“I’m planning to leave the day after tomorrow,” he announced. “I’ll go with Ji Ya to the Golden Jade Chamber of Commerce headquarters. What about you, Cai Lian? Xian’er?”
Yi Xian’er propped her chin on her hands, elbows resting on the table, a gentle smile playing on her lips as she gazed at Yan Zhen. “I’ve given myself a month’s vacation. Plenty of time to spare.”
Her stare made Yan Zhen a touch bashful. “Shadow Moon Kingdom’s rule has only just stabilized. Don’t you need to stay and hold things down?”
“I culled a batch of troublemakers before I left. No one will dare stir up problems anytime soon.”
“…”
Don’t say terrifying things like that with such a sweet smile! Just how big was that “batch,” anyway?
Yan Zhen broke out in a cold sweat inwardly.
Still, the Shadow Moon Kingdom had always been a chaotic mess, more akin to underworld turf wars than proper governance. It took iron-fisted methods to straighten it out.
As a reincarnator, Yi Xian’er knew exactly what she was doing. He didn’t need to worry about it.
Steadying himself, he turned to his Snake Snake Wife. “And you, Cai Lian? Coming along?”
Cai Lian sat bolt upright beside him, arms crossed, her expression impassive. “This Sovereign would naturally prefer to return to the City of Water. But Yan’er insists on finding her father emperor.”
Yan Zhen paused. “Uh, didn’t you tell Master earlier that you’d stick with me?”
The Sovereign Lady shot her husband a glance. “Which is why I said it was Yan’er’s idea. Got a problem with that?”
“Oh, no problem at all. Yan’er’s such a good girl.”
“Hmph!”
Yan Zhen stared at his wife’s belly for a good long while, but the little one inside stayed silent, offering no contradiction. Could she really mean it?
Little did he know, Cai Lian had just taken a Fetus-Protecting Pill and thoroughly pacified the little princess within. She could invoke her daughter’s name as an excuse with zero fear of pushback.
“Then it’s settled.”
As he spoke, Yan Zhen noticed the loli dragon girl across from him shoot up her tiny hand like a shot.
“Long Ying, got a question?”
The loli dragon girl pouted, clearly displeased. “What about me, Yan Zhen Zhen? Why didn’t you ask my opinion?”
Yan Zhen was at a loss for words. “All right then, Long Ying—what’s your opinion?”
The loli dragon girl declared proudly, “I have no opinion. Wherever Yan Zhen Zhen goes, I go.”
If you had nothing to say, why pipe up in the first place!
Yan Zhen couldn’t shake the feeling that the girl wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed. A genuine little loli? Sure, that’d be fine. But she was a reincarnator.
Come to think of it, Long Ying still believed her identity as one hadn’t been exposed.
He’d have to limit Yan’er’s contact with her going forward. Stupidity was contagious, after all.
“Ahem. Anyway, we’ll stick around one more day tomorrow, then head out the day after. Sound good, Ji Ya?”
Ji Ya smiled warmly. “Whatever Little Brother Yan Zhen says. Sister’s free anytime~”
Was there a double meaning in that?
Cai Lian and Yi Xian’er both shot the vixen sister suspicious looks. Ji Ya sat primly, utterly unperturbed.
Yi Xian’er withdrew her gaze and said softly, “Why not leave tomorrow?”
Cai Lian snorted coldly. “Naturally, because someone wants to spend an extra day with his old flame. The taste of master and disciple together is pretty good, isn’t it?”
—Hey, hey, watch how you talk! Am I that kind of guy? I’m not!
Yan Zhen said solemnly, “Palace Lord Yun wants me to take a nominal position as Second Palace Lord on Second Peak, so I’ll stay one more day and leave at noon the day after tomorrow.”
Ji Ya wore a playful smile. “Palace Lord Yun is the Grand Palace Lord, and she’s making you, Little Brother Yan Zhen, the Second Palace Lord? Doesn’t that mean she’s going to be above you?”
—Huh? You can interpret it like that?
Yan Zhen froze.
“It’s not like that at all. It’s just a title. All the power and duties rest with Wenqing. But Cloud Heaven Palace rules state that the Palace Lord and Young Sect Master can’t be the same person, so this is just a minor adjustment.”
Cai Lian and Yi Xian’er, however, didn’t see it that way. They stared straight at him, and Yi Xian’er said bluntly, “Yan Zhen, aren’t you already holding a prince’s title in Shadow Moon Kingdom?”
