The Summer Palace was built by the late Emperor, as a temporary residence for escaping the summer heat. Although the late Emperor was not as violent and murderous as Sima Jiao, he enjoyed pleasure and had a fondness for women. In terms of giving ministers headaches, he was not much different from his son. The temporary palace he ordered to be built was exceptionally exquisite and magnificent, completely different from the simple and majestic imperial palace in Yan City.

This Summer Palace was not large, but scenic spots were everywhere. Located at the foot of Liyun Mountain, surrounded by mountains and waters, it was cool in summer—truly an excellent place to escape the heat.

In previous years, Sima Jiao had also visited here, but he never stayed anywhere for long. Usually, he would stay for just a few days. This time, as he was bringing the Noble Consort, he ordered the palace attendants to thoroughly clean the Summer Palace well in advance, making the long-unused Summer Palace look brand new.

Liao Tingyan liked the Summer Palace at first sight. Compared to the scorching royal capital of Yan City, this place felt much more serene. Moreover, there was a mountain stream behind the Summer Palace that, except for lacking spiritual energy, greatly resembled the pool they had once soaked in at Gengchen Immortal Mansion.

Liao Tingyan experienced pain once a month, lasting for several days. The remaining days of this episode were spent in the mountain stream behind the Summer Palace.

Everything else was fine, except they had to be careful not to let palace attendants stay nearby, otherwise accidental encounters would be awkward. After all, Sima Jiao had only experienced the matters of men and women two days ago, and these days he often helped ease her pain.

As a young man, Liao Tingyan understood his enjoyment of pleasure. What she didn’t understand was how the former ancestor Sima Jiao had managed to appear so proper. At that time, the ancestor had acted as if he didn’t care about these things at all.

The young Emperor was much more direct. Liao Tingyan discovered he wasn’t as “reserved” as before, and she suddenly realized that the mature version of Sima Jiao had been carrying the burden of his centuries-old Master Ancestor image—a burden that might have weighed a ton.

The mountains and waters of the mortal realm weren’t much different from those of the cultivation world. Liao Tingyan lay in the cool stream, looking at the green leaves overhead. She reached for a branch, tapped it in the water, and casually splashed water onto Sima Jiao. He sat nearby, draped in a black outer robe, lazily tilting his head to dodge the few droplets.

Seeing his expression as he looked at her, Liao Tingyan suddenly acknowledged something Hong Luo had once said—”He’s completely infatuated with you.”

Previously, Liao Tingyan had scoffed at these words. To others, Sima Jiao might seem crazy, but to her, this man was always rational, even arranging his death meticulously. How could such a person be “infatuated”? But now, seeing his gaze upon her, Liao Tingyan suddenly understood.

—He truly was enamored with her.

Her time with Sima Jiao hadn’t been that much, and if one were to call it a romance, it wasn’t like ordinary people’s romances. It had seemed to develop naturally, perhaps lacking some of the passion young couples experience during moments of emotional intensity. Liao Tingyan had rarely felt shy back then because Sima Jiao had made everything seem so natural.

Furthermore, Sima Jiao had been too clever and perceptive then. He could detect her every emotion, and anything that might make her feel awkward or uncomfortable, he would deftly dispel. He was like a hunter skilled at creating a safe space, waiting for his prey to enter willingly, and then keeping them captive.

But now, Sima Jiao had forgotten all that. Blood that didn’t cause him pain now flowed through his body. He didn’t remember the heavy chains of centuries, didn’t remember how much bloodshed the surname Sima had brought him. In the sixteen years of memories he recalled, she occupied a special part.

He couldn’t so skillfully present an “everything under control” demeanor to her and would gaze at her with such eyes—the eyes of someone looking at their beloved.

For this lover across lifetimes, Liao Tingyan felt an unprecedented hint of shyness.

She turned her head slightly, looking toward the blue sky. Sima Jiao walked over and sat beside her, one hand propped in the water, looking down at her intently, somewhat unreasonably occupying most of Liao Tingyan’s field of vision.

Liao Tingyan: “…What are you doing?”

