"So tired," I groaned, waking from my wives' tender limbs, my waist aching like hell. Too much action—lactic acid doesn't care how strong you are. Good thing my stamina let me rise before them, or they'd get even cockier. This is about a man's pride.
"Hubby, you're awake," a crisp, lovely voice chimed. I mumbled, still groggy, not fully out of my fatigue fog. Wait, that voice—familiar, but not my wives, nor Little Red, Little White, or Lan'er. An assassin posing as my wife? I snapped awake. My thick skin and skills can take a hit, but my wives aren't there yet. Opening my eyes to the woman by the bed, my brain blanked.
"Big bro, don't stare like that—I'm not that great. So embarrassing," the white-clad beauty said, squirming shyly.
"X-Xiaoyan, what're you doing here? Who's 'hubby'?" I gaped, my 100% optimized brain struggling. "Weren't you at the Yellow Dragon Star base? How'd you get back?"
"Tian-ge, so many questions—how do I answer?" she pouted. Gods, why this little troublemaker? "One by one, then," I said, defeated.
"You're my hubby, and hubby's you. I got transferred to the capital for palace guard duty, so here I am," Xiaoyan rattled off, fast and clear. My head spun.
"Xiaoyan, when did I agree to marry you?" I asked, forcing gentleness, cautious. This girl's got a rap sheet—I'm not ready for her to strong-arm me. Me, emperor and Earth's underworld godfather, zero dignity before her. Failure. "Tian-ge, you rejecting me? Last time we met online, you promised to marry me—you chased me! I agonized before saying yes. You're the emperor, the empire's great man—don't break your word," she said, tears welling, looking like I was some heartless cad.
Girl, you win. She knows my weaknesses—tears, threats, flattery, all at once. A killer combo, and I'm still reeling. "Xiaoyan, you sure you didn't mix it up?" I whispered.
"After your answer, I was so excited, I saved our chat as proof of our love. Wanna see, brother?" Xiaoyan played innocent, but I caught the sly glint in her eye. She's got evidence. Ugh, my no-limit marriage policy for population growth backfired. (Per the classics: "Kid, don't act wronged after scoring. Poor me, so dashing, stuck drinking alone. Heavens!")
"Your sister didn't approve—I need to ask her," I tried. "No need. Sister approved, that's why I'm here to wed you," she shot back. My last hope—gone. "You're not twenty yet—below marriage age," I said, grasping.
"Brother, you forgot—we're in the Flying Dragon Empire, not Earth's China. Minimum marriage age here's sixteen," Xiaoyan countered smugly, thrilled at my helpless look. Today's a great day for her.
Her words brought drizzle to my world—can I get an umbrella? "Brother, I'm yours now. Love me well. When I'm sick, stay by me. When I'm mad, cheer me up. When I'm tired, carry me. When I shop, smile. Just these little things. You'll pamper poor orphan Xiaoyan, right?" Gods, this girl's a demon sent to torment me—a contract of servitude! Yet I had to grin and agree, or I'd seem heartless, cruel, loveless. While I was stunned, she leapt onto the bed, diving into my arms. "You're mine"? I'm hers. Handsome guys get jumped—it happens.
"Fine, I'll do whatever you want. Let me up," I said. She relented, satisfied. Guess the empire's gossip will add "Xiaoyan's Lovesick Conquest of the Handsome Emperor" to my romantic ledger. "Brother, let me dress you," she offered. "Nah, I'm not some old dynasty emperor needing servants. I'm not that delicate," I said, dressing and giving her pert rear a light pat. "Pervert," she scolded, blushing.
"Yan, if you're so shy, why be my wife?" Cute kid. "Being your wife means getting groped?" she retorted, sharp-tongued.
"Heh, don't know about other wives, but mine? Yup," I teased, shamelessly. "I'll sue you for harassment—whatcha gonna do?" she said, smug.
"Begging for it," I shot back. "Oh, trying to ditch me? No way," she said, quick on the uptake. She hugged me from behind, her soft chest pressing my back, whispering, "Brother, I'm yours—do what you want." Sweat poured—I sensed a storm brewing. No touching now; my "four loves" code doesn't mean losing my head. "Alright, I'll pamper you tonight. Be good," I said, kissing her cheek and bolting, leaving her stomping.
"Who's got our Xiaoyan mad?" "Nah, looks like spring fever." "Really?" As I left, the room erupted—my wives had overheard everything, and now they were teasing Xiaoyan. Poor girl, no match for their seasoned banter. Her face turned tomato-red. "Big sis, they're bullying me," she whined, smartly grabbing Xue'er.
"No big deal—normal for husband and wife," Xue'er said, laughing. "Xue-jie, you're not helping," Xiaoyan pouted.
