That Damned Tenderness

The old Angel King's millennial birthday celebration had only just begun today. The people who came to the banquet, especially those Subordinate Civilization Rulers, were attending for the first time, just to familiarize themselves. The next nine days would be the main event, the time for them to start building relationships and climbing the social ladder.

During this period, the Construction Department's foreign affairs division would also gather these rulers together, helping them solve their respective civilization's problems while also issuing some planned tasks.

For example, finding a certain number of resource veins within a specified time, or engaging in combat with hostile higher-level forces, with each civilization required to deploy a certain number of flagship fleets.

Seeking protection under the Angel Civilization's umbrella was not so simple. Not only was unwavering loyalty required, but also a demonstration of sincerity. This was the rule of survival for those under the Angel Civilization's rule!

Of course, as long as one did well enough, they could obtain anything they desired. In this regard, the Angel King Hua Que had always been generous and never stingy.

The above was what the Subordinate Civilizations had to do during this time. As for the legion commanders returning to Palace City, these ten days could be considered a precious long vacation for them.

We know that in this era, various forces in the universe gather, creating great chaos. Invasion and being invaded happen every moment. Therefore, to ensure stability and harmony within the Angel Civilization's territory, and to protect the Subordinate Civilizations from external enemies, the Angel's commanders at all levels are constantly fighting abroad.

Being in a state of constant tension is never good. Hua Que knew this and, considerate of his subordinates, changed the original three-day celebration to ten days, just to allow these generals and soldiers to relax and reunite with their families after a long separation.

But these are all digressions.

In a patriarchal society, female angels have always been submissive. They have no choice but to yield to the living spaces and established roles that men have set for them, reducing their duties to a secondary, subordinate position. Consort Xin Yao was a prime example of this.

In this Deep Palace Courtyard, there were not only constraints and regulations, but even more terrifying things: scheming and deceit.

The young Xin Yao had also fantasized about her own love, imagining what her other half would be like, and how she would spend her life with him in sweet happiness. But cruel reality shattered her beautiful dream.

Born with natural beauty, it's hard to abandon oneself, once chosen to be by the monarch's side.

This poem was perfect to describe Xin Yao. After gaining the favor of the old Angel King, she was forced to leave her parents and relatives in the Tian Cheng District at a young age, and came alone to live on the Tiangong Ship, which countless female angels envied.

Seemingly full of flowers, but in reality, every step was fraught with danger. Every night, the longing for her family and friends tormented this poor woman, weak in body and mind.

Just when she was about to give up, a small life suddenly entered her world. Looking at that little one who belonged only to her, she felt as if she possessed the whole world...

It had been three months since she had seen her Zhen'er, and Consort Xin Yao was missing the little guy to death. Coming out of the banquet hall, the smile on her lips had never faded. The Micro Wormhole Transportation Weapon technology, which had been ignored by everyone, was brought up by Hua Zhen today, making her extremely proud.

Unlike other female angels, Xin Yao had a quiet nature, so she didn't have the idea of 'gaining honor through her son'. The smarter the little guy was, the happier she was, and that was all.

Turning to look at Hua Zhen, seeing his obviously thin little face and big dark circles under his eyes, she couldn't help but feel a pang of pain in her heart. She stopped, squatted down in front of Hua Zhen, and raised her hand to cup his little face: "Let mother see... why have you lost so much weight?"

The faint fragrance rushed into his nose, and the exquisite and beautiful face was close at hand. Facing Consort Xin Yao's damned tenderness, Hua Zhen felt that he was about to die of embarrassment. In his previous life, he was a nerdy, perverted man. When had he ever encountered such a situation?

Seriously, asking this grown man to act like a child, act cute, and call her 'Oka-san' or something, he admitted that he couldn't learn that kind of thing. Not to mention learning it, just thinking about it made him feel disgusted, okay? His face turned purple, and his heart was constantly going crazy.

"Consort Xin Yao, the aircraft is ready for you, you can set off now~" At this moment, a civil servant from the Construction Department came to Xin Yao from a distance and said respectfully.

The Tiangong Ship was very large, and it would take a lot of time to walk to Xin Yao's palace, so using an aircraft was the best choice.

"You're so kind~" Xin Yao didn't have any airs, her soft voice revealing endless tenderness. She was the same to everyone. After speaking, she took Hua Zhen's little hand, "Let's go, Zhen'er, mother has prepared many things you love to eat for you~"

The old Angel King didn't test his learning progress in front of everyone, and even changed a powerful tutor for him. This was originally a happy thing. He thought the difficult time had passed, but who would have thought that the real test had only just begun.

One wave subsides and another rises, am I playing an epic survival game? He thought bitterly, Damn it, I've already completed thirty-six bows, I can't mess up at this last hurdle!

Cheering himself up, he raised his little head and said 'happily': "Really? Zhen'er loves mother the most..."

Ugh~

Consort Xin Yao's palace is located towards the rear of the Tiangong Ship complex. Unlike other places, her residence can be said to be the most unique within the entire Tiangong Ship. Before the aircraft even landed, the first thing that came into view was a European-style castle, with its pointed roof and crimson roof tiles particularly striking under the sunlight.

The castle was surrounded by lush green trees and wildflowers. In the center, several ancient trees of unknown species stood tall, their green branches spreading out and gently swaying in the breeze, like a group of fairies in green dresses dancing gracefully. The vegetation interspersed among the ancient trees also bloomed with delicate and vibrant little flowers. The green trees and red flowers were simply beautiful.

