After Crossing Over, I Marked the Empress

Amidst the swirling snow, two figures – one slender, one robust – were locked in fierce combat.

Snowflakes the size of goose feathers fell more heavily, melting before they could touch the two fighters, vaporized by the searing heat radiating from the Alpha’s body.

Melted snow mingled with sweat on Shen Han’s brow, rolling down in rivulets.

Though the surrounding air was bone-chillingly cold, her blood boiled.

Adrenaline surged through her system.

The area where they fought was suffused with the scents of iron rust and cedar!

Shen Han hadn’t revealed to the crowd that she was a fire element awakened one.

So she appropriately released some of her pheromones.

Yu Xiao was an A-class Alpha. In terms of rank, Shen Han could exert considerable pressure on him.

But Yu Xiao was no ordinary man.

While Shen Han’s pheromone attack did affect him, it wasn’t enough to turn the tide.

‘Why hasn’t he released his own pheromones to regain control? Is he unwilling to level the playing field?’

Shen Han analyzed battle tactics even as she fought.

‘This fight doesn’t need to be a test of endurance.’

‘So the quickest way to end it is to use a gun!’

With a plan in mind, Shen Han immediately put it into action.

Taking advantage of a dodge, she reached for the gun concealed under her coat with one hand.

But before she could aim, pain shot through her right arm.

The gun fell to the ground, then was kicked far away by her opponent.

Yu Xiao let out an almost inaudible chuckle, finally evening the score for having his own gun kicked away earlier!

Recently, when his deputy had mentioned the Empress’s guard captain’s impressive skills, he hadn’t paid much attention.

But now, he felt a sense of awe for the younger generation.

Yu Xiao’s iron fists whistled through the air, cutting off any attempt by his opponent to escape the fight.

He thought to himself: No wonder that big oaf Wan Peng kept going on about wanting to schedule another duel with her. This young woman is quite the sharp blade!

In that brief moment of distraction, Shen Han had already raised her knee for a whip kick.

Fast and powerful, it struck at Yu Xiao’s neck in the blink of an eye.

“Good one!”

Yu Xiao didn’t dodge or avoid, but twisted his waist and swung his arm, meeting the attack head-on with his elbow.

Seeing this, a slight curve appeared at the corner of Shen Han’s lips.

This kick of hers looked fierce, but she hadn’t put her full force behind it.

Using Yu Xiao’s elbow strike, she spun her body after the impact, successfully putting some distance between them.

Then, planting her foot, she sprang away!

Yu Xiao had been immersed in this exhilarating fight.

He never expected that in the blink of an eye, his opponent would run away.

He didn’t choose to give chase, but stood in place, gazing through the falling snow at the back of the Alpha who had fled faster than a rabbit.

Without realizing it, his eyes reddened.

Once upon a time, when his daughter got into mischief and was about to be punished by him, she would also “desert the battlefield” like this.

At this moment, a dozen or so soldiers had quickly run to surround Yu Xiao, restraining him.

Deputy Qian and Gu Yuwei, not far away, were also restricted in their movements.

More soldiers with guns rushed towards the building where Gu Yuwei had been held, to capture the armed combat personnel inside.

Shen Han, her body radiating heat, ran to Gu Junwan.

She first gave a military salute, then reported formally: “Mission accomplished!”

Gu Junwan had been worried sick for quite a while.

Now, seeing her Alpha return safe and sound, she wanted to pull her aside for a thorough check, and also scold her a bit.

But ultimately, she didn’t make any inappropriate moves in front of everyone.

She only asked with visible concern: “Are you hurt?”

Shen Han ached all over, especially her right arm where she’d been kicked earlier. It felt like she’d been branded with a hot iron, stinging fiercely.

If they were alone, she would definitely have thrown herself into her omega’s arms to be pampered.

But now, she couldn’t play the pitiful victim.

Shen Han knew her rash action must have worried Gu Junwan.

The most important thing now was to soothe her girlfriend’s emotions. There would be time to whine later when they were alone!

“Reporting, no injuries!”

Shen Han’s voice and the heat from her body washed over Gu Junwan.

The familiar scent of cedar entered her nostrils, blooming with a unique flavor on her taste buds.

Special Assistant Xu had been following behind her Empress. In the previous situation, she couldn’t offer much help, so she had tried to minimize her presence as much as possible.

But now, she had to quickly step forward.

“Captain Shen, use this to deal with it first.”

Xu Zhao handed over the air freshener she had just taken from her briefcase, giving her a meaningful look.

Reminded by Xu Zhao, Shen Han belatedly realized.

She was covered in pheromones, and it was inappropriate to run up to Gu Junwan like this.

Earlier, when she had been fighting Yu Xiao in the center of the training ground, she was quite far from everyone else.

Plus, it was an open outdoor area, so the small amount of pheromones she had released had dispersed in the wind and snow, not affecting anyone other than her opponent.

In the tense atmosphere, not only had Shen Han herself not paid much attention, but even the surrounding guards and soldiers didn’t think there was anything wrong with Captain Shen reporting to the Empress.

Fortunately, Xu Zhao was attentive. She had calculated that her Empress’s heat period would be around these few days, so she was particularly mindful of such matters.

After taking the air freshener, Shen Han immediately walked to a slightly more distant spot.

While spraying herself, she secretly observed Gu Junwan’s situation.

Unfortunately, her view was obscured by the falling snow, with the world beyond a few meters a sea of white.

She could make out silhouettes, but couldn’t clearly see facial expressions.

By the Empress’s side.

