“Huh? Why do I suddenly feel full?”
“Eating too much for dinner isn’t good. Uh, I’ll go get ready first…”
“Ah, my mount is about to give birth—I’ll take my leave!”
Dinner wasn’t even finished, yet many of the brothers, who hadn’t even picked up their chopsticks, claimed they were done and smoothly slipped away, their movements seamless.
Of course, they couldn’t help but sigh in relief as they left.
They had all been worried about Little Li.
After all, it was common knowledge that he was wealthy, formidable, ranked first on the Hidden Dragon Ranking, and had a wife-prospering aura. Who could withstand that? What if they ended up so enchanted by his “prosperous wife” spirit that they wasted their lives pining? Were they really here just to help?
Now, their anxieties were finally put to rest.
With Frost Fairy standing there, she alone represented the pinnacle of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.
Such an insurmountable peak should deter any thoughts of challenge. The question in their minds would shift from “Can his prosperous wife spirit benefit me too?” to “What on earth does the Divine Hammer Tyrant deserve this for?”
“Ice Block, the candied sweet potatoes are delicious… Hm? This vinegar dip…”
“I prefer sweet and sour.”
Ying Bing stared at him expressionlessly.
Little Li’s scalp tingled under her gaze, and he had no choice but to dunk the candied sweet potato into the vinegar, making it let out a terrified screech.
“More.”
“…”
The sugar strands on the sweet potato melted, and the vinegar instantly enveloped it, staining it pitch black before it disappeared into Ice Block’s mouth, leaving her lips shimmering purple.
Like some dark makeup from a TV drama…
“Ice Block, actually, there’s another reason I’m organizing this event.”
Li Mo’s expression turned serious.
“Oh.”
“Think about it—back in the Southern Border, the Southern Garrison Army lacked provisions and pay. I had wealth but couldn’t help them directly because it wouldn’t be justified. But by hosting the Hundred Blossoms Grand Banquet, I’ll have room to maneuver.”
Li Mo wasn’t satisfied with the current recipients of his investments.
So, the genius Little Li had a sudden inspiration.
Why not find a pretext to drag the Southern Garrison Prince’s estate into this?
After all, those high officials only cared about money—they had no interest in supplies or resources…
Li Mo laid out his plan in detail, while Ying Bing listened quietly.
Well, Shang Qinqing was also eavesdropping not far away.
“Little Bing’er and that brat Li Mo seem to be at odds. What’s so entertaining about this?”
Qin Yuzhi swept the melon seed shells off the table, sighing.
“No, you don’t understand the thrill of a ‘chasing-your-wife-through-hell’ trope…” Shang Qinqing was utterly absorbed.
Qin Yuzhi: “…”
She suspected that if Shang Qinqing ever took control of the Dream Dao, she’d end up with three sword wounds in her back the next day, claiming suicide…
“So that’s how it is.” Ying Bing’s furrowed brows relaxed slightly.
“And since you’re ranked first on the Hundred Blossoms List, of course I’d want to personally oversee the event.”
Li Mo suddenly added with sincerity.
Well, that might even be the main reason.
Ying Bing glanced away. “I see.”
“Hey, Ice Block, if you’re attending the banquet, shouldn’t you pick an outfit?”
“Do you just want to see me in black and white again?”
“You could just hold a private banquet for me.”
---
As summer approached, the temperature in the imperial capital didn’t fluctuate much. Thanks to the River Mountain Blueprint, the imperial and inner cities enjoyed eternal spring, while the outer city’s climate was milder than most places.
The streets were bustling now.
Though the Hundred Blossoms Grand Banquet hadn’t begun, its excitement had already swept through the capital. Lanterns lit up the night like an ocean, and giant portraits of the ranked fairies hung high—each with a devoted following. The atmosphere even surpassed that of the Hidden Dragon Ranking ceremony.
After all, this was the first Hundred Blossoms Banquet, and it drew far more attention.
At the peak of the Soaring Cloud Pavilion, the worldly clamor seemed to recede, halting before the figure bathed in moonlight.
Until she was pulled into Little Li’s lap, her waist encircled by his arm, her legs finding their resting place…
Little Li was getting increasingly skilled at this.
With just a slight adjustment, his posture perfectly accommodated Ice Block’s ergonomics.
If there was one flaw, it was that the position of Hammer Treasure was tricky—always poking Ying Bing and making her frown.
“You clearly liked all those outfits earlier.”
“Nonsense, none of them could truly highlight your elegance.”
“But I heard you.”
“??”
Li Mo froze.
When Ice Block was trying on clothes earlier, he had covered his nose and remained sternly righteous.
When had he said anything?!
“Hammer Treasure said it.”
Li Mo: “…”
Everyone knew Hammer Treasure was mischievous.
Damn it, no acting skills could overcome such a weakness.
Ying Bing lowered her flawless face, studying him with narrowed eyes for a long moment.
Little Li looked every bit the upright gentleman, his breath warm—no one would suspect him of any ulterior motives.
But…
He seemed unwilling to let anyone else so much as glance at her.
“You’re not planning to use your sponsor status to hide me away, are you?”
“!”
Little Li’s heart skipped a beat.
How did Ice Block figure it out? Was he that obvious?
He looked up, meeting her gaze.
The night wind, carrying the glow of the capital’s lanterns, tousled her hair, brushing against Li Mo’s neck like a teasing itch. Her stunningly cold yet soft features were lit with amusement—like an older sister catching her little brother sneaking treats.
