At Yipin Residence, under the gloomy sky of continuous rain, Shan Shu concentrated her mind and purified her hands, copying Buddhist scriptures twice. She slowly set down her brush only after the final character was written.

Standing beside her was the young ferry master from Buddha Prefecture, with a stable breath and deep Buddhist affinity. When he spoke, his words carried the compassionate intent of saving all sentient beings: “The situation in the mortal realm naturally has its methods of resolution. Why does Your Highness hesitate? Why are you troubled?”

Shan Shu couldn’t quite explain what she was thinking. She paused, using her hand as a brush to draw a line in the air, speaking softly: “Having come this far, this step is crucial. Su You has taken over the demon clan, and the Sacred Lands led by Yedu are gradually transforming. What remains is only the human race.”

“According to the hints left by the Fusang Tree in Feiyun Summit, Shen Jingshi is the best candidate for Human Emperor, but his personality…”

Shan Shu pushed open the window facing the street. Her long hair, braided into small plaits, was blown backward by the wind. Without obstruction to her view, she could see at a glance the palace complex submerged in the delicate curtain of rain. “He’s too indifferent, accepting anything, willing to do whatever. I don’t doubt his ability – I’ve seen him work and know that once he agrees to something, he can do it well. But as Human Emperor, if he lacks love for this world, it would be an extremely difficult, painful process that could easily lead him astray.”

“Your Highness might consider Su You. He’s hardly a good person, yet everything he does now is good.” The young ferry master from Buddha Prefecture said gently, “Shen Jingshi has been by Your Highness’s side for many years. Through constant exposure, his character may have already changed. Otherwise, the Fusang Tree wouldn’t have given such hints.”

“Forget it.” Shan Shu waved her hand dismissively: “Go summon him. I’ll ask once more.”

Before long, Shen Jingshi walked in.

He looked as if he had just walked through rain – his shoulder fabric and hair bound with a jade crown were dampened with rainwater, yet he didn’t appear disheveled. Instead, he resembled a tree thriving in its element, growing vigorously and proudly.

“Your Highness summoned me?” Shen Jingshi smiled as he approached the table, raising an eyebrow: “Only two copies today?”

“What have you been up to now?” Shan Shu couldn’t help asking.

“Watched the Sui family organize drinking games on the first floor. My hands got itchy, so I joined in for a few rounds.”

Shen Jingshi rolled up his damp sleeves and took a long breath: “I believe Jiu Feng’s words now – Sui Jinyu’s brain isn’t reliable. He called Su You to play drinking games, and after who knows how many cups throughout the day, he was completely drunk yet still thinking about asking Su You what he likes and wants. Now he’s been persuaded to go to Yedu.”

“I told them – Su You is now single-mindedly focused on finishing these troublesome matters quickly so he can return to Yedu to accompany Xue Yu. Where would he find time to play drinking games with them?”

Shan Shu pointed to the huanghuali chair across from the window: “Sit. I have something to discuss with you.”

Shen Jingshi sat down.

“It’s about the court.” When Shan Shu spoke of serious matters, she was exceptionally patient yet not slow: “I’ve spoken with Xue Yu through spirit talismans. Su You’s current strength is second only to Xue Yu’s, ranking among the top tier of Sacred Land successors. After returning to the Sui family, he’ll enter the ancestral grounds. After the Three Lands Grand Assembly ends, he’ll join Chu Yaoxiang in taking over the demon capital. There’s nothing for us to worry about on that side. But regarding the court, the Qiu family’s ten-thousand-year foundation won’t crumble overnight. The child in Prince Zhao’s consort’s belly will very likely become the new emperor.”

Shen Jingshi hadn’t expected this development and looked over with some surprise.

Shan Shu continued: “Though the Fusang Tree is the leader of all things, possessing power sufficient to shake everything, it ultimately differs from the Heavenly Dao. It only intervenes when the situation completely spirals out of control and the world faces insurmountable difficulties. Even then, it can only guide rather than personally resolve everything. The two great sacred objects face many constraints. According to Cang Ju, during that ancient demon disaster, the Fusang Tree’s emergence once left it severely weakened.”

