Chapter 1028: 引蛇

"A vast empire is nothing compared to having a good master," Yun Che exclaimed.

The twenty women behind him stood with their heads bowed, waiting nervously. When Yun Che approached the bed, the leading woman, assuming he was going to bed early, discreetly bit her lip. She then stepped forward and whispered, "Young Master Yun, are you retiring for the night?"

"Yes," Yun Che replied, turning to look at her.

He had noticed her from the start because her attire was different from the other nineteen girls. She wore a simple, elegant snow-white gown that swept the floor, radiating a captivating grandeur.

"What's your name?" Yun Che asked, looking at her.

"This princess!" The words slipped out, startling her. She quickly lowered her head and nervously stammered, "Your humble servant is Han Jin. Young Master Yun can simply call me Jin'er."

"This princess? Han Jin?"

"Are you a princess of the Ice Wind Empire?" Yun Che asked, his gaze sweeping over her. It was no wonder her demeanor was so extraordinary. Feng Huituo had actually sent his own daughter here – a very thoughtful gesture indeed.

"Yes," Feng Han Jin replied, her head bowed even lower.

She was the youngest princess of the Ice Wind Empire, only fifteen years old. She had come on Feng Huituo's orders to personally serve the distinguished guest, having been told that winning his favor, even as a concubine or a bed-warming maid, would be a lifelong blessing.

"So it is," Yun Che slowly nodded. "Your Emperor actually sent a dignified princess to serve someone. He's truly willing to part with you, and isn't afraid of putting you out."

Feng Han Jin whispered, "My father said it is my good fortune to serve Young Master Yun."

"Hahahaha," Yun Che laughed. "Your Emperor is truly too polite. It seems I need to properly thank him tomorrow. Speaking of which, on my way here, I heard that your Ice Wind Empire has a history of nearly a hundred thousand years. That's truly remarkable."

"The Ice Wind Empire has existed for eighty-seven thousand six hundred and twenty-two years since its founding," Feng Han Jin stated.

Her voice was small, filled with nervousness and timidity, yet she stated the incredibly precise number.

"In the history of the Snow Song Realm, that must be quite ancient, wouldn't you say?" Yun Che asked.

"To Young Master Yun," Feng Han Jin dutifully replied, "In the Snow Song Realm, while the Ice Wind Empire's power is not the strongest, it has existed for the longest time. Countless dynasties have risen and fallen throughout Snow Song history, but only our Ice Wind Empire has stood for over fifty thousand years, and we are not far from reaching a hundred thousand years."

"Oh?" Yun Che looked surprised, then exclaimed, "In the world I come from, it's extremely rare for a dynasty to last even a few thousand years. Over eighty thousand years is truly astonishing. It seems the Ice Wind Empire must possess immense national fortune."

"Such a powerful national fortune must have a reason. Since you are a princess of the Ice Wind Empire, you must know the source of such strong national fortune, correct? Perhaps a national leyline or a sacred artifact guarding the nation? Tell me about it," Yun Che said, looking extremely curious.

"This..." Feng Han Jin replied nervously, "I usually remain in my chambers and never inquire about state affairs. I cannot answer your question, Young Master Yun. Please forgive me."

"Oh, no worries, I just asked casually." Yun Che waved his hand, then sat on the bed, reaching out to touch the ice silkworm quilt. "Such a comfortable bed. It seems I'll get a good night's sleep tonight."

"If Young Master Yun wishes to rest..." Feng Han Jin nervously intertwined her fingers, her face deeply flushed, head bowed, not daring to look at Yun Che. "Allow me to assist you with a bath."

"Oh, no need," Yun Che said, lying down. "I never bathe."

"Then allow me to assist you in undressing," she offered.

"No need for that either. I never take off my clothes when I sleep." Yun Che lay with his head back, eyes closed, and casually waved his hand. "There's nothing else here. You may leave."

Feng Han Jin's expression was complex, a mixture of disappointment and relief. She bowed respectfully. "Yes, I will wait outside, ready for your commands at any time."

"Oh, wait!" Yun Che suddenly got up from the bed, glanced outside, and muttered, "It's a rare trip to the Ice Wind Empire; it's a bit of a shame to go to bed so early. Princess Han Jin, how about you call your Imperial Brother Han Yi? Have him show me around the Ice Wind Imperial Palace."

"Yes, I will go at once."

As Feng Han Jin left the Ice Pavilion Palace, she was about to send a sound transmission to Mu Han Yi when she saw him approaching.

She quickly went to meet him. "Thirteenth Brother."

"Han Jin?" Mu Han Yi was slightly surprised. "Aren't you serving Senior Brother Yun Che by Father's command? Why are you outside? Is Senior Brother Yun Che not in the Ice Pavilion Palace right now?"

"Young Master Yun is in the Ice Pavilion Palace right now, but he asked me to call you over, hoping you could show him around the Imperial City," Feng Han Jin replied.

"Oh, I see," Mu Han Yi nodded slightly. "Then let's go quickly."

"Han Jin, what do you think of Yun Che?" Mu Han Yi asked casually.

Feng Han Jin thought for a moment, then softly replied, "Well, I haven't spoken much with Young Master Yun, but I found him to be very gentle. Despite his noble status, he doesn't seem overbearing at all."

"Hehe, of course. If his character wasn't good, how could he have been chosen by the Sect Master?" Mu Han Yi smiled, then continued naturally, "Since you've spoken with him, did he ask you anything?"

He then added, "If he has any requests, you must fulfill them, no matter what."

"He didn't ask anything specific. He just casually mentioned a few things about our Ice Wind Empire's history and asked about the national fortune," Feng Han Jin answered truthfully. Although a royal princess, she had received a strict imperial education since childhood and was accustomed to obedience.

