Dread King's Bride

Before QingWu could make any other moves, a blade was already pointed at her. She raised an eyebrow. "Is this how the people of the Dread King's Manor treat their future queen?"

"Stand down!" The man's voice rang out. The guards reluctantly lowered their blades, though their wary gazes remained locked on her.

QingWu seemed unconcerned, her focus unwavering as she stared directly at Xiao Chenyuan. Hah, a body steeped in blood aura, yet chilled to the bone with yin energy and a fate tangled in lethal forces. An ordinary man would have long perished under such conditions, yet he was alive and well. No wonder his enemies resorted to such extreme measures—creating a living malice magnet to harness vengeful spirits against him.

But that lethal energy? It was a rare tonic for her.

"Are you... human or ghost?" the elderly attendant asked warily. This woman was unnervingly strange, her unrelenting gaze fixed on the king. Could she be trying to drain his vitality?

QingWu's gaze lingered on the elderly attendant for a brief moment before shifting back to Xiao Chenyuan. Her eyes locked onto his as she reached out, her hand poised as if to caress his face. "Do you think I'm human or ghost, Your Highness?" she asked playfully.

Xiao Chenyuan grasped her wrist firmly, his fingers detecting the steady pulse beneath her skin. Yet, the scrutiny in his gaze remained unwavering. "It seems the Ministry of Revenue's mansion was mistaken. The queen is alive after all."

"Indeed! Dying on the wedding night would have been most inauspicious," QingWu replied with a mischievous smile. "Turning mourning into celebration—doesn't that delight you, Your Highness?"

His tone was unreadable. "Delight me?"

QingWu chuckled, leaning into her own boldness. "Since you're so delighted, how about we continue the bridal chamber festivities?"

The audacious suggestion left everyone in the Dread King's Manor stunned, choking on their own breath.

Xiao Chenyuan tightened his grip on her pulse point, his voice cold and probing. "I am quite curious—how exactly did my queen climb out of a coffin?"

QingWu furrowed her brows and let out a soft hiss of pain, her expression turning coquettish. "It hurts~ Your Highness, could you not treat a delicate lady so roughly?"

Unmoved by her plea, the man radiated an air of danger. Internally, QingWu clicked her tongue but finally replied, "Wasn't it my sister who crawled out of the coffin?"

Her words turned truth on its head without so much as a blink. "The Ministry of Revenue's mansion sent two bride—one alive, one dead. Now that I'm here alive, it's clear that the one sent as a ghost bride must be my dear sister."

Xiao Chenyuan sneered. "Utter nonsense."

"Whether nonsense or not, it's of no consequence," QingWu said, leaning closer as his grip on her wrist drew her in. Their faces were now mere inches apart, an intimacy that made the surrounding guards tighten their grips on their blades. Any slight movement from her, and they would strike without hesitation.

"Oh, by the way, Your Highness, you really should thank me." QingWu pouted her crimson lips, motioning toward the unconscious Daoist on the ground. "See that wicked sorcerer? She came to your manor to cast spells and harm you, but in the end, she paid for her misdeeds. You might want to have her taken away and interrogated thoroughly."

"Sigh, I have no idea what kind of tricks she used to make my sister rise from the dead and crawl out of her coffin. Terrifying, truly terrifying," said QingWu, patting her chest as though still shaken.

Xiao Chenyuan studied her for a moment before speaking, his tone edged with sarcasm. "My queen certainly knows how to give her king a 'pleasant surprise.'"

"Since the surprise was received, doesn't Your Highness think it's time to return the favor?"

"And what kind of favor does my queen have in mind?"

Without hesitation, QingWu let herself fall into Xiao Chenyuan's arms. The thick aura of malice radiating from him was intoxicating to her senses, a flicker of dark light flashing in her eyes as she tightened her embrace around his waist. "A moment of springtime is worth a thousand gold coins. Let's call it even with this thousand gold."

