The Sacred Leaves Family's Wishes for Peace-Chapter 167: Insults

"Despite their ties as in-laws, the Emperor has been distancing himself from the Three Great Families and Seven Clans for years. Even if he explained the situation to the Tongshan Summer Clan, there’s no guarantee they’d believe him," Li Qing remarked.

Hearing this, Yun Yun Yang nodded in understanding.

"For years, the royal court and palace have been infiltrated by countless spies and members from the Three Great Families and Seven Clans.

The Emperor has been under their constant surveillance. His decision to take the Seventh Princess and visit your Yun Clan in disguise was a calculated move to avoid their notice and prevent them from targeting your family.

Unfortunately, it seems he underestimated their intelligence network. Now your family has drawn the attention of the Tongshan Summer Clan, bringing you unnecessary trouble," Li Qing sighed, his tone heavy with regret.

He went on to recount the Emperor’s struggles and hardships in recent years, sparing no detail. For Li Qing, the Yun Cang Yun Clan, under Yun Yun Yang’s leadership, had become one of the few families in the kingdom that he and the Emperor could truly trust.

"Don’t say that, Immortal Master. The Emperor’s intentions were not malicious. Besides, my Yun Clan has faced its share of challenges on the road to growth. One more won’t make much of a difference," Yun Yun Yang said with a lighthearted smile.

The trust shown by both Li Qing and the Emperor was not something Yun Yun Yang took lightly. He wouldn’t harbor resentment over the trouble their visit might have brought.

"Ha! If the Emperor hears your words, he’ll surely be heartened. He often spoke on our journey back to the palace about how much he admired the harmony and camaraderie within your family.

He believes choosing to support the Yun Cang Yun Clan was a wise decision and trusts that your family won’t develop the same wolfish ambitions as the Three Great Families and Seven Clans."

"My clan will not disappoint the Emperor or you, Immortal Master," Yun Yun Yang said firmly.

"This trial is your opportunity to prove your strength. Show them what your Yun Clan is capable of," Li Qing said with a grin.

"We will give it our all," Yun Yun Yang assured him.

"Good. Enough talk for now. Come, let’s head inside. The banquet will begin shortly," Li Qing said, leading Yun Yun Yang and his group toward the Wanlong Hall.

On the way, Yun Yan Shui, Yun Yan Tian, and Yun Yan Shuang were stunned when they heard that Bai Li Mo Xue was the Seventh Princess.

"The Seventh Princess?!"

"Yes," Yun Yun Yang confirmed with a nod.

"Uncle, did you already suspect Bai Li Senior’s identity?" Yun Yan Tian asked after a long silence.

"I did," Yun Yun Yang admitted.

"The Emperor has placed his hopes in our family. We must not let him down. Yan Tian, Shuang’er, this trial is your chance to demonstrate the strength of the Yun Cang Yun Clan. Show them what you’re capable of," he said, his expression serious.

"Especially you, Yan Tian. You’re the one destined to marry the Seventh Princess. You must not falter or let the Tongshan Summer Clan belittle you!"

"I understand, Uncle. I will give it my all," Yun Yan Tian replied with determination.

’So the Tongshan Summer Clan wants to kill Brother Yan Tian?’

’The Hundred Clans Assembly isn’t the place to make reckless moves. Too many powerful eyes are watching. This will have to wait until after the trials,’ Yun Yan Shui thought, his eyes narrowing as a chilling gleam flickered within them.

Inside the Wanlong Hall, representatives from the various clans were already seated.

"Brother, what are you doing?" Yun Yan Shuang asked, noticing her elder brother sneaking items from the banquet table into a storage pouch.

"Packing up," Yun Yan Shui replied nonchalantly, stuffing spirit wine, spirit fruits, and other rare delicacies into the pouch with practiced ease.

"This banquet is filled with treasures our clan doesn’t have. I’m taking them back to honor our parents, uncles, and siblings. I’m doing this for the family," he said, sighing dramatically as he continued his "harvest."

Yun Yun Yang could only shake his head with a wry smile, while Yun Yan Tian nearly choked on his drink, thoroughly exasperated with his younger brother.

"Have you no shame? Everyone is watching us! You’re embarrassing our clan!" Yun Yan Shuang scolded with a huff, though her actions betrayed her words. Quietly, she began slipping spirit fruits and wine into her brother’s pouch, muttering under her breath, "Take more. There’s no way this will be enough for everyone back home."

