Dread King's Bride

As soon as they arrived at the manor, QingWu had woken up. But she pretended to stay asleep, curious to see what Xiao Chenyuan would do. When her body was placed on the bed, she kept her eyes closed and hooked her arm around his neck, refusing to let go.

With her arm encircling his neck, Xiao Chenyuan was forced to lean down, his palm resting beside her face. Their proximity was far beyond a safe distance.

He observed her face up close. The Yun family was known for their beauty, and perhaps due to their shared lineage, her features were exquisitely delicate. On closer inspection, it wasn't difficult to find traces of familiarity in her brows and eyes.

"The iris flower on the carriage shaft, did you draw it?" he asked.

Receiving no response, he lowered his voice and added, "Keep pretending to sleep, and the dowry you stole from Yun Houxing's secret chamber will be gone."

QingWu immediately opened her eyes, glaring at him. "Xiao Chenyuan, you're being unreasonable! Who robs someone of their dowry?"

"Not pretending anymore?"

QingWu pouted, but her arm remained around his neck. She raised her chin smugly and playfully. "I'll keep pretending. What can you do about it?"

Xiao Chenyuan ignored her retort. "The iris flower, who taught you to draw it?"

"What iris flower?" She tilted her head, feigning confusion before smirking lazily. "Oh, you mean that talisman I drew?"

She chuckled nonchalantly. "It's just a flower. Does one need a teacher for that?"

"The lantern you took earlier had a similar flower. I thought it was pretty, so I copied it."

Xiao Chenyuan scrutinized every subtle expression on her face. Whether it was her exceptional acting or the truth, he couldn't detect a single hint of deceit. The fiery suspicion in his heart, which had burned all night, was doused in cold water, leaving only emptiness and self-mockery. Shadows of doubt lingered, unwilling to dissipate, as he continued to examine her stubbornly.

"If the iris flower is a coincidence, is your concern for Madam Mu also a coincidence?"

QingWu blinked in confusion. "Concern? Was it? I just couldn't stand it, so I acted. Do I need a reason? Whoever displeases me, I'll make their life miserable."

Her reasoning was as shameless as it was consistent with her actions.

Xiao Chenyuan regarded her for a moment before rising. In an instant, he reverted to the cold and distant Dread King, his gaze void of any warmth. "My Queen has worked hard all night. Rest well."

As he turned to leave, QingWu gritted her teeth and sat up slightly. "Xiao Chenyuan."

"What now?"

"Did you know someone is tampering with your fate?"

He halted mid-step, a flicker of darkness flashing in his eyes. He replied indifferently, "I know now."

"And you still plan to spend your nights alone?" QingWu propped her chin on her hand, stifling a yawn. "I can help you, you know."

Xiao Chenyuan glanced back at her mischievous demeanor, finding it increasingly absurd that he could associate her with the little bean sprout of his memories.

The little bean sprout had been mischievous too, but in an innocent and radiant way, unlike QingWu, whose charm was too intoxicating, her aura too sinister, as though she had no heart.

"My injuries have not fully healed. If I were to stay here overnight, I'd fear I wouldn't survive till dawn."

QingWu froze for a moment, recognizing his rejection. She gritted her teeth and snapped, "Of course! If you dare come here, I'll drain every bit of your vitality! Don't even think about it!"

Seeing her baring her teeth and claws, Xiao Chenyuan inexplicably felt a sense of ease. He nodded. "Fine. Just remember to return the vitality you borrowed earlier."

QingWu's eyes widened in disbelief. So stingy he could die! "Go eat some tiger bone stew or something—you'll survive just fine!"

"Unnecessary," he said with a sideways glance. "You borrowed it, you find a way to repay it." With that, Xiao Chenyuan turned and left, not realizing that the corners of his mouth were slightly curved as he did.

QingWu sat on the bed, glaring daggers. "So arrogant…"

"Well, he's not wrong," the Judge's Brush mumbled. "Besides, with the way you talk, you don't seem like you're trying to help anyone. You're clearly tricking people into offering you their life force. Can you blame him for keeping his distance?"

Rolling her eyes, QingWu buried herself under the blankets. "I'll deal with it after a nap," she muttered. While she slept, Xiao Chenyuan had no such luxury.

"Your Majesty, Wang Sheng requests an audience. Likely regarding Madam Mu."

Xiao Chenyuan raised his eyes, the smile gone from his face. His voice was cold. "Throw him out."

Situ Jing hesitated. "Wang Sheng is still the Minister of Revenue. Beating him up isn't much of an issue, but wouldn't it seem unjustified without a proper reason?"

Rolling the prayer beads between his fingers, Xiao Chenyuan said calmly, "His household servants bullied their mistress, framed the Queen, and caused her to faint from fright, leaving her gravely ill. Beating him is entirely justified."

Situ Jing stifled a laugh. "As Your Majesty says. But will the Queen agree to take the blame for this?"

Thinking of QingWu, Xiao Chenyuan mused. She would probably only complain that Wang Sheng wasn't beaten to death.

