My low-key cultivation of immortality was discovered by the emperor in my diary.

The monks of the Great Brahma Kingdom embarked on their journey home ahead of schedule.

They apparently found Master Huikong's last will and testament in the room and chose to leave the capital city quietly.

However, their expressions were much more somber than when they first arrived, and every step they took seemed so heavy.

Yue Mu and others came to see them off.

Standing atop the city wall of the capital, they watched the young monks' figures recede into the distance, their hearts filled with a complex mix of emotions, a feeling difficult to describe.

Perhaps some people might guess something, but the person is gone, and no one is willing to investigate further.

As time flows by, the Lantern Festival is quietly approaching, and the capital city is bustling with activity once again.

Tourists flocked in from all directions to witness this annual spectacle.

Thousands of lanterns fluttered in the breeze, music filled the air, cars and people thronged the streets, and a harmonious atmosphere prevailed.

As the ancient poem says: Shops are open all night long, their bustling activity illuminating the towers. People revel until dawn, reluctant to return; the atmosphere of the Lantern Festival is already here. (Ma Zhen, "On the Lantern Festival")

The diplomatic missions of various countries to Daxia were also coming to an end.

They began preparing to return home, packing their bags and organizing their thoughts, determined to bring this unforgettable experience back to their hometown.

This year's tribute mission was quite different from previous years, with the appearance of Chu Lengyu being the most significant highlight.

And this may only be the beginning.

With their return home imminent, the envoys had different thoughts, but they all began to consider how to please Chu Lengyu as much as possible in these final moments, hoping to bring some long-term benefits to their countries.

Gaining her favor or support would be of paramount importance to small countries like theirs, which have little national strength and virtually no say in the world.

As for how the king will view this matter after returning home, and how he plans to deal with it, that's beyond their control.

All they can do is try their best, and as for the outcome, they can only leave it to fate.

Some people secretly inquired about Chu Lengyu's preferences, hoping to cater to her tastes and win her favor.

There are many rumors circulating, but her preferences are not obvious. It is only known that she prefers quiet spiritual practice and rarely leaves her pine forest retreat, as do those around her.

This made the envoys' plans even more difficult, as they did not know how to approach this unusually mysterious woman.

Although the envoy from Nanli often said that everything should be considered carefully and that one should not act rashly, he was the one who took the lead in the crucial moment.

He carefully selected a batch of specialties from the Southern Kingdom—precious spices and rare gems—had them packaged, and personally handed them over to the Prefect of the Capital in front of everyone.

"I have benefited greatly from my mission to your country. These are just a small token of my appreciation; please pass them on to the Chu State Preceptor," the Nanli envoy said respectfully.

His actions immediately drew the attention of the other envoys.

They realized that if they couldn't make a lasting impression on Chu Lengyu before leaving, their trip might be in vain.

So they all began to take action, preparing various gifts, hoping to deliver them to Chu Lengyu through the Prefect of the Capital or other means.

Some people prepared precious antiques and calligraphy, while others offered rare medicinal herbs and jewelry. They all hoped to express their respect and sincerity to Chu Lengyu in their own way, and hoped to leave her with some impression before leaving.

Only Yue Mu, the envoy of the Great Qian Dynasty, remained remarkably calm amidst the bustling scene of envoys presenting gifts.

After thinking for a moment, he decided not to follow the trend.

Meanwhile, the emperor of Great Xia was also keeping a close eye on the movements of the delegation.

After all, the actions of these delegations will affect the relations between Great Xia and other countries.

"Her influence has exceeded my expectations," the Emperor said to the Prime Minister in the Imperial Study. "The actions of this delegation have also shown us the status of the Imperial Advisor in the hearts of various countries."

The prime minister nodded; he fully understood the emperor's concerns.

Although Chu Lengyu is powerful, if her power is used by other countries, it could have extremely adverse effects on the Great Xia Dynasty, a situation that neither the emperor nor the prime minister wants to see.

"Your Majesty, should we take some measures to ensure that the Imperial Preceptor can only be used by the Great Xia?" the Prime Minister tentatively suggested.

He believed that the emperor knew Chu Lengyu well and might actually have a way to control her, but was just keeping it a secret.

However, upon hearing the Prime Minister's question, the Emperor turned to him and slowly said, "Her will is not something we can control."

His tone carried a hint of warning.

This is a reminder to the Prime Minister not to act rashly. If he tries to restrict her, it will only cause her resentment and resistance, and may even lead to bigger trouble.

Seeing this, the Prime Minister felt a chill and said no more.

As for the gifts and sentiments of the envoys from various countries, the emperor ultimately chose to allow them to pass.

When the gifts from all parties arrived at Songlin Xiaozhu, Lüyun was astonished.

She picked up the long list of gifts, feeling both surprised and confused.

These gifts came from different countries, each representing the sincerity of a country's envoy, but so many gifts left her feeling somewhat overwhelmed.

She dared not accept the gifts on her own, fearing it would cause trouble. She knew all too well the saying, "He who eats another's food is bound to him; he who takes another's gift is bound to him." So she quickly turned to ask her mistress for permission.

Chu Lengyu listened quietly to Lüyun's words, her eyes showing little emotion.

She knew that behind the actions of these envoys were considerations of each country's own interests.

They hoped to get closer to her by presenting gifts, and then seek more benefits.

"Miss, should we return these gifts or accept them?" Green Bamboo asked again.

She frowned, seemingly not quite understanding why these foreign envoys would send gifts.

She heard that they were leaving on the Lantern Festival. Since they were about to leave Great Xia, she couldn't understand why they were doing this all of a sudden.

Could it be that they're hoping that if something happens to them, Miss will lend a hand because of these gifts? Green Bamboo pondered to herself, but then felt that these gifts were too insignificant to be a bargaining chip for Miss's help.

"Since it's a token of my appreciation, then accept it." Chu Lengyu smiled lightly. "It seems there's still a good show to watch."