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

In the room!

Zi Yue and Li Wei gaped at Yaoguang, stunned—she’d been so blunt.

In truth, Yaoguang felt a pang of regret the instant those words left her lips, sensing their subtle undertone of intimacy.

Unwed still, her remark sounded like an eager invite home—intended or not, it begged misreading.

Stealing a peek at Xia Chen, she found him unruffled, a faint smile lingering—no hint of misconstruction.

“If the princess isn’t fazed, I’ve no cause to be!”

Xia Chen’s grin shone, his poise unshaken.

Both tactfully let the topic drop.

Yaoguang nibbled her breakfast—dainty, graceful bites, a sight Xia Chen found oddly pleasing.

Yet his stare unsettled her—a first, this face-to-face watching as she ate.

She sped up silently, elegance intact.

…

Breakfast ended thus.

No great ripples—Xia Chen kept steady, coaching himself: don’t overthink, treat it like an odd blind date.

“Princess need a moment to prep? I could scout the Literary Gathering first!”

Xia Chen spoke as Yaoguang finished, wiping her vivid lips with a silk cloth.

She mused, then met his gaze, voice cool.

“Time’s about right—let’s go together!”

Rising, Xia Chen trailed her back—baffled by her intent.

Five years, no Literary Gathering this grand in the capital—Yaoguang pouring such effort in?

Not for kicks.

She aimed to net talents, reel in aides—Xia Chen saw it clear.

Joining her onstage would muddy that—clashing with her lone, strong-woman image.

Hence his tactful sidestep.

Yet she dodged no tie to him—parading out together screamed a message.

“Like—great rapport, both pleased with this match, wedding bells soon!”

Thoughts flashed—Xia Chen caught up, pacing beside her to the outer court.

Let her be—since Yaoguang harbors no qualms, why should he hold back? It’s not as if he’s hiding a mistress on the side…

“Who’s coming from White Deer Academy and the Celestial Master’s Mansion?”

Side by side through the sprawling mansion, Xia Chen seized the lull to quiz Zi Yue behind.

“White Deer Academy sends Great Scholar Lu Tong—he’s brought his disciples down the mountain, arriving days ago. Tianlong Temple sends Master Tianhai. Barring surprises, the Celestial Master’s Mansion should send Daoist Xuan Zhenzi.”

Zi Yue listed—Xia Chen nodded, gears turning.

He’d studied this world’s notables since arriving.

White Deer Academy—a Confucian-Daoist bastion, a thousand years old, legacy deep.

Lu Tong’s tale sang epic—fifteen years at the cold window, twenty when he aced the exams, stepping into office.

A famed prodigy.

Yet at thirty-two, he submitted a memorial to Emperor Wen, beseeching him to allow the people respite and recovery, and to wage fewer wars.

After the Huaiyang and Nanman wars, Dawu was oil-soaked fire—taxes crushed folk, chaos sprouted…

That plea earned Emperor Wen’s wrath—Lu Tong quit in fury, retreating to White Deer, diving into sage classics. At forty-five, he rose a great scholar.

Twenty years since he’d left the capital—officialdom long churned.

“Did Lu Tong join Yaoguang here—or did her pull bring him back to the fray?”

Xia Chen knew Lu Tong—from his past life.

In the Empress’s reign, Lu Tong soared—entering the cabinet as a Senior Official.

He bolstered livelihoods, shaped policies—Dawu’s economy turned under him, laying gold for its iron cavalry to swallow Daqing and Dafeng…

Tianlong Temple’s Master Tianhai shone too—eloquent, versed in Buddhist truths. Born there, he embraced beyond—Confucian, Daoist mastery.

Third of Abbot Long Shu’s six disciples, he frequented the palace, debating Buddha with Emperor Wen…

As for Daoist Xuan Zhenzi of the Celestial Master’s Mansion—second-generation star, famed beyond the Elder’s inner circle.

Less renowned, sure—but Xia Chen dared not scoff.

A late bloomer—wise as if dim, biding his surge.

Xuan Zhenzi lived to the dawn of the Spiritual Energy Revival—when the spiritual energy of heaven and earth awakened, he forged a new Daoist path from the Mansion’s teachings, ascending as a titan…

“A mere Literary Gathering, yet teeming with crouching tigers and hidden dragons—countless talents destined to shake the world will rise onto the stage of history from this very event!”

Xia Chen’s heart tightened—he’d nearly shrugged it off, lucky not to miss it.

“Wonder if those two from White Deer and the Imperial Academy are here—early twenties now, right?”

Future flickers surfaced—in the Great Unification era, Confucianism blazed, briefly outshining Buddhist and Daoist paths.

It reigned thought’s orthodoxy.

Two scholars dazzled most: Xu Xingchen and Fang Zhiru.

From Imperial Academy and White Deer, Xu hit Chief Grand Secretary at twenty-nine—Dawu’s youngest ever.

Fang broke Second-Rank Confucian-Daoist Realm at thirty-one—fastest in Dawu’s annals.

One unmatched in wit, the other in Confucian gift—born of rival schools, endlessly weighed by the world…

Both owed the Empress and pledged their loyalty to her—were they ensnared at this Literary Gathering?

A short path—yet Xia Chen’s mind sailed far, through time’s river, tracing now from then, seeking his true course.

Maxing his gain.

Soon, they crossed courtyards to the front hall—voices roared, many seated. At the sound of approaching footsteps, every gaze swiveled sharply toward this direction.

And there—peerless Yaoguang, with Xia Chen at her side!