Chapter 253: The Empress’s Resolution
At the same time.
In the courtyard of the branch office, Sang Zhe lay on his familiar big bed after a long time, looking at the screen of the communication device. When Bai Ming stopped sending messages, he lazily yawned and turned off the device.
“Hubby, are you still busy this late?” Zhang Xiaoying, sitting in front of the vanity in a light sleep dress, softly asked while combing her hair.
“Ah, just a few trivial matters from Linzhou.”
Sang Zhe couldn’t be bothered to explain much. He turned over, crawled out of bed, and quietly nestled behind Xiaoying, gently embracing her delicate form, resting his head on her shoulder.
“Is Gu sister still not done washing up?”
“Look at you, so impatient.”
Xiaoying’s face turned slightly red, but she pouted playfully at Sang Zhe with a mix of affection and faux annoyance.
However, the next moment, her gaze fell slightly, and her voice became unconsciously tense:
“I heard from Gu sister… that you were attacked on your way back?”
Sang Zhe paused for a moment, then smiled casually: “Ah, it’s nothing major. Just a few little thugs from the Holy Kingdom.”
“Even if Gu sister hadn’t arrived, your hubby could easily handle them.”
Xiaoying tenderly brushed his hair, looking somewhat concerned: “Getting ambushed is dangerous, after all. Who can guarantee that next time, you’ll be safe too?”
“We shouldn’t let this matter rest easily; why not let Gu sister—”
“Not a good idea.” Sang Zhe decisively shook his head. “Dragging Gu sister into this is not the way to go.”
“This is still a company matter; I trust the Sect Leader and the others will handle it well.”
Xiaoying wanted to say something else, but her lips parted for a moment and then slowly hung down.
“…I believe in you, Hubby.”
Sang Zhe smiled warmly, holding her close and kissing her: “That’s the spirit.”
“Rather than worrying about my work, why don’t we think about what to bring when we go to propose to meet our parents after this busy period?”
“…Huh?”
Xiaoying’s beautiful eyes went blank for a moment, her cheeks flushing as she became slightly nervous: “Are we really going to propose so soon?”
“That’s already considered late.”
Sang Zhe shook his head: “It’s been so long, and I still haven’t met our parents. If we wait any longer, we might show up with a child in tow. I might get killed by the father-in-law.”
Xiaoying chuckled softly, her eyes shimmering with softness: “I’ll follow whatever you say.”
Just then, the door swung open, and Gu Yingmian walked in, a fresh scent wafting off her as she rubbed her wet hair with a towel.
Her delicate body was wrapped only in a thin bath towel, her skin rosy and as fair as milk.
“I’m done washing up…” She said shyly, her eyes glistening as she looked at the two.
Sang Zhe and Zhang Xiaoying exchanged glances and both burst into laughter.
“W-what are you laughing at? Eh!? Don’t, don’t take off my bath towel… Ah!”
The room filled with playful banter, blooming with spring warmth.
——
——
The next morning.
Finally able to luxuriate in his soft bed, Sang Zhe had no intention of waking up early. Instead, he continued to snooze until noon before heading to the office.
Gu Yingmian, having been teased and worn out by the two last night, curled up in Sang Zhe’s arms, wrapped in the disheveled bedding.
Only Zhang Xiaoying was up.
She quietly got out of bed at dawn, careful not to wake the two of them, and walked alone down the corridor.
Coincidentally, Master Yu Xia had just emerged from her room, preparing breakfast for the family.
“Aunt Yu.” Zhang Xiaoying called her.
“Lady, you’re up so early; is there something I can do for you?”
“If you’ve got some free time these days, I need you to run an errand for me.”
Zhang Xiaoying’s eyes lowered slightly as she spoke softly: “I want you to take Senior Sister Shi with you to Tianlang City.”
Tianlang City?
Yu Xia’s heart jolted at the mention of this name.
She certainly knew what this name implied.
“Lady, are you planning to…”
“Though my husband doesn’t want us to worry, I can see that this time, the workload is much heavier on him than before.”
Zhang Xiaoying said calmly: “As a wife, it’s only right that I share some of his burdens.”
“In these past few days, I’ve already had Senior Sister Shi investigate the movements of the Tianlang Wei from the Holy Kingdom. When you reach Tianlang City, she’ll tell you what to do.”
Yu Xia looked slightly up at Zhang Xiaoying.
To be honest, ever since entering the Sang family, she treated Zhang Xiaoying as the lady of the house.
Not only because she was Sang Zhe’s longest-standing wife, but also because Zhang Xiaoying was the quintessential virtuous wife, the most suitable to be the head of the family.
However, Yu Xia’s impression of her former disciple had always remained at the level of being meek and mild, quietly ordinary.
Until today, gazing into the depths of Zhang Xiaoying’s beautiful eyes, where a profound determination lay, she suddenly realized.
Perhaps she had never truly seen the real face of this lady of the house.
No one could harm Sang Zhe in her presence.
No matter who it was.
“…Understood, Lady.” Yu Xia slowly bowed her head.
After Zhang Xiaoying nodded, she continued on her way.
When she passed by Si Jingzhu’s room, she stopped.
“Open the door. I know you were eavesdropping again all night.” Zhang Xiaoying said flatly.
Moments later, Si Jingzhu’s door creaked open, revealing her frail appearance, as if she were a celestial being, with deep-set eyes.
“I-I wasn’t deliberately eavesdropping.” Si Jingzhu seemed a bit nervous and on guard as she defended herself. “It’s just that your voices were too loud; I couldn’t sleep all night.”
“What’s there to be afraid of? I’m not here to seek you out for punishment.”
Zhang Xiaoying shook her head in exasperation: “I called you here for another matter.”
“Do you want to use your own strength to help your hubby once?”
Si Jingzhu’s beautiful eyes gradually lit up, her charming face momentarily flashing with excitement: “Really, is it possible?”
“As long as you obediently follow my instructions, your hubby will naturally see you in a new light.”
Si Jingzhu cleared her throat, forcing herself to suppress her excitement, and deliberately acted haughty: “Hmph, this young lady is gifted beyond measure and can change destiny. Sang Zhe will eventually discover my greatness and will beg me to come to his aid—”
“I know your ability can alter destiny.” Zhang Xiaoying gazed at her calmly. “What I need right now is just that.”
Si Jingzhu: “?”
“W-what do you mean to do?”
“My current cultivation level is rather low.”
She seemed to speak of something trivial: “I remember you previously told me that an arm can grow back very quickly for you. It might even help you boost your cultivation.”
Si Jingzhu immediately hugged her arm and, after a moment, lowered her head, quietly reminding her:
“But… it will hurt a lot.”
“Didn’t you say you have no sense of pain?”
“I mean, you will experience the pain I once went through. It will hurt a lot…”
Yet Zhang Xiaoying smiled as if unbothered and shook her head.
“…You underestimated me.” She glanced down slightly, muttering to herself.
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