FID – Chapter 1054

Chapter 1054: Removing the Veil

Elder Qian Fang led the saintesses along with the three accompanying Saintess Tribe maids to pay their respects to the emperor.

“Elder Qian Fang, you need not be so formal. I have always regarded the Saintess Tribe as my own people. Therefore, the annual welcoming banquet is simply a family affair—only for my own people. It is by no means overly grand. As long as Elder Qian Fang does not find it lacking, that is enough.”

“Your Majesty is too gracious. This elder is deeply honored.”

After the bows and salutations, the group, guided by the eunuchs, took their seats at the lower end of the emperor’s table, only a few steps away from his own. The Xiliang Emperor deliberately did this to show his regard for the Saintess Tribe.

Liu Yusheng lowered her gaze, hiding the mockery in her eyes.

No matter how well he performed the ceremonial politeness, did the Emperor truly not know how he regarded the women of the Saintess Tribe?

She decided to turn a blind eye.

Because in his heart, he had never truly respected the Saintess Tribe.

Who would ever elevate a mere tool and have others worship it?

“The selection of the saintess encountered some mishaps,” the Emperor began, reclining slightly in his chair, his sharp eyes slowly sweeping over the young women. “I have already heard from Eunuch Wei that the Sacred Blood Golden Silkworm was lost at the border town, preventing verification of bloodlines. In the end, he had no choice but to bring all six saintesses into the palace. However, please inform the tribe that there is no need for concern. Since they have entered the palace, I will certainly treat them well and ensure they are cared for properly.”

“Your Majesty’s graciousness overwhelms us. This elder will report back accordingly.”

“Good. I fear that any misunderstanding on the part of the Grand Elder could affect the relationship between the Saintess Tribe and the imperial family, and that would be most regrettable.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Balancing authority with benevolence, he first lowered his posture slightly to show apology, and then concluded with a warning that made the Saintess Tribe remember the consequences of offending the imperial family.

Liu Yusheng was disgusted by those words and rolled her eyes in secret. People like the Xiliang Emperor were truly a disaster that could haunt a thousand years.

In a moment of emotion, she had no idea that her small expression had been perfectly captured by a pair of eyes.

Across from the Saintess Tribe’s table, a man poured wine and held his cup, using the act of tasting to mask the smile at the corner of his mouth.

A saintess maid with such lively expressions? How interesting.

After a few casual words, the wine and dishes were brought in, and the banquet officially began.

“Begin the feast—” The eunuch’s high-pitched, delicate voice stretched out, and as his words fell, the palace music began to play.

The soft sounds of strings and flutes created a relaxed atmosphere.

It gave the illusion of a joyous, harmonious scene.

Yet no matter how beautiful the music, it could not erase the bitterness in the Saintesses’ eyes.

They ate in silence, silently accepting the fate imposed upon them.

Perhaps sensing the repression emanating from them, even the liveliest among them, Qian Lan, did not dare speak throughout the entire banquet.

From time to time, she would glance at the others, then bury her head even lower.

As the banquet was drawing to a close, Liu Yusheng thought she could safely return to the Palace of Longevity to rest—but unexpectedly, someone across the table stood up.

Her heart skipped a beat, a bad premonition rising.

Looking up, she saw it was the same prince Qian Lan had bumped into earlier.

“Royal Great-Great-grandfather—”

“Ugh!” Liu Yusheng nearly choked. Considering the occasion, she forced herself to stifle the cough, her face turning bright red.

Her eyes darted around quickly. Luckily, no one nearby noticed her lapse in composure.

That sudden ‘Royal Great-Great-Grandfather’ had genuinely startled her. Five generations alive at once—she was curious how the descendants felt seeing their venerable ancestor, still selecting Saintesses year after year.

In her personal opinion, they were probably quite frustrated. After all, with a grandfather still vigorous and strong, the throne remained far out of reach.

Many of them likely hoped in secret that the old emperor would pass away soon.

Yet there was nothing they could do.

As she inwardly mocked the Xiliang royal family, she didn’t notice that the man standing across had paused for just a fraction of a second, his voice barely perceptible.

“—The Xiliang royal family and the Saintess Tribe have maintained close relations for nearly a hundred years. You are already considered part of our family. This Great-Great-Grandson believes that, at such a family banquet, the elders of the Saintess and the young saintesses need not continue wearing veils. Everyone should deal with each other openly. This is the most basic courtesy.”

All the Saintess Tribe women raised their eyes in unison, startled, glancing across at him, then turning to Elder Qian Fang. Their eyes were full of confusion and panic.

Wearing veils outside was a rule of their clan.

But now the prince called removing the veil a ‘basic courtesy’—what were they supposed to do?

If they ignored their clan’s rules for the sake of etiquette, how could they explain it to the Grand Elder when they returned?

Liu Yusheng was not a member of the tribe, so she didn’t feel the same panic or confusion. Yet since this was a clan rule, it could not be lightly broken. She was certain Elder Qian Fang would not agree—but…

Elder Qian Fang had already spoken: “Please forgive us, Your Majesty and Your Highness. It is not that we are unwilling to deal openly; rather, when out in public, the women of the tribe must wear veils and may not show their true faces. This is our clan’s rule. Our clan has always been loyal to Your Majesty and the royal family, and Your Majesty and the royal family have shown great favor to us. This elder believes that Your Majesty and Your Highness will understand our predicament.”

“Do the Saintess Tribe elders and women not show their faces even within the clan?” The man across smiled warmly, but his words carried an edge, pressing them.

Elder Qian Fang frowned. “Within the clan, that is another matter.”

“Within the clan it is allowed. Why not here? Does the elder not trust Great-Great-Grandfather with your tribesmen?”

“Your Highness, this cannot be generalized.”

“How can it not? Just now you yourself said that your tribe is loyal to the Great-Great-Grandfather and to the Xiliang royal family, did you not?”

“…” Elder Qian Fang was momentarily speechless, and at the same time her heart skipped a beat as she glanced at the emperor.

If the emperor also thought that her words about loyalty were empty flattery, it would surely anger him—and he might bring offense to the Saintess Tribe!

The old emperor sat at the head of the table, and since the beginning of the banquet, his posture had barely changed. Half his body reclined against the chair, entirely relaxed.

But now, his eyes, gleaming with a sharp light, slowly lifted. The aura of imperial authority was unobscured, overwhelming, and almost made one dare not look directly at him.

“I have always treated the Saintess Tribe as my own people. Elder should know this. Ba Nian’s words hold some truth. I very much wish to know: do you also regard me as one of your own?”

Elder Qian Fang’s face gradually turned pale, her eyes flickering. After a long pause, she glanced sideways at the women she had brought with her. “Remove the veils.”

“Elder…”

“Remove them!”

The emperor had already grown angry.

Liu Yusheng exhaled softly, silently acknowledging that this was exactly how it would unfold.

The matter had nothing to do with trust.

It was the unpredictability of the emperor’s mind.

For an emperor, nothing is worse than someone discerning his intentions, nothing more dangerous than being manipulated. Elder Qian Fang, while defending the Saintess Tribe, had misspoken.

Originally, the emperor had no need to insist they remove their veils; whether they did or not was meaningless to him. As long as he desired, the saintesses would be at his command.

It was precisely Qian Fang’s refusal that forced him to act.