When the miracle of the heaven-sent blessing, the suddenly appearing canal, spread far and wide, the Marquis of Nanyan was preparing to launch a cult-like brainwashing campaign. He planned to spread the word of the current Emperor Sima Jiao’s tyrannical deeds, using this as a fuse to ignite rebellion in the six northern commanderies.

He had everything prepared. His next step was to use this summer’s severe drought in the northern six commanderies to further argue that Sima Jiao lacked heaven’s mandate, spreading rumors to shake the people’s faith.

He had a divine priest by his side with considerable abilities. This old sage predicted that Sima Jiao’s dynasty couldn’t last long, that he was short-lived, and that the Marquis of Nanyan was the true chosen son of heaven. As long as he followed heaven’s will and rebelled, he would surely achieve final victory.

Beyond predicting this summer’s drought, the old sage had also foreseen heavy snowstorms in several southern commanderies this winter and a plague next spring. These were all major events the Marquis of Nanyan planned to exploit for his rebellion.

However, just as he was ready to make his move, this canal situation happened.

With such an inauspicious start, the Marquis of Nanyan was so worried he couldn’t even eat breakfast. Touching his receding hairline, he summoned the old sage to ask, “What should we do now? Didn’t you say Sima Jiao lacked heaven’s mandate?”

The old sage’s eyes drooped, his face as expressionless as a clay sculpture. Pinching his fingers and shaking like someone with epilepsy for a moment, he said: “I observed the stars last night. A demon star has appeared beside Sima Jiao! It is this demon star that obstructs your great cause—we must eliminate her!”

…

“Since we might need to stay here for some years, let’s set up a Demon Realm office in Yan City. In case there are more projects like canal building in the future, we’ll have people to handle it,” Liao Tingyan finally found a moment to speak with Hong Luo. “Please keep a close eye on matters in the Demon Realm for me. If anyone causes trouble… well, nobody should dare, as troublemakers have mostly been burned out over these years.”

Hong Luo crouched on the windowsill while talking to her, in a position ready to retreat outside at any moment. She said, “I’m not worried about that. It’s just that this place has not even a trace of spiritual energy. Nobody will want to be stationed here permanently. How about rotating personnel every year? Also, I’m concerned about you being here alone. After some time, I’ll send over your little one and pet.”

Liao Tingyan: “No, if you send them over, how am I supposed to explain to Sima Jiao?”

Tell him this snake named Sisi is his orphaned child, who can transform into a little boy who looks just like him but isn’t his biological son, and this fox named Ang’ang is a rare pet he once gave me that’s now shaped like a pig because I overfed it?

Hong Luo: “Who cares? Just act coy and he’ll agree. I see you’ve got him completely infatuated. Whatever you say, he just keeps nodding ‘yes, yes, yes.'”

Liao Tingyan: To be fair, it seems like he’s the one who has me infatuated. Last time I almost couldn’t control myself. Ah, youth is indeed prone to impulse.

While chatting idly with her, Hong Luo kept glancing at the door. Although she could sense when someone was approaching and avoid them in advance, facing a Sima Jiao who was no longer the Demon Lord still filled her with subconscious reverence… basically, she was a bit afraid.

Hong Luo: “Alright, that’s enough. I’ll go now. Take care of yourself.”

Not long after Hong Luo left, Sima Jiao arrived. He spent a significant amount of time with Liao Tingyan every day, while she had been worrying herself sick about his diet and sleep lately. Trying to get this ancestor to eat something was more difficult than convincing her young nephew to eat his meals in the past.

Having no alternative, she could only wait until he fell asleep each night, then use external forces to deepen his sleep. During this time, she would feed him spiritual dew and other supplements to nourish his body. She would also use her divine soul to slightly soothe his damaged spirit, reducing the frequency of his headaches.

From Sima Jiao’s perspective, every night when he slept beside Liao Tingyan, he would fall into an unusually deep slumber. Upon waking, he would find himself refreshed, energetic, and even free from headaches, sleeping soundly each night.