“So most of the time, what the world becomes depends not on how the sacred objects act, but on how the current people act – how we act.”

What supports the world are the myriad forms of living beings – tolerance, justice, courage, and all things beautiful and uplifting, not a tree.

Simply put, except for world-destroying matters, at other times, one can act as if the Fusang Tree doesn’t exist. The Heavenly Book has quite a strong presence, obsessed with using tasks to cultivate the younger generation, constantly causing them to lose their temper, yet it’s never shown any great divine power.

“Xue Yu and I believe we should first meet with Prince Zhao’s consort. If possible, you should become regent, taking the identity of another branch of the Human Emperor lineage to teach that child the proper conduct of a ruler while purging the court and eliminating the hidden dangers Qiu Tong left behind during his lifetime. This should also be part of Qiu Tong’s arrangements before his death.” Shan Shu shifted topics: “So we have two conditions.”

“First, make it clear to those ministers in the Golden Luan Hall that if this child ever commits any extreme acts like Qiu Tong, he will be immediately deposed, and you will ascend the throne. Second, before this, we need to use the inquiry array left by the Fusang Tree in the ancestral grounds to ask whether this method is feasible.”

After speaking, Shan Shu looked at Shen Jingshi: “Do you have any objections to this?”

Shen Jingshi couldn’t help but laugh: “There’s such a good deal?”

“Sit properly.” Shan Shu glanced at his casual posture and said seriously, “It’s not a good deal. You’ll face considerable resistance. We can’t help you with court internal affairs, and those court ministers aren’t easy to deal with. Besides, for the next several decades, your cultivation will be sealed. You’ll experience mortal illness and aging. If you die midway, we have no solution.”

Shen Jingshi looked at Shan Shu twice.

Even now, after more than twenty years, he could still remember how he looked when Shan Shu first rescued him. His desperate, dissolute character that had rotted into mud – honestly, if he had been under Xue Yu’s command, he wouldn’t have survived three days.

Shan Shu was a woman of flexibility, determination, and ultimate gentleness. Even in the most helpless moments, she would only sit face-to-face with him and ask what he was truly thinking. She never forced anyone, never denied anyone, always able to discover those few glimmering points of light in others from the filth.

Shen Jingshi pulled back his chair and stood up: “I don’t have any great ideals or ambitions, but I’ve read the books of sages for decades. I still remember the principle of repaying a drop of kindness with a flowing spring.”

“Don’t worry.” He lowered his sleeves and looked at Shan Shu with flying laughter: “I guarantee to show you a clean and pure mortal realm.”

The night before Xue Yu’s ennoblement ceremony, Yedu enjoyed rare good weather. Stars flowed across the night sky, twinkling brilliantly. Due to the many guests staying over, lanterns were lit from one end to the other, like two long luminous ribbons.

Late at night, Jiu Feng slipped into Xue Yu’s study like a ghost. After being blocked by the barrier, she knocked on it like knocking on a door. Xue Yu let her in.

“I have nothing to do.” Jiu Feng said, “Shan Shu didn’t come, Yin Ling didn’t come either. Lu Chengze is too stupid for me to watch. Lu Qin ran away after I said two sentences. Cang Ju is somewhat interesting, but if I talk too much with him, my hands get itchy and I’m afraid we’ll start fighting.”

To sum up, the young miss was bored.

“Find a seat yourself.” Xue Yu glanced at her: “Tell the attendants if you want something to eat.”

“Don’t worry, I never shortchange myself.” Jiu Feng lazily leaned against the door, watching her write diligently even at this hour. She couldn’t help but click her tongue with listless interest: “Let me tell you some news – Chen Longzhi just contacted me. Su You has arrived too.”

Xue Yu’s movements paused, then she set down her brush.

