In Yaoming Hall, Xiao Shuang, who had been waiting at the entrance, took the azure umbrella from Bujiang’s hand and hung it open on the long platform.

Bujiang pulled Zanxing by the hand to sit down on the soft couch and instructed the maidservants to prepare wood spirit ginger soup.

“You just came out of the Demon Essence Pool, and I dragged you to Heishi Mountain, and it was still raining outside this morning,” Bujiang smiled gently. “Have some ginger soup later. I had them add some qi-replenishing spiritual herbs to warm your body.”

Zanxing said, “I can just use a body-warming technique when I return. No need to go through such trouble.”

“It’s just making soup – how is that troublesome?” Bujiang looked at her reproachfully, her eyes full of loving kindness. “You child, when you went to Yuega Mountain before, you worried me sick. I don’t know if you ate well or slept well while you were out there. Now that you’re back, you naturally need to be properly nourished. You’ll stay and dine in my hall today. I know your taste is no different from mortals. There’s a chef in the city who used to be an imperial chef in the palace kitchens of Duzhou. Today you’re in luck – stay and dine with me.”

“Mother, there’s no need.”

“It’s necessary.”

“No need to trouble yourself…”

“It’s no trouble.”

Xiao Shuang watched the two of them with a smile. Zanxing sighed and looked at Bujiang: “Mother, are you deliberately keeping me here to prevent me from seeing Gu Baiying?”

Bujiang answered with a beaming smile: “Yes!”

Zanxing: “……”

She said helplessly: “Gu Baiying hasn’t offended you, has he, Mother?”

“He hurt your heart, which is offending me and insulting the dignity of all of Heishi City.”

Zanxing was stunned: “Is it that serious? Besides, he had lost his memory at the time.”

“You’re certainly good at making excuses for him.” Bujiang tapped her forehead. “Being appeased so easily – how will he ever take you seriously in the future? If we don’t teach him a lesson, won’t the sect people look down on Heishi City? I, Bujiang’s daughter – if anyone hurts her heart, this mistress will certainly pay them back with interest.”

“Mother, what did you do?” Zanxing became alert, then suddenly remembered the several “consorts” in her hall and said with sudden realization: “You didn’t have them say nonsense to Gu Baiying, did you?”

“So what if I did?” Bujiang raised her chin. “Although you didn’t inherit my peerless beauty, in the cultivation world, you’re still a first-class enchantress. As a demon princess, it would be too shameful if you didn’t have several men fighting over you. Your little master uncle is pampered like a precious treasure in the sect – what’s so great about that? He has one admirer causing you trouble, so I’ll give him seven and see who feels more uncomfortable.”

Zanxing: “……”

Bujiang clapped her hands and stood up leisurely, looking at Zanxing with a smile: “This hall has been sealed with a barrier by me. It won’t be lifted for three hours. You drink your ginger soup, have your meal, and get a good sleep in my hall. You haven’t rested properly these past days. Now that nothing is pressing in Heishi City, just take care of yourself. As for your little master uncle,” she snorted, “you waited for him for a whole two years. If he’s not willing to wait even three hours, or if he’s so angered by Chuideng Gui and the others that he storms off, it only shows this person’s heart isn’t broad enough, and his feelings for you aren’t deep enough. Why should you guard such a person? Better to break it off early.” With that, regardless of Zanxing’s expression, she walked toward the inner hall, yawning as she went. “I’m also somewhat tired. I’ll rest for a while first. You rest well here.”

Bujiang left, and Zanxing sat alone in the hall. Soon, a maidservant brought the prepared ginger soup.

The hall was indeed sealed with a barrier, so she couldn’t leave for a while. The sound of rain rustled outside. Zanxing sat for a moment, then picked up the ginger soup from the table and took a sip.

The ginger soup was warm and fragrant. As she drank, she sighed deeply. What a mess this all was.

……

In the inner hall, Bujiang removed her bright red outer robe, and Xiao Shuang took it to properly store it in a chest to the side.

After storing it, Xiao Shuang didn’t immediately leave. He stood at the entrance to the inner hall and hesitated: “Your Highness…”

Bujiang glanced at him: “Speak if you have something to say.”

“Your Highness deliberately having Chuideng Gui and the others anger Young Master Gu and make things difficult for him – it’s not really because Young Master Gu forgot about the Young Mistress, is it?” After a moment of silence, Xiao Shuang continued: “It’s because of Young Master Gu’s father?”

As soon as these words were spoken, the surrounding air grew colder.

No one spoke in the hall for a long while.

After who knows how long, Bujiang rose and walked to the small table beside the soft couch. On the table was a pot of clear wine. She casually took a wine cup and poured herself a small cup.

The woman gazed at the clear wine in the cup. After a long time, she snorted softly: “You saw through it.”

Xiao Shuang smiled slightly: “After all, Young Master Gu’s expression and bearing are truly too similar to that fairy maiden from years past.”

Before Demon Empress Bujiang married Gui Diao Tang, she had indeed lived quite a dissolute life in the Demon Realm. Of course, she was the same now. Back then, as the first beauty of the Demon Realm, or rather, the first beauty of the three realms, Bujiang’s admirers were as numerous as fish crossing a river. She was quite proud, seductive, and passionate, with lovers ranging from demons to humans – she had every type.

Of course, demons were naturally promiscuous, always loving one after seeing another. Lovers would enjoy themselves for a while, then when they grew tired of each other, they’d part ways and find someone new. Bujiang had extremely high standards – all the men she favored were renowned beauties throughout Duzhou.

Gu Caiyu was one of them.

“When this mistress first encountered him, seeing his outstanding appearance and unparalleled handsomeness, I brought him back to Heishi City. Who knew… hmph!”

Back then, Bujiang had happened upon a young man in a secret realm. This man appeared to be a rogue cultivator engaged in battle with a demonic python. Bujiang was passing by and, seeing this man’s extremely handsome appearance, drew her blade to help him slay the python and brought the man back to Heishi City as well.

This man was named Gu Caiyu.

At that time, Bujiang wasn’t yet together with Gui Diao Tang. She brought this man back to Heishi City intending to develop a romantic affair with him. Who knew this man was gentle and courteous, refined and scholarly, with no particular prejudice against demons, but whenever the topic of romance came up, he would play dumb and be evasive.

Men in the mortal realm were accustomed to playing such games of push and pull. Bujiang had seen it many times and didn’t take it to heart. She had time to spare anyway, and it added some interest.

That’s what Bujiang thought – this man would eventually become hers regardless, because with a woman like her, any man on the Duzhou continent couldn’t possibly not fall in love with her. It was only a matter of time before Gu Caiyu would be devoted to her.

But Bujiang never expected that Gu Caiyu would secretly send a message asking for rescue behind her back.