“Your Majesty, that, um, that…”
Just then, a dragon soldier bearing a message hurried in, his expression urgent yet laced with deference.
“What is it?”
Xiamier looked up, her tone regaining its usual composure.
The soldier bowed low, head lowered even further, his voice tinged with apprehension, as though afraid to disturb the solemnity within the hall: “The Former Empress, the Former Empress wishes to see her precious granddaughter, Princess Yiyi.”
Xiamier’s eyebrows arched slightly, her fingertips unconsciously tightening, surprise and curiosity lacing her voice: “How did she find out I have little Yibao? Was it you who blabbed?”
The soldier stiffened all over, hastily waving his hands, his voice trembling even more: “Your Majesty, please judge clearly! This humble one would never dare divulge anything without permission! The Former Empress sensed the birth of a new pure-blood hatchling. I only reported the truth as ordered!”
“Enough, I understand.”
She waved her hand, her tone softening a little.
“Go back and tell her, in three days I’ll take Yibao to Qingxin Hall to see her. Tell her to behave herself and not even think of putting the child through those old-fashioned trials. Yibao is still small and can’t withstand her strict methods.”
“Yes! At your command!”
The soldier, as if granted amnesty, kowtowed respectfully.
When he rose, his steps were still a little unsteady as he hurried out of the council hall.
As the doors closed, Xiamier’s fingertips traced the carved edges of the rosewood table, her brows slightly furrowed, murmuring softly: “Since that old one already knows… then what about those above her?”
As her words faded, she raised her gaze to the star totem suspended from the ceiling of the council hall, a flash of complexity in her eyes.
Above the Former Empress were still three reclusive Ancient Dragon Elders, slumbering deep within the spiritual veins of the Forbidden Land of the Dragon Domain.
Only events like the birth of a pure-blooded hatchling—matters enough to affect the fate of the entire race—could possibly awaken their senses.
Yiyi’s bloodline purity was the highest seen in nearly ten thousand years; even the Former Empress could clearly sense her aura.
Those slumbering Ancient Dragon Elders might very well have noticed as well.
“If they’ve awakened too…”
Xiamier’s fingertips tightened slightly, a hint of worry passing through her eyes.
The Ancient Dragon Elders were even more obstinate and rigid than the Former Empress, and their standards for raising pure-blooded hatchlings bordered on cruel.
She herself had nearly lost her life enduring the trials of the three Elders before securing her place as Dragon Sovereign.
Yiyi was still so young and innocent; if she had to endure the ‘tempering’ of those old ancestors, she would surely suffer much grievance.
Rising, Xiamier walked outside the hall, gazing toward the Forbidden Land of the Dragon Domain.
There, clouds wound around the mountaintops, and the snow-capped peaks—barely visible—were where the Ancient Dragon Elders slumbered.
The wind swept through the soaring eaves, carrying the crisp scent of the spiritual veins, yet it could not dispel the worries clouding her heart.
“Well, let what comes, come.”
Xiamier let out a soft sigh, yet determination blazed anew in her eyes.
“No matter what happens, I will protect Yibao.”
Meanwhile, in the dessert shop, sweetness mingled with the crisp scent of spirit fruits, filling the air.
Shaved strawberry ice cream in a glass bowl emitted tiny wisps of cold.
Plump red strawberries nestled in the pale cream, sprinkled with sparkling sugar crystals—so lovely that Yiyi couldn’t take her eyes off them.
She sat on the soft couch by the window, her little legs dangling above the floor.
Liliya sat beside her, scooping up a spoonful of ice cream and carefully offering it to her lips.
“Eat slowly, don’t freeze your tongue.”
Yiyi opened her mouth and took the little spoon, the cold and sweet flavor melting on her tongue.
In an instant, her eyes narrowed in delight, her dragon pupils curving like crescent moons, while her tail swished happily against the couch, sending little puffs of wind swirling.
“Wow! So yummy!”
She picked up her own little spoon, scooped a piece of fruit covered in strawberry syrup, and tiptoed to feed it to Liliya.
Liliya smiled as she accepted it, the sweetness filling her heart.
Looking at Yiyi’s satisfied little face, the gentleness in her eyes nearly overflowed.
Luoli sat across from them, fingertips tapping the table, her gaze falling on Yiyi’s small dragon horns swaying above her head, her tone laced with a smile: “Slow down, little princess. If that’s not enough, we’ll order more. Once the trials begin, if you can win the championship, I’ll bring you here for the biggest treat.”
Just then, a small head suddenly popped up from under the table and shouted, “Wah!” Startling Yiyi so much her little spoon nearly dropped, and she choked a bit on the ice cream in her mouth.
“Yaoyao! You scared me!”
Yiyi patted her small chest, the red glow at the tip of her dragon horns flashing from the fright, though laughter soon welled up in her eyes.
“Oh, Yaoyao, why did you sneak along? Are you trying to scare your big sister? Hmm? You little rascal.”
Yiyi reached out and poked Yaoyao’s forehead, her tone half-scolding, but her eyes full of indulgence.
Yaoyao instantly dove into Yiyi’s arms, hugging her waist tightly and rubbing her head into Yiyi’s neck, her voice soft and a little plaintive: “Sister, hug~ Who told you to go out and play without me? Bad.”
Her tail gently brushed the back of Yiyi’s hand, her whole manner pitiful.
Yiyi had no choice but to stroke Yaoyao’s little bun, her voice gentle: “It’s Sister’s fault, hm? Next time I’ll take you with me, all right? Don’t be upset, okay?”
“Really?”
Yaoyao immediately looked up, her eyes sparkling.
“Then wherever you go next time, you have to bring Yaoyao! No going back on your word!”
Yiyi was amused by her earnestness, reaching out to tap her little nose: “No going back! Pinky swear!”
She stretched out her pinky, hooking it with Yaoyao’s.
The two little ones’ fingers twined lightly, their crisp little promise filling the air with sweetness: “Pinky swear, hang it high, a hundred years never change!”
Liliya watched them from the side, the fondness in her eyes deepening.
She picked up a napkin and gently wiped the cream from the corner of Yiyi’s mouth: “All right, don’t just play, or your ice cream will melt.”
Luoli also smiled and waved for the server: “Another strawberry shaved ice cream, extra strawberry syrup and sugar crystals, for the little princess.”
“Thank you, Sister Luoli!” Yaoyao instantly released Yiyi and sat up straight, her little paws impatiently resting on the table edge, eyes locked on the new dessert being brought over.
As soon as the glass bowl was set down, she scooped up a huge spoonful, the icy sweetness making her eyes narrow in delight as she let out a comfortable hum: “Wow! Just as yummy as Sister’s!”
“Eh? Sister Liliya, why aren’t you eating?” Yaoyao, mouth stuffed with ice cream and words muffled, tilted her little head in confusion at the untouched dessert before Liliya.
Liliya gently stroked the rim of her glass bowl, a hint of softness flickering in her eyes as she smiled and ruffled Yaoyao’s hair: “Good girl, Yaoyao. Mine, I’ll eat it back at home. It’s not so good to eat out here, better to enjoy it in our room, right~ Yibao?”