QingWu only found out she had taken the blame when she woke up in the afternoon for lunch. She was unimpressed. "Only beaten up? No broken limbs? Didn't chop off that dog Wang Sheng's head?"

The two maids stifled their laughter. Hong Rui said, "It was just surface injuries, but all the blows landed on his face. He won't dare show himself for quite some time."

Lü Qiao pouted. "That man has no shame to begin with. What's there to fear?"

Lü Qiao's words couldn't be more accurate!" Situ Jing's voice echoed from outside. QingWu lazily glanced over as he entered and greeted her with a bow. He had come to check on Mu Ying and Wang Yulang, but now he picked up on the earlier topic. "After Wang Sheng got his face beaten to a pulp, he didn't stop. I heard he's gone to the Ministry of Revenue's Mansion."

QingWu chuckled. "To seek Yun Houxing's help?"

Situ Jing nodded, his gaze shifting slyly. "Seems like he doesn't know about the chaos in the Ministry of Revenue's Mansion. He still thinks he can get Yun Houxing to 'discipline' the Queen!"

Smiling, QingWu instructed Lü Qiao to bring her a yellow talisman paper. With a quick flourish, she inscribed a charm, pinched it between two fingers, and flicked it. The talisman ignited instantly, releasing a wisp of ghostly energy that drifted toward the mansion. With those scumbag father and son gathered, how could she, the 'daughter' and sister-in-law, sit idly by?

Besides, Yun Qingwu and her gaggle of little spirits were still nesting in the mansion. It would only be right to prepare a little "gift" for her dear brother-in-law.

Seeing this, Situ Jing couldn't help but smile wryly. Poor Wang Sheng was about to have a very bad day. "Your Majesty, Madam Mu has awakened. She wishes to see you."

QingWu was slightly surprised. "You cured her wandering soul syndrome?"

Situ Jing cleared his throat, careful not to sound too boastful. "While my mystical arts are rudimentary, my medical skills are passable."

"Not bad," QingWu nodded approvingly. "Expect a reward!"

Situ Jing's grin stretched wide. "Could I get a red talisman?"

"Consider it done."

Eager to see Mu Ying, QingWu didn't linger, heading straight over. The thought of reuniting with her cousin stirred an unusual excitement within her. Ten years had passed; so much had changed. Would Mu Ying still remember the mischievous little monkey who used to cling to her, begging for snacks?

Gently pushing open the door, she tread softly. Taking a deep breath as she reached the beaded curtain, she parted it and stepped inside. Wang Yulang lay on the bed, and Mu Ying, having just woken, had come straight to see her son.

Hearing the sound, Mu Ying turned, her tired yet clear eyes meeting QingWu's. A storm of emotions churned in QingWu's chest, but all she could manage was, "Madam Mu."

Mu Ying froze for a moment upon seeing her. Situ Jing had explained everything to her after she regained consciousness. Collecting herself, she stood and bowed. "Mu Ying is deeply grateful to Your Majesty for saving my life."

Suppressing her own excitement, QingWu replied, "Madam Mu, there's no need for such formality. It was just a small effort."

Mu Ying's expression was complicated. How could this be a small effort? Rescuing her from the hands of those vile servants in broad daylight, then braving the dangers of Shiying Mountain overnight to retrieve her son—it was far from trivial. Having heard these details after waking, Mu Ying was overwhelmed with gratitude toward QingWu, yet deep suspicion began to creep into her heart.

Especially after learning of QingWu's "identity," the conflict in Mu Ying's heart grew even stronger. The feud between Yun Houxing's family and the Mu family was one of blood and vengeance. Why, then, would Yun Houxing's daughter save her? Mu Ying couldn't understand. Her mind had been clouded for so long that now, in this rare clarity, everything felt like a dream from another life. This feeling intensified when she heard that Xiao Chenyuan had married Yun Houxing's daughter. She could only sigh at the cruel twists of fate. If the Zhen Guo Marquis family still stood, if her sister QingWu were still alive…

Mu Ying calmed her racing thoughts. She hated Yun Houxing, yes, but the Queen before her had no part in the past and was, in fact, her and her child's savior. Mu Ying was a woman who could distinguish gratitude from hatred. Though she was momentarily lost, she was truly thankful to QingWu. Yet her concern for her child outweighed all else, and she couldn't hold back any longer. "Situ Jing mentioned that the Queen could save my son?"

QingWu nodded. "Your son's living soul has detached from his body. To save him, we must retrieve his soul."

"Please, My Queen, teach me. Whatever it takes to save my child, I am willing to pay the price."

As Mu Ying spoke, she began to kneel, but QingWu quickly stepped forward to stop her. "No need for that," QingWu said. "To save your son, the key lies with you. You must rest well for now. Tonight, you'll need to traverse a certain path. It will be a difficult journey, and you must endure it. I can offer only limited help."

Mu Ying instinctively asked, "What path?"

"The Yin-Yang Road."