Confronting the Empress of Jialan The Passionate Young Master Jiang

"A curse imprinted in the bloodline?"

Jiang Che feigned panic as he spoke.

His hands gripped Jia Ling'er's shoulders, his expression brimming with exaggerated concern.

"Mhm! The petrification is spreading faster now... I might really..."

The young girl trailed off, lowering her head. The usual big bully who loved to tease her was suddenly so flustered—it stirred something inexplicable in Jia Ling'er's heart.

"No. That will never happen!"

Jiang Che exhaled softly, his gaze hardening with resolve.

"Ling'er, where is your mother? I need to see her!"

His words left Jia Ling'er stunned.

She blinked blankly a few times.

"My... mother?"

"Exactly. Didn’t you just say your mother can interfere with reality through dreams? I don’t know how powerful her methods are, but she should at least be able to talk to me, right?"

Jia Ling'er nodded. "Yes, my mother can influence the waking world through dreams. But she holds a grudge against you. If she sees you, she’ll definitely attack you!"

Her voice trembled with worry, yet guilt also gnawed at her. She was her mother’s own daughter... yet here she was, siding with an outsider.

"Oh? Is Ling'er starting to worry about her husband’s safety?"

Jiang Che’s smile was tender, so much so that Jia Ling'er was left speechless.

"N-no! I’m not worried about you at all! Don’t flatter yourself!"

Even petrification couldn’t mask Jia Ling'er’s tsundere nature.

"Tch. You... Your mouth is harder than stone!" Jiang Che chuckled, flicking her delicate nose playfully.

"Ling'er, I must meet your mother. She might be the only one who can undo your petrification—but she hasn’t told you how."

Of course, he had to meet his future mother-in-law. How else could he leave a lasting impression?

Jia Ling'er fell silent, then nodded after a moment. "Fine... But you have to stay behind me. My mother is incredibly powerful, a master of dream manipulation. In her own dreams, she’s invincible—even a half-immortal couldn’t break free."

"Jiang Che, I’ve also dabbled in the Dao of Dreams. Follow me into the dreamscape. I’ll pull you into my own dreamworld. My mother resides there... You’ll see her."

For once, Jia Ling'er seemed docile, a far cry from the mischievous, haughty girl she’d been when they first met.

As for Jiang Che? He trailed behind her obediently, playing the clueless fool.

In truth... he’d already peeked into Jia Ling'er’s dreams long ago.

Using system item cards, he’d sneaked into her dreamscape repeatedly. With the system’s protection, even the Jialan Empress—revered as the foremost Dream Emperor across three thousand realms—couldn’t detect him.

Soon, Jiang Che followed Jia Ling'er into the dream.

Naturally, before entering, he stacked every buff imaginable on himself!

[Phoenix’s Blessing (Heavenly Tier): One-time use. If you die, instant revival.]

[Scapegoat Doll: Absorbs one fatal blow, nullifying all negative effects.]

[Impervious: Automatically activates when life is threatened. Grants complete invincibility for ten seconds...]

Jiang Che was a veteran survivalist, always armed with an arsenal of item cards.

To be frank, he had hundreds of "Impervious" cards stockpiled. Even if a grand emperor or immortal descended, they’d have to wait out his invincibility timer!

......

Jia Ling'er’s dream was far more beautiful than Jiang Che had imagined.

Pink jellyfish drifted lazily through a pastel-hued wonderland, the backdrop soft and dreamy—like a maiden’s private sanctuary.

"Where’s your mother?"

Jiang Che lingered behind Jia Ling'er, glancing around as if sneaking into a lover’s boudoir.

"Oh, Mother can’t stay in dreams for long. It drains her energy... Let me try summoning her."

With that, Jia Ling'er wove intricate hand seals, strands of Daoist essence shimmering around her.

In moments, the dreamscape twisted violently, an overwhelming pressure descending like a tidal wave.

The pink fantasy tore apart, and from the rift emerged a radiant golden figure.

Her golden gown shimmered with regal elegance, a wisp of cloud-like sash cinching her slender waist. Phoenix eyes brimmed with icy majesty, her hair coiled into an ornate updo, each strand glinting like starlight. Wreathed in immortal mist, she exuded both grandeur and an untouchable, ethereal grace.

Jiang Che gulped. This mother-in-law... truly lived up to her title as an empress. Few could match her aura.

The moment the Jialan Empress appeared, she locked onto Jiang Che’s presence.

Her gaze slid past Jia Ling'er, piercing straight through him.

And Jiang Che? He didn’t back down, meeting her stare head-on.

They say staring into a tiger’s eyes purges lustful thoughts. Jiang Che could attest—under the Jialan Empress’s tiger-like glare, he didn’t dare entertain a single improper thought.

The tension grew so thick even Jia Ling'er fidgeted, regretting her decision to bring Jiang Che into the dream.

After a long silence, the Jialan Empress finally spoke.

"Scion of the Jiang Clan?"

Jiang Che nodded. "Indeed. I am Jiang Che of the Nine Heavens’ Jiang Clan—Ling'er’s husband."

"Hah... Hah! A fickle, philandering scoundrel dares call himself Ling'er’s husband??"

The Jialan Empress laughed as if hearing a joke, then struck without warning.

The dreamscape convulsed, warping under her fury. The once-enchanted realm darkened, thunderclouds boiling as the sky collapsed into gloom—only her golden silhouette remained luminous.

"I planned to invade your dreams and kill you myself, but you delivered yourself to me? Then leave your life here!"

Her voice was a blade of frost.

For the first time, Jiang Che truly understood the terror of an emperor-level powerhouse.

The Jiang Clan’s emperors had never truly unleashed their might before, so he’d never felt their pressure.

Now, he did.

Even in a dream—where she couldn’t wield even a fraction of her full power—her presence was suffocating.

But... it was just pressure.

"Mother!!! Mother, calm down!!!"

Before Jiang Che could react, a petite figure leaped in front of him.

Jia Ling'er... stood firm in his defense.