Chapter 40: You Deserve to Be Emperor

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Ma Xiao Jiao chatted freely with Song He, Han Gonglian, and others, shaking off her days of depression, self-doubt, and self-rejection, regaining her confidence; the feudal thoughts and backward values that had plagued her for so long seemed swept away by a gentle breeze, leaving only clarity and resolve.

Watching renowned scientists from history and contemporary tech giants before her, eager to learn and tireless in pursuit, Ma Xiao Jiao felt a full-body rush of exhilaration:

"This is how a transmigrator should behave!"

Ma Xiao Jiao had once believed transmigration was fate's cruel joke, hurling her from her familiar world into this unknown abyss.

But now, Ma Xiao Jiao understood: transmigration was also fate's gift, granting her the chance to meet the great souls of this era, to jointly explore unknown mysteries and advance civilization.

This realization was like a clear spring, nourishing Ma Xiao Jiao's parched heart, giving her once-confused soul a home.

Ma Xiao Jiao became even more active in this cross-temporal exchange, explaining to Song He, Han Gonglian, and others the mysteries of physics and the wonders of chemistry, striving to use the simplest, most accessible language so every listener could appreciate the charm of modern science.

Meanwhile, Song He, Han Gonglian, and others, with their deep cultural foundations and unique ways of thinking, offered Ma Xiao Jiao unprecedented insights, showing her diverse landscapes on her path of scientific exploration.

This exchange lasted until nightfall.

Zhao Yu ordered a lavish banquet prepared.

Ma Xiao Jiao ate and talked without any decorum, even less like a woman—her energy overshadowed Zhao Yu, the male host.

In this era, Ma Xiao Jiao's behavior was outright usurpation, shaming Zhao Yu, her owner.

Some stole glances at Zhao Yu, wondering how furious his face must be.

Yet Zhao Yu sat beside Ma Xiao Jiao, smiling always, watching her gesticulate and speak animatedly.

Just as many speculated whether Zhao Yu was pretending composure and tolerance because Song He was present—and would order Ma Xiao Jiao beaten to death after dinner for disgracing him—Zhao Yu took his handkerchief from Liang Shicheng and personally wiped the greasy smudge from Ma Xiao Jiao's lips, then poured her a cup of tea and smiled: "Drink some tea, speak slowly."

What left everyone gaping was that Ma Xiao Jiao simply said "Oh," took the tea cup Zhao Yu offered, and prepared to drain it.

Only halfway through did she realize: Zhao Yu had poured her tea—and had just wiped her mouth.

Ma Xiao Jiao froze, then panicked! She quickly turned to Zhao Yu, only to find no reproach in him—instead, there was a hint… affection. Yes, affection.

"Does she like me?"

A strange ripple stirred in Ma Xiao Jiao's heart, and a blush immediately rose to her cheeks. She awkwardly set down the teacup, unsure whether to kneel and apologize—or…

Before Ma Xiao Jiao could decide how to respond, Zhao Yu smiled: "Though I don't understand this field, I know it's the way to revitalize our Great Song. If you can today uncover practical tools, farming implements, vehicles, or weapons, and the court promotes them, it will benefit the state and people. If our Great Song possesses many advanced machines to improve livelihood and military strength, how could we fail to flourish?"

Seeing Zhao Yu so reasonable, Ma Xiao Jiao's heart warmed; she thought: "You're this good? You deserve to be Emperor."

Song He was astonished by Zhao Yu's wisdom, broad-mindedness, and ability to recognize talent. He never expected the obscure Prince Xin to be so insightful and grand in vision.

Han Gonglian and others who had already pledged loyalty to Zhao Yu, seeing him so highly regard them and treat them with such humility, were all eager to serve him.

After this small incident, Ma Xiao Jiao, Song He, Han Gonglian, and the others all calmed down, chatted briefly, and then Song He rose to take his leave.

Zhao Yu escorted Song He out with Ma Xiao Jiao and Han Gonglian.

Then Zhao Yu told Han Gonglian to rest.

When only Ma Xiao Jiao remained, Zhao Yu hesitated: should he let her spend the night with him?

To be honest, Zhao Yu definitely wanted Ma Xiao Jiao.

Put simply: if he weren't attracted to her, why would he keep visiting her to watch her invent useless things?

But the problem was, Ma Xiao Jiao was still young—probably only ten.

At least, she didn't seem as old as he remembered.

"Is it too early to act now?"

"But in this era, lifespans are short—many die in their twenties—so most men and women marry young, or society suffers."

"I can't judge this with my past-life perspective."

"Since we've come to this era, we must follow its customs."

Fine, Zhao Yu admitted: he liked to secure things firmly, especially when the objects were Zhang Chun, Li Lin, Ye Shi Yun, Ma Xiao Jiao, Yuan Qing Cheng.

This was mainly because these five women were nearly irreplaceable, and they weren't bound by feudal thinking; without them, he felt he had no grip, couldn't control them.

At that moment, Zhao Yu suddenly noticed Ma Xiao Jiao was crying.

Tears streamed unchecked across her heavily made-up face; she was no longer a kitten, but a ghost.

"Well, libido just plummeted to zero."

Yet Zhao Yu still asked gently: "Why are you crying?"

Ma Xiao Jiao couldn't say: "If you hadn't pulled me up when I was most helpless, confused, and insecure, I'd have been crushed by this feudal society and system, becoming the most failed transmigrator—you helped me rediscover myself, and I'm crying for my rebirth."

Ma Xiao Jiao could only cry and say: "Thank you. You're such a good person."

Zhao Yu didn't fully understand why she cried or why she thanked him, but he gently cupped her tear-streaked face, wiped her tears with his thumbs, and said softly: "No matter what pain you carry, don't worry—henceforth, I will protect you. No one will dare or be allowed to harm you again."

It was the most beautiful thing Ma Xiao Jiao had ever heard since her transmigration—no, since her two lifetimes.

At that moment, Ma Xiao Jiao felt more at peace than ever before.

Sneaking a glance at Zhao Yu's handsome but still slightly youthful face, her heartbeat quickened, her cheeks flushed crimson, and the red spread rapidly from her face to her neck, then down swiftly until her entire body burned red to her heels!

Ma Xiao Jiao couldn't help thinking:

"If I'm with him, am I an old cow eating tender grass? After all, I was nearly thirty in my past life—he's only sixteen. I could almost be his mother."

"No no—he's nearly a thousand years older than me. Even if it's old cow eating tender grass, he's the old cow, and I'm just a delicate sixteen-year-old sprout. He's not losing out…"

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(End of Chapter)