The next second, dozens of tiny jade pendants were hanging all over her clothes, leaving Su Mianmian completely stunned by this sudden, overwhelming wealth.
*Whoa, my beautiful mother isn't just gorgeous, she's also a total millionaire!*
[Mommy, I truly love you to death! From now on, I'm your number one fan, I'm crazy about you, wild about you, I'd smash my head against a brick wall for you!]
Su Mianmian's eyebrows danced with excitement, though she barely had any eyebrows to speak of yet.
Imperial Concubine Chun didn't quite catch what her daughter meant by "fan," but hearing that her daughter wanted to smash her head against a wall left her feeling somewhat helpless.
*Our precious darling doesn't need to do that; Mommy is willing to give you anything you want.*
If her daughter could truly cultivate, she would benefit from it too—after all, she'd be the mother of a celestial being.
Once Imperial Concubine Chun went to rest, Su Mianmian used the jade stones to begin absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.
Countless rays of light surged toward her body. Though invisible to the naked eye, anyone practiced in the Dao could see it clearly.
Far away at the National Preceptor's Estate, Daoist Priest Chen saw a small star slowly rise into the night sky, orbiting the Emperor Star. The Emperor Star's previously dim light was suddenly illuminated all the more brightly.
"Master, what is this?" his disciple asked in astonishment, pointing at the star.
The National Preceptor stroked his beard, a ferocious expression twisting his otherwise decent-looking face.
"The Polaris Star."
……
After a long while, once the jade pendants on her body stopped glowing, Su Mianmian exhaled a breath of stale air and withdrew her tiny hands.
While absorbing the spiritual energy just now, she had discovered that this dynasty's fate was not supposed to be cut short so soon.
Someone was draining the dragon vein energy of the dynasty.
That was why the tyrannical Emperor's temper was growing increasingly ruthless and cruel.
She sighed softly.
Even though she knew something was wrong, there was no way she could warn the tyrannical Emperor.
A baby who had been born only a few days ago suddenly speaking—would the tyrannical Emperor believe her?
It would be merciful of him not to burn her at the stake as a demon.
The tyrant she was currently muttering about was at that moment looking at stack after stack of incriminating evidence on his desk, his chest heaving violently.
"Insolent!"
The hidden guard dropped to his knees. "Your Majesty, calm your wrath."This was merely the incriminating evidence against the Minister of Revenue alone, and it already filled a whole basket. If all the officials Su Mianmian had mentioned were problematic, wouldn't his study become a shelter for criminal evidence?
Preposterous!
The Emperor clutched his chest. He had actually raised so many termites.
"Keep investigating," he spat out coldly, a murderous intent rising within him.
A few days later, the Emperor's Imperial Study had indeed become a dumping ground for trash. He rubbed his temples, not wanting to look anymore, and stood up to walk toward Yongshou Palace.
For some reason, he now felt an urgent desire to see that little brat.
Although that little brat was infuriating, he felt a sense of peace when he was around her.
When he arrived, Su Mianmian was acting cute for her mother.
[Beautiful Mother, I want jade! The spiritual energy in these little jade pieces has almost all been absorbed by me.]
[The spiritual energy has been squeezed completely dry, not a single drop is left.]
[I want treasures~ I want to cultivate~]
Imperial Concubine Chun calmly said to Xiyou:
"The Princess loves fine jade. From now on, replace them with new ones every few days so she doesn't get tired of looking at them."
Xiyou was a bit bewildered. Tired of looking at them?
She couldn't quite understand her mistress's words.
Does anyone ever get tired of looking at jade?
Perhaps she was just too poor to understand.
"Yes, this servant understands."
[Mother, you're the best! You and I are simply kindred spirits!] Su Mianmian danced around in excitement.
Just as the Emperor walked in, he heard these words and raised a hand to stop Imperial Concubine Chun from bowing.
His gaze fell upon Su Mianmian, a hint of probing in his eyes.
His daughter was an immortal?
It seemed the heavens still favored him, sending a little fairy to save his dynasty.
That's right, he accepted this very quickly.
