#459 - Never mind. I won't say anything.

Xu Ming did not know the purpose of their visit to the Xu residence.

Logically speaking, the Xu residence shouldn't have anything they wanted.

Moreover, during the imperial succession struggle over 200 years ago, neither the Xu nor the Qin residences took sides.

Therefore, neutral forces like the Xu and Qin residences were unlikely to offend the remnants of Prince Shan's faction.

Even if those remnants wanted revenge, their first target would certainly not be the Xu or Qin residences.

But regardless of the purpose, the banquet at the Xu and Qin residences could not be interrupted and had to continue.

"Li Han, go and invite Mr. Cao over for a drink."

Xu Ming said to Li Han.

Upon hearing Xu Ming's request to invite Mr. Cao, Li Han was taken aback, a hint of gravity in his heart.

Mr. Cao was a Jade Matrix Realm cultivator, originally an imperial palace guardian.

When the Embroidered Uniform Guard was first established, it lacked a powerhouse above the Fifth Realm, so the Martial Emperor directly sent a Jade Matrix Realm palace guardian to oversee the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Later, when the members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard gradually grew stronger, with martial artists in the Upper Three Realms or cultivators in the Upper Five Realms, Mr. Cao would return to the palace.

Xu-dage wanting him to invite Mr. Cao meant he suspected that remnants of Prince Shan's faction with extremely high-realm cultivators had come to the Xu and Qin residences.

This possibility was not nonexistent.

Although Martial City was covered by a national protection array, it was mostly in a dormant state, as constantly activating it consumed too many spirit stones and caused considerable wear and tear to the array.

Besides, there was no such thing as guarding against thieves for a thousand days.

Therefore, if cultivators in the Upper Five Realms didn't cause trouble in Martial City, it would be difficult for the Martial Emperor to notice them, allowing them to come and go freely.

And for cultivators in the Upper Five Realms to infiltrate a banquet with so many people was an easy task.

"Xu-dage, I understand. I'll go invite Mr. Cao over right away." Li Han cupped his fist in salute.

Guang Yin reminded Li Han, "When on duty, you must use official titles."

Li Han chuckled naively, "Commander Xu."

Xu Ming smiled as well, "It's fine, and besides, none of us are wearing flying fish uniforms. Li Han, hurry and go through the back door."

"Yes!"

Li Han quickly left the courtyard and headed towards the back door of the Xu residence.

"Alright, maybe we're overthinking it. The banquet is about to start, everyone, please take your seats," Xu Ming said to the others.

"Yes." The others cupped their fists in salute.

As the auspicious hour approached, almost all the guests had arrived at the Xu and Qin residences.

Li Han had also invited Mr. Cao from the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

The people from the Embroidered Uniform Guard were seated at a separate table.

"I must say, as expected of a Duke's residence, the grandeur is truly impressive," Li Han said to Guang Yin after taking his seat.

Guang Yin smiled, "Of course. After all, it's the residence of a founding duke. And I heard that this time's ancestral sacrifice isn't being personally overseen by the Xu residence's old madam, but by Xu-dage. Do you know what that means?"

Although Li Han was a rough man, how could he not understand such an obvious matter: "In my opinion, only Xu-dage truly has the qualifications to steer the Xu Duke's residence. However, it's not Xu-dage benefiting from the Xu Duke's residence, but the Xu Duke's residence benefiting from Xu-dage."

Guang Yin nodded in agreement, "Indeed, Xu-dage doesn't need the hereditary title of Duke of Xu to be able to be enfeoffed as a marquis and appointed as a prime minister on his own merits."

The deputy commander, Zhao Feiyan, listened to their conversation, merely taking a sip of wine.

Zhao Feiyan was previously a chiliarch in the Dragon-Leopard Iron Cavalry. Later, due to her outstanding military achievements, she was transferred to the imperial palace to serve as the deputy commander of the Imperial Guards, with her martial artist realm at the peak of the Golden Body Realm.

Xu Ming was indeed very famous in the Wu Kingdom. Nowadays, who in the Wu Kingdom, high and low, didn't know that a prodigy with both literary and martial talents had emerged?

Zhao Feiyan was indeed very impressed with this Number One Scholar Xu.

However, in Zhao Feiyan's view, how old was Xu Ming?

Xu Ming was not yet twenty years old, not even at the age for his coming-of-age ceremony.

Yet such a young man was in charge of such an important Embroidered Uniform Guard. She had always been skeptical, and when serving as his subordinate, Zhao Feiyan was certainly not so convinced.

Now, listening to them praise Xu Ming so much, Zhao Feiyan was even more dismissive. Nowadays, being enfeoffed as a marquis and appointed as a prime minister in the Wu Kingdom was no simple matter; the prerequisite was to have expanded the territory.

Zhao Feiyan felt that it was only because they were comrades, having gone through life and death together in the Blood Float, that they had so much confidence in him.

Just as everyone was drinking tea, chatting, and vigilantly watching their surroundings, the steward's loud shout echoed in the courtyard: "Prince Qin has arrived!"

Upon hearing the voice, everyone stood up, knowing that Her Highness the Princess had arrived.

"We, your subjects, pay our respects to Prince Qin!"

Everyone in the courtyard, whether or not they had seen Prince Qin, all shouted in unison.

Rumors were already circulating in the imperial court that the Martial Emperor wanted to make his only daughter the crown prince.

Now, this precious pearl of the Wu Kingdom was not only Prince Qin, but also a chiliarch in the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

The Martial Emperor intended to hand over the Embroidered Uniform Guard to her after Xu Ming, at least to ensure that Her Highness the Princess had sufficient control over the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Wearing a long Prince Qin dress embroidered with a four-clawed golden dragon, Wu Yanhan walked into the Xu residence, emanating a majesty that made everyone's hearts tremble, as if no one could approach her.

But when they saw the face of this woman, those who had never seen Wu Yanhan couldn't take their eyes off her. They had never seen such a beautiful woman.

They even couldn't understand why the Number One Scholar had refused His Majesty's bestowed marriage back then?

"Everyone is too polite, please take your seats," Wu Yanhan's dignified voice slowly spread.

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

Everyone said in unison, and then took their seats.

Before long, everyone was chatting or drinking tea as they pleased, and the lively atmosphere returned.

However, many people's gazes would occasionally drift towards Wu Yanhan.

The Martial Emperor's only flesh and blood.

A prince on par with the emperor.

A martial god's physique.

One of the top ten beauties on the Red Beauty List.

There were too many legendary colors surrounding this Prince Qin.

"She is Wu Yanhan? The one whom the Martial Emperor wanted to bestow in marriage to Xu Ming?" The young girl sitting next to the old man stared at Wu Yanhan.

"Yes." Liu Feng nodded, "But in this subject's opinion, she is far less beautiful than Your Highness!"

"Heh." The girl withdrew her gaze, "Such a cold and aloof appearance, no wonder she can't get married."

"."

The old man glanced at the girl beside him, wanting to say something, but in the end, he took a sip of tea.

Forget it, I won't say anything.