《The Vampire Empress: Blood Queen &amp;amp; Her Kings》


 Chapter 1 - It Still Works...

    THUMP!

    The girl clad in dark red long robes which were covered in dirt, including her not so beautiful ragged and bloody appearance, pushed the almost six feet tall man harshly on the ground.

    Her left hand moved to her lips and she slowly wiped the traces of the blood that was left visible on her lips.

    A huge smile made its way on her face as she watched the miracle taking place in front of her very eyes.

    The blood that was covering her clothes and body started disappearing as one by one all her cuts and scratches healed.

    It barely took a minute or two before her body was completely healed and full of energy.

    She once again started feeling a little like herself even though she was currently trapped in the body of a twenty years old girl who had the same name as her.

    "It worked! Damn it, it still works.....!"

    The girl could not contain her happiness inside her little heart and shouted out crazily as she clapped her small hands with pure joy.

    "M-mon.....MONSTER!!!!!!"

    Her celebration time was short-lived as the panicked voice pulled her attention towards the man who was struggling to crawl away from her.

    The cute and happy expression immediately disappeared from her beautiful face as she stared at the man.

    Her eyes suddenly became darker as an evil glint took over them and then she started laughing.

    "Hahaha.....M-monster? Me? Haha.....!"

    The poor man could do nothing but stare wide-eyed at the girl who appeared to be a total maniac.

    Who would have known that when his Master accepted the mission of killing the ''Good-for-nothing Miss Jiang, he was actually accepting a death sentence?

    The girl finally stopped laughing and her already dark and evil gaze only turned sharper and colder as she glared at his quivering form.

    "You actually dared to call me a Monster. You all abducted a weak lady on her way through this forest. You disfigured her and then you killed her. And now you dared to call me a Monster? Think again. Are you sure that I''m the real monster here?"

    Her voice came out low but dangerous. The darkness of the forest only increased the ire of the situation.

    The man could not speak as fear took over his entire being as he stared at the girl.

    With all the strength that was left in his body and heart, he crawled towards the girl and gripped the hem of her long red dress in his hands as he begged for mercy.

    "Your Highness! I''m innocent. I was just following my Master''s order. Please have mercy on me!"

    Jiang Ying Yue closed her eyes for a moment to take a deep breath and then her right hand made its way around the neck of the man.

    "When you figured out that the ''Good-for-nothing Jiang Ying Yue was a bane of the Imperial family and no one would care if she suddenly disappeared, you should have paid extra attention to find out exactly why she''s a bane. Unfortunately, it''s too late now."

    And with those words, a loud crunching sound echoed through the silence of the forest and the body of the man dropped dead on the ground.

    Ying Yue wiped her right hand on her dress as if to get rid of the germs that she received from the man.

    "Finally!"

    She let out a sigh as she looked at the two dead bodies that were lying in front of her.

    Right at that moment, a bright silver light illuminated the area around her, and the very next second, there was a man in dark black robes who slowly walked towards her.

    His shoulder-length silver hair, with a touch of purple in them, was tied in a high ponytail and a few strands of hair were left loose.

    His dark green eyes were highlighted by his long black lashes and his sharp jawline accompanied by his naturally red full lips, made him appear like the main character of some fantasy novel.

    The black satin shirt that he was wearing did absolutely nothing to hide the chiseled, well-built body of his.

    His black leather pants and cargo boots, plus the black oversize long coat gave his already tall frame another boost.

    A diamond ring was shining on the index finger of his right hand and a matching earring was dangling on his left ear.

    The man looked so ethereal and handsome that it was not possible to call him human at all.

    "Why it looks like that you are struggling to choose between laughing and crying at this moment?" He asked as he crouched down beside her and took the hem of her dress in his long slender hands.

    The very next second, the nails of his right hand grew longer and sharper, and with a swift move he separated a piece of her dress and it landed on the ground.

    It was exactly that part of her dress which was touched by the man who was now lying dead just a few feet away from them.

    Ying Yue did not even look at the man as she replied, "This Jiang Ying Yue is the chosen candidate of the Empress'' position of this country. However, she was not even worthy enough to enjoy a proper assassination. They just sent two looser bandits to finish her off. What a joke!"

    The man did not say anything as he watched the girl in silence.

    His silence finally made Ying Yue turn her attention to him as she asked curiously, "What about you?"

    In reply to her question, the man only raised his eyebrows as he repeated, "What about me?"

    "I mean how did you end up here?" Ying Yue elaborated her question and watched as the man stood up from his crouched position.

    They were standing so close, barely a few inches of space left between them and his tall height made Ying Yue to lift her head to look at his face.

    "I''m bound to you for eternity. Of course, I''m gonna follow you even in death."

 Chapter 2 - Shes 1500 Years Old

    Ying Yue frowned as she stared at the man who was moving towards the two dead bodies.

    "Are you trying to say that you died too?" She asked as she started following him.

    "Something like that."

    The reply made her stop in her tracks as she glared at the man who too had stopped walking.

    Suddenly he turned around and started coming towards her. .

    It was not until he was once again standing right in front of her that Ying Yue noticed the dark red patches on the lower part of the man''s silvery hair, something that she failed to notice before.

    Her left hand moved towards his hair and she touched the soft silky strands, biting on her lower lip as she realized that he was telling her the truth.

    She almost lost control of her emotions at that moment, but even before her usual indifferent expression could falter and change into sadness and grief, she got a hold on herself.

    It was not the right time for her to become emotional and feel bad for what had happened.

    "But how? You were not supposed to die." She could not help herself but ask the question that was drilling holes in her heart.

    The man pulled her hand away as he replied, "I already told you, I''m gonna stick to you no matter what. It''s too late for you to get rid of me now."

    His eyes held the fire of the promise that he made to her on the very day she saved him from losing his life.

    These words were supposed to remind her of the fate that both of them were tied to share.

    Ying Yue folded her hands across her chest as she scoffed, "Of course, I know that. It''s just that your situation ain''t making any sense."

    "What are you trying to say? Please elaborate." The man said as he took a look at the night sky.

    As far as he could tell, it was one or maybe two hours past midnight. The half-moon shone brightly up in the sky, illuminating the world in its beautiful silvery moonlight.

    "When I died back in our world, my soul got transmigrated and I ended up inside the body of a girl who has the same name as me. But in your case, it doesn''t look the same. I mean it''s like you used a portal to come here instead of transmigrating." Ying Yue explained as she looked at the man with squinted eyes.

    "Portal? Are you for real? Which portal in our world opened into a place like this? Moreover, this girl doesn''t only have the same name as you but she also looks exactly like you, except for these black eyes instead of your hazel ones and those long black hair." The man told her as he first pointed at her eyes and then at her waist-length hair.

    "Really?" Ying Yue asked with surprise coating her voice as her hands cupped her cheeks as if she could tell the similarity just by touching.

    "What a coincidence! It''s a pity that she did not share the same fate as me and ended up dying like this." Ying Yue said as she let out a soft sigh while shaking her head in pity.

    She noticed the look that the man was giving her and it took her a few seconds to understand the meaning behind it.

    "What? I know that I''m dead too but at least I got to live for 1500 years. If not for the sudden attack on the club, do you think those mere mortals had the power of killing me? Ridiculous!"

    She was quick to defend herself. After all, she had lived on the Earth for more than 1500 years, and there was barely anyone in their world who dared to go against her.

    It was probably her ignorance of threats that ended up taking her life, and now here she was, trapped inside the body of a girl who was born with a blessing from the heavens that ended up becoming a curse for the rest of her life.

    "Are you not happy that you got a second chance? If this girl had not died today, maybe you would have never got this chance."

    "Of course, I''m happy. It''s just I''m mad about the fact that I won''t be able to crush those hunters who dared to attack my club." Ying Yue replied as she gritted her teeth.

    The man folded his hand behind his back as he said in a low voice, "Don''t worry about that. I made sure to finish them off before following you."

    "Did you kill all of them? But then how did you die?" Ying Yue asked even though she knew that there was next to no chance that she''s gonna get a proper answer.

    "You are asking way too many questions, Yue." The man said with a little shake of his head.

    "And that''s because you are not telling me anything." She responded with a scoff.

    The man turned to face her and this time he was no longer carrying a softness in his eyes as he replied to her accusation, "It''s because you don''t need to know."

    It was clear that Ying Yue was on the verge of blowing out in anger. It took a few moments for her to calm herself down and not to start a fight.

    "Fine! If you really don''t want to tell me, I won''t ask anymore. Not like I really care." She spatted as she started walking past him and towards the two dead men.

    She needed to take care of them before progressing with other things. She could not take the risk of ending up in the middle of a murder charge.

    However, before she could take more than a few steps, a hand stopped her as it took hold of her arm.

    "I''ll take care of them. Tell me what are you planning to do next." The man asked as he pulled her away from the dead bodies.

    Ying Yue scoffed as she pulled her arm out of his grip and folded them over her chest as she asked, "Really? And why should I tell you about that?"

 Chapter 3 - Jiang Ying Yue

    "Ying Yue...!"

    "You are such a hypocrite! I''m going to find the maids who were with this girl before she got abducted." Ying Yue answered but not before showing exactly how much she hated his double standards.

    "You got her memories?" The man asked, not paying any attention to her angry words.

    "Not really. I know there''s a bubble in my mind filled with her memories, but I needed to take care of these two first before diving into them. I just got a few loose strands of information before I pushed the remaining information somewhere back in my mind." She again replied with a dry tone.

    "Alright! You should go and find them.. I''ll take care of these bodies first before following you." The man told her as he gave a quick look to their surroundings.

    Ying Yue did not waste her energy in replying to him. She just turned around and started walking towards the part of the forest which was giving her a scent of mortal presence.

    Once again, before she could have taken more than just a few steps, she was stopped in her tracks.

    However, this time, the hand snaked around her belly as it pulled her against a hard chest.

    "Silver..."

    She could not help the soft gasp of his name that escaped her lips as she felt his hot breath on her nape.

    Her breathing increased as the arm around her belly only tightened at her raspy voice calling out his name.

    Her entire body was now surrounded by a pleasurable warmth as her soul started reminiscing with joy.

    Her mind was no longer able to work and she could almost hear the sound of her rapid heartbeats, something that had not been a part of her previous life.

    She was so consumed by the feelings that were pulling her into their depths that it took her a few moments to realize that the man was saying something to her.

    "....you are not allowed to die again, Yue. I won''t let you go if you ended up leaving me again and I''m not joking this time. So promise me."

    His voice was deep and filled with so many emotions that it barely took a second before Ying Yue found herself nodding her head lightly.

    It was like her promise was all that he needed because she immediately felt him relaxing behind her.

    His hand that was circled around her belly give her a last squeeze before it dropped to her left hand and those long slender fingers intertwined themselves with her smaller ones.

    She probably imagined it but it was like his soft lips planted a feathery kiss just below her left ear, before she was left alone.

    All the warmth, pleasure, contentment, and the feeling of fulfillment disappeared the very moment he separated himself from her.

    It was like a cold bucket of icy chilled water had been dumped on her. As if all that happened just a few moments ago was nothing more than her mere imagination.

    A part of her wanted to turn around and look at the man who had followed her even through her death, but the bigger part, the sensible one, woke up and started functioning.

    Ying Yue did not waste any more time as with a soft sigh she started walking towards her destination.

    Since she had time in her hands, she let the bubble of memories, that belonged to the original owner of her body, pop open.

    The very next moment, her mind was filled with tons of grievances and sad recollections.

    Jiang Ying Yue was the daughter of a physician. Her parents lived in the Herbs Valley where a small village was located. She only had a little brother as a sibling.

    It was a rumor that on the day of her birth, the sky had turned bright red and the image of a Phoenix was seen above their house at the time of her birth.

    Later when she was born, the nursemaid found the Phoenix mark on her shoulder blade.

    From that day onwards, Ying Yue became the child with blessings from the heavens. One who was destined to a glamorous future.

    Everything was going perfectly in her life until her fifteenth birthday when an Imperial decree arrived at their doorsteps just a week before her birthday.

    The Queen Dowager had bestowed her with the position of the next Empress of Hyuang Empire.

    Even if her father was not really happy about sending his only daughter to the harsh life of the palace, he could do nothing to stop the wedding.

    Before Jiang Ying Yue set her foot inside the Imperial Palace, everything was going perfectly fine.

    But then something very bad happened. The wedding was supposed to take place on the day after her birthday.

    However, when she woke up in the morning of the day of her birthday, she was not the only one sleeping on her bed.

    Three beautiful creatures were sleeping beside her, all wearing a simple thin robe that barely did anything to hide their body.

    She herself was wearing a similar robe, at least, hers was covering her completely, only leaving both of her arms bare.

    Before her mind could process what was happening, the Empress Dowager arrived there with her servants and from that day onward, Jiang Ying Yue became a thorn in the Empress Dowager''s eyes.

    She was thrown into the cold palace for deceiving all the three Princes of the Hyuang Empire.

    No one listened to her pleas, neither anyone cared about the fact that she had probably been set up by someone.

    To keep the rumor from spreading, the Empress Dowager send all the three Princes to the border to take care of the war that had been going on between the Hyuang Empire and the Qin Empire.

    On the other hand, a rumor was spread into the citizens that their future Empress would be learning her duties till the Crown Prince would return from the border.

    Five years passed and the life of Jiang Ying Yue kept becoming miserable with each passing day.

    As soon as the palace servants learned that no one cared about the future Empress, they too stopped caring about her daily necessities.

    It was a good thing that Ying Yue was used to doing house choruses, therefore, with the help of her two maids she kept living her life in the cold palace.

    But then....something happened! Something that made her escape the Palace.

 Chapter 4 - The Twins

    A few months ago, out of nowhere, a man entered the Cold Palace in the middle of the night.

    Jiang Ying Yue stumbled upon him when she was returning from the kitchen and then, she did something terribly stupid.

    In short, that man succeeded in winning her over and helped her in forming a plan to escape from the Palace.

    The stupid Jiang Ying Yue immediately agreed and that''s how she ended up running from the Palace in the middle of the night, ending up dying at the hands of two bandits.

    Ying Yue scratched the tip of her nose as she shook her head at the level of Miss Jiang''s stupidity.

    How could she trust a complete stranger? It was clear that he was the accomplice of the person who was trying to get rid of her.

    Otherwise, what''re the chances of her getting attacked on the very same day she set her foot outside the palace for the first time in ages?

    Moreover, the second bandit even confessed before dying that he was sent to kill the Good-for-nothing, the taboo of the Palace, Miss Jiang..

    But looked like Jiang Ying Yue was just too desperate to get away from the life that she was living in the Palace. And desperate situations called for desperate measures.

    As for other information about the palace or the current state of the Hyuang Empire, there was nothing much informational in Miss Jiang''s memories.

    That girl had not put her foot outside of the Cold Palace for more than the past five years, how could she have any information about the whereabouts of the three Princes and the knowledge of the state of the outside world.

    It took Ying Yue ten more minutes to finally stumble upon the two maidservants of Jiang Ying Yue, who were bawling their hearts out as they sat at the foot of a huge tree.

    The two girls were twins and were only two years younger than Jiang Ying Yue.

    According to the memories, when Ying Yue was seven years old, she once stumbled across a group of bandits in the mountains who had kidnapped nearly two five-year-old twin sisters from a nearby village.

    With the help of the sleeping powder, the one that she had received from her father as a gift after successfully reciting the method of brewing it, she succeeded in rescuing those two girls and brought them to her house.

    Later she and her family found out that the two girls were on their way towards the Capital with their parents when the bandits attacked them and killed their parents.

    Her father being a soft-hearted person decided to keep both the girls in his house at his daughter''s request.

    The two girls stuck around Ying Yue as they grew up and when she finally came to the Palace, the two of them followed her as her maidservants.

    According to those memories, the twins had always been loyal to Jiang Ying Yue even through the years when she was suffering in the Cold Palace.

    "Why the two of you creating such a scene? If someone saw you they will probably think that you are mourning. Don''t jinx me, ah!"

    Ying Yue''s voice was soft but loud enough to reach the twins who immediately looked up at the source of the familiar voice.

    Even though Ying Yue was not a mortal, she still was taken aback when within a couple of seconds she was wrapped in two pairs of arms as the twins clung to her and started crying even more loudly.

    "Miss....waaahhhhh....M-misss...ahhh...wuuuuuu..."

    "M-Miss...y-you.....sca-scared....us.....ahhhh!"

    "Why d-did....you l-left....u-usss...."

    "Mis-Missss...annnnnhhhhhh....."

    "...."

    Ying Yue felt like a headache was approaching her as the two girls continued sobbing and wailing while clinging to her tightly.

    "Why are the two of you crying like I''m dead? Stop crying!" She tried to calm down the two girls.

    However, to her utter shock, the girls only increased the pitch of their wailing and completely ignored her.

    "...."

    Ying Yue started regretting her decision of coming to find these two girls. Rather, she should have headed towards the Palace on her own.

    But it still was not too late, right? She still could escape.

    Thinking like that she started separating the hands that were holding her so tightly that she was almost afraid of getting bruises.

    But no matter how much she tried, the girls did not budge. The more she tried to get out of their clutches, the tighter they clung to her.

    After a few minutes of constant failures, Ying Yue decided to gave up on the idea.

    "If you two don''t stop crying then I''ll leave the two of you here in the middle of this scary forest!" Ying Yue threatened.

    But to her utter disappointment, her threat was like a passing breeze that got ignored.

    Of course, her threat did not work. She could not even get out of their grasps, how was she going to fly away from them? And it''s not like the twins could not find their way back to the Palace.

    "STOP RIGHT NOW OR I AM GOING TO POISON THAT OLD FREAK EMPRESS DOWAGER THE MOMENT I WILL RETURN TO THE PALACE!"

    She was not really expecting this one to work because both the girls knew that their weak and stupid Miss could never do something like that.

    But she was left totally shocked when the girls immediately stopped crying.

    Both of them retracted their hands from around Ying Yue which finally gave her a little space to breathe properly.

    "Are you telling the truth? We are really returning to the Palace?" Li Qi asked with hopeful eyes.

    Ying Yue squinted her eyes as she examined the expressions of the two girls, Li Qi and Li Wu.

    "You two are really something!" Ying Yue said as she shook her head and started walking towards the direction of the Capital City.

    It was time that she should take a look at her new home. After all, she had a lot to do and a luxurious life to live!

 Chapter 5 - The Speed Of A Vampire

    "Miss, why did you suddenly changed your plan?" Li Wu asked as she and her sister followed their Miss.

    "What plan?" Ying Yue asked in confusion as she tried to figure out the direction of the Capital city.

    The twin sisters actually believed that their Miss did not understand the meaning of Li Wu''s question, therefore, Li Qi decided to elaborate.

    "What Li Wu is trying to ask is that why did Miss suddenly change your plan of escaping from the Palace?"

    Ying Yue stopped in her tracks as she turned to look at the two girls as she replied with an innocent tone, "What are you talking about? What escaping the Palace? Did not we just come out to take a stroll in the wilderness?"

    Li Qi and Li Wu gapped at their Miss with their jaws dropped. Did their Miss lose her memories? Or was she playing with them?

    Suddenly the innocent look disappeared from Ying Yue''s face and in its place, there was an evil glint in her eyes.

    "You two should not be talking about your Miss escaping the Royal Palace like this. What if someone overheard? That''s why you should remember that we came out to take a stroll. Okay?".

    Ying Yue patted both of them on their heads before she once again started walking.

    It took the two girls quite sometime before they too came out of their shock and hurriedly chased after their Miss.

    "But Miss, as long as you are confined in the Cold Palace, it''s still a crime to step out of that shady manor. No matter whether it is just to take a walk around or whether to....escape the palace!"

    Li Wu whispered the last part as she moved her eyes all around them as if to find someone hiding behind the bushes, spying on them.

    "But which one of these is a bigger crime? A walk in the park or an escape plan?" Ying Yue asked as she kept walking.

    They were almost at the edge of the forest that was surrounding the Capital City from the north side.

    "Of course, the latter. But we are not taking a stroll in the park right now." Li Wu muttered softly as they all came to a stop at the very edge of the forest.

    The huge wall of Capital City was visible in the distance. To reach the entrance gate of the city, they still needed to walk a few miles in the North direction.

    However, there''s a great problem waiting for them. How were they going to enter the Capital City in the middle of the night?

    Li Wu voiced out the problem as they all stood there in silence.

    "Miss, should we follow the same method for entering into the city that we used to get out of the city?" Li Qi suggested as she looked at her Miss with serious eyes, waiting for her order.

    "That''s not even possible. Where would we find a carriage at this time of the night? Moreover, the carriage that we used to come out of the city was specially prepared for us." Li Wu immediately recited the faults in her sister''s suggestion.

    "Then do you have a better idea?" Li Qi asked with an irritated voice.

    "Of course, I don''t have one! But your idea is definitely not good." Li Wu replied while shaking her head.

    "You....!"

    The two sisters got too occupied bickering with each other, that none of them noticed as their Miss disappeared from their side.

    Suddenly, a sharp blow landed on the back of both of their necks, and immediately the two maids lost their consciousness.

    Before both of them could fall on the ground, Ying Yue stopped their fall as she pulled them closer to her by their waists.

    Both of her hands were wrapped around the girls, one on her each side. Being a Vampire, the two girls were like a few grains for her to carry.

    Right at that moment, her attention was pulled towards the sharp sound of the eagle''s cry that was flying above in the sky.

    It looked exactly like a normal eagle but Ying Yue knew that it was anything but a normal eagle.

    The eagle made a few small circles in the sky before it started flying towards the Capital City.

    Ying Yue took in a deep breath before she tightened her hold on the two unconscious girls and the next second her silhouette disappeared into thin air.

    Nope! She did not teleport. Even though she was a Vampire with a few unique and magical skills, unfortunately, teleportation was not one of them.

    However, having the speed of Vampire that could help one travel hundreds of miles within a few minutes, was there really any need for teleportation power?

    She jumped over the high wall that guarded the Imperial city and landed on the hard ground.

    But rather than stopping, she raced towards the Imperial Palace, following the lead of the eagle that was flying in the sky.

    She was so fast that no one could see anything. Not like anyone was present there to watch her at such a time of the night.

    Other than the feeling of a rushing wind, her movements produced no other evidence of her presence.

    It barely took her five minutes before she jumped over the wall of the Cold Palace and landed inside the first courtyard.

    By the time she dumped the two girls in their supposed-to-be bedroom and made her way to her own, she realized that her new body was tired.

    As a vampire, it was very rare for her to get tired so easily. That''s why Ying Yue was left totally surprised.

    The Heavens must be playing with her! How could she end up having such a useless body? Ah!

    Hurriedly, she found a pair of white clothes that looked ages-old but were at least neat and clean.

    She was too tired to take a bath as it probably needed a lot of energy to get the water from the well.

    That''s why she just changed into those fresh but old clothes and snuggled under the only thin duvet that she had in her possession.

    The previous Jiang Ying Yue was definitely living a life of poverty and an ill fate. But the new Ying Yue was already forming plans to change her life and become boss of bosses.

 Chapter 6 - Porridge Or Poison

    Ying Yue stared at the wooden bowl that was sitting on top of the only table that was available in her room.

    The problem was neither the lack of furniture nor the fact that instead of porcelain, the food was served in a wooden bowl.

    After all, she was not really the Empress of the Hyuang Empire. Scratch that! Her life was probably even more miserable than the servants of the Palace.

    Back to the point, the actual problem which was making Ying Yue''s blood boil was the so-called food, or porridge to be precise, that she was supposed to eat.

    The bowl was filled with soup like white-colored water with barely a few grains of rice in it.

    What kind of poverty was this, Ah?

    The porridge disgusted her to such a level that she would rather drink poison than eating that horrible thing.

    Ying Yue moved her disgusted gaze away from the bowl of PORRIDGE and looked at her two maidservants who were staring down at their feet..

    She was not angry at the two of them. The two girls were the only people of this new world whom she could trust.

    "Look at me."

    Somehow her voice came out soft and smooth even though she was ready to spill blood at the moment.

    The body in which she was currently living belonged to a human, moreover, a weak human.

    Even though she still possessed most of her Vampire powers, her new body was limiting the extent to which she could use her abilities.

    Her new body was beyond malnourished. Instead of looking like a twenty-year-old girl, she appeared like a sickly patient in her teenage.

    Since the body was not strong, it could not survive too much energy consumption, meaning that currently, Ying Yue was beyond exhausted because of overusing her powers the previous night.

    Also, it was her first time sleeping on such a hard bed with next to no covers and blankets.

    Her entire body was sour as she barely had slept throughout the few hours that she got to sleep after returning to the Cold Palace.

    And as if she was not tortured enough yet, now she was supposed to fill her tummy with that so-called porridge.

    Impossible!

    The two girls followed the order of their Miss and raised their heads to look at the thin and also pitiful face that was supposed to be one of the most beautiful faces of the Empire.

    The two sisters almost burst out into tears as their hearts filled with sympathy for their miss and anger for those who had wronged her.

    "Miss, the Kitchen still has not sent rations even when this servant went to remind them a couple of days ago. This was the only thing that we could prepare....."

    Li Qi explained as she and Li Wu immediately kneeled on the hard floor after seeing the angry expression of their Miss.

    "Miss, these servants are not capable enough. Please punish us!" Li Wu said as she and her sister bowed their heads.

    The two sisters had always been sad about the fact that in the past five years they had constantly failed in their duties.

    They could not even provide enough food for their Miss, what''s the point of serving her then?

    How could Ying Yue not understand the sincere feelings of her two cute maids?

    Her frustration disappeared as she asked the girls to stand up.

    "So Chef Qiu is finally ready to starve me to death. First, the Royal Kitchen and now even the servant''s kitchen is ready to ignore my existence in this Palace. Alright!"

    Ying Yue said in an angry tone as she bumped her right hand on the table, accidentally spilling the clone of the porridge.

    "Miss, be careful....!"

    "Aaah!"

    The horrified look on the faces of her maids made Ying Yue raised her eyebrows in confusion.

    Was spilling porridge considered a bad omen or something?

    "Wait! Was it the only batch of rice left in our kitchen?" She suddenly asked and looking at the panicked and sad faces of the two girls, she already got the answer.

    "There''s still some left in the kitchen. I''ll go and bring a new bowl of porridge. Meanwhile, Li Wu will take care of....."

    "No need."

    Ying Yue stopped the girls as she stood up and moved away from the table. She did not want to look at that porridge any longer because she was afraid that she would end up vomiting.

    It clearly disgusted her! There was no way that she was going to eat that thing even if she was starving to death.

    "I want to take a look around the Cold Palace. You two have your breakfast and then find me. We have a lot of work to do." Ying Yue said as she started walking towards the door of her made-up bedroom.

    She was really unable to understand the previous Jiang Ying Yue. The girl had been living in a small Palace with a total of five courtyards in it.

    Even though the Cold Palace was not even as luxurious as any official manor, but it was still far better than the houses of the normal citizens or lower rank officials.

    Not only did the girl let the people in power abuse her but she was not even strong enough to deal with those servants who came to bully her.

    A sigh escaped through her lips as she thought about the previous owner of her body. All that she could promise to the previous Jiang Ying Yue was to keep her body in the best condition while making sure that her body and her two little maids had no longer to live a petty life.

    In short, she was going to build a luxurious life for herself and the two Li sisters.

    All that she needed was for the Imperial family and their servants to stay far away from her. She wanted to avoid them as much as she could.

    Only if she knew!

 Chapter 7 - Who Was The Groom?

    "Goodness! It feels like I''m about to pass out." Ying Yue muttered in a barely audible voice as she settled down on the stairs.

    "Miss, we told you not to overdo yourself. You haven''t eaten anything since morning and you have been working nonstop ever since. Your body won''t be able to stand it."

    The worry was clear in Li Qi''s voice as she passed a glass of water to her exhausted Miss.

    Ying Yue gulped down the water hurriedly even though both Li Qi and Li Wu were telling her to slow down.

    She returned the bowl, which was supposed to be a glass, to the Li Qi as her eyes roamed over her surroundings.

    "I know that today we all worked too hard and over-exhausted ourselves, but take a look at this courtyard and tell me - Was our hard work worth it?"

    Her question made smiles appeared on the faces of the two girls as they too took in the beauty of the courtyard that was located at the very end of the Cold Palace..

    There were a total of five courtyards inside the Cold Palace with eight gardens, two ponds, an empty area near the third courtyard, and two pavilions.

    For the past five years, Li Wu and Li Qi had stayed at the first courtyard, closest to the entrance gate of the Cold Palace, along with their miss.

    At first, there was a team of servants who used to clean the Cold Palace once a week but by the end of the first year of their stay in the Cold Palace, the servants stopped cleaning the manor.

    The girls couldn''t clean such a huge Palace on their own and decided to just keep the first courtyard in great shape.

    In the past four years, the rest of the Cold Palace, except the first courtyard, had become dusty and a forbidden place.

    Who knew that Miss Jiang would suddenly decide to clean the entire Cold Palace? And she started this great work by cleaning the largest courtyard of the Cold Palace, the fifth courtyard.

    "It''s looking so beautiful after the cleaning. Just a pity that...all the valuables have been taken away from here."

    Li Wu sounded sad as her eyes took in the emptiness of the rooms. Even though it was a courtyard of the Cold Palace but it was still supposed to be beautifully decorated.

    Ying Yue patted Li Wu''s head softly as she said, "Why are you making such a sad face? Don''t think too much. Since I''ve decided to live a happy life from now on, we need to work hard for it."

    A sigh left her lips as she clapped her hands before speaking with a bright smile on her face, "From today onwards, we will sleep in this courtyard. Now, you two should go and get our things from the first courtyard. Hurry!"

    Even though the girls were surprised to see the sudden change in their Miss but none of them were complaining.

    After sulking in misery for such a long time, their Miss was once again enthusiastic about embracing her life. They would support her no matter what!

    The two girls immediately hurried to bring their clothes from the First Courtyard.

    As soon as the girls left the courtyard, Ying Yue turned her attention towards the lamp post.

    A small white cat was hiding behind it and as it realized that its presence was no longer a secret, it came out of its hiding place and started walking towards Ying Yue.

    By the time it reached the top of the stairs where the girl was sitting, the cat had transformed into the silver-haired guy.

    "Where have you been all this time?" Ying Yue asked as she observed the guy with suspicious eyes.

    Silver took a seat beside her as he replied, "Was out collecting important information. Though I must have to say that you did a pretty good job in cleaning this place. It''s shining the most among all the other courtyards of this palace."

    Ying Yue ignored his praises as she asked, "What did you find so far?"

    A small twitch appeared on Silver''s lips as he passed a quick look at the girl before answering her question.

    "Do you know that the time when the Empress Dowager sent the decree to this Jiang Ying Yue, there was no mention of the name and identity of the Prince to whom she was going to get married?"

    Silver''s question left Ying Yue in a state of confusion and as she racked her memories, she was totally shocked to realize that he was telling the truth.

    It was true! The decree only mentioned that Ying Yue was selected for the position of the Empress of the Hyuang Empire. However, at that time no Emperor was sitting on the throne.

    After the death of the late Emperor, the seat of the ruler of the Empire was left empty for thirteen years since all the three princes were too small.

    It was the Empress Dowager who kept the Imperial court in check while making sure that all the three princes were being prepared for their future.

    Even when the princes entered their mid-teens, the Empress Dowager did not show any signs of finally appointing the Crown Prince.

    That''s why when the decree was sent to Ying Yue''s house, the citizens finally started hoping to soon see one of the three princes getting the title of the Crown Prince.

    However, little did the people knew that as soon as the auspicious day arrived, everything went upside down.

    The Princes were suddenly sent to the war. The soon-to-be Empress was confined in the Palace so that she could prepare for her future as the Empress of their nation and the Empress Dowager kept taking care of the court matters.

    Till this day, there was no Crown Prince of the Hyuang Empire as neither of the Princes had returned from the border.

    "Whom she was supposed to marry then?" Ying Yue found herself asking to no one in particular.

    However, Silver decided to answer her question, "According to the citizens, there were two theories. First, the Empress Dowager would have appointed the Crown Prince just before the wedding and he would have married Miss Jiang. Second, the prince who would have married her would then become the Crown Prince/ Emperor."

    Both the theories made sense. But what did not make any sense to her was exactly what the Empress Dowager trying to do?

    "Do you think that the Empress Dowager is so attached to the power of ruling the Empire that she no longer want to...."

    Ying Yue did not finish her sentence as both of them knew what she was trying to imply.

    "To be honest, I have no idea. It''s very hard to understand what is going on. Moreover, I don''t care about what she wants or do as long as she stays away from you."

    Silver answered her question after a few seconds of silence.

    "I have the same plan too." Ying Yue added as she stood up from her sitting position to give a stretch to her sore muscles.

    "Yue, I have a surprise for you."

 Chapter 8 - The Secret Tunnel

    "Miss, are we really going to do this?"

    The uncertainty and fear of getting caught were clearly visible in Li Qi''s eyes as she whispered the question for the nth time within the last twenty minutes.

    A soft sigh left Ying Yue''s lips as she dusted her dress before standing up and facing her two maids.

    "How many times do I have to answer that question of yours? Even I''m not scared, but look at you two! You both are acting like I''m taking you guys to assassinate someone. Just relax, alright?"

    Both the sisters changed worried glances between each other before Li Wu dared to speak, "Miss, why are you even taking such a huge risk? What if someone decided to visit the Cold palace in our absence? How are we going to explain your absence?"

    Ying Yue who was ready to open the trap door, stopped her movements as she turned her entire focus towards the two girls.

    "When was the last time someone came to look for me in this abandoned place?" She asked the girls while raising her eyebrows as she waited for them to answer.

    The girls hesitated to answer as they realized what their Miss was trying to tell them. It had been years since someone from the Imperial palace came anywhere near the Cold Palace..

    It was always Li Qi and Li Wu who went to collect firewood, vegetables, and other essential items every once in a month or two from the Royal kitchen or butler Wen.

    No one had free time to waste on paying any attention to the Cold Palace or its residents.

    "But Miss, you have such poor luck. What if someone suddenly decided to look for you? The Empress Dowager will skin you alive if she finds out about this!"

    Li Wu was almost on the verge of crying as she begged her Miss not to continue with her dangerous idea.

    "Alright, alright! Don''t worry too much. Trust me this time. I promise I won''t drag the two of you into any kind of danger. Now be good girls and follow me, I''m gonna make your evening beautiful today." Ying Yue said with a huge smile as she opened the trap door.

    Did their Miss not understood what they were trying to tell her?

    The Li sisters could do nothing more than just silently following their Miss.

    Ying Yue lit a torch and passed it to Li Wu as she helped the girl to climb down the stairs. Li Qi followed next and Ying Yue was the last one to enter the underground tunnel.

    They made sure to close the trap door before setting forward on their journey.

    The underground tunnel, that they were using to escape from the Palace, was not only dark but it was also filled with a strong smell of decaying plants and insects.

    "Miss, we have been living in the Cold Palace for more than half a decade, but we never found this tunnel. How did you suddenly found out about this?" Li Qi asked as she passed the torch to her Miss.

    Ying Yue started leading the way as she answered Li Qi''s question.

    "Did we ever paid any attention to this part of the palace before today? Moreover, you just saw that we literally needed to dig the soil and those bushes to find that hidden trapdoor. It''s clear that whoever created this tunnel, they kept it very well hidden. Unless someone already knows about its location, it''s not possible to find the trapdoor."

    The girls nodded their heads as they realized that what their Miss told them actually made sense.

    Their Miss was not a dumb person to start with, but the girls never realized that she actually possessed a brain that could function so well!

    "But Miss, you still haven''t told us about how you found out about this place." Li Qi reminded her Miss about their main question.

    A soft sigh escaped Ying Yue''s lips as she decided to satiate their curiosity.

    "Today when we were cleaning the fifth courtyard, I found a hidden compartment in the wall behind the bed. There were some scrolls and parchments in there. One of those parchments has the map of this tunnel."

    "Oh! Who would have known that there''s a tunnel hidden in the Cold Palace?" Li Wu commented as she hurriedly followed behind her Miss.

    "Let''s not think too much about the history of this tunnel. We should be happy that we can now freely enter or exit the Imperial Palace without any problems." Li Qi commented as she suddenly appeared to be happier than she was a few moments ago.

    Li Wu just slowly nodded her head at her sister''s words, but then suddenly another question popped up in her mind.

    "Miss, Do you know where this tunnel will open?"

    "Of course! What kind of stupid question is that?" Ying Yue scoffed at the dumb question as she even stopped to pass a quick glance at her little maid.

    "I.....I was just asking." Li Wu stammered as she felt embarrassed for asking such a stupid question.

    "According to the map, there''s a Manor located at the outskirts of the East Street. The tunnel will open somewhere near an oak tree in the back garden of the manor. Once we will reach there, then we''ll decide about how to escape from that place unnoticed." Ying Yue informed the girls.

    "A manor near the East Street? Can it be the famous Star Lake Manor?"

    "The Star Lake Manor!"

    Both Li Wu and Li Qi cried out in surprise at the same time, almost making Ying Yue lose her grip on the torch.

    "Star Lake Manor?" Ying Yue questioned as she stopped to look at both the girls with curious eyes.

    "En! From what we have heard from the other servants of the Palace, there''s a very mysterious manor located at the outskirts of East Street."

    "There are various rumors about that manor, some good and some bad. But the point is that no one knows about the identity of the owner of that mysterious manor. Moreover, no one has entered into that place ever since it was built around a decade ago."

    Li Qi told her Master about all the little information that she had regarding the Star Lake Manor.

    Their stories succeeded in gripping Ying Yur''s attention as she looked forward to find out about that so called ''Star Lake Manor''.

    However, she was totally clueless about the surprise that was waiting for her at the other end of the tunnel.

 Chapter 9 - The Blue Crystal Ball

    The Star Lake Manor...

    As the evening descended over the beautiful capital city of the Hyuang Empire, it brought a beautiful view of the sunset with it.

    A man clad in royal blue brocade robes was standing under a pavilion which was located in the back garden of the manor.

    The soft breeze that was blowing through the area, brought the sweet fragrance of the various flowers blooming in the garden with it.

    His silk robes fluttered in the breeze along with his long black hair that was pulled in a high ponytail, securely tied by an elegant silver coronet.

    His black eyes held a mischievous glint in them as he gazed at the horizon. His eyelashes were long and his sharp jawline accompanied by the milky skin and the redness of his lips made him appear like an ethereal character..

    The blue headprint that was sitting between his brows gave his beauty another mesmerizing touch.

    The aura that surrounded him was neither cold nor warm, it was just as mysterious as him and his identity.

    At first glance, it appeared like he was probably a cold-hearted person with an indifferent personality but then one look at the soft smile that constantly kept playing on his lips, it looked like he carried a warm heart.

    But only those who had the experience in judging body language and auras could tell the real character of this mysterious man.

    "My Lord, there are some movements in the underground tunnel."

    A man in dark clothes appeared out of nowhere and informed the mysterious man about his findings.

    The smile that had been present on the lips of the mysterious man only increased at the information.

    He finally moved his attention away from the beautiful sight of the sunset as he turned to look at the man who was kneeling on the hard floor of the pavilion.

    The mysterious man brought his right palm outwards and a blue light shone on it. The next second, he was holding a blue crystal ball in his hand.

    "Make sure to hand over this present to the right person." He told the man before handing the crystal to him.

    The man who was kneeling, safely tucked the ball in his sleeves before he bowed to his Master and left to complete the task that he was trusted with.

    The mysterious man once again turned his attention towards the horizon.

    Unfortunately, the sun had already set but the sky which was covered in pinkish, orange, and purple colored clouds near the horizon, still created a mesmerizing view.

    With a new gust of breeze that flowed through the garden, the silhouette of the mysterious man disappeared from the pavilion.

    The Star Lake Manor which was initially filled with a sense of happiness and life suddenly turned as gloomy and sad as Ying Yue''s Cold Palace.

    ***

    "Miss, are you sure that we can open it from inside?" Li Wu could not hold herself anymore as she finally blurted out the question, immediately receiving a sharp pinch from her sister who glared at her.

    Ying Yue stopped for a second to personally spare a sharp glare at the girl who had been constantly trying to question her sanity.

    "Do I look like an idiot to you?" She questioned the girl while pointing a finger at herself.

    Li Wu immediately looked down at her feet as she was not sure how to answer her Miss'' question.

    It was not like she could say yes!

    "Young Lady, you sure are looking down on me. How can you be so rude towards your Master? Why don''t you two do me a favor for a change and look for some sort of sharp piece of rock lying somewhere around you?"

    All that Ying Yue needed at that moment was a distraction that could pull Li Wu and Li Qi''s attention away from her.

    Her idea worked as immediately both the girls started looking for a sharp stone.

    The Li sisters almost let out panicked screams when all of a sudden, a loud sound echoed through the tunnel.

    They hurriedly looked towards their Miss and found her cringing as she too turned her attention at the two of them.

    "No need to search anymore. It''s open. I just hope that no one from the manor heard the sound." Ying Yue murmured the last part as she started climbing out of the tunnel.

    The opening of the tunnel was actually located against the foot of the age-old oak tree that was standing against the wall of the Star Lake Manor.

    Coincidentally, they found no one when they crawled out of the tunnel, and once again shifted the trap door in its place.

    However, unlike the one in the Cold Palace, the trap door in the Star Lake Manor was not hidden at all.

    It was fully visible to the eyes of anyone who would pass through the tree.

    Even though the manor appeared to be devoid of any human presence, Ying Yue noticed that it looked as new and furnished as possible.

    She shook her head to get rid of her thoughts that were pulling out so many questions about the mysterious manor.

    "Let''s leave before someone decides to pay a visit to this part of the manor." She suggested to girls as she passed them veils before putting on one herself too.

    Ying Yue walked back a few steps before she raced towards the high wall, scaring her two maids in the process.

    It took her one leap and she was perched on the top of the wall.

    Even though the two girls were left shocked after seeing their Miss do something so dangerous and unladylike, at the same time they were also left in awe.

    Ying Yue hurriedly helped the two girls in climbing the wall before the three of them jumped down on the other side.

    Since the manor was located on the outskirts of the city, they encountered no one on the other side of the wall.

    As Ying Yue and her two maids set on their journey towards the market area of the Imperial City, none of them noticed the blue crystal ball that had been resting beside the oak tree, slightly hidden from the eyes.

    Neither did they noticed the man in the dark clothes who was currently trying to not panic as his plan failed.

    He needed to change his tactics!

 Chapter 10 - The Pawn Shop

    "Wow!"

    The Li sisters could not contain their surprise as they hurriedly took in the beautiful scenery of the night market of the Imperial City.

    They spent their childhood in a village and after coming to the Imperial Palace, they were dumped into the Cold Palace.

    It was the first time when they got to see such beautiful scenery created by humans and not the nature.

    "Miss, it''s so beautiful. What are we going to do now since we are already in the market area?" Li Qi asked as she followed her Miss along with her sister.

    At that exact moment, a growling sound caught their attention, and both of them turned their attention towards Li Wu.

    The girl looked so embarrassed as she hid her tummy behind her small hands while constantly staring at her feet.

    Ying Yue softly patted her head as she replied to Li Qi''s question..

    "The main reason for which we came here today is to have a grand feast. So that''s exactly what we are going to do."

    Even though her answer sounded so beautiful and alluring, the Li sisters only turned worried as they looked at the sparkling eyes of their Miss.

    "Miss, we don''t have a single penny on us. There''s no way we can afford to have a meal in this place." Li Qi said in a heartbroken tone as she once again found herself filled with sadness for her Miss.

    Ying Yue turned to look at the girl who was carrying a pitiful look.

    "Why are looking so sad? Your Miss is still here. Today, I will show you my hidden talents. Come!"

    The girls had no idea what their Miss was planning but they could do nothing rather than following her.

    Soon the three of them were standing outside a two-story building which was actually a pawnshop.

    "Miss, why are we here?" Li Wu asked as she first glanced at the building and then turned her confused gaze towards her Miss.

    "We are going to earn some money, but for that, I need help from the two of you." Ying Yue said as she looked at the two girls with sparkling eyes.

    "Our help?" Li Qi asked uncertainly.

    "En!"

    Ying Yue immediately nodded her head as she signaled the two girls to come closer.

    As the Li sisters followed their Miss'' instruction and inched closer to listen to whatever she was about to tell them, none of the two were ready for what their Miss told them next.

    "That..."

    "Ssh!"

    Ying Yue immediately signaled Li Qi into silence before the girl could ruin her plan.

    "Miss, are we really going to do this? Moreover, do you have anything in the first place to pawn?" Li Wu asked as she looked at her Miss with worried eyes.

    Ever since they returned from the forest the previous night, it looked like their Miss had become much bolder and mischievous. The ideas that she was coming up with were far too dangerous and impossible.

    The two girls could not help but worry for their Miss. They were mere servants with no power. What would they do if their Miss ended up in some sort of danger?

    The thought made them concerned about the safety of their Miss.

    "Why the two of you keep suspecting my ideas? Let me tell you, I''m not that stupid. Did any of my ideas fail so far? No, right? Then can you guys just show a little bit of faith in me!"

    Ying Yue was sure getting tired from the constant punches that the girls were aiming at her confidence and sanity.

    It was like the previous Jiang Ying Yue was nothing but a stupid woman who could barely make a single right decision.

    It surely gonna take her some time to change her previous image from the mind of her two maids.

    The Li sisters just remained silent as they nodded their heads in agreement before following their Miss inside the shop.

    Even at the late hour of the day, the shop was bustling with customers.

    As they made their way towards the table where the shopkeeper was currently sitting and negotiating a deal with two customers, Li Wu suddenly stopped them.

    Ying Yue and Li Qi turned to look at the girl in confusion, not knowing what was wrong with her.

    "Miss, this man looks like he''s very skilled in this area. Will we succeed?" Li Wu whispered her uncertainty to her Miss.

    Ying Yue just patted the girl on her arms softly before she made her way towards the shopkeeper.

    The three of them were dressed in normal clothes with veils covering their faces. There was nothing in their appearance that could tell exactly what kind of treasure they had in their possession.

    However, the shopkeeper welcomed them warmly before he asked, "How can I help these young ladies?"

    "Kind Sir, we are here today to pawn a very precious possession of ours. If not for our current poor state, we would never have thought about selling it even in our dreams. But...." Ying Yue trailed off as her eyes suddenly filled with sadness and despair.

    Just as they were ordered, the Li sisters followed the lead of their Miss and immediately turned their expression as gloomy as possible.

    "This..."

    The shopkeeper was shocked after seeing such sad expressions of the young ladies.

    Even though their faces were hidden behind the veils, their eyes held so many emotions that even the shopkeeper felt like he was suffering from some kind of sadness.

    "Miss, since you are here for business, I won''t disappoint you. I hope that you all will soon find a way out of your current crisis." The shopkeeper politely said as he signaled his servants to bring refreshments for the young ladies.

    "Sir, you are really kind. We have heard such high praises about your shop and you on our way. Who would have thought that we will come across such a kind-hearted person?"

    Ying Yue spared no space for any mistake as she kept showering the man with her honey-covered words.

    "This.....you don''t have to be so polite, Miss. I''m more than happy to help people like you who are in dire need of some sort of help." The shopkeeper was almost embarrassed to his core as he suddenly felt shy after hearing such praises about himself.

    Who would have thought that people actually praised him and his shop? Why did he never hear about it?

    "Ah, by the way, what''s the thing that you want to sell?" He asked to divert the attention as he was feeling too embarrassed because of all the attention that he was suddenly receiving.

    On the other hand, Li Qi and Li Wu were left totally speechless by the shameless act of their Miss.

    Why they never found out about this hidden talent of their Miss in all these years?

    Well, the answer to this question was simple - because it''s a hidden talent!

    "Yeah, right! Let me show you."

    Ying Yue took the bag that Li Wu had been holding all this time.

    Very gently and carefully, Ying Yue pulled a white furry ball out of the bag. The moment everyone''s eyes landed on that white ball, gasps echoed through the room which suddenly had gone completely silent.

    "Miss.....t-this....this is..."

    The poor shopkeeper could not find any word to complete his question as he stared at the furry ball in shock.

    "This is what I want to pawn. Ain''t it unique and precious?" Ying Yue questioned as her eyes shone with delight.

 Chapter 11 - The Little White

    The little white squirrel which was playing with its own cute little tail had suddenly become the center of attention.

    The ladies present in the shop were fawning over the cuteness of the little creature while the man tried to hurriedly escape from the shop so that they won''t be spending their money to buy a little creature because of their female partners.

    "Miss....., though it is very cute and likable, our shop doesn''t buy animals. Even though I want to help you, but I think you have come to the wrong place."

    The shopkeeper actually felt bad for turning down the young ladies but he needed to maintain his business.

    "Kind Sir, I know that our precious jewel isn''t like what people normally came to sell here.. But this little cutie here posses many special skills. Let me show you!"

    Ying Yue clapped her hands to pull the attention of the little squirrel towards herself.

    "Are you ready, sweetheart?" She asked softly as she rubbed its head with her index finger.

    The little squirrel closed its eyes as it purred at the caress that it was receiving from Ying Yue, immediately making the young ladies around squeal in amazement.

    "Let''s start then. Sit!"

    Ying Yue suddenly ordered the little squirrel, and to everyone''s amazement, the little furball followed the order and immediately positioned itself in a sitting position.

    Immediately, the young ladies present around them clapped encouragingly as they watched the little white kept following all the commands that Ying Yue was giving it.

    Neither Li Qi nor Li Wu had any idea about the identity of the little squirrel. They had never seen the cute creature before and Li Eu was not even aware that she was carrying such a thing in the bag all this time.

    But even they were mesmerized by the beauty and cuteness of the little creature and showed their support by clapping and squealing as hard as they could.

    "Can''t you see that all the ladies here are in love with my little treasure? Just think how much money you can make by selling it to some rich Young Lady of a high official family." Ying Yue softly whispered to the man.

    The shopkeeper knew that the Young lady was right. If some Young Miss from the high official families took a liking to the little squirrel, he would easily be able to earn a lot of money.

    Even though he made sure not to let any kind of smile appear on his lips, the sudden sparkle in his eyes gave him away.

    Ying Yue knew that her plan had worked.

    "I know that this is going to be so hard. We have raised this little white from the day it was born. I would never have dared to separate him from myself but the current situation of our house is just too dire. I just hope that whoever decides to keep my Little White in the future, they shower it with love and care."

    Once again Ying Yue''s eyes appeared to be filled with sadness and as she started her act, her maids followed her lead.

    Li Qi and Li Wu also turned as sad as possible, they almost appeared like they were about to cry any moment as their eyes turned red.

    "Elder Sister, don''t worry. I''m sure that this Kind Sir will take care of our Little White in the future." Li Qi said as she rubbed Ying Yue''s arm.

    "Kind Sir, please find a good house for our Little White where it can live happily and freely." Li Wu added as she turned her tearful eyes towards the man.

    The people present around them felt their hearts move as they looked at the sad faces of the three young ladies.

    It was clear that the little squirrel meant a lot to them, but because of the bad condition of their family, they had to make the harsh decision of selling it away.

    The people pitied them for their loss as they too looked at the shopkeeper with hopeful eyes.

    As the man found himself once again becoming the center of attention, he realized that even if he did not want to buy the little creature, he would have to buy it.

    Otherwise, the people would have considered him a heartless monster, and who knew what kind of bad impact this incident would have caused on his business.

    Thankfully, he was more than ready to buy the little squirrel. At least, he was not facing any kind of loss in this deal.

    "Alright! I won''t disappoint you. I promise to find a good home for the Little White where it can live a happy life and will be showered in love. Young ladies, please rest assured." The shopkeeper promised.

    "Good."

    "That''s great."

    "You are very kind Mr. Gao."

    Immediately, the people around them started praising the shopkeeper as they cheered for him.

    "Thank you very much. Our family will always remember this generosity of yours." Ying Yue said as she lightly bowed her head in respect and gratefulness.

    "There''s no need to be so humble. Let''s discuss the price then. What do you say about selling Little White to our shop in fifty silver taels?"

    The shopkeeper offered the generous amount as he knew that he would be able to earn hundreds in return.

    Ying Yue had no idea about how much fifty silver taels were equivalent to, therefore, she turned to look at her two little maids.

    The eagerness that their eyes showed and the acceptance that she saw on the faces of those who were standing around them, made her realize that the shopkeeper had put forward a reasonable price.

    Since she was actually deceiving the shopkeeper, she decided to agree to the price and leave as soon as possible.

    However, just as she was about to open her mouth to agree with the amount and settle the deal, a sudden voice stopped her.

    "Hundred silver taels!"

    Once again silence took over as everyone turned to look at the new figure who was walking towards the table where the shopkeeper and Ying Yue were sitting.

    It was clear that this man was offering her double amount for the Little White but she had no idea why.

    Looking at his attire, it was quite impossible to tell anything about his identity.

    He was not dressed like the Young Masters of the rich families, but his clothes were also not of poor standard.

    Other than a silver hairpin he had no other accessories on him. Also, he was carrying a sword.

    He provided an aura of a scholar but the sword made him appear like a martial artist.

    After concluding for a while, all that Ying Yue could tell was that the man was probably a high-rank servant or guard or probably a friend of some rich person.

    Of course, it was only her thought. There was no idea about his actual identity.

    But the point was that she had no interest in his identity. As long as she got a good amount, she was more than happy to sell her Little White to that man.

 Chapter 12 - Five Hundred Silver Taels

    "Who are you?"

    Shopkeeper Gao asked the man who appeared out of nowhere and tried to snatch away his customer in front of everyone with such boldness.

    Ying Yue looked at the newcomer as she waited for him to answer Mr. Gao''s question.

    However, to her and others'' great dismay, the man appeared in no mood of revealing his identity.

    The crowd gave way as the man walked closer to their table, only stopping when he was standing right beside Ying Yue.

    "Miss, I heard your story and I''m really sorry to know that you and your sisters have to go through such harsh times. Since you want to sell your pet in order to earn some money for your family, I will like to purchase this cute pet in a hundred silver taels."

    The man said with a barely noticeable but still polite smile as he looked directly into Ying Yue''s eyes..

    "This..."

    For a moment, Ying Yue was totally taken aback. She had no idea about who this newcomer was and what was his motive behind suddenly interfering in her matters.

    "Miss, you can''t trust this man. Even though he looks wealthy enough but we still don''t know his identity. It won''t be a good decision to trust him so quickly."

    The shopkeeper hurriedly said in a panic. He could now clearly see the possibility of losing his customer.

    Ying Yue turned to look at the shopkeeper as she tried to decide what to do. As Li Qi saw the confused state of her Miss, she decided to offer her help.

    "Sister, even though we don''t know this man but we really need money. Why don''t we accept his offer?"

    Li Wu also nodded her head to show her support for her sister''s words.

    "Miss, my identity should not be a concern here. I''m ready to pay you a hundred silver taels to buy your pet. There''s someone who has taken a liking to it."

    The man decided to speak when Ying Yue stayed silent even after Li Qi and Li Wu''s support towards the newcomer.

    Because of the veil that was hiding the lower part of her face, no one noticed the slight twitch that appeared on Ying Yue''s lips after hearing the new information that she received from the man.

    Even though he still did not reveal his identity, at least, now she knew why he was ready to buy her little white.

    The shopkeeper almost received a sharp blow when he saw the young lady slowly nodding her head in acceptance.

    "Wait! Miss, you can''t just believe his words without any proof!" Mr. Gao once again tried to save his customer.

    "Kind Sir, we have already told you about the condition of our family. Right now, we are in dire need of money. We don''t care about the background of the young master as long as we received the money." Ying Yue told the shopkeeper.

    "Alright! Since the lady is accepting my offer, we will finalize the deal." The man with the sword announced as he took out a pouch from his sleeves.

    Shopkeeper Gao turned his attention towards the Little White who was sitting in the center of the table silently. Its black eyes were looking directly at him with a glow in them.

    A thought suddenly popped up in the shopkeeper''s mind. He again looked at the sword man and tried to observe him closely.

    He could tell that his hairpin was actually made of high quality. He was probably not handsome but the sharpness in his eyes could attract anyone''s attention to him.

    His clothes were not of the topmost quality but they were still expensive enough to categorize him as a rich person.

    What attracted shopkeeper Gao''s attention were the sword and the green jade pendant which was hanging on the man''s waist.

    The sword gave the aura of power and dominance, completely opposite to the soft and serene aura carried by its owner.

    And the jade pendant confirmed Mr. Gao''s doubt. The young man was definitely from some rich family.

    And the fact that he was ready to buy Little White in double the amount only meant that the little furball was not as simple as the shopkeeper first thought.

    This made shopkeeper Gao became firm in his decision - no matter what, he''s not going to let the lad steal the Little White!

    If Ying Yue would have heard the thoughts of the shopkeeper she sure would have tried her best to fuel his misunderstanding.

    To be honest, shopkeeper Gao was not totally wrong in both of his assessments. Neither the young man belonged to some simple background nor Little White was just some random pet.

    Just when the young man was about to place the pouch of money on the table, Shopkeeper Gao decided to speak.

    "Hundred and twenty silver taels!"

    The room became silent as everyone stared at the shopkeeper in bewilderment. Even Ying Yue looked at the old man with raised eyebrows.

    "I''m ready to pay hundred and twenty silver taels to buy it." The shopkeeper repeated, looking directly at the young lady.

    Ying Yue had already decided, whoever would pay her the most, she would happily hand over the Little White to that person.

    "Two hundred silver taels!"

    The sharp intakes of breath could be heard from around them when the young man decided to once again raise the price that he was ready to pay for the Little White.

    "Two hundred and ten!" Shopkeeper Gao shouted in fury as he too increased the price.

    "Three hundred!"

    "Three hundred and ten!"

    "Five hundred!"

    The room became dead silent. No one even dared to breathe as they stared at the old and young man with shock and bewilderment.

    Just to buy a little squirrel, they went as far as to raise the price to FIVE HUNDRED SILVER TAELS!

    This much money could help a poor family to live a happy and simple life for nearly half a decade.

    Shopkeeper Gao was just as perplexed as the rest of the people present in the room. Five hundred silver taels were such a huge amount and the young man was carelessly ready to spend it just to buy a useless pet!

    "I''ll let the young master here buy my Little White in five hundred silver taels!"

    Ying Yue announced as she picked up the little furball and handed it to the man.

 Chapter 13 - Shopping Time

    "Even though I''ve never seen Little White before, I''m already feeling sad to see it leaving us. I would have loved to play with it. Our Cold Palace would surely have become livelier because of its presence."

    Li Wu muttered with sadness filling her eyes as she stared at the departing figure of the young man and the Little White whom he was cradling in his arms.

    "Miss, where did you even find this squirrel from?" Li Qi asked as she followed behind her Miss along with her sister.

    Ying Yue broke into a soft smile, which was hidden beneath the veil that she was wearing, as she replied, "I found it playing near the back wall of the Cold Palace. I''ve also never seen it before today. Who knew that it will make us rich in just a single night?"

    The girls abruptly stopped in their tracks as they stared at their Miss in pure surprise.

    A horrified look took over Li Qi as she hurriedly said in a panicked tone, "Miss, what if that Little White actually belonged to someone from the Imperial Palace?"

    Li Wu also grasped the seriousness of the situation as her eyes too widened in panic.. The two girls looked at their Miss as if they were waiting for the latter to dismiss all their panic.

    However, what they got was - "If that''s the case...then we are doomed!"

    Ying Yue did not wait for a single more second to see how the two girls were going to react. She just turned around and started walking towards her next destination.

    The Li sisters had no other choice but to hurriedly follow their Miss. No matter what would be the outcome of selling a mysterious little furball, they were more than ready to bear it for their Miss!

    The two girls made up their mind to protect their lady at every cost before they once again started following behind their Miss.

    The three girls spent the next hour shopping for some necessary items.

    Ying Yue bought clothes for the three of them along with a new pair of shoes for each of them.

    She even bought a few wooden hairpins which actually looked good because of their beautiful design.

    She then spent some money to buy quilts and blankets.

    Her next stop was for buying vegetables and grains, but Li Wu decided to speak at that moment.

    "Miss, we won''t be able to carry all these things back."

    Ying Yue turned to look at the two girls and found that both were holding items in their arms that they had purchased so far.

    After thinking for a few minutes, she decided to not buy the vegetables for the time being.

    "Alright! We will visit the market again tomorrow to buy items for the kitchen. Let''s compromise for now." She told the girls who immediately nodded their heads in agreement.

    The girls then stopped at a stall where Ying Yue bought seeds for vegetables, fruits, and even some seasonal flowers.

    The season of monsoon was approaching and it was the perfect time to start a small nursery of their own.

    In that way, they won''t need to worry about buying vegetables. However, there were still many food items that they could not grow on their own.

    After buying everything, Ying Yue made a quick calculation and realized that so far they only spent thirty silver taels out of the five hundred that she had in store.

    Their last stop was at a food stall where the three of them finally quenched their hunger. The food tasted so good and mouth-watering when compared to the tasteless porridge that they had been eating for the past few months.

    "Miss, I''m really happy today. I''m happy for you, for Li Qi, and for myself too. It''s a very foreign but a great feeling." Li Wu spoke as they headed towards the Star Lake Mansion.

    Li Qi looked at her sister with soft eyes as she nodded her head in agreement. She too was feeling the same.

    A small smile appeared on Ying Yue''s lips as she heard the sincerity in Li Wu''s voice.

    "It''s a good thing that you guys are happy. Since we have now a taste of this happiness, let''s do our best to fight for it."

    Her voice was soft but it held the determination and courage that moved the Li twins to immediately nod their heads in agreement.

    They were going to fight for their happiness! For a better future!

    ***

    "You are back!"

    Ying Yue commented as soon as she felt the presence of the man in her bedroom/bed-chamber.

    Silver walked towards the girl who was sitting at the edge of her bed with a huge crystal ball in her hands which was illuminating the room in blue light.

    "What''s that?"

    He questioned as he eyed the ball suspiciously.

    "No idea, to be honest. I found it on my way back here from the market." Ying Yue replied as she placed the ball on the table near the head of the bed.

    "You are still picking up risky things from the road without a second thought?"

    His tone was taunting and so were his eyes that stared at her with such intensity that Ying Yue had to control herself to not jump at the hot supernatural standing in front of her eyes.

    He liked that! Hell, he actually enjoyed it! Playing with her. Taunting her and making her lose her control. He loved the feeling of scattering her self-control into tiny particles.

    And Ying Yue had to give him the credit for that! In the fifteen centuries that she roamed the Earth, he was the only person who succeeded in doing that - making her lose her control.

    She was so lost in her thoughts that she did not even realize that the man was now standing right in front of her.

    Her eyes looked directly into his dark green eyes that promised her a night of intense pleasure. A level of pleasure that would leave her writhing and moaning beneath him.

    However, she was too coward to accept it. Too hesitant to finally stop torturing herself by not giving in to her needs.

    "Do you want me, baby?"

 Chapter 14 - Silvers Fashion Standards

    Ying Yue could feel her soul crying for a taste. It was a torture that she had been experiencing for decades by now, or maybe for even centuries.

    All that her soul, heart, mind, and body wanted at the moment was just a little taste.

    A taste of the forbidden, a taste of pleasure, and a taste of happiness.

    But she knew better than to give in to her urges. She won''t be able to control herself once she lost her composure. A little taste won''t be enough to satisfy her hunger.

    "Don''t!"

    She wanted to sound commanding and cold, however, her voice came out in a breathy tone.

    She pulled her body backward when Silver suddenly moved his upper body closer to her..

    Since she was still sitting on the bed and he was standing in front of her with his upper body bent towards her, he had the physical advantage over her.

    Her black eyes stared back into those green orbs which reminded her of the Enchanted Forests of the Supernatural World.

    "Why? Are you worried that you will lose control? But you don''t have to worry, I won''t mind at all." Silver whispered back as he inched his face closer to hers.

    "Silver..."

    Ying Yue tried to push him away but was taken aback in surprise when her palm came in contact with his bare chest.

    She did not notice that his dark blue satin shirt was unbuttoned, leaving his muscled chest and abdomen on display.

    The man had a thing for satin shirts and it was no lie that those shirts fit around his muscled body like a second skin.

    Sometimes Ying Yue had felt that Silver''s fashion standard was even higher than her own.

    And as she stared at his sun-kissed skin that was making her throat dry as a desert, she realized that she was almost on the verge of giving in.

    It took all her self-control to not growl as her mouth watered to feast on the hot male that was offering himself to her.

    She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. She needed to get herself in control before she would end up doing something stupid.

    The moment she closed her eyes shut, Silver knew that it was time for him to end his teasing game.

    He should have known better. It had been centuries since he was trying to make her finally lose her control and gave in to her needs, however, no matter how hard he tried, it never worked.

    A sigh left his lips as he pulled himself away from the girl who had become his bane. But she was also his life, the only reason he was still alive.

    He watched as she slowly opened her beautiful obsidian eyes. They were no longer filled with hunger or heart-melting intensity. Rather, there was coldness and indifference visible in them.

    "Don''t do something like this again!"

    This time her voice came out sharp and commanding.

    "You need to feed."

    Silver softly spoke out these words as he ignored her order totally. Why bothered replying when they both knew very well that he would never stop trying.

    "No, I don''t. I already had my dinner. I want to rest now." The dismissal was clear in her words and tone.

    However, Silver was not in the mood of leaving so early.

    "You are no longer in your original body, Yue. You can no longer ignore feeding for years. This new body of yours is not powerful enough to survive it."

    He tried to make her realize that feeding was no longer a choice for her, it had become a necessity.

    "I''m alright. You can leave."

    Ying Yue muttered as she laid down on the bed and turned her back towards the man.

    The new quilt was way better and softer than the previous one. The comfort that it provided to her tired body was more than she imagined.

    Silver watched as the girl continued to ignore him. He knew why she was not too eager for feeding, but he also knew that her body won''t be able to suffer without blood.

    He moved closer to her bed and settled down at the edge beside her. One of his hands made its way to her long black strands.

    He just sat there in silence while his hand continued to play with her soft silky hair.

    "You can sleep in the next room. Li Qi and Li Wu are sleeping in the fourth courtyard, so you don''t have to worry about them. Just make sure to not leave any traces for them to question."

    Ying Yue told him after a long silence. Her voice was calm and filled with drowsiness.

    A small smile appeared on Silver''s lips as he spoke, "And here I was hoping that you will finally allow me to sleep in your bed. Such a cruel fate I have!"

    Ying Yue didn''t bother to reply. There was no point in talking sense into him. He''s never gonna change.

    She just closed her eyes and decided to succumb to the sleep that had been trying to lure her into the world of dreams.

    "Good night, Yue."

    Silver whispered in a soft voice as he moved forward to place a feathery kiss on her temple.

    Her sleeping form was the last thing he saw before his silhouette disappeared from the room.

    ***

    The Imperial Study was flourishing with hundreds of candles in the middle of the night.

    A woman in a dark blue and black brocade dress with elegant and heavy accessories was sitting inside the room as she read through the secret message that her hidden guard had brought.

    "How come we are still not anywhere close to solving this mystery? Are you all trying to pretend that this is not a serious situation? Those three brats are still neglecting their duties. Did they want this old lady to keep suffering from the trauma of court matters?"

    The servants trembled as they tried their best to hid in the shadows. None of them wanted to be seen by Her Grace, the Empress Dowager.

    It was really the time when the three Princes of their Empire should return to take over their duties.

 Chapter 15 - The Immortals

    "Miss, please be careful."

    Li Qi reminded her lady to keep away from the harm''s way probably for the hundredth time.

    "I will. Now, you two should stop worrying about me and focus on tidying up the fourth courtyard. Heat the leftover food that we brought yesterday night and eat it. I''ll bring rations when I''ll return." Ying Yue reminded the two girls before she fixed the veil on her face.

    The girls looked worried and definitely not happy about letting their Miss step out of the Cold Palace all alone.

    However, even after begging for hours to get the permission of following her, they received nothing but strict instructions from their Miss to stay in the Cold Palace and help her in cleaning the fourth courtyard.

    What else they could do other than following her order and praying for her safety?.

    The two girls watched with worried eyes as their Miss disappeared through the trapdoor which led to the underground tunnel.

    The two of them hurriedly hid the trapdoor under few bushes that were light enough to not become an obstacle in Ying Yue''s path when she would try to open the door on her return.

    After making sure that the hidden door was no longer visible to their eyes, the girls returned to the fourth courtyard to start their work.

    The fourth courtyard was probably not as big as the fifth one, but it still was large enough with two bed-chambers, a sitting area, a bathing room, a small study, and there was a storage at the end of the courtyard.

