Unconquered Heir

Upon hearing Zhu Jin''s words, Emperor Xia nodded slightly and remarked, "Unafraid of power and with a benevolent heart, this youth indeed stands apart from the other aristocratic scions of the capital."

Zhu Jin echoed with admiration, "No wonder the Zhao family is willing to honor the old betrothal. The children of other noble families in the capital are often quite unbecoming..."

The emperor merely smiled and said, "Do you truly believe that the Zhao family would bestow their cherished daughter upon him simply for his virtuous nature? He is signaling to me that the Zhao family will not engage in the power struggles of the capital. Some have already amassed great influence; if they were to also wed the Zhao family''s phoenix, even I might come to fear them..."

...

Within the Lin residence, in a room, Lin Xiu and Zhao Lingyin were engaged in cultivation.

Zhao Lingyin''s method of aiding his cultivation was to subject him to intense cold. Lin Xiu, clad only in an undershirt, was enveloped by frost, which had already crystallized on his eyebrows and hair.

Inside him, a force resisted the external chill, and in this enduring struggle, the latent power within Lin Xiu grew at an almost imperceptible pace.

Today, not long into their practice, there came a knock at the door.

During their sessions, no one would dare to disturb them unless it was a matter of utmost urgency.

Lin Xiu hastily donned his garments and opened the door, finding the Count and Countess of Peace standing outside, with three figures waiting in the courtyard.

All three men were clean-shaven and wore robes that resembled official attire yet bore subtle distinctions. The man at the forefront, with a high-pitched voice, declared, "Lin Xiu, son of the Count of Peace, His Majesty summons you to the palace. You must accompany us without delay."

Startled, Lin Xiu inquired, "His Majesty summons me—what could he possibly want?"

The eunuch replied indifferently, "That we do not know. Come along quickly, lest you incur the emperor''s wrath for tardiness."

With a sense of bewilderment, Lin Xiu followed the eunuchs, while the count and countess looked on with concern. Zhao Lingyin, seemingly understanding, reassured them, "Uncle and Aunt, rest assured. Lin Xiu''s visit to the palace shall be of no great consequence."

As Lin Xiu stepped through the palace gates, he began to surmise the emperor''s purpose for summoning him.

Being the son of a third-rank earl and a mere scribe in the Clear Official Bureau, how could he possibly have caught the emperor''s eye? To the emperor, the only value he held was his ability to create ice.

He had heard from the dean of the Elemental Academy that in the entire Great Xia capital, only two individuals possessed the ice element art.

One was Lingyin, and the other, Lin Xiu.

Celestial-tier elemental arts were rare not only because of their formidable power but also due to the exceedingly low probability of awakening. Those who awakened a celestial-tier art and also possessed innate talent for cultivation were rarer still.

As for why the more powerful Lingyin was not summoned, it was not surprising. A daughter of a first-rank marquis and a prodigy of the Heavenly Pavilion, if she were called to the palace for such a task, it would soon spread that the emperor did not respect talent.

Lin Xiu, however, was an obscure figure in the capital, easily conscripted for service.

Indeed, Lin Xiu''s conjecture proved correct. Upon entering the palace, a chief eunuch informed him that the imperial ice cellar was depleted and that his abilities were required to replenish it.

This duty, Lin Xiu could neither refuse nor decline.

Firstly, it was a direct summons from the emperor, leaving no room for refusal.

Secondly, in a sense, it was Lin Xiu''s obligation as a student of the Elemental Academy. The academy''s students, being specially recruited talents of the court, were expected to serve the government whenever needed.

These individuals, nurtured by the state and enjoying the resources of the academy, as well as a generous monthly stipend, owed it to the empire to fulfill their duties.

Naturally, such a summons came without remuneration.

Considering that he had been earning hundreds of taels of silver daily, the prospect of working gratis for the palace, at the cost of tangible wealth, made Lin Xiu sigh in resignation.

The chief eunuch, noticing Lin Xiu''s hesitation, questioned, "What, are you unwilling to serve the palace?"

