Lu Yunqi

Liu Yue returned to her palace from the back of the mountain.

As soon as she opened the door, she saw Emperor Lu Yunqi sitting inside the hall waiting for her.

"Yue'er, you're back!"

Upon seeing her, Lu Yunqi immediately stood up, a fawning smile plastered on his face.

What brings you here?

Liu Yue's eyes were icy cold; she didn't even glance at him and walked straight past him.

"Yue'er, we are husband and wife now, why be so formal?"

Lu Yunqi's smile froze slightly, but he quickly resumed it.

Liu Yue stopped and turned back, sneering twice, "Don't you know who I am? I just returned from the Ancestor's place. Do you think I need to be so formal with you?"

Her tone turned stern, and she bluntly ordered him to leave, "If you have something to say, say it now; otherwise, get out."

"Yue'er, I am now the Emperor of the Great Qian Dynasty. In your eyes, am I still so insignificant?"

"You?"

Liu Yue turned around and openly sized him up.

"After all these years, you haven't even broken through to the Celestial Person Realm. You, the emperor, are only slightly better than that good-for-nothing!"

Upon hearing the word "useless," Lu Yunqi not only didn't get angry, but seemed relieved, even managing a slight, cheerful smile.

"As long as it's better than Lu Yunxiao, that's fine."

Liu Yue was too lazy to dwell on this topic. "Just tell me, what is it?"

Lu Yunqi quickly got to the point. "I've come here for two things. First, didn't you say you wanted to marry Xingshuang to Han'er as the Crown Princess? I want to personally go to the Prince Jing's Manor to tell Lu Yunxiao about this."

As soon as he finished speaking, he secretly glanced at Liu Yue's expression.

Liu Yue didn't even lift her eyelids, her tone indifferent. "You handle this yourself."

Lu Yunqi breathed a sigh of relief, then tentatively spoke again:

"The second matter is that the Great Chu has recently been making moves on the border. I think it's best to make plans as soon as possible."

"Snort!"

Liu Yue snorted coldly, flicked her sleeves, and sat down on the phoenix chair.

"The Great Chu dynasty has only overthrown the previous dynasty a few years ago, yet they dare to invade my Great Qian? Do they really think that just because their ancestor broke through to the Yin Spirit Realm, they can disregard my Great Qian?"

Her voice suddenly rose. "Immediately dispatch generals to defend the border! The moment my Great Qian Ancestor breaks through to the Yin Spirit Realm will be the day the Great Chu is destroyed!"

Lu Yunqi nodded and tentatively asked, "Ancestor... are you about to break through?"

Liu Yue slammed her hand on the table, making the teacups rattle loudly.

"Mind your own business and stop worrying about things that don't concern you!"

Lu Yunqi smiled awkwardly and stood up, "Alright, then I won't disturb your rest any Yue'er."

He turned and pushed open the door, closing it behind him as quietly as if afraid of disturbing anyone.

The moment he closed the door, the cautious smile on his face vanished completely.

"Someone come here," he called out in a low voice.

A eunuch immediately trotted over, bowing low. "Your Majesty! What are your orders?"

Lu Yunqi at the night sky, his eyes dark and brooding. "Follow me to the Prince Jing's Manor's residence."

The eunuch paused for a moment, then looked up at the cold moon hanging high in the sky:

"Your Majesty, wouldn't it be too late to go to the Prince Jing's Manor now...?"

"What?" Lu Yunqi glanced at him sideways.

"My words no longer carry weight? Even a eunuch like you dares to question me?"

The eunuch was so frightened that his knees buckled, and he knelt on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly. "This servant wouldn't dare! This servant wouldn't dare!"

"Get up."

Lu Yunqi tugged at the collar of his dragon robe and strode towards the palace gate.

"Prepare the carriage for the Prince Jing's Manor!"

The eunuch shouted in a high-pitched voice and quickly jogged after him.

The night was deep, and only a few lonely lamps remained in the Prince Jing's Manor.

In the hall, Lu Yunqi and Lu Yunxiao sat on either side of the main seats.

