In the Demon Court, Long Qinghuang used to be a very diligent Demon Emperor.

She had no choice; she had unified the Demon Realm. While it built upon the efforts of two or three generations and centuries of conquest among the various tribes of the Demon Realm, it was finally completed in her generation.

The Sea Dragon King, nominally, also obeyed her command. Theoretically, he was Long Qinghuang’s uncle and had been appointed a prince. That’s why he was the Sea Dragon King, not the Emperor.

If all the humans under her rule were included, she could be said to have unified all races.

After unifying the various tribes, Long Qinghuang spent a long time molding the Demon Realm into an extension of herself, where only her voice mattered.

Although she was the most powerful, the fact that such a complex array of forces and races, and such a vast territory, could be brought together by her and grow increasingly civilized and powerful, was inseparable from her diligence.

Indeed, the proud Dragon Lady whom Lu Xingzhou only saw as violent, actually possessed strong political acumen.

The fact that she had not reached the peak of the Super-grade for so many years was probably largely due to the immense energy she spent on these matters.

After feeling that all sides were stable and the demon race’s strength had unprecedentedly expanded, Long Qinghuang boldly invaded Daqian ten years ago.

There were two reasons she wanted to attack Daqian: first, as an emperor, she had a domineering desire to unify the world; second, during the long period of warfare in the Demon Realm, many humans came to “gain experience,” “slay demons,” “collect demon cores,” “tame dragons,” “capture mounts”—there were too many messy things. Long Qinghuang felt that this race needed a shock from the Demon Realm.

Coupled with the instigation of the then Saint Mountain Great Priest… As for why he instigated it, Long Qinghuang later felt there was something amiss, but the Great Priest was dead, so Long Qinghuang never pursued it, nor could she.

In short, Long Qinghuang was a confident and proud dragon. She had initially believed this southern invasion would be swift and decisive, like breaking rotten wood, easily accomplished… but she ran into a ghost.

When Tianyao Sacred Land and Daqian could cooperate sincerely, humans were invincible.

At that time, the former Sect Master of Tianyao Sacred Land had passed away after failing a forced ascension, and the Tianyao Saintess had only recently reached the Super-grade and become the Sect Master. She seemed easy to defeat.

However, her name was Ye Tinglan, the youngest Super-grade in the history of the entire Sacred Land, a brilliant star in the history of human cultivation.

Daqian was also not in the disarray it was in this battle… That year, the heroic Gu Zhanting mobilized all the immortal sects of the nation, and powerful experts from First and Second-grade major sects swarmed out.

During that period, even Yuan Muyu had not yet left the Sacred Land. Although she was at odds with her sister, and had inexplicably been stuck at the First-grade threshold for many years, leading to the “fall” of the once youngest Third-grade genius and the loss of her chance at the Sect Master position… In short, Yuan Muyu was also present at the Battle of Saint Mountain.

Naturally, she was not a combatant who could be viewed as a conventional Second-grade. How many First-grade great demons were flayed and dismembered by her… It was an engagement where human luminaries gathered.

The Great Priest was slain by Ye Tinglan at the peak of Saint Mountain, and Long Qinghuang returned wounded from Jujiao Pass.

This battle actually resulted in very few casualties on both sides, but it had far-reaching effects on the political landscape of both nations.

Gu Zhanting was severely wounded, and his mindset changed; Grand Tutor Huo Liancheng was reinstated, and his clan moved to the capital; Ye Tinglan was appointed Imperial Preceptor, trapped in a political prison; Yuan Muyu left the Sacred Land to establish the Yanluo Hall; multiple tribes in the Demon Realm rebelled again, the Demon Court was in turmoil, and Long Qinghuang, still injured, suppressed the rebellion, toiling until now.

Even today, the demonic presence in Daqian and the internal traitors in the Demon Court are directly linked to the outcome of that war.

In the past, even if Prime Minister Long Yancheng had the audacity of a leopard, he wouldn’t dare block the palace gates to urge a court session. But after that battle, Long Qinghuang’s prestige had declined, and she herself reflected on some overly headstrong issues, granting her important ministers the power to supervise and offer advice.

Although Long Qinghuang’s injuries had healed over these ten years, and she had restored her authority by suppressing the rebellions, the habit of important ministers vocally offering advice and supervision had already formed and could not be retracted so easily.

This recent southern campaign, reclaiming lost territories from recent years, should have fully restored Long Qinghuang’s prestige. Instead, because of a man, her prestige was almost more shaken than after the defeat ten years ago.

Favoring a single man was not a big deal. Honestly, Long Yan even thought it would be a great thing if she were willing to establish a queen and have a little dragon child. But to return and not attend court immediately? She was a dragon who had been diligent for hundreds of years, never slacking! What if this became a precedent?

After Long Qinghuang dealt with a backlog of state affairs accumulated during her campaign, she noticed it was already midday. The Dragon Empress couldn’t help but wonder if Lu Xingzhou had eaten, and if Anuo was hungry… so she decided to adjourn the court.

“Hmm… If the esteemed ministers have no other matters, then let’s adjourn.”

Seeing her drifting gaze and distracted look, Long Yan, who had been holding back all morning, could no longer contain himself and shouted, “Your Majesty, there are still matters unfinished. Where are you rushing off to by adjourning court?”

Long Qinghuang’s expression darkened, “It’s already midday. What matter is so urgent that it must be finished now? Are you not letting people eat?”

“…” Long Yan choked, then after a long pause, managed to say, “Your Majesty, you are a Super-grade.”

A Vientiane Great Demon, and you’re talking about eating.

You don’t need to eat for your entire life, alright?!

