The Fairy: From the Traveling Merchant

Chapter 921 The Empress Seeks Help
The woman sitting in the main seat of the private room had deep features and sexy red lips. She had obvious mixed features of Taixi and Daxia, and her appearance was also three-tenths similar to "Haley" of the "Phoenix" family. If she was not the "Western Liang Empress" who was revived by "yin and yang harmony" with Zhao Chen, then who was she?

But Zhao Chen felt no joy at the "reunion" at this moment. After all, he had clearly felt the murderous intent of this "scumbag woman" afterward. However, he did not actually take action because "Haley" was originally his "possession" and the resurrected empress was still under the control of "Star Chariot".

Now, although he doesn't check her location constantly through the "Star Chariot," he shouldn't be completely unable to sense anything at such close range!

This can only mean that the Empress has temporarily shielded or eliminated the "mark" of the "Star Chariot" on her.

At this thought, Zhao Chen's body stiffened... Although the Empress sent the "Princess Liang" to help him after learning that he was involved in the entanglement between the Emperor and the "Yuantong" True Lord, seemingly showing goodwill, it was still difficult to judge her true intentions...

I suspect she herself is conflicted.

At this moment, the Meng family member who was leading the way respectfully bowed to the Empress and then left the private room, "thoughtfully" closing the door behind him.

In the small space, only Zhao Chen and the Empress remained, staring at each other.

Seeing the atmosphere growing increasingly tense, Zhao Chen coughed and spoke first: "I originally intended to thank Your Majesty in person for sending Princess Liang to help me, but I never expected to meet Your Majesty in Ye Yi. It is truly fate."

Although he was disguised as the so-called "Young Master Wang," he was certain that the Empress knew his true identity, after all, not to mention, the Empress's vital energy still existed within him.

As he spoke, Zhao Chen stopped making eye contact with the Empress and instead looked down, noticing that she wasn't wearing the black and red dress with a slit that went all the way up to her thigh that she had worn during the "Harmony" ceremony, but rather a relatively normal cyan ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress).

While he felt a little regretful, his mood also inexplicably brightened considerably, since it was best that only he knew the Empress's "inner workings."

"The Western Liang Kingdom no longer exists, so there's no need to call me Your Majesty anymore... I remember telling you my name, do you still remember?" The Empress looked at Zhao Chen with a complicated gaze, but she still suppressed her unspeakable emotions and said calmly, "As for 'Fang Ritu' helping you, that was just a decision she made on her own. I only mentioned you to her."

Can you really believe what you say? You even said "I don't want to see you again," but you still came looking for me, didn't you? Zhao Chen muttered a few words to himself, but nodded on the surface and said, "I remember... you said that your surname is Ji and your given name is Danfei."

As for the statement that she "only mentioned it to 'Fang Ritu'", Zhao Chen naturally understood what was going on. Even if she didn't actually order the Princess of Liang to help her, how could a subordinate dare to disregard the fact that the "leader" specifically mentioned her name?

I never expected this "Empress" to be such a tsundere...

While analyzing the other party's personality, Zhao Chen secretly activated his "Insightful Eye," only to find that the Empress's aura seemed to have weakened considerably compared to last time, and was not stable, unlike something that had been deliberately concealed...

Seemingly sensing Zhao Chen's prying eyes, the Empress, or rather Ji Danfei, calmly said, "You can call me 'Danfei' directly. I arranged to meet you through the Meng family to seek your help."

She paused here, pursed her lips, and then continued, "As you can probably see, I've suffered severe injuries, and I'm even struggling to maintain my supernatural power level... or rather, every time I make a move or use a supernatural power, I pay a huge price, causing my condition to deteriorate further..."

Before she could finish speaking, Zhao Chen frowned and asked, "Your Majesty... no, Danfei, who hurt you?"

Although the Empress's poor condition eased his tense nerves considerably, the fact that his woman had been injured still made him very unhappy.

Danfei didn't expect that Zhao Chen would be concerned about this first. For some reason, her mood suddenly improved. The corners of her mouth curled up slightly, but she quickly calmed down and replied lightly, "He is an enemy of mine from the past. I can't say his name, otherwise he will sense it."

"His pursuit of me wasn't solely due to past grievances; it was also for the key to the 'Spring God's' divine kingdom. And while I have recovered, I haven't yet reached the 'Ascension' realm again, and am no match for him..."

Holding something so coveted, yet severely injured, she's probably being hunted by more than just one enemy, right? Especially that "Heart Moon Fox," she's probably the one who most wants the Empress dead.

As his thoughts raced, Zhao Chen spoke again: "You came to me seeking my protection?"

He didn't ask why the other party didn't go to "Princess Liang." She might have been loyal when the Empress was at her peak, but in the current situation, that couldn't be guaranteed.

After all, with such a great temptation, why test the other person's "human nature"?

Empress Danfei gently shook her head: "I want you to escort me to Yingzhou... I left a backup plan there a long time ago. Once I get it, I won't have to be afraid of them anymore."

It's clear that Danfei is extremely weak right now; otherwise, she wouldn't be unable to withstand even the risks of going out to sea and would have specifically asked me to escort her.

Of course, when it comes to a life-or-death situation, she would certainly have the strength to fight to the death, but the consequences might not be what she wants to accept.

After thinking it over carefully, Zhao Chen asked in a joking tone, "You trust me that much?"

This attitude undoubtedly indicates that he has already agreed.

The Empress sighed and said, "I had no better choice, so after sensing your arrival in Ye Yi, I arranged to meet you... Moreover, I have investigated some things about you and know your character..."

She swallowed the words "lustful and womanizing," then looked at the "cowlick" on Zhao Chen's head and continued, "In addition, you also possess the 'key'."

The implication is that Zhao Chen wouldn't benefit from selling her.

Zhao Chen nodded and said with a smile, "As you think, I am willing to escort you, Danfei, to Yingzhou to find your backup plan, as a way of repaying the kindness of sending the Princess of Liang to help you."

Upon hearing this, Danfei shook her head and said seriously, "Fang Ritu is Fang Ritu, and I am me. Don't confuse the two... When we get to Yingzhou, I will give you a reward that will satisfy you."

Still taking this so seriously? She really is a "tsundere"! Indeed, it is said that she was also an unparalleled genius more than 8,000 years ago, and taking advantage of the chaos of the times, she achieved "Ascension" in a very short time. She was not old when she "fell"... at least compared to an old monster like the Empress who came from ancient times, she was quite young.

Therefore, she and Qingling, who spends most of her time cultivating at home, may both still retain some of their "naive" nature.

Just as the Empress had investigated Zhao Chen, Zhao Chen had also investigated the Empress of Western Liang's past. While mentally "analyzing" her personality, he changed the subject: "By the way, how did you get the Meng family to agree to pass on a message to you?"

He had previously thought that the Empress had taken control of the Meng family, but judging from the current situation, that didn't seem to be the case. If she still had the ability to control a powerful clan, she wouldn't have needed to come looking for him.

Upon hearing this, Danfei's face immediately became somewhat uneasy. After a long while, she stammered, "I...I told them that I am your fiancée and wanted to give you a surprise, and asked them for help..."

(End of this chapter)