Chapter 57: The Familiar Scent Drifted Into Her Nose

“Thank you, Dr. Chang. Actually, I’m feeling quite well now. Everything seems to be unfolding just as I anticipated.”

Chang Zaisheng listened to her words and felt somewhat relieved.

Still, he couldn’t help but remind her, “Make sure to rest and don’t overexert yourself. If the pressure gets too much, go out for a walk and clear your mind.”

Song Xixi nodded slightly. “I will. You don’t need to worry about me. What about you? Has work been busy?”

Chang Zaisheng smiled.

Fang Qing was deeply fond of Liu Yanshi. Whenever they met, she would pull her into an embrace, cooing, “Yanyan, you’ve grown so tall,” or “You’re already a great beauty.” Liu Yanshi’s cheeks rarely flushed so vividly, and Shi Zuo was now guessing whether she was acting or truly shy.

While Qin Xuan and Xu Feng were playfully teasing each other, Jiajia had already successfully dialed Haiying’s number. Haiying, who was in the middle of a meal, answered the call with a somewhat impatient tone.

The Empress Xiao groaned softly, the first to rise. She realized she was drenched in sweat, the beads dark and fishy-smelling, yet her body felt extraordinarily relaxed and light.

Being emperor was essentially a role-playing game; no one was born knowing how to do it. It required years of honing. Emperor Jiajing only stepped fully into his role after three or five years—who knew how long it would take the next generation?

As the saying goes, “When the granaries are full, people learn etiquette.” Only after filling one’s belly does one pursue higher aspirations and deeper thoughts. The people of the northern territories were no exception.

Four distinct finger marks slowly appeared on the neck. Despite the slightly dark skin, the impressions were still clearly visible.

A male doctor said nothing but looked grave and gestured toward the doorway, indicating they should speak outside.

Moreover, the clear video footage proved that Liu Yanshi had not entered the venue among the audience: she had no collaboration with Nicole’s fashion show, providing the strongest alibi.

Qiu Luo leaned more toward the latter. Everyone knew his ancestor was a high-ranking figure in the Death Gorge. No one in this world dared to confront Death Gorge head-on.

Beside him, Xiahou Dun and Taishi Ci, each mounted on a corrupted mad scorpion, received the order and split left and right.

The ground, which had previously resisted all attempts to injure it, suddenly rippled outward like waves. A faint mist appeared, revealing a narrow descending path that allowed passage for only one person.

Of course, even if one became a concubine, discovering that the main wife held no marriage contract meant it was still possible for the favored concubine to overthrow the wife.

Only a handful of the clan’s leadership knew the location of the treasure chamber, and there were decoy treasure rooms to mislead outsiders.

From a purely military perspective, Chen Diaoyan’s hurried northern advance aimed to prevent the Yuan army from launching a large-scale assault on the Liangzhe region and igniting war within enemy-occupied territory. Now that Boyan’s forces had mostly crossed the river, Chen Diaoyan’s strategic objective was achieved, and he could withdraw southward at any time.

Li Wei’s role in the film was not extensive, and since he never made a single mistake during shooting, he became one of the most idle people on set. To pass the time, he took on temporary tasks wherever help was needed, making his presence known throughout the crew.

It must be understood that no matter how glorious mercenary life appears, most only endure a decade or two of active service in their youth. Bad luck or accidents leading to death or injury are common. Even those fortunate enough to retire intact usually suffer lifelong ailments, struggling to live beyond their sixties.

How to act, when to take the first step—control must remain firmly in one’s own hands. If others try to pressure you, strike back. While not skilled in political intrigue, for the sake of the passionate comrades following behind, one must steel oneself and learn the art of power.

A divine mid-level first-rank strength could make even a warrior at the seventh rank of demon mid-level attacks seem somewhat pale in comparison.