Chapter 3: Xiao Tian Was Scared Stiff

"Respected Master, there are no signs of violation on your body, please rest assured."

"Nonsense, of course I know, just kidding." Xiao Tian sat up cross-legged and stretched lazily.

Comfortable!

He didn't know how many years it had been since he slept so peacefully for the first time, so much so that...

Even with someone lying beside him, he hadn't woken up.

Xiao Tian's eyes narrowed as he gazed at the peerless beauty still lying beside him.

She was the strongest expert in the Great Yan Dynasty, the reigning Empress.

Things were getting troublesome!

"God, why are you on my bed? When you wake up, won't you..." Just as Xiao Tian's head was spinning with worry,

"Mmm..." With a soft murmur, Zi Ruoyan sat up and looked at Xiao Tian.

The two, who had fallen asleep without changing out of their wedding attire, stared at each other in the early morning.

Soon, the slightly dazed Zi Ruoyan fully awakened, her expression returning to its usual cold aloofness.

Zi Ruoyan clasped her hands in front of her, straightening her posture, an imperial aura subtly emanating from her.

Her red lips parted slightly, her voice soft, as if trying to speak gently: "Yesterday, did you sleep well?"

"..." Xiao Tian fell silent.

There was no imagined fury or a slap; instead, she asked if he slept well?

"I slept quite well, it's just..." Xiao Tian pointed at the bed, "Did I... sleep in the wrong place?"

Zi Ruoyan shook her head: "I slept here to silence others. If we slept in separate beds on our wedding night, those with ulterior motives would stir up trouble again.

From now on, I will occasionally come over."

With that, Zi Ruoyan got out of bed, tidied her robes, and prepared to leave.

"I will send some people over. If you need anything, just ask."

As she spoke, Zi Ruoyan had already reached the door. After pausing for a moment, she turned back: "I summoned you here for my own selfish reasons... I apologize!"

After saying this, Zi Ruoyan vanished from Xiao Tian's sight, leaving no trace.

"As expected of an Empress, the woman who's supporting me is truly extraordinary, very magnanimous."

It took Xiao Tian a good while to recover, and he couldn't help but praise her.

From beginning to end, Zi Ruoyan had shown him what magnanimity was, what it meant to be dignified and grand.

"My wonderful days are here!"

Two hours later.

***

In the Prince’s Palace.

Xiao Tian lay sprawled on a reclining chair, hugging a basin of this world's unique fruits, staring motionless at the air.

Beside him, the attendants and palace maids sent by Zi Ruoyan wondered why this Prince was so strange.

He just lay there, staring motionless at the air.

But they couldn't see that before Xiao Tian, on the system interface, an image was playing, utterly captivating.

"It's truly a close call; if not for Wangcai, this guy would have died!" Xiao Tian exclaimed in admiration.

The image playing before him came from the System.

The content of the image was the System's recording of its seventh host's life.

The host was a Transmigrator from Blue Star, a low-dimensional plane similar to Earth.

Xiao Tian wanted to relax by watching a movie, so the System provided a recording of this host's entire life.

This kind of multi-angle, personal recording had Xiao Tian thoroughly engrossed.

Currently, Xiao Tian was watching the host, with the help of Wangcai's rewards, dominate the family martial competition.

It was incredibly stress-relieving!

***

At the same time, In the Imperial Study.

Zi Ruoyan, now dressed in a fiery red dragon robe, closed the memorial before her, her brows tightly furrowed.

"Is the situation in the north already so dire?" The Empress looked up at the woman with an almost exaggerated physique before her.

This was her grand general, Zhong Lishuang.

"The Barbarians have been very active; I fear someone is manipulating them from behind," Zhong Lishuang reported with cupped hands. "According to intelligence, the Barbarian Sacred Master has left their royal court."

"That old geezer..." Zi Ruoyan snorted coldly, a hint of apprehension flashing in her eyes.

The Barbarian Sacred Master was exceptionally powerful, an expert on par with herself.

If left unchecked, the northern lands of the Great Yan Dynasty would likely suffer heavy losses.

Zhong Lishuang spoke again: "Your Majesty, what should we do?"

"I will personally lead the expedition and cut off that old geezer's grasping hand myself." Zi Ruoyan's gaze was sharp, and a fierce aura erupted, causing the surrounding temperature to plummet and frost to appear.

In her clear, cold eyes, an ice-blue glow flickered, like shimmering snowflakes.

"Clearly, with me not taking action these past few years, some people still don't understand the situation." Zi Ruoyan's voice was icy as she looked at Zhong Lishuang, "Go prepare. In three days, I will march to the Northern Frontier."

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Zhong Lishuang's tone was a little excited; it had been a long time since she had fought alongside His Majesty.

In the Great Yan Dynasty, Zi Ruoyan's will was everything.

Although the court, led by the Prime Minister, secretly enjoyed making small moves,

On this matter of national survival, their minds were very clear, offering no obstruction, and even actively cooperating.

***

Three days later.

Zi Ruoyan had changed into a form-fitting golden armor, which appeared even more majestic under the sunlight.

Before departing, Zi Ruoyan looked at Zhong Lishuang: "Are the arrangements made?"

"Ling'er is secretly following him; nothing will go wrong." Zhong Lishuang pursed her lips, "Your Majesty, you are too protective of this Prince. He's a grown man, completely useless, why bother so much?"

"..." Zi Ruoyan gently shook her head, "I inadvertently implicated an ordinary person; this compensation is nothing."

Moreover, haven't you noticed that with our marriage, the balance of Yin and Yang has made the Great Yan Dynasty's destiny more stable?

"Even my strength has improved." Zi Ruoyan's red lips curved slightly, clearly pleased.

Zhong Lishuang shrugged, saying nothing more.

As long as His Majesty was happy. Besides, she had watched His Majesty grow up, and it was good that she found a man.

The grand army set off, following the official road from the camp outside the Imperial City, heading towards the Northern Frontier.

***

Meanwhile, outside the Imperial City of the Great Yan Dynasty, on Qingyan Mountain.

A woman with a high ponytail stood upright on the branch of a giant tree, gazing at the departing army in the distance.

The woman wore tight-fitting combat attire, accentuating her slender and graceful figure.

She was Zhong Lishuang's daughter, Zhong Ling.

"Mother is truly something; not only did she go on the expedition with His Majesty without me, but she also made me secretly protect a useless Prince." Zhong Ling sighed, then turned her head to look not far away.

There, Xiao Tian was with ten guards, roasting a wild boar that had clearly just been caught.

"His Majesty is fighting for the country, yet this guy is here seeking pleasure, running up this mountain for his gastronomic desires, not even seeing them off.

I really don't understand why His Majesty would marry such a person."

As Zhong Ling complained, her expression suddenly changed, and she quickly retreated, hiding herself in the shadows.

Swish!

A figure, with ghostly speed, rushed over from the side.

The ten female Imperial Guards specifically protecting Xiao Tian hadn't even reacted.

Xiao Tian, before their eyes, had vanished.

"Oh no, the Prince has been abducted!" A female Imperial Guard cried out, somewhat panicked, and immediately chased after the dark figure that had taken Xiao Tian.

"What a pain!" Zhong Ling narrowed her eyes, complaining aloud.

Despite her displeasure, she still chased after them.

"This useless Prince must have been scared stiff by now, right?" As she pursued, Zhong Ling couldn't help but chuckle.

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Proofreader & Editor: Fat Goose 🪶