Chapter 96: Fallen God (Part II)

"It really is you."

Su Xi looked at Xiao Yan's face; though he was dressed in ancient attire, he looked elegant and scholarly, with a sense of being ethereal and immortal.

"Does Your Majesty know me?" Xiao Yan pretended not to know Su Xi.

Su Xi paused, remembering the light chain Er Miao had mentioned; perhaps Xiao Yan's memories were also temporarily sealed.

"Oh, I mistook you for someone else. Who are you?" Su Xi took the flute from his hand and examined it.

"Zhou Bingnian."

"You may withdraw."

"Yes."

As he was about to leave, Su Xi added, "Wait, accompany me to paint a picture. Consider it punishment for trespassing in the Huang Gong."

She wanted to test whether Xiao Yan was that Zuo Qingchen.

Xiao Yan smiled and said, "Yes."

Xiao Yan sat upright and proper, watching Su Xi paint his portrait.

Because Xiao Yan had long been etched into Su Xi's bones, she did not look at him again after a single glance, simply wielding her brush and dipping it in ink to her heart's content.

A moment later, a portrait that was perhaps not as exquisite or handsome as the real person, but possessed his true spirit, leaped onto the paper.

【Congratulations to the host, you have completed the mission of finding Zuo Qingchen! Next stage: Invest Zuo Qingchen as the Imperial Consort!】

【...】 Su Xi put the portrait away.

Xiao Yan watched eagerly, just about to open his mouth to ask for it, "Your Majesty, may this commoner take a look?"

"No," Su Xi replied. "Someone—summon Zuo Qingchen into the palace."

"Your Majesty, it is already the second quarter of the Xu hour; is it appropriate to summon the top scholar into the palace?" Chief Steward Chen said to Su Xi.

Su Xi thought to herself, this is just a game mission; why distinguish between day and night? Completing the mission is what matters most.

"Summon him!" Su Xi replied.

"Yes, Your Majesty." Chief Steward Chen dared not say another word.

Xiao Yan laughed in spite of himself, "Your Majesty is truly a bit willful."

Su Xi curled her lip, "It's not easy to be an Empress for once, who dares to manage me!?"

Xiao Yan: "..."

In the family group chat—

【Xiao Chanchan: I like this Su Xi.】

【Xiao Qi: Just as willful as you, right? Your universe, you call the shots. She is her own dynasty, she is the boss.】

【Manman: That's right, that's exactly how it should be.】

【Xiao Qianzhi: Whose sister are you, anyway? If this keeps up, our little brother is going to become a male pet.】

【Xiao Chanchan: That's fine. As long as Xiao Yi Yi is willing, there can be a few more brothers. Su Xi is just the type to be the wife-master!】

【Putao: Xiao Chanchan, hold it right there; you're playing house here.】

【Xiao Chanchan: Love is just playing house; you coax me, I coax you, whoever gets carried away first bows their head first.】

【Xiaomiqi: Does Kapas know you play like this?】

【Xiao Chanchan: That's for him to ask; anyway, if he doesn't want to be with me, he can leave at any time.】

【Xiao Qi: Did you two have a falling out?】

【Xiao Shi: You guessed it. Kapas told me to tell Xiao Chanchan: you have three days to go back, or he'll kill the sea monster.】

【Xiao Chanchan:... I'll beat him to death!】

Immediately, Xiao Chanchan went offline.

【Xiao Qianzhi: Wait, wait, wait!】

【Xiao Tiantian: It's Xiao Yi Yi's turn to have a headache. Clearly, Xiao Chanchan's script is an affection mission.】

【Xiao Qi: Has Xiao Huanbao gone back?】

【Xiao Tiantian: Gone back. Summoned directly by Mother; Uncle Huan found Mother.】

【Xiaodiandian: What about Xiao Suisui?】

【Xiao Niannian: Drinking with me. Are you guys coming to watch Uncle Qing and Uncle Huan fight? They said they want to snatch Xiao Huanbao back.】

【Xiao Tiantian: Waiting.】

【Xiaodiandian: Coming right away.】

【Xiao Zhangle: Emergency notice—Uncle Qing and Uncle Huan have just been ordered by Mother to return to the Fox Cave for one thousand years of seclusion. Xiao Huanbao has been sent to Uncle Zong's place for school, and there will be a unified examination; everyone must return. Those who are absent or fail the exam will be arranged for blind dates! Xiao Yi Yi is the exception!】

