The Emperor, with more men than women, made me his mistress.

Hearing Yue Li describe the danger so vividly, including the possibility of being struck by lightning, was incredibly impactful for someone who had only ever heard of such a thing. Sheng Yifan's initially cheerful face turned deathly pale. He hugged Yue Li tightly, his voice trembling slightly, "Ah Li, let's not advance to the Golden Core stage, okay? I'll be content if we live to 200. I don't want to lose you, Ah Li, and please don't let me be struck by lightning, okay?"

The thought of Yue Li disappearing from his life because she couldn't withstand the lightning tribulation made Sheng Yifan feel heartbroken and unable to breathe.

Sensing Sheng Yifan's nervousness and the slight tremor in his voice, Yue Li patted his back reassuringly and said, "Don't worry, Yifan, I won't do anything I'm not sure I can handle. I also can't bear to leave you all!"

She was even more reluctant to give up the life she could lead as a couch potato here, and since she had already experienced the tribulation of lightning during her Core Formation in the cultivation world, she was quite experienced in how to overcome it.

After all, there are countless people in the cultivation world who can survive the tribulation of lightning. The sects will also invite those senior brothers and sisters who have survived the tribulation of lightning to give explanations. Therefore, she is quite confident about surviving the tribulation of the Golden Core stage.

Sensing that Yue Li wouldn't compromise, Sheng Yifan tried to calm his flustered emotions. He released Yue Li, cupped her face in his hands, and looked her in the eye, saying earnestly, "Ah Li, promise me, when you undergo your tribulation, let me be with you, okay?"

"Okay, I'll definitely have Yi Fan accompany you then." Yue Li's heart softened when she saw Sheng Yi Fan's still somewhat pale face. She kissed his handsome lips and made a promise.

Feeling the soft touch on his lips, and seeing the comforting and gentle look in Yue Li's eyes, Sheng Yifan reached out and cupped the back of Yue Li's head, kissing her red lips again.

He desperately needed Yue Li's kiss to soothe his panicked heart and to prove that Yue Li was by his side at that moment.

Only when their lips were kissed until they were rosy red and Yue Li felt her tongue go numb did she push away Sheng Yifan, who was still clinging to her. She said in a coquettish tone, "Alright, I'm telling you this so that you can pay attention when you level up. If you feel that the time is not right, don't rush. Be patient and refine the spiritual energy in your dantian."

"Yes, I will. I want to spend more time with A-Li!" Sheng Yifan tried to suppress his earlier panic. His most important task right now was to raise his level to the Foundation Establishment stage. Everything else could wait until this matter was over.

After consuming the Foundation Establishment Pill given to him by Yue Li in advance, he took out all the Spirit Marrow Liquid from his storage bag and began to slowly refine it according to Yue Li's instructions. It was quite difficult to convert the spiritual energy in his dantian into liquid for the first time, but after the first time, the rest was easier.

Seeing Sheng Yifan gradually enter a meditative state, Yue Li also began to meditate to consolidate her foundation.

In Kyoto, in a private room on the second floor of Baiweilou Restaurant, near the window overlooking the street, Leng Xuanling, dressed in a dark blue brocade robe, held a cup of hot tea in his hand, staring blankly at the people coming and going on the street, somewhat lost in thought.

Si Ming stood two steps behind him, quietly watching over him. He saw that since leaving the Prince Chen's residence, his son seemed to have lost his soul and couldn't muster any energy for anything.

Just then, there was a knock at the door. Fearing that the noise would disturb the Crown Prince, Si Ming immediately took two steps to the door and opened it. The person who knocked seemed to say something to Si Ming, whose expression changed for a moment. Si Ming waved to the person and then closed the door again.

"What happened?" Leng Xuanling didn't turn around, but he heard the commotion behind him and asked in a calm voice.

Si Ming: ...

It was that same tone again. Ever since they left Prince Chen's mansion that day, and two days later, after they had settled into their newly acquired residence, they went to visit Prince Chen's mansion, only to learn that Princess Chen had already left with Young Master Sheng. Since then, the Crown Prince had been indifferent to everything, as if nothing concerned him except for Princess Chen.

"Your Highness, it is news about Princess Consort Chen."

Sure enough, upon hearing the words "Princess Consort Chen," Leng Xuanling immediately turned around. His previously lifeless Peach Blossom Spring seemed to have been rekindled, shining with a dazzling light. "Have you found out where she is?"

"Yes, those who went out learned that Her Highness the Princess Consort likes to stay at the hot spring resorts on the outskirts of the capital. Five days ago, Princess Consort Chen and Young Master Sheng appeared at the hot spring resort where they had stayed before, however,"

Si Ming hesitated for a moment as he spoke.

"But what?" Upon hearing that there was indeed news about Yue Li, Leng Xuanling's previously lifeless heart began to beat again. Seeing Si Ming's hesitant manner, he couldn't wait to take a step forward and asked eagerly.

Si Ming closed his eyes and said, "However, after the Princess Consort and Young Master Sheng entered the hot spring resort, they stayed in their rooms for five days without leaving. According to the people at the resort, if they only left food at the door for five days, they would know nothing else. Moreover, the two left at noon today and their whereabouts are unknown."

Fortunately, it was on the estate. In order to obtain this information, the servants bribed the estate's cleaners. Otherwise, given Prince Chen's strict methods of managing his subordinates, they would not have been able to find out anything about Prince Chen's residence.

Five days?

Upon hearing this news, Leng Xuanling's face turned ashen again. He could easily guess what the two of them had been doing in the room for the past five days. Thinking back to the intimate sounds he had overheard at the door that day, dark thoughts began to grow wildly in Leng Xuanling's mind.

He even wondered what he would see if he opened the door and barged in that day, and whether Yue Li would accept him because of it.

Throughout his life, he has always considered himself a gentle and humble person. He has always been law-abiding since birth and has always tried his best to be a good person, treating everyone with humility and politeness.

He was thinking that after ascending the throne, he would govern the Southern Kingdom well and live up to the trust of his father, mother, and the people of the Southern Kingdom.

But after seeing Yue Li again, he became greedy and dark. He took advantage of his father and mother's affection to shirk his responsibilities. Even after sensing that Yue Li had no feelings for him, he shamelessly followed her around. If Yue Li hadn't been pregnant or giving birth during this time, who knows what he would have done to satisfy his selfish desires.

Now that he had completely lost track of her whereabouts, Leng Xuanling turned around and looked at the street with a somewhat empty gaze. He didn't know what to do next, whether to stay in the capital and wait for news of her, or to leave and return to the Southern Kingdom.

No, he didn't want to leave. Why should those other people be able to stay by her side, do the most intimate things with her, and even have her bear their children, while he had to go back to his original position?

Doesn't he think he's much worse than them?

He simply met Yue Li a little later than the others.

The vacant gaze regained focus. Just then, a carriage passed by on the street. The curtain was lifted by the wind, revealing a man lying on a woman's lap. His robes were disheveled, revealing a large expanse of his chest, and on that fair chest, it seemed as if a flower was blooming.

The carriage passed quickly, but after seeing this scene, Leng Xuanling had a sudden inspiration.