The gibbous moon, not quite full, hung high in the sky. Stirred by the scattered starlight, its light instantly cascaded down like flowing water, sprinkling upon the withered leaves of late autumn and leaving behind a dappled pattern.

For a time, only the steady breathing of the three people could be heard within the cave.

Outside, the howling late autumn wind swept past the cave entrance, its echoes stirring faintly within... as if reluctant to break the tranquil warmth of the moment.

"Is that truly what you think?"

After a while, Su Bei's voice broke the silence.

"Think about what?"

Ji Nanjue and Dan Wulan tilted their heads up at the same time, looking at Su Bei with puzzled expressions as they asked in unison.

They didn't know what this abrupt, out-of-context question was referring to.

Su Bei pondered for a moment, then slowly began,

"Ascending the throne... becoming the Eastern Emperor."

As he spoke, he tightened his embrace on the two women in his arms.

The Sword Sect has been revived, hasn't it? And now I've taken on the burden of restoring the Eastern Country.

The mere thought of the mountain of tasks awaiting him after ascending the throne felt like an invisible burden pressing down relentlessly on Su Bei's shoulders.

How many more days of leisure like this would there be?

A faint fragrance wafted, and the moonlight seemed to gently tap at the cave.

Ji Nanjue looked at him seriously. "What difference does it make whether I do it or you do it?"

"As long as I'm by your side."

Dan Wulan hummed softly, then said nonchalantly, "Mm, I understand."

"Tonight, I'm just an extra."

Chu Zige chuckled softly. He reached out to stroke Dan Wulan's silver hair, then gently pressed his forehead against hers, smoothing the slight furrow in her brow.

Su Bei then said, "It's that all of you are by my side."

Saying this, Su Bei reached out to tilt up both women's chins, gazing into their eyes.

The subtle movements the two women had just made against his chest hadn't escaped him, so he said,

"As long as you don't mind it in your hearts, when we return to Northern Border Pass, the day of my coronation will also be our wedding day."

He didn't need to hear their answer; the current look in Ji Nanjue's and Dan Wulan's eyes revealed all their wishes.

In South City, his eyes blood-red, he had wielded the blood-soaked Qingping sword and, before all the world, made them a promise. He owed them a wedding, a grand ceremony that would capture the attention of the entire prosperous era. Right now, in their hearts, he was utterly perfect, as if he were carving a new vow or indelibly branding something into the depths of their souls.

Su Bei first lowered his head and kissed Ji Nanjue on the lips. It wasn't a fleeting, dragonfly-touch peck, but one where he unhesitatingly parted hers, gently yet dominantly capturing a taste of her sweet tongue.

Nan Ji felt her mind go blank with a roar, and even her breathing hitched for a moment.

In her heart, she felt as if something was about to overflow.

The atmosphere grew increasingly fervent.

However, it wasn't until Su Bei ended the kiss that Dan Wulan, who was beside them, chuckled lightly and said,

"It seems, My Lord, your long-cherished wish is about to be fulfilled."

"However, speaking of this matter of becoming Emperor, that's something I really must discuss thoroughly..."

"A country cannot be without a ruler for a single day, let alone a household. Even if My Lord always says nice things, claiming to love everyone equally, without favoring one an iota more... still, in the vast palace, there must be someone in charge, right?"

"My Lord?"

As she spoke, her eyes narrowed, and she glanced sideways at Ji Nanjue, the corners of her lips curling up in a smirk laden with profound meaning.

She stopped just short of explicitly stating who should be the principal wife, but the implication hung clearly before the three of them.

The two women, who moments before had been sharing a look of mutual understanding and holding hands, instantly became alert upon hearing this.

The blush that had yet to fade from Ji Nanjue's cheeks slowly dissipated. Her phoenix eyes stared intently at Dan Wulan, and after a moment, she said calmly,

"The Eastern Country is mine."

Her words were succinct yet perfectly clear.

Su Bei's throne was passed to him by me, Ji Nanjue. So... how could the position of Empress belong to anyone else? Who else would dare try to claim it?

If a mere Dan Wulan like you were to take that position, wouldn't the Ji family's bloodline be finished?

I've already been extremely magnanimous by sharing Su Bei with you.

Clearly, Dan Wulan snorted in disdain at this, her eyes and the corners of her lips brimming with a smile that was as fake as could be.

