The Current Wife Tears the Former Homewrecker to Shreds

Bai Yuji tugged on Qin Muye's sleeve and lowered her voice. "Are they the ones who bullied you?"

"Bullied?"

Qin Muye's expression darkened. He turned his head away and snorted. "As if they're worthy."

Bai Yuji asked again, "Was that woman who kept staring at you the one who used to bully you?"

Qin Muye furrowed his brows, looking rather annoyed. "Who told you such nonsense?"

"Your aunt."

"And you believed her?"

"Why wouldn't I? Do you still care about her?"

"No!"

Qin Muye turned his head away and ignored her.

Bai Yuji's lips twitched.

As expected, his usual snarling, carefree attitude was merely a form of self-protection. Insecurity and sensitivity were what truly lay beneath the surface.

She glanced over the gift list recorded by the servants and saw that Wang Xuan had only given him an ordinary jade pendant. Her brows furrowed.

She looked toward Wang Xuan and saw her smiling at Qin Muye. Then she gave a lazy yawn, her every movement dripping with seductive charm.

Qin Muye quickly looked away, his expression blank as he let his gaze wander.

And he still claimed he hadn't been bullied!

That woman had deliberately climbed into Qin Muye's bed and spread rumors everywhere that he was impotent. Now she could still flirt at him as though nothing had happened. Wasn't she treating him like a dog to play with?

Bai Yuji deeply despised people like her, but then a thought struck her, and she brightened.

She seemed to have found a way to make Qin Muye emotionally dependent on her.

Qin Muye saw the faint lift at the corner of her mouth and was delighted, too. Have you finally found a way to make me emotionally dependent on you?

Just then,

a clear voice rang out from beyond the door. "The Crown Prince has arrived!"

Only three breaths later, the voice rang out again. "The Imperial Princess has arrived!"

At the sound,

the people who had been chatting in groups of three and five perked up at once and hurried forward to greet them.

Before long, a handsome young man and a palace-dressed girl with a cool, striking air walked over side by side.

Neither gave way to the other.

Everyone cupped their hands in greeting. "Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince. Greetings, Your Highness the Imperial Princess."

The casual atmosphere from a moment ago tightened in an instant.

There was no helping it. The relationship between these two was far too unusual.

The Crown Prince, Li Zhixuan, was the only son of the current Empress. He had already established his own residence and taken part in court affairs, so by rights his position as Crown Prince should have been secure. Yet Great Gan also had an Imperial Princess—Li Xingluo.

Li Xingluo's mother had been Li Hong's first wife and the first Empress. She had made great contributions during Li Hong's rise to the throne and borne him a son and a daughter. The couple had been deeply devoted to each other.

But later, the court's policies of using demons to control demons and barbarians to control barbarians began to bear fruit, infuriating a great saint of the Demon Race. He led his powerful subordinates in a secret infiltration deep into the imperial city and launched a surprise attack on the palace.

In the end, those great demons were wiped out to the last one, but Li Hong was gravely wounded and had yet to recover fully.

The Empress had died saving her husband, and their eldest son had perished as well. Only Li Xingluo remained, a little girl who had barely been born.

The news enraged the entire nation. The border armies grew even more valiant, laying the foundations for the prosperous age of Ten Thousand Demons Coming to Court.

For the stability of the nation, Li Hong had appointed a new Empress and Crown Prince. But out of guilt, he had granted Li Xingluo the new title of Princess Linghua and given her the right to establish her own residence.

Of the nine princesses under Li Hong, only one had been granted the title of Imperial Princess.

Of his thirteen princes, none but the Crown Prince had the right to establish his own residence.

But Li Xingluo had that right, and she had countless skilled and capable people under her command. On top of that, her cultivation talent was peerless, making even the Crown Prince seem dim beside her.

How could anyone stand up to that?

The Emperor had sent both of them to celebrate Qin Muye's birthday, naturally showing his regard for the Qin Family. Yet the guests present found themselves in an awkward position, afraid that one careless move would get them branded as having taken sides.

Li Zhixuan seemed not to notice how tense everyone was. He simply smiled and said, "There's no need for formalities. My imperial sister and I have come today as guests, just like all of you. Let's celebrate Muye's birthday together."

After speaking, he cupped his hands to the crowd, exchanged a few polite words with the Qin aunt and nephew, then went straight to his seat.

Li Xingluo did the same. Though her manner was cool, she made no one uncomfortable. After a few pleasantries and a brief mention of her gift, she took her seat as well.

Every young person who passed by instinctively lowered their head.

Those with demonic features still visible were especially wary, quietly retreating several steps.

