Qian Renxue released her hold on Ye Yunxi.
Finally free, Ye Yunxi instantly slid off the stone table and put a very safe distance between herself and Qian Renxue, enough to let her fend off any retaliation.
"Imperial Concubine, why are you running? I'm your husband, after all. Calling me 'husband' would be better than anything else. Who knows? If I'm in a good mood, I might reward you with a Soul Bone."
Qian Renxue sipped her tea and gave the enchanting Ye Yunxi a teasing smile.
"Pah!"
"Xue Qinghe, you keep treating me like this. Aren't you afraid that one day, when I'm strong enough, I'll string you up in a tree and whip you?"
Ye Yunxi clenched her fists. She really wanted to slap Qian Renxue hard. Every time, Qian Renxue relied on having a Titled Douluo protect her and bullied her like this.
Ye Yunxi wasn't a masochist, yet Qian Renxue insisted on bullying her every time.
If only she'd known, she wouldn't have come back.
"Imperial Concubine, you really do have a sense of humor. If you can pull that off, I'll give you credit. You'd hang the future Emperor of Heaven Dou from a tree and beat him? Don't you think that sounds ridiculous?"
"Even if you broke through to Titled Douluo, do you think you could manage it? By then, I'll have the military under my command. I can summon any number of powerful people. What would you do then?"
Qian Renxue didn't take Ye Yunxi's words seriously. If three Titled Douluos weren't enough, she'd bring in ten. She refused to believe Ye Yunxi could charm so many Titled Douluos all at once.
And she had her grandfathers in the Worship Hall. Her own grandfather, Qian Daoliu, alone would be enough to leave this little vixen helpless.
"You—you despicable Xue Qinghe! I'll never make peace with you!"
Ye Yunxi stamped her feet in fury. The more she thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt. How could she let Qian Renxue get the better of her?
She immediately raised a slender, pale hand and pointed at Qian Renxue. "Believe it or not, one day I'll put horns on your head!"
"You dare?"
At that, Qian Renxue's expression darkened. She set down her teacup and fixed Ye Yunxi with an icy stare.
She could let Ye Yunxi do whatever she wanted, but if Ye Yunxi really dared to put horns on her, she would never tolerate it.
Even if she wasn't a man, her identity was Xue Qinghe.
Ye Yunxi was a little frightened by that aura, but she still stood her ground. "Then stop being so strict with me next time. Otherwise, believe it or not, I'll leave right away. I can live perfectly well without you."
"Imperial Concubine, you really won't stop until you hit the coffin. I was planning to take you to watch the Soul Master Tournament's Preliminary Tournament. But it seems the best choice is to lock you up at home and tie you to the bed."
Qian Renxue had figured it out: this little vixen really spoke without thinking. Did she have any idea how much this could rile her up?
"Let me make this clear: I've been very good to you. Do you see me treating anyone else this way? My patience is limited. One day, if I really can't take it anymore, I'll have my way with you. By then, it'll be too late to regret it."
Qian Renxue tamped down her anger. No matter what, she couldn't lose her temper with this little vixen like that.
She had also been the one to alert Qian Renxue about Xue Beng, and it was thanks to Ye Yunxi that he had been sent to prison.
Qian Renxue had always been fair in her rewards and punishments. Besides, Ye Yunxi wasn't as foolish as she looked. She thought about things far more deeply than Qian Renxue did.
With Ye Yunxi's help managing the empire in the future, things would be much easier.
"As if I'd want that."
Ye Yunxi scoffed and rolled her eyes at Qian Renxue.
"Imperial Concubine, I'm done joking around. Be ready to come watch the Soul Master Tournament with me tomorrow. Dress appropriately, and change your shoes, too."
Qian Renxue didn't want to keep discussing this. Instead, she turned to the dress code for the Soul Master Tournament.
"Huh? Those awful shoes again, and those hideous clothes? Don't I look fine like this? Besides, it's so comfortable."
Ye Yunxi complained, puffing out her cheeks in displeasure.
"As Imperial Concubine, you need to mind your manners. Have you ever seen a noblewoman running around in a simple dress without shoes?"
Qian Renxue rolled her eyes at Ye Yunxi, paying no heed to her complaints.
"You go by yourself. I'm not going. Bye."
Ye Yunxi simply couldn't wear those shoes; they made her feet hurt. She was about to slip away in a flash when—
Qian Renxue, who had been sitting beneath the tree drinking tea, suddenly pulled her into her arms and pinned her hands behind her back.
"You really are disobedient. I told you that you have to come with me to tomorrow's important event."
"Let go! You're hurting me." Ye Yunxi winced, her eyes reddening.
"I don't care. Come back to my room with me first. I'm going to teach you a proper lesson."
"Xue Qinghe, you're absolutely despicable!"
"Thank you for the compliment. If I weren't absolutely despicable with you, you'd be insulting me." Qian Renxue burst out laughing.
"Shameless!!!"
The next morning, just as the sky was beginning to lighten, Ye Yunxi was still hoping to sleep some more when Qian Renxue dragged her out of bed.
"Let me sleep a little longer."
"Sleep, sleep, sleep. All you ever do is sleep. Hurry up and get dressed!"
The maid brought over a fiery fox-patterned brocade court dress and a pair of soft-soled court shoes set with tiny diamonds, placed them on the table, then went outside the screen.
Ye Yunxi stared at the slightly raised heels, her face crumpling like a bitter melon.
"I have to wear these again? They hurt my feet!"
Qian Renxue stood with her arms crossed outside the screen, her voice carrying the domineering edge of a husband.
"Put them on, or I'll help you myself."
Ye Yunxi reluctantly changed. The brocade court dress outlined her slender waist, and the Nine-Tails embroidery on the hem shimmered in and out of sight, setting off her snow-white skin and natural allure.
Qian Renxue came over and straightened her collar with her fingertips, her gaze burning.
"Now you look like the Imperial Concubine of Heaven Dou."
"I'm not. That's just what you say."
"You are. That's what the people believe, too." Qian Renxue smiled.
The two of them arrived at the Preliminary Tournament venue by carriage. The stands were already packed and buzzing with noise.
In the VIP seats, Emperor Xue Ye, Ning Fengzhi, Yu Yuanzhen, and the others sat in a row. Their gazes all landed on Ye Yunxi, and their hearts raced again.
Today, Shrek Academy was facing the Heaven Dou Royal Academy Second Team.
On the arena, the members of the Royal Academy Second Team wore matching silver-white uniforms. They all held their heads high, the arrogance of royal offspring showing between their brows. After Martial Soul Possession, Soul Rings of various colors lit up.
The Shrek Seven Devils on the opposite side were still wearing those drab gray uniforms. Standing beside the dazzling Royal Academy Second Team, they looked completely out of place.
Tang San, however, looked eager to give it a try.
Just as the referee was about to announce the start of the match, the system's teasing, mechanical voice suddenly rang out in Ye Yunxi's mind.
[ Ding! Fun little quest triggered: Shrek's Embarrassing Moment on the Arena ]
[ Quest requirements: Within three seconds of the match beginning, say something that makes three members of Shrek lose their composure (coughing, stumbling, or a delayed Soul Skill all count). Using Soul Power to charm them is prohibited. ]
[ Quest reward: Soul Power +1 level, plus one "Fox Shadow Speed Talisman" (increases speed by 30% for fifteen minutes; cannot be detected by anyone below Soul Douluo) ]