The two chatted happily for a while, almost forgetting about the other person. Fortunately, Leng Qi’s peripheral vision caught sight of Su Muqing standing nearby, and he remembered that their empress had also returned with them.
“This subordinate admits fault, please forgive me, Your Majesty.” Leng San and Leng Qi quickly pleaded guilty to Su Muqing.
“Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress! May Your Majesty live for ten thousand, ten thousand, ten thousand years.” The soldiers beside them also knelt uniformly on the ground.
“Everyone rise! Leng San, Leng Qi, you both get up too.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty the Empress.”
Seeing that Su Muqing did not blame Leng Qi, he felt somewhat relieved. He dismissed the other soldiers, and after only the three of them were left on the shore, he pointed at the octopus floating in the sea. “Your Majesty, is this sea monster also your pet? Why haven’t we seen it before?”
“It’s not a sea monster, it’s an octopus that has lived for a long time and gained sentience. Its name is Zhang Haiwang. We met it three years ago when we went to Tianzhao Kingdom to seek medicine. Afterward, it has always lived in the space sea, which is why you haven’t seen it.”
Su Muqing reached out and held one of the octopus’s tentacles, communicating with it telepathically. There were too many soldiers around, and it wasn’t convenient to take it directly into the space right now.
Except for the first time it returned and played in this sea, the octopus had basically been confined to the space sea. Therefore, when it suddenly came into contact with other oceans, it appeared very excited.
Seeing how happy it was, Su Muqing didn’t want to dampen its spirits. So, she let it go to play in the sea for a while. Leng Qi was responsible for monitoring its movements. Once it was done playing and returned to the West Coast base on its own, Leng Qi would enter the city to report to Su Muqing.
Upon hearing Su Muqing’s instruction to play by itself, the octopus was very excited. It hurriedly extended its tentacles, circled Leng Qi a few times, and even wrapped them around his waist, bringing him out onto the sea surface for a ride. After interacting and familiarizing itself, the octopus sent Leng Qi back to the shore and then disappeared into the seawater.
Once Zhang Haiwang’s figure was no longer visible, Su Muqing and Leng Kui, along with Leng Qi, went to the base’s mess hall for breakfast and then hurried towards Yaodao Imperial City.
People say that nearing one’s hometown brings a sense of trepidation. Leng Kui drove the car as if it were an airplane. The journey that normally took over two hours was shortened by more than forty minutes.
Fortunately, the roads near Yaodao had been paved into smooth and wide cement roads from the beginning. Otherwise, at the speed he was driving, the car would have surely fallen apart!
At 9:30 in the morning, Su Muqing and Leng Kui drove to the East Gate of the Imperial City. For the people of Yaodao, vehicles were already a common sight.
However, the large buses they usually rode were only for travel between surrounding areas. For small cars like this, only a few individuals who initially followed Su Muqing in Yaodao could use them.
The soldiers guarding the city gate saw the car approaching and quickly stepped forward to inspect the transit permit. When they saw that the Empress was actually sitting in the back, he hurriedly saluted and ran to open the large gate exclusively for vehicle traffic.
After safely escorting Su Muqing back to the Imperial Palace, he was granted permission to go home to accompany Su Cuiping. To encounter such a good emperor, who not only brought him back in the rain overnight but also treated his family so well, Leng Kui felt an inexpressible gratitude towards Su Muqing.
He got out of the car, gave a respectful salute to Su Muqing, and then, with red-rimmed eyes, restarted the car and sped out of the palace. He was almost there; his wife and children were waiting for him at home.
Leng Kui parked the car, grabbed the two bundles from the back seat, and rushed towards the mansion. The servant boy guarding the door saw someone trying to force his way into the General’s Mansion and immediately drew his saber to engage him in combat.
Knowing that the servant boys had misunderstood, Leng Kui did not speak to explain. With one hand holding the bundle and the other free, he began to spar with the two.
The fight in the front courtyard alerted the people in the back courtyard. Since Leng Kui was an orphan with no elders, Su Minghui and Wang Shi temporarily moved into the General’s Mansion after Su Cuiping became pregnant, not only to take care of their daughter but also to help manage household affairs.
Su Cuiping, with her pregnant belly, looked out from the entrance of the main hall with curiosity. “What’s all the commotion outside?”
A maid ran in hurriedly. Before she even reached the back courtyard, she started shouting, “Not good, Madam! Not good, I heard a madman is trying to break into our General’s Mansion.”
Upon hearing that someone was trying to force their way in, Wang Shi rushed forward to support Su Cuiping. “A madman? In broad daylight, under the vast heavens? This is a third-rank General’s Mansion, and it’s surrounded by the residences of military officials. How could someone be so bold as to try and break in?”
“Stop talking so much. Let’s go to the front and see what’s happening, and we’ll know,” Su Cuiping also found it very strange and prepared to go out.
In Huaxia City, everyone knew that East Street in the Imperial City was the most famous street for royalty and nobles in the entire Yaodao City. Those who lived here were high-ranking officials of third rank or above. Logically, no one would be so foolish as to cause trouble here.
Seeing her daughter, who was already pregnant, still not staying put, Wang Shi quickly reached out and pulled her back, scolding, “You stop right there! What is your current condition? You don’t know what’s happening outside, and you still want to run out to join the fun? What if that so-called madman accidentally injures you, or injures your belly? You’ll have nowhere to cry then!”
“Mother! There are so many household guards and servants in the General’s Mansion, how could I be easily injured? Can you please not make such a fuss?” Su Cuiping was very annoyed that Wang Shi kept stopping her. She flung Wang Shi’s hand away and ran towards the front hall regardless.
Since becoming pregnant, her personality and temper had changed greatly, and she often became very emotional. Just like now, the more people told her not to do something, the more she insisted on doing it.
Su Cuiping quickly ran towards the front hall. Seeing her walk so fast, Wang Shi was very worried and quickly followed. “Hurry up and follow Madam! With such a large belly, any mishap could be disastrous.”
A group of people rushed after Su Cuiping towards the front courtyard. In the open space of the small flower hall in the front courtyard, Leng Kui was fighting vigorously. His skills were extraordinary. Even when single-handedly fighting over a dozen people while holding a bundle with one hand, he was not at a disadvantage.
Su Cuiping stood behind a pillar, watching the people fighting in the front hall. For some reason, she felt that the figure of the “madman” carrying large bundles and with a full beard looked so familiar.
Seeing Su Cuiping peeking around suspiciously, Wang Shi caught up and began to scold her, wanting to pull her back. “Watch your body, why are you running so fast! If you injure the child…”