Starting with being handed over to the Imperial Concubine, building a family with a thousand-year hi

Xiao Anran looked at him, a hint of approval flashing in her eyes, and nodded: "You are quite insightful. In that case, you should go to the Imperial Study to see the Emperor yourself. The Emperor has something to say to you."

"Your servant obeys!" Feng Bao bowed and replied, already understanding that what the Emperor wanted to say to him must be related to his adoptive father, Su Mu. He had to be careful with his words and actions during this audience with the Emperor and absolutely could not make a mistake.

As night deepened, moonlight streamed through the window, casting a soft glow on the floor. Feng Bao straightened his clothes and hurried towards the Imperial Study. A moment later, he entered the second floor of the library and bowed to Su Mu, reporting, "Father, this servant is going to the Imperial Study to see His Majesty, and has come to bid you farewell."

Su Mu was sitting cross-legged, holding the core of the Dragon Blood Fruit in his hands. Upon hearing this, he opened his eyes, waved his hand, and said calmly, "Go. If the Emperor asks about me, you only need to tell him everything you know without holding back. There's no need to hide anything."

"This servant understands!" Feng Bao bowed and replied, then turned and quickly left.

Su Mu watched his retreating figure, a faint smile playing on his lips. Although Feng Bao was merely a lowly eunuch, he was shrewd and knew his place. His decision to come specifically to take his leave, rather than secretly seeking an audience with the emperor, demonstrated his loyalty and understanding. If Feng Bao had gone to see the emperor without a word, he wouldn't have blamed him—after all, Feng Bao was ultimately a palace eunuch, and loyalty to the emperor was simply his duty. However, a slight resentment might still linger in his heart.

Feng Bao's actions undoubtedly put his reservations to rest, and made him even more certain that Feng Bao was worth his careful cultivation and would become his right-hand man in the future, contributing to the prosperity of the Su family.

After Feng Bao left, Su Mu closed his eyes again. The core of the Dragon Blood Fruit in his hand was slightly warm, and strands of pure dragon blood essence slowly overflowed. He enveloped it with his divine sense again and devoted himself to studying the refining method. The second floor of the library returned to silence, with only a faint spiritual light quietly flowing in the night.

The banquet in the palace had long since ended, and the night was as dark as ink.

Having just experienced a fierce battle in the morning and been busy all day, Emperor Xiao Anxun felt no sleepiness whatsoever.

Inside the Qianming Hall, the candlelight flickered. He sat alone on the dragon throne, flipping through two stacks of intelligence reports that had just been delivered that day, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"Your Majesty, Feng Bao, the steward of the Imperial Library, requests an audience!" Li Lianqing's announcement came from outside the hall, respectful and clear.

"Summon them!" Xiao Anxun didn't even raise his head, his voice calm yet carrying the majesty of an emperor.

As soon as he finished speaking, Feng Bao, with his hunched back, strode quickly into the hall from outside, not daring to linger for even a moment.

"Your humble servant Feng Bao pays his respects to Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!" He knelt on both knees, performing a deep and respectful salute, his forehead almost touching the ground.

"No need for formalities." Xiao Anxun put down the intelligence report in his hand, raised his hand and pointed to the armchair next to him, "Please sit down."

Feng Bao stiffened and quickly waved his hands, "This servant wouldn't dare!"

"Sit down as I say. Do you intend to disobey my decree?" Xiao Anxun's tone was slightly somber, his imperial authority subtly revealed.

"This servant wouldn't dare!" Feng Bao's heart skipped a beat. He quickly got up and carefully sat down on the edge of the armchair, lowering his head and keeping his eyes down, not daring to even glance at Xiao Anxun out of the corner of his eye.

Looking at his reserved appearance, Xiao Anxun slowly said, "I heard that Elder Su personally guided your cultivation, and now you have reached the peak of Qi Refining, which is quite an unexpected joy."

