Genshin Impact: I, the Winter Prince, reign supreme.

The two children His Highness introduced to him had parents who died on the battlefield protecting wounded comrades. They were later adopted by Arecino and spent their entire childhood at the Hearth House. Today is the children's birthday, and also the anniversary of their parents' death.

His Highness the Prince told him that if these precious antiques and paintings could let the children know that someone cares about them as much as their biological parents do, and values ​​them even more than antiques and paintings, even if it is a form of spoiling, it would be the best comfort for their parents' spirits in heaven and the best way to nurture the children.

At that moment, he suddenly realized that this matter would soon spread, and every soldier on the battlefield would be willing to risk their lives because behind them was a great prince who would respect their sacrifice and take care of their descendants.

He then respectfully inquired of His Highness who the little boy riding on his shoulders was, but the prince smiled and said, "You're mistaken. Dotole is a beautiful girl. Due to a special condition, her hair contains a substance that can delay the spread of cancer cells. From birth, her hair was shaved off every time it grew out to save someone, and over time she became bald. When I first saw her, I thought she was a little boy, just like you. Who would have thought she was a little princess?"

The world is full of wonders. If what His Highness said is true, this little girl is practically a walking human medicine. Her hair can actually prolong the life of cancer patients. But there is no doubt that when the little girl grows up, she may have to be bald for the rest of her life, and she must always be careful to prevent being kidnapped or murdered by bad people with ulterior motives.

Since the little girl has been sent to the orphanage, her parents are obviously no longer alive. Then, we hear His Highness say that the child's parents were brutally murdered by thugs who broke into their home while trying to protect her. Dotoree, I have a suggestion. How about we all shave our heads together when we turn this world upside down?

The remaining children were ordinary, but because they were the children's childhood playmates, they were granted an exceptional private audience with His Highness. Years later, these children and their playmates would remember the incident of making a mess of His Highness's study and cherish their precious friendship. When they grew up, they would casually walk into some low-class but noisy tavern, drink strong liquor, and tell the strangers around them about this story with tears in their eyes.

At that moment, he respectfully knelt on one knee, biting his lip tightly, and uttered the slogan that everyone had to shout in unison every time they went to court at the Winter Palace: "For Winter, for Glory."

This time, the feeling was different from usual.

Upon hearing those eight words, the mischievous children instinctively knelt down with him. Even the little bald girl on the prince's neck quieted down, as if she had grown up in that instant. The four oldest children, who were about to be sent as spies, kowtowed deeply to the prince, then rushed over and hugged him, bursting into tears.

That day, he returned to the manor and sat at the dinner table, chatting casually with the old butler. He recounted how he had brought ten sliced ​​prosthetic bodies to see His Highness, only to be instantly exposed. He was utterly baffled, wondering how His Highness had managed to do it. Earlier, His Highness's study was filled with children, so he felt it inconvenient and awkward to ask.

The old steward opened his cloudy eyes and said, "His Highness the Prince treats you like family."

He was taken aback and asked why, but the old butler said, "Have the ten prosthetic bodies dissected." Then, after a few minutes, the old butler was able to identify the real bodies.

He was dejected. It was one thing for the prince to be so deceitful, but his proudly crafted clone had been so easily exposed by the old steward who knew nothing about elemental power. He began to doubt whether his past research had failed.

The old butler earnestly told him that while the ten prosthetic bodies looked and sounded exactly like the originals, there were subtle differences in their personalities, which technology couldn't compensate for. It was like a pair of newborn twins; outsiders often couldn't tell them apart, but a mother who loved her child and cared for them deeply could.

The old steward rolled up his sleeves and said with satisfaction, "His Highness the Prince values ​​you. You must perform well, sir."

He smiled and nodded.

Sometimes the simplest truths are the most persuasive.

After these two incidents, he began to unconditionally trust the caring old housekeeper.

[Doctor] After Dr. Dottore finished dinner, the old butler said while clearing the table, "Sir, a few people came this afternoon with an unfriendly tone. They said they were here to ask for money. You bought a batch of experimental equipment from the black market last time, and today is past the repayment period."

Dotole's eyes suddenly turned like a wolf's, fierce and cruel. "These black market loan sharks dare to come to my manor to demand money. It seems I have to go there myself."

