79: Chapter 79 My Lord, Your Good Days Are Yet to Come

On Cheng Yu Planet, time seemed to be frozen.

The lead-gray sky hung low, pressing down upon the boundless wasteland and the massive Hive Cities scattered across it.

The wind was the eternal sound of the wasteland, a constant, hollow whimpering that swept across the craggy cliffs and the docks of the Hive City.

Snow began to fall.

It was not the pure white snowflakes of a Paradise World, but pale yellow crystals mixed with ammonia and nitrogen, carrying a faint, pungent odor as they drifted aimlessly.

In the open areas of the imperial palace, the attendants of Attendant Cheng Yu used large brooms to sweep the accumulated snow into the drainage channels on both sides of the paths.

This snow could be collected and sold to agricultural planets to be used as fertilizer.

In the botanical garden of the palace on Cheng Yu Planet, a group of newly arrived young concubines, dressed in silks and satins, were like a flock of larks that had just broken free from their cages, their silver-bell-like laughter piercing the oppressive atmosphere of this terrifying palace.

They likely did not know that the water on this planet was slightly toxic, and that the falling snowflakes were also mixed with crystals of ammonia, nitrogen, and magnesium sulfate.

These matters were far less important than the happiness of the moment.

They gathered in groups of three or five, giggling as they scooped up the snow from the ground, clumsily yet earnestly forming snowballs, and throwing them at each other without any rhyme or reason.

The snowballs traced messy arcs through the air, landing on beautiful garments and bursting apart in their hair, drawing forth bursts of delicate cries and even louder laughter.

Some girls hid behind giant pillars to launch surprise attacks, and after succeeding, they would lift their skirts and run away quickly, leaving behind a trail of playful footprints.

Some girls were hit, but they didn't get angry; they simply bent down, scooped up more snow, and laughed as they prepared for "revenge."

In this moment, they had no worries, only youth—and this was the only moment they had.

...

"Your Majesty, this is this year's final financial statement, as well as the budgets for each department for the coming year."

The Hall of Diligent Governance was quiet and deep, with only the incense burner in the corner emitting wisps of blue smoke. Main Body was performing the Luotian Dajiao ritual, praying for the long-lasting national fortune of the dynasty and the prosperity of the imperial reign.

He took the thick account book, his gaze skimming over the complex data and charts, and turned directly to the final summary.

"Aria really has great ability; with a population less than one-third of the imperial capital, the output is actually twice as much as here."

Main Body chuckled softly. He was now a bit jealous of that consort clone; he could just lie there without doing anything and already be wealthy enough to rival a nation.

As for his side… Vera was gentle, but she was greedy for pleasure and comfort. Usually, when he asked her to help approve a memorial, she would put on that reluctant face of a student who didn't want to do homework.

Veronica had more than enough ambition, but lacked talent. Although she knew many things, it was all rote memorization. To truly master and integrate this knowledge, she still needed to be tempered and honed.

"Flip the tablet," Main Body said indifferently.

"Ah… are we flipping the tablet in the middle of the day, Your Majesty?" Second Attendant Cheng Yu said, surprised.

"Just bring it here!" Main Body scolded with a laugh, "You're even trying to manage me now? Go to the Imperial Household Department later and collect your punishment of caning."

Second Attendant Cheng Yu brought out the tray, upon which more than ten wooden tablets were arranged in three rows.

"Lord of Pleasure protect me, give me an SSR who can manage finances, I beg of you. I am willing to offer the souls of five hundred captives."

Main Body prayed like this, then closed his eyes and grabbed one at random from the wooden tablets.

"Isabella, a woman offered by a foreign state, twenty years of age, gentle in nature, beautiful in appearance, and precocious from a young age. Because of her family background, she was conferred the title of Zhaoyi after entering the palace."

Second Attendant Cheng Yu had long since memorized the information about these concubines, so he could naturally recite it fluently. Whether it was accurate or not, who knows, but you have to admit, it was fast.

"Fine, then it will be her tonight."

"Not now, Your Majesty?"

"I…" Main Body wished he could fly-kick him right then and there, kicking him out into the snow outside.

...

"Little Mistress Isabella, your good days have arrived."

The shrill voice of Second Attendant Cheng Yu interrupted the concubines' play. He flicked the horsetail whisk in his hand, and a hairpin appeared on Isabella's head. With this accessory, which was not common in the Warhammer Universe, everyone who saw it knew that she was the Emperor's woman.

"Understood."

There was neither sorrow nor joy on Isabella's face. Before, when the girls were having a snowball fight in the Imperial Garden, she had also stood on the side and watched.

The other girls felt dissatisfied and began to whisper among themselves.

"Tch, what's so great about her? She's just a bit prettier, what's with the cold attitude?"

"Exactly, look at her front… it's so flat you could fry an ostrich egg on it. I don't know what she has to be so arrogant about."

"Maybe the Emperor just likes that kind of thing… then wouldn't I be destined to grow old alone?"

"I heard the Emperor eats a thousand people every day, is that true?"

"Fake, he eats at most two. I've seen the Emperor, he doesn't have a big belly."

Second Attendant Cheng Yu heard these outrageous words. He turned his head and glared at these newly arrived Little Mistresses with dissatisfaction. "If you are idle, you ladies can read the 'Imperial Truth,' and learn more from the two Lady Istvans; naturally, you will receive favor."

The girls were all too scared to make a sound… because Second Attendant Cheng Yu had just turned his head one hundred and eighty degrees.

Then, Second Attendant Cheng Yu changed his expression as he turned towards Isabella.

"There are some things that I must make clear to you, Little Mistress. Before attending to the Emperor tonight, you must first bathe and change your clothes, burn incense, and pray. When attending to him, you must not look directly into the Emperor's eyes, and you must not make any rude sounds; if the Emperor does not ask you, you may not speak voluntarily. There are some more detailed matters that I will not mention, but the palace maids will naturally explain them to you."

"Understood, thank you, Chamberlain." Isabella knew that this information was not free… it cost money. This eunuch—forget it, money is a bastard; things come and go. If you aren't willing to sacrifice your child, you can't catch the wolf; if you aren't willing to sacrifice your wife… wait, I am the wife.

...

Night fell.

The movements of the two Aeldari palace maids were gentle as they removed Isabella's last layer of silk robe.

The bath, filled with the steam of ambergris and white agarwood, dyed her fair skin with a pale pink hue, penetrating every inch of her flesh.

This fragrance was warm, rich, and luxurious, as if it wanted to soak her into a qualified tribute. Isabella thought this with a bitter smile.

Actually, Isabella was overthinking it. What was used in Cheng Yu's court mainly depended on what the Ducalia Territory was currently smuggling.

A while ago, they were even using lubricating grease extracted from Tyranids / Tyranid organisms.

After the bath, the palace maids used large industrial paper rolls to absorb the water droplets on her body. Naturally beautiful, Isabella needed no makeup to be stunningly gorgeous.

Next was dressing. The clothing for attending to the Emperor was something Isabella had brought with her. The material was a fabric interwoven with liquid metal and biological fibers; it was the color of moonlight, warm to the touch, and could outline every curve of her body according to her will.

Isabella was quite confident in this outfit; she had paid a high price to buy it.