“Who repaired the pendant?” She played with the chain pendant on her chest.

He paused before answering: “Lu Ming.”

“It’s repaired beautifully.” Feng Miaojun examined the squirrel closely, clicking her tongue in admiration. “I didn’t expect his hands to be so skilled and his attention to detail so fine.” Without looking carefully, one couldn’t find any flaw.

Today she wore powdered nail polish, making her ten fingers appear even softer and smoother as she caressed the squirrel like a precious treasure. Yun Ya suddenly felt displeased—why was Lu Ming getting all the praise? Why had he needlessly given credit to someone else?

He pursed his lips, not blushing at all: “I repaired it.”

He had tried for several nights before barely managing to piece the squirrel back together. For such delicate work, despite all his divine abilities, none were of any use; it required pure patience and persistence.

Feng Miaojun was pleased inside, but still gave him a sidelong glance: “How stingy, you couldn’t even bear to give me a new one.”

“I can give you other gifts.”

“What good things?”

He smiled and pressed on the kiss marks he’d left on her body.

Feng Miaojun swatted away his wolflike paw: “Your heart ailment doesn’t seem to have flared up recently?” From last year until now, in their several encounters, she had rarely seen his trademark gesture of clutching his chest like Xi Zi. Had his illness improved?

“Mm, it doesn’t recur much anymore.” He placed her small hand on his chest. “The Blood Tree pollen’s potency is strong, with restorative effects.” Otherwise, he wouldn’t have expended such great effort to seize the Blood Tree from the depths of Cliff Mountain. “But the root of the illness remains. I cannot engage in prolonged combat with those of equal power.”

“After so many years, you still can’t find a method to eliminate it?” With his abilities, was he truly helpless?

“I found one.” He let out a long sigh. “But it’s impossible to achieve.”

“Are you under a curse?” She blinked. “King Yan obtained the Golden Branch Jade Dew, drinking it can break all curses in the world. You could try to get a drop.”

Yun Ya shook his head: “If it were a curse, I would have resolved it long ago. This is a lifelong wish.”

A lifelong wish? Feng Miaojun couldn’t tell if he meant a wish or a grudge. Seeing he didn’t want to continue, she changed the subject: “Has General Xu’s heart ailment also recovered?”

“Her?” Yun Ya snorted lightly. “She wasn’t ill.”

Feng Miaojun already knew that. “Then she went to great lengths.”

Detecting that hint of jealousy in her voice, his face immediately brightened: “Yes, unlike a certain ungrateful little wolf who was eager to drive me away.”

Last summer, she did indeed avoid him, wanting him to leave. Feng Miaojun stood up abruptly and pushed open the door to the terrace.

The cold wind swept in, carrying away the warmth from the room, and also dispersing the lingering intimacy.

Standing at the railing, facing her was a hundred-zhang-wide ice waterfall, each column of water frozen in a rushing posture. Viewed from a distance, it presented a magnificent spectacle.

Her black hair flowed freely, her wide sleeves billowing in the wind as if she might float away with the next gust.

Yun Ya walked behind her and embraced her slender waist: “General Xu has no time for me lately.”

Feng Miaojun didn’t turn around: “Has she found a more handsome gentleman?”

“Not as handsome as me, but acceptable enough.”

Hearing his shameless boast, Feng Miaojun couldn’t help but poke his face: “With skin this thick, how do your whiskers even grow through?”

“I’m just speaking the truth.” His expression was serious. “Only you are more beautiful than me, which is why I pursue you with all my might.”

Feng Miaojun could no longer maintain her composure and burst into laughter, instantly dispersing that small grudge. “Comparing your beauty with a woman’s, have you no shame?”

He rested his chin in the hollow of her shoulder: “On our return journey, we encountered Zuo Qiu Yuan. After bringing him back to the country, that boy launched an offensive toward General Xu, so she has no time to pay attention to me.”

Hmm? “Who?”

“Zuo Qiu Yuan.”

“The one who’s wanted?”

“Mm.” He immediately became vigilant. “You know him too? Is there something I don’t know?” Saying this, he suddenly remembered when they went to Yao Capital to witness Miao Fengxian’s wedding, she had stared at Zuo Qiu Yuan continuously.

Did she prefer that type of pretty boy?

Feng Miaojun shook her head: “No, I just find it strange how a major criminal from the Yao Kingdom was encountered by you. Speaking of which, his family’s misfortune is related to us.” If they hadn’t released Princess Hanyue who informed Miao Fengxian, Zuo Qiu Yuan might already be the State Preceptor by now, and the Zuo family would have been even more honored.

“Victory crowns the king, defeat brands the bandit—who can be blamed?” He was entirely unconcerned. “A moment of spring night is worth a thousand gold pieces; let’s not talk about these irrelevant people.”

Who’s having a spring night with him? Feng Miaojun leaned back into his embrace: “On the cliff to the left of the ice waterfall, guards are watching us.”

“I know.” As soon as he walked out, he had transformed into Yu Linlang’s appearance. “Do you think when I return to Wuseier, Fu Lingchuan will silence me?”

“Him? No.” Feng Miaojun closed her eyes. “I took you out of the palace specifically for everyone to see. Right now, all the powerful families in the country are surrendering their military power. For central stability, Fu Lingchuan wouldn’t dare kill the son of the Northwestern Border Guardian at this time, or it would cause an uproar, giving other powerful families a reason to refuse to surrender their power.”

She smiled lightly: “Even if Yu Linlang were killed by others now, he would still have trouble. After all, his feelings for me are known throughout the court.”

As soon as the words fell, Yun Ya’s grip on her waist tightened, clearly angered by the last sentence. “Last year, I suggested eliminating Fu Lingchuan as a problem.”

“At that time, authority over the four seas had not yet been consolidated.” Feng Miaojun said calmly. “Without him, I couldn’t have subdued the various powerful families.”

“The suggestion is still valid.” He spoke softly. “I can eliminate Fu Lingchuan for you.”

“And the condition?” The mountain wind blew, making her mind exceptionally clear. “When you initially helped Xiao Yan seize power, did you also have conditions?”

“His goals aligned with mine without prior arrangement, so what conditions were needed?” Yun Ya stroked her delicate neck. “The same applies to us. Fu Lingchuan holds a high position and great power; I cannot let him covet you.”

“Marrying Fu Lingchuan would be an excellent choice…” Before she could finish, Yun Ya turned her around to face him. The remaining half of her sentence, “but unfortunately I don’t like him,” was left unsaid.

“Try saying that again?” His face instantly darkened like the bottom of a pot, his peach blossom eyes filled with murderous intent.

She sighed: “Then tell me, who should I marry? The court officials are pressing urgently.” Compared to her, other older single women shouldn’t complain about being pressured to marry.

Others might face pressure only from parents or a few elders, but she had the entire court exerting pressure on her, everyone concerned daily with the Queen’s lifelong happiness.

Her days were far from easy!

Being pressured by hundreds of people simultaneously to get married wasn’t just pressure—it was maddening!

“Naturally, you should marry me.” He declared shamelessly.

“What do you have?” She lightly patted his chest. “Come, let’s discuss marriage terms, with clear prices. Although you are a State Preceptor, you belong to the Wei Kingdom, so that doesn’t count. Without an official position, you have no power. What other bargaining chips do you have?”