Sensing the murderous aura emanating from him, the old steward advised, "You mustn't kill anyone. Although they are loan sharks, they are protected by imperial law. If you kill someone, you will be the one in the wrong. Besides, if this matter reaches His Highness the Prince, he will be disappointed in you."

[Doctor] Dottore picked up his coffee cup and said self-deprecatingly, "Being the executive officer of Winter's End is not easy. You live such a miserable and shabby life. I may not be able to pay your salary next month."

"Sir, you've provided me with food and clothing; I'm already content." One of the old housekeeper's dismissed colleagues had recently been found homeless, lying frozen on a park bench the next day. Without Dotole's shelter, she would probably have met the same fate.

Then, the old butler wiped away his tears, "[Doctor], you are as great as His Highness the Prince."

When Dotole returned from the Prince's Palace last time, he asked her to donate all of her family's savings, except for the necessary living expenses and the cost of purchasing experimental materials, to the welfare home.

His Highness allowed the children to "ruin" the various valuable antiques and paintings in the study. Besides showing his sincere love for the children, it also implied another meaning: His Highness was planning a desperate battle, so keeping those inanimate objects was of little use.

The battle against Tianli is a matter of life and death for the Dong Kingdom. If they are defeated, the country will be gone, and everything they own will be reduced to ashes by the war.

He was imitating His Highness the Prince in order to prepare for the decisive battle.

His Highness has returned from his mission to six countries; that war should begin soon!

Chapter 176 The Future Winter Queen

"The indiscriminate killing of innocent people must never be tolerated; this is an ironclad rule that the Winter Kingdom must abide by," the old steward said respectfully.

"[Doctor] Your Excellency, you've donated most of your wealth, and nobody knows about it. You seem embarrassed, so why don't you let me ask His Highness for help? I have a good relationship with that maid from the Prince's residence; we often run into each other at the market."

However, I guess you wouldn't agree, so I used your regular wages to buy a lottery ticket at the gambling den. I heard that His Highness is going to compete against the immortals of Liyue in a Go tournament, and I believe His Highness will win. After this competition, we'll have enough for half a year's living expenses.

Of course, even if I lose in the end, it's just the little money I saved for my coffin. I'm someone who hates trouble and doesn't like to cause trouble for others. If I die, just find a mat, wrap me up, and bury me somewhere where no one is around.

There's a mass grave outside the city. I've scouted it out a few times. People who died in battles during the winter often had nowhere to be buried, so they were all dumped there. The corpses nourished the land, and a large forest of maple leaves grew. It's not as beautiful as the flowers and plants in our manor, but it's a tranquil place.

[Doctor] Daughtore asked solemnly, "You don't seem to feel any fear of death at all, why is that?"

The old butler said with an optimistic smile, "The great war against the laws of nature is about to begin. People like me will only be a burden then. It's better for me to die early."

"How do you know the great battle is about to begin? I've never told you about these things," Dr. Daughtore asked in surprise.

The old steward looked at the long-closed study next door. "My lord, ever since His Highness the Prince publicly issued his manifesto against the laws of nature and called for the reconstruction of world order, you have never been to the study."

Dotole chuckled.

With the final battle imminent, he had no time for reading books or newspapers; at least, he couldn't remain calm and composed like His Highness the Prince, even in the face of a collapsing mountain. The Prince was truly a bookworm, while he read merely as a pretense of refinement, for amusement.

"After you pass away, I will bury you in the back garden, where I have worked my whole life and have many wonderful memories." Doctor Dotole thought to himself, this is probably the only thing he can give the old man.

The old housekeeper was stunned for a moment. Although he tried his best to control his emotions, tears still fell one by one like peeling beans.

Dotole added, “Don’t thank me yet. If I die before you, just like you told me, I’ll be wrapped up in a mat and buried in that mass grave outside the city.”

I made many mistakes in the first half of my life; I cruelly experimented on living people. I am a guilty person, but I haven't been judged yet only because I still have some value. You are a clean person, deserving to be buried in the back garden, but I am not.

"Oh, and my old steward. Don't bury me too far away. If we ultimately win, I'd like to see how His Highness will create a new golden age."

The old steward nodded blankly, for some reason the conversation between master and servant today carried a sense of impending death. However, this was just the tip of the iceberg; even the executor was making arrangements for his passing. It was likely that many ordinary families in the Winter Kingdom had already begun their preparations.

Doctor Daughtore sucked the remaining oil from his thumb and smiled, "The steak was quite good tonight, just a little too much black pepper."

