Chosen Mate Of The Beastmen Empire

Chapter 398A buzzing sound filled the air, annoying everyone. Andy glanced at Nyx but didn't immediately intervene, seemingly wanting to see how she would respond..

Nyx's usual calm smile disappeared from her face.

When her expression went blank, her presence was so powerful it felt like facing an emperor, exuding a heavy aura of

pressure.

She scanned the room from left to right. As her gaze swept across, the noise immediately quieted down. People instinctively averted their eyes, afraid to meet

her gaze.

In the profound silence, Nyx looked at Andy.

"Is this how the Ministry of Works officials behave?" Her tone was light, not exactly a question, but it felt like a slap, leaving Andy's face burning with embarrassment. He quickly bowed and apologized.

As the department head knelt, the others followed suit, their arrogance deflating, and they lowered their heads, remaining

silent.

Nyx didn't bother with empty words of forgiveness. Seeing that they had all quieted down and behaved properly, she waved toward the door.

At her signal, a group of guards filed in, carrying strange items none of the people had seen before. They placed everything down in an orderly manner and left without a sound.

The comparison made the Ministry of Works officials appear all the more frivolous and rude.

Everyone's face displayed a hint of embarrassment. Some were too ashamed to look up but couldn't resist the curiosity and stole glances at the peculiar items.

There was a large black board, white strips, several oddly-shaped glass bottles, and some liquids and solids that were hard to identify.

Nyx bent down and picked up a homemade chalk, writing the word "chemistry" on the blackboard.

With a couple of taps, she drew everyone's attention. "What we call chemistry can be simply understood as the study of change and creation. Everything in the world has its composition, structure, properties, and transformations. What we aim to do is understand its laws and apply them.

"Saltpeter for ice-making, verdigris for copper smelting-those so-called alchemists' methods are all based on this science. If we master this, we can naturally gain the power to split mountains and break stones..."

Her voice and pace were perfect. After all, she had once worked as a tutor on Earth and later raised a group of children, so she was very experienced in teaching.

In just a few sentences, everyone's eyes, including Andy's, were brightened.

Whether splitting mountains and breaking stones was real or not, Nyx's insight alone was enough to show she wasn't just a pretty face with no brains.

Eyes full of thirst for knowledge locked onto her, their gazes intense, as though they were trying to burn a hole in her.

Even the laziest people, who usually just coasted along, were suddenly intrigued.

But Nyx suddenly stopped, scanning the crowd. "Of course, some of you might think this is nonsense. If you're unwilling to waste time with me, you can go about your own business."

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Not everyone had an interest or talent for chemistry. Even if she forced them, it would be useless. It was better to let them stay or leave voluntarily.

She simply asked calmly, as most officials in the Ministry of Works were humanities-oriented and had never been exposed to the sciences. It was likely they wouldn't accept new theories right away.

The officials panicked, thinking she was angry about their previous offense. Fearing that she might leave in a fit of rage and refuse to teach them again, they quickly apologized and even had some kneel down and beg for forgiveness.

After a flurry of loyalty displays, no one left.

After all, even if they weren't interested, no one wanted to fall behind their colleagues. If they missed the opportunity, it would be hard to catch up later.

A young and quick-witted official eagerly fetched a chair for Nyx and tried to serve her tea.

Andy, with his serious face, sent the young official away and took over, making Nyx a cup of fragrant tea.

Nyx thanked him silently, remembering the young face as she settled into a chair cushioned with soft pads, letting out a quiet sigh of relief.

Her back ached.

She thought she was definitely going to give the kitten's head a good massage when she returned tonight, or she wouldn't be able to calm the frustration in her heart.

With her exhausted body, Nyx pulled herself together, gathering the last of her energy. She lectured from early morning until the lunch break, explaining chemistry in the simplest way possible. By noon, she had lunch with the Ministry of Works officials, trying their cafeteria food, which she found rather plain.

As expected, the taste of cafeteria food was always hard to describe, no matter the era.

Officials who were more particular about food sent someone to deliver meals or brought their own lunch to work. Some of the bolder ones quietly observed Nyx's expression and offered to share their meals with her.

