Xue Yu was visibly busy.

To accomplish the leap from Crown Princess to Empress in a short time, even though she was already quite outstanding, there was still much she needed to learn.

Every day before dawn, the Lord of Yedu was already waiting for her in the study. Stack after stack of thorny memorials – opening and closing them, closing and opening again. From dawn to dusk, all day long, repeating these tedious processes.

After some time, Xue Yu could handle it. She didn’t complain of fatigue, but the Lord of Yedu was thoroughly exhausted.

“The Demon Capital showed some brains this time.” Drawing his thoughts back from Yedu’s messy and chaotic dereliction of duty and corruption cases from years past, the Lord of Yedu pressed heavily on his twitching eyelids, leaning back exhaustedly, speaking of other matters to clear his mind: “I thought they would immediately make the matter known to everyone, then deploy troops before the imperial city.”

“Times are different now. The court’s actions in recent years have already caused public dissatisfaction while also making enemies of the Sacred Lands. In such circumstances, there’s no need to take the lead ourselves and provide those staunch royalists with an excuse to stir emotions.” Xue Yu bent down to write, penning a line without looking up: “The Demon Capital only believes in strength. If matters can be solved with fists, they don’t want to take detours, but that doesn’t mean they’re brainless.”

The Lord of Yedu laughed and shook his head: “Make a fuss all they want, but in the end, it probably won’t amount to anything.”

“A Yu, tell me, how do you think this matter will conclude?”

For nearly two months, Xue Yu hadn’t even had time to rest. She had completely entrusted all matters of the Palace Guard Bureau to Su You, Chao Hua, and Chou Li. The side hall of the council chamber had almost become her second residence. Besides pulling out various problems that had appeared during previous Lords of Yedu’s tenures for analysis and discussion, writing various matters that a ruler should prioritize, she also often engaged in situations like now, where the Lord of Yedu would bring up a topic and have her judge future developments.

“Depose the Human Emperor, establish a new ruler.”

Since experiencing that five-star mission, the relationship between Nine Phoenix of the Demon Capital and several female Sacred Land successors had grown much closer. Recently, regarding the Human Emperor matter, Yin Ling and Shan Shu had contacted Nine Phoenix one after another. That side wasn’t hiding anything either – the Demon Capital’s attitude was firm and resolute.

Nine Phoenix was to the Demon Capital what the next Crown Prince was to the imperial family, though even this comparison wasn’t quite apt. If a Crown Prince was deposed, another could be established, but the Nine Phoenix direct line only produced one per generation. Qiu Tong targeting Nine Phoenix was equivalent to cutting off the Demon Capital’s future path.

Never mind the Demon Capital – even the Sacred Lands couldn’t remain calm facing such scheming.

Rarely hearing such decisive words from his daughter, the Lord of Yedu couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow, asking with interest: “How so?”

“I know father’s thoughts.” Xue Yu dipped her brush in ink: “No matter how great the public opinion, without solid evidence, it’s all empty talk. The Qiu family has sat steadily on the throne for ten thousand years. Whether it’s ministers standing in court or aristocratic families and sects in the mortal world, they have countless supporters. Their methods of making a big fuss are no less skillful.”

“The Fusang Tree spirit often slumbers and doesn’t emerge unless for major matters, so petitioning the Fusang Tree will likely get no response.”

“When things reach this point, they’ll fall into a stalemate. The Demon Capital can’t swallow this grievance and will still choose to act straightforwardly. But as soon as they fight, they’ll fall into the same situation as before – being cursed, resented, and reviled.”

“If so, why do you think the Human Emperor will be deposed?” The Lord of Yedu shared this view. Being seen through, he wasn’t surprised but pressed further: “Unless the Demon Capital can completely crush the human race’s millions of troops – but if it comes to that, the mortal world will be in chaos with war raging everywhere. The Sacred Lands cannot stand by and watch.”

“It won’t come to that.”

