Being Watched

In dreams, once people were free of all the restraints of reality, there was nothing too bastardly or beastly for them to do!

When Hua Zhen had first transmigrated, he had been on a train heading home for the New Year. Then, in a daze, he suddenly arrived in an unfamiliar place and naturally assumed it was all a dream.

As a normal man, knowing he was dreaming—especially after seeing a stunning little beauty like Lian Xi—it was easy to imagine what he might do. That was why he had reacted so strongly when he heard that she was returning to take care of him.

Oh, right—this was also what made him realize he had transmigrated to another world, because the dream had simply felt far too real!

The atmosphere in the bedroom was extremely awkward. Hua Zhen sat on the small bed with an expression that looked constipated beyond belief, while Lian Xi stood with her head lowered in the corner, constantly twisting the hem of her clothes. She looked timid, with a faint hint of shyness.

Sigh, being single for too long really isn't a good thing!

Scratching his hair, Hua Zhen felt he really needed to say something to break the awkwardness. So he forced a sheepish grin and said, "Um... my head was muddled earlier. I thought I was dreaming, so I did that to you. I'm really sorry... A-actually, I'm not the kind of person you think I am..." His explanation was pale and powerless.

Yet his apology frightened Lian Xi badly. The little girl hurriedly waved her hands. "Y-Your Highness, please don't say that. This servant is your Personal Maid..."

The implication was that His Highness was noble and high-ranking. Even if he truly did something substantial to her, she would have no complaints.

Hua Zhen's shoulders slumped, and he could not help covering his forehead. Looking at Lian Xi's panicked appearance, he knew that if he apologized again, he might scare the girl to death.

For female angels in a patriarchal society, sometimes a single word from their master could cost them their lives. Apologies simply did not exist. Even when the master was wrong, the master was still right.

After realizing this, Hua Zhen sighed inwardly. My image is completely fucking ruined... Ah, whatever. At least she's the only one who knows about my embarrassing moment.

He jumped down from the bed and walked over to Lian Xi. Wearing what he believed was a gentle smile, he said, "Fine, then I won't say anything more. Since Gus asked you to return and take care of my daily needs, then that's how it'll be. Umm... my name is Han... Hua Zhen. And you?"

The little girl took two steps back and timidly replied, "R-Reporting to Your Highness, this servant is called Lian Xi..."

"Oh? That's a nice name. It makes people instinctively want to protect you when they hear it." Hua Zhen nodded and looked at Lian Xi with a smile.

When he stared at her like that, the scene from a few days ago immediately surfaced in Lian Xi's mind. The same smile, the same expression... Was His Highness about to say, "Come here, little sis~" again?

She clutched the corner of her clothes and shuffled backward until she hit the wall. She looked exactly like a frightened little rabbit.

"Damn..." Seeing this, Hua Zhen suddenly wanted to smash his head into the wall. Sure, what happened before had been... well, that, but he was still just a child now. Did she really have to be this scared of him?

Dejected, he waved his hand and said to Lian Xi, "I'm hungry. Go out and have someone prepare some food for me!"

"Yes, Your Highness, this servant will go right away!" At his words, the girl stopped stammering. She moved so fast her feet practically flew, and in the blink of an eye, she had run out of the bedroom. Hua Zhen clicked his tongue repeatedly. What the hell was this?

In the eastern part of the Palace District stood a massive castle-like structure. Compared to it, Hua Zhen's Bedroom Palace could not measure up, whether in scale, materials, or construction.

Its enormous spired dome resembled a golden island. Looking closer, there were fountains, statues, pillars, and arches... a classic European architectural style.

A clear spring pool surrounded the front of the castle. Duckweed covered its surface, lush and pristine. Beneath the starlight, the golden glazed-tile roof with its layered eaves gained an even more dreamlike quality, appearing especially magnificent.

But none of that was the most eye-catching feature of the castle. That honor belonged to the enormous open-air bath in the garden's northern corner!

Though night had already fallen and the lights were coming on, the garden was exceptionally lively. In the "great bath," a blond man lounged lazily against the edge of the pool. Several breathtaking beauties surrounded him, some massaging his shoulders and back, others feeding him exquisite wine. Celestial music drifted through the air, skirts fluttered gently, and the lavish indulgence was enough to make anyone envious.

Throughout the Heavenly Palace, aside from First Prince Hua Ye, there was likely no second person capable of such extravagance.

Competition for the Heavenly Palace's heir apparent was fierce. To prove their abilities before the Old Angel King, First Prince Hua Ye and Second Prince Hua Tuo each led troops to guard one region. While resisting foreign invasions, they also launched campaigns to expand their star domains.

