Had birthday((25th) plans last friday so this came out super late. Also going camping tomorrow so probably not able to release for this week. Try to get 2 out next week. Also, 50 chapters soon!

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The figure that came out from the palace was enough to cause Sun Jiao’s mind to blank. He immediately compared her to Sun Qing and thought that perhaps Sun Qing would be her equal once she’s grown, but now even Sun Qing was lacking.

The woman wore a sleeveless red cheongsam with a slit that extended well above her hips showing her long slender legs and wide hips. The bottom of her plump butt was visible through the slight and the silk was stretched tight as it climbed her narrow waist.

Sun Jiao couldn’t help but imagine hugging the woman and having her long leg extend from the dress and wrap around him.

If the slits in the dress were thin rivers then the absent sleeves would be tranquil lakes of jade white skin. These holes on the side extended far past the shoulder to the point that they were almost able to greet the slits. Two large melons were being restrained by the silky red cloth, but like beautiful icebergs peeked through the sides revealing some, but still causing one to imagine the massive amount yet unseen.

Comparing them to ice would give one the wrong impression. The woman was anything but cold and infact gave one the feeling of mature warmth. It wasn’t a fiery warmth, for fire could burn, but a warmth that drove the chill away causing one to bring it closer and cling to it with a satisfied look on ones face.

The woman’s auburn hair was loose and fell just past her shoulders. Her perfect jade oval face was beautiful to the point of almost overwhelming, but rode that delicate line and instead left one feeling comfortable as if placing your trust in her would be no different than trusting your own mother.

This woman was naturally Sun Yu and with a single glance you would know why the emperor had chosen her for a wife. Even Sun Jiao was having lustful thoughts about this step-mother of his, but was able to control himself. He couldn’t help but think that if he had seen her in his previous life he would have been turned into a complete moron.

Sun Jiao couldn’t help but admire her figure, but the most impressive part was that she didn’t have an air of arrogance that you would expect. Not that he was foolish enough to believe she wasn’t arrogant, but that she could hide it so well.

The only thing that drew away from her motherly persona was the long thin pipe that she took a drag from. From this simple drag a hint of arrogance was revealed, but upon exhaling it disappeared.

Xiaobo had talked with Sun Jiao about some of the key figures in the capital, but that still didn’t allow Sun Jiao to identify them with hundred percent confidence so he had to ask.

Ignoring her beaten soldiers Sun Lu used her sensual voice to address Sun Jiao.

“You naughty siblings why are you causing such problems for your mother like this? Go back home now and I’ll speak with my husband to see that he’s lenient on his unfilial children.”

Sun Lu was careful in her wording. She used mother when convenient, but husband instead of father so that Sun Jiao would associate the emperor with her side instead of his.

Sun Jiao saw this as an opportunity to stall and decided a bit of verbal sparring was in order.

“You talk about unfilial, but why should I hold filial affection towards you? It was your idea to send men to kill me. Also, what blood do we share? Even if we did share blood I wouldn’t call you mother. Even your own children should be ashamed to call you mother.”

Sun Lu loved her children more than anything and prided herself as a mother. She didn’t care about Sun Jiao’s words, but the last sentence was like a slap in the face that couldn’t go unanswered.

“You dare? I love my children more than anything and I’ve provided nothing but the best for them. Any child would be proud to call me mother! Unlike you-”

Sun Jiao burst out laughing causing Sun Lu’s face to burn with anger.

Sun Lu intended to change the subject by bring up Sun Jiao’s mother, but how could Sun Jiao let the subject drop just like that?

“Proud to call you mother? If it wasn’t for me your children would be dead. Who’s fault would that be? Yours. Now bring them out here. I’m taking them with me.”

Sun Lu’s face distorted with anger before she closed her eyes and took a drag of her pipe. Inhaling deeply she calmed down as the smoke filled her lungs.

As she inhaled her chest swelled causing the soldiers and even Sun Jiao to eye the fabric with expectation as it stretched to the limit. They could only be disappointed as the pipe left her beautiful cherry red lips and a thick smoke began to pour out of them.

The smoke spread like tree roots and reached out to every soldier in the courtyard. The smoke wrapped around the soldiers and flowed into their mouths as they breathed in. Each soldier felt a warm comforting feeling and their minds began to go hazy.

