Chapter 8: Phoenix Resting on the Falling Phoenix Slope

"Awake?" A gentle voice came through. His eyes, under the sunlight, were as clear as the finest glass, revealing no joy or sorrow, as if it were his nature.

Qingyuan gazed at him for a long time and hoarsely asked, "How long have I been asleep?"

"Not too long, just ten days," Suyutian said lightly, flipping through a military report. "I thought you were really going to die. We even had a coffin prepared for you."

As he spoke, the military report in his hand made a rustling sound. Qingyuan looked over to see the once neatly folded report now crumpled.

She self-mockingly smiled, "Thank you, Your Highness. I thought as a woman with no value, I wouldn't even have a coffin."

Suyutian set down the military report and fixed his dark eyes on her. "You thought? You thought you could just die and be done with it? I've said it before, if I don't allow you to die, you won't die. Even the King of Hell can't do anything about it!"

Qingyuan looked at his fierce gaze, trying to force a smile but couldn't manage it.

"Now that you're awake, get up. You've been lying for ten days, if it doesn't bother you, it bothers me!" He ordered the carriage to stop without hesitation.

Then, Suyutian picked her up without a word.

"What are you doing?" Qingyuan couldn't help but ask.

But his only response was a cold sidelong glance.

With a military order, thirty thousand troops immediately stood still. In full view of everyone, Suyutian carried her out of the carriage.

The cold mountain wind blew, and she couldn't help but shrink into his chest. She saw his eyebrows furrow, as if he wanted to say something but only looked at her coldly.

He placed her by the carriage and said, "Let's go."

Qingyuan was suddenly surprised and looked up.

Suyutian's eyes showed no tenderness, and his words had no warmth, "You've slept for ten days, it's time to get up and walk. I don't want to carry you all the way to the capital."

Qingyuan, feeling weak, clung to the edge of the carriage, gradually feeling angry. He actually wanted her to start moving as soon as she recovered. She couldn't think of anything other than humiliation.

"What's wrong? The princess doesn't have the strength to walk?" Suyutian's face showed a hint of cruel amusement. "If you want me to carry you to the capital, considering the many relatives you've lost, I'll reluctantly pity you."

He walked towards her, his disdainful gaze unmasked.

"Get lost!" Qingyuan was completely infuriated. She pushed away his hand and gritted her teeth, "I'll walk by myself!"

Suyutian looked at her trembling as she struggled to move forward, step by step. Every step was like torture for her.

She slowly moved forward, trying to hold her head high, but her legs gave way, and she fell to the ground.

The pain hit her, and she almost passed out.

"Indeed, you can't walk. It seems I have to carry the princess to the capital." His cruel and mocking voice rang out once again.

She gritted her teeth and struggled to get up, trying to move forward again. Hundreds, even thousands of eyes were silently watching her. Watching her take a few steps and stumble, like a child learning to walk.

When Qingyuan had fallen hundreds of times and had no strength left to get up, she heard Suyutian's voice, "Alright, that's enough for today. Let's go! "

He stepped forward and lifted her up.

"Get away! Don't touch me!" Her eyes seemed to want to tear him to pieces.

Suyutian smiled, a glint of light in his eyes. He lowered his voice and whispered in her ear, "Princess, I've already touched everywhere I should."

His voice carried an indescribable ambiguity.

Qingyuan was stunned, her face turning pale, then red. She naturally understood what had happened in the past ten days. He had taken care of her all the way, even doing the most intimate things for her.

"Shameless!" She could only grit her teeth and say these two words.

Suyutian seemed to find it the funniest joke, laughing heartily. Qingyuan leaned against his chest, listening to his unrestrained laughter, unable to summon any anger.

Much later, she could recall this day.

He laughed heartily, as if all the world's rivers and mountains were under his feet, all the people were submissive, and all the lands paid homage to him. Such grandeur, perhaps unmatched in the world.

Qingyuan sighed and closed her eyes wearily.

At that moment, a soldier hurried over and knelt down, loudly saying, "Report—Your Highness, the Emperor's decree has arrived!"

Qingyuan stiffened, and Suyutian's eyes flashed with cold light. "Read it!"

The messenger began to read.

After hearing the decree, Suyutian said calmly, "I understand. Order the troops to set up camp at Phoenix Ridge, five hundred miles from the capital."

"Yes!" The messenger turned and hurried off to deliver the order.

Suyutian lifted Qingyuan onto the carriage. The carriage set off again, but the atmosphere inside was even more eerie.

After a while, Qingyuan broke the silence and chuckled, "So it turns out even the Emperor doesn't trust you."

Five hundred miles from the capital, thirty thousand troops disarmed, leaving only three thousand to enter the capital for an audience. It was clear that the Emperor feared Suyutian's power.

Suyutian, upon hearing this, casually picked up another military report, sighed, and said, "I thought I could share a few nights with the princess, eating and sleeping together, but it seems that won't be happening. What a pity!"

He looked at her with a suggestive gaze, as if undressing her with his eyes once again.

Qingyuan turned pale, and the pillow beside her flew towards him. "Get lost!"

Suyutian caught the smile of the sky and continued to read the military report without showing any suspicion about the imperial decree.

A day later, Suyutian's troops camped at Luofeng Ridge, five hundred miles from the capital of Liangguo. Thirty thousand elite soldiers dismounted, removed their weapons and armor, and waited for further orders.

The welcoming party consisted of three chubby court officials, two elderly maids, and eight palace maids. This was the protocol for the empress and also for the princess of Tangguo.

Qingyuan had recovered from her illness but was extremely weak. The two maids had come to see her on the emperor's orders. They scrutinized her from head to toe, frowned, and then paid their respects.

"Respectfully greeting the empress."

Qingyuan said lightly, "I have not yet paid my respects to the emperor of Liang. You may address me as Princess."

The two maids exchanged glances. One of them, with a round and chubby face named Zhang, showed clear dissatisfaction.

"Now that Tangguo has been conquered, where does the title of princess come from?" She smiled hypocritically.

Qingyuan narrowed her phoenix-like eyes and looked at her coldly.

The other thin-faced maid took the opportunity to say, "His Majesty has great affection for Princess Qingyuan, so he has specially instructed us to take good care of her. Princess, please do not disappoint His Majesty's kindness."