“To put it simply, it’s just a lack of evidence.” Xue Yu finally put down her brush. Looking at the paper that occupied an entire page, she said: “If Nine Phoenix could produce evidence that the Human Emperor plotted against her, if I could produce evidence that the Human Emperor deliberately created the tragedies in Su Prefecture, Luo Prefecture and other places, even if the Fusang Tree doesn’t speak, the Human Emperor’s position – Qiu Tong couldn’t keep his seat.”

The common people don’t have fiery eyes that can see through everything. Amid overwhelming rumors where right and wrong are hard to distinguish, they naturally only trust their own sovereign – this is understandable. But if irrefutable evidence were placed before them, all the anger would return doubled, burning onto Qiu Tong.

At this point, the Lord of Yedu looked at Xue Yu with seeming perception. The latter calmly opened a case file from a hundred years ago, saying quietly: “I have evidence.”

The Lord of Yedu narrowed his eyes and leaned forward.

She seemed completely unaware of what shocking news she was dropping, saying calmly and without ripples: “Within a year, Qiu Tong can only write an edict of self-blame and abdicate the throne to his younger brother.”

“When the time comes, I will interrogate Qiu Tong and ask what kind of deal Xue Rong made with him back then.”

Hearing this, the Lord of Yedu gradually relaxed. Looking at Xue Yu’s serious profile, he sighed with deep emotion: “Back then, father received the ruler’s position under dire circumstances. Originally planning to guard Yedu for a hundred years, waiting for Xue Rong to mature and become capable, then hand over the position that originally belonged to him. If not for your grandfather’s secretly transmitted final edict—”

At this, he paused, shook his head, and changed the subject: “Actually, after all these years, if you go out and about, you can still hear many stories about father.”

Once, Yedu’s second young master was famously playful, fun-loving, romantic and dissolute, frivolous, and unrestrained. Not to mention his illustrious family background – just his manner of speech, appearance, bearing, and temperament attracted countless women one after another. His romantic affairs were countless.

No one expected Yedu’s burden to fall on his shoulders. Even Xue Lu himself was stunned when he first heard of this.

“Father isn’t afraid of your laughter. At that time, the situation was as thorny as could be.” Xue Lu looked at Xue Yu, speaking at length: “Your grandfather passed away, your uncle’s cause of death was unclear, and criticism continued throughout the court. Ministers from Prince Su’s faction – the more upright ones pointed at my nose and scolded me in their studies, saying I would stop at nothing for the throne, even poisoning my elder brother.”

One could imagine how bewildered and helpless a dissolute noble young master who had never developed in this direction from childhood would be when taking over such a situation.

Anyone could be a noble young master, but being a king, truly, not everyone could do it.

Especially with Xue Su’s excellence preceding him, anyone would feel pressure.

“But these days, following you through Yedu’s files from these years, looking from beginning to end, father realizes this ruler wasn’t as terrible as imagined.” Not only not terrible, but on the contrary, could be called outstanding.

Perhaps related to his youthful love of traveling mountains and waters, listening to various strange tales, Xue Lu possessed a quality that other Sacred Land heirs trained step by step lacked. He was more easygoing and more humane, handling matters with discretion rather than rigidly following rules and killing with one blow.

Xue Yu learned the righteousness and responsibility a king should have from Xue Su, and learned a kind of benevolent flexibility from Xue Lu.

Xue Lu stood up, patted Xue Yu’s shoulder, examined her for a moment from left and right, then smiled: “No need to be afraid, no need to be nervous. The path is beneath your feet – just stride forward boldly.”

“Our A Yu will surely become the most successful and most trusted ruler in Yedu’s history.”

Events indeed developed in the direction Xue Yu and Nine Phoenix envisioned. News of “Nine Phoenix severely injured by human aristocratic family plotting” spread rapidly through the mortal world. Subsequently, human cultivators who had been confined by Nine Phoenix in Little South Mountain in Feiyun Peak came out one after another to confirm this account.

