153: The Road to Heaven

Seeing everyone shut up, Kong Jiamu was even more dissatisfied.

"What? Keep talking."

He sneered.

"So I can go ask Your Majesty if we military people are born inferior to you old-money nobles."

Holding Tu Nan, he leaned down slightly and pressed close to Gu Lvhai, his light blue eyes staring her down, his expression freezing cold.

"Hmm? Miss Gu, if I remember correctly, you haven't... inherited your title yet? And yet you're already calling for the heads of my people?"

Kong Jiamu leaned in so close that his breath fanned against that detestable Female Beast's Face. His fierce gaze looked as if he might grow a sharp beak at any moment and peck her eyes out.

Gu Lvhai's Face flushed red.

To avoid him, she leaned her upper body further and further back until her waist felt the strain.

A pair of warm, large hands supported her back, and she heard Hain's voice.

"Kong Jiamu, that's enough."

Kong Jiamu gave a bored grunt and decided to give his friend some Face. He stood up straight, not forgetting to give Tu Nan's head a gentle rub.

The meaning was roughly: See, I vented your Qi for you.

If Hain hadn't been there, Tu Nan might have praised him, but now, she pulled his hand off her head with a headache and glared at him.

She really wanted him to explain what this "fiancée" business was about.

However, this wasn't the right time to contradict him.

Her head throbbed, and she subconsciously glanced at Hain out of the corner of her eye.

"I... I didn't mean that. It's all a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding."

Gu Lvhai, this Female Beast who clearly looked tall and sturdy, now appeared flustered.

She tugged at her maid, Black Spade, her tone pleading.

"Black Spade, why don't you apologize to everyone?"

Kong Jiamu wasn't buying it. "What? Is an apology enough? Why don't you let me teach her what it means to be cautious in word and deed?"

He was trying to beat the dog to show the master.

Gu Lvhai frowned with a worried Face, but instead pulled Black Spade back a bit further.

"Don't worry, don't worry. I'll teach her myself." After saying that, she still felt uneasy and simply bowed to Tu Nan.

"This fiancée... let me apologize to you. Can you forgive us?"

This Gu Lvhai was actually so responsible? She seemed different from what Tu Nan had just imagined.

But seeing her maid still looking angry with her head down, Tu Nan guessed that Gu Lvhai's personality was the opposite of her appearance... she might be quite soft.

She glanced at the frowning Hain behind Gu Lvhai, then at the Peacock beside her, who had his head held high like he'd won a battle.

Tu Nan realized she shouldn't have come back here with Kong Jiamu today.

She nodded haphazardly as an acceptance of the apology, then dragged the Peacock upstairs without looking back.

***

As soon as the study door closed, Tu Nan immediately grabbed the Peacock's collar and questioned him.

"fiancée? Since when?"

Kong Jiamu grinningly lifted her onto the desk; he'd thought of a lot before coming, but plans can't keep up with changes.

"Pearl~ Look, as a Female Beast, it's easy for you to be bullied outside. I feel I have an obligation to save you," he said righteously.

"Besides, my mom has been restless lately, always wanting to introduce me to some boring, wooden Young Misses. Although I don't really care, it's quite a hassle to hang up on her every day and hear her cry."

"Why don't we... help each other out?"

The more he spoke, the more Kong Jiamu felt this reason was actually quite good.

"In your dreams! Why should I make such a big sacrifice?" Tu Nan headbutted him away.

She was careless... it hurt a bit.

Damn this Rank difference.

"?" Kong Jiamu was so angry he almost choked. "Do you know how many people want to marry me?"

Tu Nan didn't want to provoke him too much.

"Exactly, that's why I feel insecure. Wildflowers are always more fragrant than home-grown ones; I just want you to keep me in mind, is that so wrong?"

"Besides, which eye saw me unable to handle these things? Hmm?" Tu Nan said crossly. "Even if you didn't step in, I could have rendered them speechless just the same."

"What if they started a fight?" Kong Jiamu wouldn't give up.

"Hain was right there! Are you stupid? Would Hain let a fight break out?" Tu Nan suspected the Peacock had gone senile.

Kong Jiamu... wasn't very happy.

"That's his fiancée. How do you know he'd definitely help you?" Was Hain's fair and just persona really that stable?

"Oh, I know you're protecting me, but I'm just afraid of a conflict between you and Hain. What if he gets mad at you..."

Tu Nan coaxed him to continue.

"Mad about what? You're right, Hain just can't stand those old fogies. He basically escaped to Your Majesty's side."

The Peacock sneered incessantly today; Tu Nan was afraid his mouth would get stuck that way.

"But you're right, Gu Lvhai might be a bit different to him. I remember even the ticket for his escape was secretly bought for him by his fiancée back then... Do you know how ridiculous Sea Soul Star is? Single men can't buy tickets for themselves."

"Then his current travels back and forth..." Won't he be detained? Tu Nan wanted to ask.

She knew Sea Soul Star was a matriarchal planet, but wasn't this a bit much?

"So many of his starships and subordinates are directly registered under Your Majesty's name." Speaking of this, Kong Jiamu sighed over his friend's fate.

"Only by using Your Majesty's name can he earn this bit of freedom. As for him, once he goes back to Sea Soul Star... hah."

Unbelievable.

Tu Nan's eyes widened.

Hain clearly commands the winds and clouds outside, yet he has such difficulties?

It's just like the women in her past life who were trapped by families that favored boys—successful and influential in the city, but the moment they returned to the village, they turned from Jessica back into Cuihua.

"Pearl, are you really not going to consider it? I'm about to become the youngest general-rank officer. Really. When the time comes, Your Majesty will definitely decorate me in person."

Kong Jiamu gently shook Tu Nan, acting spoiled.

"Don't you want to be sitting in the audience then?"

Tu Nan remained unmoved.

"The scene will be filled with the Empire's core personnel. If you want to develop your company, how can you do it without knowing people?"

Kong Jiamu tempted her.

"And bring the Children; after that, I'll take them to see Your Majesty, how about that? This is truly an unparalleled shortcut."

Tu Nan wavered at that moment, and Kong Jiamu noticed.

He kissed her and nibbled on her ear.

"Heartless woman, am I really that worthless? You insist on me adding so many bonuses before you'll even consider it."

Tu Nan was seriously considering it now.

This matter carried high risks, which meant the potential benefits were extraordinarily large.

Whether for her or for the Children.

It was indeed... a path to heaven.

"Let me think about it."

Tu Nan answered him.

She couldn't let it go to her head; she had to investigate all the risks and plan carefully.