Dread King's Bride

QingWu lay on Xiao Chenyuan's back, her thoughts drifting to her childhood in her previous life. Back then, the late Crown Princess and her mother were sworn sisters, and her eldest brother had a close relationship with Xiao Chenyuan. From birth, she was granted the title of Princess, allowing her free access to the palace.

Young Xiao Chenyuan had been an absolute rascal, always teasing her to the point of tears. Yet after making her cry, he'd carry her on his back and leap across rooftops with his excellent qinggong, trying to cheer her up. Those antics often earned him severe scoldings from the late Crown Prince. Thinking of this, QingWu couldn't help but chuckle softly.

"What are you laughing at?" Xiao Chenyuan asked, catching her quiet giggle.

Her cheek pressed against his shoulder, QingWu snorted lightly. "I'm laughing at you. You sent Situ Jing up the mountain to find someone but refused to admit your concern."

Xiao Chenyuan's tone was unusually calm. "Anyone the Dread King's Manor helps will inevitably become the subject of gossip. Madam Mu has married into the Wang family and has no family to rely on. If I stand up for her publicly, it won't help her—it'll harm her. Rumors alone could destroy her."

He wasn't refusing to help; he simply couldn't let it be known that he was the one helping. Moreover, Mu Ying's identity was already sensitive. As the sole survivor of the Mu family, being forgotten was her safest option. QingWu had considered this herself. The world of the living was far more complex than that of the dead. Yet she hadn't expected Xiao Chenyuan to think so deeply about Mu Ying's situation or to follow her and explain himself.

"I believe Madam Mu will make her own choice once she wakes up," QingWu said with a huff. "The women of the Mu family are as fierce as any man. They don't break easily."

Xiao Chenyuan's gaze flickered, and he softly acknowledged, "Hmm."

The Mu family had produced many remarkable women. The late Zhen Guo Marquis's wife had been one, and Mu Ying, who had been raised by her, was certainly no weakling. Even the little bean sprout of the Zhen Guo Marquis family had been fearless since childhood. If that little girl knew how her cousin was being mistreated, she'd probably grab a blade and storm the Wang household, leaving no one unscathed.

Xiao Chenyuan couldn't help but wonder what the woman on his back would do next for Mu Ying.

By the time they reached the base of the mountain, dawn was breaking, the sky faintly glowing. From a distance, they could see a carriage parked along the mountain path. Hearing the commotion, Lü Qiao lifted the curtain and, upon recognizing them, excitedly climbed out. "Your Highness! Your Grace!"

QingWu noticed bloodstains on the carriage shaft and traces of a struggle nearby. Her brow arched. "Something happened last night?"

The carriage wasn't only occupied by Lü Qiao and Hong Rui; two Black-Armored Guards left behind by Xiao Chenyuan were also there. Both guards bore injuries that looked like claw marks, their faces filled with shame. "Your Highness, we beg your forgiveness. Last night, we failed in our duty and almost botched the mission."

The two explained. Around midnight, two mountain demons had attempted to harm them. Before nightfall, Hong Rui, heeding QingWu's instructions, had urged the guards to squeeze into the carriage instead of keeping watch outside. But the guards had dismissed the warnings. When the mountain demons arrived, they barely managed to escape, only surviving because Lü Qiao and Hong Rui dragged them into the carriage.

"Those creatures are truly wicked!" Lü Qiao said animatedly. "They even imitated Your Highness and Her Grace, trying to lure us out. But Hong Rui was clever—we pretended to fall for it and threw the red talisman Her Grace gave us. The creatures screamed and fled after being hit."

Having seen the mountain demons's tricks firsthand, everyone felt a chill run down their spines. They looked at QingWu with increasing awe. Even Elderly Attendant subconsciously clutched the red talisman she had given him. Beside him, Situ Jing nudged him. "Didn't Her Grace give you a red talisman? You were complaining about it earlier. If you don't want it, hand it over to me—"

"Don't even think about it!" Elderly Attendant snapped, his face flushed as he stole a glance at QingWu, lowering his head in embarrassment.

