On the way back, they weren’t in any rush. Shen Tang didn’t use the teleportation array, nor did she take a spaceship. She simply marched along with the team. It was the perfect chance to inspect the cities and tribes along the way.
Even though she could receive reports from officials all over while in the Imperial City, it just wasn’t the sa as experiencing the people’s lives firsthand. With this opportunity, of course she wasn’t going to let it go to waste.
The trip ended up being longer this way, and it would take about a week to get back to the Imperial City.
On the first day of the march, they hadn’t fully left the Northern Territory.
Outside the caravan window, heavy snow fell thick as goose feathers. All she could see was a boundless world sealed in white, stretching to the ends of sight.
Even though it was already evening, the snow reflected so much light that it was still bright as day— the whole sky stayed light.
She pulled the curtains shut, finally blocking out that blinding white glow. The interior of the car grew dim.
Jia Lan ca flying out from her dinsional space and flopped down on her chest, moping, "I hate that lovesick fool from the Eternal Winter Empire!"
If he hadn’t worried about scaring people and exposing secrets, Jia Lan would have jumped out and kicked him ages ago!
Shen Tang scooped the little guy into her arms and kissed his puffed-up cheek, laughing dotingly, "Jealous, huh?"
Jia Lan tugged gently at her hair. "Yeah, I am jealous."
It was bad enough not being able to be by her side, but now there were all these twittering chicks trying to swoop in; just thinking about it made Jia Lan feel wronged.
"That spoiled rich boy from the trading firm—sure, he’s not bad looking, but compared to you? He doesn’t even co close. How could I possibly like him?" Shen Tang declared with absolute conviction.
Only then did Jia Lan cheer up.
"By the way, how are things going in the sea area?"
"The spread of pollution has been temporarily contained." At this, Jia Lan sounded both relieved and helpless.
As the new Sea Race High Priest, his powers were even stronger than his father’s. But that also ant he couldn’t leave the Divine Hall— otherwise, the hard-won balance would crumble all over again.
Shen Tang felt a faint pang of sorrow, but still forced a smile, lowered her head, and kissed his cheek again. "It’s all your achievent. I’m so proud of you, Ah Lan."
Far away in the sea area thousands of miles off, Jia Lan seed to feel that gentle touch as well. He absentmindedly reached up and touched his cheek.
The nearby Divine Servants all noticed; ever since arriving at the Divine Hall, the Priest—once so cold, silent, and ethereal—had actually let a faint smile surface on his handso face. Softly, he said, " too."
She was his pride as well.
Shen Tang asked gently again, "How’s your mother doing?"
Though Jia Lan had never left the Divine Hall, he knew everything that happened in the sea area like the back of his hand. "For now, news of Mother’s loss of power hasn’t spread, but it won’t stay secret for long. Mother is already planning how to select a new heir. If I’m right, it should be Princess Jatasha."
"Is that the princess with the blue-violet hair? She’s older than you, right? I think I may have seen her once."
Jia Lan nodded. "That’s right. She’s my eldest sister, the first princess born of Mother. Back then, Mother hadn’t ascended the throne yet—she was still a princess herself, and had her with a Beast Husband."
"That Beast Husband wasn’t all that favored, but my sister is hardworking and outstanding, with decent talent. Before , Mother always intended to pass the throne to her."
"Then I can rest easy. If you ever need help over in the sea area, you have to tell , okay?"
"Mm."
The two of them kept talking, tender and affectionate.
Soon Shen Tang started yawning and drifting off to sleep mid-conversation.
Xiao Jin, feeling a bit jealous, snatched the little doll out of her arms and tossed him aside, then claid the spot himself, burrowing under the covers and pulling her into his arms.
The tiny doll flew back in a huff and stomped hard on his handso face, "You damn leopard, get off of her!"
Xiao Jin, pissed off, swatted him away again with a slap.
Shen Tang was woken by all the commotion. She heard the little doll fly into her arms, crying and complaining, "Tangtang, that leopard’s bullying !"
Shen Tang imdiately reached out and yanked Xiao Jin’s ear. "Behave yourself, you!"
Xiao Jin let out a yelp, "Ow! Tangtang, gentler, will you?!"
Only then did Shen Tang let go. To stop that leopard from bullying Jia Lan while she was asleep, she tucked the little doll back into her dinsional space to let him rest properly.
Xiao Jin, rubbing his ear, lay back down, scooped her up again, and buried his chin in the crook of her neck, softly grumbling, "You’re so biased. Last night you were having a secret midnight talk with that wolf, didn’t even let join! What were you two gossiping about?"
"Oh, so you’re only now coming to pick a fight about last night?" Shen Tang pinched his ear in exasperation, though her touch was gentle, more like massaging him. It felt so nice that the man couldn’t help purring, his golden eyes narrowing contentedly as his tail gently wrapped around her leg.
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