Women disguised as men went to the battlefield and the emperor bowed down in submission.

Lin Ruoshui casually put on the clothes prepared by Biyu and went to the Imperial Study.

Lin Ruoshui stepped closer, and Baili Heng saw that she was wearing an elegant emerald green dress, the hem of which swayed gently with her steps, like a blooming lotus flower swaying in the breeze.

The collar and cuffs were embroidered with delicate gold patterns, subtly revealing her slender wrists and snow-white neck.

She wore a pearl-encrusted hairpin, the pearls shimmering softly in the sunlight, complementing her clear, watery eyes.

A thin belt was tied around her waist, outlining her slender figure, and a string of silver sachets hung below the belt, each sachet embroidered with a delicate flower and emitting a faint fragrance.

Lin Ruoshui clasped her hands in greeting to Chu Xiao and Baili Heng. Chu Xiao knew she had made a mistake, but knowing that her sister had been disguised as a man for so many years, how could she possibly perform a woman's greeting? She couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness.

When Baili Heng saw Lin Ruoshui bowing in the palace, just like the fist-and-palm salute they exchanged when they met on the street, he felt that Lin Ruoshui was truly a special woman, a woman who particularly suited his taste.

Seeing that both of them were looking at her with the same doting gaze, Lin Ruoshui asked, puzzled, "Why did Your Majesty summon me here?"

Chu Xiao asked, "Royal sister, do you know the Crown Prince of Lanling Kingdom?"

Lin Ruoshui glanced at Baili Heng and said to Chu Xiao, "Of course I recognize him."

"I just heard from Brother Baili that he saved my sister on the street. To express my gratitude, I have invited you here as well. Tonight, I will host a banquet to thank the Crown Prince. What do you think, my sister?" Chu Xiao asked.

Lin Ruoshui said, "Your Majesty, the Crown Prince did indeed save me. It was already late, and I was in a hurry to return to the palace, so I didn't have a chance to properly thank him. Today, thanks to your reminder, I feel deeply ashamed. I should indeed hold a banquet to properly thank the Crown Prince."

Baili Heng looked at Lin Ruoshui with affection and smiled at her, saying, "Princess, your martial arts are superb, you are no ordinary woman. Even if I did not take action, I am sure you would be fine, so there is no need for you to thank me. However, I am very happy to be able to dine with the Emperor and Princess tonight."

Hearing Baili Heng say this, Chu Xiao laughed, his goodwill towards Baili Heng increased even more.

Lin Ruoshui felt that what Baili Heng said was true. Even if he hadn't taken action that day, she probably wouldn't have been in any danger.

But since he helped me, it's only right that I treat him to a meal.

……

Sunset is the most beautiful moment of the day; it looks like a giant fireball slowly sinking towards the horizon.

Its light filled the entire sky, dyeing the clouds golden, red, and orange.

The palace was bathed in the glow of the setting sun, making it exceptionally beautiful.

The banquet to thank Baili Heng was not held inside the palace, but at Lin Ruoshui's instruction, it was set in the middle of Yongding Lake, where there was an exquisite little pavilion where they could enjoy the beautiful scenery of the lake while dining.

The woman he had longed for was right before him, and Baili Heng's heart surged with emotion. He saw the pavilion's reflection appearing and disappearing in the lake, complementing the lotus flowers on the lake's surface, creating a harmonious and beautiful scene.

Then I saw that graceful and elegant woman playing with the lake water with her hands.

Baili Heng wanted to turn this moment into eternity.

Lin Ruoshui stood up, shook the water off her hands, and very naturally wiped them on Chu Xiao's dragon robe before asking Baili Heng, "When did the Crown Prince arrive in the capital?"

Baili Heng emerged from his romantic reverie with a smile and said, "After the Lanling Kingdom delegation arrived in the capital, Princess Anle's inappropriate behavior led to a stalemate in our economic and trade negotiations with Lanling Kingdom. I have come here on the Emperor's orders, hoping that Your Majesty can set aside past grievances and resume negotiations with Lanling Kingdom."

