341: Strawberry Tips

Xiao Si said righteously, "In the past, this 'System' didn't recognize greatness. Now I understand: follow Her Majesty, and there will be meat to eat."

The core processor secretly recorded the slight upward curve of Shang Wan Ning's lips; this was an important data point for 'Pleasure,' which would help optimize services and improve Host satisfaction.

[Hehe ;-), once I save up enough skins, I'll be able to eat the strawberry tips nurtured by the Empress.]

Of course, Xiao Si wouldn't say this fantasy out loud even if she were beaten to death. Having been unable to find a sister system, even a bunch of data now found the Host to be quite pleasing to the eye.

Once the hot spring soak was almost finished, Shang Wan Ning was helped up by a maid and wrapped in a bathrobe.

A white-haired ball of fluff charged in like a cannonball—it was Chen Yu.

The swelling on her face had mostly subsided, but the bruises hadn't fully faded, and there were blood scabs at the corners of her mouth, making her look quite pitiful.

The moment she saw Shang Wan Ning, who had just finished her bath, wearing a robe with water still dripping from her hair, her cowlick shot up with a 'shwing,' and her eyes sparkled intensely.

Regardless of anything else, she lunged toward the Empress's embrace.

"Your Majesty, Yu Yu hurts."

Shang Wan Ning's brow furrowed. With quick eyes and hands, she pressed a finger against Chen Yu's forehead, stopping her half a step away.

"Stand properly. You haven't even fully healed and you're already running around. Do you think your face isn't swollen symmetrically enough?" Her tone sounded fierce, but the divine power she sent over to check the injuries was not half-hearted at all.

Chen Yu pouted, her forehead leaning against the finger, looking aggrieved. "Yu Yu missed Your Majesty... Where is that old pervert Red Candle?"

"Where is he locked up? Can this Subordinate go and give him a couple of kicks?" She rubbed her hands together; with her swollen face and fierce expression, she looked a bit comical.

"Black Horn Iron Prison."

Shang Wan Ning withdrew her finger and adjusted the collar of her bathrobe. "His spiritual power was drained, and his avatar has dissipated. You won't be able to kick him; wait for the next opportunity!"

"Ah, he dissipated?"

Chen Yu's face fell, and even her cowlick wilted. "That's too easy on him."

Her eyes darted around, and she leaned in closer. "Your Majesty, the second recruitment list for the Grass Spirit Dog Clan has been drafted. Sister Feng Xi is pressing for it; please take a look." As she spoke, she pulled out a jade slip.

Shang Wan Ning nodded toward a small side table. "Put it there. Feng Xi is in a hurry? Let her wait."

"The threshold of the Underworld is not that easy to cross. It's better for the second batch of Grass Spirit Dogs to train for another year." She walked to the dressing table and sat down, while a maid came forward to dry her long hair.

Ling Qi entered silently at that moment, carrying a white jade bowl. The dark medicinal liquid inside was steaming, and its bitter scent hit the nose directly.

The gaze behind the gold-rimmed glasses swept over Chen Yu's messy face, and she thrust the medicine bowl directly under Chen Yu's nose.

"Drink."

Chen Yu's face crumpled as she shrank back. "Secretary-General... what is this! It smells even scarier than Sister Meng's meng pos soup."

Ling Qi didn't even lift her eyelids. "It's to reduce swelling, resolve bruising, and repair meridians. Ordered by Her Majesty." She emphasized the words 'Ordered by Her Majesty' very clearly.

Chen Yu looked at Shang Wan Ning with a bitter face.

The Empress had her eyes closed, letting the maid comb her hair, and paid no attention to the commotion. Ling Qi simply held the bowl, motionless, her lenses reflecting a cold light.

After a five-second standoff, Chen Yu resigned herself to her fate. Pinching her nose, she gulped it down with a look of martyrdom.

As the medicine went down her throat, the bitterness made the loli shudder all over, and tears nearly burst out.

Ling Qi took back the empty bowl, her thumb wiping the rim until not a trace of residue remained. "Tomorrow at this time, continue." Having said that, she turned and left without lingering for even a second.

