The candle flame flickered, emitting a soft crackle as the youth in black robes opened his eyes.
The girl's bright eyes were closed, her long lashes casting faint shadows under the warm light. Though it wasn't yet the blooming season, the air seemed filled with the fragrance of silk tree flowers.
Tantai Jin jolted as if suddenly touching poisoned wine, awakening as if from a dream.
Su Su was abruptly pushed away by him. Rubbing her shoulder, she lifted her gaze to look at him.
Tantai Jin's expression shifted unpredictably. Realizing what he had done, there was no longer any room for pretense or excuse.
Su Su remained silent, secretly watching him with her eyes.
At times like these, she was quite curious about how Tantai Jin would explain himself. Born devoid of emotions, perhaps even he didn't understand what his earlier moment of passion meant.
Sure enough, Su Su soon saw a layer of frost spread across Tantai Jin's eyes.
He coldly stated, "You seduced me."
Su Su: "..." She had never seen someone shift blame so naturally.
"I gave you a choice," Su Su said through gritted teeth. "Tantai Jin, have you lost your mind?"
Tantai Jin lowered his eyes, touching his lips. Perhaps the lingering sensation made him uncomfortable, and he quickly dropped his hand in a gesture of concealment.
Whether speaking to her or to himself, he murmured, "I feel nothing. Your tricks are useless. I won't let you see your grandmother, nor will I release you. Abandon this foolish hope."
Su Su watched him expressionlessly, preparing to get off the bed. If he enjoyed performing solo so much, he could play by himself.
"Stop!" he immediately commanded. "Where are you going?"
Su Su replied, "Since my methods are completely ineffective, there's no point wasting time. Let go. I want to sleep. Even if you won't sleep, I will."
Su Su lay down on her small couch and closed her eyes.
Soon after, she heard rustling sounds from the bed.
The curved jade said, "Tantai Jin is coming over."
Her small couch wasn't far from the dragon bed to begin with. For some unknown ailment, Tantai Jin still hadn't arranged separate quarters for her. Naturally, no one dared interfere with Tantai Jin's affairs, so Su Su remained living in his palace.
The curved jade continued reporting: "He's watching you."
Su Su certainly knew - he was so close, his gaze like sticky spider silk that made her skin crawl. She wasn't actually asleep, so of course she could feel it.
He approached but remained silent.
The scene fell into quiet tension.
For Su Su, this suffocating stare was unbearable. Even pretending to sleep made her shudder. She opened her eyes: "What exactly do you want?"
The black-robed youth sat sideways at the edge of her couch. Her open eyes made him slightly uncomfortable, and he instantly averted his gaze.
His refined profile appeared exceptionally delicate under the glazed lamp.
His skin was pale, his thin lips carrying an unnatural redness.
It was quite remarkable for a man to be this beautiful.
In a reluctant tone, he said, "I admit it wasn't completely ineffective. I don't dislike you that much."
Su Su rested her head on her soft arm, yawning as she looked at him.
A thin layer of moisture glistened in her eyes. Glancing at her from the corner of his eye, he hesitantly said, "Tell me what you truly want."
Tantai Jin watched Su Su like a cautious merchant weighing his options, both wary and yearning.It was as if she held something he particularly coveted, yet this very thing could easily plunge him into eternal damnation. He both feared the terrible consequences Su Su might bring and couldn't resist drawing closer to her.
His expression was tense as he awaited an answer.
Su Su thought: I want your life.
But she couldn't say that. The man before her was already a stingy, selfish bird startled by the mere twang of a bow. Even when she appeared harmless, he could conjure up a hundred and eight malicious intentions she might harbor.
How much worse would it be if he knew she was here to take his wretched life!
Though the man was now staring at her with intense longing, given the inherent depravity of his Evil Bone, learning the truth might lead him to strangle her the next moment.
So Su Su blinked and said, "I want to be Empress."
Wasn't that the aspiration of every mortal woman, including Ye Bingshang? Tantai Jin would surely believe this reason.
Sure enough, upon hearing this, Tantai Jin's expression instantly turned sarcastic: "You want to be Empress?"
His exaggerated mockery was like watching a cat jump into fire to catch fish.