For more than ten years, Hua Ye had felt every day drag on like a year. There had been no shortage of beauties where he was stationed, but they all came from Subordinate Civilizations ruled by the angels. Hua Ye had no interest whatsoever in beauties who were not angels. Now that he had finally returned to the Heavenly Palace for the Angel King's birthday, how could he not indulge himself to the fullest?

Looking at the plump and slender beauties around him, he grinned. "Home is still fucking comfortable. There's every kind of beauty here. I really want to stay here for the rest of my life and never go out again..."

As if recalling something, he suddenly slammed his fist against the poolside and cursed furiously, "Damn it, when you get down to it, it's all that bastard Old Second's fault! If he weren't always eyeing my position as heir apparent, why would I have to suffer like this? Just wait until I get the chance. I'll make you regret it!"

"Your Highness..." A guard suddenly ran out from the direction of the castle and respectfully called out as he arrived beside Hua Ye.

After soothing the frightened little beauties, Hua Ye drooped his eyelids and lazily asked, "What is it?"

"Lord He Xuan has arrived. He is waiting for you in the main hall."

At the mention of that name, Hua Ye raised an eyebrow. "He Xuan? Didn't he just leave a little while ago? Why is he back again?"

"This subordinate does not know!"

"Then tell him to wait inside. When I'm done having fun, I'll go—"

Before Hua Ye could finish, someone directly interrupted him. "Your Highness, the situation in the Heavenly Palace is changing rapidly. This is not the time for you to indulge in pleasure!"

Seeing the silver-haired man approaching from afar, Hua Ye smacked a hand against his forehead and said in frustration, "He Xuan, I only just got back today. I just want to relax properly. Can't we talk about whatever it is tomorrow?"

The man called He Xuan ignored him. His gaze swept over the beauties around Hua Ye, his sword-like brows knitting slightly as he said expressionlessly, "All of you, leave. I have important matters to discuss with His Highness!"

"Yes~~ Lord He Xuan!"

"Damn..." As the beauties wrapped themselves in gauze and left one after another, Hua Ye suddenly had the urge to curse someone's mother. His expression darkened as he said, "Seriously, He Xuan, if anyone else did this today, I'd cripple him. Do you believe that?"

He Xuan was the son of He Zheng, the Heavenly Palace's Right Wing King. He possessed great strength and a sharp mind, no less capable than his father. At the same time, he was one of Hua Ye's most powerful advisers in his struggle against Second Prince Hua Tuo's faction. That was why Hua Ye both valued and resented him.

"Ah, forget it, forget it!" Hua Ye sighed helplessly. He climbed out of the pool, picked up a towel from the side, and asked while drying himself, "Go on, then. What could be so important that you ran here in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?"

He Xuan took a palm-sized device from his robes, tapped it a few times, then tossed it to Hua Ye. "During the time we were stationed on Afeier Star, the Angel King gave you two more younger brothers!"

Hua Ye, who had been looking utterly uninterested, froze at those words and asked in astonishment, "What did you say?!"

"I have already gathered all the information. It is all inside that Storage Device. Your Highness should take a good look."

After looking through it for a while, Hua Ye tossed the device back to He Xuan and grinned. "Holy shit, Hua Zhen... Hua Xiong... That old man is already so old, and he still managed to give me two younger brothers. Not bad... Heh heh..."

He Xuan frowned slightly. "Does Your Highness not think this is serious? Your competitors for the position of heir apparent have gone from one to three!"

"Three? Ha, you mean those two little brats who haven't even grown hair yet? Don't joke around, He Xuan..." Hua Ye waved dismissively. "Among the Six Great Institutions of the Heavenly Palace, Old Second and I each control half. What do those two little things have? You're worrying too much!"

He Xuan glanced at him and reminded him, "That may be true, but the Angel King does not think so. He holds great expectations for the two young princes. Does Your Highness not care about that either?"

"Oh?" Hua Ye frowned. Recalling his father's usual ways, he pinched his chin. "Tsk... Now that you mention it, that old man is indeed good at balancing things. Fine... At the birthday banquet, I'll give those two little things a proper warning."

He Xuan nodded in satisfaction. "Since Your Highness already has a plan, I will not disturb your rest any longer."

Hua Ye walked up and patted his shoulder, grinning. "With you assisting me, He Xuan, I'm like a tiger with wings." He raised his brows. "The civil official in charge of the people of Heavenly City heard I had returned and specially selected several fine beauties to offer me. Don't leave tonight. Stay and have some fun with me?"

He Xuan shook his head. "Your Highness should keep them for your own enjoyment. I still have other matters to handle, so I will take my leave first!" After saluting with a hand over his chest, he did not linger and turned to leave.

Hua Ye watched his retreating back and curled his lip. "Tch, not a bit of fun in you! But... Hua Zhen, Hua Xiong, is it? Heh heh... Interesting..."