    Ying Yue wanted to convert the storage into their new kitchen.

    The fifth and fourth courtyards were separated by a small lawn, and both the courtyards were facing each other.

    The Li sisters would be staying in the fourth courtyard while Ying Yue would stay in the fifth one.

    Having her maids and kitchen so close to her living quarters would only be beneficial for her.

    While the Li twins busied themselves in taking care of the fourth courtyard, their Miss had successfully entered the Star Lake Manor.

    The mysterious manor appeared very different in the light of the day. However, it was still filled with silence and a feeling of abandonment.

    "What''s wrong with this place?" She muttered the question as she dusted her hands to get rid of the nonexistent dirt.

    "I can sense the power in the air - like something magical but at the same time, not exactly the magic!"

    Silver spoke from behind her as he fixed the trapdoor before giving his attention to the building in front of his eyes.

    Ying Yue turned to look at the man with surprise and curiosity brimming in her obsidian eyes.

    "Are you saying that there''s magic in this world too?" She asked as she let her eyes roam through their surroundings.

    "You can''t feel it."

    It was not exactly a question but Ying Yue still nodded her head in agreement to his conclusion.

    "Not really. I think it''s because of this weak body." She said with a soft sigh.

    "And because you still haven''t feed." Silver did not miss the chance to remind the girl that she was only endangering her and other''s lives by ignoring this important matter.

    "I know. By the way, what kind of magic are you sensing here?"

    Ying Yue asked as she changed the topic immediately.

    It was not like she''s not aware of the risk that she was taking by ignoring the feeding instincts that were telling her to feed as soon as possible.

    She knew that if she ended up losing her control because of hunger, the consequences would be dire.

    However, even after knowing all this, there was a voice in the back of her mind which was stopping her from feeding at the moment.

    Her instincts were telling her to listen to that voice. Somehow, she was getting the feeling that waiting would lead to something good.

    And if she gave in to her hunger and ended up feeding while ignoring that mysterious voice, she was going to lose something important.

    In the end, she decided to listen to that voice and control her hunger as much as she could.

    "It''s not exactly magic, but something similar. From what information I''ve gathered so far, there are rumors that Immortals are living in seclusion in this world. The description that the local people give about these Immortals sounded like these people have something similar to magic. There''s a possibility that this place either belonged to one of those Immortals or maybe one visited this place recently."

    Silver answered her question as he gave up on fighting with her on the topic of her feeding.

    He could not force her but he also knew that he could not leave her alone either in her current state.

    "Immortals? Do you mean supernaturals?" Ying Yue asked while raising her eyebrows in question.

    "No idea, to be honest. According to what I know, they are more like deities or gods than paranormal beings."

    The man replied with a little shrug.

    "Interesting! I was not expecting such a revelation. Well, let''s not discuss this anymore. We have a lot of work to finish." Ying Yue commented as she pulled Silver towards the high wall of the Star Lake Manor.

    "I think we both should visit the forest first before buying rations on our way back to the capital. It''s not good to leave you alone at such a time."

    The worry was clear in his voice as the man tried to put some sense in the stubborn girl, knowing very well that nothing could change her mind.

    "Why do you even try when you know that I''m not gonna listen?" Ying Yue could not help but ask as she placed her right hand into his left palm.

    The soft electric tingles that immediately started to generate through their clasped hands, moved to take over their entire bodies.

    "I just can''t help it." Silver replied as he channeled his power''s essence into her hand, providing her with the knowledge that she was seeking.

    Somewhere deep down in his heart, he already knew what was coming their way.

    However, he truly was not prepared for the blow, even when he had been preparing himself from the very first day he got to know that his fate was tied with the gorgeous woman in front of his eyes.

    He still was not ready to share! Or was he?

 Chapter 16 - Meeting A Hellhound

    Ying Yue stared at the mountain ranges that stood in front of her eyes.

    Even though she was standing miles away from it, she still could feel the creepiness and dangers that lurked in the depth of the forest.

    She tsked as a huge smile appeared on her lips. If everything went according to her plan, soon enough, she would become a very famous and rich entity in the Capital City of the Hyuang Empire.

    She jumped down from the high rock on which she was standing before she started walking towards the forest.

    It barely took her ten minutes of walking before she was at the outskirts of the most dangerous mountain ranges of the Hyuang Empire.

    It was considered a dangerous place by the citizens. However, when she asked Silver about the dangers that resided in this forest, the man just shrugged as he replied, "No idea."

    In short, she had next to no inkling about what was waiting for her in the creepy forest. But as long as it''s deadly beasts or something like that, she was sure that she would be able to handle that.

    With a deep breath, she made her way into the forest. Because of all the information Silver had passed on to her about the geography of the Capital City and the area around it, she knew where she needed to head.

    Her destination was the third peak where she was going to find what she needed for her future business.

    She safely made her way to the third peak and it did not take her long to find the herbs that she was looking for.

    She was about to pluck the beautiful blue-shaded flower when she heard the sound of twigs snapping behind her.

    So far she had succeeded in keeping any kind of ferocious beasts of the forest away from herself.

    But looked like her good luck just came to an end because when she turned her head to look at the source of the sound, she found a huge hellhound staring back at her with glowing red angry eyes.

    "What a surprise!"

    She muttered out loud before she once again turned her attention towards the flower and this time, she successfully plucked it.

    "A human!"

    The hellbound growled as it inched closer towards her.

    "Really? Try again. Don''t make me think that your nose is even inferior to a mere dog." She commented with a mocking smirk on her lips as she continued to collect the herbs that she needed.

    Her words successfully irritated the hellhound as it increased its pace. It was about to take a huge leap and jump on the stupid mortal woman when it felt her essence.

    It stopped abruptly in its tracks as it stared at the woman with surprised and confused eyes.

    "You are not a human..." The beast muttered as it tried to feel the aura of the weird woman.

    "Once again, dude!"

    Ying Yue singsonged as she plucked some white berries like things from a small plant.

    "Hmm...A human...but also not a human....."

    This time the hellhound did not waste its time in getting angry at the girl. Rather it fixed its red eyes on the girl as it tried to solve the puzzles that belonged to the mysterious girl.

    "A human body...but an Immortal soul...with ancient powers and unseen abilities....an undead!"

    The beast spoke as it realized the true identity of the woman.

    "Not bad! You have successfully impressed me. By the way, are there more creatures like you living in this world?" Ying Yue asked as she worked on cutting the stems of a purple-colored bush.

    The hellhound closely observed the woman who kept collecting the spiritual herbs as it answered her question.

    "If you want to ask if you can find supernaturals roaming through this weird world - the answer is likely a no. I have been venturing through this mainland for years, but I still have to find another supernatural here. You are the first one I''ve stumbled across so far."

    This made Ying Yue finally turn her attention towards the beast as she stared at it with confused eyes.

    As the hellhound saw her confused expression, it decided to answer her unasked question.

    "This world is divided into two groups - Mortals and Immortals. Mortals are the humans and demons who live on the mainland while Immortals are the powerful cultivators and deities who are living in secrecy on this mainland."

    "Rather than magic, the people here use the purest essence of nature, known as spiritual energy, to do things that are very similar to magic. But just like our world where not every human can be a supernatural, Similarly in this world, not every human can become an Immortal."

    Silence took over them as Ying Yue tried to wrap her head around the new information that she received from the hellhound.

    Most of it made sense but at the same time, she was left confused.

    "If it''s like that then how did you end up here?" She finally asked the question that was bugging her.

    "I was on my way to the Academy when a disturbance in the Academy portal landed me here in this place. Not only I was no longer able to open the portal which immediately disappeared, I even lost the ability to turn into my human form." The hellhound answered her question.

    Ying Yue felt bad for the poor beast. It had been living a lonely life in a completely new world.

    "Why are you collecting so many herbs?"

    The hellhound asked in order to change the topic and also because it really was curious.

    "Oh! I need these for something and I need a lot. I would need to make trips to this forest often in the future if my idea worked because I''ll need more of these herbs then." Ying Yue answered as she once again turned her attention on collecting the herbs.

    "Well.....since you have been living here for such a long time.....have you ever seen an Immortal?"

    Ying Yue asked after a few moments of silence while she kept her attention on the roots of another little herb.

    She needed those roots and she even felt a little bad for destroying the little herb.

    "Of course, I have. Moreover, one of them is here in this forest at the moment." The hellhound replied with excitement.

 Chapter 17 - The Hidden Cave In The Valley

    "What? Really?"

    Ying Yue was surprised to hear that an actual Immortal was wandering through the depths of the mountain ranges.

    "Really. I saw him going towards the seventh peak this morning. He was probably injured and looking for a place to recuperate." The hellhound answered as it turned its head towards the direction of the seventh peak of the mountain ranges.

    "Oh! Umm.....can you take me there?" She asked the beast with hopeful eyes as she too looked in the direction of the seventh peak..

    "Why?" The hellhound asked with genuine confusion coating his question.

    Ying Yue turned her attention towards the beast and found it staring back at her.

    "What do you mean by why? How can I let go of such a chance of meeting an Immortal? Come on, don''t be moody and take me there."

    The hellhound silently observed her for the next few moments which made the girl look at it with raised eyebrows.

    "Why do you need my help? You were able to successfully find your way to the third peak. I''m sure you can safely reach the seventh peak too. Moreover, your powerful aura will keep the little beasts of this forest away from you. I don''t think you need my help in this matter."

    In short, the beast very much declined to help. Moreover, it was not looking forward to come across any Immortal, especially an injured one.

    Those deities were not known for their polite and kind behavior. According to what it knew about them and what it had seen so far with its own eyes, these so called immortals were cold blooded and aloof. They had no interest in the mortals or their lives.

    "Good luck with your very first meeting with an Immortal. I''ll be seeing myself off. Till we meet again!"

    The hellhound did not waste a single more second as it immediately turned around and started running towards the second peak.

    "Whatever! It''s not like I won''t be able to find my way there."

    Ying Yue muttered as she breathed out a sigh of disappointment while she stared at the direction in which the little beast had disappeared.

    She finished collecting all the herbs and spices that she needed before safely bundling them into a cloth bag.

    It was almost noon by the time she set towards the seventh peak where she was supposed to find the Immortal.

    Even though she did not have a complete map of the mountain ranges with her but from the information that she got from Silver, she was able to locate the seventh peak within no time.

    At least her decision of traveling to the seventh peak proved fruitful in a way as she ended up gathering some of very rare and unique herbs.

    By the time she reached the foot of the seventh peak, her collection of herbs had increased tenfold and she was more than happy with the results so far.

    She adjusted the bag on her shoulder before she started walking towards the valley that stood in front of her.

    Just like the hell hound had predicted, barely any wild animal crossed her path as her dangerous and cold aura kept them from attacking her, making her journey far easier.

    She climbed over rocks, making her way through the dense bushes and trees that were blocking her way.

    After walking for what felt like hours, but was barely half an hour, she stood in front of the mouth of a huge cave.

    "Interesting! This entire valley looks like no one has stepped into it for years. However, I can clearly feel the presence of a human in there." Ying Yue commented out loud as she looked at the cave which was filled with darkness.

    And with a smile playing on her lips, she decided to enter the cave. She was no longer wearing a veil as she had taken it down the moment she reached the third peak of the mountain ranges.

    Her bare face was looking pale instead of being flushed after all the walking that she had done in the past an hour.

    The reason behind the lack of blush on her cheeks was clear, she needed blood and she needed it more than she knew.

    Her fragile and malnourished body was struggling to keep up with her immense powers.

    Even though she had not used her powers again after the night of her transmigration, her body was still beyond exhausted.

    Moreover, since she was constantly putting off the importance of feeding as soon as possible, her human body was in even worse condition.

    Her vampire eyes adjusted quickly to the darkness that was covering the insides of the cave.

    She kept walking through the long corridors of the cave and it took her quite some time to reach the small clearing which was filled with a yellow light which was coming from a flower like thing that was growing at the top of a huge rock standing in the center of the clearing.

    She took off her cloth bag and safely placed it against the rock as she closely observed the glowing flower.

    It was right that moment when she stretched one of her hands towards the glowing flower, that her ears picked the faint noise of flowing water.

    Her hand retracted as her eyes immediately flew to observe her surroundings. As far as she could see there was not even a single drop of water in sight, however, she could still hear the faintest of the sound of the flowing water.

    Ying Yue took in a deep breath before she closed her eyes and focused her attention on the sound that her ears were picking.

    As she used her vampire hearing to pinpoint the sound, it started growing stronger and stronger with each passing second.

    It did not take her long to find the direction from where the sound was coming. As her eyes flew open, they landed directly on the wall behind the rock.

    She walked closer to the wall and was surprised to find a hidden passage that was located at the one of the corners, hidden in the shadows.

    To be fair, it was not exactly hidden as it was found so easily by her.

    As Ying Yue crossed the little passage, she entered into another clearing. This one was far bigger than the first one.

    Another high rock was sitting just a few feet away from her and she could see a stream flowing down it towards the other end of the cave.

    The fact that a huge stream was generated from such a small rock left her surprised. To check on exactly what was happening, she decided to walk towards the other end of the clearing.

    However, she was totally not prepared for what she saw next.

 Chapter 18 - The Water Dance

    Ying Yue stared at the silhouette that was sitting in the stream.

    Her eyes took in the alluring profile of the man. His long black hair was falling down his well-built back.

    Water droplets kept running down his soft shining smooth skin.

    She shook her head to get rid of the enchantment that was luring her towards the man.

    Her throat was dry and her eyes were transfixed on his form. She definitely did not like the fact that most of his beautiful body was hidden beneath the water surface.

    She did not even realize that her legs had started moving and as she walked closer, she got to see his side profile. It was even more bewitching than his back profile..

    Her eyes took in his long eyelashes that were casting shadows on his smooth cheeks. His light pink lips were thin and the beautiful blue-colored forehead print made him appear even more ethereal.

    She had a strong urge to see his eyes but unfortunately, his eyes were closed at the moment.

    To distract herself, she moved her eyes lower to his neck and then at the top of his shoulders.

    Her greedy eyes were taking in every single detail of his chiseled body and as her gaze landed on his collarbone, she felt like someone had lit a fire inside her.

    She found her control slipping, not like she was very much in control in the first place.

    Her legs kept moving towards him and soon enough, she was walking into the stream. The water was chilled but it still was unable to shock her enough to bring her out of her trance.

    There were merely a few feet left between the two of them and she could finally see his entire face.

    He was beyond handsome. It won''t be an understatement to say that he was the most stunning man she had seen so far in this new world.

    One of her hands moved towards the man as she closed the distance between them. Her hand was finally about to savor the smoothness of his body when suddenly the man opened his eyes.

    Her eyes landed on the blue orbs which were glowing but then they slowly changed into black color and she finally got to see the beautiful eyes of the man who was currently glaring at her.

    His eyes shot towards her hand which was still hovering over his left shoulder.

    Ying Yue was not prepared for him to suddenly grab her hand and pull her towards him.

    Her mind which was still under his charm took quite some time to realize that the man was emitting a murderous aura and he was not as happy about encountering her as she wanted him to be.

    Her surviving instincts kicked in as she realized that that the man was not going to show any mercy to her.

    She tried to elbow the man since her back was almost pressed to his front, but he was already prepared.

    As his other hand moved to block her blow, she let her free arm move towards his neck. Her hand circled his neck and before the man could pull her arm away, she turned her body in an arc and gave him a hard push.

    She was supposed to get herself out of his reach by that move but the man did not let go of her other hand.

    The two moved back a few steps but then he gave another tug on her hand and it made her move towards him.

    The next few minutes they kept pushing and pulling, trying to overtake the other. If someone would have been watching them, it probably appeared like a beautiful water dance.

    Another sharp tug and she found herself flushed against his warm and smooth body.

    The movement her cold hands landed on his warm skin, both of them felt sweet electric tingles erupting in their bodies.

    The man who was ready to finish the nonsense fight between the two of them suddenly found himself immobile as a surprising sensation took over his body.

    It was so new and good that he was not prepared for it. All his fighting spirit started leaving him as he found himself drawn towards the woman in his arms.

    He had no idea when his hands ended up circling her tiny waist. But even though a sensible part of his mind wanted him to pull away, his body and soul were already under her spell.

    Ying Yue''s eyes once again landed on his neck. It traveled down his throat to his shoulders and then to his collarbone.

    She even got to see his perky light pink nipples that were standing erect at that moment and his fine chest.

    Her mouth watered to savor his body but at that moment, there was only one thing that she wanted to savor.

    She moved her face closer to his and that''s when she noticed that his eyes were once again glowing bright blue.

    She let one of her hands move towards the back of his neck while the other went to explore his chest and abdomen.

    A growl escaped the man''s lips as he felt her fingers moving across his navel and then upwards towards his chest.

    His breath caught in his throat when he felt her fingers attacking his nipples. No one had ever dared to touch him like that.

    No woman had ever touched his body in the past two decades. And here he was, being explored by a very bold woman.

    He felt something warm touching the corner of his mouth and as it trailed down his jaw and then towards his neck, he could no longer control the feeling of elation that was threatening to take over him.

    His hands tightened around her waist as he felt her lips leaving soft kisses down his throat and towards his nape.

    A part of him wanted to push her away and save himself before it was too late, however, his body was in no condition to listen to his order.

    His soul felt so contented with what was happening that he did not even have the power to call his spiritual energy to pull himself out of the haziness that was surrounding his mind.

    He was so lost in his thoughts that he was taken by surprise when something sharp broke through the skin of his nape and then his body was on fire.

 Chapter 19 - Marking

    A moan escaped through Ying Yue''s lips as the rich flavor of the blood entered her mouth. It was the most delicious blood that she had ever tasted in either of her lives.

    In the fifteen hundred years of her Vampire life, she had tasted enough types of blood that she could no longer find one which would leave her spellbound.

    In all these years, the only person who had been able to make her lose control for just a little taste of his blood was Silver.

    But the fear of losing him and herself forever, kept her in control whenever the intoxicating smell of his warm blood pulled on the strings of her control.

    However, she finally lost her control in this cave, and that too because of a stranger.

    But after tasting the rich flavor of his blood she was beyond the point of caring or thinking straight at that moment.

    His delicious blood entered her system and filled her with immense pleasure and energy. Her obsidian eyes started glowing dark red as her powers surged and her soul danced in the epiphany..

    Her teeth sank deeper into the smooth skin of the man''s neck which made him groan out in pain which was mixed with pleasure.

    His hands tightened around her waist as he could not help but want to feel closer to her as much as possible.

    His soul was filled with sudden and unexplainable happiness and contentment. He could not understand exactly what was happening but his body and soul were more than happy with his current situation.

    "W-what are you doing?"

    He finally succeeded in voicing the question as he tried to not moan pathetically because of the tingles of pleasure that were flooding through his entire body.

    His question was like a bucket of cold water which immediately pulled Ying Yue out of the world of pleasure.

    She pulled away from the man and stared at him in shock covering her expression.

    Her eyes returned to look at his nape where the evidence of what just happened was staring back at her, making her realize the depth of what she had just done.

    The red bite marks turned into a bright light before it started seeping inside his skin and started sketching a mark that was going to change both of their fate.

    She watched in complete horror and shock as, within a few minutes, a beautiful design of an ivy was visible just above his right chest.

    She recognized that mark. It was exactly similar to the one that was printed on her left shoulder blade and Silver''s left biceps.

    A gasp left her lips as the realization dawned over her.

    "How can this be.....? It''s.....Oh my God!"

    She felt her breathing quickening as her soul immediately started feeling the pull of the soulbond that she had ended up creating between the two of them.

    It was not intentional. She did not plan to do it, and she had no idea why did it happen.

    Maybe it was because their souls were fully compatible, or maybe it was because her soul was suffering because of the lack of a mate or mates.

    Nonetheless, it happened. And it happened in the worse way possible.

    She did not know this man. They had never met before this. And there''s no guarantee that they would be meeting again.

    She felt her heart getting heavy as the weight of her mistake dawned over her.

    Her eyes once again landed on the yellow ivy and that color made her feel a little better. At least, she had not destroyed his life completely.

    The man tried to move towards her with eyes filling with coldness, but staggered on his feet a little as his body was still recovering from the attack of the weird woman.

    "How did you dare to touch me? How dare you to treat me like your food?"

    The man growled as his cold angry eyes glared at her, making Ying Yue immediately jump out of the stream.

    "Listen! I was just hungry and there was nothing else to eat. So don''t mind too much. Okay?"

    The growl that she received in return immediately made her realize that her words were probably not the right ones.

    So, she tried again.

    "It''s really not a big deal. Look! No one was here to witness it! In short, no harm is done, right?"

    She was slowly walking away from the man to put as much distance between them as possible.

    She could tell that he was recovering from the spell that the marking had put over him, and just because his soul was now connected with hers to some level did not mean that he could not hurt her.

    The man kept his cold eyes trained on her as he called on his spiritual energy to quickly heal his body.

    How could the Vampire lady not feel the murderous aura that was surrounding her?

    "Oh, God! You can''t really be thinking about killing me, are you? Wait! You are, right?"

    She did not need him to answer because it was clear from his ice-cold eyes that he was planning exactly what she feared.

    There''s no way she would be dying so early, again!

    She started pulling her dress up to make enough room for her legs to move at their full speed without any obstacle.

    "Listen! Give me five minutes. Just five minutes, and I''ll disappear from here. Only five minutes. Don''t come out!"

    And just like that, the lady, who was supposed to become the future Empress of the Hyuang Empire, ran out of the cave with a cloth bag hanging across her shoulders and her hands clutching her dress.

    The man was left shocked as he watched her behaving so unladylike. Wasn''t she ashamed of her attitude?

    First, she pounced on a half-naked man, taking him as her meal, and then she dared to show her legs like that!

    He did not chase after her. He did not need to. He''s letting her enjoy a little time of peace before he would personally take care of her.

 Chapter 20 - The Four Stages Of Soul Bonds

    "T-that....that was...scary...!"

    Ying Yue mumbled as she gasped while taking in short intakes of oxygen to calm down her heart that was currently in the sprinting mood.

    She was not really that much affected by running like she was being chased by the devil of death. Rather, the reason she was currently gasping and breathing so harshly was because she knew that she had just outsmarted her death..

    That dude was just as cold-hearted, deadly, ignorant, and narrow-minded, as he was handsome.

    Did he really have to react so coldly? It was not like she purposely chose him as her meal. It just happened and she should not be held responsible for something that she had no power to control.

    "And here I thought that you have lost your way in the mountains."

    The familiar voice that taunted her from behind, made Ying Yue turn around and look at the familiar figure of Silver.

    The man did not miss the way her cheeks were suddenly covered in faint pink blush and her previously dry eyes were now twinkling with a new glow in them. Just one look at her current appearance and he knew that she had finally fed.

    Ying Yue watched as Silver folded his hands in front of his chest as he stared at her with questioning eyes. He did not look angry but it was really hard to read his expressions because he knew pretty well how to hide them from her.

    A sigh left her lips as she shook her head softly as she answered his unasked question, "I did not plan it. It just happened....I.....I just ended up losing my control."

    Her eyes were fixed on the ground as she refused to look at the man in front of her. She was suddenly feeling a little bit ashamed for constantly ignoring his warnings. If she would have listened to him then she would not have ended up losing her control like that and accidentally activating a soul bond with a stranger.

    "I know."

    That''s what she heard in reply from Silver. She could feel his eyes that were still trained on her.

    She was silent for the next few moments as she pondered on exactly how to reveal what she had just ended up doing in the depths of the forest.

    After some time of deep thinking, she finally raised her head and focused her attention on the man standing in front of her. His dark green eyes were looking at her with such softness that she suddenly had the urge to forget about everything and just hug him.

    The two of them had been together for centuries by now, knowing from the very beginning that they were destined to be each other''s fate. But their physical interactions were always limited. She always maintained her distance from him ever since they got to know that they were not only each other''s destiny.....but also the doom!

    She let out a deep sigh as she opened her mouth to explain. However, before she could even utter a single word, he stopped her.

    "No need to voice it out. I can already feel it. It''s the first stage." Silver spoke as he brushed some loose strands of her hair away from her face, tucking them behind her ear.

    She was so lost in her thoughts that she did not even realize that he had walked closer to her at some point and was currently standing right in front of her.

    "Yeah! I don''t even know who he was. It''s just I stumbled across him in that cave and suddenly lost my control. But fortunately, it did not cross the first stage of bonding. As long as we don''t encounter each other for the next two months, the mark will disappear on its own without leaving any side effects." Ying Yue murmured as she tried to calm herself down by recalling that her mistake could still be fixed.

    Most of the supernaturals had their own ways or rules for establishing a bond with their mates. As for Vampires, the bonding was divided into four stages. The first stage was the initiation of the bond. It was the most fragile stage. Once a bond was initiated, the mates were supposed to stay in each other''s company for at least a few hours every single day for a month or so. It helped in providing strength to their bond and in building a deep connection between them.

    If for some reason, the mates ended up separating and had no physical contact for at least two months continuously after the initiation of the bond, the soul bond would start disappearing on its own. Since it was just the first stage and the mates had no physical contact with each other for such a long time, it won''t be painful for either of them as the bond would disappear.

    However, the same could not be said about the rest of the three stages. A second stage bond could still be broken but it was mostly painful no matter whether the mates had any contact with each other or not.

    The third stage was not easily breakable but could still be broken by several dark methods that were actually banned back in her previous world. However, it was far too painful for anyone to stand the pain.

    And as for the last and final stage, she had never heard about a full-bond breaking due to any reason or by any kind of dark magic.

    Since she and that man were only sharing a bond of the initial stage, there was a high chance that it would disappear on its own accord if they succeeded in staying away from each other for the next two months.

    It was not going to be that hard to stay away from him. She could do at least that much without fucking everything up. Right?

    Only if she knew that it was merely the starting! The future was holding so many surprises for her...

 Chapter 21 - Not Happy

    "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"

    Ying Yue asked as she stared at Silver who now looked nothing like the man who could make women swoon at his mere presence.

    Rather, he was now looking like a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl with fair skin, long black hair, black doe-like eyes, and an innocent look that could fool anyone.

    "I can''t stay with you in the Cold Palace as a man but I don''t think anyone would mind if a little girl will follow you around." He replied in a completely unrecognizable voice that made Ying Yue burst into chuckles.

    "Oh my! You seriously can''t be thinking about this. Are you sure about this plan of yours?" She asked as she picked up a few of the dozens of the ration bags that Silver had purchased.

    "I am. Let''s not waste any more time now. It''s getting late." Silver said as he......or maybe she, picked up the rest of the bags as they started walking towards their destination - the Star Lake Manor.

    It did not take them long, barely fifteen minutes, before they emerged in the Cold Palace through the hidden trapdoor, only to find both Li Qi and Li Wu waiting for her with worried expressions covering their soft dumpling-like faces.

    "Miss!"

    "You are finally back!"

    "Do you know how scared we both were in your absence?"

    "Every time there was a sound of any kind, we imagined someone walking inside the Cold Palace to find you. It was so scary!"

    "Right! We even imagined both of us getting canned to death by those cold-hearted palace guards."

    "Mmf...."

    "....."

    The two girls finally stopped talking when Ying Yue placed her hands on their mouths to stop their continuous rambling.

    "Congratulations! You both are still alive and no one entered the Cold Palace today just like the past few years." Ying Yue said as she looked at both of her maids before she took her hands away from their mouths.

    "What are you talking about, Miss? We were not worried about ourselves. We were worried about you." Li Wu said as she looked at her Miss with an innocent expression.

    Ying Yue turned to look at Li Qi, who also nodded her head immediately in agreement.

    "Sure! I can see that very clearly. Now go and take care of the trap door. Make sure to hide it properly. Meanwhile, I''m going to see how good the fourth courtyard is looking now after your hard work." She said as she started walking in the direction of the fourth courtyard.

    Silver.....now known as a sixteen-year-old orphan girl, Min Gu, followed behind Ying Yue with dozens of bags in her hands.

    It was not until both of their silhouettes disappeared from the backyard of the fifth courtyard, did the Li sisters realized something.

    "Wait! Who''s that girl with Miss?" Li Qi suddenly asked as she looked at her sister with a horrified expression covering her face.

    The two girls stared at each other in pure silence as they pondered whether to run after their Miss or to handle the matter of the trap door first.

    Eventually, they decided to handle the important matter first - hiding the trapdoor!

    ***

    "Not bad! This place is looking a hundred times better than before. I''m impressed." Ying Yue commented as her eyes eagerly looked around the fourth courtyard.

    The lawn was perfectly trimmed. The rooms were clean and shining after getting rid of all the cobwebs and years of dust.

    Though there was not much furniture or decorations around the courtyard, Ying Yue was not worried about it. She would make sure to change the appearance of the Cold Palace and make it look like a grand palace - even better than Empress Dowager''s palace. (Not like she had ever been to her supposed-to-be mother-in-law''s palace.)

    "Let''s start arranging things in our new kitchen. If we start now, it will be finished before five o''clock. And then we can finally prepare a grand dinner to celebrate!" She said in a cheerful tone while heading towards the far end of the courtyard where the old storage was located.

    As they entered the room, darkness welcomed them. Though it was a big room but the problem was that there''s not a single window in the entire room.

    "Are you sure this place is eligible for a kitchen? There''s no natural source of light here and you will die in the heat....."

    "I did not know that there''s no window in this room." Ying Yue immediately replied in a mumbled voice as her eyes finally started adjusting to the darkness.

    She heard Silver sighing behind her which made her pout as her eyes roamed around the darkroom.

    "Let me help you out a little bit, here. You can thank me later." Silver spoke as he stretched his left palm out and closed his eyes for a mere second.

    She was used to seeing Silver using his mysterious powers but right now she was watching a little girl standing in a pose that made her look so weird.

    "What are you doing?" Ying Yue asked as she stared at the girl.

    Silver did not reply as he...she.....kept her eyes closed and channeled her energy towards the changes that she wanted to make in the room.

    Ying Yue watched with horror as one by one, the settings of the room started to change. A huge window appeared on the back wall which opened towards the backyard where a well was built. A back door also appeared beside the window.

    Two kitchen counters made of marble appeared with a wooden shelf against one of the walls.

    And then everything stopped.

    "What did you just do?" She asked again but this time her voice was barely audible.

    Silver took in a deep breath before he answered her question, "My powers in this world are limited. Since I did not use my powers for the past few days, I was able to pull off a simple spell. But I can''t continue any longer, or I''ll lose too much energy. You have to do with it for now."

    Ying Yue closed her eyes as she inhaled deeply before she opened her eyes and stared at the girl in front of her as she growled at her.

    "Who the hell asked you to do this? Are you looking for trouble?"

    Wait! Why she did not look happy?

 Chapter 22 - A Helping Ghost

    "I''m just helping you." Silver, Or Min Gu, commented as she looked around the newly renovated storeroom. It now looked far much better to be used as a kitchen than it was a few moments before.

    The sunlight of the afternoon sun filtered inside the room through the window and the back door while the newly formed kitchen counters were another great addition to the room as they solved a very big problem.

    "I would really have appreciated your help. But how are we going to explain this to Li Wu and Li Qi? This is not something that a normal human can do in just a few minutes." Ying Yue finally revealed the reason behind her unhappiness as she glared at the girl standing on the other side of the room.

    "Well, I think you should start working immediately to sort out all the rations that I''ve bought. I''m going to get firewood because you won''t be able to cook anything without it.....or do you want me to use a fire spell..." Min Gu trailed off as he/she saw the woman glaring daggers at him.

    "OUT!"

    Ying Yue said through gritted teeth as she signaled towards the door of the room, waiting impatiently for the girl (Min Gu/Silver) to disappear from her sight.

    Min Gu did not waste even a single second as she disappeared from the storeroom, which was now a kitchen.

    And while Ying Yue was busy pondering on what to do next, her sharp vampire hearing registered the sound of Li Qi and Li Wu''s footsteps as both the girls were heading towards the fourth courtyard in hurry.

    For the very first time in a long period, Ying Yue found herself in a predicament where she was unable to find a good enough solution for her problem.

    Before her brain could race any further to cook up a wonderful but at least believable story, the Li girls already barged into the kitchen.

    The two of them were panting harshly while sweat was clearly visible on their foreheads. Were they being chased by the devil?

    "M-Miss...are...a-are...you alright...?" Li Qi somehow succeeded in voicing out the question through her harsh breathing.

    Ying Yue was a little bit confused as she could not understand exactly what was wrong with the girls and why they were suddenly looked so worried about her safety.

    But before she could ask them what was wrong with them, she noticed Li Wu hurriedly shaking her sister''s arm while her eyes were fixed on the window.

    "W-what...?"

    Li Qi asked as she turned to look at her sister, only to find her signaling towards something and as she followed the direction of her signal, she also found the source of light that was somehow filtering inside the previously dark room.

    "What the...?"

    The girl could barely speak as she was in a trance after seeing the sudden but unbelievable changes in the room.

    Just when Ying Yue was sure that she won''t be able to get away from the situation unaffected, a sudden idea popped up in her brain.

    She immediately turned her eyes towards the two girls who were still looking dazed as they stared at the kitchen which was barely recognizable at the moment.

    "H-how...."

    Li Qi was just about to voice out the question but got stopped when her Miss raised a question that sounded way too similar to hers.

    "How did you guys managed to do all this in just a few hours? What happened after I left?"

    Ying Yue made sure to keep her expression just as confused, shocked, and curious as needed at the moment.

    The best way to get out of the current situation was to play as innocent as possible and she was a pro when it came to faking.

    "Huh?"

    "...?"

    Both the Li sisters stared at their Lady in surprise while Ying Yue stared back at them with a similar expression covering her face.

    "We did not....."

    Li Wu somehow muttered out those words as she slowly shook her head in denial. Li Qi also shook her head to show her agreement with her sister''s statement.

    Ying Yue was already prepared. She just frowned as she stared at the girls and asked in a confused tone, "What are you talking about? Are you worried that I''ll be angry? No! I''m not angry at all. I mean look at these new adjustments, they are perfect for a kitchen. You guys can share the secret with me. I won''t be angry at all."

    She made sure to smile at the end of her sentence to make it feel like she was really not angry at the girls.

    "B-but...Miss...we really don''t know anything about this. We did not change anything in this room. The last time we checked around an hour ago, this room had no window or a back door, nor these table-like things," Li Qi hurriedly explained as her eyes roamed all over the kitchen.

    "Really? Then..."

    Ying Yue did not finish her sentence as she too started looking around the room.

    Within a second, both the Li sisters were by her side as they hurriedly grabbed the hem of her sleeves and inched closer to her.

    "What''s wrong?" Ying Yue asked when she noticed their unusual behavior.

    "M-Miss...do you think.....there''s a g-ghost here?" Li Wu asked in a small voice as she looked around the room with a horrified expression in her eyes.

    "What rubbish are you talking about? A ghost? Stop spouting nonsense!" Ying Yue reprimanded the girls as she pulled away from them and started walking towards the entrance of the room.

    "Miss, we are not joking. Look at this room and the changes that had appeared in here all of a sudden. It''s probably a ghost," Li Qi spoke this time as she and Li Wu hurriedly followed behind their Miss.

    "Yeah, Sure! The said ghost owed us and that''s why it is helping us. Why don''t you guys ask it out for dinner next time it appears to help us?" Ying Yue joked as she picked a few bags of rations and started unpacking them, only to be stopped when they all heard the sound of something crashing outside.

 Chapter 23 - The Little Min Gu

    Ying Yue and her two maids hurriedly ran outside to see what caused the sound of the crash, only to find Min Gu standing beside a huge pile of woods that were previously stored in the storage of the first courtyard.

    "Wow!"

    She heard Li Qi voicing out her surprise and amazement as the girl stared at Min Gu, making Ying Yue almost roll her eyes.

    While Silver was only trying to help her, she also knew that he was deliberately making things hard for her. The more different he would appear in front of the twins, or the more magic he would use in the physical shape, the harder it would become for her to cook up stories to cover his inhumane actions.

    "She''s so strong!"

    Li Wu also commented as she too watched the young Min Gu standing there with her hands folded in front of her chest with a proud look on her small round face. There was no sign of any kind of discomfort even though she had carried so much weight for such a long distance.

    Ying Yue rubbed her forehead slightly as she felt a headache approaching. She just wanted to disappear and let Silver handle the situation on his own. But at the same time, she was totally aware that the man did not give a damn about what problems he was causing.. If worse came to worst, he would just disappear without any trace, leaving everyone questioning their sanity and his identity. The man loved to create problems.

    She closed her eyes for a few seconds and took a deep breath before walking towards Min Gu and taking a look at the pile of woods.

    "Indeed! You are strong. Looks like my judgment about you was not wrong at all. You really have a gift of super strength. What a gifted child you are!"

    Ying Yue even pinched Min Gu''s cheeks to emphasize her sweet syrupy story. While there was a smile on her lips to fool the twins, she made sure to glare at Min Gu to make her realize how pissed off she (Ying Yue) was at the moment.

    "Wow! Is she really gifted?" Li Wu asked hurriedly as she came to stand right next to Min Gu and started examining her body.

    "Of course! Can''t you see that she alone managed to bring these woods here? How can your Miss not have the eyes to separate a real talent from the fake ones? You are not looking down at me, or are you?"

    "No, no, no! Of course, not! But Miss, how did you even find this girl?" Li Wu asked while she eyed Min Gu as if she was suspecting something.

    "I just stumbled across her on the street. She was running after a thief and actually succeeded in catching him. I was really amazed by her strength and pure heart. Since this poor child has no family and she used to earn her living by performing street shows, I decided to bring her here." Ying Yue answered in a calm and kind of sad tone, making it appear like it was perfectly normal for her to bring a strange girl to the Cold Palace because she could not watch the child suffer in the harsh world all alone.

    "But Miss, what if someone from the Palace found out about her?" Li Qi asked worriedly.

    Ying Yue smiled softly at the girl as she spoke, "Who will find out? No one ever steps in the Cold Palace. Unless they suddenly have the heart to worry about our well-being, we are completely safe. Most of them don''t even remember us and the rest don''t want to remember anything about us."

    The Li girls were silent as they knew that their Miss had a point. No one had visited the Cold Palace for so long, what were the chances that someone would suddenly want to appear in the Cold Palace?

    But at the same time, a part of their brain was still not completely convinced. The bad news was bound to knock on their doors whenever they tried to convince themselves otherwise.

    "Miss...." Li Qi pulled on her lady''s sleeves as she tried to once again make her realize that keeping a strange girl in the Cold Palace was really a risky idea. Who knew what kind of punishment would befall them if Empress Dowager got to know about this?

    Ying Yue was about to respond when, the man turned into a little girl - Min Gu decided to speak.

    "You all really don''t have to worry. Even if someone from the Imperial Palace decided to visit the Cold Palace, no one would be able to find me. I can promise you that." The little girl said with a serious look on her chubby face.

    "How?" Li Wu asked as both she and Li Qi turned their attention on the girl and waited to hear her response.

    Somehow, Ying Yue could already tell that whatever Silver/Min Gu was about to say next, was going to create even more questions and suspicions. And before she could react and stop the girl from speaking, it was already too late because at that exact moment a bright light shone in the room, and the very next second Min Gu had already turned into a little white bunny.

    Ying Yue felt like crying as she watched the horrified expressions on the twins'' faces. They were staring at the bunny as if it was a monster instead of a cute little harmless animal.

    She did not speak, not even when both the girls hurriedly turned their attention towards their lady as they silently asked dozens of questions that went unanswered.

    Ying Yue refused to speak. She just turned her expressions as shocked and dumbfounded as the twins''. Ignorance was her best weapon at the moment and she was going to cling to her precious weapon.

    The little bunny shook its head, flinging its ears and the next second it was once again looking like Min Gu who was smiling proudly as she looked at the thunderstruck expressions of the Li sisters.

    "See! Now you all can relax and start preparing dinner. I''m going to collect the rest of the firewood."

    The Girl chirped happily before she disappeared from the room, leaving three of the young ladies completely surprised and scared. While the twins were scared because they had just seen a girl turning into a rabbit and vice versa, Ying Yue was terrified because she could already see a dark and miserable future waiting for her.

    Only if she knew!

 Chapter 24 - Monster Bunny

    The atmosphere during the entire dinner was filled with silence and awkwardness. The only person who was enjoying the food was Min Gu as the girl munched on the tasty dishes without any care in the world.

    "Miss..."

    Ying Yue stopped eating for a few seconds as she turned her attention to Li Wu who was sitting beside her. She raised her eyebrows in a questioning look as she waited to know why the girl was calling her in a whispered tone.

    Li Wu inched her face closer to Ying Yue''s ear before asking, "My lady, did you really not know that she can turn into a rabbit?"

    The question made Ying Yue grit her teeth as she turned her icy gaze towards Min Gu. But to her utter dismay, the girl did not even spare a single glance towards her as she continued to drink her soup.

    A sad smile appeared on her lips as she looked back at Li Wu before shaking her head in denial..

    "Miss, is it really safe to keep this girl here?" This time it was Li Qi who asked the question as she also inched closer to her lady.

    The more Jiang Ying Yue wished for the twins to stop asking any more questions, the more curious and anxious they were seemed to be getting.

    "Do you think we can kick her out even if we want to?" She asked in return as she looked at both of her maids with a questioning look.

    The Li sisters first turned their eyes towards the bunny girl before looking at each other to confirm their answer, and then they finally shook their heads in reply to their lady''s question.

    How could they fight against a person who was a bunny monster? Won''t they be courting death on purpose?

    "Come on, there''s no point in dwelling about this matter anymore. Let''s finish dinner and retire to bed. We have a lot of work to do tomorrow." Ying Yue told the girls as she picked up her chopsticks and started eating.

    Even though Li Qi and Li Wu were still not happy with the presence of the mysterious bunny girl in the Cold Palace, but there was almost nothing that they could do about it. If it had been a normal human, then they would definitely have tried their best to get rid of her but Min Gu was no normal human and the girls were not brave enough to challenge a monster bunny.

    Realizing that they were at a loss, the twins decided to stay quiet for the rest of the dinner and it did not take long before they all were done with the dinner and were ready to retire for the night.

    "I''ll sleep in your courtyard." Min Gu said in her usual chirpy tone as she clung to Ying Yue''s arm like a baby.

    Before Jiang Ying Yue could speak, her maids were faster as they immediately showed their denial towards the idea.

    "No, you are not."

    "Absolutely not!"

    "..."

    Ying Yue just looked at the twins with a small twitch on her lips. She did not know whether to laugh or cry at her current situation.

    "Why not?" Min Gu asked the girls with a genuine confusion on her face. After all, just to stay with her Yue, she had become a girl and now two little girls were telling her that she still could not stay with her Ying Yue.

    "How can you even say something like that? Are you trying to disrespect our lady?" Li Wu asked as she glared at the bunny monster.

    Min Gu turned her questioning gaze towards Ying Yue who just shrugged her shoulders in response.

    "Alright! If I can''t sleep in our Lady''s courtyard then I''ll sleep with you guys." She suddenly spoke with a charming smile on her face.

    However, her words made the Li sisters froze in terror as they stared at her as if they were looking at some kind of monster.

    "Girls....., enough! I''m tired and really want to sleep. Let''s stop this nonsense for now. Since you two are really that afraid of her, she will stay with me in the fifth courtyard. I''ll keep my eyes on her in the future. It''s final." Ying Yue suddenly announced in a tired but still a very determined tone.

    She did not give any chances to the Li sisters to speak again as she took hold of Min Gu''s arm and marched out of the fourth courtyard, leaving behind two dumbfounded girls who kept staring at the disappearing silhouette of their Lady and the bunny monster.

    ***

    "What''s wrong with you? Are you purposely creating these problems for me? I''m so mad right now that I want to.......ah!"

    One moment, Ying Yue was whisper shouting at the Girl, and the very next moment she found herself plastered against the wall of the room as the very same girl caged her there.

    "W-what are you doing?" Ying Yue hurriedly asked as she tried to get away from Min Gu. However, her small hands that were resting against the wall on her each side were too strong for Ying Yue to escape.

    "I just wanted to have some fun. Also, you don''t need to worry about those two girls. They aren''t a big deal at all." Min Gu replied as she inched a little bit more closer to Ying Yue.

    Right at that moment, the door of the bed-chamber opened and Li Wu appeared in the room with a quilt and pillow in her hands.

    "My Lady, I''ve brought the spare quilt and pillow that we have. It''s for the.........."

    Li Wu found her words frozen in her throat as her eyes took in the scene at the other end of the room.

    "I...I-I.....will.....leave now..."

    The girl did not waste a single second before she was out of the room and Min Gu was laughing so hard that she was about to fall.

    On the other hand, Ying Yue just wanted to entirely disappear.

 Chapter 25 - Meeting A Fake Storyteller

    "Where are you going?" Min Gu asked as soon as the Li sisters finally left the fifth courtyard to start cleaning the third one as per ordered by their Miss.

    It was early in the morning and they all just had breakfast where Li sisters continuously kept glaring at her, Min Gu, just like the previous night. Though they said nothing out loud but their dislike towards her was as clear as the day.

    "I got the herbs but there are still some other things that I need to grab. I''ll be back as soon as possible. Don''t forget to finish your work. Bye!"

    Ying Yue did not give the girl, or Silver, any chance to speak before she was running out of the fifth courtyard towards the hidden trapdoor.

    For a moment, Min Gu was ready to follow her but then decided against it. There was no point in following her when she was so determined to be left alone for the day.

    ***

    Jiang Ying Yue spent the entire morning and afternoon wandering the market streets of the Capital City and buying the things that she needed for preparing for her new business plan.

    It was already past four o''clock in the afternoon when she emerged out of a garment shop and immediately noticed a crowd on the street.

    "Eh! What''s happening here?" She asked one of the women who were standing in front of the shop.

    "It''s First Young Master of Prime Minister Manor. Causing another scene in the middle of the day as usual." The woman replied with a sigh, even shaking her head as she walked away with her lady partner. She was probably tired of the dramas that the Young Master was well known to create every other day.

    "First Young Master of Prime Minister Manor?" Ying Yue questioned no one in particular. She was suddenly curious to see exactly what kind of drama was going on. She moved towards the double-storey shop and found a young man in his early twenties sitting on a chair as his servant distributed a storybook to the spectators.

    She also got one and as she opened the barely six or seven pages book, she found ridiculous doodles drawn in it.

    "Two days ago you were planning to open a clothes shop and today, Young Master Gu, have decided to become a book writer. Young Master is changing his profession even faster than the speed at which our Young General slays the enemies in the wars." Someone from the crowd commented in a mocking tone, making the others chuckle.

    Ying Yue was expecting the Young Master to become angry or punish the offender. However, she was left completely surprised when he just smiled in a calm and indifferent manner before replying, "As you all already know that I''ve been constantly trying to make my business work but due to my bad luck I''ve been failing constantly. But I''m not someone who will give up so easily. So today I''ve decided to explore another skill of mine - storyteller. Look at the wonderful and unique characters that I have carved on these pages myself. They are the real definition of perfection and art."

    The group of servants standing behind him immediately started clapping. They were carrying such proud expressions on their faces that Ying Yue could barely control herself from scoffing at the drama that the Master and his loyal servants had planned.

    How come a centuries-old vampire like her, who had met all shades of people in her immortal life, could be deceived by a young boy who just started learning these dirty tricks?

    She was so busy in her world of thoughts that she completely missed the moment when the Young Master finally started reciting his dreadful and bizarre story that cleared the crowd just in half a minute. Looked like no was interested in destroying their ears by listening to his nonsense.

    "How rude these people are? How dare they treat our Young Master like this? Foolish people!"

    It was one of the Young Master''s servants who was cursing the people that had suddenly disappeared, making it appear like their Young Master was really a horrible storyteller.

    While the servants appeared to be filled with resentment and anger towards the people who dated to look down upon their Young Master, the said Young Master appeared to be as happy as if he had achieved some sort of success just now.

    "A smart and rich Young Master from such a high-profile official family. I''ll be lying if I said that I''m not curious about why a person like you is trying to destroy his public image on purpose." Ying Yue spoke in a lazy tone as she walked closer to the young man whose entire focus was now fixed on her.

    Rather than getting defensive after seeing that someone had seen through his facade, he still appeared as relaxed as before. But Jiang Ying Yue still noticed how eagerly his eyes were observing her every move.

    Looking at his sharp eyes, she was sure that her judgment about his character was correct. He was not as stupid and worthless as he was making himself appear in front of the crowd.

    "And you are?" asked the Young Master as he failed to recognize the lady since she was wearing a veil.

    "No one special or worth wasting your time. You also don''t have to answer my question as you are not obliged to. I just wanted to point out that if I can see through your act, there are chances that others also can. I''ll be taking my leave now," said Ying Yue as she gave a last look towards the Young Master and his servants before turning around to leave. She still had some important stuff to finish.

    "Wait!"

    She stopped in her tracks when she heard the Young Master calling her. As she turned around to look at him, she found that he was already walking towards her as he spoke.

    "It''s been almost two years and no one, except for my father, was able to see through my act. You are the second person whom I''ve failed to charm with my acting talent. Let''s see if our paths will cross again in the future. You look just as interesting to me, my lady, as I''m to you."

 Chapter 26 - Fire! Fire! Fire!

    "I know that it''s getting late and I should return to the palace but.....just one look won''t be too much."

    Jiang Ying Yue whispered to herself as her eyes roamed over the silent garden and the courtyard standing in front of her.

    She was currently at the Star Lake Manor, standing next to the trapdoor as she was heading back to the Cold Palace after finishing her tasks at the market.

    However, as soon as she stepped inside the manor and noticed the usual silence of the place, she could not help but become even more curious about the mysterious manner.

    She had been controlling herself for the past several days, but since this time there was no one to stop her, she was finding it hard to not give in to the inner voice that was telling her to risk it and satisfy her curiosity since she had the chance.

    Her stupid curiosity won over her sensibility and soon she found herself walking towards the courtyard. It did not take her long to find the entrance but soon she realized that the door was locked.

    She searched around the little garden surrounding the courtyard but did not find anything useful. Coming back towards the locked main door of the courtyard, she pondered on her options.

    Should she try to break in? Though that''s illegal, she was not planning to steal anything. She just wanted to take a look. That won''t be too much, right?

    "Just a locked door. It''s not really that big of a problem for me," she muttered as she observed the wooden door. Besides, it did not even appear to be strong enough but after probing for a little bit longer, Ying Yue found out that some kind of mystical force was protecting the door.

    "Let''s see if my basic powers will work now since I have finally fed," she murmured to herself as she stretched out her right hand, making her palm face the wooden door.

    She focused her eyes on the door and called upon the energy residing inside her. Just like she guessed, feeding from the handsome dude in the hidden cave the previous day had really helped her in balancing her powers.

    She felt a ball of energy flew out of her palm and hit the wooden door. She was too happy about finally being able to use her powers to basic levels that it took her quite some time to notice that something was wrong.

    "What the.....Why is it on fire?"

    The panic was clearly audible in her tone by the time she reached the end of her question. Her eyes stared at the burning door with confusion and shock filling in them.

    Exactly what happened? Did she somehow end up using fire magic instead of the one she wanted?

    Questions were piling up in her confused brain but she realized that her priority should be to stop the fire that would soon spread over the walls and windows if she did not do anything to stop it.

    "What should I do? What should.....Oh, right! Water.....Yes, yes.....water..."

    Ying Yue closed her eyes and took a deep breath to relax herself before she once again stretched her hand out and called on the energy inside her, ordering it to convert into a water spray.

    But it was like her powers were malfunctioning because instead of water, she found a gust of fragrance surrounding her for a few seconds before it disappeared.

    "Oh my! What''s wrong with me?" She asked out loud to no one in particular as she stared at her hand in exasperation.

    Her eyes slowly returned their attention towards the burning door which was on the verge of collapsing any moment. The fire had already spread over the walls and was turning intense with every passing second.

    She took a few steps back as she cursed herself for letting her stupid curiosity win over the sensible part of her brain. If she had minded her own business and stayed away from the mysterious manor, then it would not end up like this.

    "Whoever is the owner of this place, I''m really sorry. It''s not intentional at all. I promise that one day in the future I''ll compensate all your losses but right now, I need to leave." Saying that Jiang Ying Yue turned around to finally run away from the scene before someone could have noticed her.

    She turned around to flee from the burning place but immediately stopped in her tracks when her eyes landed on the figure standing in front of her.

    A man in a royal blue robe with long black hair tied in a high ponytail was standing there looking at the burning courtyard. His eyes were black but Ying Yue could see the reflection of flames in them which made them so alluring.

    Just the previous day she met a man who was so good-looking that she could barely believe her eyes and here she was, once again finding a man who looked like the pure definition of the word ethereal.

    She could not help but keenly observe every single detail about him. Her eyes moved over her face, taking in his long eyelashes, smooth skin, thin lips. Then her gaze started traveling down and it did not stop until it reached his foot.

    Unfortunately, because of his long robes, she did not get the privilege of seeing his body, unlike the previous day where the man was half-naked.

    As her eyes returned to his face, her breath got caught in her throat as she found him staring right back at her.

    Had he noticed her ogling him? The thought made Ying Yue filled with embarrassment.

    She watched the man flicking his left sleeve once towards the burning courtyard, his eyes never leaving hers.

    Curious to know what he had done, she slightly turned her head to look at the courtyard only to find it looking just like it was before she somehow ended up setting it on fire.

    A gasp left her lips as she took in the appearance of the wooden door and the walls which appeared to be completely untouched by any kind of fire.

    Who was this man?

 Chapter 27 - A Devil

    "Aah....!"

    Before Jiang Ying Yue could realize what was happening, it was already too late. She found herself plastered against the same wooden door which was burning just a moment ago.

    Her eyes stared at the handsome man who was standing just a breath away from her. His hands were holding hers in a tight grip against the door and his body, which was trapping her between him and the door, had sealed any of her chances of running away.

    There was very little space between their bodies and she could already feel his warm breath fanning the left side of her cheeks. His face was too close to hers. Close enough for her to just tip her head upwards and their lips would have ended up touching.

    The good thing was that she was wearing her veil that gave her lips a little bit of protection, though it was not much to be fair and It also did not last for long enough because the very next second she felt her veil getting loose and before she could react, it was already slipping away leaving her face bare to the man''s intense eyes.

    "What are you doing?" She asked as she tried to keep some distance between their faces. It was a surprise that her voice came out so calm and collected when she was feeling completely opposite of that.

    "I want to see the face of the person who dared to set my favorite manor on fire in my absence."

    His voice...It sounded like a siren''s call to her ears. It was smooth, pleasant, and something magical was present in it that called out to her soul.

    It took her hazy mind a little bit of time to process whatever he had just said.

    "Wait! Y-you are the owner?" No idea why she was asking something so obvious but the question slipped out of her mouth before she could stop herself.

    The man just arched one of his eyebrows as he looked at her with a little twitch visible on his lips.

    Damn! He looked so hot at that moment.

    Ying Yue shook her head hurriedly to get rid of her thirsty thoughts. Something was seriously wrong with her. Since the previous day, she had been acting like a horny teenager who could not stop her lewd thoughts towards every handsome man that she encountered.

    "I-I''m really sorry about what just happened. It was not intentional at all. I was just..." She trailed off when she realized that she did not have a good excuse for her actions.

    She found him releasing one of her hands but it was only so that he could hold her chin as he made her look up at him while he spoke, "I let you and your companions use my back garden for your secret visits to the city and instead of being thankful...you set up my manor on fire. How rude of you..."

    Rather than paying attention to his words, Jiang Ying Yue was busy fighting a battle with herself. The man was dangerous. His looks, voice, touch, and even his smell, everything was making her lose her calm and surrender to him.

    The man noticed her beautiful raven eyes staring at him as if he was the only person who existed in their world. Unconsciously, he found himself closing the distance between their bodies, and as his body came in contact with hers, he could not help but inhale her intoxicating scent.

    The same thing happened with Ying Yue and her condition only worsen. As soon as his scent entered her system, everything went out of her control. She felt her throat drying up as an intense hunger started making her body burn. She found her fangs beginning to enlarge as the need to feed immediately settled in her.

    Her current condition was totally weird. She used to feed only once in three or four months back in her world based on the fact that she was a senior vampire. However, she had already fed the previous day, and her body still reacted like it was in dire need of blood.

    Before she could completely lose her mind to her hunger, Jiang Ying Yue succeeded in pushing the man away as she hurriedly put some distance between them.

    "I...I-I''m sorry...but...I s-should...leave..."

    She was determined to leave the place before it could be too late. Something was telling her that her body was reacting in such a manner because of the man himself. Something was not right about him and that was exactly what''s making her lose her control.

    Regardless of her determination, as soon as she took a couple of steps away from the man and towards the direction of the back garden, she found darkness appearing in front of her eyes as her body started feeling tired and heavy.

    Not only head was spinning but she could not even take a single step forward as suddenly there was no energy left in her body.

    The man who had been standing against the wooden door while observing her keenly, finally decided to react. Within the blink of an eye, he was behind her. One of his arms wrapped around her waist as he pulled her back against his front, stopping her body from falling on the ground at the perfect timing.

    He let both of their bodies settled down on the steps leading to the porch of the courtyard. Ying Yue''s body calmed down a little as it felt surrounded by his arms and scent.

    "Didn''t you fed just the previous morning? Then why are you in such a condition now? Is it because of me?" The man whispered those questions next to her ear only to close his eyes with a soft groan when Ying Yue, unconsciously, moved her face closer to the crook of his neck. Her lips were almost touching his smooth throat.

    A small smile made its way to his lips as he whispered, "They did warn me that you are a devil. I can finally see why....!"

 Chapter 28 - Can No Longer Run Away

    "My my..., looks like you have eventually decided to face your destiny. Not bad, Qing Shan. You are finally paying the much-needed attention to aligning your own stars. I can finally rest in peace."

    These dramatic words were spoken by a man who suddenly appeared in the Star Lake Manor. His bright red robes fluttered in the wind which had arrived along with him.

    The soft smile playing on his lips and the sharpness of his eyes were in direct contrast to each other. However, the man still appeared to be not as dangerous as the one who was holding an unconscious Jiang Ying Yue in his arms.

    "Second Uncle, where are my brothers?" asked Qing Shan as he softly brushed away the strands of hair from Ying Yue''s face. She looked like a little Goddess in her sleeping form while a devil incarnation when she''s awake.

    "How would I know? Not like the three of you ever shares anything with this old uncle of yours. No one cares about me anymore." The red-robed man spoke in a sad tone as he looked around the beautiful garden that was the result of the hard work of the servants of the manor.

    Qing Shan did not comment. He was well aware of his brothers'' whereabouts and also knew that his uncle was lying about not knowing anything. After all, keeping eyes on the three of them was second uncle''s favorite timeless.

    A small sigh escaped his lips before he turned his attention towards the sleeping form in his embrace. She felt so soft and small against his tall and well-built form.

    "I can feel the energy of Ah Shu''s blood in her veins. The two of them are bound by a very delicate thread of sacred energy and it has already started weakening. It will take around a couple of weeks before it will be lost forever." He spoke while trying to pinpoint the core of their merged energy, only to be left shocked when he realized that it was in her heart.

    "Ain''t that too early. It''s been only a day and it''s already started to weaken?" The red robbed man walked closer to where his nephew was sitting with the sleeping girl in his arms.

    He stretched out his right hand towards the young lady and let his spiritual energy cover her in a cocoon for a second or two before it disappeared.

    "It''s probably related to how weak the link is in the first place. Or maybe her body isn''t accepting the bond.....but since she''s the one who initiated it...." The man trailed off since he could not pinpoint the exact reason behind the weakening of the bond.

    "I know why it''s happening. I also know that Ah Shu is already here. Can you do me a favor and send a message to Wu Xie?" Qing Shan asked his uncle as he pulled out a ball of his energy and passed it to the other man.

    "Since you are my favorite nephew, I won''t deny this request of yours. Consider it done." The man replied with a charming smile as he let one of his rings absorb the energy ball.

    Qing Shan watched as the silhouette of his second uncle finally disappeared from his manor. His attention was pulled back towards the girl in his arms as she immediately started to move as if she was waking up.

    "Do you really think that what happened yesterday was a silly mistake of yours? If yes then you are wrong. What happened in the cave with Ah Shu was bound to happen, just like what''s going to happen now is also bound to happen. Since you are already here, you can no longer run away," He whispered next to her ear and watched as her eyelashes fluttered a little.

    He could tell that she was still in discomfort due to the hunger that was making her body burn in an invisible fire. Considering that it won''t stop until she had fed, he decided to sacrifice a little bit of his blood.

    He bit his index finger of the left hand, making bright crimson blood ooze out. Placing his finger against her lips he whispered, "Here!"

    The metallic smell of blood entered Jiang Ying Yue''s nose, making her groan out in pain as her hunger for his blood reached its peak. She was dying to taste his blood and since she had been given the chance willingly, she won''t hold herself back.

    Her lips slowly parted as her tongue slipped out to taste the sweet and addicting flavor of his blood. The moment her tongue made contact with his finger, they both groaned out due to the shock and pleasure that they received.

    Qing Shan hissed when he found the tip of his finger inside her warm mouth. Her tongue kept playing with his finger to get as much blood as possible. The girl was in such an intoxicated state that she had next to no idea what she was doing. The only thing that mattered to her was his blood.

    The cut that he made on his fingertip soon disappeared, making the girl pulled his finger out of her mouth before she turned her face to look at him with a sad expression on her face.

    "What?.... You want more, don''t you?" Qing Shan asked with an unbelievable expression in his eyes. He let her have a taste of his blood but she still wanted more.

    Jiang Ying Yue, who was still under the compulsion of blood lust immediately nodded her head and even pouted to emphasize her unspoken complaint.

    Qing Shan sighed but could not make himself refuse her. He pulled away his sleeve, making the smooth milky skin of his wrist visible to her hungry eyes.

    "Go ahead. It''s all yours." He murmured next to her ear as his other hand tightened around her waist.

    That was all Ying Yue wanted. Her hands hurriedly took hold of his wrist and brought it closer to her lips. She could feel the energy of his blood flowing through his veins and just the sound of it made her moan in pleasure.

    She wetted her lips before she let her lips touch the skin of his wrist. It was such a beautiful wrist that she could not help but leave a feathery kiss on it, making the man inhale sharply as his heart started racing.

 Chapter 29 - Green Ivy

    "Stop playing around..."

    He wanted his voice to come out sharp and collected so that he could stop the girl from inciting his soul. However, his words were merely a whisper as he was taken aback when felt the tip of her tongue tracing one of his veins.

    "Girl..."

    This time he succeeded in calling her out in a deep voice that was filled with a little bit of warning.

    But Jiang Ying Yue was in no state to listen to him. She was purely obsessed with the blood flowing through his veins, calling her as if it was meant for her.

    She let her tongue wet her lips before she placed another soft kiss on the center of his wrist, making another gasp leave his lips. The sounds that he was making were like a beautiful melody to her ears and she had a great urge to keep making him groan and gasp.

    Unfortunately, after a few seconds, she could no longer hold down her hunger for his blood. After giving a last soft kiss, she let her fangs come out before she let them sink into his smooth skin.

    As soon as the warm and sweet blood entered her mouth, Jiang Ying Yue finally lost the last bit of control that she had over herself. Her hands tightened around his wrist as she started drinking the sweet nectar that was filling her body with pure energy.

    Qing Shan groaned as he found tingles of pleasure running over his entire body after the short moment of pain was over. The feelings that he was experiencing were completely different from what he expected. He was waiting for pain and disgust, not pleasure and contentment.

    His soul was filled with happiness after seeing that the girl in his arms was enjoying his blood.

    His head fell against her shoulder as he could no longer control the sensations that had completely taken over his body. His other hand tightened around her waist as he nuzzled his face in the crook of her shoulder, inhaling her sweet flowery scent that made his heart feel calm even though his body was on fire.

    Just when he thought that he had completely lost himself in the girl, suddenly, his attention was pulled away when he sensed a weird sensation on his right shoulder.

    With a quick thought, he made his robe slipped from his shoulder as he looked exactly what was going on, only to find the design of an ivy carving itself on his shoulder.

    Unlike the yellow-colored ivy that appeared on the body of the Immortal whom Ying Yue met in the hidden cave just the previous day, the color of Qing Shan''s ivy was bright green. The difference in the color was because due to some weird and unfortunate (fortunate) reason, the two of them got connected with a second stage bond.

    The girl who was completely oblivious about the fact that her soul was now bound to another new and strange person, finally stopped drinking the blood after another few minutes.

    Her body was now filled with immense energy and satisfaction. Her soul had calmed down and her senses were returning to normal but along with that, she was also feeling sleepy which made her close her eyes and relax in the warm embrace of the man before she lost herself in the dark and empty abyss.

    Qing Shan sighed as he straightened his robes and turned his attention back towards the girl who was once again soundly sleeping in his arms without a care in the world. His eyes took in her long eyelashes, little nose, blushing cheeks, and full lips that were looking even redder than before.

    His eyes caught a drop of his blood visible on the corner of her lips. Before he realized it, his finger had already wiped moved to wipe it.

    "You are indeed a little devil." He whispered to her but there was a small smile playing on his lips as he spoke these words.

    All of a sudden, his body stiffened as he sensed something but then relaxed after a second or two as he returned his attention to the girl in his arms after taking a glance at the direction of the old tree in his back garden where the trapdoor of the hidden underground tunnel was located.

    "He''s here for you. It''s time for me to leave for now but we will meet soon. I''ll wait for your visit, little devil." Qing Shan whispered the words into her ear with a soft smile playing on his lips.

    He let her body rest against one of the pillars standing on the side of the steps leading to the porch. After giving a last look at her soft sleeping form, his silhouette disappeared into the thin air.

    The very next second, a man in a dark blue ice silk shirt and black pants, climbed out of the trapdoor and headed towards the sleeping form of Jiang Ying Yue.

    Silver''s expressions were completely unreadable as he approached the girl who kept testing his sanity over and over. But even though it was not possible to read his eyes and face, the way his body relaxed when he picked up the girl in his arms and felt her steady heartbeat against his chest, it was clear that he had been worried to death because of her.

    "You are seriously enjoying yourself in this bee world, aren''t you?" He asked her sleeping form as if he was really expecting her to answer him.

    "It only took you less than thirty-six hours to find not only one but two powerful targets to make your meal. Why do you have to work so hard when you already have a handsome, charming, hot, and more than a willing person right next to you. When it''s finally going to be my turn?" He again asked her while moving towards the tunnel while holding her in his arms.

    In response to his countless questions, the girl just nuzzled her nose against the side of his neck as she moved her head to find a more comfortable position.

    "You are so warm......" she muttered these words in her sleepy daze before returning to her dream world.

    A sigh escaped Silver''s lips as he shook his head lightly. However, there was a smile playing on his lips that reached his eyes too, making them twinkle.

 Chapter 30 - The Luxurious Cottage

    Mortal Realm

    Northern Hemisphere...

    -

    The sun had finally retired for the day after finishing its part of the duty and as countless stars appeared in the evening sky, it was finally the moment for the moon to appear and take over the job.

    Mount Hua was known as the most dangerous, mysterious, and secluded area in the entire mortal realm. It was surrounded by a deep sea on the east side which was equally dangerous and mysterious.

    Barely any human or demon dared to set foot anywhere closer to this area. But unknown to all the mortals, a huge and beautiful cottage was built on the top of Mount Hua. Enclosed by dazzling waterfalls, snow-covered peaks, tall trees, and wildlife, it was a place that could give intense calmness to one''s mind and soul.

    There were countless rare and expensive spiritual herbs growing around the cottage. The water of the fountain that was built in the center of the third courtyard was actually filled with the spiritual elixir.

    Spirit beasts roamed through the forest, keeping anyone from stepping near the mountains.

    At the moment, there were two people present in the luxurious cottage. A young boy, who appeared to be seventeen or eighteen years old, could be seen practicing sword art on the terrace of eight courtyard that was facing the vast sea.

    His glistening blade stopped in mid-air when suddenly his attention was grabbed by the disturbance in the barrier that was surrounding the cottage and the herb fields around it.

    With a click of his fingers, his sword disappeared into thin air before he opened a magical screen to look at the visitor who dared to disturb his master.

    "God of Thunder, may I ask what you are doing here at this time of the day?" The young boy asked the Immortal who was standing outside the barrier.

    "Little Phoenix, hurry up and let me in. I''m here to deliver a message to your Master. Those tiny tiger mastiffs that your master has been raising for the past seven hundred years are about to make me their food. I can''t hurt them or your master would be angry. So be quick and save me!" The Thunder God spoke hurriedly through the screen.

    The young boy shook his head as a soft sigh escaped his lips. He closed the screen and teleported himself outside the ninth courtyard where his Master was currently resting.

