Snowlight

Ice Empress glanced at it.

This one has no pattern.

"They taste the same."

"I want one with a nice pattern."

Qian Chen cut the chestnut cake on her plate in half.

He handed half of it to Ice Empress.

"Now we have it."

Ice Empress took the pastry and immediately leaned back against his shoulder.

"Chen'er is still the best."

Qian Renxue looked at her.

"My brother just said he wanted to stay until the afternoon."

He gave it to me now.

"I want one too."

Qian Renxue picked up a piece of chestnut cake and handed it to Qian Chen.

"Elder brother."

Qian Chen lowered his head and ate it.

She withdrew her hand with satisfaction and placed the remaining half into his dish.

"We'll eat this afternoon."

Ice Empress looked at her.

"You've learned it too."

"I'm glad my brother is willing to eat."

Snow Empress picked up her teacup and quietly watched the two of them.

Qian Chen raised his hand, picked up the pastry in front of her, and brought it to her lips.

Snow Empress did not push her away.

She lowered her head and took a bite, then grasped his wrist.

You can eat the rest.

Qian Chen finished half of the pastry.

Snow Empress took out a silk handkerchief and wiped the crumbs from his fingertips.

"You're all taking care of him."

Ice Empress rested her chin on her hand and looked at Snow Empress.

"You won't take care of him?"

"I'm here too."

"Then why are you always a step behind?"

"Because he can do it himself."

"My brother is now the God King."

Ice Empress is approaching Qian Chen.

Even God King can be taken care of.

Qian Renxue grasped Qian Chen's fingers.

"My brother doesn't need to handle everything personally."

Snow Empress wiped his hands clean and put away the handkerchief.

"It's good that he's willing to be taken care of."

Qian Chen looked at the three of them.

"I do."

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Ice Empress is closer.

"Then Chen'er doesn't need to do anything today."

I'll brew the tea.

Snow Empress picked up the teapot.

"I'll get the pastries."

Qian Renxue closed the food box.

"I'll prepare the clothes and hair ornament."

Qian Chen looked at them.

"I just need to sit?"

"Um."

"Then what are you doing?"

Qian Renxue took his hand and placed his palm on her knee.

"I'll stay with you."

Outside the window, the Nine-Color Star River flowed slowly by.

On the long table in the temple, teacups, pastries, and hairpins were arranged alternately.

Qian Chen sat between the three.

Ice Empress leaned against his left shoulder.

Qian Renxue held his right hand.

Snow Empress refilled his cup with warm tea and then took the white jade hairpin from her hair and placed it on the table.

Qian Chen looked at the hairpin.

"How did you take it off?"

"I didn't want to press on my stomach while reading this afternoon."

"You will radiate."

"Then I'll let you comb it again."

She picked up the book and sat down opposite him.

"This afternoon, you'll read with me."

"Good."

Qian Renxue leaned against Qian Chen's shoulder.

"My brother wants to watch the Milky Way with me too."

"Good."

Ice Empress raised her hand and gently touched the silver hair beside his ear.

"You also have to eat chestnut cake with me."

"Good."

Qian Chen picked up his teacup.

The day's affairs of the Divine Realm were pushed into the afternoon by the three people's words.

He did not refuse.

Outside the temple, the Nine Elements circulated quietly.

Inside the temple, the aroma of tea and chestnuts mingled together.

Qian Chen lowered his head and drank his tea.

Qian Renxue held his hand.

Ice Empress leaned against his shoulder.

Snow Empress opened the book, waiting to have him read it to her again in the afternoon.

Afternoon.

The Nine-Color Star River flowed slowly outside the temple.

Starlight streamed through the corridor and fell on the soft couch by the window. Qian Renxue had already laid out a soft cushion there, with a golden food box beside it.

Ice Empress walked over carrying two teacups.

She placed the teacup on the table and opened the food box.

"Chen'er, look at this first."

Qian Chen raised his eyes.

The food box contained several small chestnut cakes. The cakes were pressed into leaf shapes with neat edges and were sprinkled with fine osmanthus flowers.

"Did you make this?" Qian Chen asked.

"No."

Ice Empress picked up a piece and brought it to his lips.

"I had the kitchen prepare this."

Qian Chen lowered her head and took a bite.

The aroma of chestnuts quickly spread.

The cake has a delicate texture and a moderate sweetness.

"Very good."

Ice Empress nodded in satisfaction and handed him the remaining half.

"This piece is yours too."

Aren't you going to eat?

"I've already eaten."

After she finished speaking, she took another piece from the food box and put it to her lips.

Qian Renxue sat on the other side of the soft couch and glanced at the food box.

"Didn't you just say you were only leaving one for my brother?"

I've changed my mind.

Ice Empress swallowed the pastry and hugged Qian Chen's arm.

"Chen'er needs to eat a lot today."

Qian Chen raised his hand and handed her another piece of pastry from the food box.

"This one's for you too."

Ice Empress opened its mouth and bit down.

She didn't let go immediately, but instead ate the pastry little by little through his fingers.

