Marrying a White Snake Wife is Super Cool

The Emperor paced back and forth in the Imperial Study, contemplating how to punish the negligent Jinyi Guards.

After a few moments, he looked at Mao Xiang and said, "Then, have them report to the Inspectorate to receive one hundred strikes of the imperial punishment each."

"His Majesty the Emperor," Jinyiwei Commander Mao Xiang called out, seemingly about to plead for his subordinates.

The imperial punishment wasn’t as simple as a spanking that wounded one’s pride. If it went badly, it could be fatal.

"Hmm?" The Emperor heard Mao Xiang begin to speak and let out a long, questioning hum. "See to it."

"His Majesty the Emperor, your humble servant takes his leave." Mao Xiang was just about to depart.

"Wait!" Emperor Gu Yuanzhang called out to Jinyiwei Commander Mao Xiang again.

Mao Xiang, who had been about to retreat, froze in his tracks. ’Please don’t give me another task,’ he thought.

The Emperor produced a box, walked over to Mao Xiang, and said, "Give this to Lu Yuan. He’ll understand. Also, he must attend the morning court tomorrow, no matter what."

"Don’t assign this errand to anyone else. Make the trip yourself," the Emperor said, his tone considerably softer.

"As you command! Your humble servant will go at once."

"Go on."

The Jinyiwei Commander exited the Imperial Study, wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead, straightened his Flying Fish Suit, and descended the steps.

Before he had even left the Imperial Capital, Mao Xiang whistled, and a sparrowhawk flew to him.

Mao Xiang tied a green ribbon to the hawk’s red talon, released it, and then strode quickly toward the Imperial City Gate.

Outside the Imperial City Gate, Mao Xiang mounted a fine horse. With two Jinyi Guards in tow, he galloped toward the Post House where Lu Yuan was staying.

「Inside the Post House.」

After drinking the nourishing soup his wife had made, Lu Yuan felt invigorated, his body having recovered a great deal.

He calculated the time. He would have to wait a few more hours before he could take the second Healing Pill.

Only then would his body be mostly healed and the lingering poison completely purged.

Lu Yuan squeezed Su Liyan’s soft flesh and, hearing his wife’s breathy gasps, felt himself stir again.

Lu Yuan was just about to make his move, certain that his wife wouldn’t be escaping his clutches tonight.

"Young Master, the Jinyiwei Commander is here to see you. He’s waiting downstairs!" a trusted aide called out.

Hearing this, Lu Yuan sighed and shook his head. He had no choice but to give up.

Right in front of Su Liyan, he reached into his pants to... rearrange things, and said, "Honey, it looks like even the heavens are against me tonight."

Su Liyan saw his movement and knew exactly what he meant. She giggled. "Then you should get some rest tonight, dear. I’m going to go sleep with Mom. Come to think of it, it’s been a long time since I’ve slept with her."

As she spoke, Su Liyan draped a clean outer robe over Lu Yuan’s shoulders. He was about to receive a guest, so he needed to look presentable.

Lu Yuan held out his arms and, with his wife’s help, slipped on the robe. "If we’re talking about that," he replied, "I haven’t slept with Mom since I grew up, either."

Busy helping him dress, Su Liyan lightly smacked the back of his head. "Dear, what are you saying?"

"I’m not talking about our mom, I’m talking about *my* mom," Lu Yuan retorted, a little confused.

"What’s this ’our mom’ and ’my mom’? Isn’t it just my mother?" Su Liyan said.

Lu Yuan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "I wasn’t born from a stone. I have a mother and father too."

"Oh, you mean your mother," Su Liyan finally realized. She was talking about the mother-in-law she had never met.

To be fair, not only had Su Liyan never met Lu Yuan’s mother, but the transmigrated Lu Yuan himself had never met the mother of this body, either.

Realizing she had jumped to conclusions, Su Liyan’s face filled with guilt.

"Silly girl," Lu Yuan said, stroking her hair reassuringly. "You just gave me a little smack on the head. Why the long face?"

"Dear, you should go. Your guest must be getting anxious waiting downstairs." Su Liyan gently pushed Lu Yuan out the door as she spoke.

Pushed out of the room, Lu Yuan looked down from the second-floor hallway and saw three Jinyi Guards in the main hall below.

One of them had an extraordinary air about him; Lu Yuan knew at a glance that he must be the Jinyiwei Commander.