Both the nursemaid who raised him and Jing Lan'an had warned him about the importance of that position.
For the ruler of a nation, the Empress could even determine the stability of a dynasty.
From consolidating political power and stabilizing the people's hearts to diplomatic relations between states, the Empress played a particularly crucial role.
Tantai Jin had a cold nature and didn't need consorts to suppress his court officials.
But if he wanted to dominate the Nine Provinces, his Empress absolutely could not be from the Xia Kingdom. The Xia Kingdom was already in decline, and further north lay the Shicha Kingdom—rich in water and grass, skilled in witchcraft.
If he waited a few more years until the Immortal Sect opened its gates, he could even find an Empress with a Spiritual Root and use her to enter the Immortal Sect.
After all, he had seen a vaster world.
For others, the Prajna Floating Life was an unforgettable romance. But for Tantai Jin, he had witnessed the immense power of the Immortal Flood Dragon Ming Ye.
A single sword strike could cleave mountains; a single hand could pluck the moon.
The Water Stabilizing Seal, the Buddha's Sarira... countless treasures in this world, overwhelming power—he had the chance to obtain them all.
Ming Ye was foolish, but he wasn't. If he had such power, he wouldn't care about Sang Jiu or Tian Huan.
What worthless love could compare to formidable strength?
And now, this impatient girl lying on the couch actually dared to ask for his Empress's position?
He would have to be insane to agree.
He had endured hardship for fourteen years to gain all he had now. Was he really so foolish as to simply share it with this woman who had once humiliated him?
To forever forfeit the northern territories, lose the legendary ageless witchcraft, and miss entry into the Immortal Sect.
Instead, to become an ordinary couple with this girl before him...
To grow old and die in mediocrity?
And this girl he couldn't see through or hold onto might stab him in the back at any moment.
Su Su didn't know what he was thinking—his face shifting between ferocity and bewilderment, as if she weren't asking for the Empress's position but his very life.
After a long while, he pursed his lips and said, "No, you cannot be Empress. I can grant you other titles."
Enraged, Su Su lifted her leg and kicked him in the shoulder: "Get lost! Who wants to be your concubine?"
Caught off guard, Tantai Jin was struck in the shoulder. He turned back angrily and shouted, "Ye Xiwu!"Su Su said, "Stop shouting, I heard you. If you enjoy taking concubines, just post an imperial decree tomorrow and you could fill three palaces and six courtyards. Oh, I almost forgot—you've already promised away one wife position."
The young woman looked at him as if he were filth. "This must be your preference—promising everyone a wife position. Get lost. If we can't reach an agreement, don't disturb my sleep."
His face turned ashen as he gritted his teeth. "You're merely the daughter of a fallen official."
Since he still refused to leave, Su Su raised her foot and, even more unceremoniously this time, stepped on his face, enunciating each word clearly: "Yet I'm still nobler than you."
Tantai Jin grabbed her delicate foot. "Ye Xiwu, don't be ungrateful."
She raised her hand to form a seal, and from her sleeve floated the Yellow Talismans she had drawn these past few days to deal with the tiger demon.
A tongue of fire shot through the air, instantly scorching Tantai Jin's collar.
The young woman had already turned away, completely ignoring him.
After the spring began, the palace gradually grew livelier.
Returning from morning court, Tantai Jin saw countless maids picking apricot blossoms.
Dressed in red robes and carrying red baskets, it was clear someone had ordered this.
Wei Xi stepped forward to explain: "Your Majesty, spring has arrived. Soon it will be our Great Zhou's prayer festival. We pray to the Gods for favorable weather and peace in our nation. Lady Zhaohua has been preparing these days, gathering the finest and cleanest apricot blossoms to send to the Star-Gazing Platform."
As an apricot blossom fell into Tantai Jin's hand, he sneered lightly. "Praying to the Gods?"
Wei Xi didn't catch the sarcasm in his words. From behind the white apricot blossoms emerged a slender, beautiful figure.
Seeing Tantai Jin, her eyes revealed a gentle smile.
"Your Majesty has returned?"
It was Ye Bingshang.
Tantai Jin nodded, concealing the mockery in his eyes as he asked softly, "How is Bingchang's health?"
