Main Port of the Medang Kingdom — Noon
The crowd roared with celebration.
Banners of Medang and the Yi Dynasty fluttered side by side.
Honor guards lined the pier in perfect formation.
And then — Chen descended from the ship.
Clad in blazing red silk, holding a dragon fan that lit up on its own.
Whispers broke out immediately.
"That's the envoy?"
"Why does he look like he's about to join a dance parade?"
"I heard he can make people faint just by reading poetry?"
Sri Descends — Straight-Faced, Soul-Drained
She stepped down, head slightly bowed, her hand in Chen's.
She wore her modified Medang battle kebaya — still elegant, still lethal.
But her face... was pure exhaustion.
Why?
Because for seven days at sea:
Chen demanded to be spoon-fed every meal.Asked her to reread his own love poems aloud.Wanted her to comb his hair a hundred times a day.And every night… well, you can imagine. 😏
At one point, Sri muttered to Han Yue:
"If I'd known being Chen's wife meant being his spiritual endurance trainer,
I'd have stayed single as Senapati."
Han Yue replied dryly:
"A wise decision… made far too late."
The Great Hall — Official Audience with the King of Medang
The King studied Chen sharply.
"I've heard… quite a lot about you, Prince."
Chen smiled, utterly unbothered.
"Everything said about me is exaggerated.
Except the part that I love Sri more than my own life — that one's accurate."
The King rubbed his temples.
"Senapati Sri… are you all right?"
Sri nodded calmly — though beneath her shawl, her fingers gripped a metal hairpin.
Just in case Chen decided to get handsy in front of royalty.
Chen Presents the Official Imperial Letter
With full ceremony, Chen handed over a scroll from the Emperor of Yi.
Contents:
Official appointment of Chen Lu Han as Permanent Ambassador of the Yi Dynasty to Medang.Formal request for the demotion of Senapati Anom Sri Ardaya,
"in the interest of bilateral safety and emotional stability."
The King read in silence, then looked at Sri.
Sri: "…"
The King sighed deeply.
"I once demoted a soldier for failing a mission.
But this time… I demote one for being loved too much."
Royal Council — Discussion of Sri's New Role
Minister of Internal Affairs:
"Perhaps she can continue teaching military tactics?"
Chen immediately interjected:
"Agreed — but only for trainees under fifteen.
And classes limited to one hour a week."
Minister of Security:
"Isn't that a bit too light for a former commander?"
Chen added smoothly:
"Also, I request her training ground be at least thirty meters away from any muscular men.
And guarded by Han Yue, twenty-four hours a day."
Han Yue (internally):
"I barely survived their honeymoon. Don't give me extra shifts."
Sri and Raka — A Talk Under the Evening Sky
Sri watched the sunset.
Raka stood beside her.
"I never thought my rank would be taken this way."
Raka gave a crooked smile.
"And I never thought I'd have to call your husband 'Lord Duke'
while watching him stick jasmine flowers into an arrow chest."
Sri's New Life: Wife, Teacher, and Daily Target of Affection
Now Sri lived in the official residence of the Yi Ambassador in Medang.
Each morning began the same:
"Srimaduuu~ I made you breakfast! A South Chinese recipe… that failed spectacularly!"
In the kitchen —
Chen stood proudly in a see-through apron,
holding a smoking pan and what used to be vegetables.
In the garden —
Chen planted 108 jasmine flowers spelling the line:
你若执拗到底,
我便爱你到天荒地老.
"If you insist on being stubborn,
then I'll insist on loving you until the end of time."
That night, Sri sat alone on the balcony,
watching Chen cradle a stray kitten, shouting toward the moon:
"Srimadu! Look! I found new recruits for our household army!"
Sri sighed, shaking her head with a smile.
"He's the ambassador from hell…
but also… a man who loves me more than I love myself."
She looked up at the glowing moon —
and for once,
smiled without armor.