Within the Ancestral Temple of the Ying Clan in the Great Zhou Dynasty, Tianxuan Continent!
"Your Majesty, someone from the Imperial Observatory has come to deliver a report."
Inside the magnificent palace, a middle-aged man in a black Dragon Robe wore an impassive expression.
"Read it."
"Ziwei has begun to stir. The Zhou Tian Xing Dou have shifted position, pointing south—to the Great Gan Dynasty in the southern part of the continent."
"Wang Chun of the Imperial Observatory reports that the Great Gan Dynasty's National Destiny is now flourishing, showing signs of aspiring to rule the world. It may pose a threat to our nation..."
Hearing this, the man set down his writing brush and sneered at the eunuch before him.
"Oh? A mere woman at the Voidbreak level can really destabilize my Great Zhou Dynasty?"
"Your Majesty, the Imperial Observatory's predictions have never been wrong. They haven't made a mistake in all these years. If trouble truly is brewing, perhaps we should simply destroy the nation..."
"It's a tiny land ruled by a woman. Nothing to worry about."
The old eunuch hesitated for a moment, then turned and left the room.
Just as the middle-aged man began to wonder what was going on, the person the old eunuch had called for arrived.
The moment the man saw the Discipline Whip enshrined in the Ancestral Temple, he froze.
"Eunuch Li, what are you doing? Have I done something wrong?"
The old eunuch replied helplessly, "The Former Emperor's edict stated that future rulers must guard against arrogance and impatience, exercise self-discipline, cultivate virtue, and govern the nation well. The Great Zhou's ten-thousand-year foundation cannot be built in a day, or even a single lifetime."
"The ancestors of the Great Gan Dynasty once produced an Ascended Cultivator. According to the Imperial Observatory's calculations, that person has yet to perish and still resides in the Upper Realm, protecting the dynasty with their Qi of fortune. Your Majesty, such impetuousness violates our ancestors' teachings..."
As he spoke, the eunuch took the Discipline Whip. The complicated, reluctant look on his face vanished in an instant, replaced by a stern expression.
"Emperor Ying Dang of the Great Zhou, do you recognize this object?"
The middle-aged man dropped to his knees involuntarily, suppressed by the eunuch's overwhelming presence.
"Ying Dang recognizes it!"
"You have defied your ancestors' teachings. The law calls for three lashes as punishment. Do you object?"
"Ying Dang would never dare defy his ancestors' teachings. He accepts the punishment without complaint!"
Smack! Smack! Smack!
Three lashes left the man sprawled on the ground. The old eunuch hurriedly put away the Discipline Whip and went over to check Ying Dang's injuries.
"Your Majesty, the Imperial Observatory cannot be wrong. That Dragon Qi is pressing down on our Great Zhou Dynasty's National Destiny. Given time, it will surely leave that Empress beyond anyone's control..."
The old eunuch quickly used a spell to heal Ying Dang. The dismissive look on the latter's face gradually gave way to calm.
"Eunuch Wang, do you truly believe that woman is extraordinary?"
"In the early days, our Great Zhou Dynasty occupied only a corner of the land and didn't even rank among the Five Great Dynasties. It took generations of rulers plotting for the nation, thousands of years of accumulated foundations, and diligent governance to achieve our present grandeur. Any potential threat must be eliminated..."
The man nodded, his expression settling into calm.
"Still, our Great Zhou Dynasty is the foremost of the Five Great Dynasties. When we founded the nation, we declared that the five kingdoms would divide the world between them. If we attack openly, our national prestige will suffer."
"Since that Dragon Qi is surging, have the people of the Imperial Observatory find its source and sever its roots. Such covert methods will go unnoticed, and even if someone realizes what happened, they won't dare openly challenge our Great Zhou Dynasty."
The old eunuch bowed. "Your Majesty is wise. As it happens, the Empress of the Great Gan Dynasty has already chosen an Emperor Consort. I hear the decision was made in haste, so they're likely preparing the ceremony. We could take this opportunity to send someone..."
The man considered this for a moment, then looked at the old eunuch.
"Eunuch Wang, go in person. Make sure this succeeds without fail."
The man narrowed his eyes, his expression turning ruthless.
"If that Dragon Qi comes from the Empress, cripple her cultivation at the very least. If there's a chance, kill her outright!"
A few Voidbreak cultivators meant nothing to Ying Dang.
But that Dragon Qi was a symbol of National Destiny.
It dared to press down on the Great Zhou Dynasty?
