Dawn.
Vice Minister of Rites' residence.
Chan'er lay quietly on the bed, covered by a thin quilt. In the depths of sleep, she had shed the scheming calculations of a demoness. Her features were delicate and lovely, innocent and radiant.
Who knew what pleasant thing she was dreaming of? The corners of her pink lips curved slightly upward, like morning dew—fresh and vivid.
Hearing birds chirping outside the window, Chan'er's long lashes trembled, and she slowly opened her eyes.
"Chan'er, you're awake!"
"..."
Seeing Xiang Yuan's face so close at hand, Chan'er's breathing caught. For one instant, it felt as if even her heart had stopped beating.
She remembered encountering Empress Dugu last night—the brutal battle, Empress Dugu trying to drag her down with her in death. Though she had failed, she had still badly damaged Chan'er's Primordial Spirit. Then came the sight of Xiang Yuan rubbing his hands together as he approached.
It's over!
Seeing Xiang Yuan dressed in nothing but a single inner robe, clearly having just gotten out of bed, boundless sorrow welled up in Chan'er's heart. Yet she soon sensed that something was off.
Because everything was too right—that was precisely what made it wrong!
Her eyes darted sideways, and she realized something. Cursing him shamelessly in her heart, she propped up her exhausted body against the headboard and said weakly, "Uncle Xiang, Chan'er has no strength left. What happened last night?"
"We've already gone this far, and you're still calling me Uncle Xiang? Call me husband."
Xiang Yuan pointed beside Chan'er. There was another set of bedding there; he had slept there last night.
Not that anything had actually happened. He had spent the first half of the night charging Senior Jiang, then spent the latter half dispersing demonic qi. He had been busy all