Qian Renxue's gaze fell on their clasped hands.

"Ice Empress, you can hold it with your hands."

"This way of eating is more convenient."

Ice Empress rested his chin on Qian Chen's shoulder.

"And it tastes even better because Chen'er handed it to me personally."

Qian Chen picked up the teacup and handed it to her.

"Have some tea."

Ice Empress released his fingers, took the teacup, and took a sip first.

The tea has a faint floral fragrance.

She looked down at the color of the tea in her cup.

"The tea is good today."

Snow Empress walked over from beside the tea table.

She changed into a light silver dress, her long hair not completely tied up, only a white jade hairpin was pinned behind her ear. A few strands of silver hair fell in front of her shoulders, swaying gently with her steps.

"This is newly bought tea."

Snow Empress placed another teacup in front of Qian Chen.

"It contains Moon Orchid petals."

Qian Chen picked up the teacup and took a small sip.

It's even more fragrant than the morning tea.

Snow Empress sat down opposite him.

"If you like it, that's fine."

She raised her hand and placed her book on the table.

When the pages of the book are opened, a star map is revealed. The map records nine star regions of the Divine Realm, each marked with different elemental trajectories.

Qian Renxue moved closer to Qian Chen and placed the teacup in her hand beside him.

"Brother, spend this afternoon reading with Sister Snow Empress."

"Good."

"After you've finished watching, come with me for a walk outside."

"Good."

Ice Empress immediately raised their faces.

What about me?

"You come too."

That's more like it.

She hugged Qian Chen's arm again.

"I don't like reading, but I can keep you company."

Snow Empress turned a page.

"You can see the Milky Way."

Ice Empress looked up and gazed out the window.

Outside the window, the Milky Way stretched across the palace, with nine colors slowly intertwining within it. Firelight resembled tiny flowers, water flowed along the star trails, and thunder lingered among the distant clouds.

"I'll just look at the Milky Way."

Ice Empress picked up a piece of chestnut cake and offered it to Qian Chen's lips.

Qian Chen lowered his head and ate it.

Snow Empress looked at the pages of the book, but her fingertips stopped at the corner of the paper.

You guys eat first.

Qian Chen picked up a piece of pastry and offered it to her.

Snow Empress looked up at him.

"I'm reading a book."

"You can eat while reading."

She didn't push it away, but instead lowered her head and took a bite.

The edge of the pastry touched the corner of her lips, leaving a tiny crumb.

Qian Chen raised his hand to wipe it away for her.

Snow Empress's eyelashes drooped gently.

"It's gone."

"It's gone now."

Qian Chen withdrew his hand and placed the handkerchief beside her.

Snow Empress picked up a handkerchief and wiped his fingertips.

"You have some too."

Qian Chen looked down.

The crumbs from earlier were stuck to his knuckles.

Snow Empress wiped him clean before folding the handkerchief.

Ice Empress looked at the two of them.

You two always wipe things for each other.

Snow Empress tucked the handkerchief into her sleeve.

"You can also ask Chen'er for help."

"I don't need to."

Ice Empress rested her face against Qian Chen's shoulder.

"Chen'er will naturally help me."

Qian Chen looked down at her.

You have cake crumbs on your face too.

"Where?"

"Here."

His fingertip touched the corner of her lips, picking up the tiny crumb of cake.

Ice Empress saw his fingers retract and immediately grabbed his wrist.

"Chen'er, have a taste."

Qian Chen's fingertips were pulled to her lips.

She bent down and gently touched it.

"Sweet."

Qian Renxue raised her hand and closed the book.

Ice Empress.

"I was just helping Chen'er confirm the taste."

"You've already had some pastries."

I want to eat it again now.

Ice Empress picked up a piece of pastry and placed it on the plate in front of Qian Renxue.

You eat too.

Qian Renxue looked at the leaf-shaped pastry, then picked it up and brought it to Qian Chen's lips.

"Brother, you eat first."

Qian Chen lowered her head and took a bite.

Qian Renxue then ate the remaining half.

Ice Empress looked at her, resting their chin on their hands.

You're always like this.

Which way?

"You clearly wanted your brother to eat it, but you always say it's for him."

Qian Renxue pulled her fingers back into her sleeve.

"I'm glad my brother is willing to eat."

Qian Chen raised his hand and took her hand.

"I do."

Qian Renxue looked at their clasped hands, a smile appearing in her eyes.

She didn't say anything more, but simply leaned her shoulder against Qian Chen's side.

Snow Empress reopened the book.

"You can watch it now."

"I'll read it," Qian Chen said.

Snow Empress pushed the book in front of him.

The text on the pages recorded the changes in the Nine-Color Star Domain. Qian Chen lowered his head and read a few lines; the sentences were calm and the content was very clear.

Snow Empress leaned against the soft couch, listening intently.

Ice Empress was initially eating pastries.

After a while, the pastries in her hand stopped in mid-air, and her gaze fell on Qian Chen's face.

Qian Renxue stopped reading.

