All Things Are Contracts

Chapter 117: Audience with the Empress (2)

Zhanyue stroked Baizhi’s hair, teasing, “Are you jealous? I’ve only met that Crown Princess twice. Don’t overthink it. She might not even remember me now.”

“You can go, I won’t hold you back, but you must stay with me for a few more days,” Baizhi said. Though reluctant, she didn’t stop him, seeing his determination.

They lay on the bed, just talking, doing nothing else. It wasn’t that Zhanyue was being reserved; he was truly afraid that if they did anything, the divine soul in Baizhi might awaken and burn him to ashes.

“Girl, promise me one thing, okay?” Zhanyue suddenly said, looking at Baizhi.

“What is it?” Baizhi asked, puzzled.

“No matter what, don’t forget me, okay?” Zhanyue said seriously.

Baizhi was speechless. She wasn’t senile; how could she possibly forget him? But seeing Zhanyue’s serious expression, she nodded, “I promise you, no matter what, I won’t forget you. I’ve said it before, Baizhi will always belong only to you.”

Zhanyue pulled her into his arms, kissing her soft lips until she was breathless. For Zhanyue, Baizhi’s existence held a very special meaning. The illumination Goddess was bound to him for special reasons, but Baizhi was Zhanyue’s active choice, his biggest attachment in this world now. She was also the person he trusted most after the illumination Goddess; they shared many secrets. Baizhi was completely open with him, giving him the mysterious ‘Sun illumination Scripture’ as soon as she saw him.

“That consciousness said before to find the purest lightning power to activate the Heavenly King’s Bronze Furnace for Baizhi. I should keep an eye out for that during my travels,” Zhanyue suddenly remembered. Baizhi not only possessed the Heavenly King’s Bronze Furnace but also the South Ming Fire. When she truly grows up, her help to him would be immeasurable.

“With the divine communication space, we can contact each other anytime no matter how far apart we are. You don’t need to be too sad,” Zhanyue comforted her, “Sleep now.” Holding Baizhi in his arms, Zhanyue felt at ease, and they slept like that all night.

The next day, when the two walked out of the same room, Gong Xiaoyun couldn’t help but roll her eyes. These two were really bold, right under the Empress’s nose. They weren’t even married yet, how shameless. But she didn’t say anything; after all, the two were deeply in love, and it wasn’t her place to interfere.

“Your Highness, please follow me for the audience,” Gong Xiaoyun said.

Baizhi nodded. She hadn’t slept all night, even though she lay in Zhanyue’s arms, his hands caressing her. Her mind was on the upcoming audience; she couldn’t help but be nervous.

Zhanyue followed, but was stopped by Gong Xiaoyun.

“Young Master Zhan, please wait here. Her Majesty only summoned the Princess,” Gong Xiaoyun said, still smiling.

“No business for me?” Zhanyue said helplessly, having to let Baizhi enter alone.

This made Baizhi even more nervous, realizing the Empress only summoned her.

“I’m going in,” Baizhi looked at Zhanyue, took a deep breath, and walked into the hall alone. Even Gong Xiaoyun didn’t enter; the Empress seemed to want to talk to Baizhi privately.

At the hall entrance, Zhanyue paced back and forth. Gong Xiaoyun smiled, “Young Master Zhan, you seem even more nervous than the Princess.”

“After all, I don’t know Her Majesty’s temperament at all. I’m worried Baizhi might say something wrong. You know, serving a ruler is like serving a tiger,” Zhanyue explained.

“Serving a tiger? Are you saying Her Majesty is a tigress?” Gong Xiaoyun narrowed her eyes, looking at Zhanyue mischievously.

“I didn’t say that. Don’t misquote me. This is no joking matter,” Zhanyue quickly denied.

“If you want me not to tell on you, it’s simple. Just answer one question for me,” Gong Xiaoyun said, still with her beautiful smile, but Zhanyue saw mischief in it.

“What question?” Zhanyue asked.

“Have you and Her Highness done ‘it’?” Gong Xiaoyun asked curiously.

“No… no,” Zhanyue was embarrassed, not expecting such a question from Gong Xiaoyun.

“No?” Gong Xiaoyun was surprised, “You were in the same room with her, and Her Highness is so beautiful. You could resist? Or maybe you can’t perform?”

Zhanyue felt Gong Xiaoyun was really difficult to deal with. “Whether I can perform or not, Miss Gong can try and see,” he said, flustered.

Gong Xiaoyun’s smile froze, then her expression became strange, “You’re quite bold. No one in the Thousand Charms Empire has dared to flirt with me.”

“Uh, okay, I spoke out of turn. But you teased me first,” Zhanyue realized he had misspoken, remembering that the woman before him was no simple character.

“However, it’s good that nothing happened between you and Her Highness. After all, she’s now an imperial princess. Some things become much more complicated with this identity. It wouldn’t be good if word got out that the princess was fooling around with a man before marriage,” Gong Xiaoyun reminded.