She sat up, straightened her clothes, and feigned a thoughtful expression before saying with a hint of sarcasm,

"Well, if Sister Nan Ji puts it that way, then I, Wulan, have nothing more to say. I can only remain unconvinced in my heart, I suppose."

"Unlike Sister Nan Ji, who naturally possesses the Supreme Yin Body and is a perfect match for our husband. TSK, TSK, TSK, she isn't even the principal wife yet, and she's already trying to pressure me."

As she spoke, her fingers lightly twirled a strand of silver hair that fell beside her temple, and she appeared to be 'secretly heartbroken,'

"After all, I was merely childhood sweethearts with our husband. His promise to shake a tree of peach blossoms for Wulan still can't compare to that Supreme Yang Lotus Root, can it..."

"You audacious woman!"

Hearing the words "Supreme Yang Lotus Root," Nan Ji's ears instantly burned. She narrowed her eyes, glaring daggers at Dan Wulan.

Perhaps, deep down, Ji Nanjue's domineering streak was even more intense than Su Bei's.

Their gazes clashed, and sparks flew.

Su Bei watched, speechless.

"COUGH, COUGH, COUGH—"

He coughed, trying to alleviate the awkward atmosphere.

Dan Wulan, however, pretended not to notice. Her expression remained frosty, which, combined with her current incessant chatter, created a rather jarring effect.

"How dull you are, Ji Nanjue! Such a 'Young Master' attitude!!"

"You wouldn't want Queen Lin to find out how you writhe and moan beneath our husband, now would you... TSK, TSK, TSK, ah—"

Seeing Ji Nanjue's expression turn increasingly glacial, Su Bei quickly clapped a hand over Dan Wulan's mouth just before Ji Nanjue could erupt and give Dan Wulan a thrashing.

He let out a breath, a bitter smile playing on his lips.

Even though they had acknowledged each other's existence, getting them to be as close as blood sisters still seemed like a hellishly difficult challenge...

"My Lord," Ji Nanjue began, "speaking of... Jin Yu... how am I supposed to face her...?"

Ji Nanjue avoided looking at Dan Wulan. As soon as Queen Lin was mentioned, her phoenix eyes flickered evasively—

In her heart, the person she had wronged the most was Lin Jinyu.

Over so many years, she owed her far, far too much.

And Su Bei felt the exact same way.

He glanced guiltily at Dan Wulan beside him and then whispered,

"Well... I, your husband, don't know either."

"I can't face her either."

As he spoke, he clutched his head. This was something they would have to face sooner or later once they reached Northern Border Pass; there was no escaping it.

After all, he, under duress, had slept with the Empress, who was like a mother to his wife. When his wife found out, she forgave him. But the Empress felt she had terribly wronged his wife and had wanted to end her own life.

Although his wife and he had both seemingly died in South City, the Empress had saved his wife, allowing her to temporarily escape that tangled mess...

But what about Eldest Senior Sister? And all those disciples? What about Headmistress Yu? And the Saintess?

The two exchanged helpless glances. It seemed this secret was known only to them.

How could they ever face Lin Jinyu with a clear conscience?

Dan Wulan frowned slightly, her dark brows knitting together. A hint of suspicion flickered in her eyes as she scrutinized Su Bei and Ji Nanjue, her gaze sweeping over their faces as if trying to discern something.

"What charade are you two playing at?"

Dan Wulan knew Su Bei might have had some ambiguous involvement with Lin Jinyu, but... Ji Nanjue worrying about Lin Jinyu was one thing; what did it have to do with Su Bei?

Su Bei and Ji Nanjue exchanged a look, blinking, and both fell silent.

Dan Wulan blinked. As intelligent as she was, she would never have guessed that Su Bei could have "played poker" with Queen Lin. Her eyes twinkled like little stars as she said,

"My Lord is truly considerate, isn't he? To even worry about the matters between Queen Lin and Sister Nan Ji."

"It couldn't be that his lustful thoughts are still active, could it..."

Su Bei instinctively retorted,

"How could that be... I mean—"

However, he trailed off mid-sentence, instinctively glancing at Ji Nanjue.

Ji Nanjue was looking back at him, a look of complete agreement in her eyes.

How could they ever face Queen Lin with a clear conscience?

Lustful thoughts still active?

Lustful thoughts still active!

Yes! That's it! Lustful thoughts still active!