My Beautiful Duchess Wife

"Huh? Elements?"

Lin Peng was stunned, not understanding what the little girl was talking about. At the same time, the moment he entered, he also felt exceptionally comfortable. It was as if spiritual energy was flowing into his body.

"This...you don't know what elements are?" The little girl's lips twitched slightly, genuinely bewildered. From the beginning, she didn't know why she appeared in the abyss. She also didn't know why she was so strong. And, moreover, she could eat fire. Now...she didn't even know what elements were. All of this was far too unbelievable.

Lin Peng accidentally let something slip again. His brow furrowed, then gave a wry smile: "To be honest, I still don't understand who I am. I only remember that my name is Lin Peng! Everything else seems to be forgotten. It's like this world has become a stranger to me! Heh... Believe it or not, anyway... that's just how I am!"

Little Angelina was slightly taken aback, seemingly actually believing it. Looking at the somewhat sympathetic look on Angelina's face, a barely perceptible, eerie smile flashed across Lin Peng's lips. "Heh heh... it's only right to lie to people occasionally! Otherwise, they'd really think I'm an alien!" he thought to himself, then looked up at the full moon in the sky.

"I wonder if the moon in my hometown is still this round now!" Lin Peng suddenly sighed, his eyes dimming slightly. After taking a deep breath, he smiled.

I used to love looking at the moon just as much. But now, it seems I'll never have the chance to see the moon as it used to be. However, the moon in this world is truly exceptionally round. Heh... forever, always round like this.

When you're far from home, a full moon always evokes a feeling of homesickness. But Lin Peng's situation is tragic. In this world, a full moon is visible every night, so…

However, little Angelina was a bit confused. Frowning her small, curved eyebrows, she asked, "Does the moon where you live have other shapes?" She looked at Lin Peng blankly; clearly, he had let something slip again.

Lin Peng's mouth gaped open, then he frowned before laughing, "Do you believe that there once was a world with a sun and a moon? But the sun only rose during the day, while the moon appeared at night..."

Just as she was about to explain, the little girl Angelina quickly stopped, scoffing, "Isn't this the human world? Hmph... The human world is embraced by light. It's just a bunch of hypocritical humans under the sun."

However, Lin Peng was utterly shocked to hear this. The human world… then… this world also has humans? Or rather, humans, like the demon realm, exist in this world!

"This... how do you know about the human world!" Lin Peng suddenly became interested in this topic. Of course, as a human being, he would naturally be interested in this topic.

Angelina tilted her head, staring intently at Lin Peng. Her gaze was extremely serious, yet also held a hint of doubt.

"Speaking of which, you're more like a human. You don't have the characteristics of a demon, but demons don't have black hair and black eyes like you. Similarly, it seems there aren't any humans like that either. And... you don't have that aura unique to demons. Heh... who exactly are you? And why do you know about the human world?"

The little girl slowly stood up, gazing at the bright moon in the sky. But suddenly, her eyes dimmed, as if she had thought of something sad. Gradually, her chin furrowed slightly, and her shoulders shrugged. A silent sob began, and it came even faster.

My knowledge of the human world stemmed from my family. After all, my family was incredibly powerful and influential back then. And… perhaps, it was that human treasure that truly led to my family's destruction!

But... it seems this man also has a big secret! It's just... like me, he doesn't want to tell me! Hmm... I don't want to be like him either!

Lin Peng's heart softened instantly. He looked up, pulled the little girl close to his chest, and said, "If you're going to cry, cry loudly. Let out all your resentment, all your anger, all your sadness in one go. Let yourself... find the greatest comfort in your cries. Hehe... Actually, I want to cry too!"

"You're a grown man, how dare you cry!" The little girl choked back tears, her big eyes glistening with them. She just stared at Lin Peng!

"Men can cry, it's not a sin..."

When the bold singing began, the little girl stared blankly at Lin Peng. Tonight was exceptionally quiet, but also... exceptionally warm!

Chapter Nine: The Frustrated City Official

Time can change everything; everything can be resolved by time. For example, Jess is currently quite annoyed. He's only been gone for three days, but the changes since his return have been enormous.

First of all, his reputation in Darkmoon City was as bad as a rat's. Then... for some reason, the allied families who were originally on good terms with him suddenly looked at him like he was a traitor.

