Aolig accompanied Yue and her maids back to the palace.
On getting there, she decided to follow her to pay homage to the empress dowager Vaya Gwamho Vaharyl.
Don't mind her young appearance, empress dowager Vaya Gwamho is already over three hundred years old.
Being a 10th stage major or great sage, she can live for thousands, even millions of epochs is possible.
That is why sages are said to be myriad tribulations inextinguishable.
On getting there, the crown prince was seated there too having spirit tea with the empress. It is a kind of tea for cultivators which causes the essence of the cultivator to flow unimpeded.
It can even smooth out internal injuries.
"Greetings your majesty," they both greeted with curtsey bow.
"Welcome my children, rise up" empress Vaya replied.
"Greetings your majesty," they both greeted with curtsey bow.
He quickly stood up and helped them on their feet.
"Join us for tea" he said motioning them to seat down.
"Yue, how was your visit to the Eyme clan?" Vaya asked with a smile.
"Your majesty, I am satisfied," she answered.
For her, these past seven days were the best days of her life.
She remembered how the "strong" general confessed his love to her.
"So?..." the crown prince asked with mouth open in happiness.
"I have spoken to his Majesty. The elders will pick the auspicious day" Yue replied happily.
"I knew it, our Vaharyl clan and the Eyme clan are always the perfect match" Vaya said with Joy.
Aolig however was not interested in what they were discussing.
She was more fascinated by the painting hanging on the wall of the empress dowager's palace.
It showed a woman with a flame colored hair, clad in golden armor pointing her sword upwards, beside her were corpses of various races.
For some reason Aolig felt like the woman was looking at her. Her soul seemed to be sucked into the painting.
"Grandma!" she called in shock
"Who painted that?" she asked pointing to the wall.
Aolig is probably the only person who does not care about honorifics when addressing the dowager.
The dowager's face lightened with a smile and admiration. She always enjoyed hearing the words "grandma".
"It is a painting handed over to me by the former empress," she said.
"It is from before the destruction of Lroxd, it was a relic of the first ancestor of Vaharyl clan. Luckily we got it back" she explained.
For some reasons Aolig felt some connections to this work of art, as though it was calling unto her.
For Tarh, he was more interested in Aolig. He was intently stealing glances at her.
The empress dowager and princess Yue both noticed it.
For the last seven days after his wedding, the crown prince have become distant.
He only spends time with the empress dowager or his consorts.
The rumours were already every where that the crown princess Naia Gwamho is not the only favoured wife.
Every night after the bedding ceremony, he also calls for consort Xair or consort Zamir.
For the Lobaen clan who are the least in hierarchy and social standing in the Northern Empire, this is a way forward.
They have been relegated to only court officials for centuries.
However, Xair has broken the limit to enter the palace, not as a concubine but a consort of the third rank.
"When is your birthday coming up my child" the dowager asked.
"In 11 moons time" she answered absent-mindedly.
For Tarh what he loves about Aolig keeps on increasing.
'So young and alluring, damn!' Tarh roared in his mind
"Will you invite me?" Tarh asked smiling.
"My father is in charge of invitation" she said rubbing her forehead.
"I will invite you because I like you" she said laughing innocently.
"You like me?" he asked. She nodded and smiled gulping down her tea.
"Don't mind her, she is quite carefree" Yue said.
All of them laughed heartily.
For the crown prince, this is the best news he has heard for some time now.
He is elated because he still has a chance with Aolig Eyme.
The empress have been eavesdropping on their conversation, she came to greet the dowager Vaya but overheard them discussing.
She decided not to intrude, but when she heard "…birthday coming…?" she decided to bid her time in coming in.
She remembered what her grandfather said : "her son will be the great emperor, the warrior prince that would defeat the forces of Aobolw."
For her, the Eyme clan has always been her favorite clan.
"Aolig marrying Tarh, would the general and princess royal agree?" she often asked herself.
Then ideas and schemes started forming in her mind.
She quickly returned back to her palace to prepare the perfect scheme to ensure their marriage.
Of course empress dowager Vaya Gwamho noticed her presence, she decided to ignore her.
Now just like her predecessor she would soon retire to seclude herself to breakthrough to the 11th grade sage or the legendary 12th grade and support the royal family from behind as the custom dictates.
It may take her a thousand years to see her grandchildren again.