“Indeed.” Yun Ya replied seriously, “It’s not even dark yet.”

This soul-damned man! Feng Miaojun punched him firmly, then whispered: “Has anyone come knocking?” Having closed the door until afternoon, she feared her companions already knew what shameless things they’d been doing. It was too late for embarrassment now.

“Your utterly loyal guard came twice, and Yu Haizhen came the second time, even taking your duck oil pastries and fermented rice desserts.”

So, everyone already knew, didn’t they?

Yun Ya looked at the expression on her face and laughed: “What are you afraid of? With your status, why care about others’ glances?”

“That’s true,” she gave him a sidelong glance, adopting a ‘broken pot, broken lid’ mentality as she stroked her chin thoughtfully. “Which ruler doesn’t openly summon consorts to their bed? None hide it away.”

Before she finished speaking, Yun Ya was already pulling at the thin blanket covering her body, gritting his teeth with a cold smile: “It seems we needn’t wait until dark!”

“Stop, stop, we have important matters to discuss!” She clutched the blanket and swiftly changed the subject. “Did you see the pattern of that mark in my dantian?”

The mark in her dantian? Yun Ya’s heart skipped a beat as he remembered this matter. He had told her that only through dual cultivation could he transfer spiritual power into her dantian, attaching his divine consciousness to it to glimpse the complete appearance of the mark in her energy sea.

But the problem was, in the moment of ecstasy, he had almost wished to die upon her body—how could he have remembered that mark?

However, Yun Ya reacted quickly, saying naturally: “Not yet. That mark is too complex and requires slow contemplation.”

Doesn’t that mean she would have to repeatedly… with this man? Feng Miaojun bit her red lips but didn’t suspect anything. That moment could only last a few breaths at most, yet the pattern in her energy sea was so intricate she couldn’t even replicate it herself. What was strange about Yun Ya not seeing it clearly in one or two attempts?

Fortunately, this matter wasn’t so unpleasant. Except for the first time when it hurt like dying and coming back to life, things gradually improved afterward.

But Yun Ya pinched her cheek and turned the tables: “You’re willing to give yourself to me just to break that curse, hmm?” Was he merely a tool she used to dispel curses?

Is that so? Is that so?

If it is, then… use him boldly!

“Nonsense!” Her phoenix eyes widened, and her attention was successfully diverted. “Don’t take advantage and then complain!” Would she do this with another man? She’d have him chopped into pieces and fed to monkeys long ago.

“Speaking of advantages,” he sighed, burying his head in the crook of her neck, “I’ve guarded my virtue for many years, only to give it to you in one morning. Tell me, how will you take responsibility?”

She played with his long hair. Hmph, this fellow’s hair was black, long, and straight—enough to make women envious. “Fear not, I won’t mistreat you. When I have time, I will certainly summon you to serve in my bedchamber.”

He raised his head, his peach blossom eyes filled with grievance: “You won’t even give me proper status?”

Feng Miaojun caressed his face, deliberately sighing: “The beautiful one must endure hardship for now. I have no choice.” This man was handsome to the point of offending both humans and gods—how wonderful it would be to have him day and night.

Unfortunately, they couldn’t.

Yun Ya noticed the hidden dejection in her eyes and pressed his forehead against hers: “Don’t worry, there will be a turning point. When that time comes, you won’t be able to avoid marrying me even if you wanted to.”

Feng Miaojun returned his words with a smile, then pushed him away and got out of bed: “I’m starving, and even the desserts are gone…” Her final words turned into a light gasp.

As her toes touched the ground, a wave of soreness shot up her legs, leaving her without strength. She stumbled, unable to stand firmly.

Yun Ya raised his arm at the right moment, catching her slender waist.

Soul-damned man! She channeled her energy just to stand steady, her face still flushed: “Let go, I want to go out and eat.” She still needed to dress properly and sneak out quietly.

He smiled, revealing a row of white teeth: “Together.”

Yun Ya was enthusiastic and proactive about bedchamber matters, sneaking into her room almost every night.

Facts proved that romantic affairs between men and women couldn’t be hidden. The other cultivators in their group looked at them with knowing eyes, and Chen Dachang especially felt that the tension between the Queen and State Preceptor Yun had grown so intense that there was no room for others to interject.

But Yun Ya was right—people of their time viewed physical intimacy between men and women as natural and proper. With their status being the highest in the group, the cultivators weren’t surprised.

Feng Miaojun had never cared much about others’ gazes. After the initial shyness passed, she enjoyed their time together with a clear conscience. Wandering mountains and playing in waters by day, nestling close at night, doing things they both loved.

Deep down, she knew these good times wouldn’t last long. Once they returned to New Xia and she sat back on her throne, she would revert to being that lofty queen with a blood feud against the Wei people.

Happy days always passed quickly.

It seemed like they crossed the border and entered Yao territory in the blink of an eye.

When Feng Miaojun had reaped the benefits that day, the original territory of Yao Kingdom had been divided in two—the large western area belonged to the Wei Kingdom, while the eastern part merged into New Xia. Therefore, the newly established Wei-Xia border was very close to the original Yao capital, Yinzi City, only tens of li away.

By this point, the group had slowed their pace. After entering Wulin Town where Yun Ya had once stayed, he skillfully led Feng Miaojun to the largest teahouse in town for tea. The only imperfection was that she had also invited Yu Haizhen—after all, Feng Miaojun wanted to persuade her to become New Xia’s State Preceptor, so she couldn’t neglect her.

Since an outsider was accompanying them, Chen Dachang naturally had to follow to protect Her Majesty the Queen’s safety.

So now there were two third wheels right under Yun Ya’s nose. He looked at them with a fake smile that didn’t reach his eyes, his emotions written all over his face. Yu Haizhen picked up her teacup and gently blew on it: “Why doesn’t State Preceptor Yun settle in New Xia? It would save you from the suffering of longing.”

At these words, Feng Miaojun’s face turned slightly red, but Yun Ya merely snorted: “That’s precisely my intention, but I fear I might take your rice bowl.”

Yu Haizhen was about to retort when she heard low discussions from nearby tea tables. She tilted her head slightly, shifting her attention.

The others also adopted solemn expressions, for the content they heard was too shocking:

“Has our Yao Kingdom bloodline truly been lost?”

“This happened half a month ago and has been the talk of Yao territory. You’re only asking about it today?”

“I just returned from the mountains today. The news must be false, right?”

“No, no, this time it’s very likely true. My aunt just returned from Yinzi City and said that the place is under martial law. Troops patrol the roads in shifts, and civilians who want to leave the city must report in advance and wait three days. It seems something major has truly happened in the city.”

“The disappearance of the Yao Crown Prince’s only son is certainly a major event,” someone else scoffed. “In my view, it has to do with the New Xia people.”

“I guess it’s Wei Kingdom’s mischief.”

Customers at the next table had also heard and interjected: “Yinzi City is in a state of panic. New Xia people forbid us from discussing this matter—they arrest anyone who does. I heard that in just three to five days, the prison was full. I even saw someone who talked too much being whipped until they rolled on the ground.”