Just then, the Black-Armored Guards who had gone to investigate returned, dragging two mountain demons corpses with them. "Your Highness, we found the bodies of those creatures."

Everyone gasped upon seeing them. The mountain demons corpses were charred almost beyond recognition, as though they'd been burned to a crisp.

"Is this really the effect of the talisman bestowed by Her Grace? Such incredible protection!" The crowd's admiration for QingWu was evident, but she paid no attention, yawning lazily. "I'm tired."

"Return to the manor," Xiao Chenyuan ordered. He mounted his horse and extended a hand toward QingWu. She blinked. The carriage, with Mu Ying lying inside, was cramped; riding horseback seemed far more comfortable.

Walking over, she reached out to take his hand, but before she could, he leaned down, his strong arm encircling her waist and lifting her onto the horse.

Caught off guard, QingWu let out a small gasp as she ended up seated in front of him, facing him. Xiao Chenyuan glanced down at her. "Hold on tight," he said, pulling the reins.

The movement pressed QingWu against him. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around his lean, powerful waist. His solid frame enveloped her completely, making her feel both shielded and trapped.

This embrace was unfamiliar yet strangely familiar to QingWu. It was the same presence she had longed for even in the depths of the underworld—a scent and warmth of the mortal world she could never forget. Her eyelids grew heavy, and she gradually drifted off, nestled against his chest.

Xiao Chenyuan felt her breathing become slow and steady. His heart, however, thudded loudly within his chest. The crisp wind blew past, carrying a chill that he seemed not to notice.

With one hand on the reins, he instinctively used the other to adjust the large cloak, wrapping it snugly around the woman in his arms to shield her from the cold breeze.

This time, whether it was because he was holding her or for some other reason, Xiao Chenyuan felt an unusual calm within his body. The dark, chilling energy that usually surged inside him was completely subdued. He couldn't feel the cold wind—only the searing warmth radiating from his chest.

When they returned to the Dread King's Manor, QingWu was still asleep. Xiao Chenyuan carried her straight to the Yuanwei Courtyard. The others watched with varied expressions.

Lü Qiao grinned mischievously. "The King seems to care deeply for the Queen now."

Hong Rui chuckled. "Enough gossiping! Let's get Madam Mu settled properly."

Only Elderly Attendant remained sulking. Situ Jing nudged him with a foot. "What are you standing there for? You were so rude to the Queen on the mountain earlier. Go admit your fault now, or are you waiting for the King to punish you personally?"

Hong Rui frowned at this. "What did you do, Bai Sui? Were you misbehaving again?"

Elderly Attendant pouted. "I wasn't! I just don't trust her. But you—why are you all so easily won over by her?"

Situ Jing stared at him curiously. "You're usually reckless but not without reason. Why are you so hostile toward the Queen?"

"And what about you? You used to doubt her intentions too, Situ Quack!" Elderly Attendant retorted.

Situ Jing scratched his head sheepishly. "I did have my suspicions, but after last night, I see no reason to anymore. If our Queen really wanted to harm us, on the night she married into this manor, we wouldn't have even been left with a single life."

"Well, I won't be fooled so easily!" Elderly Attendant stomped his foot. "You're all traitors!"

Elderly Attendant stormed off in a huff.

"This kid..." Situ Jing scratched his head. "Such a bad temper. Only the King spoils him. What's he upset about now?"

Lü Qiao replied, "It's because of the young miss. Elderly Attendant always remembers the young miss's kindness and firmly believes she will be the future Queen."

"He despises the Yun family and refuses to accept the current Queen, feeling that the young miss's place has been taken."

Situ Jing was silent for a moment, then clicked his tongue. "With that temper, he's only going to suffer later. But... if he's so hostile toward the Queen, why did she still give him the protective red talisman?"

Situ Jing didn't think QingWu was the type to practice 'kindness for resentment'. Lü Qiao and Hong Rui were also stunned. Yes, why would she do that?

The King was strict with his soldiers but usually lenient with his subordinates. However, the Queen clearly wasn't the soft type. Why had she always let Elderly Attendant's disrespect slide so easily?