"Yan-jie, I'm with you. Tonight, we team up, beat Tian-ge, and get babies soon," Mimi said. Xiaoyan perked up—support! But Mimi's baby obsession derailed it. The wives roared with laughter. Mimi, single-minded, just wants to mate with me and pop out cute kids. She thinks Xiaoyan's the same. Meeting a bigger lovesick than herself? Xiaoyan's bad luck.
Poor me, humming, "Find a quiet spot, sip scalding tea." Back when I got with Xue'er, I sang, "Find a gaggle of gorgeous wives, raise a brood of bright kids." (Feitian jumps in: "I'm vegetarian now, no losses. No explanation needed!" Two minutes later, the wives dragged him back to bed.)
"Majesty, the Prime Minister and Commander Makino Wolf are waiting," my secretary, Xiaohe, said respectfully. Yesterday, on the warship, I'd ordered Xiaohe to summon them to the palace today. My rule: spot trouble, crush it fast, nip it in the bud.
"Majesty," they greeted, standing. "No outsiders—sit," I said, waving them down. Fenlan Lei still hasn't adjusted to our casual protocols—wanna be a lackey? "I called you because of a special task. It's big or small, but if mishandled, it could spark chaos in our new empire. I won't let that happen," I said gravely.
"What's got you so worried, Majesty?" Fenlan Lei asked, frowning. Wolf sat as usual, but his eyes screamed excitement, itching for action. He knew I wouldn't call him for small stuff. Years by my side taught him my ways.
"This month, while I was training, the empire ran smoothly—great work, I'm pleased. My queens reported as much. But on my way back, I found a nasty issue. There's a gang forcing and kidnapping girls into prostitution, and I suspect it's an organized, large-scale crime ring. I've nabbed some of them. Wolf, this is yours. If you hit a wall, ask Prime Minister Fenlan Lei. Don't fear stepping on toes—if evidence is solid, no trial needed," I said, voice chilling. They exchanged glances, knowing I was pissed. Someone's in deep trouble. After they left, my mood stayed heavy. "Clear water has no fish, perfect scrutiny no followers," sure, but some tumors must be cut out fast. You don't ignore a curable disease—same with ruling.
"Tian, we know what's on your mind. We're with you," Xue'er and the wives said, slipping into my office. Xue'er rubbed my shoulders. I kissed her forehead. Mimi, my kitten, curled in my lap, napping like a real cat. Their trusting eyes assured me I'd never be alone.
Happiness filled the office. "If only we were like demons," Meilina said. "Why?" Moth asked, curious. "Demon women differ from humans. Our privates stay hidden inside, only appearing during intimacy, same as humans. No one can force us unless we choose," Meilina explained, blushing. Mind blown—demon girls have that feature?
"What're you staring at, perv?" Meilina snapped, catching my gaze. "You said it's hidden—nothing to see even if you stripped," I teased, grinning. "How dare you talk to Nana like that!" Xue'er said, yanking my ear. "Hmph, knew you'd get it," Meilina smirked.
"When'd you form an alliance?" I asked. "None of your business!" they chorused, sisterly unity in full force. Laughter flooded the room. In the joy, Meilina and her maids seemed to blend in, forgetting racial grudges.
After settling Meilina's trio in the palace, I raced to military districts, checking the past month's training. Per imperial law, only Xue'er can command troops in my absence; my other wives hold no military roles. They used to be my guard unit, but retired after marriage and kids. I built this nation for all Flying Dragon Star's races, not just me.
After a month with Meilina, I love her, but something's off. Her story—fallen demon noble, fleeing to human lands post-victory, parents killed in the human-demon war, scattered with servants, hiding in the Beast Forest with Little Red and Little White—feels shaky. Love means forgiving her past, sure, but I can't gamble millions of lives. Doubting her, I asked Xue'er to watch her discreetly. Plenty of emperors lost empires for beauty. I'm a bit of a lech, but I stay cautious.
The inspection pleased me—most soldiers rose one tier, some two. That's huge for qualitative leaps. Back in the capital, Wolf awaited in my office.
"How'd it go?" I asked. "We confirmed two hundred officials involved, the highest being the Finance Minister. Here's the evidence," Wolf said, handing me a thick dossier.
"Good. Very good," I said, laughing coldly. The Finance Minister, running an underground brothel ring? "Where are they now?" I asked, calming.
Reader's Corner: Yo, readers, Feitian's got a new wife and a traitor in his sights! Think Xiaoyan's just a clingy fangirl, or is she hiding a bigger play? And the Finance Minister—mastermind or pawn? Drop your guesses in the comments—let's unravel this palace plot together!