CHAPTER 93: CHAPTER 93: PUBLIC TRIP? HONEYMOON?

A gust of wind swept in, carrying a fierce and surging intent to kill.

Su Ruan instinctively looked towards the door.

Only to see Lu Shinian dressed in military uniform, exuding a chilling aura, with a cold expression, directly charging towards Your Majesty.

"Brother Lu," Su Ruan called out.

Almost instantly, the killing intent on Lu Shinian dissipated. He quickly walked over to Su Ruan, positioning himself between her and Your Majesty, looking at Your Majesty and saying coldly, "Your Majesty, I hope you restrain yourself."

Your Majesty stepped back, smiling, "I just invited the Commander’s Wife over for a gathering."

"There’s nothing worth gathering for." Lu Shinian took Su Ruan’s hand, firmly holding it in his palm, cast a warning glance at Your Majesty, and led her out.

His attitude was cold, lacking even basic respect.

Your Majesty did not stop Lu Shinian from leaving. He watched their backs, his eyes faintly reflecting a kind yet worried gaze.

Lu Shinian quickly got Su Ruan on the hover car, and after setting up the automatic driving, he spoke, "If Your Majesty ever asks to see you alone again, do not go to him."

Su Ruan still held the wooden box that Your Majesty had given her, containing a Level 3 Energy Stone with only 10% impurity.

Level 3 Energy Stones are more expensive compared to Level 2 Energy Stones, not to mention the impurity level is only 10%.

Your Majesty must have spent considerable effort and money to locate this Level 3 Energy Stone, yet handed it over to her so easily, or rather, to Lu Shinian.

This is indeed somewhat strange.

Su Ruan looked at Lu Shinian, her long eyelashes quivering slightly, and said, "The old butler said you knew about my being summoned by Your Majesty."

"I didn’t know," Lu Shinian said in a deep voice, "If it weren’t for you sending me a message..."

He would not have known that Your Majesty secretly summoned her.

Su Ruan pondered and nodded, muttering, "Why did the old butler lie?"

In her impression, the old butler had always been loyal to Lu Shinian and had never betrayed him, even in her previous life.

Why did he lie this time?

Lu Shinian’s eyes flickered for a moment, seemingly guessing something, and he said in a low voice, "For some ridiculous reasons."

He stroked Su Ruan’s hair, changing the subject, "What did Your Majesty say to you?"

"He asked me to give this to you." Su Ruan opened the wooden box.

Inside lay a Level 3 Energy Stone, sparkling and translucent, looking extraordinarily dazzling.

"Your Majesty said the impurity level is only 10%."

Lu Shinian glanced at it, not caring much.

"Does Ruan Ruan like it?"

"If you like it, just keep it for yourself."

Su Ruan shook her head, "My spiritual power is low, it’s of no use to me."

"Doesn’t your Ancestral Stage require this?"

At this point, Su Ruan suddenly paused.

No wonder.

No wonder Your Majesty asked her to give the Level 3 Energy Stone to Lu Shinian.

Perhaps it was because Lu Shinian suddenly entered the Ancestral Stage last time in the Imperial Palace, which Your Majesty found out about.

Currently, the Four Great Armies are in a dynamic balance, with none able to subdue the others.

However, if the Commander of the Third Legion temporarily steps down due to the Ancestral Stage, the balance among the Four Great Armies will be disrupted.

If any army’s power grows, it would inevitably threaten Your Majesty’s position.

After all, "Your Majesty" now is merely a title without military power. Any sudden growth in strength by one of the Four Great Armies is disadvantageous to him.

Your Majesty couldn’t directly reward Lu Shinian with the Level 3 Energy Stone, as that would attract attention and suspicion from other armies.

But it’s different giving it to her; with her Spiritual Power Level as D, getting a Level 3 Energy Stone is of no use, and it won’t immediately draw suspicion from the other armies.

After all, she publicly escaped marriage, and others likely view her relationship with Lu Shinian as hostile, thinking she’d never hand the Level 3 Energy Stone to him.

Your Majesty’s deep consideration and strategic mind are indeed admirable!

Su Ruan marveled internally but did not express her suspicions.

She handed the wooden box to Lu Shinian, "Use this, lest next time the Ancestral Stage makes you bite my neck again with Wolf Fang."

Lu Shinian, who completely lacked memory during the Ancestral Stage, paused, his gaze falling on Su Ruan’s neck, his throat slightly moving, "Did I bite you?"

"Well... Not exactly." Afraid he’d blame himself, Su Ruan softly replied, "Just lightly grazed."

"It bled." Lu Shinian spoke with certainty, unsurprised that upon waking he smelled a hint of blood, realizing his Ancestral Stage made him bite through her neck.

Regret flashed through Lu Shinian’s eyes, and his hand tightened slightly around the wooden box.

"I’m sorry." He lowered his head as if offering his utmost loyalty to his princess, "It won’t happen next time."

Though Lu Shinian’s apology was sincere...

She poked his chest, silently saying, "You can’t control yourself during the Ancestral Stage."

If controlling oneself during the Ancestral Stage were so easy, there wouldn’t be so many incidents of frenzy and injury caused by it.

This statement inadvertently hit Lu Shinian’s sore spot; his eyes darkened, his lips nearly pressed into a hard line, fell silent.

Unnoticed, the hover car had reached the interstellar port.

Su Ruan glanced outside, somewhat surprised at Lu Shinian, "Why are we here?"

He put away the wooden box, restraining his previous expression, speaking seriously, "Star River Star has some special Illusion Insects; I need to go verify them personally."

This investigation into Illusion Insects really uncovered something.

"A grand festival is happening on Star River Star in a couple of days; I’ve received an invitation and thought I’d take Ruan Ruan there to enjoy."

Su Ruan’s eyes brightened, "Does this count as going on a trip funded by the government?"

Being able to investigate Illusion Insects while experiencing Star River Star’s culture sounds wonderful, doesn’t it?

She had long heard of Star River Star’s beauty, known as the Federation’s only 5A-class tourism star, sustaining the planet’s budget solely through tourism.

Lu Shinian gently stroked Su Ruan’s face, a smile rippling from deep within his eyes, lips slightly parting, "It doesn’t count."

Su Ruan: ???

"Not government-funded?" The Third Legion’s finance department is that stingy?

"Yes, privately funded." Lu Shinian’s smile seemed to deepen; his dark pupils encompassed Su Ruan’s presence, deep and mesmerizing as if etching her image deeply into his gaze.

Su Ruan’s mouth twitched, "Then I’d better not go? Traveling to Star River Star is expensive!"

She said this and attempted to get out of the car, only to have her wrist caught by Lu Shinian.

Unable to resist, he chuckled softly.

"Silly girl."

"It’s a government-funded trip."

Su Ruan looked at him confusedly, "Then what were you saying earlier?"

Lu Shinian sighed softly, wrapping Su Ruan in his arms, leaned close to her ear, his voice carrying a hint of hoarseness.

"Just hoping Ruan Ruan would ask those four words."