Ji Ya pondered for a moment.
“With the Second Shopkeeper and Third Shopkeeper out of the picture, the Sunward Royal Family and Divine Dream Palace will likely make their move soon. What do you think, Little Brother Yan Zhen?”
“Either tonight or tomorrow,” Yan Zhen said with absolute certainty. “They won’t give us time to set up defenses. Since gentle persuasion failed, they’ll opt for the straightforward and brutal path—a swift cut to untangle the mess. With those two families allied, their confidence is sky-high. They won’t lack the guts for it.”
Aunt Mu’s eyes brightened at his words. For the first time, she saw that her little uncle-in-law possessed real strategic acumen, just like the Eldest Miss.
He was so young, always nose-deep in cultivation, yet unlike other teenage prodigies, he grasped the bigger picture.
Ji Ya considered his words and nodded in approval.
“Little Brother Yan Zhen’s analysis is spot on. In my previous life, the Sunward Consort hosted a banquet in my honor and cornered me there. It was only thanks to Little Brother Yan Zhen that I escaped that peril. If they pull the same underhanded trick again, how should I respond, in your view, Little Brother Yan Zhen?”
Yan Zhen blinked.
“Sister Ji Ya, aren’t you planning to draw on the enshrined elders’ power?”
Ji Ya sighed.
“Those three old codgers are even more calculating than I am. Borrow their strength, and I’d end up dancing to their tune afterward. We’re facing down both the Royal Family and Divine Dream Palace, after all—they might even pressure me to surrender my share of the profits.”
“Then what’s the use of them?”
“To scare people off, I guess.”
“Heh, once this blows over, I’ll head over with Long Ying to give them a proper thrashing. Mere Mystic Lord realm, and they dare put on airs.”
“Little Brother Yan Zhen…”
Catching the meaningful glance from his good big sister, Yan Zhen realized his slip. With a newly minted Mystic Lord realm expert right there, he hurried to patch things up.
“Ahem, what I meant was, reaching Mystic Lord realm only at their age—talk about embarrassing. Aunt Mu is a different story. Aunt Mu is young, beautiful, gentle, and considerate—a perfect wife and mother… wait, no, a true heaven’s proud daughter…”
Aunt Mu hadn’t taken offense at first, but as his flattery veered wildly off course, a faint blush colored her cheeks.
Ji Ya pressed a jade hand to her mouth, her laughter light and tinkling.
Yan Zhen scratched his cheek in embarrassment and yanked the conversation back on track.
“Anyway, Sister Ji Ya, no need to overthink it. Go notify the three enshrined elders first. Any who refuse or try to lionize their demands, leave them to me.”
Ji Ya inclined her head.
“Mm, Sister will follow your lead, Little Brother Yan Zhen~”
“Then I’ll go keep Long Ying and the others company. Sister Ji Ya, come find us once you’re done.”
“Little Brother Yan Zhen, are you worried about leaving the three of them together?”
“Cai Lian and Xian’er do tend to bicker at the drop of a hat…”
Yan Zhen’s hunch proved right. When he stepped out of the headquarters building, he followed his contract bond with Long Ying and quickly located the Loli Dragon Girl and his Snake Snake Wife. But Yi Xian’er was nowhere in sight.
Yan Zhen rubbed his temples. He knew the bad blood between them ran deep, but things couldn’t keep going like this. He needed to find a way to smooth things over.
“Yan Zhen Zhen, you’re back!” Long Ying beamed with delight. “We and Sister Cai Lian have been waiting forever!”
Yan Zhen ruffled her hair.
“Had any ice cream yet?”
Long Ying shook her head.
“I want the ones Yan Zhen Zhen buys.”
“What’s the difference? I didn’t make them.” Yan Zhen rolled his eyes. “If you want some, just have Cai Lian get them. No need to hold out.”
“I want to share it with Yan Zhen Zhen.”
“Alright, fine. Truth be told, I’m in the mood for some myself.”
Yan Zhen dashed off and returned with four ice creams: two for Long Ying, one each for himself and Cai Lian.
His was chocolate, Cai Lian’s plain vanilla, and Long Ying’s vanilla and strawberry.
The three claimed a table under a shady parasol, Yan Zhen sandwiched in the middle with Cai Lian and Long Ying flanking him.
Long Ying clutched one cone, her face alight with joy as her pink little tongue darted left, then right—a total picture of contentment.
Cai Lian had little interest in children’s treats. The frozen cream’s texture was delightful, especially with the weather warming up—it quenched the summer heat nicely. But after a few licks, she set her cone aside and reached to readjust her veil.
Yan Zhen held out his half-eaten chocolate one instead, grinning.
“Plain can get boring. Want to try mine?”
Cai Lian started to demur, but her eyes caught the fresh bite marks left by his teeth. Something stirred within her.
“…Fine. Let me have a taste.”
She tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, then leaned in. Her slender pink tongue flicked out, lapping delicately at the indented spot. The bittersweet cream melted on her tongue, drawing her into a quiet reverie.
“Well? Good, right?”
“It’s… not bad.”
A flush crept across Cai Lian’s face, though Yan Zhen seemed oblivious.
“Here, take mine then, and I’ll have yours. Sound good?”
“Do what you want.”
Cai Lian kept her eyes downcast, lest he glimpse her inner turmoil. She accepted his chocolate cone and passed over her plain one in return.
Watching the couple swap treats—savoring flavors touched by the other’s mouth—made Long Ying, with her double serving, feel suddenly less triumphant.
If anyone drew the short straw, though, it was Yan Yan, still tucked safe in Cai Lian’s womb.
Ice cream was her absolute favorite, and now she couldn’t even catch a whiff. It left her squirming with longing.
“Mother Concubine, once I’m born, I want to eat tons and tons of ice cream!”
Cai Lian responded coolly.
“You can have some. But not tons.”
“I want tons!”
“Keep whining, and you’ll get none.”
“Mother Concubine is so mean! I’m not talking to you anymore. Father Emperor~~~ Mother Concubine is picking on your daughter!”
“Ahem, Yan’er, your Mother Concubine only wants what’s best for you. How about one per day?”
“Father Emperor’s being cheap! Sister Long Ying gets two!”
“Long Ying has quite the appetite.”
Long Ying, mid-lick, delivered her wisdom with exaggerated gravity.
“Yan Yan, no more ‘Sister Long Ying’ from now on. It’s Long Ying Auntie.”
“Why?”
“Because I call your mother Sister Cai Lian. So that makes me your Long Ying Auntie.”
“But I’ve always called you Sister Long Ying.”
“That was wrong. Time to fix it—got it?” Long Ying’s expression turned deadly serious. “Call me Sister Long Ying, and I ignore you. Call me Long Ying Auntie, and I’ll buy Yan Yan ice cream.”
“Really? Long Ying Auntie~”
“Hee hee, what a good girl, Yan Yan. One ice cream, reserved just for you~”
Yan Zhen and Cai Lian exchanged amused glances at the “children’s” back-and-forth.
Once the ice cream was gone, Yan Zhen had them stay put to rest while he went off in search of Yi Xian’er.
His spiritual sense swept outward, pinpointing her location in short order.
She lounged by the fountain’s edge, legs crossed idly, watching a flock of pigeons peck at crumbs on the ground.