For a time, streets and alleys buzzed with discussion.

Half a month later, various Demon Capital aristocratic family dignitaries began frequently traveling to the mortal world. Once news of “Demon Capital preparing troops for deployment” was spoken, it spread overwhelmingly. When the entire world was watching the Demon Capital’s reaction, the bombshell of “Nine Phoenix’s injury suspected to be the Human Emperor’s doing” dropped on everyone’s heads without warning or preparation.

In this tremendous uproar, the Sacred Lands, who usually liked rushing out to calm people’s hearts, remained completely silent for days, weeks, even half a month.

Soon, perceptive cultivation families sensed something was wrong. Those loyal to the Human Emperor were surprised and worried, while those unconnected to the court quickly sought self-preservation, not getting involved at all.

In such an atmosphere, Nine Phoenix was particularly busy.

This matter concerned her, and the Nine Phoenix family head deliberately exercised her ability to handle affairs, so he simply delegated authority directly, leaving the entire matter for her to handle.

In Nine Phoenix’s luxurious bedroom, as soon as Feng Shangyu and Chen Longzhi stepped inside, they both stopped in their tracks. The former swept his eyes around, looking toward the woman reclining on the soft couch, using five sharp fingernails painted with rouge to tap against memorials with “da da” sounds. Taking a deep breath, he asked: “Chu Yaoxiang, how many kinds of incense did you burn in this room?”

Chen Longzhi covered his eyes, then unbearably pinched his nose, saying in a muffled voice: “At least ten kinds. Not seeing you for two months, Nine Phoenix, your taste has improved again.”

Seeing Feng Shangyu arrive, Nine Phoenix pushed away the memorials in front of her, excitedly beckoning to him. When he came close, she displayed her ten fingernails painted bright red, raising her eyebrows: “Look, made from powder ground from blood pearls produced by the West Sea Divine Palace. Pretty?”

Chen Longzhi winced at the sourness, offering sincere advice for who knows how many times: “…Though I know Miss won’t listen even if I say it, the blood pearls from West Sea Divine Palace are truly very valuable. If you have no other use for them, you could sell them to Shenyu Pavilion. The price is negotiable.”

“And all this gold filling your room – what’s the meaning of this?”

“You talk less.” Nine Phoenix’s eyes flashed, achieving an almost instant face-change technique.

Feng Shangyu looked at that charming face before him, beautiful as a thorned rose. Sighing in his heart, he held the five fingertips extended before him, truly unable to praise them against his conscience, so he chose a neutral word: “Not bad.”

Nine Phoenix hummed with some dissatisfaction, raising her chin: “I just received good news.”

“Ten years ago, Xue Yu and Shan Shu took on a case involving the Flying Heaven Map. The map spirit inside could peek into people’s memories. Now, after absorbing ten years of opportunity power with Xue Yu, that map spirit has awakened early.”

Nine Phoenix casually grabbed a fan and waved it, then felt it was heavy and tossed it aside after a few waves. Standing up to walk around the room: “She just contacted me, asking for a Tiger Flood Pearl. After this, she’ll meet with the Human Emperor. The map spirit will invade Qiu Tong’s memories, while the Tiger Flood Pearl will condense those memories into images to bring out. Then, whether it’s true or not will be clear as day.”

“I have too many things here and can’t get away.” Nine Phoenix looked toward Feng Shangyu: “You make a trip to the Tiger Flood tribe and help me borrow a pearl.”

“Probably won’t work.” Feng Shangyu’s expression grew grave: “Just received news – Sui Jinyu is preparing to move against Xihe Sacred Land.”

Nine Phoenix somewhat doubted she had heard wrong. She stopped walking, looking at Feng Shangyu, then at Chen Longzhi, asking: “What?”

