Hearing her, Lin Ze looked up at her and asked, “You’re Elder Ji’s daughter?”
Ji Yun’er nodded excitedly, “Yes! I had already accepted my fate and was prepared to die. But then, the divine pill you refined released a medicinal fragrance that summoned back the soul I was missing, and I survived.”
“Prince Consort, I have no way to repay this great kindness!” She held out a small, intricately embroidered pouch in her fair, delicate hands. “I embroidered this sachet myself. Please, you must accept it.”
Lin Ze took the pouch and praised, “This embroidery is beautiful. Yun’er, you really have a skillful hand.”
Ji Yun’er shyly lowered her head, clutching her skirt tightly, lips trembling as if struggling to speak.
She had once made a vow: whoever cured her illness, she would marry them without question—be it a woman, a beggar, a eunuch, or even an old man half in the grave…
As she recalled that vow, her heart stirred. She lifted her eyes and secretly glanced at Lin Ze.
Handsome features, clear and elegant, yet with a masculine aura—he didn’t look effeminate at all.
So handsome!
She felt immensely fortunate that such a good-looking man had saved her.
Lin Ze could tell the girl in front of him seemed off, though he couldn’t pinpoint why. So he asked, “Yun’er, is there something else you wanted?”
“Ah?” Ji Yun’er was still lost in her thoughts when Lin Ze’s question pulled her back. Her mind blanked, and her heart raced. Pressing her chest, she felt her heart fluttering wildly.
“Prince Consort, do you… do you need a personal maid?”
She bit her lip gently, her tone filled with youthful shyness and affection.
Lin Ze’s expression turned strange.
A personal maid? What kind of personal are we talking about?
That… sounded way too suggestive.
Was he that kind of man?
True, Ji Yun’er was quite pretty. While her figure wasn’t as striking as his wife’s, it was still nicely curved.
Lin Ze looked at her strangely, thinking, This little girl, acting like this… could she be offering herself?
With that thought, he studied her again.
Hmm…
Delicate and tender, truly pitiful and charming. Her big bright eyes were clear, expectant, shy, and even a little seductive.
Especially with those flushed cheeks now, so fair and rosy they made anyone want to bully her.
Lin Ze gulped. To be honest, if they were in the Azure Spirit Holy Land—his own territory—he would definitely have her warming his bed every night!
Unfortunately… they were in Netherveil Palace.
“Sigh!” Lin Ze sighed. “Yun’er, there’s no need. I can take care of myself.”
Ji Yun’er pouted, seemingly unhappy with his response. “Prince Consort, I’ll do anything for you… even offer myself.”
Lin Ze shouted immediately, “Yun’er, don’t say that! I didn’t mean it like that!”
Lin Ze: ?(≧ω≦)?
I can’t take it anymore!!
“Prince Consort, I’ll come see you again tomorrow…” Ji Yun’er, burning with embarrassment, covered her face and bolted from the room in a flustered panic!
After running for a while, she leaned against a pillar, gasping for breath, her face still burning red.
“Oh no! I actually kissed the Prince Consort… that was so embarrassing!”
“What if the Empress finds out?”
“But I really couldn’t hold back. He’s just too handsome…”
“Empress Sister treats me so well—I can’t steal him from her. I’ll be content just being a maid.”
After calming herself down, she finally walked away, a sweet smile lingering on her face.
…
Lin Ze touched his lips. There still seemed to be a faint fragrance on them, and he couldn’t help but chuckle stupidly.
“Hehehehe…”
As he laughed, a cold and clear voice suddenly rang out.
“In broad daylight, what are you giggling about?”
With those words, a fragrant breeze swept in. You Yiran appeared, leaning lazily against the doorframe.
Seeing her appear so suddenly, Lin Ze froze, then quickly straightened up and said seriously, “Wife, are you here to take me to get my groom’s robe fitted? I’m ready—let’s go!”
“Kissing… feel good?”
You Yiran suddenly asked.
“It felt… not good—wait, no, it didn’t feel good at all…” Lin Ze almost blurted out the truth but quickly corrected himself, forcing an awkward laugh.
Cold sweat trickled down his back.
I’m doomed!
She definitely saw everything earlier!
Flirting with another girl and got caught by his wife.
What do I do now? Help! This is urgent!
“Hmph!” You Yiran snorted coldly, shooting Lin Ze a sideways glare. “Since that girl wants to be a maid, let her.”
“No, no! I don’t want that… Wife, can I kiss you instead?”
Lin Ze leaned a little closer.
He was half a head taller than the Empress. He tilted his head slightly, trying to see the face behind her black veil.
You Yiran turned away and said coldly, “My face is a mess of scars. It’s nothing compared to an eighteen-year-old girl.”
“Uh…”
“Follow me.” This story is hosted at g.com.
Without another word, she turned and walked deeper into the Netherveil Palace.
Lin Ze didn’t know what she was up to but obediently followed her.
After passing through several halls, Lin Ze saw a shrine.
Inside were the ancestral memorial tablets of Netherveil Palace.
“Wife, why are we here?” Lin Ze stood at the shrine’s entrance, peering into the dimly lit and slightly eerie space.
But You Yiran said nothing. She walked through the corridor and stopped in front of the twenty-sixth tablet.
She picked up a handful of incense and placed them one by one into the censer in front of each memorial.
Seeing this, Lin Ze suddenly understood.
Tomorrow was the wedding ceremony. He and the Empress would officially be husband and wife, known throughout the world.
She was making offerings to the ancestors ahead of time.
Following her lead, Lin Ze grabbed some incense and respectfully offered them as well.
“Sigh! Getting married tomorrow, but my dad won’t even get to see his son’s wedding.”
Lin Ze felt a sudden ache in his heart.
His father, who raised him and loved him, wouldn’t get to witness the big day—and was still worried about his safety.
He couldn’t even bring his bride home to serve tea. In fact, when his father first met her, he’d been stepped on by You Yiran!
Thinking about it, Lin Ze clenched his fists tightly, cursing himself for being an unfilial son.
While he was blaming himself, You Yiran suddenly removed her veil and knelt before the last tablet.
Bang!
She kowtowed heavily.
Lin Ze looked up and saw the portrait on the tablet—it was a stunning woman with phoenix eyes and elegant brows. Though a woman, she exuded boldness and dominance!
This was the previous Empress of Netherveil Palace—and You Yiran’s mother.
Lin Ze had heard about this legendary woman. She had reached the Martial Emperor Realm at thirty and achieved the 9th stage of Martial Emperor within ten years, becoming unrivaled across the Nine Provinces Continent!
Back then, she had suppressed the entire continent on her own.
But later, she suddenly vanished without a trace. No one knew what happened.
Lin Ze knelt beside You Yiran and kowtowed respectfully toward the tablet.
“Mother, I’m your son-in-law!”
“Your son-in-law came to visit!”
You Yiran, just about to rise, was caught off guard by Lin Ze’s sudden shout. She nearly stumbled.
She turned and glared at him, “What nonsense are you yelling? That’s my mother!”