Eagle of the Kingdom Zhao Ying

Ye Qin had never seen Ye Xuan so angry. His heart skipped a beat, 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. It struck the ground with a crack. "Ye Qin, you've gotten bold, haven't you? You've barely awakened your Martial Soul, and you already think you can run off wherever you please!"

"I..." Ye Qin was about to explain when the green vine in Ye Xuan's hand lashed toward his forehead!

Ye Qin reacted on a Soul Master's instinct. His only Yellow Soul Ring lit up, and black Soul Power formed a shield that blocked Ye Xuan's green vine!

Only then did Ye Qin realize that, for all its ferocity, her strike had carried no force. His shield had stopped it with ease.

Ye Xuan frowned slightly and withdrew the green vine. Then she swept a second strike toward Ye Qin's left side!

Ye Qin was quick to react. As the vine reached him, he caught it firmly in his hand!

As with the first strike, this one was weak. Holding the vine took almost no effort.

But just as Ye Qin began to feel pleased with himself, lightning flashed around Ye Xuan's right hand. It raced along the green vine toward him!

Caught off guard, Ye Qin let go at once. Even so, a faint spark brushed his hand, sending a numbing jolt through it. His face twisted in pain.

"Ye—"

Ye Qin was about to shout her name when she became a blur and appeared before him. In the next instant, Ye Xuan pulled him into her arms!

The sudden embrace took Ye Qin by surprise. Then he heard Ye Xuan speak softly beside his ear. "Something happened in the Soul Hunting Forest yesterday. The Soul Beasts went berserk, and Uncle Yang said he couldn't find you. I was worried all night. That's why I... I'm sorry!"

"I-I'm fine!"

Ye Qin shook his head, still a little bewildered.

Ye Xuan released him and looked at him earnestly. "Your sister entrusted you to me. Nothing can happen to you, or I'll never be able to face her!"

Seeing the tears in Ye Xuan's eyes, Ye Qin nodded despite himself.

Only then did Ye Xuan take his right hand and ask gently, "Did I hurt you?"

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

After making sure his right hand was unharmed, Ye Xuan let it go. "I just remembered some affairs of state I need to handle. I'll be going. I've had them prepare breakfast, so make sure you eat plenty!"

With that, Ye Xuan left without looking back.

Watching her go, Ye Qin felt an inexplicable tremor in his heart. He had a faint sense that there was more to his relationship with Ye Xuan than he knew!

"Your Majesty!" Just then, a woman's voice Ye Qin found familiar sounded outside the prince's sleeping quarters.

"General Zhao, you're here to see Ye Qin, aren't you? He's inside!" Ye Xuan replied.

A woman of about twenty-seven or twenty-eight entered Ye Qin's sleeping quarters.

She had neat, short blond hair and skin as smooth as jade. Silver armor covered her body, and a greatsword hung at her waist. Though she was a woman, she had a commanding air that could rival any man's!

She also had a striking figure, especially her ample chest, more prominent than anyone else Ye Qin had ever seen. No one would mistake her for a man.

Ye Qin quickly searched his memories and recognized her: Zhao Ying, the Hagen Das Kingdom's foremost female general. She had spent years campaigning abroad and won renown for her military exploits, earning the title Eagle of the Kingdom!

Zhao Ying came from the Zhao Clan of Hagen Das, a family whose members had been celebrated founding heroes of the kingdom.

It could be said that the Zhao Clan had played a part in half the kingdom's founding. They had even invited Yang Qitian to the kingdom.

She and Empress Ye Xuan had grown up together. They were ruler and subject in public, but close friends in private, and Zhao Ying was also very close to Ye Qin.

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

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

"No!" Ye Qin shook his head.

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

"What? What's wrong with Ye Xuan?" Ye Qin asked in surprise.

"Show some respect. I've told you that you can call anyone else by name, but Xuan'er is your aunt and the queen. Are you asking for another spanking by calling her that?" Zhao Ying scolded, though she did not sound truly angry.

"Uh, got it..." To keep his identity from being exposed, Ye Qin could only smile and answer.

"By the way, why are you here? Weren't you campaigning against the southern tribes?" Ye Qin asked.

"You heartless brat! I was out there expanding your kingdom and Xuan'er's. Were you hoping I'd die?" Zhao Ying snapped.

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

"Forget it!" Zhao Ying waved a hand and took an exquisite wooden box from her Spirit Guiding Container. "Here's the Snow Ling Paste you asked me to bring back from the south!"

Ye Qin paused, then took the box. Inside was a smooth, jelly-like food with a faint fragrance. It looked delicious.

"Well, I've delivered it. I'm off!" With that, Zhao Ying turned and headed out of the palace.

"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 let out a breath. In both his lives, he had never met anyone with a fiercer personality!

Still, Ye Qin could tell that Zhao Ying's bark was worse than her bite!

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

Ye Qin froze for a moment, then put the Snow Ling Paste away. "Let her in. You and the others are to wait outside the courtyard gate. No one comes in without my order, especially General Zhao!"

"Yes!" The guard bowed and withdrew.

Soon, hurried footsteps sounded, and Hu Liena came through the door, her face furious.

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

"Hu Liena, I know what you want to say. Close the door first," Ye Qin replied calmly, turning toward her.

Hu Liena had stormed in so angry that she had wanted to tear Ye Qin apart. Yet for some reason, the moment she saw him, her anger began to fade. She turned and shut the door.

"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 glared at Ye Qin. "Y-you bastard! What did you do to me?"