“Zi Ya, we have to work harder!”
Bai Ning tapped her finger on the sand table deduction map and said, “The vampire bloodline in Father has already tasted the sweetness of blood.”
She was teaching Zi Ya the ropes of deploying troops, her tone hiding an urgency that could not be underestimated.
Zi Ya’s delicate brows furrowed slightly, her pink lips pouting.
“But both our countries have made such a big commotion, and the deployment of troops is deafening, yet the dragon race’s side is calm… there’s no movement at all…”
“Hmph, Long Jiu has likely seen through our bluff and probably doesn’t think it’s worth a second look.”
Bai Ning snorted, her eyes fixed on the edge of the sand table as she pondered inwardly.
Zi Ya puffed out her cheeks with a look of resentment.
“Ah? How can she be so amazing! She’s clearly younger than us, but she’s omniscient and omnipotent. She’s proficient in everything from governing the country to leading the army. It’s simply outrageous!”
“She’s nothing special!”
Bai Ning insisted stubbornly, but her heart was in turmoil, filled with suspicion.
‘What exactly is going on with that girl, Long Jiu? The talent for governance and the imperial demeanor she displays are simply beyond all reason.’
While the dragon race had always been famous for their innate strength, governing a country and using schemes and strategies were far more important than brute force.
Since Long Jiu restored the country, the dragon race had been flourishing, and their national power had advanced by leaps and bounds.
Now, they vaguely showed signs of crushing the other nations on the continent.
This feeling was just like when the formidable Dragon Queen of that year had been resurrected or reincarnated…
Bai Ning shook her head vigorously, not daring to think any further.
‘If it really is as I suspect, Long Jiu’s depths are unfathomable. All that innocence and playfulness since childhood was just a disguise. This acting is even more superb than when I was an undercover agent back then. Just thinking about it sends chills down my spine.’
—
Inside the Dragon King’s office, the ink, brushes, paper, and inkstone were neatly arranged, and the air was filled with a faint scent of ambergris.
“Reporting—Your Majesty!”
A dragon soldier strode in and knelt on one knee to report.
“An urgent report from the border! The kingdoms of the Vampires and the Nightmares have recently increased their troops on the border on a large scale. The border defenses are extremely tight!”
Long Jiu did not even look up.
Her pen glided quickly over the official documents, her voice as steady as a mountain.
“Send the order: the entire army is to enter a state of alert. Soldiers will patrol on shifts 24 hours a day, and there must not be the slightest negligence. Once there is any movement at the border, report immediately. At that time, I will personally handle it.”
“As you command, Your Majesty!”
The dragon soldier stood up to take the order. Just as he turned around, he caught a glimpse of a strand of snow-white hair peeking playfully through the crack in the door.
It was Bai Li, secretly watching Long Jiu work.
‘This little princess is too clingy to Her Majesty. However, being clingy and cute is also a beautiful thing.’
‘It’s just that the little princess looks like a mixed-blood. Is she slightly different from the pure-blood dragon race?’
The dragon soldier thought, ‘Whatever. Her Majesty dotes on the princess, so she is undoubtedly her biological child. The dragon race has always been free-spirited and unrestrained. If the Queen had a romance outside and gave birth to a mixed-race princess, it wouldn’t be surprising.’
He muttered to himself and left in a hurry, needing to quickly deliver the orders to the border generals.
Behind the door, Bai Li’s small head had just retracted when she heard a gentle, smiling voice from inside the room.
“Little baby, have you seen enough of Mother working while hiding at the door?”
Long Jiu had already finished the documents on the desk.
She stood up and walked slowly toward the door, her beautiful eyes curving into crescents as she stared at the bunch of white hair that could not be hidden.
Bai Li’s cheeks instantly turned crimson like ripe cherries.
With her hands behind her back, she walked out from behind the door timidly.
“Ugh… I was discovered by Mother…”
She ran to Long Jiu with small steps, looked up with wide, watery eyes, and stretched out her slender arms in a soft plea for a hug.
She dragged out the end of her sentence with an alluring sweetness.
“I… I missed Mother so much~”
Long Jiu’s heart softened. She leaned over to pick Bai Li up steadily, her tone coaxing and indulgent.
“Mother missed my favorite little baby so much too~ But we are of the dragon race. You should be more generous in the future. Don’t always be so shy. It’s okay to take the initiative to pounce over. Mother will never reject you.”
Bai Li rubbed her head against Long Jiu’s warm chest, feeling the familiar sense of security.
Her small face was buried in the crook of Long Jiu’s neck, her voice cloying with sweetness.
“Mm-hmm, I love Mother the most~”
“Mother loves baby the most too~”
Long Jiu lowered her head and pressed a gentle kiss on the top of her head, her eyes full of tenderness.
Seeing this heartwarming and slightly sappy scene, the shadow guards watching in the darkness looked at each other and silently withdrew from the room, leaving the space to the mother and daughter.
Although they thought it was a bit mushy, they could not bear to disturb this unique warmth.
“Mother! What the soldier said just now was so scary! He said people are moving troops at the border to attack our dragon race!”
Bai Li said nervously.
“Don’t be afraid, Mother is here~”
Long Jiu whispered, patting her back.
“Whoever dares to invade, Mother will drive them away with one claw. I’ll make sure baby is safe and sound.”
Bai Li rubbed her small head against the crook of her neck.
“Ugh… but I want to help Mother too. I see you’re busy with everything every day, and you have to take time to play with me… I’m always like a little burden who only causes trouble.”
“What nonsense are you talking about, silly baby?”
Long Jiu poked her soft cheek with her finger.
“By acting spoiled and chatting with me every day, and keeping me company to relieve my boredom, you’re already helping Mother a lot~ This is a comfort that no one else can replace.”
Her voice shifted, her eyes curving with a bit of gentle temptation.
“Oh, it’s about time. Baby should eat now~”
As Long Jiu spoke, she took the initiative to tilt her neck.
The faint blue veins were clearly visible under her fair, delicate skin, carrying the crisp and alluring scent of dragon blood.
She moved her neck close to Bai Li’s lips.
Bai Li’s eyes lit up, and a blush spread across her small face.
She licked the warm skin with the tip of her tongue, obediently extended her small, sharp fangs, and took a gentle bite.
The sweet dragon blood, carrying a sense of domineering power, flowed into her throat, and warmth instantly spread through her limbs.
Bai Li’s eyelashes trembled slightly, and her small body instinctively shrank into Long Jiu’s arms.
Her breathing gradually became long and satisfied.
She had long since become completely accustomed to this demonic body.
Even this special way of eating had become something she enjoyed, and she gradually became intoxicated by this warmth and nourishment that belonged only to her mother, unable to extricate herself.