Xuanhuan: The Empress and I Swapped Bodies - Chapter 5

Ye Wushuang possessed extraordinary aptitude. On his very first day, he grasped over a thousand secret techniques.

Though they weren’t top-tier methods, such a feat was astounding by any measure. Yet Ye Wushuang remained unaware of his own brilliance, attributing it all to the Divine Dragon Empress’s influence.

That evening, he rode back to his palace in a dragon-drawn carriage, heart brimming with joy.

Later, under the watchful eyes of attendants, he sat down to dine.

His meal was anything but ordinary. The meats served were from ancient primordial beasts—semi-divine avian species, even pure-blooded prehistoric predator cubs. The vegetables were all at least semi-saint-grade herbs, if not full saint-grade.

Every dish, whether meat or vegetable, was a pinnacle of culinary excellence. For ordinary people, consuming such fare would forge an unshakable foundation and vastly amplify their strength.

Yet for the Divine Dragon Empress, this was merely daily sustenance.

Having never tasted such delicacies before, Ye Wushuang lost himself in indulgence. These flavors were beyond anything the modern era could replicate. To waste even a single bite felt like a crime.

So he devoured every last morsel of the imperial feast.

This time, Murong Wan’er couldn’t hold back her question.

“Your Majesty, are you certain you haven’t been cultivating a body-refinement technique? Normally, you only eat small portions of vegetables…”

Now brimming with confidence—and eager to keep enjoying such meals—Ye Wushuang revised his earlier statement.

“Indeed, We are practicing a body-refinement art. From now on, instruct the imperial kitchen to prepare larger portions.”

“As you command.”

Murong Wan’er had no further objections. She knew the empress had recently been studying new techniques, having even delegated court affairs to focus on cultivation. A change in appetite wasn’t unusual.

After the meal, Murong Wan’er arranged the evening’s rest according to the empress’s usual routine.

Truly, the Divine Dragon Empress lived in unparalleled luxury—every need anticipated, every comfort attended to. Even bathing was a meticulously serviced affair.

Throughout the process, Ye Wushuang reclined in a natural tub carved from celestial jade, eyes tightly shut, not daring to glance around. A single look might send his nose bleeding again.

He could only endure the experience with clenched eyelids.

But halfway through, he sensed someone approaching.

“Your Majesty, shall we use Phoenix Blossoms this time?”

The whisper at his ear startled him. Instinctively, his eyes flew open.

There stood Murong Wan’er in translucent silks, already in the bath, scattering petals of the rare Phoenix Blossom herb.

Her hands were delicate as orchid petals, her skin like polished jade—radiant, flawless, breathtaking.

Lightning seemed to crackle through Ye Wushuang’s veins. Blood surged.

Though he’d known Murong Wan’er attended the empress’s baths during his time as a chronicler, this sight surpassed all imagination.

This shouldn’t be happening. I shouldn’t be seeing this. I’m supposed to be male!

Just as he braced himself, soft hands alighted on his arms—Murong Wan’er’s customary massage to help the empress relax.

Previously, the empress had always luxuriated in these ministrations, eyes closed in contentment.

But this time, “Her Majesty” reacted differently—tense, shuddering, even breaking out in goosebumps.

Murong Wan’er paused. “Your Majesty, are you unwell? Has your training overtaxed you?”

Rising slightly, she pressed her fingers to his temples, intending to soothe his fatigue.

This proved catastrophic.

A tidal wave of pearlescent skin filled his vision, crashing against him.

Even with an immortal monarch’s physique, Ye Wushuang couldn’t withstand this.

Splat!

Another geyser of nose blood erupted—imperial immortal blood, no less—splattering across jade-like skin before trickling downward.

“Ah! Your Majesty, are you hurt?!”

“It’s nothing! This… this is just excess vitality. We require a blood purge!”

With that excuse, Ye Wushuang squeezed his eyes shut, submitting to Murong Wan’er’s administrations.

The maid didn’t question it. To her, the empress was infallible, the sovereign who’d given her everything. Every decree was absolute.

Resuming the massage, she worked for a full half-hour while Ye Wushuang suffered exquisite torment.

Afterward, he hastily dismissed her, not trusting himself to behave if she stayed.

Before sleep, he pored over texts from the empress’s personal library. His knowledge of this world remained sparse—he needed relentless study.

For days afterward, Ye Wushuang moved between the archives and his chambers, mastering the empress’s affairs while avoiding court responsibilities.

After a month of study, he’d mastered a third of the imperial archives’ foundational techniques, interweaving them into a cohesive system.

His confidence grew with his prowess. Now, he could perfectly emulate the Divine Dragon Empress’s immortal-monarch aura, concealing her true power at will.

Unless someone forced a direct confrontation—exposing his inability to replicate her signature moves—none would suspect the substitution.

Still unsatisfied, he exploited his borrowed authority and talent to voraciously absorb more knowledge. These skills would remain his even after this ordeal.

Another month passed. Ye Wushuang’s mastery had solidified.

It was time to test his progress.