“Running off everywhere again.”

Fucang’s tone was ice-cold. The Dragon Princess had always been this way—not fond of lively places. He had only been speaking with a few acquaintances from his former War Department colleagues for a while, and when he turned around she had disappeared, even getting accosted by some inexplicable divine lord.

She shook his sleeve softly and weakly, enunciating each word slowly as she spoke: “This subject’s feet hurt. I can’t walk anymore.”

It immediately made him recall the scene of their first meeting on Flower Emperor’s Immortal Island—putting on airs, thoroughly peculiar in every way. He turned his head to glance at her. This young princess had shallow dimples on her jade cheeks, indescribably cute and charming.

Fucang couldn’t help but smile, turning to continue leading her by the hand: “Bear with it.”

“Brute.” She pouted proudly and coquettishly.

Probably the scene of these two outstandingly attractive divine lord and goddess walking hand in hand under the pear blossom grove was too dazzling. In the eyes of many goddesses and divine lords present, tears couldn’t help but well up. Speaking of which, when Tian Di had originally introduced these two, it seemed to have also been on Flower Emperor’s Immortal Island. After tens of thousands of years, they had truly come together. This matter shattered countless glazed hearts of those present.

Winding past countless guests, Xuan Yi saw Gu Ting from afar. Today he seemed to be wrapped from head to toe in a layer of jubilant happiness, completely silly, with only the expression “smile” remaining on his face. Yan Xia beside him was no better off. This pair truly was a match made in heaven.

“Xuan Yi!” Zhi Xi waved at her repeatedly. This senior apprentice sister who had become a member of the Justice Ministry had finally recently learned to adorn herself. Today she was dressed brilliantly and gorgeously. Every passing divine lord couldn’t help but take an extra look at her.

“I made the rouge paste according to the method you described, but why didn’t the color come out right?” Zhi Xi extended her fingers before her. The light peachy-pink color on them was indeed not as refreshing as her own.

“You have to wait until those flowers are in full bloom and about to wither before picking them…”

As soon as Xuan Yi brought up grooming and adornment, she became energetic. Pulling Zhi Xi aside, she whispered and murmured. Fucang found it gave him a headache listening. Tai Yao, who had been chatting idly with Zhi Xi earlier, seemed to find it even more headache-inducing. The two divine lords simply stepped aside.

Fucang had just taken a cup of wine to sip lightly when he suddenly felt a pat on his shoulder. Turning his head to look, it was actually Crown Prince Chang Qin, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time. Since the last matter of exterminating the fallen celestial deities, Fucang had been transferred away from the Dingmao Division. After all, because of Xuan Yi’s matter, it was quite awkward.

Crown Prince Chang Qin was currently full of smiles. Looking at him, then looking at the water-red gorgeous figure under the tree, he spoke: “Although I was bound by duty, in the end I still harbored selfish motives. My apologies.”

At that time, almost all the war generals who understood the entanglement between Fucang and the Zhuyin Clan princess were not optimistic about them. Most also felt they would soon part ways. Probably Fucang was merely attracted by the princess’s beauty—a temporary infatuation. Who could have imagined they would actually go through life and death together.

Fucang nodded silently, raising his cup to toast him. Crown Prince Chang Qin drank three cups in one go, then smiled and said: “In the future when you assume the position of Qinghua Dijun and marry the princess, don’t forget to invite me to drink another three cups.”

No, perhaps there was no need to wait that long. Fucang poured himself a cup and drank it in one gulp. At the engagement banquet, he could drink these three cups.

The wedding banquet continued to be lively until the sun slanted toward the west. Gu Ting, half-drunk, suddenly came over and draped an arm over Fucang’s shoulder, shaking him: “Let me secretly open the inner garden gate and take Xuan Yi to see the whirling peony. She quite likes it, right? Right now is the best time to view it. Watch over her well—don’t let this little demon actually pluck the flower.”

Fucang couldn’t help but laugh. Turning his head, he saw Xuan Yi was still murmuring with Zhi Xi about those grooming and adornment matters. He walked toward her. Seeing him approach, Zhi Xi smiled, turned around, and left.

