The Emperor at Home (1 / 2)

The long night stretched on. The night breeze gently brushed against the tightly shut window, making its paper dance in time with the harmonious music of zither and lute drifting from within.

This night was destined to be anything but peaceful.

At noon the following day, Yun Yun slowly woke in Chen Yang's arms.

She opened her eyes to find a muscular chest right before her.

Yun Yun: "!!!?"

She stared in a daze, her brain crashing for half a second.

She blinked in confusion, her mind utterly blank, unable to process what was happening.

Then, belatedly, she realized something was wrong.

A terrifying possibility flashed through Yun Yun's mind, and she uncertainly raised her head.

The next instant, she met a pair of eyes holding the hint of a smile.

Chen Yang was studying her with that same teasing look.

His arms held her tightly against his chest, her legs caught between his. She nestled in his embrace like a clingy kitten, as delicate and dependent as a little bird seeking shelter.

Yun Yun's brain crashed yet again!

When she recovered, she instinctively raised her hands to push Chen Yang away.

But the moment she moved, her delicate brows drew together, and pain crossed her exquisite face.

Had someone beaten her up?!

Even the slightest movement made her feel as though a steamroller had run over her. Her body no longer felt like her own.

At last, Yun Yun remembered last night's madness, and her little face twisted in embarrassment.

She shot Chen Yang a resentful look, so furious her teeth itched, then sank them hard into his abs.

Yun Yun bit down with enough force to draw blood.

She had expected Chen Yang to get angry, but he merely looked at her indulgently, letting her act as outrageously as she pleased in his arms.

Only once she had vented her anger did he lift a broad hand and stroke her hair.

"Feel better now?!"

"No~!" Yun Yun shook her head like a pellet drum. Scarlet blood stained her lips, lending her exquisite face a bewitching beauty.

"Then it looks like you still have some strength left. Let's go another round~!" Chen Yang waggled his eyebrows at her.

Yun Yun shook her head like a pellet drum. "No! My waist has already run away from home~!"

Just thinking about last night made an inexplicable surge of anger rise in her.

Yun Yun pursed her little lips resentfully.

All because she had voiced one complaint, this bastard had dragged her into an entire night of torment.

Chen Yang read the thought in her eyes and smiled playfully.

His fingers brushed gently over her smooth cheek, his touch exceedingly tender.

Then he whispered in her ear, "Remember, never tell a man he's quick, small, or can't perform."

"Last night was your punishment, to make sure you remembered."

Yun Yun: "...!"

Her hands were itching.

She wanted to smack someone.

But she couldn't beat him. What was she supposed to do?

"Move." She pushed Chen Yang again. "I need to wash up."

Chen Yang released Yun Yun, rose, and headed outside.

Yun Yun was left alone in the bridal chamber.

She watched Chen Yang leave and fell into a daze.

Now that things had come to this, what should she do from now on?

Would he treat her well in a marriage with no foundation of affection?

How could he possibly treat her well!

Yun Yun smiled self-mockingly.

He had merely taken a fancy to her beauty.

Given enough time, or once she grew old and faded like a yellowing pearl, he would tire of her.

Life had to move forward. Since this was a loveless marriage, she only needed to guard her heart.

Once he grew tired of her, she could be free.

It was not that Yun Yun disbelieved in love. Rather, people who reached their level, while they might sever affection and forsake love, also found their desire for romance greatly diminished.

Cultivation was, by its very nature, a way to refine the body and temper the mind, strengthening self-control.

After leaving the bridal chamber, Chen Yang went to the main hall.

Inside, the former sect master, Yun Shan, sat in the seat of honor, with the ten elders seated in rows to his left and right.

Seeing Chen Yang arrive alone, they all frowned.

They looked behind him, and their frowns deepened when they found no sign of Yun Yun.

It was bad enough that she hadn't come early that morning to pay her respects and serve tea to her elders, but now she was still nowhere to be seen. Had all her lessons in etiquette gone to the dogs?!

Newlyweds were supposed to visit their elders early the following morning to pay their respects and receive their blessings.

The first elder and the others were deeply disappointed in Yun Yun. All those years of nurturing her had gone to waste.

After entering, Chen Yang ignored everyone's probing looks.

He walked straight over to Yun Shan, casually pulled up a chair, sat down, and crossed his legs.

Choosing to turn a blind eye to the elders' stares, Chen Yang picked up the freshly brewed tea and sipped it by himself.

The strong had no need to care about the opinions of the weak, much less explain themselves to them.

The elders were furious at Chen Yang's casual arrogance, but none dared voice it.

In this world where strength reigned supreme, the hardest fist was the only king.

Worldly conventions were merely tools for restraining the weak.

No matter the world, the strong always enjoyed privileges.

Even with Chen Yang acting this outrageously, Yun Shan still had to rise and curry favor with him.

Yun Shan left the seat of honor, personally brewed a cup of tea, and offered it to Chen Yang.

"Here, try this. It's some Zhuyeqing I happened to acquire."

"This tea went through thirty-eight processing steps and sixty-five stringent tests during production. There's a market for it, but no price can buy it.

"I went to considerable trouble to obtain it."

Zhuyeqing was a green tea, and its brewed liquor had a pale green hue.

Tender green leaves rose and fell in the warm tea, as though unfurling beneath the sunlight.

A gentle sniff brought a delicate fragrance to the nose, its aroma naturally soothing.

A small sip began with a touch of bitterness before fragrance washed over the tongue and flowed all the way into the heart.

"Excellent tea~!" Chen Yang said sincerely.

Before transmigrating, Chen Yang had also been the young scion of a wealthy family, with several gold mines to inherit, so he knew something about tea.

Yun Shan brightened at those words and was just about to speak when Chen Yang suddenly set down his tea and interrupted him.

He placed the cup to one side and said, enunciating every word, "An honest man doesn't speak in riddles. I know what you all want to say."

"But let me make this clear: Yun'er holds a different position now. She's my wife, my lady."

"So she can't possibly keep serving as your sect master forever."

"Nor do I want your Misty Cloud Sect's petty little affairs getting in the way of the time she and I will be spending alone together."

Chen Yang's words echoed clearly through the main hall.

Yun Shan, Yun Leng, and the others all looked grim.

They were about to object when Chen Yang spoke again. "This isn't negotiable. At home, I occupy the imperial throne."

After a pause, Chen Yang continued, "Since I've taken your sect master, naturally, I ought to give you a new one."

"As the sect master's direct disciple, Nalan Yanran was already being groomed as the future sect master. So she'll take the position of tenth-generation sect master.

"Of course, I'll give you my word.

"During the transition between Misty Cloud Sect Masters, there won't be a single voice of opposition within the Misty Cloud Sect."

[Ding~! New system mission issued: help Nalan Yanran become the tenth-generation sect master of the Misty Cloud Sect.

Mission completion reward: 20,000 modification points.]

The moment Chen Yang finished speaking, the System Sprite appeared of its own accord and issued him a system mission.

Hearing this, Chen Yang gave the System Sprite before him, visible only to him, a long, meaningful look.

This System Sprite knew how to behave~!