The night was quiet as Xu Chen's carriage moved steadily through the capital streets toward the imperial palace.
The lanterns outside flickered softly against the dark curtains while the sounds of the city gradually faded into silence. Inside the carriage, Xu Chen sat calmly as always, his posture relaxed, his expression unreadable.
Yet the faint trace of a smile still lingered at the corners of his lips.
His servant sat opposite him, trying very hard not to look curious.
And failing completely.
Several times, he opened his mouth—
Then immediately closed it again.
Xu Chen finally glanced at him. "Speak."
The servant instantly straightened. "This servant does not dare."
Xu Chen looked at him silently.
That somehow became even more pressuring.
The servant coughed awkwardly before carefully speaking. "This servant only wished to ask…"
He hesitated.
"…does Your Highness truly not mind?"
Xu Chen's gaze remained calm. "Mind what?"
The servant looked genuinely shocked.
"…Lady Yue Ning kicking you."
The carriage fell silent.
Then—
Xu Chen looked away toward the window.
And smiled again.
Not the faint polite curve he used in court.
A real one.
Small.
Quiet.
But unmistakably genuine.
The servant froze completely.
He had served Xu Chen for years.
Years.
Yet the number of times he had seen such an expression could almost be counted on one hand.
And now—
It was because someone kicked him?
Xu Chen's gaze rested on the passing lantern lights outside as distant memories slowly surfaced in his mind.
Ancient memories.
Older than kingdoms.
Older than worlds.
Back then—
There had been no mortal realm.
No imperial palace.
No Crown Prince.
He had stood above endless heavens as the Supreme Heavenly Dao, ruler of countless worlds, absolute existence itself.
And beside him—
The Supreme Heavenly Empress.
Yue Ning.
Even then, she had never feared him.
Not once.
While countless beings trembled beneath a single glance from him, she had always treated him differently.
As if supreme authority meant nothing at all.
Xu Chen's smile deepened faintly at the memory.
A vast heavenly palace appeared within his thoughts, floating high above endless stars and rivers of light. Divine winds moved across immortal gardens while countless heavenly attendants remained kneeling outside the grand halls in absolute reverence.
And inside—
"You did what?"
Yue Ning's voice echoed sharply through the heavenly palace.
Xu Chen stood calmly before her while several heavenly officials nearby lowered their heads so deeply they nearly touched the floor.
"I erased that world," he answered simply.
Yue Ning stared at him in disbelief. "You erased an entire world because they disturbed your meditation?!"
"They were noisy."
"That's your reason?!"
The heavenly officials looked utterly terrified.
Xu Chen remained perfectly calm. "I recreated it afterward."
"That's not the point!"
Yue Ning walked directly toward him, clearly furious.
"You can't casually destroy worlds whenever you're annoyed!"
"They were fixed."
"You're impossible."
Xu Chen had looked at her quietly back then, entirely unmoved by her anger.
Which only made her more annoyed.
"You're not sleeping in the Heavenly Palace tonight."
Xu Chen blinked once. "What?"
"Go outside."
The surrounding heavenly officials nearly died from shock.
Kick out the Supreme Heavenly Dao?
Who in existence would dare?
Only her.
Xu Chen had looked at her for several seconds before saying calmly, "This is also my palace."
"And tonight you're banned from it."
Xu Chen: "…"
Yue Ning crossed her arms. "Go reflect."
"You're overreacting."
"You destroyed a world."
"I restored it."
"That's not helping your argument!"
The heavenly officials had remained kneeling the entire time, wishing desperately to disappear.
Xu Chen remembered standing there silently while Yue Ning pointed directly toward the palace doors with complete authority.
"Out."
Xu Chen had looked at her for a long moment.
Then—
Without arguing further—
He actually turned and left.
Leaving every heavenly official completely stunned beyond belief.
And behind him, Yue Ning had still been muttering angrily.
"He thinks recreating it fixes everything…"
Back inside the carriage, Xu Chen lowered his gaze slightly, the ancient memory fading slowly.
His servant sat frozen across from him, still waiting nervously for an answer.
Finally, Xu Chen spoke calmly.
"She's always been like that."
The servant blinked. "Always?"
Xu Chen simply closed his eyes slightly, leaning back against the carriage.
"Mm."
The servant looked even more confused now.
But he wisely decided not to ask further.
Outside, the palace gates slowly came into view beneath the moonlight.
The carriage passed through the entrance quietly as guards bowed deeply.
Xu Chen stepped down calmly, his robes moving lightly in the night breeze.
Yet even as he walked through the silent palace corridors—
Fragments of those old memories still lingered faintly within his mind.
Yue Ning standing within the heavenly palace angrily scolding him.
Yue Ning kicking him out without fear while countless supreme beings trembled nearby.
Yue Ning treating the Supreme Heavenly Dao not as a supreme existence—
But simply as him.
Xu Chen's expression softened slightly again.
Back then or now—
Some things had never changed.
And strangely enough—
He liked it that way.