CHAPTER 72: CHAPTER 72: DOES RUAN RUAN HAVE A BABY?

Half an hour later, the hovercar stopped outside the Imperial Palace.

The Imperial Palace was vast, filled with a golden and jade ancient feeling everywhere, guarded by high-level robots that were incompatible with this ancient ambiance.

Machinery confined the ancient, shrouding this palace in perpetual darkness.

This was Su Ruan’s first visit to the palace, and compared to the reports on the Star Network, actually coming inside gave her an unexpected sense of desolation rising from deep within.

She blinked, suppressing that strange feeling, and looked at Lu Shinian.

Lu Shinian’s expression remained unchanged, still peaceful, as he led her by the hand inside.

After walking for over ten minutes, they arrived outside the palace where Your Majesty usually relaxed.

To Su Ruan’s surprise, although the palace doors were open, there were no other people inside, not at all resembling the venue of a dinner banquet.

Su Ruan leaned closer to Lu Shinian and whispered, "Isn’t there supposed to be a dinner banquet?"

Lu Shinian responded softly with a "Hmm" and led her into the palace.

Inside the palace, the long table was filled with natural food, and at the foremost main seat sat Your Majesty.

Your Majesty’s face was peaceful, although it had some wrinkles, yet one could vaguely see the handsome appearance of his youth.

Seeing them arrive, Your Majesty stood up, appearing somewhat apprehensive.

"Commander Lu," he smiled gently, "come and sit."

Lu Shinian led Su Ruan to the middle seat, sat down, without sparing Your Majesty a glance, and asked quietly, "Ruan Ruan, what would you like to eat? I’ll help you serve."

Su Ruan shook her head slightly and looked at Your Majesty.

Your Majesty chuckled, "This must be Mrs. Lu, right?"

"Just call me Su Ruan," Su Ruan said respectfully.

She had never interacted with Your Majesty, even in her past life, she had only seen his photos in Star Network reports.

It was said that Your Majesty had a wife, but she passed away from illness years ago, and he never remarried, leaving no offspring, thus no heir.

She remembered in her past life Your Majesty would pass away in five years, and after his death, due to having no successor, the royal powers were divided among the Four Great Armies, eventually abolishing the royal family, with the commanders of the Four Great Armies jointly ruling.

But exactly how they governed, she knew nothing about, such secrets were beyond her knowledge in her previous life.

Su Ruan felt no animosity towards Your Majesty, maintaining the respect a Federation Person should have.

But Your Majesty’s attitude seemed rather warm.

"Su Ruan, what a nice name,"

Your Majesty chuckled, "How long have you been married to Commander Lu? When do you plan to have children?"

Su Ruan: ...

Your Majesty was overly nosy.

"None of your business," Lu Shinian directly answered for Su Ruan.

After speaking, he served food for Su Ruan, "Ruan Ruan, eat."

Su Ruan ate her food silently; with so much natural food, she needed to eat more.

Until she was full, her stomach slightly bulging, this so-called dinner banquet didn’t see a fourth person arrive.

Rather than calling it a dinner banquet, it was more like a family dinner.

Su Ruan discarded the bizarre thoughts in her mind and then whispered, "When can we leave?"

"I’m too full, I want to take a walk to digest."

Lu Shinian’s eyes flickered with a hint of amusement, "We can leave now."

He helped her up, nodded slightly towards Your Majesty on the main seat, "Thank you for your hospitality, Your Majesty, we shall take our leave."

Your Majesty also stood up, "Won’t you have a little more?"

Lu Shinian’s tone remained unfluctuating, "No need, she’s too full, I’ll take her out for a walk."

He said, directly leading Su Ruan out.

Su Ruan turned back, waving at Your Majesty.

Your Majesty was momentarily stunned, then smiled and waved back at her.

Lu Shinian led Su Ruan, walking leisurely, unconsciously reaching the garden.

The garden was planted with dandelions, the kind of flower whose seeds can be carried to various places by the wind.

It was said that dandelions were the Empress’s favorite flower, symbolizing unrequited love.

Although Su Ruan found it strange, clearly, the Empress and Your Majesty were deeply in love, why would she favor a flower that symbolizes "unrequited love"?

Of course, it’s also possible the Empress simply enjoyed blowing dandelions for fun.

Su Ruan thought and thought, her thoughts began to wander, hence she failed to notice the person who had been holding her suddenly stiffen, eyes faintly showing a trace of crimson.

"Lu..." Just as she was about to speak, she was pounced on by Lu Shinian.

Wolf tail wrapped around her wrist, the furry head rubbing against her face, whimpering, "Ruan Ruan."

The wolf claw violently tore apart her clothes, the cool paw pad pressing on her stomach.

Perhaps feeling the sensation was different from usual, Lu Shinian lifted his head, tilting it, and on his handsome face was a puzzlement inconsistent with his demeanor.

Su Ruan’s mouth twitched; this person’s Ancestral Stage came without any warning at all.

Unfortunately, she didn’t carry an Energy Stone with her; if she could give him one, he might absorb it and return to normal.

Just as Su Ruan was thinking this, Lu Shinian lowered his head, staring at her slightly bulging stomach, cautiously extending his fingertips to poke it.

Then he lifted his head to look at Su Ruan, tentatively asking, "Little one?"

Su Ruan: ???

"What?" She didn’t immediately understand.

Little one? What little one?

Lu Shinian’s wolf tail loosened its grip around Su Ruan’s wrist, wagging excitedly behind him.

"Little one!" Lu Shinian’s eyes brightened, pointing at Su Ruan’s slightly bulging stomach, "Ruan Ruan, little one."

Su Ruan understood.

Turns out Lu Shinian thought she was pregnant?

"No..." Su Ruan slapped her stomach with a "smack," "No little one."

Lu Shinian looked at Su Ruan in panic and grievance, grabbed her wrist, lowered his body, and pressed his furry head against Su Ruan’s stomach, nuzzling.

"Ruan Ruan, don’t hit."

"Little one, moving."

Su Ruan: ...

"I just ate too much tonight," Su Ruan explained, "There’s really no little one."

Lu Shinian’s long lashes trembled lightly, his wolf tail drooping dejectedly; even his previously excited, erect wolf ears now folded pitifully forward.

"There is a little one," he countered pitifully, not daring to anger Su Ruan, glanced at her with grievance, and repeated softly, "There is a little one."

Su Ruan felt slightly helpless; she sat up, but Lu Shinian held her shoulder down.

"Lu Shinian?" Su Ruan called his name directly.

Lu Shinian whimpered, thinking she was upset, his long lashes wet.

"Don’t be angry."

He buried his head in her neck, his breath warm, "Ruan Ruan, don’t be angry."

Su Ruan’s heart softened, she patted his shoulder, "I’m not angry."

Lu Shinian paused, then carefully asked, "So... is there a little one?"

Su Ruan: ...