One soldier felt the arms of his mother holding him tightly and warming him as though he had just finished playing in the snow and come home for dinner.

Another felt as though he was in the brothel he had visited a few nights ago and had just jumped into bed with the woman he’d paid for.

A third felt as if he had survived a huge battle only to find a friend he had thought died had actually survived and they both wept as they shared a hug full of brotherly affection.

The feeling each soldier experienced was slightly different, but had one single thread in common. They all felt the warm embrace of another and it gave them strength and courage to accomplish anything.

With cloudy and dull eyes they gripped their weapons ready to fight to keep that feeling alive.

This was the move Sun Lu had most confidence in. By combining her Smoke Arts with her Warm Embrace attribute she created her unique Smoke Embrace Puppet technique that would cause those to fall under her control and give their all.

After fully exhaling Sun Lu had calmed down.

“You’ve killed enough of my men. I’m willing to give you some face on account of saving my children and will let this matter drop. Don’t push me.”

Sun Jiao snorted and spoke with a voice full of disdain.

“Killed some of you men? What about my servant that died? Even a hundred of your men is not enough to match her life.”

Having said the words Sun Jiao realized it was true. When faced with the guards amusing antics he had slipped back into earth habits and forgotten why he came.

Sun Lu didn’t believe his words and thought he was using the death as an excuse.

“Since when did you care about the life of a single servant? How many servants have you killed? You’re nothing but a twisted little boy crying about his broken toy and using it as an excuse to cause trouble.”

Footsteps sounding out from behind Sun Lu was like the breaking of a dam. She had already lost her patience with Sun Jiao when he had attacked her character and was holding it back in order to delay. Now that she could hear Meng Fai’s approach she was more than happy to vent her frustration.

“Enough words. Since you aren’t willing to give me face you can’t blame me for throwing you out. And you girl. How long are you going to keep up that silly act? I knew from the start you wouldn’t have overexerted yourself.”

Sun Jiao didn’t know whether to laugh or to cry. Act? Overexerted? She’d overheated because he’d given too much attention just as she had done in the carriage the first day they met.

Before he could speak however Sun Qing’s voice as sweet as a songbird sounded out.

“Horrible hag! Why did you have to ruin the moment?”

Sun Qing had truly fainted when Sun Jiao embraced her, but once the two lieutenants had directed their killing intent towards Sun Jiao how could she have remained sleeping with her brother in danger?

Before she could act however Sun Jiao had handled them in what she thought most beautiful way and almost caused her to faint again. She had only been protected by him once and couldn’t help but want to see more so she pretended to still be sleeping.

What woman doesn't love a knight in shining armor? What woman could resist being protected?

She’d almost flown into a rage when he was hurt, but at the same time was the happiest she’d ever been.

When Sun Jiao pulled out the pill she imagined him placing it in her lips and couldn’t help but blush in anticipation. When he destroyed it on accident she had to hold back tears of frustration. Then he brought out another and her dream like scenario was returned only to be interrupted by Sun Lu.

Sun Qing’s frustration was slowly building the longer she had to wait, but when Sun Lu had used her smoke to reinforce her soldiers she began to fantasize about Sun Jiao fighting them all off while protecting her until he couldn’t last any longer. She thought about jumping up just before he was fatally wounded and using her body to block the attack. She could then die in his arms and it would be perfect!

Then Sun Lu had ruined her wonderful moment and she had no choice but to stand.

If Sun Jiao thought the guards emotions swayed his eyes would be like saucers if he knew the rollercoaster of emotions Sun Qing had been through.

Before anyone could continue Meng Fai walked out the door with the third prince and princess behind him.

Finally all parties had assembled and the fight could begin.

Sun Jiao’s muscles tensed while Sun Qing’s eyes shot daggers at Sun Lu.

Sun Lu took another drag preparing to reinforce Meng Fai who began circling his ki in preparation.

Sun Jun swallowed nervously as sweat drenched his back.

Sun Qi in a rush to see what was going on tripped over a body part rolled a distance, jumped up, patted herself off and then gave a big smile.

“Big brother!”

Under everyone’s dazed eyes she ran up to Sun Jiao and gave him a hug.

“Thanks for saving me! Those guys were big bullies. Umm. What’s everyone looking at?”