Otherworldly Companions: Every Handsome Man is Extraordinary

With Fan Qingyin's patient guidance, Jiang Yu's nervousness almost completely dissipated. Just thinking about how Fan Qingyin had described the emperor sitting on the throne as a strange, pot-bellied man who dared not make decisions on his own made it difficult for her to feel any fear.

So when the guide came to summon her, she simply took a deep breath, straightened her clothes, and followed the guide down the long corridor.

Jiang Yu had once walked through the long corridors of Chen Xin's castle. Even during the day, the sunlight of the Forest Empire would filter through the lush plants and cast dappled shadows through the windows.

The Ocean Empire lacks tall trees and layered shrubs; its vegetation is clean and uncluttered, allowing the sunlight to slant down completely and honestly.

Unlike the Forest Empire's intricately carved windows, the Ocean Empire's windows are almost all floor-to-ceiling, simple and bright. In addition, the palace's corridors are much larger than those of Chen Xin's small castle, making the place feel spacious and quiet.

If Jiang Yu were still as anxious as she had been earlier, she should have panicked upon hearing her own footsteps and breathing in the empty corridor. But now she felt completely calm, simply doing what she had to do on a sunny day, completing her assigned task.

Once everything is over smoothly, they can go home. Qingyin is still waiting for her, and when they return to Hollandpur, Yi will also be waiting for them at home.

"Lord Jiangyu, this is as far as I can take you. His Majesty the Emperor is waiting for you in the main hall. I wish you all the best." The guide said politely before bowing and retreating.

Jiang Yu nodded slightly to express her gratitude and understanding, then gently adjusted her hair, ensuring her neatly styled bun was perfectly in place. Holding a beautifully engraved leather folder in her left hand, she offered a suitable and polite smile before nodding to the waiters on either side of the door.

Then, the ivory-white gate, carved with the enormous Atlantean Tower, slowly opened from the middle, revealing to Jiang Yu a small corner of the empire belonging to the center of power.

"Jiang Yu, the only daughter of the Jiang family and the lord of Hollandpur County, requests an audience." As the waiter's loud voice rang out, Jiang Yu maintained her unchanging smile and looked up into the hall.

"Welcome, my child." A loud yet loving voice rang out unhurriedly, drawing Jiang Yu's gaze directly to the center of the hall.

This is a circular hall with six tall floor-to-ceiling windows arranged in a fan shape on the west side. The heavy curtains are neatly drawn back, providing bright light into the hall. There is also a huge skylight in the circular ceiling. The unique division of the ceiling imitates the shimmering surface of the sea. Sunlight shines through the glass in different shades of blue, casting the entire hall floor into a vast ocean, creating an extremely dreamlike scene.

The exceptionally clear glass panel at the very center casts down a beam of the brightest sunlight, like a spotlight on a stage, directly illuminating the throne located in the middle of the hall.

It is not any shape symbolizing the ocean, not seashells or starfish, not waves or fine sand, nor a mermaid trident, but a ship symbolizing the ocean conquering the land. The sails of various shapes and magnificent designs are raised high, and the rudder and anchor are planted vertically in the ground, looking brave and heroic.

The ruler of the entire empire, the Emperor of the Ocean Empire, sat on that throne.

Jiang Yu had seen a portrait of the emperor before. The man in the portrait had sharp eyes, a deep face, and his tightly furrowed brows and taut lips looked resolute and tough.

But the real emperor looked much gentler. He wore a dark blue robe, a white cloak, and a crown. He sat comfortably on the throne with his legs crossed.

When he looked at Jiang Yu, his brows relaxed, and his gaze was kind and peaceful, like a father looking at his child who had returned from a long journey.

That's right, the emperor is a man, and from the very beginning of the Ocean Empire, the emperor has been from the same family.

When each emperor of the Yuria family is born, all the sacred whales in the sea will rise to the surface. This is not a legend, but a choice made by the gods.

When maritime civilization ceased to exist, it was the sacred whales that brought a human baby out of the sea. When he grew up, he led the people of the land out of darkness and confusion and established a nation.

His descendants continued the glory and honor, and in the rituals that the sacred whales never failed to keep, generation after generation of emperors were chosen, creating a great ocean empire.

Like ordinary nobles, emperors have wives, and wives may have other partners, but their children are not necessarily emperors. Emperors are simply born into the Yuria family, but may be of any collateral lineage.

Next to the emperor were several seats, where his wife, children, several popes, and a few ministers sat.

"It is an honor to meet you, Your Majesty, the noble and benevolent Emperor." Jiang Yu walked gracefully to the center of the open space in front of the throne, curtsied, and performed a standard full salute of the Ocean Empire. As she bowed, her skirt billowed, like a flower slowly blooming, which was extremely beautiful.

"General Jiang Ren has truly given birth to a brilliant pearl for the empire. Lord Jiang Yu of Hollandpur County is indeed worthy of his reputation. Please, have a seat, my child." The emperor on the throne did not hide his satisfied gaze and gestured for his attendants to help Jiang Yu to a seat.

"Thank you for your praise, I am unworthy of it," Jiang Yu said modestly, and sat down readily. The seat was a large chair, with a small table integrated into the right armrest, making it convenient for her to place her documents on it.

"Although it has not been a year yet, the voices of the people of Hollandpur have already reached the capital. Your hard work and efforts for the territory will not be in vain." This was an affirmation of her achievements in governing the territory in her first year.

Jiang Yu didn't know what to say, so he simply bowed his head respectfully to express his gratitude and obedience, and handed the document to the attendant, who then passed it on to the ministers beside him.

The ministers carefully reviewed the various forms and documents in their hands. Although they did not finish reading them all at once, they nodded in approval.

The emperor's smile deepened: "General, you have taught you very well over the years. Although you were too sickly in your childhood and never came to the palace, you have grown up to be so outstanding. It is truly rare and a blessing for the empire."

"My father and mother always taught me not to forget the empire's kindness, and warned me that after I grew up, I must dedicate myself to the empire and do my best to repay the empire's nurturing grace," Jiang Yu said with a smile, her beautiful words spoken with utmost sincerity.

"I was unable to serve the empire when I was young, and I only hope that I will not disappoint the empire when I grow up."