The ground bean threads, cut as fine as silkworm threads, were heated immediately by the spiritual flame that shot out from Ye Zhen’s palm, quickly warming the spirit artifact grade pot he personally used for refinement.
The fragrant bean oil was poured into the pot, followed by sliced chilies, and chopped scallions, emitting a sizzling sound as the aroma spread.
The bean threads, soaked in clear water and looking like silkworm threads, were poured into the pot. The fire in Ye Zhen’s palm intensified, and with a casual stir, he sprinkled in some fine salt. After two breaths, the concoction was transferred into a peculiar yet crystal-clear stone plate.
"Try it!"
Ye Zhen placed the stone plate beside Princess Changle who was waiting.
Holding a simple pair of jade chopsticks, she gently picked up a thread, placed it into her mouth, and her slender eyebrows immediately unfolded like a crescent moon, her lips curling into a smile as radiant as a hundred blooming flowers.
"Hmph, your skill hasn’t deteriorated; it still tastes the same. Delicious!"
Subsequently, disregarding her image, Princess Changle continued to eat with her chopsticks, savoring the dish joyously.
The speed at which she ate left the maid beside them stunned with amazement.
They had been serving Her Highness Princess for so long, and no matter how delicious the food was, she had always taken only a token bite.
Never before, never like this, eating so unreservedly.
Noticing the maids’ surprise, Princess Changle continued eating with her chopsticks, humming lightly, "You all may leave."
With the departure of the two maids, this section of the Barbarian Spirit Hall’s back garden seemed to transform into a private and isolated space.
After Ye Zhen finally prepared what he considered a fairly delicate dish—albeit nothing more than trash in the eyes of true royal chefs—
the three empty plates in front of Princess Changle were completely clean, with not even a piece of chili left.
"Why are you still eating like someone reincarnated from the starving even after coming back from the Demon Clan territory?" Ye Zhen teased Princess Changle as he placed the last dish of vinegar-fried bamboo shoots before her.
"I’m even hungrier now than in the Demon Clan territory! Back then, you cooked for me every day, whereas now, it’s been years for just this once..." Princess Changle said to Ye Zhen, her gaze lingering on him.
In response, Ye Zhen could only offer a speechless, wry smile, yet it remained a smile tinged with bitterness.
Ye Zhen understood, realized, and liked Princess Changle’s affections.
But concerning this matter, Chief Eunuch Yu Chao’en had already personally warned Ye Zhen, and it was also Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long’s intention.
What more could Ye Zhen say?
The Empire!
This is the most powerful empire across all the heavens and myriad worlds!
"If there’s time, I’ll cook for you every day." After a long silence, Ye Zhen finally spoke slowly.
Princess Changle’s lips smiled again, curving like a crescent moon, "You said so yourself. Here, this is what’s left for you, don’t say I hogged it all."
A few small stone bowls brimming with food appeared before Ye Zhen as if by magic, still emitting steam.
This was the food Princess Changle had deliberately set aside for Ye Zhen while she ate.
An inexplicable, long-lost warmth welled in Ye Zhen’s heart, reminiscent of the days in the Demon Clan territory when they did the same.
"You haven’t changed one bit, always so mischievous!"
Picking up the small stone bowl, Ye Zhen began eating heartily.
Whether it was the stone bowl, stone plate, or iron pot, they were all crafted by Ye Zhen and Princess Changle when they drifted through the Demon Clan territory, kept until today.
"Neither have you." Smiling with narrowed eyes, closely watching Ye Zhen eat, Princess Changle’s expression suddenly turned melancholy, "It’s merely our environment that has changed."
"Actually, I’ve always wanted to return to the time when we drifted through the Demon Clan territory; if only things could stay that way forever!" Princess Changle murmured as if sleep-talking.
"Stay that way forever? Didn’t you want to rescue the Human Clan slaves there?" Ye Zhen asked, suddenly surprised.
"That’s right, but this path I’m on brings me no joy; the further I go, the more unbearable, bloody, and dark it becomes..." Princess Changle’s smile gradually faded.
"If it makes you unhappy, then don’t go on. Leave this path to me; in the days to come, I’ll help you reach the end!" Ye Zhen’s voice was slow yet resolute.
Princess Changle slowly shook her head, "No, I want to keep going."
"I know the path you’re on may be bloodier and darker than mine, and I wish to experience it with you." Princess Changle said determinedly.
Ye Zhen gazed at Princess Changle and, after a long pause, firmly said, "I need time."
"I understand!"
"Don’t overextend yourself; my shoulders are broader and more reliable than you imagine!"
"I know."
After nodding heavily, Princess Changle suddenly beamed a smile, "You know what, those were the happiest words I’ve heard this lifetime."
"Alright then, how long can you stay with me this time?" she asked as she leaned against Ye Zhen.
"The matter of the military department’s order is urgent, five days." After considering for a moment, Ye Zhen said this timeframe; in fact, it would only take two to three days to complete.
"Great, then you’ll have to spare at least two hours every day to be with me."
"As long as I have time, I’ll be with you."
