The tribes of the Eastern Continent pay homage to the Emperor.
The Eastern Continent delegation has arrived.
They wore simple yet elegant formal attire. Wrapped around their waist was a turquoise outer garment, with a black belt embroidered with a blade.
The Eastern Continent was where ancient temples and ancient civilizations flourished.
The trees of the forest intertwined like vines, hiding the ancient temples, and the forest’s scenery was famous for its beauty.
“Let the others leave. We’ll talk alone.”
The chief of the ceremony led the Eastern Continent officials out, and Benjamin Visennov spoke, chin up.
“It’s been a while.”
“Has it been five years since diplomatic relations were severed?”
There used to be infrequent exchanges, but they had been cut off for five years due to internal strife.
“How was your journey to the Empire?”
“We lost some ground because of the giant Kraken.”
“You passed through the Popyuta route? There are ports where monster eradication has finished, following that way down would have been easier.”
Popyuta was a border route.
“It’s the closest. The other way would take about two days longer, so I chose the faster route.”
Tatante muttered resentfully, ‘The tribe that turns giant Kraken into squid skewers was scarier.’
“Popyuta port is a monster border area, isn’t that too careless?”
“I already know that the Empire sends monster eradication squads frequently, so there’s nothing particularly dangerous about a border area.”
The border area was a ‘gap’ connecting the monster and human territories.
Black magic had been driven out by the ancient covenant, and monsters had been driven underground.
This was a covenant with the ancient gods and their shackles.
Monsters were only allowed underground and in some border areas. Above ground was forbidden.
“Also, they beefed up the border area security to match the delegation’s procession.”
Benjamin smiled faintly.
“We welcome the entire Eastern Continent delegation.”
“You’re stiff. The reunion after five years is not all pleasant.”
“Then again, it was never a time to exchange reunion greetings, was it?”
Tatante felt a strange sense of unfamiliarity from his friend he was meeting after five years.
“You must be tired from the long journey. I’ve told the officials to prepare a place for you to rest comfortably, so follow the chief of the ceremony.”
(This is a time separator.)
“He was never warm, but now he seems even colder.”
The chief of the Eastern Continent’s Taran Kingdom tended to Tatante’s needs.
“He was always cold. So cold that a chill would constantly run through him. He never used to know how to keep people close; has he changed? He’s devoted his whole soul to the nation.”
“Strictly speaking, he always had people around him. Only Tante wasn’t there.”
“I considered him a close friend, this is too much.”
During the monster hunting season, they had maintained a connection, albeit sporadically, and believed themselves to be close friends.
“He’s too harsh on me.”
“You are outside, Tante. Mind your speech.”
Tatante nonchalantly brushed his arm, brushing off the official.
“No one’s listening.”
“Be mindful of your bad behavior. You are outside. This place is different from Taran Kingdom. Do you see the imperial palace officials over there? They are all the eyes and ears of the imperial family. Remember that a wrong word can reach the imperial family’s ears. Little Taran.”
‘Taran’ meant a tribe of the forest. They were the ancient people who had driven ancient civilization and lived on that foundation.
“This place is now the territory of the imperial family.”
The times when he might have been dethroned were different.
Furthermore, having obtained the imperial throne after dethronement and internal strife,
The imperial power was now on a different track from previous emperors.
The current Empire had changed its course when the old Emperor died, and the young Emperor ascended.
“You talk too much.”
“No noise must come from this delegation. His Majesty the King also urged us to be careful…….”
Tatante loosened his belt and looked for the northern palace. Inside, it was already chaotic.
“Aaah! Aaaaaah! Let go! Let go!”
Screams erupted from the northern delegation’s palace.
“Go over there. The noise has already been made.”
The white tail wagged. The snowy fur had thickened, and the front paws were small and plump.
Such a tiny creature growled like a wild animal.
The wolf was a pup whose teeth had not yet healed.
With its small mouth, it chewed on a human’s head,
And the servants who were at risk of being chewed up whole whimpered and fell to the floor.
“Ah! It’s plucking out all of my hair!”
“It’s okay. It’s just a pup, how much can it hurt if it bites? It’s okay to be nibbled a little. Such a tiny thing even has teeth.”
The white furry creature fiercely stared at the servants. The servants retreated, keeping a certain distance.
“Why is it behaving like that?”
“I don’t know. It woke up and became even more ferocious.”
After Being Cheated On, She Picked Up a Treasure (Female-dominant)
One-line summary: The husband I married on a whim had been secretly in love with me for a long time.
On the day when Jun Shao finally obtained the imperial decree for her marriage, Lan Qu, the person she had admired for six years, defied the decree and ran away.
Her gentleness and devotion, her promise of a lifetime together, were all disregarded by him. Instead, he dreamed of entering the palace to serve the Emperor’s sister as a sixth-rank attendant.
News of this incident spread throughout the capital, and the alleys in front of and behind the Lan mansion were crowded with people who came to watch the commotion.
Jun Shao should have been embarrassed and angry.
But someone stepped in to protect her dignity.
The figure was in a miserable state, yet still possessed an undeniable elegance and handsomeness.
The young lord struggled to climb the wall of the Lan mansion and shouted to her, “If he won’t marry you, I will!”
So, Jun Shao took advantage of the situation and married the person.
She thought the young lord did it to save the Lan family from the crime of defying the imperial decree, but never imagined that from beginning to end, what he coveted was her.
*
After the wedding, Jun Shao felt like she was living in a dream.
Her Wife-master was as beautiful as a fairy in a painting, skilled in the six arts, well-versed in poetry and literature, capable of being gentle and attentive, and also grand and dignified. Most importantly, she was the only one in his heart and eyes.
Jun Shao didn’t know how Lan Shiwu, as a illegitimate son without a father and blessed with beauty, had managed to preserve his purity, recklessly escape, and use his last ounce of strength to ruin his own reputation, all because of his love for her, just to stand before her.
She could only see him gazing at her with eyes full of love, and when she bestowed a name upon him, his eyes shone like stars.
“You have come to me like a weary bird perching on a branch. I shall call you A Qi.”
