After all, hadn’t she seen both Gu Qin and Huo Jingchuan today?
That was one man and one woman!
Her little Zai Zai froze for a moment.
Then he asked, “These people… are they your friends? Do you like them very much?”
His left hand was tugged again.
The rhythm of question and gesture was actually quite fun.
Su Xi waited for him to continue—but suddenly, she saw that on the screen, her little Zai Zai seemed to be thinking of something.
Though he tried his best to keep a straight face, his bun-like cheeks scrunched up tight.
And then—pop!—a wilted little leaf sprouted above his head, dripping a small raincloud of sadness.
Su Xi: …???
Just as she was about to keep playing with him, the screen abruptly shifted—new dialogue text appeared.
It seemed the sedan had just passed by the General of Zhenyuan’s residence, triggering the next story event involving him.
Inside the general’s study, the General of Zhenyuan was speaking in hushed tones late at night with the Minister of War.
The Minister of War lowered his voice. “At tonight’s banquet, the undercurrents were fierce. His Majesty seemed somewhat displeased with the Second Prince.”
The General of Zhenyuan furrowed his brows, his tone deep. “The reason I’ve supported the Second Prince is simple, I believed he understood how to avoid the sharp edges when the other princes fight for power. A man who keeps a low profile and endures is one capable of great things. But now, with unrest in the northern territories, when it’s his turn to step forward, he still hides behind his modesty, even claiming illness to avoid duty! If he truly cared for the common people, he should know the northern civilians suffer—how can he shrink away like this? At this rate, he’s not even as good as that rash and glory-seeking Fifth Prince!”
The Minister of War added, “At present, His Majesty hasn’t yet decided who will be sent to the north to suppress the rebellion. But once that decision is made, the military command will surely be handed over to that person.”
The General of Zhenyuan sighed. “If this old general’s blade hadn’t grown dull, I’d personally lead the army there. Unfortunately, His Majesty already finds me too old.”
The Minister of War spoke quietly, “General… don’t you see? The reason His Majesty won’t let you lead the army isn’t because you’re old or unfit, it’s because he wants to use this chance to reclaim the military power that’s been in your hands all these years.”
The general’s brow twitched slightly.
The Minister of War knew the general’s loyalty was beyond question, but he still had to remind him:
“When one’s achievements are too great, they threaten the throne. The tree that stands above the forest catches the wind. If you surrender your command, the General’s Mansion will truly lose its standing and be left to others’ mercy. But if you keep the military power in your grasp, with three generations of the General’s Mansion standing behind you, His Majesty still can’t move against you.”
“That is why—you must find someone, as soon as possible, who can go to the north and quell the unrest in your stead!”
The General of Zhenyuan replied, “How could that be easy? I’ve spent my life on the battlefield. I have no sons; my only daughter has long passed away. Now I live alone, and those I can truly trust are few. Where am I to find someone to inherit my mantle?”
As they spoke, the old general’s hair, white as frost, trembled faintly as he sighed, his expression both wistful and lost in thought.
Just then, the system window popped up:
【Please accept Main Quest 8 (Intermediate): After completing Quest 7, become the General of Zhenyuan’s successor and travel north to suppress the rebellion, earning military merit.】
The first seven quests had all been beginner level, now it had jumped to intermediate?
No wonder the previous quest had been about changing the General’s opinion of her little Zai Zai and gaining his trust—it was preparing the path for this!
To stand firm in the imperial court, earning great military merit truly was the fastest way.
But…
Su Xi glanced at the screen—at that exquisitely carved little dumpling—and really couldn’t picture him leading troops into battle.
She couldn’t even imagine it, and just the thought made her heart ache.
If he went to the battlefield, he’d definitely get hurt, wouldn’t he?
…Still, with her around, it should be fine.
And besides, even though the quest had appeared now, it would be a long time before it actually needed to be completed.
At that thought, Su Xi finally relaxed a little.
The sedan slowly returned to Prince Ning’s residence.
Lu Huan lowered his gaze, no longer asking questions.
He knew—gods and spirits had their own kind to see, their own world beyond his.
It was natural that she would have other matters, other souls to visit.
Yet still…
In his heart, quietly and intricately, a faint restlessness began to coil—something that felt a little like longing, a little like possessiveness.
If only he could see her.
If only he could touch her.
If…
Lu Huan didn’t dare let his thoughts continue, afraid that what might surface would be too greedy.
Those spirits around her, could they all see her?
Was it because he wasn’t one of her kind that he couldn’t see or touch her at all…?
How he envied those who could.
He knew that having her by his side was already the greatest stroke of fortune in his entire life, but—perhaps human hearts were born greedy—after receiving all that warmth and kindness from her, he couldn’t help but want more.
He wanted to know what she looked like, how her voice sounded, wanted to keep her in his sight at all times.
That way, she wouldn’t suddenly run off or vanish one day without a trace.
Like now.
He clearly knew she was beside him, yet he couldn’t see her expression, couldn’t tell which side of him she stood on.
And when she wasn’t hooking his finger, he didn’t even know if she was still there.
He was like a blind man.
In his world, she didn’t exist within what he could see.
Lu Huan thought all this, though none of it showed on his face.