“You calm down first, definitely stay calm.” Chen Longzhi made a gesture for her to remain composed, speaking rapidly: “Last time you helped the Sui family find the executor responsible for interrogating those old cases from decades ago, right? Nothing was found, so the Sui family later found people to trace the leads again. They discovered the time was stuck at that exact point. Investigating further, they found something.”

“Among that batch on the Judgment Platform, an executor was punished and stripped of position. Sui Jinyu personally used soul-searching techniques to examine his memories, but coincidentally, that executor’s memories cut off abruptly just before the Judgment Platform.”

Cutting off abruptly meant memories were artificially sealed and erased. To Sui Jinyu’s eyes, this action was tantamount to attempted concealment.

“Back then, on the Judgment Platform, only three survived. Song Heng, saved by Lu Chengze, was a pure human; Shen Jingshi, beside Shan Shu, was also human, and from Yedu’s side was a demon ghost. The other ten who died included four pure demon race members.”

“Those chosen by the Fusang Tree and brought to the Judgment Platform all had considerable talent.”

“The Sui family’s young master very likely was among those dead demon race members.”

Nine Phoenix’s head immediately buzzed.

She truly feared Sui Jinyu, genuinely feared him. That secondary body seemed brainless, while the true body never appeared. The entire Sui family seemed mysteriously difficult to communicate with.

“Where is he?” Nine Phoenix’s voice immediately turned cold, her ten bright red fingernails clenched into fists: “I need to see him now.”

Chen Longzhi messily wiped his face: “If nothing unexpected, he’s heading this way. He didn’t mobilize family troops – those following him are unfamiliar faces, probably Sui family clan members.”

Just as he finished speaking, there was movement outside. Female attendants serving nearby announced loudly: “Your Highness, Young Master Sui has arrived.”

“Let him in!” Nine Phoenix took a deep breath, looking toward the open doors, fury nearly erupting from her eyes.

If that swaggering, brainless secondary body came this time, she would curse him bloody. Whether he could listen or not, even if they had to go out and fight today, she would imprison this person in Nine Phoenix Manor.

But it wasn’t.

As soon as that person entered, Nine Phoenix knew it wasn’t him. For no other reason than their temperaments differed too greatly.

Due to his cultivation method, Sui Jinyu could split into multiple bodies. Unless he spoke voluntarily, no one knew whether the one smiling and talking with them was the secondary body. Even in battle, the secondary body could borrow the main body’s abilities, making Sui Jinyu nearly flawless. Nine Phoenix had once firmly believed—

The young master of the Demon Capital’s Sui family was just a big fool with only an appearance.

But the one who pushed through the doors now wore white robes, held a long flute in his palm. Though the same face, when his brows and eyes lifted slightly, he had the temperament of a banished immortal.

“Sui Jinyu, what exactly do you mean?” Nine Phoenix questioned coldly. The hair ornaments on her head swayed back and forth with her barefoot walking movements, displaying an imposing aura of prosperous times.

“Nine Phoenix.” Sui Jinyu gazed deeply at her: “Xihe Sacred Land harmed my brother. This matter absolutely cannot end well.”

“We haven’t finished settling accounts with the human race, yet you’re eager to go to war with the Sacred Lands?” Nine Phoenix slammed the desk heavily, saying word by word: “Do you have any brains?”

Seeing sparks about to fly between the two, and if not stopped, they could immediately go out and turn left to the life-and-death battle platform, Feng Shangyu and Chen Longzhi exchanged glances, and each grabbed one person.

Feng Shangyu pinched Nine Phoenix’s wrist, saying quietly: “With such an incident, momentary urgency is human nature. Speak well, discuss properly.”

Chen Longzhi also smiled and mediated, facing Sui Jinyu with emotional reasoning: “Young Master Jinyu, you previously said you wanted to find someone. It was Nine Phoenix’s people who were busy running around, including those executors from Xihe Sacred Land – they also took action.”

