The whole family of villains listens to my heart, the Regent Prince treats me dearly.

As the guests gradually dispersed, the Bei tribe princess relentlessly pursued the Moon Shadow Guards.

“How can His Majesty be left unattended? I’ll stay here in case His Majesty needs anything…”

She clung to the outside of the Shenque Palace and refused to leave.

Zhiying clicked his tongue and shook his head. "I don't know if he needs anything, but if you stay here, you'll have a lot of needs."

The Bei princess stared blankly.

"I?"

What do I need?

The shadowy figure counted on his fingers, "First, you need a coffin; second, you need a funeral procession; third, you need to inform your people, because you might all become roasted scallops; finally..."

The Bei princess silently withdrew her hands and feet from the wall.

"His Majesty hasn't said whether he'll keep me or not..." she said sullenly.

"Didn't you hear that?" the figure smiled. "He told you all to get out."

Fei Ying gave him a chilling glance, "That includes you too."

……

Inside the Shenque Palace.

Jun Ce brushed aside a stack of portraits and placed Zhai Rongyu on the couch.

"Ah Xu... there might still be people outside..."

Amidst the fluttering drawings, her face flushed crimson as she tried to avoid the lips that were pecking at her cheek.

His deep breath lingered in her ear. He lowered his head and took her earlobe in his mouth. "Then Rong'er, keep your voice down for a while."

His voice was hoarse, yet filled with heat.

As Zhai Rong heard this, she felt the effects of the alcohol that had just dissipated returning, gradually turning her into a thin powder.

Jun Ce, however, was still lighting the fire.

He pulled the ribbon from her waist and threw it on the ground.

The hem of his clothes was scattered.

The excess fabric was torn into pieces.

Jun Ce leaned down to look at her, his eyes filled with undisguised desire. His dark gaze seemed to sculpt her skin inch by inch, sending shivers down her spine.

Zhai Rongyu reached out and covered his eyes, turning her head away shyly.

"Don't look..."

Jun Ce's eyes darkened, and he grasped her fingertips, pressing his thin lips to her palm. "You are mine."

This was the first time he had exerted an irresistible pressure on her.

His deep gaze filled with countless emotions, engulfing her completely. Zhai Rongyu's body went limp, and she had no strength left to resist.

He took her hand and placed it on his belt, coaxing her in a low voice, "Rong'er, be good, help me untie it."

Zhai Rongyu's fingertips trembled, as if she were facing some century-old problem.

"I...I can't untie it..."

She was about to cry.

Jun Ce sighed, took her fingertips, and helped her untie his robe.

The moment he pressed himself against her, her black hair fell loose and her hairpin fell to the ground.

Jun Ce heard her thoughts again.

He's so hot...

Jun Ce paused.

A series of burning kisses followed, lingering over her eyes and lips, then slowly pressing against her neck and collarbone... leaving dazzling marks like a wild beast marking its territory.

She raised her shimmering eyes, biting her fingertips as soft moans escaped her lips, like a newly blossoming flower at the bottom of the sea, which he could pluck, manipulate, and then crush.

The deep sea is ethereal, and sea siren sings.

Like the most beautiful love song, melodious and lingering.

His sweat dripped onto her, sending a new shiver down her spine.

Zhai Rongyu felt as if she had gone through a long, hot, and humid rainy season, feeling confused and unable to control her emotions.

Seven days later.

A lone figure crouched outside the Divine Palace, resting his chin on his hand, staring at Fei Ying in bewilderment.

Why hasn't our lord come out yet?

……

Jun Ce lay on his side, propping himself up on his elbow, gazing at the sleeping girl beneath him, his index finger twirling her hair, a look of utter satisfaction on his face.

His gaze fell on the top of her head, and after a moment of silence, he reached out and removed the hairpin.

Unexpectedly, his protective scales could help Rong'er shield her from her innermost thoughts.

Lost in thought, Zhai Rongyu's eyelashes trembled, and she came to her senses.

"hiss--"

Her whole body ached, and when she met Jun Ce's gaze, she gave him a soft glare.

[The instigator!]

He even dared to laugh!

[He even said I bullied him, but who's bullying whom here?!]