Sima Jiao didn’t speak. He smiled the kind of cunning smile of a young man and flicked two drops of water onto her face. Liao Tingyan instinctively closed her eyes and felt a finger touch her cheek, tracing the path of the falling water droplets.

Childish. Liao Tingyan said in her heart, suddenly splashing a handful of water onto Sima Jiao’s face. Then, with agility completely inconsistent with her usual laziness, she darted up to the shore, avoiding Sima Jiao’s potential counterattack.

She stood on a large rock by the shore, laughing.

Sima Jiao sat in the water, casually wiping the water from his face with one hand, pointing at her and mocking with a raised lip: “Childish.”

Liao Tingyan: “…”

You’re just a little Emperor, and you call me childish?!

She silently returned to the water, whereupon Sima Jiao immediately splashed a large sheet of water at her, drenching her completely.

Liao Tingyan: “???” What the hell? I knew this guy was no good.

Sima Jiao propped himself up in the water, laughing loudly: “Hahahahahahaha!”

Life at the Summer Palace was very leisurely. After those painful days, Liao Tingyan wasn’t melancholic anymore; she just lounged around every day. She didn’t want to admit that Sima Jiao had learned bad habits from her. In the past, he would occasionally lounge like her, but now sometimes he lounged even more thoroughly than she did. This was probably self-liberation after putting down his burdens.

However, as an imperial dog, his days couldn’t remain so leisurely and peaceful forever.

One night, Liao Tingyan sensed something amiss and slowly awakened from her deep sleep. Without even opening her eyes, she used her divine consciousness to see strangers infiltrating various parts of the Summer Palace—they should probably be called assassins.

From her divine consciousness perspective looking down, those agile figures hidden in tree shadows appeared to her like clearly marked moving red dots on a game map, immediately apparent.

She half-propped herself up and said in Sima Jiao’s ear: “Someone’s come to assassinate you.”

She said it three times before Sima Jiao opened his eyes. Liao Tingyan, looking at his expression, suspected he hadn’t heard clearly, and added: “You’re awake. There are many people outside coming to assassinate you.”

Sima Jiao hummed in acknowledgment, hugged her, and lay back down. “This time they came after four months. They’re getting less competent.”

He fully demonstrated his familiarity with frequently encountering such situations and his disdain for the enemy forces.

Liao Tingyan saw those assassin red dots being cut down by the attendants hidden outside the palace. These attendants were Sima Jiao’s personal group of servants, usually keeping their heads low and eyes downcast, but when it came to killing, they revealed their fierce and vicious side, beating those assassins to a pulp. Thus, the slight commotion outside quickly subsided.

Liao Tingyan: At such a great opportunity, as a Demon Realm boss, I didn’t get to appear and display my divine might?

She felt a bit regretful in her heart, and closed her eyes to continue sleeping, but soon woke up again and shook Sima Jiao awake.

“Wake up, another group has come.” This time there were fewer people, but they were clearly more formidable than the previous ones.

Sima Jiao pressed his temple. “If you’re not sleeping in the middle of the night, don’t wake me up.”

Liao Tingyan: “Believe it or not, I learned this from you.”

Sima Jiao pressed her back down. “It’s fine, don’t worry about those things.”

Liao Tingyan couldn’t sleep. She kept her divine consciousness active, watching the live situation, and discovered one particularly formidable assassin who had already breached the defense line and was heading toward… hmm, the palace where the black snake was.

This time when they came to the Summer Palace, they had brought the black snake along. After all, in His Majesty’s heart, the black snake was now the fruit of their love. Pfft, just thinking about it made her want to laugh.

Liao Tingyan: “Ah, an assassin is heading toward Sisi.”

Sima Jiao sat up. With an expressionless face, he got out of bed, not even wearing shoes, yanked a sword from the wall with a clang, kicked open the door, and went out.

Liao Tingyan: “…Wait?”

Don’t you know your son is a “demon”? Why are you rushing over there? Liao Tingyan quickly got up and followed. She wasn’t worried about the black snake; she was afraid Sima Jiao would be frightened by the scene of his son suddenly transforming into a giant black snake. If he got scared by that, would she have to imitate Bai Suzhen and steal immortal herbs?