The Great Gan Dynasty had better take a good look at itself and ask whether it had what it took!
The other dynasties reacted in different ways.
Some sought to win them over, while others, like the Great Zhou Dynasty, considered how best to undermine them.
They were all waiting for the Grand Wedding invitations.
Naturally, they would bring generous gifts.
The question was whether the Great Gan Dynasty could handle them!
Back in the Great Gan Dynasty, various factions were abuzz with their own opinions about this unusual phenomenon.
But since it had coincided with the day Her Majesty named her Emperor Consort, and the dynasty's fortune had surged, everyone took it as an auspicious sign!
With such an Emperor Consort, the Great Gan Dynasty was destined to prosper!
If you can't find the book by searching its title, try searching for the author instead. Maybe it was simply renamed!
Unlike the lively scene outside the palace, Chu Ning was sitting unusually quietly outside Ye Qinglian's bedchamber.
His wife wouldn't let him in...
He'd explained several times that with Xiao Bing away, there'd be no one to help her change, and that sleeping would be more comfortable if she took off her clothes. But his wife wouldn't listen!
Sigh! How could an emperor change her own clothes? He was right here!
After lunch, he'd taken a nap and slept until evening.
During that time, Chu Ning had visited Mingde Hall several times. Whenever he saw a memorial, he'd casually deal with it, then take it out to Qianqing Palace. Once Ye Qinglian woke up and checked that there were no problems, she had Xiao Bing deliver it to the cabinet.
What a long nap.
Chu Ning had waited until sunset, and Xiao Bing had even returned from the Ye Family Holy Land!
"Eh? Mister Chu, what are you doing outside Her Majesty's bedchamber?"
Chu Ning glanced at Xiao Bing and explained with righteous solemnity, "Qinglian's resting. I'm just waiting here so I can help her change as soon as she wakes up."
Xiao Bing froze, then her eyes widened!
"Could it be, Mister Chu, that you've already helped Her Majesty change?"
"That's—"
Chu Ning smoothly changed the subject, taking in the aura around Xiao Bing.
"How was your cultivation at the Ye Family Holy Land today?"
Xiao Bing sighed, sounding a little disappointed.
"I used up quite a lot of resources. I even cultivated in the Holy Land's secret realm, but it still didn't feel as fast as cultivating in the palace. I was thinking of telling Her Majesty that I'd be better off staying here."
Chu Ning smiled without replying.
"You came back to eat lunch, and your cultivation went faster. How can you focus on cultivating on an empty stomach?"
Xiao Bing shook her head and explained earnestly, "Cultivators are supposed to abstain from food. Going without three meals a day and avoiding grains is the best state for cultivation."
"You've been hungry all day. How's your cultivation going?"
Xiao Bing scratched her head, puzzled too.
"It does seem like I haven't made much progress. Could it really be because I haven't eaten enough? I'll try cultivating again after I mooch off you for dinner tonight..."
Chu Ning chided her with a laugh. "So you're shamelessly mooching off me now? You don't even help with the cooking, and you just come here to eat?"
The girl grinned.
"It's because you and Her Majesty can't finish it all. We can't let it go to waste. Xiao Bing's just making sure Mister Chu's cooking doesn't go unappreciated..."
"Xiao Bing's back? Come help me change."
Chu Ning shot Xiao Bing a look, signaling her not to move!
I've got this!
Then he hurried over to the door.
"Qinglian, you heard wrong. It wasn't Xiao Bing. I was talking to myself..."
With that, he pushed the door open.
"Hubby's here to help you change, hehehe..."
A figure shot through the air. Chu Ning went flying straight into a nearby flower bed.
Xiao Bing didn't feel the least bit sorry for him; she just sighed.
"Mister, Her Majesty went easy on you. Otherwise, you'd be lucky to keep your life. Leave this sort of thing to Xiao Bing..."
In the distance, Chu Ning rubbed his butt and called back mournfully.
"Anyone would think I was an outsider. What's wrong with a husband helping his wife change? It's not like I'd peek..."
Ye Qinglian's voice immediately rang out from inside the bedchamber.
"Get lost!"
Sigh...
If I can't get close enough to watch, surely peeking is all right?
But after thinking it over, Chu Ning decided against it.
One day, he'd get to see.
Best to leave himself something to look forward to.
No, maybe I'll just take a quick peek...
Tsk, with a figure like that, those two babies definitely won't go hungry!
She could probably feed one more, too...
Before you continue