Jiu Feng indeed had never experienced needing to mention someone else to make another person look at her properly. She found it both novel and amusing.

She gestured to a serving maid to move a chair beside Xue Yu, then sat down herself: “I’m just quite curious about your situation with him.”

With both seated close together, when Xue Yu looked up, she saw Jiu Feng’s bright face and the vivid, intimate kiss mark on one side of her neck.

“…What happened to you?” Xue Yu hesitantly pointed to the side of her neck, her expression indescribable.

“Hmm?” Jiu Feng’s fingers stroked where she pointed. Soon understanding, she said, “Feng Shangyu arrived a few hours ago. He was probably a bit too rough.”

Xue Yu fell silent.

“Well then.” Jiu Feng spoke clearly: “I came this time with payment to have a proper talk with you.”

“The Sui family?” Xue Yu looked away: “What amount could move you to come personally?”

Speaking of spending money, if Sui Jinyu ranked first, Jiu Feng could rank second – they were evenly matched, neither could criticize the other’s extravagance.

“Money is one aspect. Another is that we have so many years of friendship. Su You is someone I’ve watched grow to his current state. At the Feiyun Summit, I even contributed to your wedding dowry. Shouldn’t I come ask about this?”

Jiu Feng propped her face with her elbow, supporting herself bonelessly, her seductive eyes misty with the lingering, not fully faded passion.

“Talk about what?” Xue Yu pulled out a paper that Jiu Feng had pressed down, speaking concisely: “You speak.”

“It’s nothing much. Sui Yu is just being sentimental, feeling that since you saved Su You and they just recognized him back, it’s inappropriate to discuss this and that with you immediately. He wanted me to ask what your plans are.” Jiu Feng said, “I’m quite curious too – what do you think of our demon capital’s future co-ruler?”

“I’m with him.” Hearing this, Xue Yu finally spoke. She frowned: “Can’t you tell?”

Jiu Feng was rarely speechless.

“We can tell – anyone in the world with eyes can tell.”

She looked at Xue Yu with great interest, lowering her voice: “The thing is, you’re Yedu’s future empress, and Su You now belongs to the demon capital. If you two marry, you’ll probably need to make many preparations in advance.”

The union of a Sacred Land ruler and a demon capital ruler would change the entire three-realm situation – certainly not a trivial matter.

But she didn’t seem to have such plans.

This was quite thought-provoking.

“When Su You first started following you, he was pitiful and had nothing. You saved him, taught him, and cultivated him, so even now that his background is clear and he has his confidence and family, he still regards you as extremely important.” Jiu Feng paused mid-sentence, seeming to consider how to phrase what came next tactfully.

But she simply wasn’t capable of tact.

“But for you, he might just be – what’s that – are you only planning to have a fleeting romance with him?”

Seeing Xue Yu begin to frown with an expression of “how did you reach this conclusion,” Jiu Feng licked her lips and shifted position: “Don’t look at me like that. When Sui Yu approached me, his face showed such melancholy, heavier than Chen Longzhi’s cursing voice. I heard that Su You initially didn’t plan to return to the demon capital. When Sui Yu talked with him, he reasoned emotionally from your perspective, even gathering many good words to praise you before Su You said he’d consider it.”

“Weren’t you away in Yedu early for the sovereign seal matter, exhausted to that extent? Right after you left, he agreed to return to the demon capital to handle official business.”

Xue Yu hadn’t expected this beginning.

She hadn’t thought much about emotional matters – if she liked someone, she liked them; if she wanted to be together, they were together. Frank and open, definitely not a momentary impulse.

But in her view, marriage was a future matter – after the mortal realm stabilized, after clarifying the sovereign seal’s whereabouts, and after understanding the reason and opportunity for this mysterious second chance at life. In short, it shouldn’t be now during these chaotic times.

“See, I knew you hadn’t thought about these things.” Jiu Feng smiled, as if convincing herself: “Well, if you were naturally gifted at romance too, that really wouldn’t leave others any way to live.”