“Thank you for the reminder, Miss Gong. I’ll remember,” Zhanyue nodded, feeling troubled. He’d have to be careful with Baizhi in public from now on, though in private it didn’t matter. At least in front of others, they had to maintain the princess’s face.

“You offended me. You don’t think a simple apology will suffice, do you?” Gong Xiaoyun said.

“Uh, how should I make amends, Miss Gong?” Zhanyue said, hoping she wouldn’t be too unreasonable.

“Just let me beat you up once,” Gong Xiaoyun said with a smug smile.

“Miss… Miss Gong, you’ve cultivated for years, your cultivation is much higher than mine. How could I be your match?” Zhanyue refused.

“Cultivated for years? Are you subtly calling me old?” Gong Xiaoyun’s smile hid a knife.

“I wouldn’t dare! Miss Gong, you’re a peerless beauty. How could you be old? Anyone who doesn’t know better would think you’re a 16-year-old girl,” Zhanyue quickly praised.

“Hehe,” Gong Xiaoyun giggled, “Peerless beauty? How so? Tell me, who’s more beautiful, me or the princess?”

Zhanyue’s head hurt. She had maliciously asked such a deadly question.

“Well, to be honest, I think the princess is more beautiful. But my feelings for her are special, so my judgment of her beauty might be biased. In others’ eyes, Miss Gong might be more beautiful,” Zhanyue answered.

“Is that so? You don’t want to offend anyone, do you? I won’t make it difficult for you. Let’s have a fight,” Gong Xiaoyun didn’t let Zhanyue off. In fact, she was just curious about Zhanyue and wanted to know his capabilities.

Inside the hall, the Empress chatted with the princess. Outside, Gong Xiaoyun fought with Zhanyue. Time slowly passed.

After a long while, Baizhi opened the hall doors and came out. She saw Zhanyue soaked like a drowned rat, while Gong Xiaoyun was giggling. Seeing Baizhi come out, she quickly suppressed her laughter.

“What’s going on?” Baizhi frowned.

“We were bored waiting and had a little match. Miss Gong is indeed formidable; I’m no match,” Zhanyue said helplessly, not daring to offend Gong Xiaoyun. He couldn’t beat her anyway, but this appearance was too embarrassing. He realized how terrifying Spirit Contractors could be; despite using all his tricks, he couldn’t harm Gong Xiaoyun at all.

“Your Highness, let me arrange for someone to escort you to your fief,” Gong Xiaoyun said, then arranged for people to escort Baizhi and Zhanyue out of the palace. When she returned to the palace, she was summoned by the Empress.

“Your Majesty, how was it?” Gong Xiaoyun asked curiously.

The Empress had returned to her large bed, yawning lazily. “We talked a lot, and I’m a bit tired. This girl is even more excellent than I imagined, with pill dao talent surpassing mine. It’s a pity she neglected martial arts cultivation; otherwise, I’d really consider grooming her as the next empress. However, her heart is all on that Zhanyue boy. If she really ascended the throne, I fear the empire would be stolen by Zhanyue. Let’s leave it for now. Let her stay in the capital, and I can guide her in pill dao cultivation. After all, she’s now my daughter.”

“By the way, what do you think of this Zhanyue boy?” the Empress asked. She naturally knew about the match between Gong Xiaoyun and Zhanyue earlier.

“His talent is unfathomable. Although he hasn’t entered the Profound Realm, ordinary Profound Star Realm experts probably aren’t his match,” Gong Xiaoyun evaluated honestly.

“This is what I often tell you about people with great fortune. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have obtained the Longevity Pill formula. We need to find a way to use this fortune for our benefit,” the Empress said.

“How to use it?” Gong Xiaoyun didn’t understand. She knew the Empress made Baizhi a princess mainly because of Zhanyue, to maintain a close relationship with such a fortunate person for many benefits.

“I heard from Baizhi that he plans to study at the Empire’s First United Academy? Perfect. That old fellow asked me for people before, and I was going to refuse, but now I’ve changed my mind. You go there for a while, protect the Holy Maiden, and keep an eye on Zhanyue. That thing in the depths of the academy is about to emerge. You can try to help as much as possible, and if it ends up in Zhanyue’s hands, have him share some with you. That thing can’t be obtained without great fortune,” the Empress said.

“Your Majesty wants me to go to the First United Academy? But what about the court affairs?” Gong Xiaoyun asked, confused.

“Silly girl, do you really think I can’t do anything without you? Just go. First, build a good relationship with the Wind Lord; his benefits aren’t small. Second, that thing in the academy is very important to me; we can’t not compete for it,” the Empress explained.

“Al… alright,” Gong Xiaoyun nodded.

The Wind Lord planned to become the principal of the First United Academy, and he also had the Holy Maiden enter the academy for convenience of care. He went to great lengths for the Holy Maiden’s safety, not only contacting experts from the White Cloud Tower as shields but also seeking help from the Thousand Charms Empire, which had many powerful women suitable for protecting the Holy Maiden. Gong Xiaoyun’s strength was no less than Mi Hongchen’s. With her close protection, the Holy Maiden’s safety would be assured.