Yan Zhen had known that his little ball of jealousy, Cai Lian, was envious of his beautiful master. If he didn’t soothe her right away, she would likely spend quite some time feeling aggrieved and downcast on her own.
Moreover, Cai Lian had followed him into the action at South Ridge City not long after giving birth, only for him to be whisked away by the Evil Consort afterward. She must have felt profoundly insecure during that period, and now, at this critical juncture, discovering the intimacy between him and his beautiful master had left her heart in even greater turmoil.
He reached out and grasped Snake Snake Wife’s fair wrist, gently drawing her into his arms. His other hand encircled her alluring water-snake waist as he murmured warmly by her ear.
“I made you worry, Cai Lian.”
Cai Lian rested both hands on her husband’s shoulders and let out a soft hum.
“Liar.”
Her words carried layers of meaning.
They referred both to how Yan Zhen had faked his death earlier to rescue Jiu Youyue and to how he had concealed the deeper bond he shared with Master Chen Xi.
“I was impulsive and didn’t consider your feelings. I’ll make it up to you all once we’re back, all right?”
The cold and aloof Sovereign Lady buried her face in her scoundrel husband’s neck, expressing her displeasure through silence.
Yan Zhen subtly tickled Cai Lian’s water-snake waist without a hint of fanfare. She lost her composure in an instant, a charming moan slipping from her red lips. Two captivating flushes bloomed across her fair and lovely face.
Cai Lian felt both shy and annoyed.
“You—you—”
“Be good.” Yan Zhen planted a quick kiss on Wife Lady’s lips, cutting her off. “As for what happened with my master, I’ll explain everything to everyone once we’re back. But there’s one thing I can tell you now: Master is actually a reincarnator too, though she lost most of her memories and they only go up to before she became an emperor.”
All the women’s gazes instantly converged on Master Chen Xi, their expressions a mixed array. The master herself felt a flush of embarrassment, her cheeks growing hot.
“Ahem, sorry for keeping it from you all… This Seat truly shares that history with Zhen’er—”
She found it hard to continue.
It was too mortifying.
Even more so than when Jialan had seen through her back then.
“No need to apologize, Master Chen Xi.” Yi Xian’er stepped forward and looped her arm through the beautiful woman’s, showing her affection. “We all understand. We’re all the same in this. Only petty women get jealous.”
“Xian’er…”
“Little Sister Xian’er is absolutely right. No need to worry, Master Chen Xi~” The demoness joined in, taking Master Chen Xi’s other arm with a faint, seductive smile on her face. “No matter what, Master Chen Xi remains our pillar of strength. That much will never change.”
“Jiu Youyue…”
Master Chen Xi looked gratefully at Yi Xian’er on her right, then at Jiu Youyue on her left. The tension in her heart slowly eased.
“Thank you, both of you.”
“Don’t say that, Master Chen Xi. Whether in our past lives or after rebirth, you’ve helped us so much. Without you, I probably still wouldn’t be with Yan Zhen even now.”
“Exactly, Master Chen Xi. This time, we owe it to that strand of Starlight Glazed Fire to reconnect. From now on, I’ll follow your lead without question.”
Yi Xian’er was sincere enough, but Jiu Youyue was clearly cozying up.
—These two shameless women were fawning over Master Chen Xi right from the start, making her look like the immature one!
An angry vein mark popped on Cai Lian’s forehead as she inwardly cursed the pair for their gall.
Especially this demoness. She’d been calling her “Sister She Ji” just moments ago, and now she had abandoned her completely to cling to Master Chen Xi’s thigh. What a weathervane that one was—after all the sincerity Cai Lian had shown in treating her like a little sister!
With that thought, her eyes met Master Chen Xi’s, and embarrassment flooded her.
Unlike the other sisters, she and her sister Xunyi had served tea to Master Chen Xi back in their previous life during Yan Zhen’s wedding ceremony. They had been just a shout of “mother-in-law” away from it all. And now, in the blink of an eye, she was supposed to treat her as a good big sister? How could anyone adjust to that so easily?