What's most infuriating is that now... this Grand Duke actually wants to host a banquet for me. Isn't this just blatantly mocking me?

His fists clenched tightly, he glanced at his capable assistant beside him, and said, "Prepare the carriage, we're going to the palace immediately!"

Fowles, standing beside him, was slightly taken aback. It was the first time he had seen his master so angry. However, he could only pretend to be nonchalant. It had been so long since he had seen such a situation.

It seems that there was such a time when I was still in the capital.

But... in such a small city, this situation has occurred again! It seems that this Duke is not just a woman. Perhaps she is someone like the Empress of the Moon Demon Realm.

The carriage quickly passed through the city and arrived at the central palace. However, as they passed through streets and residential areas, Jess almost unleashed his murderous intent.

The whispers always reached his ears. And that wasn't all... What was most infuriating was that they even claimed he had caused the annual beast tide in Darkmoon City by involving the Beast King's daughter.

"Is...this possible?" Not to mention Jess, even Fowles next to him looked at Jess with a strange expression. After all, if this situation were really said, it did seem to make some sense.

Ever since the master arrived, there have been constant beast tides. And each time, the master is never in this place. Therefore… there's a very clear reason why they shouldn't be appearing.

"Fowles, do you think the Duke summoning me this time might be related to this matter?" Jess's icy gaze swept over, making Fowles tremble slightly. As Jess's strategist, Fowles frowned, considering the cause and effect.

His deep gaze drifted towards the carriage, a carriage several levels above even those belonging to the Duke's household. Of course, this also signified Jess's status: the Prime Minister of the Dark Empire, the eldest son of the Brans family.

It's safe to say that getting that position is a certainty.

So... why are these commoners so reckless as to offend their own masters?

"There's only one reason: this was definitely instigated by the Duke. And... those rumors, perhaps she was the one who started them. This time... to be honest, I don't know what the Duke's purpose is!" Fowles sighed slightly. It seemed that while the Duke was somewhat unfathomable before, he couldn't possibly be this formidable!

Jess was taken aback. After thinking it over, he realized it was indeed true. He nodded slightly, then narrowed his eyes. His once handsome face now contorted with a ferocious expression: "Hmph... So what if I did it? Heh heh, the family has already made arrangements here! Perhaps, soon this place will just be ruins. We came here only to seek refuge. That kid did a perfect job last time. He was spotless, and we almost fell for his trick. Hmph, I don't know what Father was thinking. Sending that kid to a place like Fudi City!"

Fowles was startled, unsure whether his master truly trusted him or had inadvertently revealed some secrets due to sudden anger. A thought flashed through his mind, and he looked out of the carriage. Suddenly, Jess seemed to realize his mistake, coughed, and turned to look outside the carriage.

Darkmoon City wasn't large; the carriage journey took only a quarter of an hour to reach the so-called palace gates. Jess alighted from the carriage, his previously gloomy expression now gone. Smiling, he looked at Lundy, who came out to greet him, and said, "Why has Captain Lundy personally come to greet me today? Hmm… I wonder, what business does His Excellency the Duke have with me?"

"You'll find out once you go in!" Lundy said calmly and respectfully before turning and leading the way inside.

Jess and Fowles exchanged a glance, then snorted and walked into the palace.

Actually, the palace is quite large. The plaza inside could easily accommodate an army of at least tens of thousands. However, whether due to long-term neglect or other reasons, the palace looks extremely dilapidated.

After passing through the plaza and the houses in front, we arrived at the palace gardens. It was just the beginning of spring in the Demon Realm. Of course, spring in the Demon Realm simply meant it didn't snow. It was still just as cold! And because there was no snow, the cold weather combined with the dampness of spring made it feel exceptionally chilly.

In the garden, the stream had just begun to flow again, so you could tell from the sound that it was only trickling. In the garden, a long table was laden with food. The Duke was seated at the head of the table.

To the Duke's left sat, surprisingly, the Princess. This puzzled Jess; these two sworn enemies were supposed to start arguing the moment they met. What was going on here?

Not to mention Jess, even Fowles was somewhat stunned. They even forgot about the important matter of greeting each other.

The Duke had obviously seen it too. He snorted coldly, glanced at Fowles, and said, "Are all the city officials so rude these days? They don't even bow to me, the Duke!"

