Fuhuan stepped through the gateway to the Netherworld. After entering, she went directly to Huafu, where Tangnei was located. These mistakenly captured immortal souls were all Tangnei’s responsibility.

Speaking of which, this newly appointed head of the Ten Lords of Hell had been making frequent mistakes since his promotion. How could Siqing tolerate this?

Wasn’t Siqing known for being meticulous in everything he did? What had been happening lately?

Approaching Huafu, Fuhuan heaved a deep sigh and looked at the little ghost standing at the entrance. “Where is your master?”

“Immortal Tangnei is not in the mansion today,” the little ghost respectfully replied.

“He’s not here? But I have urgent business with him. What should I do?” Fuhuan frowned, her speech unconsciously quickening.

Hearing this, the little ghost bowed to Fuhuan again. “Before leaving, Immortal Tangnei instructed that Lord Nether God is in the Netherworld today. Any urgent matters can be taken directly to him.”

Siqing…

Fuhuan pouted and nodded, then headed towards Siqing’s study.

…

…

Soon, she arrived at the study door and asked the guardian ghost to announce her.

Shortly after, Fuhuan entered the study.

Siqing was busy as usual. He was currently working with his head down. Upon hearing Fuhuan’s approaching footsteps, he looked up and glanced at her casually. “Why have you come?”

“Your Netherworld has mistakenly captured another immortal soul today. Immortal Tangnei isn’t here, so I’ve come to you,” Fuhuan replied, her hands behind her back, closely examining Siqing’s features.

Although those mistakenly captured immortal souls were somewhat pitiful, she couldn’t help but feel that these souls had created numerous opportunities for her to see Siqing.

Originally, she thought following the Qinghua Emperor around to bring immortal souls back to the Celestial Realm would be tiring and busy, but now she realized it was quite a pleasant duty.

“Oh? Mistakenly captured again?” Siqing raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise in his eyes.

Fuhuan nodded. “Yes, mistakenly again. This time it’s a man from the mortal realm named Wang Zhiang.”

“Let me check.” Siqing casually picked up a register and looked through it.

A moment later, he nodded slightly. “Indeed, he was accidentally brought to the Netherworld, but he hasn’t been assigned to any level of hell yet, so there’s no need to worry.”

“These matters are all caused by Immortal Tangnei. I’m curious why you would still promote him to be the head of the Ten Lords of Hell?” Fuhuan was genuinely curious about this.

Hearing this, Siqing seemed unconcerned. “Newly appointed, inevitably busy with many matters, some mishaps are normal.”

“…” Hearing this response, Fuhuan looked at Siqing as if she’d seen a ghost. Were these Siqing’s words?

Given Siqing’s character, shouldn’t he be unable to tolerate even the slightest imperfection?

This was bizarre, absolutely bizarre…

“Someone come,” Siqing called out.

Two little ghosts immediately ran in from outside. “What are your orders, Lord?”

“Go bring the immortal soul Wang Zhiang who was brought to the Netherworld today,” Siqing instructed.

The little ghosts nodded and immediately ran out.

After they left, Siqing leisurely raised his eyes to look at Fuhuan. “Sit and wait a while.”

“Mm.” Fuhuan sat down nearby. Fortunately, the Qinghua Emperor hadn’t assigned any tasks today, so she wasn’t in a hurry to return to Miaoyan Palace.

After she sat down, Siqing stood up, walked to Fuhuan’s side, and poured her a cup of water.

“Thank you.” Fuhuan was slightly surprised as she accepted the cup and took a sip.

“Is Miaoyan Palace tiring?” Siqing noticed that in just ten days, Fuhuan had grown visibly thinner. His brow furrowed slightly, his tone unconsciously gentle.

Fuhuan’s lips curved slightly. “It’s fine. I’ve learned a lot under the Qinghua Emperor, which has been quite rewarding.”

Siqing made a sound of acknowledgment, glanced at the time, and returned to his desk to handle his official duties.

Fuhuan had been sitting in Siqing’s study for more than half an hour, having drunk three or four cups of tea, but there was still no sign of the little ghosts bringing Wang Zhiang’s soul.

“Why are they taking so long? Didn’t you say he hadn’t been assigned to any level of hell yet?” Fuhuan was afraid of returning late and delaying matters, so she turned to look at Siqing.

Hearing this, Siqing summoned a little ghost.

“Reporting to the Supreme Deity, the Netherworld has received three souls named Wang Zhiang today, so there’s some confusion. We need to wait a bit longer,” the little ghost explained to Fuhuan.

Fuhuan pouted, unable to say anything more after hearing this.

After dismissing the little ghost, Fuhuan sat there feeling somewhat bored. She stood up, stretched, and yawned.

“Tired?” Siqing looked up at Fuhuan.

Fuhuan nodded. “These past few days, I’ve been busy at Miaoyan Palace during the day and still had to find time to return to Phoenix Feather Pavilion to organize things in the evening. The subordinates at Phoenix Feather Pavilion are used to being idle. Coming to the Celestial Realm with its many rules, they’re all somewhat uncomfortable.”

“Since we still have to wait for a while, you can rest in the inner chamber first.” After speaking, Siqing waved his hand, revealing a stone door. The stone door slowly opened, revealing an exquisitely arranged bedchamber.

“Eh? There’s such a passage behind this study.” Fuhuan walked closer to the stone door and looked at the bedchamber inside.

Seeing her curious expression, Siqing smiled faintly. “This is my bedchamber.”

After speaking, he pointed to a door inside the bedchamber, his eyes filled with amusement. “Open that door, and you can see a hot spring and a bamboo grove.”

“…” Fuhuan was instantly left speechless.