He had pondered this: What kind of demon would not drain a person’s vital energy but benefit them?

He didn’t know why he was so fixated on this “demon” concept.

After several days, the Demon Realm’s office in Yan City was established. Ten demon generals leading over a thousand demon cultivators officially moved in. Of course, upon arriving, they first had to pay respects to their Demon Lord.

It happened that Liao Tingyan was sitting in the garden enjoying tea and flowers when dark clouds suddenly appeared in the sky. A group of demon cultivators descended like dumplings dropping into water, quickly filling the garden. Had they not concealed their true nature, they would have caused quite a commotion. Liao Tingyan maintained her composure, instructing the oblivious palace attendants to step further away. She pretended to admire the scenery while listening to the demon general’s report.

The demon general was explaining that they had settled nearby outside the city when he suddenly stopped mid-sentence. Liao Tingyan looked up to see Sima Jiao approaching with an expressionless face.

Noticing how the demon generals silently stepped back and instinctively grew quiet, Liao Tingyan thought: This ancestor truly has profound authority. Even in his current state, he still intimidates others.

Since he couldn’t see this mass of fierce demon generals and cultivators, Liao Tingyan remained calm, pretending they didn’t exist, and said to Sima Jiao: “Why has Your Majesty come here?” He should have been in the imperial court listening to ministers’ flattery at this time.

Sima Jiao had indeed been listening to ministers talking nonsense, but when he saw dark clouds covering the palace, he felt something was amiss and came directly to check.

And what did he see? Over a thousand strangely dressed people who looked like trouble surrounded Liao Tingyan. He initially thought she was in danger, but upon careful observation, he realized these people seemed to show great respect to her, more like her subordinates. Moreover, judging from the unchanged reactions of the distant palace attendants, it appeared others couldn’t see these people.

Sima Jiao quickly grasped the situation. He also pretended not to see these people, walked through their midst, and approached Liao Tingyan directly.

Liao Tingyan watched as Sima Jiao passed through the crowd with no reaction. The demon cultivators consciously stepped back to make way for him. He sat down beside her and began examining her with a strange look.

Liao Tingyan: “…” What’s wrong with you now?

Using the motion of drinking tea as cover, she signaled to the nearby demon general to continue. The general shifted a meter away, further from Sima Jiao, before continuing in a lowered voice: “Also, the young lord will arrive shortly, just a bit behind us.”

The young lord referred to the black snake.

Liao Tingyan touched her forehead, feeling a headache coming on. She just hoped that when Sisi arrived, he wouldn’t appear in his giant snake form, as that would be difficult to conceal.

Sima Jiao listened to the person speaking beside them while watching Liao Tingyan’s performance, narrowing his eyes.

Liao Tingyan truly felt something odd about Sima Jiao’s presence, creating an inexplicable pressure. So without saying much, she directly dismissed her subordinates. Little did she know that such ordinary illusion techniques might fool common mortals but couldn’t deceive Sima Jiao. Even as a mortal now, he was far from ordinary.

The group of demon cultivators departed on dark clouds just as they had arrived. Perhaps it was an illusion, but Liao Tingyan felt they left rather hastily as if being chased by a fierce beast.

Sima Jiao sat there unmoved, watching a group of people fly away.

Flying—indeed demons. Sima Jiao reassessed Liao Tingyan. She appeared quite lazy, not seeming like someone of much achievement, but judging from the recent scene, she might be a demon king of considerable status. His Majesty thought impassively: This is somewhat unexpected.

At midnight, Liao Tingyan as usual examined the sleeping Sima Jiao beside her, sending him into deep slumber. Just as she was preparing to continue sleeping herself, she heard a sound at the window.

“Tap, tap, tap.” Someone was knocking.

Could it be Sisi had arrived? Liao Tingyan sat up in bed and with a wave of her hand remotely opened the secured window. Sure enough, a round black head poked out. The black snake had come in his little boy form. Although he hadn’t grown taller or smarter over the years, he had made some progress.