Xue Yu indeed wasn’t versed in this area. She just looked up at Jiu Feng with clear eyes like two round glazed beads, carrying a hint of coldness, though not obvious.

“What else did he say?” Xue Yu asked.

“Nothing much else. He doesn’t dare speak harshly to you. The general meaning was that if you don’t have that intention, he hopes you’ll consider how Su You thinks of you everywhere and explain things clearly, not too heartlessly, giving that young master a process to accept it.”

“What he said, just listen and let it pass. Next is what I want to say.”

Back then, Jiu Feng had struggled considerably with her own and Feng Shangyu’s issues, but analyzing emotional problems for others, especially someone as apparently clueless as Xue Yu, brought an indescribable sense of achievement: “Actually, I think you understand Su You too little.”

“Don’t you feel that ever since you two developed feelings, he’s been particularly different around you?”

Xue Yu was quiet for a moment, stood up, and turned her chair around to face Jiu Feng directly: “How is he different? Continue.”

“For him, you’re simultaneously his sovereign, mentor, and now there’s an added layer of romantic relationship. You’re naturally reserved and don’t like talking much. Most of your conversations involve political matters. He’s younger than you – this identity transformation must be uncomfortable.”

“When I first met Su You in Shanhai City over Yun Lai’s matter, he still had quite a personality – cold and sharp. When others approached, he’d bristle like a hedgehog, only showing warmth toward you. Later meetings were much better – he was conversational, composed, with that unique vigor of a young prodigy.”

“But recently, after being with you, I don’t know if you’ve noticed – he’s deliberately suppressing those aspects of himself.” Jiu Feng tilted her head, unsure how to describe that feeling: “It’s like he wants to present only his steady, mature, wonderful side to you, striving to be perfect – like a flower cutting away its leaves and stems, leaving only the most beautiful part for your viewing.”

“It feels like he’s using these things to keep you with him.” Even to please you.

Something in those words struck home – Xue Yu’s fingers resting on the chair’s armrest suddenly moved.

“Look, you never thought about the future, never spoke of giving him any status. From what I can see, you probably haven’t even told him you like him a few times. Anyone would feel insecure about this.”

Xue Yu carefully considered these words twice, finding them reasonable. She remained silent, then after a moment moved her lips: “Don’t talk nonsense. It’s not a fleeting romance.”

“Good, as long as you understand. I won’t say more.” Jiu Feng patted her shoulder teasingly: “There are many matters recently. I can’t help with political affairs, but in this area, if you don’t understand something, ask Yin Ling or me. Forget about Shan Shu – she’s no better than you.”

The next morning, Xue Yu’s palace was filled with countless attendants. She sat before an enormous bronze mirror with people behind her arranging her hair and placing ornaments, while in front, a small-faced maid half-knelt, using a warm, damp cloth to wipe away the color just applied to her lips, replacing it with a more vivid red.

After a while, she was asked by an experienced old nanny to stand up and began putting on the Crown Princess ceremonial robes piece by piece.

The Crown Princess’ ceremonial robes had long, wide sleeves and floor-length skirts. As far as the eye could see, the colors presented a deep, solemn blend of gold and red interwoven together. The sleeve edges and hems were embedded with uniformly sized gems and pearls, echoing the phoenix feathers pinned at the collar.

Ordinary people truly couldn’t carry such garments.

But when Xue Yu stood there, her natural grace shone through every gesture and movement. Those subsidiary ornaments became like branches and leaves, setting off blooming flowers. Looking up again at the bronze mirror, the woman had cloud-like hair in mist-like coiffure, bright eyes and white teeth, myriad graceful bearing – whether in appearance or bearing, she was indescribably outstanding.

Fearing Xue Yu would be bored, Chao Hua specifically relaxed the rules, allowing Chao Nian, who had been honestly chopping wood in the back mountains for some time, to enter the hall and keep Xue Yu company in conversation.

