Chapter 3: Shamelessness and Sacred Decrees
The moment the doors to the private sanctum clicked shut, the "Honored One" disappeared.
Xu Yanluo, the terrifying prince who had just swatted a Messenger like a fly, didn't hesitate. He turned and buried his face directly into Yao Qingxue's chest, wrapping his arms around her waist with a long, dramatic sigh.
"So tired," he muffled into her silk robes. "Dealing with idiots is exhausting work, Qingxue."
The former Regent Consort froze for a second before a doting, indulgent smile broke across her face. She began stroking his long white hair, her fingers tracing the curve of his neck. "My poor, hardworking prince," she cooed, kissing his forehead repeatedly. "Tell me, once we return to the Upper Realm, what is your grand plan for the Dynasty?"
Yanluo pulled back just enough to look into her phoenix eyes. He reached up, stroking her cheek with a thumb. "Plans? Ambition? My dear consort, when I am with you, do you really think a 'plan' is more important than this?"
Qingxue's breath hitched. Her legendary composure, the same one that held an empire together, crumbled instantly. "You... you are more precious than any plan," she whispered, her face flushing a deep crimson.
[System Notification]
[Target: Yao Qingxue. Favorability +1]
[Current Total: 96/100. Status: 'Down Bad' / 'Hopelessly Devoted']
'She's already completely bent,' Yanluo thought with a smirk.
'Affirmative,' Ling's voice echoed. 'At 100, she will likely help you overthrow your own father if you ask nicely.'
Yanluo turned back to Qingxue, putting on his most pitiful, "exhausted" face. "My meridians feel... clogged. I think I need a deep session of Dual Cultivation to recover. Please?"
Qingxue laughed, a breathless, melodic sound. "What am I to do with you? Fine. I shall help you 'recover' in the inner chamber..."
She expected him to walk beside her. Instead, Yanluo leaned down and swept her up in a princess carry.
"You scoundrel!" she gasped, clinging to his neck. "You've learned some truly wicked techniques during this stay in the mortal realm."
"I've learned many things, Dear Regent," he whispered against her ear, his breath hot. "And I intend to practice every single one of them tonight."
As he kicked the bedroom doors shut, three shadows lingered in the hallway.
"Again?!" Hu Ruyan hissed, her fox tails fluffing up in pure jealousy. "He always indulges her first! That's it. Next time, I'm using my tails to tie him to my bed and I'm not letting go for a month!"
Mu Qinglan sighed, clutching her tray. "She is the oldest... she has seniority. But his attention to her is... excessive."
Ling Yuechan, the Fairy Princess, looked at the closed door with a sharp, silent intensity. "Tonight, she wins. Tomorrow... the bathhouse belongs to me."
Meanwhile: The Upper Realm – Immortal Dynasty Capital
In a throne room carved from a single star, Xu Tianhuang, the Immortal Emperor, sat with his chin resting on his hand.
"Where is my second son?" the Emperor asked, his voice shaking the very air.
A trembling eunuch knelt. "Your Majesty, Prince Yanluo is still on his 'tour' of the Lower Realm with his consorts. He... he requested not to be disturbed."
"Summon him back," the Emperor commanded, his eyes narrowing. "The Imperial Royal Festival begins soon. If that brat is late because he's playing house in the mud, I'll personally drag him back by his white hair."
"As you command, Your Majesty!"
The Mortal Realm – Heavenly Sect Headquarters
In total contrast, the Sect Leader of the Heavenly Sect was pacing his hall, slamming his fist onto a jade table.
"A con man! A fraud!" he roared. "Our Messenger was attacked by a common criminal pretending to be royalty! I thought he might be from a respectable mortal empire, but he's just the second prince of some backwater, nameless kingdom in the Southern Wilds!"
Suddenly, a panicked disciple burst in. "Sect Leader! The... the Heavenly Emperor's Envoys have arrived! And the Princess herself is with them!"
The Sect Leader turned pale. "What? Did we make a mistake that offended the High Dynasty?"
Cold sweat poured down his back as the doors flew open. A stunning woman in silver armor walked in—the Holy Princess.
Beside her walked a young man with a "righteous" aura and a generic, heroic face—Han Cangming, the 'Chosen Hero' and original protagonist. He was currently standing close to the Sect Leader's own daughter, whispering sweet nothings as they walked in.
The Sect Leader bowed low, his heart hammering. "Princess! To what do we owe this honor? We were just preparing to execute a fraudulent 'prince' who insulted our Sect!"
The Holy Princess froze. "A 'prince' with white hair and red eyes?"
"Yes! A shameless rogue!"
The Princess's face went from pale to ghostly white. She looked at the Hero, then back at the Sect Leader.
"You... you did what to him?"