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

The Lantern Festival is celebrated every year.

Thousands of lights illuminate the city, and countless lamps burn brightly, making the city never sleep.

Adorned with silken curtains and brocade robes, amidst swaying songs and dances, the air was thick with the sounds of flutes and pipes. (Note)

The envoys from various countries were about to complete their mission in Daxia and gathered in the magnificent and imposing Golden Palace to bid farewell to the emperor.

The atmosphere inside the hall was solemn and respectful. The envoys, according to the etiquette of their respective countries, took turns expressing their gratitude and respect to the emperor, who sat high on the dragon throne.

On the dragon throne, the emperor smiled and remained composed, responding to the envoys' farewell remarks one by one, displaying the demeanor of a ruler of a great nation.

The emperor smiled sincerely, thinking to himself: After these envoys return home, they will surely spread the prosperity and power of Great Xia to foreign lands, making the name of Great Xia even more illustrious.

Just as the envoys were bidding each other a reluctant farewell, a familiar figure quietly appeared at the entrance of the Golden Palace.

Chu Lengyu, dressed in a plain white dress that fluttered in the breeze, exuded a cool and aloof aura as she slowly entered the hall.

Her arrival immediately drew the attention of the envoys, who turned around in surprise, many with excitement on their faces.

The envoy from Nanli couldn't help but exclaim softly, "The Grand Preceptor of Chu!"

At that moment, he felt as if he had seen a savior.

Chu Lengyu nodded slightly in response, which made the envoy from Nanli feel flattered.

The envoys cast admiring glances at him, secretly praising that the Great Xia was truly fortunate to have such a national advisor.

Chu Lengyu walked slowly to the front of the hall and gave a slight bow to the emperor, who was sitting high on the dragon throne, with elegant movements.

Then, she turned to the envoys from various countries and said calmly, "Esteemed envoys, you have come from afar, thank you for your hard work. The Lantern Festival is approaching, and I wish you all a happy festival and a safe journey home."

The envoys immediately felt extremely honored.

Yue Mu looked at Chu Lengyu and fell silent for a moment, his eyes flashing with a complex expression, a mixture of fear, jealousy, and envy.

Chu Lengyu's strength far exceeded his expectations. He was very puzzled as to how she, at such a young age, had cultivated to such a level.

The secrets about her intrigued him greatly.

The envoy from Nanli stepped forward with a joyful expression and said respectfully, "Master Chu, I will remember your blessing. Nanli looks forward to a lasting friendship with Daxia and the sharing of peace."

Other envoys also stepped forward to express their attitudes to Chu Lengyu.

Her presence made these envoys even more respectful of the Great Xia Dynasty, and they dared not be negligent or disrespectful in the slightest. They all treated Chu Lengyu with the utmost sincerity.

Their words were full of praise for Daxia, and they spoke highly of her.

Chu Lengyu responded to the envoys' kindness one by one, her words gentle and appropriate, with a faint smile.

The emperor sat on the dragon throne, watching Chu Lengyu interact with the envoys, and felt a sense of relief.

Chu Lengyu's appearance greatly enhanced the prestige of Great Xia. She made Great Xia shine even brighter among the nations, becoming the focus of everyone's attention.

With her around, how could the Great Xia not prosper?

After exchanging pleasantries, the envoy from Nanli seized the opportunity, took out a scroll of invitations woven with gold thread, walked up to Chu Lengyu, and bowed deeply.

He was humble and earnest: “Master of Chu, although Nanli is located in the southern border region, it has extraordinary mountains and rivers and beautiful scenery. If one day the Master of Chu is able to condescend to visit us, the people of Nanli will welcome us with open arms and offer countless treasures to show our sincerity.”

Chu Lengyu remained calm and composed, offering only a slight nod without comment.

Seeing this, another envoy from a small country reacted quickly and immediately followed up, inviting, "The Grand Preceptor's skills are unparalleled in the world. I would like to invite the Grand Preceptor to visit our country with a gift of ten thousand gold pieces. Although it is not as vast and rich as Great Xia, it still has magnificent mountains and rivers that can provide the Grand Preceptor with endless inspiration."

The envoy from the Northern Kingdom then said, "Your Excellency, our Northern Kingdom boasts beautiful mountains and rivers, and countless rare minerals await discovery. If you would be willing to visit our Northern Kingdom, you will surely create another world-shaking masterpiece with your divine skills. Our country is also willing to offer you a fortune and appoint you as the Imperial Advisor, to be revered for generations to come!"