【Xiao Qi:... I told you guys you played too hard! Look! You made Mother angry.】

【Xiaodiandian: Going home.】

【Xiao Shier: Do those with partners have to take the unified exam too? @Xiao Zhangle】

【Xiao Zhangle: Yes, participation is what matters. I think Mother just wants to gather you all together so you don't get in Xiao Yi Yi's way. Even Uncle Yan and Uncle Yasi, who just recovered from his injuries, were lectured by Mother and hid away at the battlefield.】

【Xiao Lu'er: Well, Mother is really showing her power now.】

【Xiao Tangtang: You all better tuck your tails in when you get back. Haven't you noticed Xiao Mihu isn't online?】

【Xiao Yi Yi: Our Mother is mighty! Brothers and sisters, good luck with the unified exam; no need to thank me too much!】

All group members understood in a second.

So this guy was the one who snitched!

But now he had offended all his brothers and sisters; Xiao Yi Yi had really gone all out.

Zuo Qingchen changed his name, taking his mother's surname Zheng, and Su Xi bestowed upon him the name Zheng Chengyue.

Xiao Yan was Zuo Qingchen, and he was conferred the title of Imperial Consort by Su Xi.

Su Xi discovered that Xiao Yan had an extreme talent for handling state affairs; often, after reading a memorial just once, he could quickly provide a very appropriate suggestion.

She immediately conferred upon him the title of Regent, allowing him to preside over the court in her stead.

At first, several ministers jumped out, demanding that Su Xi retract her decree. Su Xi used a delaying tactic, telling them to observe for half a month first before speaking further.

As it turned out, half a month later, all the court officials submitted a joint petition, asking her to rest well and give birth to an heir to the throne as soon as possible.

"Your Majesty, are you willing to bear a royal heir for the dynasty?" Xiao Yan kissed the palm of Su Xi's hand, his touch spreading upward bit by bit.

【Er Miao, is having a child also a mission?】 Su Xi felt extremely resistant in her heart, because this mission was truly one that made her feel uncomfortable in every way.

Clearly, things had already ended with Xiao Yan, yet this mission had bound them together again.

【There is no need to have a child.】 Er Miao replied.

Su Xi breathed a sigh of relief.

"Xiao Yan! I know you have your memories."

"……I'm sorry~" Xiao Yan stopped all his movements.

Finally, looking into Su Xi's clear eyes, he said with a voice full of guilt: "My mother told me that when pursuing a girl, especially a partner you truly want to spend your life with, you must avoid using tricks and instead exchange your most sincere heart for hers!"

The surrounding scene began to change, and everyone awoke as if from a dream.

Dark clouds gathered, and the earth cracked open.

Demon soldiers emerged from the fissures, and in the dark clouds, a woman wearing battle armor stood suspended in the air, holding a long spear!

"Xiao Yan, look, this is the real—" Su Xi looked toward Xiao Yan.

However, Xiao Yan had disappeared, no one knew when.

All players entered combat status.

Wang Weilin shouted to Su Xi, "Da Miao, over here!"

Su Xi did not want to expose herself as the number one player on the God Points Leaderboard, so she did not output too much combat power.

In the end, she only obtained Game Points as a reward, along with some items and potions.

The player ranked second on the God Points Leaderboard was a player named Sheng Ye, with God Points—1.

After finishing the mission, Su Xi returned to the Player Hostel.

She thought she would meet Xiao Yan again.

As it turned out, Xiao Yan had checked out and left.

Er Miao said to Su Xi: 【Host, there is a letter on the balcony.】

Su Xi walked over and picked up the letter.

On it was written 【Xiao Yan】.

Her heart suddenly trembled, and then she opened it—

【Sister Miao, I hope this letter finds you well! By the time you see this letter, I will have already left. I was very lucky to accidentally obtain an item that allows one to leave the game. I hope that in the future, I can meet Sister Miao again in other games. This journey was very pleasant, and I hope you feel the same! Love, your Xiao Yan~】

Su Xi's tears, as if a dam had burst, gushed out instantly.

In the end, she smiled again……

"Mm! Goodbye~"

Su Xi put away the letter paper, then looked up at the sky, holding back her tears to keep them from falling again.