Speaking of other aspects, Chao Nian might not be very skilled, but when it came to chatting and talking, aside from Shen Jingshi, when he got bored, Chao Nian had no opponents to this day.

So throughout these two long hours, the voices in Xue Yu’s ears never stopped.

“Your Highness hasn’t seen the commotion outside – who knows how many people have come?”

“Jiu Feng and His Highness Cang Ju came back with Your Highness the day before yesterday, and this morning they almost got into a fight, but were stopped by Feng Shangyu.” Without waiting for Xue Yu to ask the reason, Chao Nian rattled off the whole story himself: “Jiu Feng brought up that prospective Crown Prince Consort from Tai Hua, and then… mentioned His Highness Cang Ju’s widely known and much-talked-about romantic affair.”

Jiu Feng’s mouth, when facing people she disliked, struck straight at the heart with every sentence.

“They won’t fight – they know their limits.” Xue Yu watched the swaying figures in the mirror and suddenly spoke, asking a question that caught Chao Nian completely off guard: “In the Palace Guard Bureau, normally, do you spend much time with Su You?”

“Much… I suppose it’s quite a bit.” Chao Nian scratched his head: “Your Highness, what’s wrong?”

“When he’s with you all, what is he like?” Xue Yu let people paint on her face without even moving her eyes, as if asking out of casual curiosity.

“Most of the time, he’s busy, handling government affairs in the Palace Guard Bureau. Occasionally, when he relaxes a bit, my sister and Sister Chou Li will pull him into discussions about cultivation matters. Like that little Red Song Array that’s been popular outside recently – he modified it and brought us all in to train together…”

Chao Nian’s expression gradually became one of painful recollection. He quickly skipped over this part and continued: “But the young master is busier than all of us. Many things that should be sent to the young lady’s desk, he handles in advance. On the rare occasions when he can spare some time, he’ll go to the back mountains of Baizhong Mountain to practice archery and horsemanship, setting up wagers with Sister Chou Li and the great demons of the back mountains, competing for first place.”

“When going out on business, if gathered together with Shen Jingshi and the others, the young master will also be pulled to the table to try his hand at wine cards and flower cards, but his luck isn’t good. He’s willing to accept losses, always having to drink many cups. When he loses badly, he’ll be provoked to laughter and push forward all the chips at hand to double the stakes.”

One could imagine how high-spirited he looked on such occasions.

Next, Chao Nian said much more, such as how Su You would also have times when he was annoyed by his own mistakes, unable to suppress his dejected emotions, and everyone would take turns patting him to show understanding.

He was strict with himself, but also had the confusion, helplessness, and not-so-steady competitiveness that someone his age should have.

Rather than the comprehensive, meticulous maturity and ease he displayed in front of her.

Xue Yu reached up to touch the cool earrings hanging by her ears, slowly pressing her lips together.

In Yedu’s main city, a tall Prayer Platform had long been erected. In the huge circular formation, court ministers stood solemnly according to rank, facing toward the front, each with a grave expression, index fingers pointing to the opposite shoulder, bodies slightly curved, maintaining an ancient ceremonial posture, not a trace of smile visible on their faces.

On the nearby mountaintop was the viewing area for various guests, also arranged according to certain standards of strength and influence. At the forefront were the Sacred Land’s holy sons and daughters, but if speaking of the most eye-catching, it was still Jiu Feng and the Sui family’s Sui Jinyu who had brazenly moved chairs over early in the morning to sit down.

The former liked watching excitement, the latter had secured the best viewing position for his younger brother.

The Prayer Platform had four hundred ninety-nine steps, winding deep into the morning mist, with rootless fires burning on both sides, flickering with each step.

Xue Yu walked slowly and dignifiedly, followed by four exquisitely dressed female attendants holding up the train of her court robes, like holding a pile of brilliantly glowing morning clouds. As she moved, the radiant light flickered, and Xue Yu’s waist complemented this with the crisp sounds of gems and pearls clinking together.