No sooner had the words been spoken than the envoy from the Western Regions refused to back down.

He stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with eagerness: "Your Excellency, the Western Regions are vast and boundless, teeming with countless rare treasures. If you are willing to set foot in the Western Regions, our country will surely welcome you with the most solemn ceremony. Not to mention gold, even a throne or a fiefdom, as long as you ask, our country will certainly grant your request."

The envoy from Dongyi, however, was more reserved: "Dongyi is a land of picturesque scenery. We hope you will come to Dongyi, not only to admire the beautiful scenery, but also to spread your extraordinary skills. My king will prepare everything and await your approval."

Chu Lengyu pursed her lips, a hint of amusement flashing in her eyes, but she still did not give a clear answer.

"Master of Chu, although our country is small, it has beautiful scenery and simple folk customs. We are sure you will linger here and never want to leave." The envoy from Nanli spoke again, his eyes full of anticipation.

"If the Imperial Advisor can grace our country with his presence, our king will certainly treat him with the courtesy due to a state guest, and he can choose from gold, silver, treasures, and rare gems!" The other envoys were not to be outdone, directly offering substantial rewards as bait.

The remaining envoys were not to be outdone, and they all offered various tempting conditions in an attempt to persuade Chu Lengyu to go to their country.

Chu Lengyu watched with great interest, her expression a half-smile.

She even used her spiritual power to conjure a chair and sat down in the Golden Palace to listen attentively.

The envoy from Nanli became more and more excited as he spoke, and had already offered the condition of "King of Equality"!

As long as Chu Lengyu is willing, she can be on equal footing with the King of Nanli. This is the biggest condition he has offered, even at the cost of everything.

Upon seeing this, the emperor couldn't help but feel nervous.

He knew how important Chu Lengyu was to the Great Xia Dynasty; if they lost her, the loss to the Great Xia Dynasty would be immeasurable.

Although it wasn't explicitly stated, Chu Lengyu was allowed to meet the emperor without bowing, freely enter and leave the palace without prior notice, and arbitrarily control the six ministries. The emperor believed that this treatment was not much lower than that of the "Prince of Equality."

Whatever she wanted, as long as she spoke or expressed her intention, the emperor would never refuse.

In the Golden Palace, the civil and military officials witnessed this scene and were utterly astonished.

These foreign envoys dared to openly tempt people with benefits in this solemn hall, offering one condition after another, as if they were treating this place like a bargaining marketplace.

"This...this is outrageous!" The Minister of Rites was furious and angrily rebuked him, his voice filled with barely concealed anger.

As the head of the Ministry of Rites, he was naturally furious to see these foreign envoys being so rude.

After he spoke, the officials began to whisper among themselves.

Someone said worriedly, "We absolutely cannot let the imperial advisor be poached by another country!"

Upon hearing this, all the officials felt apprehensive.

Normally, some people do harbor resentment towards Chu Lengyu, but seeing other countries vying to invite her has left them dumbfounded.

They finally realized just how important Chu Lengyu was to the Great Xia Dynasty.

If she is lured away by another country and turns around to help these foreign countries fight against Great Xia, then what will they use to resist?

Even the thickest city walls couldn't withstand the power of her sword!

The Minister of Personnel anxiously asked, "What good strategies do you all have to keep the Chu State Preceptor here? We cannot just sit idly by, or the consequences will be unimaginable."

He was very anxious, clearly recognizing the seriousness of the matter.

However, the ministers looked at each other in bewilderment, and for a moment no one could offer any effective advice.

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Note: This year, for the Lantern Festival, we light only a few lanterns as we please. It's not as grand as our old home, with its thousands of red lotus blossoms. —Guo Yingxiang, "Good Things Are Near"

A spring breeze sweeps along the ten-mile-long road, a tapestry of spring light, ten thousand lamps burning brightly. — Yi Hui, "The Third of Three Poems on the Wind in the Pines"

Canopies hang high on the ground, brocade robes adorn the streets. Lanterns illuminate the towers. Behold the entire city, star-studded bridges raised high, fiery trees bursting forth. — You Tong, "Unforgettable Lantern Festival"

High-rise buildings resound with the clamor of music and song. Dancers sway gracefully. Ask not what the stars are shining on this night. The water clock has run out. The incense burner is burnt out. Dewdrops abound. Helplessly, moths follow the flickering candlelight. —Yang Yuxian, "The Night Cry of the Crow: High-rise Buildings Resound with the Clammor of Music and Song"