The princess chuckled charmingly, "The city official must have been stunned by my sister's beauty. Don't you think so? Hehehe..."

The voice, almost like a coquettish plea, made Jess immediately realize what was going on. After clearing his throat, he smiled and said, "Of course, beauties like His Excellency the Duke and His Highness the Princess are truly captivating! Hehe... City Officer Jess greets His Excellency the Duke and His Highness the Princess!"

The moment Jess knelt, his eyes lit up. He thought to himself: One day, I'll make both of you beg for mercy at my feet. Hmph... Even in the capital, when I entered the palace to see His Majesty, I've never knelt.

Fowles, who was following Jess, also quickly knelt down to pay his respects.

Duke Shia nodded slightly and turned to look at the other side of the garden. At that moment, two people slowly walked towards the end of the garden corridor. One was older than the other, a young man and a child. The young man wore a rather rustic-looking, but dark-colored, robe. The little girl, on the other hand, was dressed quite adorably.

Two little braids pointing skyward, coupled with a face so exquisite it could be compared to a divine gift. Any woman who sees her will be instantly overwhelmed with childlike wonder and maternal love.

Jess and Fowles exchanged a glance, somewhat puzzled as to what the Duke was doing all this for. Now, to bring here two people he'd never met before, and who were definitely not from any powerful faction… what was the purpose?

"Your Grace, Your Highness." The people who arrived were none other than Lin Peng and the little girl Angelina. They stepped forward and knelt to pay their respects. However, Lin Peng seemed particularly reluctant to kneel.

Such a thing didn't exist in the past. Moreover, Lin Peng had always firmly believed that a man's knees were worth their weight in gold and he should never kneel before anyone lightly. And now, the people kneeling before him were actually two women.

Even though it's just kneeling on one knee, it's still something you only do when proposing.

Sia and Eileen exchanged a glance, then Princess Eileen smiled slightly and said, "Please sit down. Hehe... There's nothing much going on today, but my sister suddenly said that we've made up, so we asked City Officer Jess to be our witness. Let's have a meal together! As for this..."

“My personal advisor!” Sia didn’t want to waste any more words with Jess and said it directly.

Jess had just sat down when his heart skipped a beat. At the same time, he glanced at Fowles, wanting to get his opinion and see if it was possible that this man was behind it all.

Fowles' gaze was fixed entirely on Lin Peng. His black hair and black eyes, in this setting, possessed an eerie quality. Especially when Fowles looked at Lin Peng, he felt as if he were being drawn into his gaze.

Lin Peng, meanwhile, smiled as he looked at Fowles. Both their smiles carried a hint of calm.

"I've heard so much about you. I first heard of Fowles' name back in the capital. Heh... It's all thanks to Lord Fowles' report. Otherwise, we wouldn't have been able to send more men to defend the city walls so quickly. If this wave of beasts had broken through, then... heh... the consequences would have been unimaginable!"

Lin Peng's expression seemed genuinely convinced. Xia and Eileen were initially taken aback, then thanked Fowles as well. Fowles' face turned green. Jess, standing nearby, looked at Fowles suspiciously.

"This is just my duty. Hehe...hehe..." Fowles smiled slightly, then winked at Jess. At the same time, a glint of shrewdness flashed in his eyes. His gaze towards Lin Peng was filled with resentment.

This guy is definitely the kind of person who instigates other families to turn against his master. Also… why haven't I seen someone like this in Darkmoon City before?

The meal was entirely hypocritical. Everyone, from top to bottom, wore polite smiles. Of course, this smile excluded Duke Shia. It was truly remarkable that such an icy beauty could be made to smile.

After Jess and Fowles got into the carriage and left, Eileen couldn't help but laugh out loud again: "Ah! Hehe! Heh... You little rascal, you're really cunning. Just now, Jess's expression when he looked at Fowles was really strange."

Xia glanced at Lin Peng again to express her gratitude.

"It's nothing. With Fowles' abilities, it shouldn't be a big deal. Hmm... Next, we need to spread the word that this City Officer Jess came to the palace for dinner and was chatting and laughing. Hmm... I believe many of the guards here are spies for other families. Don't rush to tell anyone; let them figure out how to spread the word themselves. Of course, this is also a good opportunity to eliminate the spies within the palace! Hehe... Now, we need to put into practice the method of sending people to the Abyss. Hmm... Of course, the people you send out must be reliable. And they must be strong!"