Finally, she stood atop the Prayer Platform, facing the multitude. Because her makeup was applied heavily, her eyes were deeply outlined, showing a solemn bearing completely different from usual, suppressing that slight hint of coldness she normally displayed, leaving only the unquestionable, impossible-to-look-directly-at majesty of a ruler.

In that instant, the sky lost its color, court ministers and common people bowed together, the momentum tremendous and deafening.

Jiu Feng smiled as she looked through the clouds and mist. Seeing this scene, somehow, when she looked at Su You, she shook her head repeatedly: “How about it? Are you so entranced you can’t look away?”

Sui Jinyu dejectedly covered his face.

“Dumbstruck?” Jiu Feng lazily teased: “This is just the Crown Princess ennoblement ceremony. Wait a few years when she formally ascends to the throne – that spectacle will be much grander.”

Yin Ling also came over to watch the excitement: “May I ask what Young Master Su You’s current thoughts are?”

Su You had already stood up from his chair. He stood tall and jade-like on the mountain peak, gazing across at the Prayer Platform in the distance. The fierce mountain wind blew his robes and long hair, making them flutter like flying silk ribbons.

“Nothing much.” Facing them, Su You was much more unrestrained. He looked at the figure on the Prayer Platform with fervent eyes: “She is Xue Yu. This is how she should be.”

He would do everything in his power to let her walk seriously and openly down that destined difficult path.

The Crown Princess’s ennoblement ceremony had complex procedures. After descending the Prayer Platform, she had to go to the ancestral grounds for worship, where spectators couldn’t enter. So with Jiu Feng taking the lead, she gathered people from the demon capital and the Sacred Lands to form a table. Su You accompanied them in playing several rounds. By evening, as night fell and a long bell tolled across heaven and earth, the entire ceremony was declared complete.

“Chao Nian, you’re out.” Yin Ling pulled Chao Nian away and eagerly took his place herself: “How many chaotic rounds have you played? Your young master has drunk fifteen cups straight, and his face is black.”

“Saint, Saint Yin Ling, today is Her Highness’s grand ceremony, we rarely get to rest. Let me play a few more rounds to try – I’ll use my brain to play.” Chao Nian refused to give up, howling desperately.

Su You had truly been dragged down by Chao Nian too many times. Now he raised his eyes and gave him a light kick, saying with a half-smile: “Whether you use your brain or not makes no difference. You just don’t have that thing.”

“Young master, how can you say that about me?” Chao Nian muttered quietly: “…You weren’t like this before.”

Since the Feiyun Summit, they had never relaxed. First, they focused on the Secret Realm Abyss matter, Jiu Feng’s matter, then they were busy pressuring the Human Emperor, followed by many more complications. Today, with everything that needed discussing settled, everyone felt slightly relieved, plus it was a good, celebratory day, so everyone was more casual.

Even Cang Ju had pulled over a chair to sit nearby and listen to their boisterous noise.

“It’s not easy. We just need to wait a while for the inquiry array results to come out, and everything will be settled.”

Yin Ling naturally occupied Chao Nian’s former position, taking advantage of the card-dealing time to say: “If the inquiry array gives a negative answer, we’ll immediately push Shen Jingshi to power. If it’s positive, we’ll let Shen Jingshi be regent, clean up the situation, and teach the young emperor.”

“When that time comes, all problems will be easily resolved.” She was quite looking forward to this: “The Sacred Lands and demon capital will have marriage relationships, and Shen Jingshi also listens to Shan Shu. Then the three realms will be united, and the relationship between humans and demons will gradually improve. That’s good.”

“Come on, Xue Yu definitely can’t spare time for us tonight. Let’s have a few more rounds.” Yin Ling stretched her neck to look at Sui Jinyu’s table, then said: “Once this matter is settled, in about ten-plus days, the Three Realms Grand Assembly will also begin.”

