"Heh."
Beiming Yuan chuckled, a somewhat knowing look on his face.
The Ice Empress blushed furiously and lowered her head, lost in thought.
Watching everything from the shadows, the Snow Empress's face darkened. She nearly rushed in to drag the stark-naked Ice Empress out and give her a thorough thrashing.
Did the Ice Empress look like she was trying to take the blame? She could hardly bring herself to say it outright!
The Ice Empress had promised she only liked her, but now Beiming Yuan had barged in halfway through.
Besides, she could shoulder this "blame" herself. She didn't need the Ice Empress to take it for her.
"Since you're awake, get dressed and come out." Seeing that enough time had passed, the Snow Empress promptly called out to them.
The Ice Empress, who was nestled in Beiming Yuan's arms, jolted. Her eyes widened as it dawned on her. "Oh no, Xue'er's back! She knows!"
"..."
The corners of Beiming Yuan's mouth twitched, as did the Snow Empress's in the shadows.
It had been days and nights already. Wasn't it perfectly normal for her to know?
"Xiao Yuan, what do we do? Will Xue'er scold us?" the Ice Empress asked in a panic, looking at Beiming Yuan with a frightened expression.
Beiming Yuan didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
The Ice Empress was rather cute like this, just as she had been a few days ago. He couldn't help but adore her.
"It's all right. I'm here." Beiming Yuan chuckled softly. With just those few words, he calmed the panic in the Ice Empress's heart.
"Phew~"
The Ice Empress took a deep breath and steadied herself. With a flicker of thought and a flash of emerald light, she was dressed.
Beiming Yuan still wore his silver-white robes, with jade hanging from his waist. Even without deliberately fixing his appearance, he possessed an indescribable charm.
The Ice Empress stared at him in a daze and couldn't help swallowing.
Gulp~
The Ice Empress suddenly thought that while Xue'er was wonderful, Xiao Yuan was wonderful too.
Xue'er was beautiful, and Xiao Yuan was handsome.
Having Xue'er on one arm and Xiao Yuan on the other seemed pretty wonderful. She'd be a true winner in life.
"Xiao Yuan, I don't feel well. Carry me out." Lying on the ice-jade bed, the Ice Empress held out both arms to Beiming Yuan, her voice a little coquettish.
Beiming Yuan smiled and didn't refuse. He gently gathered the Ice Empress into his arms and carried her out of the bedchamber.
The two arrived in the main hall, where the Snow Empress sat on her throne of ice and snow. Her sky-blue eyes were unfathomable, giving no hint of what she was thinking.
"Xue'er."
Beiming Yuan called out with a smile.
"Xue... Xue'er." Unlike Beiming Yuan's natural manner, the Ice Empress was far more nervous and didn't dare look the Snow Empress in the eye.
Hearing the two call out to her, the Snow Empress pondered for a moment before rising to her feet. She took light, graceful steps, her bare jade feet never touching the ground.
"Remember to show a little restraint next time."
The Snow Empress's expression was indifferent, her voice calm.
"Huh?" The Ice Empress froze. She hadn't expected the Snow Empress to be so "calm" and couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't quite right.
"All right, understood."
Beiming Yuan nodded with a smile.
"The piece of Ten Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Glue Xiao Bai brought was of very high quality. Although the Ice God Pearl and Ultimate Ice could help protect your mind, your own strength wasn't sufficient."
"That was what led to this result. Fortunately, Bing'er was by your side to help you deal with it in time."
"Besides, after this experience, if you obtain Ten Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Glue again in the future, you should be able to take it without any problems."
As the Snow Empress explained, she placed a hand on the Ice Empress's head and released gentle ice and snow power to soothe her body.
The Ice Empress narrowed her eyes, an expression of bliss on her face.
Sure enough, Xue'er didn't blame her. Xue'er still liked her.
Gradually, the Ice Empress grew a little sleepy and drifted off in Beiming Yuan's arms.
"Take Bing'er back and let her get some proper rest." The Snow Empress looked at Beiming Yuan, her voice tinged with reproach. "You knew perfectly well that Bing'er's depth was no match for what your specialty was capable of, and you still went that wild?"
"...I couldn't help myself." Beiming Yuan gave an embarrassed smile.
"Xiao Yuan, don't try to fool me with that. You're simply a lecher, just like back then..." The Snow Empress was about to say something, but caught herself in time. Her face reddened slightly.
"Like when I saw you completely naked back then, Xue'er?" Beiming Yuan said with a smile.
"You're still talking about it!" the Snow Empress scolded. The faint blush on her face gradually deepened, like a mature beauty overcome with shyness.
"I'll stop." Beiming Yuan shook his head with a smile. He first took the Ice Empress to the bedchamber in the rear hall to rest, then returned to the main hall.
But when Beiming Yuan saw the Snow Empress's expression again, he froze.
The Snow Empress, who had looked so "calm" just moments ago, was now smiling. Only, there was a certain chill to that smile.
Beiming Yuan felt it was best not to linger here and promptly offered an excuse. "Xue'er, I'll go get Bing'er something to eat."
With that, Beiming Yuan prepared to leave.
But the Snow Empress suddenly stepped forward and rested a jade hand on his shoulder. Smiling, she said, "Xiao Yuan, there's no hurry about Bing'er. Let's talk about something else first."
"What is it?"
"Bing'er is too tired, so I won't take it up with her for now. But you're still full of life. Shouldn't you give me an explanation?"
"..."
Beiming Yuan fell silent for a long moment, then said frankly, "I slept with Bing'er, so of course I'll take responsibility. She's my woman."
"Good attitude." The Snow Empress nodded in satisfaction, then changed the subject. "You've grown quite a bit in five years. It's time to test your strength."
"Xue'er, is that really necessary?" The corner of Beiming Yuan's mouth twitched.
"Let's go." The Snow Empress paid his protest no mind and dragged Beiming Yuan out of the hall, ready to give him some proper "affection."
"Xue'er, you're jealous."
"I am not."
"You still deny it? Even your tone..."
"I am not!" The Snow Empress glared at Beiming Yuan, a blush of embarrassment and annoyance coloring her face.
Then, without further ado, she flung Beiming Yuan into the air and sparred with him... like an old man playing with a mischievous child.
Fortunately, the Snow Empress knew how to hold back and deliberately avoided Beiming Yuan's face, directing her fists and feet only at his body.
After that bout of "affection," the two returned to the palace.
"The medicinal power of the Ten Ten-Thousand-Year Whale Glue isn't that simple. There was still a little left in your body, so I helped you deal with it just now."
The Snow Empress hadn't truly meant to beat Beiming Yuan up. She had sensed that a fire was still smoldering inside him and needed an outlet.
After that bout of "affection," it had been thoroughly vented.
"Xue'er, actually, there's another way you could have done it," Beiming Yuan said.
"Oh?" The Snow Empress raised an eyebrow and stepped closer. Tilting Beiming Yuan's chin up with a jade hand, she chuckled. "Do you need me to help you the way Bing'er did?"
"No one knows me like you do, Xue'er."
"Xiao Yuan, just now I helped you vent your fire. Now you're making my temper flare."
"Ah, well... not the face."
"Don't worry, I'll be gentle. It won't hurt." Smiling, the Snow Empress dragged Beiming Yuan out of the palace again, tossed him into the air, and gave him another round of "affection."
This time, it truly hurt.
Beiming Yuan suddenly recalled something the Ice Empress had once said about him: "Every beating you get is well deserved."
Only now did it belatedly dawn on Beiming Yuan that he really did seem to deserve every beating he got.
But he couldn't change the way he talked. He was already used to it.