That assassin was indeed very formidable, formidable in the realm of ordinary mortals. But when facing a giant black snake, there was nothing to be done except harbor resentment in the underworld.

When Sima Jiao arrived, he saw a giant black snake opening its bloody maw, making an “awu” sound as it bit the sword-wielding assassin. The black snake hadn’t intended to eat the person; it was just a habit to bite things. But being startled by Sima Jiao’s sudden appearance, it directly swallowed the person in its mouth.

Black Snake: “Urgh—”

It only spat out the knife the assassin had been holding.

Sima Jiao looked at the black snake.

The black snake twisted its body, sensing that its master didn’t want to see it in snake form, so it obediently transformed back into the black-haired little boy, sitting on the edge of the bed swinging his legs.

Sima Jiao, having witnessed this transformation with his own eyes: “…”

Liao Tingyan, who had rushed over, also saw this scene and couldn’t help covering her face.

Sima Jiao turned his head to glance at her, his expression slightly complex. Liao Tingyan suddenly connected with his train of thought in a flash of insight, understanding what he was thinking, and quickly answered: “I’m not a snake demon!”

Sima Jiao looked at her waist, thinking to himself, she’s definitely a snake demon, then said: “You don’t need to explain this to me. I don’t mind.”

Liao Tingyan: “…” Damn it, I mind!

Sima Jiao pressed his temple again, pointing at his fake son. “Why does he eat all sorts of random things? Didn’t you teach him that garbage can’t be eaten?”

Liao Tingyan: “You were always the one teaching him!” You even used the big black snake as a garbage can, making him dispose of trash! Wake up!

Sima Jiao: “When I wasn’t around, you as his mother didn’t teach him?”

Liao Tingyan: “…I have nothing to say.” (Expletive)

Somehow the atmosphere had suddenly turned into a family child-rearing discussion, with the black snake resembling a foolish child witnessing their parents arguing, not knowing what to do.

Sima Jiao: “Forget it, I wasn’t blaming you.”

Liao Tingyan: “You have the nerve to blame me.”

Sima Jiao possessed the wisdom most men lack, knowing when to stop arguing with his wife to prevent the conflict from escalating. He targeted the innocent son instead. “Spit out what you just ate, and don’t eat randomly in the future.”

Black Snake: “Hiss hiss—” So wrong.

Sima Jiao: “Why can’t my son speak yet? Is there something wrong with his brain?”

Liao Tingyan: “…” You’re asking me? I don’t even know how you created him. If there’s something wrong, it’s your issue.

Noticing Noble Consort Liao’s subtle expression, Sima Jiao waved his hand again: “Never mind, I’m not criticizing you. After all, he’s our child. If he can’t speak, so be it.”

Liao Tingyan looked at him with a complex expression, feeling she probably didn’t need to say anything. This person could handle this family drama all by himself. He created the problems and then solved them himself.

The two returned to sleep. Sima Jiao suddenly pinched her waist. “Can you turn into a snake? Show me?”

Liao Tingyan: “I can’t.”

Sima Jiao: “You’ve been injured, so you can’t return to your original form?” He reasonably deduced.

Liao Tingyan: “Because I’m not a snake demon.” She gave an even more reasonable answer.

Sima Jiao: “Are you still angry about what happened earlier? You’re not even talking properly.”

Liao Tingyan: “…” It seemed this person couldn’t accept the truth.

She took a breath. “Fine, watch this.”

Before Sima Jiao’s eyes, she transformed into a sleek, shiny otter, then said with a straight face: “See? This is my true form—an otter.”

Sima Jiao fell into deep thought. Under what circumstances could an otter demon give birth to a giant snake demon?

He picked up his otter Noble Consort. “I feel… this form is extremely familiar. I think I’ve seen you like this before.”

As he spoke, some images did appear in his mind—scenes of him carrying the otter in his arms, holding the otter, and rubbing its belly.

Sima Jiao firmly believed now. “So you’re an otter demon.”

Liao Tingyan: “…” So regretful. I shouldn’t have taken him to soak in water; his brain has been waterlogged.