Lu Yuan chuckled and called down from the second floor, steadying himself on the railing as his aide helped him down the stairs.

"Well, well, Commander! What brings you here?" Lu Yuan called out, his voice weak.

Indeed, just as his subordinates had reported, Lu Yuan’s injuries were not light.

Jinyiwei Commander Mao Xiang was surprisingly amiable. "Lord Lu, take your time. Watch your step."

Mao Xiang knew better than anyone just how much the Emperor valued and favored Lu Yuan.

’Even if I can’t get on his good side, I absolutely must not offend him.’

As Lu Yuan was about to reach the bottom of the stairs, Mao Xiang actually stepped forward to offer a hand.

This shocked the two Jinyi Guards who had accompanied him. ’Is that really our chief?’ they wondered.

The Jinyiwei Commander was the leader of all Jinyi Guards, a Senior Third Grade official post held by one of the Emperor’s most trusted Military Officers.

But this was no ordinary Senior Third Grade. The position held the power to monitor all officials; even great ministers of the Senior First Grade, like the Grandmaster, Grand Preceptor, and Grand Protector, were subject to the Jinyi Guard’s surveillance.

So what did that make a mere local fourth Grade official like Lu Yuan?

Seeing this, the two Jinyi Guards hurried forward as well. Following their chief’s lead couldn’t be a mistake.

Lu Yuan was inwardly shocked by this display. In his experience, even a Jinyi Guard of the Households of a Thousand had a tougher attitude than this Jinyiwei Commander.

Lu Yuan quickly said, "Commander, you mustn’t! I can’t let you help me. Please, sit."

Hearing this, Mao Xiang relented.

With the help of his aide and the two Jinyi Guards, Lu Yuan was seated.

Mao Xiang got straight to the point. "Lord Lu, regarding today’s incident, my subordinates were incompetent and failed to assist you. I am truly ashamed."

"Commander, there’s no need for such formality. As you can see, I’m perfectly fine," Lu Yuan replied. "I’m just curious how someone could dare to commit murder in broad daylight."

"Lord Lu, rest assured," Mao Xiang said. "The Jinyi Guard will identify the culprit and bring them to justice within seven days."

"Excellent. The Commander is truly a man of action. I, for one, don’t have a single clue."

"You flatter me. His Majesty the Emperor asked me to give you this box. He said you’d understand once you saw it." Mao Xiang took a box from within his robes and handed it to Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan took the box from Mao Xiang, opened it, and saw the emerald-green elixir he had given the Emperor. ’A Healing Pill?’

’Is the old man calling off an engagement?’

The thought was fleeting. ’That can’t be it. Besides, there’s only one pill left, and it’s not like it was a betrothal gift.’

Lu Yuan asked, "This is about today’s incident?"

"That’s right. His Majesty the Emperor knows everything," Mao Xiang said, cupping his hands in the direction of the imperial palace.

Lu Yuan understood immediately. The Jinyi Guard had reported the matter to His Majesty the Emperor.

’The Jinyi Guard really are a bunch of blabbermouths.’

’Still, it seems I’m not being held responsible. So what if those twenty-something masked men got themselves killed?’

’And His Majesty the Emperor is being surprisingly magnanimous, returning the Elixir even though he knows how miraculous its effects are.’

’Could it be that the Emperor feels he’s in the wrong?’

Lu Yuan thought to himself, ’Well, since he’s willing to part with the Elixir, I might as well keep it.

I only have two left anyway, and no other elixirs on hand.

Once I’m recovered, I need to hurry up and refine more elixirs.

I’ll try to refine a Human Level Superior Elixir as soon as possible. These things can really save your life in a pinch!’

Mao Xiang continued, "Lord Lu, His Majesty the Emperor also said that you must attend the morning court tomorrow, no matter what."

"Oh? The morning court? I’ve actually never been to one," Lu Yuan said truthfully.

’Without someone to guide me, I probably wouldn’t even be able to find the audience hall.’

’The Imperial Capital is heavily guarded; outsiders aren’t allowed to just wander around.’

"No matter. Wake up a bit earlier tomorrow morning. I’ll have a subordinate arrange a carriage to take you to the Imperial City Gate. A eunuch will be there to guide you to the audience hall."

’Attend morning court? Who even rides in a horse-drawn carriage these days?!’