"Awake?" Jun Ce lowered his eyes and chuckled, reaching down to kiss her lips, but she angrily dodged away, "Don't touch me!"

She then realized that her voice was very hoarse, and she was immediately both ashamed and annoyed.

"Is Rong'er still angry with me?"

Jun Ce leaned closer to her, his voice low and pitiful, like a drowning puppy.

"I have already been very restrained."

Zhai Rongyu turned her head, almost bumping her nose with his, her almond-shaped eyes widening in surprise. "You call this restraint?!"

She struggled to raise her hand, her fingers trembling as she pointed to the numerous marks, large and small, on her body. "This...this is called self-control?!"

I have no reason to pity you.

I think the most pitiful and suffering one is clearly myself! Waaah!

Jun Ce pursed his lips, suppressing a smile.

The little wildcat turned her back on her afterwards.

He clearly took off her hairpins several times, and only continued after hearing her say "yes."

He kissed her cheek and coaxed her, "Rong'er, didn't you want to play with my dragon whiskers? After you've rested, I'll transform into my true form and take you to play in the clouds, okay?"

Zhai Rongyu secretly glanced at him.

"You can just pull the dragon's whiskers as you please?"

"Hmm." Jun Ce suppressed a smile.

"You can play with the dragon horns as you please?"

"Ah."

"Then don't go back on your word," Zhai Rongyu said, turning her head away with a hint of arrogance. "Let's talk about it when I wake up. Right now, I'm going to sleep."

"Okay." Jun Ce's eyes were full of affection.

She closed one eye, then opened the other, and muttered, "I can't sleep. The doctor said I need to rest my head on my eight-pack abs to sleep well."

Jun Ce kissed her eyes, then immediately lay down obediently, pulled back the covers to reveal his abs, and said, "Here, take this as a pillow."

The girl snorted, "You're smart to know what's good for you."

She fell against Jun Ce, her black hair cascading down to his waist. Jun Ce reached out and gathered it, placing the hairpin back on her head. "Rong'er, wear this hairpin from now on. Don't take it off."

He paused, then added, "Especially when returning to the Minister's residence."

Zhai Rongyu had no idea what he was up to this time, and thought he was just being possessive again. She yawned and replied, "I know, I know."

To be honest, she's been back for several days now, but she hasn't had a chance to visit her father and the others yet.

It's all Ah Xu's fault. Forget about the Divine Palace, she hasn't even left this bed...

The young girl, facing the hardships of spring, closed her eyes, as if asleep.

Jun Ce stroked her hair, his heart overflowing with sweetness, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up in a smile.

"lady……"

He called her softly.

Zhai Rongyu mumbled a "Mmm" in response, still half asleep.

Subconsciously thinking he was still scared, she comforted him in her hazy state, "Don't be afraid, Ah Xu. Even if you try to drive me away, I won't leave. I'll stay with you forever."

Jun Ce lowered his eyes and stared at her. In just a few breaths, his eyes gathered into tiny sparkles.

He corrected her in a low voice, "Rong'er is wrong. It's not a lifetime, it's lifetimes, it's forever."

Zhai Rongyu opened her eyes, her clear pupils reflecting Jun Ce's face.

She smiled and whispered her promise.

"Yes, forever."

(End of text)

------

The story is finished! Hooray!

Grateful to all the readers who have stayed with me until the end. Without your continued support, this book would not have a complete ending (sometimes, the data was so bad that I wanted to quit the book immediately), but I finally made it to the end without disappointing you!

Thank you for giving me the strength to persevere!

Spring blossoms and autumn harvests, seasons change and stars shift, but Ah Xu and Rong'er will love each other forever in their own time and space.

I am not someone who believes in forever; to me, "forever" is a false proposition. But I am willing to give it to them and hope that they will live forever.

They definitely will.

There are a few side stories I really want to write, but I'll write them for you guys after I take a couple of days off. Also, I'll gradually add the ones you guys want to see, especially the ones about Senior Brother and Hua Ying. Ah, Hua Ying, who has mastered water-based magic, and Senior Brother, who uses fire-based magic, are really getting more and more into a love-hate relationship, hahaha.

In short, I hope you enjoy reading, and see you in the next story! Love you all!