Chapter 364: 210, Enter Crane Emblem Country, Kill Golden Flood Dragon (8k6 Big Chapter)_2
"Ahead is Crane Emblem Country, my hometown..."
After getting off the Flying Boat, Wu Miao acted as the host to lead the way. They arrived at a marsh country after traveling for two days.
The customs of Crane Emblem Country were similar to those of Fengxi Country, except for some slight differences in clothing.
This marsh country is located on Crane Abyss Lake. There is a huge continent shaped like a straight horizontal line in the middle of Crane Abyss Lake, dividing it into East Marsh and West Marsh.
The country on the continent is Crane Emblem Country. The name of the country is related to Crane Abyss Lake and this continent.
After crossing a shimmering, sparkling lake with rippling waves, they arrived at the Welcoming Dust Station in Crane Emblem Country.
"This minister pays respects to Eldest Princess."
Upon seeing Wu Miao, the officials at the Welcoming Dust Station knelt down and greeted her by the path.
"Seventy years ago, when I was captured and taken to Wangchuan Sea, my Father Emperor died from rage..."
"Now, the one who manages the Crane Emblem Country’s government is my imperial brother, the former Crown Prince."
While allowing the officials from the Posthouse to stand up, Wu Miao used sound transmission via divine consciousness to explain to Xu Xing.
Eldest Princess not only refers to the Emperor’s eldest daughter but also constitutes a noble title.
Only princesses with a position in the Royal Family can be titled Eldest Princess by the Emperor.
"Senior Brother Xu... is a True Lineage of another School, and also my prince consort..."
Seeing the glances of the officials at the Posthouse towards Xu Xing beside her, Wu Miao hesitated a bit and then stepped forward, chest held high, revealing Xu Xing’s identity.
While the North Wilderness differed from Wangchuan Sea, meaning Xu Xing’s identity wouldn’t be an outright "taboo" there, it remained a sensitive issue. This declaration would inevitably bring some disadvantages to both Crane Emblem Country and Starfall Sect.
"Prince Consort..."
Xu Xing nodded his head when he heard this, not refuting it.
He and Wu Miao indeed had a relationship as spouses.
It’s just that they hadn’t held a grand ceremony to recognize them as spouses yet, nor was the relationship officially acknowledged.
"We pay our respects to the... True Lineage," the officials at the Posthouse said respectfully to Xu Xing.
Just having the Eldest Princess’s verbal agreement is not enough for the title of prince consort. An imperial edict from the Emperor is required.
If they addressed him incorrectly at this time, it would not simply result in losing their posts. They could even lose their heads.
"No ceremony needed!"
Wu Miao did not argue with the officials at the Post Station. She ordered, "Prepare the phoenix chariot and princess’s ceremonial carriage. Tomorrow, I will enter the palace to meet my imperial brother."
Her and Xu Xing’s statuses were extraordinary, so they could have directly entered the palace, but she had other plans in returning this time.
Entering the palace directly would be against etiquette.
To return to the palace for mourning—even one so delayed—without the proper ceremonial procession would be highly inappropriate.
Moreover, the current Emperor of Crane Emblem Country was her imperial brother, not her Father Emperor. If she entered the palace without announcing her arrival, her imperial brother, even if he said nothing openly, would certainly be displeased.
This was not about whether she and the Crown Prince were close; it was about understanding propriety.
"We, your ministers, obey the Eldest Princess’s decree."
The Posthouse officials took the orders and began preparing to enter the Capital.
...
...
「The next day.」
At the entrance of the Welcoming Dust Station, a luxurious Imperial Chariot appeared, pulled by a three-zhang-sized Fire Phoenix Monster.
By the chariot, there were some palace maids and eunuchs holding official rank tablets and ceremonial armaments.
Several dozen Dragon-Scaled Horses led the way in front.
Due to the decline of the Seven Stars Sect, the North Wilderness has been plagued by constant war for years, unable to achieve the complete separation of immortal and mortal beings...
From an upper floor of the Posthouse, Xu Xing watched the scene, a thoughtful expression on his face.
Wu Miao, with her astute mind, saw this and quietly explained to Xu Xing.
The separation of immortal and mortal beings is a good thing for mortals, but it is also a bad thing... Xu Xing sighed.
Through the window casement, his eyes swept across the scene. He saw a restless Dragon-Scaled Horse near the carriage shafts pawing the ground, nearly trampling several nearby pedestrians.
Facing such extraordinary power, these mortals had almost no means of resistance.
The Fire Phoenix Monster raised its neck and let out a long cry. With a flap of its wings, several passersby were instantly sent flying.
If it weren’t for the Post Station soldiers intervening, several people would likely have perished on the spot in that short time.
「Half a day later.」
The ceremonial carriage was finally in order.
After the Post Station officials came up to pay their respects, Xu Xing and Wu Miao descended from the Post Station’s upper floor and boarded the Imperial Chariot, Xu Xing slightly ahead of Wu Miao.
"How dare he walk in front of the Eldest Princess?"
"He’s got some nerve!"
"This is a flagrant disregard for etiquette..."
Several officials were dumbfounded when they saw this.
Though the prince consort is the princess’s husband, everyone from the Emperor down to the common people knew that the princess’s status was superior to the prince consort’s.
"I’ve heard this Mr. Xu is a True Lineage of a School..." an official from the Posthouse whispered.
Yesterday, he had heard Wu Miao’s brief introduction of Xu Xing.
"The Eldest Princess is the Saintess of the Starfall Sect and the future Sect Master. What’s so special about a True Lineage?"
Upon hearing this, some officials frowned deeply.
In their view, the Starfall Sect was already a Large Sect.
Although Crane Emblem Country was a place where immortals and mortals coexisted, its people did not know that in East Huangzhou, there were Ten Major Sects, and only beneath those Ten Major Sects were Large Sects like Starfall Sect...
"It’s not surprising. There have been many arrogant prince consorts who acted unscrupulously, relying on the princess’s favor."
Several officials reached this conclusion.
However, despite their whispers, they did not dare voice these thoughts in front of Xu Xing and Wu Miao, maintaining a respectful demeanor.
"Senior Brother Xu is a Dao Pill Daoist!" After boarding the Imperial Chariot and hearing these remarks, Wu Miao frowned and coldly revealed Xu Xing’s cultivation.
Although Crane Emblem Country’s government was well-ordered, it also restricted some news from the outside world.
This was why these officials were like frogs in a well, ignorant of the vastness of the world beyond.
Comparing Starfall Sect to Flying Feather Immortal Palace was simply out of the question.