The ghostly woman in his arms failed to rattle Xiao Chenyuan. His calm remained unshaken as he clasped her hand resting on his waist, his eyes flickering with a glint of killing intent, impossible to decipher. Around them, the sound of guards sharply inhaling broke the tense silence.

His gaze darkened further as he spoke, his tone chilling yet ambiguous. "Since my queen insists, how could the king decline the invitation?"

He would play along—for now. Whether she was human or ghost, he was determined to uncover the truth.

"I'm so frightened I can't walk anymore. Would your Highness be so kind as to carry me back to our room?" QingWu said with a playful laugh. "Besides, Your Highness doesn't seem like someone gravely injured or on the brink of death. Surely carrying me wouldn't be too much trouble?"

Her words sent the atmosphere plummeting further into an icy stillness. Xiao Chenyuan cast her a brief, inscrutable glance before bending down and scooping her up into his arms. The moment he lifted her, he felt the sharp scrape of nails against his neck. His step faltered slightly, and his expression turned even colder.

Nearby, the elderly attendant hesitated to speak several times but was firmly held back by Situ Jing. Once Xiao Chenyuan had left with QingWu in his arms, the attendant finally huffed in frustration. "Why did you stop me? You quack , didn't you swear there would be no mishaps? That Yun Qingwu is no human—what if she harms His Highness?"

Situ Jing frowned. "Why are you panicking? Haven't you noticed your King doesn't seem worried at all? If even she dares to offer herself up, what are you fretting about? Focus on that sorceress—have her detained and interrogated." After speaking, Situ Jing followed after them, but his expression turned grim, muttering to himself, "Xiao Chenyuan, you reckless fool. Aren't you afraid of being drained dry by a ghost? Strange... with that string of prayer beads he's wearing, if she were really a ghost, there should've been some reaction…"

The doors to the wedding chamber closed behind them. Xiao Chenyuan placed her on the bed and was about to step away when he felt her tugging at him. A flicker of cold light passed through his eyes, but he didn't resist, allowing himself to be pulled down onto the bed. The sudden weight pressing against him made his brow furrow as he looked icily at the audacious woman now straddling him.

Qing Wu, as if oblivious to the peril she was courting, teasingly traced a finger down his chest. "In the middle of July, and yet the Dread King wears fox fur? Are you that afraid of the cold? Shall I warm you up?" Her playful smile deepened as her gaze locked with his piercing eyes.

Xiao Chenyuan's hand suddenly grasped her wrist, pulling her firmly into his embrace. His other hand settled on the nape of her neck, a gesture that seemed tender but was brimming with deadly intent. With the strength he possessed, snapping her neck would have been effortless.

"The queen's current demeanor truly resembles a spirit roaming the wilds, feeding on human vitality—utterly heartless."

QingWu chuckled instead of taking offense, leaning into his chest. Pressing close to his neck, she inhaled the lingering essence of malice emanating from him, her eyes narrowing. "Does the king not fancy it? I just helped you resolve a little trouble, didn't I?"

Xiao Chenyuan tilted his head slightly to meet her gaze. "And you're not trouble?"

"Why not try and find out, Your Majesty?"

His dark eyes grew colder. "I have injuries. I fear the queen will only be disappointed."

"But I think Your Majesty's body is rather... robust," QingWu teased, moving closer, her luscious lips almost brushing his. Yet, in an instant, the hand resting on her nape tightened its grip—not enough to hurt, but heavy with warning. Their eyes locked, his icy glare clashing with her teasing smirk.

Xiao Chenyuan's voice dripped with menace. "I appreciate your concern, but if I were to pass my illness to you, that would be regrettable."

"Is that so? Fine then." QingWu feigned disappointment, withdrawing with surprising decisiveness. "Let us rest early then, Your Majesty." She casually turned away, her gaze briefly landing on the prayer beads adorning his wrist. With a light click of her tongue, she smirked and sauntered off toward the bath.

As he watched her disappear, the sound of running water from the bath reached his ears. His eyes lingered on the prayer beads around his wrist. They were a gift from a revered monk, meant to repel evil and subdue spirits. If anything sinister were near, the beads would emit a burning heat. Yet, from the moment this woman had entered his life, they had remained utterly inert.