    "Feng Wu, let him in before my little children really make him their dinner." A low dreamlike voice came from inside the courtyard.

    "Yes, Master!" The Phoenix boy bowed from behind the closed doors before his silhouette disappeared to save the ass of the Thunder God.

    -

    It took barely a minute before the God of Thunder was finally able to step inside the barrier surrounding the cottage. He followed Feng Wu to the terrace of the fourth courtyard where a stone table was set with freshly brewed tea and snacks.

    "Ah! Little Phoenix, did your master finally agree to take in a few maids? How come there are already refreshments waiting for my welcome?" asked the God in a hushed tone as he stared at the boy with curious eyes.

    The boy sighed as if he was tired of the Thunder God and his nonsense. Just when he was about to open his mouth to reply, his master decided to appear and save him from annoying the Elemental God.

    He was wearing dark purple robes with a back see-through outer robe. A purple jade pendant was hanging on his waist which gleamed with a light purple glow surrounding it.

    His long black hair was falling freely on his back but the purple strands hidden between the black ones made his hair stand out in a beautiful and eye-catching way.

    His black eyes had purple rings surrounding his irises and there was a headprint of purple fire between his eyebrows. The pearl headband that he was wearing enhanced his peerless beauty. He looked like an Immortal God who only existed in the folklore. Though he appeared to be a young man in his early twenties, it was far from his real age.

    "Second Uncle, what''s the message that my brother has sent for me?" The man in purple robe asked as he took a seat opposite the Thunder God.

    "Wu Xie, how long are you going to keep yourself hidden in this secluded place? Sooner or later, you will have to return to the Imperial City of the Hyuang Empire to finish your trial. The three of you succeeded in running away a few years ago when the Empress Dowager sent you all to the borders but now even she''s waiting for the return of her three Princes." The God of Thunder started speaking after taking a sip of the refreshing tea.

    "I''m aware that the three of you want to return to the Supreme Realm as soon as possible. Now the person for whom you all have been waiting has finally appeared. You should hurry up and return to the Imperial City."

    Wu Xie remained silent for a while as he drank his wine and gazed at the night sky filled with millions of stars and a full moon.

    "Who''s he? Someone from the Immortal Realm, or maybe from the Demon Realm? He''s not a mortal, is he?" It was Feng Wu who asked the questions as he could not contain his curiosity about the mysterious man who was destined to join hands with the three Supreme Gods to help them complete their mission in the mortal realm.

    "Silly Phoenix! What made you think that this person is a man. She''s a beautiful maiden with unseen powers and identity. I won''t spoil much for you but make sure to be prepared to meet this person. Your brothers are waiting for you. And since I''ve delivered the message, it''s time for me to take my leave. Will see His Grace soon."

    The God of Thunder didn''t waste a single more second and immediately disappeared from Mount Hua.

    "A woman? And that too of unusual identity?" Feng Wu questioned as he turned to look at his master.

    Though the purple-robed man appeared to be as calm and collected as usual, being his master''s spiritual beast, Feng Wu could tell that his master was also surprised by the discovery.

    "Go and make preparations, we will be leaving in the morning!"

 Chapter 31 - Tied

    Jiang Ying Yue slowly came out from the drowsy world of sleep as the morning sunlight filtered into her bed-chamber from the opened windows.

    It took her eyes a few seconds to adjust to the brightness and only then did she decide to move her body and slip out of her bed.

    However, the moment she tried to sit up, somehow she ended up falling back on the bed. Her eyes immediately flew towards the headboard of the bed only to find both of her hands tied to it with a magical rope.

    At that very same moment, the door of her bed-chamber opened, and Silver entered the room. His emerald eyes immediately found her as he closed the door behind him and locked it with a spell.

    "What''s this?" She asked as she watched him walking closer to the bed and her. There was something in his predatory eyes that was telling her that she was in deep trouble.

    He was looking just as handsome and sexy as always. Clad in a dark olive-colored V-neck shirt and black jeans, his long silver hair falling freely down his back while a single platinum earring dangled from his right ear, he was looking like one of those cool celebrities that were often seen on the tv screen and in magazines.

    Ying Yue felt her throat suddenly becoming dry while she was busy drooling over his beauty. She could not help it at all. After all, he was a real eye candy and the man was perfectly aware of it.

    "You are finally awake. Good morning." Silver spoke in a soft tone as he took a seat beside her on the bed and looked directly into her eyes.

    Though he sounded as calm and normal as usual, she could tell from his intense gaze, which was pinned on her, that he was clearly not in a very happy mood at the moment.

    "Why are my hands tied?" She again questioned while ignoring his comment. She was starting to realize that her arms were a little sore because of being tied for quite some time by now.

    A small twitch appeared on Silver''s lips as he replied, "I''m just making sure that you won''t run away to collect another powerful man in your bucket behind my back. This is for the safety of those poor men wandering around in this world without knowing that they are in great danger. They need to be saved from you."

    Jiang Ying Yue glared at the man as she tried to tug at her hands to see if she could somehow break the spell.

    "Untie me! Do you seriously think you can keep me tied like this? I''m sure after feeding yesterday evening, I''m good enough to break such a minor sp..."

    "I dare you to even try!" His voice was so deep and full of challenges that it made Jiang Ying Yue trailed off before she could finish her sentence.

    "You... Wait! Feeding?"

    Her words suddenly registered in her brain and she finally recalled the memories of the previous evening when she somehow ended up coming across the owner of the mysterious Star Lake Manor.

    She recalled his beautiful face and the way he made her feel when they were close enough to inhale each other''s scent. She recalled him offering his blood...

    "Oh no!" The gasp left her lips as she recalled the memory of her drinking his blood and the new bond that she had successfully formed with another strange person.

    "Looks like you finally recalled what you have done," Silver commented as he clicked his fingers to untie her hands.

    Ying Yue started shaking her head as she felt like burying herself in a hole and not coming out for a few decades or maybe centuries.

    "This is so bad. Not only I have initiated a second mate bond but it''s also a second stage bond. What the heck is wrong with me?" She voiced out in a frustrated tone as she rubbed her wrists and arms to regulate the blood circulation.

    A sigh escaped Silver''s lips as he realized that he could no longer pretend to be angry at her. He let his arms pull the girl in his embrace and miraculously, she did not object. Rather, she let her head fall against his left shoulder as she inhaled his scent, making a small smile appear on his lips.

    "Since your soul has already decided to accept these two men as your mates... why not give them a chance?" He suddenly asked making the girl pull away from his arms as she looked at him with a frown covering her face.

    She was silent for a few minutes but then she finally spoke with a little shake of her head, "There''s something fishy about the man from the Star Lake Manor. He knows about the secret tunnel and that we have been using it recently. Maybe he also knows my identity as the discarded possible candidate for the Empress'' position. And most importantly... he was the one who offered me his blood yesterday. I did not compel him or anything. He willingly did that. Did he..."

    Her head was filled with countless questions which had started to make her feel dizzy. Moreover, after getting connected with those two mysterious men/Immortals through the newly formed soulbonds, her body and soul were anxious to stay close to those men. She could feel the need to be with those two men surging throughout her body. It was almost as painful and intense as the need that she kept experiencing towards Silver.

    "Are you alright?" Silver asked as he brushed away a few loose strands of hair from her face. His eyes were staring at her with worry and concern filling them.

    "I''ll manage but I need to find that man. I should go and check the manor to see if he''s still there," she replied as she started climbing out of the bed.

    "Let me accompany you," Silver said as he followed behind her. There was no doubt that he was not asking for her permission, rather, he was telling her that she won''t be stepping out of the Cold Palace without him.

    "Alright!"

    -

    She was going to look for the answers but she had no idea about the surprises that were waiting for her...

 Chapter 32 - In His Arms

    Jiang Ying Yue stood in front of the same courtyard which was burning the previous evening all thanks to her incompetence in using the right spell at the right place and time.

    A sigh left her lips as she sympathized with herself. Being a fifteen hundred old vampire, she was one of the most powerful beings back in her world. But ever since she had traveled to this new world, she had become as weak as a newly turned vampire.

    She was unable to control her thrust for blood which was creating problems for her. She was unable to properly use her powers, and she was also unable to protect herself from powerful people around her.

    With a shake of her head to get rid of her troubled thoughts, she climbed up the stairs where the familiar wooden door greeted her. She was more than prepared to use the right spell this time to open the door. But surprisingly, as soon as she reached the door, it flew open on its own, welcoming her inside.

    Her steps immediately halted as she realized that something was not normal about the situation. She felt soft tingles starting to run all over her body which made her realize that the man whom she wanted to meet was actually waiting inside the courtyard for her.

    Without wasting another precious second, she stepped inside the empty living room. Her feet carried her towards the south part of the courtyard which was connected with another building.

    She was in such a hurry to find the owner of the manor, that she completely ignored the sensations that had started to take over her body.

    It did not take her long to find the man who was sitting around a table as he played chess.

    He was looking just as handsome and godly as the previous day. His hair was pulled in a high ponytail and a beautiful white jade hairpin was keeping them in place. His long slender fingers moved over the board as he placed his piece.

    Her attention then landed on the other person who was sitting opposite the blue-robed man. This one was wearing long white brocade robes while a silver mask was covering half of his face. Only his soft red full lips were visible along with the sharp jawline.

    For some reason, she felt a sense of familiarity after looking at the white-robed man but she did not get enough time to ponder on that feeling because the blue-robed man decided to speak at that moment.

    "I would have loved to say that seeing you here is a nice surprise but unfortunately, I don''t like to lie." His voice was still soft but the mockery in it made Jiang Ying Yue''s blood boil.

    She clenched her fingers in tight fists before she marched towards the table where those two men were sitting. Her fist landed on the table, creating a loud sound and scattering the chess pieces all over the place.

    She glared at the handsome face of the blue-robed man as she spoke through gritted teeth, "Who the hell are you? How dare you take advantage of me and bound me with you, and why the... "

    She trailed off with a soft gasp as the man suddenly waved his hand and all the scattered pieces returned to their original position on the board, reminding her that the man in front of her was not a normal human.

    All of a sudden, she was regretting leaving Silver behind in the tunnel. If he had been there with her, she would always have had the option of fleeing with him if the situation started getting out of her hands. Unfortunately, she was all alone against two mysterious men who were hiding some magical tricks up their sleeves.

    "If you can go around taking advantage and bounding someone to you, then why can''t I do the same?" He asked without even looking at her as he moved one of his black pieces on the board.

    It was clear that he was pointing towards what happened in the hidden cave two days ago. Ying Yue had no idea about how this man had so much information about her but this was surely not good news for her. The man definitely had some kind of secret motive and she suddenly wanted to stay away from him as much as possible.

    She took in a deep breath to calm herself down a little bit before she started speaking, "Listen! That''s a misunderstanding. I don''t know how you know about what happened that day with me and that man, but let me make it very clear - It was a MISTAKE! I never intended to do what I ended up doing."

    Only God knew why she was trying to defend herself but at that moment, she felt like she needed to make the point clear. After all, the incident had ruined her image.

    A small twitch appeared on Qing Shan''s face as he replied in a calm tone, "What a coincidence! I''m the same as you."

    A frown appeared on Ying Yue''s face as she looked at the man who was too engrossed in playing his game. "What do you mean?" She asked.

    "I''m saying that what happened the previous evening was also a mistake. I never intended to do what I ended up doing." He repeated her words as he watched his opponent successfully counter-attacking his previous move.

    "You want me to believe that shit? You know too much about me for your explanation to sound even a little bit sincere. Also, you fed me your blood. That can''t be a mistake. How did you even know that I wanted your blood? Not only that but I''m damn sure that the bond was initiated by you and not me. I''m not gonna buy this lousy explanation of yours. I want to know exactly who you are and what do you want from me?"

    Jiang Ying Yue didn''t get the time to catch her breath because suddenly the blue-robed man took hold of her right wrist and pulled her towards him, making her lose her balance and fell....... in his arms!

 Chapter 33 - Soulmates

    "She''s full of fire." The man with the silver mask on finally spoke or more like commented on Jiang Ying Yue with a small twitch playing on his lips.

    On the other hand, Ying Yue was not at all appreciative of the comment. She turned her face towards the man in white robes to glare at him and show him exactly how much fire was hidden inside her but was stopped by the man who was holding her in his arms.

    Realizing that she was still trapped in the embrace of the blue-robed pervert, she started to pull herself out, only for his arms to tighten around her.

    "Let me go!" She shouted after not being able to pull away even after struggling for a few minutes. Her rage was soaring to the sky but she could not deny that her body was more than happy to stay exactly where it was at the moment.

    In response to her commanding tone, she just received a small smile from the man who raised his left hand to hold her chin between his thumb and index finger as he whispered, "You don''t need to wear it when you are with us." And with that, he took off the veil, leaving her face bare to his eyes.

    Ying Yue''s hands itched to land a powerful slap on his ethereal face. The man was now getting on her nerves and the way her body was betraying her only made her more furious. She had come to demand answers to her questions and not to let the pervert take advantage of her once again.

    She closed her eyes and took a deep breath to calm herself before opening them and looking directly into his dark brown eyes. Suddenly, the memories of the previous evening returned, reminding her of the taste of his blood that was running through her veins at the moment. She recalled the pleasure that she experienced, the contentment that he gave to her, and the happiness that her soul experienced after getting connected with his soul.

    All her anger and frustration disappeared as once again her soul started reminiscing the sweet memories of two soul bonds that she had formed with two strangers.

    She felt fingers softly brushing away the loose strands of hair away from her face before they came to rest against the sensitive skin of her neck. She did not even realize that she had closed her eyes at some point.

    Ying Yue felt her breathing quickening as suddenly, she was being overwhelmed by the soulbonds that had suddenly decided to react to the presence of her soulmates. And that''s when she realized the identity of the masked man.

    "I... I want to... see it..."

    She heard someone whispering, the voice sounded familiar but her mind was not in a state to ponder on the identity. She just knew that it was one of her mates.

    Mates...!

    Her brain finally registered the fact that her heart and soul had known for a while. The bonds were not initiated mistakenly because she lost her control. No! The bonds were initiated because her soul recognized them as her soulmates, just like how it recognized Silver as her first mate nearly seven hundred years ago.

    She felt someone loosening the belt that was keeping her outer robe in place but she was not in a state to react or maybe she did not react because she recognized the owner of the hand - the man in the blue robe.

    Since they were her mates, should not she know their names? It would be funny if she did not even know the names of her soulmates less their identities and other information.

    Her mind was jerked back to reality when she felt his fingers sliding her dress down from her left shoulder, leaving her soul mark visible to them.

    A gasp left her lips when she felt fingers touching her soul mark, making tingles of pleasure erupt all over her body. She shuddered and buried her face in the embrace of the man who was suddenly holding her like she was a rare and precious treasure.

    Her breathing increased and her heart started beating rapidly. She could tell that the fingers that had stopped moving were still hovering over her mark.

    "Is it that sensitive?" She heard someone asking, probably the masked man. His voice sounded soft and low, completely opposite to how he sounded when they met in the hidden cave.

    "It looks like that." The man holding her answered as he rubbed her arm to calm her down.

    "Are you alright?" He asked her in a soft voice.

    Ying Yue found herself nodding her head slightly in response as she took a deep breath, inhaling his intoxicating scent that somehow made her think of a beautiful night with millions of stars covering the sky with a full moon among them. It was sure a weird connection but it made her calm down a little bit.

    "Do you want us to stop?" He asked again after a while, leaving not only the girl in his arms but also himself surprised by his words.

    She should tell them to stop! That was the right thing to do but Ying Yue surprised herself when she found herself shaking her head, telling them to continue with whatever they were doing.

    She felt someone inhaling sharply before she felt the blue-robed man shifting her body in his lap. The next thing she knew, her face was placed against the bare skin of his neck and fingers were once again trailing very close to her soul mark, making her shiver as the familiar sensations returned.

    "It''s so beautiful... and so is she..."

    It was definitely the masked man whispering those sweet words. He was so close to her that she could feel the warmth of his body on her back. His fingers pulled away her long hair from her bare shoulder before he lightly traced the tip of the mark, making a moan slip through her lips.

 Chapter 34 - Losing Control

    Ying Yue shivered as her mark started burning with intense pleasure. It felt like their hands were not just tracing the mark but her entire body.

    She moved her face closer to the soft smooth skin of his neck before planting a soft kiss there. She heard the man inhaling sharply as he tightened his hold around her.

    Qing Shan looked at the girl whose face was buried in the crook of his neck. He moved his mouth closer to her ear before he whispered, "Go ahead. Don''t deny yourself what your soul and body are demanding."

    He felt her fingers tightening around the collar of his robe as she let out a shuddered breath but pulled her face away to give him a grateful look.

    Before he knew what he was doing, his lips were already placed against her forehead as he left a soft kiss there.

    Once again she buried her face in the crook of his neck and started placing soft kisses all over the area, while he closed his eyes to stop himself from melting because of the pleasure that suddenly had started erupting all over his body.

    A loud gasp left his lips when her teeth finally pierced through his skin and sank deeper to collect the blood that her body and soul desired.

    His arms tightened around her while he placed his head against hers while his body also started shivering because of the tingles that were shaking him all over.

    If not for Ah Shu who was holding both of them with a protective shield, Qing Shan would have already lost his balance and would have fallen from his seat.

    It only took a minute before Ying Yue pulled away but to him, it felt like hours. Both of them were breathing in short gasps while their eyes were filled with intense fire as they gazed at each other.

    Jiang Ying Yue felt a hand snaking around her waist and then her upper body was pulled back with a slight tug, making her fall into the embrace of the masked man.

    She turned her face sideways to look at him and found his beautiful eyes staring right back into hers. The memories of their time together in the hidden came suddenly returned to her, filling her body with an aching need to be closer to him, and seeing the way his hand tightened around her and his gaze softened, there was no doubt that he too was feeling the same emotions.

    Wang Shu watched as the girl suddenly raised her hand towards his mask. He wanted to immediately stop her but at the same time, he did absolutely nothing to stop her.

    Her hands easily took off his mask, leaving his face bare to her eyes that took in every detail.

    "Why wear a mask when you are so handsome?" She asked while tilting her face a little as she looked at him with so much warmth and softness in her eyes.

    "... Or was it because you were hiding from me?" This time she sounded a little bit sad and the glow in her eyes also dimmed a little as she looked at him with questioning eyes.

    He had no idea why he did what he did next but just looking into her eyes and he had no control over himself anymore. His face moved closer to hers and the next moment, his mouth was covering her soft warm luscious lips.

    He heard a soft sigh escaping her lips as she wrapped her hand around his neck before pulling him in for a deeper kiss. It was his first time kissing someone and he had no idea about what he was supposed to do.

    He found her soft lips moving against his, making him shiver at the intense feeling it was created inside him. He moved his other hand to hold her nape before he imitated her actions, moving his lips in sync with hers.

    A soft moan left her mouth as she let the man please her with his warm actions. He was holding her like he was afraid that she would disappear while his kiss was filled with warmth and tenderness.

    They kissed for a little while, tasting and teasing each other as they played along. Ying Yue was the one who pulled away first because she was in dire need of oxygen. Her breaths were coming in short gasps while her heart was racing like it was ready to run away from her.

    "Sleep."

    Suddenly, someone whispered the word next to her ear. She felt drowsiness taking over her and very slowly she found herself closing her eyes as darkness pulled her in for a dreamless journey.

    --

    "I can''t believe that we just ended up losing our control like that. This is ridiculous!" Wang Shu commented as he stared at the sleeping form of the girl.

    She was sleeping soundly on the swing that Qing Shan had created with his power. Her long black hair was spread over the pillow like a blanket and her cheeks were painted light pink after consuming the blood. She looked so alluring even in her sleeping form.

    Realizing that his heartbeat was becoming abnormal as he looked at her, Wang Shu immediately turned away, pulling his eyes away from her so that he could stop himself from losing his control again.

    "I don''t know exactly what happened. One moment she was fuming with anger and the next second she became so soft and vulnerable. Just like what happened to us. It was like suddenly the three of us were no longer in control of our... souls..."

    Even Qing Shan could not understand or believe in what he had just said. The connection that the two of them were sharing with the girl was too strange and mysterious.

    "This is insane! She was supposed to be our partner for completing this trial but it looks like some things have been kept hidden from us on purpose. The two of us were supposed to make a deal with her today, not..." Wang Shu was cut off before he could finish his sentence as the wards around the manor notified them about the presence of a powerful being entering into the manor.

 Chapter 35 - Broad Daylight

    "And what kind of deal is that?"

    The man standing at the entrance of the room questioned. His voice coming out as a dark low growl while his deep green eyes were staring at Qing Shan and Wang Shu as if he was ready to burn the two Immortals alive.

    The red tips of his long silver hair were glowing brightly as his powers ran all over his body, getting ready to kill anyone who dared to hurt his girl.

    Qing Shan felt the aura of their uninvited guest kind of familiar. He had felt the energy of the same aura around the tunnel which Ying Yue used for her secret visits to the market and the outside world.

    There was no doubt that this man was strong. His aura screamed power and authority. Qing Shan could not contemplate the exact strength of their uninvited guest but he still could tell that the man was the most powerful person he had seen in the mortal world all these years.

    But what surprised him even more than the unusual appearance of the visitor, was the energy of his aura. He had no spiritual energy in his body, rather, the powerful energy that was flowing through his body was the same as the one he had felt in Ying Yue.

    Somehow, the silver-haired man was connected with the girl and Qing Shan f9und himself not liking the thought at all.

    "Who are you?" He asked the man but only received a glare in response.

    "Where is she?" asked Silver instead of answering the question directed at him after a few seconds. He could tell that she was hidden in the room but his powers weren''t able to break through the illusion that they had put on.

    Looked like the three of them were well matched in terms of powers.

    "Who are you?" This time it was Wang Shu who repeated the question that the green-eyed man neglected before.

    Something inside him was making him hostile towards the weird-looking man in front of him and it was probably because he was looking for the girl... their girl.

    He got surprised when he found himself once again getting protective over her. The girl was playing with his mind and senses, making it impossible for him to think straight whenever it was something related to her.

    His mind recalled the memory of their kiss and he immediately felt his face burning with embarrassment. It was his first kiss and he won''t lie... it did feel good. The way her soft lips moved against his...

    It took a lot of his strength to not growl out at the memory. A shiver ran over his body, making him realize that if given another chance, his body would betray him without a second thought. The girl had that kind of control over him.

    Right at that moment, Ying Yue decided to bring everyone''s attention to her as she tried to roll over to her stomach, her favorite position of sleeping, but somehow she ended up landing on the cold hard floor - jerking out of her dreamless sleep.

    A groan left her mouth as she brought her hand up to rub her forehead which she had bumped against the hard floor.

    On the other hand, before either Wang Shu or Qing Shan could take any action, with a single click of his fingers Silver had successfully pulled down the illusion that was hiding his mate from him.

    Jiang Ying Yue was in a daze when her eyes landed on the three handsome and sexy men who were staring at her while she sat on the floor with one of her hands rubbing her forehead.

    The memories of what happened before she lost her consciousness returned, making her blush but then soon enough, she felt her temper rising.

    She was once again got tricked by the handsome and pretty faces of these two pervert Immortals.

    But before she could march towards those two Immortals and demand answers, her path got blocked by a very familiar figure. Her head jerked up to look at the angry face of Silver and she felt all her anger dissipating when she realized that the man was angry at her.

    Before she could back away from him, one of his hands raised towards her face, and the very next second she let out a painful cry when the man flicked her forehead, making her glare at him with unhappiness as she rubbed the area to soothe it.

    "You have become really daring. You told me that you wanted to come here to find out some answers. Is that what you did?"

    She could tell that the man was jealous and he should be. After all, he just experienced how great the two Immortals were making her feel just a while ago.

    "Well... it did not go as planned but... let me try again. I won''t get distracted this time. I promise." She said and tried to move past him towards the two Immortals who had been keenly observing the exchange between the two of them and for some reason they did not look too happy with what they saw.

    Before she could take more than two steps, a hand jerked her back towards Silver who pulled farther away from the two Immortals.

    "We are not staying here for even one more second. Let''s go." He said in a dark tone which made Ying Yue close her mouth which was ready to protest.

    She made a pouting face but decided to not test Silver''s patience. The man was not only angry but also filled with jealously and protectiveness towards her at the moment.

    Seeing that she was cooperating without any fight, Silver felt himself relaxing just a little bit. He was about to teleport both of them away when he noticed the man in blue clothes moving towards Ying Yue.

    "Where do you think you are going? Who is he? How can you shamelessly hold his hand in broad daylight?"

    Qing Shan directed his questions at the girl one after the other, not caring that he too was now holding her other hand shamelessly in broad daylight.

 Chapter 36 - Consequences

    Jiang Ying Yue stared at the blue-robed Immortal with a surprised expression covering her face.

    How dared he called her shameless? It''s not like she was the one holding hands with Silver and him.

    Before she could open her mouth to say something, Silver was quick to show his unhappiness about the situation.

    "Let go of her hand." He ordered in an almost growl-like tone while glaring at Qing Shan who immediately refused to comply with him.

    A frown appeared on Ying Yue''s face when she felt both of their holds on her hands tightening while the two men glared at each other.

    Were the two of them planning to crush her hands in anger instead of taking it out on each other directly? She did not like the thought of her hands being crushed at all.

    "Who is he?"

    This time, it was Wang Shu who moved closer to her as he directed the question at Ying Yue while glaring at Silver.

    "I''m her fiance."

    These words that left Silver''s mouth were followed by dead silence as Ying Yue, Qing Shan, and Wang Shu tried to process what they had just heard.

    Jiang Ying Yue immediately turned to glare at Silver as she was about to question him about what nonsense he was spouting. However, before she could open her mouth, the two Immortals surrounded her with their frightening auras.

    "You are really something. You already have a fiance but you still dared to flirt with us!" Qing Shan almost growled as he tightened his hold on her arm.

    "Is he telling the truth?" Wang Shu asked her but even he was looking at her as if a positive reply from her would lead her towards a frightening end.

    Jiang Ying Yue finally had enough. With a powerful shake, she succeeded in pulling her arms out of the tight grips of Silver and Qing Shan.

    She turned to glare at all the three men before she started speaking, "No. He''s not my fiance..."

    She watched as her words made a growl of discontent leave Silver''s mouth while the two Immortals clearly relaxed a little.

    "... but he''s my mate." She completed the sentence which brought a satisfactory smile to Silver''s face while the other two looked clueless.

    "What mate?"

    "Mate?"

    Qing Shan and Wang Shu questioned her as if they were having a hard time understanding the meaning of the word.

    Jiang Ying Yue folded her hands over her chest before raising her chin high as she replied, "Yes, mate... my first soulmate. Just like how the two of you are connected with me through a pure and divine thread that is binding our souls together, he''s also connected with me in the same way. All three of you are my soulmates. He''s the first one and the bond between us is the strongest."

    She finished explaining and once again saw the expression on the handsome faces of the two Immortals changing. They did not seem to look too impressed by her explanation.

    "Is she out collecting good-looking and powerful men?" Qing Shan questioned out loud but it was directed to no one in particular.

    However, Wang Shu and Silver seemed to agree with his question. The latter even nodded his head before saying, "That''s exactly what she''s doing."

    "You..."

    Ying Yue glared at Silver and then the others but seemed to not find the right words to defend herself.

    "How many more is she going to collect?" Wang Shu asked with a frown as he stared at the girl who was not looking happy at all about the direction in which the discussion was heading.

    "Who knows. Just in two days, she has collected the two of you." Silver stated in a bitter tone as he gave the girl an unhappy look.

    Jiang Ying Yue scoffed as she positioned both of her hands on her waist and glared at the three men.

    "Are you three done? You seemed to enjoy the same level of stupid EQs. Good for you all. But I''ll appreciate it if you can now stop talking nonsense... especially you." She pointed her cold eyes at Silver who just smirked in return, clearly telling her that he had been talking nonsense on purpose.

    "It''s not in my hands to control who will be my soulmate and who will not. I''m just as helpless as you all. So stop saying things like I''m the one going around choosing suitable candidates for my mate''s position. If you all are that eager to get rid of this unwanted bond... all you have to do is to stay away from me. The more distance between us, the easier it will be for our bonds to break..."

    "Yue, STOP...!"

    Ying Yue trailed off when she heard Silver''s panicked tone but before she could realize what was wrong, it was already too late.

    The next second, she found herself pinned against a hard wall while the Immortal in the blue robe was glaring at her with fire swirling in his eyes.

    The other one in the white robe also appeared beside her after a second or two, looking just as angry as his companion.

    She could feel an immense amount of powerful energy flowing in the air. The source was probably the two men in front of her who were not looking too happy after hearing her speaking about breaking the bonds.

    She could not see Silver anywhere in the room but again... they were no longer in the same room where they had been talking just a minute ago.

    Her attention returned to the men surrounding her when she felt a hand circling her throat. It did not try to hurt her as but the fingers sure felt like burning rods against her sensitive skin.

    "Listen, there''s no need for the two of you to act in this manner. You are only infatuated..."

    She stopped when the two men growled together at her in unhappiness and also because she received a message from Silver through their mind link.

    [The bond is too new between you guys. Don''t talk about shattering it in front of them. Are you forgetting about the consequences?]

    And at that moment, Jiang Ying Yue finally realized her mistake. She had totally forgotten about the consequences...!

 Chapter 37 - The Ultimate Deal

    A soul bond connected two or more people by creating a divine bond between them. The sense of commitment that it created was way too powerful for anyone to resist.

    Since Jiang Ying Yue was someone who had learned about every single aspect of the soulbond, she knew how to handle herself against bonds that were formed against her approval or knowledge.

    Also, living for hundreds of years and the distance that she had to always keep with Silver all this time, had given her enough time to practice controlling her emotions when it came to soulbonds or soulmates.

    But... the same could not be said about the two Immortals. Though it was clear that neither of them was happy or eager about the bonds that had bound them with her, it was also true that the sense of commitment that the bonds had created in their souls would not allow them to think about destroying the bonds.

    That''s why Silver just reminded her to stop repeating those hurtful words about ''breaking the bonds'' in front of them.

    The more she talked about it, the angrier they would get and there was always the risk of hurting their souls by talking about this topic.

    Realizing her mistake, Jiang Ying Yue immediately closed her mouth and no longer talked about breaking their bonds.

    When the two men realized that the girl was no longer seemed to be interested in talking, they finally started calming down.

    It took nearly half an hour for Silver to find them. When he entered the underground dungeons which appeared more like the base of an underworld boss, the first person he noticed was Ying Yue who was sitting with her head placed on her knees.

    The atmosphere was too silent for him to take in. When he noticed the two men who were sitting a little farther away from Yue, the calmness on their faces was nothing similar to the raze that was brewing in them just half an hour ago.

    Letting out a deep sigh, he moved to sit next to Ying Yue but before he could do that, two piercing gazes landed on him like he was about to commit a crime and they were warning him to not do it.

    He wanted to let those two men see that he did not give a damn about their warning but seeing that they had an important matter to take care of, he decided to stay calm at the moment.

    When he returned his attention to the girl, he found her black doe-like eyes staring at him with a questioning look.

    "What is it?" He asked her while sitting down on one of the tables that were placed slightly away from where Ying Yue was sitting at the moment.

    "What are we going to do now?" She asked while looking at him like he was some sort of problem-solving gadget that could solve all her problems.

    He again sighed before nodding towards the two men as he spoke, "When I came here, I heard them talking about some sort of deal that they were going to negotiate with you. Let''s ask them about this so-called dream. Maybe it will give you the best way out of this situation."

    Jiang Ying Yue immediately turned her head to look at the two handsome Immortals who were still causing some minor butterflies to flutter their little wings excitedly in her stomach.

    "What deal?" She asked while arching her eyebrows in question.

    The two of them looked at each other for a second before the Immortal in the blue robe turned his attention towards Silver before asking, "Can you give us some privacy? We would like to talk about this with her privately."

    The instant shake of Silver''s head that denied his request immediately made Qing Shan furrow his brows as he stared at the silver-haired and green-eyed man.

    "I''m not living in case the three of you ended up losing your control once again. It''s better for me to stay here and keep a watch over you guys. Besides, she''s going to tell me everything even if you got to talk to her in private now. The two of us don''t keep secrets between us."

    The last sentence was filled with confidence and Ying Yue could tell that Silver was in the mood to show off his close bond with her. She was aware that his mate bond was making him kind of possessive and jealous, that''s why she did not say anything and stayed silent while the three men glared at each other.

    If worse came to worst, she would let the three of them sort out their problems against each other on their own. There was no way she would try to take sides at the moment. If she sides with Silver, she would end up annoying her two Immortal mates, and if she sides with the latter, she would end up upsetting Silver. Neither of these sounded like a great idea to her.

    After staring at each other for a short while, Wang Shu was the first one to break the uncomfortable silence as he spoke to his brother, "Let''s just tell them. The sooner the better."

    Though Qing Shan wasn''t happy about Silver''s presence in the room, he still decided to give in for the time being. After all, they had an important matter to take care of.

    He turned his attention towards the girl as he spoke, "We indeed have a deal for you."

    "Yes?"

    Jiang Ying Yue tried to stay calm and patient but it was proving to be hard for her to do so. She just somehow succeeded in keeping her mouth close as she waited for the man to continue.

    "We know all about what you have been doing for the past few days. As a captive of the Imperial family, have you ever thought about the consequences if you got caught? You won''t be able to save yourself at that moment no matter how hard you would try to run away from this place."

    "Are you threatening me?" Ying Yue asked in a cold tone as she glared at the man.

    A small twitch appeared on Qing Shan''s lips as he slightly shook his head before answering, "No! I''m just letting you know why you should consider accepting our deal... The Ultimate deal."

 Chapter 38 - Trial

    "Can you stop beating around the bush? Just tell us what kind of deal you have for us." Silver stated in a cold tone. He was not liking the fact that these two Immortals were aware of Ying Yue''s new identity and her actions. And he had a strong feeling that they were even aware of their biggest secrets which definitely was not a good thing.

    "We will help you keep your movements private from everyone, especially from people of the Imperial Palace, and in return, you have to stay loyal to us." Wang Shu spoke as he looked straight into Ying Yue''s eyes while completely ignoring Silver.

    In response, Ying Yue chuckled in a mocking tone as she spoke coldly, "Are you guys for real? I don''t think I need your help to keep my actions and identity hidden. Moreover, I don''t see any reason to be loyal to any of you."

    The two Immortals shared a look between them before the one in the blue robe stood up and headed towards Silver, whispering something in his ear which even her vampire hearing power failed to listen to.

    Silver turned to look at her with a puzzled expression on his face before he slightly nodded his head, agreeing to whatever the Immortal had told him.

    "Ah Shu, stay here and take care of her. We will be back soon." The blue-robed man told the one in white robes before both he and Silver teleported away, leaving a confused Jiang Ying Yue behind with the Immortal called Ah Shu.

    She was ready to follow them and find out exactly what was going on but before she could make a move, a hand grabbed her from the waist and pulled her against a warm embrace. Her back was flushed against a muscular chest and one of Ah Shu''s hands was securely wrapped around her belly, keeping her pressed against him.

    "What are you doing?" She asked in a flustered tone as she started chewing on her lower lip to keep herself from getting distracted by his scent that had immediately started to intoxicate her. Also, the body contact between them was not helping her at all.

    "You are not allowed to follow them." Wang Shu whispered next to her ear. His warm breath fanning her earlobe, making her even more fragile against him than she already was.

    "Where are they?" She asked, trying to keep the conversation going on in order to stop herself from melting against his body. She no longer had the energy to pull herself out of his arms, not like she tried to get away from him even when she had the energy.

    Her body was a traitor. It was more than eager to stay in the arms of this man and had no intentions of separating from his warm embrace.

    "I''m sure, brother Qing Shan has taken your friend to the Night Tower to show him the reason for which we need you to work together with us." Ah Shu answered her question in a calm tone as he tried his best to not inhale the fragrance that belonged to her body.

    "What do you mean? If I''m the main lead over here then why Silver is the one who gets to understand this matter instead of me?" Jiang Ying Yue questioned as she suddenly found the energy to pull herself out of his arms.

    She turned around to stare at the man with a questioning look in her eyes, waiting for him to explain exactly what he and his companion were planning.

    Wang Shu sighed and stayed silent for a while, contemplating on how to exactly answer her questions.

    "Have you ever thought about what exactly happened five years ago? How did you end up sleeping with all the three princes and why suddenly your life turned upside down?" He asked her after a short while.

    "Nothing happened between me and the princes that night." Jiang Ying Yue could not help but defend herself or more likely the original owner of the body.

    Wang Shu remained silent as he looked at the side profile of the girl that he had in his arms. A small smile appeared on his lips as he realized how naive she was. She had no idea about the dangers and conspiracies that were going on around her.

    "It does not matter whether something happened or not. The truth is that someone plotted that scene, succeeded in it, and ended up taking advantage of it just like they had planned. The Princes were very smartly sent away from the Capital while you were sent to spend the rest of your life in the Cold Palace."

    He became silent for a while as he shifted his hands around her waist, tightening them slightly before he continued, "Whether you believe us or not... but the truth is - someone will find out about your recent activities sooner or later if you keep going on like this. And trust me... you won''t like the consequences of going against Empress Dowager. You are not prepared to face her."

    A frown appeared on Jiang Ying Yue''s face as she realized that the man was not only referring to the punishment that she would receive for breaking the rules of the Imperial Palace. Rather, his words were implying an even deeper meaning.

    She turned around in his arms, facing him so that she could look into his eyes. She was pretty much aware of his hands that were resting on the small of her back and the closeness between their bodies. There was barely any space left between their upper bodies.

    She took a deep breath to calm herself down a little bit, making the mistake of inhaling his scent in the process.

    "Why do you want me to work for you guys? And why do you want to help me?" She asked him after a while as she looked into his raven-like eyes.

    "Because you are the only one who is capable enough to stand against that woman." Wang Shu simply replied with a slight shrug.

    "What do you mean?" Jiang Ying Yue was still confused and she was having a hard time understanding the entire situation.

    Wang Shu was silent for a while as he stared at the girl, pondering about how much to tell her.

    "What I mean is that... you are sent here as a trial."

 Chapter 39 - They What?

    Two hours later...

    Jiang Ying Yue sat under the little pavilion in the backyard of Star-Lake Manor, as she watched dark clouds forming in the sky.

    Just a few hours ago, the sky was clear and full of sunshine, and suddenly, it appeared like a heavy storm was coming their way. The current weather could perfectly match her mood at the moment.

    A few minutes ago, she was about to receive the answers to whatever the two Immortals had been planning, and the very next second she found herself standing all alone in that dark and cold room.

    The word ''trial'' still kept ringing in her ears as a stream of questions started flowing in her mind.

    Who exactly were those two Immortals? How did they find her? What did Wang Shu mean by her being a trial... and whose trial? Where did Qing Shan take Silver and showed him what? Where did Wang Shu suddenly disappear? And most importantly, why no one was telling her anything?

    A groan left her lips as she massaged her temples, trying to get rid of the headache that was the result of the dozens of questions that were wracking her limited brain cells.

    "What are you thinking about?" Silver asked as he appeared beside her and sat down on the vacant seat next to her.

    The man still had the face to ask such an obvious question. How much she wanted to use her powers to overpower him and read his mind to find at least the answers to a few of her questions. Unfortunately, she was too weak at the moment to even think about such a plan.

    "Don''t talk to me... unless you are finally ready to reveal whatever Qing Shan has told you." Jiang Ying Yue spoke in a cold tone as she hurriedly turned to look at the man with hopeful eyes.

    Unfortunately, Silver was in no mood to spill the beans. He had not told her anything ever since he returned with Qing Shan and before she could ask the Immortals any more questions, the two of them disappeared with a promise of meeting her soon.

    "It''s getting late. Let''s return to the palace." Silver spoke as he stood up from his seat while completely ignoring her statement.

    Getting even more irritated by his attitude, Jiang Ying Yue also decided to ignore him as much as she could. But to her dismay, the man was hell-bent on ruining her mood more and more because the next thing she knew, the man was dragging her out of the pavilion and towards the hidden trapdoor of the tunnel.

    "Silver...!" She shouted his name in anger as she tried to pull her hand free from his grip. But whom was she kidding? Her new body was as fragile as a delicate flower or probably, even more, weaker than that.

    She came to a stop when Silver suddenly halted and turned to face her as he spoke, "Just wait for a while. The two of them will find you soon to answer your questions. I promise. Okay?"

    Though he looked sincere, Jiang Ying Yue was still having a hard time believing his words. After all, the man no longer appeared to be repulsive about those two Immortals.

    "Don''t look at me like that." Silver commented as he too stared back at her.

    "Like what?" Jiang Ying Yue questioned as she feigned to be completely oblivious to whatever he was talking about.

    "Like you are doubting every single word that I''m speaking." Silver answered as he stared at the loose strands of her hair that were covering her face. His hand moved on its own and the next thing he knew, his fingers were brushing away those strands.

    Jiang Ying Yue was taken aback for a second but then she hurriedly grabbed his hand to stop him as she spoke, "Don''t even bother to think about distracting me. No matter whatever tactic you will try, I''m not gonna believe your words."

    A slight twitch appeared on Silver''s lips as he looked at the girl with adoration filling his eyes. "As far as I''m aware... you trust me the most. Maybe... even more than how much you trust yourself."

    The last sentence wasn''t a question, instead, it was spoken in such a confident tone that Jiang Ying Yue failed to respond at all. After all, it was indeed the truth. She did trust him the most, even more than herself. Because for a moment, she could think about betraying herself but Silver... he would never do that even in his dreams.

    "Even though that''s true... I''m not going to believe you this time. Look at you. Don''t you hate those two immortals anymore? Are you forgetting that they are your rivals in love?" Jiang Ying Yue questioned him, trying to observe his expressions to see if she could find a loophole. What she did not expect was his reply.

    "They are not!"

    "Huh?" She looked at him with a puzzled expression on her face as she tried to understand what he meant by those words.

    "They are not my rivals in love." Silver answered her question and watched as the frown on her face deepened at his words.

    A sigh escaped his lips as he took hold of both her hands in his own, feeling the warmth of her asking against his own. He could not stop himself from chuckling when he realized that instead of her usual freezing body, she was now filled with warmth.

    Little by little, he was starting to find several reasons to thank the universe for sending the two of them Into this new world. Of course, all these reasons were related to her as she was the only person who really mattered to him.

    "What are you talking about? Don''t tell me you are going to back off." Jiang Ying Yue threatened him as the thought of losing him suddenly entered her mind.

    "Never! I''ll never give up on you. Not now... and neither in the future. You are mine and no one can change this truth... but what I just said is also true - the two of them are not my rivals. They..."

    "They what?" Jiang Ying Yue questioned when Silver suddenly stopped talking.

    "... they are your other two destined mates... my bondmates."

 Chapter 40 - Tough Competition

    The word ''bondmates'' seemed to ring in Jiang Ying Yue''s ears as she stared into Silver''s emerald eyes, searching to see if he was serious or just joking.

    It seemed like he was able to read her thoughts. "I''m serious, Yue. They are indeed my bondmates. Can''t you feel the divine connection that they have formed with your soul? You have already tasted their blood. Can''t you tell that they are indeed your real soulmates?"

    Silver''s questions made her frown as she recalled the moments when she tasted their blood and ended up forming bonds with them.

    A soulbond could be formed between two persons as long as their souls found each other compatible and equal. This type of soulbond was the most commonly seen in her previous world.

    But unlike the majority, she was fated to bond with three mates through the divine soulbonds. A soulbond that was destined by the stars for her and her destined ones.

    Since she had her destined mates waiting for her, it was against fate for her to accept any other bond than the fated ones.

    However, living for hundreds of years without any mate, her soul soon started to get anxious. Several times her soul ended up forming a soul bond with those who seemed to be compatible with her but she made sure to break those bonds as soon as possible.

    But then... Silver entered her life and everything went downhill. When she first saved him from being killed by his own clan, she knew that the man had devoted his entire life to her or maybe... his heart too. She could always see the longing in his eyes whenever she caught him gazing at her. The man was in love with her.

    However, she always made sure to keep her distance, not giving him any attention or importance. But she could not deny the pull that she always felt towards him. It felt like they were destined to be together and the more time they spend in each other''s company, the more her soul and heart become vulnerable towards him and the pull between them.

    And all it took to shatter her willpower of staying away from him was a kiss. One that happened because she was too drunk to think about the consequences. And the worst part, the soulbond that ended up connecting the two of them directly tied them with the third stage soulbond, one that could no longer be broken without hurting him and his soul.

    It took a lot of her efforts to find a way to save Silver''s life. He was being punished with a slow painful death as the consequence of her mistake and negligence. Her punishment was to see him suffer because of her stupidity.

    In the end, the Witch Queen helped her in saving his life. She connected his stars with her three destined mates, forming a bond of brotherhood between the four of them.

    On the other hand, Jiang Ying Yue was supposed to keep her distance from him before she could find her three destined mates and forming bonds with each of them. Until then, the two of them were forbidden from having any intimate moments.

    Only heaven knew how the two of them had suffered through their longing for each other during the past six hundred years. Jiang Ying Yue almost gave up on the idea of ever finding her destined mates. It seemed like they did not even exist in her world. Looked like, she was right.

    "How can that be possible, Silver? We are from different worlds. How can these two Immortals be my destined mates?" Jiang Ying Yue shook her head as she seemed to be denying the fact that two out of three of her destined mates had finally appeared in her life.

    Silver stepped closer to the girl and moved one of his hands to cup her face. "Don''t think about what''s possible and what''s not. Just focus on your connection with them and tell me whether you can feel the authenticity or not. Tell me if your soul agrees with my judgment or not."

    Jiang Ying Yue kept staring into his beautiful deep green eyes before she finally nodded her head and closed her eyes to follow his instructions.

    She focused on the divine threads that were wrapped around her heart, glowing in a faint silver light. They were supposed to glow bright golden but only when she would complete her bond with the Immortals. But the mere presence of the divine thread around her heart gave her the answers that she already knew in her heart but had been denying because nothing seemed to make sense for her.

    She slowly opened her eyes and found Silver looking at her with hope swimming in his beautiful eyes. "Even if they are my destined mates, they are too mysterious, Silver. I''m even feeling like they are trying to use me for their benefit. I need time to learn more about them. Besides... the third one is still missing."

    She watched as an almost unnoticeable smile appeared on his lips as he grazed her cheek with his thumb. "I have waited for hundreds of years. I don''t mind waiting for a little bit more. You are worth waiting for."

    Jiang Ying Yue could not help but smile at his words. They seemed to enter her ears and went straight to her heart, making it flutter in happiness.

    Her train of happy thoughts came to a stop when she felt cool water droplets falling on her.

    "It''s raining! Let''s go." Silver shouted as he gave a quick look at the sky.

    She watched as the man took hold of her left hand and pulled her towards the trapdoor next to the old tree. It barely took them a minute before the two of them were heading towards the cold palace through the tunnel.

    Looking at the man walking beside her, she was curious to know how her destined mates were going to make her heart flutter as Silver could. The three of them were going to face a tough competition.

 Chapter 41 - Welcome Banquet

    Jiang Ying Yue woke up early the next morning and by the time she reached the fourth courtyard after getting dressed, the kitchen was already bustling as the Li sisters prepared the breakfast.

    "My Lady."

    The two girls greeted her as soon as they noticed her entering the kitchen.

    "This smells so good. I can''t wait to finally taste it." Jiang Ying Yue complimented as she inhaled the mouth-watering aroma of food that was swirling around the kitchen.

    The Li sisters smiled and thanked their lady before they busied themselves in preparing the breakfast.

    Jiang Ying Yue walked out from the kitchen and headed towards the third courtyard. She stopped in front of the clearing that was located between the fourth and the third courtyard.

    The girls had been working hard for the last few days to get the courtyards and the area around them ready according to their lady''s orders. So far, they had successfully cleaned four courtyards except for the first one and most of the lawns around these four courtyards had also been trimmed and fixed as best as their poor skills could handle.

    Thinking about the hard work that the girls had put into cleaning the Cold Palace, Jiang Ying Yue decided to find a way to properly thank them.

    As she walked closer to the clearing, her gaze landed on the familiar form of Min Gu who was working in the clearing, plowing the soil to prepare it for sowing vegetables and herbs.

    Since it was the beginning of the rainy season and it had already rained the previous day, the soil and weather were in perfect condition to plant some vegetables, herbs, or fruits.

    Jiang Ying Yue only planned to plant some of her favorite fruits and vegetables along with some spices so that they won''t have to visit the market every other day in the future.

    "Morning." She heard Min Gu whisper as she walked closer to where the little girl was working.

    Looking at how she was struggling with her dress and long hair while trying to find a way to continue her work, Jiang Ying Yue could not help the smile that appeared on her lips. It looked like Silver was not really enjoying himself in his new identity.

    "Morning." She replied after a second or two as she inspected the area. It was not too big but it was still enough according to her.

    She picked up the pouches of seeds that were placed nearby and started examining the quality and quantity of the seeds.

    "You are not planning about going out today too, are you?" Min Gu asked while she kept her focus on her work.

    "No. I''m not planning to. Instead, I''m going to set up the third courtyard as my working place today and will start preparation for starting the business. If everything went smoothly, I''m sure I will be able to start this business by the end of this month." Jiang Ying Yue replied as she thought about the plans that she had come up with in the past few days.

    Living for over fifteen hundred years, she had learned and experienced almost everything. By now, her ocean of knowledge was filled to the brim. It was really not that hard for her to come up with ideas that could help her in earning money.

    Coming out of her world of thoughts, Jiang Ying Yue noticed that the girl, Min Gu, had once again busied herself with her work, completely ignoring Ying Yue''s presence beside her.

    "You are acting weird." Ying Yue could not help but mutter under her breath as she glared at the girl. Didn''t they share a sweet and heartfelt moment just the previous day? Then why Silver was acting like nothing happened at all?

    Listening to her words, Min Gu stopped working on leveling the soil and turned to look at the lady who seemed to be looking unhappy about something. A small smile made its way to her lips as she spoke, "My lady, I''m just trying to not create any rumors. Ain''t that what you wanted?"

    "..."

    Jiang Ying Yue could not find the right words to respond to the question that was directed at her, filled with mockery. Not giving Min Gu another chance to speak, she turned away from the girl and walked inside the third courtyard.

    She could almost imagine the smirk on the girl''s face even though she was not looking at her. She just knew Silver''s personality enough to know that the man was purposely trying to trigger her. After all, it was his favorite pass time.

    The third courtyard was pretty small compared to the other four courtyards. There were a total of three rooms and an underground storage room.

    Jiang Ying Yue immediately started working as she took out the herbs that she had collected from the forest.

    Finally, her knowledge about cosmetics and skincare products could be put to use. After all, back when she was around a thousand years old and had become bored of her life as a secret detective, she spent seven years learning about cosmetics and skincare products. Now, she had the perfect opportunity to use her knowledge and skills to earn some benefits.

    *****

    Capital City, Hyuang Empire

    The Imperial Palace

    The palace was bustling with energy as the servants kept running around, doing their best to welcome His Highness the Third Prince, and General Han.

    During the morning court assembly, the news of the youngest Prince finally returning to the Capital City after half a decade, was received. Empress Dowager immediately ordered the palace servants and the officials to arrange a grand banquet to welcome one of the three royal heirs of the Hyuang Empire.

    "Master, why did you suddenly decide to return to the palace? I thought we were supposed to stay away from the palace and the Empress Dowager as much as possible." Feng Wu voiced out his thoughts as he too observed the bustling Imperial Palace along with his master.

    Their flying carriage had stopped right above the throne hall, hidden from the prying eyes of any mortal or immortal.

 Chapter 42 - The Magical Fan

    An almost unnoticeable smile appeared on Wu Xie''s lips as he scanned the Imperial Palace down below.

    He did not reply to Feng Wu''s question immediately. Instead, he remained quiet to see how impatient his little Phoenix was. When even after his silence over the next ten or so minutes he heard nothing from his spirit beast, the smile on his lips finally became visible.

    "That old fox is getting impatient because of our absence. If all three of us still kept trying to avoid her, it won''t be long before she will end up losing all her patience." Wu Xie said as his eyes roamed towards the grand manor standing on the east side of the Royal Palace - the residence of the Empress Dowager.

    "But Master, only you are planning about returning to the palace. First Master and Second Master still seem to be busy with their plans. And... what about the lady who has finally appeared?" Feng Wu could not help but ask.

    Wu Xie smirked as he heard his little Phoenix mentioning the girl whom he was supposed to meet after returning to the Capital City.

    "The letter that we received this morning from the First brother stated that this mysterious lady is none other than Miss Jiang... the girl whom Empress Dowager has been keeping as a hostage in the Cold Palace since that eventful day."

    To say that the revelation did not make Feng Wu''s head spin would be an understatement. For several minutes, he was unable to comprehend what he had just heard. How could a weak, naive, and good-for-nothing girl like Miss Jiang be the person chosen by fate to become the companion of the Three Golden Deities?

    "Master..."

    Feng Wu started to voice out his concern but then changed his mind at the very last moment.

    "This girl is really mysterious. Even I''m surprised to know that it''s actually her. Though nothing is making sense at the moment, we will find out more as soon as we will meet with my brothers."

    "Also, if Miss Jiang is really that fated person, it will prove beneficial for her if I will be there in the Imperial Palace to keep the old fox''s attention focused on me. Miss Jiang''s movements and identity as the ''fated one'' can''t be revealed to Empress Dowager before the right time. My presence in the palace will keep the old woman engaged, giving Miss Jiang and my brothers the time that they need to construct the perfect plan."

    Wu Xie explained as he tried to imagine the last time he saw Miss Jiang. From what he could recall, the girl was average looking but that was not what mattered, the problem was her ignorance and meekness.

    The girl he recalled was nowhere near someone who could stand a single chance to stand up against the powerful, cold-blooded, cruel, and sharp-minded Empress Dowager. He just wished that his brothers had found the right person.

    "Master, are you planning to attend the banquet?" Feng Wu asked as he watched the ongoing preparations. The people of the Royal Palace seemed very happy after hearing the news of the return of one of their Princes.

    This happy news had already spread throughout the Capital City, filling the citizens with joy and eagerness as they all awaited the moment when the Third Prince would finally return to the city after half a decade.

    Fortunately or unfortunately, the people of the Hyuang Empire loved all the three Princes equally. Probably because during the last five years, the story of the strong brotherhood between the Princes and their capability of protecting their Empire had been winning the hearts of the common people.

    The Capital and its residents had waited for a long time to welcome their Princes and it was finally happening. Even though it was only the Third Prince and there was no news about the other two Princes, people could not help but still feel emotional and happy to see their youngest Prince.

    "Why should I miss such a great chance to enjoy the delicious feast and the Snow Cloud Wine? Since I''ve decided to face that woman then I should not give her any chance to find faults in me. We will join the banquet." Wu Xie replied as he closed the black and red fan that he was holding all this time.

    Feng Wu bowed and then stepped back before disappearing from the carriage. The next second, the two white flying horses that were pulling the carriage, turned towards the direction of the city gate and disappeared among the clouds.

    Wu Xie gave a last look at the Royal Palace and this time his eyes landed on the Cold Palace. If he wanted, he could have easily checked out the current movements of Miss Jiang. However, a voice inside his head was telling him to be patient and for a change, he decided to listen to that stupid voice for the time being.

    Shutting the window of the carriage, he relaxed in his seat and focused his attention on the fan that he had found from the volcanic caves of the wasteland of the Zingxia Empire.

    Among all the useless items that he obtained from those caves like - spirit cores, rare spirit herbs, spirit poison, volcanic crystals, beast spirit essence beads, and thunder elixir, this black and red fan was the only item that he could not recognize.

    He could feel the power sleeping inside the fan and it was no doubt that the fan was a powerful weapon. However, even after searching for two whole months, he still had not found out any clue about the origin of the fan.

    It was not recorded in the list of the most powerful weapons in their realms, nor was there any record of it in the list of weapons created by powerful weaponsmiths. He even checked among the other common lists but still found nothing.

    As his eyes roamed over the intricate designs that were carved over the fan, he noticed a silvery light suddenly glowing around the fan as the designs started to change their shapes.

 Chapter 43 - Plans For The Night

    "A map?"

    Wu Xie could not believe that those unfamiliar designs that were carved over the fan were actually hiding a map.

    He could not understand why the fan suddenly decided to unveil the secret that it had been hiding for the past two months. The timing was too peculiar to not make him doubt. Besides, the fan seemed to be even more abnormal than he presumed.

    As his eyes roamed over the fan, observing every minor detail of the map, he realized that the map was incomplete. Almost a third part of the map was missing.

    "Interesting..."

    A small twitch appeared on his lips as he recognized the places that were marked on the incomplete map that he was holding in his hands. Only if he could find the missing part of the map.

    He focused his gaze on the map and let his spiritual energy fill his eyes, etching each little detail of the map in his brain. It took only seconds before he was done and as he closed his eyes to let his spirit power relax, he found a replica of the map stored in his brain.

    He opened his eyes and carefully closed the fan, letting its secret disappear once again as the fan returned to its original appearance.

    He was looking forward to disclosing the secrets of the mysterious fan but at the moment, he had a banquet to attend.

    ***

    "I''m done with my work for the day."

    Jiang Ying Yue heard Min Gu''s voice as the girl stepped into the inner room of the third courtyard where the former was busy working on the formula of lipsticks.

    Since the morning, she had been working on making waxelene so that she could easily make lip gloss without any trouble for the lack of petroleum jelly.

    Just thinking about the money that she had spent on finding the three necessary ingredients that were used to make waxelene (soybean oil, raw beeswax, and rosemary oil), she could not help but cry in her heart. Even after spending a lot of silver taels to buy these ingredients, she still needed to work for hours to extract vitamin E from soybeans. Besides, she was still having a hard time casting the right spells.

    A sigh left her lips when she realized that even after working for so many hours, she was only able to make a few jars of the waxelene.

    "Why are you looking so depressed?" Min Gu asked as she looked around the room, observing the huge box of the small empty jar bottles that were resting beside the table where Ying Yue was working. The jar bottles were of different sizes and shapes and were used to store cosmetic supplies.

    Another sigh left Jiang Ying Yue''s lips as she heard Min Gu''s question. "The more I''m paying attention to my business idea, the more I''m realizing that we are sort on money. I would need to find a way to solve this problem."

    A bright light suddenly shone in the room and the next second, instead of Min Gu, Silver was standing in front of her.

    The man crouched down beside her and raised his right hand to lightly trail his fingers over her eyebrows. "I''m sure you will find one. Didn''t you say that earning money in this era is a piece of cake for you? Don''t tell me you are backing down so early."

    The immediate glare that he received made him pull away his hand as he looked at the girl with raised eyebrows.

    "You are the one giving up! When did I say anything about giving up? I''m just not happy thinking about that my little brain cells have to suffer to think of another idea for earning money in a short time. Don''t make up your own theories." She reprimanded him before looking away.

    A small smile appeared on his lips as he lightly rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Alright! It''s good to know that you are ready to fight for your future. By the way, I won''t disturb you anymore. Don''t wait for me during the dinner, I have plans for tonight." He informed her before standing up and stepping away.

    "What plans?" Jiang Ying Yue hurriedly asked as she abandoned her work and looked up at the man who appeared to be quite happy about the fact that he had successfully grasped her entire focus.

    "Can''t you feel the sudden buzz in the air?" He asked instead of answering her question.

    Jiang Ying Yue frowned as she tried to feel the energy of the atmosphere. Though the energy level inside the Cold Palace was as normal as always, she noticed the rise of the energy level of the rest of the Royal Palace.

    "What''s going on?" She questioned no one in particular as she tried to enhance her hearing powers to listen to any gossips near the Cold Palace.

    Unfortunately, the Cold Palace was located in the furthest corner of the Royal Palace and not even birds loved to venture around anywhere near this abandoned place.

    Her new body was unable to let her use more than five percent of her real powers. Though her soul was still as powerful as it was back in her world, her new body was as fragile as a china doll.

    A frustrated sigh left her lips when she totally failed to use even her heightened senses to their full potential.

    "Don''t put too much pressure on yourself. Give some time to this new body of yours and train it to bear the weight of your powers. You just can''t do anything and wait for a miracle to happen." Silver reminded her as he noticed her frustration.

    Jiang Ying Yue was aware that she needed to work on her new body but that did not mean she was indifferent to anger and frustration whenever she failed in using her powers.

    "What''s your plan?" She asked again, trying to change the topic.

    "In planning to take a look around the royal palace. Maybe, I''ll find out what''s going on today."

 Chapter 44 - You Are Not Powerless

    "Fine! I''m coming with you."

    Jiang Ying Yue announced as she started wrapping up all the items that were spread over the little table.

    "Wait! You should not." Silver tried to stop her as he thought about the outcomes that she would face if she got discovered. Unlike him, she was not only unable to change her forms but her powers were also not working properly at the moment.

    "Of course, I''m coming with you. No way I''m going to miss such a chance to finally take a look at that so-called Empress Dowager and the palace that she rules. I''m definitely going to take advantage of this buzz. Since there''s something special going on in the palace today, I''m sure everyone would be too busy to pay any attention to me." Jiang Ying Yue quickly responded as she continued to wrap up the ingredients.

    "But Yue, it''s still not a good idea. What if someone noticed you?" Silver tried to talk some sense into the girl.

    "Who''s going to pay so much attention to a maidservant?" asked Jiang Ying Yue as she arched her eyebrows with a small smile of satisfaction playing on her lips.

    "Maidservant?" Silver did not know that she planning to join the maids of the palace to blend herself among them. Instead, he thought that she would be using her powers to stay hidden from the prying eyes of people as she roamed through the royal palace.

    "But I still don''t think that it''s a good idea. What if someone recognized you even in a maid''s getup?" He pointed out the problem that her plan carried.

    He watched as the girl shook her head immediately in response. "Only a limited people in the palace got the opportunity to see me during these years. Besides, they haven''t seen me for ages. I''m sure as long as I will be careful, no one will find out."

    Jiang Ying Yue was not ready to give up yet. There was suddenly an urge that she was feeling. It was telling her to take the chance even though there were chances of failure and danger.

    She noticed the deep frown that was decorating the handsome face of her man and it made her sigh as she decided to take a step back just for his sake. "Fine! If worse come to worst, I''ll call you to whisk me away. Not only from the royal palace but even from this Cold Palace. Then I''ll follow you to wherever you want us to go. There are five more Empires in this world, I''m sure we will find a place for ourselves."

    What surprised her was that she actually sounded genuine. She really meant those words that she had just spoken. The realization brought a small smile to her lips and it made Silver relax a little.

    The man once again crouched down in front of her as he stared at her in silence. However, Ying Yue noticed the faint trace of a smile that he was trying to not show.

    "What? Are you feeling touched?" She asked while raising her eyebrows and folding her arms over her chest.

    This time, Silver didn''t try to hold back the beautiful smile that spilled on his soft luscious lips. The man was too good looking for his own good. But seeing that he was a Fae Prince, it was not shocking that he was gifted with a perfectly built body, tall frame, immense power, and... a face that could make jaws drop in amazement.

    "I''m actually happy to know that I can finally protect you. There was a time when you were way more powerful than me and people used to laugh at me when I told them that I wanted to protect you. I want them to see that I''m finally able to protect the person whom I always wanted to protect."

    Though he sounded sincere, Jiang Ying Yue didn''t feel any little butterfly fluttering inside her heart at his words. Rather, she scowled at him as she asked, "Are you mocking me for my current powerless state?"

    Silver slowly shook his head as he answered, "Never! Mocking you means mocking myself. Plus, you are not powerless. You are still way more powerful than me. I''m just feeling happy to know that I can protect my mate. It''s... it''s a very nice feeling."

    This time... Jiang Ying Yue felt those butterflies fluttering their little wings in her heart and as she gazed into his mesmerizing emerald eyes, she found a small smile making its way to her lips.

    "Alright. Since I really need you to save me later, I''ll let you go this time." She told him as she tried to cover her smile with a serious look, knowing fully well that she was failing poorly in it.

    Since her attention was focused on her hands as she tried to not look at him, she failed to notice his intentions. A gasp escaped her lips when she felt the warmth and softness of his lips on her left cheek, making her heart stop beating for a second before it resumed its work.

    "Stay here. I''ll be back in an hour after grabbing a maid''s dress and enough information from the royal palace. Be a good girl." Saying that Silver stood up and made his way towards the gate as if he had not just stolen a kiss from the girl.

    "Hey!"

    Jiang Ying Yue shouted at him but to her dismay, his silhouette disappeared from the room right at that moment.

    She raised her hand to touch her cheek where she still could feel the tingling sensation that his kiss had left behind.

    "He''s really daring." She muttered before turning her attention back to the scraped herbs that she had been working on.

    It took her nearly ten minutes or so to wrap up all the materials that were scattered around in the room. After locking the third courtyard, she made her way towards the fifth courtyard where the Li sisters were working in the garden, trimming an ivy that had spread all over the roof of the little pavilion that was standing near the pond that was filled with algae.

 Chapter 45 - Purple Robe Locust Tree

    Jiang Ying Yue stood in the line of maids as they all listened to the instructions that an old lady was giving them about what they needed to keep in mind while cleaning the courtyard of the Third Prince.

    Thanks to Silver, she was already aware that the youngest prince of the Empire was finally returning to the Capital City after half a decade, and to welcome him, the Empress Dowager was throwing a grand banquet.

    That''s why the energy level of the royal palace was skyrocketing because everyone was either happy after hearing the news or they were panicking to perfectly complete their works without causing any issue.

    Preparing for such a grand banquet on such short notice was not an easy job. Normally, such banquets needed weeks or sometimes, almost an entire month of planning. However, this time they barely had a few hours on their hands which was creating panic.

    After succeeding in making her way to the back hall of the servants'' quarters where Eunuch Zhao and the Head servant were assigning tasks to different groups of servants, Jiang Ying Yue stood silently with her head lowered as she pretended to be carefully listening to the instructions.

    Thankfully, no one paid her any attention and she was more than thankful for that.

    Within the next ten minutes, she found herself following a group of maids towards the courtyard of the third Prince. She purposely stayed in the end to find a perfect chance to slip away. After all, she had not taken such a huge risk only to end up cleaning the sleeping quarters of the so-called prince.

    However, her luck wasn''t as good as she thought. The moment she was about to turn left and slip into a dark hallway, she ended up bumping against a guard.

    "Watch your steps! Where are you going?"

    Damn! He sounded so rough and looked scarier. His eyes bored into her like he was looking at a criminal. Not only that but his high-pitched voice successfully grasped the attention of the other maids of her group.

    Jiang Ying Yue cursed inside her head as she felt dozens of stares focused on her. Somehow, she put on a meek smile on her lips as she bowed her head before answering in a small voice, "Sorry. I was not paying attention."

    Not trying too hard to defend herself and looking neither perfectly calm nor too anxious at the moment felt like the perfect escape plan to her.

    If it had been a normal situation, she would have used her compulsion power to easily control the minds of all these people and would have solved the problem just in seconds. But again, if it was really a normal situation, she would not have ended up in such a circumstance in the first place. Currently, nothing was going normal in this new life of hers.

    "Let''s not waste any more time here. We are getting late." The head servant who was leading their group of maids to the Third Prince''s courtyard decided to speak and he sounded a little unhappy. Thankfully, the guard didn''t argue and let her walk away.

    Keeping her head lowered, Jiang Ying Yue silently followed the maids. She was getting a feeling that ending up in the wrong book of the Head servant would be much worse than she could ever imagine and she wanted a life of peace.

    It took almost twenty minutes to reach the northern part of the royal palace where the courtyards of all the three princes were located.

    She noticed the sun that was speedily moving towards the horizon. It was around five-thirty in the evening and within a few more hours, darkness was about to engulf the world.

    Even though she was now able to venture around in bright sunlight, the darkness of the night still seemed to be her closest friend. She still felt more alive during nighttime and her soul felt more relaxed and calm. It was probably gonna take her some time to get used to living a life with the sunlight.

    "Wow...!"

    She heard the maid in front of her whispering under her breath and when Jiang Ying Yue looked up at the structure standing in front of her eyes, she knew why.

    Though it was called a courtyard, in reality, it appeared like a little castle. The large gardens built in front of the building were filled with colorful flowers and big trees. She even spotted a lotus pond next to a huge pavilion. Near the pavilion, a huge Purple Robe Locust tree was standing with the beautiful flowers covering its canopy.

    "I used to hear that the courtyards of the royal princes are the most beautiful places in the entire Inner Palace but this is my first time witnessing it in reality."