“One executor having memories erased is Xihe Sacred Land’s internal matter and proves nothing. If the young master is concerned, future matters can be left to me to investigate.” He smiled warmly: “Shenyu Pavilion has no rivals in gathering information.”

The former Sui Jinyu might not have heard through such “peacemaking” rhetoric, but the one standing before them was not easily fooled. He looked at Nine Phoenix: “Three months. I’ll only wait three months. This account with Xihe Sacred Land – other clans need not take sides, nor speak cold words about dragging people down.”

“Though my Sui family’s young master’s life isn’t as precious as yours, Chu Yaoxiang, it’s not to the point where anyone can kill him at will.”

Sui Jinyu stepped over the threshold, then turned back, saying something meaningful: “If he died, without the Sui family taking the lead, the world would be in chaos.”

With that, his figure scattered like clouds and mist.

Nine Phoenix was so angered by this attitude that she gnashed her teeth repeatedly: “Still saying the world would be in chaos – who in the world can’t it turn without?”

“There is someone.” At this moment, Chen Longzhi was still responding. He shrugged: “According to Shenyu Pavilion’s search of ancient texts, there’s a race that produces one auspicious beast every ten thousand years. When the auspicious beast is born, it represents a potential great disaster in the future. If it doesn’t die, the calamity will be smoothly resolved, turning danger into safety. If it dies prematurely, it represents great changes in the world, a great disaster approaching.”

“What nonsense, so mysterious.” Nine Phoenix reached up to reinsert the golden hair ornament into her hair, dismissive.

“In ancient times, this saying was very popular, but later, after the Mei incident, that race completely went extinct, so this saying was called sensational nonsense and gradually no one mentioned it.” Chen Longzhi smiled and revealed the answer: “Tianao, familiar?”

Nine Phoenix rolled her eyes: “I’ve only heard that Tianao are very strong, with tail feathers praised as ‘Heaven-Imprisoning Cage.’ Nobody mentioned auspicious beasts or not.”

With that, she pulled out a spirit talisman from her waist, extremely troubled: “I can’t manage this matter anymore. Don’t you secretly investigate either? I’ll notify Xue Yu and Shan Shu, have them ask Ji Tingxi whether it is or isn’t – answer. How to handle it afterward, leave it to fate.”

“But these few months, before the Human Emperor steps down, whether Sui Jinyu or Ji Tingxi, everyone stays put obediently!”

Xue Yu hadn’t entered the Palace Guard Bureau or seen Chao Hua and others for a month.

She was too busy, so busy she didn’t have time to look at the lit spirit talismans twice. Until Nine Phoenix tried a second time, she looked at that name that never came without reason, frowned slightly, and tapped the spirit talisman.

“How should this matter be handled?” After Nine Phoenix explained the whole story: “Have Ji Tingxi explain – even make one up.”

“I told you long ago that the family is quite mad. Whoever blocks them – the Wen family is a living example. Compared to the five Demon Capital families fighting among themselves and damaging their strength, competing with the Sacred Lands is more practical.”

Usually, Nine Phoenix played and joked with Xue Yu, Shan Shu and others, but when it came down to it, she was first a demon race member and first the future leader of the Demon Capital.

Between the Sui family and Sacred Lands, which was more or less important, who were her own people, she distinguished extremely clearly.

“No need to ask Ji Tingxi.” Xue Yu paused, pushing aside her work and saying clearly: “Investigate Yedu.”

“Investigate?” Nine Phoenix was stunned, suspecting she had misheard: “Investigate what?”

“Me.”

Nine Phoenix’s mind seemed to clear instantly. After a long moment, she swallowed and hesitantly asked: “Su You?”

Xue Yu didn’t respond, but to Nine Phoenix’s ears, this was more definitive than acknowledgment.

Cutting off contact with Nine Phoenix, Xue Yu stared at the desk before her, pressing her fingertips to her forehead.

She hadn’t seen Su You for a month.