"Hmph! So those are the spiritual root descendants of the Yun Cang Yun Clan? To think they’d shamelessly pack up the Emperor’s banquet like common thieves. How disgraceful," a cold voice sneered from a nearby table.

"Indeed! Such disgraceful behavior truly tarnishes the atmosphere of this grand event!"

The antics of Yun Yan Shui and his sister did not go unnoticed. Many spiritual root descendants and elders from other clans sneered at their lack of decorum, their contempt for the Yun Cang Yun Clan growing deeper by the minute.

"Brother Changqing, are you not drinking your wine?"

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Yun Yan Shui’s sharp eyes fell on the untouched array of spirit wines and fruits on Xia Changqing’s table. His curiosity compelled him to ask.

"I’m not," Xia Changqing replied with an air of nonchalance.

As Yun Yan Shui was Yun Yan Shuang’s elder brother and thus had a familial tie to a distinguished spiritual root practitioner, Xia Changqing remained polite despite his growing disdain.

"You’re not drinking it? Then, how about giving it to me? I’m rather fond of these," Yun Yan Shui said with a mischievous grin.

"Help yourself," Xia Changqing said, maintaining a calm demeanor though irritation brewed within him.

"Much obliged!" Yun Yan Shui beamed, gleefully sweeping every last drop of spirit wine from Xia Changqing’s table into his storage pouch.

"What about the fruits and pastries?" Yun Yan Shui asked, his eyes twinkling with shameless intent.

"You may take those too, Brother Yan Shui," Xia Changqing replied, his voice steady, though his hands itched to slap the audacious man. He forced himself to remain composed—losing his temper in front of so many spiritual root descendants and elders would only tarnish his dignity.

"Brother Changqing, you’re truly generous. On behalf of my entire clan, I thank you for your gracious gifts!" Yun Yan Shui said with exaggerated sincerity.

He proceeded to sweep every last morsel of spirit fruits and pastries into his pouch, leaving Xia Changqing with an empty table and a twitching eye.

When Yun Yan Shui’s gaze shifted to the other Xia Clan disciples, they immediately clutched their food and drinks, hurriedly consuming them to ensure nothing else would fall into his hands.

"My apologies, Xia Changqing. My nephew can be rather shameless at times," Yun Yun Yang said, feigning remorse as he watched Yun Yan Shui return triumphantly to his seat.

"It’s no trouble. My clan has an abundance of such things; we’ve long grown tired of them," Xia Changqing replied, his words laced with veiled mockery.

"Ah, then I must thank you for your clan’s generosity!" Yun Yun Yang said with a hearty laugh, seemingly unfazed by the barb.

"Brother, that was brilliant!" Yun Yan Shuang whispered, giving her brother a sly thumbs-up.

Even Yun Yan Tian, typically critical of his younger brother’s antics, couldn’t help but crack a smile.

After all, what was more satisfying than seeing Xia Changqing humbled and gaining valuable spoils to bring home to their family?

As for decorum and reputation? Those were luxuries they couldn’t afford to prioritize over tangible gains.

"The Emperor has arrived!"

A shrill voice echoed through the hall, cutting through the chatter.

All present—spiritual root descendants and elders alike—immediately adjusted their attire, rising from their seats to bow in unison.

"We welcome His Majesty! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

Accompanied by eunuchs, palace maids, consorts, and his royal children, Emperor Bai Li Xi entered the Wanlong Hall with measured steps.

Among the procession, Yun Yan Tian caught sight of Bai Li Mo Xue, dressed in an elegant white gown, a light green sash cinching her waist and accentuating her graceful figure.

Her delicate features, untouched by cosmetics, radiated natural beauty that was breathtaking. Among the royal children, she shone brightest, drawing Yun Yan Tian’s gaze as if spellbound.

Lost in admiration, he failed to notice her playful glance until she arched a brow at him, a mischievous glimmer in her eyes.

Realizing his impropriety, Yun Yan Tian hastily lowered his gaze, his face flushed with embarrassment.

Watching his flustered reaction, Bai Li Mo Xue’s heart brimmed with quiet joy, though she maintained her usual cool and composed demeanor outwardly.