She held Qian Chen's hand, her fingertips slowly tracing the lines on his palm.

After Qian Chen finished reading a page, he looked up at the three of them.

"Shall we continue?"

Snow Empress nodded.

"Continue."

Ice Empress placed a piece of pastry back on the plate.

"I'll listen too."

Qian Renxue pushed the teacup towards Qian Chen.

"Brother, have a sip of tea first."

Qian Chen put down his book and picked up his teacup.

Snow Empress weighed down the pages of his book to prevent the starlight from blowing in through the window.

Ice Empress reached out and moved the food box to the side.

Qian Renxue then placed the cushions on the soft couch behind him.

The three of them stopped moving almost simultaneously.

Qian Chen looked at them.

"I can do it myself."

"You must be tired from reading just now," Qian Renxue said.

Studying isn't tiring.

"But it has to be comfortable to lean on."

Ice Empress patted the cushion behind him.

"Chen'er, sit down properly."

Snow Empress picked up the teapot and refilled it with tea for him.

Tea should be drunk while it's hot.

Qian Chen did not refuse again.

He picked up the book again and continued reading.

The Milky Way outside the window gradually shifted away.

A sliver of blue starlight fell along the windowsill, reflecting on Snow Empress's white jade hairpin. The snowflake patterns on the hairpin became even clearer with a flash of light.

After Qian Chen finished reading a passage, he reached out to straighten her hairpin.

Snow Empress looked up at him.

Is it crooked?

"It was slightly off-center just now."

"If you don't tell me, I won't be able to see it myself."

"It's correct now."

Snow Empress raised her hand and touched the hairpin.

"You remember it so clearly."

I saw it.

"You were reading this when you were in school?"

"I can see."

Snow Empress's fingers stopped at the edge of the hairpin.

"So what exactly were you studying when you were in school?"

Qian Chen did not answer immediately.

His gaze fell on her face.

"Look at you."

Snow Empress lowered her eyes and placed her hand back on the page.

"Keep reading."

Qian Chen lowered his head.

The pages turned.

Snow Empress did not ask any further questions.

She simply moved her body, which was leaning against the soft couch, closer to Qian Chen.

Upon seeing this, Ice Empress also moved closer.

She reached out and took Qian Chen's arm, resting her face on his shoulder.

"Chen'er, read it a little slower."

"Can't you hear me?"

I want to listen a little longer.

Qian Renxue grasped Qian Chen's other hand.

Give me your brother's hand.

Qian Chen placed his hand on her knee.

She bent down to smooth out his cuffs and gently smoothed out a crease on the edge of the sleeve.

That's good.

"I can do it myself."

"I know."

Qian Renxue clasped his fingers in her palm.

But I want to do it for my brother.

Snow Empress looked up at her.

Neither of you should let him make a move today.

"My brother has already agreed."

"Promise what?"

"Nothing needs to be done today."

Ice Empress immediately nodded.

"Chen'er only needs to stay with us."

Qian Chen closed the book.

"Can I stop reading now?"

Snow Empress looked at him.

"Can."

She put the book aside.

Ice Empress raised their face.

"Then let's go outside."

Qian Renxue also stood up.

"Shall we go see the Milky Way now?"

"Um."

As Qian Chen stood up, the three of them reached out at the same time.

Qian Renxue took his right hand in hers.

Ice Empress hugged his left arm.

Snow Empress walked behind him and straightened the collar of his white robe.

Your collar is bent.

"No, it wasn't there just now."

"It broke just now while leaning against Ice Empress."

Ice Empress raised her hand and touched her hair.

"That's thanks to me."

Snow Empress smoothed out Qian Chen's collar.

"You're still proud?"

"Certainly."

She gathered the last strand of silver hair that had fallen over Qian Chen's shoulder behind her back.

"Now it's all right."

Qian Chen turned to look at her.

Your hairpin is ready too.

"Then let's go together."

The four of them left the soft couch and walked out of the temple along the long corridor.

Outside the temple was a spacious observatory.

The platform was paved with white jade, with no railings around it, only Nine-Color patterns encircling the edges. The distant Milky Way was even clearer than inside the palace, with vast starlight stretching from the edge of the Divine Realm all the way to the horizon.

Qian Renxue walked to the center of the observatory first.

She looked up, and the fine lines on her golden hair crown were illuminated by starlight.

"Brother, the Milky Way over there has changed."

Qian Chen looked in the direction she was pointing.

A golden starlight is slowly gathering, eventually solidifying into a six-winged shape.

Six wings of light unfolded in the starry sky, with a golden star emitting a soft glow at its center.

Qian Renxue reached out and grasped Qian Chen's fingers.

"That star is very similar to my Martial Soul."

"It is responding to your power."

What is its name?

"It doesn't have a name yet."

Qian Renxue looked up at him.

"Brother, give it a name."

Qian Chen gazed at the golden starlight.

"Angel Star."

"Too easy."

"So what do you want to be called?"

Qian Renxue thought for a moment.

"Call him Snowlight."