Not only was she busy, the Palace Guard Bureau was busy too. Su You held the position of Young Master and, besides her affairs, had to work under the Lord of Yedu.

Just then, the female attendant serving at the door announced: “Your Highness, Young Master Su You and Lord Chao Hua have arrived.”

Xue Yu looked up, her brow slightly relaxing: “Summon them in.”

Su You and Chao Hua entered the hall one after another. Both swept their sleeves in salute. Xue Yu sat at the desk, her gaze naturally sliding from Chao Hua’s small face to rest on the upright figure of the man beside her.

He had good bone structure, good looks, and wore everything with distinctive charm. If his robe colors were lighter, eyes slightly lowered, brows raised – he’d have the refined bearing of a banished immortal. But like now, in deep crimson red, black hair loosely and lowly bound with a hair ribbon, even without smiling, using the solemn expression for handling official business, he still conveyed a lazy, languid meaning.

As if sensing her gaze, Su You looked back at her. He made no other movement, but his eye corners lifted in a small curve, like a trace of deep, rich smile.

Xue Yu’s breathing paused slightly.

Strange – they hadn’t been apart that long.

But she did miss him, that was true.

“Your Highness.” Chao Hua had already accepted that wherever Su You was, Xue Yu’s gaze would be drawn away eighty percent. She said quietly: “The matter Your Highness instructed over twenty years ago had developments yesterday.”

Without waiting for Xue Yu to ask, she continued: “A new tea demon was imprisoned in Yedu, same as the person Your Highness once noted – also cultivates immortal arts, from the mortal world.”

Xue Yu suddenly looked up, asking: “Has she been interrogated? What crime did she commit?”

Chao Hua shook her head: “Because of Your Highness’s instructions, when I first saw that little demon, I immediately detained her in the private prison. She hasn’t been interrogated yet. According to those who brought her, it was because she carelessly caused rain, leading to a river embankment failure that injured many people.”

Xue Yu withdrew her gaze from Su You’s face, eyes slightly downcast, not knowing what she was thinking. After a moment, she said: “Chao Hua, you lead the way. I’ll make a trip there.”

Hearing this, both Chao Hua and Su You looked up – the former surprised, the latter gloomy.

During this period, they had seen Xue Yu’s busyness. Unless there were extremely urgent matters, they all handled things themselves rather than bothering her. For a tea demon, they just needed to give instructions on how to handle it – there was no need for a personal trip.

Chao Hua was puzzled, but in Su You’s mind, a sentence suddenly flashed—

[He has someone else.]

This “he” referred to Song Heng, so that “someone else” – at this moment, it was crystal clear who that meant.

From the side hall to the Palace Guard Bureau’s private prison, the journey passed without words.

The tea demon was held in a separate cell. Still, it was a prison after all – the inevitable stench of rot and decay kept drilling into their noses. The prison guard bowed deeply to the three, then hastily lit an oil lamp by the wall. Xue Yu used this weak light to stand by the cell and look down at the woman crouched by the wall.

“Raise your head.” Xue Yu said clearly.

The person inside obediently raised her head. She had a pair of soft, timid eyes that, when frightened, showed water-like misty confusion. Her skirt was torn beyond recognition, revealing white, delicate skin.

Perhaps due to racial nature, or perhaps because she cultivated immortal arts, even in such filthy surroundings, her face still appeared clean and pure.

Pitiful and touching – indeed the type Song Heng would like.

Xue Yu slowly crouched down. Looking directly into those eyes, she asked not about Song Heng or names: “You very much dislike Yedu?”

The Tea Immortal shrank back, quickly shaking her head once, then again, like a white rabbit, stammering: “No, no.”

“Then I’ll put it differently.” Even in a level gaze, Xue Yu’s oppressive feeling remained extremely strong: “Has my Yedu offended you in some way?”

Unfortunately, the Tea Immortal before her couldn’t give her an answer, but panicked and helplessly shrank further back, just shaking her head continuously.

