Pregnant with the Empress’s Alpha Heir (GL, ABO) - Chapter 4

After the “exercise,” Yu Zhitao had thought she would sleep soundly until dawn.

But when she woke up in an afternoon garden, it took her a moment to realize she had fallen into a dream.

“A lucid dream?” Yu Zhitao was somewhat surprised.

Unlike ordinary dreams, in a lucid dream, one could remain conscious and control their actions.

However, before she could fully grasp the situation, a voice suddenly exploded in her ear.

“Outsider! Leave this place!”

Startled, Yu Zhitao turned toward the source of the warning and saw a girl around ten years old aiming a bow at her.

The girl was slender, dressed in a fitted combat suit, and wore a high-tech visor that covered most of her face.

“Outsider, stay away! Don’t make me say it a third time,” the girl raised her voice again.

Yu Zhitao was utterly confused.

She had no idea how she had gotten here, let alone how to leave. But since this was just a dream, logic probably didn’t matter much.

Faced with the aggressive girl, she initially wanted to reason with her. But seeing no response, the girl had already begun drawing her bow.

“Whoosh!” An arrow crackling with electricity embedded itself into the ground right in front of her, half of it sinking into the dirt.

Yu Zhitao shuddered.

Clearly, if that arrow hadn’t missed, she would already be dead on the spot! She finally understood this young-looking girl was not joking around.

Panicking, she stumbled backward, shouting, “Wait, I don’t even know how to lea—”

But the girl seemed done listening.

She nocked another arrow, drew the bowstring, and took aim.

Yu Zhitao had no choice but to stop her futile protests and flee in a random direction.

But she seemed to have chosen the wrong path.

In the dream, everything was hazy, as if seen through a filter. She felt like she had been running for a long time, yet it seemed she was just going in circles.

The arrows pursued her relentlessly. At one point, an arrow grazed the hem of her skirt, slicing open a gash as long as her forearm, sending a cold sweat down her spine.

Just when she thought she was doomed, a pair of small hands reached out from a corner and pulled her into a room.

The walls sealed off the outside world, blocking the relentless arrows.

Finally safe, Yu Zhitao gasped for breath, her body limp from the near-death experience.

Once she had somewhat recovered, she steadied her trembling hands and turned to thank her savior.

But when she saw the person’s face, she froze.

“Ah Jiu… no, Little Ah Jiu?!”

Standing before her was a girl about seven or eight years old.

Dressed in an ornate princess dress, the girl looked almost like a younger version of Ah Jiu. But unlike the mature, heroic aura of the grown-up Ah Jiu, this little girl had an innocent, sweet face, radiating cuteness.

To her surprise, the girl shook her head.

“You’ve mistaken me for someone else. I’m not Ah Jiu.”

“Then who are you?” Yu Zhitao blurted out.

The girl curtsied, lifting her skirt slightly. “I’m Xiao Wu.”

“Xiao Wu…” Yu Zhitao murmured the name, puzzled.

But now was clearly not the time to dwell on it.

After running for so long, Yu Zhitao felt a dull ache in her chest, yet even then, she still hadn’t woken from this dream.

“What kind of place is this?” she could only try to make sense of her current situation.

Xiao Wu tilted her head at her. “This is the palace. Didn’t you know? Then how did you end up here?”

Yu Zhitao shook her head blankly. “I don’t know either.”

She explained, “I just woke up here, and then that person outside started attacking me without any explanation!”

Xiao Wu glanced outside and lowered her voice. “She’s the demon that descended upon the palace!”

“Demon?” Yu Zhitao repeated the word.

So this dream had a touch of fantasy to it.

Xiao Wu turned back, looking at her with concern. “Sister, are you hurt?”

Yu Zhitao shook her head.

Though she had been chased for a long time, the demon’s archery skills seemed terrible. Despite the close calls, she hadn’t actually been harmed.

Xiao Wu eyed the torn hem of her dress. “Then let me take you to change into something else first.”

Yu Zhitao nodded and stood up, following behind Xiao Wu.