[Tyrant, what are you here for?] Su Mianmian eyed the face leaning in close to her, and the moment she saw it was him, she turned her head away again.The Emperor felt rather helpless. Why did his little girl hold such a strong grudge against him?
Still, he reached out and picked her up.
Su Mianmian was already used to the Great Tyrant's erratic behavior.
[It's not the Great Tyrant's fault for wanting to hold me so much.]
[Who could blame him when I'm this cute, well-behaved, sensible, kind, and beautiful... I'm almost mesmerized by myself.]
Hearing her first sentence, the Emperor initially thought she was holding back some decent thoughts.
Instead, it was just her being full of herself.
He picked her up, gently cupped her little feet, and rocked her back and forth lightly.
Su Mianmian couldn't help giggling out loud.
A wave of warmth washed over the Emperor. He stopped wondering whether she was a little fairy; after all, she was his daughter now.
Even if she was a bit infuriating, a bit full of herself, and had a rather venomous tongue... she was still his child.
Imperial Concubine Chun felt a bit nervous, afraid that he wouldn't know his own strength and might drop Su Mianmian.
Noticing her worry and not wanting to frighten her, the Emperor sat down on the bed.
Imperial Concubine Chun clutched her chest and let out a sigh of relief.
"Your Majesty, why have you come?" The Emperor smiled and glanced at her. "I came to see the Little Princess, and to see my beloved consort as well."
"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty." Imperial Concubine Chun's cheeks flushed slightly, making her look quite shy.
Of course, there was an element of pretense in it.
But she was genuinely happy, too.
After all, what imperial concubine wouldn't want the Emperor's favor?
Even if it was just favor...
Her heart sank slightly. Why was she dwelling on these unrealistic things again?
[Hey, hey, hey, Tyrant, your eyeballs are practically glued to my mother!]
[And you claimed you came to see me—I can't even be bothered to expose you. You're just lusting after my mother's body!] Inside her mind, Su Mianmian's little avatar crossed her legs and folded her arms as she watched them.
Ahem—
Imperial Concubine Chun and the Emperor exchanged a glance, then simultaneously looked away.
"Your Majesty, the night is late, and your concubine is currently indisposed to attend to Your Majesty tonight." Imperial Concubine Chun was at a loss; she had never handled a situation like this before.
If she chased the Emperor away, would he be angry?
What if he took it out on her daughter?
"My beloved consort need not worry. I merely wish to stay with you both for a little while, not to..." The Emperor gritted his teeth and glared at Su Mianmian.
You little girl, how can you say things like that!
Su Mianmian innocently stared back. What was wrong with this Great Tyrant?
Then she gritted her teeth. He still claimed he didn't want to!
If he didn't want to, why was he glaring at her?
He was blaming her for it.
When he was racing against the clock to create her, he hadn't said a word, and now he was blaming her.
Su Mianmian puffed out her cheeks in anger, but fortunately, Wang Defa arrived just in time to interrupt her fury.
"Your Majesty, this slave has prepared the gifts as you instructed."
Gifts?
Su Mianmian's cheeks deflated, and her eyes widened as she looked toward the floor.
Over a dozen large chests were laid out right in front of her.
Wow—
So many things~
The tears of excitement couldn't help but flow from the corners of her mouth.
Wang Defa began to introduce them to the two of them.
"Imperial Concubine Chun, these few chests contain various tonics: Tianshan snow lotus, deer antler, ginseng..."
"This chest contains Khotan jade, Dushan jade, Qilian jade... Your Lady can use them for play, or have some jewelry made for the Little Princess."
"These chests hold a thousand taels of gold, as well as ten bolts each of gold-woven brocade, shimmering brocade, and soft mist gauze."
As Wang Defa read through the list, he watched everyone's expressions and added, "My Lady, the Emperor instructed this slave to prepare all of this."
Seeing a hint of pride flash across the Emperor's face, Wang Defa knew he had said the right thing. The Emperor really did love to show off.
Ever since he turned seventeen, the Emperor had never done anything as fanfare-filled as bestowing such grand rewards upon an imperial concubine.
Was he really acting younger as he aged?