Uncle Fu stood below, his eyes warily fixed on the emperor's entourage.

"Brother Xiao, it's been a long time."

Lu Yunqi glanced around the empty hall, feigning surprise.

"How come your enormous palace doesn't even have a single servant?"

Lu Yunxiao held the book in his hands, his gaze never leaving the pages, and spoke calmly:

What brings you here?

Lu Yunqi's smile faltered slightly, a hint of displeasure flashing in his eyes, but he quickly regained his feigned enthusiasm.

He waved his hand. "You may all leave. It's been a long time since I had a proper chat with Brother Xiao."

The attendants withdrew, but Uncle Fu stood rooted to the spot.

"Brother Xiao, let's catch up. This steward..." Lu Yunqi pointed to Uncle Fu.

Lu Yunxiao then raised his head and glanced at Uncle Fu: "Uncle Fu, you can go down now."

"But..." Uncle Fu's lips moved.

"It's nothing," Lu Yunxiao said calmly.

Uncle Fu clenched his fist, glanced at Lu Yunqi, and whispered:

"Sir, please call me if you need anything." He then slowly withdrew from the hall, closing the door behind him.

"I never imagined that Brother Xiao, in his current state, would still have such a loyal subordinate."

Lu Yunqi withdrew his gaze, his tone carrying an ambiguous mix of envy and sarcasm.

Lu Yunxiao closed the book. "If you have something to say, say it. If not, leave quickly and don't disturb my reading."

Lu Yunqi wasn't angry at all; instead, his gaze fell on the book in Lu Yunxiao's hand.

He glanced at it twice, then suddenly smiled, a smile that held a profound meaning.

"Brother Xiao, I understand that you're living a frugal life. If you need a woman... just let me know." He leaned forward slightly.

"I'll give you two... no, I'll give you ten, how about that?"

"No need." Lu Yunxiao didn't even frown.

"How could we not need it?"

Lu Yunqi laughed and pointed to the book.

"If you didn't need it, would you still read this kind of book every day?"

What I see is none of your business.

"It's none of my business. I was just... concerned about you."

Lu Yunqi back in his chair, his tone suddenly changing, carrying a long-suppressed sense of pleasure.

"Look at yourself now! Once the greatest genius of the Great Qian Dynasty, you've become a cripple without even cultivation! And I, whom you once looked down upon, am now the Emperor of the Great Qian!"

"I have never looked down on you." Lu Yunxiao finally raised his eyes, his gaze clear.

Upon hearing this, Lu Yunqi seemed to be pricked by a needle, abruptly sitting up straight, his voice suddenly rising in pitch:

"No? Ha! You may not have any! But I've clearly worked harder than all of you! Why are all the resources given to you? Why is everyone only paying attention to you?"

"You clearly haven't put in much effort into cultivation, yet with that little talent, your cultivation level is already far ahead of mine!"

Even the woman I love most... loves you! Why?!

He became more and more agitated as he spoke, his chest heaving, his eyes filled with years of suppressed resentment and jealousy.

Lu Yunxiao remained silent for a moment, then lowered his eyes, seemingly unwilling to recall those past events.

Seeing this, Lu Yunqi thought he had touched a nerve and smiled smugly:

"What good is talent? Only those who have the last laugh are the victors!"

"I am now the emperor, and I have married Yue'er!"

He leaned forward, lowered his voice, and wore an almost wicked glee on his face.

"Would you like to know how I and Yue'er sleep every night?"

Lu Yunxiao picked up the cold tea, took a sip, and his face remained completely expressionless.

What happens to her is no longer my concern.

"Do you even believe what you're saying?" Lu Yunqi scoffed.

"If you could truly let go, would you have become like this? If you could truly let go, would you be hiding in the Prince Jing's Manor every day and never go out?"

Lu Yunxiao put down his teacup, raised his head, and looked at him calmly, as if looking at a child throwing a tantrum:

"From the moment she chose to become empress for resources, status, and cultivation..."

"I have nothing to do with her anymore."