Chapter 280: Forget It

　　“Oh? That’s such a coincidence!”

　　Just as Emperor Jiawen heaved a sigh of relief, he saw that Mu Qinghe’s face had no smiling intent. Mu Qinghe even looked at Chu Liuyue with an interrogative gaze.

　　Emperor Jiawen just realized that this didn’t make Mu Qinghe happy.

　　“You cultivate in all three disciplines? Which one are you better at?” asked Mu Qinghe lightly.

　　The palace was very quiet as everyone’s gazes kept shifting between Mu Qinghe and Chu Liuyue.

　　Yesterday, Mu Qinghe already acted very differently to Chu Liuyue. Now that he was here, he spoke to her again…

　　One would be lying through their teeth if they said that he had nothing to do with Chu Liuyue. However, they just didn’t know if it was a good thing or a bad thing.

　　Before Chu Liuyue could speak, Sun Zhongyan had already spoken. “Liuyue took first place in the warrior and Xuan Master competitions during the Qing Jiao Competition. She’s also very talented as a heavenly doctor…”

　　Yesterday, Sun Zhongyan had heard this person mention something to Emperor Jiawen, and it seemed like Mu Qinghe purposely came over to pick a few outstanding individuals.

　　Even if Mu Qinghe really didn’t like Chu Liuyue, he wouldn’t do anything unreasonable in consideration of her talent.

　　Mu Qinghe’s gaze remained unchanged. “Oh? So it seems like you’re an all-rounder?”

　　Chu Liuyue could hear the sarcasm in Mu Qinghe’s voice. He had been around her for many years, and she was very familiar with his every word and action.

　　Even though his face looked paralyzed most of the time and didn’t have much of an expression, Chu Liuyue could always guess what he was thinking. It seems like he is looking down on me being a so-called ‘all-rounder.’

　　“Rong Xiao said that you’re 14 this year. What’s your warrior standard?”

　　“Lieutenant Mu, I’m a stage-two warrior.”

　　“What Xuan Master grade are you?”

　　“Second grade.”

　　“What kind of pill can you produce?”

　　“Fourth-grade ones.”

　　Mu Qinghe chuckled. “It seems like you’re pretty talented as a heavenly doctor, but you’re just so-so.”

　　Chu Liuyue bent her knees and bowed. “His Majesty and Elder Sun are too kind toward me. Of course, my small talent isn’t good enough for you, Lieutenant Mu.”

　　As he stared at Chu Liuyue’s calm and fearless expression, the anger in Mu Qinghe’s heart—which was derived from being offended—had unknowingly dissipated by quite a bit.

　　“At least you know your limits.”

　　When that person was 14 back then… Mu Qinghe’s face suddenly became cold as if he had thought of something. Why did I think about that person again? She’s not the only cultivator that cultivates all three disciplines in the world, but how many of them can actually be compared to her?

　　Mu Qinghe didn’t speak any longer as he walked toward his seat with a cold face.

　　Emperor Jiawen stood beside him and could sharply feel that Mu Qinghe’s aura had suddenly become cold.

　　Emperor Jiawen couldn’t help but be curious. What happened? Weren’t they talking just fine? Chu Liuyue’s every word was spoken in a very polite manner, and she didn’t make any mistakes. So why does Mu Qinghe seem to be unhappy with her?

　　Even if Chu Liuyue’s talent can’t be compared to those in Tianling Dynasty, she is definitely one of the better ones in Country Yao Chen!

　　Emperor Jiawen was confused, and so were the others.

　　Chu Liuyue’s state is actually just ‘so-so’ in Mu Qinghe’s eyes?! Then, aren’t the rest of us even worse?

　　But upon thinking about it further, this Lieutenant Mu looked like he was in his twenties, but his abilities far surpassed all of them. Hence, his actions seemed understandable.

　　It seemed like the Tianling Dynasty was really much stronger than what they had imagined.