She had taken such a roundabout path to find that bamboo grove that day, only to discover it was right behind this study?

The layout of the Netherworld was truly intricate.

However, since Siqing had generously offered his bedchamber for her to rest, she wouldn’t stand on ceremony. She would take a nap first.

With this thought, Fuhuan swaggered into Siqing’s bedchamber and flopped onto his bed.

Lying on Siqing’s bed, Fuhuan lost her sleepiness. She lay with her eyes open, staring at the ceiling, feeling as though she were in a dream.

How she wished time could stop at this moment forever.

But as long as the woman in the forbidden area wasn’t pardoned, there would always be a gap between Siqing and the Celestial Realm, and she could never be with Siqing.

Thinking of that woman again, Fuhuan bit her lip as a bold idea surfaced in her mind.

Perhaps…

…

Fuhuan didn’t lie down for long before leaving Siqing’s bedchamber. By this time, the immortal soul named Wang Zhiang had also been brought over.

“I’ll be leaving then.” After collecting the immortal soul into a jade bottle, Fuhuan bid farewell to Siqing.

Siqing nodded slightly without saying much.

After returning to Miaoyan Palace, the Qinghua Emperor had not yet returned. Shaoguang and Liuyue were in the hall and immediately came up to her when they saw her return.

“How was it? Did you bring back the immortal soul?” Shaoguang looked at Fuhuan.

Fuhuan nodded and gave the jade bottle to Shaoguang.

“That’s good. You were gone for so long that I thought something had gone wrong. This Wang Zhiang was a very virtuous person in his lifetime and can be reborn as an immortal after death.” Shaoguang kept the bottle safe, planning to give it to the Qinghua Emperor later.

“Immortal Tangnei of the Netherworld wasn’t there today, so I had to get the immortal soul from Lord Nether God. Lord Nether God is extremely busy with affairs, which is why it took until now,” Fuhuan casually made up an excuse.

Hearing this, Shaoguang and Liuyue exchanged glances and chuckled. “We understand, we understand.”

“By the way…” Liuyue remembered something and looked at Fuhuan. “Earlier, a celestial child from the Ziwei Emperor’s side came with a message asking you to go to Ziwei Palace after you’re done.”

“Mm, I’ll go now.” With that, Fuhuan vanished.

…

On the way to Ziwei Palace, Fuhuan passed by the forbidden area. She paused momentarily, a thoughtful look in her eyes.

Upon arriving at Ziwei Palace, the Ziwei Emperor seemed to have been waiting for her for a long time. He was sitting in the main hall with a cup of tea beside him, from which weak steam was rising.

“Father, you were looking for me?” Fuhuan bowed to the Ziwei Emperor.

The Ziwei Emperor nodded, dismissed everyone else in the hall, leaving only Fuhuan, and motioned for her to sit down.

“Fuhuan, there’s a matter I’ve been pondering for a long time, and I think I should tell you,” the Ziwei Emperor’s expression was not pleasant.

“What is it?” Fuhuan’s heart also inexplicably tightened.

The Ziwei Emperor frowned and sighed. “Since you went to Miaoyan Palace for training, your star chart has shown problems.”

“I divined your star chart, and from the day of divination, your Phoenix Star shows no signs of vitality at all.”

“In other words, you may face a great calamity.”

Fuhuan froze in place. After the Ziwei Emperor finished speaking, her beautiful eyebrows furrowed tightly, and her hands unconsciously gripped the cloth on her legs.

Could this be related to her recent decision?

“Fuhuan, Father knows that telling you this will disturb your peace of mind, but after much thought, Father still believes it’s appropriate to inform you.”

“From today onwards, every step you take, every decision you make, must be carefully considered.”

“Although most people find it difficult to escape a great calamity, knowing about it is better than not knowing. If something happens in the future, perhaps there will be a way to respond in time.”

The Ziwei Emperor comforted Fuhuan.

Fuhuan pursed her lips, raised her eyes, and smiled at the Ziwei Emperor. “Don’t worry, Father. I have a strong life force. It’s not so easy for me to encounter trouble.”

“Mm, I know you have a strong life force.” The Ziwei Emperor smiled and reached out to pat Fuhuan’s head. “You are the daughter Heaven bestowed upon me, clever and sensible. Father has always treated you like his own flesh and blood, and Father doesn’t want anything to happen to you.”

“Well, have you finished your tasks at Miaoyan Palace? If so, stay and have dinner with Father.”

“Mm, alright!”

That night, Fuhuan stayed at Ziwei Palace for dinner. Throughout the meal, Fuhuan was restless but dared not show any emotion on her face, lest the Ziwei Emperor worry.

After dinner, Fuhuan said she needed to go to Phoenix Feather Pavilion to arrange some matters.

The Ziwei Emperor didn’t say anything and let her leave.

After leaving Ziwei Palace, Fuhuan took advantage of the empty surroundings to conceal her presence and went to the forbidden area behind the artificial mountain…

…

The sealing spell on this forbidden area was personally cast by her, so she could enter this forbidden area without anyone knowing.

This was her first time secretly coming to this place.

Fuhuan concealed her presence and proceeded smoothly. When she arrived at the small house, she paused for a moment, took several deep breaths, and was just about to flash inside when she heard two voices conversing from within—

“Chunmeng, you look more and more like your mother. It truly makes me unable to let go.”

“Heavenly Emperor, please don’t be like this…”

“Don’t be like what? What haven’t we done between us?”

Outside the door, Fuhuan heard these exchanges and felt as if struck by lightning, momentarily horrified.

What bad timing—the Heavenly Emperor was inside.

And judging by those fragmented sounds, one could imagine how intimate the scene inside must be…