Mainly, she had arrived a few steps late and staying wouldn't allow her to see the 'beauty emerging from the bath' anyway. It would only mean sharing a room with the White-Haired Loli who was slacking off again.

Chen Yu grimaced from the bitterness and made a face at Ling Qi's back. Seeing this in the mirror, Shang Wan Ning snorted with a smile. "Serves you right. If you cause trouble again, next time I'll have AQi give you a double dose."

Chen Yu behaved herself and edged over to the dressing table, watching eagerly as the maid combed the Empress's hair.

Shang Wan Ning's hair was long and thick, as black as splashed ink. The maid's fingers flew, and she soon tied a simple and neat bun, inserting a plain jade hairpin.

"Your Majesty~"

Chen Yu stared at the plain jade hairpin, looking for something to say. "The Torch Dragon suffered such a big loss; can He really endure it?"

"He won't be playing dirty tricks in the shadows, will He?"

Shang Wan Ning looked left and right in the mirror, and only after she was satisfied did she speak. "Playing tricks? If He dares to stretch out a claw, I'll dare to chop off the dragon's head."

She stood up, the bathrobe's belt accentuating her slender waist, her lazy charm replaced by majesty. "Many of the old fogies in the Source Realm are about to wake up; the waters are going to get muddy. Keep an eye on the Kingdom of Barbatos on the Ativi Continent. How is the Abyss Church's 'fire' burning?"

She said this to Xiao Si.

A stream of data popped up on the light screen, and Xiao Si's voice carried the tone of a professional report: "Don't worry, Host. The faith conversion rate in the Cana Mining Area has exceeded 87%, and the core doctrine of 'Breaking the Chains' has reached the grassroots level."

"The first batch of cross-planar incense offerings has been steadily received. Minister You Yu asks if we should increase investment in 'ideological guidance'?"

Shang Wan Ning tapped on the dressing table. "Approved. Tell You Yu the fire can be bright, but don't let it burn his own hands. The Underworld only provides the 'matches'."

"Understood." Xiao Si's light screen flashed, and the task command was sent instantly.

Shang Wan Ning walked to the window and pushed open the frame. Looking at the medicinal fields filled with spiritual plants along the banks of the Wangchuan River, her gaze deepened.

[The Torch Dragon, the Source Realm, the sparks on Ativi, and why the pollution source appeared in the Demon realm—how did Sabrina know about the spatial node in the Demon realm?]

Troubles were coming one after another.

Shang Wan Ning rubbed her brow.

[Being the boss of the Underworld is truly exhausting; even a bath doesn't bring peace.]

Chen Yu leaned over and looked out following her gaze, but only saw dark soil. "What is Your Majesty looking at?"

"Heh, looking at my kingdom."

Chen Yu blinked, seemingly understanding but not quite.

Xiao Si silently recorded in the system space:

Host Status: Mild fatigue.

Condition: Intermittent onset of Imperial Anxiety.

Suggestion: Replenish spiritual power, pet a fox, or pet a loli to relieve stress.

"By the way, that bottle of 'Jade Peak Dew Wine' Feng Xi gave you—bring it here for me to see." Shang Wan Ning suddenly remembered something and turned to look at Chen Yu.

Chen Yu's face turned red instantly, her gaze drifted, and her hands subconsciously covered her chest.

"Wh-what does Your Majesty want that for?"

Shang Wan Ning raised an eyebrow, her smile a bit mischievous. "What, can't bear to part with it? I'll inspect the goods for you to see if it really can 'reshape the figure and firm the Jade Peaks'."

The tips of Chen Yu's ears turned red, and she stammered, "I've hidden it well, don't even think about it, Your Majesty." She was like a rabbit protecting its food, dashing far away in an instant, fearing Shang Wan Ning would reach out and snatch it.

Watching her back, Shang Wan Ning finally laughed out loud.

[Fine, teasing a loli counts as stress relief.]

Xiao Si's light screen secretly lit up: "Host Pleasure +1%. Teasing Prefecture City God Chen Yu has significant results. Record: Chen Yu = high-quality stress-relief toy."

She happily planned that the next time the Host was frustrated, she could "accidentally" lead Chen Yu over.