Lin Xiu shook his head, explaining, "You misunderstand, my power has only just awakened, and my elemental strength is feeble. It will not last long, and I fear I may not produce much ice..."

The eunuch glanced at him and said, "Worry not about that. Follow me, and when we enter the harem, be prudent. Do not look where you should not, and do not ask what you should not. If you violate the palace rules, do not blame me for not forewarning you."

The Great Xia court comprised twenty-four offices, each with distinct responsibilities. The palace itself had its own twenty offices, managing the myriad affairs within.

Within the royal city, the outer palace housed the various departments and the Three Academies of the capital, the middle palace was where the emperor and ministers conducted affairs, and thus, the twenty-four offices were located in the inner palace, overseen by female officials and eunuchs.

Hence, the chief eunuch''s reminder to Lin Xiu, cautioning him against indiscretion, for the inner palace was the domain of the emperor''s consorts and unmarried princesses, whose very presence demanded the utmost decorum.

Following the eunuchs, Lin Xiu traversed the endless corridors of the palace until they finally entered the fabled inner harem.

The inner harem and the outer and middle palaces were worlds apart.

Flowers and plants lined the paths, and in the early morning, before the sun rose, young and comely maids tended to the gardens. As several ornate carriages passed by, the eunuchs bowed, and Lin Xiu discreetly observed. Each carriage carried a lady of incomparable beauty, ranging from seductive to demure, each with her own unique allure.

Though Lin Xiu had never met the emperor, it was clear that the monarch had exquisite taste, rivaling Lin Xiu''s own aesthetic sensibilities.

Compared to the unripe maidens, these were true women.

A nearby eunuch whispered a warning, "I told you, do not stare, or you may bring calamity upon yourself."

Lin Xiu immediately lowered his gaze, focusing solely on the path ahead, refraining from any further glances.

In this era of supreme feudal authority, the inner harem was a place of intrigue, and as a mere third-rank earl''s son, prudence was paramount.

Soon, Lin Xiu was led by the eunuchs to a particular palace courtyard.

Above the entrance hung a sign reading "Ice Office," one of the twenty-four offices of the inner harem, tasked with storing ice during winter and providing it to the palaces for summer respite.

Upon entering, Chief Eunuch Li explained their mission. The steward of the Ice Office, visibly distressed, lamented, "What are we to do? For some reason, the water drawn from our well has become unusually murky. How can we use it to make ice for the ladies...?"

Chief Eunuch Li furrowed his brow and personally drew a bucket of water, confirming its turbidity, rendering it undrinkable.

After a moment''s thought, he declared, "I shall inform His Majesty. Wait here."

Chief Eunuch Li departed and returned shortly, addressing Lin Xiu, "Come, follow me."

Due to the issue with the well, the emperor had issued a temporary decree, instructing Lin Xiu to create ice for the consorts according to their rank, thereby avoiding disputes and maintaining order in the harem.

Armed with the ice-making tools from the Ice Office, Lin Xiu was swiftly escorted to the first palace.

Before the grand entrance, a plaque read "Yongning Palace."

This palace was far more majestic. Before entering, Chief Eunuch Li reiterated, "This is the empress''s residence. Inside, maintain silence and refrain from gazing. Once the ice is made, depart promptly."

Entering the courtyard, Lin Xiu saw maids and eunuchs busily attending to their tasks. He was led to a well in the corner, where eunuchs had already drawn the water, awaiting him.

The palace used molds from the Ice Office, square in shape, each capable of producing a block of ice.

Unlike at the Moon Plucking Pavilion, Lin Xiu could not simply touch the water to create ice; he had to apply his power to the exterior of the mold.

This method was slower and more draining, yet Lin Xiu had no choice. Even if his hands were immaculate, the eunuchs would not permit such contact.

Unaware of the number of consorts, Lin Xiu realized that, at this rate, the ladies of the harem would surely exhaust his elemental strength by day''s end.