In the Cloud Heaven Pavilion's private room, fine wine and delicacies were prepared, and Chu Chen sat there, awaiting someone's arrival.
A moment later, the beauty arrived as promised.
"Chu Chen!"
Princess Xin Yue, disguised as a man, sat opposite Chu Chen with a smile.
"Your Highness..."
Chu Chen was interrupted by Princess Xin Yue before he could finish speaking.
She pretended to be displeased and said, "Chu Chen, I am here today as your friend in a private capacity. You don't need to call me Your Highness; you can call me Xin Yue."
Chu Chen looked at Princess Xin Yue with some surprise, as if he hadn't expected her to say something so tactful.
After a slight hesitation, Chu Chen smiled, "If that's the case, then I shall call you Xin Yue."
"That's right~" Xin Yue smiled with satisfaction. "So, what is the matter that you sent word for me to come here?"
"It's like this. I observed that you enjoyed practicing martial arts in the past but lacked the talent. Now, I have obtained two treasures that I intend to give you."
As Chu Chen spoke, he took out the medicine bottle and the wooden box containing the clothes from his Qiankun Ring and placed them on the empty chair beside him.
He waved his hand and said, "This porcelain bottle contains a pill called the Marrow Cleansing Pill. If you take it, your aptitude will be greatly improved, and you will be able to practice martial arts, and even cultivate into a martial dao cultivator."
"Hiss!"
Princess Xin Yue gasped in shock.
A pill that could improve one's cultivation aptitude was unheard of. Even with the national strength of the Yun Yue Kingdom, such a precious item could not be found.
"No, no, no, I cannot accept this. It is too precious! You should take it yourself."
Princess Xin Yue repeatedly shook her head and waved her hands. "I have never heard of such a miraculous pill, and I imagine it is rare in the world. Compared to me, you need this item more."
Chu Chen smiled slightly, "I was fortunate to obtain two Marrow Cleansing Pills. I have already taken one myself, but the effect is negligible and not of much use. Please accept it with peace of mind."
Princess Xin Yue was stunned for a moment, not quite believing him.
Seeing this, Chu Chen smiled and said, "I am not by your side to protect you now. Although the situation in the palace and the court has improved, it is still not very safe."
"You have no martial power yourself. If you encounter assassins again without it, what will you do? I will worry about you."
Princess Xin Yue's face turned red, and all she could think about was Chu Chen's words, "I will worry about you."
"You... I understand."
Princess Xin Yue came back to her senses. She wanted to ask if these were his true feelings, but she was too embarrassed to ask.
Blushing, she put the porcelain bottle into her pocket and then looked at the wooden box.
"This is a piece of clothing, a magic artifact. I saw it by chance. Take a look inside."
Even with his extensive theoretical knowledge from his previous life, this was Chu Chen's first time giving a girl beautiful clothes.
He felt a little nervous and embarrassed.
Seeing Chu Chen's slightly flushed and averted face, Princess Xin Yue smiled.
She took the wooden box and opened it. Her beautiful eyes were immediately captivated by what was inside.
"What beautiful clothes! Are these for me?"
Princess Xin Yue asked in surprise.
"Indeed," Chu Chen smiled and asked, "How is it? Do you like it?"
"I love it!"
Princess Xin Yue happily took out the clothes, held them up against herself, and then held them a little further away to examine them closely.
The more she looked, the more she liked it.
"These clothes are magic artifacts. They have the function of automatically cleaning themselves three times a day. They also have some defensive capabilities, able to withstand the attacks of martial apprentices."
Seeing Princess Xin Yue's delight, Chu Chen was also very happy and explained the functions of the clothes.
"Oh, right, these clothes are called 'Rainbow Cloud Robes', and they are a set."
"A set?"
Princess Xin Yue looked down and indeed saw more clothes in the wooden box. However, the remaining items were a bra, underwear, and a skirt.
Her face immediately turned red. Stuttering, she said shyly, "You, you're a grown man, how can you even..."
"Ahem. This is not my fault. This is how I received it."
Chu Chen suddenly realized that the more he explained, the worse it sounded. He quickly interrupted, "Since you like it, put the clothes back for now. You can look at them to your heart's content when you get back to the palace."
"Hmph!"
Princess Xin Yue snorted and quickly put them back and closed the lid.
"Is there anything else?"
Chu Chen nodded and said, "There is one more thing. I am not by your side now. You need to be diligent in inspecting and reviewing the training of your personal guards and their reserves."
"If you don't know how to train them, you can hand over all matters to General Wang Biao. He has learned some things from me, and he should be able to train a capable ordinary soldier."
"I understand," Princess Xin Yue nodded, then said with some difficulty, "Speaking of which, after you left, I encountered a problem with the funds for their support. I don't know how to solve it."
"That's simple. You have merit for commanding operations in the Eastern Frontier, and Qin Wang also has merit. With both combined, you can ask His Majesty for a reward."
"With your status, Xin Yue, you will surely receive a fiefdom of a thousand households, as well as other monetary rewards.
"Afterward, use half of the money you receive from the reward to buy grain, and the other half to pay salaries. By the second month, you will receive money from your fiefdom, which will be enough to support five hundred soldiers."
Chu Chen provided a solution without thinking, as he had already considered this problem on his way.
"I see. I understand. I will do as you say when I return."
Princess Xin Yue suddenly realized and nodded with a smile.
After discussing matters, the atmosphere between them fell into silence, not knowing what else to say.
Chu Chen had to ask Princess Xin Yue to eat and drink. The atmosphere throughout was strange yet intimate.
Princess Xin Yue was thin-skinned and could not stand such suggestive and embarrassing atmosphere.
After hastily eating a little, she said anxiously, "Chu Chen, I have been out for a while. If there is nothing else, I will be leaving now."
"Okay, well... safe travels."
Chu Chen wanted to say something, but his mind was blank, and he just looked at Princess Xin Yue foolishly.
"Mmm-hmm," Princess Xin Yue responded. She was about to leave with the wooden box.
But as she was leaving, she inexplicably asked, "Chu Chen, why are you so good to me?"
"Uh~" Chu Chen was stunned. After thinking for a while, he said, "Perhaps, I like you?"
"Ah~!" Princess Xin Yue exclaimed in embarrassment and fled in a panic.
"Hey! What the heck, she's gone just like that."
Chu Chen reached out as if to stop her, but Princess Xin Yue ran too fast.
"Hoo, what's wrong with me? I have immense theoretical knowledge, so why am I so useless like a novice? No, I need to get my act together."
Chu Chen slapped his face twice, encouraging himself.
But after persisting for a moment, he deflated and said, "Alright, I am just a novice, sigh. I wonder if Xin Yue will reply when we meet again?"