Chapter 14: This Is the Power of Love

Seeing Su Chen dawdling, Ying Qingge grabbed the nearby gauze curtain, her wrist flicking as she deftly used it to wrap around his waist and yanked.

Thud!

She pulled him onto the bed.

Leaning over him, she held the gauze, slowly lowering her head until they were inches apart, their breaths mingling.

In the room, with only the two of them, the atmosphere grew heated.

Her imposing curves pressed against him, their weight impossible to ignore.

“Senior Sister, please behave!”

Despite Su Chen’s warning, Ying Qingge gently caressed his face, smiling “kindly.”

“Little Junior Brother, what’s there to fear? Senior Sister won’t eat you.”

Su Chen instinctively swallowed.

If only it were as simple as she claimed.

The problem was her gaze—clearly ravenous, as if she did want to devour him!

How could he trust her?

But at that moment, Ying Qingge retorted righteously,

“Relax, as long as you’re unwilling, Senior Sister won’t force you.

But I need a pillow to sleep with.

Surely you wouldn’t deny me such a small request, Little Junior Brother?”

As she spoke, she pulled Su Chen into her arms like a body pillow, her narrow phoenix eyes closing as if she were truly drifting off to sleep.

Meanwhile, Su Chen, forced to rest against her ample chest, was surrounded by her faint fragrance, his heart uneasy.

A woman’s words are as trustworthy as a ghost’s.

Completely unreliable!

Yet, astonishingly, Ying Qingge did nothing the entire night.

Her restraint was almost unnerving, leaving Su Chen oddly unaccustomed.

The next morning.

Ying Qingge opened her beautiful eyes early.

The art of conquest was like boiling a frog in warm water—constant aggression would be too crude.

What she did last night…

That was the superior strategy!

Looking at Su Chen’s sleeping face in her arms, her lips curved upward, and she leaned down for a gentle kiss.

See? At times like this, he didn’t resist at all.

If every morning could be this blissful, that would be perfect!

As she pondered, Ying Qingge’s eyes suddenly narrowed, revealing disbelief and even shock.

“How… could this be!”

It wasn’t something dire—it was fantastic news.

Just moments ago, unintentionally, she felt her cultivation base solidify like never before.

This should have been impossible!

Her rapid breakthrough to the Divine Connection Realm had left her foundation unstable, requiring at least two or three months to stabilize.

Yet now, it was as solid as a rock, unshakable!

It truly surprised Ying Qingge!

She had racked her brains for a solution before, to no avail.

Now, without doing anything, she’d inadvertently succeeded.

Turning to her little junior brother, she realized he was the only variable.

Could this be the power of love?

Could staying close to her junior brother make her stronger?

Looking at her lucky star, Ying Qingge’s arms tightened instinctively, causing Su Chen, already struggling for air, to wake up gasping.

“Senior Sister, what are you—”

“Little Junior Brother, you’re truly my lucky charm~!”

As her words fell, Su Chen could only widen his eyes.

A morning ambush?

What happened to no forcing?

Meanwhile.

In the imperial city.

Su Chen’s sudden appearance had stirred a storm among Great Qin’s upper echelons.

In the Left Chancellor’s residence, pavilions and rockeries stood tall.

A line of maids, carrying tea and pastries, hurried toward the study with lowered heads.

The Left Chancellor and his son sat in the study. A maid set down the tea, not daring to look up, and quickly retreated.

The Left Chancellor, seated at the head, took a sip from his teacup.

“This matter will shape the next few decades. I’ve fought hard for this opportunity for you—make sure you seize it.”

“Rest assured, Father!”

Duan Yicheng, seated below, nodded in response.

Dressed in an elegant green robe, he exuded an air of righteousness, a paragon of Confucian virtue.

Then, Duan Yicheng asked,

“Father, do you think this Su Chen could be a pawn the Empress is using to avoid choosing an Imperial Consort?”

“It’s not impossible.”

The Left Chancellor’s response was ambiguous.

By normal reasoning, Su Chen could indeed be a piece the Empress was using to deflect.

But that was only normal reasoning!

As a cunning old fox, the Left Chancellor knew the Empress’s temperament well.

She wouldn’t stoop to such tactics!

Especially her attitude toward Su Chen… just thinking about it made the Left Chancellor reluctant to get involved.

But at this point, there was no turning back.

“No choice but to proceed!”

The Left Chancellor sighed, pinning all his hopes on his son.

“Su Chen is hardly a threat. Your focus should be on displaying your grace and ability.”

“I understand.”

In the Duke of National Defense’s residence.

As the Duke’s second son and a highly recommended candidate, Ji Hanqing was pacing like an ant on a hot pan.

“How can this be? How is this fair!”

“Why?”

“Don’t they consider the person’s opinion?”

As a steadfast man dedicated to serving the nation, Ji Hanqing had zero interest in marrying into the imperial family.

Women would only hinder my sword practice!

Especially the Empress of Great Qin.

And even more so when she already had someone she liked.

Elsewhere.

The Duke of National Defense sipped tea leisurely, watching his son pace.

This son was excellent in every way except for his lack of political savvy, the complete opposite of his sister—whether that was good or bad remained unclear.

“Father, isn’t there another way?”

To Ji Hanqing’s question, the Duke replied noncommittally,

“Is one needed?”

“Isn’t one needed?”

“Since Her Majesty’s heart is set, do you really think you have a chance?”

“Huh?”

At this, Ji Hanqing was even more confused.

Can we speak plainly?

In the Prince’s residence.

The Prince of Yan’s heir, the only candidate with royal blood among the contenders.

A young man sat casually, toying with a ring on his finger.

“The Empress is smitten with some unknown nobody?”

“Hah! How ironic!”

A mocking laugh escaped him, and a trace of disdain crept onto his handsome face.

“As expected, no matter their status, women can’t escape their true nature…”

“If that’s the case, why shouldn’t I rule Great Qin?”

“And you—you’ll have to submit to me!”

A glint of assured victory flashed in the Prince of Yan’s heir’s eyes.

He was determined to win this battle.

After ten years of biding his time, he would shock the world!

“Su Chen, oh Su Chen, I really must thank you for this opportunity.”

At the same moment.

While various factions schemed, Ying Qingge, as the Empress, wasn’t idly waiting.