My Evil Imperial Wife is Too Arrogant

The Empire Academy’s Grand Competition this time determined a portion of the quota for the mysterious Trial of Yan’zhou Kingdom. In addition, many children and juniors of distinguished clans and families cultivated at the Academy, therefore the Academy also specifically arranged seats for distinguished guests, such as those from the Imperial Family and the distinguished clans of the Empire, to view the competition.

Today, Lou Zhan Tian also came with Lou Mo Yu and his two grandsons to watch Lou Mu Yan’s competition. Their seats were positioned at the bottom left of the Emperor.

While the seats next to the Lou Clan were actually the Gu Clan’s patriarch Gu Yuan Kai, and Yun Tian Zong—who knew who deliberately arranged it this way.

After the few people met, Yun Tian Zong narrowed his eyes at Lou Mo Yu, then looked away after a cold huff.

Gu Yuan Kai was a better schemer, so even though he had many conflicts with the Lou Clan, he smiled like the Budai Bodhisattva¹ and greeted: “Marshal Lou, General Lou.”

Lou Zhan Tian nodded lightly while Lou Mo Yu smiled and nodded: “Patriarch Gu.”

After greeting each other, the few stopped communicating, but when Yun Tian Zong spoke secretly to Gu Yuan Kai, he would occasionally glance at Lou Mo Yu coldly. Lou Mo Yu was naturally calm and composed, ignoring the completely unthreatening gaze.

Lou Mu Bai didn’t participate in the Grand Competition because he advanced to the Sword King Stage. He was specially granted a position in the Trial, agreed by the superiors in the Empire.

Lou Mu Ting was originally going to return to the frontier, but because Lou Mu Yan was going to participate in the Academy’s Grand Competition, he accompanied his family to watch the battle and cheer.

“Mu Ting, you little kid, you’ve been back for a while now and didn’t come to greet us, your old friends.” Xiao Zi Ang sat behind Lou Mu Ting and reached out to poke Lou Mu Ting’s back with a bitter tone.

Yun Jin chuckled, “Xiao Zi Ang, what’s with your expression? As if you’re an abandoned little wife, how embarrassing.”

“Go, go, don’t bother me when I’m talking to Mu Ting.” Xiao Zi Ang’s face collapsed and pushed Yun Jin’s handsome face, that had neared him, away from him.

“I was thrown into Closed-Door Cultivation by grandpa the moment I came home. We’ll have a get together again after the Grand Competition.” Lou Mu Ting shrugged and lied without skipping a beat.

He did shut himself up in the training room of the Lou Clan for Closed-Door Cultivation, but that was because his elder brother and younger sister were simply abnormal, which gave him a sense of crisis. He didn’t want to be left behind too far, so he worked harder. But he naturally wouldn’t say these things in front of his good friends.

“Mu Ting, the effect of your Closed-Door Cultivation is pretty good. You’ve already broken through to Advanced-Phase Sword Spirit. Grandpa² should really shut you in more often.” Yun Lan looked at Lou Mu Ting, joking.

Lou Mu Ting rolled his eyes. This was typical gloating—they’re such bad brothers.

“Mu Ting, you hopping up two levels consecutively, does it have anything to do with the Marrow Cleansing Pill?” Xiao Zi Ang was a person who couldn’t keep his thoughts to himself, so he asked in a whisper after glancing around.

Lou Mu Ting raised an eyebrow, with a tsundere expression³

: “The Marrow Cleansing Pill isn’t as miraculous as the rumours. It’s obviously because of my excelling talent, ok?”

The Marrow Cleansing Pill was indeed miraculous, but it was only in terms of broadening the meridians, washing the marrow and cleansing the body, but the progression of strength still depended on talent and hard work.

He went from an Initial-Phase Sword Spirit to an Advanced-Phase Sword Spirit not just because the speed of him absorbing the Spiritual Force of Heaven and earth was more than doubled after taking the Marrow Cleansing Pill. He broke through also because his talent was quite good, accompanied by madly absorbing the Spiritual Force of heaven and earth and converting it into Elemental Energy.

“My little sister said that the pill is just an assistance, cultivation still had to rely on one’s own comprehension and hard work.” Lou Mu Ting had always been a siscon⁴, so he unconditionally believed that whatever his little sister said was the truth.

“Who can tell that even Lou Mu Yan cam say such things.” Xiao Zi Ang pursed his lips.

“Why can’t my little sister say these words. Xiao Zi Ang, is your skin itching⁵?” Lou Mu Ting rolled up his sleeves, as if expressing ‘you say another word and I’d beat you up’.

Xiao Zi Ang glared at him, “Trust you to discard your humanity for your younger sister.”

Lou Mu Bai and Yun Lan looked at the bickering two in amusement—seeing this sort of scene felt as if they were being taken back to many years ago.

