Compared to the mighty Heavenly God Clan and Dragon God Clan, the Snake God Clan was fading day by day. And there was one secret unknown to most:
The clan leader, the true pillar of the clan, was secretly nursing severe wounds with little time left. Her so-called seclusion was nothing more than clinging desperately to life.
Once the clan leader passed away, the Snake God Clan would teeter on the brink of collapse. They would likely have to seal off their island for a full century in the truest sense, waiting until the Snake God Maiden came of age and could shoulder the clan’s burdens before emerging once more.
That was why, after hearing the Snake God Maiden’s words, both the Snake God Clan’s leader and the Flower Snake Saint Lord resolved to place their bets on Yan Zhen.
One Cai Lian wasn’t enough. After all, she hadn’t been raised by the Snake God Clan herself and thus felt little true loyalty to them. Adding their precious Snake God Maiden to the mix was like going all-in at the gambling table.
Cai Lian understood the Snake God Clan’s plight all too well. She wanted to help—and at the same time, she hoped her reticent little sister Qing’er might finally fulfill her heart’s desire.
It should have been a perfect arrangement for everyone involved. But the Flower Snake Saint Lord had been too hasty. Yan Zhen had barely arrived when she demanded he marry the Snake God Maiden as the price for their alliance.
Such a naked exchange of interests had backfired, breeding resentment in him instead. Now even Cai Lian couldn’t sway him. In the end, she had no choice but to lay everything bare.
The best communication was always brutal honesty, good words or ill.
Yan Zhen’s expression softened slightly, though his lingering petulance had yet to fully fade.
“I’ve already told you, I don’t like this.”
Cai Lian let out a soft sigh.
“If that’s how you feel, then so be it. Poor little sister Qing’er—reborn only to spend her life arranging everything for a certain someone, ready to offer up herself and her entire clan, only to be turned down flat. A forced melon isn’t sweet, after all. She simply lacks the fortune for it.”
“. . . Hey, now wait a minute—why does it sound like I’m the bad guy here?”
“You’re overthinking it. This Lord was merely sighing over the matter.”
Yan Zhen shot a sidelong glance at his Snake Snake Wife, eyeing her as though she were the one dooming herself to wear the green hat.
Jiu Youyue couldn’t stifle a laugh, covering her mouth as she hurried to soothe him.
“If Little Zhen Zhen doesn’t want to, then we won’t push it. Your sisters can take good care of you just fine, can’t we? Here, let me give you another kiss. All right?”
Hearing this, Yan Zhen turned his sidelong glare on the demoness instead, grumbling in dissatisfaction.
“Don’t treat me like a child.”
Jiu Youyue batted her lovely eyes.
“But isn’t Little Zhen Zhen just a little child? You were so adorable back then. And I’ve got the recording right here~”
With that, she fished the Reflecting Light Mirror from her storage ring and waved it teasingly.
Yan Zhen froze for a moment before the memory hit him—he’d been regressed to childhood right in front of everyone by his Saint Lord Master. His handsome face flushed crimson in an instant, shame and fury surging through him.
“Who told you to record that? Delete it right now!”
Jiu Youyue hastily tucked the Reflecting Light Mirror away.
“No way! I never got to see Little Zhen Zhen as a child. Now I have to watch it every single day—the cuter it gets, the more I fall for it. Ah, and you’re cute even now.”
She planted a smacking kiss on his cheek. The demoness gazed at him intently, her sly, beautiful eyes brimming with endless affection.
Yan Zhen’s mood gradually settled. He drew the demoness into his arms, their lips meeting in a deep exchange of passion. When they parted at last, he turned wordlessly to Cai Lian on his other side, fixing Wife Lady with a steady look.
Cai Lian twisted her face away, dodging her husband’s gaze. But Yan Zhen’s mischievous little hands wouldn’t let up, teasing her relentlessly until she yielded with a kiss of her own. Her blazing eyes pleaded silently for his mercy.
Yan Zhen grew solemn.
“I’m already more than satisfied with all of you. There’s no need to go finding other women for me.”
Cai Lian fell quiet, a warm glow blooming in her heart.
Jiu Youyue leaned in for one more peck on his cheek, her voice a soft chuckle.
