[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-heir-to-the-kingdom-of-1-4-billion-citizens":3,"chapter-heir-to-the-kingdom-of-1-4-billion-citizens-heir-to-the-kingdom-of-1-4-billion-citizens-chapter-43":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Heir to the Kingdom of 1.4 Billion Citizens",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2270918,4434,"Chapter 43: Mom Can Help You Now!","heir-to-the-kingdom-of-1-4-billion-citizens-chapter-43",43,"\u003Cp>“Anelia, your cooking has gotten even better.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Mingyu took the handkerchief offered by the girl and wiped his mouth, sincerely praising her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could sense this from his own weight gain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Originally, after his transmigration, his poor health was mainly due to a drop in living standards that had made him lose weight; but these past days in the castle, Anelia had nearly restored him to his former state.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, it’s all thanks to Aunt Mei Li’s guidance,” Anelia said, blushing shyly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, she studied the cookbooks she’d brought from the library almost every day, and stayed up late into the night practicing cooking in the castle’s empty kitchen until dawn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she didn’t want to tell the prince these details, because this was merely her duty—there was no need, nor should there be, for him to know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She only hoped the prince would be a little happier because of the delicious food she worked hard to prepare—just that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, a flash of white light appeared, and Xia Mingyu instinctively looked over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There, above Anelia’s head, beside her “commoner” status buff, another line of white text slowly appeared—“Apprentice Chef.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anelia, you’ve gained a career buff!” Xia Mingyu said, surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The girl first startled, then quickly ran to a puddle on the floor nearby, where her reflection clearly showed the new text above her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Highness, my buff is ‘Deliciousness’—it makes the food I prepare even more delicious! Now I can bring you even better meals!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After checking her ability, Anelia excitedly jumped in front of Xia Mingyu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her lips curled upward involuntarily, and her deep blue eyes sparkled like stars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Congratulations, Anelia.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Mingyu smiled and gently patted the girl’s head to encourage her, but a trace of regret flickered in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had originally planned to teach her the Moonlight Meditation Method so she could become a magic apprentice—but now, it seemed she would only ever be a cook.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Knock knock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just then, the library door was gently knocked again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So much activity today? Xia Mingyu was surprised, but rose and went to open the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Standing outside was a tall noblewoman—Danielle Marsha.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today, she wore a pink scarf, her violet hair piled high in a waterfall-like bun, a few strands loosely falling beside her ears, exuding a languid elegance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In her hands, she pushed a small cart bearing two silver trays: one held an exquisite cake, the other a pot of steaming black tea and several teacups.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cake was adorned with fresh berries and cream flowers; the tea emitted a rich, fragrant aroma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Prince Mingyu, I heard from the servants that you’ve been spending these days reading in the library—how tiring for you~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So I made some cake myself to offer you, as a gesture of hospitality. If you can be happier here in Black Wolf Castle, it would be the greatest honor for my husband and me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Danielle spoke in a voice as soft as water, her violet-tinged eyes brimming with tenderness, her delicate face wearing a perfectly poised smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I accept your kindness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Mingyu spoke calmly, stepping aside to let the lady enter the library.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is your attendant, isn’t it? I’ve heard so much about you from Karon—truly beautiful, like a sculpture of jade. Oh my, I’m envious of you, Prince!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But a woman like me probably isn’t even qualified to be your attendant.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Little Elise, you’ve grown even more adorable—your silver hair is like silk woven from moonlight, so beautiful. Do you have any secrets for maintaining your hair?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Share them with Mama~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As soon as she entered, Danielle’s gaze shifted back and forth between Anelia and Elise, praising them as if admiring two exquisite works of art.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re beautiful too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the noblewoman’s compliment, Anelia’s cheeks instantly flushed red; she lowered her head, nervously twisting the folds of her light blue dress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her golden hair shimmered in the sunlight streaming through the stained-glass windows, her blue eyes glimmering with shy light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elise’s reaction, by contrast, was cold—she merely gave a slight nod of respect to her stepmother, saying not a word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The atmosphere grew awkward, but Danielle seemed oblivious, her face still lit with a bright smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her eyes quickly scanned the library, soon noticing an open notebook on the floor beside her, its surface inscribed with magical runes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Prince, did you write this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Danielle, curious, reached to pick up the notebook, then immediately realized it was impolite and withdrew her hand, asking softly instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After receiving Xia Mingyu’s confirmation, her violet eyes narrowed slightly, and a knowing smile curved her lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Prince, I must attend to little Haydon, so I’ll take my leave. May your studies go well—please don’t hesitate to ask me for anything, okay?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Danielle bowed slightly with her hands folded, then departed the library.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Elise, has Madame Danielle always been this warm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the woman’s retreating back, Xia Mingyu couldn’t help asking Elise beside him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmph. Before you arrived, I’d never seen her smile at me,” Elise replied bitterly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every time they met in the castle corridors, she witnessed a lightning-fast transformation in expression.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One moment, the lady would be chatting merrily with servants; the next, her face would turn as cold as an ancient glacier. Sometimes, when their eyes met, her beautiful violet-tinged gaze would flicker with disdain and revulsion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once, she even overheard the shameless woman, while serving her father, pleading with him to expel her from the castle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had been terrified—she should have covered her ears and run, but instead she stood frozen, eavesdropping until she heard her father refuse, then dared return to her room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That incident left her with deep psychological scars.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your Highness, this woman is never this kind. Her kindness toward you must mean she wants something from you—be wary!” Elise warned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sigh. With this on my head, is there anyone in the world who wouldn’t want something from me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xia Mingyu shrugged, pointing at the “1.4 billion” above his head with a wry smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elise fell silent; Anelia’s face also flickered with embarrassment, for she too had once served the prince partly out of a private wish to save her village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elsewhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back in her bedroom, Danielle began rummaging through her chests and boxes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I remember… when Mother gave me my wedding gifts, she must have included a high-quality magic crystal,” Danielle muttered, frowning at the scattered boxes and crates on the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had received too many blessings from her family that she herself couldn’t locate them anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll have to search one by one,” the woman sighed. As a noblewoman, she’d always hated such chores—but now she was a mother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long while, Danielle finally found, inside a small box, a crystal glowing with blue light and emitting a faint chill.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Perfect! My little Haydon—now Mama can help you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman clutched the crystal tightly to her chest, utterly unfazed by the stinging cold it radiated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thank you for reading, family—please give me more Moon Tickets to help me hold my position on the new book rankings~ Thanks(ω)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1184,"2026-06-19T22:18:43.340Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","55b661cdd6ed54819a8a3ba1b083b4436a79ad525b26f2431b3d81e7cf109732","heir-to-the-kingdom-of-1-4-billion-citizens-chapter-44","heir-to-the-kingdom-of-1-4-billion-citizens-chapter-42",186,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fheir-to-the-kingdom-of-1-4-billion-citizens-cover.jpg"]