Bai Yuji was curious. She lowered her voice and asked, "Why are those members of the Demon Race so afraid of her?"

"Because of what happened to her mother, she's never had a good impression of the Demon Race. The children of the aristocracy who are old enough have to study and cultivate at the Imperial Academy. Since private duels aren't forbidden there, those demons have all been left with a shadow from being beaten by her."

Qin Muye explained casually, but his gaze remained fixed on the Fate Panels above the Crown Prince's and the Imperial Princess's heads.

First, the Crown Prince's.

[Main Fate: Fallen Ruler]: A flourishing age collapses; the empire is laid to rest.

[Fate Rank]: Second Grade (111/2560)

[Annotation]: Suspicious and weak-willed by nature, he yielded and compromised when faced with the accumulated ills of Gan Kingdom. Less than ten years after ascending the throne, the mighty Great Gan crumbled into the dust of history.

[Prompt]: When fate fluctuation exceeds 2000, you can obtain the Fate Skill Fall of the Nation.

From a flourishing age to utter ruin—all in such a short time?

But the Imperial Princess's entry was even more outrageous.

[Main Fate: Embers of Heaven's Mandate]: Crushed beneath Heaven's Mandate, not even bones remain.

[Fate Rank]: First Grade (1/5120)

[Annotation]: With Heaven's Mandate laid out like a game of chess, she could have been the piece that decided victory or defeat. Yet at the endgame, she cut off her own path to becoming an emperor and burned into the embers of Heaven's Mandate.

[Prompt]: When fate fluctuation exceeds 5000, you can obtain the Fate Skill Ash of Nirvana.

Two major quests had appeared at once. Completing either one would be enough to fill Qin Muye's belly.

But these were clearly main quests, tied to the throne. There was no way to complete either in a short time.

Still...

She cut off her own path to becoming an emperor?

Qin Muye grew interested. Cutting off her own path to becoming an emperor meant that as long as Li Xingluo didn't mess things up, she would most likely become an emperor.

Whether or not he could complete this quest, clinging tightly to this powerful ally could only be a good thing.

He'd heard that only the truly capable and powerful could earn Li Xingluo's notice. Forcing his way into her good graces would be useless; he would have to take his time and make plans for later.

He said nothing more and nodded to Qin Yanying. His elder from the family then announced the start of the birthday banquet.

The birthday banquet went smoothly, and it was dull as well.

After all, there were hardly any true friends among the guests.

A crowd of people who had been extorted seethed with anger, yet none dared let it show.

The Crown Prince and the Imperial Princess had come on the Emperor's behalf to show concern for the Qin Mansion. Though they were rivals elsewhere, they couldn't start fighting in the Qin Mansion.

So it was nothing but pleasantries upon pleasantries, dull beyond belief.

Thus, when the banquet was only halfway through, Qin Muye made an excuse about feeling weak and went back to the rear courtyard to rest alone.

Bai Yuji stayed with Qin Yanying to continue entertaining the birthday guests.

Bai Yuji was quite pleased with her role today. Qin Yanying had only introduced her as Qin Muye's good friend, but treated her like the lady of the house, making everyone understand. It was exactly the sort of standing she needed to move about Capital City in the future.

Only...

She glanced toward the direction Qin Muye had left. That cheeky rascal had been in the mood to joke around that morning, but ever since he saw Wang Xuan, his spirits had stayed low. He must still care about her a great deal.

It was almost pitiful.

The thought had barely crossed her mind when she saw Wang Xuan quietly slip away from the banquet as well.

She thought for a moment, then said softly, "Auntie, Qin-lang doesn't look well. The new medicine may be making him feel unwell. I'll go check on him."

"Ah..."

Qin Yanying didn't much like this sort of polite gathering either, and naturally didn't want to be left without company. But it concerned her nephew's health, so she could only say, "Then go and come back quickly!"

"Mm!"

Bai Yuji nodded sweetly and hurried toward the rear courtyard.

This current little wife of his was about to stand up for her sweetheart.

Wouldn't that leave Qin Muye completely smitten?

Time to tear that little bitch to shreds!

Rear courtyard.

Bedroom.

Qin Muye lay on the bed, playing with the jade pendant Wang Xuan had sent him as he silently counted down.

"Three..."

"Two..."

"Knock, knock, knock!"

The sound of knocking came from the door, followed by Wang Xuan's voice from outside. "Muye! May I come in?"

Qin Muye hid the jade pendant under the covers, but deliberately left its cord hanging out.

His voice was a little stiff. "Don't come in!"

"Then I'm coming in!"

Creak!

Wang Xuan pushed the door open and looked at him with tender eyes. She reproached him, "Muye, why didn't you look at me at all just now?"