hua immediately supported Xin Yuan.
"It's nothing... Maybe I'm just tired from using cultivation techniques when my foundation isn't strong yet."
Xin Yuan sat back properly, and Zhen Hua returned to her seat. Meanwhile, the Grand Elder took his place.
The banquet proceeded smoothly—until a low-ranking goddess rushed into the hall, her fists clenched tightly.
"YOUR MAJESTY!! PLEASE RECONSIDER!!" she shouted, prostrating before the Emperor.
"What is the meaning of this? Explain yourself before speaking out of turn."
"THAT WOMAN! IS SHE EVEN WORTHY?? SHE'S DIFFERENT!! SHE'S NOT A GODDESS, NOT EVEN A GREAT GODDESS!! SHE DOESN'T DESERVE THIS!!"
The goddess shouted again, her voice ringing loudly.
"Audacious!" The Grand Elder stood from his seat.
"YOU ALL LACK JUDGMENT!"
The statement sent murmurs through the hall—because it was true. Xin Yuan was just a human, especially under the identity of Xin Meng, who had never shown interest in cultivation.
"Guards! Confine this disgraceful goddess to the trial chamber and judge her according to Heavenly Law."
The Empress issued the command.
Though the goddess had been dealt with, the banquet's atmosphere grew tense and awkward. The Emperor's voice finally broke the silence.
"Let us conclude Xin Meng's banquet here. I am weary."
The Emperor stood and departed, followed by the Empress, the Grand Elder, Great Deity Yanxiao, and the other gods and goddesses.
Xin Yuan remained seated, her head lowered in thought.
"Miss, let's go back...?"
Zhen Hua approached Xin Yuan.
"Yes... let's go back."
Her voice was cold.
"Wait."
A man's voice—the only one left in the hall—echoed.
Xin Yuan turned toward the source and saw Zhaotian standing before her.
"Don't dwell on that goddess. In the Heavenly Realm, your position is far more dangerous—or rather, both of our positions are double-edged swords."