Tome of Troubled Times-Chapter 691: Over Rice

No matter how vivid the imaginations of the palace maids outside might have been, they could never match the raw impact of what Venerable Vermillion Bird now saw with her own eyes.

The young empress lay sprawled over the imperial desk, documents scattered chaotically across its surface. Her delicate hands were limp on the table, her face flushed, and her eyes unfocused. Her dragon robe was disheveled, the collar slightly open, revealing glimpses of her smooth skin. Her body swayed rhythmically in response to the movements behind her.

The sheer visual impact was enough to leave anyone momentarily stunned, enough to cause their minds to go blank.

In her mind, Vermillion Bird could not help but picture herself in the same position. Did she look just as disheveled and vulnerable when it was her in that position?

I was out there fighting in the snow, running back and forth, defending your empire? Yet here you are, warm and cozy in the imperial study, seducing my man!

No wonder history tells of emperors seducing their ministers’ wives and sparking rebellion.

The level of emotional immersion that Vermillion Bird was feeling right now was uncanny. She could completely relate to those ministers who came back to learn their partners had been taken by the emperor.

The more she thought about it, the more the fire within her surged uncontrollably, almost overwhelming her mastery over the flames. And the most frustrating part? She had nowhere to unleash her fury.

If this were a normal case of catching someone in the act, barging in like this would at least halt the scene out of sheer panic. But not with these two. They did not even pause. So what now? Was she supposed to charge forward and pull them apart? But Xia Chichi was here first, with every right to her claim. Was she really going to invoke her “master” status to stop her? The fact that Xia Chichi had not torn into her yet was already a show of mercy.

Xia Chichi glanced at her, her almond-shaped eyes hazy and clouded, a mix of surprise and sluggish comprehension, as if her mind were entirely drowned in fluffy thoughts. Somehow, that look only made her seem... adorable.

And then, as if to pour salt on the wound, the shameless Zhao Changhe grew even more enthusiastic. His movements became noticeably more intense.

Vermillion Bird could not hold back anymore. On instinct, her hand darted out, aiming to claw Zhao Changhe’s shoulder to get him to stop.

But just as her clawed hand touched his shoulder, it slipped away as though his body were as slick as a fish. Her strike missed completely, and in one fluid motion, Zhao Changhe grabbed her arm instead.

“Eh?” Vermillion Bird let out a surprised noise, genuinely taken aback.

She had not been serious with the strike, of course, but as someone who stood at the threshold of the Profound Control Realm, even a casual swipe from her was something no ordinary figure on the Ranking of Heaven could endure. And sure, she had let him defeat her back then, relying on the power of the Dragon Bird, but she knew his true strength at the time was not equal to hers. She had simply allowed herself to be conquered.

She had grown significantly stronger since that day. This casual strike was far beyond anything he should have been able to counter. And yet, he had nullified it so effortlessly.

Curious about how much he had improved after his travels, Vermillion Bird subtly ignited flames along the arm he had grasped, letting them blaze toward his hand. She carefully controlled the fire’s intensity to avoid causing any real harm. Yet, the flames crashed into an impenetrable wall of qi and recoiled, dissipating into nothingness.

Vermillion Bird quickly extinguished the pointless flames, her expression softening with a flicker of joy.

This rascal’s really grown stronger...

But their minds were not on the same wavelength at all. While Vermillion Bird was curiously testing Zhao Changhe’s strength, he was itching to do something entirely different. She had just returned from a bloody battle, her clothes still stained with blood, her eyes still carrying a fierce killing intent. This was the Vermillion Bird in Zhao Changhe’s dreams—unparalleled and commanding, yet utterly alluring.

In a normal fight, how could she possibly allow someone to grab her arm without resisting? While Vermillion Bird played with fire, a surge of force suddenly came from Zhao Changhe’s grip. Caught off guard, she was pulled forward, stumbling straight into his arms.

It was not until she crashed into his chest and felt his arms lock tightly around her that she realized what he was doing. He was not thinking about sparring at all—he was fantasizing about a different kind of duel!

She struggled fiercely, only to find, to her shock, that his grip was unyielding. She was unable to break free.

And, infuriatingly, he was still... “handling business” with Xia Chichi!

Both furious and flustered, Vermillion Bird snapped, “Do you really think I won’t fight you for real? If I go all out, you’re done for!”

Zhao Changhe replied calmly, “Even if you kill me, I’ll still hold you tight.”

Vermillion Bird almost laughed out of sheer frustration. “Could you at least get off the little wench before saying that?”

Just as she said that, Xia Chichi let out a soft moan, her entire body shuddering before collapsing, utterly limp, on the desk.

Zhao Changhe released his hold on Xia Chichi, and then said, “Well, I’m off her now.”

Vermillion Bird was momentarily dumbfounded.

Without missing a beat, Zhao Changhe leaned in and kissed her. “Since you’re already here...”

Vermillion Bird was not about to fall for this trap. She slapped a hand over his mouth, twisting and wriggling to evade him. Of course, she had thought about being intimate with him. She missed him, too. But this was simply not the right time or place!

While she could accept indulging in him together with Lady Three—they had, after all, forged a bond for over a decade and were closer than family—that did not mean she was willing to let herself be caught in such a vulnerable position in front of Xia Chichi. She thought about how dignified and commanding she usually appeared in front of the “little wench,” and then imagined herself in Xia Chichi’s earlier state... No one could endure that level of humiliation.

