The guards swarmed toward William, and the entire palace descended into chaos. Taking advantage of the confusion, An Xinghe led Vanessa out of the palace and asked:
"Vanessa, aside from your own home, do you have anywhere else safe to stay?"
Vanessa nodded. "I do. Sister Jennifer bought a house outside the palace before. We can hide there for now!"
Following Vanessa's directions, the two of them arrived at the house. Only after An Xinghe confirmed that no pursuers were behind them did he finally let out a sigh of relief.
He did not bother hiding it and asked Vanessa directly:
"Do you want to become the Empress? I can help you."
Since An Xinghe had killed Marlon, William's confidant, he knew that William definitely would not let him off.
Since that was the case, he might as well overthrow William directly and help Vanessa ascend the throne!
He could consider it repayment for the Ocean Heart's kindness.
However, Vanessa seemed not to have heard An Xinghe's words. Twisting her fingers, she asked with a faint blush:
"Xinghe, was what you said in the palace hall just now true?"
"Vanessa, let's not worry about anything else for now. Just answer me first: do you want to become the Empress?"
Unexpectedly, the usually gentle and sweet Vanessa showed a rare forcefulness at that moment:
"Xinghe! Tell me first whether what you said in the palace hall was true!!"
An Xinghe had already forgotten what he had said.
"Which part?"
"It's..." Vanessa's voice was filled with anxiety and anticipation. "That line... 'I object, because the Groom isn't me'..."
Live Stream.
[An Xinghe is talking business with you, but Vanessa has nothing but romance on her mind.]
[Is this what girls in love are like?!]
[Vanessa has completely fallen for him!]
[He saved the beauty, and on top of that, the hero is handsome and speaks sweetly. What girl wouldn't fall for him?!]
"Miss Vanessa, how long have you been holding that question in?"
Hearing Vanessa ask that, An Xinghe was initially a little stunned.
The original reason he had said that line was actually just to show off...
But An Xinghe was an experienced scumbag. He had encountered situations like this more than once or twice!
He immediately put an arm around Vanessa's shoulders.
"Of course it's true! Truer than pearls!"
Danmaku.
[Everyone, get over here! Learn how to become a scumbag!]
[An Xinghe doesn't even blush when he lies!]
[If I had half of An Xinghe's eloquence, I wouldn't have been single for thirty years!]
[The person above, An Xinghe's eloquence has to be used together with his looks!]
[Why are my eyes always filled with tears? Because I'm crying my ass off from jealousy!]
[Is the next part paid content again? Huh? Why did I say "again"?]
After receiving An Xinghe's affirmative answer, Vanessa was indescribably delighted!
The grief of losing Father King and her fear of the future seemed to be completely released at that moment!
She had found someone new to rely on.
Vanessa unconsciously leaned into An Xinghe's arms and murmured:
"Xinghe, do you know? Today is my coming-of-age ceremony."
"For every merfolk who passes their coming-of-age ceremony, the Red Scale on their forehead matures and then falls off."
"It is also the most precious treasure of every merfolk. They give their Red Scale to their beloved, representing eternal devotion."
"Now, my Red Scale is yours."
Vanessa gently removed the Red Scale from her forehead and shyly placed it in An Xinghe's hand.
Then she leaned close to An Xinghe's ear and said in a soft, alluring voice:
"Xinghe, could you let me experience another coming-of-age ceremony tonight? The ceremony where a girl becomes a woman..."
How could An Xinghe refuse? He cupped Vanessa's face in his hands.
"As you command, Princess."
[ Ding! Quest progress updated! ] [Player An Xinghe and Lin Yan have collected the Poisoned Apple That Was Eaten, Cinderella's Glass Slipper, Little Red Riding Hood's Hat, and The Little Mermaid's Scales.] [Please keep up the good work.]
The next morning, An Xinghe looked at Vanessa sleeping in his arms and felt a scumbag's guilt.
However, that guilt lasted less than a second before he cast it into oblivion.
What? You want to know what happened last night?
Of course, things happened that couldn't be broadcast or written about!
As for the issue of reproductive isolation, they could discuss it later.
Noticing that An Xinghe had woken up, Vanessa gradually opened her eyes as well. She lightly kissed An Xinghe on the lips.
"Good morning, darling. Are you hungry?"
"Not hungry. My back hurts."
Vanessa blushed deeply and shyly punched An Xinghe once.
"Don't say things like that!"
An Xinghe straightened his expression.
"Vanessa, what have you decided about what I told you yesterday?"
Vanessa tapped her lips. For a moment, she couldn't remember what An Xinghe was referring to, so she asked tentatively:
"Are you talking about the baby's name? Didn't we say it would be Umbrella?"
An Xinghe rolled his eyes.
"I mean helping you take back the throne and become the Empress!"
Vanessa was troubled. After struggling for a moment, she said:
"I... I actually don't want to become the Empress. As long as I can be with you, that's enough."
An Xinghe held Vanessa by the shoulders and looked into her face.
"Have you forgotten how your Father King died? Blood debts must be repaid in blood!"
The moment Vanessa heard the words "Father King," her memories came flooding back, and she began to cry.
"I miss Father King so much! But I... I can't lose you too! I don't want you to take any risks! If you leave me too, I'll have nothing left!"
An Xinghe gently patted the crying girl and comforted her.
"Don't worry. I've already come up with a plan. There definitely won't be any danger."
Vanessa raised her head to look at him. "Really?"
"Really! I swear on the happiness of my teammates for the rest of their lives!"
After the two of them settled on a plan, An Xinghe went ahead to make preparations, while Vanessa followed the plan and went alone to the palace gates.
She walked up to the guards and said coldly:
"Go call William out. Tell him that his vengeful sister is here!"
The guard hurried into the palace. About ten minutes later, William emerged surrounded by a group of guards.
Looking at Vanessa standing there alone, he mocked her:
"Little sister, you finally decided to come back! What happened? That human didn't come with you? Don't tell me he abandoned you?!"
The word "abandoned" sent Vanessa into a rage. She shouted at the top of her voice:
"William! Shut your mouth! I came here today to take back the throne!"
"Take back the throne? You?" William burst out laughing. "Hahaha!! My adorable little sister! Why would you think you could take back the throne all by yourself? Or did that human give you the courage?"
At that moment, William noticed that the Red Scale on Vanessa's forehead was missing. He hurriedly demanded:
"Vanessa! Where's your Red Scale? What did you do with it?"
Vanessa did not back down in the slightest.
"Of course I gave it to my beloved husband!"
"You mean... you married that human! You'd rather give yourself to an outsider than marry the man I arranged for you!"
"Xinghe is a thousand, ten thousand times better than that Marlon! Our marriage has received the ancestors' blessing! And the ancestors also sent me here to take back the throne!"
William burst into loud laughter.
"Little sister, you haven't lost your mind, have you? The ancestors told you to take back the throne?? Then make them show themselves and prove it to me!"
"Then I'll show you!"
Vanessa casually pointed at one of the guards guarding the gate, and the guard collapsed with a loud boom!
William's eyes were filled with disbelief. He ordered one of the guards beside him:
Before you continue