Chapter 985: I've imprisoned the Empress—how do I fix this! 38

The demon creature died; the master noticed Jin Chen's gaze and immediately raised his peach-wood sword, shouting loudly.

"The demon creature is truly strange! I, a poor Daoist, have subdued demons for years; in my Brocade State's territory, people are outstanding and the land spiritual, and demon creatures are mostly mountain and wild sprites; this monster must come from the Western Regions!"

Immediately, an impetuous general echoed, "Your Majesty, you cannot let them go! Repeated tolerance, again and again, yet the Western Regions' vassal lands repeatedly rebel and disrespect imperial authority!"

"I, the subordinate general, volunteer to take orders and completely subjugate the Western Regions!"

"I, the subordinate general, am willing to go as well!"

Several generals all stood up, clasped their fists, and requested orders.

Wen Zhenning was among them; if speaking of current officials, who harbors the deepest resentment toward the Western Regions, having suffered their torment, it must be him who bears the brunt.

Everyone was waiting for Jin Chen to give an order.

Jin Chen indicated to drag Ashina's corpse away, took the handkerchief handed by the eunuch, wiped his hands, stepped toward the hall, gazed at all the generals requesting orders, and flicked his dark sleeves backward.

"If so, then lead a hundred thousand troops and make the Western Regions' royal family give an explanation."

"Where is the Grand General Assisting the State?"

Wen Zhenning immediately knelt to receive the decree, saying, "I, the subordinate general, am here."

He lowered his eyes to the ground; his hatred for the Western Regions burned like a raging fire in his heart.

I thought returning to the capital would leave no chance for revenge, but I never expected such an opportunity would arise.

"The general formerly trapped in the Western Regions—I, mindful of his unresolved grudge, hereby appoint the Grand General as Marshal of the Army, the General Who Propagates Might and the General Who Returns Virtue as assistants, lead the troops to the Western Regions, abolish their vassal state titles, annex them as territory, and allow no mistake."

Wen Zhenning: "I, the subordinate general, accept the order!"

——

Today's banquet was unexpectedly a case of one arrow, two hawks.

Not only was the tyrant's original self killed, but the Western Regions' envoy was also dealt with together; Jin Chen was very pleased.

But 0731 did not think so.

It anxiously jumped around in the space.

【Host! The evaluation has failed—what should we do? You said you had a solution!】

【Failure in the evaluation brings punishment; demotion is secondary—are there other dangers?】

Jin Chen: 【Right, isn't this the solution?】

0731: 【……Your solution is to kill the protagonist attacker and smash the pot?!】

【It's just an evaluation; can White Marsh really drive me away?】

Jin Chen lay back, leisurely drinking his hangover soup, 【White Marsh still hopes I gather its master's soul completely.】

【……That also makes sense.】

As the saying goes, whatever the master, there is such a system.

0731 simply gave up, diving headfirst into the blanket Jin Chen exchanged for it and went to sleep.

Seeing this Jin Chen just hurts my wallet.

Whose system requires a blanket for sleep that costs the master five hundred points!

Jin Chen rubbed his temples, his consciousness drifting out; he glanced at the Outer Hall—no one entered.

All he could do was yawn and return to his Dragon Bed to sleep.

Tonight Jin Yufeng was frightened, but after all he's just a child, crying and fussing for his little father to lull him to sleep; Wen Zhengheng had no choice, so he let him stay in the Heart-Resting Hall.

The result was that Jin Chen himself returned to the Sleeping Hall to rest, giving the Heart-Resting Hall entirely to them.

Long unused to sleeping alone, Jin Chen turned from side to side, then simply lay still, closed his eyes, and slept.

Not long after, he heard rustling from the Outer Hall, as if someone had entered silently.

Jin Chen curled his lips silently, yet kept his eyes closed, as if asleep.

He placed the candle he brought inside on the nanwood candlestand; by its dim, flickering light, Wen Zhengheng removed his outer robe, sat quietly beside the bed, pursed his lips, and pondered whether to wake A Chen.

Wouldn't waking him just to say we're going to sleep be a bit off?

