Logging into the Game World Early and Starting with a Royal Marriage to the Empress

At the princess’s mansion gate, everyone froze at the sight!

Their goddess, Zi Yue Girl, humbled herself so before this man.

Come on, brother—you’re just a bit handsome, aren’t you?

We’re all seven-foot men here—got looks, height—well, maybe not quite his looks, but we’re human too!

Here for the Literary Gathering—why’s he getting special treatment?

The crowd’s hearts burned with indignation, fiercely unwilling to yield!

“What brings you to the entrance?”

Xia Chen blinked, eyeing Zi Yue.

“Naturally, to greet you, Imperial Son-in-Law! This is the princess’s mansion—you’re no common guest!”

Zi Yue stood beside him, answering respectfully. Today’s Xia Chen outshone the carriage-day version in his Lamplighters garb—handsomer by a tier.

That day, he’d exuded roguish charm, edges sharp.

Today, groomed in fine robes, he radiated noble grace—regal yet restrained.

Xia Chen caught her reply, glanced at her, then swept the crowd clogging the gate—eyes blazing his way. He skipped more talk here.

He suspected, but for the emperor’s turf and the princess’s doorstep, these fire-spitting, jealousy-drenched onlookers might’ve rushed him.

Then what—call the Imperial Guard or Lamplighters to thrash them?

Ugh, tough spot—jealousy’s a beast!

With that, he nodded faintly to Zi Yue.

“Let’s head in!”

Zi Yue led Xia Chen and Xia Qian past the gate’s throng.

Only when his back vanished did the crowd erupt.

“Who’s that guy? Zi Yue Girl herself greets him—such pomp?”

“Why’s he so damn handsome? Him here, where’s our shot?”

“Scared of what? Literary Gathering’s about words, not looks! To me, this guy’s a mere embroidered pillow—a wax-headed silver spear, flashy but useless!”

…

A young lord in brocade robes sneered with disdain—he despised those who lived off their looks, unlike himself, who lived off his family’s wealth!

“So handsome at a Literary Gathering—his aim’s not the wine, it’s Princess Yaoguang! A soft-meal seeker!

“Sure, I’m not that pretty—but living off Mom and Dad, no soft meals here. I’m proud!”

Yang Wei thought this and straightened his back, stiffening his frame with a face full of pride!

But soon his back slumped down again.

“Hmm! Looks like I need a good rest—keeping this stiff all the time is downright tiring!”

Fanning himself with a grin, he aimed for suave flair—till a voice cut in.

“Shh! Quiet—know who that was?”

“Who else? Some pretty boy begging for a keeper! Pah—I despise those!”

Yang Wei jumped in before the voice finished.

The speaker’s face twitched, scanning nervously, then clapped Yang Wei’s mouth shut.

“Brother Wei, watch it—that guy’s big! Don’t let his crew hear!”

“Who? This tense—can’t be a prince!”

Curiosity flared—some irked by the suspense.

“That’s Xia Chen—Marquis of Andong’s heir, Princess Yaoguang’s Imperial Son-in-Law! Yesterday’s uproar—he split from the Marquis of Zhendong!”

“What? That’s Xia Chen? No wonder Zi Yue Girl came out!”

The crowd’s expressions shifted, then dawned with realization: this was the princess’s mansion. Though not yet wed, it was an emperor-decreed match, proclaimed to all—their marriage a nailed certainty.

So this mansion? Xia Chen was half-master here.

“Keep it down! Xia Chen now runs Eagle Eye Division—one of the Lamplighters’ nine branches. Each oversees a slice—Eagle Eye’s the capital. Today’s Literary Gathering draws half the city’s scholars and nobles—they’ve got agents mixed in, maybe logging every word…”

Wu Bai glanced around, voice hushed, wary of eavesdroppers.

Faces paled—especially Yang Wei’s. The Lamplighters’ reach was infamous—years of raids and purges in the capital. Big clan brats like them dreaded it most.

