Douluo Continent: The Celestial Star, Ruler of the Stars

Chapter 14 The Arrival of the Heavenly Soul Empire's Envoy, Princess Vina, and the Jealous Snow

Xu Xinghan felt like he had walked the longest road of his life today.

In just one morning, he had already toured the entire Xingluo City.

From the East Market to the West Market, from the South Street to the North Alley.

Xue Di is like a curious child, wanting to take a closer look at everything she sees.

She wanted to buy candied hawthorns, touch sachets, and insist that people bring out all the glass cups and lay them out in front of her so she could choose.

The problem is that only Xu Xinghan can hear her speak. To outsiders, it looks like this silver-haired young man is pointing at thin air, like a lunatic.

"This looks nice. I'll buy it."

"That one's good too. I'll buy it."

I liked the color of the jewelry in that store. I bought it.

Xu Xinghan expressionlessly took out money from his storage ring, spending gold notes one after another like flowing water.

By the end of the shopping trip, the shop owner's gaze towards him had changed, as if to say:

"Does this guy own a mine?"

The sea of ​​the mind is filled with a jumble of random things.

Snow lotus incense, ice silk handkerchief, sapphire hairpin, and a tea set that she described as "very tasteful".

But the problem is, isn't she in a spiritual state? How can she drink tea?

Xu Xinghan sighed, silently did some mental calculations, and then an absurd idea popped into his head.

Why do I feel like I'm the one keeping her as a mistress?

He immediately dismissed the thought as soon as it surfaced.

"Were you thinking something you shouldn't have just been thinking?" Xue Di's voice drifted over softly.

"No, absolutely not." Xu Xinghan said without changing his expression.

Xue Di snorted, it was unclear whether she believed it or not.

After leaving the last small shop, Xu Xinghan was preparing to find a place to rest.

Several figures dressed as eunuchs darted out from the street corner, running up to him, sweating profusely and panting like bellows.

"Your Highness! We've finally found you!"

Xu Xinghan took off his sunglasses and looked at the several breathless eunuchs. His temples throbbed twice.

"What is it?"

"His Majesty has decreed that the Heavenly Soul Empire has sent an envoy to Xingluo for exchanges. Your Highness is requested to go to the Zhengluo Palace immediately to receive them."

Xu Xinghan remained silent for three seconds.

Damn, what's going on?!

Shouldn't this be the responsibility of the Ministry of Rites?

Besides, there are so many ministers in the court, any one of them could handle it, so why do we have to drag this prince back from the street to handle the reception?

Does his older brother really think he's bored?

Xue Di laughed out loud in the sea of ​​spirit, his tone full of schadenfreude.

"It seems your older brother values ​​you highly."

Xu Xinghan took a deep breath, put his sunglasses back on, and covered his overly conspicuous face.

The emperor's orders are hard to disobey, especially those from one's own brother. No matter how much one complains, one has to go.

"Let's go."

……

Zhengluo Hall.

The Star Luo Empire's special reception area for foreign envoys was even more prestigious than the Bright Moon Palace.

The interior furnishings were tasteful but not extravagant. In the center was a long, narrow rosewood table, flanked by twelve chairs. The table was covered with a dark gold tablecloth and set of celadon teaware.

Two rows of guards stood at the entrance of the palace, their backs ramrod straight and their eyes fixed straight ahead.

When Xu Xinghan arrived, there were already three guests seated inside the hall.

Two men and one woman.

He didn't rush in; he glanced around the doorway first.

The two men, in their early thirties or forties, were dressed in the standard official uniforms of the Heavenly Soul Empire and carried storage soul tools at their waists. They appeared to be accompanying civil officials or guards.

The girl sitting between the two is the real person.

The girl looked two or three years younger than him, with long, dark brown hair that fell smoothly over her shoulders, the ends of which were slightly curled.

Her features are delicate and gentle, with a natural grace in her eyes and brows, and a slight upturn at the corners of her mouth, as if she is always smiling.

She wore a pale yellow long dress with delicate silver embroidery on the hem, understated yet exuding royal refinement in its details.

The way he sits there is like a painting.

Xu Xinghan entered the hall, clasped his hands together, and bowed slightly.

"I apologize for keeping you all waiting. My name is Xu Xinghan, Prince Xuanxing of the Xingluo Empire. My elder brother... His Majesty has some urgent business to attend to and is unable to leave, so I will be receiving you all on his behalf."

The girl stood up, her movements unhurried and graceful, her clothes swaying gently with an indescribable elegance.

She curtsied slightly in return, and when she looked up, her light brown eyes met Xu Xinghan's dark glasses.

"Your Highness is too kind." Her voice was gentle, like a spring breeze brushing across a lake. "I am Vina, a princess of the Heavenly Soul Empire. I have come to Xingluo for exchange and study on the orders of my father, the Emperor. I apologize for any inconvenience caused and ask for Your Highness's kind consideration."

Xu Xinghan was stunned for a moment.

To be honest, he hadn't expected the Heavenly Soul Empire to send a princess as an envoy.

Although princesses are everywhere in fantasy worlds, princes are treated worse than dogs.

However, in a formal diplomatic setting, sending a princess to another country indicates either that the exchange is extremely important, or that something has happened in the Heavenly Soul Empire and there is no one else available.

In either case, it shows that this mission is not simple.

He glanced at Vina discreetly.

The little girl sat upright but not stiffly, spoke neither humbly nor arrogantly, had clear eyes, and a smile that never faded from the corner of her mouth; she seemed to have a good temper.

However, she was seated in the main seat, with two male envoys sitting on either side, clearly indicating that she was the head of the household.

Being able to be sent out to take charge at this age shows she's definitely not just a pretty face.

and……

Putting everything else aside, Princess Vina, in both appearance and temperament, far surpasses the daughters of ministers that Xu Xinghan has met at court banquets over the years.

Xu Xinghan silently gave his older brother a thumbs up in his heart.

He still thinks of his younger brother when something like this happens. What a great older brother! I'll have to kowtow to him when I get home tonight.

"It is an honor for Xingluo to have the princess come from afar." Xu Xinghan sat down in the main seat, invited the servants to serve tea, and wore a standard social smile. "There is no rush for the exchange. I will first settle the princess and the two envoys in. Please do not hesitate to ask if you need anything."

Vina picked up her teacup, her light brown eyes looking at Xu Xinghan through the rising steam, her smile deepening.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Just then, the voice of the Snow Emperor echoed from the Sea of ​​Spirit.

The voice was neither loud nor soft, and the tone was as calm as still water, but Xu Xinghan sensed something was amiss.

"Tsk tsk tsk, Xiao Xinghan, this princess is truly exquisitely beautiful."

"You don't resemble me at all; you're just an old woman who's lived for hundreds of thousands of years..."

Xu Xinghan paused slightly in the hand holding the teacup.

No, why does this tone sound a bit sarcastic?

He pretended not to hear and continued drinking his tea.

Seeing that Xu Xinghan did not react, Xue Di snorted coldly and continued:

"Youth is wonderful, with fair and tender skin, unlike me, who smells like ice crystals all over."

"This princess speaks so pleasantly, so gently, unlike me, whose words are as cold as a gust of wind."

……

"Damn it, if you're going to kill me, just go easy on me, don't torture me!"

Xu Xinghan thought to himself.