31: Sisters who rolled in the same trench

The Empress listened, not angered, but instead nodded slightly: “What the Witch Queen worries about Is indeed reasonable. Cultural Fusion cannot be rushed. The people's allegiance must be earned with tangible benefits.”

“The iron laws of Great Qin dictate reward for merit and punishment for fault, and this applies equally to the Western Regions. However...”

She changed her tone, her gaze sharp, “‘Gentleness’ Is not ‘indulgence.’ The laws, official System, measurements, and currency of Great Qin must be the prevailing standards in the Western Regions.”

“The Witches and Witch Priests under the Witch Queen must gradually study Qin Law and Qin Rites. The Imperial Court will also dispatch capable officials and personnel to assist in governance and jointly promote Fusion. This process may require the Witch Queen to lead by example and set a precedent.”

This was a demand for the Witch Queen not only to submit nominally but also to become a model for “Qinification” in action.

The pressure quietly shifted onto the Witch Queen's shoulders.

The Witch Queen was silent for a moment, and a nearly inaudible sigh came from beneath her mask. Her tone immediately returned to calm: “Since I have entered this arrangement, I shall naturally adhere to the agreement. Within the Witch Palace, I can first change some rituals and introduce Qin Rites.”

“I will select intelligent tribesmen to learn Qin Script and read Qin History. However, Your Majesty must understand that this Is not something that can be achieved overnight. Overzealousness can easily lead to backlash. The balance requires constant discussion between us.”

“Agreed.” The Empress replied decisively. “Specific details can be jointly drafted into regulations by our Close Ministers, scrutinized item by item. We shall meet monthly to exchange progress.”

Chu Ye listened with great interest from the side. He watched the two graceful figures, one on the left and one on the right, both possessing peerless charm—one like a drawn sword, sharp and pointed directly at the core.

The other was like ancient jade in a deep pool, gentle and reserved, yet hiding deep tenacity. Their exchange of words showed both consensus on the overall situation and contention over details. They were cooperating, yet also testing each other and drawing boundaries within an invisible Domain.

Interestingly, both maintained astonishing restraint and rationality. Although the Witch Queen was at a disadvantage, she was neither servile nor overbearing, arguing logically.

Although the Empress held the advantage, she was not arrogant; instead, she was able to listen to reasonable suggestions.

This negotiation, concerning the way of life for hundreds of millions of people, subtly exuded a cold elegance and efficient pragmatism under the guidance of the two stunning women.

He took a sip of the Spiritual Wine in his cup, musing internally: With these two “Internal Affairs Experts” worrying over such complicated matters, he seemed to be able to relax considerably.

Unifying the world sounded exhausting, but if he only needed to be responsible for “key breakthroughs” and “final acceptance,” life was quite comfortable.

He just wondered where their “Double Phoenix Harmony” would ultimately lead this world.

Watching the Empress and the Witch Queen, having reached a preliminary consensus, begin whispering about specific details like water conservancy routes, tax ratios, and the list of the first batch of exchange personnel, Chu Ye stretched. He knew this “high-level meeting” would continue for a while.

He was happy to be idle, but his thoughts drifted to the new toy among the System rewards, the heavenly secret abacus. Perhaps it was time to properly study this treasure that could “measure heavenly secrets and calculate Karma.”

After all, brute force and luck alone wouldn't be enough for the road ahead.

Chu Ye listened with one ear as the two Female Big Shots discussed “how to elegantly annex the Western Regions,” while his fingers fiddled with the newly acquired heavenly secret abacus.

The beads clattered with a crisp sound. The more he pondered, the more he felt this thing was a treasure. Not only could it glimpse fragments of the future, but it also came with a “Compendium of Ancient Grand Formations”!

“Anything made by Grandmist Is guaranteed to be a masterpiece!”

He muttered happily, feeling that swindling people... ah, no, arranging strategies, would be much easier now.

Time ticked away amidst the Empress's “thunderous methods” and the Witch Queen's “gentle resistance,” from broad daylight until the moon hung high above the willow tips.

