My sister is Luna

"Cain has arrived—" came the eunuch's high-pitched voice from outside the palace.

"I'll escort Lord Cain this far. This is His Majesty's bedchamber. I hope you won't disrespect me, as His Majesty's wrath is not something anyone can withstand." Upon reaching the entrance, the eunuch spoke cautiously, his face filled with reverence.

“You’re overthinking it, Father-in-law. I don’t have the courage or the ability.” As he spoke, Cain walked into the main hall.

The main hall was dark and gloomy, with only faint candlelight illuminating it. Beside each candle flame, one or two maids carefully tended to it, as if guarding the last remaining light.

At the far end of the hall stood a large bed, upon which the Queen lay languidly, her form barely concealed. She wore a thin silk robe that subtly revealed her alluring figure, while a woman with a seductive smile lay beside her. Wu Zetian, her eyes closed, was taking a nap, seemingly unaware of Cain's arrival.

Numerous palace maids surrounded her, some gently fanning her, the breeze causing her nightgown to flutter softly; others stood by, holding a plate of glistening, translucent fruit; still others massaged her shoulders with practiced, gentle touches.

"Cain greets Your Majesty." Cain stopped at the steps beneath the large bed and bowed.

He lowered his eyes and didn't look up. The other party was the Empress, and a being at the King level. He should show her the respect due to her. Besides, he would need her help later, so he should make a good impression.

"Kain, you've finally arrived. It's been several days since we last met. Are you settling in comfortably in Chang'an?" Wu Zetian asked, her eyes half-open, as she lazily looked at Kain standing below.

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am very comfortable here. I have also learned a lot about Chang'an these past few days. It is indeed a prosperous city. The world is now revolving around Chang'an." Cain flattered him subtly.

"Do you know why I summoned you here today?" Wu Zetian smiled, a gesture that could be considered an appreciation of Cain's flattery.

"I don't know."

"It's about the two vampires you defeated today. By the way, do you know anything about vampires?" Wu Zetian sat up from the bed, looking down at Cain with an air of authority in her eyes.

"I know a little bit. Vampires enjoy eating human flesh and blood and have the ability to transform humans into vampires," Cain said after thinking for a while.

"That's right. The origin of the vampires is unknown, but they first appeared in Xuan Yong, where a vampire plague broke out. The surrounding areas of Xuan Yong were devastated, and it even spread to the Heluo region of the Tang Dynasty. It took a lot of effort to eliminate them, but they were not eradicated. Their vitality is very strong, and they have even established a nest on an island in the Dongfeng Sea, which frequently harasses the coastal areas."

"I thought that since the empire was located in Heluo, thousands of miles away from Xuanyong, and even more thousands of miles away from the vampire's lair, there was no trace of vampires within its borders, so we didn't have to worry. But I never expected that these vampires would still manage to wander into or remain in our Great Tang. It's truly hateful. I thank you for eliminating them."

"It was nothing, nothing to mention," Cain said modestly.

"Hahaha, what a small favor, what a trivial matter. I am growing to admire you more and more. However, vampires are not a trivial matter. Once they spread, the losses will be severe. Don't be too modest. Excessive modesty is just a form of arrogance, isn't it, Cain?"

Wu Zetian laughed heartily, her trembling body causing the maids serving her to scramble in a flurry of activity.

“Yes, I understand,” Cain nodded in response.

"I have said that merit should be rewarded. Last time you saved the Great Wall, I rewarded you with ten thousand taels of gold. You should have been promoted to a general, but you refused. What should I reward you with this time? Solving a potential threat is also a great achievement."

"I can't think of anything to reward you with. You already have enough money, and you don't want an official position. It really puts me in a difficult position. Cain, what do you want?" Wu Zetian frowned, her eyes fixed on Cain, trying to read his expression.

“I wish to visit the Jixia Academy, and I hope Your Majesty can sponsor me,” Cain said, knowing the time was right.

"Oh? Jixia Academy, is it because of your health problem? I heard about it from Sun Simiao, and I feel very sorry. Don't worry, I will sponsor you."

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” Cain said with a smile.

"Oh, by the way, I happen to need some help from the Jixia Academy. Could you pass on a message for me?" Wu Zetian said, as if she had just remembered something.

"But before that, I would like to take you somewhere. Would you be willing?"

“Of course, Your Majesty.” Cain relaxed and couldn’t help but raise his head.

"Wait a moment, I'm going to change my clothes." With that, the maids made way for Wu Zetian, who got off the bed and walked briskly into the inner palace.

What... what did I just see? Wow, it was so round, and it looked so soft... No, I can't think about it anymore. It would be terrible if I were discovered. Calm down, thank goodness... Thank goodness... I didn't see anything...

The instant Wu Zetian rose, Cain seemed to see something he shouldn't have. His face flushed slightly, his heart pounded, and his blood rushed to his head. He tried his best to appear normal and walked stiffly out of the hall.

……

This is a temple, unlike the luxurious and magnificent Xingchen Temple, or the bustling Sacred Beast Temple. Here, there is only ruin and desolation, withered leaves fluttering in the wind, and a solitary stone tablet standing alone. The thick layer of dust shows its long history and also indicates that no one has ever cared for it.

"Your Majesty, where is this?" Cain asked, looking at the ancient temple with a puzzled expression. He secretly had some guesses in his mind.

"Ganye Temple, this is where I rose to power, and where he rests in peace." Wu Zetian's eyes were complex, and her voice was filled with deep emotion.

"Everyone knows that Jiang Ziya, the ancient god-conferring master, was unparalleled in the world. He was a demigod who even kings had to look up to. He was one of the strongest forces after the death of the true god, and he protected the once weak humans from the rampant invasion of the demons."

"Everyone says he went into seclusion after humanity matured, living a carefree life, but they don't know he's always been here, sealed here by me and others, in this small world of a temple. This can be considered a kind of seclusion, even though I can't feel anything," Wu Zetian said with a hint of sarcasm.

"Your Majesty, tell me this is..."

“That’s right, Cain. Now that you know the truth about this matter, you can no longer remain uninvolved and keep to yourself. I need to keep a close eye on you to prevent you from letting something slip one day.” Wu Zetian smiled as she looked at Cain.

"Then what you asked me to bring before..." Cain suddenly realized that he had fallen into a trap.

"That's right, it was a lie. I thought you would be more cautious, but you agreed right away. You're really naive." Wu Zetian smiled, a hint of cunning in her eyes.

"Your Majesty, why are you so fixated on me..." Cain smiled bitterly, puzzled.

"Let's leave that aside for now," Wu Zetian said with a mysterious smile.

"Instead of that, would you like to hear my story?"

"Kain is all ears."

……