In the master bedroom, Yan Zhen held Cailian’s fair, delicate hand in one of his while wrapping the other around her alluring, serpentine waist. He guided her to the bedside and helped her sit down carefully before crouching in front of her.
“Lift your foot.”
A blush crept across Cailian’s face, but she obediently followed her husband’s instructions, raising her foot along with his gentle pull.
Yan Zhen gripped Cailian Wife’s ankle with his left hand and slipped off her red-soled white-flower high heels with his right, revealing a flawless jade foot that looked like a master sculptor’s artwork.
It was impeccably clean, without a speck of dust. Her five toes curled slightly, their nails gleaming with a subtle sheen like clear nail polish, showing a healthy pink hue underneath.
A faint fragrance wafted from it, stirring Yan Zhen’s hormones.
Not all beauties smelled sweet from head to toe, but those in the Mystic Ancestor Realm certainly did.
Mystic Ancestor experts underwent a baptism from the power of heaven and earth—a process akin to supreme marrow cleansing that expelled impurities from the body, cleared stray thoughts from the divine soul, and purified mystic power, leaving them flawless as glittering crystal.
He wanted to plant a kiss on it, but that felt a bit too perverse. Yan Zhen suppressed the odd impulse, set Cailian Wife’s jade foot down, and removed her other shoe the same way.
Standing up, he gazed at his poised and coldly alluring pregnant wife and said gently, “Lie down quickly. I’ll stay right here and keep watch.”
Just as he turned to leave, something tugged at his clothes.
“Cailian?”
She lowered her head and murmured, “Th-This Sovereign has something to say to you.”
“What is it?”
“Sit down first.”
Cailian gave Yan Zhen a light tug, and he sat beside her, those big, watery eyes fixed on her.
Yet after a long wait, Cailian still didn’t speak. She just sat there, avoiding his gaze.
“Cailian? Didn’t you have something to say?”
“…This Sovereign is brewing it.”
What could possibly need brewing? Yan Zhen’s heart thudded uneasily.
Cailian sneaked a glance at her husband, then spoke in a wistful tone. “How far have you gone with that killing woman?”
Yan Zhen’s expression froze as cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
It was a tricky question to answer. Though they’d had zero-distance intimate contact, it wasn’t the traditional kind—it was a different sort of “mutual rear entry.” She’d used her little snake, and he’d used his massive dragon.
If he had to describe it—
“We’re just very close friends.”
“Friends?”
Even as a seasoned wife—now pregnant for the second time—Cailian wasn’t like Ji Ya, that smooth-talking veteran seductress who’d catch the double meaning.
“Really just friends? She told This Sovereign before that you two had been intimate!”
“Xian’er has a fiend body. How could anything happen between us? I’d freeze into an icicle.”
“Hmph, even rubbing counts!”
“No rubbing, no rubbing at all.”
Yan Zhen waved his hands frantically, trying to soothe Cailian Wife’s emotions. After all, pregnancy made her moods fluctuate easily—he didn’t want her getting all depressed on him.
But Cailian pressed on relentlessly, her voice icy. “So you did kiss, then?”
Yan Zhen had his answer ready and explained proactively. “We did kiss, but back in the Demonic Dragon Mountain Range, I had no idea I’d end up with you, Cailian… It was just that one time. Afterward, Xian’er left without a word, and we’ve only just reunited.”
Of course Cailian knew all that. She huffed arrogantly, thought for a moment, and asked, “What about Yun Xiu and Jiuyou? Are they pregnant too?”
Yan Zhen blinked in surprise. “Probably not? If Yun Xiu were, she’d have told me for sure, and there’d be some stir at Cloud Heaven Palace. As for Jiuyou, she seems to have a constitution that can’t conceive.”
After all, Jiuyou was the evil consort’s secondary body. Such bodies lacked reproductive capability unless one used something like the Yu Family’s Technique Refining Art for artificial bloodline extraction and crafting technique-refined embryos.
“Right now, it’s just you and Zi Ji.” Yan Zhen eyed Snake Snake Wife’s expression, tentatively reaching out to gently stroke her slightly rounded belly. “Zi Ji’s pregnancy was to give Ling’er a safe haven, using a secret art to make it happen—and another to delay the birth so it wouldn’t be exposed… You can rest easy, Cailian. Yan’er will definitely be the first to arrive.”
—As if she cared about that.
Her husband’s gentle caress on her pregnant belly filled her with warmth and tenderness, stirring a reaction in her sensitive body. Her legs instinctively pressed together, her arms tightening around her chest, and that proud face—edged with wildness and allure—gradually flushed pink.
—He’ll notice if this keeps up.
But Sovereign Lady couldn’t bear to make Yan Zhen let go. After all, she’d gone to such lengths precisely for this.
After a moment’s thought, she said, “As long as you haven’t forgotten your promise. Even if This Sovereign was your wife in a past life, if you ever betray us mother and daughter, hmph!”
As soon as the words left her mouth, sure enough, Yan Zhen’s other hand reached over, wrapping around her serpentine waist. He cooed placatingly, “Don’t say things like that. What if Yan’er hears? She’d be heartbroken. I said I’d propose to the City of Water, but not yet. I need to get stronger first before I have the confidence to marry you properly.”
Cailian turned her head away, still feigning petulance.
Yan Zhen rested his chin on Wife Lady’s shoulder, half-coaxing, half-consoling. “Don’t be mad, Cailian—Sovereign Lady. I know carrying Yan’er is tough on you. Tell me if there’s anything you need; I’ll do my best to help. Don’t shoulder everything alone, okay?”
Delight bloomed in Cailian’s heart at her husband’s soft words, her ears practically melting. Yet she twisted away slightly, as if repulsed by him.
“Don’t touch This Sovereign.”
“Cailian~” Yan Zhen nuzzled Snake Snake Wife’s cheek, his voice tender. “How about I take you to see the stars?”
Sovereign Lady, who’d been anticipating his next move, felt a spark of annoyance at the suggestion and snapped coldly, “No!”
“Come on. Not the stars in the sky—the ones in the Fire Refining Starry Sky.”
Fire Refining Starry Sky? The mention conjured memories of being caught under Master Chen Xi’s watchful eye, where rampaging Yan Zhen had ravished her, Jiuyou, and Yun Xiu one after another until they were a mess. Her body heated up instantly, her breathing quickening.
But she steadied herself. Since she was here as the disciple’s daughter-in-law, she should at least pay respects to Master Chen Xi.
“Very well. This Sovereign will go meet Master Chen Xi.”
“No, no—don’t disturb Master. We’ll sneak off to see the stars.”
Sneak… Cailian blinked, catching on with a flutter in her chest.
“Is that okay? If Master Chen Xi finds out—”
Yan Zhen chuckled. “It’s just a private date spot. Even if Master notices, she won’t blame us.”
“St-Still, better not.”
“Let’s go.”
Without waiting for Cailian Wife’s agreement, Yan Zhen scooped her lithe, graceful figure into a princess carry. She let out a startled cry and hurriedly looped her arms around his neck.
“What are you doing? Put This Sovereign down!”
She could easily shake free with a pulse of power, her arms clung tightly, her face full of budding desire—yet Sovereign Lady delivered the line with feigned reluctance.