    Jiang Ying Yue heard one of the maids whispering as everyone stood transfixed by the outer beauty of the courtyard.

    "Presumptuous!" The Head servant suddenly shouted, making all the maids scurry together as they all bowed their heads with fear clearly visible in their expressions.

    Jiang Ying Yue followed the others and also lowered her head as she listened to the old man. "You all here to work and not sightseeing. If I found any one of you slacking in your work later, skipping tonight''s meal won''t be the only punishment waiting for you!"

    She would have to say that the old man was even more fierce than she previously assumed. He sure knew how to handle the servants.

    Soon enough, tasks were handed over to everyone. She was assigned to tidy up the bed-chamber and as she entered the lavish room, she failed to keep the awe and jealousy from erupting in her heart.

    The place of the Third Prince was really magnificent in every way possible and just thinking about her cold and lifeless courtyard, she could not help but sulk a little.

    Besides, her luck was really bad. In the end, she still got to clean the sleeping quarter of that so-called Prince.

    That man would better stay away from her!

 Chapter 46 - The Third Prince

    Jiang Ying Yue groaned as she felt her back muscles aching when she tried to stand up after spending almost half an hour cleaning the decorative items that the other maids had piled up for her to clean.

    "What are you doing? Hurry up and help the others to get these items back in their original places." The Head servant came running towards her as soon as he saw her not working anymore.

    It took every bit of her self-control to not groan out again. She gave a small bow to the nosy Head servant before hurriedly picking up a vase and slipping away to set it on the shiny wooden table sitting on the other side of the room.

    With the help of the other maids, they were able to set up the entire courtyard within an hour.

    "Eh... tell me, why did they not get the courtyard cleaned since the morning and only had to make us work so hard at the last moment?" A maid working with her to change the drapes hanging around the massive bed asked in a whispered tone.

    Jiang Ying Yue had no idea how to respond. It was not like she knew the answer in the first place. Just when she was pondering on what to say, another maid working with them decided to speak.

    "The entire palace is busy preparing for the banquet. We have been working non-stop since the morning without any break. All the three courtyards of the Royal Princes are cleaned regularly but no one expected to receive the order of getting this courtyard thoroughly cleaned and prepared before dusk. His Highness the Third Prince would be stopping by here to get ready for the banquet. That''s why all the hurry and panic. It''s almost the time."

    Jiang Ying Yue listened quietly as she finished fixing the new light blue silk drapes while secretly cursing the so-called third prince in her heart. Because of him, she had wasted an entire hour working her ass off to clean and decorate his bedroom.

    Her gaze fell on the Head Servant who was examining the area and looking at the satisfactory smile on his wrinkled face, it was clear that he was happy with the results. How could he not? Almost three dozen people had spent over an hour in making the courtyard shine like a star.

    "Good... good...! Since the work here is done, let''s head back to the kitchen and help them. There''s no rest for you guys today." The old man ordered as he signaled them to follow him.

    Jiang Ying Yue could see the unhappiness on everyone''s face but no one dared to speak a single word. She too kept quiet but inside her mind, she was already planning to escape the first chance she would get. She was not about to spend another hour working like a slave.

    Just when they all were about to step out from the courtyard, a guard came running inside the place, announcing the arrival of the Third Prince.

    She watched as everyone around her started to kneel even before the man appeared in front of them. Not having another choice, she too kneeled down on the hard floor to greet the Prince.

    Her eyes were trained on the shiny floor as she kept her head bowed. Barely after a few seconds, her ears registered the light footsteps as they neared the courtyard.

    The Head Servant was the first one who broke out into sobs as soon as he saw the Prince. Bowing his head on the ground, he greeted the youngest heir to the throne. "This lowly servant greets His Highness, the Third Prince."

    The others too greeted the Prince and Jiang Ying Yue was surprised to hear the happiness and sadness mixed in their voices. They were reliving the pain of spending half a decade in the absence of all their Princes while they were also happy at the same time to see at least one of them finally returning to the Capital.

    "You all can rise. There''s no need to stand on ceremony." A voice filled with warmth and sunshine entered her ears, making her hurriedly look up at the man who had such a beautiful voice.

    To say that she was amazed after finally getting the chance to see the famous Third Prince would be an understatement. Her eyes refused to move away from the handsome man standing in front of her.

    Unlike she imagined, his skin had a beautiful tan instead of milky color that was so synonymous about the noble males of this world. His raven-like eyes were sharp just like his jawline. He had straight eyebrows and long eyelashes while his long black hair was tied in a high ponytail.

    What surprised her the most was that his appearance looked just as cold and intimidating as she found his voice calm and soothing. It made her question if he was the one who just spoke.

    She felt someone shaking her arm and when she finally succeeded in tearing her eyes away from the handsome man to look at the maid beside her, she found that the area around her had become too silent.

    She arched her eyebrows in question as she looked at the maid who was trying to tell her something with her eyes.

    "What?" Jiang Ying Yue finally whispered the question when she failed to understand whatever the woman was trying to say.

    "Your Highness, please don''t be angry. I failed in teaching her properly. I''ll make sure that she won''t repeat this mistake."

    Her attention was pulled back at the Prince and the Head Servant as the latter asked for forgiveness. Though it took some time, the realization finally dawned on her. It was because she had been boldly staring at the Prince just now without any care in the world and they all noticed her, including the Prince himself.

    Great! Just when she needed to keep a low profile, she successfully ended up grabbing everyone''s attention. All because she could not help but be in awe of the beauty of such a handsome man!

 Chapter 47 - Degraded To A Servant

    Jiang Ying Yue could not decide what to do in her current situation. She was definitely not looking forward to the lesson that the Head Servant was talking about to teach her.

    Just when she was wracking her brain to think of an idea to defend herself, she once heard the melodic voice that belonged to the Prince.

    "Leave her for me. I want someone to help me get changed for the banquet. You take the others and prepare a bath for me." The Prince ordered the Head Servant who immediately nodded his head.

    Jiang Ying Yue was suddenly feeling that ending up in the hands of the Third Prince was even worse than facing the punishment given by the Head Servant.

    She tried to open her mouth to refuse. She found no happiness in serving the Prince. But before she could speak a single word, the blazing glare of the Head Servant landed on her. It was like he was warning her to keep silent and follow the Prince''s order.

    Her attention was pulled away from the old man when she felt soft electric tingles grazing her body. Someone around her had used some type of powerful spell or something similar. She realized that the energy of this spell was almost similar to the energy left behind when Qing Shan had used his powers to defuse the fire that she started.

    Her eyes hurriedly scanned the area as she tried to see if the Immortal was hiding somewhere. Unfortunately, she found no one as far as Vampire senses could see. But she was sure that the caster of the spell was close to her when he/she cast the spell.

    She was so lost in her own world that she completely forgot about the Prince who had been curiously observing her. She only came out of her thoughts when she felt cold rough fingers under her chin before her head was pulled up to look at the man.

    Since she was still kneeling, the Prince had to bend his waist to hold her chin and this made the space between the two of them too small for it to be called proper.

    "Your Highness...?"

    Though she did not mean it, she still ended up sounding like she was questioning his actions. Well, she indeed wanted to know what he was doing or planning to do but seeing that she was currently playing the role of a servant and he was the Master, it was better for her to choose her words and actions wisely.

    "Miss Jiang, it looks like you have degraded to a mere servant from a possible Empress candidate of this Empire just in the past few years. I wasn''t expecting such a sight on my return."

    His voice was smooth, almost velvety, and as he spoke his eyes shone with twinkles in them. However, no matter how soft and pleasant he appeared, Jiang Ying Yue only felt cold shivers running down her spine as her ear registered his words.

    He recognized her! Or more likely, he recognized the face that belonged to his ex-fiance. While she had been focusing on keeping her identity hidden from the servants or guards, it never occurred to her that the one who would recognize her wasn''t among the masses. Instead, it was the man whom she should have avoided the most.

    Wu Xie watched as the color rushed away from the girl''s face and she became pale as if she had seen a ghost. He almost smirked at her poor state.

    Initially, he was indeed surprised to see her working as a servant. That was not how he was expecting to meet her after so many years. But looking at her current state, he could not find anything different about the girl. She still seemed to be a weakling just like in the past.

    Jiang Ying Yue kept kneeling on the floor until the man finally got bored of her and pulled away, retracting his hand and stepping back a few steps to put some distance between the two of them.

    That''s when she decided to move but instead of standing up, she just relaxed on the floor, letting her legs take a breath of relief as she positioned her hands behind her on the floor before looking up at the man who seemed to be surprised by her actions.

    She let a very faint smile appear on her lips as she watched him. "What? Did you think that you will be able to intimidate me just because you recognized me?"

    Instead of answering her, the Prince just raised his eyebrows as he silently observed her. The way he was looking at her reminded her of someone who would look at an object as if he found it interesting enough to spend some time on it.

    The thought made her scoff out loudly as she dusted her hands before standing up. She won''t be giving the Prince any chance to ruin her life all over again. Maybe she should have listened to Silver and would have stayed in the Cold Palace. Now she was trapped in such a weird situation where she was not sure what she was supposed to do.

    That very moment, a guard entered the room and greeted the Prince with a bow. "Your Highness, your bath water is ready."

    The Prince kept his eyes trained on her as he hummed softly in response. "You all can leave. She will be enough to help me."

    The guard bowed and left the courtyard, once again leaving her alone in the company of the Prince.

    "I won''t be helping you with anything. Don''t think that just because you know my identity I''ll let you command me like your servant." She spoke in a cold voice before giving a hard glare to the man and taking a step towards the door.

    Yet, she almost slammed against his hard body when he suddenly appeared in front of her, stopping her in her tracks and making her glare at him.

    "Miss Jiang, I''m getting late for the banquet. It''s time for you to fulfill your duties. Come and get me ready."

 Chapter 48 - Biggest Fear

    "In your dreams!" Jiang Ying Yue spat in a cold tone as she tried to once again leave the room, this time by walking around him.

    However, the stubborn Prince was looking forward to messing with her. He once again appeared in front of her, blocking her way and making her stop in her tracks.

    "What the heck is wrong with you?" Jiang Ying Yue could hardly control her temper anymore. The man was really starting to make her go crazy with his antics. He was probably the last person she wanted to deal with in the current circumstance.

    It was probably because the original owner of her body despised the three Princes and their mother for what they made her suffer through, that''s why she kept feeling a kind of weird anger towards the man from the very moment she heard his name.

    That was why while he was trying to talk to her, she just wanted him to disappear from her sight.

    "I just want you to follow me as my servant till the end of the banquet. Let''s just say that I''m giving you the chance for which you took the risk of coming out of the Cold Palace even though you knew that the consequences of getting caught would not be pleasant. I''m the only one here at the moment who can keep you hidden from the Empress Mother. You should think twice before refusing my offer."

    He sounded too calm and confident for her liking but for once, Jiang Ying Yue decided to stay calm and think properly before walking out of the courtyard.

    To be fair, if she could make a deal with the Prince then it would be better for her. She was really not looking forward to fleeing from the Cold Palace with Silver after spending almost an entire week making that place feel alive once again. But if she ended up crossing the Third Prince, he would easily make her life a living hell along with his mother.

    However, she did not know him at all and she did not want to end up getting stuck in a deal or promise that would strike back on her in the future. She needed time and patience to think about the situation and whatever the Third Prince had to say.

    So after making up her mind, she folded her arms over her chest as she questioned, "Can I ask why are you so eager to help me?" Her tone clearly stated that she did not trust him even a bit.

    The Prince smiled faintly as he silently observed her for a few seconds before answering, "Because you are the person whom my Empress Mother hates the most."

    His words made Jiang Ying Yue raise her eyebrows as she stared at him in surprise. What did he mean by those words? Why would Empress Dowager hate her? Because of what happened all those years ago?

    Looked like the Prince was able to read her thoughts because he decided to provide some hints. "Don''t think that the old woman is as simple as everyone thinks. The truth behind her hate towards you and the three of us brothers is way deeper than anyone could ever imagine."

    "She hates you too? Even her sons?" Jiang Ying Yue could not help but ask. She was really having a hard time processing the revelations. How could the woman hate all three of her sons? Her own sons!

    Her question made the Prince chuckle as he slightly shook his head while replying, "Trust me, you will be surprised to know exactly how much she despises the three of us... and you too. To be very honest, she hates you the most. After all, you are her biggest fear. One that she is unable to take care of no matter how hard she tries."

    Jiang Ying Yue remained silent as she tried to observe the man standing in front of her. She wanted to use her mind-reading abilities to see if he was speaking the truth or just trying to play with her. But something kept telling her to not use her powers when she was unable to control them properly.

    A sigh eventually escaped her lips as she chewed on her lower lip, pondering on what to do next. She wanted to ask him the reason for which his mother hated her but she had a high doubt that he would be willing to tell her anything so easily. The man reeked of trickery and selfishness.

    "I actually have no plans of joining the banquet. I just came out to take a look around. That''s all. I appreciate your offer but you don''t have to help me. Just forget this encounter and it will be enough." She finally spoke, looking into his raven eyes that were as sharp as a blade.

    She watched as his lips twitched with an almost unnoticeable smile. She was having a hard time deciding if she hated that smile or kind of liked it. It did make him look even more cool than usual.

    "Since you have the opportunity, why not accept it. You won''t have such good luck seeing the woman personally who made you suffer for over half a decade while wishing every single day for your demise." The Prince spoke as he looked at her with a soft glow in his eyes.

    Jiang Ying Yue could hardly understand anything anymore. She just wanted to know whether he was telling her the truth or not and if the so-called Empress Dowager really hated her so much.

    "Why? Why are you so desperate to show me the real colors of your mother? It''s not like I can do anything even if I know how much she really hates me. After all, she''s the most powerful person in this Empire at the moment. Compared to her, I''m nothing and I will rather avoid someone like her instead of coming in front of her."

    She meant every single word that she just spoke. Even if Empress Dowager hated her and was trying to get rid of her, she would rather avoid that woman in her current powerless situation than facing her. Once her powers would be back to their full potential, them she would take care of this so-called Empress Dowager and her sons.

 Chapter 49 - Cold And Aloof

    Jiang Ying Yue was ready to leave the room this time for real but once again she found her path blocked by the stupid Prince.

    She clenched her fingers into tight fists as she tried her best to not land a punch on his handsome face. He was going too far in testing her patience level.

    "Let me say it again. I''m not interested in your offer at all. I want to live a peaceful life away from you and your mother."

    The small twitch on his lips made her glare at him in surprise. The man was treating her like her opinion meant nothing to him. Since he wanted to take her with him to the banquet then he was going to do exactly that no matter whether she agreed or not.

    She was about to open her mouth to make a snarky remark when her eyes noticed the faintest movements of his hand. The next thing she knew, he was hitting her acupuncture points near her shoulders and on her back, making her body became energyless.

    He was so quick in his movements that by the time her mind registered what was happening, he had successfully sealed her acupuncture points.

    She tried to open her mouth to speak but nothing came out. It was like words refused to come out of her mouth. Her body was also in a similar condition as she was totally unable to move at all.

    When this time she turned her firey gaze at the stupid man, he no longer was smirking. Instead, his face held the same seriousness that she saw when he first entered the courtyard.

    "My most trusted man is currently busy handling an important task outside the palace and right now, I don''t trust anyone in this palace. The banquet tonight is going to be a dangerous event and I want someone by my side whom I can use as a shield. You will be perfect for this job. Stay here. I''ll be back in a minute." The Prince informed her in a serious tone before he gave her a quick last look and then disappeared inside his bed-chamber.

    Jiang Ying Yue wanted to shout and reward him with some favorite insults of her. However, in her current situation, she could only stand there helplessly waiting for the man to return.

    She stood there in front of the entrance for the next few minutes as she tried to think about whatever the Prince was planning to do with her. One moment he made it seem like he was desperate to show her the true colors of his mother but then the next second he made it appear like he just wanted to use her for his own advantage.

    What she did not know was that whether it was the first condition or the second, the Prince only cared about his own benefit. She was currently his most powerful weapon against the Empress Dowager and he was ready to do anything to get the power of wielding this weapon.

    The Prince did not take long. Just after five minutes or so, he finally walked out of his bedroom. Looking at his current royal get-up, it was clear that he was getting ready for the banquet.

    He was wearing long black brocade robes with golden embroidery. His long hair was once again held in a high ponytail but this time he was wearing a golden coronet. His aura was once again filled with coldness and he appeared to be as aloof and indifferent as a human ever could.

    Jiang Ying Yue scowled at his appearance but unfortunately, she no longer had the privilege of making any comment. Not like he was not looking handsome anymore. To be honest, after seeing men with sweet, calm, and collected personalities throughout the entire past week, she was actually thrilled to see such a cold and dominating specimen.

    She was most surprised to see that it took him barely five minutes to take a bath and get ready. It was almost like he used a magical spell but nothing about his personality or aura seemed to carry any sort of magical energy.

    All that she found was the high level of martial arts that he carried and seeing that he was someone who had spent half a decade fighting in wars to protect his country and people, it was quite normal for him to know martial arts.

    "We are about to get late. Let''s not waste any more time. Follow me." He said in such a tone as if he was talking to his subordinate.

    Jiang Ying Yue found her blood boiling at his commanding tone but she could do nothing about it. Instead, she found her body obeying his words like they were an edict. She followed behind him as they headed towards the Throne Hall where the banquet was taking place.

    ***

    "First Master, Second Master."

    Feng Wu greeted as soon as he entered the clearing of the forest where Master Qing Shan and Master Wang Shu were currently inspecting an eighth rank two-horned beast tiger who was lying dead in the center of the clearing.

    "Phoenix...!"

    It was Master Wang''s Rainbow colored Peacock spirit beast that shouted in joy as soon as she saw Feng Wu.

    The boy hurriedly bowed to greet the girl as he tried to not seem flustered by her sudden presence. She used to tease and prank him a lot when they all were living in the Cloud Realm. He did not want to relive those horrifying moments ever again.

    "Is Wu Xie back in the Imperial Palace?" Qing Shan asked as he came closer to where Feng Wu was standing.

    "Yes, First Master. Master is going to attend the banquet tonight and he will find a chance to meet with you in the next few days. In the meantime, he wanted me to give you this." Feng Wu replied before offering the black and red fan that his Master mentioned to be a very important item that would help them in their fight against the Empress Dowager.

 Chapter 50 - Fate Playing Tricks

    "What do you think this is?" Wang Shu asked as he examined the fan. He could sense the high level of spiritual energy that belonged to the mysterious fan but at the moment, it appeared as normal as possible.

    "Feng Wu said that Wu Xie found it during his visit to the wasteland. But only today was he able to open it and see the hidden message inside. He was within the perimeters of the royal palace when it happened." Qing Shan told his second brother all that he got to know from Feng Wu.

    "A hidden message? Did he tell what this hidden message was?" Wang Shu questioned as he opened the fan with a single flick of his hand and started observing the patterns drawn on it.

    Qing Shan let out a small sigh as he turned his attention to his Snow Dragon who was building a snow fort around the dead two-horned tiger as a goodbye gift to him.

    The poor beast was weak after giving birth to its two little babies and got attacked by a pack of wolf beasts who killed it within no time. A single weak tiger beast against nearly four dozen or so beast wolves, the ending was already clear even before the fight began.

    The two of them, Qing Shan and Wang Shu, were flying over the forest when they noticed the battle. When they landed on the ground, the tiger beast was already taking its last breath.

    Normally, they would not have even cared about such matters. It was the rule of the jungle - only the strongest deserved to live. It was not their place to interfere with something that was actually natural but it was their spirit beasts who became agitated when they realized that after killing the mother, the wolf beasts were about to kill her babies.

    That was how they ended up in the middle of a dense forest with a dead two-horned tiger beast and her two babies whom Xiang Lin was feeding her spiritual power to help them cope up with the pain of losing their mother just a few days after their birth.

    "He did not mention anything about the hidden secret in this fan. We will sort it out after returning to the capital city. We still have more important matters to handle."

    It was clear that the important matter he was talking about was none other than Jiang Ying Yue. The last time they had to suddenly leave because of an emergency and it led to the failure of their plan of finalizing a deal with the girl.

    Since Wu Xie was back in the Palace to keep the Empress Dowager busy for the time being, it was the right moment for them to take action which meant coming clear with Jiang Ying Yue and telling her the reason for which she was sent to their world.

    It was still hard for them to believe that the soul living inside Jiang Ying Yue was not the real her. Instead, it was a soul that belonged to a world located in a different universe.

    When the three of them, Qing Shan, Wang Shu, and Wu Xie, were first sent to the mortal realm to undergo the trial, they were only informed that their biggest supporter would be the person who would become the biggest thorn in their so-called mother''s path of joining the five galaxy stars together to form a new realm.

    Just like the three of them, Empress Dowager was also going through her trial but unfortunately, she kept failing again and again which led her to repeat the cycle all over again.

    At this point, she had become not only super frustrated but also desperate which had led to an imbalance in her demonic powers. Her initial task was to keep the five galaxy stars separate till the rise of the Blue Moon and Silver Star that happened once every ten thousand years.

    However, somehow she found out that if the five galaxy stars could be joined on the day of the rise of Blue Moon and Silver Star, they would form a new realm.

    That small information was all she needed to deviate from her path to gain the title of a deity in the God Realm. Instead, she had a new plan of creating a realm for the demons.

    There was actually nothing wrong about creating a realm for the demon race. They had been living in the depths of the demon realm for ages and probably they too deserved a realm full of light and nature. Yet, the plan of Empress Dowager about creating a new realm was a danger for the rest of the realms.

    The merging of the five galaxy stars would cause a great suction of energy from the rest of the six realms, leading to an apocalypse. And a new realm could not be created by sacrificing the lives of people living in the other realms.

    Since their timing of trial coincided, the Gods gave the task of stopping the Empress Dowager to the three of them. If they succeeded, they would be able to finish their trial, and the Cloud Realm would be officially under their possession, and the three of them would get an equal standing as the High Gods living in the God Realm.

    But if they failed... well, there won''t be a Cloud or God realm after that. So no equal standing or getting the ownership.

    What no one expected to happen, not even the Gods, was for the three of them to be born as the sons of the Empress Dowager and for the fate of their entire universe to get attached with a girl who was not even a part of their world.

    Maybe her separation from their world was the reason why she ended up becoming the person who carried their fate in her hand. She was the only one who neither belonged with the Gods nor with the demons and according to fate, she was the perfect person to make the choice.

    No matter whom she would choose to support, she would be the winner. But then why did fate again played a game and ended up creating a divine connection between the Princes and the girl?

    Was fate picking sides?

 Chapter 51 - The Banquet

    Jiang Ying Yue stared at her feet as she could still feel many people, especially other maidservants and young ladies of the noble families, stealing secret glances at her every now and then.

    The Third Prince had put on a spell on her to hide her real face before they entered the Throne Hall. That was when she realized that the man was way more powerful than he was letting others see. Not only he had great martial arts but he also possessed the so-called spiritual energy.

    She recognized the energy of his powers when he was casting the spell. It was the same that she felt in his courtyard, and as far as he told her, at that time he used his powers to make the servants forget about her.

    So far, other than Qing Shan and Wang Shu, he was the third person whom she has seen controlling the spiritual power.

    Back in the mountains, the hellhound told her that only Immortals had such abilities and it was very hard to meet one. But so far, just in the span of a few days, she had encountered not one or two, but three people who possessed the spiritual powers.

    Now she was questioning if what the hellhound told her was even true or not. If what he told her was true, then how come the Third Prince was able to use spiritual energy? Did he become an Immortal too? And why were there two other Immortals lurking in the Capital City when they were supposed to stay away from the mortal world?

    She was pulled out of her thoughts when a maid approached her with a tray filled with sweet snacks. Jiang Ying Yue accepted the tray with a sweet smile before placing it on the table where the Third Prince was sitting.

    Currently, everyone thought that she was someone who had been following the Prince as his maid for the past two years ever since he saved her life near the borders when she got attacked by some bandits.

    Yeah! This was the story he told everyone when the Prime Minister asked about who she was since they had prepared a talented maid to serve the Prince but the latter refused their offer, using her, Jiang Ying Yue, as a shield.

    Instead of the clothes that the maidservants of the Imperial Palace used to wear, she was now wearing a plain light yellow dress with a jade pendant hanging on her waist. She was allowed to keep her hair free and she even got to wear jewelry.

    Even though she still caught the attention of too many people, the reason was not that they recognized her. Instead, it was because they wanted to see the personal maid of the Prince who had the luck of following him so closely and serving him day and night.

    Like she wanted to serve him! If not for the fact that the useless body of her''s was unable to break the seal that he had placed on her, she would never have let him order her around like his real servant.

    "What are you thinking about? You are my servant. Don''t keep staring at your feet. You are here to serve me, not to glare at the floor." The Prince muttered to her in a low voice, making Jiang Ying Yue grit her teeth.

    Still, making a small and polite smile appear on her lips, she crouched down beside the table where the Prince was sitting and poured him a glass of wine.

    Previously, he had made her check all the snacks and wine in addition to the dishes, to make sure that they were not poisoned. The dark face of the Empress Dowager and the ministers were a sight to see at that moment.

    When Empress Dowager questioned him about it, this was what he said in response - "Empress Mother, you probably don''t know about this but after serving at the borders for so many years, I''ve made a few enemies who are always eager to get rid of me. They are just waiting for the right moment. Since I''m back at the palace, they will likely think that I''ll put my guard down here and they will probably use this chance to get me out of their way. But there''s no need to worry, I won''t let them succeed. This is just one of the precautions that I use. Hope Empress Mother and the Ministers won''t mind."

    After hearing his words, no one dared to show any offense. After all, he was in danger because of fighting for the people of his country. How could anyone have the face to speak anymore on the topic?

    Jiang Ying Yue offered the wine cup to the Prince who accepted it with a small twitch on his face.

    She ignored him and stood up to once again take her position behind him as she let her eyes roamed over her surroundings. She still had to see any glimpse of Silver. The man had disappeared to only God knew where.

    Her eyes landed on the woman sitting on the table set right below the throne. Since there was no Emperor nor a Crown Prince, she was undoubtedly the person with the highest authority in the entire Hyuang Empire, especially since all three princes had been living at the borders for the past five years.

    Jiang Ying Yue suddenly felt curious to know what the woman was thinking about in her mind. So far, she appeared like someone responsible and cold but not domineering. The interactions between her and the Third Prince were not filled with warmth but there wasn''t any sort of animosity either.

    But Ying Yue was not someone who could be fooled by such appearances. Even though she found nothing wrong with the woman so far, her instincts were telling her that Empress Dowager wasn''t as simple as she was portraying.

    Her attention was pulled towards the entrance of the hall when a beautiful young lady entered while holding a cute fluffy white cat in her hands.

    Silver!

 Chapter 52 - The Cat

    "Your Grace... Your Highness..."

    The Prime Minister addressed the two royalties as he stood up from his seat and came to stand next to the beautiful young lady who was holding Silver in her arms as if she owned him.

    Jiang Ying Yue was having a hard time controlling herself as she watched the woman grazing his soft fur while she bowed to the Empress Dowager and the Third Prince.

    "Your Grace, this is my daughter - Ning Xia. She recently finished her studies at the Mount Hua Academy and received the title of the Best Student. She accompanied me here today to pay respects to Your Grace and His Highness." The Prime Minister introduced his daughter with pride gleaming in his eyes.

    Of course, he was filled with pride. Not only his daughter was known as the number one beauty of the Capital City but now she also held the title of the ''Best Student'' of Mount Hua Academy - one of the most prestigious Academies on the entire continent.

    "Such a beautiful young lady. How old are you?" Empress Dowager questioned the girl named, Ning Xia.

    "Replying to Your Grace, I recently turned seventeen." Ning Xia answered calmly as she smiled sweetly, making her already beautiful face bloom like a flower.

    Everyone was left in awe as they got to see such an attractive sight. There was no doubt that young Miss Xia deserved the title of number one beauty.

    "Quite young. Is that little cat belongs to you?" Empress Dowager asked as she pointed her gaze at the cat that had suddenly started to struggle in the girl''s arms.

    "This... I..." Ning Xia struggled to answer as she tried to stop the cat that was suddenly acting weirdly. Seeing her struggle, her father moved to help her but before his hands could land on the cat, it succeeded in jumping down from her arms and ran straight in the direction of the Third Prince.

    The Hall became dead silent as everyone stared at the cat either in panic or confusion. On the other hand, Jiang Ying Yue finally relaxed to see Silver getting away from the clutches of that kid.

    She was ready to catch the cat in her arms as she watched it jumping in her direction. Unfortunately, she did not get the chance because the Third Prince suddenly grabbed it and pulled it in his arms.

    "This is mine. Thank you for bringing it here. Hope you are not feeling inconvenient." The Prince spoke to Ning Xia but did not even spare her a single glance. He was too busy playing with the tiny ears of his cat.

    "Ah...! No worries, Your Highness..." The girl was taken aback and barely knew how to respond. Though the cat wasn''t hers, she had no idea that it belonged to the Third Prince. Not knowing what to say anymore as the situation became a little awkward, both the Prime Minister and his daughter decided to return to their seats.

    Slowly, the banquet resumed its pace as the musicians started playing their instruments, and a group of girls wearing bright red dresses came to perform a swan dance. The chatters resumed as everyone returned to enjoy the food and the wine.

    On the other hand, Jiang Ying Yue was busy glaring at the back of the Third Prince''s head. How come he became the owner of the cat? It was clearly Silver in his arms and the man dared to show his authorization even over her mate. How bold!

    Unfortunately, she could do nothing but stay quiet and serve him as the banquet progressed. Besides, Silver himself did not seem to be bothered about resting on the lap of the Prince. Then why should she be the one worrying?

    The rest of the banquet went smoothly. There were different groups of people showing their skills while the guests praised them. Some of the daughters of the noble families also came forward to show their talents.

    It was quite clear that the ministers were trying to show off their daughters to both Empress Dowager and the Third Prince but no one took the step of asking for a marriage decree for their daughters.

    The reason was clear. For so many years, the Princes had stayed out of the Capital City, and at the moment, there was no idea about which one of the three Princes would end up sitting on the throne. None of the ministers wanted to take sides even before getting a good grip on the situation but they also did not want to lose the chance in case Third Prince ended up becoming the future Emperor.

    By the time banquet came to an end, it was already half-past nine o''clock, and the outside world was covered in darkness.

    Jiang Ying Yue silently followed the Third Prince to his courtyard. As soon as they entered the sitting room, the Prince dismissed the servants and the guards, only keeping her by his side as he played with the cat.

    "Here."

    She was taken aback when the Prince suddenly threw the cat at her. She almost did not catch it but thankfully, Silver ended up in her arms safely. Her hands pulled him against her body as she cradled the cat and brushed its head softly.

    "What?" She asked the man after she came out of her initial shock.

    "I''m gifting it to you. Keep it safe and healthy for me." The Prince told her as he poured himself a glass of hot herbal tea and took a sip.

    Jiang Ying Yue stared at him with a bewildered look on her face. The nan seemed to be too weird for her to get a grip on him. He could be polite, kind, rude, selfish, cold, and even stupid at certain moments. It almost seemed like he was having mood swings from time to time.

    "I''m leaving." She told him and was surprised when he immediately hummed in a positive response. She was not expecting that.

    Not wanting to spend another second in the company of the weird man, she finally left his courtyard with Silver cradled in her arms.

 Chapter 53 - Starting From The Basics

    "My lady, you are back." Li Wu came to greet her lady as soon as she noticed movements in the fifth courtyard.

    Jiang Ying Yue softly hummed in response. She was really tired after spending hours standing and kneeling on the floor beside the Third Prince. Her fragile and malnourished body wasn''t able to endure such kind of torture.

    "My lady, do you need me to massage your legs?" Li Wu asked as she noticed the discomfort in her lady''s eyes.

    "No need. I''m sure I''ll be alright after a good sleep. By the way, why are you still awake. You and your sister work so hard the entire day. The two of you need to take proper care of your health. Don''t stay awake in order to wait for me from now on. Alright?" Jiang Ying Yue stared at the girl and noticed the resistance in her eyes.

    "My lady, where''s Min Gu? I haven''t seen her since evening. She wasn''t there for dinner either." Li Wu tried to shift the attention to another topic. After all, it was impossible for her and Li Qi to not worry about their lady''s safety. How could they sleep soundly while their lady was wandering around with dangers lurking in the shadows?

    As soon as Li Wu mentioned Min Gu, Jiang Ying Yue hurriedly looked around her bedroom to see if the cat was still there or not and just as she predicted, there was no trace of the white fluffy cat anywhere in the room. It grabbed the chance and disappeared to God knew where.

    A sigh left Ying Yue''s lips as she just shook her head before replying, "No idea. She disappeared right after finishing her work. Don''t worry about her. You know that she''s not someone normal. She will be alright no matter wherever she''ll go. I''m sure she will be back by morning."

    Seeing that her lady did not look worried about the whereabouts of the bunny girl, Li Wu also decided to not pay much attention to Min Gu and her sudden disappearance. She insisted on helping Jiang Ying Yue to get ready for bed before finally leaving the fifth courtyard.

    - -

    "She''s finally gone." Silver commented as he entered the bedroom from the window as soon as he noticed Li Wu entering the fourth courtyard.

    His hand moved to cast a spell around the fifth courtyard so that he could get some privacy with his mate.

    "What are you doing here?" Jiang Ying Yue asked as she stared at him. The dimly lit room was causing shadows to fall on his profile, making him appear like a wolf who was out for a hunt.

    "You seems to be angry ever since you saw me in the arms of that girl. By any chance... are you jealous?" He seemed to be enjoying the moment as he trailed slowly towards where she was standing right next to her bed.

    Instead of either accepting or rejecting his claim, Jiang Ying Yue raised both of her eyebrows as she folded her hands over her chest and stared at the man. What she did not expect was for him to suddenly pull her into his arms, making her gasp as she stared at him wide-eyed.

    "What are you doing?" She asked as she tried to wriggle out of his arms but unfortunately, his hold was tight around her waist, and once again her fragile body was having a hard time fighting with someone who was ten times physically stronger than her.

    As her frustration once again seemed to rise, she finally let it out with her voice filled with bitterness. "I seriously hate this. I''m on the verge of losing my mind. How long have I to endure this?"

    Silver, who was about to answer her initial question, was taken aback by her sudden outburst. She probably saw the confused look on his face because the next second she let out a sigh as she explained, "I''m talking about this weak body of mine."

    The man let out a small sigh as he relaxed. For a mere moment, he almost thought that she was talking about him. But thankfully, it was not like that.

    "It''s just a matter of time. You know that the previous owner of your body wasn''t really living a great life. She barely got food to fill her stomach properly. Besides, your soul is really too powerful for any human body, malnourished or not. Rather than making such a sad face, I think it''s time for you to start working on your body to make it physically powerful enough to be able to handle your powers."

    Jiang Ying Yue stared into the emerald eyes of the man who was looking more like a teacher instead of her mate. She sighed again but then slowly nodded her head. If she wanted to be able to use her powers, then it was time for her to stop whining and start working out.

    "Where are we going to start from?" She asked after a few seconds. Since she had started taking a proper diet, it would take a few months before her body would should the results, and if she added physical practice in the mix, maybe the results would come out a little quicker.

    "Tomorrow morning, we will start from basics. From the very bottom." Silver told her as he once again tightened his hold around her waist, pulling her body even more close to his own.

    All the talking had made Jiang Ying Yue forget that she was still standing so close to him. But now, all her attention was back on how her body was filled with electric tingles caused by his nearness.

    "I wanted to test if the new mate bonds that you have created with your other two mates will allow us some leverage. Looks like I was right. It''s a while and we still can''t feel any discomfort." Silver spoke in a hushed tone as he watched his mate realizing the same thing.

    "Yue... there''s another thing I wanna test..." He found himself speaking.

    Jiang Ying Yue looked into Silver''s hazy eyes as she asked, "What is it?"

    The silence that followed next was filled with tension and a lot of energy that seemed to be coming off from their bonds.

    She saw his face inching closer as he whispered the answer, "This..."

 Chapter 54 - First Kiss

    "This..."

    What followed next took Jiang Ying Yue with complete surprise.

    The kiss that Silver landed on her lips was not what she was expecting... or maybe... it was exactly what she wanted deep down in her heart. It was probably what her soul sought to experience.

    At first, she stood there like a statue with her eyes closed. She just let herself feel the warmth and softness of his lips as he kissed her. His lips moving against hers in slow and soft strokes, making something flutter in her stomach.

    He let one of his hands move to cup her nape while his other hand tightened its hold around her waist as he deepened the kiss, making her gasp which allowed him the opening that he was searching for.

    Jiang Ying Yue finally decided to let go of her insecurities and to enjoy the moment. She finally decided to let herself enjoy their first kiss. Her arms snaked around his shoulders while she started moving her lips in sync with his, opening up and allowing him to take control over the kiss.

    The kiss was not slow, neither was it sensual nor sweet. Instead, it was hot, full of passion, need, and years of longing that the two of them had for each other. It was full of desire which was melting Jiang Ying Yue into a puddle.

    Her legs started to become jelly as she experienced the hottest kiss of her life. It made her body burst into soft but powerful tingles of pleasure and need as she tightened her arms around him, pulling him closer if that was even possible at this point where their bodies were literally jammed together.

    A groan escaped Silver''s mouth as he felt his desire for her rising with each passing second. He just wanted to forget about everything and just claim her as his mate. He wanted to complete their bond and bound her with him together for eternity.

    However, just when he was letting himself sink in the ocean of happiness and pleasure, a painful gasp from Ying Yue made him end the kiss as he suddenly pulled back to look at the girl. Only after their kiss ended did he realize that his soul mark was burning.

    Jiang Ying Yue took a few steps away from Silver as she massaged her wrist where her soul mark was still burning slightly. The good thing was that they stopped before it was too late. Looked like even though her bonds with her other two mates gave her and Silver some leeway, it was still limited to a certain extent.

    "Are you alright?" Silver asked as he watched her massaging her wrist.

    "Yeah, I''m fin... mmph..."

    She got silenced before she could finish her sentence as the man suddenly sealed her lips with a soft and quick kiss.

    It was short, lasting for barely a couple of seconds but it was still enough to shake her from inside out, not because she was thrilled but because she was scared for his safety.

    "Are you nuts?" She shouted at him as soon as the man pulled back with a huge smile playing on his lips. He seemed to be happy after finally enjoying an almost proper kiss with the girl whom he loved more than his own life.

    Instead of replying to her, he made her face the bed and started her pushing towards it lightly. "Come on! You have a physical training class in the morning. Get as much sleep as possible because you won''t be getting any rest tomorrow. Hurry up!"

    "Silver..." Jiang Ying Yue tried to talk to him but was silenced when the man put his finger against her lips.

    Letting out a soft sigh, she climbed onto the bed and laid down as he covered her with the duvet.

    "Good night, my Queen."

    That was the last thing she heard before her eyes became too heavy to stay open and she was pulled into a dreamless sleep.

    *****

    Jiang Ying Yue was smart. Since she did not want to be tortured alone by exercising every morning, she grabbed the Li sisters from the fourth courtyard even before dawn arrived and made the two girls practice some basic warm-up exercises along with her.

    The only person who seemed cheerful after spending an entire hour doing the so-called basic exercises was Min Gu. The little girl was filled with energy while the other three young women were sprawled in the garden as they tried to catch up their breaths.

    "My l-lady... w-why are... are we torturing... I

    our-ourselves like th-this... so early in the m... morning...?" Li Qi asked as she huffed to get as much oxygen inside her as she could.

    "This is not torturing in any way. You guys need to grow your physical strength if you want to keep yourself hidden and protected from that Empress Dowager of yours." Min Gu spoke in a calm tone as she gave a hard look to all the three young ladies.

    The mention of Empress Dowager made both the Li sisters become stiff as they hurriedly looked around as if to make sure that the old woman was not lurking somewhere around them.

    "Wait! What has the Empress Dowager to do with all this?" Li Wu questioned as she turned to stare at Min Gu.

    The little girl sighed as she shook her head as if she was tired of the stupid questions. "Ladies, remember this. The only thing that will help you in running away from that old woman is your legs and stamina. When she will be hunting you guys down, only your physical strength will be able to save you."

    The expressions on the faces of the Li girls we''re clearly showing their displeasure. The two girls stared at Min Gu as if they were looking at a jinx.

    It was Jiang Ying Yue who decided to break the ice, "Enough! No matter whether you like it or not, but this is going to become permanent. From today onwards, one hour before dawn will be reserved for our physical training class. Now, let''s get to work. There''s a lot to do today."

 Chapter 55 - Who Are You?

    Two weeks later...

    The ''Delicacy Happiness'' restaurant was filled with a huge crowd as people had gathered to see the new drama that the First Young Master Gu was planning to act.

    After trying his hands in several other professions, today he was about to test his cooking skills. Almost everyone knew that it was going to be another failed attempt but they still wanted to enjoy the show.

    While the servants of the First Young Master and the restaurant tried to set up everything on the ground floor, Jiang Ying Yue sipped the fresh herbal tea in one of the private rooms on the second floor.

    She had spent the past two weeks preparing cosmetics and skincare products. After several failures and wrong experiments, she finally succeeded in preparing the first perfect batch of a complete set. Now, it was time for her to test her idea of starting a salon in this ancient world. And after a lot of research, she had set the First Young Master Gu as her target.

    "How nice you people are. No matter the time or place, you always come to support me. I''m really thankful to you all for so much love. If one day I become a successful businessman, I''ll sure remember this kindness of yours." The voice of First Young Master Gu resonated, bringing Jiang Ying Yue''s attention towards the ground floor.

    "Good. We wish you all the good luck in the world then." Someone from the crowd commented and the others cheered to show their enthusiasm.

    "Yes, Young Master Gu, you should remember this promise of yours. We will be waiting for the day when you will finally become the most powerful businessman of the Capital." Another person commented and once again the crowd cheered.

    It was clear that both parties were joking around. Neither the Young Master was serious nor the people who have gathered around to watch the show.

    "These stinky people, they really take our Young Master as a joke. Are they forgetting that at the end of the day, our Young Master is the eldest son of the General Gu? Aren''t they disrespecting our entire General Manor by disrespecting the Young Master?" One of the servants complained to his companion as he watched the fake enthusiasm of the crowd.

    "It''s all because both Master and Second Young Master are not here. It''s been almost three years since they left for the borders and they still have to return. Madam''s poor health and the lack of an Elder in the family has burdened First Young Master to such great levels. It hurts my heart to see him trying so hard but still failing constantly. To be honest, he''s really miserable. It''s just... he never shows it to anyone."

    "You are right. Everyone in the capital considers him as a joke now but no one knows that our First Young Master has purposely ruined his image to keep the Prime Minister manor from targeting his family."

    Jiang Ying Yue listened to the conversation that was going on between the two servants. Even without her enhanced vampire hearing power, she was able to clearly hear every single word exchanged between them.

    A very faint smile appeared on her lips that were hidden under the veil. The poor First Young Master indeed sounded like a pitiful person but was he really that innocent and docile.

    Just like her, the majority of the people present in the restaurant also heard the conversation between the two servants.

    "You two, what rubbish are you spouting! Stay silent." Young Master Gu immediately shouted at those two servants in a panicked voice while quickly looking around as if he was searching for someone.

    Looked like whoever he was searching for, he didn''t found them and a sigh of relief escaped his lips. After giving a hard glare to those two servants, he finally turned his attention towards the crowd with a meek smile on his face.

    "Everyone, those two were just talking nonsense. Please don''t mind it. I''ll be starting the preparation of my first dish now. Let''s see how it will go." Young Master Gu tried to change the topic and bring everyone''s attention back to his cooking show but at this point, it was clear that people were more interested in the gossip instead of his cooking.

    "First Young Master Gu, you don''t have to pretend in front of us. Just because we don''t say it out loud, it does not mean that we are not aware of the problems that you have been facing for the past several years." An old man from the crowd spoke with a shake of his head as if he was disheartened just by recalling those events that he had heard through rumors.

    "That''s right! We are common people, we don''t have the power and place to speak against those sitting up in powerful positions. But we are well aware of those who have been misusing their power for their gains."

    "First Young Master, you should not feel sad and discouraged. General Gu and Marquis Gu would soon return to the Capital with the First and Second Prince and no one will be able to look down on the General manor again."

    "Yes, you just need to stay calm and strong to wait for the return of General and Marquis Gu. Then everything will turn out well."

    The crowd kept sympathizing and motivating the First Young Master who no longer seemed to be in a state of continuing his cooking show.

    As Jiang Ying Yue walked out of the private room to look at the young man standing in the middle of the crowd, she noticed his gloomy look and the way his hands were shaking as he clutched his fingers into tight fists.

    To others, it seemed like he was angry about the injustices that had been happening with him and his ill mother but Jiang Ying Yue was able to see what the others failed to notice.

    Looked like the servants of the First Young Master Gu were also aware of the current situation of their Master because they hurriedly started to apologize to the crowd and asked them to leave.

    Though some people seemed to be not happy about missing the show and wasting their time, the majority seemed to be quite understandable as they all left to give some space to the Young Master.

    She watched as the young man hurriedly made his way towards the upper floor and disappeared into one of the private rooms. The sound of the crash of a vase or something that came out of that room right after a few seconds caused the servants to stop in their tracks before they could have stepped inside the room.

    "Wh-what should we do? Young Master is way angrier than we thought." One of the maidservants whispered to her companion as she stood outside the private room in which her Master was taking out his anger on the poor vases and furniture.

    Deciding that it was the right time for her to step into the story, Jiang Ying Yue started walking towards the group of servants who were still pondering over what they needed to do.

    "Here. Let me do it." She told the servant who was holding a tray of freshly brewed herbal tea in his hands as she took the tray from him, causing him to look at her in shock and confusion.

    "Who are you? What do you want?" One of the maidservants stopped her from entering the room as she looked at Jiang Ying Yue with suspicion-filled eyes.

    "I''m someone who has discovered the illness of your Young Master and also the one who knows the cure." Her answer made everyone look at her like she just talked with puzzles.

    Before either of the servants could speak, the door of the private room opened and they all noticed the personal guard of the First Young Master standing there.

    "You all can leave. No need to stay here." He addressed the servants first before he turned his attention towards her. "Miss, please enter."

    Jiang Ying Yue smiled softly but no one was able to see it. Nonetheless, she entered the room and heard the guard closing the door behind her.

    As soon as she stepped inside, her feet landed on the broken pieces of plates and cups. The floor was covered in food, spilled tea, and even wine. The furniture was scattered around and the entire room was in an upside-down state.

    "You sure know how to cause a ruckus." She commented as she landed the tray to the guard after failing any suitable place to put it down.

    She almost... almost staggered on her feet when the young man suddenly turned around to face her with a dark look covering his handsome face. When he spoke, his voice was rough and filled with coldness.

    "Who are you?"

    Jiang Ying Yue could no longer contain herself from chuckling as she took off her veil and faced the young man who seemed to be taken aback.

 Chapter 56 - Partners (Part One)

    "You are..."

    The young man trailed off as he failed in recognizing the girl who was once again fixing her veil in place. He had never seen her before, not including the last time when they encountered each other for the very first time.

    "You can call me Xiao Yue." The girl spoke after she had successfully put on the veil, once again hiding half of her face beneath the cover.

    The expression on the First Young Master Gu''s face made her chuckle. The man was probably trying to recall if he had ever heard her name before or not. Of course, he had never heard any kind of mention f her name before this.

    "First Young Master Gu, neither can you recognize my face nor are you able to recognize my name. So let''s not go too deep about my identity. You just need to know that I''m someone who can help you out of your current miserable state." She again spoke in a calm tone as she fixed her gaze on the young man.

    "You..." The guard, who had been silently standing against the wall all this time, seemed to not like her choice of words as he moved to take out his sword but was stopped by his master.

    The First Young Master, Gu Chen Xi, observed the girl who was calmly looking around the room and its tattered state. He turned towards his guard and ordered, "Tell the manager to prepare another room for us."

    The guard immediately left to complete his task but not before throwing a quick warning look in her direction which only made her scoff inside her mind.

    "What do you want?" Gu Chen asked as soon as the guard left. He returned his attention to the girl who was like a mystery box, he was having a hard time finding out her actual motive behind approaching someone like him.

    Jiang Ying Yue was silent for a few seconds before she finally decided to answer his question. "I want to sign a partnership contract with you for your Garment Shop. I want to restart the business that you shut down two years ago."

    Ever since General Gu and Young Marquis left the Capital three years ago to assist the Princes on the borders, the Prime Minister and Grand Scholar Manors decided to take advantage of the situation to attack General Manor in silence which was left in the hands of an eighteen-year-old Gu Chen Xi.

    They wanted to weaken General Gu''s standing in the Capital in his absence. After all, because of their command over the army, General Manor had successfully established a close connection with all three Princes and this alone was enough to make the General Manor rise in power. How could the other powerful noble families sit silently and let it happen?

    Unfortunately, over time, Gu Chen Xi lost his connection with his father and elder brother who were too busy fighting at the borders to keep the citizens of their Empire safe and sound. The poor boy wasn''t good either in martial arts or in business. He was a scholar who had never seen such harsh sides of life.

    As time passed and more problems surfaced, Gu Chen Xi had no other option left. At the last moment, he decided to do exactly what his enemies wanted to do with him and his family. He let the prestige of General Manor sink so that he could save his mother''s life and buy some time to think of a plan to get in contact with his father or brother.

    At that time he had no idea that there was no more hope left for him. Not only his enemies had been stopping his letters from reaching his father, but they also made sure that all the businesses running under General Manor would come to a stop soon enough.

    The Garment Shop was one of those businesses and back when it was in its full bloom, it was one of the most profitable businesses of the General manor. But it had been nearly two years since the shop was closed by Gu Chen and all of a sudden, this mysterious girl was talking about reopening it.

    "What do you mean?" Gu Chen found himself asking as he kept his eyes fixed on the girl.

    A sigh escaped Jiang Ying Yue''s lips as she stopped her assessment of the poor condition of the room and focused her attention on the Young Master as she questioned, "Am I talking in a foreign language? How come you are having a hard time understanding such a simple thing? I''m saying that I want to become your business partner to reopen the Clothes Store owned by your family."

    Gu Chen was silent as he tried to put his thoughts into words. "I understood that part. But what I''m trying to ask is why... Why do you want to become my business partner? Aren''t you aware of my condition? There are so many risks and uncertainties. Why are you still wasting your time and effort on my shop?"

    Jiang Ying Yue chuckled softly as she heard his words. How badly she wanted to tell him that he was absolutely wrong about her. She wasn''t wasting her time and effort, instead, she was trying her best to find a way to save as much money as possible.

    And if making an enemy with the Prime Minister manor would give her benefit in her business then she had no problems with that. It was not like she had any personal problems with the Prime Minister or his family but she needed to think about her profit first and foremost.

    She would surely have gone to Prime Minister Manor with a partnership deal if she hadn''t found out that their entire family was filled with traitors and corrupted people who could do anything for money and power. She would rather become an enemy with such people instead of becoming their partner.

    Clearing her throat, she opened her mouth to answer Gu Chen''s question in a serious and calm tone. "When I met you last time, I knew almost nothing about you or your story. I''m new here and all I want to do is to successfully establish my business here. The best way to do that is to find a powerful backing in the Capital."

    She stopped for a second as she looked directly into his dark eyes before continuing, "After doing a lot of investigation, I found out about all that is currently going on in the Capital. Of course, my first choice was Prime Minister Manor but I don''t want to work with such people who won''t think twice before ending my life for their benefit if such a situation appeared in the future. Almost all the powerful families here are either partners or underlings of the Prime Minister. You are my last option left... and after a lot of thinking, I have decided to place my bet on you."

    To say that Gu Chen was surprised by her straightforwardness would be an understatement. He was not expecting her to come clean with him. Though there were still many questions swirling in his brain, he could tell that she was not lying to him.

    "But our General Manor is no longer what it was supposed to be in the past..." That was all he could say before he trailed off.

    "I know. No matter how much you want to hear otherwise, the truth is that the current condition of your General Manor is really in tatters. But it is also true that, unlike others, you won''t betray your savior. Besides, I''m sure once General Gu and Young Marquis will return, things will only turn better. Once again, I''m only thinking about my benefits, and currently... you seemed like someone from whom I can benefit a lot." Jiang Ying Yue spoke truthfully, not finding any reason to hide her true motives.

    "You..." Gu Chen stared at the girl but failed to find any words to speak. It suddenly seemed like she was ready to exploit him.

    "What''s your plan? What do you want to do with the shop?" He asked after a few minutes of silence, right before his guard knocked on the door.

    "You can keep the ownership of the shop but I want you to sign a partnership contract with me. I''ll be an equal partner, an equal boss of the store. Besides, we will divide the profit into 65 and 35. I''ll take 65 and you will take 35. And before you speak... I''m the one who''s going to put all the effort into the shop, I''m the one who''s going to face all the hardships, I''m the one who will be working day and night... Naturally, I''m the one who deserves the bigger share of the profit." Jiang Ying Yue made sure to not leave any place for an argument.

    "But..." Gu Chen tried to speak but the girl stopped him.

    "No need to worry about your enemies. Spread the rumor that because of financial problems, you have sold your Cloth Shop to someone. They won''t target you after that."

 Chapter 57 - Partners (Part Two)

    It took just a few hours for the rumor of ''Blessed Silk'' getting a new owner to spread all around the Capital City. People were excited to see the person who finally dared to buy that jinxed shop.

    Though no one dared to say it out loud, they all knew that Lin family had been eyeing the ''Blessed Silk'' for quite some time, and they had from time to time created troubles for Gu Chen Xi to make him sell the shop to them.

    In the past two years, the Lin family had overpowered the clothing market with the help of the Prime Minister and other high officials. Currently, the ''Lin Garments Shop'' was the biggest and most popular garment store in the entire Capital City.

    While everyone was busy discussing the identity of the new owner of ''Blessed Silk'', Jiang Ying Yue was negotiating some important rules of the contract with Gu Chen Xi.

    "You are not serious, are you?" Gu Chen Xi asked as he pointed at the fifth clause on the third page of the contract.

    "Why not?" Jiang Ying Yue asked in return, staring at the young man with a confused look on her face.

    "What do you mean by this? Of course, it''s not possible. You are asking me to lend you all my servants. But then what about me?" Gu Chen questioned the girl as he refused to back down this time.

    "Can you not act like a spoiled brat? You have clearly been exploiting these poor souls. You can''t pay them, you can''t protect them and you even want them to serve you 24/7. I''m trying to employ these devoted servants of yours. They deserve proper salaries and benefits for their loyalty and hard work. How dare you question my benevolence?" Jiang Ying Yue hurriedly tried to put forward the bigger picture.

    To her surprise, the young man not only smirked at her words but even dared to chuckle as if she was telling jokes. Before she could question him about it, the man already started speaking.

    "After yesterday, I''ve realized that you are someone who loves saving money and would try her best to get things done without wasting a single copper coin. So, you don''t have to act in front of me. You are clearly not worried about my servants. You just want to save money for hiring new servants for the shop."

    Ying Yue was silent for a few seconds as she sipped the herbal tea while observing Gu Chen. The young man was sure a sharp observer and it was hard to trick him.

    "So what? Even though I''m thinking for myself, in the end, my offer is still going to provide help to your servants." She finally spoke as she looked at the man with raised eyebrows, challenging him to refuse her offer.

    Gu Chen stared at the woman for a few seconds before he turned his attention to the papers of contract that were lying on the table. He would not deny that so far, Xiao Yue''s offer seemed to be the best thing that happened to him and his family in the past two hours but he still was having a hard time deciding if he should trust the girl or not.

    Letting out a deep sigh, he pulled the papers closer, and once again looked through all the clauses before he signed them. If he was being gifted with this sudden chance to change his ill fate then he was ready to grasp it. He just wished that he won''t regret it in the future.

    A small smile appeared on Jiang Ying Yue''s face as she accepted one set of the contract papers and safely tucked them in her sleeves. She was one step closer to her mission of earning lots and lots of money.

    "Since the contract is settled, let''s go and visit the shop. I''m sure it needs a lot of cleaning after being abandoned for such a long time." She said with enthusiasm and stood up to head out of the tavern where they had met to sign the deal.

    Gu Chen didn''t question her and just followed behind along with his team of servants who seemed half excited and half afraid of what was awaiting them in this new deal between their Young Master and Miss Yue.

    ***

    "You are looking tired." Silver commented as soon as he noticed Jiang Ying Yue entering her bed-chamber.

    It was after six in the evening and she just returned after spending over seven hours cleaning and reorganizing the ''Blessed Silk'' with the help of the servants of Gu Chen.

    "Don''t talk. I''m about to pass out. I so badly want to enjoy a luxurious bath and sleep in a soft bed for at least tonight. Unfortunately, that luxury has been snatched away from me." Jiang Ying Yue recalled her memories of the previous life when she used to enjoy her life like a damn Queen and now she was reduced to a peasant.

    Silver stood up from where he was sitting next to the window and went closer to where his mate was standing in the center of the room as she massaged the sore muscles of her arms.

    "Come here. Let me help you." He offered but was immediately rejected coldly when the girl stepped away, putting space between the two of them as she stared at him with a sharp look in her eyes.

    "Don''t even think about tricking me this time. I''m not going to let you take advantage of me this time. We need to keep our distance until I either complete my bond with at least one of my soul mates or find the third one. There are no negotiations!" She added the last line hurriedly as she saw him opening his mouth to object to her.

    "You are so cruel." Silver muttered as he returned her cold stare and after scoffing at her ridiculous restriction, he teleported out of her room.

    A sigh left Jiang Ying Yue''s lips as she felt a little sad for once again creating distance between the two of them but she needed to think about Silver''s safety. Their desire and longing for each other were so intense that they could easily lose control and end up hurting each other by breaking the time rule that was ticking over their mate bond.

    She shook her head to get rid of the thoughts and took off her outer robe before slipping out of her shoes. She let her hair loose and took off her dress which left her in a thin inner robe but it was still covering her from top to bottom.

    She sat down on the floor with her back resting against her bed as she closed her eyes and let her body relax. Her mind pulled on the images of her secret desire as she tried to recall how great a nice long bath felt.

    It did not take long before her imagination made her feel like she was indeed sitting in a tub of hot water that was not only helping her get rid of all the dirt but was also making her sore muscles loosen up.

    The feeling of warm water touching her skin made a sigh escape her lips and that was when her eyes flew open as she felt water rushing into her mouth.

    As she tried to stand up, her head finally emerged out of the water and she started coughing out loud while trying to grasp as much oxygen as possible in the meanwhile.

    It took her some time but she finally got herself under control. Jiang Ying Yue hurriedly looked around and realized that she was standing in some kind of swimming pool but it did not seem to be one of the modern times.

    She was in the middle of assessing her surroundings when her gaze landed on the person who was silently standing on the other side of the pool with a dumbfounded expression on his handsome face.

    "What... What are you doing here? H-how did you come here?" The man asked as he finally found his voice. One moment he was enjoying a bath all alone and the very next second an unexpected guest emerged out from under the water.

    He waited for the girl to answer his questions but Jiang Ying Yue was too busy to pay any attention to his questions.

    She felt her throat drying up as her eyes trailed all over the naked upper body of the man. Beads of water were trickling down the fine muscular arms and chest, making her gulp down her saliva as she tried her best to not appear like a pervert. But it was definitely not an easy job.

    "What are you looking at? C-can... Can you not look at me like that?" Wang Shu tried to cover his chest with his arms, completely forgetting for a moment that he had spiritual powers that could make clothes appear through thin air. He was just too flustered to get caught in a similar situation by the girl for a second time.

 Chapter 58 - Fire Of Desire

    "You..."

    Wang Shu tried to move away when the girl suddenly started moving closer to him, only to realize that he had nowhere to go as he was already standing in the corner of the pool.

    "How did you do this?" Jiang Ying Yue asked as she stopped moving and stood a few feet away from the man who was looking like a scared cat. Was he worried that she would pounce on him again? What nonsense!

    "What are you talking about?" Wang Shu questioned with a confused expression on his face as he kept his eyes glued on the girl. He was not going to give her another chance of taking advantage of him.

    Jiang Ying Yue raised her eyebrows as she looked at the man with a questioning look. He genuinely seemed to be confused about her question. "I''m asking you about how you managed to call me here? What kind of power is this one? So far, I''ve already seen people summoning spirits and angels but this is the first time I got to experience it myself."

    The expression on Wang Shu''s face was similar to that of a completely confused person who had no idea what she was talking about.

    "Lady Jiang, no one summoned you here if that''s what you are trying to ask. You appeared here on your own out of nowhere." Wang Shu finally answered when he realized that girl looked serious about her questions. Somehow, she really thought that he was the one who summoned her. Why would he even do that? Just because he was thinking about her right before she appeared in the pool didn''t mean that he summoned her.

    "Are you sure?" Jiang Ying Yue asked as she stared at the Immortal. If he didn''t summon her then how and why did she appear in his pool... Just because she was craving a bath?

    Nothing seemed to make sense. This was the first time, Jiang Ying Yue had come across such a bizarre phenomenon. The same could be said for Wang Shu. Neither of them realized that it was their soulmate bond that brought them together.

    Both of them became silent as they struggled with their jumbled thoughts. It was Wang Shu who finally could not help himself and decided to break the silence. "Since we both don''t want you to be here, shouldn''t you leave now?"

    Jiang Ying Yue raised her eyebrows as she looked at the man with questioning eyes. "How? You can''t be expecting me to walk out of this pool in my current state, or are you?"

    The immediate blush that appeared on his cheeks as Wang Shu noticed the lack of her clothes, made Jiang Ying Yue smirk.

    "You... Let... Let me help you...!" He finally spoke in a flustered tone, trying his best to not look directly at her.

    "Okay! I will thank you then." Jiang Ying Yue replied with a small smirk on her face as she once again started moving closer to the Immortal who immediately turned to look at her with a frightened look on his face.

    "Wh... W-What are you... you doing...?" asked Wang Shu as he found his back hitting the wall of the pond behind him. He had nowhere to escape and the girl was standing right in front of him.

    To be honest, Jiang Ying Yue herself had no idea about what she was trying to do. She just had a sudden urge of playing with him since he seemed so flustered at the moment. Looked like this mate of hers was submissive in nature.

    She stopped when there was just a small space left between their bodies. One of her hands came to rest on his shoulder, her palm finding the softness of his skin to its liking. While she let her other hand move to trace lines on his face. She probably wanted to deny it but the truth was she wanted to entice her mate and see if he would give in under her persuasion.

    While a little voice inside Wang Shu''s head was telling him to run away before it was too late, the bigger part of his brain was already dead under the desire that was erupting inside him. His powers were surging through his entire body as they too wanted to come out and play with his mate.

    "You... you should stop...!" He finally found the words to speak even though he wanted anything but for her to stop whatever she was doing.

    For a mere second, Jiang Ying Yue''s fingers came to a still on his cheeks as she heard the desperation in his voice but then she resumed trailing her fingers down his cheeks and over his throat and then collarbone.

    "Why? Am I that scary? Is my touch not to your liking?" She found herself asking as she looked directly into his dark eyes, trying to see his true thoughts.

    The man immediately shook his head, making her clench her fingers in a tight fist but she relaxed when the words that he spoke next entered her ears.

    "You should stop because... It''s not easy to resist you..." He was genuine and his eyes were filled with the same fire that Jiang Ying Yue could feel burning inside her - it was the fire of desire.

    A small smile made its way to her lips as she inched closer to the man, almost taking away all the gap between their faces. Her warm breath fanned the skin of Wang Shu''s shoulder as she spoke next to his ear, "If it''s that hard... Why are you trying to resist?"

    Not only her question but the faintest touch of her lips against his earlobe that followed her question, made him gasp as he closed his eyes to find the answer to her question.

    Why was he trying to resist her when every fiber in his body was calling her name? Was it because they were strangers? Or was it because he didn''t trust her? Or maybe it was simply because he still having a hard time getting a grip over the mate bond thing that he now shared with her.

    While Wang Shu was busy finding the reason for his hesitancy, Jiang Ying Yue had already pulled herself away from the man. It had been already over a minute and he was still standing there like a statue with his eyes closed. She would only appear desperate if she still decided to push him.

    She had already wracked the lives of these Immortals by suddenly appearing in their lives as a person with whom they were destined to spend their entire lives. It would be immoral of her to push her luck too much at the moment. Not only they needed their time to understand and accept the bond, but even she also needed time to learn more about these men and there''s still a missing one whom she had to find.

    Wang Shu''s eyes flew open only when his ears registered the sound of movements and when he looked around, he found the girl standing outside the pool as she tied the knots of the huge white outer robe that belonged to him.

    "Hurry up and get dressed. You have to send me back to the Cold Palace." She told him before she walked away, heading towards the door that led out of the private pool area.

    ***

    "This is not a sight I was expecting to see. Though it''s not a bad one." Ying Yue heard the familiar voice that belonged to Qing Shan, as soon as she stepped inside the hall.

    The young boy who had led her to his master, bowed and hurriedly disappeared, leaving her alone with the Immortal who was sitting around a stone table as he sipped the wine.

    Jiang Ying Yue decided to stay silent as she just stood there while putting her entire focus on untangling her wet hair. The water that was dripping from her hair was not only creating a puddle on the floor but was also making her outer robe damp.

    A shiver ran through her body when she suddenly felt a warm palm coming in contact with her left hand and as she looked up, she found Qing Shan standing right in front of her as he channeled his power into her body.

    For a few seconds, Jiang Ying Yue felt every cell of her body filling with power that made her vampire powers surge towards this new power to mingle and break out but before it could happen, the bright energy suddenly disappeared, leaving her empty inside and making her soul cry out in despair.

    "What are you doing?" It came out more like a complaint but not in the way she wanted. It was more because he pulled his energy away and not because he channeled his energy into her in the first place.

    "You should learn to be grateful towards people who are trying to help you. It''s not going to harm you in any way." Qing Shan replied with a sigh as she stepped away from her.

 Chapter 59 - Lost In The Wilderness

    Jiang Ying Yue stared at the light pink silk dress that she was wearing. The cloth felt soft against her body and so were the shoes. Her hair was once again dry and styled simply with beautiful golden hairpins. She was feeling like a little princess which was not her taste.

    She stretched out her arms to look closely at her dress before she looked up at the Immortal sitting in front of her. "Really? Do you think this suits me?" She asked while pointing at her dress and accessories.

    "It suits your outer appearance perfectly... but not your attitude." Qing Shan answered as he gave her a small smile.

    Jiang Ying Yue dropped her hands as she stared at the Immortal for a few seconds before she started walking towards the table where he was sitting. "Where is this place? The Star Lake Manor?" She asked while taking a seat opposite him and pouring herself some tea.

    "We are not in the Capital City. This is another one of my houses." Qing Shan replied and watched as the girl''s hands stilled after hearing his reply.

    Letting out a sigh, Jiang Ying Yue gulped down the tea in one go. Now, she definitely needed the help of at least one of these two mysterious Immortals to return to the Cold Palace.

    Clearing her throat, she turned her attention to Qing Shan as she spoke in a calm tone, "It''s pretty late now. I should be leaving."

    According to her, this was a good hint. However, she seriously underestimated Qing Shan who nodded his head in response before pointing in the direction of the door as he spoke, "One of the servants will show you the gate."

    "You..." Jiang Ying Yue stared at the man as she tried to not gift him with some favorite profanities of hers.

    Letting out a sigh to calm herself down, she stood up from her seat, and not sparing another look in the direction of the stupid Immortal, she walked out of the room.

    *****

    "Why are you two carrying around such long faces? Are you worrying about that woman too?" Qing Shan asked the two spirit beasts who were standing behind Wang Shu. Talking about his brother, even he appeared to be a little worried.

    "Master, Miss Jiang is probably the future Madam of the Cloud Realm. How can we not be worried about her safety? You just let her walk out in the dangerous wilderness in the middle of the night." Xiang Lin was the one who spoke.

    Qing Shan turned his attention to his brother who was playing with his jade ring, something that he only used to do when he felt anxious.

    Seeing everyone worrying about that silly girl, he too felt anxious. The area around the manor was indeed filled with hundreds of traps and wild beasts that lurked in the shadows.

    The manor was located in the middle of the mountains and all around it was a dense forest that was filled with countless dangers. It was almost impossible for that girl to walk out of the forest alive.

    All this time he was waiting for her to return to him as soon as she realized that she won''t be able to survive outside on her own. But to his surprise, it had been over an hour but she still had to return.

    What were the chances that she already had encountered something dangerous? The thought only made him more anxious as the fear of losing her suddenly dawned over him.

    "Ah Shu, let''s go and find her."

