Seven days had passed since their last intimate moment, and with the couple alone once more, amorous thoughts were inevitable—especially since Cai Lian was in the midst of her pregnancy.
However, Yan Zhen was set to enter the Thunder Pool tomorrow to subdue the Wind-Thunder Crystal Fire. He needed to conserve his strength and absolutely could not indulge in their usual nightly activities.
Even her four little sisters had tactfully retreated to their own rooms. How could she, as the big wife sister, fail to grasp the bigger picture?
Cai Lian glanced at her husband and said coolly,
“It’s getting late. We should sleep early.”
Yan Zhen, however, rested his hand on Cai Lian’s thigh. He gently rubbed it through the hem of her nightgown and commented with utmost seriousness,
“This nightgown’s fabric feels amazing. So smooth.”
Cai Lian felt an itch blossom in her heart at once. She hurriedly seized that wandering little hand and pushed it away, replying casually as if nothing had happened,
“Ji Ya gave it to this sovereign. It’s light and breezy—perfect for hot weather.”
Yan Zhen eyed his Snake Snake Wife from top to bottom. She wore a spaghetti-strap silk nightgown, the sort common in comics. Sitting as she was, the hem fell just above her knees, revealing her snow-white calves and delicate jade feet.
Her upper body was even more enticing: thin straps draped over her bare shoulders, holding up a deep V-neckline that strained against her full, heavy curves. It was enough to make anyone worry the fabric might give way.
—My wife is gorgeous.
“I figured you wore it just for me.”
“Hmph~”
Her lack of denial was as good as agreement.
Yan Zhen smiled. He wrapped one arm around Wife Lady’s supple water-snake waist and drew her into his embrace. His other hand caressed her alluring face, turning it toward his own.
Their eyes locked. Cai Lian struggled to hold her aloof expression as a faint blush colored her cheeks. Her gaze darted away.
Her waist was soft and yielding, her skin tender and smooth. The sensations traveling up his hands were exquisite.
Her beauty, her shy look—it satisfied him on every level.
Yan Zhen leaned in slowly for a kiss.
Cai Lian started to close her blood-red vertical pupils, ready to welcome her husband’s affection. But she snapped back to her senses at the last moment. Her small hands pressed against his chest in refusal. She twisted gently, trying to wriggle free from his arms, and murmured with her head lowered,
“Not tonight.”
Yan Zhen leaned close to Snake Snake Wife’s ear and whispered warmly,
“But you want to, don’t you, Cai Lian?”
Her face flushed even deeper. Shy and annoyed, she denied it.
“This sovereign doesn’t—this sovereign doesn’t at all!”
Yan Zhen pressed on regardless.
“Satisfying your wife is a man’s most basic duty. And the other way around, too.”
One arm hooked behind Cai Lian’s knee, the other under her armpit. He lifted her effortlessly into a princess carry and tossed her lightly onto the inner side of the bed. Then he let the gauze canopy fall, creating an enclosed space with no escape.
His pregnant wife lay there before him, her beautiful form on full display. Yan Zhen’s heart burned hot as he leaned down to cover her. She braced her hands against his chest and said urgently,
“Wait, Yan Zhen—we can’t. You have to subdue the Wind-Thunder Crystal Fire tomorrow…”
Those words turned the fire in Yan Zhen’s heart into a warm current. He smiled.
“That’s exactly why we need to clear our minds of distractions tonight, so you can focus tomorrow.”
“What kind of twisted logic is that? You should be conserving your strength.”
“I want to kiss you, Cai Lian.”
Yan Zhen had no interest in debating at a time like this.
Cai Lian’s whole body grew feverish. She couldn’t bear to meet her husband’s scorching gaze and turned her face away.
“Just kissing… that’s fine. But nothing else.”
So Yan Zhen kissed Wife Lady once more. When their lips finally parted, her face was like a blooming peach blossom. Her eyes were hazy and unfocused, her body gone limp. Even the straps on her shoulders had slipped down to her elbows.
Yan Zhen seized the moment.
“Cai Lian, I want to touch you too.”
She breathed softly.
“Just… just touching, then.”
“And nibble a little.”
“Eh?”
“And do this and that~”
“You… you pervert!”
In the end, Sovereign Lady couldn’t hold her ground.
But Yan Zhen didn’t push his luck. After all, his goal had simply been to ease Cai Lian’s needs a little.
She might always wear that high-and-mighty expression, but once her guard came down, she was surprisingly easy to stir—especially now, in her pregnant state. A single smile or casual gesture from him could unwittingly pluck at her heartstrings and ignite her desires. If left unaddressed, it might even lead to something harmful, like prenatal depression.
Afterward, the thin quilt covered their bodies as the usually aloof Cai Lian nestled obediently against Yan Zhen’s chest, basking in the afterglow.
Just a year ago, she had toyed with him at will. Somehow, things had flipped back to the way they were in his previous life. Now she was the one at his mercy.
Sovereign Lady’s pride and competitive spirit ran deep—no exception in the bedroom. Unfortunately, even her “rebirth” advantage wasn’t enough to let her turn the tables.
—If only Little Sister Zi Ji were here.
The two of them together—could they really not handle this perverted husband of theirs?
Yan Zhen stroked Snake Snake Wife’s silky tresses and soothed her.
“Alright, don’t be mad. I’ll be fine.”
Cai Lian huffed.
“Who cares about you!”
“That look on your face makes me want to go again.”
“Idiot! Absolutely not!”
“Kidding~” Yan Zhen planted a kiss on Wife Lady’s forehead. “Sleep now, Cai Lian.”
She bit her lip and hesitated for a moment before leaning in to kiss her husband of her own accord. She whispered,
“Good night.”
“Mm. Good night.”
“…”
The couple drifted off to sleep together.
The next morning, Cai Lian rose early. She washed and dressed before tending to Yan Zhen when he woke, helping him with his clothes and ablutions with utmost care.
Once they left the room, Cai Lian headed down to the second floor to fetch Long Ying, while Yan Zhen went straight to the first floor.
Just as before, Meng’er and Cousin Ruyu were busy preparing breakfast. Senior Sister Xue’er was trimming the flowers and plants alongside the Tianshan Snow Eagle, while Senior Sister Xinyan swept the first-floor rooms clean.
Watching them all at work filled Yan Zhen with that familiar sense of home—warm, peaceful, and serene.
Once the whole family had finished their meal, Elder Yu Yan arrived.
Cai Lian slipped away ahead of time to avoid revealing her identity, hiding in a room on the third floor.
Yan Zhen had wanted to come clean, but she fretted it would stir up trouble and refused point-blank.
Not wanting to press her, he decided to wait until after he’d subdued the Wind-Thunder Crystal Fire.
Yan Meng’er, Yan Ruyu, Mi Xue’er, and Xiao Xinyan all bowed in greeting as the great elder appeared.
Elder Yu Yan appraised the four young women and smiled.
“No wonder Little Yan Zhen hates to leave. You’re all so adorable~”
Yan Zhen coughed, a touch embarrassed.
“Ahem, Great-Aunt, how are things looking?”
“All the personnel have been cleared from the tower, and the perimeter defenses are in place. Come on, Little Yan Zhen—I’ll take you to the Thunder Pool.”
“Thanks, Great-Aunt. You all stay put. Don’t go anywhere near the Firmament Nine-Story Tower—especially you, Long Ying. No sneaking off, or I’ll dock a full year’s snacks when I get back.”
Long Ying crossed her arms over her chest and pouted, her face scrunched up in a classic “Baby’s not happy” expression.
Yan Zhen ruffled her hair before flying off toward the Firmament Nine-Story Tower with Elder Great-Aunt.