"National fortune?" Mu Han Yi's brow twitched.

The sudden change in Mu Han Yi's tone made Feng Han Jin look at him. "Thirteenth Brother, what's wrong?"

"Oh," Mu Han Yi laughed, "I really didn't expect Senior Brother Yun Che to believe in such an ethereal concept as national fortune. That's quite surprising, hahaha."

Mu Han Yi and Feng Han Jin arrived at the Ice Pavilion Palace together. Upon seeing Yun Che, Mu Han Yi quickly apologized, "Senior Brother Yun Che, I am truly ashamed to have been absent for so long. I have not returned for several years and have been busy with many trivial matters."

"I've told you many times, Junior Brother Han Yi, there's no need to be so polite," Yun Che said with an indifferent smile. "I casually strolled outside for a short while earlier. The Ice Wind Imperial Palace is truly beautiful, completely incomparable to the imperial palaces in our lower realm. I still feel I haven't seen enough. Would you mind taking me around again, Senior Brother Han Yi?"

"It's no trouble at all; it would be my honor."

Yun Che and Mu Han Yi walked out of the Ice Pavilion Palace side by side, strolling and admiring the Ice Wind Imperial Palace under the night sky.

The God Realm and the lower realm were vastly different planes. The grandeur of the God Realm's imperial palace was naturally far beyond comparison to the Azure Wind Imperial Palace or the Divine Phoenix Imperial Palace that Yun Che was familiar with.

Yun Che listened as Mu Han Yi gave a detailed introduction to various parts of the palace, occasionally mentioning things about the Blue Pole Star. The two laughed constantly and conversed happily, and before they knew it, they had walked through more than half of the imperial palace.

"So the longevity of the Ice Wind Empire is actually unparalleled in the history of the Snow Song Realm. Over eighty thousand years of history is truly astonishing."

Yun Che praised with a sincere expression, "It seems this vast Ice Wind Empire must be blessed by the Heavenly Way, endowed with a powerful national fortune."

"Oh?" Mu Han Yi smiled. "Does Senior Brother Yun Che also believe in 'fortune'?"

"Regarding fortune, whether personal or national, I'm afraid no one fully believes it, nor does anyone fully disbelieve it. It's like no one can definitively say whether destiny is predetermined or self-determined," Yun Che said slowly.

"Hahahaha," Mu Han Yi laughed heartily, nodding in deep agreement. "Senior Brother Yun Che put it well. In my understanding, fortune is something you can neither fully trust nor fully distrust. The primary reason our Ice Wind Empire has stood for so long is, firstly, that our ancestors and past emperors governed wisely. The first rule of the Ice Wind Imperial Code is to foster closeness with the people and gather their support. If you lose the people's hearts, you lose your foundation, and even the strongest nation will falter. 'He who wins the hearts of the people wins the world' is never an empty phrase. Our ancestors and past emperors strictly adhered to this teaching, ensuring the loyalty of both rulers and commoners remained stable, and thus Ice Wind naturally stood strong."

Yun Che looked deeply at Mu Han Yi, then asked, "Is there a second reason?"

"The second reason," Mu Han Yi said with a somewhat mysterious smile, "is as Senior Brother Yun Che suggested: perhaps a significant national fortune has protected us."

"Oh?" Yun Che looked surprised. "Could it be that there's a spiritual vein beneath this Imperial City?"

"Not so," Mu Han Yi shook his head. "Rather, in the early days of our Ice Wind's founding, we obtained a heaven-bestowed sacred artifact that protects the nation. This artifact has been with Ice Wind for over eighty thousand years. The Ice Wind Empire still stands, and that artifact, despite eighty thousand years of change, remains completely unaltered. If national fortune truly exists in this world, then it is this sacred artifact that has protected our Ice Wind to this day."

"A sacred artifact guarding the nation? Such a thing exists?" Yun Che asked in astonishment. "What kind of sacred artifact is it? To endure eighty thousand years without any change, it must be an extraordinary wonder."

Mu Han Yi opened his mouth, clearly hesitating, then candidly said, "The existence of this sacred artifact is not a secret. However, while people know Ice Wind possesses one, almost no one knows what kind of artifact it is. This is one of our Ice Wind royal family's greatest secrets. Still, there's no harm in telling Senior Brother Yun Che. I only ask that you keep it confidential."

"Of course," Yun Che nodded.

"This sacred artifact is a Qilin horn," Mu Han Yi stated with a solemn expression. "Our Great Ancestor Emperor accidentally found it beneath the vast icy plains. At a time when Qilins had long been extinct, to find a Qilin horn, and a perfectly complete one at that, was truly an incredible stroke of luck and a miracle."

"A Qilin horn?" Yun Che stopped in his tracks, his face once again registering deep surprise. "Aren't Qilins legendary auspicious beasts? Are they not fictional, but truly real?"

"Of course," Mu Han Yi nodded. "Qilins have been extinct in the Eastern Divine Region for a long time, and naturally would have become extinct even earlier in the lower realms, leaving behind only legends of uncertain truth. So it's not strange that Senior Brother Yun Che would think they are fictional. But Qilins do exist. It is rumored that in the distant Western Divine Region, there is a Qilin clan that survived to this day because they obtained ancient divine blood. So, if fate allows, Senior Brother Yun Che might one day even see a true Qilin with his own eyes."

Yun Che was stunned for a while before slowly nodding, his face full of surprise. "The world is indeed vast, full of wonders. The legendary auspicious beasts actually exist. It seems my twenty-plus years in the lower realms were completely like looking at the sky from the bottom of a well."

"By the way, where is this Qilin horn currently located? I'd like to see it with my own eyes."

Yun Che's tone and expression both conveyed deep curiosity and excitement.