In the morning, such friendly gestures would have been impossible. However, after a morning of lectures, they had begun to feel a sense of admiration for Nyx, and the nonsense about her being a seductive disaster was long forgotten.

Nyx politely declined all of their offers.

She looked down at the half-eaten meal in front of her, rubbing her temples in slight worry.

Suddenly, an eerie silence fell over the room.

Then, in unison, they all kneeled and loudly called, "We pay our respects to Your Majesty."

Nyx's eyes snapped open, and when she looked up, a bright yellow robe was already before her.

"Nyx." Under everyone's gaze, Aurelius placed the food box in front of Nyx and, acting like a dutiful wife, stood aside, carefully unpacking the contents of the box with an air of subtle flattery.

Nyx shot him a glance.

Aurelius, seemingly oblivious, shamelessly cleaned his hands and dried them with a cloth before starting to arrange the

dishes.

"Ahem." Nyx looked toward Aron for help.

The moment their gazes met, the old eunuch immediately understood and quickly approached to take the task from

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Emperor's hands. "Let me assist Your Majesty."

In the palace, once the door is closed, Aurelius can do whatever he pleases. Outside, however, he must maintain his noble image.

Aurelius didn't argue, instead, he found himself a chair and sat closely beside Nyx. He found a small pillow from somewhere. and placed it behind her waist to provide support. Then, he brought the difficult-to-eat cafeteria food to himself.

Emperor ate the leftover food with elegance and composure. No matter how elegant or composed, leftovers are still leftovers.

The officials were left speechless, stunned into silence by this scene.

Nyx took a deep breath and reached under the table to pinch his thigh. The male's muscles were hard as a rock and didn't budge, it was futile.

Only after finishing the food did Aurelius wipe his mouth and give a rather dignified reason. "Every meal is hard-earned and shouldn't be wasted." Seeing the mighty Emperor so frugal and economical, the officials could never dare waste food.

Immediately, they all had tears in their eyes, shouting "Your Majesty is wise" while diligently cleaning their plates. Those who couldn't eat more packed their food to take home and promised to finish it later.

Nyx went speechless.

Everyone worked so hard, and she became the odd one out. No matter how good

the palace chefs were, her appetite was limited, and she was full after eating a

little.

Aurelius, however, had an insatiable appetite, so Nyx didn't need to worry about wasting food.

She stared at his sharp but somewhat youthful profile for a while, her mood slowly calming. The small pillow supporting her waist relieved the soreness, and her anger dissipated.

She thought, 'Why bother arguing with a male in his teens? At this age, it's when one's hunger is insatiable, both for food and sexual desires. I have kept him waiting for so long; shouldn't I allow him to indulge a bit? Moreover, I don't feel any sensation after all:

After the meal, once everything was tidied up, Aurelius gently touched Nyx's fingertips.

Nyx lowered her eyes and trembled her lashes, but didn't pull away. However, with so many watching, she still felt a little uncomfortable. She allowed him to hold her hand under the table for a while, but when he tried to bring it into the open, she withdrew her hand, which had grown warm from his grip. Some of the officials pretended not to see, glancing around, while others looked at her with a complex, even sympathetic gaze. When their eyes met, they gave her an "I understand" look.

Before, they had fallen for it, thinking the seductive concubine was bewitching Aurelius. But now, seeing it with their own. eyes, it was clear that Nyx had an attitude of disdain toward Aurelius. She looked at him coldly, pulling her hand away and avoiding intimacy.

They felt that Aurelius was forcing her.

Nyx was confused. Something seemed off about their reactions, but she couldn't figure it out. Deciding to stop thinking about it, she focused on the afternoon's content, tapped the chalkboard, and continued the lesson.

The figure dressed in bright yellow stuck closely to her side, not leaving.

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Listening to the lecture with Aurelius present was rather stressful. The officials didn't dare make any moves, and the vibe was much heavier than in the morning.

But when Nyx performed a small experiment, they gradually became more lively, their minds filled with questions, eager for Nyx to clarify them.