That day, after finishing dinner with the old butler, [Doctor] Dottore took off his executor's uniform, changed into the white lab coat he usually wore for experiments, casually picked up a pot of black roses from the windowsill, and, smelling the fragrance, squinted his eyes and said:

"If I haven't come out of this potted plant, which has a three-month blooming period, then remember, never open the door yourself."

The old housekeeper then realized where that feeling of life and death had come from—it was because the "Doctor" was preparing to conduct a most dangerous research project. She said with immense worry:

"Sir, what should I do if you don't come out after three months?"

[Dottore]'s voice grew fainter as the laboratory door closed, "Go find His Highness. In three months, His Highness will surely return in triumph."

After cleaning the kitchen, the elderly housekeeper, who was tired of sleeping, watered the potted plants in the living room. Suddenly, he heard heavy footsteps coming from the yard, which were chaotic yet orderly.

Looking out the window, she saw guards in black armor carrying a large box into the courtyard amidst the wind and snow. The box wasn't very big; she could carry it by herself, but it took eight strong guards to lift it. Each step left a deep footprint in the snow.

The Black Armor Guard, a member of the Royal Guard, is responsible for protecting the safety of the palace. They are deeply trusted by Her Majesty the Queen, and each member is equipped with an Evil Eye, making them more powerful than any other guard. Naturally, the missions they carry out are also highly confidential and important.

The captain of the guard personally went upstairs to report, but considering that the melting snow on his boots might stain the carpets in the house, he stood respectfully in the hallway of the living room and said:

"[Doctor], I am here on the orders of the Commander to deliver the head of the Abyss Emperor. Please receive it. The Commander has instructed you to do so."

"Okay, move in."

From the void came the divine transmission of Doctor Dottore.

The soldiers moved in a neat and coordinated manner, and quickly carried the items inside.

With a loud clang, the people inside locked the heavy steel door.

The captain of the guard exchanged a few pleasantries with the old steward, but received a startling piece of information.

“Old steward, are you saying that the Doctor had already entered the laboratory before we arrived? So he knew we were coming in advance? That makes sense. Such a dangerous thing, only the Doctor is qualified to study it in the entire Winter Solstice Kingdom.”

The old steward asked with concern, "Is the head of the Abyss King in great danger?"

It was only after entering the room that they discovered the old butler was actually the only servant of the [Doctor], who ranked second among the executives. The captain of the guard felt it necessary to speak with her, and said with a solemn expression:

"The [Young Lady] and the [Servant] joined forces to narrowly defeat the Abyss Emperor. Please take good care of your mistress. Even though this head is inanimate, it is still extremely dangerous. The box that sealed the head is actually a specially made treasure that can withstand the impact of a demon god-level force. It will probably have to be destroyed for transportation this time. Please notify us immediately if there are any problems."

The old housekeeper dropped the watering can he was carrying to water the flowers onto the ground.

The captain of the guard, having completed his mission and preparing to leave, glanced around before departing and whispered a question:

"Old steward, may I ask you something? [Doctor]'s house is so shabby, with only you as the steward and not a single valuable item. [Doctor] has used all the wealth bestowed upon him by His Majesty for research, hasn't he?"

If you need help, I can pass on the message. Although His Highness the Prince is away on a diplomatic mission and the Empress is still in seclusion, Your Excellency has every authority to approve additional funding beyond the national budget.

The pale-faced old butler declined his offer, replying with a hint of tears in his voice:

"As the Doctor said, Her Majesty the Empress has given us enough over the years. Apart from developing the Evil Eye, we haven't produced any decent research results. So we absolutely cannot ask for it again."

Last time, the [Doctor] was so busy with his research that he forgot to attend court, and Her Majesty the Queen was furious, deserving severe punishment according to the law. When His Highness the Prince learned of this, he had a huge argument with Her Majesty, which was overheard by officials passing by the Winter Palace, who all fell silent in fear. The Queen later forgave the [Doctor] for his disrespect because His Highness the Prince had said that day that Dotoré's research was far more important than his ridiculous morning court session.

[Doctor] Your Excellency wishes to make outstanding contributions to the country, just like His Highness the Prince, so that you can enjoy better treatment with a clear conscience. You also do not want to disappoint His Highness.

Therefore, please do not report your family circumstances; this is the only way to maintain the dignity of the [Doctor].

