Empress: Your Majesty, please respect yourself, I don't want to be promoted

"Tsk tsk."

Seeing Chai Hongyu, a powerful cultivator at the Unity Realm and the pinnacle of cultivation in the Central Continent, sitting obediently beside Lu Chen like a little woman, Jiang Chengdao couldn't help but gasp in astonishment.

"Huaiyu, you're really lucky with women, it's truly enviable."

Although he became a holy king as soon as he entered adolescence and was not very interested in love and romance, he couldn't help but feel a little emotional seeing such a sweet and loving scene.

As far as he knew, Fu Hua, Gu Simiao, Chai Hongyu, and even his own sister were all infatuated with him, and who knew how many more were secretly in love with him.

These women were all outstanding figures of their time; to have even one of them would be an incredible stroke of luck. Yet Lu Chen had one after another, with at least one stunning beauty by his side who was completely devoted to him.

Such a life, how could it not be the envy of others?
However, Lu Chen could only manage a wry smile in response to Jiang Chengdao's teasing.

This is a wonderful stroke of luck, but he can't afford it.
"Your Highness is joking."

He shifted his position slightly to the side, then shook his head and said, forcing a smile:
“Miss Chai has always been gentle, considerate, friendly, generous, and warm-hearted. She always puts others first and sometimes forgets the proper boundaries between men and women, which is why she is like this. Your Highness, please don’t misunderstand.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Chengdao shrugged, and beneath his mask, a masculine and resolute face revealed a half-smile.

His eyes narrowed slightly, as if to say: Do you think I believe you or not?
Chai Hongyu exhaled a soft breath, then said quietly, "Huaiyu, you flatter me. I am not as good as you say, otherwise why would anyone avoid me like the plague?"

"Perhaps it is because of my unremarkable appearance that I am not worthy of your attention."

Hearing these unusually emotional words, Lu Chen felt a chill run down his spine.

Jiang Chengdao picked up his wine glass, took a small sip, and smiled without saying a word, as if watching a play.

Lu Chen shifted his gaze to Jiang Chengdao, who was sitting high in the main seat, and then seemed to suddenly remember something, his eyes flickering slightly.

"By the way, Your Highness, before I came to Luyang, His Majesty specifically instructed that Miss Chai use the power of the Vermilion Bird to heal Your Highness's injuries."

He paused briefly, glanced at Chai Hongyu, and then continued:
"I wonder where Your Highness is injured, and how serious it is?"

The abrupt change of topic immediately made Jiang Chengdao burst out laughing.

However, he did not contradict him and responded directly: "Previously, I was caught in the enemy's treacherous scheme and accidentally fell into a super-level formation. When I was covering their retreat, my left arm was pierced by the immortal treasure, the Tribulation-Severing Arrow. It has made Your Majesty worry."

"The injury itself isn't serious, but the residual immortal energy is hindering the body's recovery. I've already suppressed it with holy power, but to completely heal it, the body needs to be restored to its original state in a short time."

At this point, he suddenly turned his head and looked at Chai Hongyu.

"Although this injury can be automatically repaired by holy power even if left untreated, it will take some time. However, with the power of the Vermilion Bird, it should be able to be healed immediately."

Upon hearing this, Lu Chen immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

I hope it can be cured quickly.

The Holy King is the foundation of the court. If anything were to happen to him and affect the military strength, the entire court would be thrown into turmoil. Therefore, not many people actually know that the Holy King is injured.

But the news certainly can't be kept secret for long.

The sooner the patient is cured, the fewer complications there will be.

"In that case."

Lu Chen said to Chai Hongyu beside him, "There's no time to lose, Miss Chai, you should make your move now."

"Ah."

Chai Hongyu responded softly, then turned her head to look at the Cangming Saint King.

Then, the moment she turned her back to Lu Chen, the tenderness on her face vanished, replaced by a completely emotionless poker face.

The speed at which he changed his expression surprised even Jiang Chengdao.

Is this what you call being gentle, considerate, and friendly? Immediately afterwards, Chai Hongyu took out a thin thread from her bosom, then channeled her spiritual energy into the thread, pinched the end of the thread with two fingers, and flicked it hard.

The thin thread instantly transformed into a glimmer of light, landing precisely on Jiang Chengdao's wrist, wrapping around it twice, and adhering firmly to it.

Seeing this, Lu Chen couldn't help but feel curious.

"Miss Chai, what are you doing?"

Chai Hongyu turned back and smiled gently at Lu Chen, then said softly, "Pulse diagnosis via a suspended thread."

Lu Chen's look of doubt did not fade at all, and he continued to ask, "I know this is the 'suspended thread pulse diagnosis,' but what I want to ask is, wouldn't it be more accurate for you to go directly to His Highness the Holy King to check his injuries? Is the 'suspended thread pulse diagnosis' really unnecessary?"

He didn't quite understand.

If he has a headache, fever, or general weakness, Chai Hongyu will immediately start checking him over from head to toe without saying a word, as if she is afraid of leaving even the slightest hidden danger.

As for things like pulse diagnosis using a suspended thread, she never even mentioned it, let alone used it.

When asked, she said she wasn't a doctor and didn't know those medical techniques.

How come you know it again now? When did you secretly learn it? How come he didn't know?
However, Chai Hongyu shook her head.

"Men and women should not touch each other. Although I was once a person of the martial arts world, I still abide by etiquette. I am not yet married, so naturally I cannot have contact with men at will."

She paused, then continued, "Although His Highness the Holy King is the pillar of our Great Xia Dynasty and a rare great man in the world, the separation between men and women is of paramount importance. It is still better to be careful, lest the news get out and damage His Highness the Holy King's reputation."

Lu Chen: "???"

He recognized every single word Chai Hongyu said, but when they were put together, he couldn't understand them.

Should men and women not touch each other? Should we strictly adhere to etiquette and law?
Do you want to listen to what you are saying?
When you were touching me inappropriately while I was feeling unwell, why didn't you mention the proper separation between men and women? Why didn't you bring up etiquette?

Upon hearing this, Jiang Chengdao's lips twitched.

Although he felt that Chai Hongyu's words made sense and that he did need to pay attention, Lu Chen had just praised Chai Hongyu, and then she immediately used the "suspended thread pulse diagnosis" technique.
Is this what you call poised and graceful? Is this what you call forgetting the proper boundaries between men and women?
Good heavens, even Lu Chen and Lu Huaiyu, who are usually so honest and upright, are lying through their teeth.

"All right."

Jiang Chengdao spoke decisively.

"The pulse diagnosis by thread is quite good, Commander Chai, you can continue."

"Ah."

Chai Hongyu responded calmly, then closed her eyes and used her special spiritual power to carefully sense Jiang Chengdao's physical condition.

Seeing this, Lu Chen didn't say anything more.

After a short while, Chai Hongyu slowly opened her eyes.

"I can heal Your Highness's injury. I will set up the Vermilion Bird Formation later."

Seeing that she seemed to know what was going on, Lu Chen immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Jiang Chengdao untied the thin thread from his wrist and then smiled, "Then I'll have to trouble Commander Chai."

"It's my duty."

Chai Hongyu gave a nonchalant reply, then turned to Lu Chen with a slight smile and said softly:
"Then Huaiyu, I'll go and get ready."

Lu Chen: "."

Girl, I think I understand what you mean. There's no need for such double standards. (End of Chapter)