In fact, Baili Heng had arrived long ago and had been mingling with the Lanling National Preceptor Group without showing himself, because he had his own important matters to attend to and did not want to be exposed.

However, because Princess Anle offended Chu Xiao, the Lanling Kingdom delegation was stranded in the capital and the negotiations reached a stalemate. Therefore, he sent a letter to the Chishui Kingdom, requesting to come to the capital to pay his respects.

Chu Xiao was unaware that Princess Anle had used the Soul-Capturing Technique. Lin Ruoshui thought it was a trivial matter and didn't tell him about it.

Unaware of what was going on, Chu Xiao sat upright and remained silent.

Seeing that Chu Xiao's expression seemed to indicate that he did not intend to pursue the matter, Baili Heng continued, "I have come here not only to establish friendly relations between our two countries, but also to seek a marriage alliance with the Chishui Kingdom. I wonder what Your Majesty's opinion is?"

"Your Highness, do you mean to arrange for a princess to marry your elder brother?" Lin Ruoshui asked.

"No, it is I who wish to marry a princess to Lanling Kingdom to be my Crown Princess. I wonder if Your Majesty would agree?" Baili Heng asked tentatively.

"How many princesses of my Chishui Kingdom are currently unmarried?" Chu Xiao asked Zhang Quan.

Chu Xiao had no feelings about marrying a princess to another country. As long as it wasn't his own sister, Baili Heng could choose anyone.

Zhang Quan said, "Your Majesty, there are currently eight princesses in the palace. Five of them are of suitable age to the Crown Prince: Princess Shangde, Princess Qingfang, Princess Ping'an, Princess Yongchang, and Princess Yongle."

“Princess Yongle is my own sister. I am reluctant to let her marry far away. I want to keep her by my side to take care of her. You may choose any other princess or crown prince. I will grant your request.”

Baili Heng never expected that Chu Xiao would be unwilling to marry Chu Ying off to a distant place. If she wasn't married off to a distant place, how could he marry her?

Baili Heng was in a dilemma, hesitating whether to directly say that he wanted to marry Princess Yongle.

He remained silent for a while, then suddenly saw a familiar figure standing on a small boat. The boat was not being rowed, but it was heading in their direction.

One look at the man and you could tell he had extremely high internal strength, because the ship was propelled forward by his internal energy.

Following Baili Heng's gaze, Lin Ruoshui saw Xuan Yuan Yu arriving by boat.

He looked so incredibly handsome that Lin Ruoshui's heart began to pound erratically.

Baili Heng gripped the chopsticks in his hand tightly, the murderous intent in his eyes being quietly concealed.

When Chu Xiao saw that it was Xuan Yuan Yu arriving by boat in a haughty manner, he immediately felt disgusted. This man's persistent presence following his sister made him very unhappy.

Still some distance from the shore, Xuan Yuan Yu leaped ashore and stood in front of Lin Ruo Shui.

Lin Ruoshui fawned over Zhang Quan, saying, "Eunuch Zhang, quickly bring a chair for the King of Chu."

Xuanyuan Yu glanced at Baili Heng and Chu Xiao, then said, "No need!" After saying that, he picked up Lin Ruoshui, sat down in a chair, and let Lin Ruoshui sit on his lap.

This was clearly a declaration of sovereignty, which displeased Chu Xiao and Baili Heng.

The chopsticks in Baili Heng's hand were snapped in two. Chu Xiao slammed his hand on the table and stood up, saying, "What are you doing here? Put my imperial sister down immediately."

Xuanyuan Yu ignored him completely, showing no restraint whatsoever, and was extremely arrogant.

Looking at Baili Heng and Chu Xiao's murderous expressions, Lin Ruoshui felt that the three of them were about to start fighting.