Chapter 69 Finally asleep
After the court session, at Cining Palace.
The incense burner was filled with the finest ambergris, and wisps of smoke rose gently into the air.
Empress Dowager Yuan Hua leaned against the soft couch, while her personal maid Cui'er knelt at her feet, gently massaging her legs.
The hall was very quiet.
Cui'er looked around to make sure no one was there before lowering her voice and whispering in Yuan Hua's ear.
"Your Majesty, an urgent report has just come back from the spies of the secret guards."
Yuan Hua closed his eyes and tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest.
"explain."
Cui'er looked solemn.
"A scout reports that Yu Jingchuan and that palace maid named Cui Yue have been taken away from the territory of Yan."
"Our people tracked them down and found that the group that took them away was acting suspiciously and eventually entered the territory of the barbarian kingdom."
Yuan Hua suddenly opened his eyes.
A glint of shrewdness flashed in those eyes that had witnessed countless hardships.
A cold smile curled at the corner of his lips.
really.
She was absolutely right.
Is this what they call "protagonist halo"?
He was already poisoned and looked like a half-dead ghost.
They were actually rescued.
They could even travel thousands of miles to escape to barbarian lands.
It seems these two grasshoppers, now that autumn is here, are about to start jumping around again.
Yuan Hua snorted coldly.
"If no one cures this poison, they won't live more than three days."
"Since we were able to enter the barbarian country alive, it means there are experts there, or we had some extraordinary encounters."
She also traveled from the modern era.
This tactic is all too familiar.
When men and women are in trouble, they will surely be helped by benefactors, either by finding a peerless secret manual or by meeting a confidant of noble status.
"Has anything major happened in the barbarian kingdom recently?"
Cui'er thought for a moment and quickly replied.
"Your Majesty, this servant was just about to report."
"According to our informant there, the Barbarian King has been searching for his long-lost princess."
"They say the princess has a unique birthmark, and it seems there's been some progress recently."
"Moreover, the barbarian kingdom has been frequently deploying troops to its borders recently, showing signs of restlessness and seemingly plotting against our Great Yu borders."
Upon hearing this...
The sarcasm in Yuan Hua's eyes deepened.
I see.
The storyline has been automatically filled in.
The fact that Yu Jingchuan and Cui Yue were able to escape from a desperate situation must be inextricably linked to this barbarian princess.
Based on the nature of that book...
Either Cui Yue impersonated the princess.
Or perhaps the couple saved the princess and became honored guests of the barbarian kingdom.
Regardless of which one.
This all means they have found a new backer.
They wanted to use the barbarian army to make a comeback.
Yuan Hua picked up the teacup beside him and gently skimmed off the foam.
His tone was calm, but his killing intent was palpable.
"Have someone keep a close eye on them."
"Every move they make over there, any news, must be sent back immediately."
"In the past, I might have been somewhat wary of this so-called luck."
"But now..."
She thought of how lively and energetic her granddaughter had been in the imperial palace just now.
Since Zhao Ning has already taken that gene pill.
His physical abilities far exceed those of ordinary people.
The deadlock of the plot, which only allowed the male protagonist to inherit the throne, has long been broken.
"Then there's no need to keep these two menaces around."
Cui'er's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly lowered her head.
"yes!"
"This servant will arrange it immediately!"
…
Night falls.
Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the lights were on.
At this time of day, the four-year-old empress would usually be fast asleep.
But tonight.
On this dragon bed, it's as if a tireless monkey is kept.
"Hey!"
"ha!"
Yu Zhaoning was wearing a bright yellow nightgown, with her two chubby little feet bare.
He jumped around on that large dragon bed.
One minute it's doing a somersault, the next it's doing a somersault.
A moment later, it waved its little fists and punched the air.
She was full of energy, and her little face was rosy.
I wasn't sleepy at all.
Yuan Hua sat on the edge of the bed, holding a memorial in his hand, but his eyes were so sleepy that he could barely keep them open.
She rubbed her temples helplessly, looking at the energetic little guy on the bed.
He sighed.
"Zhaoning…"
"My little darling."
"What time is it?"
"Go to sleep!"
"You have to go to court early tomorrow morning. If you show these dark circles under your eyes, the ministers will think I'm mistreating you."
Yu Zhaoning stopped what she was doing and stood on the soft blanket.
I feel like I have inexhaustible energy.
That gene pill was incredibly effective!
She used to get out of breath after walking just a few steps.
I feel like I could run ten laps around the palace right now!
"Grandmother, I'm not sleepy!"
[Not sleepy at all!]
[I even feel incredibly strong now!]
"Look at that punch!"
"Can you kill a tiger?"
Yu Zhaoning yelled and proudly waved her chubby little fist at Yuan Hua.
Yuan Hua was both amused and exasperated.
tiger?
Even killing a rat would be a struggle.
But she was genuinely happy that the child had recovered.
The only downside is that it's a bit too much for the Empress Dowager.
Yu Zhaoning was reluctantly pulled into the quilt by Yuan Hua.
Its two big eyes were still darting around.
"Grandmother, I want to learn martial arts!"
"I want to be a great hero!"
"The kind that lets you fly over rooftops and scale walls!"
"Or, why don't you find the best martial arts instructor in the palace to teach me tomorrow?"
Although she was the emperor, she was protected by countless imperial guards and secret agents.
But who knows if those guards ever doze off?
It's always safest to be capable yourself!
In the novels described by my grandmother, being an emperor was a high-risk profession!
They could be harmed by troublemakers at any time!
Yuan Hua was taken aback and thought that it was indeed possible to let Zhao Ning learn martial arts. Learning martial arts would not only improve her physical fitness but also help her protect herself, killing two birds with one stone.
"Of course you can, but little darling, you really should go to sleep!"
Yu Zhaoning was pushed into the quilt.
[Host, host! You're absolutely right!]
[I wholeheartedly agree!]
Being an emperor was indeed a high-risk profession; one could choke to death even while drinking water, or be poisoned while eating food!
[You've now taken the gene-enhancing pill, and your body's potential has been unlocked.]
[Healthier and stronger than most people!]
[This is the best time to learn martial arts!]
[This can maximize the neutralization of residual medicinal effects in the body, allowing for complete absorption!]
Yu Zhaoning was thrilled.
He symbolically punched twice in bed.
Just wait!
[Starting tomorrow!]
[This little one is going to master unparalleled martial arts! From now on, anyone who dares to rebel will be smashed against the wall with one punch!]
I finally got tired of tossing and turning in bed.
The exhaustion that followed the extreme excitement finally washed over me.
Yu Zhaoning yawned slightly, her eyelids starting to droop.
My thoughts started to wander.
I wonder how Aunt Luan Xue is doing...
[With that quick-development steam engine blueprint, plus Lin Xiang's great intelligence...]
[And there was a steady stream of various core mechanical components being sent over.]
[Shouldn't there be any problem with flood control?]
The success rate is definitely not low...
If it succeeds, ordinary people won't have to be displaced anymore...
Thinking this way.
The little guy's breathing gradually became steady and long.
She quickly drifted off into a sweet dream.
Yuan Hua tucked the blanket around her and looked at her peaceful sleeping face.
I finally breathed a sigh of relief.
This little rascal has finally fallen asleep.