Speaking of the Three Realms Grand Assembly, everyone at the table immediately looked toward Jiu Feng. Lu Qin and Jia Xi, hearing such topics, also came over arm-in-arm to ask: “Chu Yaoxiang, what do you think about the likely candidates for the top five of the Three Realms Grand Assembly?”

Jiu Feng had just lost two rounds and drunk two cups. Her expression wasn’t very good. Now she looked up coolly: “I don’t know how the top five is calculated, I only know those roughly equal to my strength.”

“That’s enough.” Lu Qin said, “Tell us.”

“I’ve fought with Xue Yu before – that was over twenty years ago. We fought to a draw then. I don’t know about now, but she’s definitely in the top three, without question.” Jiu Feng nodded toward Sui Jinyu: “And there’s this one – also a draw before. Now he’s busy coaxing his little brother. In recent sparring matches, he’s already fallen behind, but staying in the top five won’t be difficult.”

After speaking, she looked at Su You: “This young master has pure Tianao bloodline. Though we’ve never fought, if even Tianao can’t make the top five, then the ancient Divine Beast Rankings would be questionable.”

“As for the rest, the cultivation sects of the mortal realm and the great families all have once-in-a-generation prodigies. I’ve heard a few names and seen images of their battles. They’re indeed quite good, hard to say.”

“So only Xue Yu from our Sacred Land successors makes the top five?” Yin Ling wasn’t angry, smiling with curved eyes: “You’re rather underestimating the Six Sacred Lands.”

“Really? Su You lost, drink up!” Jiu Feng pushed her cards away spiritedly: “If you’re not convinced, let’s compete afterward and see whether there are more Sacred Land people or demon capital people in the top fifty.”

“…”

In the noisy environment, Su You continued drinking five or six more cups. From start to finish, he never had a good hand.

He had never won.

The wine Jiu Feng carried was extremely strong with powerful aftereffects. After sitting for a while, a thin layer of red spread across his face. He couldn’t help but lean back against his chair, raising his eyes to look at Jiu Feng: “What kind of wine did you bring?”

“Five-thousand-year-old nectar with peach blossom dew and snow pine resin added. Even immortals would get drunk from a whole jar of this.” Jiu Feng replied lazily: “Go ask Chen Longzhi what price just one cup would sell for at Chen Yu Pavilion.”

The implication was that if not for the sake of everyone playing well together, and if not for the Jiu Feng clan’s wealth, she wouldn’t have brought out such things at all.

Su You sighed and casually straightened up, slowly pushing the cards in front of him forward.

Looking at the other players, everyone’s hands looked better than his own.

“Can’t play anymore, right?” His sleeves fell to cover his hands. Su You looked toward Chao Nian, who was dragging everyone down again.

Just then, a palace-dressed female attendant hurried through the corridors and lakeside pavilion toward them. It was clear she served in Xue Yu’s palace.

Su You thought something had happened and slowly put away his smile.

But the attendant bowed to everyone around and said to Su You: “Young master, Her Highness summons you.”

Su You said nothing more and immediately rose to head west, his figure disappearing into the night.

Sui Jinyu looked at the sky with some worry: “This late? That doesn’t seem quite appropriate.”

“…”

He looked toward Chao Nian, trying to encourage: “Why don’t you follow along and see? Maybe Your Highness has need of someone.”

Chao Nian thought to himself that even if he wanted to die, this wasn’t the way to do it, shaking his head like a rattling drum.

Sui Yu’s eyelid twitched violently as he warned coldly: “Sui Jinyu, stop acting crazy.”

Su You followed the attendant to Xue Yu’s palace. The serving attendants seemed to have received orders, and all waited silently outside the door. He paused, then stepped through the doorway.

Inside the hall burned a calming incense with a light, plain fragrance that gave a comfortable, relaxing feeling.