It was not as though Xia Chichi had been entirely shameless before, either. None of them had blindly indulged Zhao Changhe. But today, she had not uttered a single word of protest. Had she completely lost her sense of reason?

As if reading Vermillion Bird’s mind, Xia Chichi sighed softly, her voice weary yet calm. “Venerable, I didn’t want to, either... not at first. But this time, when he rode out alone, weren’t you worried for him?”

Vermillion Bird froze for a moment.

Xia Chichi murmured, “He’s only at the third layer of the Profound Mysteries, yet the enemies he faces are all gods and demons. Forget about him—what about you? All of us live on the edge of uncertainty, never knowing if we’ll survive the next battle or if we’ll ever see each other again. What’s the point of clinging to pride? After everything he’s done, rushing back here without rest after securing Langya... how could I not give him what he wants?”

Her words struck a chord, and Vermillion Bird found herself at a loss for how to respond.

Vermillion Bird wanted to argue that his rushed return was for the greater good, not just to see her or Xia Chichi specifically. But in the end, the words got stuck in her throat. After all, while he did come back in consideration of the big picture, was that not also for everyone. And was coming back for everyone not essentially the same as coming back for them?

With that thought, he no longer seemed so insufferable.

A sigh escaped her lips. Yes, they all lived lives fraught with danger, and there was no guarantee that they would still be alive the following day. Sure, everything seemed to be going their way right now, but this was only the beginning. Greater challenges loomed on the horizon. Even this supposed moment of triumph had come at a great cost. How much of his blood, sweat, and tears had gone into allowing them to achieve all the victories? He had singlehandedly pacified Qinghe, secured Langya, and fought gods and demons. All the while, he had been writing letters to strategize, laying the groundwork for the capital’s defense, and every arrow he loosed carried multiple layers of purpose.

The way he fought, taking on gods and demons head-on... it did not take much imagination to realize how grueling those battles must have been. Even now, he looked fine only because of his unique constitution and ability to recover quickly. But injuries meant risk, and risk, even slightly greater, could easily mean death.

Every single one of them walked along the edge of life and death.

Before she realized it, the hand she had placed over his mouth had been gently removed. Zhao Changhe leaned down and kissed her, and this time, Vermillion Bird did not resist.

Gradually, she found herself pressed against the edge of the desk, her hands braced behind her to support her weight. Slowly, her body tilted back until she lay fully on the table. Nearby, Xia Chichi, still weak and sprawled out, curiously turned her head to watch. Vermillion Bird, feeling her gaze, turned her face away, unwilling to meet her eyes.

This is a reward I’m giving him. What are you staring at?

In a twisted sense, was she not now taking the man back from Xia Chichi right in front of her and making her watch?

The thought made Vermillion Bird’s mood inexplicably improve. She reached out, wrapping her arms around Zhao Changhe’s neck, and purred seductively. “You’d better do a good job. If you slack off, just see how I’ll punish you!”

Zhao Changhe: “?”

Xia Chichi: “...”

With a sharp rip, Vermillion Bird’s robe was torn open.

There was no way Zhao Changhe would allow himself to falter in his strength now. With Vermillion Bird having assumed such a posture—one that always got him going—and Xia Chichi right beside him, his focus was razor-sharp.

The two of them together were like stacking ultimate buffs. This was not some self-imposed delusion—it was a legitimate reality recognized by the world: the empress dowager and the empress serving him together.

Such a scenario was one that could not be found even in most fantasy novels. Who could afford to lose momentum during such a moment?

Vermillion Bird’s eyes widened suddenly as she realized that Zhao Changhe was even more relentless than when he had paired her with Lady Three. This was the very definition of an all-out charge—a pure, unrestrained onslaught.

Xia Chichi blinked, observing with amusement. Initially, she had felt a twinge of annoyance at Zhao Changhe for already having one and still yearning to hold another. She had indulged him out of affection, assisting with the situation despite her reservations. But now, watching Vermillion Bird—the ever-dominant, untouchable Vermillion Bird—reduced to such a state, she could not help but be incredibly amused and start laughing.

This was the same Vermillion Bird who was normally untamed and fearsome, always with her chin held high. Even just last night, she had faced down a god atop the imperial city with such unshakable confidence that it was unclear who the real god was. Three swift moves had subdued the enemy, leaving the capital awestruck. Yet here she was, rolling her eyes and pleading for gentler treatment after just a few moments.

That once-mighty presence reduced to such vulnerability—who could resist finding it funny?

And what about all those scattered documents on the desk? Some of them were practically etched into her back at this point.

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Xia Chichi was reveling in her schadenfreude when her laughter turned into a yelp. Before she could react, Zhao Changhe extended his arm and scooped her into his embrace. Without missing a beat, he tilted his head down and kissed her deeply.

She pounded his chest feebly in protest but soon resigned herself to her fate, letting her strength ebb away.

It was not long before Zhao Changhe pressed her onto Vermillion Bird, placing the two of them together. The two women exchanged a glance, their eyes heavy with emotion, before quickly averting their gazes.

Where does he even get all this energy? He isn’t even using any dual cultivation techniques. How is he still this relentless? He really is just like a bear with endless reserves of strength.