Aurelius observed the officials' attitudes for a while, feeling satisfied. He withdrew

his gaze and fixed it on Nyx's slender form, as though she were glowing, unable to look away.

By evening, when it was time to leave, the officials were reluctant to part. They had never been so enamored with the Ministry of Works before.

Upon hearing that Nyx would start guiding the personnel responsible for gunpowder research tomorrow and would no longer be giving lectures, a collective sigh filled the room.

"Can you really not stay a few more days?"

"I am still inexperienced, not suitable for dealing with gunpowder production,

but..."

In their several decades of life, even serving as officials for many years, they had never encountered such profound and mysterious knowledge of the world. One day was enough to touch only the surface.

They thought, With such talent, why couldn't she stay at the Ministry of Works?

Now she has no official title, hidden away in Aurelius's palace, bearing the name

of a troublemaker. It is truly unfortunate.'

The officials didn't dare to speak out loud but secretly shot daggers at Aurelius with their eyes.

Aurelius remained calm, unaffected, and even secretly delighted.

After only one day's teaching, the officials had completely changed their attitudes,

completely forgetting how disdainful they had been toward Nyx before. It was clear now, Nyx was truly the most capable.

He would never stop Nyx from doing what she wanted. As for what she would do,

Nyx had her own plans. He wouldn't interfere, and neither would the Ministry of Works' people change her mind.

Despite the Ministry of Works' officials pleading, Nyx remained firm. "All I can teach you are these basic principles."

Everyone must explore the path themselves. Her purpose wasn't to spoon-feed

them useful knowledge, but to plant a seed. The further development would be up to them to complete.

That night, the officials from the Ministry of Works dreamed of experiments, their minds filled with various elements, chaotic yet beautiful. Meanwhile, Nyx, holding the list handed to her by Andy, reviewed each person's performance today, analyzing their chemical talents and interests, then assigning different tasks for a reasonable division of labor.

Aurelius clung to her side, wrapping his arms around her waist from behind, feeling the soft curve of her body, and couldn't help but feel restless.

His heart raced wildly, but the person in his arms remained calm, her expression

focused.

After a brief silence, he sighed with some resentment, "Nyx, you are more suited

to be Aurelius than I am."

If anyone else had heard these words, they would have been alarmed and

immediately knelt to pledge their loyalty, swearing they did not harbor such rebellious ambitions.

Nyx, however, simply snorted nonchalantly, "I can't be bothered to be the

emperor."

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She finished writing the last word, dropped the pen, blew the ink dry, then turned

and hooked her arm around his neck. "Don't belittle yourself. You're perfect for being the emperor, and so is our child."

Although Sera could be a little troublemaker, she was born smart and capable of

taking on responsibility. She was the crown princess, supported by the entire

empire.

Having been away from home for so long, Nyx missed her other mates and children at home.

Thinking about Sera, Nyx felt a little melancholic. Sera was the little kitten she had

personally raised, and Nyx hadn't had the chance to cuddle her soft fur or hear her little mews for a long time. She missed her dearly. Upon hearing the word "child," Aurelius felt excited. He glanced at Nyx's face, which seemed a little troubled, and his excitement gradually waned.

Her health had never been good. She had been mistreated for years, even struggling in cold water once, making it difficult for her to conceive. The imperial doctors had tried their best to care for her, but they couldn't guarantee full

recovery.

"It's my fault for not trying hard in bed enough, Nyx," he murmured, trying to

soothe her. “I will try harder in the future and give you a child."

Nyx was stunned. She thought, 'Not trying hard enough? What else does he want

to try?'

Seizing the opportunity while Nyx was too stunned to resist, Aurelius lifted her

over his shoulder and marched briskly toward the bedroom, letting her feel his greater efforts.

The consequences of trying too hard meant that Nyx didn't get out of bed until afternoon to go to the Ministry of Works.

Luckily, although Andy had suspected the authenticity of the grand ideas she had

painted, he had still selected elites for her. She could easily delegate her tasks, and her subordinates would naturally carry them out without issue. Nyx didn't need to stay at the Ministry of Works to supervise the progress; she

had so much free time that she could even think about other small projects. Not long after, the glass shop in the east of the city had received new stock- Mercury mirrors, available in sizes ranging from palm-sized to as tall as a person, were sold in the shop. The reflection was so clear it was terrifying, far superior to copper mirrors.

