It was Ji Ya who took pity on Little Brother Yan Zhen and stepped in to bail him out. She leaned close to Zi Xunyi’s ear and explained the situation with the Yu Family.
After hearing it all, Zi Xunyi’s expression grew even stranger. Though she had reviewed the memories of his previous life and could accept Yan Zhen’s various confidantes, the idea that he had taken in an entire family like this was just too outrageous.
The God Maiden wife wore a look of disdain.
“I don’t believe the elders of the Yu Family would give in so easily… Did you deliberately seduce an innocent woman from a good family?”
Yan Zhen shrank into a little ball.
“I-I didn’t! It just… happened somehow.”
“You’re not exactly pure-minded yourself.”
“Ahem.”
Yan Zhen could feel his image in Zi Ji’s eyes plummeting from perfect husband to lecherous husband.
“What’s done is done, so I won’t say anything more. But no more of this in the future—too many people aren’t good, all things considered.”
“Exactly, Yan Zhen Zhen. No more slip-ups from now on, okay?”
At her side, Long Ying chimed in, acting all worldly-wise beyond her years.
Seeing the pink-haired loli acting so high and mighty, Yan Zhen grabbed her and angrily ruffled the little dragon’s hair.
Cai Lian quickly snatched Long Ying back, her heart aching for her youngest little sister.
“You rascal, don’t bully Long Ying.”
Zi Ji also fixed him with a stern glare from her beautiful eyes.
“We’ll be keeping an eye on you from now on. If you go chasing after anyone you shouldn’t, we won’t let it slide.”
Feeling he’d wronged them, Yan Zhen could only meekly murmur his agreement.
The women exchanged glances at his flustered state, then all covered their mouths and burst into laughter.
Seeing everyone still standing, Yan Zhen used his spiritual power to conjure a curved booth seat, shaped like a donut with a bite taken out of it, complete with a table in the center.
He gestured for them to sit, then brought out the snacks and treats he’d originally prepared for Long Ying and Yan’er. They ate and chatted as they settled in.
Yan Zhen sat in the middle, with Cai Lian, Yan Yan, Long Ying, and Ji Ya to his left, and Zi Xunyi, Yi Xian’er, and Jiu Youyue to his right.
Zi Xunyi took the initiative to ask, “By the way, Yan Zhen, how are Yun Xiu and Huangfu Wenqing doing?”
Yan Zhen explained, “They went to Evergreen Continent to obtain the Sword Saint Inheritance. They’re probably at the Evergreen Holy Land right now. I’ll head there once we get back to check on them.”
“Have the mentor and disciple come clean with each other?”
“Yeah.”
Zi Xunyi said wistfully, “A mother-daughter pair who are also mentor and disciple… What did Master Chen Xi say?”
Her words plunged the group into silence.
Only Yan Yan spoke up loudly. “Master Chen Xi did naughty things with Father Emperor too.”
Cai Lian immediately clamped a hand over her foolish daughter’s mouth. The other sisters all looked distinctly uncomfortable, and Yan Zhen’s face turned bright red.
Seeing this, Zi Xunyi let out a soft sigh. “Master Chen Xi is a reincarnator too, isn’t she? I could tell ages ago that she doted on Yan Zhen way too much—beyond just mentor and disciple, even beyond mother and son. It’s like they’re each other’s spiritual anchor, inseparable no matter what.”
Yan Zhen scratched his head. “Sorry for keeping it from you all for so long. I was afraid you wouldn’t be able to accept it.”
“What’s to accept or not? No matter what, Master Chen Xi is family to us now. And once you reach the Emperor Realm, Yan Zhen, no one will dare gossip anyway.”
Even so, Zi Xunyi didn’t look entirely pleased. Clearly, she felt she’d been completely overshadowed in Yan Zhen’s heart by Master Chen Xi, which left her feeling dejected.
“Zi Ji, both Master and all of you are equally important to me.” Yan Zhen pulled his God Maiden wife’s slender waist into his embrace. “I don’t want to let any of you down.”
