Chapter 26: Yan Yan: Let’s Go See Father~
The Serpent Guard’s report detailed the situation at the Southern Fortress: three Great Scorpions had attacked, the Southern Legion was no match for them, and they were now holding the fortress, refusing to engage. At this rate, the Southern Fortress would fall within two days at the latest.
The Serpent Queen nodded thoughtfully. The situation was similar to her previous life. However, following her orders, Ye Mei hadn’t engaged the enemy, choosing to focus on defense. Although it was a bit embarrassing, it was better than sacrificing her soldiers needlessly.
“How is the evacuation of the Southern Fortress’s refugees progressing?”
“Most have been relocated to the villages surrounding the city. Some have gone to stay with relatives within the Water City.”
“Good.” She said calmly. “Once the evacuation is complete, begin the legion’s withdrawal, as planned. Make sure there are no mistakes.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
Since the Southern Fortress was destined to fall, it was better to abandon it and preserve their forces.
However, this would be a blow to morale, and Ye Mei wasn’t entirely on board with this strategy. But the Serpent Queen insisted it was a secret plan, ordering them to follow her commands.
The Sand Scorpions, their strength enhanced by the Great Crimson Skyfire, were currently stronger than the Water City’s forces, unless she could reach the Mystic Sovereign realm.
And to reach the Mystic Sovereign realm, she needed to evolve her Serpent God Bloodline.
Normally, this would take two or three years, but time was of the essence. The only way to accelerate the process was to utilize the Great Crimson Skyfire itself!
And the Great Crimson Skyfire was currently located within the Crimson Sand Scorpion King’s lair.
Her plan was the same as in her previous life: while the Crimson Sand Scorpion King was besieging the Water City, she would use a secret underwater passage to bypass his army and attack his lair, using the Great Crimson Skyfire to evolve her bloodline, then return.
Therefore, she had to avoid unnecessary sacrifices, preserving her forces as much as possible, defending the Water City until her return.
Now, she just had to “let” the Sand Scorpions in.
Once all four fortresses had “fallen,” the Crimson Sand Scorpion King would personally lead his army to besiege the Water City. That would be her chance to counterattack.
Until then, she had to be patient.
This was her plan.
“What’s the situation at the other three fortresses?”
“There have been minor skirmishes, but nothing major.”
Just like in her previous life. She had to wait for the Demon Realm’s emissary to act before she could implement her plan. Otherwise, it would arouse suspicion.
Speaking of the emissary, she couldn’t help but think of Jiu Youyue. Although a secondary body of the Demonic Consort, Jiu Youyue had loved Yan Zhen, even sacrificing her life for him. After her death, he had given her a title, making her a “sister” to her and Zi Xunyi.
However, she had rarely interacted with Jiu Youyue and wasn’t close to her. If they met, she wouldn’t hesitate to kill her.
“Maintain high alert. Report any changes immediately. Do not engage the enemy without my orders!”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
The remaining issue was the reinforcements from the three kingdoms.
— Forget them. They’re just opportunistic vultures, trying to profit from the situation. They’re irrelevant.
She dismissed the Serpent Guard, summoning another.
“Where are they now?”
The Serpent Guard replied carefully, “Your Majesty, they’re on a houseboat on the central river…”
She then detailed her observations, including the… rhythmic rocking of the boat.
The Serpent Queen listened, then dismissed the guard with a wave of her hand.
The guard, relieved, quickly disappeared.
The Serpent Queen leaned back, sighing, her hands clenching within her sleeves.
“Mother, let’s go see Father.”
Her daughter’s voice echoed in her mind. She found an outlet for her frustration, her voice cold.
“Didn’t you hear? Your father is busy… rocking a boat with his first love. He has no time for a useless child like you!”
Yan Yan pouted, unfazed. She was used to her mother’s sharp tongue.
Every time her father went to see Yun Xiu, her mother would get angry, taking it out on her, criticizing her for everything.
If her mother didn’t always spoil her afterwards, she would have run off to Aunt Zi long ago. At least Aunt Zi wouldn’t scold her.
“But Mother, if we don’t go, then Yun Xiu will have him all to herself! Is that really okay?”
The Serpent Queen’s expression flickered, but she still snorted.
“What’s wrong with that? He loves her so much that he’s even willing to risk his life for her. Let them be happy.”
They weren’t even related now. And even in her previous life, he had only married her out of a sense of responsibility.
He had never loved her. He loved Yun Xiu!
What could she possibly do to compete?
“If Mother doesn’t marry Father, then what about me? I want to be born soon~” Yan Yan whined. “It’s so boring being trapped in your sea of consciousness!”
Thinking of her lively daughter, confined within her mind, she felt a pang of sympathy, her voice softening.
“Be patient. It’s not time yet…”
— When the time comes, he’ll take what he wants, whether she wants it or not.
Remembering their past life, she blushed, a rare shyness in her expression.
“I promise, after we deal with the Sand Scorpions, I’ll take you out to play, okay?”
Yan Yan mumbled, “But I want to play with Father now.”
“Yan Yan!” Her voice turned cold again. “Are you trying to annoy me?”
Her daughter said stubbornly, “I haven’t seen Father in over a year! And now that he’s finally here, and he’s so young and handsome… of course I want to play with him~ Don’t you want to see him too, Mother?”
“No.”
“Liar! You clearly do! You even sent people to watch him!”
“That’s to monitor Yun Xiu’s movements! Who knows if she has other motives for coming here… She didn’t arrive this early in my previous life. She came with the reinforcements from the Gallo Kingdom.”
She deliberately explained herself.
Yan Yan, knowing her mother was just being tsundere, started acting spoiled.
“Let’s go see Father, Mother! Please~”
“No.”
“Mother~~~ Mother, Mother, Mother~~~”
“Fine, fine, we’ll go! Stop rolling around in my sea of consciousness! You’re making me dizzy!”
“Yay! Mother is the best! Love you!”
“Hmph, if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t bother.”
“Mmm, mmm, it’s all my fault! It has nothing to do with Mother~”
“…”
The Serpent Queen returned to her chambers, bathed, changed into a form-fitting dress, then, after being meticulously dressed by her servants, checked her appearance in the mirror several times before finally donning a purple veil, leaving the palace, escorted by two Serpent Guards.
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