"By the way, there’s something odd about your military transfer order this time. Originally, your name wasn’t on the list of nobles assisting in the Human-Demon Battlefield, but suddenly it appeared without anyone receiving any information when it was reported.
The people behind this maneuver are either connected with Prince Ji Yuan or with Military Department Minister Ban Di," said Princess Changle.
"Wasn’t the one behind the machinations Prince Huan Ji Ao?" Ye Zhen frowned.
"My elder brother?"
Princess Changle snorted coldly, "Indeed, many officials have pledged allegiance to him, but none of the key figures in the military department have sided with him, nor does he have the power to influence them.
My father ascended to the throne through formidable means and never allowed any prince to interfere with military affairs. This is a bottom line and also a thunder pool!"
Princess Changle’s words made Ye Zhen furrow his brow deeply.
This revelation complicated matters.
According to the information Ye Zhen had received from the Grand Young Master Tu Jinggao of the Qingqiu Fox Clan, it was his father’s maneuver that placed Ye Zhen on the military department’s list for the Human-Demon Battlefield.
The purpose was to force Ye Zhen out of the Little World, then lay an inescapable trap in the Zhengyao Realm to capture him.
Afterward, Prince Huan Ji Ao plotted against Ye Zhen, who assumed it was Ji Ao’s doing.
Unexpectedly, the matter was far more complicated than Ye Zhen had thought. The one the Clan Leader Tu Zheng of the Qingqiu Fox Clan contacted was not Prince Huan Ji Ao.
This brought things back to square one: the one Tu Zheng contacted was most likely Prince Ji Yuan.
In other words, the ones relentlessly orchestrating against Ye Zhen were likely Prince Ji Yuan and Prince Huan Ji Ao.
They were all from the royal family.
"Therefore, you must be extremely cautious going to the Human-Demon Battlefield this time. However, here...." Princess Changle’s words abruptly stopped midway.
"However what?" Ye Zhen pressed.
"Nothing, you must be extremely careful. My elder brother may not involve himself in military affairs, but many commanders have pledged allegiance to him. And as for Prince Ji Yuan, he’s an old fox......."
"Don’t worry!"
The next morning, Ye Zhen, carrying the lingering scent, left the Barbarian Spirit Hall.
Currently, the Barbarian Spirit Hall served as the private garden for Princess Changle, the sole mistress of the hall, and Ye Zhen, as the Left Chief Priest of the Barbarian Spirit Hall, cultivating inside was only natural.
Yet, it was just scent.
Ye Zhen and Princess Changle merely shared some intimate moments; the thunder pool was not something to cross lightly.
No matter how favored Princess Changle was by the Ren Venerate Emperor, some things, once done, rendered her favor useless.
Soon after, Ye Zhen arrived at the most important and influential division of Great Zhou—the military department.
Its authority and influence far exceeded that of the Heavenly Patrol Department.
Early in the morning, officials came to handle affairs in an endless stream.
Ye Zhen came to the military department to collect the military seal.
Upon receiving the military order to proceed to the Human-Demon Battlefield, the first task for a noble from the fiefdom was to collect the military seal and tiger talisman from the military department.
With millions of troops on the Human-Demon Battlefield, military identification primarily relied on military seals and flags; Ye Zhen’s co-defense force would receive an independent designation to serve on the battlefield, with battles merits and supplies recorded under that designation.
The military seal had been prepared in advance.
Ye Zhen presented his Earl of North Sea seal and the military order for the Human-Demon Battlefield to receive the independent designation for the North Sea Co-defense Unit bestowed by the military department.
The Heavenly Wave Army of North Sea.
Ye Zhen was quite satisfied with this designation, as it aligned well with the typical naming conventions for independent units in the military department.
After receiving the designation order, Ye Zhen headed straight to the military armory.
With the designation order, Ye Zhen could collect various specially crafted flags from the military armory of the Great Zhou.
These include the crimson gold flag representing the Great Zhou, the Sky Wave Army flag representing Ye Zhen’s North Sea Heavenly Wave Army, and various war drums and military seals for officers of all ranks.
After receiving these, Ye Zhen would delegate them after appointing, temporarily integrating the Soldiers of North Sea County into the border army directly managed by the Great Zhou military department. This facilitated identification, passage, and battlefield cooperation.
Besides this, there was also half the annual supply of provisions needed for an army of 120,000.
For noble troops like Ye Zhen’s going to battle, Great Zhou provided full military supplies and provisions, whereas for armies from enfeoffed nations like the Marquis Haiyuan Kingdom, Great Zhou only supplied half.
Most notable were the military armaments from the Great Zhou military department, renowned for their exquisite quality, superior power, and stability.
This served as a benefit from the military department to the troops defending the Human-Demon Battlefield.
Quickly, Ye Zhen located a Deputy Director from the Armory Division to handle the transaction, handing over the designation order and stating his purpose.
However, the Deputy Director of the Armory Division, without even lifting his head after looking at Ye Zhen’s designation order, said, "You’re here to collect all military flags, seals, and military armaments for the North Sea Heavenly Wave Army, right? I got it, come back in four months to collect them."
At these words, Ye Zhen was taken aback, exclaiming, "Four months later? How is that possible?"

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