    - - -

    How long had it been? Two hours, or probably three? As far as Qing Shan could tell in his current frantic state of mind, only an hour or so was left before dawn.

    They had been searching for the girls for hours, but they still had to find even her shadow.

    "Maybe she''s already back to the Cold Palace." Even Wang Shu didn''t look convinced as he spoke those words but at the moment, nothing else was making sense.

    None of the traps around the manor had been triggered. There were no traces of any kind of fight between any beast or her in the entire forest. Xiang Lin had also searched the nearby villages but there was still no sign of the girl. It was like she disappeared into thin air the moment she stepped out of the manor.

    "Master, let me go and check in the Cold Palace." Xiang Lin requested and Wang Shu nodded his head, giving her permission.

    At least, the two of them knew that she wasn''t hurt. Though none of the two of them knew how to use the bond to find her location, they were still able to sense that wherever she was at the moment, she''s not hurt.

    "Let''s head back to the manor and wait for Xiang Lin''s return. If that girl won''t be back in the Imperial Palace, we will ask her male companion to look for her. He would probably know how to find her." Wang Shu suggested to his brother who nodded his head in agreement.

    If Qing Shan had known that such a problem would arise because of his carelessness, he would never have allowed her to step out of the manor. But it was already too late for him to regret it.

    The brothers returned to the manor and entered the room where Qing Shan and that girl had chatted before she left the manor.

    "She..."

    Wang Shu''s horrified tone made Qing Shan look at his brother only to find the latter staring at something... or someone...

    "How did... What are you doing here?" He felt confused about whether to feel angry or relieved after seeing the girl sitting around the table, sipping tea as if she was there to enjoy the luxury.

    "Where were you guys all this time? I''ve been waiting for quite some time. I didn''t even get to sleep. My eyes are..."

    Jiang Ying Yue trailed off as she noticed the weird expressions on the faces of the two Immortals. Were they really that much repulsed by the idea of seeing her? Well, she wasn''t eager about meeting them either. If not for the fact that she ended up getting lost in one of the illusion arrays set near the manor, she would not have returned to the manor after breaking through that illusion array.

    While she was busy in her thoughts, she failed to notice the Immortals who were now standing right in front of her. She only came out of her thoughts when she felt warm palms coming in contact with her wrists.

    Her head jerked up as she looked into the eyes of Wang Shu who was observing her as if he was making sure that she wasn''t injured. "We went to search for you. The forest isn''t safe. What were you thinking when you marched out of the manor? Was it too much to wait for me a few more minutes?"

    He seemed angry but it was an anger that was given by the worry that he felt for her. Jiang Ying Yue felt her heart filling with warmth as she took in the anxious looks hidden in their eyes. It was becoming hard for her to understand these two men. One moment they treated her like they could not stand even her mere sight and the next moment they made her feel like she actually mattered to them... more than they were allowing her to see.

    She would have loved to say that their contrasting behaviors were due to the mate bond but it was not true. The two of them were completely unaware of the bond and how it worked. Even though the bond was making them feel a pull towards her, it was nowhere near where they would disregard their real feelings towards her.

    A soul bond only made the feelings of desire, love, affection, and care increase between people. If no such feelings were in existence to start with, an incomplete bond could not force them to feel worried about her to such levels.

    Then were they worried because she''s important for whatever mission they had planned against the Empress Dowager? Was that why their feelings towards her were becoming stronger?

    Jiang Ying Yue felt her head throbbing at the thought of these questions. She did not want them to only see her as a tool for the completion of their mission. She wanted them to accept her as their true mate. Was she asking for too much?

    "Are you even listening to us? Miss Jiang?" She was shaken out of her thoughts when she felt Qing Shan patting her shoulder as if he was trying to wake her up.

    "Sorry... I''m not feeling good. Can you guys please help me return to the Cold Palace?" She tried to not sound as miserable as she was feeling inside her heart.

    Looked like her biggest mission was not to start a new life in this world nor was it to fight against Empress Dowager. Her biggest mission was to complete her bonds with her mates and find the intimate happiness that she deserved.

 Chapter 60 - Urgent Work

    Jiang Ying Yue stepped out of the ''Blessed Silk'' store and stood there in front of the shop for a while to observe the bustling street of the marketplace.

    She had just spent the entire morning setting up the store and arranging everything. Even though she has learned about fashion designing in her previous life, she still needed someone experienced to take care of the garment business.

    Unfortunately, all the previous workers of the Blessed Silk had already moved to work in the other stores, and no one from the General manor was capable enough to take over the task.

    She massaged her temples as she felt her head throbbing. The lack of sleep from the previous night was not helping her situation at all.

    When she requested Qing Shan and Wang Shu to let her return to the Cold Palace, they did agree without any condition which was quite surprising to her. But by the time she returned, it was already half-past four in the morning, and she barely got to sleep for an hour or so before Silver woke her up for their physical training session.

    Her attention was grabbed by the sound of a carriage approaching her and when she looked in the direction of the sound, she found it right in front of her shop.

    A boy dressed in bright red clothes jumped down and approached her. He looked white young, probably seventeen or eighteen years old but she was surprised to feel a thick aura surrounding him - a sign that he was pretty powerful in martial arts.

    "Miss Jiang." The boy greeted her with a bow, startling Ying Yue in the process as she hurriedly looked around to see if anyone had noticed them. Luckily, people were not paying any attention to them, at least not the ones who were closer.

    She finally returned her attention to the boy as she asked in a hushed voice, "Who are you? And how do you know my identity?"

    The boy once again bowed as he answered, "Miss, sorry for causing you discomfort. My master wants to meet you. Please follow me." Saying that he immediately turned around and started walking back towards the carriage. He didn''t even give her a chance to react.

    Not having any other choice, she followed behind him. After all, she could not take the risk of irritating whoever was the master of the young boy. Her identity was at stake.

    The boy opened the door of the carriage and moved the curtains aside a little bit, telling her to enter the carriage without even voicing out the words.

    Jiang Ying Yue kept standing next to the carriage as she pondered on the current situation. More and more people were getting attracted towards the huge carriage that seemed to belong to someone from the higher-ups just by the look of it. Though she didn''t want to take the risk of getting her identity revealed, she also didn''t want to enter the carriage of some stranger.

    Just when she was battling inside her head to come to a conclusion, a familiar voice spoke from inside the carriage. "You better hurry up if you don''t want me to visit your shop even before it''s opening."

    She recognized that voice and also the snarkiness and certainty in his tone. The man was once again trying to play with her. Letting out a huff of annoyance, Jiang Ying Yue climbed up the steps and entered the carriage.

    As she took the seat next to the window, her eyes landed on the Third Prince who was busy reading a scroll. He didn''t even look at her and just continued to read the scroll.

    The carriage started moving as the two of them sat there in silence. She wanted to wait and hear what he had planned for the day and why did he approach her, but even after several minutes, the man refused to even acknowledge her presence.

    "What the hell do you want from me now?" She finally could not control herself and asked the question that was drilling holes in her mind.

    A small twitch appeared on the Third Prince''s lips which did nothing to calm her down. "I was really looking forward to seeing your patience level and as I expected... you didn''t even last for ten minutes." He spoke in a calm tone while lightly shaking his head as if he was disappointed in her.

    "Is this why I''m here? You wanted to see how patient I''m and that''s why you decided to force me to accompany you on this ride?" She asked the man while struggling to keep her hands from snatching away the scroll from the man.

    Looked like her words did the magic because the Prince finally looked up at her with that small smile still playing on his lips. "Forced? Are you sure, Miss Jiang? You should learn to choose your words carefully because I can''t seem to remember forcing you to enter my carriage."

    Jiang Ying Yue scoffed at his words. The man seriously had no limit when it came to being shameless. He was just like her. As long as being shameless meant that he was the winner, he would keep acting like one.

    "Your Highness, you threatened to enter my shop if I refused to enter your carriage. If that wasn''t forcing me then what it was?" She asked and stared at the man, waiting to hear what he had to say now.

    To her surprise, he chuckled softly at her words as if she had just told him a joke. But the smile disappeared just as quickly as it had appeared. "You are really disappointing me today. Don''t tell me that you really got afraid just after hearing those words of mine. For you, I purposely chose to come out in a disguise. Even if I had entered your shop... no one would have realized that it''s me."

    It was true. Other than the high-ranking officials and some of the selected ones from the younger generation, no one had seen the Third Prince face to face. Even if he had entered her shop, no one would have recognized him in his simple robes.

    But Jiang Ying Yue was too panicked at that moment to pay attention to these details. A sigh escaped her lips as she relaxed in her seat. Her headache was back and she just wanted to sleep. She definitely had no plans about arguing with the Third Prince who loved to tick the bombs inside her.

    "Fine! You win. I''m not in my best state to accept your challenges. Now, can you tell me where you are planning to take me?" She asked him while closing her eyes to lessen the stinging sensation that was making her eyes burn.

    The Third Prince remained silent but this time, Jiang Ying Yue decided to play by his rules and kept her eyes and mouth shut. If he wanted her to be patient then she was going to do exactly that.

    Even though her eyes were closed, she could still feel his gaze on her. It was like he was observing her in silence. Seconds turned into minutes and minutes into an hour, by the time carriage came to a stop, Jiang Ying Yue had already dozed off.

    "Miss Jiang, my carriage isn''t your bed-chamber. You should better wake up." The soft velvety voice woke Jiang Ying Yue from her slumber. When she opened her eyes, she found the Prince already heading out of the carriage.

    While trying to get rid of the drowsiness, she lifted the curtain of the window to look outside and found huge trees blocking her view but her ears did pick up the sounds of people moving around somewhere on the other side of the carriage.

    "Miss Jiang, I don''t have the entire day to waste on you." She heard the voice of the Prince who was still waiting for her to climb out of the carriage.

    Rolling her eyes, she finally stood up and headed towards the door before climbing down. As he came to stand next to the evil Prince, her eyes landed on the huts that were built in a closed space over a cliff.

    Children were running around, hens and chickens were seen while she also noticed pigs, sheep, and cows. There was a group of women washing clothes beside a little pond that was clearly manmade. She even noticed a group of elderly people sitting outside a hut as they played some kind of game.

    "What is this place?" Jiang Ying Yue could not help herself from asking and fortunately, the Prince decided to answer her. "This is a small terrain located near the Capital City. Only around a hundred people or so live here."

    Jiang Ying Yue was surprised by the answer but she still was unable to understand why he had brought her to such a place. To not give the man any more satisfaction, she decided to remain silent even though she was dying to ask more questions.

    The Third Prince turned to look at her with that small smile still playing on his lips as he spoke, "Come, we have urgent work to finish."

 Chapter 61 - Choices

    Jiang Ying Yue gritted her teeth as she tried her best to control her anger. Her gaze was fixed on the Third Prince who was busy enjoying the puppet show.

    Looked like there was a family of seven people living in the small village who were popular for their unique puppetry skills and the Third Prince had taken some time off from his busy schedule to experience the show firsthand.

    Wu Xie felt the cold gaze penetrating the side of his head and when he turned his face to look at the girl, he found a small smile appearing on his lips as he noticed her dark expressions. But instead of commenting, he decided to enjoy the rest of the show in silence and peace.

    It took around half an hour before the show came to an end. Feng Wu handed a pouch of silver taels to the family before he followed his Master and Miss Jiang out of the courtyard where the show was organized.

    "What do you think about the show, Miss Jiang? Do you think it is as good as the rumors say?" The Third Prince questioned the girl as they headed towards the back of the village.

    "I have spent the previous five years of my life in the Cold Palace. It''s my first time watching such a show after coming to Capital City. For me, it was pretty good but I''m not the right person to judge whether it''s better than other puppet shows or not." Jiang Ying Yue answered in a calm tone.

    The three of them approached the wooden fence that was built on the edge of the cliff. The dark canopy of the forest and high mountain peaks were the only sights that they got to see but it sure was a good one.

    "Miss Jiang, since it was a good show according to you, then why you don''t look happy after watching it?" The Prince questioned her as he took a position against the fence that seemed too weak to support his weight.

    "Your Highness, I don''t think it''s safe for you to stand there... Aaahhhh!" Jiang Ying Yue let out a little scream when the man suddenly grabbed her wrist and pulled her closer to him.

    "Miss Jiang, you should not be wasting your energy in worrying about me. If there''s anyone here who''s in grave danger... then it''s you." His voice still sounded musical and calm but the twinkle in his eyes seemed to be carrying evil intents.

    Before Jiang Ying Yue could react to pull herself out of his hold, she both felt and heard the wooden fence giving up on its duty as it cracked from right where the Prince had pinned her against it. And if that was not already bad enough, the evil man gave chuckled softly before he gave her a push, making her lose her balance.

    It only took a blink or two of her eyes before she found herself falling down the cliff while an ethereal face looked down at her from the top with a contented smile on his lips.

    It was probably too late for her to realize it, but the Third Prince seriously needed help with his mental state.

    ***

    A groan escaped Jiang Ying Yue''s lips as she felt the sudden pain all over her body as soon as she woke up from her slumber. Her head was once again throbbing but this time it was far too powerful than before.

    Her back was hurting and so was her left hand. Thankfully, her legs were pretty much fine except for a few scratches and cuts that were decorating her pale skin.

    After examining her body, she finally let her eyes roam over her surroundings. She was lying on a pile of dry leaves inside a cave-like place and as far as she could see, there seemed to be no one else there beside her.

    She tried to stand up on her wobbly legs but it was not an easy job considering her weak body was not in a good state. Somehow, she still managed to walk as she tried to find the opening of the cave.

    Though she found no one in the cave, it was quite clear that someone had helped her while she was unconscious. The last thing she could recall was the smiling face of the Third Prince. After that, she had no more memories before she woke up inside the cave.

    She probably lost her consciousness during her fall. She didn''t even remember falling on the ground, let alone walking inside the cave. Someone was definitely there who saved her from dying. The question was - who?

    She got the answer as soon as she found the entrance of the cave. But it was definitely not something that she was expecting. The Third Prince was sitting on a rock as he played with a dagger. He seemed to be lost in his thoughts but still noticed her as she came to a stop just a few steps away from him.

    "Come here." It was more like an order instead of a request. The man seriously had some issues with his head. After doing all that with her, he still thought that she would listen to him? Hah! He could dream on!

    When Jiang Ying Yue didn''t move at all from her place, Third Prince finally turned his face to look at her only to find a pale face staring back at him with cold eyes and a piercing gaze.

    "You are heavily injured. I''m going to heal you. So... come here." The man once again ordered but this time with a little addition of explanation and softness in his tone.

    However, Jiang Yine Yue still refused to move. She didn''t trust this man at all. He was the one who tried to kill her in the first place and now he was pretending to be caring and all. She would be an idiot to trust such a guy with personality disorder.

    The Third Prince let out a sigh as he stood up and started moving towards the girl who was standing there like a statue. His movements were probably too sudden and quick because she didn''t get the chance to back away or react on time.

    She stared at him wide-eyed as he wrapped his hand around her wrist before channeling his spiritual energy inside her body to heal her.

    "I just wanted you to show me your true abilities while you would have tried to save yourself. According to the information I have, you were supposed to be powerful. Even though you seemed to be weak all the time, I thought that it was just a facade..." He started explaining as he healed her, taking away the pain and discomfort.

    "... Hurting you was never my plan. I not only put your life in danger, but I also failed in protecting you. Please forgive me."

    Jiang Ying Yue wasn''t expecting him to apologize. Well, she wasn''t expecting him to even explain his actions. Though most of his words made no sense to her and only created new questions in her mind, she did saw honestly in his eyes.

    The man finally let go of her hand when her body was perfectly back to normal. There was no longer any sort of pain in her body not was she having any difficulty while moving her limbs.

    "Your Highness, I would be lying if I said that everything is alright. I don''t know what you really want from me and I''m really not interested in getting involved with you and your problems. All I want is to live a life in peace. Is that really too much to ask for?" She was not sure if her question was directed at the man or herself.

    All the incidents happening to her nowadays seemed to remind her that she was not born for living a life with peace and stability. She was destined to either create or face troubles at every turn. Even after coming to a new world, it seemed like her destiny hadn''t changed much.

    "I would have liked to say that it''s not too much... But unfortunately, in your case, it is indeed too much to ask for at the moment. Before you can make your choice, you won''t find any peace in your life." The Prince told her as he looked at her with a weird emotion in his eyes.

    "What choice? And will I be able to live in peace after making my choice?" Jiang Ying Yue asked even though she had no idea about what his words implied.

    The Third Prince chuckled softly as he shook his head. There was a look of sympathy in his eyes while he answered her question, "The choice of which world you want to save. And no, there won''t be any peace in your life after making that choice. Instead.... your life will only become more problematic after making that choice."

 Chapter 62 - The Three Princes

    Wu Xie was so busy observing the changing expressions on Miss Jiang''s face that he was slightly taken aback when she suddenly turned her attention at the entrance. Her eyes suddenly looked sharp as her aura darkened. She no longer looked anything like the stupid and timid girl with whom he was chatting just a moment ago.

    "What is it?" He asked while still keeping his eyes focused on her.

    "Someone''s here." She whispered in a hushed tone before she dragged him to hide behind a huge rock standing right next to the entrance of the gave.

    Only after hearing her words did Wu Xie realized the disturbance in the area around them.. She was right. There were indeed some people heading towards the cave.

    A smile appeared on his lips when he recognized those uninvited guests, except for one. He was about to let the girl know that they were safe but at the last moment, he changed his mind and just stood there in silence.

    On the other hand, Jiang Ying Yue was trying to decide in which direction she should run. So far, speed was one of the vampire abilities that she could control almost perfectly. If she couldn''t save herself by fighting against the enemy, she sure would be able to escape by running away.

    Of course, there were chances of her failing badly even in running away. One such example was the incident that happened previously between her and the Third Prince.

    Her attention was pulled towards the three men who appeared in front of the entrance and she found her body relaxing as she recognized all three of them.

    "Right! This is the place. Even I can feel her presence now." She heard Qing Shan speaking as he looked at the cave.

    Without wasting another second, she emerged out of her hiding place and ran towards her men. Even before she knew it, she was wrapped in strong arms that pulled her against a firm chest, making her relax immediately.

    "You are alright. Can''t you give me a break? It''s not a good feeling to suddenly being unable to feel your presence or find you missing. It''s really not." Silver whispered into her ear as one of his hands came to rest on her nape while the other tightened its hold around her waist.

    Jiang Ying Yue rested her head against his chest, hearing the rapid beats of his heart while giving both of them the time that they needed to calm down.

    "Can you two show some decency? There are other people here too." Wang Shu commented with a huff as he moved closer to them before grabbing Ying Yue''s hand to pull her out of Silver''s embrace.

    "If you are having that much problem then why don''t you look away?" Silver commented immediately as he stepped away from the Immortal with Jiang Ying Yue still safely secured in his arms.

    "You..."

    "Enough, you guys! Do you think that the fight back in the manor was not enough to calm you both down so you are now trying to start all over again?" Qing Shan decided to speak as he gave a hard glare to both his Second brother and Silver.

    "What fight? Did you guys fought... You are hurt!" Jiang Ying Yue shouted in alarm as she noticed the blood on Silver''s lip. There was even a huge bruise on his left cheek.

    "What happened? Who hurt you?" She asked him as she cupped his face to observe his injuries.

    But before Silver could get the chance to answer any of her questions, Wang Shu hurriedly spoke up, and by the note of his tone, he seemed to be kind of unhappy.

    "He''s not the only one who got hurt. Brother Shan and I were also hurt because of him. He even destroyed the furniture in the manor. Why are you only worried about him?" The complaint was clearly audible in his tone.

    "Am I the only one who caused the destruction of your beautiful manor? And as far as I can see, neither you nor your brother Shan seemed to be hurt." Silver quickly remarked while making a pitiful face as he looked into Jiang Ying Yue''s eyes who was silently observing them.

    She gave Silver a soft smile before she turned her attention towards the two Immortals. "He''s right. While I can see his injuries clearly, you and your brother seemed to be as good and healthy as usual. If you have wanted to play the victim card, you should not have healed yourselves before showing me your injuries. Now, I''m giving the benefit of doubt to Silver."

    It was clear that neither Qing Shan nor Wang Shu was happy with her decision and the latter even made his unhappiness obvious as he gave a hard glare to Silver who finally let his powers heal him.

    "You have such a despicable man living beside you. I would advise you to always be on alert." Qing Shan remarked as he got another glimpse of the powers that Silver had in store. The man was really powerful, way more than what they expected. He could easily take down ten or so Immortals of the God Realm all alone.

    A small twitch appeared on Jiang Ying Yue''s lips as she heard his words. "You don''t have to worry about that. I know better than anyone else exactly what type of person he is." Her message was sound and clear in her words.

    "What a lovely view this is. Are you guys going to keep ignoring my presence?" Wu Xie finally decided to speak and pull some attention towards himself. However, he found that his eyes were having a hard time looking away from the man who was holding Miss Jiang in his arms.

    "You still have the cheek to speak. What do you think you were doing by pushing her down the cliff?" Qing Shan looked quite angry as he marched towards Wu Xie.

    "I was just experimenting. Why are looking so angry?" The Third Prince answered but his voice came out a little low and apologetic.

    "Experimenting? You sure are becoming bold day but day." Qing Shan seemed to only become angrier after listening to Third Prince''s excuse of an explanation.

    "How did you guys know that he pushed me down the cliff?" Jiang Ying Yue asked as she looked at the two Immortals with questioning eyes before turning her attention at Silver.

    "Feng Wu told us." It was Wang Shu who answered her. Jiang Yung Yue recalled that Feng Wu was the young boy who followed the Third Prince.

    "I''m serious. I didn''t mean to harm her. You guys told me that she''s not normal like before and after meeting her at the banquet, I did realize that she was unlike her previous self but was acting like a meek person to hide her identity. I just wanted her to reveal her true ability in order to protect herself. I did not know that she will get injured so heavily... but look, I''ve healed her." Wu Xie hurriedly tried to once again explain that he really didn''t mean any harm.

    "You guys know each other?" Jiang Ying Yue asked when she picked the meaning behind the first few sentences that the Third Prince just uttered in his defense.

    "You are probably the luckiest person in the entire Hyuang Empire at the moment..."

    Jiang Ying Yue raised her eyebrows in question as she heard the ironic words spoken by the Third Prince. He sure knew how to joke. If she was the luckiest person then she really wanted to meet the one with the worst luck.

    "... Not only you got to meet me, the Third Prince of this Empire, more than once and that too privately, you also got the luck of meeting the First Prince and the Second Prince." The Third Prince finished as he came to stand next to his two brothers.

    "First and Second Prince? You two are..." Jiang Ying Yue felt like someone had just slapped her and it was probably her good luck. The three men whom she wanted to avoid the most in this new life of hers, in the end, she still ended up getting entangled with all three of them.

    And if that was not enough, two out of those three men were now her soul mates, the destined ones who were fated to earn her trust and love.

    Suddenly, her heart stopped for a beat as a thought or more like a realization dawned on her. She found her gaze landing on the Third Prince at the same moment when her heartbeats picked up their speed.

    She felt Silver''s hands tightening around her arm as if he too had come to the same conclusion as her.

    She was destined to have three fated soulmates. Out of the three Princes, two were already bound to her with the sacred bond. What were the chances that her third and final soulmate was none other than the Third Prince?

 Chapter 63 - A Demon

    ''Soulmate'' - this one word held so much history and power in it that barely anyone could delve into its depth.

    This was the word that supernaturals used for their life partners, those whom they loved and cared for from the bottom of their hearts. A soulbond was said to be the most beautiful and sacred bond between lovers that not only connected their hearts but also their souls with each other.

    A bond that was respected and cherished since it was not only hard to find one''s destined soulmate but also because a soulbond was the most precious and beautiful present the universe had gifted to the supernaturals.

    And today, after spending over fifteen hundred years alone without her destined mates by her side, Jiang Ying Yue had finally got the chance to change her sad life into a happy one.

    Her three destined soulmates were standing right in front of her eyes while the man whom she had loved for the past few centuries was also there with her..

    All that she needed to do was to take a step towards these four handsome men who were fated to win her heart and stay by her side as her family. Was she ready to take that step?

    "Is everything alright?" Qing Shan broke the heavy silence as he asked the question in a concerned tone as he noticed the sudden change in Jiang Ying Yue and Silver''s expressions.

    Ying Yue felt Silver''s hold on her arm loosening up a little bit as the man took a step back to put some distance between himself and her.

    It was true that Silver had been waiting for the day when all her three destined soulmates would appear and she would complete her bond with them. After all, that''s the only way for him to start a happy and positive relationship with her.

    But at the same time, it was also true that his heart was still not prepared in some ways. Whether he liked it or not, the three of them were her destined soulmates. Even if there was no love between them at the moment, nothing could be said about the future.

    As far as he could see, the Princes were not only otherworldly handsome but they were also powerful. They were rich and could protect her. And most importantly, they seemed to be nice people. They had strong characters and they seemed to act like they only cared about themselves, but he could see the truth in their eyes.

    Even though the Princes were almost clueless about the soulbond and how it worked, they had already started giving under the pull of the bond that was making them not only care for Jiang Ying Yue but also to learn more about her to understand her in a better way.

    Silver was pulled out of his thoughts when he felt soft fingers wrapping themselves around his palm as he felt a slight pull towards the girl who had been ruling his heart for ages by now.

    "Why are you stepping away? Just because the three of them are here doesn''t mean that I don''t need you here with me anymore. Stay here with me... by my side..." Her voice was soft and low but it was enough to kick away all the self-doubts and horrible thoughts that were erupting in his head.

    Silver let a weak but genuine smile appear on his lips before he nodded his head in response and shifted to stand right next to her while wrapping his own fingers around her small hand.

    Jiang Ying Yue gave him a warm smile before she turned her attention towards Qing Shan and the other two Princes who had been silently observing the exchange between Silver and her.

    "Everything is alright. I just realized that... I''ve found my final soulmate..." Her eyes landed on the Third Prince who seemed to be having a hard time grasping the situation and whatever she was talking about.

    "Wu Xie too?" Wang Shu was the first one to react as he stared at her before turning to look at his younger brother with a quizzical look on his face. It looked like either he was having doubts about her words or he was probably just laughing at fate for trying up him and both his brothers with the same girl.

    "Wait! What''s going on here? What are you all talking about? And... and... who''s this man beside you?" As Wu Xie finally let out the words that had been burning him from inside out for the past several minutes, he once again felt the sudden urge of moving forward and pulling that unknown man away from the girl. The two of them were being too shameless for their own good. They were far too daring to act so intimately with each other in front of him and his brothers. How brazen!

    If eyes could kill then Silver would have already lost his life a long time ago. By the look of it, the Third Prince didn''t seem to like him at all, or probably, it was his closeness with Jiang Ying Yue that the Prince was having a hard time digesting. Overall, Wu Xie was feeling jealous even without realizing it.

    "Miss Jiang seemed to be not in a good health. Let''s not waste any more time here. We will continue this talk after reaching the manor." Qing Shan decided to apply a brake on the situation that was turning intense with every passing second.

    Wu Xie was ready to object as no one had given him any answer but all words vanished when he saw his eldest brother suddenly pulling Miss Jiang in his arms before he securely wrapped his hands around her.

    "I''ll take you there." Qing Shan took the time to say these few words before he immediately teleported away with a slightly surprised Jiang Ying Yue.

    Wu Xie watched both his Second brother and that other man with Silver hair also teleporting away after Qing Shan left with Jiang Ying Yue. A sigh left his lips as he realized that even though he wanted to return to the Imperial Palace asap, his heart was determined to follow the girl.

    ***

    Jiang Ying Yue stared at the milky skin of the wrist that Wang Shu had just placed in front of her. She could see the veins and her vampire hearing picked up the sound of his heartbeat that was increasing with each passing second.

    "What do you mean by this?" She asked him while trying to keep her fangs from coming out as the temptation of sinking them in his flesh and taking a slight taste of his blood was making her lose her mind.

    Even without meaning it, she ended up recalling the day and that specific moment when she got to taste his sweet blood for the very first time. A groan almost slipped from her lips but she did manage to stop herself at the very last moment.

    "Don''t make me say it. Just do it quickly. You are looking so pale and tired." Wang Shu murmured as he turned his face away, trying his best to not look at her because her current state made his heart throb with pain.

    He felt a slight push on the hand that he had placed in front of her, and it made him once again turn his attention towards the girl.

    "I''ll be alright in a while. You don''t have to do this. I don''t need blood to heal myself every time I''m short on energy." She spoke while focusing her eyes anywhere but on his hand. For some weird reason, he felt like she was rejecting him and this feeling wasn''t at all to his liking.

    "Are you forgetting that you are no longer able to use your powers? There was indeed a time when you only needed blood every once in a couple of months but the situation has changed now. Right at this moment, you are just like a newly turned vampire who needs blood every single day to survive. Stop pretending otherwise." Silver decided to remind her of the bitter truth that she had been trying to ignore all this time.

    "Every day?" Qing Shan asked as he looked at the exhausted state of Miss Jiang.

    "Yes, every day. She''s too weak at the moment to survive without blood. She needs to consume a little blood almost every day until the day her body will be strong enough to... Well, you got the gist. She needs blood." Silver decided to divert the attention as he was having a hard time explaining everything without talking about the fact that Jiang Ying Yue''s body and soul didn''t belong to each other, at least not yet!

    "Why does she need to drink blood?" This time it was Wu Xie who finally could not help but speak up. It was getting harder for him to keep up with everything that was happening in front of his eyes.

    A small smirk appeared on Silver''s lips as he turned his face to look at the Third Prince as he answered his question, "That''s because... she''s a demon..."

 Chapter 64 - Not A Saint

    "She''s not!" The words were out of Wu Xie''s mouth even before he realized but the good thing was that he didn''t regret saying these words at all.

    "Are you sure, Your Highness? Can''t you see that she needs blood of others to stay alive? If someone like her isn''t a demon then who is?" Silver wasn''t ready to give up yet.

    "Monster would have been a better term. That''s how mortals used to call us vampires... or maybe blood-suckers..." Jiang Ying Yue spoke in a low voice, pulling everyone''s attention at her.

    While her words made Silver chuckle softly, the three Princes didn''t seem to like her joke at all.

    "You are calling yourself a monster. What made you think that you are one? You don''t go around hurting others even if you need blood to survive." Wang Shu was the first one to spoke as he looked at the girl with an unbelievable expression decorating his face.

    "I''m just stating the facts. And what made you think that I won''t hate people? My kind is known for draining humans of their blood and killing them without a second thought. I''m no Saint." Jiang Ying Yue responded with a smirk as she recalled the memories of the time when she was a newly turned vampire.

    Though her sire did a great of teaching her the rules of the vampire world and made sure that she won''t end up hurting the mortals while feeding, there were still some incidents where she almost ended up losing her control. It took her more than a few decades to get a grip on her feeding instincts but thankfully, she never killed a human while feeding.

    But that didn''t make her innocent in any way. She had spilled enough blood to spend the afterlife in the depths of hell with Hades and his minions.

    "So, you are saying that you will kill innocent people to keep yourself alive, right?" Qing Shan asked as he stepped closer to where she was sitting on the steps inside the huge study.

    "Good that you know." Jiang Ying Yue muttered in response but kept her eyes fixed on her feet. Did these men really think that she was someone who won''t hurt others for her own benefit? How childish!

    "Fine! Then do it. You badly need blood right now. Go out of this manor and find someone to satiate your hunger. I want to see with my eyes exactly how dark and evil your heart is." Qing Shan seemed to be challenging her as if he did not believe at all that she could be a bad guy if the situation demanded.

    Jiang Ying Yue stood up as soon as he finished speaking. The sudden movement made her feel dizzy for a few seconds as darkness appeared in front of her eyes, making her lose focus on the world around her.

    She felt a hand on her right elbow but she shrugged it off as the dizziness had already disappeared. She fixed her fiery gaze on the First Prince of the Hyuang Empire before she started speaking. "Don''t you dare challenge me. I don''t know why you have this misconception about me that I won''t hurt others for my advantage but let me make this very clear, I won''t even blunk before taking someone''s life if it meant that I can be saved by doing it."

    Though every single word that she just said was true, the First Prince seemed to not believe her even a little bit, and the other two Princes also had the same expression on their faces. What did she do to make these men see her like the buddha with the purest and kindest soul?

    "I''m still waiting, Miss Jiang." Qing Shan moved closer to her, only leaving a little space between the two of them. If he stretched out his hand, he could easily pull her into his arms, something that he had been struggling not to do.

    "You..."

    Jiang Ying Yue wanted to make that challenging smirk disappear from his face and all that she needed to do was to go out and find a random man to feed. Then why her legs refused to do so? Why she was unable to walk out and do exactly what these men thought that she could not do?

    "Enough! Can''t you see that her health is getting worse with every passing minute?" Silver decided to intervene when he noticed that Qing Shan was only making her situation worsen.

    It was like hearing Silver''s words made her finally realize the poor condition of her body too because the very next second she started feeling like her body was no longer able to stay upright.

    The world around her started spinning and her legs finally decided to give up, making her lose her balance. She was ready to feel pain consume her body after hitting the floor but to her surprise, instead of the hard cold floor, her body landed into the soft and warm embrace of Wang Shu.

    "Do you want to...?" She heard the Second Prince asking someone a question that he didn''t finish for some reason. Her eyes were closed so she was unable to see what was happening around her and her head was throbbing too much to pay attention to their movements.

    "I can''t. You should go ahead. It won''t be a good thing if she ended up losing her control because of hunger." It was Silver who responded in a worried tone. She felt his fingers brushing against her temples softly before she felt him walking away.

    "It would be good if you let her feed either from your wrist or neck. The latter one is definitely better but it''s up to you. We all will be waiting in the other room." Silver gave last-minute advice to Wang Shu before he made the other two Princes leave the study along with him.

    - - -

    Wang Shu watched as the door of the study closed after Silver and his brothers left. He returned his attention to the girl who was laying in his arms.

    She seemed so cute and peaceful whenever she was unconscious or just sleeping because it was the only time when she was not trying to put on a facade of being strong and merciless.

    Though he didn''t want to admit it, she was definitely the only woman in the world who had grabbed his attention from their very first encounter. She was strong without any doubt but not in the way she showed. She was definitely brave, braver than anyone he had seen before and she was also foolish but it only made her seem adorable.

    He shook his head when he realized that his mind was getting filled with unwanted thoughts that were making him smile for a weird reason. What was wrong with him?

    Recalling Silver''s advice, he contemplated whether to let her feed on his neck or his wrist. The memory of her lips against the sensitive skin of his neck made him shudder as he tried to push back the memories of their first encounter. Letting her feed from his neck would be like a suicide mission for him.

    Taking a deep breath, he adjusted the girl in his arms in such a way that her back came to rest against his chest while her head rested on his shoulder. He wrapped one of his hands around her waist to keep her from falling while he cut his left wrist slightly before placing it against her soft lips.

    Jiang Ying Yue was almost on the verge of losing her consciousness as the dark world kept pulling her into the never-ending abyss when her nostril smelled the sweet and mouth-watering scent of blood. Not just any normal blood but the blood of one of her soulmates.

    Her soul was suddenly fully awake as it urged her to open her lips and let her tongue taste the sweetness of her mate''s blood and without wasting another second, she did exactly that.

    She parted her lips before letting her tongue come out to lick the tender skin, tasting the richness of the blood that made her insides flutter with desire and a hunger that only her mate could satiate.

    After a second or two of savoring the taste, she again let her tongue slip out and lick his skin, hearing a hiss from him but it sure was not one from pain. His reaction made a small smile appear on her face as her eyes slowly fluttered open.

    She saw the wrist that was offered to her and she gladly accepted it. Her hands raised to hold his hand before she placed a soft kiss on his wrist, right where he had cut his skin. She heard him inhale deeply at her action which only made her smile more.

    Finally deciding to not torture herself and her mate any longer, she let her fangs came out before she let them sink into his wrist.

 Chapter 65 - Accepting The Feelings

    The metallic taste of the blood seemed like the sweetest thing she could have ever tasted. Jiang Ying Yue was more focused on savoring the taste instead of quenching her hunger.

    She felt Wang Shu''s arm tightening around her waist while he rested his forehead against her shoulder, making her experience the shudders that were running down his body.

    In a normal case, her feeding would have hurt a lot. The pain used to be mostly unbearable for anyone whether a human or supernatural, but since these men were her mates, instead of pain they only experienced pleasure whenever she fed from them.

    Seconds turned into minutes and with each passing minute, she felt her bond with Wang Shu opening up to let their emotions mingle together and create a sweet sensation.

    She could hear his racing heart, feel the pleasure that he was experiencing, and most importantly, she could tell that he didn''t hate her, not even a little bit.

    A sigh of satisfaction left her lips as she slowly pulled back her fangs but not before enjoying the taste of his blood for one last moment. Her tongue followed next, licking his wrist to not only heal him but also to give his body a taste of pleasure that her tongue could bring him.

    She didn''t let go of his hand, instead, she entangled her fingers with his and pulled his hand to rest on her lap while she herself let her body relax in his embrace.

    It took Wang Shu a few moments to pull himself together. His body was still under the charm of pleasuring tingles that the girl just made him experience. He had never felt something like this in his life before meeting her.

    He always used to think that no woman could make his heart move. That he would never pay attention to the opposite gender in such a way but here he was, completely helpless when it came to dealing with the girl in his arms. It was more like he did not want to deal with her, instead of he could not deal with her.

    He moved his head a little but didn''t pull away from her shoulder. The sweet and refreshing scent that belonged to her was making his body relax which felt too good.

    "You should not feed from others." Jiang Ying Yue was taken by surprise when she suddenly heard him whispering next to her ear. While his warm breath that caressed the bare skin of her neck made her focus waver for a second but the bigger part of her brain was still focused on his words.

    "Ah... What I mean is that... you should not feed from anyone else other than the four of us. You are not allowed to." Wang Shu explained his previous words but immediately looked away as he could not make himself look into her eyes.

    On the other hand, Jiang Ying Yue was once again left completely surprised. His stopping her from feeding from anyone else but him could not be as shocking as him allowing her to feed from his brothers and Silver. It was almost like he was accepting her connection with the three of them as well as with him.

    Still, she decided to not celebrate too quickly and asked in a soft voice, "Why? What''s wrong with me feeding from others? It''s not like I can always depend on you guys to hang around me and provide me with blood every time I become hungry."

    "You can." His reply was immediate but the suddenness left Jiang Ying Yue both surprised and confused a little bit.

    "You can come to us whenever you need to feed. I''ll be always here for you..." Wang Shu gulped as he realized the last sentence that he just spoke. It''s not like he didn''t mean it for real but saying it out seemed like he was allowing her to take the position of ''someone special'' in his life. Did he even need someone special in his life? He didn''t know the answer, not yet.

    "... I don''t know how things used to work in your previous world but here... what we just did is such an intimate thing... That''s why you are not allowed to approach other people if you need to feed." He finished explaining and saw as a small smile appeared on her lips. Did he say something funny?

    "I can always feed from women." She responded in a low voice, that little smile still playing on her lips. She was probably laughing at the way he was suddenly acting so protective about her.

    He tried to not object but then the image of some random woman experiencing the softness of his girl''s lips on her skin made him feel irritated. Men or women, no one was allowed to experience something so beautiful with Miss Jiang as long as it was not him or his brothers... and that Silver man too.

    A sigh escaped his lips as Wang Shu realized that his thoughts were going in a completely wrong direction. He had even started calling her as his girl. Was something wrong with his brain?

    It took everything in Jiang Ying Yue to not laugh at the miserable state of the poor Prince. Yeah! He was a prince too. What a kuch she had. In the end, she still ended up getting entangled with these three men.

    She softly rubbed her thumb against his palm as she felt him getting stressed a little bit more. Her idea worked because she immediately felt him relaxing against her.

    "I know that you are having trouble understanding your feelings towards me. Being connected to someone with a soulmate bond can make anyone go insane with the sudden ups and downs in their emotions. But it''s quite easy to handle."

    She stopped for a second to collect her thoughts before she continued, "Our bond isn''t completed yet. It means that you are still not bound to me for eternity. If you start feeling like you need space to think about everything, just take your time. I''m not here to force any of you guys to become my bonded mates. In the end, I''ll accept your decision and will respect it."

    She immediately felt his hold tightening around her before she felt his face coming to rest against her shoulder crook.

    "It doesn''t feel bad... being with you like this." Here it was! He finally said those words that he was having a hard time accepting himself.

    ***

    When Jiang Ying Yue and Wang Shu emerged out of the study, they found the rest of the three men sitting outside in the courtyard around a stone table.

    To the former''s surprise, the three of them seemed to be enjoying each other''s company as they chatted about something.

    "What are you guys talking about so happily?" Jiang Ying Yue asked as she approached the table, immediately pulling the attention of the three men towards her and the Second Prince beside her.

    "You two seem to be glowing. What were you doing inside there? Why is no one explaining anything to me?" Wu Xie complained as he eyed his second brother suspiciously before turning them towards Ying Yue.

    "I just explained that she needs blood to stay alive and also the reason why needs blood. How can you say that no one is telling you anything?" Silver questioned as he glared at the Third Prince.

    "Master Silver, do you seriously think that you were talking in human language? I''m sure not even Brother Shan understood your words." Wu Xie quickly responded as he gave a small scoff while recalling all the weird words that the silver-haired man just used to describe Miss Jiang''s situation.

    "Though I really didn''t understand some of the words, I still get the overall situation. Maybe if you were focused here instead of finding out about what''s going on in the study, you would have understood some of it too." Qing Shan commented as he slowly sipped the freshly brewed tea.

    "Brother Shan..." Wu Xie was not prepared for his eldest brother to disclose him so brutally. How could he not worry about the situation inside the study when they all were chased out of the study, leaving only his Second brother alone with the girl. What could be so important that those two needed to be left alone?

    "Don''t keep standing. Come here." Wang Shu suddenly spoke up, pulling everyone''s attention at him as he moved closer to Jiang Ying Yue and helped her to sit on the empty seat beside Wu Xie.

    Jiang Ying Yue could feel Silver''s eyes trained on her and she knew that the man was curious to know exactly what happened inside the study that made the Second Prince act so attentively towards her.

    Even she was surprised to see him openly caring for her. Though he just accepted inside the study room that he did felt positive about their bond, she was not prepared for him to suddenly become so open about his feelings towards her.

    And as she watched him pour tea for her, she did acknowledge that she was looking forward to her future encounters with the Second Prince.

 Chapter 66 - Glamour And Fashion

    When Jiang Ying Yue woke up the next morning, she once again felt her body filled with energy because of the blood of the Second Prince that was running through her veins.

    The time that she spent in the company of the three princes the previous day was mostly filled with her and Silver explaining to them about the soulbond and what soulmates were. They also came out clean with her and Silver''s bond that was never meant to exist and to her surprise, the Princes seemed to accept her relation with Silver even though they did not look too happy about it.

    She was also surprised when Wu Xie didn''t freak out or become defensive when she mentioned that there was a high chance that he was her third and final destined soulmate. The Third Prince was more focused on complaining to his brothers for not telling him anything about the soulmate thing before he returned to the Capital City.

    Fortunately or probably, unfortunately, none of the Princes brought up the topic of the deal that Qing Shan and Wang Shu had mentioned during their second encounter.

    According to Qing Shan''s words, they had decided to take a step back and let things unfold at a normal pace. They wanted her to learn more about them and their world before they revealed their deal to her and let her made the so-called choice.

    Jiang Ying Yue also decided to not pursue the topic as she really was not looking forward to getting into the wrong books of the Princes just in case she didn''t like their deal and ended up refusing. Becoming an enemy with her soulmates won''t be a pleasing experience for sure..

    A soft sigh left Jiang Ying Yue''s lips as she recalled the memories of the previous day. So far, she only felt her connection with Wang Shu developing a little bit in a positive direction. As for Qing Shan, his dominating personality clashed directly with her personality that disliked being dominated by anyone and she could tell that it would probably take some time for the two of them to find a balance.

    The Third Prince gave her mixed feelings. She could tell that he was so much like her. Just like her, he knew how to use others for his own benefit. Just like her, he knew how to play sweet and kind in front of others while in reality, he was the complete opposite. One moment, he could be all soft and caring while the next moment he could turn into a cold and cruel person. This type of person was the one she dreaded the most because she knew how mean and self-centered they could be.

    But again, she had known the Princes for such a short time. It was completely sensible that she was having problems in deciding what to think of their characters. Since they had decided to give their bond a chance, then she was going to do the same. Let fate decide if she could find the same love and trust in the Princes that she found in Silver.

    "My lady, you are glowing today." Li Qi''s comment pulled her out of her thoughts as she was the first one to notice as she helped her lady get ready for the day.

    "Really? It''s probably because I''m excited about the opening ceremony of the ''Glamour and Fashion''. Today, the final batch of furniture and clothes will be arriving and I''m sure by this time tomorrow morning, we will be able to finally open the shop." Jiang Ying Yue answered as she recalled that the current and the coming day were very important to her.

    After a lot of thinking, she had changed the name of the store from ''Blessed Silk'' to ''Glamour and Fashion''. After all the expenses during the last few days, her treasury which held hundreds of silvers was now completely cleaned off. She was only left with a few silvers and ten copper coins which she needed for buying rations.

    As soon as she recalled that she had once again become poor, her happy mood turned sour, making the smile disappear from her lips as she started pondering on how to earn some more silvers.

    "My lady, breakfast is ready." Li Qi informed her after the girl was done styling her long hair in a simple hairstyle with a single silver hairpin holding it.

    "Alright. Let''s go." Jiang Ying Yue stood up from her seat in front of the bronze mirror and headed out of her bed-chamber along with Li Qi.

    - - -

    "You... You can design clothes..."

    It seemed like Gu Chen was having a hard time believing that Xiao Yue also had the talent in the clothes section. He just kept staring at the sketches of dresses that she had just shown them.

    "Why? Do you think that these are not worth putting some effort into?" Jiang Ying Yue questioned as she looked at her sketches with a doubtful gaze. She had wracked her brain the entire previous night to find a way to mix modern and ancient styles to create something new.

    "Don''t even think like that. These designs are so good and new in the market. If we really succeeded in creating these beautiful pieces, I''m sure that our store will become popular in no time." Gu Chen excitedly spoke as he once again looked through the sketches all over again.

    Seeing his enthusiasm, Jiang Ying Yue was left a little bit surprised. She folded her hands over her chest as she stared at the young master while arching her eyebrows in question. "You want to stay hidden from the prying eyes and don''t want to help with the store''s business... but look at you now, all happy and eager just thinking about the silvers that will be filtering in the future."

    Her words made the smile on Gu Chen''s lips disappear. He turned his eyes towards her as he defended himself. "How can you even say something like that? It''s not like you are not aware of my situation. Do you think it will do the shop or even you any good if I decided to openly support the store? It will only lead to unwanted troubles."

    Jiang Ying Yue knew that he was speaking the truth but that did not mean that she was happy to see him getting all giddy while she had to be the one who needed to go broke and stayed up all night to come up with new ideas for dresses.

    In the end, she just decided to drop the topic. "Whatever you say. Let''s focus on the important matter. I told you that I want you to find someone reliable and also expert in this line of business so that I can let him/her take charge of the store as the manager. How''s it going so far?"

    Gu Chen seemed to be hesitant about his answer but when he noticed her cold glare, he just decided to come clean with her. "All the capable candidates are already working under the other stores. So far, I''m unable to find anyone who suits this position and is available."

    Jiang Ying Yue took in a deep breath as she tried to think of what to do next. "Keep searching. Other than that, I want you to look for the prices of the different types of fabrics. For now, we will open the store with regular ready-made dresses and cosmetics. It''s good to stay low-key before we can get a complete look at the overall situation of the textile market in the Capital City."

    Gu Chen nodded his head in understanding and then took his leave as he headed to spend, or waste, some time in the popular tavern a few blocks away from the ''Glamour and Fashion'' where he was preparing to show another set of his natural skills. After all, he still needed to keep up the facade of being a good-for-nothing.

    A few days ago, Jiang Ying Yue noticed someone looking around the store as if he was trying to search for some knowledge, or more like he was there to find out about the new owner of the store and all the progress.

    The good thing was that she had decided to start the business on a small scale. Not only because she was short on money but also because this method would keep the unnecessary people away from her store for the time being as such a small shop was not worth their important time. Another good thing about her small-scale business was that it would give her time to build a good connection with the locals.

    Jiang Ying Yue looked through the sketches of the dresses that she had designed. They looked not only beautiful but also graceful. But these dresses were more suited to the ladies of novel families. Since she was starting small, she would need to think of ideas that could impress the general people. And she also had a manager to find.

 Chapter 67 - You Are Out Of Your Mind

    Jiang Ying Yue watched silently as she accompanied Gu Chen who was taking a tour through the store. The amazed look on his face made her feel a little bit satisfied, or probably more than she wanted to admit.

    Though her store looked nothing when compared to the big stores from the noble families, she still had made sure to give it a better and calm environment by decorating it with several bonsais and vases that held fresh flowers.

    The best part was the sitting area that she had created on the left side on the ground floor. Around five wooden tables were placed there with seats properly arranged around them. While on the right side were the reception and billing areas.

    In the backyard, there was a storeroom and another empty room that Jiang Ying Yue had renovated into a kitchen so that they could prepare refreshments to serve to their customers.

    The first floor was also divided into two wings. The right-wing was the clothes section while the left-wing was the cosmetic section. The second floor held three big rooms but at the moment, the entire second floor was empty.

    "When are we going to open the store?" Gu Chen asked as he finished the tour and took a seat around one of the tables.

    "It''s still early and very few people are present in the market. I''m thinking about opening the shop around ten o''clock. It will give me enough time to prepare." Jiang Ying Yue replied as she poured tea into two cups before handing one of them to the Young Master.

    "You still need time to prepare? How can you be so stupid? Today is the opening day of the store and you still have things left to prepare!" Gu Chen suddenly started acting like he could not stand her foolishness. He seemed both surprised and unhappy.

    "Do you want me to kick you out? If not then just sit here and keep your mouth close." Jiang Ying Yue threatened him as she gave him a hard cold glare, making the young master gulp in fear. He knew that she would literally kick him out if he refused to follow her order. Such a heartless woman!

    Seeing that the young man appeared to be quite obedient at the moment, Jiang Ying Yue decided to start with her work. She ordered all the servants of Young Master to line up in the hall while she asked Li Wu and Li Qi to bring out the clothes that she had prepared.

    "I need two servants to keep the store neat and clean all the time. Three of you will be assigned to the clothes section while two will accompany me in the cosmetic section. Two will make arrangements for the tea and snacks that will be served to the customers if such a situation arrived, otherwise, the two of them will help the others."

    Jiang Ying Yue explained before she started pointing out to those servants of Young Master, Gu Chen, who had picked her interest in the past few days.

    "You are out of your mind. This is such a small shop and you need so many people to manage it. There''s no need for so many servants. Just choose any two of them and it will be enough for the time being." Gu Chen hurriedly spoke when he noticed that the girl had taken away nearly half of his loyal servants.

    As soon as the servants, whom Ying Yue had just selected out, heard their Young Master''s words, they immediately returned to stand with the rest of the servants of Gu Chen.

    Jiang Ying Yue felt a sudden urge to get rid of the so-called first young master from the General manor. The man proved to be more of a nuisance instead of being helpful to her.

    "Each servant will receive ten silver taels as their salary on the last day of the month including another ten taels as the bonus." She announced in a deep but calm tone and watched as all the nine servants she had chosen, step out and stand in front of her as if they were waiting for her next command.

    She turned to look at Gu Chen as she gave him a mocking wink. Though the young master did not appear to be happy by the sudden change in the situation, he remained silent.

    She opened the bundle of the clothes that Li Qi and Li Wu had taken out as per her orders and handed them over to the newly appointed servants of her store. "Go and get changed in these clothes. After you are done, meet me in the left-wing on the upper floor. Be quick." She ordered them and watched as all nine of them hurried away to get changed.

    "You should also leave with the rest of your people. Don''t let anyone notice you here. Since today is the opening day of the store, I''m sure your friends will send their men to take a look." She reminded Gu Chen who nodded his head slightly before he stood up from his seat and headed towards the backyard with his guard and the rest of the servants.

    "My lady, don''t you think that ten taels are too much to pay when the store hasn''t even started selling? After all, you have selected nine servants and it will cost you a hundred and eighty silvers this month alone." Li Wu worriedly spoke out as soon as Gu Chen left.

    "Do you think that your lady won''t even be able to earn two hundred taels a month?" Jiang Ying Yue asked in a playful tone as she turned to look at her maid.

    "My lady... you know that it''s not what I meant." Li Wu mumbled as she made a pouting face which made Jiang Ying Yue chuckle.

    "What I worry about is neither the salary of the servants nor the cost of ingredients that I''ll be using to create cosmetics. They are the simplest thing for me to handle. I''m more worried about the clothes department. Unlike cosmetics, I don''t know how to create fabrics. It will cost us a lot to buy good quality silk and other expensive fabrics. I will need more skilled people to manage the clothes section." She finally explained the real problems that had started to bother her.

    "Though all these sound like big hurdles, we know that our lady will find her way through them. Ever since you encountered those bandits in the forest that fateful night, you have changed into a strong and intelligent person. No matter how hard a situation is, you sure know how to find your way out of it. We both trust you." Li Qi really believed in her lady and that could be easily seen in her eyes which were sparkling with genuine trust and respect towards Ying Yue.

    Feeling touched by their words, Jiang Ying Yue smiled at the two girls as she nodded her head in agreement. Since the two of them believed that she could find a way to solve these issues, then she would do her best to find that solution.

    "Alright, let''s go and get ready for the day. It''s a big day today and there''s a lot that we have to prepare." She reminded the girls who excitedly nodded their heads and followed behind her as she made her way to the upper floor.

    - - -

    Out of the nine servants that Jiang Ying Yue had picked to work in the store, three of them were men while the others were females. The oldest among them was in her late thirties but the others were either in their late twenties or early thirties. The youngest of them was a girl of twenty-three years old.

    The females were dressed in white dresses with a light pink colored outer robe made of a single layer of chiffon which was clearly see-through. On the other hand, the men were dressed in medium blue-colored outercoats and black pants.

    Jiang Ying Yue first helped the three men to style their hair in simple ponytails with a blue ribbon wrapped around them. She shaped their eyebrows and applied moisturizing cream on their faces before making them wash their hands properly before she made sure that their nails were properly cut and shaped.

    She repeated the same process with the girls. She styled their hair in high ponytails with pink ribbon wrapped around them. She shaped their eyebrows but instead of just applying the moisturizing cream on their faces, she applied the faintest touch of makeup to make them glow up.

    After she was done with their makeup, Jiang Ying Yue spent almost forty minutes shaping the nails of the ladies and painting them in light colors. The first batch of nail polish that she had managed to create was way better than she imagined.

    As Jiang Ying Yue observed the group of servants who looked nothing like the servants of the Young Master Gu, she felt a smile of satisfaction blooming on her lips.

    "Alright. Give me ten minutes to get ready and then we will hold the opening ceremony of the store. Go and get the things prepared."

 Chapter 68 - Manager Jun

    "My lady, you are looking so pretty!" Li Qi exclaimed in amazement as soon as she noticed Jiang Ying Yue appearing at the entrance of the store where all the servants were waiting for her.

    As soon as the others heard Li Qi, they also turned to look in the same direction, only to be left shocked when they noticed Lady Yue. Unlike her usual light-colored simple clothes, now she was wearing a dark purple dress with silver designs on the cuffs and hem. Her long black hair was styled beautifully with silver hairpins adorning it and while a veil was still covering half of her face, the smoky makeup of her eyes was enough to attract anyone''s attention.

    Seeing the looks of awe on everyone''s faces, Jiang Ying Yue felt relieved. After all, she was opening a salon, a place known as the heaven of fashion and beauty. It''s a must for her, as the boss, and all the workers of the store to look their best.

    "Are you guys done with all the preparation?" She asked as she approached the group of servants who hurriedly nodded their heads in a positive reply.

    "Good. Let''s head out for the opening ceremony." She told them before asking one of the man attendants to bring out the display board..

    As they stepped out of the store, Jiang Ying Yue noticed the red lanterns and curtains that were draped over the front door. A red flower ribbon was pulled across the door and one of the servants was ready with firecrackers in his hands.

    As the sound of crackers interrupted the people hurrying across the busy market streets, some of them started approaching the store as their interest was picked.

    "Today, Blessed Silk is reopening as ''Glamour and Fashion''. From today onwards, this shop will not only sell clothes and cosmetics but we will start our special service. At the purchase of every single dress from our shop, we will provide a free makeup service to the buyer. This service will be free of all costs for the next two weeks, as long as you will buy at least one dress from our shop." Jiang Ying Yue took a break as she gave some time to the crowd to adjust.

    Everyone was whispering as they pointed at the servants who were now standing next to Jiang Ying Yue, showcasing both their dresses and light touches of makeup.

    "From now on, ''Glamour and Fashion'' is open for customers. I hope that you all will take some time to visit our store and give us the chance to earn your trust." Jiang Ying Yue finished her speech and smiled when a round of applause followed next.

    Giving a last glance at the crowd, she returned inside the shop with the servants who immediately dispersed to work in their assigned wings.

    "Am I late?" A soft voice that sounded so musical to ears, pulled everyone''s attention to the young man who just entered the shop.

    He was beyond good-looking, his every single feature was perfectly carved by the gods. He was tall, probably over six feet tall. His long silk light blue robe gave him the aura of a Young Master from some rich family. A white jade hairpin was visible in his long silky hair that was left loose.

    Jiang Ying Yue noticed that the young man had successfully grasped the attention of not only her servants but also the people present in the crowd outside the shop. His good looks and noble aura had pulled everyone''s interest towards him.

    "Not too late. Come, let me introduce you to our dear customers." She told the young man and then pulled him out of the shop where several people were still standing as if they were contemplating whether to enter or not.

    "I forgot to introduce the new manager of our store. This is Childe Jun from the Jun family of Xialong County. He will be the one taking care of the shop." Jiang Ying Yue politely showcased the young man who seemed a little flustered when he suddenly became the focus of attention of all the young and old ladies that were present in the crowd.

    Saying that Childe Jun was a very good-looking man would be an understatement. He was beyond good-looking, even Jiang Ying Yue could not help but appreciate his beauty but still, the man was nowhere near the ethereal beauty of her four mates. Her soulmates were definitely the most handsome living beings in the entire universe.

    "Master Jun, I would like to look at the dresses in your shop." A young lady suddenly spoke up as she came forward with her maidservant.

    "Sure. Please this way, Miss." Young Master Jun welcomed their first customer and led her to the reception area.

    "Li Qi, she''s our first customer. No matter what, treat her with the utmost respect and warmth." Jiang Ying Yue told her maid who nodded her head in acknowledgment before leaving along with two other maids.

    During the next few hours, around five to six people came to their store to buy some clothes but only three of them actually bought something. And just like she promised, Jiang Ying Yue gave light makeup to all three of the ladies. She made sure to keep both Li sisters by her side so that the two of them could learn the skills.

    During lunchtime, Jiang Ying Yue was resting as she massaged her wrists when Young Master Jun appeared in the room. The young man still looked as energetic as before.

    "Miss Yue..." He greeted her politely before taking a seat opposite her.

    The Jun family of Xialong County was also famous for their garment business but their unique talent in needlework was what made them popular across the nearby cities and towns. Around a year ago, a fire broke out in Jun''s residence, killing both Master Jun and his wife along with their eldest daughter who was supposed to get married in less than a week.

    The only survivor of the Jun family was two illegitimate sons of Master Jun who were staying at the old house of the Jun family. Young Master Jun was one of those two sons who survived the calamity.

    "Don''t tell me that you are already regretting your decision of working here with me." Jiang Ying Yue commented when she noticed the troubled look on his face.

    A small smile broke out of Young Master Jun''s lips as he slightly shook his head. "This is far better than the works that I''ve been doing for the past year. You are allowing me to earn through legal and reputable means. Now I have a place to stay, food to eat and... you have also promised to take care of my younger brother. This is more than I could have asked for. I won''t regret the choice that I made last evening."

    Jiang Ying Yue could clearly see the sincerity in his eyes and it made her smirk as she realized that man was already treating her as his and his brother''s savior. Was he blind? Could not he see that she was clearly using him? What if she gave him a place to sleep and food to eat? In the end, she would use him and his looks to attract more customers to her store. What if she had promised to take care of his brother? Once that kid would be healed, she would also make sure you find a way to use him for her profit.

    She was amazed to see how foolish these people were. Every one of them believed that she was a good person but none of them had any idea about how wrong they were. She was not good, not at all.

    "It''s good to know that. You don''t have to worry too much. I''ll make sure that none of the customers will be able to harass you in any way possible. Feel free to take your time to get used to the environment here. You need to use all the knowledge that you gained during your stay at the Jun manor. I''m sure you will do a great job once you found your balance." She encouraged the man and watched as her words made him relax.

    "Don''t worry, Miss Yue. Though I didn''t get to learn the real skills of the Jun family because of my identity, I know how to manage accounts and a little bit about the textile industry. I''ll do my best to learn more during this period and I will prove my worth to you." Young Master Jun promised as he stood up to bow to her.

    Jiang Ying Yue watched as the young man left the room, returning to his work as the lunch break was almost over. She still could not believe that the one who helped her in finding this pitiful but talented manager for her shop, was none other than the Third Prince. He was the last person she was expecting to get any help from but it looked she was wrong in her judgment.

 Chapter 69 - The Little Boy Was Dying

    [The Previous Evening ~]

    Jiang Ying Yue stepped inside the Star Lake Manor through the back door that was located in the west, opening into a small and quiet alley.

    She had been constantly walking in and out of the mysterious manor that belonged to the Three Princes. However, she still had not seen anything more than the back garden and the small courtyard located near the wall of the manor.

    She was about to make her way towards the old tree where the hidden trapdoor was located when a particular person standing under the pavilion grasped her attention.

    For a moment, she thought about ignoring him and leaving but her legs refused to listen to her. Instead of heading towards the trapdoor, she found herself approaching the pavilion. And as she came closer to the man, she recognized him even though he was facing away from her.

    "What? Can''t ignore me?" Wu Xie asked in a taunting tone as he kept gazing at the grapevines that were growing near the end of the garden.

    As soon as she heard his mocking words, Jiang Ying Yue started regretting not ignoring the man when she had the chance.. "I thought it''s one of your brothers. If I have known that it''s you, I won''t be wasting my precious time here."

    She turned around to walk away and thankfully, this time her legs decided to follow her command. But that''s where her good luck ended because before she could have taken more than two steps, she was pulled back against a solid chest as Wu Xie wrapped his arms around her, holding her captive in his embrace.

    Jiang Ying Yue found her breathing catching in her throat as she felt her body starting to react to his closeness and as sweet pleasurable tingles started flowing through her limbs, all the last specks of doubt that she had towards his identity as her third and final soulmate also disappeared. There was no longer any doubt left in her mind that he was indeed her final soulmate.

    "W... What are you doing? Let me go!" She tried to wriggle herself out of his hold but her fragile body was of no match to his strong built. Besides, she was not really that keen about getting out of his arms so quickly. After all, this was their first physical contact.

    Just when she was thinking about enjoying the precious moment, her bubble of euphoria got burst when the Third Prince nearly shoved her out of his arms. He just did what she asked him to do - let go of her.

    While she was flustered from inside out, the man looked like his usual calm and indifferent self. Did he felt nothing while touching her so intimately? Jiang Ying Yue could not help but questioned as she started feeling troubled after seeing his poker face.

    "Look at you. Calling yourself a monster and you can''t even save yourself. The worst part is that I did almost nothing other than holding you loosely and you still failed to get out of my hold." The Third Prince sounded totally disappointed as he shook his head while a look of unhappiness visible on his face.

    Jiang Ying Yue could hardly believe her eyes and ears. The man was really something. Why did she even think that he would be interested in her if not for the fact that she was useful to him and his brothers? Looked like the soulbonds were making her lose her sanity over her desire for these men.

    "You don''t have to worry about me. I know how to take care of myself... even when I''m as fragile as you just mentioned." Her voice was filled with coldness and so was her gaze that sent daggers flying at the Third Prince.

    Not wanting to spend another second in his company, Jiang Ying Yue turned around to finally leave the place but once again got stopped by Wu Xie but at least, this time he didn''t try to hold her back by wrapping his arms around her. He just blocked her way and came to stand in front of her.

    "Why do you always get angry whenever we meet? Do you have some kind of personal grudge towards me? I''m here trying to help you and look at you... acting like a fierce kitten." Wu Xie commented with a scoff but his last sentence made him receive another cold stare.

    To speak the truth, if he had been any normal mortal, he would have been left scared just by Miss Jiang''s angry and cold glares. Her gaze was so dangerous and overpowering that it could make people shiver in terror.

    "Your Highness, I don''t have time to waste here. If you don''t have anything important to say, then I''ll be taking my leave." Jiang Ying Yue politely addressed the Prince before slightly bowing her head as she started to walk away from him. But again, it was the Third Prince - Wu Xie. How could she get rid of him so easily?

    "Miss Jiang, please don''t misunderstand me. I came here today only because I want to help you." Wu Xie hurriedly explained when he noticed that the young lady was getting more and more irritated by his words.

    Instead of saying anything, Jiang Ying Yue remained silent as she waited for him to continue. She was in no hurry to decline his help. At least, not before even hearing it out. That would be utter stupidity on her part.

    "I heard that you are looking for a potential manager for your shop. I have a perfect candidate." Wu Xie continued when he saw that she was actually listening to him this time.

    Jiang Ying Yue arched her eyebrows in question as she heard his words. "You heard? Where did you hear it from, Your Highness? Don''t tell me you are keeping tracks of my movements."

    To her surprise, the Prince didn''t try to decline. He just smiled softly as he shrugged his shoulders lightly. "You are someone who''s a very important part of my life. I would be an idiot to not keep track of you and whatever you are up to." He replied honestly.

    Jiang Ying Yue remained silent for a couple of seconds as she tried to understand the meaning behind his words. It was indeed true that she had become a very important part of his life, whether he wanted it or not. But what she wanted to know was if he''s pointing at her becoming his and his brothers'' mate or if he meant the secret that they were keeping from her.

    "Why are you helping me?" She asked him instead and once again watched him shrugging his shoulders in reply to her question.

    "I just seemed to have the perfect person in my hold for you and decided that it won''t do any harm if I help you out. After all... according to what I learned the previous day... you are my future wife." His voice was soft and his eyes were gazing at her with a sparkle in them as he spoke those words.

    Jiang Ying Yue found herself getting flustered all over again. The word ''wife'' seemed to ring in her ears repeatedly as she stared at the man who was making her confused about his character with every passing day.

    Wu Xie smiled with satisfaction when he noticed that he finally succeeded in taking the girl by surprise. He took hold of one of her hands before he pulled her into a teleportation array that led them straight to his secret manor.

    The two of them appeared in a dimly lit room where a little boy of around eleven to twelve years was sleeping on the bed and another young man was sitting beside the bed as he read a book in a soft and low voice.

    As soon as the young man, who appeared to be in his early twenties and looked immensely good-looking, noticed them, he stood up from his seat and moved towards where the two of them were standing.

    "Master, you are back." He greeted Wu Xie with a deep bow and kept his eyes trained on the floor after that.

    "Jun, from today onwards, you will no longer work here in this manor. I have found a new master for you. This is Miss Yue, you will work for her from now on." Wu Xie told the young man as he introduced Ying Yue to him.

    To Jiang Ying Yue''s surprise, the young man dropped down on his knees and started bowing. "Master, have I committed some kind of mistake. Please don''t throw me and my brother out. I will do anything to make up for my mistake. Please master... M-master... Please..."

    She became even more shocked when she noticed that he was crying as he begged Wu Xie. Her eyes immediately moved towards the younger boy who was sleeping on the bed. She noticed his pale skin and heard the sound of his faint pulse. The little boy was dying.

 Chapter 70 - Poisons

    [Continued ~]

    "What happened to him?" Jiang Ying Yue asked as she moved closer to the bed to check the pulse of the little boy.

    "Are... A-are you a physician?" Jun asked when he noticed her checking his younger brother''s condition.

    Jiang Ying Yue remained silent as she checked the health condition of the young boy before stepping back and turning her attention towards the young man who was still kneeling on the ground.

    "I''m not." She answered truthfully and noticed the ray of hope leaving Jun''s eyes as if her answer disappointed her. A small twitch appeared on her lips as she observed him for a while. "Though I''m not a doctor, it doesn''t mean that I can''t save your brother."