Xu Zhao, noticing her Empress’s slightly reddened cheeks, felt worried.

She thought for a moment, then said softly: “Your Majesty, the snow is getting heavier. Let’s leave the follow-up here to others.”

Gu Junwan didn’t insist on staying.

She nodded slightly, called over two military officers to give brief instructions, then led part of her forces to board hovercrafts to prepare for the return journey.

Today was the last day of the year, and it happened to be snowing. The air was so bitingly cold it could almost turn breath to ice.

Gu Junwan’s exposed neck and hands were reddened from the cold, but her body felt oddly warm.

The blood in her gland vessels flowed faster than usual, making her heart beat more rapidly.

The training camp wasn’t too far from the Peace Palace.

The group, riding military hovercrafts, landed on the dedicated landing pad in half an hour.

Gu Junwan didn’t go to the office, nor did she return to the villa where her mothers were.

She went to her exclusive Empress’s residence in the Peace Palace.

During the period when Gu Yuwei was in power, whether unwilling to move into her sister’s private quarters or for some other reason, she had directly ordered the residence sealed.

It was only reopened a few days ago when Gu Junwan returned to the Peace Palace.

The cleaning had already been completed, and now the interior no longer had the coldness of its vacant period.

Housekeeper Fei Xi and the servants from the Southern base hadn’t been transferred over yet.

There were only a few service staff in the Empress’s villa in the Peace Palace, transferred from the former empress’s place.

Though few in number, they were all trustworthy beta maids.

Seeing the Empress return, the maids immediately began bustling about.

With such heavy snow outside today, they couldn’t be careless about keeping warm and preventing chills.

Xu Zhao accompanied Gu Junwan to the living room. Seeing her hair damp with melted snow, she quickly said: “Your Majesty, you should take a hot shower first. Don’t let the cold air into your body.”

Gu Junwan also felt somewhat unwell.

Looking at her assistant whose ears were red from the cold, she instructed the maids to quickly prepare toiletries and change of clothes for her.

“Just shower here, and don’t go back later. It’s New Year’s Eve tomorrow. Accompany me to dinner with Mother in the evening.”

Gu Junwan knew Xu Zhao had no family or partner, and either volunteered for overtime or spent holidays alone. So she proactively invited her to stay today.

Xu Zhao naturally wouldn’t refuse out of politeness.

She was happily preparing to follow the maid to the guest area when she suddenly thought of something and hurriedly asked her Empress: “Then Shen-”

Just as she started to speak, Xu Zhao immediately changed her wording: “Your Majesty, today is a special day. If you’re going to Madam’s place later, do you need me to notify that person?”

There were maids nearby who didn’t know about the Empress’s relationship, so Xu Zhao had to be careful with her words.

Gu Junwan nodded and said: “She originally knew about dinner at Mother’s. It just so happened to coincide with the training camp incident today. It’s good for you to notify her. As for the specific time, wait until after I’ve spoken with Mother on the phone to decide.”

With that, they each went to their rooms to bathe.

……

After receiving Xu Zhao’s call, Shen Han immediately tossed aside the medicine bottle and ointment, rushing into the bathroom to shower.

She didn’t have a private residence in the Peace Palace yet, and had been staying in the guard team’s dedicated barracks these past few days.

The conditions were quite good, with independent housing and all necessary living supplies.

While showering in hot water, Shen Han lowered her gaze to look at several scrapes on her body.

She inwardly shed tears: It hurts so much, but I can’t apply ointment before going to dinner with the mothers, lest they smell it and worry.

……

At 6 PM.

After changing into clothes for going out later, Gu Junwan started to feel unwell.

She sat on the edge of the bed in her bedroom, propping herself up with her hands, breathing slightly heavily.

Her chest felt a bit tight, and her breath had unconsciously become hot.

After steadying herself, Gu Junwan reached for the back of her neck.

The suppression patch she had just applied not long ago was already warm to the touch, with the central area showing signs of wetness.

……

Xu Zhao had already changed clothes and was waiting in the living room. After waiting for a while without seeing her Empress come downstairs, she was starting to worry when her phone suddenly rang.

She was very surprised to see the caller ID showing Gu Junwan’s number.

“Your Majesty, what’s wrong?”

After asking, there was a long silence on the other end of the line.

Xu Zhao became anxious, pressing the phone to her ear while heading upstairs towards the Empress’s bedroom.

She didn’t push the door open directly, but stood by it, asking into both the phone and towards the door: “Your Majesty, are you feeling unwell? Why don’t I call a doctor to check on you?”

Gu Junwan’s voice came through the phone, very quietly: “The door isn’t locked. Come in first.”

Xu Zhao hung up and gripped the doorknob to enter the room.

She was about to speak, but as soon as she looked up, all words caught in her throat.

She saw Gu Junwan, dressed in a gown, sitting sideways on the edge of the bed. Her lush hair was spread over her shoulders, covering half her face.

The other half of her face visible to Xu Zhao, originally fair-skinned, was now flushed red, as if covered with a thin layer of rouge, enchantingly beautiful.

Xu Zhao’s heart skipped a beat, and she immediately realized: The Empress’s heat had arrived!

“Your Majesty! Please wait, I’ll go get suppressants for you right away!” Out of habit, Special Assistant Xu hurriedly left these words before turning to walk out of the bedroom door.

But before she could step out of the doorway, the Empress’s voice came from behind: “Wait.”

Xu Zhao’s footsteps suddenly halted.

Then she heard her Empress say in an extremely soft voice: “Xu Zhao, send for Shen Han.”