Looking at the words displayed on the azure System panel before him, Qing Chen confirmed it several times, making sure it was indeed the reward of Great Emperor Cultivation.
'This reward is truly generous!'
Qing Chen, who had already fused with the memories of this life, knew very well that in the Heaven Profound Continent, the cultivation Realms, from low to high, were: Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Soul Transformation, Divided Soul, Body Integration, Tribulation Transcendence, Great Ascension, Quasi-Emperor, and Great Emperor.
Each major Realm was further divided into nine minor Realms.
A Great Emperor was the highest combat power in a world, without exception.
Not only that, but restricted by the Heavenly Dao order, only one Great Emperor could exist in a world, enjoying the Heavenly Dao Luck exclusively.
If others wanted to enjoy this Heavenly Dao Luck, there were only two paths: either defeat the old Great Emperor, or wait for the opponent's Lifespan to run out and take their place.
However, the demise of an old Great Emperor often meant the occurrence of a world-shaking war, as there was more than one person who wanted to sit on the Great Emperor's throne, but there was only one Great Emperor position.
Thinking of this, a question couldn't help but arise in Qing Chen's mind: 'If I truly complete the task and consummate the marriage with Han Qingyue, will I directly replace the old Great Emperor?'
To this, the System immediately explained: [System rewards are not limited by the Heavenly Dao. The Host can coexist with him, or choose to kill him and seize the Heavenly Dao Luck!]
'So that's how it is...'
Hearing the System say this, Qing Chen felt relieved. Why would he challenge a Great Emperor for no reason and bring trouble upon himself?
Having been reborn, he only wanted to live freely and enjoy life.
The reason he completed the System tasks was simply to consolidate his strength, reverse the fate of a destined villain, and survive the protagonist's schemes.
He had no interest in dynastic struggles, but relying on the Undying and Imperishable Body and the invincible, peerless Great Emperor Cultivation, ensuring no one dared to provoke or disturb his peaceful life, was very tempting.
He turned his head to look at Great Han Dynasty's Princess Han Qingyue, who was wearing a red wedding dress, a red veil covering her head, sitting quietly on the bed, unmoving and silent.
"Gulp!" Qing Chen swallowed hard, very worried: as a dignified villain, was it really okay for him to sleep with the protagonist's woman?
He worried that if he really did it, would he suffer a backlash from the Heavenly Dao or something similar?
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but sigh, feeling that this script was even worse than a 'trash-to-riches' story.
"Forget it, I'll take it one step at a time."
After preparing himself mentally, Qing Chen walked towards Han Qingyue.
He noticed that as his footsteps drew closer, Han Qingyue's hands immediately clenched into fists.
To be honest, Qing Chen was a little worried now: 'This woman isn't hiding a knife on her, planning to stab me when I get close, is she?'
Fortunately, after he arrived in front of Han Qingyue, she made no superfluous movements.
Seeing this, Qing Chen's tightly strung nerves relaxed slightly.
Then he reached out and picked up the wedding scale that had been placed nearby, extended it under the red veil, and lifted it.
As their eyes met, Qing Chen had to admit that this woman was indeed exceptionally beautiful, deserving of the words 'alluring beauty' and even more so, 'Great Han's Foremost Beauty'!
Her slightly reddened eyes, which clearly showed she had cried but were feigning strength, unwilling to let Qing Chen see her vulnerable side, were even more heart-wrenching.
"..." Qing Chen.
"..." Han Qingyue.
Silence.
Qing Chen awkwardly placed the wedding scale back in its original position. It was his first wedding, and he felt a bit at a loss, unsure of what to do.
That's right, whether in his previous life or this one, it was his first time getting married.
On the other hand, the System's task was for Han Qingyue to willingly consummate the marriage with him. Qing Chen couldn't possibly force her, could he?
If he really forced her, just looking at her cold eyes, he knew that once her favorability dropped, it would be difficult to raise it again, probably impossible in this lifetime.
Compared to gaining such a beauty, Qing Chen still felt that Great Emperor Cultivation was more important.
Although Han Qingyue was the Great Han Dynasty's Foremost Beauty, the Heaven Profound Continent had countless Dynasties; it wasn't as if there wasn't a second woman as beautiful as Han Qingyue.
If Qing Chen truly liked beautiful women, why should he abandon an entire forest for one tree? With Great Emperor Cultivation, let alone the peerless beauties of the mortal world, even the celestial maidens in the heavens might not be out of reach.
After weighing things in his mind, Qing Chen had made his decision.
He awkwardly coughed, walked to the table, and poured a cup of tea.
He drank a cup himself first, to moisten his throat.
Then he picked up another new cup, poured some tea, and returned to Han Qingyue, offering it to her, "You... have some water."
Han Qingyue did not speak. After confirming that Qing Chen had drunk from the teapot and there were no issues, she took the cup from his hand and drank it all.
To be honest, she was also very nervous now.
She was wary that Qing Chen might tear off his disguise the next moment, pounce on her like a hungry wolf, and devour her.
Yet, Han Qingyue couldn't refuse.
The most helpless part was that to preserve the royal lineage and the future of the entire Great Han, she didn't even have the right to commit suicide; she could only be at his mercy.
Little did she know, Qing Chen's attention was not on her at all at this moment.
On the System panel that suddenly popped up, visible only to Qing Chen:
[Successful Wife-Pampering! Congratulations, Host, for receiving a random reward: Mid-Grade Spirit Stone +10!]
Seeing this text, Qing Chen slightly frowned.
He was puzzled: 'Pouring a cup of water counts as pampering my wife?'
Ten Mid-Grade Spirit Stones were naturally nothing to Qing Chen given his background, but for those poor families, working hard all year might not even earn them that much.
Looking at it from that perspective, just pouring a cup of water could earn ten Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, which was already a great gain.
'I just don't know if there's a limit...'
Looking at the empty cup in Han Qingyue's hand, Qing Chen had an idea. He returned to the table, picked up the teapot, and poured her another cup, "Thirsty, aren't you? Have another cup."
Han Qingyue merely gave Qing Chen a strange look and didn't think much of it. With one hand partly covering her face, she tilted her head slightly and drank the tea in the cup.
[Successful Wife-Pampering! Congratulations, Host, for receiving a random reward: Strength Attribute +1!]
'Strength Attribute?!'
Initially, Qing Chen had thought that minor things like pouring tea would only reward Spirit Stones.
He never expected that the System not only didn't limit the number of times but also had varying qualities for random rewards.
After gaining and applying the Strength attribute point, he could clearly feel a surge of raw power appearing out of nowhere within his body, filling his limbs and bones.
Realizing this, Qing Chen immediately became interested and poured Han Qingyue another cup.
... Han Qingyue, though perplexed, obediently drank the tea because she didn't want to offend or anger Qing Chen.
Qing Chen poured again.
... Han Qingyue drank again.
Qing Chen poured yet again.
... Han Qingyue drank yet again.
Qing Chen continued to pour.
... Han Qingyue continued to drink.
The more she drank, the more puzzled she became. Had Qing Chen mistaken wine for tea?
And she couldn't help but think, 'He made a mistake, so... should I just go along with it?'