"Cicada, cicada-"
In the scorching summer, cicadas called through the Prince's Manor Garden outside the window, making the weather feel a few degrees hotter.
In the study atop the Jade Resonance Tower, a white screen stood by the window to block the sunlight. Dressed in a light, thin gown, Dongfang Liren stood motionless, a black band covering her eyes and a three-foot treasured saber in her hand.
Behind the desk, the petite, delicate Empress Dowager reclined in a large chair with her legs resting on its armrest. Her skirt outlined the full, voluptuous curves of her buttocks. She lightly tossed a little fur ball into the air and caught it, her voice languid.
"Jiangzhou is still the best. Warm winters, cool summers, spring all year round. Come to think of it, I haven't been back to visit my family in several years."
"Summer is too hot. You couldn't withstand the strain of traveling thousands of miles by boat and carriage, Your Majesty..."
Dongfang Liren had barely spoken when the Empress Dowager tossed out the fur ball in her hand.
The fur ball was too soft and light to make even the slightest whistle through the air.
Even so, Dongfang Liren sensed it.
Swish-
Dongfang Liren had not located it by sound. Instead, the instant the Empress Dowager raised her hand, she had already lifted her treasured saber to block diagonally above her, her movements clean and crisp.
Then...
Thump~
The little fur ball struck the painted fat-headed dragon, bounced onto the floor, and rolled some distance away...
Holding back her laughter, the palace maid Hongyu hurried forward to retrieve the fur ball and return it to the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager was quite approving. "Good, very good. You've only practiced for half a month and already attained this level.