The imperial palace.
The Imperial Study.
Xiao Yu had been unable to pick up Xiao Zhiyu in time because Emperor Jinyuan had kept him in the palace to question him at length about Immortal Venerable Wuli's sudden appearance in the mortal realm.
"Elder Imperial Brother, I've already told you everything there is to say."
Xiao Yu spoke frankly. "Master didn't come in person. What appeared earlier was only a strand of his divine sense."
At that, Emperor Jinyuan fell silent.
He simply changed the subject. "Then tell me what exactly is going on between you and that fellow called A-Heng."
"Didn't you say before that you weren't interested in men? How did you suddenly bring home a male consort?"
"When did I ever say that?"
Xiao Yu took a sip of tea.
He replied leisurely, "Didn't I tell you ages ago that I fell in love with the Southern Zhao Hostage at first sight?"
Emperor Jinyuan: "..."
That clearly wasn't what you were thinking at the time.
It was just an excuse to keep me from arranging a marriage between you and Little Xiyue.
He looked at Xiao Yu with an inscrutable gaze and asked, "Does it really have to be him?"
"Yes," Xiao Yu answered without hesitation.
Emperor Jinyuan fell silent again.
Then, as though something had occurred to him,
he slapped the arm of his dragon throne and stood up, mildly incensed. "Don't tell me you were in such a hurry to move out of the palace just so you could fool around with him?"
Xiao Yu's composure cracked, and the corner of his mouth twitched.
He protested, "What do you mean, fool around? Mind your words, Elder Imperial Brother."
"It's called enjoying tender romance beneath the flowers and moon."
"Hmph! Isn't that all the same thing?"
Emperor