For the next half hour, Xue Yu couldn’t focus on reading anything.

The Heavenly Wolf occupying half the desk had both wings fully spread, like a large golden butterfly taking up most of her vision.

It was truly brooding over Xu Yunqing, and truly angered by Xue Yu’s words. Even while lying there, it would suddenly lift its head, sharpen its claws, then irritably flutter its wings, looking ready to fight at any moment.

Xue Yu tapped its wet nose tip with her brush, seeing it immediately raise its round, golden pupils to meet her gaze: “You heard just now—it’s all baseless nonsense.”

“Why are you so angry about this?”

Though she said this, she showed no intention of stopping it. When the little Heavenly Wolf moved to the left side, she went to the right to read documents. When it wandered around the inner hall, she would glance at it from time to time. Later, remembering something, it suddenly flashed out like lightning.

Xue Yu beckoned the attending servants: “Follow the young master—let him do whatever he wants.”

After thinking, she added, “Never mind, have Chao Nian accompany him.”

The Heavenly Wolf had gone to find Chao Nian.

Though it had no memories, it was still clever. From Xiao City back to Yedu, Chao Nian and Qing Luo had accompanied them throughout. Comparing the two, Chao Nian was more relaxed, even somewhat presumptuous.

He had been shocked by having a wisp of Azure Dragon bloodline, his mouth agape the entire journey.

Even though besides Qing Luo occasionally responding softly, no second person paid him any attention.

But this could explain some things.

At least Chao Nian had stayed by Xue Yu’s side for a long time and knew the most; otherwise, how would he dare act this way?

With the great battle ended, Chao Hua, Chou Li, and all other Palace Guard elites were in Xiao City. In the Palace Guard duty room sat only a handful of colleagues, yet there were many urgent matters to handle, one after another, without any room for slack.

Chao Nian sat at his desk, fully focused on his work, until the Palace Guard door was pushed open.

He looked up.

Two servants led in a divine beast of pure gold that gleamed brilliantly. The Heavenly Wolf moved very quickly—Chao Nian’s eyes blurred, and before he could say anything, it was already half-sitting on his desk.

Perhaps having that wisp of Azure Dragon bloodline, Chao Nian wasn’t afraid of the Heavenly Wolf’s round golden pupils, but he didn’t dare look much when there was no need, always feeling intimidated.

Faced with this scene, he averted his gaze, called out “Young Master,” then looked at the two female servants behind: “What’s happening? Why bring the young master here?”

The female servants quietly repeated Xue Yu’s words. Chao Nian’s eyes lit up as he pushed aside various secret manuals, case files, and confessions at hand, asking: “Where would the young master like to see?”

“Xu Yunqing.” The Heavenly Wolf tilted its head, looking at Chao Nian, speaking with slight pauses, its pupils clustering with golden flames. When their eyes met, it gave a heavy, stunning sense of impact.

Xu Yunqing.

Mentioning Xu Yunqing, Chao Nian thought of that scene three days ago when the one before him was extremely agitated, and he was like an ant on a hot pan.

As for giving guarantees on behalf of Their Highness, he didn’t dare—after all, whether Xu Yunqing would actually remain by Their Highness’s side, he couldn’t say for certain.

In the end, no matter how good his relationship with Su You, he was still Xue Yu’s person. If something happened, he would only side with Xue Yu.

But now, having experienced life-and-death matters on the battlefield followed by dealing with the Xu family, Chao Nian finally understood clearly that Xue Yu had absolutely no romantic interest in others. According to current trends, the future empress’s side would only have this one person.

This was here to settle accounts.

Chao Nian stood up quite readily: “Alright, I’ll take the young master there. The Xu family’s Xu Yunqing and Xu Zihua bribed Yedu servants, deliberately spreading rumors to slander Sacred Land successors and sowing discord between Sacred Lands and the demon capital. They’re now detained in the Palace Guard private prison.”

He pointed to a narrow path carved out on the right side: “They’re locked in there.”

