So much has happened these days. During the day, Lu Xiao has to handle family and military affairs, and still make time to train new recruits. He should have just finished his work outside and come back tonight.
The moonlight falls in from the window, illuminating the manās sharply defined features. His deep, refined eyebrows and eyes are tinged with a faint fatigue, but when facing her, Lu Xiao always appears composed and steady, as if with his presence, there is nothing to worry about.
Shen Tang couldnāt bear to see him work tirelessly day and night, so she grabbed his hand, pursed her lips, and shook her head, saying, "Your body isnāt made of iron; you canāt endure this."
"The Female Master is worried about othersā health but not her own?" Lu Xiao half-knelt by the bed, holding her hand with his long, broad fingers, touching it to his face.
The manās physique was too tall and straight, and this posture allowed them to look at each other at eye level. The warm touch flowed between their connected skin. He still spoke in that gentle, low tone, yet it inexplicably carried a hint of reproach.
Shen Tang suddenly felt a bit intimidated! She shrank her head into the quilt, blinking at him without saying a word.
Seeing her adorable and naive appearance, Lu Xiaoās lips slightly curved up. He raised his hand and rubbed her hair, explaining, "The Female Master doesnāt need to feel any guilt. Itās my duty to relieve your worries. Besides, thereās nothing much happening on the Lu Familyās side, and Shu Feng is handling the recruit training. Iāve been free these days, so I can help you with the accumulated documents."
Without giving her a chance to refuse, Lu Xiao got up and went to the study, bringing all the documents to the desk in the bedroom to work on them seriously.
He sat on the long bench, his back straight like a pine tree. His long eyelashes drooping slightly, his side profile was elegant and fluid. The way he seriously worked was indescribably charming!
Shen Tang couldnāt help but take a few more glances!
The sound of pen scribbling on paper was so lulling, and perhaps she was truly exhausted from these days, Shen Tang soon fell asleep.
Even in sleep, she was restless, with her right leg wrapped in the blanket, somehow it got exposed.
Lu Xiao put down the pen again to cover her with the blanket.
There was a knock at the door.
"Come in." Lu Xiao turned his head to look.
Jia Lan pushed the door open and entered, showing surprise when he saw Lu Xiao there. He turned to look at Shen Tang sleeping on the bed and swallowed back his words, taking out a box of incense candles from his space.
The candle was deep blue, sprinkled with faint sparkling light, looking very dreamy and beautiful.
Jia Lan glanced at Lu Xiao and tentatively asked, "Can I borrow a light?"
Lu Xiao casually took out a lighter and tossed it to him.
Jia Lan was surprised, "Do you smoke?"
"Rarely. Sometimes when socializing outside, negotiating with those old hands in the military, this stuff is unavoidable." But he never smoked in front of Shen Tang, sometimes even changing his coat so she wouldnāt smell it.
Jia Lan didnāt ask much, "Click," he opened the lighter, lit the incense candle, and placed it on the bedside cabinet.
The light blue smoke flowed like moving silk, entwining the sleeperās body, layering and forming wave-like scales, eventually dissipating under the snowy moonlight coming through the window, indescribably magnificent.
"Dream Weaving Mist." Lu Xiao inhaled the unique aroma and praised, "No wonder itās a precious incense from the sea area. I heard itās made from rare materials like ice-cooled silver seaweed, fog pine crystal, blue coral powder, and tear gland extraction liquid from Whale Sea Beast, requiring a perfumer with at least thirty years of experience to craft it over half a year. Itās invaluable outside."
"You have a good eye! This incense can calm the nerves and secure the soul. Iāll give you a box." Jia Lan, appreciating people with taste, graciously handed Lu Xiao a box of incense.
"Thank you, Your Highness." Lu Xiao placed the incense into his space.
"Weāre all family, no need to be polite." Jia Lanās face was astonishingly beautiful and mesmerizing, but when he looked at the female sleeping on the bed, his face showed a hint of worry.
"I originally came tonight to tell her something, but forget it, let her have a good sleep."
Jia Lan casually pulled a chair and sat by the bed, tossing a stack of documents on the table, "Greenfield City is stable with City Lord Shi Ye and Hu Yun there, with no major movements observed. But just tonight, I received an urgent report of an avalanche in Grey Cliff City."
"Fortunately, the avalanche happened in a remote area from the town, with few casualties, only a dozen deaths. But coinciding with the war, it stirs public anxiety, and the situation over there is quite dire."
Lu Xiao frowned, disasters coinciding with man-made troubles are not a good omen.
Not to mention, Shen Tang is merely a newly appointed young monarch. Even former emperors would find it tough to handle such a predicament.
Lu Xiao picked up the documents and glanced through them, casually saying, "I remember Grey Cliff City is near Lindong City, and the Yun Family has stationed most of their forces in Lindong City."
Jia Lan nodded, "Indeed, if not for the Yun Familyās forces guarding the Northern Territory, perhaps your Empire would have lost the northern land long ago. During this coup, it was also the Yun Family sending troops, holding the defense line, and protecting the Northern Territory."
If Shen Tang hadnāt become the monarch of the Night Glow Empire, Jia Lan wouldnāt bother with these trivial matters.
He doesnāt like the Yun Family, especially the foolish wolf Yun Han, but even he canāt deny the Yun Familyās loyalty to the Empire.
This aspect gains his respect, justifying Tangtangās efforts to save the father and son of the Yun Family.
Lu Xiao massaged his temples, speaking lowly, "With the Yun Family guarding the Northern Territory, there shouldnāt be major issues for now. However, since the rebel army occupied the Imperial City, trade connections were forced to halt. Iāll dispatch the air force to deliver supplies to relieve the disaster victims as soon as possible."
"Hmm, regarding food, Iāve also arranged for factories to expedite production. It should be enough for you to dispatch the first batch of supplies." Jia Lan expressed concern, "But the cityās current grain reserves are also running low..."
Greenfield City and nearby suitable planting cities are the Empireās main food production areas now.
Shen Tang has also arranged experimental plots in various cities, but theyāre too few. Itās winter season, and crops grow slowly, not yet mature for harvest.
Now we can only take one step at a time.
Fortunately, good news came not long after.
Xiao Jin led his troops to successfully suppress the Guping City rebellion.
However, local morale plunged to negative levels, with the potential for riot at any moment.
Knowing this, Shen Tang initially intended to dispatch Lu Xiao with troops for support, but Shen Li said, "Xiao Tangāer, if you send all major forces out, the Imperial City will be empty. Be careful not to let anyone take advantage of this."
"Then what do you suggest?" The Empire barely has enough High-level Beastmen; she only trusts Lu Xiao leading the troops.
Shen Li smiled, "Keep Lu Xiao to guard the Imperial City. Iāll lead the troops for support."
This sly fox proactively volunteered for once, taking the opportunity to utilize idle manpower. Shen Tang gladly dispatched him.
Half a month later, good news arrived.
[Beep, Congratulations Host, Shen Li led troops to recapture Wind Roar City, increasing all citiesā peopleās morale by +10!]
[Beep, Congratulations Host, Xiao Jin led troops to recapture Tieling City, increasing all citiesā peopleās morale by +10!]
[A large number of refugees have been accepted across various places, leading to varying degrees of decline in local security.]
[Now updating the territory map for the Host!]