The Luminous Pearl in the sleeping quarters automatically lit up with a soft glow, illuminating the slightly flushed profiles of the two stunning women who were focused on their discussion. The air inexplicably gained a hint of... ambiguity.

Chu Ye stretched widely, his joints cracking, and finally spoke up to interrupt the marathon high-level meeting: “Stop, stop, stop! Your Majesties, Your Highnesses, look at the time! It's time to get off work... ah, no, time to rest!”

The moment he finished speaking, the Witch Queen rose gracefully. Her golden mask faced Chu Ye, and her voice was submissive: “My Lord Is weary. I shall go prepare the Bath immediately and attend to your bathing and change of clothes.”

The shift in attitude was incredibly natural and smooth, as if the woman who had just logically argued over the percentage of Western Regions taxes wasn't her.

The Empress frowned, subconsciously wanting to turn and leave this place of trouble. As a Female Emperor, she was accustomed to handling state affairs alone and to solitude.

However, before she could take a step, Chu Ye grabbed her wrist.

“Hey, Your Majesty, don't rush off.” Chu Ye smiled like a fox who had stolen a chicken, rubbing her delicate wrist twice with his fingers. “It's a long night. Now that the serious business Is done, we... should also talk about ‘family matters’.”

The Empress's body visibly stiffened. She turned back to glare at him, her eyes filled with “What do you want?” and a hint of imperceptible panic.

How could someone as intelligent as her not understand the meaning behind Chu Ye's words?

Chu Ye pulled her closer, his other hand still wrapped around the Witch Queen's waist. With a solemn and incredibly thick-skinned expression, he said to the Empress: “Look, I helped you save your elder, and now I've helped you conquer the Western Regions. Your wishes are mostly fulfilled. As for me, my demands aren't high...”

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the faces of the two stunning women, and grinned, “I just want the blessing of beautiful women. That's not too much to ask, right?”

The Empress's ears were slightly red. She bit her lip and glared at him, her eyes showing shame, annoyance, and a hint of stubbornness: “In private... I'll accept whatever you do. But in front of outsiders...”

“Outsider?”

Chu Ye raised an eyebrow and deliberately hugged the Witch Queen tighter. “Who Is an outsider here now? Besides...” He leaned close to the Empress's ear, lowering his voice, but ensuring the Witch Queen could also hear.

“You still owe me a request. This Is my request. I, Chu Ye, truly don't ask for much.”

As soon as he said this, he had reached the pinnacle of shamelessness.

The Empress was so angry her neck felt itchy. She remembered that she did indeed owe him a favor, and then she looked at the Witch Queen next to her, who had a calm, “I was prepared for this” expression.

The Female Emperor's reserve and resistance finally gave way slightly under the impact of reality, obligation, and a certain indescribable atmosphere.

She turned her face away, no longer resisting, which counted as tacit consent.

Her body, however, remained stiff, like an exquisite but taut jade sculpture.

Chu Ye didn't care if she was stiff or not. In high spirits, embracing both women, he half-dragged, half-carried the two stunning beauties, heading straight for the huge Bath Pool behind the sleeping quarters, which was fed by an underground Spiritual Spring and shrouded in mist.

“Alright, we're here.”

Chu Ye stepped into the slightly hot pool water first, sighing comfortably. Then he turned back and flashed a brilliant smile at the two beauties still standing by the edge—one shy, the other stiff.

“What are you two waiting for? Disrobe.”

He deliberately emphasized the words “disrobe.”

In short, amidst the swirling mist and certain unspeakable sounds, grand Empire ambition, Witch Tribe Legacy, Female Emperor dignity, and Witch Queen reserve all melted into the night.

Facts proved that some kinds of “deep communication” were more effective than a hundred meetings.

Since that night, when the Empress and the Witch Queen sat together again to discuss the “Grand Unification,” the atmosphere was noticeably much more harmonious.

Although they still argued over necessary interests and debated bottom lines, the faint sense of tension and mutual caution had faded.

Occasionally, when their eyes met, a subtle awkwardness and helplessness, shared by “those who have been through it,” would flash between them, before they casually looked away.

After all, they were sisters who had rolled in the “same trench.” Some things went without saying.