“A’Lan, how are your preparations for this time’s Trial?’ Lou Mu Bai asked Yun Lan in a whisper.

Yun Lan nodded: “Almost done. Elder brother is participating in the Trial this time for Yan’er right?”

As the number-one genius, with Lou Mu Bai’s excelling talents, the three forces of Yan’zhou Kingdom had long recognised him as not needing to participate in the Trial. It must be because of Lou Mu Yan that he insisted on participating in the Trial.

Speaking of Lou Mu Yan, Lou Mu Bai’s expression warmed, “Mm.”

“The Grand Competition has begun.” Yun Luo suddenly interjected as he looked down. They stopped talking and all turned their eyes to the battle platform below.

The first four matches on battle platform twenty-six were all not very strong, so the battles were quickly over.

When it was the fifth battle, the moment the referee finished calling up the contestants, Lou Mu Yan saw a young man leap atop the battle platform.

This man was a student from a different Earth Class and had no interactions with her. He was at the Middle-Phase Great Sword Master cultivation base.

With a tap of her toe, Lou Mu Yan also leapt onto the battle platform.

“When one of you falls off from the battle platform, you lose. Of course, if one of you voluntarily admits defeat, it also means that the battle is over.” The referee waved the yellow flag in his hands and announced: “The battle begins.”

“Please go easy.” The man on the opposite side cupped his hands respectfully at Lou Mu Yan. Without leaving her any time to speak, he mobilised his Elemental Energy, channelling it into the long sword in his hand and swung at Lou Mu Yan.

Lou Mu Yan was indifferent, used Flash Step, and quickly dodged the sword aura from the opposing side.

The difference in strength was too big so there wasn’t any challenge for her. She didn’t take out any weapons, only moved her feet, and her afterimages vanished from the battle platform.

Before anyone could see clearly, she already moved behind her opponent, and with a strike of her palm, her opponent flew out of the battle platform.

[Wow!!] The students watching below were stunned, their mouth open wide in disbelief. Wasn’t this a bit too exaggerated.

Because Lou Mu Yan had always been famous throughout the Empire Academy, even if it was negative news, it’d be followed with interest, not to mention her promised battle with Gu Yan Ran, so when she hopped onto the battle platform to compete, many people focused their attention on battle platform twenty-six.

But what all parties didn’t expect was that Lou Mu Yan would have such an easy fight as her first battle. She defeated a Middle-Phase Great Sword Master with one move. Who spread the rumour that she was only an Initial-Phase Great Sword Master? It was just nonsense.

Seeing that his granddaughter was so decisive, Lou Zhan Tian couldn’t help but smile and said: “Yan’er did great.”

Yun Tian Chen was sitting in the front row, and also paid attention to Lou Mu Yan. Although he was shocked, but he was satisfied with this result, so he turned his head with a smile and said: “As expected of this little girl who’s from the Lou Clan. When she battles, she has the courage and decisiveness of a solider.”

“Haha, Emperor is right.” Lou Zhan Tian laughed loudly and accepted Yun Tian Chen’s praise without any humility.

Gu Yuan Kai, who sat next to him, had a grim look in his eyes, but he smiled kindly without any words.

Yun Tian Zong snorted coldly: “It’s only the first battle, what’s there to be so proud of.”

“So what if this old man is proud, are you unconvinced?” Lou Zhan Tian had always had a straightforward temperament. Whoever said anything negative about his granddaughter, he’d argue with them.

Translated product by May Our 梦 Come True

¹the laughing buddha, always happy and smiling nicely.

²technically the words he uses indicate that it’s his maternal grandpa. There are two ways of calling your grandpa—one way by the kids of your son, and another way by the kids of your daughter. I think I’ll write paternal grandpa as ‘grandpa’ and maternal grandpa with the word ‘maternal’.

³thought long and hard, but decided to go with ‘tsundere’, because the Chinese word (傲娇) is literally a loanword from the Japanese ‘tsundere’. It means to be cold and distant, but only acts this way because he’s embarrassed and shy.

⁴I think it’s also a loanword from Japan. The Chinese is 妹控. It means to have a sister complex, a state of liking one’s younger sister very much. In Lou Mu Ting’s case, he’s just very protective, believes whatever Lou Mu Yan does/says is right, won’t take other’s berating of Lou Mu Yan etc. I just googled sister complex and its definition gets rather out of hand. Don’t worry, it won’t go any weird or extreme routes HAHA.

⁵meaning: is he looking for a beating?

Note: Yay the typical ‘surpise guys, I’m strong’ trope. XD Can’t get enough of those tbh. Let’s see what happens next~

Random side note: What a gore fest the drama Squid Game is. Ep 7 here I come. Let’s see how the drama ends.