Only then did she realize they were in an exquisitely crafted castle, one that truly deserved the title of “palace” as Xiao Wu had called it.

Xiao Wu was clearly familiar with the place, quickly leading her into a room filled with new clothes.

When Yu Zhitao had first transmigrated, she had been stunned by the noble wardrobe of her original body. But now, seeing this room, she realized that the so-called noblewoman’s closet paled in comparison.

Xiao Wu recommended a floor-length gown, but Yu Zhitao hesitated before politely declining.

Still shaken from the earlier chase, she asked, “Do you have something lighter? Something easier to move around in?”

Xiao Wu understood her concern.

The little girl smiled reassuringly. “You don’t have to worry. The demon can’t enter the palace. As long as you stay here, she can’t hurt you.”

Even in this miniature version, Ah Jiu’s charm was undiminished. When the little girl smiled with her eyes narrowed, she was so adorable that Yu Zhitao nearly forgot all her troubles.

She tentatively reached out and patted Xiao Wu’s head. “Thank you.”

Unlike the usually cold and distant Ah Jiu, Xiao Wu actually leaned into her touch, nuzzling her palm before saying earnestly, “No need to thank me. I’ll always be happy to help you.”

Under the gaze of those sparkling eyes, Yu Zhitao was so overwhelmed with cuteness she nearly forgot to breathe.

“I thought this was a nightmare, but instead I get to meet such an adorable little Ah Jiu? Ugh, what a win!” Yu Zhitao screamed internally. “How could such a sweet little girl grow up to be so icy later?!”

If not for a shred of remaining self-control, she might have straight-up kidnapped the sweet, soft Xiao Wu and hidden her away to cuddle and dote on every day!

After comforting her, Xiao Wu found her a more practical set of trousers and a top.

Once Yu Zhitao had changed, Xiao Wu invited her to meet her mother.

Assuming Xiao Wu’s mother must be the owner of the castle, Yu Zhitao agreed.

On the way, she asked, “Xiao Wu, that ‘demon’ you mentioned… is she always waiting outside?”

Hearing this, Xiao Wu stopped in her tracks and turned back, nodding solemnly.

“She’s been guarding outside, ready to appear at any moment to harm anyone leaving the palace. That’s why my mother and I have been trapped inside, unable to go anywhere.”

Yu Zhitao quickly patted her shoulder in comfort: “It’s alright, don’t frown… Evil will never prevail over good. There must be a way to deal with her.”

She knew her words sounded hollow, but unexpectedly, Little Wu responded: “I know how to defeat the demon.”

Yu Zhitao froze, then heard her continue: “Father left a dagger in the study. If you stab the demon’s heart with it, she’ll disappear.”

Yu Zhitao came back to her senses: “Have you tried it before?”

Little Wu lowered her head and shook it.

Her voice grew softer, her whole demeanor despondent: “Mother and I can’t leave the palace, so we can’t destroy her.”

What could be more heartbreaking than seeing a little girl so dejected?

Being someone with a strong sense of justice, Yu Zhitao immediately asked upon seeing Little Wu’s expression: “But I can leave the palace! Is there anything I can do?”

Little Wu looked up in surprise.

Her eyes were red-rimmed but shining: “You’d really help us?”

Yu Zhitao nodded while patting her chest.

Little Wu jumped for joy and threw herself into Yu Zhitao’s arms.

Hugging Yu Zhitao’s neck, she exclaimed: “You must be the angel sent to save me and Mommy!”

Having longed for this moment, Yu Zhitao’s cheeks flushed with excitement at finally holding Little Wu.

After expressing her joy, Little Wu pulled back and grabbed her hand: “Let’s go find Mommy now! She knows how to deal with the demon!”

Yu Zhitao agreed.

Abandoning their previous leisurely pace, the two began running through the palace corridors.

After what felt like forever, they stopped before a white door adorned with gold.

Little Wu released her hand, knocked, and upon receiving permission, pushed it open.

Yu Zhitao followed her inside.

It was a master bedroom where a woman sat on the edge of the bed, beckoning to Little Wu.

