From the earlier exchange, it was clear that Master Chen Xi was angry, and this realization made all the women uneasy.
As the duly recognized disciple’s daughter-in-law, Cai Lian was the first to step forward and bow.
“Greetings, Master Chen Xi.”
Seeing this, the other women followed her lead in short order.
“Greetings, Master Chen Xi.”
Master Chen Xi made no reply. Her beautiful eyes, like blue-glazed crystal, swept over the group before she spoke coolly.
“Zhen’er collapsed onto the bed in exhaustion and fell into a deep sleep, yet instead of tending to him, all of you were chattering noisily at his bedside. Is that any way to behave? Especially you, Cai Lian. As Zhen’er’s wife, you should be the first to consider his well-being. How could you carry on like this?”
Cai Lian felt a flush of shame and bowed her head.
“This concubine knows her error.”
“And you, Yun Xiu.” Master Chen Xi spared her no mercy. “Bickering over your disciple’s betrothed right in front of her—do you think that’s appropriate?”
Yun Xiu’s cheeks burned red, and she didn’t dare respond.
“Jiuyou.”
“E-eh? Eh?” Jiu Youyue jumped in alarm and replied weakly, “Master, what have I done?”
Master Chen Xi let out a cold snort.
“You’re the one who loves stirring up chaos wherever you go—you deserve a scolding too!”
Jiu Youyue immediately shriveled up like a little ball, flashing an awkward, placating smile.
“This little lady was only trying to liven up the mood a bit.”
The remaining women gulped nervously, their tension palpable.
Ji Ya took the initiative to step forward.
“Master Chen Xi, I am Ji Ya, Little Brother Yan Zhen’s righteous older sister. I deeply apologize for disturbing your secluded cultivation.”
Yi Xian’er spoke next, her tone sincere like that of a girl who had misbehaved.
“I’m sorry, Master.”
Master Chen Xi’s expression eased slightly. She glanced left and right at them before saying,
“Zhen’er has spoken of you to This Seat… I simply hadn’t realized that, just like She Ji and Zi Ji, you are all reincarnators as well. So you shared romantic bonds with Zhen’er in your past lives—ones that never came to fruition—and after your rebirths, you took the initiative with him. Am I right?”
Even Ji Ya, who prided herself on her thick skin, felt mortified beyond words at having her affections laid bare like this by a respected elder in front of everyone.
Yi Xian’er’s lovely face turned a delicate pink as she murmured a mosquito-like assent.
“Looks like you’re all thinking along the same lines~” The demoness covered her mouth with a laugh. “I wonder, how did you all manage to win over Little Zhen Zhen? Did you follow Master’s example, playing coy by offering yourselves up directly?”
“Jiuyou!”
Yun Xiu shot her a glare.
“It was just a straightforward pursuit,” Yi Xian’er replied calmly. After all, Yan Zhen had already seen through her, so she felt no panic. “Sister Ji Ya’s methods, though—they’re masterful. I can only bow in admiration.”
At Yi Xian’er’s words, Jiu Youyue’s interest piqued even further. She flitted to Ji Ya’s side like a drifting cloud, placed both hands on her fragrant shoulders, and cooed,
“Sister Ji Ya, got any tips for pleasing Little Zhen Zhen and leaving him desperate for more? Do share with your sisters~”
Ji Ya broke out in a cold sweat, mustering an awkward yet polite smile.
“No such secrets to share. I simply treated him as my little brother like in my past life, and things progressed naturally from there, hehe.”
“Is that how it was?”
“Of course.”
“Not quite.” Yi Xian’er spoke in a meaningful tone. “She used her illness as an excuse, wheedling and coaxing Yan Zhen into dual cultivation with her. All the while insisting he bore no responsibility—fully aware of his character, that he would never truly abandon her. Hmph.”
Jiu Youyue’s eyes flew wide open in exaggerated surprise.
“Wow—that bold?”
Cai Lian, Long Ying, Yun Xiu, and Huangfu Wenqing all turned strange looks on Ji Ya.
They had heard the rough outlines of how Yan Zhen and Ji Ya had met.
Ji Ya suffered from a hidden ailment, which Yan Zhen had cured amid some rather steamy encounters that left her taking notice of him. Later, she rescued him from pursuers of Cloud Heaven Palace and spent many days in his company, gradually developing feelings for him.
Ji Ya had shared these tales herself, always framing them as a tale of “close-knit siblings” rather than outright affection.
Their shared history stirred a touch of envy in the others—especially Cai Lian, whose bond with Yan Zhen stemmed more from fateful mishaps than romantic sparks.
But this reincarnated Ji Ya, so impatient to fulfill her past-life wishes that she dove straight in with such a blunt approach?
“N-no, it’s not like that at all…”
Under their stares, Ji Ya squirmed with discomfort, as if ants were crawling all over inside her clothes. She denied it vehemently while shooting Xian’er Sister a pleading glance to leave her an escape route.
After all, Ji Ya still wanted to be the “good big sister” the others respected—like a main wife in all but name. Dying socially right here in front of everyone would be the end of her.
Yet Yi Xian’er hadn’t forgotten Ji Ya’s earlier arrogance: tying up Aunt Mu, stuffing her in the wardrobe, and forcing her to watch her and Yan Zhen’s live erotic show. Fit for a human, that?
Ji Ya had fired the first shot; now it was time for payback.
“Not exactly like you imagine. Sister Ji Ya’s scheme was brilliantly cunning beyond belief!”
Ji Ya rushed to cut her off.
“Little Sister Xian’er! Don’t—don’t say it…”
Jiu Youyue wasted no time in fanning the flames.
“Aww, Sister Ji Ya, don’t be so stingy. Let your sisters hear all about it~”
The others watched in silence as Yi Xian’er curved her lips in a faint smile and pressed on.
“Armed with her past-life memories, Sister Ji Ya claimed she possessed the power of precognitive dreams. She told Yan Zhen that in those dreams, the two of them were husband and wife, their romance sparking from a dual cultivation treatment. So he bought it hook, line, and sinker—nearly got devoured down to the bone~”
Stunned silence fell over the women. Could you really pull something like that off? Even Jiu Youyue felt impressed. She and Yun Xiu had merely seized opportunities as they arose; Ji Ya had manufactured her own!
But shameless didn’t even begin to cover it—claiming they were fated future spouses, even as she played the doting sister and he saw her as nothing more!
Once they recovered, the stunned expressions shifted to subtle disdain. So that’s the real Ji Ya (sister), huh.
“Wah…”
The barrage of contemptuous stares left Ji Ya utterly humiliated. Clutching her flushed, foxy face, she bolted behind Aunt Mu to hide.
Aunt Mu shot her own eldest miss a helpless glance. Even she had only just learned the truth: that “precognitive dream” was nothing but the young lady’s wild fantasies!
The impeccable image of her eldest miss—lively and adorable on the daily, shrewd and capable when it counted—cracked just a little. Now she seemed more like a desperately thirsty, lovesick vixen!
Master Chen Xi chuckled to herself. She hadn’t intervened to stop Yi Xian’er from exposing Ji Ya; deceiving Yan Zhen demanded some comeuppance. Though she herself had been something of an accomplice back then, ahem~
“Ji Ya, does Zhen’er know about this?”
“N-not yet… haven’t told him.”
“Then you had best explain it to him yourself. If Zhen’er gets upset, even This Seat won’t be able to help you.”
“Mm…”
With Ji Ya’s matter settled, Master Chen Xi’s gaze finally settled on Huangfu Wenqing.