　　…

　　After Mu Qinghe and Emperor Jiawen sat down, the crowd then sat down carefully.

　　The two of them sat at the front, but Emperor Jiawen was still sitting in the middle. But even though Mu Qinghe just sat there, he had an even stronger aura, and his surroundings seemed to freeze.

　　The crowd in the palace became even more restrained.

　　Even though many of them wanted to behave properly in hopes of Lieutenant Mu having a good impression of them, they still honestly sat around when under a strong warrior’s suppression.

　　Mu Qinghe was quite frustrated. After he went back yesterday, he also felt that he had lost control of himself.

　　What’s Chu Liuyue? She’s just an ordinary girl in the small Country Yao Chen. I came here to do something important, yet I thought of many ridiculous things after seeing Chu Liuyue, even messing up my mood.

　　I really care too much about Chu Liuyue, or perhaps, Chu Liuyue reminds me of that person too easily. Clearly, only their eyes are similar and nothing else, but…

　　Mu Qinghe poured a cup of wine for himself and slowly felt around.

　　When Chu Liuyue looked up, she saw Mu Qinghe in deep thought. However, she wasn’t sure what he was thinking about.

　　Her gaze landed on his wine cup, and she smiled in a self-deprecating manner. In the past, Mu Qinghe never drank a sip of alcohol. Only a year has passed, yet so many things have changed.

　　As if noticing her gaze, Mu Qinghe looked at Chu Liuyue. “What are you looking at?”

　　Chu Liuyue stood up and smiled. “It must’ve been really tiring for you to come all the way here. I was too impulsive yesterday, so I wish to give you a toast. I hope that you’ll forgive me.”

　　She then picked up the wine cup in front of her and drank it in one go.

　　“Slut!” cursed Rong Zhen angrily. Ever since Mu Qinghe came in, Chu Liuyue has been using all sorts of methods to attract his attention. She is even openly seducing him now! There are so many people present, and all of them have more rights than her to toast Mu Qinghe!

　　Mu Qinghe then looked at the wine cup in his hands.

　　The strong alcoholic fragrance entered his nose; he knitted his brows in disgust, and he placed the wine cup down.

　　Bang!

　　The ceramic wine cup landed on the table with a crisp sound.

　　The palace was silent.

　　The crowd exchanged looks among themselves. Is he… angry again?

　　“I never ever drink wine,” said Mu Qinghe coldly.

　　Every single word of his was very cold and stiff.

　　Confusion flashed across Chu Liuyue’s face. He still doesn’t drink wine? Then, why did he pour wine just now… Oh, so he was thinking of something else?

　　Whenever Mu Qinghe was in deep thought, he would always pick up something wrong while in a trance. It seems like he is still the same as before.

　　Emperor Jiawen realized something and hurriedly hollered at the palace maids at the side. “How did you serve him? Who brought this wine up?”

　　“Your Majesty, please forgive me!” A palace girl hurriedly knelt down and kept begging for forgiveness.

　　However, she felt very aggrieved. Who knew that this valuable guest doesn’t drink wine? Isn’t he a lieutenant in the military? Why wouldn’t he drink wine?

　　Chu Liuyue hurriedly looked down as if panic flashed across her face. “I was the one who offended you, and everything is my fault. Lieutenant Mu, Your Majesty, I hope you won’t implicate anyone else.”

　　“We’ll see if she still dares to be so gutsy!” Rong Zhen grunted in delight. Originally, Mu Qinghe already disliked her. We’ll see if she still dares to be arrogant after this. Didn’t she just take first place in the Qing Jiao Competition? What’s there to be proud of? Can’t she see that other people don’t even care about her?

　　But Rong Zhen didn’t think that Mu Qinghe wouldn’t think highly of anyone else in this large palace if he looked down on Chu Liuyue.

　　Mu Qinghe’s face darkened for a while.

　　Just as the crowd was thinking about how he was going to punish Chu Liuyue, he said, “Forget it.”