Upon hearing this, the captain of the guard stood at attention, saluted towards the laboratory door, and then gave the order to his deputy:

"From today onwards, the manor is under complete lockdown. No one is allowed to enter or leave except for the old butler. Furthermore, all personnel on duty must bring their own rations and are not permitted to eat the food provided here!"

……

At dawn the next day, the blizzard that had been raging all night still hadn't stopped. Business travelers and office workers on the street kept uttering the words "damn weather," which was probably the most frequently mentioned word in the Winter Solstice Kingdom.

Before the Winter Kingdom, there were three things that were most famous: high-proof liquor, icy and snowy landscapes, and beautiful women with full figures.

The Kingdom of Winter is famous for its beautiful women, a fact well-known throughout the Teyvat continent. Not to mention the stunningly beautiful Ice Queen, whose beauty is unparalleled, all kinds of beauties are renowned in every country.

Once upon a time, on the list of the top ten beauties in Teyvat, the beauties of Winterfell Kingdom occupied five spots, while the other six kingdoms shared the remaining five spots; in the brothels of many countries, the most popular were also the girls from Winterfell Kingdom.

In terms of weather, 300 out of 365 days are cloudy, avoiding the scorching sun. In addition, the daily drinking water is pure natural snowmelt water rich in minerals, and the women often boil the snowmelt water for bathing at night, which has natural skin-beautifying effects, making their skin as white and tender as snowflakes.

As for food, they eat high-nutritional-value beef and mutton from the snow. Those young girls, still immature and not yet mature, are already curvaceous and alluring, destined to be devastating women when they grow up.

Nowadays, the three most famous things in Zhidong Kingdom are Prince Zhidong, the Prince's mansion, and the books that record the Prince's great achievements. In short, the person who is most talked about is His Highness the Prince.

Having awakened prematurely after consuming the elixir from Her Majesty the Queen's treasury, the young woman Columbia, as usual, changed into casual clothes and went out on the street early in the morning.

This is the happiest moment of her day. In the vegetable market where elderly women gather, in front of the steaming breakfast shop, and in the clothing store frequented by young girls, she can always hear all sorts of people discussing His Highness the Prince, all of them praising him.

There were also things that made her feel depressed after hearing them, such as the beloved daughter of a duke who lived not far away. She had been deeply loved by His Majesty since she was a child. His Majesty would always place her on his lap during morning court sessions. Last year, a grand coming-of-age ceremony was held, and the Queen left the palace early to attend the celebration.

Today, the duke's daughter, dressed in a magnificent mink coat with a train that required two or three maids to hold her up so she could walk properly, was parading through the streets instead of riding in a perfectly good carriage, clearly to flaunt her illustrious family background.

Following behind her were the children of several other powerful figures, who followed her every command and, in an attempt to curry favor with her, even claimed that she was the future Princess of Zhidong.

The duke's daughter was very humble, calling him "brother prince" affectionately, leading those who didn't know better to think that the two had an unusual relationship.

This cunning and scheming duke's daughter once took advantage of the fact that His Highness the Prince and several generals who had returned victorious from the border were gathered in the royal gardens, talking about state affairs all night and drinking heavily. After they were drunk in the VIP room in the palace, she secretly slipped into the bed in the middle of the night. As a result, His Highness the Prince didn't even touch her once all night.

After daybreak, His Highness summoned the young woman, Columbia, into the room and said, "She is a girl, and she is easily embarrassed. Please help me persuade her to do what she should and shouldn't do, so as not to break the rules." The duke's daughter, who was hiding under the covers, was so embarrassed that she covered her face and hurriedly ran out of the door.

Passing by the red paper with black lettering, the news of slaying the Abyss Emperor last night was being widely publicized to the public. Many people gathered around to watch, and after seeing it, they all cheered and praised the two executive officers, the "Girl" and the "Servant," for being as capable as any man.

Whenever she heard all sorts of praise, she would just smile calmly. To paraphrase what His Highness the Prince used to say, "Who doesn't like to hear compliments? You should be arrogant when you need to be, but don't get carried away."

As she passed a newly opened shop, she stopped and decided to go in and take a look.

The shop wasn't fully renovated yet; some workers were busy working on ladders nearby, and the shelves were filled with a dazzling array of goods. Many customers were at the counter, listening to the enthusiastic shop owner give a detailed introduction to the products.