1151 Chapter 1151 The King"s Daughter
Lu Yu strode confidently across the wide red carpet, his gaze fixed on the imposing palace gates. Two rows of royal guards in gleaming gold armor flanked the entrance, their postures rigid and expressions stoic. Their presence exuded an aura of authority, a testament to the royal family"s power and the kingdom"s stability.
Reaching the heavy doors, Zhao Qingya presented her credentials. The doors creaked open, revealing a vast, open square within. Soldiers in similar golden armor patrolled the grounds, their movements synchronized and their faces resolute.
In the distance, a majestic palace stood tall—the Meeting Hall, where the king and his advisors convened to discuss matters of state. Its grandeur reflected the kingdom"s prosperity and the king"s leadership.
"Let"s see if the king is available," Zhao Qingya suggested. "If not, we"ll need to search elsewhere."
Lu Yu followed closely as they approached the steps leading to the Meeting Hall. Dozens of steps ascended to a grand entrance with three wide-open doors, offering a glimpse of the interior.
"It appears he"s not here," Zhao Qingya sighed. "Perhaps we should try elsewhere."
As they were about to turn away, a vision in a flowing gown approached them.
"Zhao Tianyu!" Zhao Qingya exclaimed, a smile spreading across her face. "What a pleasant surprise! You look even more radiant than ever."
The woman greeted them warmly. "Sister Qingya! Long time no see. How have things been on your end?"
"All things considered, they"re manageable," Zhao Qingya replied. "The Demon Lord"s forces remain a nuisance, but we"ve successfully repelled them so far."
"These constant disruptions are troubling," Zhao Tianyu frowned. "Unrest seems to be brewing among various factions. It seems they might be plotting an attack, hoping to exploit the chaos. A worrying sign... we could be facing a series of challenges in the near future."
"Sounds like we have our work cut out for us," Zhao Qingya agreed.
"It seems my problems aren"t isolated incidents, then," Zhao Qingya added. "If they won"t behave, we"ll make them."
"Speaking of which, what brings you back? Reporting something?"
Zhao Qingya shook her head. "There is a report, but my primary purpose is to introduce him." She gestured towards Lu Yu.
Zhao Tianyu gave Lu Yu a cursory glance. He was undeniably handsome, but as a princess, she was accustomed to seeing beauty. While Lu Yu was striking, his strength held more appeal. After all, her status wouldn"t allow her to choose a companion based solely on looks.
"Him?" Zhao Tianyu asked, her voice laced with indifference. "Why bring him here? What"s the situation?"
"He"s vital," Zhao Qingya emphasized. "I need to explain everything in detail to His Majesty."
"Unfortunately, Father is currently unavailable. He"s away on business. Finding him might take some time."
"Oh no," Zhao Qingya muttered, turning to Lu Yu with a helpless shrug. "It looks like the king isn"t here."
"No worries," Lu Yu replied. "Seeing the King isn"t my main purpose. I"m here to find someone."
"Princess Zhao," Zhao Qingya clarified, "I"m here to a.s.sist him in his search. His friend is somewhere in the Ten Thousand Dragon Country, but the exact location remains unknown. We only know they"re in the capital."
Zhao Tianyu shrugged dismissively. "Locating individuals isn"t my area of expertise. Perhaps someone else can be of a.s.sistance. I have my own duties to attend to."
"Lu Yu, he"s,,, not someone weak," Zhao Qingya said, holding out a file, "this is his information. While brief, it"s quite remarkable. You might want to take a look."
Zhao Tianyu waved her hand dismissively. "No need. I don"t involve myself in complex matters like this. It"s beyond my scope."
Undeterred, Zhao Qingya presented the file again. "Just a glance. You"ll understand once you see it."
"Must you insist?" Zhao Tianyu sighed. "This country houses countless exceptional talents. I"ve reviewed countless profiles; nothing truly surprises me anymore. You"re wasting your time."
As she spoke, curiosity piqued, she opened the file and began to read.
Moments later, her brow furrowed, and her expression became serious.
"Wait, is this information accurate? It"s not fabricated, right?"
"Absolutely true," Zhao Qingya confirmed. "There"s no deception here. Everything"s factual. You can send investigators to a few cities to verify my claims. Everything aligns. If you remain unconvinced, then my hands are tied."
Zhao Tianyu"s perception of Lu Yu shifted dramatically. Initially uninterested, after reviewing the file, she couldn"t help but be impressed. In her eyes, Lu Yu now embodied both exceptional ability and a flawless image.
"Please don"t stare," Lu Yu interjected politely. "I require your a.s.sistance in finding someone."
"Finding someone, you say? No problem at all!"
"Who is it?" she inquired.
"Her name is Su Qing. You once sent someone to search for her. You wouldn"t happen to know her, would you?"
Zhao Tianyu shook her head. "The name doesn"t ring a bell... though it does sound like a woman"s name."
"Correct," Lu Yu confirmed.
"What"s your relationship with her?" Zhao Tianyu pressed, a hint of curiosity in her voice.
"That"s not relevant to the situation," Lu Yu replied curtly.
"Is that how you address me? Perhaps a reminder of my position is in order?" Zhao Tianyu puffed out her chest slightly, a touch of pride creeping into her voice.
Antic.i.p.ating potential conflict, Zhao Qingya intervened. "Let"s maintain a civil conversation. Don"t let things escalate."
"I was being perfectly civil," Zhao Tianyu countered. "If the person you seek is your wife, then a.s.sisting you wouldn"t be appropriate."
"Hold on," Zhao Qingya interjected. "They"re just friends. Besides, such narrow-mindedness won"t win you any favors."
Zhao Tianyu scoffed, placing her hands on her hips. "Who wouldn"t be drawn to a princess?"
"Enough," Zhao Qingya sighed, throwing her hands up in exasperation.
Seeing the tension mounting, Lu Yu stepped forward. "So, are you willing to help?"
Zhao Tianyu flipped her hair dramatically, then offered a confident smirk. "Absolutely. Consider it done. I"ll deploy my people to search the entire city. Finding them will be a breeze."
"Excellent," Lu Yu responded with grat.i.tude. "Please let me know as soon as you have any news."