Yiyi opened her mouth, wanting to explain but not knowing what to say, her cheeks flushing bright red.
Instinctively, she took a step back toward the corridor behind her, and only one thought remained in her mind.
Why isn’t Xiamier here yet?
They’re going to stare me to death!
This is so embarrassing!
But just as the thought of relying on her surfaced, she ruthlessly pressed it down.
No! No! I don’t want her help.
I’m supposed to be her enemy!
She took a deep breath, stiffening her little neck as she edged toward the grand hall doors.
As she passed the front row of ministers, she deliberately raised her voice to a sharp pitch: “What are you looking at! Never seen a kid before, hmph💢”
As soon as the words left her lips and before her wrist could even touch the icy handle of the hall doors, a gentle yet steady force suddenly came from the back of her neck.
Someone used two fingers to lightly pinch her collar, lifting her off the ground like a fluffed-up little beast.
“Hey, hey, hey! What’s going on?”
Yiyi’s short legs kicked wildly in the air, the hem of her pajamas swaying and revealing a small stretch of flushed calf.
She twisted her head to look back.
Silver-white scales shimmered softly in the morning light, and a familiar scent of cedar wrapped her in warmth.
At some point, Xiamier had appeared behind her, one hand gently supporting her waist, afraid she would shake too much and fall.
“Yibao, where do you think you’re running off to?”
Xiamier’s voice held a trace of laughter, golden vertical pupils reflecting Yiyi’s flustered expression: “Breaking into the great hall, greeting the ministers, and then leaving—quite efficient, aren’t you?”
She didn’t put Yiyi down.
Instead, she turned to the assembled ministers and nodded:
“Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to my newly born, well-behaved daughter—Yiyi, little princess of the Dragon Clan.”
Yiyi was so stunned by the words “well-behaved daughter” that her mind went blank, her little legs kicking even harder in the air.
The hem of her pajamas swept over Xiamier’s wrist, exposing her flushed calf, looking like a ripe cherry.
She was about to shout, “I’m not your—” when the grip at her waist suddenly tightened.
She was pressed firmly into the warmth scented with cedar, a hot hand covering her mouth.
Even her breathing was wrapped in Xiamier’s uniquely draconic warmth.
“Mm—mm!”
Yiyi struggled in her arms like a bristling little beast, tiny fists clutching at Xiamier’s robe.
Her knuckles turned white, her round eyes glaring wide, but her strength against Xiamier was as soft as scratching an itch.
The old ministers in the front row stroked their grizzled beards, laughter crinkling the corners of their eyes as they teased Xiamier: “Your Majesty, the princess’s temperament is just as fiery as yours was in your youth! Back then, you refused to learn transformation magic, making a scene in the hall just like this, trying to run away. Now you’re using your own methods to deal with a stubborn little princess.”
“I am not you—mm—mm!!”
Yiyi protested, muffled under the hand, her cheeks deepening with an even brighter blush.
Even her exposed calves were tinged with a bashful pink, unable to hide her embarrassment.
Xiamier lowered her head to look at the pouting little one in her arms, her voice growing even gentler, coaxing as if to a small child: “Yibao, be good now. So what if you haven’t had your milk yet? I’ll take you after the meeting, all right?”
“Xiamier—mm—mmm!!”
At the mention of “milk,” Yiyi’s face flushed so red it seemed it might bleed, and she struggled all the harder.
But the arm around her waist only tightened, holding her even closer.
The scales on Xiamier’s chest brushed against her cheek, feeling burning hot.
Xiamier said nothing more, only gently stroked the tip of Yiyi’s reddened ear with her fingertip, then turned to carry her toward the throne.
The icy white jade throne was already warmed by Xiamier’s presence.
Yiyi was set steadily on her lap, her tiny body still stiff, not daring to squirm any further.
All the ministers’ gazes still lingered on her, but Xiamier’s hand lightly covered her back, offering a comforting warmth.
At Xiamier’s cue, “Let us begin,” the morning court officially started.
