Cultivating Immortality, Starting from Childhood Sweethearts-Chapter 399 - Young Master Xu, Just Turn Around.

“But I still have to accompany the diplomatic delegation from the Wu Kingdom. Won’t this delay things?” Xu Ming asked. “It would be inappropriate if I committed any breach of etiquette.”

Xiao Lan shook her head. She had clearly been given strict orders—Xu Ming had to come with her. “Please rest assured, Young Master Xu. It won’t take long and won’t interfere with your duties. Otherwise, if you were to make a misstep in etiquette, we wouldn’t be able to explain it to the Wu Kingdom either.”

Just as Xu Ming was about to protest further, Xiao Lan cut him off. “Young Master Xu, you should come with me now. Please don’t make things difficult for this servant. If I fail to bring you to Her Majesty, she may hold me accountable.”

Xu Ming: “...”

“Fine, I’ll go.”

In truth, Xu Ming didn’t care whether the Dragon Empress would blame Xiao Lan or not.

But Xiao Lan’s persistence made it clear—Her Majesty insisted on seeing him. Refusing would be futile.

Since the Dragon Empress was being so firm, what reason did he have to refuse? It was just a short trip, after all.

“Please, Young Master Xu, follow me,” Xiao Lan nodded slightly and led the way.

Having visited the Dragon Palace’s inner halls several times, Xu Ming was now quite familiar with the layout.

By this point, he was confident he could find his way even without a guide.

As usual, the Dragon Empress received him in her bedchamber.

But this time, things were different.

The room was filled with numerous palace maids, each carrying jade trays. On the trays were ceremonial garments for the Four Seas Grand Ceremony.

As for the Dragon Empress herself, she was seated on a chair, clad in a blue nightgown, slowly sipping tea.

Compared to the last time Xu Ming had seen her in nightwear, this gown was a slip dress.

Her fair shoulders and delicate arms were completely exposed, and the fabric at her chest was stretched taut, revealing a deep, snowy valley.

A very deep valley.

“Your servant, Xu Ming, pays his respects to Your Majesty,” Xu Ming hurriedly averted his gaze and bowed.

“You’ve arrived,” the Dragon Empress glanced at him before addressing the palace maids. “Since Young Master Xu is here, let’s begin. We mustn’t delay the ceremony.”

“As Your Majesty commands.”

The hundred or so palace maids in the chamber responded in unison.

Five of them stepped forward, each carrying a jade tray, and presented them to Xu Ming.

Xu Ming glanced at the trays, confused. “Your Majesty, this is...?”

The Dragon Empress spoke calmly. “Today is the Four Seas Grand Ceremony, with envoys from all nations attending. Naturally, I must change into proper attire for the occasion. However, I am unsure which outfit to choose, so I am entrusting you, Young Master Xu, to make the selection for me.”

Xu Ming: “...”

Xu Ming’s mouth opened slightly.

He really wanted to say—This is such an important ceremony, and you’re asking me to pick your outfit?

He wasn’t her relative, nor did he hold any special status. In every possible way, he was completely unqualified for this.

Xu Ming was starting to seriously doubt the Dragon Empress.

He wasn’t an idiot. He was convinced that something had happened to that stone.

After he left that day, something must have changed with the stone—something that led the Dragon Empress to mistakenly believe that he was the reincarnation of her former lover.

Otherwise, letting him into her bedchamber once could barely be explained as mere appreciation.

But twice? Three times?

And now, on his third visit, she was even asking him to choose her clothes?

If he wasn’t her former lover’s reincarnation, there was no way he’d be standing here right now.

But Xu Ming knew that he wasn’t.

What—her old lover’s soul just happened to reincarnate onto Blue Star? Seriously?

Xu Ming figured he needed to find a way to talk to the Dragon Empress about this.

He had no idea how the misunderstanding started, but it needed to be cleared up fast, before it got even worse.

Of course, he couldn’t exactly tell her that his soul came from another dimension, so he had to find a reasonable excuse—something that would convince her that he really wasn’t her past lover.

But that conversation was best saved for after he returned to the Wu Kingdom.

Right now, he’d already taken advantage of the Dragon Empress more than once. If he wasn’t careful, she might not let him off so easily—he could very well end up fish food.

Xu Ming stepped forward and glanced at the garments on the jade trays held by the palace maids.

These were undergarments, and to him, they all looked more or less the same.

“This one should suit Your Majesty well,” Xu Ming said, selecting a black silk undershirt.

It was just an undershirt—whichever one she wore wouldn’t make much difference. Unless the Dragon Empress planned on stripping in public, no one would even see it.

The Dragon Empress nodded and stood up. She turned to the maids beside her and ordered, “Dress me in this one.”

One of the maids hesitated and couldn’t help but speak up.

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“But... Your Majesty... Young Master Xu is still here.”

It wasn’t about which shirt she changed into—the issue was that the entire process would be in full view of Young Master Xu.

The palace maids simply couldn’t understand why their Empress would let a human man pick out her clothes.

But no one dared to question her decisions.

Still, having him choose the outfit was one thing.

But allowing him to stay while she changed?

The Dragon Empress glanced at Xu Ming.

Xu Ming immediately bowed and said, “Your Majesty, this subject will take his leave.”

Even without the palace maid’s reminder, Xu Ming had already frozen in place when he heard she was about to change.

Of course, he knew he couldn’t stay.

But just as he straightened up and turned to leave—

“No need,” the Dragon Empress said.

Xu Ming paused.

“There’s no need for such trouble,” she continued. “I’ll change here. Young Master Xu, just turn around.”