A faint trace of madness flickered in Xiao Chenyuan's shadowed gaze. He slowly removed the prayer beads, placing them on the distant table. Alongside them, he set down the dagger he always kept within arm's reach. Stripping himself of every defense and weapon, he waited.

Now, it would be up to this enigmatic queen—whether human or spirit—to make her move.

In the bathroom, QingWu reclined in the wooden tub, her slender fingers idly flipping and twirling a Judge's Brush. Suddenly, the brush froze in her grip as a frantic voice echoed in her mind.

"You said it was just a playful visit to the mortal realm during the Ghost Festival, yet you've stayed behind and even possessed a corpse! If the Underworld Magistrate finds out, he'll definitely break my pen bones! Waaaah, QingWu, you wicked ghost, bullying me because I'm young and powerless!"

"Shut up." QingWu casually tossed the Judge's Brush into the water, where it landed with a faint bubbling sound. When she retrieved it, the bristles were thoroughly soaked and splayed apart. The voice of the brush grew even shriller.

"You're mistreating me! You wicked ghost, this is too much! I'll report you! Once we return to the underworld, I'm severing our partnership!"

QingWu chuckled lightly, her tone playful. "Really? If we part ways, then I won't share the evil spirits I catch with you anymore."

The Judge's Brush fell silent.

"The man outside—didn't you notice his scent? It's like cold wind that cuts to the bone, a deathly aura. Not only does it give a great boost, but it can also elevate one's power. Aren't you tempted?"

The Judge's Brush replied firmly: "I am impartial and incorruptible. I judge only the merits of good and evil, never to be swayed…"

QingWu smirked, hearing the brush's voice. "If I hadn't heard you swallow just now, I'd believe you."

The Judge's Brush retorted, "Don't think just because I'm a brush I lack brains. You returned to the mortal realm to seek the souls of your parents and older brother from your past life, didn't you? After death, everything fades. You, the chosen of the Yin Palace, are fated to live forever in the Underworld. The mortal realm is just a place for you to endure trials. Why cling to the past?"

The Judge's Brush chattered on: "You ignore the deputy down there and keep thinking about those fleeting 'wild' parents, wild brothers. You're only asking for trouble!"

QingWu's eyes flared with a cold, sinister energy, and she tightened her grip on the Judge's Brush. It instantly cried out, "Wrong, wrong! I spoke without thinking! Forgive me!"

"But, I wasn't wrong, was I? Affairs of the mortal world should be handled by its own rulers. The souls of your parents and brother from your past life did not return to the Underworld after their deaths—there are reasons for that. If you insist on meddling, you'll eventually face consequences."

"Consequences?" QingWu chuckled, her eyes half-closed in amusement. "I am the chosen of the Yin Palace, holding the Judge's Brush, the one who decides fate. If there's any consequence, let it come. I'm not afraid."

The Judge's Brush fell silent for a moment, then spoke again, "Then why are you helping that bloodthirsty god outside? Don't say it's for the death energy; his aura may tempt you, but you don't need more power."

QingWu glanced toward the outside, her wet hair flowing between her fingers. "It's a favor."

"A favor for an old acquaintance!" The Judge's Brush changed its tone. "Quickly, make a pact with me! You cannot reveal your true identity. There must be no entanglement between the realms of the living and the dead. That's the law!"

"Fine, fine, fine. I'll agree," QingWu responded in a nonchalant tone. She wouldn't reveal herself first, but if Xiao Chenyuan recognized her, well, that wasn't her responsibility.

But did he even remember her? After all, she had died young in her past life, at only twelve years old. Back then, Xiao Chenyuan had only been seventeen. Even if she hadn't died, after ten years of separation, would they even recognize each other if they met again? Who would have thought that the once proud and youthful heir of the Great Yong Empire, renowned for his brilliance, would have transformed into the man he was now after just a decade?