The ministers took turns presenting memorials, reporting in droning voices about “provisions” and “border affairs,” which sounded like a lullaby.
Seated on Xiamier’s knee, Yiyi’s little head began to nod uncontrollably.
She hadn’t slept well after last night’s chaos, and now, wrapped in familiar warmth, sleepiness flooded over her like a tide.
She let out a tiny yawn, crystal tears glistening at the corners of her eyes.
Her little head nuzzled against Xiamier’s chest, her voice as soft as cotton: “So sleepy… want to… sleep a little longer… mmm.”
As soon as the words fell, her small body slumped further into Xiamier’s embrace, one tiny hand unconsciously clutching at Xiamier’s robe.
Her breathing grew slow and even, and all the earlier awkwardness and embarrassment faded away, quietly covered by the heavy drowsiness.
Xiamier looked down at the little one sleeping on her lap, the corners of her lips lifting in a faint smile.
She gently brushed the stray hairs from Yiyi’s forehead behind her ear, her voice dropping to a near whisper as she addressed the reporting minister: “Go on. Keep your voice down.”
The silver-white scales shimmered gently in the morning light, shielding the small figure in her arms completely.
The sounds of court proceedings in the Dragon Hall seemed to soften in this warmth, becoming gentle and subdued.
A minister holding a pale gray memorial stepped forward, reporting in a steady tone: “Your Majesty, the humans have officially sent a proposal for a ceasefire, but attached many conditions. They claim all their demands are in accordance with World Tree law and want us to yield first.”
Xiamier looked down at Yiyi’s peaceful sleeping face, her fingers gently brushing the little hand gripping her robe.
Her voice lost its earlier warmth, but remained calm: “Ceasefire is a matter for both sides, not for the Dragon Clan to concede alone. The World Tree law is based on ‘fairness and equality’. If the humans are sincere, they must show real good faith.”
“Not just wave around regulations as a cover while making conditions that only benefit themselves.”
She paused, her gaze sweeping the hall before she continued: “You are to reply to the human envoy: the ceasefire is possible, but the terms must be renegotiated to account for both parties’ interests. The Dragon Clan’s territory and the people’s rights cannot be compromised.”
After she spoke, she gently adjusted her posture to make Yiyi more comfortable.
The morning light reflecting off her silver-white scales cast a soft glow over the child’s face.
“In addition, the border troops are to remain vigilant. Until a formal agreement is signed, there is to be no slackening. What I must protect is not just the Dragon Clan’s peace, but the tranquility of this one in my arms.”
“As for the other demon races, the Vampire Clan Empress wishes to meet you.”
At this moment, another minister holding a dark purple scroll stepped forward, bowing as he reported: “Your Majesty, aside from the humans’ ceasefire proposal, there is also news from the demon clans—the Vampire Clan Empress sent word that she wishes to meet you in person soon. The reason is unclear, only that it relates to the ‘balance among the clans’.”
Xiamier let out a snort, a glint of understanding in her golden vertical pupils, her tone a little careless: “That old bat, does she think I don’t know what she’s up to? Tell her I’ll visit her myself in a few days.”
She just wants to show off that she has a daughter?
Does she think I don’t know her?
Well, now I have Yibao, too.
Hmph.
Before she finished speaking, Yiyi in her arms suddenly moved, the little one seemingly dreaming.
Her tiny arms instinctively wrapped around Xiamier’s neck, her small head nuzzling deeper into the hollow of Xiamier’s throat.
Soft strands of hair brushed against Xiamier’s scales, even her breathing warm and milky.
Xiamier’s movements paused for a moment, her earlier cold gaze instantly softening.
She raised a hand to gently pat Yiyi’s back, coaxing her as if she were a newborn dragon, voice barely a whisper: “Don’t be afraid, sleep well.”
The silver-white scales shimmered even more softly in the morning light, wrapping the small figure in her arms ever tighter.
Even the voices of court within the hall seemed to grow even gentler, colored by this sudden tenderness.
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