Her Majesty of the Central Palace was a fortunate woman. She had been devoted to her husband for twenty years, and when he ascended the dragon throne, he didn’t expand his harem but continued to treasure her like a pearl.

Such a woman had few worries that couldn’t be resolved, but there were indeed some.

She looked at Shen Qiyuan, her eyes brightening: “Could it be that Ziyan has thought it through and is willing to start a family?”

“Your subject remembers Your Majesty mentioning last time that the daughter of the Xu family from Houchao Gate is quite exceptional.”

“I did say that.” Her Majesty of the Central Palace gripped her armrest and straightened up. “She’s a distant niece of mine—outstanding in both character and appearance. She’s just never looked favorably upon those wealthy dandies, which is why she’s been delayed until seventeen.”

Shen Qiyuan nodded, then turned to gesture toward Wei Zijue: “Commander Wei is certainly not among the dandy set. He went to the border cities at twelve, accumulated countless military achievements, is upright and honest, and has no family. He would make an excellent match.”

Wei Zijue:?

Wait, how did this suddenly involve him?

Her Majesty on the throne was momentarily stunned, then looked toward him and smiled: “Ziyan speaks truly. I just wonder what Commander Wei thinks.”

This was a polite phrase. Since he had come with Shen Qiyuan, in Her Majesty’s eyes, this appeared to be a gesture of actively seeking marriage. To object now would be equivalent to trampling both Shen Qiyuan’s and Her Majesty’s dignity underfoot.

Wei Zijue felt somewhat at a loss. He stood up with clenched fists, frowning as he glanced at Shen Qiyuan.

Shen Qiyuan looked back expressionlessly, one hand clasped behind his back, like a lofty judge delivering punishment.

Tasting blood in his mouth, Wei Zijue lowered his eyes and bowed, his knuckles turning white: “Your subject… is most fortunate.”

Her Majesty smiled kindly: “Then I shall go ask the Xu family’s intentions.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Coming out of the Central Palace, Wei Zijue’s face turned pale from the cold wind.

Looking at the person walking ahead without looking back, he suddenly said: “You’re afraid of me.”

Shen Qiyuan’s steps paused.

He turned half his face back, framed by snow-white fox fur, noble and proud: “The Commander overthinks.”

“If you weren’t afraid of me, why would you be in such anxious haste to arrange my marriage?” Wei Zijue pressed his lips together and suddenly smiled. “It seems it might not be that I resemble you—perhaps you resemble me?”

Shen Qiyuan looked at him indifferently, frost filling the depths of his eyes.

Who resembled whom—what did it matter? What was important was that he wouldn’t lose.

Flicking his sleeves as he turned, he stepped across the snow-dampened ground and strode out of the palace gates step by step.

During the long and lonely years of cultivating divinity, Shen Qiyuan had heard many things about Wei Zijue.

He was a small demon of lowly birth who had climbed step by step up the Ten Thousand Demons’ Den through his stubborn will, finally standing beside Ruyi. That year’s Ruyi was bloodthirsty and brutal—of seventy-eight attendants, only Wei Zijue survived in the end.

Not only did he survive, he was also taken into her tent by Ruyi, accompanying her in cultivation, accompanying her in slaying demon kings and overturning the Ten Thousand Demons’ Den, accompanying her gradual transformation from a monster of indistinguishable demon and divine nature into a true great demon.

The outside world said that Zijue was equivalent to Ruyi—wherever Ruyi was, Zijue would certainly be there.

He felt he wasn’t jealous. After all, she had been by his side for much longer years. After all, the two of them had experienced far more together. After all…

A snowflake fell, settling on his brow.

Shen Qiyuan looked up at the gray, overcast sky, his throat rolling several times.

“My lord.” Zhou Tingchuan was waiting for him at the palace gate. Seeing his expression, he jumped back a step in fright. “What happened? Did something major occur in the palace?”

“No.” Lowering his lashes, Shen Qiyuan pulled his cloak tighter. “It’s just rather cold.”

He didn’t like winter—his fingers were cold, the carriage was cold, heaven and earth were all cold.

He wanted to find something warm to hold.

Thinking of those smiling long eyes, Shen Qiyuan’s gaze softened somewhat. He got into the carriage and instructed Zhou Tingchuan: “To Huixian Restaurant.”

“Yes.”

The cold wind was bitter. All the carriages on the street had changed to thick curtains or windscreens, pedestrians shivered, and horseback riders faced ice blades with their faces. So even the finest steeds were kept in stables during this season.

However, there was one brown horse that galloped from outside the palace gates, racing through streets and alleys straight to Huixian Restaurant.

When Ruyi opened the door, she felt embraced by a full gust of wind and snow.

She raised her eyebrows in surprise, supporting the visitor’s arm: “Commander?”

Wei Zijue’s lips had already turned purple from cold, his hair tips moist from melted ice and snow. He lowered himself to look at her, his eyes filled with grievance about to overflow.

Her heart tightened. Ruyi quickly helped him inside, wrapped him in a large felt blanket, and poured hot tea to his lips: “In this weather, who rides a horse? Don’t you know how to take a carriage?”

“A carriage,” Wei Zijue sipped the tea, “would be too slow.”

Too slow? Ruyi found it amusing—she had been in the restaurant the whole time, so what did it matter if it was slow?

“Little Lord said you went into the palace with Lord Shen,” she said.

Like a floodgate opening a crack, Wei Zijue lowered his eyes, his throat moving several times: “Lord Shen doesn’t seem to like me very much.”

You noticed that, did you?

Ruyi touched her nose tip: “That’s just how he is. Otherwise, he couldn’t serve as the Clan Court official who offends people.”

“He wants to force me to marry.” Wei Zijue looked up at her. “Why?”

The girl before him was quite forthright and didn’t hide it: “Probably because he finds you somewhat troublesome.”

Most women in this world would be shy and evasive when discussing matters between men and women, but she was as straightforward as if discussing what to have for lunch.

Wei Zijue smiled: “So Miss has taken this humble one to heart.”

“I have quite a few people in my heart.” She propped her chin on her hand, saying meaningfully, “Commander should stand firm—don’t get pushed out.”

Even her absurdity was righteously confident. Wei Zijue shook his head with a smile, flexed his stiff fingers, and sighed softly: “Lord Shen holds a high position and great power. Even if I stand firm, he can still uproot me entirely.”

This statement was half complaint, half coquetry. Combined with the teardrop mole at his eye corner, it pleased Ruyi greatly.

She reached out her hand, her warm palm enveloping his fingertips: “Commander has plenty of good fortune—why belittle yourself?”

Her slender, pink-tinted nails gleamed softly, but her fingertips were soft and warm. This gentle grasp seemed to also grasp his heart, kneading and warming it.

Wei Zijue knew his face had reddened again because the person across from him showed that teasing smile once more, lifting her chin to look down at him, light flickering in her eyes.

The main hall door suddenly made a sound.

Ruyi turned her head, about to look, but was held back by Wei Zijue.

“Sister, could you not open the door?” he asked softly.

Ruyi felt her bones go soft at this address, couldn’t help but draw in a light breath: “Commander, you are an official and I am a commoner—how can you use such a form of address?”

He didn’t answer, only looked up at her like a docile little beast: “Sister.”

“…”

These two words seemed to hit some pressure point within her. Ruyi scratched her chin, feeling both awkward and pleased. After hesitating for a moment, she sat back down.