Chapter 5: What about the bottom line?
The unprecedented court assembly in the Hall of State Affairs spread like wildfire throughout every corner of the Demon King's Palace.
Now, all the attendants and guards looked at Her Majesty Chi Li and the little blonde tail beside her with eyes full of awe (to Her Majesty) and an almost fanatical... curiosity (to Tang Lu).
Tanglu, at the eye of the storm, was completely unaware of this.
She just felt that although there were many strange monsters in that place called "Morning Assembly", she felt very safe leaning against Lili, and... she slept very soundly.
At this moment, she is troubled by a new problem.
Chi Li's bedroom was incredibly beautiful and filled with spiritual energy, but... there was hardly any sunlight.
This is simply unbearable for a plant!
After circling the luminous pearls used for lighting in the hall three times to confirm that they only emitted light and did not generate heat, Tang Lu pouted and sidled up to Chi Li, who was reviewing jade slips.
"Lili..." She tugged at Chili's sleeve, her voice drawn out, filled with obvious grievance.
Chi Li looked up from a pile of thorny reports about how to draw a new boundary with the human realm, and rubbed her temples: "What's wrong?"
She is now basically immune to the nickname "Lili".
"Darkness..." Tang Lu pointed to the interior of the hall, "There is no light."
Chi Li looked around at the dazzling, brightly lit palace and fell silent.
Is this what you call black?
"It's not bright here." Tang Lu gestured, pointing out the window, "I want that... golden one, something warm!"
Chi Li understood.
This little tree spirit wants to bask in the sun.
She had intended to instruct the servants to set up a light-gathering array in the hall, but seeing Tang Lu's longing eyes, she changed her mind before she could finish speaking.
"It's windy outside."
"I'm not afraid!" Tang Lu immediately puffed out her little chest to show that she was very strong. "Sunbathing! It'll keep me healthy!"
Chi Li was amused by the words she had heard from some servant and almost laughed.
She put down the jade slip and stood up: "Let's go."
Rather than letting her stay sullen in the palace, it's better to take her out for some fresh air.
Anyway... those border disputes have been going on for hundreds of years without any resolution, so what's a little more time?
Chi Li found a perfect reason for her sudden "slackness".
When Chi Li appeared hand in hand with Tang Lu on the spacious terrace outside the bedroom, paved with white jade and reserved exclusively for her, the servants waiting outside lowered their heads again, their expressions strange.
As soon as Tang Lu saw the bright sunshine outside, she immediately cheered like a bird released from its cage and tried to break free from Chi Li's hand to rush out.
Chi Li exerted a little force, preventing her from running away.
Her gaze swept casually over her surroundings, and the invisible pressure instantly made those furtive glances disappear.
Then, she raised her hand, and a crimson-gold light flowed from her fingertips. A warm, invisible, and incredibly strong barrier enveloped the entire terrace, blocking out all possible wind and prying eyes.
"Stay here, don't wander off." She released her hand, her tone carrying a hint of indulgence she herself didn't realize.
Tang Lu nodded vigorously, immediately ran to the sunniest spot, opened her arms, tilted her little face up, and squinted her eyes happily.
Sunlight bathed her long golden hair and fair skin, casting a soft halo around her, and she began to exude a pleasant and pure wood spirit aura.
Chi Li stood not far away, watching this scene.
For some reason, watching the little tree spirit stretch and relax in the sunlight, the restlessness she felt due to the complicated government affairs seemed to be soothed a little.
She even thought that the little guy seemed... prettier in the sunlight?
The thought had barely crossed her mind when Chi Li quickly suppressed it.
She must have been distracted by these trivial matters.
After sunbathing for a while, Tanglu seemed to feel it wasn't enough.
She turned around and waved to Chi Li, her smile brighter than the sun: "Li Li! Come on over! Let's soak up some sun!"
Chili: "..."
She is a phoenix, born to control fire and light. Sunbathing is meaningless to her, even a bit... childish.
She stood still, maintaining the composure of a demon king.
Seeing that she didn't move, Tang Lu tilted her head and thought for a moment, then ran over, grabbed her hand without saying a word, and pulled her into the sunlight.
Come on, come on! Let's warm up together!
Chi Li originally wanted to use the Thousand-Pound Drop, but seeing Tang Lu's meager strength and serious little expression, she finally... half-heartedly let Tang Lu pull her over.
Standing in the bright sunlight, Chi Li felt extremely uncomfortable.
She felt like a statue being dragged to some strange ceremony.
Tang Lu stood comfortably beside her again, tilting her head back to enjoy the sun.
After a while, she seemed to feel that this was not close enough, so she moved closer to Chi Li until their arms were gently touching.
Chi Li's body stiffened slightly.
The warmth of the sunlight seeped through the fabric, mingling with the fresh, herbal scent unique to Tang Lu, creating a strangely warm feeling that spread from where their bodies touched.
She looked down and could see Tang Lu's thick, curled eyelashes casting small shadows in the sunlight, the tiny, adorable beads of sweat on the tip of her nose, and even hear the soft humming sounds she made with contentment.
"It doesn't seem so unbearable after all?" Akari thought silently.
Just then, Tang Lu made an even bolder move.
She seemed a little languid from the sun; her body went limp, like a melted little sugar cake, and she leaned directly against Chi Li, resting her head on Chi Li's shoulder.
"Lili..." Her voice carried a lazy and satisfied tone, like a big tree.
He is reliable and reassuring, allowing her to rely on and cling to him with peace of mind.
Chi Li froze completely.
She could clearly feel the weight of the little head on her shoulder and smell the fragrance of its hair so close to hers.
For tens of thousands of years, no one has ever dared to get so close to her, let alone lean on her so wholeheartedly.
She should have pushed her away.
Where is the Demon King's dignity? Where are his bottom lines?
Chi Li asked herself in her heart.
Then she discovered that, faced with Tang Lu's pure dependence and the description of her as "like a big tree," her so-called dignity and bottom line seemed to be crumbling at the speed of light.
She didn't move in the end, but slightly adjusted her posture to make the little tree spirit leaning against her more comfortable.
The servants watched from afar, not daring to even breathe loudly.
They saw that His Majesty, who was always as dazzling and radiant as the sun, now slightly turned his head to look at the little tree spirit who was dozing off on his shoulder. His usually cold, reddish-gold eyes seemed to have been touched by the warmth of the sun, becoming incredibly gentle.
It's over.
These two words simultaneously popped into the minds of all the attendants.
It seems that His Majesty's bottom line has been completely "melted" by this unpredictable little tree spirit.
His Majesty the Demon King's majesty has once again been declared bankrupt.
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