The Heavenly Wolf glanced at the dark passage and, without any visible movement—not even flapping its wings—instantly traveled to the passage entrance.

Chao Nian nonchalantly rubbed the case files piled at the edge of his desk with his palm, his smile flawless, then with lightning speed pulled out a registry that was poking out from the pile and quickly stuffed it into the drawer under his desk.

The entire process flowed like water without making the slightest sound.

Even the nearest servant didn’t notice.

But the Heavenly Wolf just happened to turn back, its gaze following Chao Nian’s desperately serious face down to the bottom drawer under the desk.

Though it appeared small now—shrunk a hundredfold from its true form—making its eyes seem very round, its nose moist, and when its feathers lay smoothly against its body, it showed an unassuming quietness, this didn’t mean the dangerous aura was completely covered by this somewhat “cute” appearance.

After all, the Heavenly Wolf was top-tier among divine beasts, an unquestionable existence.

It was a natural-born king.

Moreover, undeniably, this world’s only remaining Heavenly Wolf had two faces—one before Xue Yu and another before others.

Chao Nian had worked with Su You for over twenty years. This phenomenon wasn’t new, but he used to conceal it, making it less obvious. These past two days, having lost his memory and reverted to his original form, this differential treatment was displayed thoroughly without any ambiguity.

Like now, this glance—if it were anyone without Azure Dragon bloodline, cold sweat would immediately break out.

Chao Nian wasn’t much better off. His heart pounded, fingers stiff, as he tried to naturally stretch his mouth corners: “I’ll take the young master there.”

The Heavenly Wolf ignored him. With a few leaps, it lightly landed on the desk and reached into the drawer with its paw, fishing out a registry of moderate thickness under Chao Nian’s crumbling smile.

It opened it for a look, staring at the top line repeatedly, then gradually moving down to the names below.

Done for.

Finished.

Chao Nian wished he could chop off his hand for this unnecessary precaution.

Su You had seen this registry before.

This was a list of future principal consorts, side consorts, and attendant consorts from various noble families that the Yedu Sovereign had prepared for Xue Yu before they entered Feiyun Peak. Xu Yunqing was prominently listed.

At the time, Xue Yu had glanced at it casually and tossed it on Chao Nian’s desk, where it had remained ever since.

Just now, Chao Nian felt the Heavenly Wolf’s accusatory tone mixed with ten years of jealousy was very wrong. In a flash of inspiration, he somehow thought of this old matter and wanted to safely store it away, but instead, caused trouble.

“Young Master.” Chao Nian’s face went numb as he tentatively called out, swallowing saliva to explain: “This is very old business. Miss never said she wanted them.”

The Heavenly Wolf couldn’t hear his words.

It grabbed the registry in its mouth, no longer interested in Xu Yunqing, spread its wings, and with terrifying speed crossed through the Palace Guard duty room, returning like lightning to Xue Yu’s inner hall. The female guards outside looked at each other, and before they could react, the tightly closed doors were pushed open with a clang.

Chao Nian called out several times helplessly, then dejectedly followed.

When it charged through the courtyard with such momentum, Xue Yu sensed it. She watched the Heavenly Wolf crash in like a small cannonball and unhurriedly set down her brush.

The Heavenly Wolf jumped onto her desk in a few steps, set down the registry from its mouth, used both paws to flip to the first page, then properly pointed at the top line with its bright golden claw tips, poking the most prominent characters and presenting them before her.

At this moment, Chao Nian also entered.

He hung his head, guilt written all over his face. After organizing his words repeatedly, he said quietly, “Originally, the young master wanted to see Xu Yunqing, but temporarily discovered this and returned. Your Highness, I originally wanted to hide…” Under the Heavenly Wolf’s suddenly dangerous gaze, he vaguely skipped over this word: “it away.”

“No matter.” Xue Yu listened to the whole story and looked at the indignant Heavenly Wolf with its tail coiled up, as if demanding an explanation: “If he didn’t express this today, I would never know these things.”

“You may go.”

Having escaped death, Chao Nian fled back to the Palace Guard to continue handling matters.

