The Empress's expedition and the destruction of the Bloodcloud Pavilion were events of yesterday.

A new day dawns.

In the Imperial City, at the Zhong residence.

Zhong Ling was rushing out of the house, but just as she was about to leave, someone called out to her, "Ling'er, where are you off to in such a hurry?"

"Huh?" Zhong Ling turned her head to see a middle-aged man in a bright red official robe staring at her with a peculiar look.

After stopping, Zhong Ling replied, "Father, I'm planning to go to the palace."

The man in front of her was none other than Zhong Yangming, the current Minister of Revenue of the Great Yan Dynasty.

He was the husband of Great General Zhong Lishuang and her father.

"To the palace?" Zhong Yangming muttered, looking at his daughter.

Usually, his daughter dressed in black, practical attire, clean and simple.

But now, she was wearing a loose, fiery red robe with a high ponytail, appearing more feminine than before.

"Yes, before leaving, His Majesty instructed me to look after the Prince, so I'm heading to the palace to accompany and guard him," Zhong Ling nodded.

Zhong Yangming frowned, feeling inexplicably uneasy, "The Prince is in the palace, protected by guards, why do you need to be so concerned?"

"Besides, I've heard that the Prince is indulgent and idle..."

"Father!" Zhong Ling's tone was somewhat indignant, "You've never interacted with the Prince, how can you judge him so casually?"

With that, Zhong Ling ran off, disappearing from Zhong Yangming's sight.

"Ling'er!?" Zhong Yangming quickly called out and chased after her, but when he reached the gate, he saw his daughter happily skipping towards the palace.

Standing at the gate, Zhong Yangming was momentarily at a loss.

What was going on?

He remembered that yesterday, his daughter was quite averse to Xiao Tian and even complained that her mother had given her a lousy task.

How did she change so quickly overnight?

And now, she was even arguing with him, her father, for that Xiao Tian.

For some reason, Zhong Yangming felt an ominous premonition.

Zhong Ling, unconcerned with Zhong Yangming's complex emotions, soon entered the palace.

She had special permission to come and go freely within the palace.

After arriving at the palace, Zhong Ling learned that Xiao Tian was in the Imperial Garden and headed there.

"Young General..." The guards at the entrance of the Imperial Garden were surprised to see Zhong Ling arrive.

Especially seeing her attire, they were even more astonished.

It was their first time seeing Zhong Ling dressed like this.

"Is the Prince inside?" Zhong Ling asked as she walked inside.

"Huh?" The two female guards at the entrance immediately reacted, "Yes, but..."

Before they could finish, Zhong Ling had already gone inside.

The female guards exchanged glances and secretly turned around to peek inside from the courtyard gate.

"Do you think the Young General will lose her temper when she sees the Prince?"

"Very likely, given the Young General's usual temperament."

Sure enough, when they looked inside, they saw Zhong Ling standing dumbfounded not far away, staring ahead.

There, by the ornamental lake in the Imperial Garden.

A palace maid was gently fanning a large palm fan beside Xiao Tian, who lay on a soft recliner, enjoying the gentle, cool breeze.

Xiao Tian lay on the recliner, arms behind his head, one leg crossed and swinging, squinting into the distance, seemingly lost in thought.

Beside him, another maid peeled tribute fruits, serving them to Xiao Tian's mouth.

What is the life of one's dreams?

This is it!

"Comfortable!" Xiao Tian took the tea handed to him by a maid, sipped it, and continued to lounge on the recliner, watching the exciting lives of past hosts through the system.

Clothes handed to him, meals served, enjoying the service of palace maids in the Imperial Garden, watching special effects blockbusters.

One word.

Bliss!

"A wonderful, retired life," Xiao Tian mused happily, better than any retirement plan he had imagined on Earth.

He even started humming a tune.

Standing nearby, Liu Yan slightly frowned, her hand gripping the hilt of her waist sword tightened involuntarily.

His Majesty personally led the troops to the front lines, yet her husband indulged in pleasure here, which was infuriating.

Footsteps sounded behind her, and Liu Yan turned to see a fiery red figure approaching.

"Young... Young General?" Seeing the newcomer, Liu Yan was surprised, blinking as if doubting her own eyes.

She looked Zhong Ling up and down, feeling that the other seemed somewhat unfamiliar for a moment.

"Hmm?" Xiao Tian, resting and enjoying himself on the recliner, turned his head, "What are you doing here, little girl?"

"His Majesty ordered me to protect the Prince, so I must fulfill my duty," Zhong Ling replied earnestly, standing beside Xiao Tian with the demeanor of a personal guard.

Xiao Tian looked at Zhong Ling, feeling a headache.

He really didn't want this little girl around; what if she slipped up and exposed him one day?

Thinking of this, Xiao Tian waved his hand irritably, "Go find somewhere cool to stay, don't join in the fun, who needs your protection?"

As his words fell, the surroundings immediately fell silent, and the serving maids froze.

Liu Yan widened her eyes, wondering if Xiao Tian had a death wish.

With the Young General's temper, should she intervene if things got physical?

"I'm not leaving, I'm staying here, this... this is His Majesty's order, I don't want to disobey," Zhong Ling shook her head, standing still as if rooted to the spot.

This scene left the nearby serving maids dumbfounded.

The female guards standing nearby, as well as those at the courtyard gate ready to watch the show, were equally stunned.

Liu Yan: "???"

Her neck seemed stiff, mechanically turning to stare at Zhong Ling.

Especially seeing the smile on Zhong Ling's face, looking at Xiao Tian with a peculiar gaze.

Liu Yan's heart skipped a beat, "Oh no..."

"The Young General is really broken!"

"I must report this to the General, or there might be big trouble."

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Thinking of this, Liu Yan's gaze towards Xiao Tian completely changed.

To be fair, Xiao Tian did have a handsome appearance.

But she never expected this man to be a seductive troublemaker.

First, he somehow bewitched His Majesty, leading to their marriage.

And now, the Great Yan Dynasty's young prodigy, Young General Zhong Ling, was also charmed by this "seductive Prince."

The more Liu Yan thought about it, the more panicked she became, as if seeing a future where His Majesty was lost in male beauty, neglecting state affairs, and the Great Yan declining further.

"Commander!" Just as Liu Yan was lost in thought, she heard someone calling her from the entrance of the Imperial Garden.

Liu Yan looked over and saw the deputy commander of the guards approaching, "What's the matter?"

"Something's happened," the deputy commander began to explain.

"What?" Liu Yan's eyes widened in disbelief.