78: Chapter 78 The Storm Is Coming

A few days later, Crown Prince Qi Xiaobai's grand wedding was held.

Crown Prince Qi Xiaobai married the granddaughter of an old court official. On the night of the wedding banquet, this young Emperor in the Grandmaster Realm kept drinking with his brother Su Fan, refusing to go to the bridal chamber until midnight, until he was finally dragged away by the Queen Dowager in a huff to complete the wedding rites...

Three months later, news of the Queen's pregnancy spread throughout the entire Shanhai Principality.

Tenth year of the simulation, the first month.

Outside Xunying Pavilion, heavy snow fell like goose feathers.

The cold wind howled, whipping the snowflakes into a frenzy as they battered against the vermilion pavilion.

Icicles hung from the eaves of Xunying Pavilion, gleaming coldly under the bright lights.

Throughout Zidu, the streets and alleys were buried deep in snow, and everything was silent.

Inside Xunying Pavilion, the faint sound of string and bamboo instruments played, and a subtle fragrance filled the air...

As the song ended, Su Fan slowly released his hands from the strings.

At this moment, a small Spirit Beast, shaped like a toad and emitting an orange-gold glow, jumped onto his lap and let out a series of "Quack, quack" sounds.

When Su Fan placed his hands near its mouth, it spat out a gold coin. It then rolled its eyes, looking up with an expression waiting for praise—it was ugly-cute.

After taking the gold coin, Su Fan patted the Golden Fire Toad's little head and smiled slightly: "Chuoer is amazing! You've found another gold coin!"

Upon hearing this praise, the Golden Fire Toad bulged its frog eyes, looking very happy. After letting out two "Quacks," it scurried away and dove back underground to swallow more gold...

"Husband... The weather is cold, put on this cloak."

Yun Zhu had shed her youthful shyness, her pretty face now carrying a hint of maturity. She draped a fox-fur cloak over Su Fan, tied the strings, and fashioned a beautiful bow in front.

The term "Husband" was one Su Fan had specifically permitted her to use.

Because the Queen Dowager forbade her from calling him "Hubby," and since she had long been deeply in love with Su Fan, she had racked her brains to prove that her husband was indeed her husband. Thus, the word "Husband" was something she had begged from Su Fan. In her heart, these two words were no different from "Hubby."

Looking at Yun Zhu before him, Su Fan felt quite sentimental.

Although Yun Zhu was merely a pawn planted by the Queen Dowager, the girl had already fallen deeply in love with him. She would tell him all her secrets and even asked him to have a child with her.

Although Su Fan had the means to do so, he had not forgotten that this was a simulation world, so he did not agree to Yun Zhu's request for a child.

He had already created such a tangled web of fate; why would he want a child?

It would only be more troublesome in the future...

Although Yun Zhu felt regret, she spent every day in deep affection with her husband, inseparable. Even the Queen Dowager seemed to feel a bit jealous, which gave her a sense of satisfaction and pride, so she no longer fretted over whether or not to have a child.

And her husband's gentle treatment of her made her feel like the happiest woman in the world. She wore a smile on her face every day, as if the whole world were bright and beautiful.

However, Su Fan did not realize how gentle he was toward Yun Zhu, and sometimes even felt a hint of guilt for always ignoring her feelings...

"Husband, what would you like to eat later? Yun Zhu will make it for you... Is that okay?"

Yun Zhu brushed the snowflakes that had just fallen on his head, her tone gentle to the extreme.

"What to eat... How about fried icicles..."

Su Fan's words left Yun Zhu stunned.

Fried icicles?

How do you fry an icicle!?

...

However, in the end, an icicle coated in flour and fried until fragrant was still placed in front of Su Fan.

Su Fan chuckled and patted Yun Zhu's head, "Silly woman."

Yun Zhu smiled brightly, "No matter what Husband wants to eat, Yun Zhu will find a way to make it!"

