Date with Zhenyue

Zenki woke up early, his mind still buzzing with excitement over his upcoming date with Zhenyue. He had never been on a date before, and the thought of spending time alone with her made him both nervous and thrilled.

He got out of bed and started getting ready, choosing a simple outfit that would allow him to blend in with the commoners. He didn't want to draw attention to himself or risk being recognized by anyone who might try to spy on them.

As he finished getting dressed, he heard a knock on his door. It was Zhang Liang, his most trusted advisor and friend.

"Your Majesty, is everything all right?" Zhang Liang asked.

Zenki smiled nervously. "I'm going on a date with Zhenyue today, and I don't want anyone to know about it except you, keep it a secret "

Zhang Liang chuckled. "Of course, Your Majesty. I will make sure that no one finds out."

Zenki breathed a sigh of relief and thanked him. He then headed out to meet Zhenyue, who was waiting for him outside the palace gates.

As Zenki met Zhenyue outside the palace gates, he couldn't help but feel his heart race at the sight of her. She was wearing a light blue blouse that complemented her creamy skin and a flowing skirt that swished around her ankles as she walked. Her hair was tied up in a loose bun, and a few strands of hair framed her face, making her look more beautiful than ever. Zenki couldn't help but stare at her in awe.

"Wow, you look beautiful," Zenki said, still taken aback by her appearance.

Zhenyue blushed at the compliment, "Thank you, Zenki. You look handsome too."

Zenki couldn't help but feel a little self-conscious in his simple clothes, but Zhenyue's compliment made him feel a little more confident. They walked hand in hand through the bustling streets of Castletown, exploring the local shops and sampling different foods from street vendors.

As they walked, Zenki couldn't help but ask, "Zhenyue, you seem to know a lot about the commoners and their struggles. Have you always been interested in their lives?"

Zhenyue smiled, "Yes, I have. Growing up, I spent a lot of time with my maid, who was a former commoner. She often went into the villages to help those in need, and I would come with her if i get the chance. I saw firsthand the hardships that many of these people face, and it inspired me to want to help them in any way I can."

Zenki nodded, impressed by her compassion and dedication. "You truly have a kind heart, Zhenyue. I'm glad to have you by my side."

Zhenyue smiled, "And I'm glad to be here with you, Zenki."

As the sun began to set, Zenki suggested they head to a nearby park for their picnic. They found a secluded spot under a tree and spread out a blanket. Zhenyue pulled out a small woven basket, revealing a delicious spread of food and drinks.

"This looks amazing, Zhenyue," Zenki said, taking in the delicious aroma of the food.

Zhenyue smiled, "I'm glad you like it. I wanted to make something special for us."

The breeze blew gently, causing Zhenyue's hair to dance around her face. She looked radiant in the soft glow of the setting sun, and Zenki couldn't take his eyes off her. They laughed and shared stories, enjoying each other's company as they munched on their food. Zenki watched as Zhenyue's eyes sparkled with amusement, her smile infectious.

"I can't believe you've never tried roasted chestnuts before," Zhenyue chuckled, handing Zenki a small, warm package.

Zenki eagerly took a bite, savoring the nutty flavor. "Mmm, these are delicious. Thank you for introducing me to them."

Zhenyue's cheeks flushed with pleasure at Zenki's compliment. "It's my pleasure. I always enjoy trying new foods, and it's even better when I get to share them with someone."

As they talked and ate, Zenki couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth and affection towards Zhenyue. He knew he had never felt this way before, and it was both exhilarating and nerve-wracking.

"I'm so glad we did this," Zenki said, taking Zhenyue's hand. "I feel like I'm experiencing a whole new side of life with you."

Zhenyue smiled warmly at him, her eyes shining with affection. "I feel the same way. It's been a wonderful day, and I can't wait to see what adventures we'll have next."

As they sat there enjoying their picnic, Zhenyue suddenly became quiet, a serious expression on her face. Sensing her change in mood, Zenki asked, "Is something troubling you, Zhenyue?"

Zhenyue let out a deep sigh before speaking, "Zenki, I must confess my worries to you. I fear that when the other empresses return, you may revert to your former ways, and our precious time together will become nothing but a memory."

Zenki gently took her hand and looked into her eyes, "Zhenyue, I understand your concerns, but I want to assure you that my feelings for you are true and genuine. The changes I have made in myself are permanent, and I will not let anyone or anything interfere with what we have together. I promise to cherish and protect this special bond between us, no matter what." Zenki's words filled Zhenyue's heart with warmth and reassurance.