Her beauty, a mix of light and shadow, was impossible to look away from. Averting his eyes for even a second felt like a loss of a hundred million. Yet her playful, scrutinizing gaze made his heart race, too guilty to hold her stare.
Cold elegance and teasing scrutiny intertwined, beauty and tension spreading like weeds in his chest…
Little Li suddenly realized—
Damn it, this time, he was completely at the mercy of this wicked Ice Block!
How could the soft, pliant Ice Block in his arms exude such overwhelming pressure?!
He could only nod.
“Yeah, I don’t want others looking at you. The empress is also on the list, but you don’t see her performing, do you?”
“That’s because His Majesty wouldn’t allow it.”
“He’s just an emperor. If he’s unwilling, then I’m even more unwilling.”
Li Mo was all about rebellion.
Ying Bing opened her mouth, sensing something off.
But the emperor and empress were married, weren’t they?
So…
If Little Li’s words were translated, didn’t they mean, “My wife is for my eyes only”?
The moment this dangerous thought surfaced, Ying Bing’s fingers curled involuntarily, trembling as if electrified.
Li Mo didn’t seem to notice how possessive his words were—or how fast her heart was racing.
She couldn’t meet his eyes anymore, resting her chin on his shoulder instead.
“Then what if it’s difficult to handle?”
“If it’s hard? Then let’s scrap the whole thing!”
Li Mo imagined himself declaring this in front of the officials, his domineering aura radiating—undeniably cool.
But right now, only Ice Block could witness this grandeur.
Ying Bing pressed her lips together, silent.
Because she realized she couldn’t even muster a retort. She didn’t know where he’d learned to be this overbearing.
If Little Li’s next words were a marriage proposal, she knew she wouldn’t be able to refuse.
The ice in one's heart? What ice are you talking about?
This isn't about whether it's melted or not.
The water's nearly boiling—hot enough to cook rice already.
grated, and just when he finally managed to get into an elite academy, he discovered that he actually had a system, and the way to earn rewards was extremely ridiculous. So for the sake of rewards, he had no choice but to start acting ridiculous as well. Su Cheng: "It's nothing but system quests after all." But later, what confused Su Cheng was that while he was already quite ridiculous, he never expected those serious characters to gradually become ridiculous too. And the way they looked at him became increasingly strange... (This synopsis doesn't do it justice, please read the full story)
ose... to cooperate with the protagonist! Shen Yuan: I have a system! Protagonist: What? System: Holy crap, you're just spilling it out like that? Shen Yuan: Let's team up, we'll split the system rewards! Protagonist: Fifty-fifty split? Shen Yuan: No way! Protagonist: What!? I'm the one getting beaten up, and I don't get half? Shen Yuan: Forty-sixty split, I get forty, you get sixty! Protagonist: Deal! Big brother, come on, hit me! As long as it doesn't kill me, beat me like you mean it! Shen Yuan: Don't worry... I will definitely protect all of you! No one but me can lay a finger on you! Guard our Heaven's Chosen Ones! I'm the only one allowed to bully them!
orn and Humiliation】【Forced Love】 In his past life, Lin Ran was betrayed and murdered by his girlfriend and family, while the yandere female aristocrat, who had treated him as a mere plaything, avenged him by doing in his enemies. Upon seeing the yandere female aristocrat lying in the same coffin, ready to die with him, Lin Ran realized how profoundly mistaken he had been. Reborn, he abandoned the fickle campus beauty and wholeheartedly embraced the yandere female aristocrat's arms. "Ran! If I dig out your eyes and turn them into a specimen, you'll only be able to look at me!" Lin Ran: "Darling, kiss me!" "Ran! If I break your legs, you won't run away anymore, right?" Lin Ran: "Love, hold me tight!" "Ran! If..." Lin Ran: "Hush now! Love me more!" Luo Yao: ... Seeing his scumbag dad: "Take him out!" Seeing his stepmother: "Get rid of her!" Seeing his brother: "Eliminate him!" Seeing his white moonlight: "Send that to Southeast Asia!"
e bizarre and supernatural had descended. The previous emperor was a thoroughgoing tyrant; no longer satisfied with human women, he had set his sights on a stunningly beautiful supernatural entity. He met his end in his bedchamber, drained of all his vital essence. As the legitimate eldest son and crown prince, Wang Hao was thus hastily enthroned, becoming the young emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. No sooner had he awakened the "Imperial Sign-In Intelligence System" than he was assassinated by a Son of Destiny—a classic villain's opening. The Great Zhou, ravaged by the former emperor's excesses, was in national decline. The great families within its borders harbored their own treacherous schemes, martial sects began to defy the imperial court's decrees, and border armies, their pay and provisions in arrears, grumbled incessantly against the central government. Fortunately, the central capital was still held secure by the half-million Imperial Guards and fifty thousand Imperial Forest Army who obeyed the court's orders, along with the royal family's hidden reserves of power, barely managing to suppress the realm. As the Great Zhou's finances worsened and supernatural activities grew ever more frequent, the court sat atop a volcano. Ambitious plotters everywhere dreamed of overthrowing the dynasty, and even some reclusive ancient powers emerged, attempting to sway the tides of the world. At the first grand court assembly, the civil and military officials nearly came to blows, fighting tooth and nail over the allocation of fifty million taels of silver from the summer tax revenues. The spectacle opened Wang Hao's eyes—the Great Zhou's bureaucracy was not only corrupt but also martially proficient, a cabinet of all-rounders. Some officials even had the audacity to suggest the emperor release funds from the imperial privy purse to address the emergency. Wang Hao suddenly felt weary. Let it all burn.