She laughed inwardly, 'Hee hee, no matter what, as long as Husband is happy, that's all that matters.'

...

Sometimes, Yun Zhu also felt very aggrieved and on the verge of a breakdown.

That was when the Queen Dowager made her guard the door, while the Queen Dowager was inside bullying her husband.

"Queen Dowager, really, don't... please don't... let's end this..."

"Xunying... my good boy... no one knows except Yun Zhu... be good... let me cherish you..."

Hearing these filthy words, she would always burst into tears.

But apart from hating the Queen Dowager in her heart, there was nothing she could do.

Who told her she was the Queen Dowager!

...

Another early spring arrived, and in the blink of an eye, it was February of the eleventh year of the simulation.

"Chuoer! Chuoer!"

Su Fan stood in the courtyard of Xunying Pavilion and called out twice.

After living together day and night, the Golden Fire Toad seemed to have developed a sense of master-servant affection with Su Fan.

Upon hearing Su Fan's call, it dug its way out from underground, spat out half a gold coin, let out a "Quack," and looked up at Su Fan.

Su Fan tossed it a few pieces of scrap copper.

It let out a "Quack," stuck out its long tongue, opened its big mouth, took them in, and then used its two short front legs to hold the scrap copper, stuffing them into its mouth non-stop, eating with great delight...

Afterwards, it let out a burp, gave a "Quack," and spat out several copper coins...

Su Fan and Yun Zhu watched this scene and laughed uncontrollably.

At this moment, a figure flew down from the sky. It was a Grandmaster. He knelt before Su Fan and reported: "Reporting to the Pavilion Master! Jing Ge still has not completed the mission..."

Su Fan stood with his hands behind his back, looking toward the direction of the Great Yan Empire, and murmured: "It has been eleven years, and still no news of her..."

"Pavilion Master, the Fengqi Pavilion's influence is vast, with numerous branches. Scattered about, they have nearly a million female warriors; it might indeed be difficult to find her..."

"Hmm, I understand. You may go."

Su Fan waved his hand indifferently, but the Grandmaster did not stand up, instead continuing to report:

"Pavilion Master, the war between the Great Yan Empire and Great Qi has had new developments..."

Su Fan's expression remained calm as he continued to listen.

"The Great Yan Empire army attacked Zidu. The Emperor Realm expert of Great Qi met Empress Yan Yufei in battle, was defeated, and fell!"

Upon hearing this news, Su Fan's expression changed slightly, and his body stiffened.

"...Empress Yan Yufei has achieved a Breakthrough to the Middle Stage of the Emperor Realm and is now the strongest person on the continent..."

Hearing this, Su Fan exhaled and waved his hand with a complex expression.

The Grandmaster bowed and withdrew.

Yun Zhu supported the slightly trembling Su Fan. Although she did not know much about national wars, she could infer from her husband's reaction just now that a storm seemed to be coming, one that would sweep through the entire Shanhai Principality...

Su Fan had someone summon Qiu Yuntian, who soon appeared before him.

"If we want to destroy the Phoenix Vein, how many men would we need to be certain of success?"

Upon hearing Young Master Su Fan's plan, Qiu Yuntian opened his mouth, his eyes filled with astonishment.

He really did not expect the Young Master to have such a bold idea...

Thinking of this, Qiu Yuntian quickly replied: "It doesn't actually require many men; the main thing is that we need a Martial Emperor Realm expert to hold off the Martial Emperor guards there."

"A Martial Emperor Realm expert, well, it's not that there aren't any..."

"Young Master, where would we find a Martial Emperor Realm expert?"

Qiu Yuntian looked around, asking with a face full of confusion.

There were no Martial Emperor Realm experts in the Shanhai Principality at all; was the Young Master joking?

Su Fan smiled faintly, his robes fluttering, his face as calm as water: "Our country doesn't have any, but there is a place that has quite a few!"

"Young Master, where?"

Su Fan's gaze darkened as he spat out two words: "Great Qi."