“Little Zhen Zhen is the best~”
Yan Zhen huffed in protest.
“I told you, don’t treat me like a child—or I’ll spank your bottom, demoness!”
Jiu Youyue blinked innocently, a vivid image flashing through her mind: herself draped over Yan Zhen’s lap as he hiked up her skirt, tugged down her intimate pants, and brought his palm down twice on her pale, plump rear—leaving two vivid handprints.
A shiver ran through her delicate frame, a flicker of anticipation gleaming in her eyes. She said it on purpose.
“Even Little Zhen Zhen when he’s mad is cute~ Want big sister to dote on you some more?”
Yan Zhen snorted.
“If we were back on Holy Son Peak, you wouldn’t be leaving the bed by tomorrow.”
“Oh dear, how scary~”
“. . .”
Yan Zhen ground his teeth in frustration before lunging at the demoness. He buried his face in her bountiful bosom, nuzzling wildly until her pretty face burned red and she dissolved into helpless laughter.
“So ticklish! Little Zhen Zhen, I-I was wrong!”
After their playful tussle, the three of them headed off for a bath.
Yan Zhen lounged at the center of the pool, the demoness pressed against his back while Cai Lian nestled in front. Pinned in a delightful pincer attack, he savored every moment.
Once they had bathed and dressed, Yan Zhen announced he needed to pay his respects to the Three Beautiful Masters. With that, he made for the chambers across the way.
Meanwhile, Cai Lian set off for the Divine Maiden’s Bedroom, hoping to console her little sister Qing’er and keep her from brooding.
No sooner had she arrived than Yan Yan’s booming voice rang out from within.
“Does Aunt Qing have a crush on Father Emperor? Want me to whisper in his ear for you? Father Emperor always listens to me! Just give me that eyeball Mystic artifact that summons the big snake monsters, and I’ll make him fall head over heels for you~”
The Snake God Maiden gave an awkward laugh.
“Little Yan’er, that’s my natal mystic artifact. You can look at it, sure—but no playing. It’s far too dangerous.”
“Don’t be such a cheapskate. Just lend it to me for a bit! Doesn’t Aunt Qing want Father Emperor crazy for you?”
“Th-this. . .”
Cai Lian’s face darkened in a flash. She inwardly cursed her sister for her desperation—ready to hand over her natal mystic artifact for a man—while itching to thrash her heartless little brat of a daughter, willing to sell out her own father for a toy.
“—Yan Yan!”
The familiar cold snap made Flame Princess nearly leap three feet into the air. When Mother Concubine used her full name, it meant doom.
The Snake God Maiden’s cheeks flushed pink.
“Sister Cai Lian, Sister Jiuyou—why are you here?”
Yan Yan assumed her mother had come to drag her home and flashed an innocent smile.
“Mother Concubine, it’s barely dusk. I was just about to head back.”
Cai Lian saw right through her.
“Looks to me like your bottom’s itching for a spanking.”
Flame Princess’s face tightened. She clapped her little hands over her rear.
“Father Emperor said we have to be patient with kids—no, no random violence! Spankings are off-limits too!”
“Enough nonsense. Apologize to your Aunt Qing this instant.”
“Mm? Oh.”
Cowed by her mother’s iron rule, Yan Yan meekly confessed her wrong. She admitted she shouldn’t have coveted Aunt Qing’s treasure or tried to trick her with Father Emperor.
The Snake God Maiden offered a gentle smile.
“A child’s words are carefree—I didn’t take them to heart. No need to scold her further, Sister Cai Lian.”
Cai Lian’s lips twitched. In her mind, that hesitation had given it all away. Even a desperate doctor wouldn’t swallow a child’s lies wholesale. Sigh~
“Yan’er, go find your Aunt Jiuyou. Your Aunt Qing and I need to talk.”
Flame Princess blinked her big, sparkling eyes.
“Are you going to teach Aunt Qing how to win over Father Emperor, Mother Concubine? I wanna hear too!”
With that, she hugged one of her mother’s shapely legs and rubbed against it affectionately.
Cai Lian sighed in defeat and let her stay.
The Snake God Maiden brewed a cup of tea for the mother and daughter pair, then smiled warmly.
“What does Sister Cai Lian want to say to Qing’er?”