Sisi crawled in through the window, holding a very fat snow spirit fox in his arms.

The snow spirit fox, Ang’ang, made two sounds and charged toward Liao Tingyan like a small wild boar. She took it in her arms and stroked its fur. The black snake first circled Liao Tingyan’s feet, then quickly found his way to the bedside and stared at Sima Jiao. Recognizing his master’s aura, he excitedly spun in circles before forcefully nudging Sima Jiao’s arm with his head.

Liao Tingyan, holding the pig-like fox, called out softly: “Hey, don’t push too hard. What if you wake him up…”

Before she could finish, she saw Sima Jiao open his eyes.

Liao Tingyan: “…” Damn, how did he wake up!

Sima Jiao: “…” She was trying to hide this from me.

Sima Jiao glanced at Liao Tingyan’s rigid expression, then at the little boy leaning close to him with eyes full of affection and admiration. This little boy had a face remarkably similar to his own—to say he wasn’t his child would be unbelievable.

At this moment, Sima Jiao finally believed the nonsense Liao Tingyan had said before about being destined for three lifetimes.

This must be the child I had with her in a previous life. Amid the awkward silence, Sima Jiao picked up the black snake from the bedside, pinched his face to examine him carefully, and then calmly said: “Since you’re here, you might as well stay.”

Liao Tingyan: “???”

Liao Tingyan: “Um… he is… You remember who he is?”

Sima Jiao: “I’ve guessed.”

Liao Tingyan: “…” But I don’t think you’ve guessed correctly.

Sima Jiao didn’t give her a chance to explain. “I know everything now. You don’t need to hide it anymore.”

Liao Tingyan: “What exactly do you know??”

Sima Jiao: “I know you love me deeply.” Why else would she bring their child to find him, giving up being a demon to become his Noble Consort? She must truly love him.

Liao Tingyan: “…” What has he imagined in his head? Why doesn’t she have Sima Jiao’s old mind-reading ability now?

The next day, Sima Jiao took the black snake to court.

This terrified many ministers.

Who was this little boy? Judging by his face, he was His Majesty’s biological son. But he looked about five years old, and His Majesty was only sixteen, which meant His Majesty at eleven had… Well, although some married at twelve, to father a child at eleven, His Majesty was truly… exceptionally gifted.

Sima Jiao brought the black snake before his ministers. Regardless of whether they could accept it, he said in a tone that sounded casual but was quite meaningful: “My child.”

The minister: So he is his biological son! As expected of an Emperor who creates miracles!

After exchanging glances, they naturally offered praise first. Moreover, the young lord sat there obediently without saying a word, completely unlike his father. This was truly touching! The previous Emperor had died early, and Sima Jiao had ascended the throne as a child. Many ministers had watched him grow up from a little boy, and he had always been that irritable, murderous character. How could he compare to the young lord’s obedience?

This was excellent—he looked like an easily controllable successor. If they could just endure Sima Jiao’s reign, their good days would come in the next!

The ministers didn’t know that the obedient young lord’s true form was a giant snake larger than the palace itself, capable of swallowing all of them in one bite—and they wouldn’t even be enough to fill the gaps between his teeth.

“May I ask who is the young lord’s birth mother?”

Sima Jiao: “Noble Consort.” He recalled Liao Tingyan’s embarrassed, stubborn expression last night when she refused to admit it, and smiled, finding this mute child more pleasing to the eye. Well, since she gave birth to him and specifically brought him to see his father, he might as well raise him properly to make her happy.

Everyone had a sudden realization. No wonder a Noble Consort had been brought back for no apparent reason—there was a previous connection, even a secret pregnancy! That Noble Consort was quite something. She appeared quiet and not very old, yet she was so daring.

Rumors spread like wildfire into the harem. The melon-eating Noble Consort dropped her seeds in shock: “…” Damn, my reputation has been ruined again!

Sima Jiao, a Dao partner who spread rumors to blacken her name wherever he went.