    As soon as she said those words, the sparkle returned to Jun''s eyes as he looked up at her with hope. "Can... C-can you really do that? Can you save my brother? Please... Please... Save him... S-save my brother..."

    Jiang Ying Yue walked closer to where he was kneeling and helped him to stand up. "Stop crying. Your tears are not going to cure your brother. Tell me how did he end up in this situation in the first place."

    Jun Yong stood up and wiped away the tears that were rolling down his cheeks. "A few nights after the great fire in Jun residence a year ago, I found out that all of it was a planned incident by Manager Bai. I wanted to run away with my brother before that man could have decided to finish us off too. But I did not expect to be raided on our way out of the county. That''s when Xiantong got hurt and it was too late when we finally realized that the weapon was carrying poison."

    "I had no money, no place to stay, and no food to eat. I tried my best but could not find a good doctor to take a look at Xiantong''s condition. Those whom I could afford were not good enough to save him and I could not find enough money to find the good ones. Over the months, the poison invaded deeper into his body, and he entered this state of unconsciousness. If not for Master who found me a few months ago, my brother would probably have..."

    Jun Yong could not find the courage to speak anymore. He sobbed while doing his best to keep more tears from rolling down his cheek.

    Jiang Ying Yue let out a sigh as she returned her attention to the sleeping boy. She felt movements behind her and the next second, the Third Prince came to stand next to her.

    "Why are you so interested in their story? Want to take revenge for them?" Wu Xie asked while looking at her with arched eyebrows.

    His questions made Jiang Ying Yue scoff as she rolled her eyes as a response. "Don''t overthink. I''m just curious about the poison that is currently running through the body is this child. It''s one of the most powerful poisons that I''ve come across in both my..." She trailed off at the last part but there was little left to the imagination as to what she would have said.

    "Poison? Why? Whom are you planning to poison?" Wu Xie asked as he could not help but become more curious about whatever was going on in her head.

    Jiang Ying Yue turned her eyes at the Third Prince as she replied with a soft smile, "Who knows? Maybe I''ll end up using it on you."

    Just like she expected, her words made a small twitch appeared on Wu Xie''s lips as he found her reply not only funny but also expected. "Poisons are probably the last thing that could help you to harm me. You will need to work hard to find something even more powerful than poisons if you want to hurt me."

    "Though it sounds tempting, I don''t have that much free time to waste on such things." Jiang Ying Yue replied in a calm tone before she looked away, not waiting to see the smirk on his lips.

    While these two were busy bickering, Jun Yong was having a hard time believing his ears. He knew that his Master was the Third Prince of the Empire and seeing a woman talking to him with such fierceness made him both praise her and at the same time, worry for her. She dared to talk so brazenly to the Prince, who knew what kind of trouble she would face as a punishment.

    "Jun Yong, are you even listening to me?" Jiang Ying Yue asked in a loud voice as she flicked the young man on his forehead, successfully bringing him out of his thoughts.

    "I... I apologize for my behavior." He hurriedly said while bowing his head, making Ying Yue sigh as she lightly scratched the tip of her nose.

    "It''s alright. Now listen carefully. I''ll appoint you as the new manager of my store tomorrow morning. You will work there and will stay in the little house in the backyard of the store. Leave your brother here as it''s a good place for him to rest. I''ll bring you here every weekend to meet your brother. Give me three months and I promise to cure your brother completely. He will be like any other normal child of his age by the time these three months will come to an end."

    There was pin-drop silence following her words as Jun Yong stared at her with a shocked look on his face. She could see the dilemma in his eyes as he struggled to believe her words. After all, even Third Prince could not help him save his brother and she was an unknown person who wasn''t even a doctor.

    "You have the entire night to think about my offer. I''ll wait for you tomorrow morning. If you end up accepting my offer, be there on time. We will be opening the store around ten o''clock." She told him and immediately turned around to leave the room. She didn''t want to give the young man any time to bombard her with questions that were popping up in his mind.

    She spotted a door on the other side of the room and stepped out. She found herself facing a small garden that led to another small courtyard.

    "Can you really cure him in three months?" The Third Prince asked as he followed her out of the room. For the very first time in a while, he genuinely seemed curious.

    Jiang Ying Yue could not help the smile tha5 bloomed on her lips as she replied to his question, "I can cure him in less than three minutes."

    That was surely not the answer that the Third Prince expected to hear but it was the truth. With her actual abilities, Jiang Ying Yue could easily detoxify the poison in the kid''s body. However, her current state was too weak for her to use her powers and that''s why she asked for three months.

    Even though she could not return to her full potential in three months but if she succeeded in regaining even ten percent of her actual powers, then she would easily cure the kid. As for the situation where she failed in regaining even ten percent of her powers after three entire months, well... she still had Silver.

    All in all, she was not going to break her deal with Jun Yong if the young man ended up accepting it. As long as he would accept her offer, she would complete her part of the deal.

    "You can''t even heal your own injuries and you are talking about curing others. Besides, he''s a special case. Are you sure that this is the right situation for you to show off?" Wu Xie could not help but point out exactly how weak and powerless she was in reality. He was still struggling to find that one thing that could make him accept her as the chosen one - that one person who was destined to help then in stopping the Empress Dowager from destroying the three realms.

    "Your Highness, since you have already given him to me, you don''t have to worry about the deal. I''ll settle it on my own accord. As for now, please send me back to the Star Lake Manor." Jiang Ying Yue politely reminded the Prince that she was not interested in his opinions and inquiries.

    "You really don''t know how to be grateful, do you? I just solved such great trouble of yours and look at how you are treating me." Wu Xie chastised her as he looked at her with a complaining gaze.

    "Your Highness..."

    Jiang Ying Yue trailer off when she was suddenly pulled into the arms of the Third Prince. She felt his hands once again wrapping themselves around her waist before she was pulled into the void.

    She found the world around her changing and the very next second, she was standing in the back garden of the Cold Palace.

 Chapter 71 - Ethereal

    "Wow, I have never seen anything like this before. Look at my nails, they are looking so pretty." The young lady could not help herself from expressing her amazement as she observed her freshly painted nails.

    "I''m happy to know that you like my work." Jiang Ying Yue humbly replied as she started packing the little bottles of nail polish.

    "Miss Yue, you are too humble. Though it''s only been a couple of days since you opened your shop, almost everyone on this street knows that you have very unique skills for applying makeup. All you need is to keep working hard and I can guarantee that soon you will be receiving invitations from the noble ladies of the Capital to dress them up.."

    Listening to the young lady''s words, Jiang Ying Yue just smiled softly and nodded her head.

    As she was finally done with her work for the day, after wrapping up, she finally stepped out of the store. For a couple of minutes, she just stood there in front of the store as she watched people passing by.

    She still did not know what was wrong with Empress Dowager or what kind of harm she could bring. But looking at the general citizens of the Capital, all that she could see was happiness, prosperity, and peace. Was Empress Dowager really the bad guy in the picture?

    Realizing that her list of questions was getting longer than the list of answers, she decided to not ponder on the topic any longer. As she was looking around, her gaze landed on the restaurant that was standing on the other side of the street. But what caught her attention was not the building, instead, it was the man sitting in one of the private rooms on the second floor.

    A smile appeared on her face as she hurried towards the restaurant. She shoved a silver into the manager''s hands as soon as she entered the shop before she immediately made her way to the upper floor.

    She found the right room and just as she opened the room, a hand pulled her inside before shutting the door and pinning her against it. She didn''t even get the chance to process everything before she got another shock when the man pecked her lips.

    "Why are you looking at me like that?" Silver asked in a slightly teasing tone as he brushed some loose strands of hair away from her temples.

    "What are you doing here?" She asked him before she slightly tilted her head to look at the man sitting next to the window as he sipped the refreshing tea.

    Silver immediately blocked her view as he noticed her gaze diverting from him. "He asked me out on a date. I didn''t want to come across as an impolite person so I accepted his offer." He answered with a slight shrug of his left shoulder.

    Jiang Ying Yue raised her eyebrows at his words but then she once again turned her attention to the First Prince who was completely ignoring the two of them.

    "Alright, let me go. I wanna talk to this man." She told Silver as she tried to walk past him. A foolish move because just in a blink of her eyes, she was once again plastered against the door as Silver caged her there with his body and arms that were resting against the door on either side of her shoulders.

    "What''s wrong?" She asked while looking at her handsome mate with questioning eyes. This time, he was dressed in black trousers and a white silk shirt. As the top two buttons were once again left open, she could clearly see his collarbone that made her fingers itch to feel the smooth skin against them.

    Her eyes moved to the diamond earring that was dangling from his left ear. His silver-red hair was pulled into a loose bun and his beautiful emerald eyes just completed his look. No matter how many times she would already have said this but Silver was beyond handsome. He was the real decision of ethereal beauty and she was lucky enough to have him as her mate.

    Before she knew what she was doing, her hands were already moving to surround his shoulders as she planted her lips against his and kissed him softly. She felt the familiar electric tingles of pleasure erupting in her body as their lips came in contact, making her sigh as she let herself enjoy the beautiful sensation.

    And when she pulled away after a couple of seconds, she found Silver''s intense gaze focused on her. His eyes were filled with desire and she could see the struggle that he was having to control himself from giving under the temptation.

    For a moment, she thought about completing the kiss but thankfully, reality hit her at the right moment and she decided to not create trouble that neither the two of them could handle.

    "Do you know what I want most right now?" Silver asked after a few seconds as he finally succeeded to calm down a little bit. However, his voice came out hoarse, clearly stating that he was still under the impact of their closeness and the desire that was burning their bonds and souls.

    "What?" Jiang Ying Yue asked as she moved her hands to fix his collar. She just wanted to do something to distract herself.

    Silver remained silent for a long time, not answering her question even though he was the one who initiated it in the first place. On the other hand, Jiang Ying Yue tried to remain as calm and undisturbed as she could, though the allure of repeating her question was really deep.

    Who knew how many minutes passed when Silver finally reacted but instead of answering her question, he merely stepped back and gave her some space.

    He moved to sit opposite the First Prince as he poured himself a cup of hot tea and finally answered, "I wanna eat some delicious food. That''s what I want to do the most at the moment."

    There was no doubt that he was lying to her. She could see it in his eyes that his actual answer was related to their kiss instead of food. But she didn''t try to destroy the moment as just nodded her head as she also took a seat with them.

    "Then why don''t you order those delicious foods? I skipped my lunch today, so I want to eat too. Would you mind if I join you?" She asked as she looked at both the men.

    "It''s been five days, of course, you are feeling hungry now. I''m heading downstairs to eat. Don''t take too long. After you are done, come and find me." Silver told as he finished the tea in his cup and stood up to leave the room.

    At first, Jiang Ying Yue was ready to call him back to ask exactly what he meant by his words but before she could speak, the realization dawned over her. The First Prince was there to feed her.

    The door and the previously open window, both closed at the same time as soon as Silver stepped out of the room. Jiang Ying Yue felt the tremors of a powerful spell as its energy took over the air inside the room. If she was not wrong then the First Prince had placed a protective and concealing ward around the room.

    "I didn''t get the chance to ask this before... Are you and your brothers Immortals? I mean... I heard that it''s not easy for humans to reach immortality. You and the other two Princes are clearly so young, so... I''m just curious." She asked while looking at the Prince who still hadn''t soared her a single glance ever since she entered the room.

    What was wrong with him exactly? Was he worried because he had to feed her? But it wasn''t his first time. Then what was the deal with him?

    Jiang Ying Yue struggled to grasp the situation as the Prince continued to ignore her. He just refilled his cup with hot tea and continued to sip it in silence.

    "If you are that reluctant then why are you even here?" She asked him but didn''t wait for him to reply. Not like she was expecting him to reply at all. The man was clearly not interested in talking to her.

    She stood up from the seat as she prepared to leave the room. The good thing was that she was not in the dire need of blood, or she would have to bear with his cold mood.

    "It''s hard to answer your question without giving out too much information. I just don''t know what to tell you and how." He finally spoke, making her stop in her tracks.

    "Why can''t you just tell me everything then? At this point, is it really necessary to keep things from me?" She asked him and watched as a small twitch appeared on his lips before he stretched one of his hands out towards her.

 Chapter 72 - The Three Realms

    Jiang Ying Yue first stared at the First Prince who was intently looking back at her before she turned her attention towards his hand.

    "What do you want?" She asked when she failed to decide what to do. She was confused if he wanted her to place her hand in his or if he wanted something else from.

    The smile on Qing Shan''s face only became bigger at her question. "Come here." He told her before signaling with the fingers of his outstretched hand.

    She hesitated for a second or two but then finally moved towards where he was sitting. As she came to stand next to him, she slowly placed her fingers in his palm. But she did not expect the Prince to grab her hand as he pulled her into his arms.

    Jiang Ying Yue lost her balance and ended up falling into the familiar embrace of the man who immediately wrapped his arms around her as if he was preventing her from moving away.

    "What do you mean by this?" She asked him while raising her eyebrows in question. It was not an easy task to pretend to be unhappy about his action when in reality, her heart and soul were jumping with excitement.

    "Didn''t you want to know more about me and my brothers? I''ll tell you then." Qing Shan answered her as he ran his index finger over her temple and down to her cheek, making her inhale deeply as the soulbond between them started coming to life.

    "Fine! Go on, I''m listening. I''m not expecting you to tell me everything today but as long as you will tell me something important related to your lives, I''ll consider it fair." She told him in a calm tone while her attention was totally on his finger that was now playing with a strand of her hair.

    "Fair enough!" Qing Shan spoke with a slight nod of his head as he gave her another soft smile. Seeing him smile was something new for Ying Yue. From their very first encounter, they had spent most of their meetings either bickering or trying to outplay each other.

    "I''m not sure if you know this by now or not, but there are three existing realms in this world. The Heaven Realm is where the God and Goddesses live and enjoy their immortal lives. Then, there is the Mortal Realm where humans and Immortal masters live and the last one is the dark and gloomy demon realm where the demons are abolished."

    "Heaven Realm is responsible for keeping balance in the mortal realm and making sure that the demons won''t create any more trouble for humans. As for those so-called Immortals, they are mostly those deities who either failed to pass Heaven''s trial to reach the position of a God, or they are offspring of a God and a mortal... And in some special cases, even demons."

    Qing Shan became silent as he stared at her hands that had been grabbing his robes for some weird reason. Her first instinct was to let go immediately but she ended up doing the opposite.

    "What about you then? Silver told me that he heard people talking about the three realms but he did not find out anything specific. He also told me that it''s impossible for mortals to reach Immortality. Then..." She trailed off when she saw him nodding his head.

    "Indeed, the spiritual energy of the mortal realm disappeared during the last war between the three realms. Now, no mortal can cultivate and reach immortality. As I told you, the only Immortals living in this realm are either those who failed their final trials or those kids of the Gods and Goddesses who are not allowed in the Heaven Realm." He explained once again.

    "But then what about you and the other two Princes? The three of you are barely in your twenties but I can clearly tell that you have immense power. Are you three Immortals too? But how is that even possible?" Jiang Ying Yue didn''t hold back and bombarded the Prince with her questions.

    "The three of us? Well... we are special cases. We are indeed not mortals but for now, we are living as normal humans. No one in the mortal realm knows that the three Princes of the Hyuang Empire poses spiritual energy, except for the Empress Dowager of course."

    Jiang Ying Yue stared at the man for a few seconds in silence. Special cases? Sure! They did look like special cases. But what kind of special case they were?

    "Your mother isn''t a mortal either." It wasn''t exactly a question but she still looked at him with questioning eyes to confirm her speculation. Watching the Prince silently nodding his head in affirmation, Ying Yue felt like the entire royal family of the Hyuang Empire was anything but normal.

    "Will you tell me what is your special case if I ask?" She questioned and looked at him with hopeful eyes. Unfortunately, her hope was short-lived because the Prince immediately gave her a look that told her she won''t be getting any more information out of him for the day.

    "Fine! I think I learned quite a lot today. At least, now I know that the three of you brothers and that your mother of yours is really someone I should have avoided at all costs. But what luck I''ve found for myself, the three of you are now bound to me while the fourth one was keeping me imprisoned in her palace." She complained with a huff as she recalled her conversation with Wu Xie during their first meeting on the night of the banquet.

    The Third Prince had been constantly reminding her that the Empress Dowager was dangerous for her and the only way for her, Jiang Ying Yue, to keep herself safe from that woman was to accept the deal of the Princes.

    "Good to know that. Let''s not waste more time. Here..." The First Prince placed his wrist in front of her, making her recall the main reason for which they were meeting in the first place.

    She stared at the milky skin of his wrist for a while, watched his veins that were filled with his sweet blood that was already calling her name like a siren''s call.

    "What''s wrong?" Qing Shan asked when he noticed that she was not moving at all.

    Jiang Ying Yue grabbed his hand as she rolled up his sleeve, making more of his arm visible to her eyes. She let her fingers trace the veins as she felt his pulse that was starting to beat rapidly.

    A small smile appeared on her lips as she turned her face up to look into his eyes that were staring at her in puzzlement. She moved on his lap to straddle him as she sat on his thighs while facing him. The space between their upper bodies was nearly negligible while her face was also so close to his.

    Qing Shan was so taken aback by her actions that for several seconds, he failed to react at all. He just sat there in shock as he stared into her eyes that were looking at him mischievously.

    "W... W-what are you... trying to do?" He finally found his voice to ask but his stammer made Jiang Ying Yue chuckle softly as she shook her head lightly.

    She brushed her fingers through his hair before letting them trail down his temples to his cheek before they moved to cup his face, tilting his head back before she landed a soft kiss on his lips.

    The surprise was clearly seen in the First Prince''s eyes as he tried his best to stay calm. His heart was pumping at a great speed and all that his mind could think about was that he just lost his first kiss.

    As soon as the realization hit him, he saw a huge smile blooming on Ying Yue''s lips. For some weird reason, looking into her eyes he felt like she knew exactly what he was thinking. As if she knew that this was his first kiss.

    "Let me make your first kiss memorable." She whispered in a soft tone as she smiled warmly at him, making him lose all his remaining ability to think straight.

    He watched her face coming closer as she once again moved to close the space between their lips. His lips parted on their own accord as his eyes settled on her pink luscious lips. And as she once again kissed him, he felt his body coming alive.

    A sweet sensation started running all over his body as their lips moved against each other. She kissed him deeply and passionately, making it hard for him to keep himself from moaning out loudly.

    He felt his hands moving and soon enough they were wrapped around her as he pulled her body flushed against his, making that little space between their bodies vanish completely this time.

 Chapter 73 - Want Me To Stop?

    It''s said that when two souls connected through a soul bond, it created a deep and pure bond between those two persons that not only connected them physically and mentally but also spiritually.

    And as Jiang Ying Yue kissed Qing Shan, she felt the connection between their souls coming to life.

    She moved one of her hands to cup his nape where her fingers found themselves wrapping around his silky hair as she pulled him closer to deepen the kiss even more.

    A low groan finally escaped Qing Shan''s lips, making her feel not only happy but also brave as she slowly let her other hand slip down his shoulder and towards the front of his robes.

    The First Prince did feel her fingers fumbling to untie his belt under his outer robe but he did nothing to stop her. All his attention was on the sweet and happy feelings that he was receiving from her kiss. Everything at that moment felt perfect as if it was exactly what was supposed to happen.

    He finally felt her fingers against his bare chest, right where the soul mark was carved and as her fingers came in contact with the mark, his body became rigid as he arched his back while trying to cope up with the intense tingles of pleasure that suddenly shot through his body.

    As his breathing became harsh, Jiang Ying Yue finally pulled back but not before planting another soft kiss on his stolen lips.. She looked straight into his eyes which were filled with an intense need for her as well as the glow from all the pleasure that his body was experiencing.

    From what she could see, even though the First Prince usually seemed like a dominating person, she would be the one dominating him in bed. It was probably because she was more knowledgeable about how the soulbond worked and how to use the bond to bring pleasure to her mates. This was probably the only reason she would be getting the chance to overpower him. The same could be said about Wang Shu.

    She was still struggling to understand the Third Prince and she could not even picture herself kissing him in the current period, let alone dominate him in bed.

    The only person whom she feared was Silver. Unlike the cases of the Princes where she had the advantage of being an open-minded person from the modern world and having more knowledge about the soulbond, Silver was a different case. Both of them were from the same world and both of them knew exactly how a soulbond worked. Most importantly, she could clearly see that Silver could never be a submissive inside the bedroom.

    "Mmm..."

    The low moan that escaped Qing Shan''s lips brought her back to reality. She looked at the First Prince to see what made him moan in such a way and it took her quite some time to grasp the situation though it did bring a huge smile to her lips.

    She pulled down his outer robe from his shoulders before taking it off completely. Then she loosened his middle robe before opening the front of his inner robe. The smooth skin and well-built muscles of his upper body made her throat became dry as the clothes finally gave way to her eyes to enjoy the beauty of her man.

    Her hands moved towards his throat, down to his collarbone. She explored his chest muscles before going down towards his stomach but she didn''t stop there. She let her hand trailed down and only stopped when it was resting right on his hard member.

    Qing Shan''s eyes flew open as soon as he felt her touching his manhood. His mouth flew open as he struggled to find his voice, though he didn''t know what to say. He just kept staring at the woman who was looking at her with those beautiful eyes that wanted him to do nothing at all and just let her take care of both of them.

    Jiang Ying Yue didn''t move her hand. She just let it rest on his boner which was throbbing under her palm. Even though there were layers of clothes separating her palm from his manhood, she still could feel its warmth against her palm.

    She brought her mouth closer to Qing Shan''s ear as she asked in a whispered tone, "Ah Shan, do you want me to stop?" She pulled back slightly to look into his eyes but not before planting a soft feathery kiss against the crook of his neck that made him shudder while his manhood twitched again under her palm.

    Qing Shan could not find his voice even if he wanted to say anything but the point was that he himself could not decide if he wanted her to stop or not. Everything felt too good to resist. Besides, hearing her calling him in such an endearing way for the very first time, successfully assassinated his last few brain cells that were functioning.

    "You can''t decide, right?" She asked as she tilted her head a little on the left while keeping her eyes focused on him and him only.

    He watched as the smile on her lips became bigger as she trailed the fingers of her free hand across his temples, adjusting a few loose strands of his hair.

    "I can take care of this if you want but seeing that you are unable to decide at the moment, we can try an alternative for the time being." She told him softly as her fingers came to rest on the side of his neck.

    He could see it in her eyes that she was finally getting tempted to taste his blood. The haziness of need and desire burning in her eyes made him feel tremors rising in his body and as he recalled the first time she fed on him, he felt excitement building inside him.

    Jiang Ying Yue didn''t wait for him to speak, mostly because she was unable to hold herself back any longer and also because the man was in no state to talk at the moment. He was completely overtaken by his desire and need and also by the feeling of immense pleasure that he was getting through her touches.

    She first planted a soft kiss on his lips before she titled her head and placed a kiss on the left side of his neck. She slowly trailed her lips against his smooth skin while inhaling his natural fragrance and feeling his pulse.

    The First Prince instinctively tilted his head to give her more room, a clear signal for her to continue and she was more than happy to comply. She pressed her hand against his hard member, making him moan again as she started trailing soft and wet kisses all over the left side of his neck and also on his shoulder.

    The man shuddered as the tingles started becoming bigger and more powerful with every kiss that she gifted him. His body was being tortured and pleasured at the same time making him lose all his control over his sensibility.

    "Ah Shan, let yourself enjoy this body. Don''t stop yourself and don''t deny the pleasure that your body and soul are seeking. Let me make you feel good, alright baby?" She asked him in a soft and warm tone and in reply, she received a slight nod from him before he relaxed in his seat and closed his eyes.

    Jiang Ying Yue didn''t waste another second as she plastered her mouth against his neck, biting his skin with her teeth softly before tracing her tongue over the spot and then placing a soft kiss there.

    She repeated this action a couple of times before she let her fangs came out as her eyes started to turn red, something that had not happened ever since the night when she first found herself in this new world.

    Her teeth sank into his skin, calling his blood to satiate her hunger while she started working on pleasing her mate and bringing him the moment of euphoria that he desired.

    While she slowly and leisurely sucked his sweet blood, her hand moved to lose his pants before she found her way to his hard, hot, and throbbing member that also had been calling her.

    The low groan of pleasure that came from Qing Shan made her quicken her movements and she started sliding her hand up and down in his member, giving her mate double pleasure.

    Qing Shan started trembling as everything became too much for him to handle. His body was on fire that threatened to consume him completely. The good thing was that it was a good kind of fire.

    He found his one hand moving to cup the nape of his woman as she drank his blood, making the connection between their souls became stronger than ever before while also causing him to shiver with the intense pleasure that it was bringing to him.

    However, he could not deny that her hand on his manhood felt too good for him to care about anything else at the moment.

 Chapter 74 - Need Holly Water

    Qing Shan bit his lower lip to stop making incoherent and shameless noises. His body was on fire while his soul danced in the middle of the sparks that were erupting all over his body.

    Jiang Ying Yue''s lips were still moving on his neck as she sucked his blood while her hand massaged his throbbing manhood, all this was making it hard for him to not lose his sanity. He was on the verge of exploding and he could do nothing about that... he didn''t want to do anything about that.

    Their soul marks were glowing brightly as the connection between them started getting more powerful, strong, and deep with each passing second.

    Because of the highly sensitive bond, Jiang Ying Yue was also feeling the intensity of the pleasure that the First Prince was receiving. It made her own body ache with a deep need that threatened to make her lose her control.

    Realizing that it was finally the time for her to give her mate the pleasure he seemed, she increased the pace of her hand.. Her fingers moving rapidly over his veiny and hard member which caused him to groan out loud.

    It did not take long before Qing Shan finally reached the climax. Sparks burst out all of his body as the world turned dark for a few seconds as his body shuddered with the aftershocks. It was the very first time in his entire Immortal life when he had experienced such a feeling of intense pleasure... a moment of euphoria that left him shaken to his core.

    Jiang Ying Yue slowly retracted her fangs before she trailed her tongue over the bite marks, soothing his skin and helping him heal. She kept planting soft kisses all over his neck, his shoulder, and also on his jaw as she waited for him to come out of his reverie.

    Since she had just fed, her body was brimming with energy and so was her soul because it had just experienced the very first taste of pleasuring one of its soulmates.

    Ying Yue decided to take a chance as she closed her eyes and called on her powers but she made sure to not overdo herself. She summoned just a little bit of her power to cast a spell that helped her in taking care of the aftermaths of Qing Shan''s orgasm.

    She adjusted his dress, wiped his face that was covered in sweat a little bit before she styled his ruffled hair that had come undone because of her fingers that had been busy pulling them all this while.

    "Ah Shan..." Jiang Ying Yue called him softly, making the Prince finally open his eyes. Their gazes collided and got locked in a trance. There was a new sense of warmth and softness in his eyes that she had never seen before.

    She felt his hand against her right cheek as he lightly cupped her face, his eyes refusing to move as he kept gazing at her with that intense look in them.

    She was so focused on enjoying the warmth of his palm against her cheek that when his hand suddenly grabbed her face and pulled her towards him, she almost let out a little squeal in surprise. But all the sounds got stuck in her throat as the warm and soft lips of the First Prince sealed her mouth in a slow and passionate kiss.

    It did not take long before her body started loosening up in his embrace as she closed her eyes and let herself enjoy the sweet moment. She didn''t try to take the charge of the kiss and allowed her mate to do as he pleased and she had to say, he was a fast learner.

    It was Qing Shan''s second kiss and that too within less than twenty minutes or so, but he already knew how to angle her head or where to place his hands. While one of his hands was still cupping her face, the other was resting on the small of her back. His lips moved along hers with soft strokes that made her melt into him.

    The sparks of pleasure once again started building inside Jiang Ying Yue, making her squirm against the muscled body of her mate. She hated to do it but she did pull away from the kiss and rested her face against the crook of his neck, nuzzling it against the soft skin as she inhaled his scent that made her mind relax even though her body was still struggling to calm down.

    "Ying''er, is something wrong? Are you not feeling good?" Qing Shan asked her in a worried tone as he rubbed her back as if he was trying to soothe her.

    Jiang Ying Yue slowly shook her head in denial. A small smile appeared on her lips as she heard him calling her with such warmth and affection just as she did to him.

    "I''m alright. Just let me enjoy your warmth for a few more minutes." She told him before taking in another deep breath as she closed her eyes and relaxed against him.

    Qing Shan''s embrace made her feel so good that before she could realize it, she had already fallen asleep.

    When Silver returned to the room after the two of them failed to come out of the room even after an entire hour, this was the scene that he came across. It made him happy to see her finally getting along with Qing Shan but at the same time, he felt a little jealous because he still had to keep his distance from her.

    Life was playing dirty with him and he could barely wait for the moment when he would finally be able to strike back.

    But one thing was for sure... that day was pretty close.

    ***********

    "It hurts, you idiot." Jiang Ying Yue shouted out in pain as she tried to pull her leg away that was resting in Min Gu''s, or Silver, lap as the girl massaged her swollen ankle.

    It was the early morning a few days after the beautiful evening that she got to spend with the First Prince in the private room of the most popular restaurant of the Capital City.

    Somehow, her fragile body ended up straining her ankle while going through her morning training session, and instead of healing her immediately with his powers, Silver was making her experience the pain as he massaged the swollen area.

    "Here..." Li Wu finally appeared beside them with a wet cloth in her hands which she passed on to Min Gu.

    Jiang Ying Yue felt the light tingles in the air as the energy shifted around them, making her realize that Silver had cast a silent spell, and she knew what kind of spell it was as soon as he wrapped the cloth around her swollen ankle.

    The cloth felt as cold against her skin as ice and she could feel the light electric tingles that seeped inside her skin as the spell started healing her injured foot.

    "My lady, are you feeling better now? What should we do? We can''t even call a physician to take a look at your foot." Li Qi seemed to be panicking more and more as she kept staring at Jiang Ying Yue''s injured ankle that was now wrapped with a wet cloth.

    "Why are you two reacting like she has broken her leg? It''s just a strain. Don''t worry too much, she will be perfectly fine in no time." Min Gu told the Li sisters but only received glares in response.

    "How dare you curse our lady? Don''t speak nonsense here. Besides, all this is your fault. She got injured because of the stupid training that you always make us do in the early morning." Li Wu hurriedly complained but not before reprimanding the girl.

    "Thankless people!" Min Gu muttered as she stood up after safely placing Jiang Ying Yue''s leg on the floor. She gave a displeased glance to both the Li sisters before disappearing inside the side room of the fifth courtyard.

    "Look at her! She''s getting bolder with every passing day. I have started to feel like she''s the body here while we are the ones staying here for free." Li Qi complained as she huffed in unhappiness while staring in the direction of the side room.

    "Don''t mind her. She loves to make both of you uneasy. You two should get ready and leave for the store. I''ll stay here today to work on making some more cosmetics." She told the sisters who nodded their heads and left after bidding goodbyes.

    The Li sisters were not worried about the safety of their lady. Though she had strained her foot, Min Gu was still there to look after her. No matter how rude and misbehaved that bunny girl appeared most of the time, she still listened to their lady''s orders.

    Sometimes, they really became curious to know exactly what was going on between their lady and the bunny girl. But recalling the few sights that they had come across in the past month, they dare not think too much about the topic.

    At this point, both their eyes and mind needed holly water.

 Chapter 75 - Someones In Her Bed

    "Miss Yue, the Madam and Second Daughter of the Fang family are waiting inside for you." Bai Xia, one of the maids working at the ''Glamour and Fashion'' informed Jiang Ying Yue when the latter returned after spending her lunch break with Silver at the other side of the market.

    The two of them mostly spend their time walking through the streets and checking out different stalls that were selling large varieties of products. She bought a couple of hairpins before returning to the store.

    As for her guests, Master Fang was a fifth rank official working under General Gu and it was the first time when someone from the noble family had come to visit her personally.

    Jiang Ying Yue entered the shop and made her way straight towards the sitting area where her guests were waiting for her as they enjoyed the fresh herbal tea served to them by one of the servants.

    "Madam, Miss..." She greeted both her guests as she came to stand right in front of them. Both Madam Fang and her daughter stood up hurriedly to greet the owner of the store..

    "Miss Yue, we have heard a lot about your shop and your unique skills with makeup. Today, we are here with a special request." The Madam immediately stated the reason behind her sudden visit without beating around the bush.

    "Madam, I can''t promise you anything before hearing the request. But I can assure you, as long as it''s something within my capability, I will do my best." Jiang Ying Yue responded with a slight bow of her head.

    Her polite but calm and sincere attitude made both the Madam and Young Miss of Fang Manor feel more positive about Miss Yue''s character.

    "Please take your seats before we discuss further." Jiang Ying Yue politely offered and all three of them settled down on the seats arranged around one of the tables.

    "Actually, my Ming''er is getting married soon and we are currently looking for someone to prepare her wedding dress. We heard that your shop has recently started accepting requests for custom-made dresses and we have long heard about your makeup skills. Miss Yue, would you like to accept this request?" Madam Fang asked as she and her daughter looked at Ying Yue with hopeful eyes.

    Jiang Ying Yue remained silent for a couple of seconds before she turned her attention towards the Young Miss Ming as she asked, "Miss, is there something particular that you want in your wedding dress?"

    A smile appeared on the lips of both the old and young lady as they heard Ying Yue''s question. Since she had not directly rejected them already, there were chances that she would accept their order of the wedding dress and bridal makeup.

    "To be honest, I have not thought about the dress too much. I just want to wear something really beautiful at my wedding." The young lady answered sincerely.

    Jiang Ying Yue nodded her head as she thought about the situation some more. Even though it sounded tempting, she could not immediately accept the order since it had been barely forty or so days since she started her business and so far her shop had only completed one special request of dress but that too was for the thirteenth birthday of the daughter of Elder Hao who owned the third biggest Inn of the Capital City.

    "How many days are left before the wedding day?" She asked after thinking for a while.

    "There''s still over a month left. There''s ample time for you to prepare the dress, jewelry, and cosmetics." Madam Fang hurriedly replied. She seemed too eager to make Ying Yue accept her request.

    A small twitch appeared on Ying Yue''s lips but it was hidden beneath the veil that she was wearing. "I can''t say that I''m the best candidate for this job..."

    She watched as the smiles disappeared from the faces of both the women as they heard her words. "... But let''s do it in this way. Give me a week, I''ll prepare some designs for the dress and jewelry. I''ll come to meet you on the first day of the coming week. If you liked the designs then we will settle the deal."

    After she finished, she stood up from her seat and watched as both the women hurried to follow her. They seemed a little flustered but at least their faces were no longer looking as pale as if they had seen a ghost.

    "We don''t have any problem. We will do as you want. We will be waiting for your visit, Miss Yue." The madam hurriedly spoke, giving Ying Yue a huge but clearly forced smile.

    Jiang Ying Yue nodded her head politely and watched as both the woman and her daughter left the shop along with their maids.

    "Lady Yue, these two sounds fishy and I''m sure you realized that too. Then why did you accept their request?" Manager Jun asked as he came to stand next to her as he also stared at the carriage of the Fang family standing in front of their shop.

    "They are giving us such a big chance for free advertisement. Why should I let go of such a chance?" She asked the young man who seemed a little bit confused by her words.

    Jiang Ying Yue shook her head slightly as she let out a small sigh. "The more attention our store will get, the better it is for our business. Even if these two came here today with bad intentions, all that we need is to play by ear, for now, let them think that everything is under their control. Once I have all the information that I need, we will show them our cards."

    "Cards?" Manager Jun asked as he looked at the lady to see if he could grasp the meaning behind her words through her expressions.

    "Manager Jun, let''s not pay too much attention to unimportant things. I''m heading upstairs to start with the work." Jiang Ying Yue stated with a polite tone before she turned around and headed upstairs.

    The rest of the afternoon, she spent her time teaching the girls in her department how to apply eye makeup. She was planning to teach Li sisters the formulas of making cosmetics while she had chosen three girls to teach them her makeup skills.

    ****

    After dinner, Jiang Ying Yue retired to her bed-chamber to finally give her body some much-needed rest.

    She settled in the bed under the covers after blowing the candles as she prepared to sleep. It didn''t take her eyes long to adjust to the darkness of the room, especially when the bright moonlight filtering inside her bed-chamber through the open window was providing enough light for her to see every corner of the room clearly, not like her vampire eyes really needed the help.

    Within a few minutes, her body started relaxing as her brain became calm and before she knew it, Jiang Ying Yue was losing herself in the world of dreams.

    It was probably past midnight when she was pulled out of her sleepy world. As she slowly opened her eyes to look around, it took her a couple of seconds to realize that the bed-chamber was filled with darkness. The window was closed and there was no longer any moonlight filtering inside the room.

    As her senses started waking up, Jiang Ying Yue finally realized that someone was there in the room. Scratch that, someone was actually sleeping in her bed. Since she was sleeping on her side facing the window, she couldn''t see who it was.

    She tried to not make any sound as she let her long and sharp nails come out and as soon as her weapon was ready to slay the intruder, she made her move.

    She made a quick leap towards the person lying beside her as she rolled her body and then jumped to straddle him/her and before that person could even get the chance to react, her sharp nails were positioned against his neck.

    Maybe she was too harsh in her moves because one of her nails ended up scrapping his skin which made blood ooze out from his throat, instantly filling the air with its sweet and tempting smell.

    Jiang Ying Yue let out a deep breath before she pulled her hand away, letting her nails disappear as she flicked the fingers of her other hand and made both the cut and the blood vanish from Third Prince''s throat.

    "What are you doing here?" She asked while climbing down from his thighs where she had been sitting while straddling him.

    "I wanted to talk to you but found you sleeping here. I was just too lazy to return to my place so I decided to rest here. Maybe I should have asked for your permission just to avoid such a serious situation where I almost ended up losing my life." The Prince replied with a shrug as he flicked one of his hands and the room got filled with the bright lights from the candles.

 Chapter 76 - Believe In Fate

    Jiang Ying Yue stared at the Third Prince who seemed to be enjoying the comfort of her mattress, not like it was anywhere near the top-quality one that he normally used.

    "Cut the crap! Tell me, why are you here? What do you want?" She asked again as she took a seat beside him on the bed. Folding her legs in the lotus position, she draped the duvet on her lap before relaxing.

    "I just told you that I came here to chat with you. Why are you so doubtful?" Wu Xie questioned with his eyebrows arched high as he gave her a curious look.

    "Whatever! I''m too tired to deal with you right now." Jiang Ying Yue mumbled as she moved to once again lay down on the bed before covering herself with the duvet.

    "Wait! Are you planning to sleep with me?" Wu Xie asked as he raised his body a little with the help of his elbow to look at her face.

    "You should be happy to know that you are the first-ever person to get this privilege. Now no more nonsense, just sleep.." Ying Yue replied in an indifferent tone before she pushed him down on the bed with her hand.

    "Seeing you behave like this, I''m really curious to know what kind of world you used to live in before coming here. You seem too open-minded about the intimacy between men and women." Wu Xie commented as he resumed his previous position and just laid there beside her.

    Since he was not facing towards her, he failed to see the smirk that his words brought on Ying Yue''s lips. "Trust me, Your Highness, no one from your world will be able to stand my world. If my allowing you to share my bed is considered too open-minded, then you will probably get a heart attack after seeing exactly how open-minded the people of my world are."

    Her words, or more like the mocking warning, only made Wu Xie more curious as he tried to imagine what kind of world Miss Jiang used to live in.

    "Is it a big world?" He asked after a few minutes.

    "Yes and no. It depends. It''s pretty big but sometimes it can feel like a really small world." Jiang Ying Yue answered but she could tell that her words had confused the Prince.

    "Then..., how many empires it has? How many emperors?" He asked again, seeming to have become more curious to learn about her world.

    Jiang Ying Yue suddenly let out a chuckle as she tried to find a perfect way to answer his questions. The more she would tell him about her world, the more curious he was destined to become.

    "We don''t call them Empires anymore because they are no longer ruled by Emperors or Empresses. Instead, we call them countries and every country has its government that helps their countries and their people to achieve a prosperous and happy future. There are nearly two hundred countries in my world."

    For the next few minutes, all that she heard was silence. The Third Prince was taking his time to digest the information that she had so carelessly thrown at him. It was his first time hearing that there were almost two hundred empires, or countries, present in a world. That just sounded impossible.

    "Are you too shocked to speak?" Jiang Ying Yue asked when she heard no response from him after several minutes of silence.

    "I know that you are just trying to fool me. I''m not going to believe you just like that." Wu Xie suddenly spoke as he turned his body to face her before draping one of his arms over her waist.

    "What are you doing? When did I allow you to touch me like this? Aren''t you bring too brave?" Jiang Ying Yue questioned in a reprimanding tone as she tried to get his arm off her. But to her dismay, not only he tightened his hold on her but he was also bold enough to pull her closer to his body.

    "Wu Xie...!" Jiang Ying Yue tried to warn the man but it seemed like he was in no mood of listening.

    "Sssh! Just calm down. I just want to visit your world." The Prince told her as he placed his fingers against her temple while resting his face against the top of her head.

    "W... W-what? What are you talking about?" Jiang Ying Yue asked but she did stop struggling and let her body relax against him.

    "You will find out in a minute or two." He told her in a whispered tone and before Jiang Ying Yue could open her mouth to ask anything more, she felt her eyes suddenly becoming too heavy to stay open. Her mind became hazy, being unable to think properly and just like that, it took her barely a minute to fall asleep.

    The door of her bed-chamber flew open exactly the moment when she gave in under the heavy control of the spell that Wu Xie had cast over her.

    "What are you doing to her? Why are you even here?" Silver questioned as he closed the door before once again placing the ward around the room that he had taken down just a couple of seconds ago.

    "So it''s really true. You are always there with her no matter what place or time it is. You really love her, don''t you?" Wu Xie asked as he watched the man coming closer to the bed.

    "Why? Are you suddenly being jealous? It''s not my fault that you were born in a completely different world from ours. Maybe if you were born in our world, you would have met her a long time ago. But as far as I can tell, time never matters to us immortals. Unlike humans, we have too much time in our hands." Silver responded with a little shrug as he crouched down beside the bed and stared at the sleeping form of his mate.

    "You look too calm for a person who should be worrying for the safety of the love of his life." Wu Xie could not help but point out as he noticed that there was no tense energy surrounding the man.

    A small smile appeared on Silver''s lips as he slightly shook his head as if he found Wu Xie''s words quite hilarious. "Why should I worry? She''s your mate too. Unless you are someone without a heart, it''s almost impossible for you to do anything to hurt her. You will receive twice the pain and suffering if you even dared to hurt her on purpose. I think you already learned this lesson on the day when you tried to push her down the cliff."

    From the shocked look on Wu Xie''s face, it was pretty clear that Silver had guessed right. Since it was an intentional incident, Wu Xie got hurt even double of what Jiang Ying Yue went through that day.

    A deep sigh escaped the Third Prince''s lips as he just shook his head to get rid of the memories. It was his first time to feel so much pain and it was not until he found her and held her in his arms, did his pain started fading away.

    "This mate thing is too weird for me to understand. The more I''m trying to understand how this all works, the more confused I''m becoming." He finally let out the words that had been sitting inside his heart for quite a while.

    "It will take time but time is exactly what you have in abundance. As long as you will let fate play its cards, everything will be alright in the end." Silver replied as he took hold of one of Jiang Ying Yue''s hands. He let his powers out to mingle with the energy of the spell cast over her.

    "Do you really think that fate has written a happy ending for all of us?" Wu Xie suddenly asked as he turned to look at Silver with serious eyes.

    What he didn''t expect was for the nan to just shrug his shoulders in response. "Why are you being like that? Since you dare to bring up fate, shouldn''t you have some faith in it?"

    Silver once again shrugged but this time he did took a few seconds to think about the question. "The fate allowed me to meet her and even when I was not allowed to accompany her as her lover, it still gave me a way out. Even after death, fate allowed the two of us to start a new life together. Since it has been giving me chances that I probably never deserved, I think I will be a fool to not trust it."

    Wu Xie observed the man for a while, seeing that he clearly meant every single word that he just spoke. "Fine! I''ll listen to you this once."

    Silver nodded his head in acknowledgment as another soft smile appeared on his lips. "Don''t you want to see our world? Let me take you on a tour."

 Chapter 77 - Her World In The Memories

    The sound of violin and piano filled the surroundings as people chatted and drank together under the beautiful chandeliers hanging in the great hall of the Vampire Court.

    "Why are we here?"

    "Where are we?"

    Jiang Ying Yue and Wu Xie asked out at the same time, causing Silver to give them a knowing smirk. "This is the place where your subconsciousness has brought us." He answered simply as he looked down at the hall filled with high-class supernaturals.

    His answer was directed at Jiang Ying Yue who just let out a small sigh as she looked around the familiar surroundings. She had been a part of the Vampire Court for nearly as long as she could remember.

    She still remembered the day when her Sire brought her to the Vampire Court for the very first time after five months of her changing. It was the day when she faced the Vampire Lord for the very first time and became an official member of the vampire clan.

    "It seems like the Summer Gala that was held at the end of May.." Jiang Ying Yue noticed the setting and recalled that it was the last Summer Gala that she attended before dying. If she had succeeded in living another month, she would have ended up attending the Winter Gala too for the last time.

    "It is... and there you are." Silver spoke in a soft voice as he pointed at the staircase that led down into the hall where the party was ongoing.

    As both Jiang Ying Yue and Wu Xie turned to look in the direction pointed at by Silver, the latter could barely believe his eyes as he watched a woman looking just like Miss Jiang walking down the stairs in a magnificent dress.

    However, the main reason behind his shock was something different. It took him quite some time to realize that the dressing sense of this world was different from his and he could see a lot of skin every time he spotted a person, especially a woman.

    Jiang Ying Yue felt pretty proud as she watched the dumbfounded look on Wu Xie''s face as he stared at her past self. She was dressed in a beautiful dark blue sleeveless evening gown with a heart-shaped collar that showed just the upper curves of her breasts. The back was made of see-through fabric which did nothing to hide the tattoo that was covering her spine. A long slit on the lower half made her left leg visible whenever she walked. Her six inches high heels and light make up along with the diamond jewelry just made her look like a Queen among all the people present there.

    "Why are you wearing something like that?" He couldn''t help but ask as he glared at the man who was walking beside her past self. One of the man''s hands was resting on her lower back and there was a fine piece of fabric separating him from touching her skin directly.

    "What''s wrong with the dress? I think it''s looking great." Jiang Ying Yue replied in a totally innocent tone before she took hold of Wu Xie''s hands and winked at Silver who just shook his head in response but there was a small smile playing on his lips.

    One moment, they were still standing on the upper floor of the banquet hall and the very next second, Jiang Ying Yue teleported the three of them to a beach. It was past midnight and there was no one at the beach.

    "Look over there." She told Wu Xie as she pointed at the lady in a black bikini who was walking at the shore while enjoying the night view of the sea. Of course, it was her past self. It was one of those days when she just wanted to spend some time alone.

    "Why are you wearing so little? Are you out of your mind?" Wu Xie clearly seemed to be troubled as he tried his best to not rush over to the girl and drape her in his robe.

    "I told you that my world is different. The people of my world and their thinking are also different from you and people from your world. See..." She told him and made him once again face the beach as she changed the setting.

    However, this time it was during the daytime, and the beach was filled with hundreds of people, men, women, and children who were wearing too little clothes as they enjoyed their time at the beach.

    "You are not here." Wu Xie commented in a low tone before he hurriedly looked away when he noticed a couple making out at some distance. All this was becoming too much for him to bear.

    "As a vampire, I didn''t have the privilege of living in the sunlight like a normal person." Jiang Ying Yue responded with a shrug as she stared at the people having fun.

    "I think you should stop torturing him. For someone who has been brought up in such a conservative world, it''s quite hard for him to take in all this at once." Silver reminded her when he noticed the discomfort visible on Wu Xie''s face.

    Jiang Ying Yue finally turned her attention on the Third Prince who was staring at the ground to keep himself from looking at those people present at the beach.

    "Alright! Let me take you to some other place." She told him as she once again took hold of his hand and along with Silver, she teleported the three of them to the biggest mall of the City.

    "Is it a palace?" Wu Xie asked when he noticed the grandiose of the place and all the bright lights that seemed to be filling the ceilings like little stars.

    Jiang Ying Yue chuckled softly as she shook her head slightly in response to his question. "No way. This place is nowhere near a palace. It''s a shopping mall or more like a huge market where you can buy almost anything. Come, let me show you around."

    Silver and Jiang Ying Yue spent the next two hours showing Wu Xie around the different stores and compartments in the mall and when they finally walked out of the mall, it was around ten o''clock and the outside world was filled with thousands and thousands of lights to fight the darkness of the night.

    The three of them walked through different streets. Silver and Jiang Ying Yue happily showing Wu Xie the night beauty of the city. The tall skyscrapers that were standing all around the city center, the busy traffic as different types of vehicles rushed by, people talking, texting, or just scrolling through the internet on their smartphones. There was so much for the Third Prince to take in.

    "I think... I think I need a break. All this is too much for me to take in." Wu Xie finally spoke when he noticed some twinkling thing flying in the sky and Silver told him that it was also a type of vehicle that could fly and that too without any spiritual energy or magical energy.

    "Is your curiosity about our world satisfied? Or do you want to take a break before continuing again?" Jiang Ying Yue teased as she looked at the Third Prince who appeared like he was having a hard time pulling himself together.

    She was completely taken aback when the man moved closer to her and threw his arms around her as he buried his face in the crook of her neck.

    "What are you doing? It was your idea to delve into my memories and see my world because you were having a hard time believing my words. How come you are suddenly acting like I''m the one who purposely brought you here to torture you?" Jiang Ying Yue questioned in an unhappy tone but her hands were already moving to wrap around the man who still refused to let go of her.

    "Your world is too much for me to take in." Wu Xie repeated his words as he nuzzled his nose against the sensitive skin of her neck, making her clutch her fingers in a tight fist as she tried to not let herself get affected.

    "Alright! Let''s return. Silver..." She turned sideways to look at Silver but the man was nowhere to be found. She looked around hurriedly, trying to pinpoint the location of her mate but she could not find him no matter what.

    "Wu Xie... Wu Xie... WU XIE...!" She shouted in panic to make the Prince react who was constantly ignoring her calls.

    "What''s wrong?" He asked as soon as he noticed the panicked look on her face.

    "Silver... he''s not here anymore and I can''t find his location." Jiang Ying Yue told him as she started to become more and more terrified as the fear of losing Silver dawned over her.

    Though it was only the world in her memories, it was still a territory of magic that she didn''t have too much knowledge or experience about. She knew well enough how to handle the memories of people but not about handling the memories of someone who no longer belonged to that world. It was not only dangerous but the casualties could be beyond her imagination.

    "Don''t panic. Let ne try to look for him. I initiated the spell, so maybe I can find him." Wu Xie tried to comfort her but before he could do anything, a sharp force pulled both of them out of the world of her memories.

 Chapter 78 - Spending The Night Together

    Her eyes flew open as soon as Jiang Ying Yue came out from a deep sleep filled with her memories of the past life. Her heart was breaking rapidly while her breathing was coming out in short gasps.

    She would probably have started searching the room if not for the warm and familiar embrace that surrounded her as soon as she sat up on the bed.

    "Yue, I''m here. I''m alright... It''s alright." Silver whispered next to her ear as he rubbed her back to help her calm down. He hated seeing her worked up for him. Making her worry for himself was the last thing he wanted to do but sometimes the situations became too dire for him to react before thinking, just like the one he encountered a few minutes ago.

    "Is she alright?" Wang Shu asked as he came closer to bed.. There was hesitation in his eyes as if he was in a dilemma whether to stay closer to her or keep his distance.

    "It will help her if you will be closer to her." Silver encouraged the man who nodded his head slightly before taking his seat next to Wu Xie who hurried to made space for his brother.

    "She''s looking so pale." Qing Shan commented from his position next to the window which he had opened to let the moonlight filter inside the bed-chamber.

    His words made a small twitch appeared on Silver''s lips as he tightened his arms around his mate before replying, "You haven''t gone through the pain of separating from your mate. Just a mere thought of losing her forever can make it hard for you to take another breath. It''s the worst kind of pain and the deepest levels of suffering that one could go through."

    The Princes glanced at each other as they heard Silver''s words. "We didn''t mean to frighten you guys. Qing Shan felt the presence of high spiritual energy being used in the Cold Palace and that''s why we came here to take a look. It would have become a huge problem f Empress Dowager has also noticed it." Wang Shu explained while giving Wu Xie a hard glare.

    "Why are you looking at me like that? It was just an impulsive mistake. I won''t do it again." Wu Xie defended himself as soon as he noticed the cold gazes of both his brothers trained on him.

    "You deserve this. We asked you to stay here in the palace to help us and Ying''er, not to create trouble for all of us. And this is not the first time when you have neglected the seriousness of the situation. Don''t forget that you went to meet her at her shop before taking her out of the city. What were you going to do if that old fox had found out?" Qing Shan asked his brother who didn''t seem very happy to be questioned like this.

    "I''m not a child anymore. I know how to handle such situations. I agree that I put her safety at risk whenever I tried to meet her these past weeks but I never let her get caught. And what do you want me to do? I don''t have any problems staying here and become a scapegoat for you all but don''t expect me to keep my distance from her when I know that she''s... she''s way more special to us... to me... than what we were told."

    It happened very rarely when Wu Xie became irritated enough to lose his calm. Mostly, this was Qing Shan''s character. Even though he was the oldest out of the three of them, he still use anger and superiority to solve most of his issues, unlike Wang Shu who was as calm as stilled water. Wu Xie was like a mix of both his elder brothers. He could be fierce like Qing Shan but he could also be gentle like Wang Shu.

    "That''s right. She''s important, way more important than we were aware of and that''s exactly why we need to be more cautious while protecting her from that woman." Qing Shan wasn''t ready to back down yet.

    "Can you guys stop shouting at the top of your lungs? You are making my eardrums ring." Jiang Ying Yue''s little whin caused everyone to become dead silent as their focus returned to the woman who was still leaning against Silver as the man held her in his arms.

    "Are you feeling better now?" Wang Shu was the first one to ask as he moved closer to Ying Yue, almost coming close enough that there was barely any space left between them.

    To everyone''s surprise, Jiang Ying Yue pulled out of Silver''s arms to look at the Second Prince as she gave him a soft smile before shaking her head. But the real surprise came when she let her body fell against his chest which made him immediately wrap his hands around her.

    "Thank you for caring about me, Ah Shu." She thanked her mate with a sweet smile before closing her eyes and taking a deep breath.

    Though her eyes were closed, she could tell that there were some people present inside her bed-chamber who were currently in a bitter mood. Of course, it was none other than the First and the Third Prince who were glaring at their second brother with unhappiness and jealousy clearly written all over their faces.

    Silver smiled as he realized that his girl had finally found the perfect weapon to deal with her soulmates. She didn''t need to fight with them to make them angry or frustrated, nor did she need to play tricks. She just had to pay extra attention to one of them to make the other two jealous, or if she wanted to make all three of them jealous, then he was more than happy to compile with her plans.

    "If you want equal rights as her soulmates, you need to learn when to stop or back down. If you will keep upsetting her whenever you will meet her, then how are you going to make your relationship move forward? Try to control your temper when around her. It''s indeed hard to find one''s destined soulmates but the hardest part is to make them fall in love with you like there''s no tomorrow." He advised the Princes while keeping his eyes trained on Ying Yue who was still pretending to be half asleep.

    "Love?" It was Wu Xie who spoke this time and by the look on his face, it was hard to tell whether he was confused because it was his first time hearing that word or generally because he never thought about falling in love with Ying Yue.

    "Right! Love. Isn''t that what you guys want? To love her and be loved by her?" Silver asked as he looked at the Princes who seemed to suddenly have lost their ability to speak at all.

    Silver''s lips twitched a little as he tried to not make fun of these poor guys. They could be one of the most powerful people of this new mysterious world but they were too innocent when it came to the things between men and women. They were too conservative and lacked knowledge about their current relationships with Ying Yue.

    "Stop teasing them." Jiang Ying Yue whispered as she finally opened her eyes and looked at him with a similar smile on her face as the one playing on his lips.

    "Who''s teasing them? I''m just trying to make them realize the ultimate destination of a soulbond - love." Silver replied as he stared deep into her eyes. His bright emerald eyes slowly turning dark as he let her see a glimpse of his true feelings that he had been keeping sheltered inside him.

    Jiang Ying Yue could see the flames of desire, undying care, and affection, unlimited trust, and neverending love that was stored inside him, all belonging to her.

    She shook her head slightly before turning her face away to bury it in the crook of Wang Shu''s neck. She needed to distract herself before she could end up doing something stupid.

    "It''s pretty late. We should leave so that everyone can rest." Silver spike after a couple of seconds when he finally returned to his calm self.

    "Wait! Can one of you stay here with me?" Jiang Ying Yue requested as she looked at the four men who seemed to be taken aback by her sudden request.

    "I''ll let these three decide. Goodnight, sweetheart." Silver whispered to her as he moved closer to place a sweet kiss on her forehead. He gave her a warm smile before walking out of the bed-chamber, leaving her behind with the Three Princes.

    "So...?" She asked while looking at the three of them. They were clearly having difficulty deciding which one of them should stay with her.

    "I want to stay." Wu Xie finally spoke as he looked at her with hopeful eyes.

    "Alright then."

 Chapter 79 - Every Tree Deserves Flowers

    Jiang Ying Yue was pulled out of her dreamless sleep when she heard the commotion outside her courtyard.

    As she slowly regained her senses and realized that she was sleeping in the warm embrace of Wu Xie, a small smile bloomed on her lips.

    "You should leave now." She whispered next to his ear, making his eyes fluttered open as he gazed at her with his dreamy eyes that seemed way more warmer and approachable than ever before.

    After a few seconds, he did nod his head in understanding as he too realized that her maids were going insane outside her courtyard because they couldn''t enter due to the ward he had placed around the area.

    She watched as his silhouette disappeared from her room, leaving her alone in her bedroom. As soon as he left, the ward also went down, making way for the Li sisters to finally enter the room.

    "My lady, my lady, are you alright? Is everything alright here? Did something happened?" The panic was clear in Li Qi''s voice as she was the first one to enter the bed-chamber, followed by her sister who looked just as worried as Li Qi.

    "Li Qi, Li Wu, what happened? Why are you guys looking so panicked?" Jiang Ying Yue asked while feigning innocence..

    "My lady, we have been trying to enter your courtyard for so long but due to some reason we were being pushed back every time we tried to step inside. It made us worry about you. We thought something bad had happened." Li Wu was immediately there beside her as she crouched down next to her bed and started brushing Ying Yue''s hair with fingers.

    Seeing the worry and immense love that these two girls held for her, Jiang Ying Yue felt her heart warming up as she gave both of them a soft smile.

    "Aren''t we getting late for our training class? Let''s go before that girl becomes angry and make us work even more." She hurriedly tried to divert their attention towards Min Gu and their morning practice that they still had to attend.

    The Li sisters hurriedly helped their lady getting dressed before they all headed to the back garden where Min Gu was already waiting for them.

    "You all are three minutes late." That was the first thing she said as soon as Jiang Ying Yue and the Li sisters appeared in front of her.

    "It''s just three minutes and also the first time when we got late. Can''t you just let it slide this time?" Li Wu asked as she stared at the bunny girl who didn''t have a single ounce of cuteness and warmth like a bunny.

    "Don''t even dream about it. Let''s start now." Min Gu threw over her shoulder as she headed towards the other side of the cleared area to observe their practice.

    Li Wu and Li Qi groaned together while Jiang Ying Yue was almost tempted to roll her eyes. Not like she really hated exercising but Min Gu''s acting throughout the practice classes always tempted her to just give up.

    Besides, the irony was the situation was just too much for her to take on. Back in the supernatural world, she was the one who trained him from basics, not only in physical combat but also in magical powers. And now here she was, learning the same things from the very person who was never able to defeat her in a fight through the eight hundred years that the two of them spent together. She hated her current state, she was not only powerless but also pathetic.

    She needed to find a way to get her powers back as soon as possible. She herself couldn''t stand her current self. Then how could she expect her mates to treat her fairly when she was nothing more than a pushover? Did she even have the right to complain?

    *****

    The next few days, Jiang Ying Yue spent her time preparing some sketches for the special order that she received from the Fang family.

    From what Gu Chen had found out about that family, she learned that Madam Fang was actually working under the special orders of the Prime Minister manor. Looked like the higher-ups had also heard the praises of her newly opened shop and it was making them anxious.

    The order that she had received from Madam Fang was more like a test rather than a trap to create trouble for her. But there was no doubt that if she ended up designing an extraordinary dress, it would bring more than just unwanted attention to her and her shop. Once decided, she won''t be able to return back to her simple life of no worries about the Prime Minister and his minions.

    Her hands stopped working as soon as the thought of the countless problems emerging in the future, entered her brain. Neither she nor her shop was in a state to fight against the Prime Minister but that also didn''t mean that she was going to back down just because she was currently powerless against her competitors.

    "Are you really going to design a wedding dress for them?" Silver asked as he entered the office area that she had set up in the far corner of her cosmetic hall.

    A sigh left her lips as Jiang Ying Yue looked up to face her mate. "Why am I being so helpless? Was I too proud of my power and wealth in my previous life? Is that why I''m suffering like this right now? All this is making me go insane. I don''t want any problems for now but backing down from this order means that we don''t have the ability, it''s going to ruin the reputation of our store."

    Silver remained silent as he checked the designs that she was preparing. They all seemed beautiful and each of them was different from the other, a touch of modern fashion but still carrying the elegance and culture of ancient times.

    "You are always good in such types of situations. You always know what''s the right thing to do. I''m sure you will find out a perfect solution as long as you will give this some more thought." He finally spoke after a couple of minutes as he looked at her with faith in his beautiful emerald eyes.

    Jiang Ying Yue almost chuckled hearing his words. He was trying to cheer her up because he failed to find any kind of solution for the problem.

    "Why did you even opened this clothes shop? You could have just gone with the idea of makeup. I''m sure you won''t be facing such a situation if you would have thought twice before pairing up with that young master from the General manor." Silver took his time to complain as he returned the designs to her before moving towards the little bonsai that was sitting near the window.

    He rested his fingers against the trunk of the little tree, making a light green glow cover the bonsai. It was like a true miracle as new leaves sprouted along with a couple of little red flowers.

    "I didn''t know that there are going to be flowers." Jiang Ying Yue murmured as she stared at the bonsai that was looking even more beautiful and eye-catching than before.

    "There were no flowers." Silver replied as he retracted his hand and stepped back from the little tree.

    "Huh?" Jiang Ying Yue was surprised to hear his words. Did he really mean that? The tree didn''t suppose to have flowers?

    "I think every tree deserves to have flowers. So I gifted it with ones." He told her before turning around to look at her. The expression on his face made her smile as she tried to not stand up from her seat to go and engulf that man in her arms.

    Back in the supernatural world, he was known to be her right-hand man who was just as cold-hearted and dark-minded as her. While she never had any problems with the rumors about herself, she knew that those people failed to see the real Silver.

    She won''t deny that his heart was really ice cold. He won''t even blink before killing anyone as long as it meant that he could protect her. But there was another side of him, a tender and sweet side that only she had the privilege of seeing. The man was just as soft as he appeared to be hard. He was containing just as much light inside himself as much as the darkness that he was showing on the outside.

    "I did think twice before joining hands with Gu Chen. Right now it seemed like General Manor is on the verge of disappearing but once General Gu and his second son will return, everything will change. General Gu is the In-charge of the military and he''s also in the team of the Princes. Keeping close connections with the General family will be our best weapon against the Prime Minister and the... Empress Dowager."

 Chapter 80 - Is She Really An Enemy?

    "Why are you so sure that the Empress Dowager is your enemy? Is it because of what the Princes have told you?" Silver asked as he returned to stand next to her.

    Jiang Ying Yue slowly shook her head in denial as she recalled all the conversations that she had with the Princes regarding Empress Dowager.

    To be honest, she was still having problems understanding her role in all the drama that was taking place in this world. What she had learned so far was that the woman was trying to find a way to give her race a chance at a better life. And as much as she would like to deny it, Jiang Ying Yue could not see any problems in that.

    Qing Shan had already told her that Empress Dowager''s plan could destroy the rest of the realms and that was something no one wanted, at least not the Gods and the mortals.

    But what were they expecting? They left the demons to live a life in the depths of hell while they were enjoying the beauty of nature and bright sunshine in their realms. Could not they really see the unfairness?

    Jiang Ying Yue never believed that demons were always the villains. She had learned that through those fifteen hundred years of her life as a vampire. They also deserved a better chance to live a worthy life because no one was perfect, not even those who belonged to the Heaven Realm.

    "I don''t know for sure. Whether she''s a friend or a foe, I can''t say anything about it right now. But if given a chance, I would rather stay in a neutral relationship with her. I''m not saying that I agree with her idea of destroying the other realms to get what she wants but I''m also not against her plan of finding a new place for her race. Maybe if she really ended up creating a new realm for the demons, the animosity between the realms of this world will finally come to an end." She replied with a soft shrug of her shoulders.

    She didn''t know how to describe it but the feelings that she got towards the Empress Dowager didn''t seem like the old woman would either want to be her enemy if given the chance.

    "Then what are you going to do when you will finally need to pick a side? Are you going to abandon your soulmates?" Silver actually seemed curious as he asked the question. He really didn''t care what side she would choose, he''s just going to tag along with her no matter what side it would be.

    "The three of them still have to do something to make my heart move. The pull of the bonds is there, the connection is also there and so is the desire, but that doesn''t mean I''m ready to hand over my heart to them." Jiang Ying Yue replied with a thoughtful expression on her face.

    "Wait! Are you saying that you will actually abandon them?" Silver almost pulled her out of her seat as he grabbed her arms. He seemed kind of terrified instead of being happy like she thought.

    This time, Jiang Ying Yue didn''t hold back the chuckle that finally escaped her lips as she slowly patted his hands that were resting on her arms.

    "Are you out of your mind? They are my soulmates. Just because I don''t love them right now doesn''t mean I''ll let them die. I''ll protect all four of you till my last breath. I''ll find a way out of this situation but for now, saving this world is far down on our to-do list. There''s a lot of things that I''ve to sort out before that." She told him with a wink before returning her attention to the designs that she was preparing.

    "Alright! I''ll listen to you. I''m leaving now to continue my search around the palace. Let''s meet in the evening." Silver told her as he finally stepped away from her, taking away the warmth that he always brought to her.

    "Make sure to stay safe. Don''t get caught." Ying Yue reminded him as she watched his silhouette disappearing from the room. The place became empty and cold as soon as he vanished, making her heart feel the emptiness.

    If she could choose, then she would like to spend the rest of her life with her four mates in a faraway place where no one could disturb them. However, it looked like her fate wasn''t happy by giving her a simple and easy life. It wanted her to struggle for what she wanted.

    Well, she really wanted to settle her records with her damned fate one day. Maybe she would get the privilege sometime in the future.

    *****

    "Why are you going out again and that too this late?" Li Qi was right there demanding answers as soon as Jiang Ying Yue informed them that she was leaving the Cold Palace.

    It was around five o''clock in the evening and it was not long ago when she returned early from the shop only to go back.

    "Don''t be like this. I will be completely fine. Min Gu will be there with me." Jiang Ying Yue tried to reason with the girl who seemed to be not listening to her at all.

    "My lady, can you stop taking such risks? We will be dying here in worry if you went out this late." Li Wu was also quick to support her sister. The two of them really losing their weight while working for the safety of their lady every single day.

    "I know but... What... the... What do you think you are doing?" Jiang Ying Yue asked the First Prince who had placed some kind of spiritual spell on the two girls who were now deep in sleep.

    They kind of looked funny as they were still standing while their eyes were closed shut as the two of them slept under the effect of the spell.

    "How long were you going to take to make them realize that you are capable enough of taking care of yourself out of the walls of this Cold Palace? I just helped you a little, that''s all. Just let them sleep for a while. They won''t remember a thing in the morning." The First Prince replied before he clicked his fingers, making both Li Qi and Li Wu disappear in thin air.

    "Thanks." Jiang Ying Yue thanked him as she moved towards the fourth courtyard to make sure that Li Qi and Li Wu were sleeping comfortably.

    When she stepped out of the fourth courtyard a few minutes later, Qing Shan was still there waiting for her.

    "Should we also leave now? The others are waiting for you." He asked while stepping closer to her.

    Jiang Ying Yue nodded her head in agreement as she closed the distance between the two of them. She felt his arms encircling her waist before the two of them entered the world of the teleportation array.

    It did take only a couple of seconds before both of them appeared in the front garden of another one of the secret manors that the Princes owned.