Ye Bingshang performed a slight curtsey and said quietly, "Your humble servant's health has greatly improved. I beg your pardon for presumptuously preparing the prayer ceremony. I know Your Majesty wouldn't concern yourself with such minor matters, but as you've just become Great Zhou's ruler, winning the people's hearts is indispensable."
This feeling was quite unfamiliar to Tantai Jin.
After all, besides Jing Lan'an, no one would arrange such things considering his interests. Tantai Jin said, "How could I blame you?"
Ye Bingshang revealed a smile tinged with three parts shyness.
Naturally beautiful, standing among the blooming apricot blossoms, this smile made her appear even more delicate and exquisite.
Even the eunuch Wei Xi, who lacked certain faculties, showed faint admiration on his face.
Ye Bingshang lifted her gaze, expecting to see dazzled infatuation in the black-robed emperor's eyes, but instead found his expression remained gently smiling.
Not overly distant, yet not fervent either.
Though her face showed nothing, a slight puzzlement arose in her heart.
Why?
Why did it not work on Tantai Jin?
No, it wasn't completely ineffective—at least the little tyrant treated her better than others. But back when she lived in the detached palace, even the sharp-tongued, arrogant Pang Yi Zhi had become infatuated, his face flushing red.
Tantai Jin's reaction was too subdued.
Ye Bingshang calmly reflected that from what she'd heard from others, His Majesty was much colder than most people. Perhaps his emotions were deeply restrained?
Hadn't Xiao Lin's affections also been gentle as water?
Thinking this, she no longer felt impatient and left with her retinue of red-robed palace maids.
The moment she departed, the smile vanished from Tantai Jin's eyes.
He crushed the apricot blossom in his hand and stepped on it.Wei Xi trotted up and asked Tantai Jin obsequiously where he would dine that evening.
The question was rather interesting. After all, Lady Zhaohua had put in such rare effort—no matter how tyrannical the young ruler was, he ought to at least soothe his lady’s heart.
Before Tantai Jin could speak, his expression instantly turned icy.
Wei Xi looked up and saw a young woman in pink crouched on the ground, holding a jade bowl and spoon, feeding water to a man in yellow robes.
As Su Su fed him, the man opened his mouth.
He had a handsome, slightly square-jawed face that exuded masculinity, tinged with a hint of honest simplicity.
Tantai Jin watched coldly. Su Su noticed his arrival and glanced up at him.
The man in yellow gazed eagerly at Su Su, who scooped another spoonful into his mouth.
He beamed with delight.
Just as Su Su was about to feed him again, her wrist was abruptly seized.
She looked up into a terrifyingly cold face. The young tyrant tilted his head and asked softly, "What are you doing?"
If he had been angry, it might have been better—this demeanor clearly signaled one of his episodes.
Su Su stared at him blankly.
Tantai Jin laughed, a mix of jealousy and rage in that moment. "Nian Bai Yu."
Nian Bai Yu appeared behind him. Tantai Jin said gently, "The blessing ceremony requires several sky lanterns." I’ve heard that lanterns made from human skin are the most durable and beautiful. I think his hide would do nicely."
He glared coldly at the crouching man in yellow.
Wei Xi realized the young tyrant wasn’t joking and trembled in fear.
Nian Bai Yu replied calmly, "Understood."
Su Su stepped in front of the man in yellow. "Wait! What are you trying to do?"
Tantai Jin stared at her expressionlessly.
The two stood locked in a stalemate for a moment. Su Su glanced at Tantai Jin, then at the bewildered and frightened man on the ground.
She said, "Are you really going to kill him?"
He remained silent, but murderous intent swirled in his pitch-black eyes—it was unclear who it was directed at.
Su Su said oddly, "Then go ahead and kill him. After all, he’s your tiger demon."
At her words, the cold fury in Tantai Jin’s eyes froze. He looked down at the man in yellow.
The man in yellow offered a timid, ingratiating smile.
If he had a tail, it would surely have been wagging in terror.
—All he wanted was a sip of Talisman Water to cleanse his foul energy. How had things gotten so frightening?
He had only just managed to take human form in the Blazing Fire Furnace and wanted to cultivate properly.
Why was the young tyrant trying to kill him again, and even skin him?
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