The moment Hua Zhen stepped out of the aircraft following Xin Yao, a rich fragrance assailed him, invigorating his entire being. As he approached the castle, he was accompanied by the fragrance of flowers and the sound of rustling leaves, filling his ears with clear sounds, as if he were walking in a dream.

"I never imagined there would be such a beautiful place on the Tiangong Ship?" he couldn't help but exclaim. Putting aside dealing with Xin Yao, the pleasant scenery here made him feel intoxicated.

What Hua Zhen didn't know was that the old Angel King had specially ordered the Construction Department to create this place in the way Xin Yao liked it, to win her heart. Those ancient trees were specially selected and transplanted from the Subordinate Civilizations.

The maids tending to the flowers and plants in the palace quickly noticed the two of them. When they saw Hua Zhen, they were all stunned at first, then their faces lit up with joy, and they swarmed around him.

"Your Highness, if you hadn't come, the Consort might have sent someone to look for you..."

"Why has Your Highness lost weight after not seeing you for three months?"

"That's right~ Is Your Highness not eating well in your own palace?"

Surrounded by beautiful women, with fragrant breaths filling the air, it was a dazzling sight. Xin Yao was easygoing and unpretentious, so these maids seemed very relaxed.

Being surrounded by beauties could be said to be the dream of countless men, but Hua Zhen really wasn't in the mood to experience it.

Seeing him dodging and evading, a hint of doubt flashed across Xin Yao's brows. He's been like this since before, why does Zhen'er seem so strange today? He wasn't like this before~

Shaking her head, she put aside the doubts in her heart and said to one of the maids, "A Lan, stop surrounding Zhen'er, go and tidy up Zhen'er's room, he can rest well later if he's tired from playing. Oh, right, don't forget the things he likes to eat~"

"Yes~~ Consort, this servant will go right away~" The maid named A Lan responded softly, and after waving goodbye to Hua Zhen with a smile, she left with the others.

Seeing them walk away, Hua Zhen breathed a sigh of relief, but unexpectedly, Xin Yao walked up to him again.

Gently scratching his little nose, Xin Yao said with doting affection, "Zhen'er, what do you want Mother to play with you today?"

How would I know what to play here... Although he thought so in his heart, Hua Zhen still tried his best to show a happy appearance, pretending to be innocent and saying, "I'll listen to Mother in everything..."

"Let me think..." Xin Yao smiled slightly, tapping her chin with her slender finger and pondering for a moment, then suddenly her eyes lit up: "That's right, Zhen'er, how about Mother plays the flying game with you from last time?"

"Fli...flying game?"

"That's right!"

Xin Yao affectionately rubbed his little head, stood up and took two steps back. Hua Zhen looked at her with a puzzled expression, not knowing what she was going to do.

"Poof~"

After a soft sound, a pair of wings suddenly appeared behind Xin Yao. The soft sunlight enveloped her, as if draping her in a layer of golden gauze. Her silk-like golden hair reached her waist, and her white wings, along with the golden light, were both holy and elegant. Her pink lips were curved in a sweet smile, and her delicate features were flawless.

Wings...wings?! Having seen Gus spread his wings, Hua Zhen was stunned by Xin Yao's beauty when he saw the wings behind her.

It was true that female angels had a low social status in Tiangong, but there were also many who could upgrade their genes.

As mentioned earlier, 'the resources of female angels are male angels', so there were only two opportunities for them to upgrade their genes: one was by relying on the blessings of their family elders, and the other was by gaining the favor of male angels.

For example, Consort Xin Yao, her family background was not very superior compared to other female angels, but when she gained the favor of the old Angel King, her status instantly rose, and she became a phoenix on a branch. Her gene upgrade naturally came to fruition.

After all, as the woman accompanying the Angel King, her lifespan could not be only a short thousand years.

This...this is a true angel~ Hua Zhen exclaimed from the bottom of his heart. As for Gus, he was at most a birdman, a Heavenly Dreg, or, to put it more elegantly, an Angel Beast, and still the kind with thick arms and a hairy chest. Sure enough, the word angel has always been reserved for women… How exciting!

Watching his dazed little appearance, Xin Yao's whole heart was about to melt. She gracefully walked behind him, gently reaching out her hands to hug the little guy from under his armpits.

Feeling her soft embrace and the refreshing fragrance, Hua Zhen's body suddenly tensed up. 'Hey, I say, big sister, how many times are you going to hug me in a day?'

Forget about being distracted by lustful thoughts, he was now embarrassed to death. He had to remember that this woman named Xin Yao was just a strange, beautiful older sister to him.

"It's starting, Zhen'er~~" Xin Yao's gentle voice came from above.

'Starting? Star... starting what?'

"Whoosh~"

As soon as the question popped up, he only felt a strong sense of weightlessness suddenly hit him. The scenery on the ground instantly shrank, and before long, Xin Yao had taken him to a hundred meters above the ground.

*'Woah...' *

After regaining his senses, Hua Zhen's eyeballs almost popped out. He couldn't care less about being embarrassed or not. He turned around and hugged Xin Yao's slender waist for dear life, afraid of falling down.

"Don't be afraid, Zhen'er, isn't mother here?" Feeling the little guy's trembling body, Xin Yao softly comforted him, then flapped her wings and slowly circled above her palace.

'So, I have to be tortured by her like this for ten days? Gus, I freaking hate you!' Hua Zhen thought, on the verge of tears.