    At this point, Jiang Ying Yue was really curious to know exactly how many more secret bases the Princes had and if all of them were freaking manors. So far she had visited three of them, including the Star Lake Manor.

    The one thing that she realized was that all the secret bases were located in different directions around the Capital City, except for the Star Lake manor which was located in the Capital City.

    She followed Prince Shan towards the back garden of the house where the rest of her mates were present. The first one to greet them was Wang Shan who smiled softly at her before he hurried inside the building to finish his work.

    Jiang Ying Yue''s eyes landed on the wooden table sitting next to a Grill stand. The entire table was filled with raw meat, vegetables, spices, and fruits.

    Her gaze finally shifted to Silver and Wu Xie who were busy chopping wooden logs. She raised her eyebrows when she noticed that Silver was shirtless. His eight packs and muscled body were full-on display for her.

    "What are you guys doing?" She asked the moving closer to where they were working.

    "The kitchen wanted chopped woods to boil water. I decided to land a hand." Silver replied as he walked closer to where she was standing. He placed a quick peck on her lips, taking her by complete surprise before he moved back to continue his work.

    "What''s up with you today?" She asked him while trying to not look at Qing Shan and Wu Xie who were clearly gazing at her. At least, they were not staring with unhappiness but dazzling with longingness. She could tell that much without even looking at them.

    "Why don''t you take a look at your soulmark to find out on your own?"

 Chapter 81 - A New Divine Thread

    "My soulmark?" Jiang Ying Yue asked as confusion settled over her after listening to Silver''s weird suggestion.

    Her hand moved on its own accord to touch the mark on her shoulder and even though there were a few layers of clothes separating her mark from her fingers, she did feel its warmth against her fingers.

    She closed her eyes and let the mark consume her mind, heart, and soul. It didn''t take her long to notice the faint signs of a new divine thread around her heart, one that belonged to Wu Xie.

    When she opened her eyes after a few minutes, her gaze immediately landed on the Third Prince who was looking at her as if he was waiting for something, probably to find out what Silver was talking about.

    The sign of a divine thread attached to her heart meant that a base had already been developed for her bond with the Third Prince. A single physical touch between the two of them now could create the soulbond of the initial stage.

    Now, she could clearly see why Silver seemed so happy. Once there was a soulbond initiated between her and Wu Xie, she and Silver would no longer need to keep their distance from each other. Though they would still not be able to finalize their bond, they would be allowed to have intimate moments without worrying about each other''s safety.

    "How did you create it? With your powers?" She asked Silver while completely ignoring the curious gazes of the Princes. Her questioned was about the Grill stand that she had noticed previously.

    Thankfully, Silver didn''t try to pursue the topic of the soul mark as he put down the axe that he had been using to chop the woods before he picked up his shirt and moved towards the Grill stand.

    "Yep! It''s made of magic. I think it will only last for a couple of hours so we should better hurry up." He answered while checking the stand to make sure that it was still as solid as before.

    Jiang Ying Yue nodded her head in understanding as she watched everyone returning to their works. Wu Xie started chopping the rest of the woods while Silver left to take a bath. Wang Shu was still inside the house while Qing Shan had also disappeared somewhere.

    Since she was left on her own, Jiang Ying Yue decided to test the theory that she had come up with during her research in the past few days.

    - - - -

    Jiang Ying Yue made her way through the dimly lit halls of the manor as she tried to find what she was looking for, or more like whom she was looking for.

    It took her some time but the soulbond did lead her to the First Prince who was busy with his work in a huge room filled with shelves. Books, scrolls, paintings, and murals were filling the entire room while a single wooden table was placed in the middle of the room where the Prince was currently sitting.

    He looked up at her when she entered the room which was probably the study if she guessed it correctly.

    "You are here." He said while closing the scroll that he had been reading and putting it aside before standing up from his seat. It didn''t look like he was surprised to see her there. Instead, it seemed like he was waiting for her.

    "There''s still a little time left before they will come looking for you. Let''s go." He told her before coming closer to her and placing his hands around her waist.

    Jiang Ying Yue was surprised by his behavior. He was giving her the impression like he already knew what she had planned. But how could that be possible? Did he finally learn how to take advantage of their second-stage soulbond?

    "Where are you taking me?" She asked instead. Not trying to be so obvious about her plan. If he knew then it would be great because it would save some time and if he didn''t know, then she would just tell him later. But first, she wanted to know what he was planning to do.

    "A place where we can find the perfect amount of spiritual qi to start with your plan." Qing Shan answered as he pulled her body closer to his before pulling both of them into the teleportation array.

    So, it seemed like he knew her plan!

    ****

    The setting sun brought the darkness that was going to quickly descend over the world, bringing another sort of beauty for people to enjoy as stars filled the night sky and the moon also appeared from behind the light clouds that were traveling through the sky.

    The Imperial Palace shone brightly due to hundreds of the lanterns that were hanging around the huge palace, or probably their strength was in thousands considering that the Imperial Palace wasn''t a small place.

    However, in that entire glowing palace, two particular areas were filled with darkness. While one of them was clearly the Cold Palace, the other one was located completely on the other side of the palace. It was a small courtyard situated in the far northeast corner of the Imperial Palace. The place had been abandoned for over twenty or so years, making it become one of the most desolate places inside the Imperial Palace.

    However, at the current moment, a disturbance could be seen going on in that usual desolate area.

    "Your Grace, there''s no trace of the prophet Fuan in the entire courtyard. We have searched everywhere." One of the guards came forward to report to the Empress Dowager who was looking too furious to listen to anyone at the moment.

    "All if you are a bunch of useless things! How come that old Prophet succeeded in escaping? Didn''t I ask you all to keep your eyes, nose, and ears pinned here all the time? Then how did that man disappear?" The woman shouted at the team of shadow guards that she had personally selected to watch over the man who had been her only way to learn about Jiang Ying Yue.

    She still remembered the day five years ago when the prophet first told her that the girl would be going to become the biggest hurdle in her plan of getting rid of her three sons.

    The worst thing was to find out that she did not possess the ability to kill that Jiang girl, not like she didn''t try. She did try even after the prophet told her that she could not kill her. She just wanted to know if the prophet was really speaking the truth or not. That was why she kept trying to kill the Jiang Girl until she became too tired to keep going.

    She first used poison, mixing it in her water, drink, food, tea, but nothing worked. She then sent assassins after her but that also didn''t work because they got killed even before reaching her. She even tried the lame trick of making one of the servants push her into the pond but that also didn''t work because she didn''t fall in the pond.

    The last trick that she tried was to personally kill her on the day before her marriage with one of her sons, but even then she ended up failing. And only then did she realize that the prophet was not lying to her. As soon as the relation hit her, she decided to plan a conspiracy to keep everything under her control.

    She created the scandal to imprison the girl while she sent all three of her sons to the border, not only she found a solution to keep her sons away from the girl but she also got rid of those three men who were born as her sons in the mortal realm.

    She tried various ways to make the prophet tell her a way to kill the girl and her sons without disturbing her plans, but the old man refused to say anything. No matter how much she tortured him, he never budged.

    According to him, she was forbidden from killing her sons as they were not mere mortals but someone just as Important as the Gods and Goddesses living in the Heaven Realm. The problem here was not that she couldn''t kill them, rather, it was that she should not kill them because killing them meant a punishment from Heaven itself. She would have lost her chance of going through another Heavenly Trial for the next seventy thousand years if she had killed her sons.

    As for that Jiang girl, the prophet told her that she should better try to become a friend of the girl instead of an enemy because due to some twisted fate, that girl held the power of changing the future of their world in her hands.

    "Your Grace, we will find him. No matter what, we will surely find him." The head guard of the team of shadow guards moved forward to kneel as he promised to find the old prophet.

    "You better should, or you won''t be able to live past tonight."

 Chapter 82 - The Secret Realm

    Jiang Ying Yue slowly let her eyes fluttered open when she finally felt the world around her returning to a standstill and as her gaze roamed over her surroundings, she realized that they were not only in a different place but also a different realm.

    She had no idea how she guessed it but there was something about the new place where Qing Shan had brought her that gave a different vibe from the mortal realm. Whether it was the trees or flowers growing around them that seemed more lively or the ground under her feet that seemed to hold a call of elemental essence. Even the night sky that she was seeing seemed different but also similar.

    There was a white fog that was hovering over the ground but it didn''t rise above one foot. Besides all these, she also found a similarity in the essence of Qing Shan''s powers and the energy flowing through the air of the new realm where she currently was.

    "Is this the Heaven Realm?" She asked curiously while turning to face the First Prince. She still had to find out the real identities of her three destined soulmates. Were they Immortals from the Heaven Realm? But then why did they call themselves special cases?

    A small twitch appeared on Qing Shan''s lips as he let out a deep breath before looking around the garden-like area where they were currently standing.

    Jiang Ying Yue watched in amazement as hundreds of fireflies suddenly appeared out of nowhere along with a soft breeze that rustled the leaves of the trees, creating a nice environment. It took her a couple of seconds to realize that the fireflies were glowing in several different colors, something that she had never seen or heard of before.

    "This... isn''t the Heaven Realm..." Qing Shan spoke as he watched the fireflies that seemed to be there to welcome his arrival. "This place is a hidden realm and only a few elders from the Heaven Realm and the Heaven Emperor are aware of its existence. This is the fourth realm of our world. A hidden realm."

    Jiang Ying Yue wasn''t expecting to hear such a big revelation. However, if the realm''s existence was supposed to be a secret then why he was telling her about it? She questioned herself but didn''t ask it out loud.

    But it seemed like Qing Shan knew what she was wondering because when he turned to face her, there was a knowing look in his eyes. "This realm belongs to us. Ah Shu, Wu Xie, and I''ve been ruling this realm for thousands of years. This realm was a wedding gift that our father created for our mother. After they left, the three of us brothers were the only ones who lived here along with our spiritual beasts."

    Jiang Ying Yue was suddenly finding it very hard to digest all the information that the man was suddenly revealing. She wasn''t expecting to suddenly appear in a secret realm and learn about the real identities of the Princes.

    "This realm is pretty small. Just the size of a small village. There''s a palace, mountains, a river, and a lake, fields of spiritual herbs, and farming lands. Mother was the Goddess of Seasons and Father was the youngest brother of the previous Heaven Emperor. They left this realm as the last gift for the three of their sons." Qing Shan told her as he kept his eyes trained on the fireflies that were still flying around.

    Jiang Ying Yue remained silent for a couple of seconds as she watched the First Prince. The way he talked about his parents, it seemed like they were no longer there. What happened to them?

    Taking a deep breath, she stepped closer to her mate and stood next to him as she too watched the fireflies. "Your parents... what happened to..."

    "They left." Qing Shan answered even before she had a chance to complete her question.

    "Left?" She asked while turning her attention towards the Prince. She could not understand what he meant by ''they left''. They left for where?

    "Even I want to know why they suddenly decided to leave and where have they gone. We have been searching for centuries, looking for them through all three realms, but there''s no sign of either of them. It''s like they have disappeared from this world. Before we thought that they can''t disappear all of a sudden but now looking at you who ain''t from our world, there are indeed chances that they too have left this world for real. Maybe they are out there in some other world leaving together while exploring new things."

    Jiang Ying Yue could clearly see the hopelessness in his eyes. He so badly wanted to believe that his parents were really out there in some other world enjoying their lives. It was way better than believing that they had just disappeared from his world.

    She stepped closer to her mate before she slipped her hands around his waist and rested her head against his chest, trying to give him some comfort through her touch and their soulbond.

    "I''m sure that they are safe and happy wherever they are. Your parents sound like very powerful people, there''s no doubt they know how to deal with things." She told him before she pulled her face back to look up at him, only to find him looking back at her with soft eyes that were filled with countless emotions.

    Qing Shan slowly nodded his head before he pulled her face back against his chest and moving his hands to pull her closer into his arms. "Thank you." He whispered next to her ear before resting his cheek on the crown of her head.

    Jiang Ying Yue could feel their soulbond filling with sparks and positive feelings as for the very first time, the two of them embraced each other with their barriers lowered. Neither of them was trying to keep anything from the other. Their emotions were real and sincere. She was there to comfort him because she wanted to comfort him and he was letting her do that because he wanted her to care for him.

    A small smile made its way to her lips as she got a glimpse of his thoughts through their bond. She tightened her arms around his waist before closing her eyes to enjoy the beautiful moment. It no longer seemed impossible to start liking the moody First Prince.

    The thought made her suddenly pulled away a little to look up at him as she asked, "Is Qing Shan your real name?"

    She watched as a beautiful smile appeared on his lips as he slowly nodded his head in response while one of his hands moved to rest on her nape.

    "That''s good then." She mumbled while thinking about what more she needed to ask him about. "You told me that you guys are special cases. How?" She asked after a few seconds, not knowing if she would receive an answer this time or not.

    "We are like the other Immortals of the Heaven Realms because the three of us are the children of a God and Goddess from the Heaven Realm. But we are unlike them because we don''t belong to either of the three realms. We have always stayed in this realm away from all the bustling of the other three realms." He answered her question while pulling her back close to him. She didn''t even realize that she had stepped away from him at some point.

    So what he meant to say was that even though he and his brothers were Immortals, they were neither the Gods of the Heaven Realm nor the abandoned Immortals from the Heaven Realm who were living in the Mortal Realm. That''s why they were special cases.

    "Anything else that you are still curious about?" He asked her while letting both his hands circle her tiny waist. He seemed to be in a good mood, otherwise, he wasn''t one of those people with such patience to answer anyone''s questions. He was more like someone who would get irritated just after a few questions.

    "Yeah! There''s another thing I''m curious about." She replied and watched as he raised one of his eyebrows while waiting for her to ask what she wanted to know.

    "What are you guys doing in the mortal realm? Since you don''t care about the other three realms, why are you caring about Empress Dowager''s plan? Is it because her plan will destroy your realm too?" She asked and noticed him slowly nodding his head in response before he started shaking it in denial, making her confused about what he meant.

    "It''s true that her plans will destroy our realm too and that''s the last thing we want. However, that''s not the reason why we are in the mortal realm." Qing Shan told her when he noticed her confused look.. It seemed like his answer only made her more curious.

 Chapter 83 - Unlike You, The Rest Mean Nothing

    "The three of us decided to go through our tribulation. That''s why we are in the mortal realm. Let just say that stopping Empress Dowager from succeeding in her plans is our trial. Once we pass it, we will be given the title of Gods." Qing Shan finally explained the reason behind their presence in the mortal realm.

    "Will you become a part of the Heaven Realm after passing the trial?" Jiang Ying Yue asked curiously. There was still a lot to learn about how everything worked in the weird magical world where she had ended up.

    Qing Shan shook his head as he patted her head lightly while answering, "Not really. The three of us never wanted to be a part of the rest of the three realms, especially the Heaven Realm. We are going through the Heavenly Tribulation because that''s something every Immortal is bound to go through, not because we want to become Gods."

    Jiang Ying Yue felt a small smile appearing on her lips as she finally realized that even though these three Princes seemed arrogant sometimes, they actually had a humble side to them.

    "What do you think then? Will you be able to stop her? And why not just kill her if she''s really a threat to all the realms?" She asked him after a couple of seconds. The last question was something she had always wondered about. Since the so-called Empress Dowager was such a great threat to the three realms, why the gods didn''t eliminate her for once and all.

    "Killing her is the last option we have. For thousands of years, the peace treaty between the Gods and the Demons was never broken because of Empress Dowager. Her people believe in her and the promise that she has made with them. If we kill her now, there''s a great chance that there won''t be any more peace left in the three realms." Qing Shan answered her question as he finally stepped away from her, taking away the warmth that his body had surrounded her with.

    Listening to his words, Jiang Ying Yue suddenly founded herself thinking about the woman, known as the Empress Dowager of the Hyuang Empire, whom she met during the welcome banquet of the Third Prince.

    She could not deny that the more she was getting to know about that woman, the more curious she was becoming to know exactly what plans the Empress Dowager had in her bucket.

    It was not a common sight to see a single woman fighting with all her might to provide a better future to her entire race. Most importantly, she was doing it in a just way. Though her plans did put the other realms at risk but was she really the only one to be blamed in all this matter?

    "What are you thinking about?" The first Prince asked her when he noticed the thoughtful look on her face.

    Jiang Ying Yue looked at her mate and tried to see if she could tell where he stood in all this mess. According to what he just told her, neither he nor his brothers cared about the things going on in the other three realms but they did care about their own realm. Besides, the only reason they were trying to stop their temporary mother was because that''s what they were supposed to do to pass their trial.

    "You said that killing her is the last resort. Then how are you planning to stop her?" She asked him curiously. Since he seemed to be in a good enough mood to tell her all this information, she wanted to take her chance and get as much information from him as possible.

    Qing Shan remained silent as he watched her with a weird look in his eyes. It seemed like he was recalling something while his eyes were staring right into hers.

    "We have you."

    "Huh?" Jiang Ying Yue stared at him with a blank expression, not getting the meaning of his words. What did he mean by that they had her? Was she some sort of weapon they were planning to use against their enemy in order to stop her from ruining the world?

    She suddenly recalled her previous conversation with him when he told her that she carried the future of their world in her hands. Somehow, she had got the power to decide who would be the winner between the Gods and the Demons.

    "What if I ended up siding with the demons? What are the Gods going to do with me then? Will I also become their target along with the Empress Dowager?" She found herself asking, not because she really cared about the consequences of her going against the Heaven Realm but because she wanted to know what he had to say.

    She watched as the man took a few steps closer in her direction, coming to stand right in front of her. There was barely any space left between them and once again she felt his warmth surrounding her like a cacoon even though they weren''t touching each other at all.

    "It''s true that we don''t want anything to happen to our realm. It''s the last and only thing left by our parents for us. But if you really decided to side with the Demon Realm..."

    Jiang Ying Yue found her heart beating at a rapid speed as she waited for him to finish whatever he was about to say next.

    "... We will find a way to keep our realm safe..." He stopped before moving, even more, closer to her. One of his hands moved to cup the left side of her face before he spoke, "I won''t let anyone hurt you. No matter whom you will decide to help, you will have the support of three of us brothers. Unlike you, the rest of the people in this world mean nothing to us."

    This time, her heart literally stopped beating as her ears registered his last sentence. It was such a bold statement but at the same time, the sweetest thing anyone had ever said to her.

    She wanted to ask him exactly what she meant to him, but words refused to come out of her mouth as her brain was still busy recalling his last statement over and over again.

    "I think this much information is enough for today. How about we head back to enjoy the dinner that others are done preparing? They are waiting for us." Qing Shan offered with a soft smile on his lips that made him look even more handsome than his usual self. It was rare to see him smile. The most he did was to pass a barely noticeable smile every now and then. To see him really smiling was a very rare sight.

    "But what about..." She started to say but was stopped by the man who suddenly pulled her back into his arms, probably a place where she actually belonged.

    "Let''s not make them wait any longer. We will start with your idea after we are done with the dinner." He whispered next to her ear, his warm breath fanning the sensitive skin of her neck that caused electrical sparks to erupt all over her body. It took everything inside her to not shiver as a result.

    Jiang Ying Yue slowly nodded her head in agreement and watched as Qing Shan''s eyes sparkled brightly for merely a second before they were passing through a teleportation array to return to the secret manor of the Princes.

    - - - - -

    "You guys are finally here." Silver was the first one to notice them as Jiang Ying Yue stepped into the garden along with Qing Shan.

    She smiled warmly at her mate who immediately took hold of one of her hands as he pulled her towards the table set up in the middle of the garden, loaded with freshly cooked food that was emitting such a strong aroma that it made her mouth watered.

    As her eyes looked at the other two Princes, she noticed that all of them had taken a bath and were wearing simple light clothes with their long silky hairs was left loose. How come all four of her mates were so good-looking? She questioned herself as she took a seat beside Wu Xie while Silver sat down on her other side.

    "If I''m not wrong then... are you questioning your luck right now for having such handsome mates?" Silver questioned her all of a sudden or more like teased her, bringing the attention of the Princes towards the two of them.

    "Stop reading my mind!" She murmured while picking up a pair of chopsticks to start feeding her growling tummy. She could feel her cheeks turning a light shade of pink as she realized that all four of her mates were still looking at her. And even though it was the nighttime, the garden was illuminated by nearly two dozen lanterns that were hanging all around the place, making it bask in the light.

    "He can read your mind?"

 Chapter 84 - The Real Problem

    It was Wang Shu who asked the question. At the same time, the other two Princes also seemed curious to know the answer.

    "As you already know that the completion of a mate bond is divided into four different stages. The first stage is the weakest of all and it''s the stage that connects two souls on an initial basis. The second stage is stronger than the first. Not only it creates a more powerful connection between two souls but it also provides some other benefits." Silver stopped when he noticed Jiang Ying Yue raising her eyebrows at his choice of words.

    ''Benefit'' was probably not the best choice of word but at the same time, he could not find another word to explain what he wanted to tell the Princes. So he just ended up shrugging his shoulders in response to her questioning look. Thankfully, she didn''t hold him accountable and just returned her attention to her food.

    "What benefits?" It was Qing Shan who questioned this time. After all, he was the one who was sharing a second-stage bond with their mate.

    "The pull between your souls gets stronger. You can feel each other''s presence just in a second. You can sense each other''s emotions and can tell if your mate is in trouble or pain." Silver told the First Prince and watched as realization dawned over the latter.

    "Then... what about the third stage bond?" Wu Xie asked next and he seemed curious to learn more about the soulbonds. Ironically, he was the only one among the four men who still had not formed a soul connection with Ying Yue.

    "At the third stage, you can always find her location because the connection between your souls becomes even stronger. You can read her emotions way better. You can get glimpses of her thoughts whenever her guard is down. You can even wander through her memories sometimes. You can tell when she''s lying to you or keeping something from you." Silver answered as he looked at Jiang Ying Yue with a soft look in his emerald eyes.

    "And what happened at the fourth stage?" Wang Shu asked next. It seemed like the Princes were really curious to know more about the soulbond thing.

    "Well... that''s a hard question to answer. I know about the first three stages because I have experienced them on my own. As for the last and final stage, I have only heard about it from others. People say that once mates complete their soulbonds, their souls become one. After that, they experience everything in life as a single pain. Whether it''s happiness or sorrow, pain or joy, ups or downs of life, they experience all these things as a single being."

    Silver stopped to take a sip of the wine before he continued, "Once a soulbond is finalized, the two people and their souls get bound to each other for eternity. One can''t possibly live without the other. But I''ve also heard that a soul bond can''t be completed unless you love your mate with all your heart. In my case, I have loved her for hundreds of years. I''m just waiting for the right time to arrive."

    The silence that followed next was not filled with awkwardness but a serene feeling that descended over the five of them as they all sank into their own world of thoughts while enjoying the delicious food.

    Every time Jiang Ying Yue was reminded of how much Silver had suffered through all these years, she always felt a sharp pain in her heart. If instead of her, he had fallen for someone else, he would probably haven''t wasted so many centuries after her.

    She felt a hand coming to rest on her elbow and she didn''t need to look up to know that it was Silver. Of course, the man was still prying into her thoughts.

    "I''m thinking about learning the basics of cultivation to cultivate this weak body of mine. It''s been nearly over two months since we came to this world and I''m still as weak as I was on the very first day of my arrival. This can''t keep going on. I think cultivating through spiritual energy will help me strengthen my body." She told them as she tasted the soup that Wang Shu had prepared.

    Seeing that out of four, three of her mates were pretty good at cooking, she felt very happy. At least she won''t have to worry about food in the future.

    "That doesn''t sound like a bad idea. But why not try learning spiritual cultivation till the very end?" Wu Xie asked as he added a chicken wing to her bowl.

    "Though the essence of spiritual energy is nearly the same as the essence of our magical energy, I''m still not sure if the two of them can be merged or if they can be built simultaneously. Besides, I''m pretty content with my original powers." Jiang Ying Yue answered as she gulped down the food.

    Just thinking about her powers returning to her body after such a long time was making her filled with excitement. She could not wait for the day to strive when she would finally be able to use her vampire powers and spells that she had spent years learning back in the supernatural world.

    "Since that''s your plan, we will help you with it." Wang Shu told her with a soft smile before he resumed eating.

    Jiang Ying Yue was more than aware that none of the Princes really needed to eat mortal food considering that they were not mortals in the first place. However, seeing them making the effort to have a meal with her and Silver really warmed her heart.

    She was especially happy to see their behaviors towards Silver. At first, they indeed kept their distance from him but within the last few weeks, she had come to notice that the Princes had started warming up towards him. As long as the four of them could stay together in harmony, she was content with everything.

    By the time they finished their dinner, it was already half-past eight o''clock, and the night sky was filled with countless stars while the moon still had to make its appearance.

    Wang Shu invited all of them to follow him to the topmost floor of the west wing of the manor and when Jiang Ying Yue found herself standing on a huge balcony set up with blankets and pillows, she finally realized why he brought all of them there.

    "Are you suggesting a sleepover?" She asked him while trying her best to not let her excitement show on her face.

    "Sleepover?" Wang Shu repeated the word that made no sense to him. He first looked at the woman who kept staring at him as if waiting for an answer, then he turned his attention towards Silver who just gave him a wink and a little shrug of his shoulder.

    "I don''t mind at all. The view seems pretty." Silver commented as he moved to lie down on one of the fluffy blankets.

    "I don''t mind either." Jiang Ying Yue spoke next as she too moved to rest next to Silver. Her instincts were telling her to stay close to her insecure mate for the time being and she was someone who had learned to never neglect her instincts.

    She watched as a beautiful warm smile made its way to his lips when Silver noticed her approaching him. Her decision of listening to her instincts was definitely not wrong.

    The three Princes also moved to take their positions on the blankets and in the end, Wang Shu ended up on her other side. In a way, she was sandwiched between the Second Prince and Silver.

    "Sleeping in our day clothes ain''t really comfortable." Silver whispered next to her ear as he moved to wrap one of his hands around her belly.

    Jiang Ying Yue nodded her head immediately as she was also missing her loose night pajamas that were left behind in the supernatural world. Why she was not given the option of picking some of her stuff before she was pulled to this new world? It was definitely not a fair thing to make her lose all her expensive, pretty but also comfortable possessions that she had bought with her hard-earned money.

    "Let me help you then." She found Silver whispering again as he nuzzled his nose against the crook of her neck.

    She felt soft tingles running all over her body and it took her a couple of seconds to realize that they were caused due to the spell that Silver had just cast and not because of his touches.

    She was about to ask him what he was doing when she found her tight dress loosening before a soft velvety pajama set took its place. The cool night breeze that grazed her legs made her realize that she was wearing shorts and not pants.. But that wasn''t the real problem.

 Chapter 85 - Sparkly Blue Particles

    "What are you doing?" She asked while her hand moved to stop the naughty fingers that were slowly raising her nightshirt while they grazed her belly.

    "Absolutely nothing. Just sleep." Silver replied as he planted a soft kiss on her temple before he once again placed his face in the crook of her neck. The good thing was that his hand did stop and he just let it rest on the bare skin of her tummy.

    She slowly turned her head to look at her other side and found Wang Shu staring right back at her. And for some weird reason, the discovery that he had been watching Silver playing around with her made butterflies flutter in her stomach.

    She couldn''t see the other two Princes but that also meant that they were not looking at her either. It was both a relief and a disappointment to her.

    Without even realizing it, she placed one of her hands over Wang Shu''s hand before giving it a light squeeze as she whispered, "Good night."

    ******

    Jiang Ying Yue glared at the First Prince as she refused to stand up from where she was sitting next to a huge rock that was shining in a soft blue glow under the bright moonlight.

    "Don''t act like a kid. Come on, we don''t have much time left." Qing Shan once again tried to make her follow him wherever he wanted to take her.

    However, she just scoffed and turned her face away while folding her arms around her knees to prevent herself from the cool breeze that was blowing around the garden. Her silk shirt and shorts did nothing to protect her against the chilly wind.

    "Wasn''t it your idea? Then why are you looking so reluctant now?" Qing Shan asked as he came to crouch in front of her so that they could talk.

    "I didn''t know that you will pull me out of such a beautiful dream just to start my training. It''s not like I got to enjoy such a nice sleep every day." She complained while thinking about how good she felt while wrapped up in Silver''s arms while Wang Shu was cocooning her from behind.

    "Why? Don''t you like sleeping in the Cold Palace?" He asked and actually seemed curious to know her answer.

    "That''s the Cold Palace without a proper bed, pillow, or covers. How am I supposed to enjoy a good sleep there? Moreover, it feels better to sleep next to one of my mates which doesn''t happen often." She mumbled the last part while turning her face away to avoid looking at the Prince.

    She felt his hands on either of her arms and before she could do or say anything, the man was already hauling her up, and having no other choice, she ended up finally standing up.

    "If that''s the case then I''ll make sure that you don''t have to sleep uncomfortably from now on. No need to worry about it. Let''s go and start your cultivation training." He told her before taking hold of her hand as he started dragging her towards the direction of a huge wall that was covered in moss and vines.

    "Fine. I''ll hold you accountable if you failed in keeping your words." She said while following after him.

    They were back in the secret realm that belonged to the Princes but she wasn''t sure if she was really there or if it was her conscious self roaming around along with Qing Shan.

    So far she had only seen the garden that seemed too mystical to be called a normal garden. She was kind of curious to know how it would look in the brightness of the day. As they walked through the gate like an opening in the huge wall, they appeared in an even bigger garden.

    But what amazed her the most was the huge castle standing in front of her on the other end of the garden. Unlike the two or three storey buildings that she had seen in the mortal realm, the castle standing in front of her was around seven or eight stories tall. Not only that but the design of the castle was not really similar to the designs of the manors and courtyards that she had seen so far in the mortal realm.

    "I''ll give you a tour through the Palace some other day. For now, we have to focus on the main task in our hands." Qing Shan told her as he pulled her towards the other direction that definitely did not lead to the castle.

    "You will?" Jiang Ying Yue asked him with surprise as she took another glance at the castle standing on her right.

    "Why do you sound so surprised?" The Prince asked as they moved towards a tree that was standing on the shore of a river.

    Jiang Ying Yue just shrugged her shoulders as she tried to observe the tree that seemed ordinary but also not ordinary at the same time. For some weird reason, she had the feeling that they were going to pass through the tree to enter a new place or dimension or something like that.

    However, unlike her prediction, Qing Shan didn''t even glance at the poor tree and pulled her towards the very edge of the river.

    "What now?" She asked him while staring at the flowing water. She could already tell that the water was cold as ice without even needing to touch it.

    "Follow me." The Prince responded as he moved forward, stepping his foot over the water surface.

    Jiang Ying Yue watched as his foot touched the water but didn''t sink. The man seemed to know the art of walking on the water surface. But unlike him, she was a mere mortal at the moment who would end up throwing herself in the chilly river if she tried to pull such a stunt.

    "No thanks. I don''t have the mood for taking a cold bath in the middle of the night." She responded with a little shake of her head as she stepped back, creating a little distance between herself and the river.

    Unfortunately, Qing Shan was no longer in the mood of listening. He just stretched one of his hands out towards her and she found herself getting pulled towards him. A squeal almost left her lips when her feet touched the water for the first time.

    "You can open your eyes now." She heard him whispering next to her ear and when she did open her eyes, she found herself safely wrapped in his arms while her feet were touching the cold water that gave her a refreshing feeling.

    "Sorry for that. I just seriously don''t want to end up taking a bath in this chilly water." She tried defending herself and found the man nodding his head slowly in response.

    "Don''t freak out again. I''m going to let go of you so that I can call the spiritual energy of the water. Starting from the water essence will be best for you since you are not planning to cultivate till the very end. Water is a part of our body, and its essence is as pure as energy should be." He told her before he finally let his hands slide away from her body.

    Jiang Ying Yue watched as he took several steps away from her before stretching both his arms out to call the essence of the spiritual energy mixed in the water flowing under her feet.

    She watched in amazement as small tiny sparkling blue particles rose above the water and surrounded them. There were thousands and millions of them floating all around. But then, within a couple of seconds, they disappeared.

    "To cultivate the spiritual qi, you have to first build a basic connection between yourself and the energy of the world. I just showed you a glimpse of how the water-energy could possibly look like. For every person, it appears in different shapes, sizes, and colors. Try relaxing your mind and call the same energy that you just saw and experienced. Once you succeeded in calling it out, we will begin with your cultivation training." Qing Shan told her before his silhouette disappeared from there, leaving her all alone standing above a river.

    Jiang Ying Yue looked around to see if she could find him standing somewhere nearby but he was nowhere to be seen. What a weird man. One moment he was all warm and affectionate towards her and the next moment he became cold and strict.

    She let out a deep breath before turning her attention towards the flowing water. She needed to complete the task not because she was told to do so but because she had to earn back her powers. With that thought in mind, she closed her eyes and let her body threw away all the thoughts, tension, and such stuff.

    Her poor self had no idea at that time that the task of calling out those sparkly blue particles was going to be one of the hardest tasks she had ever come across in both of her lives.

 Chapter 86 - More Dangerous Than A Demon

    "You seem tired." Manager Jun commented as he entered the west being where Jiang Ying Yue was currently busy inspecting the jewelry that she ordered one of the famous jewelry shops of the city to prepare according to the wedding dress that she had finalized for Miss Fang.

    There were still more than two weeks left before the wedding day and she had around ten days or so left before she had to present her dress and jewelry in front of Madam and the Second daughter of the Fang family. Unfortunately, she still had not thought of a plan for how to handle the situation.

    "It''s already past seven o''clock in the evening and I''m still here working. Should I not feel tired?" She asked the young man who nodded his head with a bitter smile.

    In the past two months, Manager Jun had developed a good bond with all the staff of the store as well as her. He was a hard-working dude who was kind and good-natured. Most importantly, he was specifically grateful towards her because, after such a long time, his little brother''s health was finally showing some improvements.

    Jiang Ying Yue hadn''t told him yet that it all happened thanks to the Third Prince. She was not doing anything at all other than visiting the boy every now and then to check his health. What she could not understand was why Wu Xie was suddenly being so kind to treat the child. It was not like him at all.

    "Miss Yue, you should not tire yourself out. If there''s still any work left, I''ll finish it." The man spoke as he came forward to help her in tidying up the table.

    "You should also not overwork yourself and don''t worry about me. I''ll be fine even if I''ve to work twenty-four hours a day without any break." She told the man who nodded his head with a little smile.

    They hurriedly wrapped up everything before she finally took her leave and walked out on the busy night street. People were passing by the stores as they all headed towards restaurants, pawnshops, food stalls, and entertainment houses. The nighttime was mostly for people to enjoy themselves and eat to their hearts'' content.

    "Wanna take me out for dinner?" Silver suddenly spoke from behind her as he appeared in the busy market street out of nowhere. As usual, no one seemed to realize that a person had just appeared among them out of the thin air.

    "Can''t you stop showing off your powers?" She murmured while heading towards the restaurants and Inns that were located around the stream that flowed through the middle of the city. It could be called the hub of the Capital City where all the fun things could be found. Not only that but she had recently learned that the location of the Black Market was also somewhere near that place.

    "Can''t you stop being jealous?" Silver threw back at her as he came to walk side by side to her.

    "Silver..." She almost started whining as she recalled her previous night session with Qing Shan when she once again failed in calling out those freaking blue sparkly particles.

    It''s been over a week since the night when the First Prince showed her the pure essence of the water and asked her to call it out on her own, but no matter how hard she had been trying, nothing seemed to work in her case.

    And worst of all, Qing Shan didn''t seem helpful at all. He refused to answer any of her questions, neither did he agree to show her how to call the spiritual energy of the water out. According to him, every person had their own way of communicating the spiritual energy and even if he showed her his own method of molding the spiritual qi, she won''t learn anything from it.

    As for his promise of not letting her sleep uncomfortably ever again. Well, just thinking about it made her blood boil in rage. Ever since that day, she hadn''t gotten a chance to sleep at all as she had to spend the entire night working on her connection with the spiritual energy. There was no time for her to even take a nap, let alone enjoy a comfortable sleep.

    If she had known that her idea of learning spiritual cultivation would bring so much trouble for her, she would never have dared to even think of such an idea.

    "Alright! Don''t make such a sad face. Let me take you to enjoy a nice dinner before your torture of the night starts." Silver said as he pulled her towards the direction of the famous restaurant that was opened the previous year. What made this restaurant stand out was that it was built inside a huge boat that took turns around the city while providing the best resources of entertainment to the customers.

    ******

    Gu Chen entered the shop from the back door as one of the servants led her directly to the upper floor where Miss Yue was busy setting up new cosmetics on the shelves.

    In the past two months, the shop had gone through various changes, and the more its popularity was rising, the more Jiang Ying Yue was trying to keep up with the good image.

    "Miss Yue, Second Young Master Gu is here." The servant notified the lady before he left the hall and returned to his work.

    It was after six o''clock in the evening and the shop was almost empty beside Manager Jun and a few servants, making it the perfect time for her to meet with the young master without alerting anyone.

    "You asked for me. Let me guess, there''s something crazy that you are plotting in your mind." Gu Chen commented as he moved to inspect the newly made batch of cosmetics. Even though he knew almost nothing about makeup and such stuff, he could tell that the ones Miss Yue was selling were of the best quality that anyone would have ever seen.

    The popularity of the ''Glamour and Fashion'' had increased to such levels in the past month that almost every lady in the Capital City was aware of the makeup skills that Miss Yue possessed.

    "I have found a really good doctor who is ready to take a look at Madam Gu. Try to settle things up so that we can do it as quickly as possible. Madam has been in poor health for such a long time. We should not delay her recovery anymore." Jiang Ying Yue told the young man as she continued to adjust the shelves.

    The protective ward that Silver had placed around the store made it easier for her to talk about such an important matter without worrying about someone eavesdropping on them.

    The silence that followed her words made her finally take a glance towards Gu Chen who was staring at her with a shocked expression on his face. Was it really that hard to believe that she was being helpful? His next words answered this question of hers.

    "What do you want in return?"

    Jiang Ying Yue stared at the man with a grim face as she tried to not feel offended. Even though it was true that she needed something in return from him, the way he was asking the question made it sound like she was being heartless, calculating, mean, and a selfish person who seemed to always consider about her prons and cons before doing anything.

    Well, it''s true that she was exactly what kind of person but still... he had not to make it so obvious, had he?

    "What if I want you to sell me your soul? Will you do it to save your mother?" She finally asked, giving up on the act of feeling offended.

    A smile appeared on Gu Chen''s lips that didn''t reach his eyes at all. "Can you promise that your doctor friend will be able to cure my mother?" He asked instead of answering her question.

    This time, it was Jiang Ying Yue''s turn to smile as she replied, "As long as a person isn''t already dead, the doctor friend of mine can cure anyone. It''s up to you if want to believe me or not."

    Gu Chen remained silent for some time but then he finally nodded his head. "Alright. As long as you can cure my mother, I''ll do whatever you want. I can be your slave for the rest of my life or I can really sell my soul to you."

    Jiang Ying Yue observed the young lad who seemed as serious as if he was making an oath. His words made her chuckle as she slightly shook her head. "Do you think I''m some kind of Demon who feeds on people''s souls? As for you being my slave, I don''t think I need such a useless slave."

    Gu Chen slowly shook his head as he replied, "You don''t look like a demon at all but.... I always feel like you are even more dangerous than a demon."

 Chapter 87 - Healing Madam Gu

    Gu Chen didn''t waste a lot of time in the preparation of a perfect plan since the situation was related to his mother.

    While he asked Miss Yue to visit his home with her doctor friend during noon the very next day, he himself decided to stay in the market area to create another drama so that the eyes of all his enemies would stay on him, giving Miss Yue enough time to visit his mother without getting detected.

    It wasn''t like Jiang Ying Yue really needed any help from the young lad. Her doctor friend was none other than Silver and he could have easily created an invisible charm around them on their way towards the manor to help them hide from the prying eyes.

    However, they could not take the chance of exposing their identity as non-humans to anyone, not even Gu Chen. That''s why she decided to let the young man handle the situation. Surprisingly, he did found quite a nice plan.

    The very next day during noon time when everyone was busy taking a rest after their lunches, Jiang Ying Yue and Silver appeared in the backyard of General Manor through the back door.

    An old man who introduced himself as the steward greeted them before he brought them to a courtyard that appeared to be in a similar state as the courtyards of the Cold Palace - bland and devoid of any sort of luxury.

    "Miss, this way please." The steward showed them the way towards the room which appeared to be a living room kind of place. As Jiang Ying Yue and Silver entered the room, they noticed an old woman sitting in a wheelchair.

    She appeared far too old than her actual age. Her eyes seemed lifeless while her body seemed as sickly as that of a dying person.

    Silver, who had cast an illusion on himself to appear like an old physician, moved forward to sit on the empty chair beside the woman before he started to examine her pulse. After a couple of seconds, he finally turned to face Jiang Ying Yue as he spoke, "She is poisoned."

    A pitiful smile appeared on Jiang Ying Yue''s lips but it remained hidden beneath the veil that was hiding the lower half of her face. "Just like I predicted. I have seen enough dramas to guess exactly what has been going on here with her. Well... what do you think. Your powers can heal her or not?" She asked the man as she moved to look around the room, not like there was anything for her to look at in the first place.

    "Don''t forget that I''m one of my kind. These little tricks can never stop me." Silver seemed confident as he pressed both his index and middle fingers of the left hand together before pressing it against the pulse of the woman who seemed to have no idea about anything that was going around her.

    Jiang Ying Yue watched as a silvery light shot through his fingers and entered the pulse of the woman, sucking out all the poison that was running through her body.

    Her attention then moved towards the Steward who was standing outside the door. Just like she had ordered to Gu Chen, none of the servants were present in the room during the treatment. It was more due to the fact that nearly all the servants of the Gu manor already knew her, that they decided to trust her.

    However, the old steward was a different case. The man had seen a lot during his life and unlike other naive people of the Gu manor, he knew how to judge people. Though he didn''t seem to really suspect them, he also didn''t trust them fully.

    "It''s done." Silver announced after five or so minutes as he stood up from his seat and moved towards her to hand over the ball of black energy that he was holding. It was the poison that he had just retrieved from the body of the Madam.

    "This can be my gift to Gu Chen. I''ll let him destroy the person responsible for his mother''s sickness." Jiang Ying Yue spoke as she pulled out a little jar from her pouch and signaled Silver to transfer the energy into the jar.

    The dark energy turned into a dark-colored liquid as soon as it entered the little jar. Once all the energy was inside the jar, Silver took out a little red pill and dropped it in the jar, letting it mix with the poison. The pill was made of a harpy''s blood. It would enhance the venom in the poison and unless the cure also had harpy''s blood in it, no doctor of this world would be able to cure the person.

    Jiang Ying Yue stuffed the little bottle back in the pouch before she turned her attention towards the woman who was now sleeping soundly in the wheelchair. She no longer looked like her previous self. Instead, she appeared to be a good-looking woman in her mid-fifties with healthy skin. Though her body still seemed too skinny as it was something they couldn''t fix with their powers.

    "Let''s head back." She told Silver who nodded his head and followed her as they stepped out of the room.

    "You can go inside. Make sure to pay special attention to Madam''s food. Don''t be ignorant about her health from now on." Jiang Ying Yue advised the steward who hurriedly nodded his head before he ran inside the room to check on the Madam.

    Jiang Ying Yue and Silver didn''t stay behind to hear the panicked shout of the steward who was too shocked to believe his eyes.

    *******

    "What are you doing?" Silver asked as he placed his hand on the small of Jiang Ying Yue''s back.

    The two of them were currently enjoying their lunch together in one of the private rooms of a nearby restaurant to ''Glamour and Fashion''.

    But that was not all. Jiang Ying Yue was currently sitting in his lap while she continuously placed soft kisses all over both of his cheeks.

    "Woman! You need to control yourself. What has gotten into you all of a sudden?" It was getting hard for Silver to control himself. The girl knew exactly how to test his patience.

    Jiang Ying Yue pulled her face away to stare at him with a little pout that made her luscious pink-painted lips appear even more alluring. "I thought you will enjoy my attention. Looks like I was too naive to assume that." She scoffed before standing up.

    However, she didn''t get to walk away from the man because the very next second she was pulled back into his arms and her lips were sealed in a hungry kiss that seemed to leave her immobile in his arms.

    Jiang Ying Yue forgot how to breathe as she shivered in her mate''s arms. His lips were neither slow nor sensual, instead, they seemed to resonate the hunger that was running deep inside him.

    A small gasp left her lips when she felt his hands circling the insides of her breasts, giving him the perfect opportunity to slip his tongue inside her mouth.

    Jiang Ying Yue let her hands wrap around his shoulders as she let herself enjoy the beautiful moment. However, a voice in the back of her head was reminding her that she needed to stop Silver before it would be too late.

    She closed her eyes tightly before she Angeles her head to deepen the kiss for a few seconds before she finally pulled away and stood up from where she was sitting on his lap.

    Thankfully, Silver didn''t try to pull her back into his arms. The man was probably also aware of the consequences f they ended up getting carried away due to their emotions and desire for each other.

    For the next several minutes, the sound of their harsh breathing was the only thing that could be heard in the room.

    Jiang Ying Yue fixed her hair and dress before she put on a smile on her lips and moved closer to her mate before placing a soft kiss against his temple. "I''m spending the night with Wu Xie. I''m not sure if we will go as far as to bond tonight but I promise to not make you wait for too long this time."

    She didn''t want to wait either. Her soul was crying to complete her connection with Silver but she also didn''t want to be unfair to Wu Xie just because she wanted to be with Silver. Every single mate of hers deserved to be respected equally and if she respected her bond with Silver, then she had also to respect her mind with the Princes in the same way.

    "It''s true that I really hope that you can complete your bonds with the Princes because I want you for myself too, but also because I want you to be happy with them.. All I want is for you to never do anything that will create misunderstandings between you and any of the Princes."

 Chapter 88 - Domineering Third Prince

    As Jiang Ying Yue sat inside her bed-chamber in front of the open window while looking at the night sky, she kept recalling her conversation with Silver during their lunch episode in the restaurant.

    The more she thought about the matter, the more she felt like her head was about to explode.

    "You seem troubled." She heard the familiar voice that belonged to the Third Prince, speaking from behind her. The man didn''t even try to respect her privacy and knock on the door before entering.

    "That''s because I''m troubled." She replied in a dry tone as she kept staring at the sky which was covered with dark clouds. There was no moon, no stars, and no silvery light illuminating the dark world outside. The current weather resembled her current mood.

    "Why? What''s wrong? I heard that you did a good deed today. Then what made your mood turn so sour?" The man asked as he moved closer to where she was sitting.

    Jiang Ying Yue knew that he was talking about her and Silver visiting the Gu Manor to cure the Madam. However, there were no good intentions hidden behind what she did or made Silver do on her behalf since she was currently in a powerless state.

    Gu Chen was right about her. She was someone who could never do anything good without seeking benefits for herself in that very act. She was someone even more dangerous and heartless than a demon. Maybe the Gods living in the Heaven Realm should be more afraid of her instead of that poor Empress Dowager.

    "Though I''m still not connected to you through the mate bond like my brothers, I can still tell that you are in a really bad mood. Tell me, what happened." This time his voice was soft and she did not need to look at him to know that he was genuinely worried about her.

    "Why do you care? Don''t tell me you have already fallen for me!" She asked while finally turning to face him.

    The candles that were lit all around the room provided enough glow to bask the Prince in light and shadows. However, her vampire sight was perfectly able to see him very clearly.

    Wu Xie remained silent for several minutes as he stared at the girl, trying to read her but failing miserably. As an Immortal, it was never a hard thing for him to hear the thoughts of others, especially mortals. However, the girl in front of him was different. She wasn''t like any other mortal. Unless her guards were down, it''s impossible for him to read her thoughts and currently, her walls were up and strong.

    He closed the last few steps left between the two of them before he came to stand right in front of her, causing her to tilt her head back in order to look up at him.

    All of a sudden, it seemed like her hard exterior was finally cracking as she was taken aback by his closeness. This made his lips twitch but he made sure to appear serious as he bent down a little to move his face closer to hers.

    He could tell that she had stopped breathing as his face became as close to her as it possibly could without touching her. "That''s a question even I want to know the answer of. I shouldn''t care but I seem to care too much for my own good. I should not worry but I seem to worry about you all the time. I should not be curious but everything about your past, present, and future makes me curious to know more about you."

    "It''s impossible for me to fall for you but I can''t make myself say that to you. I can''t find the words to say that it''s not true. What do you think then? Have I really fallen for you? How could that be possible? You don''t seem to like me that much, then how come I have started liking you..."

    There was a limit to what Jiang Ying Yue could take in. But Wu Xie''s confession was too much and too sudden for her to take in. Her hand that was placed against his mouth in order to keep him quiet started trembling as she finally let out the breath that she had been holding all this time.

    "I don''t neglect you." She finally found herself saying as Wu Xie slowly pulled her hand down from his mouth but didn''t let go of her hand immediately.

    "Are you sure, Ying''er?" He asked while moving his lips closer to her ear, making his warm breath touch the sensitive skin of her neck. Her neck was probably one of the most sensitive body parts of hers and it seemed like her mates were also realizing it because they seemed to be always attacking her neck in one way or another.

    "We just don''t get a really good start." She spoke in a tiny voice, not even realizing how her domineering side ended up changing into such a submissive one. Was it because Wu Xie was also a dom and a powerful one on that?

    The sudden questionable thought made her look up straight into the eyes of the Third Prince and she found her breathing getting affected all over again when she noticed the fire blazing in his eyes.

    "What is it? Do you have something to say or to ask?" He inquired while arching one of his eyebrows. Though his expressions appeared calm and full of warmth, just one look into his eyes and she knew that she was right in her judgment.

    She always thought that Silver was the most dominating one out of the four but it was basically due to the fact that he had pent-up emotions of hundreds of years. However, she would have never been able to guess that Wu Xie was the actual dom in their group. Just thinking about what their future held made her shiver.

    "I''ll ask again. Why do you keep neglecting me? Is it because I''m not good enough?" Wu Xie questioned her again. His voice coming out deep as he demanded her to answer without even sounding like that.

    Jiang Ying Yue hurriedly shook her head as she tried to find the right words. She actually never tried to neglect him but she could tell why he was asking that question. After all, she never made any move to spent time together with him.

    "It''s not like that." That''s all she managed to whisper out while she looked into the deep raven-like eyes of the third and the youngest Prince.

    "That''s not what I want to hear. It seems like you are just brushing me off." He spoke while placing his thumb and index finger of his right hand under her chin. His touch sending sparks to graze her body though he was barely touching her.

    "No... It''s not like that... I..."

    Jiang Ying Yue could no longer decide what to speak at all. The words refused to come out of her mouth as she started feeling more and more nervous in front of the Prince. She was suddenly seeing a side of him that she never got to see before.

    Though her vampire personality could have done a better job handling him, her weak human form was no match to his domineering nature.

    He let his hand slip from her chin, making her feel like she had lost something important before she found herself in shock when she felt that same hand coming to rest on her back as he suddenly pulled her to stand up in front of him.

    "We should end our meeting here tonight. I''ll be back tomorrow to hear your answer. Think carefully about what I just asked you. You have to tell me the reason for which you kept ignoring me all this time."

    Jiang Ying Yue once again found herself shaking her head. It seemed like this was the only thing she was capable of doing. It took a lot of struggle but she did end up voicing out the words that she had wanted to say. "It''s not like that, Your Highness. I never tried to ignore you on purpose." This time, she kept her eyes trained on him to show him that she meant those words.

    Wu Xie silently observed her for a couple of moments before he finally nodded his head. "Alright, then prove it."

    "Huh?" Jiang Ying Yue stared at him with a confused look on her face. What did he want her to prove?

    "I said to prove it to me. Prove that you are not ignoring me. Prove that I matter to you just like the others. Prove it to me that I also have a place in here." He pointed his finger towards her heart as he spoke the last sentence.

    Did he want her to prove that she would also love him equally like the others? Or did he want her to prove that she was not being biased? And how was she going to prove it?

 Chapter 89 - The Palace In The Cloud Realm

    Jiang Ying Yue sat under the same tree that stood near the shore of the river where she had been practicing to call out the spiritual essence of the water.

    No matter how hard she tried, she was failing miserably in concentrating on her practice. Time and time again, her mind kept returning to all that happened the previous night between her and the Third Prince.

    When she woke up this morning, her entire body was burning up and she was covered in sweat, all thanks to the Third Prince who refused to leave her dreams.

    Just thinking about the dream that she had the previous night made her cheeks flame in embarrassment. She never knew that just a few words from Wu Xie would cause so much disturbance in her life.

    "Why are you not practicing?"

    She was pulled out of her thoughts when she heard the familiar voice of Qing Shan as he appeared in front of her in thin air. He loved to do that, appearing and disappearing whenever he wanted.

    "I''m not in the mood." She replied in a small tone as she kept her eyes fixed on the ground. She knew pretty well that the First Prince won''t like her excuse. He was one of those types of guys who hated listening to excuses no matter how right and justified your excuse was.

    "It''s been nearly eleven days and you still haven''t succeeded in calling the spiritual essence out. Looking at you right now, I can finally see why." The man was definitely trying to provide her but she was not even in the mood of getting provoked by his sharp words.

    "Don''t waste your time on me tonight. No matter whatever you are going to say to boil my blood, I''m really not going to start practicing in anger. I''m too tired to do that tonight. I just want a good night''s sleep." She murmured while resting her head on her knees, still refusing to look at him.

    There was silence for the next several minutes and she almost thought that he had left her like for a change. However, she soon realized how stupid she was to think like that when she heard the movements of his walking towards her.

    She was sure to ignore him but her plan failed when she was abruptly pulled into his strong arms, making her squeal in surprise.

    She was ready to question his sanity but then her voice freeze in her throat when her eyes landed on the Third Prince who was standing right behind his brother.

    "I heard that you are not feeling great today. What''s wrong?" Wu Xie asked as he came to stand next to where Qing Shan was standing while carrying her bridal style in his arms.

    "I''m just tired and want to sleep." She spoke in a tiny voice as she rested her face against Qing Shan''s shoulder to hide herself from Wu Xie.

    "Didn''t you take a break yesterday?" Qing Shan asked her as he kept standing there with her in his arms.

    "I didn''t get much sleep last night." She replied in a tiny voice was hiding her face, even more, to save herself from looking at the Third Prince.

    "Let me take care of her." She heard Wu Xie speaking to his brother and she felt herself shivering at the thought of what his words really implied.

    "You want me to give her another day off?" Qing Shan asked his brother while arching both of his eyebrows.

    However, Wu Xie didn''t seem to mind him at all. He just nodded in the direction of their mate as he asked, "Do you think she''s in the state of doing anything at the moment?"

    Qing Shan spared a quick look at the girl whom he was holding in his arms and then out a sigh. She sure seemed weird. She had been acting like that ever since he brought her for practice a few hours ago. It seemed like she was really too tired to carry on.

    "Fine. Make sure that she''s well-rested. I''m going to leave her in your care. I''ll be heading to the Xingling City with Ah Shu." He informed his brother before letting him take the girl from his arms.

    For a moment he felt like she was trying to grab his arms but then she was securely wrapped in Wu Xie''s arms and she just buried her face in the crook of his neck and didn''t even spare him, Qing Shan, a single look.

    "I''ll be leaving now. Have a good night''s sleep." He whispered to her while patting her head softly. He gave a nod to his brother before he teleported away.

    As soon as Qing Shan was gone, Jiang Ying Yue felt like she was left with the king of hell to be punished for her sins.

    The Third Prince didn''t speak at all as he started walking. Since her face was buried against his neck, she had no idea about where he was taking her. She just decided to stay silent and let him do whatever he wanted.

    They kept walking for a long time, probably around ten or so minutes before he finally came to a stop.

    "Brother Shan thinks that you need to sleep in order to get back to your previous self. But let me ask you. Is that what you really need to get back to your usual self?" She heard him asking next to her ear which made her shiver a little.

    At first, she thought about ignoring his question but immediately realized how stupid the idea was. Ignoring him at this moment would be her biggest mistake and she could not make any mistakes at the moment. Hence, she slowly shook her head in denial as a response to his question.

    She felt him moving again but he barely took a few steps towards before she found herself being lowered. The very next second, she was sitting on the edge of a huge bed while the Prince stood right in front of her.

    "Exactly... You don''t need sleep right now..." He whispered in a small voice as he trailed his fingers down her temple and towards her chin where he tilted her head to make her look up at him. "What you need right now... is me. Right, Ying''er?"

    The question left her spellbound as she tried to not think exactly how right he was. She had been craving him since the last night. He was the reason why she couldn''t sleep the entire night. He was the reason why she was unable to concentrate on anything throughout the day. He was the reason her body was filled with so much pent-up energy. He was the reason she was not acting like her usual self.

    He was absolutely right! What she had been craving since the previous night was him.

    "I''m still waiting for your answer... mmph!" Wu Xie found himself silenced when the soft lips of his girl finally found their way towards his mouth. How long had he waited to taste her? And at last, it was finally the time.

    He found her wrapping her arms around his shoulders as she moved to deepen the kiss and he happily let her enjoy a few moments to her liking before he was going to take charge of everything that was going to happen next in his bed-chamber.

    They were currently inside the palace in the Cloud Realm, inside his bed-chamber where no other woman had ever stepped her foot. Of course, his mother was an exception.

    He slowly lowered both of them on the bed as he rested both his hands on either side of her head to keep his body from crushing hers. She looked so fragile but he wanted to test her boundaries.

    He let her continue with her slow kisses for some more minutes but he finally started having a hard time controlling himself. Deciding that he had given her enough time to play, he finally moved of his hands to cup her nape as he finally deepened the kiss and took the charge.

    His lips moved fiercely against her while he slowly lowered his body to rest against her while making sure not to crush her with his weight.

    While he used one of his hands to angle her head, his other hand finally started roaming over her body, starting from his collarbone and then slowly trailing downwards to her breasts and then over her tummy where he stopped for the time being.

    A soft moan slipped her lips as he lightly bit her lower lip. The sound was so alluring that he found himself biting her again just to hear her moan again. She didn''t disappoint as she moaned again but also with a small gasp accompanied by it as she found him slowly untying the belt of her clothes.

    For a moment, her hands around his shoulders started to unfold but then she probably changed her mind because the next second, they once again tightened their hold around him as she opened her lips to give him the entrance that he was seeking.

 Chapter 90 - A Steamy Night With The Third Prince

    Warning: The Chapter is steamy and there''s a little bit of mature content ~

    - - - - -

    The soft moans that kept slipping through Jiang Ying Yue''s lips filled the bed-chamber as their kissing get more intense with each passing second.

    One by one, Wu Xie kept removing her clothes along with her shoes. In the end, she was only left in her inner robe, a thin white garment that was barely able to hide anything from his eyes.

    His fingers slowly pulled away the collar of her inner robe, causing not only her collarbone but also the top of her breasts to become visible to his eyes.

    However, Wu Xie was in no hurry. He still kept his eyes closed as he enjoyed her luscious lips that were swollen due to all the kissing. It was not until he knew that she was out of breath, did he finally pulled away from the kiss only to trail soft feathery kisses down her jaw and then on her throat.

    Jiang Ying Yue found herself arching her neck to give him more room. Her body was on fire and every part that his lips were touching seemed to be scorching but not in a bad way. Her soul and body were more than happy after finally receiving the attention of at least one of her mates.

    When she woke up this morning, she never imagined spending her night with the Third Prince in such a situation. However, there was nothing she wanted to complain about. The man had the capability of setting her body on fire with just his gaze, let alone his touches and the soft kisses that he was rewarding her with.

    His lips finally reached her exposed collarbone where he finally stopped kissing her softly and gave a sharp bite that was definitely going to leave a mark.

    Her heart was racing while she had completely forgotten to breathe. Her entire focus was on his mouth that was slowly moving towards her breasts. The butterflies of excitement that were fluttering their wings in her stomach seemed to be ready to break through their cage and soar high into the air.

    Right when his lips finally reached the top of her right breast, the man suddenly stopped, making her almost groan out in unhappiness. But she succeeded in remaining silent as her eyes finally fluttered open to look at the man who was also staring back at her.

    He slowly raised his body to move to a sitting position before he started taking off his clothes, all the while keeping his eyes fixed on hers.

    His outer robe slipped down his shoulder and was followed by his belt and then his middle robe. He finally took off his inner robe, causing his beautiful chiseled body to finally appear in front of her eyes.

    Her hands itched to run themselves over his finely built upper body and as if he read her thoughts, he lowered himself back over her, giving her hands the chance that they were seeking.

    Jiang Ying Yue didn''t waste any time as she immediately placed her hands on his shoulders, feeling his smooth and warm skin under her fingers as she started running them over his body.

    She barely got to move her hands towards his chest when Wu Xie stopped her. One of his hands grabbed her right hand and before she could react, he had already pinned her hand above her head. Thankfully, she immediately removed her other hand from his chest, saving it from ending up in a similar situation as her other hand.

    "Take off your remaining clothes." He ordered her while still keeping her hand confined in his hold.

    Jiang Ying Yue suddenly found herself lost. She could not decide what to do after gearing his order. And how was she supposed to take off her clothes in her current position?

    Wu Xie noticed her hesitation and asked, "Do you want us to stop?" He seemed genuine as he asked that question. It was like he would really stop without any complaint if that was what she wanted to do.

    Jiang Ying Yue chewed on her lower lip as she started contemplating her options. Did she want him to stop? Well, it doesn''t seem like that. If she didn''t get the release that her body was dying for, she would go insane. This was definitely not her first time with a man. Being a vampire who had lived for over a thousand years, she had her fair share of relationships in the past.

    However, the last time she got intimate with a man was a few weeks before Silver entered her life. In short, it''s been nearly seven hundred years since any man had touched her like Wu Xie was touching her at the moment. For seven hundred years, her soul and body had been waiting for the moment when she would finally found her mates and would complete her bonds.

    Her eyes returned to look at the man who was still hovering over her and just one look into his burning eyes and she knew that she would regret it if she decided to stop at the moment.

    Her free hand found its way towards her inner robe which she slowly untied, letting her chest cover be the only thing left protecting her breasts from his gazes.

    "Perfect." Wu Xie whispered as he lowered his lips once again to engulf her mouth in a slow and sensual kiss, something that she wasn''t expecting from him seeing that he was more of a fierce and controlling type of person.

    His hands once again started moving over her body and this time they didn''t seem to mind where they touching her. Since both of her hands were free again, she immediately wrapped them around his shoulder all over again before entangling them in his long silky hair.

    Jiang Ying Yue let out a sharp gasp when she felt his fingers untying the knots of her chest cover, finally letting her breasts out of their confinement and fully visible to his eyes.

    And this time, he did stop kissing her to pull away and look at her breasts, causing her cheeks to turn bright red as she closed her eyes while trying her best to not cover herself. She wasn''t really a shy person normally but there was nothing normal about her current situation. After all, it was the first time when one of her mates was seeing her body.

    She wasn''t sure what to expect next but the warm fingers circling the areola of her left breast was definitely not what she would have expected. Her back arched slightly as her eyes flew open to look at the man who was making her entire body ache with a hunger that was taking over her body and soul.

    "I know I should stop but I don''t want to." Wu Xie told her as he lightly pinched her nipple, causing her to let out another gasp.

    Maybe that sound of pleasure and surprise from her was what made him decide because the very next second she felt his mouth close around her nipple while his one hand moved to play with her other breast.

    Jiang Ying Yue was a moaning mess after that point. Every touch, every lick, and every little bite that he gifted her was taking her higher in the mountain of pleasure that was building inside her.

    "Y-your H-highness..." She whispered out in plea when she felt his mouth shifting to her other breast. While his hand returned to play with the one that he had just tortured and pleasured. She didn''t know what she was pleading with him for, to stop him or to urge him to finish what he had started.

    While her upper body was overflowing with the attention that it was receiving from her mate, her lower body was aching for that same attention.

    Wu Xie finally stopped when he found something shaking his body from inside and as he raised his face to look up at the girl lying beneath him, he noticed the bright light that was shining over the left part of her shoulder.

    His own skin over his chest seemed to be burning and as he looked at his chest, he found a similar glow there.

    "The mark..."

    He heard the woman whispering and when he returned his attention to her, he found her staring at the glowing spot on his chest. He watched as she raised one of her hands and placed it over that exact glowing spot on his chest, immediately causing his body to shudder as electrical sparks full of pleasure erupt all over his body.

    He followed her actions and placed his fingers on her shoulder, right on the part that was glowing brightly. Just like him, his girl also shuddered as another soft moan slipped her lips.

    A small smile appeared on his lips as he watched her.. Not being able to hold himself, he lowered his face to once again engulf her lips in a slow and sensual kiss that lasted for a long time.

 Chapter 91 - Grand Prophet Is Dead

    Jiang Ying Yue woke up when she felt someone calling her name softly. Her eyes remained closed as she felt reluctant to leave the sweet dream that she was having.

    "If you kept sleeping then you will be late for your physical training class with Silver and then your maids will find out that you are not in the Cold Palace. In fact, you never returned there last night."

    As soon as her ears registered the familiar voice of the Third Prince, her eyes immediately flew open. As she found herself wrapped in the arms of her mate, she finally recalled the memories of the previous night.

    Though she was now wearing a thin silky robe, she could still picture her soul mark that had become even more alive after getting connected with Wu Xie the previous night. She was now finally connected with all four of her mates through the soulbond. Though she hadn''t completed even one of her bonds yet.

    "Looks like you are finally awake." Wu Xie commented when he noticed her staring at his chest while her head remained resting on his shoulder.

    "I''m just thinking about last night." Jiang Ying Yue replied softly as she touched his chest right where the soul mark was carved and it immediately started glowing bright yellow as she touched it. They were connected through the first stage soulbond.

    Wu Xie watched silently as she traced the markings on his chest. Those familiar electrical tingles laced with pleasure once again started traveling all over his body that became alive because of her touch.

    The woman didn''t even need to do much to make him lose all his calm and patience. Only he knew how hard it was for him to stop the previous night. If not for the fact that he was aware of how tired she really was, he would have not even thought about stopping in the first place, especially after getting connected with her through the soulbond.

    Silver was absolutely right! The feeling of being connected with your mate through such a sacred bond was really a feeling that one could only experience once in their lifetime. It was a feeling filled with love, affection, care, and a lot of warmth that he had never felt before toward anyone.

    "You are right. I should be leaving now." Jiang Ying Yue said as she sat up on the bed and started adjusting her hair which was a tangled mess.

    Wu Xie followed her actions and also sat up, immediately wrapping one of his hands around her shoulder as he pulled her back to rest against his chest. Unlike her, he was still shirtless, leaving his well-built upper body on full display.

    "Let me send you back. I''ll come to see you later in the evening." He whispered next to her ear before he pulled both of them into a teleportation array that led them directly into her bed-chamber in the Cold Palace.

    *****

    Imperial Palace ~

    As the morning session of the court came to an end, Prime Minister and Grand Tutor followed Empress Dowager as they still had some important matters that they needed to discuss.

    "Your Grace, it''s been so long since His Highness, Prince Xie returned to the Imperial Palace. However, he hasn''t joined the court even once. Besides, there''s still no news about the First and the Second Prince." Grand Tutor hurriedly notified Empress Dowager of the issue that had been absorbing fire among the officials of the court.

    "Did you ask Prince Xie to attend the court?" Empress Dowager asked as she first looked at the Grand Tutor and then turned her attention at the Prime Minister.

    Every time she had to see the face of the Prime Minister, she felt like killing someone. If not for the fact that she needed someone to control the court in her stead, she would have already taken care of that greedy old man long ago.

    She had always been aware of the deeds that he had been doing by using his power and influence of his position and her support for all these years. She was also aware of how he had pulled most of the officials under his wing while crumbling the officials who supported General Gu.

    Though she wasn''t really happy about his actions, she never interfered. As long as he didn''t cause any troubles in her plan, she didn''t care whatever he was doing or wanted to do.

    Though she was only a fake Empress Dowager of the Hyuang Empire, she had made sure to keep the people of the country as happy, satisfied, and safe as she could. She didn''t really care about them but she also didn''t want to fail her trial because of causing trouble to the mortals.

    But looking at her current situation, it seemed like passing the trial or not passing it was no longer important to her. At current, all her focus was pointed at the ultimate goal that she had to achieve at every cost.

    "Your Grace, His Highness never allows anyone to enter his palace, and according to the servants, he hasn''t left his palace ever since his return." Prime Minister hurriedly came forward to throw his excuse.

    "Forget it. Since His Highness wants to rest, for the time being, let him rest then. We will talk about this later. If there are no more important issues, you both can leave." She had her own personal and important matters to attend to. She had no time to waste on the trivial matters that these two old men deemed important.