Feng Bao quickly stood up and bowed, speaking humbly: "Feng Bao's success today is entirely due to the Emperor's grace and my adoptive father's meticulous guidance. This servant dares not take credit for anything."

"No need for formalities, sit down and talk." Xiao Anxun waved his hand, then changed the subject slightly, "I initially let you into the library to punish you, but I didn't expect you to still remember my kindness."

"Your Majesty's great kindness is something I will never forget!" Feng Bao knelt down again, his tone extremely earnest.

He knew perfectly well that he had to show his loyalty at this moment. Before becoming Su Mu's adopted son, he was just an insignificant eunuch in the palace, and he knew all too well that in the imperial palace, if you didn't recognize your place, you would die sooner or later.

Xiao Anxun nodded in satisfaction and gestured for him to stand up: "Very good. Your martial arts aptitude is ordinary, and you are not suitable for the path of martial arts. Although you have Elder Su's guidance and have been able to enter the path of cultivation, the path of martial arts is long and the further you go, the more difficult it is to break through. You should think carefully about your future."

Feng Bao quickly replied, "This servant understands! This time, this servant will certainly stay true to my principles, cultivate diligently, and live up to the expectations of His Majesty and my adoptive father!"

A meaningful glint flashed in Xiao Anxun's eyes as he asked, "As Elder Su's adopted son, he would naturally plan for your future. Has Elder Su told you what arrangements he has for you?"

"Your Majesty, my adoptive father instructed me to devote myself to cultivation, striving to reach the Innate Realm as soon as possible, and then, like Cheng Ping'an and Yu Tian, ​​enter the Martial Guard Prefecture for training and learning," Feng Bao replied truthfully, not daring to conceal a single word.

"Oh?" Xiao Anxun raised an eyebrow and pressed, "Does Elder Su mean he's certain you can successfully enter the Innate Realm?"

"My godfather didn't say anything explicitly, only instructing me to focus on my cultivation," Feng Bao replied with a bow.

Xiao Anxun tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, paused for a moment, and then posed another question: "I've heard that Elder Su possesses many elixirs and miraculous medicines that can enhance cultivation. Do you know where these elixirs came from?"

Feng Bao quickly shook his head: "Your Majesty, this servant does not know."

Xiao Anxun raised his eyes to look at him, his eyes flashing with a sharp light, releasing the full pressure of an emperor: "Do you really not know, or do you not want to tell me, or is it that Elder Su forbade you to speak?"

An invisible pressure descended, and Feng Bao panicked, collapsing to the ground with a thud, his face filled with terror: "This servant truly knew nothing! This servant would never dare to deceive Your Majesty!"

"Rise." Xiao Anxun withdrew his imposing manner, his tone returning to calm. "I was merely having a casual chat with you to clear up your doubts. There's no need for such apprehension."

Feng Bao stood up shakily and sat back down in his chair. His back was already soaked with cold sweat, and the tension on his face lingered for a long time.

Xiao Anxun then asked, "On your way to Qianming Palace, did you see any mysterious experts near the library?"

Feng Bao quickly shook his head, his tone resolute: "This servant has never seen any mysterious masters in the library. My godfather usually lives a secluded life, and apart from this servant and a few colleagues, very few people can get close to him."

Xiao Anxun nodded thoughtfully, then asked, "Does Elder Su know that you have come to see me today?"

"Your Majesty, I informed my godfather before I came," Feng Bao replied.

Xiao Anxun's lips curled into a barely perceptible smile, but he was quite displeased. He could see that Feng Bao's loyalty to the royal family remained unchanged, but he was also extremely loyal to Su Mu.

It is difficult for one person to serve two masters; this is the most taboo thing for an emperor. However, he also knew that Feng Bao had received too many benefits from Su Mu, and the royal family could not do without Su Mu now. He could not easily touch Su Mu's adopted son, so he could only endure it for the time being.

Xiao Anxun knew that he wouldn't get any useful information by asking any further questions, so he waved his hand and said, "Alright, do as Elder Su instructs. Come, let's go to the library."