"Eagle of the Kingdom Zhao Ying"

Ye Qin had never seen Ye Xuan this angry before, and his heart could not help but tremble. But he quickly recovered. "Y-you, why are you here?!"

"If I'm not here, where else would I be?!" Ye Xuan gritted her teeth and swung the Green Vine in her hand, striking the ground with a crack. "Ye Qin, you've really grown bold. You just awakened your martial soul and already think your wings have hardened, huh? How dare you run around like this!"

"I..." Ye Qin was about to explain when the Green Vine in Ye Xuan's hand was already whipping toward his forehead!

Seeing this, Ye Qin's Soul Master instincts immediately kicked in. His only yellow soul ring lit up, and black Soul Power condensed into a shield of light, blocking the Green Vine in Ye Xuan's hand!

Only then did Ye Qin realize that although Ye Xuan's whip looked fierce, it actually carried no force at all. His Soul Power barrier stopped it with ease.

Ye Xuan frowned slightly, first retracting the Green Vine before sweeping her second whip toward Ye Qin's left side!

Ye Qin reacted swiftly. When Ye Xuan's second whip came close, he reached out and grabbed it tightly!

Just like the first time, Ye Xuan's whip remained soft and powerless, so Ye Qin did not find it difficult to hold it in his hand.

However, just as Ye Qin was feeling pleased with himself, lightning suddenly flashed from Ye Xuan's right hand. The electric glow then spread rapidly along the Green Vine toward Ye Qin!

Caught completely off guard, Ye Qin hurriedly let go. Even so, he was still grazed by a faint electric current. His hand went numb, and a pained expression appeared on his face.

"Ye..."

Ye Qin was just about to angrily shout Ye Xuan's name when he saw her turn into an afterimage and appear before him. Then, Ye Xuan pulled him into her embrace!

The sudden hug caught Ye Qin off guard, but he heard Ye Xuan whisper gently into his ear, "Something happened in the Soul Hunting Forest yesterday. The soul beasts rioted. Uncle Yang said he couldn't find you. I worried all night, so I... I'm sorry!"

"I-I'm fine!"

Ye Qin shook his head, somewhat dazed.

Then, Ye Xuan released Ye Qin and looked at him seriously. "Your sister entrusted you to me. Nothing must happen to you, or I'll have no face to see her!"

Looking at Ye Xuan's tear-filled eyes, Ye Qin could not help nodding.

Only then did Ye Xuan take Ye Qin's right hand and say gently, "Did I hurt you?"

"I'm fine." Ye Qin shook his head.

After confirming that Ye Qin's right hand was unharmed, Ye Xuan finally let go and said softly, "I just remembered that I still have state affairs to handle, so I'll be leaving first. I've already had breakfast prepared for you. Remember to eat more!"

With that, Ye Xuan left without looking back.

Watching Ye Xuan's departing figure, Ye Qin felt an inexplicable shiver in his heart. He vaguely felt that Ye Xuan's relationship with him seemed unusual!

"Your Majesty!" At that moment, another female voice that Ye Qin found familiar sounded outside the Prince's Sleeping Quarters.

"General Zhao must be looking for Ye Qin. He's inside!" Ye Xuan replied.

Soon after, a woman around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old entered Ye Qin's sleeping quarters.

She had neat, short golden hair, skin as smooth as jade, and wore a suit of silver armor. A silver greatsword hung at her waist. Though she was a woman, she possessed a heroic bearing that did not lose to any man!

However, she had an exceptionally fine figure, especially the proud curves on her chest, which were the most striking Ye Qin had ever seen. Because of that, no one would ever mistake her for a man.

Through his memories, Ye Qin quickly learned the woman's identity. She was Zhao Ying, the foremost female general of the Hagen Das Kingdom. She had spent years campaigning abroad and earned countless military achievements, gaining the title Eagle of the Kingdom!

Zhao Ying came from the Zhao Clan of Hagen Das. Ever since the kingdom's founding, the Zhao Clan had been one of its most celebrated founding families.

It could be said that half of the Hagen Das Kingdom's creation was owed to the Zhao Clan. Even Yang Qitian had been invited to the kingdom by the Zhao Clan.

She and Empress Ye Xuan had grown up together. On the surface, they were ruler and subject, but in truth, they were close friends. As a result, she also had an excellent relationship with Ye Qin.

"Zhao Ying!" Ye Qin greeted her with a smile.

"You brat, did you make Xuan'er angry again?" Zhao Ying asked imperiously.

"No!" Ye Qin shook his head.

"Then why was she so cold toward me?" Zhao Ying pressed.

"Huh? What happened to Ye Xuan?" Ye Qin asked in surprise.

"Watch your manners. I've told you before that you can call anyone else by name, but Xuan'er is your aunt and also the Queen. Calling her by name again means you want another spanking, doesn't it?" Zhao Ying said angrily.

"Uh, got it..." To avoid exposing himself, Ye Qin could only answer with a smile.

"By the way, why are you here? Weren't you leading a southern campaign against the barbarians?" Ye Qin asked.

"You ungrateful brat. I was conquering territory for you and Xuan'er. Were you hoping I'd die?" Zhao Ying snapped.

"Of course not..." Ye Qin replied. Is this woman really this fierce?

"Forget it!" Zhao Ying waved her hand and took an exquisite wooden box from her Spirit Guiding Container. "This is the southern specialty Snow Ling Paste you asked me to bring back!"

Ye Qin was stunned at first, then accepted the wooden box. Inside was a smooth, jelly-like food that gave off a faint fragrance and looked thoroughly appetizing.

"All right, the food has been delivered. I'm leaving!" With that, Zhao Ying turned and headed out of the palace.

"You're leaving so soon?" Ye Qin called after her.

"I'm going to comfort my Xuan'er first. Once I find out why she's angry, I'll come back and deal with you!" Zhao Ying said without looking back.

After Zhao Ying left, Ye Qin could not help letting out a sigh of relief. Zhao Ying's personality was definitely the fiercest he had encountered in both his lives!

Still, Ye Qin could clearly tell that Zhao Ying was the sort of person with a sharp tongue but a soft heart.

Ye Qin smiled faintly and took out a piece of Snow Ling Paste with his hand. Just as he was about to put it into his mouth, a guard rushed in and said, "Your Highness, Hu Liena, Hall Master of the Spirit Hall branch, is waiting outside the courtyard!"

Ye Qin froze upon hearing this. He then put away the Snow Ling Paste before replying, "Let her in. Also, don't stand at the entrance. Wait outside the courtyard gate instead. Without my order, no one is allowed in, especially General Zhao Ying!"

"Yes!" The guard answered, then respectfully withdrew.

Soon, a hurried set of footsteps sounded, and Hu Liena entered from outside with an angry expression.

"Ye! Qin!" Without another word, Hu Liena pointed at Ye Qin and shouted furiously!

"Hu Liena, I know what you want to say. Close the door first!" Ye Qin turned and replied calmly.

Hu Liena had originally been seething with rage, even wanting to tear Ye Qin into eight pieces. Yet for some reason, the moment she saw him, her anger gradually faded. She then turned around and shut the palace doors.

"All right, Hu Liena, you can speak now!" Ye Qin said with a smile.

"I... what's wrong with me?"

She shook her head, then still angrily demanded of Ye Qin, "Y-you bastard, what did you do to me?"