Xue Yu stood up, remained in place for a long time, then turned and walked out of the private prison.

Su You followed three or four steps behind her. Walking along, he suddenly stopped, his wide sleeves blown by the courtyard wind, like the alluring water sleeves raised by mortal songstresses.

Perhaps he was inherently more greedy than others. Initially accepting her kindness, wanting to help her, then, when he truly could help, wanting to get closer. Now, using various means, finally getting her to agree, he still felt it wasn’t enough.

Their relationship – she hid it from everyone, but regarding Song Heng, regarding that past romance, she never avoided the topic.

The whole world could know – that was the man she had once loved.

That was an open, unhidden emotion. He could even imagine how many men had once envied Song Heng, who was so favored and treated by her.

Su You had to admit.

He was indeed anxious about gains and losses. He just couldn’t stand seeing her so calm, someone who could ignore him for a month after they’d just gotten together, yet show such emotional fluctuation over matters connected to Song Heng.

On the road, Chao Hua asked: “Your Highness, how should the one inside be handled?”

Xue Yu made no sound. Just when Chao Hua thought she wouldn’t speak again, she heard a response – a indifferent, cold sentence: “Follow the rules.”

Returning to the side hall, Chao Nian and Chou Li happened to enter together. Xue Yu hadn’t appeared for a month, so everyone had matters in hand to report.

The tea immortal matter concluded with that “follow the rules,” and Xue Yu didn’t dwell on past events because of it. Thus her attention returned to Su You.

As Chao Hua reported on government affairs, she listened carefully, occasionally speaking quietly, then looking up at Su You.

After three or four glances, she discovered that since returning, the lively, rich smile at the man’s eye corners had completely disappeared.

Su You was very patient. Just looking at his expression, one couldn’t guess what he was thinking. But when he deliberately put on a show for someone, whether it was that soul-deep languid charm or the thousand-mile-distant unhappiness, both were extremely obvious.

Obvious enough that even Xue Yu could detect it.

Or rather, this was directed at her from the start.

After Chao Hua, Chao Nian, and Chou Li had each reported their affairs, everyone’s gaze fell on Su You. He stepped left, placing the scroll in his hands before Xue Yu’s desk: “Please review, Your Highness.”

“After the Demon Capital spread rumors, Human Emperor Qiu Tong met with sect masters and elders from Wanren Gate, Qianji Gate and other places. That same afternoon, indignant denials and clarifications were spread from various wine houses.”

He spoke at length, his voice low and shallow, like breathing by the ear, yet the tone was extremely clean, without a trace of the sticky, entangled meaning from that day’s lip and tooth contact.

“Your Highness, look here.” His finger pointed to a location on the scroll, patiently explaining: “This is the clan Qiu Tong trusts most besides his court confidants – a reclusive family surnamed Xu, who have been friendly with the court for generations and received many benefits from Qiu Tong. This past month, Qiu Tong has met with the Xu family head five times.”

“The Xu family are weapon forgers, reportedly possessing secret techniques for nurturing spiritual treasures. In this subject’s opinion, Your Highness could dispatch capable people from the Imperial Guard Bureau to continue investigating, or make a deal with Shenyu Pavilion to have them investigate.”

In four sentences, he had called her “Your Highness” three times.

This title – he indeed used it rarely. When uttered one after another, it was even more distant than the words “young lady.”

Xue Yu sat upright on her chair, just looking at him. After a long time, she reached out to press down on that slender finger pointing at the scroll, repeating those two words: “Your Highness.”

She frowned, asking: “Just Your Highness?”

Through those eyes, Su You seemed able to complete the rest of that sentence—

You’re just my subject, is that it?

The other three watched this scene in shock, silently exchanging glances, unable to understand the situation. Chao Nian couldn’t even control herself and made an “ah” sound from her throat, then quickly covered her mouth.