He understood that his own possessiveness and anxiety were wrong.
If he ever let it show, he might frighten her away.
So he pressed those dark emotions deep down, letting not even a hint escape.
Meanwhile, after Su Xi closed the quest notification window, she noticed that on the screen, her little Zai Zai still had that pitiful, wilted leaf drooping over his head.
His bun face was lowered, his lashes drooping too, looking exactly like a withered cabbage in the cold field.
Su Xi couldn’t help laughing.
She reached out to rub his head, then pinched his cheeks gently.
She hoped he could understand—that she did like her friends, but she also liked him very much.
Otherwise, why would she spend every day logging in just to play with him, sharing her time with him?
But such feelings were too long, too complicated to convey.
On the screen, her little Zai Zai’s hair was mussed from her rubbing, his cheeks pink from her pinching, and a faint blush crept up his ears.
Finally, that pitiful leaf above his head disappeared.
After returning to the firewood courtyard, her little Zai Zai hurried into the house, stripped off his cloak, then rushed back out again still in his robes.
He quickly reached out a hand—and when his palm was lightly squeezed, confirming she was still there, he relaxed at once. His eyes brightened, and he whispered softly toward the air, “Tonight, as we agreed yesterday—making noodles?”
Su Xi squeezed his right hand to reply: No.
Tonight, there was something more important to do.
She opened the in-game shop interface and found that several of the previously greyed-out skill panels had now been unlocked.
Well, of course—they had 38 points now. It was time to upgrade.
Quest Seven required mastering stronger martial skills, strategy, and stamina, to earn the General of Zhenyuan’s appreciation and support.
Her little Zai Zai had learned his martial arts mostly by secretly observing others.
Thanks to his natural talent, he already stood out among the young men of the capital, but there was still plenty of room to grow.
Aside from main quests, side quests, relationships, and environment stats, there were also two major categories: skills and physical attributes.
Developing skills to proficiency and improving one’s physique both granted points.
A stronger body, a more skilled mind—the boy would grow sturdier, step by step.
He’d played last night, so tonight he had to study.
A proper “mother” arranged her Zai Zai’s schedule clearly and responsibly.
Su Xi opened the shop.
A second later, several books materialized in midair before Lu Huan—
The Art of War, Six Secret Teachings, Hundred Stratagems, Flawless Calculations, and Illustrated Sword Techniques.
Seeing her little Zai Zai’s blank stare for a second, Su Xi assumed he was reluctant to study, so she gave his head a reassuring rub.
Then she exchanged for a sugar figurine from the shop and dangled it in the air—
a silent bribe: Be good, finish your lessons, and you can have candy.
Lu Huan: “…………”
His expression turned a little strange.
Back at Yong’an Temple, she’d helped him gain fame in the capital, and he had suspected then that she was intentionally pushing him into the whirlpool of court politics.
And now, giving him all these books—was she trying to urge him to study and better himself?
Well… that much he could accept.
But to tempt him with a sugar figurine, too…
Lu Huan didn’t know whether to laugh or sigh.
He was tall and slender now, his arms long and strong—a youth well past childhood—yet in her eyes, why did it feel as if she still saw him as a little boy?
But earlier, in those question-and-answer exchanges, hadn’t she acted like a girl of sixteen or seventeen?
Still, Lu Huan didn’t dwell on it.
He just gave a faint smile and opened his hands.
The stack of books tumbled pa-pa-pa into his arms.
He held them helplessly, glancing toward the empty air before him, then turned to go inside and light a lamp to read.
But just as he was about to sit down at his desk—Su Xi stopped him.
According to the main questline, he would eventually have to lead troops into battle.
As a proper “mother,” she was deeply worried.
Improvement could not wait.
Why not… do push-ups while reading?
So, Lu Huan stood there blankly as the soft breeze around him lifted the stack of books out of his arms and set them neatly on the table.
Then that same wind seemed to wrap around him, and suddenly—he was lifted clean off the ground, lying flat in the air—
He: !
A white speech bubble appeared above his head on the screen, with a big exclamation mark.
Outside the screen, Su Xi burst out laughing, unable to hold it back.
Then she gently set her little Zai Zai down onto the bed.
But as she did, his face flushed a bright red, like clouds at dusk.
He held his breath, tense with confusion—
Only for her to… flip the small dumpling over, like turning a tangyuan in hot syrup—so that his back faced up.
A long line of ellipses appeared above his head: 【……?】
Then Su Xi carefully lifted his tiny body again, pressed his arms slightly downward, and used one finger to guide his back until he lowered himself.
And just like that—one push-up was done.
After being handled in this confusing way, Lu Huan finally realized what she meant.
She wanted him to perform this movement… to strengthen his body?
But the weight pressing down on his back…
Could it be… she was sitting on him?!
Outside the screen, Su Xi had no idea what was going through her Zai Zai’s mind.
All she noticed was that his round little face was turning crimson, the color spreading down his neck.
And then—as if determined to prove something—he suddenly started moving like one of those cocky boys from school, flying up and down in rapid succession!
In an instant, he had done dozens of push-ups!
So fast! So strong! So smooth!
Su Xi was utterly speechless, jaw dropping in astonishment.
