Chapter 321: The Queen's Request

It was noon.

The shops on both sides of the street were hung with colorful lanterns and decorations, and people were joyfully preparing New Year's goods to welcome the arrival of the New Year.

The chaos of war outside seemed not to have affected this place.

In Yaohua Palace, it was likewise decked out in festive lights and decorations.

In the study, the Queen had finished a simple lunch and was sitting at the desk, flipping through letters sent from the border while listening to Qingyi report news from outside.

At this moment, someone reported from outside: "Your Majesty, Young Master Luo has arrived."

The Queen's gaze flickered, and she said, "Let him in."

Qingyi bowed her head and withdrew.

Before long, two palace maids brought Luo Zijun to the entrance of the study.

Outside the door, Luo Zijun bowed his head in salute: "Your subject Luo Zijun pays respects to the Queen. I wish Your Majesty longevity without bounds and may your phoenix body remain in good health."

The Queen stared at him, looking him over, and said, "Official Luo, there is no need for such formalities. Come in."

Luo Zijun lowered his head and entered the study.

Behind him, the door gave a "creak" and slowly closed.

The Queen smiled: "I haven't seen you for a few days, and Official Luo has become so distant that you don't even dare to raise your head to look at me?"

Only then did Luo Zijun raise his head, take a glance, and lower his eyelids again.

Today, the Queen was wearing a purple-gold phoenix robe, a phoenix crown on her head, and precious pearls around her neck. Her skin was snow-white, her temperament dignified, and she possessed an air of grace and luxury that was imposing.

Luo Zijun immediately buttered her up: "The royal aura is just beginning to manifest in Your Majesty, as dazzling as the sun and moon, making this subject not dare to look directly at you."

"Pfft..."

The Queen let out a giggle, like a beautiful flower in full bloom, stunningly gorgeous: "The royal aura is just beginning to manifest? Tsk tsk, Official Luo, your flattery skills are growing day by day."

Luo Zijun lowered his head and said: "This subject does not know how to flatter; I only speak the truth."

The Queen smiled and said: "Enough, I know your loyalty. I had you come today not only to discuss matters at the border but also to show some concern for you. I heard that something happened at the Bai Family, and Bai Daxiaojie has run away from home. Is there anything you need my help with?"

Luo Zijun said respectfully: "Many thanks for Your Majesty's concern, but it is only a small matter; this subject can resolve it myself."

"A small matter?"

The Queen looked at him with profound meaning: "As a Matrilocal Son-in-law, you seduced your sister-in-law right next door to your own wife, and then were caught on the spot by your wife and mother-in-law. Your wife couldn't take the anger and ran away from home, and the whole city is searching for her... This is a small matter?"

Luo Zijun was silent for a moment and said: "The facts are not as they seem, but this subject has no way to defend himself. However, I will do everything in my power to find Bai Daxiaojie and explain it clearly to her."

The Queen raised her willow-leaf eyebrows: "You still want to find her and be husband and wife with her?"

Luo Zijun lowered his head and said: "Yes."

A light flickered in the Queen's eyes, and she said: "But I have heard that ever since you were married, you have lived in separate courtyards and have not lived together, nor have you even consummated the marriage. In other words, you have no affection as husband and wife, do you?"

Luo Zijun said: "That is not so. Although this subject and Bai Daxiaojie do not live together, the two of us have long since fallen in love and pledged our lives to each other. As for consummating the marriage... how can the pleasure of the flesh compare to the communion of souls?"

"Communion of souls?"

A look of confusion appeared on the Queen's face.

Luo Zijun respectfully explained: "It means that even before people are intimate, two hearts have already joined together."

The room fell into silence.

The Queen stared at him expressionlessly for a while, then suddenly let out a low, cold snort, her tone somewhat sarcastic: "It seems, Official Luo, that you do not like the pleasure of the flesh?"

Luo Zijun lowered his head and said: "This subject was only making a comparison. Speaking of such things in front of Your Majesty, this subject is vulgar and rude; I ask for Your Majesty's forgiveness."

The Queen said with a cold face: "Then does Official Luo like the pleasure of the flesh or not?"

Luo Zijun said respectfully: "I dare not deceive Your Majesty. Food and sex are human nature; of course, this subject likes it."

A smile appeared on the corner of the Queen's mouth: "Official Luo is indeed an honest person. If I asked others, they would surely be coy and righteous, acting as if they were indifferent to women, while in reality, they have three wives and four concubines at home, a house full of bed-warming maids, and cannot go a day without women."

Luo Zijun lowered his head and remained silent.

Weren't the two of them supposed to be discussing state affairs? Why had they suddenly started talking about such things?

The Queen suddenly looked at him again and said: "Official Luo, you said you want to find Bai Daxiaojie. Do you already know where she has gone?"

Luo Zijun hesitated for a moment, then cupped his hands in a salute: "This subject does indeed know, but... the journey there is long, and I do not yet know how to get there. Your Majesty has vast supernatural powers; I wonder if you could give this subject an idea?"

Of course, he would not mention the Kingdom of Ten Thousand Demons, nor would he mention that Bai Daxiaojie was a demon.

He only needed to find the route to the Daughter Kingdom or the Nine Islands Kingdom.

Between nations, there is more or less some interaction, and there might even be trade.

The Queen, now the power behind Daliang, might be able to help him reach there more safely.

Since he had this resource, he naturally had to make use of it.

"Oh?"

The Queen's expression shifted, and she said: "Where did she go?"

Luo Zijun lowered his head and said: "The Daughter Kingdom."

"The Daughter Kingdom?"

The Queen was startled at first, her expression shifting for a moment, and she asked in confusion: "Why would she be there?"

Luo Zijun had already thought of an explanation: "Perhaps she felt that staying in the manor all the time was dull and uninteresting, and because of the misunderstanding with this subject, she went there in a fit of anger to see the scenery. She has always held a longing for the Daughter Kingdom."

The Queen, however, did not believe him: "Didn't she leave a letter saying she was going to become a nun?"