Xue Yu seemed to have just returned to the hall, still wearing that elaborate, exquisite court robe, though she had removed the heaviest outer layer. She knelt before the bronze mirror with legs naturally curved, removing the swaying hairpins and hair ornaments from her coiffure one by one. From the side, her curves were graceful, and her waist slender.

Su You walked over, his tall frame casting a highly present shadow from behind. He applied slight pressure with his fingers to stop Xue Yu’s movements: “Let me.”

He removed the golden step-shake ornament that seemed ready to take flight, then took off a string of tasseled pins. Her full head of black hair cascaded down through his hands. The person in the mirror turned slightly at this moment to meet his gaze, her nose twitching slightly as she asked: “You played cards with them?”

Su You hummed acknowledgment and said gently, “Played for a while.”

Xue Yu said nothing, just looked at him like this, seriously capturing the various expressions that crossed that face in the misty lamplight. After a long moment, she placed her fingertips in his palm, her vermilion lips parting: “Besides cards, what else do you like to play?”

After a pause, Su You weighed her fingers: “Not fond of it. Nothing else either.”

Somehow, Jiu Feng’s phrase about “feeling insecure” drilled into Xue Yu’s mind for the third time.

She raised her head to look into his eyes, slowly saying: “Only today did I learn that our Young Master Su You knows how to play cards, can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk, and when angered by the demons of Baizhong Mountain will curse, and also that he’s very skilled at archery, always taking first place.”

These vivid but imperfect things were all deliberately hidden by him.

Even those calls of “A Yu,” those lingering and extremely beautiful moments, all carried a kind of bewildered, even unreasonable, impulsive exploration. As if by being a little more obedient, a little more mature, a little more passionate, Xue Yu might like him a little more.

He didn’t understand anything either.

“There have been many matters recently, and I have many things to handle.” Xue Yu grasped his chin and lifted it slightly, her gaze sweeping over that face made more radiant by the erosion of alcohol: “I always feel that saying too much is meaningless – no one can predict tomorrow’s events. But Su You, having experienced Song Heng’s matter, if I didn’t truly like you very much, I wouldn’t be with you.”

If not for truly, truly liking you very much.

Su You’s grip on her fingertips involuntarily tightened, his face showing profound, stunned surprise at this unexpected turn.

Her facial makeup was exquisite, and when her eyes flowed, they carried a pure quality that was both clear and alluring. In this posture, she pressed close to the man she had made sit before the bronze mirror, her thin lips moving: “What I just said – is it correct?”

Su You looked into her glassy pupils, his eyelashes trembling slightly: “Correct.”

He felt insecure and feared being abandoned.

He had no sense of security.

He couldn’t leave Xue Yu.

“Afraid we’ll separate?” She drew closer bit by bit, like a knife slowly cutting flesh, not giving a quick end.

After a moment, he frankly responded: “Yes.”

Xue Yu met his gaze, her eyes kindling with flickering light, like embers after a fire burned out – silent but still carrying warmth. She turned her head to look at him, and after a moment asked: “Are your hands healed?”

She drew completely close to him, her arm half-supporting on the armrest, silky, long hair falling strand by strand onto his pale hands.

The two faced each other at close range, breath intermingled. She asked him so directly and frankly: “Do you want to?”

“Do you want it?”

Su You was trapped in this small space, cold chair back behind him, soft body drawing closer inch by inch in front, caught between them with no way forward or back.

She had completely shed the Crown Princess majesty that received worship from all people during the day, transforming into a snow demon from the extreme northern mountains, using the coldest tone to say the most blood-stirring words – so bold, yet paradoxically all shy, naive emotion.

He hadn’t expected such a development.

Not in the slightest.

“…A Yu.” His knuckles pressed against the chair side showed sudden whiteness, his voice carrying uncontrollable, moist, heated passion. Xue Yu hummed acknowledgment and smeared the vermilion color from her lips in a long, messy line along his sharply angled neck.

Su You stopped speaking.

Slowly, he grasped her supporting waist, using his teeth to grasp the ties on her rising curves, drawing them out bit by bit.