Chapter 342: Are You Sure She’s Not an Idiot?
Outside Tianlang City lies a deep and mysterious forest.
The endless cliffs and trees hide Tianlang City in a tranquil place away from the world, completely isolating it.
Usually, Young Master Sang would love to take Little Ying and the others here for a little sightseeing, because who wouldn’t feel relaxed in the midst of nature’s beauty?
But right now, Young Master Sang felt a bit uneasy.
…The little prince had shoved a pair of light golden masks into his hands.
Nian Nian had also told him something.
This was the remnants of the mask mode that Huo Ningxue had in her eyes.
Young Master Sang had no idea what Huo Ningxue meant by handing this to him.
And he had no clue what the little prince meant by “sister is waiting for you up ahead.”
In any case, he anxiety-riddled made his way to the cliff outside Tianlang City.
A waterfall cascaded down from the cliff, flanked by strong pine trees, vibrant and verdant.
Next to the waterfall stood a small pavilion. From the pavilion, one could gaze at the waterfall spilling into the sea of clouds, with the green pines stretching into the horizon.
Huo Ningxue sat sideways in the pavilion, quietly gazing at the scenery below the cliff.
Today, she was dressed lightly, no longer in that heavy, ornate gold-embroidered dragon gown, but in a light-colored, flowing cyan gown. The tassels on her sleeves danced gently, swaying with the wind, exuding an ethereal beauty.
Light rouge adorned her cheeks, giving her a lovely rosy hue. Her long lashes fluttered gently, seemingly peering at Young Master Sang with a hint of spirit.
In this moment, she bore no resemblance to a powerful empress.
She looked more like a wandering fairy in the mountains.
“My national teacher, you finally came,” she called softly.
Young Master Sang instinctively wanted to bow but quickly remembered he had stepped down as the national teacher.
“Commoner… pays respects to your Majesty.”
Huo Ningxue’s smile froze for a moment, before her head drooped a bit gloomily.
“National teacher… don’t you want me anymore?”
Young Master Sang was momentarily at a loss for words.
The mountain wind was a bit chilly, lifting Huo Ningxue’s skirt and fluttering her hair.
She slowly reached up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, her once shimmering golden eyes now glistening with faint tears.
After a brief silence, Young Master Sang finally said, “Your Majesty, I am no longer the national teacher of the Holy Kingdom. You might as well find someone more capable than me. In my opinion, the young master Xiang Zimo is quite accomplished for his age and could take up this position.”
“Good. I’ll listen to you.” Unexpectedly, Huo Ningxue instantly agreed without hesitation.
Young Master Sang was momentarily speechless and couldn’t help but chuckle bitterly, “Your Majesty doesn’t need to trust me so blindly. I ultimately am an outsider to the Holy Kingdom; the position of national teacher requires your Majesty’s careful consideration—”
“I said, I trust you.”
She spoke resolutely and stubbornly.
So stubborn that Young Master Sang immediately dropped the idea of further persuasion.
“In that case, I won’t linger anymore. I hereby tender my resignation and just want to go home and enjoy a leisurely few days.”
With that, Young Master Sang turned to leave.
“I didn’t let you go.” Huo Ningxue suddenly said, clearly unhappy.
Young Master Sang had no choice but to turn back, “Does your Majesty have any other matters?”
“I want to ask you.”
Huo Ningxue’s eyes had regained their deep, yet still beautiful and shimmering quality, making it hard for one to look away.
“That day… did you feel anything?”
“What day?”
“Just…” Huo Ningxue’s face turned adorably awkward, lowering her head as she stuttered, “The day I… kissed you…”
Young Master Sang immediately felt dry in his throat and hastily averted his gaze.
“Uh, the commoner feels quite flustered.”
“And then?”
“Nothing, really.”
Huo Ningxue suddenly looked disappointed and narrowed her eyes.
“No way.”
“You forgot, you kissed me back, didn’t you?” She puffed her cheeks angrily.
Young Master Sang blinked.
Wasn’t it you who wanted me to kiss you?
What kind of fishing law is this?
“It seems your Majesty already understands what a kiss means.”
Young Master Sang cleared his throat, mustering his courage to say, “In that case, I hope your Majesty will be more prudent in this matter in the future and not easily bestow your sweet kisses upon other men.”
“And as for that time before, uh, it was an accident, let’s just pretend it didn’t happen. I will keep your majesty’s secret.”
“No way!” Unexpectedly, Huo Ningxue shook her head firmly.
“Now that we’ve kissed, pretending it didn’t happen is too late.”
“Since I already know what a kiss means, I need the national teacher to take responsibility for me.”
No!
I said it was you who wanted me to kiss you!
Is this a setup? Is there no law here? Someone, stop this!
Young Master Sang felt like crying but Huo Ningxue seemed very serious: “I am not someone who starts a relationship only to abandon it. Since we’ve shared that fleeting moment, I can’t let the unborn child be left without a father.”
Young Master Sang: “?”
Wait a minute.
Do you want to hear what you’re saying?
What fleeting moment…? That’s slander! I, Young Master Sang, have lived a pure life, never engaging in lewd acts with women!
A child? Seriously, you want me to be the scapegoat?
And looking at Huo Ningxue, she doesn’t seem pregnant at all; that baby can’t just be an imaginary friend, right?
“Uh, just in case, may I ask a question?”
Young Master Sang tentatively asked, “The unborn child your Majesty mentioned… what is that about?”
“Of course, it’s the child in my belly.”
Huo Ningxue said with righteous indignation: “This is the national teacher’s child; I can’t let the baby be born without a father.”
“…No, your Majesty is still a maiden; where would the child come from?”
“What maiden… isn’t it that once you’ve kissed you can get pregnant?”
Young Master Sang took a deep breath.
Nian Nian, could you explain this?
Is this what you meant that Huo Ningxue isn’t actually stupid?
In his mind, Nian Nian’s somewhat awkward voice echoed: “Uh… I told you she has been hypnotized by her mother since childhood; she’s probably not fully rehabilitated yet. Ha ha.”
Even Young Master Sang could hear the guilt in Nian Nian’s tone.
You could say this bombshell genuinely made Young Master Sang think Huo Ningxue was just inventing some excuse to stop him from leaving.
But coming from Huo Ningxue’s mouth, it somehow didn’t surprise Young Master Sang.
“So, I’ve already made my decision.”
Young Master Sang watched as Huo Ningxue approached him with a fierce glint in her eyes, unable to help swallow hard and stammer, “W-What does your Majesty want to do?”
“You can’t just forcefully take a man even if you’re an emperor, right?”
“I have been in power, and the position of empress remains vacant.”
Huo Ningxue’s clear, beautiful eyes locked onto Young Master Sang’s, her penetrating clarity seemingly making him forget to breathe.
“I want the national teacher to be my empress.”
“Let me give birth to the national teacher’s child.”
Young Master Sang: “…Huh?”