Zhenyue smiled, feeling reassured by Zenki's words. She leaned in and kissed him on the cheek, grateful for this moment of peace and happiness amidst the chaos of their duties.

As the sun set behind them, Zenki and Zhenyue finished their meal and began to walk back towards the palace gates, their hands intertwined. Zenki knew that he had made the right decision in asking Zhenyue out on a date, and he couldn't wait to see what the future held for the two of them.

As the night grew darker, Zenki walked Zhenyue back to the palace gates, feeling a sense of sadness that their date was coming to an end.

"Thank you for a wonderful day, Zhenyue. I had a great time," Zenki said, his voice filled with sincerity.

Zhenyue smiled, "I did too, Zenki. We should do this again sometime."

Zenki nodded, feeling his heart skip a beat at the thought of seeing her again. "Yes, we definitely should."

As they said their goodbyes, Zenki couldn't help but feel a little confused about what to do next. He had never been on a date before, and he wasn't sure how to proceed. But he knew one thing for sure, he wanted to see Zhenyue again and continue to get to know her better.

A week had passed since his date with Zhenyue, and Zenki had been focused on building a concrete plan for establishing the Internal Affairs Bureau. But something else was also on his mind: his cultivation progress. With the help and guidance of Liu Yong, as well as the pills provided by Lian Yaoshi, Zenki's cultivation had finally reached Beginner Core Formation. He felt a sense of pride in his accomplishment, knowing that it was the result of his hard work and dedication.

But that wasn't all. Zenki had also discovered a new ability. He could now harness the power of fire, indicating that he had fire elemental energy. It was a thrilling discovery, and Zenki couldn't help but feel excited at the possibilities it presented. He knew that in this world, a person could only possess one kind of element, except for special individuals like Mengting, who had the rare Primordial Physique that allowed her to use every kind of element possible.

As Zenki reflected on his progress, he couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude towards those who had helped him along the way. He knew that he had much more to learn and achieve, but for now, he was content with how far he had come.

The next day, Zenki surprised Zhang Wei by asking for a sparring session, as Zhang Wei was not aware that Zenki had started his cultivation journey and made progress. Zenki wanted to test his new cultivation level and become more familiar with his new fire elemental power during the session.

As the sparring session began, Zenki immediately channeled his internal elemental energy, summoning flames from his palms. He circled around Zhang Wei, who was casually dodging his attacks. Zenki unleashed a barrage of fireballs at Zhang Wei, who easily sidestepped each one.

Zhang Wei chuckled. "You've improved your majesty, but you still have a long way to go," he said, throwing a punch at Zenki. Zenki blocked it with his palm, and he could feel the heat radiating from his hand.

The two continued to exchange blows, with Zenki using his fire elemental power to enhance his attacks. He landed a few solid hits on Zhang Wei, who was now taking the fight more seriously.

Zhang Wei was surprised by Zenki's progress. He could feel the intensity of the flames from Zenki's attacks and knew that he had reached a new level in his cultivation.

"Good job, your majesty. You've come a long way in your cultivation," Zhang Wei said, a smile forming on his lips.

Zenki panted, feeling the exhaustion from the sparring session. "Thank you, Zhang Wei. I still have a lot to learn and improve on," he said.

Zhang Wei patted Zenki's shoulder. "You have the potential to become a great cultivator, Zenki. Keep working hard and don't give up," he said before leaving the training grounds.

Zenki smiled, feeling proud of his progress. He knew he had a long way to go, but with hard work and dedication, he was confident he could achieve his goals.

Zenki and Zhang Wei had just finished their sparring session, with Zenki feeling more confident and in control of his new cultivation level and elemental power. They were both panting and sweating, taking a moment to catch their breath.

Suddenly, Zhang Liang emerged from the shadows, approaching them with a solemn expression on his face. "I have news," he said, catching their attention. "Empress Meiying, along with Prince Zhen Yi and Princess Yu Mei, are due to arrive back at the castle."

Zenki's nerves began to spike at the mention of Empress Meiying's return. He knew that his situation was precarious - as someone who had taken over the body of the original Zenki, he had no doubt that Empress Meiying would be suspicious of his identity. After all, she had been close to the former Zenki and would surely be able to tell if there was something different about him. Zenki couldn't help but wonder if he would be able to convince her that he was the same person.