Even that human man, he’s a Third-grade. A Cloud-soaring cultivator, soaring through the void, feeding on wind and dew—he’s someone who can sustain himself with spiritual energy from heaven and earth, alright?!

How can you two act like a young human couple? It’s fine if you went shopping and ate last night, but now you’re still talking about needing to eat at mealtime!

Long Qinghuang was also taken aback by his words. Oh, right, Lu Xingzhou actually didn’t need to eat either. Why had she thought of having meals with him?

It was all Anuo’s fault, always eating nearby and complaining of hunger, making everyone feel as if they were like mortals.

With a stern face, she said, “What, I am a Super-grade, but are all the civil and military officials in court also? Has the Prime Minister forgotten, there are still some Fifth and Sixth-grade civil officials here?”

“Even Fifth and Sixth-grade won’t suffer from missing that meal,” Long Yan said with genuine distress. “I think Your Majesty just wants to go back to accompany that Lu Xingzhou, don’t you?”

The court was silent.

Long Qinghuang, however, let out a light laugh, resting a hand on the armrest of her dragon throne and leaning back lazily, cradling her cheek. “And what if I do? In the past, weren’t you, old Prime Minister, the most active in urging me to marry and populate the harem? And didn’t you say that as long as it was a male, even finding a pig demon would be fine? Didn’t you say that too? Now that I’ve taken your advice, why are you, old Prime Minister, so anxious instead?”

“No, I…” Long Yan, an old dragon, almost choked on his breath. After panting for a long while, he managed, “I’d rather Your Majesty find a pig, at least it wouldn’t lead to nightly revelry and no early court!”

“Which eye of the Prime Minister saw me ‘nightly revelry’?” Long Qinghuang said calmly, “Prime Minister… I have lived for a thousand years, five hundred of which I spent fighting for the dragon race and unifying the Demon Realm; three hundred years building the Demon Court and governing the world. I was either fighting or governing, even cultivation was a luxury. Now, the time that belongs to me, a mere single night, and the Prime Minister is anxious… Prime Minister, I know you serve the country with public spirit, but when can you serve me, even just a tiny bit?”

Long Yan opened his mouth, unable to speak for a long time.

He was actually touched by her words, as if only now realizing that Long Qinghuang had never truly lived for herself in her entire life.

But originally, everyone thought that warfare and governance were what she enjoyed.

If they weren’t things she liked, who could have such endless energy? After unifying the demon race, which was exhausting enough, you still wanted to unify the world and invade Daqian. Wasn’t that just making trouble for yourself?

Actually, Long Qinghuang herself used to think she enjoyed those things: the desire to rule, the desire to control, to wield power as an emperor over the world.

But looking back now, she realized she was missing something.

Perhaps excellent lives are similar in some ways; at this moment, Long Qinghuang found common ground with her old rival, Ye Tinglan.

One was trapped in a prison, the other had never truly been outside.

Perhaps only last night, holding hands and walking down the old food street from centuries ago, Long Qinghuang didn’t find the tastes she loved as a girl, but she found the girl she once was.

That’s why Lu Xingzhou felt a strange girlishness emerge.

Seeing Long Yan speechless for a long time, Long Qinghuang said lazily, “Since the Prime Minister has no objections, let’s adjourn.”

Long Yan: “…”

“Seriously, a topic discussed all morning and brought up last, how important can it be? What would happen if we discussed it tomorrow?”

Long Yan: “…………”

Long Qinghuang had already turned and exited the hall, disappearing from sight, under the watchful eyes of everyone.

A group of high-ranking ministers surrounded Long Yan: “Prime Minister, why didn’t you continue? Only when you lead can we all unite to remonstrate. If you back down, how can we speak…”

Long Yan remained silent for a long time, then whispered, “She has been lonely for too long after all.”

Everyone was astonished.

“Let’s observe for a couple of days?” Long Yan hesitated, “Judging from the peace talks proposal, this Lu Xingzhou is supposedly a very capable person. He shouldn’t just be someone who uses his looks to charm the emperor and mislead her… Perhaps it’s just a temporary novelty.”

“Prime Minister, your words are mistaken,” someone stomped their foot. “This Lu Xingzhou is constantly surrounded by scandals wherever he goes. In the capital, there were rumors of an ambiguous relationship with the noble daughter of the Pei family, and that General Sheng, who shone brightly in this battle, is said to have experienced morning sickness because of him. In Dongyue Hanchuan, it’s rumored that His Majesty and the Tianyao Sacred Master are fighting over him. He’s absolutely a succubus!”

Another person added, “Perhaps Gu Zhanting sent him precisely to charm His Majesty and sow discord in the court…”

Long Yan’s mouth twitched. There were indeed historical instances of sending women to charm the monarch of an enemy nation, but when it came to sending a man, it felt so strange…

He pondered for a while: “He was personally brought here by His Majesty, flying directly. Their other diplomatic mission is still on the way. How long until the mission arrives?”

“I have already sent word to Long Lie and his team to escort them in smaller groups, speeding up the journey. It should be about three or four days.”

“Then let’s give them three or four days. Once the mission arrives and official exchanges begin, I will use that as an excuse to have Lu Xingzhou move out of the palace and reside in the Honglu Temple.”

“Wh-where is the Honglu Temple?”

“That was the last topic I wanted to discuss with His Majesty. Since we are establishing diplomatic relations between two nations, there must be a yamen dedicated to foreign affairs.” Long Yan stroked his beard. “I heard the deputy envoy is Sheng Yuanyao, the one who had morning sickness because of him… At that time, we will have Lu Xingzhou and Sheng Yuanyao live together, and see what His Majesty does.”

“Prime Minister, a brilliant insight.”

Long Yan turned to look in the direction of the rear of the hall. Although he couldn’t see anything, the old dragon still sighed with some concern.