Chapter 456: Review

Fu Xuan's voice returned to its usual coolness, but on close listening it seemed a fraction higher than usual, "Having earned the trust of everyone and the alliance's heavy reliance, Fu Xuan… will temporarily assume this post, do everything possible to stabilize Luofu's overall situation. Hope… Jing Yuan returns healthy and soon."

Her gaze flashed like lightning over the audience, and she began to issue orders methodically; her demeanor was strikingly decisive:

Bai Lu.

She first looked at the dragon maiden, "The Dan Ding Office must fully guard the General, using the best medicines, setting the most secure formations, monitoring any changes. Cloud Cavalry also must send people to assist defense, to prevent petty thieves from exploiting any gaps. Any abnormality, no matter how big or small, must be reported immediately without delay!"

"Yes, Fu… General!"

Bai Lu obediently responded, almost slipping and calling "Sir", but quickly corrected herself.

Yukong.

Fu Xuan turned to the helm of the Heavenly Ship Office, "Recently Luofu has many affairs, external espionage and internal undercurrents are unsettled. The Heavenly Ship Office must tighten control over entries and exits of the Star Chariot Sea, closely monitor any changes in routes, ensure orderly commerce, and raise alertness to prevent accidents."

Yukong's expression hardened: "As you command!"

Then Fu Xuan gave instructions one by one to the Construction Office, Cloud Cavalry, the Earth Balance Office, etc., demanding each fulfill its duties, strengthen cooperation, keep communications clear, and prepare for any possible situations.

The orders were clear and focused, revealing her familiarity with Luofu's affairs, and the audience, who had been somewhat worried, felt a little reassured.

After the arrangements, the people took their orders and gradually dispersed. The vast Council Hall quickly became empty, leaving only Fu Xuan, and Qingque, who was frozen in place by her glance, trying to silently shift backward with a grim face.

"Qingque." Fu Xuan's voice showed no hint of joy or anger.

"Here! What orders does Lord Fu Xuan have?"

Qingque immediately stood straight, forcing the most sincere smile onto his face, while inside he wailed:

(It's over, the idle time is gone and won't return!)

"Recent affairs are numerous; the Tai Bu Si's daily deductions and paperwork cannot be lax. You… stay, assist me in handling some correspondence and information aggregation." Fu Xuan's tone left no room for doubt.

"Huh? Yes… subordinate obeys."

Qingque's shoulders visibly slumped, but he could only accept his fate.

After everyone had left, Fu Xuan slowly leaned back against the wide chair's backrest.

The backrest was a bit hard, not as comfortable as the padded chair in Tai Bu Si, but sitting here overlooking the entire Council Hall, an unprecedented sense of responsibility weighed heavily on her heart, bringing a hint of… satisfaction.

She steadied herself, reached for the stack of documents on the desk awaiting review—those that Jing Yuan hadn't processed before "falling asleep", or perhaps were simply left for the "Acting General".

Opening the first, it was an application to adjust a shipping lane in a certain area of the Star Chariot Sea, requiring the General's seal for approval.

The second was the budget review for a new round of defenses and training for Cloud Cavalry.

The third was a draft review of a special trade request from an Extraterrestrial Trade Guild…

Fu Xuan began the review.

At first, she was fully focused, choosing words carefully, each comment striving for precise appropriateness.

But as she continued, her speed unconsciously quickened, and her brows furrowed tighter.

(This lane adjustment… reasons are sufficient, risk controllable, approve directly.)

(Cloud Cavalry budget… hmm, not much change from last month, details clear, approve.)

(Extraterrestrial Trade Guild request… conditions acceptable, but add three restrictive clauses as precaution…)

One, two, three…

The documents on the desk diminished at a visible rate.

In less than half an hour, the once sizable stack had already been more than half reviewed.

Moreover, the processing was unusually smooth; many contexts and key points materialized clearly in her mind the moment she read them.

Fu Xuan stopped her pen, eyes fixed on the few remaining reports; the expression that had been tight from "bearing heavy responsibility" gradually turned somewhat… odd.

She looked up, glanced at Qingque beside her, who was (apparently) diligently sorting another stack of documents, then at the rapidly "slimming" pile before her, and a thought she found hard to accept slowly rose in her mind.

(These affairs… why do they feel…)

(Compared to when I was in Tai Bu Si, reviewing daily… not that different?)

(Some categories are exactly ones I already handled before, just needing a final seal?)

A crystal‑clear fact that made her teeth tingle instantly slammed into her mind:

That fellow Jing Yuan has probably long ago tossed the vast majority of Luofu's daily, tedious, judgment‑requiring administrative tasks onto her, under the guise of various "training", "commission", and "assistance", silently!

The so‑called "General handles myriad affairs daily"—at least more than half of those have already been diverted to her desk by that seemingly lazy yet extremely cunning fellow!

And she had always thought it was an extension of Tai Bu Si's duties, a testament to her recognized ability, working diligently without complaint!

Now seated here, what she handles is precisely the "daily work" she has long been familiar with!

Only before it was "Fu Tai Bu's suggestion/handling", now it's "General Fu's approval/command"!

The essential workload… hasn't increased much!

"…"

Fu Xuan's fingers pressed slightly.

A faint creak sounded.

She recalled Jing Yuan's usual smiling way of pushing tasks onto her, calling it "the capable bear more work" and "preemptive adaptation"…

(This… bastard!)

(I still had a little… cough…)

(Sleep forever! Better to wake up later!)

Acting General Fu Xuan, atop the empty high tier (ignoring Qingque pretending to be a transparent document beside her), silently ground her teeth against an imaginary figure in the air.

Meanwhile, in another world, Jing Yuan, adapting to a new environment as a Lancer class and trying to extract more information from his new Master, suddenly, without warning, let out a light sneeze.

"Oh?"

He rubbed his nose, a hint of amusement in his golden eyes, "Strange… is the evening breeze of this other world too cool, or… over at Luofu, is someone muttering my name?"

The elevator ascended smoothly, the numbers ticking silently.

Ailixiya hummed a light, upbeat melody.

She held a delicate paper bag in one hand, and tucked a fashion magazine with a fancy cover under her other arm.

"Ding."

The indicator light on the top floor lit up, and the elevator doors slid open silently.

The carpet‑lined corridor was hushed, and only Ailixiya's high‑heeled shoes clicked "tap, tap" on the floor, echoing through the emptiness.