Yan Zhen scratched his head. “There’s no need for that, is there? I haven’t even been to Shadow Moon Kingdom.”
Yi Xian’er curved her lips upward. “Even a marriage alliance can earn you the title of prince. Consider it your contribution to peace and friendship between Garo Kingdom and Shadow Moon Kingdom.”
Ah, this…
Before Yan Zhen could respond, Cai Lian bristled. “If you want a marriage alliance, go find someone from the Garo Royal Family. Don’t set your sights on This Queen’s man!”
Yi Xian’er kept her eyes fixed on Yan Zhen, never once looking away. “Maintaining national stability is everyone’s duty. It doesn’t matter if you’re from the royal family or not. Besides, with Yan Zhen’s current strength—and our help—becoming the Garo Country Lord wouldn’t be difficult at all.”
—Hey, hey, miss, rein in those bold ideas of yours.
Yan Zhen broke out in a light sweat. As the protagonist, he was meant to follow the path of leveling up and slaying monsters, not vying for dynastic power. He had zero interest in becoming a country lord.
Sure, a harem of three thousand beauties was every man’s dream, but he wasn’t exactly hurting for company right now. The Myriad Snake Queen of the City of Water, the Thousand Fiend Queen of Shadow Moon Kingdom, the Golden Jade Beauty of Sunward Kingdom, the Cloud Heaven Sword Immortal and her disciple from Garo Kingdom… and so on. They were all feathers already ruffled in his nest.
“Let’s not talk about that.” Yan Zhen changed the subject, turning to his Snake Snake Wife. “Cai Lian, have you made up with Yun Xiu?”
Cai Lian turned her face away. “This Queen was never on good terms with her in the first place. What is there to make up?”
Still not? Yan Zhen glanced at Yi Xian’er, who replied indifferently, “It has nothing to do with me. It’s mainly Myriad Snake who’s still quarreling with her.”
The Xian’er Queen never missed a chance to jab at her archrival.
Yan Zhen had no choice but to shoot an inquiring look at Big Sister Ji Ya.
Ji Ya explained, “Palace Lord Yun and Miss Wenqing already apologized to us in front of Master Chen Xi. She Ji Sister has forgiven her too, so it’s all water under the bridge now. From here on out, we’re all good sisters. You can relax, Little Brother Yan Zhen.”
Just as I thought… Yan Zhen’s gaze returned to his Snake Snake Wife at his side. “Thank you, Cai Lian~”
Cai Lian huffed again, but Yan Zhen didn’t mind. “Thank you all too, Xian’er, Big Sister Ji Ya. I-I know I’m being greedy, but I really don’t want to let any of you down.”
“I think it’s wonderful.” Yi Xian’er looped her arm through Yan Zhen’s and snuggled close to him. “The more, the merrier.”
Ji Ya covered her mouth and giggled. “Little Sister Xian’er is spot on. Marry a good husband and end up with a bunch of good sisters into the bargain—what could be better?~”
Cai Lian shot them an irritated glare. Not your husband, of course it’s easy for you to say!
In her previous life, she’d had only Zi Ji as a sister, and Zi Ji had been so understanding and graceful—a true lady. Getting along with her had been effortless, letting Cai Lian set aside her pride for harmony, even sharing Yan Zhen in bed.
But what were these women now? A bunch of she-demons and goblins?
The thought of having to play sisters with them from now on filled Cai Lian with annoyance, and she missed Zi Ji all the more.
She’d meant to head to the academy to find her, but hadn’t found the time.
Who knew how many other women had been reborn? If they were all setting their sights on her husband, things would be a disaster.
Cai Lian fretted deeply, but in the end, she said nothing—just huffed a couple of times by way of protest.
Yan Zhen scratched his head, his heart a mix of shyness and delight.
“By the way, Yan Zhen, come sleep in my room tonight.” Yi Xian’er said suddenly. “I’m the only one living alone.”
“This…”
Yan Zhen hesitated.
Cai Lian sneered. “She’s got her master-disciple duo to serve her. What does she need a Killing Woman like you for—one she can only look at but not touch?”
Yi Xian’er remained utterly calm. “Then I’ll join in too. Call it gathering experience.”
Cai Lian paused, her blow landing on cotton. “Don’t you have even a shred of shame, you woman?”
Yi Xian’er nuzzled Yan Zhen’s cheek like a docile little kitten. “All my heart is on him now, shame included.”