The hall returned to quiet, shadows of trees swaying outside the window, autumn wind compelling. Xue Yu touched the hot tea beside her hand, the teacup clinking against the rim with a clear ring, like a prelude to breaking tranquility.

“What’s wrong?” Xue Yu took the registry, opened it, and carefully scanned from beginning to end, asking the miniature Heavenly Wolf crouching beside her.

The Heavenly Wolf jumped down, transformed into human form, and stood across the desk. His figure was solitary and upright, eyelashes slightly upturned, lip line pressed into an unpleasant arc, his voice light and slow: “Yu Yu.”

“These people.” He glanced at the registry in Xue Yu’s hands, frowning: “They’re all for you.”

She hadn’t noticed he minded these things so much before.

Having lost his memory, his true inner thoughts were now completely exposed without concealment.

Xue Yu held the registry and spoke honestly: “In the past, they were indeed prepared for me.”

Visibly, the beauty standing opposite suddenly looked up, eyelashes trembling like butterfly wings, all his inner turmoil hidden in this obvious yet not quite obvious movement.

Before Xue Yu, Su You’s temper was only so much. In original form he could still slap tables and flap wings to throw tantrums, but in human form he could only stand there, looking rather innocently at this scene, lips moving, his voice carrying stunning disappointment: “Yu Yu.”

Xue Yu pushed back her chair, gripped the registry and stood, walked around most of the desk to his side, pressing the registry neither lightly nor heavily before them both: “Nineteen, tell me what you want.”

“If you don’t say, I can’t guess or think of it.” Xue Yu looked into his eyes, slowly and deliberately drawing out his deepest, most genuine desires, her words falling light and slow: “Tell me what you want. What I can promise you, I’ll promise.”

She truly didn’t understand romance, was slow and lacking in this area, but regarding him, she had long made exceptions everywhere, indulging him everywhere.

Su You instinctively pressed his lips together. He seemed to be seriously considering the hidden meaning in these two sentences. Only when his little finger was caressed and rubbed by her did he lower his eyes to look, staring at the registry and tentatively speaking: “…Don’t want them.”

“Good.” Xue Yu picked up a brush from the side, guided his finger, and drew three small lines across the registry that spanned three full pages: “Like this, from now on it doesn’t count.”

Su You gripped the registry, the frost in his eyes melting warmly, smiles blooming between his brows.

He seemed satisfied, put away the registry and tossed it aside, then moved close to Xue Yu, grinding against her lips repeatedly, softly calling “Yu Yu” to express pure joy.

The former commander who was usually strategically minded with emotions well-hidden, current demon capital sovereign, after losing his memory, was unexpectedly clingy and unexpectedly easy to deceive.

Like now.

Xue Yu slowly bit and teased a small spot on his collarbone, asking quietly: “What else?”

What else.

What else.

Perhaps having tasted sweetness, even the most cunning prey inevitably stepped into the snare.

Su You squinted and let her bite, but only his breathing grew heated. After a long while, when he couldn’t help but circle her waist and press her against the desk, he said quietly: “Can’t… like others.”

“Mm.” Xue Yu agreed naturally: “I promise you. Won’t like others.”

Su You’s skill at pushing boundaries—she had experienced it before. Now, deliberately loosening those boundaries, and with him having no memories, this deeply ingrained skill instinctively awakened.

He was silent for a moment, licked his lips, and continued: “Then, can only have me alone.”

“Good.”

Su You was stirred up and down by her promises and teasing. He carried her horizontally to the bed, and after drawing down the bed curtains with a wave of his sleeve, his warm breath scattered at the inside of her neck. Feeling her sensitive curling and response, he paused slightly, lowering his head while desperately revealing everything: “After marriage, too, can only have me alone. No side consorts, no attendant consorts either.”

This was probably the first time he had expressed his truest possessive desires.

Xue Yu slightly broke free from his restraints to look at his face, made lush and beautiful by passion and desire. After quietly examining him for several moments, she hooked his neck, kissed his eyelid, and said: “Then you must treat yourself better in the future.”