But if tomorrow at court A Chen suddenly saw him lying nearby, he would surely tease him about sneaking into bed at midnight.

As he pondered, he didn't notice a hand gradually approaching his waist; suddenly it was wrapped around him, startling him—he was already being pulled back and tightly trapped in the quilt.

"Who dares so boldly to climb onto the Dragon Bed in the dead of night?"

Jin Chen seemed still half-asleep, his voice low and hoarse; he held the person, lay down, his chin resting on the shoulder, and let out a muffled laugh.

Wen Zhengheng relaxed and said, "Your Majesty, who did you think it would be? Perhaps you still have some Blue-and-Confidant?"

"Hmm… let me guess—is it A Lan or A Yan? So bold and willful, yet you have won my favor."

As they spoke, the warm hand stroked the skin, the thinly calloused fingertip instantly sparking a shudder.

Wen Zhengheng softened his waist, humming, his clear cold tone turning gentle: "As it turns out, Your Majesty truly has a Blue-and-Confidant; let them keep you company."

"What a sharp-tongued Empress—everything you say is right."

Jin Chen pinched his cheek, finally opened his eyes, smiling in his gaze, "Why aren't you resting in the Heart-Resting Hall? Has the little one fallen asleep?"

"The Imperial Physician prescribed some Calming Spirit Pills; after taking them, he's no longer startled and has already fallen asleep."

Wen Zhengheng found a comfortable position in his embrace, his cheek rubbing against the palm, "But I can't sleep; the night is desolate and cold… after thinking it over, that's why I came over."

Although the weather grows ever colder, the Empress's Palace has never lacked fuel for heating; Jin Chen further ordered that the Heart-Resting Hall must always stay warm as spring.

At night, sleeping in the Heart-Resting Hall, they still covered themselves with just a thin blanket—it certainly won't be cold.

It's merely that, lacking someone beside him, he alone cannot fall asleep.

Jin Chen, of course, could not miss his implied meaning; feeling reassured, he lifted his chin and kissed his lips.

"A Chen…… I have thought of many things tonight, but a doubt lingers in my heart."

Wen Zhengheng, obediently being kissed, only spoke when he caught his breath, clinging tightly to Jin Chen as if lacking security.

"Just say it straight." Jin Chen patted his back to smooth his breath.

You said before, you are also... a monster.

Wen Zhiheng raised his eyes to look at him, his gaze wistful, "But I used to hear storytellers say that monsters have much longer lifespans than humans."

So will you also be like that? After a few decades, when I gradually grow old, you'll still look the same?

Jin Chen: "..." That would be terrifying.

Amused by Wen Zhiheng's description, he chuckled softly for a while, stopped only when glared at, and lightly coughed to cover up.

All right, it won't happen.

Jin Chen thought that the casual excuse he'd just made was really shooting himself in the foot.

Although I used to be a monster, now I'm human—my lifespan, body, and mind are all human, so there's no demonic technique for eternal youth.

Jin Chen embraced him and patted him, reassuringly, "So don't worry, I will grow old together with you."

Wen Zhiheng half-understood, but the last sentence moved him, and his worries vanished completely.

He couldn't suppress the joy in his heart, curled up in the embrace, wrapped in warmth, and at this moment felt truly good.

All matters were settled, all misunderstandings and worries disappeared.

【Detected Villain Heartthrob Value +10, total 95!】

Before falling asleep, Wen Zhiheng thought about monsters—Shaochun is a cat demon, and monsters come in various kinds.

He spoke softly, leaning close to Jin Chen's ear, "So what kind of monster are you, Ah Chen, and can you truly become human?"

Jin Chen was racking his brain for an answer when he suddenly heard a voice, "Could it be... a human monster?"

Jin Chen:??

He snapped his eyes open, stunned for several seconds unable to speak, then glumly poked Wen Zhiheng's cheek, "Great, now I can't sleep at all."

Wen Zhiheng blinked innocently, "Did I guess wrong?"

You guessed well; don't guess again next time.

Jin Chen sighed, his lips pursed in utter helplessness, he embraced the person and covered their mouth to stop them from speaking.

【Hahahahaha!】0731 laughed without mercy.