“I understand.” Zi Xunyi lowered her head. “I’m just thinking… if only we’d met sooner. I never would have let you get involved with so many other girls.”
“Uh…”
“Even a powerhouse like Father only has one wife and one concubine~”
“…”
“Never mind, I won’t harp on it. This might actually be for the best. With Master Chen Xi around, all us sisters should get along even better.”
“You’re the best, Zi Ji.”
Deeply moved, Yan Zhen didn’t care that his daughter was there and planted a kiss on Zi Xunyi’s cheek. She immediately flushed with shyness and glanced at the others, only to catch loaded looks from each of them—as if saying “Well played,” like she’d deliberately tricked him into the kiss.
Thick-skinned as ever, Yan Zhen looked around with a grin, as if asking, “Anyone else want a kiss?”
Sadly, even the boldest demoness wouldn’t dare flirt shamelessly in front of the younger generation.
Once they’d composed themselves a bit, they changed the subject.
“Little Brother Yan Zhen, how are things going with your marriage talks to little sister Zi Ji?”
“We haven’t even formally started yet.” Yan Zhen shook his head. “It won’t be that smooth, probably. We’ll have to stay here in the Heavenly God Clan for a while.”
Cai Lian frowned at once. “No issues, I hope?”
“Don’t worry, I’ll handle it.” Yan Zhen smiled. “When we head back, I’ll definitely bring Zi Ji with us—oh, right, Zi Ji, I almost forgot something else for you.”
Zi Xunyi perked up. “What is it? A gift?”
“See for yourself.”
Yan Zhen took a small purple gold box from his storage ring and handed it to Zi Xunyi. Her heart stirred as she accepted it. Her gaze subtly swept over the sisters’ left ring fingers, and anticipation filled her. “Can I open it now?”
With Yan Zhen’s nod, Zi Xunyi promptly opened the purple gold box.
A beam of purple gold light flew out, circling above her head a few times before descending to hover in front of her.
It was a purple gold ring, engraved with a blooming violet—beautiful and noble.
Though only Tier 5 in quality, to Zi Xunyi it was a priceless treasure.
“This is for me?”
Yan Zhen nodded. “Zi Ji, will you marry me?”
Hearing this, Zi Xunyi’s heart pounded wildly. In his previous life, Yan Zhen had never said such words to her. Their union had been arranged—half-forced by her.
“O-Of course… I’m willing.”
“Then put it on.” Yan Zhen grinned. “Once you do, you’re mine.”
Zi Xunyi softly assented, slipped the purple gold ring onto her ring finger, and the violet blazed with dazzling light.
“Are the rings on everyone’s fingers from the same thing?”
At that, the women all displayed theirs.
Cai Lian’s Seven-Colored Snake Ring, Jiu Youyue’s Crescent Moon Ring, Yi Xian’er’s Black Peacock Ring, and Ji Ya’s Peony Ring.
“I have one too!”
Long Ying said as she pulled hers from her bosom—not worn on her finger, but dangling as a pendant at her chest.
Yan Yan blinked and turned to Yan Zhen. “Father Emperor, what about mine? Don’t I get one?”
Yan Zhen broke out in a light sweat. “This is a gift for grown women, Yan’er. You’re still too young. When you grow up, some boy will give you one.”
“I’ve already grown up!” Yan Yan protested. “Fine, whatever. I couldn’t wear it anyway. More importantly, Purple Aunt, what about Ling’er? I miss her.”
Zi Xunyi smiled warmly. “Ling’er’s still in my belly, but she should be waking up around now—hmm?”
She suddenly looked down and touched her still-flat abdomen, which showed no signs of pregnancy yet. “Ling’er, are you awake?”
“Mother Concubine.” Yan Lingji’s voice rang out—or more precisely, her spiritual fluctuations spread. “Why do I feel like I heard Big Sis Yan Yan talking?”