When the new products appeared, they immediately caused a stir among the noblewomen in the capital, and the young masters eagerly rushed to buy them. Nyx counted the coins until her hands were sore, in a great mood. When she went

to the Ministry of Works to check the progress, she unexpectedly received a gift-a full-length mirror.

The mirror was as tall as a person, smooth and bright, reflecting Nyx's dazed

expression.

"The Ministry of Works and all its people are grateful for your guidance. We

pooled some money together to present this gift to you," Andy explained on behalf

of everyone.

The others bowed and expressed their sincere thanks.

If Nyx wanted to make gunpowder, she didn't really need to exert any effort to

convince them. With Aurelius's support, no one could stop her from doing whatever she wanted.

But instead, she spent time and effort teaching them "chemistry," guiding them like

a teacher leading ignorant children, pointing out a path no one had walked before,

giving them new directions for research and thinking.

Such intelligence and such a broad mind were truly admirable. Behind the

scenes, some people even secretly discussed

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whether Nyx was an incarnation of a fairy, since she knew so much and was

willing to teach others.

Faced with the sparkling eyes of everyone, Nyx couldn't help but laugh and

accepted the gift.

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A mirror this large was top-tier in her shop and could fetch an astronomical price.

Even though there were many officials at the Ministry of Works, when the cost

was divided, each person's purse would still suffer.

After returning, she thought it over and decided to make a batch of high-proof distilled liquor as a return gift.

Considering it wasn't suitable to drink during working hours, she had someone deliver it to their homes.

The officials of the Ministry of Works were deeply grateful for the return gift, and

some even composed poems in praise of her after drinking.

The heartfelt poems quickly spread among the other court officials, sparking

sarcastic laughter.

"What's going on with the Ministry of Works? Have they been bewitched by that

woman?"

"I heard they even gave her a large mercury mirror."

"Flattering and fawning, the same old routine...tsk"

"Andy used to be a man of integrity; when did he become such a petty man?"

"It doesn't seem right... Maybe there's more to the story..." Curious minds investigated but only found that Nyx had been teaching the

Ministry of Works how to make a weapon capable of "shaking the heavens and

splitting the earth," called gunpowder, but no one could uncover the specifics of its production.

It sounded more like a ridiculous tale.

In the capital, rumors of Aurelius's erratic behavior spread widely, and the officials

were planning to advise Aurelius not to let women interfere with the Ministry of Works' affairs.

However, before they could finalize their plans, Aurelius preemptively announced during court that the Ministry of Works had created a new weapon, and that in five

days, there would be a test in the outskirts of the city, with all court officials invited to witness it.

They thought, 'Did they actually create it? Huh? Something as loud as thunder?

Able to split mountains and stones? Huh?"

In the court, everyone fell silent, perplexed by the absurdity of the situation.

The news spread rapidly, and in just five days, it reached every corner of Hilltop

City. Even the simplest teahouses in the city were abuzz with the story. "I once saw a general's long sword when I was in the army. It's really long and can

chop stones. It makes a lot of noise, but splitting mountains like thunder? That's

just nonsense."

"Unless the general's wife is a fairy from heaven and knows some magic." "You must be kidding..."

On the day of the test, crowds of people eager to see the spectacle flooded the

outskirts of the city. However, the court officials stood at the front, blocking their view. So, the people began climbing up the hills for a better vantage point. Some got halfway up the hill but were stopped by armored guards, who warned

them to stay away from the northern hill to avoid injury or even death.

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"What? Are they really going to split the mountain?" Naturally, the people were

skeptical, but out of fear of the soldiers' sharp spears, they reluctantly moved to another hill.

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The crowd had grown large, and while the court officials mocked the spectacle,

they too had gathered, waiting to see the show.

Lewis also arrived. Wrapped in a thick fur coat, still recovering from the wounds

inflicted by his father, he couldn't wait to see the foolish emperor and his alluring consort make fools of themselves.