My Wife Turns Out to be an Empress of the Dynasty

Time passed quickly, and after a cup of tea, Gu Xiaoqi returned to Phantown and immediately reunited with Gu Simu. She had completed her inspection mission. According to the information left by the Feng Yang Emperor and the intelligence gathered with the help of River of Styx Sanctuary, there were no signs of extraterrestrial entities invading the Underworld. "That's great news!" Gu Simu was thrilled. "It seems that those strange and disgusting beings are not invincible. Father will surely be able to drive them all away in the future." This trip to the Underworld was a fruitful one for Gu Simu. Not only had she obtained the legacies of Taotie and the Emperor of Feng, but she also collected a substantial amount of Divine Stones and received praise from her father. However, she was disappointed that she hadn't had the chance to fully enjoy the various delicacies of the Underworld due to the time spent at the Mandala Arena. Gu Simu wanted to continue her training and exploration in the Underworld while having some fun. She immediately proposed her idea and received Gu Xiaoqi's support. Zhe Liang naturally had no objections. Having stayed in the Underworld for many years, he didn't mind spending a little more time there, ensuring the safety of the young princess while enjoying the role of a host. With Dark Palace in a weakened state and unlikely to take major action in the short term, he could effectively carry out his duties. The three of them quickly reached an agreement. Under Zhe Liang's guidance, they began a new journey of training and exploration in the Underworld. --- Outside Lanyan Royal School, Earthly Realm Amidst the azure waves and pine waves, a massive Divine Ship quietly docked beside a teleportation array. The array, established over six months by numerous masters from the Demon Realm and with countless materials, was comparable to the cross-realm teleportation arrays of the Immortal Realm. On the Divine Ship, Lanyan Royal School disciples gazed at the sky, struggling to contain their excitement. After today, they would step into the legendary Immortal Realm, contribute to Lanyan Royal School, and gain unprecedented opportunities. Even the usually proud Chen Fan and Xiao Yan had set aside their arrogance and were like ordinary youths, filled with anticipation for the future. In the crowd stood a slightly simple and dark-skinned youth, calm and composed. He was Ye Fan, recently returned from the Demon Realm. This time, he had the honor of representing Lanyan Royal School in the Great Competition of All Clans. Outside the Divine Ship, many imperial forces watched silently. The sight of so many cultivators from the Earthly Realm ascending at once was unprecedented, even for the thousand-yearly Lower Realm ferrying messengers. "I wonder which Tianji Pavilion offering has such formidable cultivation that they could attract so many powerful beings from the immortal and demon realms and even establish a cross-realm teleportation array. It's truly a miracle." "Having such a figure in the mortal realm is a blessing for the realm." Many Elders from various factions expressed their admiration. Having lived so long, they had seen everything, but someone like the Tianji Pavilion offering, with such astonishing talent, was a first for them. The notion of mortal realm forces participating in the Great Competition of All Clans was once beyond their wildest dreams. They discussed the rise of the Tianji Pavilion offering, marveling at Jing Nation's fortune. Meanwhile, in Jing Nation's capital, Gu Mansion was hosting a simple family dinner. "The braised pig trotters need to be cooked a bit longer. Don't take them out early, and don't cook them too long either. About half an incense stick's worth of time should be right. You stay here and watch over them. When the time's up, take them out." "How's the broth for the boiled cabbage coming along? Let me taste it!" In the kitchen of the back yard, Old Yang was directing the imperial chefs. These dishes were specifically requested by the young master, and since the imperial chefs from the palace hadn't prepared these dishes before, Old Yang, who knew some culinary skills, was helping out. Under his guidance, the kitchen operated smoothly, and the imperial chefs felt less nervous. They knew they were cooking for someone special, and today's family dinner was just for them. Their anxiety was understandable. With Old Yang managing everything, they only had to focus on cooking, which eased their nerves. The entire Gu Mansion was bustling. Gu Lan was not idle either. He was in the study, instructing Lin Tan'er on matters to be aware of. Lin Tan'er and Lin Lu had chosen not to participate in the Great Competition of All Clans in the Immortal Realm. Lin Lu was in the crucial stages of battle formation simulations and didn't want to be interrupted, fearing it would nullify her progress. Lin Tan'er wished to stay behind to care for Lin Lu and supervise the remaining immortal and demon realm masters to prevent any misconduct. Gu Lan agreed to their requests. The Great Competition of All Clans could not be won by just one or two people. Lin Tan'er, as the Daughter of Destiny, often made decisions of significant importance, and there might even be unexpected surprises. Gu Lan generally wouldn't forcefully alter Lin Tan'er's decisions, often encouraging her instead. This time was no different. He handed her some system rewards related to formations and refining techniques, which were part of the rewards he had received. "Thank you, young master!" Lin Tan'er received the techniques, filled with gratitude. [You have gained the admiration of the Daughter of Destiny. Destiny +6666] Hearing the familiar and pleasant notification, Gu Lan smiled. "There's no need to be so formal during a family dinner." "Go check on Brother Lin and see if he's finished. Bring him to dinner with us." With that, Gu Lan and Lin Tan'er left the study. Outside the study, Mu Yuyan was chatting and laughing with Liu Yexi and Xiao Fei'er, holding their hands. The three were dressed in simple and elegant robes, and their stunning beauty still drew attention. In front of them, Mingle was persistently playing with a palace maid, having a match of cricket fighting. At her age, she had recently become fascinated with this game. "Brave General, bite it!" "Bite it! With such a big butt right in front of you, why aren't you biting it?" Mingle watched her cricket's opponent and became furious as she saw it losing a leg, wishing she could join the fight herself. Seeing this scene, Lin Tan'er smiled slightly. After greeting Mu Yuyan, she went to find Lin Lu. Gu Lan threw a kiss to his Honey and, under Mu Yuyan's shy gaze, sat by the ancient zither under the maple tree. "There is a beauty, whose sight I cannot forget." "Not seeing her for a day feels like madness." "The phoenix flies high, seeking a mate across the seas…" As Gu Lan played the zither and sang the song "Feng Qiu Huang," the zither's clear notes and the melodious voice filled the air. Liu Yexi and Xiao Fei'er were immersed in the music while feeling themselves being showered with affection. Mu Yuyan, shedding her shyness, danced with her sword to the rhythm of the zither. The sword dance was as graceful as a dragon in flight. After the performance, everyone's mood was splendid. Only Mingle, absorbed in her cricket fight, remained oblivious to her surroundings, her cricket now with a missing leg. She was frustrated and felt that fighting crickets was far more interesting than playing the zither or dancing.