The little girl ran over with a smile and whispered in the woman’s ear.

The woman wore an extravagant ballgown hat with black veil draping from its brim, obscuring her face. Though unseen, Yu Zhitao was certain she must possess stunning beauty.

After a moment, the beautiful woman spoke:

“Young lady, Little Wu tells me you’re willing to help us defeat that demon outside?”

Yu Zhitao nodded: “Yes, madam.”

To her, this was just a dream where nothing would have real consequences. Since it was all illusion, she wanted to fulfill Little Wu’s wishes and see the adorable girl smile more during their limited time together.

The beautiful woman stood and bowed in gratitude:

“We’re so grateful to you.”

“The dagger is in the adjacent study. I’ll also teach you an incantation that can restrain the demon for ten seconds. If you stab her heart within that time, Little Wu and I will be freed.”

“If successful, we’ll remember your kindness forever.”

Yu Zhitao waved her hands sheepishly: “No need for such formality. Little Wu saved me too, this is the least I can do.”

The beautiful woman smiled.

She glanced out the window: “It’ll be dark soon. Spend the night in the castle, and you can go hunt demons at daybreak.”

Yu Zhitao found this strange: “Why wait overnight? Wouldn’t it be better to eliminate the demons sooner?”

No sooner had she spoken than the surrounding light abruptly dimmed.

Night had fallen.

From the distance came the prolonged howls of wild beasts. The next moment, through the castle windows, Yu Zhitao saw a massive horde of black creatures charging toward the castle.

The beautiful woman sighed at just the right moment: “You see? The palace gets attacked by beasts at night. We can’t go out.”

The scale of this beast horde was truly overwhelming. Even through the windows, it made Yu Zhitao shiver.

Among the creatures, a dragon-like beast with bone wings spotted the three in the room. Breaking away from the main group, it flew straight at their window.

“Boom!” After a heavy collision, it was thrown back by the castle’s sturdy walls.

But the wyvern didn’t give up!

It began repeatedly flapping its wings to attack the window.

“Don’t be afraid.” Xiao Wu returned to Yu Zhitao’s side and took her hand. “I’ll take you to a safe room.”

Coming to her senses, Yu Zhitao quickly grasped her hand tightly.

But just before turning away, Yu Zhitao suddenly saw the wyvern that had been battering the window get struck by an electric flash, plummeting straight down from midair.

Then, flashes of lightning continued to streak across as more besieging beasts collapsed lifelessly.

It took Yu Zhitao a moment to realize these weren’t lightning bolts at all, but arrows trailing electric arcs arrows she recognized well, having been chased by them that very afternoon.

During flashes of this electric light, distant visibility would briefly improve. Yu Zhitao saw the demon girl standing atop a spire, bow drawn.

Her marksmanship was impeccable every shot felled a beast.

Yu Zhitao froze: “She…”

Before she could finish, the entire world turned upside down.

When she awoke again, Yu Zhitao found herself back in her bedroom’s large bed.

“Nightmare?”

Looking up, she saw she was lying in the arms of the adult Ah Jiu.

Feeling wistful, she instinctively reached to pinch Ah Jiu’s cheek.

But fate wasn’t kind her hand was intercepted mid-reach.

“Stop it.” Ah Jiu’s icy voice sounded again.

Pouting, Yu Zhitao closed her eyes and burrowed deeper into her embrace.

“How strange… Why would I dream that?

“Pity though, never got to save adorable Xiao Wu in the end, and big Ah Jiu’s so unyielding. Sigh.”

Yu Zhitao muttered quietly to herself.

Ah Jiu looked down at her: “What are you saying?”

Yu Zhitao: “Talking in my sleep.”

The next moment, Ah Jiu set her down and got out of bed: “Since you’re awake, get up.”

She walked to the window, drew back the curtains, and let dawn flood the room: “Daylight.”

The sunlight made Yu Zhitao squint. She wanted to linger in bed, but the warmth left by the other person in the sheets was slowly fading.

Suddenly losing interest in staying put, she stretched and followed Ah Jiu out of the bedroom.