Master Chen Xi understood this well, so she empathized with Cai Lian’s feelings. The greatest hurdle between her and her disciple was precisely these two disciple daughters-in-law from their past lives.
Whether She Ji or Zi Ji, both had viewed her as a mother-in-law before. Such a shift in roles was truly hard to accept overnight.
“She Ji, This Seat is the one who kept it hidden first. It’s only natural if you’re upset… Say whatever you want. No one will blame you.”
Hearing this, Cai Lian felt a pang in her heart. In their previous life, she and Sister Xunyi had been quite close to Master Chen Xi. How had things turned into this standoff?
“I’m sorry, Master Chen Xi. Give me a little time, all right? I’ll think it through properly.”
Master Chen Xi smiled faintly.
“Don’t force yourself. This Seat doesn’t care about titles. As long as I can stay by Zhen’er’s side forever, that’s enough.”
“How could that be? It’s not fair to you, Master Chen Xi.”
“Being reborn to be with Zhen’er again—that’s the greatest fairness This Seat could ask for.”
Those words struck Long Ying like a bolt of enlightenment. Her delicate frame trembled as she grasped the truth and declared.
“I feel the same! A-As long as I can be with Yan Zhen Zhen, I’m happy. Even if I don’t get to be a bride!”
Master Chen Xi couldn’t help but smile.
“It’s fine, Little Long Ying. Once you regain your original form, you’ll captivate Zhen’er so thoroughly that he’ll have no choice but to accept you.”
“Eh, really?” Long Ying touched her flushed cheeks, a touch of shyness in her voice. “Then… I still want to be a bride after all.”
“You’re full of it—fake.” Yan Zhen ruffled her pink dragon head vigorously. “Stop daydreaming about nonsense all day.”
Long Ying swatted his hand away in dissatisfaction and huffed.
“Master Chen Xi said it herself, so it must be true. You big pervert Yan Zhen Zhen will soon be dizzy with desire over this one’s perfect figure!”
Yan Zhen’s mouth twitched. She really had confidence.
“—I have a question.” Little Princess Yan Yan spoke up from the side, shattering the warm family drama. “If Ancestor Chen Xi marries Father Emperor, do I keep calling her Ancestor Chen Xi or switch to Aunt Chen Xi?”
Ah… Everyone was stumped by her question, with Master Chen Xi and Cai Lian feeling the most awkward. Yan Zhen, thick-skinned as ever, smoothed things over.
“We’ll worry about the future later. For now, let’s handle the trouble at hand… I plan to pretend I’ve lost my memories for the time being and stay in Dead City.”
He explained the matter with Peacock Heavenly Monarch and his own scheme.
After hearing him out, the women all showed reluctance—except Yan Yan, who was busy cooing “cool, cool” to herself.
“Do we have to rush into this?” Cai Lian frowned. “You’re only at the Mystic Lord Realm right now, and you’re thinking of hunting a Mystic Saint? That’s way too risky!”
“Snake Woman’s right.” Yi Xian’er said gravely. “Mystic Saints are incredibly hard to kill. Peacock Heavenly Monarch is a Five-Star Mystic Saint, just like Master Jialan. Even the Evil Consort, a Three- or Four-Star Mystic Saint with her Evil God Bloodline, can only fight him to a draw at best. Killing him? Forget it.”
Jiu Youyue eyed him suspiciously too.
“Little Zhen Zhen, you’re not staying behind just because you’re worried Peacock Heavenly Monarch might do something to Lady Evil Consort, are you?”
Her words landed, and the women all shot Yan Zhen accusatory looks—Long Ying’s the most scornful of all, while Master Chen Xi brimmed with jealousy.
“Ahem, ahem!” Yan Zhen coughed violently, a bit guilty in the face of his wife, lovers, and daughter’s doubts. “What are you talking about, Jiu Youyue? D-Do I seem like that kind of guy? I’m just doing my duty as Saint Son, plain and simple!”