“Brother Wei, Brother Wei! You okay? Why’s your frame so weak—you’ve got to toughen up!”

As shock rippled, Yang Wei’s head spun—eyes rolled, legs buckled, crumpling.

“Aah—I’m done! Dizzy, faint—can’t do this Literary Gathering. I’m off to rest!”

Terror gripped Yang Wei—he’d badmouthed Xia Chen loud and clear.

Would Xia Chen sic the Lamplighters on him?

“Quick—help Brother Wei back!”

“Brother Wei, heard wolfberries fix dizziness—I’ve got a recipe, works wonders. Post-Literary Gathering, I’ll bring it myself!”

A pal thumped his chest, grinning assurance.

…

Gate chaos reigned—meanwhile, Xia Chen entered the mansion’s depths.

“This isn’t the front hall Literary Gathering spot, is it?”

Behind Zi Yue, Xia Chen strolled a winding, scenic path, admiring as he asked.

“Ahead’s the inner courtyard!”

“Inner courtyard’s a stretch for me, no?”

Xia Chen didn’t look up, eyeing a dazzling fountain in a distant garden, casual.

“Imperial Son-in-Law’s no outsider—even entering the inner yard, who’d fuss? The Literary Gathering’s a bit off—you’re family, rest up first!”

Zi Yue paused, turned, facing Xia Chen’s striking features with earnest reply.

Xia Chen nodded, silent.

Zi Yue guided him through layered courts to a refined, history-soaked yard.

“Heavenly Phoenix Pavilion!”

The plaque bore three plain words—no signature—but they pulsed with weight.

Zi Yue glanced back at Xia Chen, lingering at the gate, gazing at them—then smiled.

“The princess penned these herself—her script’s won even the Grand Tutor’s praise!”

Xia Chen nodded—fine work, sure. But his pause wasn’t the craft—it was “Heavenly Phoenix.”

Yaoguang’s reign name, post-ascension—Heavenly Phoenix!

From the three words “Heavenly Phoenix Pavilion” alone, it’s clear Yaoguang has long set her sights on the empire, her ambitions soaring boundless!

“Imperial Son-in-Law see something off with them?”

Zi Yue, sharp as ever, caught a flicker in Xia Chen’s look.

“They’re superb—but ‘Heavenly Phoenix’ bites big. A phoenix soars the ninth heaven—yet aims higher, piercing the sky—too sharp-edged!”

Xia Chen’s tone stayed calm, a faint critique—but that calm shifted Zi Yue’s gaze.

“Imperial Son-in-Law jests—it’s just a courtyard name!”

Zi Yue’s laugh bloomed, masking her fleeting unease.

“Haha—just tossing it out. If I named it, two words’d do!”

“Oh? Imperial Son-in-Law’s got a better one?”

Zi Yue’s keen eyes fixed on Xia Chen at the gate—her wit faltered, unsure if he’d mused idly or struck deep.

Morning sun dappled him, lighting half his stunning face—like a god aglow, radiant.

“How about ‘Jade Pool’?”

Xia Chen’s smile warmed, gentle as jade—a spring breeze.

With that, he stepped inside, sparing the plaque no glance.

“Jade Pool?”

Zi Yue echoed at the gate—baffled yet struck. The words rang vast, sacred—laden with unseen weight…

Murmuring them, she felt their charm swell—elusive, uncatchable.

No tales of Jade Pool or Queen Mother graced this world—its meaning stayed beyond her.

Snapping back, she saw Xia Chen push the hall doors open, striding in.

“Imperial Son-in-Law, wait up!”

Zi Yue hitched her skirts, trotting after—grace unbroken.

Inside, Xia Chen had claimed a seat in the hall.

“This way—Princess is bathing; it’ll be a bit. The kitchens have breakfast ready for her and you—almost done!”

Zi Yue led him to a side hall—dining space—smiling.

Xia Chen’s brow twitched—meeting the future Empress already?

This eager?

Breakfast together?

Were they this close?

Outsiders might think them old mates!