"Your Majesty!"
Inside the palace chamber before Hua She'er, the floor and surrounding walls were built entirely of ice-blue bricks that radiated a strange energy. At the very center lay a cold pool roughly thirty feet across, brimming with dense energy.
Even before entering, Hua She'er felt a wave of comfort merely from absorbing the energy drifting out. The energy within her stirred again and again, drawing her into the sensation.
But Hua She'er's thoughts were not on that energy at all. As she gazed at the breathtaking figure in the cold pool, worry surfaced on her face.
You Ruo reclined against the edge of the cold pool with her back to Hua She'er. Her slender arms rested along its rim, her long purple hair spilling down in disarray. Her long fingers gripped the surrounding bricks fiercely, veins bulging as she let out one groan after another...
"Mm..."
Sensing Hua She'er's presence, You Ruo gave a soft response, then added, "I'm fine. Wait outside the hall for now."
Although You Ruo's voice sounded slightly weary, Hua She'er heard nothing else unusual in it. She lowered her head in acknowledgment, then respectfully withdrew from the Main Hall and waited quietly by the entrance.
The palace doors sealed all the energy inside, leaving Hua She'er unable to sense even the slightest trace of her aura.
"You little thing, you're going to be the death of me..."
Once Hua She'er had left, You Ruo lowered her gaze to her swollen belly, a hint of helplessness crossing her face. She reached out and gently stroked it, then revealed a trace of warmth and a rare smile. Sadly, no outsider had ever seen this side of her...
Feeling the energy fluctuations coming from her belly, You Ruo could not help feeling another surge of panic.