Sia and Eileen nodded simultaneously, their smiles masking a strange glint in their eyes as they looked at Lin Peng. Someone like him, no matter where he was, should be quite famous. Why… had they never heard of him before!

Chapter Ten: A Blessing in Disguise

This was the first time Lin Peng had ventured out since moving into the palace. He had to admit, the night in the Demon Realm was exceptionally captivating. Only one moon remained, casting a long, bright shadow. Holding Angelina's delicate, boneless hand, he felt an indescribable sense of ease. In the palace, although the food and lodging were excellent, and he could even frequently see two stunningly beautiful women...

However, the indescribable sense of oppression still made Lin Peng feel uncomfortable.

"By the way, little Angelina, how did you survive all those years of wandering?" Lin Peng asked, bored. The streets were nearly deserted at night. The only people around were a few drunkards and beggars huddled together, shivering from the cold.

Angelina frowned slightly; she disliked Lin Peng adding a "little" before her name. Turning to the beggars by the roadside, she smiled slightly: "Look at them, they've still survived! At least they're alive now!"

Lin Peng froze, standing rooted to the spot. He tightened his grip on Angelina's hand and sighed, "Yes, at least they're still alive!" With that, he released Angelina's hand and slowly walked towards the beggar.

He took two dark gold coins from his purse and tossed them in front of the beggar. Turning to Angelina, he smiled, as if to say, "As long as I'm here, this situation could never happen to you."

At that very moment, a glint of light seemed to flash in the beggar's eyes. It then vanished into his murky gaze, as if he were still staring blankly. Angelina's crescent-shaped eyes narrowed, and she smiled.

"Hehe...you guys seem to be having a lot of fun! Why don't you...tell me, and make me happy too?" At this moment, a burly man reeking of alcohol emerged from the tavern. He staggered to Lin Peng's side and said in a drunken, slurred manner.

Angelina's lips curled into a smirk; she disliked the smell of alcohol on men. In the demon realm, such men were nothing but trash. A truly powerful man was one who maintained a clear head at all times.

That's how that man raised her from a young age.

However, Lin Peng clearly didn't have that habit. He shook his head helplessly, patted the drunkard on the shoulder, and said, "Brother, you've had too much to drink. Why don't you go home and sleep with your wife?"

The drunkard swayed his head, grabbed Lin Peng's hand with one hand, and slowly got up, using the other to support himself. His movements were so natural that even Lin Peng couldn't find any flaws. But the opposite happened; a sudden, scorching flame erupted.

Without warning, without even time to react, the drunkard began frantically slapping and hitting himself, seemingly in great distress. Lin Peng, whose entire body was engulfed in flames, was sent flying by a slap, crashing into the wall and leaving spiderweb-like marks.

The drunkard's limbs slowly stiffened under the heat of the flames, and he collapsed to the ground. The temperature of the flames seemed extremely high; the moment he fell, he turned to ashes. Angelina's crescent-shaped eyes were wide open, seemingly still reeling from the shock.

The old beggar, however, suddenly jumped up, crying out, "Help! Murder! Help!" His aged, hoarse voice was incredibly powerful, instantly attracting everyone in the tavern!

Angelina also woke up in that instant and rushed towards Lin Peng, crying out.

However, even as the old beggar shouted, he couldn't hide the astonishment in his eyes. Because, not only was Lin Peng completely unharmed, but even more shockingly, all the flames had vanished without a trace!

Angelina was already leaning over, watching Lin Peng nervously. Her eyes trembled slightly before she finally breathed a sigh of relief. Lin Peng's breathing was even, and there were no signs of injury. Moreover, the clothes that should have been burned were now completely intact.

It's fair to say that if it weren't for the real Lin Peng lying on the ground, the little girl might have thought she was dreaming.

After a series of screams, the old beggar slowly stopped, frowning as he looked towards Lin Peng. Meanwhile, the demons from the tavern had already appeared on the street.

Looking at the ashes scattered on the ground, and beyond the wall, at what appeared to be a "weak" demon and a little girl who looked like a dark elf, a sense of utter bewilderment washed over him.