Fucang bent down and scooped up this languid Dragon Princess in one motion. Under the gorgeous sunset light, her cheeks seemed almost translucent. This place and scene were too similar. He couldn’t help but recall the circumstances of seeing her for the first time—her cheeks hidden beneath the parasol had also been as translucent as jade.

He smiled as he brushed away the stray hair on her face. Suddenly in the mood, he said in a low voice: “The whirling peony in Flower Emperor’s inner garden has bloomed recently. Would the princess be willing to go view it together?”

Xuan Yi widened her eyes to look at him. Wasn’t this what he had said when they first met all those years ago? This always cool and aloof divine lord could play this game too? She smiled as she hugged his arm, saying delicately: “Please ask the divine lord to lead the way.”

Flower Emperor’s inner garden was still full of gorgeous purples and brilliant reds, countless rare flowers and exotic plants appearing especially enchanting in the rosy light.

The princess walked very slowly, as if without female immortal attendants to support her, she was unable to walk. The graceful and handsome divine lord ahead walked and stopped, and finally seemed to grow impatient. He turned back and scooped her up in one motion. The princess exclaimed “Aiya”: “Cheater.”

Fucang looked at the handkerchief in her hand and narrowed his eyes: “If you dare throw the handkerchief into the Cloud Pool again…”

Xuan Yi hugged his head and gently blew a breath at his face: “This subject, upon seeing the divine lord today, greatly admires him in my heart. To be able to become husband and wife with the divine lord is truly this subject’s wish. Therefore, I hope the divine lord will think thrice. This subject hopes her husband will be an elegant and noble emperor, not a crude brute who wields knives and cudgels.”

Fucang pinched her waist and held tight the slender body that was twisting and laughing chaotically: “In this matter, the princess speaks too soon. For now, set your mind at ease.”

The warm breeze of dusk blew slowly. Compared to the outer island’s earth-shaking laughter and conversation, the inner garden was very quiet. The flower guardians opened the gate to the peony courtyard, still shaken—they still remembered the fright this Zhuyin Clan princess had given them last time here.

In the courtyard, countless peonies stretched their branches and leaves, gathering together in clusters and heaps, ten thousand beauties competing in spring. Only that palm-sized whirling peony on the glazed platform in the center stood proud among all the flowers. Its ice-crystal-like petals were reflected by the bright rosy light into an extremely elegant and beautiful red. No wonder they said dusk was the best moment to view the whirling peony.

“Such a beautiful peony.”

Speaking thus, Xuan Yi was about to reach out her hand. The divine lord in luxurious robes immediately restrained both her hands from behind. Given this princess’s wicked nature, she probably truly could commit the evil deed of plucking the whirling peony.

But she docilely nestled in his embrace, the eyes behind the black gauze quietly watching this spiritual root peony of heaven and earth, until that layer of brief red gradually faded with the disappearance of the rosy light.

“Truly beautiful.” She turned her wrists. Too bad she couldn’t manifest White Snow, otherwise she really wanted to preserve this rarely seen gorgeous red.

Fucang turned her body to face him properly, lowering his head to look at her seriously, his voice containing hidden laughter: “Princess, upon this first meeting today, what is your impression of this one?”

Xuan Yi laughed with a “chi” sound, raising her hands to cup his face and look left and right: “Mm, passable I suppose. What about the divine lord? What is your impression of this subject?”

The refined and handsome divine lord’s eyes gradually deepened. He said in a low voice: “I fell in love with the princess at first sight and truly find it hard to forget. I hope to be united in marriage with the princess, in this life and this world, only this one pair. I pray the princess will grant this wish.”

She froze, the eyes hidden behind the black gauze gazing fixedly at him, her gaze clear and focused.

This moment was not that moment. Tens of thousands of years of time had quietly flowed past between her and him. At Flower Emperor’s Immortal Island, before the whirling peony, just like the first time they met.

Fucang bent down and placed a light kiss on her forehead, his voice even softer: “Marry me.”

Xuan Yi was still quietly gazing at him. After a long while, she smiled slightly: “Alright.”