    "This..." The Grand Tutor seemed to have something more to say but he was stopped by the Prime Minister who hurriedly cane forward to bow as he took their leave and pulled the Grand Tutor out of the hall.

    "Your Grace..."

    A woman in black robes appeared out of nowhere and kneeled in front of Empress Dowager as she bowed to greet her master.

    "Did you find any trace of the Grand Prophet?" Empress Dowager asked the other woman.

    "This servant asks for punishment for failing her mission. We were too late. His body was found in the river this morning. It''s still not clear if he died by accident, or if he was being murdered. Or maybe... he just committed suicide." The guard woman replied while she kept her head bowed.

    Empress Dowager didn''t seem too happy after hearing the news. Since the Grand Prophet was dead, she could no longer keep tabs on the future as well as the girl who was locked up in the Cold Palace.

    "Your Grace, what are we going to do next?" The guard woman asked when Empress Dowager remained silent for several minutes.

    The woman sitting on the high throne-like seat take in a deep breath as she replied, "Keep investigating Grand Prophet''s death case. Just in case he was murdered, you will need to find the culprit."

    The guard nodded her head before she stood up and disappeared from the hall with a puff of black smoke that too vanished within a few seconds.

    After the guard left, Empress Dowager took out a stack of parchments and scrolls from her sleeve and spread them over the table before she started reading them.

    That was how she spent most of the day, reading those mysterious scrolls and parchments that contained a lot of lost and secret information about the formation of the realms.

    ******

    Back at the ''Glamour and Fashion'', Jiang Ying Yue was having a busy day as she got an entire group of young ladies who wanted to have experience of her skincare routine and makeup techniques.

    That''s why by the time she finally got a break, it was already past three o''clock in the afternoon.

    "Here. It''s a present from me and my mother. Thank you so much for curing my mother." Gu Chen said as he placed a wooden box on the table as soon as she sat down to have a little bit of rest.

    "You can keep this gift to yourself. I don''t need it. Instead of giving me such things, you should be giving me what I asked you in return for curing your mother." Jiang Ying Yue didn''t waste her energy to sound polite as she immediately moved to talk about business.

    However, even though she sounded so cold and heartless, the smile playing on Gu Chen''s lips didn''t even dim for even half a second. "Don''t worry. I''ll never go back on my words. As I promised..." He stopped to place a stack of papers on the table before continuing, "... Here are the papers of the ownership of our Jewelry shop. From today onwards, you will be the owner of the seventy percent shares of the Jewelry shop."

    Jiang Ying Yue picked up the papers and looked through the contents. A smile appeared on her lips that was hidden beneath the veil.

    It was time for her to begin with her new business plan.

 Chapter 92 - Womens World

    "My Lady, the candidates chosen by Manager Jun are here." Li Wu came to notify Jiang Ying Yue who was currently resting after returning from the mountains.

    She had paid another visit to the mountains this morning to grab some more herbs for creating new batches of cosmetics. She once again encountered the same hellhound whom she met during her previous visit.

    While she was busy collecting herbs, Silver was busy chatting with the hellhound even though he accompanied her to the mountains to help her in collecting herbs and also to keep her safe.

    Since she needed a lot of herbs, she spend nearly four hours in the forest, and all the work made her very tired. At the moment, she felt like doing nothing and just taking a nap. However, there were still a lot of important works that needed her attention.

    Opening her eyes, she gave a slight nod to Li Wu who left the room to continue with her work. Jiang Ying Yue had assigned the girl to train the new group of servants whom she had purchased the previous evening for her new store.

    The jewelry shop that Gu Chen''s family owned was located near the southern part of the Capital city, closer to the palace and in the midst of where the houses of the officials were located.

    She had decided to shift her cosmetic shop into the so-called jewelry shop of the Gu family. Since most of her customers were the ladies of noble families, it would be better for her business to be located near their residence.

    On the other hand, the current shop of ''Glamour and Fashion'' would continue working on clothes along with a new addition of jewelry floor that she had decided to open on the second floor that had been left empty all this while.

    While the maids who had been working with her in the cosmetics wing for the past two months were going to accompany her to their new store along with Li Wu and Li Qi, she still needed more servants and also talented ones who could learn her skills and help her with her business.

    As she walked down the stairs and appeared on the ground floor, she found a group of around twenty people waiting for her in the sitting area.

    In the past two months, her shop had become somewhat popular among the locals. It was not really for the clothes that they sold but because of the high-quality cosmetics and her makeup skills. Besides, somehow it had been leaked that she was paying around ten silvers or so to the workers of the store as their salary.

    Even though it was the Capital City of the prosperous Hyuang Empire, it didn''t mean that earning ten silver taels every month was an easy job, especially for poor people like servants and slaves. They could barely earn a few silver taels and some copper coins after working so hard for the entire day. But here she was, giving out so many silver taels only for eight hours of their work each day.

    "My Lady, here are the designs that they have submitted." Manager Jun handed her some parchments on which several jewelry designs were carved.

    "Are they all original?" Jiang Ying Yue asked as she checked the designs.

    "Yes, My Lady. All those who copied the designs from other stores have already been sent away." Manager Jun replied with a slight bow of his head.

    Jiang Ying Yue seemed impressed as she lightly nodded her head in approval. Her judgment about this Jun guy wasn''t wrong. Just in two months, he had learned a lot. He was not only one of her most trusted workers but he was also sharp-minded. So far, he hadn''t disappointed her even once.

    As she looked through the sketches, two particular designs caught her attention. One of those designs was the simplest one among all the designs. It was a design of earrings made of white jade.

    The other design that caught her attention was that of a wooden hairpin. Though the item used for the hairpin was wood, the designer had carved a beautiful peony on the very end of the hairpin. Something that she hadn''t seen so far in the market.

    Usually, women from poor families used wooden hairpins and those hairpins were as simple looking as one could. However, it was the first time when she had seen a design of a wooden hairpin that appeared as beautiful and detailed as a jade hairpin used by the women of the noble families.

    A smile appeared on her lips but no one saw it because of the veil. She handed the two designs to Manager Jun to take a look at before she turned her attention towards the group of people standing in front of her.

    "May I ask who designed these two designs?" She watched as a man in his early forties and a woman of the same age stepped forward and bowed their heads to greet her.

    "Are you two a couple?" Jiang Ying Yue asked and wasn''t even surprised when they nodded their heads in agreement.

    "You want to gift your wife jade earrings even if they are the simplest ones while your wife wants to create jewelry that could be cheap but bring happiness to people when they wear it. I''m impressed by both of you." She praised the couple who once again bowed their heads in gratitude.

    "Manager Jun, take care of their hiring process and make sure to get all the details right. I''ll send you the contracts within a couple of minutes, have them signed. Serve refreshments to the rest of them and then send them away." She told the young man who immediately nodded his head before he left to take care of the work.

    Jiang Ying Yue was about to return to her cosmetic wing when she was stopped by one of the designers who had come for the interview.

    "Lady Yue, may I ask why you didn''t choose the others. There are many designs that are more beautiful and detailed than theirs." The woman asked as she pointed at the designs that were resting on the table.

    Jiang Ying Yue tilted her head slightly as she observed the woman before turning her attention towards the rest of the group of people standing in her shop.

    "Then tell me, according to you guys is the design of the jewelry the main criteria to become a good designer?" She asked and watched as almost everyone hesitated to answer her question.

    "If that''s what you think then I''m sorry but I can''t hire you in my shop because that''s not what I think. And if you think that a good designer needs more than just skills, then you already have the answer as to why I didn''t select someone from the rest of your group. Have a nice day." Jiang Ying Yue didn''t wait anymore as she turned around and walked away.

    For the rest of the day, she was busy taking care of her customers and also taking care of the preparation of the shifting of her cosmetic shop.

    She had decided to name her shop - ''Women''s World''. The store had only two floors unlike the three floors of her current shop but even two were more than enough for her to run her business at full speed. Currently, the shop was going through renovations so that she could open it as soon as possible.

    Both Li Wu and Li Qi had been learning under Manager Jun''s guidance for the past two months. While Li Wu was better at handling accounts, Li Qi was more opt at handling managerial works.

    Jiang Ying Yue had decided to ask for Silver''s help so that the guy could help the Li sisters to learn more about their works. Just two months of training won''t help them run a shop, they needed more training time and guidance.

    "Who is going to take care of this shop if you are going to shift to your new shop?" Gu Chen asked that evening when he found her packing stuff in boxes.

    "You." That''s all Jiang Ying Yue said as she continued with packing up the cosmetics and skincare products.

    Her answer left Gu Chen dumbfounded for a while as he tried to see if she was serious or just joking with him. However, looking at her serious face, it didn''t seem like she was in the mood of joking around.

    "What are you planning to do now?" He asked while taking a seat next to her office table which was currently a big mess.

    "I currently found a news that has given me the courage to just walk out and face the lackeys of the Prime Minister with full confidence." She told him with a shrug of her shoulders before she moved to clear the table.

    "What news?" He asked curiously.

    Jiang Ying Yue finally stopped for a few seconds to look at the young man as she answered, "Your father and brother are returning to the Capital next month."

 Chapter 93 - Qi Gathering

    After Gu Chen got the news that his father and brother were finally returning to the Capital, he too became high-spirited. And that''s why when Jiang Ying Yue offered him to attend to ''Glamour and Fashion'' during her absence, he immediately accepted the offer.

    Ying Yue was aware that if there was someone who could really look after the shop in her absence was none other than Gu Chen. She was giving him a chance to prove himself to his father and brother, and she knew that she would also benefit from this plan of hers.

    After that day, both Jiang Ying Yue and Gu Chen became busy with the stores as they had two shops to renovate and start over while there was still the issue of the wedding dress and she had more or less only a week left in her hands.

    "You don''t do anything that doesn''t bring profit to you in the end, right?" Silver joked as he massaged her temples as the two sat inside her bed-chamber.

    They just had their dinner and there was still an hour left before she was supposed to start with her cultivation training.

    "I''m a businesswoman. How can I not think about profit every single minute of the day? If I stopped thinking about earning profits, I''ll embarrass myself as a businesswoman. Besides, my plans never hurt anyone. It''s always a win-win for every party." Jiang Ying Yue replied as she kept her eyes closed and just enjoyed the massage.

    The two remained silent for the rest of the time as Silver happily massaged her temples, trying his best to soothe her headache. Besides, he was aware that she hadn''t been fed for over two weeks. He needed to do something about that.

    - - - - -

    "Take a deep breath and let your body relax. Let your mind clear and imagine those familiar blue sparkles that you saw back then. See if they will reform themselves and allow you to see another side of their essence." Wu Xie guided her as they once again sat on the surface of the river that flowed in the Cloud Realm.

    "You should not be here helping her like this. It won''t be..."

    "Stop being jealous! If you really want her attention then you should have helped her. However, since you decided to act cold and unhelpful, you should at least let me do the right thing here." Wu Xie immediately cut off Qing Shan before the latter could finish his sentence.

    Ever since Wu Xie decided to accompany Jiang Ying Yue during her night training and started helping her to call out the spiritual essence of water, Qing Shan had started feeling left out as he was no longer needed to guide her. Neither was she asking him for help now since Wu Xie was there to help her out.

    He was clearly jealous of their bond that was not only getting stronger with time but was also bringing them closer to each other. He was suddenly feeling like his bond with her wasn''t strong enough even though he was bonded with her through a second stage mate bond unlike Wu Xie and Ah Shu who were bound to her through the first stage mate bond.

    Not knowing what to do anymore in his current situation, he just decided to let them be. After all, if Wu Xie really helped her then it would actually be beneficial for her. The sooner she would get a grip on the essence of spiritual energies, the earlier she would be able to start her cultivation.

    After Qing Shan left them, Wu Xie started guiding her again step by step as he told her to project the water spiritual essence in her mind that Qing Shan showed her during her first practice.

    Jiang Ying Yue tried to do as she was told. She closed her eyes and started making all the extra thoughts leave her mind so that she could relax enough to start projecting the blue sparkly particles that she had been searching for all this time.

    She recalled the memory of the day when she first got to see those sparkly particles for the first and last time so far. She tried to recall that feeling, the amazement, and the happiness that she felt when those blue sparkles appeared in front of her eyes.

    Surprisingly, after concentrating for quite some time, she did succeed in recalling that memory completely with those familiar emotions that made it appear even more realistic as she tried to merge those blue sparkles into different shapes and sizes. She wanted to find out what she would see those particles as when she would call them out.

    Almost half an hour passed but the particles remained the same. Though they didn''t disappear, they did refuse to change their form. Was it possible that she too would see them as blue sparkles? Jiang Ying Yue questioned herself as she tried to keep that image of blue particles on her mind while she once again tried to call out the essence of the spiritual energy of the water that was flowing beneath her feet.

    "You are doing good. Just keep working on it and remember... every person sees the spiritual essence in a unique way that only they can unveil. You have to find that special form of spiritual energy. The form that not only you want to see but you have to see to keep going on if you want to learn cultivation. Search for that special form and don''t stop unless you have found it." Wu Xie reminded her as he also cheered her on to keep going.

    Listening to the Third Prince''s words, Jiang Ying Yue realized that her guess was probably wrong. Since every person had to see the spiritual essence in a unique form of their own, the sparkly blue particles weren''t the ones meant for her.

    As she kept calling the essence of the spiritual energy of water, she finally felt something changing in the blue sparkles that were surrounding her in her memory.

    The blue sparkles fluttered and started becoming misty one by one, almost giving Jiang Ying Yue a mini panic attack as she thought that something wrong was going on. However, her concern was short-lived because soon enough she watched the mist clearing before a wonderful sight appeared in front of her eyes.

    The blue sparkles first turned into mist before the mist started changing into small fluttery insects with blue wings that were printed with sparkles. The physical form of her spiritual essence was a butterfly!

    As hundreds of butterflies with sparkly blue wings surrounded her in her memory, Jiang Ying Yue finally felt the water beneath her feet starting to respond to her call.

    For the very first time, she felt the water actually touching her feet as it even made her feet wet but she still didn''t sink into the depths of the river and remained standing on its surface.

    She heard the fluttering sounds of several wings around her which finally made her open her eyes to look at her surroundings and this caused her to lose her connection over the memory that she had conjured in her mind.

    However, as her eyes took in the scene in front of her eyes, she was far beyond the point of caring about that memory. Those beautiful butterflies were no longer trapped inside her mind, instead, they were finally out in the open. She had finally succeeded in calling out the essence of the spiritual energy of the water.

    "They are so beautiful..." Wu Xie failed to stop himself from whispering out those words as he stared at the hundreds of spiritual butterflies that were surrounding his mate in a protective layer.

    Jiang Ying Yue turned towards him with a beautiful smile playing on her lips and her eyes full of sparkles. She was surprised when she found Qing Shan returning along with Wang Shu and Silver. The rest of her mates also seemed just as amazed and surprised to see the physical form of her spiritual essence as Wu Xie and she herself was.

    "They are butterflies." Silver whispered in pure awe as his eyes settled on her. He seemed proud of her which made Jiang Ying Yue even happier than she already was.

    "From a colorless caterpillar to the exquisite winged creature of delicate beauty, a butterfly is a symbol for transformation and hope. A symbol for rebirth and resurrection, for the triumph of the spirit and the soul over physical prison, the material world. It''s the perfect symbol to represent you." Qing Shan spoke as he looked at the beautiful winged creatures.

    Listening to his words, Jiang Ying Yue realized how well the butterflies represented her reality. Her heart became warmer as she kept looking at butterflies with sparkly blue wings.

    She had successfully passed the first round of her training.. Now, it was time for her to start the second round - Qi Gathering.

 Chapter 94 - A Memory Of His Past

    Jiang Ying Yue struggled to control the massive amount of spiritual qi that she had somehow succeeded in absorbing from the surrounding area.

    At first, it was merely a feeling of discomfort but then it quickly escalated into a more piercing pain as she failed to develop a qi gathering ocean inside her body as per Qing Shan''s guidance.

    Her mates also quickly realized that something was wrong because soon enough she found their presence surrounding her. Through the haze of the terrible pain that had taken over her body, she felt the warmth of their hands as they held her. Their touches brought comfort to her but it wasn''t enough to pull her out of the discomfort that was threatening to burst her into tiny particles just like the blue sparkles that she had seen in Qing Shan''s projection of spiritual essence.

    "Let''s channel our energies in her together. Silver, hold her firmly." Qing Shan guided the other three men who immediately nodded their heads in agreement. Silver moved to sit behind Jiang Ying Yue as he wrapped his arms around the girl and pulled her back to rest against his chest.

    It was not until his chest was in contact with her back did he realize that her body was freezing but at the same time, it was burning like lava. He felt his chest tightening in discomfort as he watched her writhe in pain. He could do nothing but hold her in his arms as he waited for the Princes to help her.

    "Ah Shu, try entering her subconscious mind to guide her to create a qi gathering ocean." Qing Shan spoke to his second brother who nodded his head in understanding before he closed his eyes and followed his brother''s instruction.

    While Wang Shu went to help Jiang Ying Yue to create a qi gathering ocean, Qing Shan and Wu Xie channeled their spiritual energy in her body to stabilize the spiritual energy overflowing in her body.

    According to Wu Xie, the two of them could only hold back the spiritual energy in her body for half an hour or so. If Wang Shu failed in helping her create a qi gathering ocean within that half an hour, the consequences would be dire.

    "She will be alright, right?" Silver asked as he looked at two Princes with hopeful eyes. The mere thought of something bad happening to the girl in his arms filled him with a pain that was ready to shred his heart into millions of pieces.

    Qing Shan and Wu Xie shared a look as if they were communicating through their eyes and a few seconds later, they both returned their attention to Silver before giving him an assuring look. They would do their best to protect her, no matter the cost that they would need to pay in return.

    - - - - -

    "It''s too much pain. I c-can''t take this... a-anymore..." Jiang Ying Yue whispered through gritted teeth as she tried to not lose to the horrible pain that had taken over her body.

    This pain was a hundred times more powerful than what she experienced during her fall from the mountain cliff when Wu Xie took her out for a visit to the secluded tavern outside the capital city. It felt like every cell in her body was being torn apart by a force that was too powerful for her weak body to control.

    "Yue''er, hold on there..."

    The soft voice of Wang Shu entered her ears and despite the pain that was killing her, she heard the worry in his voice and felt the tremors in his body as he moved to hold her in his arms.

    She didn''t know how she did it but somehow, she succeeded in opening her eyes after some struggle to look at her mate who had gone pale after seeing the amount of spiritual qi that was flowing inside her body without any break.

    "Why are you here?" She asked him in a barely audible tone but somehow, the Prince still heard her. His fingers softly grazed her cheek as he cupped one side of her face with his palm.

    The two of them were inside her subconscious mind and surrounding them was the ''too much spiritual qi'' that she had ended up absorbing. It was like her body was an empty vessel that the spiritual energy in the outside world had been looking for and as soon as it found the vessel, it did its best to fill it up to the brim.

    "I''m here to help you." She heard Ah Shu whispering next to her ear as he adjusted her body to make sure that she was comfortably resting in his arms and that was when Jiang Ying Yue realized that her pain had lessened ever since Wang Shu pulled her in his arms.

    "What are we going to do?" She asked the Prince as she relaxed in his arms and tried to pay as much attention to handling the situation as she wanted to give up and just take a rest.

    "Let me show you how I created my own qi gathering ocean when I first started cultivating. Try and learn from it, alright?" Wang Shu suggested and found the woman nodding her head in agreement as she took in a deep breath as if preparing herself for the task.

    He took hold of her hands between both his palms before he channeled his powers into her, linking her with a specific memory of his past as he brought her back to the day when he finally succeeded in creating a qi gathering ocean for himself after constantly failing for weeks, unlike his brothers who succeeded within a few days.

    Jiang Ying Yue watched as a child of around six, or seven-year-old stood inside the depth of a volcano. His feet were lingering just a few centimeters up from the lava that was silent for the time being.

    Seeing the sad and discouraged look on the face of the younger version of Wang Shu, she felt her heart clenching as a strong urge to go closer to the boy to console him grew stronger in her.

    However, even her subconscious self didn''t have the energy to move her limbs. Though she no longer was feeling the extreme pain, her body still was devoid of any power. Besides, a part of her brain was aware that they were inside a memory, nothing that she would do was going to change anything.

    She and Wang Shu stood next to a huge rock as they watched the younger version of the Second Prince struggling to cope with the heat of the burning lava. It was a test for him to control the essence of fire while at the same time creating a qi gathering ocean to gather all the spiritual qi before cultivating it.

    "Watch closely..." Wang Shu whispered next to her ear as he tightened his arms around her shoulder, pulling her back to rest against his chest as they both watched the scene unfolding in front of them.

    Jiang Ying Yue did as she was told, her eyes remained fixed on the young prince as she watched him create his qi gathering ocean with the essence of the spiritual energy of fire element.

    "Your main element is fire?" She asked in a low voice even though the answer was pretty clear.

    The qi gathering ocean was created with the essence of the spiritual energy of one of the elements and that particular element that was used in the creation of the qi gathering ocean becomes the main element of that person.

    A Cultivator could yield all the elements as long as they were powerful enough and considering the fact that all the three Princes were already going through their tribulation to get the title of Gods, they were clearly as powerful as an Immortal could ever become. Meaning that they could yield all the elements equally. It''s almost impossible to guess the main element of a God or Goddess unless one continuously made use of their main element to make it obvious.

    Jiang Ying Yue had tried to create her qi gathering ocean with the essence of the spiritual energy of water but for some reason, she didn''t succeed.

    "It is..." She heard Wang Shu''s reply to her question about fire being his main element. She lightly nodded her head in acknowledgment before becoming silent as she observed the young boy.

    For the next twenty twelve minutes or so, her eyes never left the young boy as she observed every step and technique that he used to create his qi gathering ocean.

    "Do you now know what to do?" Wang Shu asked as the memory came to an end. They only had fifteen minutes left before the time limit of half an hour would be over.

    There was a smile on Jiang Ying Yue''s lips as she nodded her head in reply. "I know.. Let me head to the bottom of the river."

 Chapter 95 - Are You Jealous?

    "Congratulations for gaining ten percent of your original powers back!" Silver quickly congratulated Jiang Ying Yue as soon as she succeeded in breaking through the first three levels of the first cultivation circle that immediately gave her the ability to use one/tenth of her vampire powers.

    "Wait! How can you tell that it''s only ten percent? What if it''s more than that, or probably less than that?" Wu Xie quickly asked as he looked at Silver with a curious look on his face.

    In response to his question, Silver just gave an innocent smirk before he turned his attention away, not bothering to say anything as he wanted to see the Third Prince getting anxious to know the answer.

    "Thank you for what you all did for me today and also for all the patience that you showed me all this time." Jiang Ying Yue spoke in a voice filled with sincerity as she thanked the Princes and even Silver.

    "There''s no need to be so happy just yet. There''s still a long way to go before you will be able to use your original powers to their full extent. You will only need to work harder from now on." Qing Shan was the first one to speak and just like his usual self, he didn''t try to sound happy or impressed at all. He just decided to remind her that she should not be rejoicing, at least not yet.

    Listening to his matter-of-fact tone, Jiang Ying Yue wasn''t the only one who let out a groan of dissatisfaction. Silver along with the Second and the Third Prince also seemed just as unimpressed by his words as she was.

    "You are such a mood killer. Can''t you leave this grumpy face of yours at your home every once in a while?" Silver asked as he gave an unimpressed look to the First Prince.

    "I''m just stating the facts." Qing Shan spoke in response before he turned around and started walking away as it was the end of her training session for the night.

    "I''m leaving too." Wu Xie said, grabbing everyone''s attention as he gave Jiang Ying Yue a mesmerizing smile before he teleported away.

    "I..." Wang Shu was ready to say his goodbye too but got stopped when Jiang Ying Yue suddenly placed her finger against his lips, silencing him immediately.

    "You are coming with me." It wasn''t a question, neither a request. It sounded like she was telling him that he had to follow her to the Cold Palace, not like he was complaining. If his mate wanted him to stay with her, he was more than eager to comply.

    "Let''s go then." Silver spoke as he came to stand next to both of them. Wang Shu watched as the man, Silver, took hold of one of Ying Yue''s hands before he pulled all three of them into the teleportation array that led them straight to Jiang Ying Yue''s bed-chamber in the fifth courtyard of the Cold Palace.

    "Thank you." Jiang Ying Yue whispered next to Silver''s ear as the man wrapped both his hands around her tiny waist in response.

    Wang Shu suddenly started feeling like a third wheel as he stood at a little distance from them. His eyes struggled to find something to put his attention at. However, his ears were still paying full attention to what the two of them were talking about. He just couldn''t help himself.

    A small smirk appeared on Silver''s lips as he noticed the state of the Second Prince. "It looks like you two will need some space tonight." He whispered to his mate who replied with a beautiful smile that held the power of melting him into a puddle.

    "Are you jealous?" She asked after a few seconds of silently observing him.

    Silver immediately shook his head in denial and it was the truth. He could be and was the insecurity of the Princes when it came to her, however, no one in the world could make him insecure about her, especially after he had seen that the Princes'' presence in her life hadn''t made any impact on his relationship with her.

    He was only insecure when he was tied to the curse because of Ying Yue''s incomplete bonds with her destined soulmates. But now, since she was sharing a good with each of the Princes, he no longer felt that insecurity.

    He smiled softly at the girl in his arms as he replied, "I am your first love, your first kiss, the first person with whom you made out, the first man for whom you cried and cared for. No one can ever take these things away from me. And most importantly..."

    Jiang Ying Yue watched as Silver placed his hand over her heart before he continued. "... You loved me when your heart was dead. Now, you have a heart that beats. And I''m aware that I''m still the first person who earned his place in that special heart of yours. Since I''m so lucky, why should I be the one to feel jealous?"

    Jiang Ying Yue felt her heart filling with warmth at his words. She cupped his face between her palms before she placed a soft feathery kiss on his forehead.

    "I love you, Silver." She whispered before placing a soft kiss on his lips. She was aware that Wang Shu was also present in the room along with them and that''s why she had planned to pull away from Silver after that peck on his lips. However, her plan didn''t work because the man didn''t give her the chance to pull away.

    Before she could have stepped away from him, his hands tightened their hold around her waist as he pulled her closer to his body before he deepened the kiss. His tongue successfully made its way into her mouth which caused her entire body to shiver with an intensity that threatened to take over her senses to pull her into the beautiful world of pleasure.

    The kiss lasted for a couple of seconds before Silver finally pulled away. The two of them were breathing heavily and Jiang Ying Yue watched the burning desire in his eyes that caused her to take in a deep breath.

    Silver gave her a sweet smile before he turned his attention towards the Second Prince. "Take care of her." He told the Prince and with a quick nod of his head, his silhouette disappeared from the room.

    The next couple of seconds were filled with silence as Jiang Ying Yue tried to calm herself down. Her body was still on fire from the kiss that she just shared with Silver and she was having a hard time pulling her attention away from the hunger that had started bothering her vampire.

    "Are you alright?" Wang Shu asked when he noticed the frown that was decorating Ying Yue''s face as she stood there in the middle of the room with her eyes closed.

    Jiang Ying Yue shook her head in denial before she slowly let her eyes fluttered open. She was fully aware that her eyes were no longer looking normal and the look on the Second Prince''s face confirmed her doubt.

    "Your eyes... they are so pretty..." Wang Shu commented as he moved one of his fingers to lightly touch her eyelashes. He didn''t even realize that he had moved to stand right in front of the girl and there was barely any space left between their bodies.

    "Really?" Jiang Ying Yue asked as she tilted her head back to look into the eyes of the second Prince.

    "Really." Wang Shu replied without missing a single beat and found his heart blooming with happiness when a sweet smile appeared on Ying Yue''s lips.

    "Ah Shu..." Jiang Ying Yue called his name endearingly as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and stepped closer to him, making their bodies come in direct contact with each other.

    Wang Shu loved it when she called him like that. Other than Qing Shan, and his mother, no one ever called him Ah Shu, and hearing his woman call him that made him feel things that he never knew he was capable of feeling.

    "You should feed." He found himself saying as he noticed that the main reason behind the red color of her eyes was her hunger. He had noticed that she liked to skip feeding from them as much as she could unless it came to a point where she could no longer resist anymore.

    This time, Jiang Ying Yue didn''t try to turn down his offer as she was aware of her body''s condition. She didn''t want to lose her control in public the next day during her working hours in the store just because her vampire was hungry for blood.

    Wang Shu led her towards the bed and they both settled down comfortably before the second Prince did something that took Jiang Ying Yue by complete surprise.. She watched as one by one, he started taking off his clothes.

 Chapter 96 - The Greedy Vampire

    A small smirk appeared on Jiang Ying Yue''s lips as she watched the Second Prince undressing. Her eyes keenly observed his muscles flexing as he removed his middle robe after taking off his outer robe. Lastly, his fingers started untying the knots of his inner shirt.

    As soon as his inner shirt was untied, her eyes finally got to see the chiseled chest of the Prince that she first saw during their very first encounter. Unfortunately, he stopped right there and didn''t take off his inner robe.

    "Why are you stopping?" She couldn''t stop herself from asking but the confused look on the Prince''s face stated that he had no idea what she was talking about.

    Letting out a small sigh, she moved closer to the Second Prince and started taking off his inner shirt that was trying to hide his beautiful body from her sight. However, before she could have accomplished her task, Prince Shu decided to stop her as his hands grabbed her arms to halt her movements.

    "Yue''er..." His voice sounded strained but the reason was unclear. Did he want her to stop or was he trying to tell her to increase her speed and just take off his robe?

    "Yes?" She decided to give him the chance to voice out whatever he wanted to say.

    Wang Shu remained silent for the next couple of seconds as he watched her. He then pulled her hands down from his shoulder where they had been grabbing his inner shirt, though he didn''t let go of her hands and kept them in his hold.

    "What are you doing?" He asked while staring into her deep obsidian eyes.

    "Taking off your clothes." Jiang Ying Yue replied with a little shrug as she tried to get her hands free so that she could continue with her task of taking off his inner shirt that was making her fingers itch.

    "Why?" Wang Shu asked and watched as Ying Yue frowned at his question that sounded kind of weird to her.

    For a couple of long seconds, she just stood there in silence while observing him, and then..., a smile suddenly bloomed on her lips that made it hard for the Second Prince to not melt under her power. This woman was too dangerous for his self-control.

    Jiang Ying Yue succeeded in taking advantage of the slightest distraction that her smile caused to the Prince. She freed her hands from his hold and before the Immortal could realize what was happening, her arms were already wrapped around his neck as she locked her fingers of both hands together on his nape.

    "Why are you suddenly acting shy and hesitant? After all, you started taking off your clothes in the first place." Jiang Ying Yue wasn''t about to back off, at least not yet.

    "I... uh... I was just taking the outer layers off... so that they won''t be ruined..." Wang Shu somehow found his voice to clear the misunderstanding. The realization of why this woman was taking off his shirt, made his cheeks burn as he suddenly felt shy and embarrassed.

    "Really?" Jiang Ying Yue asked while holding her head on the side a little bit as she looked at him with arched eyebrows as if she didn''t believe his words at all.

    "R-really..." Wang Shu quickly confirmed but was made to take a step back when the woman took a step closer to him. The look in her eyes made him feel like he was her prey and she was in the mood of enjoying hunting him down. However, he didn''t feel threatened at all. Instead, his body was suddenly filled with a thrill as he impatiently waited for her next move.

    As Jiang Ying Yue took another step forward in his direction to close the distance between them, she watched as the Second Prince took another step back, enlarging the space between them once again.

    She was about to speak when her eyes fell on the bed sitting a few steps behind the Prince. A small smile cued her lips as she started taking more steps in his direction. The man was so surprised that he too stepped back. He barely would have taken a few steps back when his legs came in contact with something and he landed on the soft mattress of the bed.

    "There... Just perfect." Jiang Ying Yue commented as she stopped right in front of the Prince who was now sitting on the edge of the bed while looking up at her with eyes that seemed like they were anticipating her next movement.

    But he was definitely not prepared for what he got to see next. His eyes keenly observed the woman as she started taking off her own clothes. He felt flustered and a little embarrassed too but his eyes refused to look away from her. He watched as she first took off her outer robe and then her belt that left her middle robe open.

    Wang Shu suddenly felt that his throat was burning and so was his body. His eyes refused to look away even when she took off her middle robe and as if she wanted to tease him, she didn''t take off her inner shirt and just untied it to let him take a look at her beautiful body.

    Jiang Ying Yue felt quite confident about her body because of all the good food and daily exercises she has been doing during these couple of months, her body had grown and no longer looked like a malnourished young teen''s body. Her height had increased around an inch, making her 5''3". Her hair was a lot healthier than before and the same could be said about her face as she had been taking proper care of her skin.

    Most importantly, her body proportion was also better than before. Her breasts had grown to full C cups and considering her slim body, that size attracted attention without any problems.

    As she noticed the flustered state of the Second Prince, she found a smile blooming on her lips as she took the final step closer to him before climbing into his lap while straddling him before wrapping both her arms around his neck.

    Wang Shu was so taken aback by her sudden move but his hands moved even before he knew what he was doing. They went to hold her from her waist and he found her smiling at his move. "I... I..."

    "Ssh...!" Jiang Ying Yue silenced him as she placed her finger against his lips. Once the man got her message and became silent, she started tracing his soft lips with her finger, making her own body tingle with anticipation. Her heartbeat only increased when he parted his lips slightly as if enticing her more than she already was. The urge of slipping her finger inside his mouth and feeling his lips and tongue wrapped around her finger was too strong for her to control anymore.

    Her eyes that had been following the movement of her finger turned their attention upwards to look directly into the Second Prince''s obsidian eyes as she asked, "Ah Shu..., can I kiss you?"

    The man remained silent, not speaking at all but staring into her eyes as if he was unable to look away, and then, his gaze moved downwards to land on her lips and Jiang Ying Yue watched with anticipation as the man closed the distance between their faces as his lips landed against hers.

    The sparks that immediately flew all over her body made a moan slip through her lips and as if that''s the sound Wang Shu was waiting for, his hands moved to wrap around her waist as he pulled her body closer to his, almost making any possible space between their bodies disappear completely.

    Jiang Ying Yue let out a soft sigh as she felt his warm body coming in contact with hers. Her hands tightened their hold on his nape before she deepened the kiss, this time making her man groan out in pleasure as her teeth lightly nipped on his lower lips before she started trailing soft feathery kisses down his throat to the side of his neck and then to his shoulder.

    Her lips finally stopped at the crook of his neck where she slightly brushed the tip of her tongue against his skin, immediately feeling him shiver because of her act. She planted a few more kisses on that spot before she let her fangs sink into his skin.

    As soon as his sweet blood touched her skin and made its way into her body, she finally felt her vampire letting out a deep sigh of relief. However, she could tell that her body and soul were still not fully content because blood wasn''t the only thing they desired at the moment.

    On the other hand, Wang Shu was once again drowning in the ocean of pleasure that her bite brought to him. This time, it felt even better than the first time she fed on him.. His entire body was on fire and he never wanted that fire to go down.

 Chapter 97 - Let Me Take Care Of You

    Jiang Ying Yue stood in the back garden of her courtyard as she watched the beautiful moon that was half-hidden behind the little clouds that were present in the sky. The star-filled night seemed so alluring and beautiful that she just wanted to lie down on the ground and watch it until she fell asleep.

    She suddenly heard faint footsteps approaching her and even though her back was facing that person, her body and soul knew exactly who he was.

    "What are you doing standing here all alone at two in the morning?" Silver asked as he draped a cloak over her shoulders as the night was a little chilly and she was only wearing her inner clothes that were as light as feather.

    "Just wanted to enjoy some fresh air." She responded as she let her body relax against his chest when the man wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, giving her a warm back hug that she loved the most because it felt so warm and romantic to her.

    She had always been a fan of back hugs and temple kisses and now when she could finally make physical contact with Silver, she had observed that the man had been taking every chance possible to shower her with back hugs or kisses on her temples or forehead.

    "What happened? I thought you had plans to complete your bond with Wang Shu tonight. But from what I can sense, you have only bonded to the third stage. Why didn''t you complete the bond?" He sounded more worried than curious and it made Jiang Ying Yue smile.

    But it was true! She indeed had plans to complete her bond with the Second Prince and she was ready to do it until they both were left alone in the bedroom. However, the hesitation that she saw in him made her rethink about her plans.

    "This is an ancient world, Silver. People here have different rules and beliefs. The Princes have also learned those exact rules that state that any physical contact between a man and a woman could only be done if they are married. And I... I''m not their wife."

    "Do you know, even brothers and sisters here don''t hug each other. Married couples can''t even hold their hands outside their home. A place filled with such rules is a far cry from our world. I don''t want the Princes to feel uncomfortable because of me. They are already stepping out of their comfort zones because of me, so u should learn to be patient with them and take things at a slow pace. Right?" Jiang Ying Yue turned her body to face her man as she looked at him while waiting to hear his response.

    As an answer to her question, she received a soft and warm kiss from Silver on her forehead before he pulled her into his arms, filling her with his warmth as he rested his chin on the crown of her head while speaking, "You are doing the right thing, baby. Caring about the Princes is what you should do as their mate, but what about you?"

    Jiang Ying Yue pulled away slightly to look at him. She knew that he could feel the unhappiness of her soul and the fire in her body that still hadn''t quietened. "Just like I said, I need to learn to be patient." She replied with a small smile but could tell that Silver wasn''t buying her lousy words.

    "Really? Are you really planning of depriving yourself of what you desire?" He asked while one of his hands made its way under the cloak before sliding inside her inner shirt and resting on her bare waist, right under the hem of her chest wrap.

    A small gasp skipped Jiang Ying Yue''s lips as she closed her eyes for a mere second to enjoy the coldness of his palm against her burning skin. Just when she thought that he was there to comfort her, she found out that he had appeared to only torture her more than she already was. Because of her bond that she had just upgraded with the Second Prince, her body and soul were still sensitive and greedy. There was only a limit to how long she could control herself from snapping and getting what she desired.

    "Silver..." She called him and there was both warning and a plea in her voice. As much as she wanted him to stop, her body and soul refused to let him go.

    "It''s alright, love. Let me take care of you. Though we can''t complete our bond, I still have my ways to help you. Besides, I''m not from this world. The rules here don''t apply to me and I''m more than happy to give you what you want. Just let me take care of everything. Alright?" Silver asked as he moved his other hand to cup her face.

    What else could Jiang Ying Yue do other than nod her head in agreement? She was on the verge of shattering into millions of pieces because of the building desire inside her. Her soul and body were filled with so much desire that it was becoming hard for her to even breathe as long as one of her mates was close to her, let alone those moments when all of them surrounded her.

    She didn''t realize that she had closed her eyes at some point and they flew open when she felt the man picking her up in his arms as he started walking towards the first courtyard. It was the only courtyard in the entire Cold Palace that she hadn''t stepped into ever since she had come to this world and it was also located too far away from her fifth courtyard, meaning that they would have complete privacy there.

    She was expecting the inside of the courtyard to be dark and cold, but she was surprised to see the whole place lit with beautiful lanterns and perfectly furnished with a king-size bed resting in the middle of the bed-chamber. Long purple coloured drapes were falling around the bed and dozens of candles were lit to provide light.

    She even smelled a light sweet aroma in the air and it was only then did she realize that Silver had prepared everything with his magic just to make sure that she would feel comfortable and content. Her heart warmed as she watched the man who was treating her like a Queen, his queen.

    Silver placed her on the bed before he created a barrier around the first courtyard to make sure that no one would be disturbing them and only after that did he turn his attention towards the woman who had been looking at him constantly ever since he picked her up in his arms. "What? Feeling in love with me?" He asked with a teasing tone while leaning his face closer to her.

    His question made her smile as she replied, "Always have been. That never changed ever since the first time I confessed my feelings to you."

    Silver looked into her eyes and was suddenly reminded how beautiful they looked even though they were now black instead of hazel. However, what made them appear beautiful was the emotions that he saw swirling inside them. A lot of love, warmth, care, and affection. Just looking into her eyes and he could tell that the woman loved him even more than her own life, just like he loved her more than anything.

    "I love you so much, Yue. I hope we can finally find our happily ever after in this place." He spoke before capturing her lips in a soft kiss, immediately feeling how her body shivered as his hands moved to take off the cloak that was wrapped around her shoulders.

    At first, he kept the kiss soft and slow. His lips moved against hers in slow strokes, almost like light feathers brushing against each other. At the same time, his fingers were working on the knots that were keeping her inner shirt in place. After a few seconds of struggle, he did succeed in u tying them and immediately pulled down her inner shirt from her shoulders before taking it off completely, leaving her only in her chest wrap and pants.

    He felt her hands clutching the front of his olive colored V-neck t-shirt before she slipped her hands inside, feeling his abs with her fingers and palms as she kept exploring his upper body.

    A groan slipped through his lips when he felt her fingernails teasing his right nipple, making his body shiver with pleasure. But no matter how much he wanted to delve into the depths of pleasure himself, it wasn''t his time yet. Right now, it was all about his mate and her pleasure and he had promised to take care of her.

    He grabbed her arms before pulling her hands out of his shirt, causing her to groan in frustration and it made him chuckle lightly.. He pulled away slightly to take off his t-shirt before once again capturing her lips and this time in a deep and hot kiss.

 Chapter 98 - Seeking Pleasure (Part One)

    Warning: Slight mature content in the chapter-

    ***

    Jiang Ying Yue let out a small sigh as she closed her eyes to enjoy the kiss. Her hands that were now wrapped around Silver''s shoulders, moved to pull his hair free so that she could enjoy running her fingers through his silky strands.

    His warm body pressed against hers was making her squirm as she felt the burning desire inside her body start rising, threatening to consume her completely. His hands that were gliding against her bare waist felt like they burning her But in a very pleasant way.

    Silver''s lips were soft against hers but at the very same time, they were anything but soft. His tongue and teeth kept teasing her every now and then, causing her to moan out loudly as she squirmed under him, trying to get closer to him.

    A few more moments passed before the man finally showed her some mercy as he stopped teasing her and his tongue finally slipped right through her parted lips, making its way inside her mouth and causing her to moan even more loudly as Jiang Ying Yue felt her body and soul dunning happiness after getting more attention from her mate.

    Thankfully, they were in the first courtyard that was located far away from The fourth and fifth courtyard where the Li sisters and the Second Prince were sleeping respectively. Besides, the ward surrounding the first courtyard was keeping her sounds of pleasure leaving the building and reaching prying ears.

    Jiang Ying Yue felt silver''s hands making their way upwards from where they had been resting on her waist all this time. She could barely focus on the kiss anymore because her entire attention was pulled towards the movements of his hands.

    Silver made sure to tease her enough to keep her on the very edgy of pleasure and frustration. One of his hands grazed the soft skin of her belly before he moved it on the side of her waist before completely slipping it under her body and resting it on her spine for the time being.

    Only after that did he start moving his other hand that had been resting on her bare belly all this time. He took the time to feel her soft skin against his fingers as he enjoyed the warmth that her body was emitting. He could have happily spent all night basking in her warmth but he could tell that his mate was getting impatient with every passing second.

    Jiang Ying Yue shuddered as she felt Silver''s hand trailing upwards, making its way towards her chest and it didn''t stop until his fingers were resting right under the hem of her chest wrap.

    For a second or two, his hand remained still and Jiang Ying Yue could bet that her heart was beating so fast that it was ready to pop out of her chest anytime soon. In that moment of silence, she could hear her racing heart very clearly.

    It was such a foreign feeling. A vampire like her who was used to living a life without a heart, or a dead heart, was still finding it hard to get used to having a perfectly functioning heart in this new life.

    She was pulled out of her thoughts when she suddenly felt Silver moving his fingers and a small gasp escaped her lips when she realized that his fingers had found their way under her chest wrap and they were currently resting on the under the curve of her right breast.

    Jiang Ying Yue felt her breathing accelerating just like her heartbeat as she waited for him to continue. She was in no mood of stopping anytime soon. Instead, she was excited to experience what was coming next.

    However, she was met with disappointment as Silver refused to move his fingers at all. The man was enjoying teasing and testing her just too much and she wasn''t liking it all.

    "Silver..."

    Her voice was filled with warning and she even nipped on his lower lip to show him just how unhappy she was because of his teasing. She felt him smile against her lips as his own lips curved upwards in amusement.

    And to silence her she dived into another kiss which was even deeper, hotter, and faster than all the previous ones, making her curl her fingers of both her feet as she was left completely baffled for the next couple of seconds.

    Though the kiss was as hot as burning lava, he still refused to move his fingers that were still resting under her right breast, filling her with anxiety. Just as she was about to open her mouth to complain again, she found him ending the kiss before he pulled away only to start trailing soft kisses against her cheek, then her jawline and finally down to her neck and shoulder.

    "Silver..."

    This time when his name left her lips, it didn''t sound like a warning at all. Instead, it was filled with desire that was about to ruin Jiang Ying Yue from inside out. Her fingers grabbed a fistful of his long silver and red strands but she didn''t try to pull away his face. She was enjoying the touch of his soft lips against her sensitive skin quite too much to do anything to stop him.

    Listening to her moans, Silver was encouraged to continue with his plan. He nipped lightly on the crook of her neck, making the girl shudder all over again as she tightened her hold in his hair.

    He continued kissing her shoulder, slipping her inner shirt on the way of his lips that were seeking all her bare skin. The next moment, his lips returned to her neck before trailing kisses on her throat and moving downwards, reaching her collarbone before spending a few moments to give proper attention to that particular area.

    Jiang Ying Yue was so involved in enjoying his kisses on her collarbone that she didn''t see what was coming next. That was why when she felt hi''s fingers moving against the underside of her breast before suddenly cupping it, she took quite some time to wrap her shocked mind around what was happening.

    Though his hand was now cupping her right breast, her tight chest wrap didn''t give his hand enough space to move around. Just when Jiang Ying Yue felt like she won''t be receiving any pleasure, she was once again taken by surprise when she felt something warm engulfing her left breast.

    Her eyes flew open and when she looked down at her chest, she found a very erotic sight. while Silver''s one hand was cupping her breast, his mouth was covering the other one while he stared right back at her. The only difference was that while his fingers were in direct contact with her breast, his mouth was separated from direct contact with her other breast by a piece of cloth.

    However, she would be lying if she said that the latter didn''t make her excited the most. Even though his mouth was not in direct contact with her breast, it was still enough to fill her entire body with electric tingles and sparks that erupted all over her body. The desire inside her was on the verge of bursting out and taking charge of the situation so that she could do exactly what she desired.

    But she did not get to do anything like that because that very second, Silver decided to end her suffering. His mouth started moving over her breast while his other hand that had been resting on her spine all this while finally started taking action as it moved upwards to where her chest wrap was pulled into knots that kept that piece of cloth safely wrapped around her chest.

    Jiang Ying Yue arched her back to give enough space to him to untie the knots and was gifted with a satisfactory groan from her mate. It barely took Silver any time before he succeeded in untying all the knots of her chest wrap and placed his palm against her bareback, making her moan in pleasure as she enjoyed the direct touch of his palm against her body.

    For a moment, Jiang Ying Yue thought that Silver would continue to torture her some more. However, she found herself being proved wrong when the man pulled away the thin piece of cloth away from her chest, leaving her upper body completely bare to him.

    This time he didn''t try to tease her or play around. Instead, he immediately engulfed the nipple of the right breast in his mouth while his fingers started massaging her other breast, pinching the nipple before rubbing it softly to ease down the slight pain that his pinches were causing.

    Jiang Ying Yue''s body was on fire. Her breathing was coming out in short gasps as she fisted her hands in the bed covers while chewing on her lower lip to control the moans that were slipping out without any case in the world.. Her body was shivering as she was filled with sparks of pleasure that Silver was igniting in her.

 Chapter 99 - Seeking Pleasure (Part Two)

    [Warning: Mature Content in the chapter~]

    - -

    Jiang Ying Yue''s moans filled the bed-chamber as Silver continued to torture her nipples with love and passion that were building something great inside her, taking her to new heights and making her feel like she was soaring through the vast sky.

    Her fingers found their way into his silky hair while she arched her back as if to urge him to never stop. Her eyes were tightly shut and she was completely surrounded by the pleasure that her mate was bringing to her.

    A shuddered breathe left her lips when she felt his mouth leaving her breast and he started trailing soft kisses down her abdomen and then on her belly. His tongue and teeth kept making appearances every now and then to tease her and it only made her moan loudly.

    Her eyes flew open when she felt him stopping before he pulled back and sat up. Her eyes were glued to his as she anticipated his next move with a fluttering heart. Instead of doing what she was expecting, he started trailing his fingers softly across her shoulders before trailing them down her collarbone.

    His fingers made their way down the valley between her breasts, down her abdomen before coming to rest on her belly and she watched as he lowered his head to place a soft kiss on her belly before once again pulling back as his fingers resumed their work.

    He trailed them back to her shoulders before once again following the same path as before while trailing them downwards towards her belly. However, this time, his fingers didn''t come to rest on her belly. Instead, he kept trailing them downwards, coming to rest right on the edge of her pants.

    Jiang Ying Yue didn''t even realize that at this point, she was holding her breath while waiting to see what he was going to do next. She finally let out a small breathe when he slowly started trailing his finger down her left leg and only stopped at her ankle before doing the same with her other leg.

    What she didn''t expect was for her pants to turn into little shiny particles of amber before they disappeared completely, leaving her completely bare to his eyes as her undergarment also vanished along with her pants.

    All of a sudden, Jiang Ying Yue started feeling shy as she was having a hard time meeting Silver''s eyes. At least, she didn''t try to cover herself up. She was never the shy type but it wasn''t like she had ever done something like this with any of her mates.

    The main reason why she was feeling so many foreign feelings was all thanks to the fact that Silver was no ordinary man. Instead, he was her mate and unlike other people, his thoughts mattered to her.

    "Babe, look here." Silver spoke in a soft tone as he made her look up at him as his fingers and thumb came to raise her chin, making their eyes collide. "You are beautiful. Never think otherwise." He told her while smiling softly.

    All that Jiang Ying Yue could see in his beautiful emerald eyes were truth and desire for her. He meant what he was saying and it brought a small but sincere smile on her lips as she nodded her head in response.

    Silver closed the distance between their faces before he engulfed her lips in a soft, sensual kiss that made her forget about anything else that existed besides the two of them.

    "Aah...!"

    Her moans didn''t seem to be ceasing anytime soon. She found his fingers trailing down her left breast before making their way down her belly and then finally towards the intimate area between her legs.

    His touch was light against her skin but it was still enough to make her shudder as sparks of excitement started erupting all over her body. Her core clenched as she felt moistness leaking out as her body anticipated his touch.

    At this point, the air was filled with the smell of her arousal and it was teasing and taunting Silver in both the best and worst way possible. His body and soul were dying to pleasure his mate and bring her the satisfaction that her body desired.

    He ended their kiss but only to trail more soft kisses all over her jawline, throat and collarbone before he once again decided to pamper the erect nipples that were calling for his attention. All this time, one of his hands was busy rubbing soft circles around her drenched core, teasing her every time his fingers came in contact with the little erect bud.

    By the time his mouth reached her lower abdomen, Jiang Ying Yue was already on the verge of her very first orgasm, and as if sensing it, Silver finally decided to end his torturous game of teasing her as he lowered his mouth to her welcoming core.

    She was already a goner when his lips kissed her labia but then she felt his tongue coming in contact with her erect clitoris and there was nothing stopping her orgasm that shook her body from inside out, making her curl her toes as waves after waves of pleasure hit her.

    Her fingers were gripping the bedsheets tightly while her eyes were closed as she found herself surrounded by the ocean of pleasure whose wave had pulled her at the very bottom. Seconds turned into minutes and it was not until she felt a soft feathery kiss against her drenched core, did she open her eyes.

    The look in Silver''s beautiful emerald eyes made a smile bloom on her lips as moved one of her hands to brush away the loose strands of his hair that were covering his face before she rested her palm against his cheek.

    The man leaned into her touch for a few seconds before he placed a soft kiss against her palm while looking straight into her eyes. "We are just starting, my love."

    If it was just the starting, Jiang Ying Yue could not help but imagine what else he was planning to do. She got her answer not too later when the man returned his attention to her leaking core.

    This time, he didn''t try to act soft or slow. Instead, his mouth seemed to be hungry to taste her. His tongue kept flicking over her bud before he started sucking it while also making sure to devour all of her love juice.

    Jiang Ying Yue was moaning so loudly that she feared she would wake up the entire Imperial palace, completely forgetting about the ward that her mate had placed around the courtyard. Besides, even if a part of her brain seemed to be aware of how loud she was moaning, she was already beyond the stage of caring about it.

    That night, Silver made sure to perform his duty of her mate in the best way possible. He didn''t stop until she was begging him to stop while continuously stating that she couldn''t handle it anymore. It was already past four o''clock in the morning when he allowed her to sleep but not before giving her the proper aftercare.

    He cleaned their bodies with a quick spell and then dressed her in a light night dress before tucking her under a duvet. When Jiang Ying Yue finally closed her eyes to sleep and give break to her exhausted body, she was safely wrapped in the arms of her mate.

    "Thank you for tonight." She whispered as she nuzzled her face closer to his neck and inhaled his familiar scent that made her smile.

    Silver didn''t speak. Instead, he placed a kiss on her forehead as he tightened his arms that we''re wrapped around her, pulling her closer into his warm embrace. "Sleep now. I''ll shift you back to your bed-chamber later before he will wake up."

    Jiang Ying Yue was aware that he was talking about Wang Shu who was still fast asleep in her bed-chamber inside the fifth courtyard. A sense of loss entered her heart when she recalled her failure of completing her bond with the Second Prince but as she reminded herself of the reason behind her backing up from her initial idea, she felt much better.

    She knew that she needed to give the Princes time so that they could learn and understand their bonds better. She needed to wait for them to take the initiative. Though this waiting would not be easy, she was determined to take things slowly as long as it meant her mates would not feel pressurized by their bonds.

    Besides, she always had Silver with her. He was not only her mate but also the person whom she trusted the most. He was also her first love. He was her strength and the only one who knew how to keep her from falling.. As long as he was by her side, she knew that she could face any situation without worries.

 Chapter 100 - Neither Opponents Nor Friends

    The next day passed quickly and before they knew it was already evening. Jiang Ying Yue had returned to the Cold Palace after spending a busy day at work. She hurriedly ate her dinner before leaving for her cultivation training.

    Since she already had grasped the basics of spiritual cultivation techniques, she found it easier to continue cultivating spiritual qi. Besides, after getting back ten percent of her original powers, her body was no longer as weak as before.

    For several hours, she sat in the lotus position on the surface of the flowing water of the stream while using spiritual energy to balance her vampiric powers. It was not until midnight appeared did she decided to take a break.

    "Are you taking a break?" Wu Xie asked as he appeared in front of her out of the blue. He loved doing that as far as she had observed, appearing all of a sudden and disappearing just like that too.

    "I have some matters to deal with. So I''m taking my leave now. Will see you tomorrow." She didn''t give the Prince any chance to either speak or stop her as she hurriedly walked away. The plan that she had formed was meant to be executed that night and she didn''t have enough time to spare.

    The good thing was that Qing Shan and Wang Shu were busy with some work and it made things easier for her because she only needed to deal with Wu Xie, who unlike his eldest brother didn''t like to tell her what to do or not to do.

    Jiang Ying Yue returned to the Cold Palace and hurriedly changed into the dress that she had prepared for this special occasion. It was dark blue in color, and could almost be mistaken as black in the dim light of the night. The hems and borders of the dress had silver peonies embroidered on them with little pearls used as decorations.

    She styled her long hair simply but made sure to decorate them with a beautiful peony set of silver and pearl jewelry that she had designed herself. She added matching earrings, a simple pendant, and some bracelets and rings to finish her getup. The last thing she added was the light makeup that gave her a mature and confident look, one that she needed the most for the success of her plan.

    After getting ready, she cast a simple spell of invisibility around herself before setting out of her courtyard. After months of living as a normal human, she was finally getting the chance to use her powers, one that made her soul and body escalate with an adrenaline rush.

    Even though she only got hold of ten percent of her original powers, it was still enough to make her a hundred times more powerful than a human. Besides, the more she would use her powers, the better her body would become in handling the effects and would get used to her vampire side.

    It didn''t take her long before she was standing right outside the brightly lit palace that was the current residence of the Empress Dowager of the Hyuang Empire. A small smile appeared on her pink-painted lips as she stepped inside the palace.

    The spiritual wards placed around the palace didn''t hold her back but she knew that the woman living inside the building had been already informed of her arrival. And just like she predicted, all the servants and guards disappeared while making a clear way for her to approach the woman.

    "Never knew that you will be bold enough to come here."

    Jiang Ying Yue heard the woman''s calm but sinister voice as soon as she entered the main hall which was brightly lit with dozens and dozens of lanterns and candles.

    The Empress Dowager was sitting on the throne-like chair on the other end of the room. Dressed in a dark green nightgown with her long black hair falling freely down her back, she still seemed as powerful as when she dressed up and probably, even more, considering she was showing her true colors at the moment without holding anything back.

    "Desperate times call for desperate measures. I''m sure you are friendly with such situations. And since you have been keeping your eyes on me all this time, I''m sure you know why I''m here." Jiang Ying Yue spoke as she walked deeper into the hall before taking a seat on the first chair sitting beside Empress Dowager.

    She made sure neither to sit too close or too far away from the woman. Besides, she didn''t really care where she was sitting. She wasn''t there to compete with the woman because they both knew who would win if they actually competed and they also knew that the situation would change after a few months.

    Meaning, even though Jiang Ying Yue was comparatively weaker than Empress Dowager at the moment, the latter was aware that within the next few months, she would no longer be weaker just like she was now. Considering she couldn''t kill Jiang Ying Yue even now when she was weaker, the woman wasn''t looking forward to any dispute between them.

    Besides, just like Jiang Ying Yue said, she was there for a completely different reason, and Empress Dowager knew pretty well what it was. What she didn''t know was the plan that the girl had in mind.

    "Just like I thought, even though my men succeeded in keeping out of the Princes'' radar, they were still not good enough to hide from you." The woman spoke as she clapped her hands and two dark shadows appeared in the room.

    Jiang Ying Yue watched as one of them headed towards Empress Dowager while the other one made its way towards her. The next thing she knew, there was a tray sitting on the table beside her seat with a cup of freshly brewed tea and some snacks.

    The shadows immediately disappeared in the air as soon as their job was done. If she had to guess, those shadows were demon beasts of Empress Dowager, considering even she couldn''t bring anyone from the demon realm out from the depths of hell there was no chance that those shadows were demons.

    "I knew that you are tracking me from the very first day. Since you never tried to interfere with my life, I also did nothing about your spies. Besides, even if I killed them, you could always have sent more. It was a never-ending saga." She told the woman as she picked up the teacup to take a closer look. It was made of pure white jade and the aroma wafting from the tea stated its top quality.

    Looked like the so-called Empress Dowager was only used to top quality products. A small smile appeared on Jiang Ying Yue''s lips but there was no humor in it. She looked up at the woman sitting on her throne while watching her closely before she took a small sip of the tea and put down the cup back on the table.

    "Can I ask now why you are here?" Empress Dowager asked as she too sipped the tea while closing her eyes to enjoy it.

    "Before I answer, there''s something I want to ask too. Why did you never try to stop me or create trouble for me even after you realized my identity at the Third Prince''s welcome banquet?" Jiang Ying Yue was really curious to know what the woman had to say.

    "Because you never tried to create troubles for me either. Besides, it''s not like I can kill you and the Princes are always there to help you out. Since you never told them about my spies, I also didn''t want to do something stupid to bring unnecessary troubles to myself." The woman replied with a swift shrug of her shoulders.

    Jiang Ying Yue nodded her head, understanding what the woman didn''t say out loud. They both knew that the Princes hadn''t decided yet whether they really wanted to stop Empress Dowager or not but if she did something to create troubles for Ying Yue, they would probably not let her go.

    "Fine. Since we are not opponents yet, let''s help each other now if we can. I need your help with something and I hope you will not deny it." Jiang Ying Yue didn''t try to beat around the bush and went straight to the main topic.

    "And why do you think I''ll help you? Even though we aren''t opponents yet, we aren''t friends either." Empress Dowager looked at the girl with a questioning gaze.

    Jiang Ying Yue smiled as she stood up from her seat and walked to the center of the hall before stretching out her right hand that was holding something. "Don''t worry. I''m not here to take advantage of you. Since I want your help, I have something to offer you in return."

    The woman rose from her throne looking at the object in Ying Yue''s hand.. "Alright, tell me what you want."

 Chapter 101 - Curing Little Jun

    After setting up the deal with Empress Dowager, Jiang Ying Yue returned to the cold palace to grab some sleep. Even though she fell asleep past two o''clock in the morning, she still woke up quite early as she had one more important matter to sort out before the big show that she had planned for the day.

    After washing up quickly, she got ready in a beautiful violet-colored dress accompanied by light jewelry, simple makeup, and a simple white veil that covered the lower half of her face. Once she was ready, she left her bed-chamber and headed out of the courtyard.

    "My lady, why are you up so early? Are you having trouble sleeping?" Li Qi asked with worry taking over her expressions when she noticed a fully dressed Jiang Ying Yue walking out of the fifth courtyard.

    It was barely six in the morning and they still have to go through their morning physical exercise routine. However, looking at the fully dressed Jiang Ying Yue, it was clear that she had no plans of joining the morning class. It only meant that Li Qi and Li Wu would have to suffer alone at the hands of Min Gu.

    "No need to worry. I have to do some last-minute work on the wedding gown of Miss Feng. That''s why I''m heading out early. You and Li Wu can come later at the usual time." Jiang Ying Yue informed the girl while dismissing her worry.

    "But what about your breakfast?" Li Qi asked as she recalled that they hadn''t prepared anything for the breakfast yet as it was still too early. Thinking for a solution she added, "How about you wait in the pavilion for a few minutes and I''ll quickly fix something simple for you?"

    Jiang Ying Yue smiled softly as she gave the girl a soft pat on her shoulder. "It''s alright. I''ll eat once the restaurants will open up later. You and Li Wu can have your breakfast with Min Gu today. Once I''ll take care of this wedding dress case, the four of us will eat dinner together. Alright?"

    Li Qi became happy instantly as she nodded her head in response to her lady''s promise. It had been weeks since she and her sister got to eat a proper meal with their lady since she, Jiang Ying Yue, was always in a hurry whether it was morning or evening. That''s why the idea of eating a meal together brought a huge smile to her face.

    After discussing a few more things with the girl, Jiang Ying Yue headed towards the back garden of the fifth courtyard where the secret passage to the underground tunnel was hidden.

    It took her less than ten minutes to cross the tunnel and soon she was standing in the side garden of Star Lake Manor. Once there, she headed towards the little pavilion standing nearby, and using the secret teleportation array built in the pavilion, she teleported straight to the secret manor of the third prince where little Jun had been staying.

    It was time for her to fulfill the promise that she made with Manager Jun. In the past months, that man had shown his hard work and loyalty through his work and he did his best to be the best manager. Since he did what he promised, she had to keep her words and give him what he wanted.

    She headed towards the courtyard where the little boy had been staying and found her way to his bed-chamber. Because of all the care and treatment that he had been receiving throughout the past months, his health had already improved a lot.

    His physical condition was almost back to normal and the poison had been pulled out from most of his body. Unfortunately, he was still in a coma because the poison hadn''t fully left his body.

    At this point, all that Jiang Ying Yue needed to do was to make him drink a few drops of her blood and he would be back to normal. A vampire''s blood could bring people back to life, let alone curing something as simple as poison.

    As soon as her blood was inside his body, it started showing its magic. Even though her blood held only ten percent of her vampiric traits, it was still enough to cure the boy.

    Jiang Ying Yue stood there watching the boy in silence as she monitored his breathing and heart rate. Just like she was expecting, the changes appeared almost immediately. And it started with him moving his fingers and eyelids just the tiniest bit.

    "My lady... Is... Is he..." The maid who had been looking after Little Jun all this while was also there with Jiang Ying Yue at the moment as she had arrived with the usual morning decotation that she used to feed the boy. She was surprised to see Lady Yue there but the biggest shock appeared when she noticed the movements of the little boy.

    Jiang Ying Yue didn''t respond immediately as she was more focused on the boy. His breathing was becoming hazard with every passing second and his heart rate was also picking up. It didn''t take even half a minute before his body shook and he took a deep breath before his body relaxed all of a sudden.

    After making sure that the boy''s condition was stable now, she turned her attention towards the maid who had been standing there with a dumbfounded expression on her face as she stared at the boy.

    "Stay here and look after him. He won''t be waking up before dusk. By then I''ll return to take him away with me." She told the maid who hurriedly nodded her head in understanding.

    Giving a few more instructions to her, Jiang Ying Yue finally took her leave and stepped out of the bed-chamber before heading out of the little courtyard.

    Her plan was to immediately head towards the shop even though it was still half past six in the morning, but her plan was sabotaged when she bumped into Qing Shan while heading towards the in-built teleportation array in the manor.

    "Here you are." He stated as he wrapped his fingers around her and pulled her away from the pavilion.

    Jiang Ying Yue was taken aback by his sudden move and as she turned to focus her attention on him, she found he was looking at her with squinted eyes as if suspecting her about something.

    "What?" She asked while raising her eyebrows in question.

    "Where did you disappear last night? I heard that you ended your cultivation practice early." He didn''t waste any more time and immediately stated the matter that had been bothering him. Ever since the previous night, he had been a feeling that the girl was up to something.

    Jiang Ying Yue let out a small sigh as she pulled her hand free from his hold and wrapped it over her chest before asking, "Am I not allowed to sleep anymore? Do you seriously want me to practice all night and forget about sleeping at all?"

    "This is not what I mean. Besides, you won''t need any sleep if you will actually cultivate properly. Cultivating spiritual qi is more healing than sleeping." Qing Shan was quick to defend himself as he found the girl attacking him.

    "No thanks. I would rather sleep than spend the night hours cultivating. Besides, I''m not aiming to be an Immortal Cultivator. I just want enough spiritual qi to balance my real powers." Jiang Ying Yue stated as she looked at her hands as if looking at the vampiric powers running through her body.

    Qing Shan didn''t say anything for a few moments but then he turned his attention towards the side courtyard where Little Jun was currently resting. "Why did you come here so early? Is something wrong with that boy?" He asked while returning his attention to her.

    "He''s perfectly fine. I just woke up early and wanted to make some new arrangements in the dresses that I''ve been working on recently. I just decided to stop by to check on him. I was heading to the market when you stopped me." She replied with a little shrug of her shoulders. Though she didn''t tell him the entire truth, she didn''t lie either.

    Qing Shan was silent as he kept looking at her. Just when Jiang Ying Yue thought that he was done talking with her, the man surprised her all over again when he suddenly wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in a hug.

    "What''s wrong?" She finally found herself asking when she got hold of her voice as her mind slowly came out of the shock.

    "I''m tired of fighting with you. It doesn''t make me feel good at all whenever we ended up fighting over something. I don''t want things to become bitter between us." He replied as he rested his face against the crook of her neck.

    Jiang Ying Yue was surprised to hear the vulnerability in his voice and suddenly, she started feeling bad because she knew that within the next few hours, they would be fighting all over again.

 Chapter 102 - You Cant Do That...

    After Gu Chen got the news that his father and brother were finally returning to the Capital, he too became high-spirited. And that''s why when Jiang Ying Yue offered him to attend to ''Glamour and Fashion'' during her absence, he immediately accepted the offer.

    Ying Yue was aware that if there was someone who could really look after the shop in her absence was none other than Gu Chen. She was giving him a chance to prove himself to his father and brother, and she knew that she would also benefit from this plan of hers.

    After that day, both Jiang Ying Yue and Gu Chen became busy with the stores as they had two shops to renovate and start over while there was still the issue of the wedding dress and she had more or less only a week left in her hands.

    "You don''t do anything that doesn''t bring profit to you in the end, right?" Silver joked as he massaged her temples as the two sat inside her bed-chamber.

    They just had their dinner and there was still an hour left before she was supposed to start with her cultivation training.

    "I''m a businesswoman. How can I not think about profit every single minute of the day? If I stopped thinking about earning profits, I''ll embarrass myself as a businesswoman. Besides, my plans never hurt anyone. It''s always a win-win for every party." Jiang Ying Yue replied as she kept her eyes closed and just enjoyed the massage.

    The two remained silent for the rest of the time as Silver happily massaged her temples, trying his best to soothe her headache. Besides, he was aware that she hadn''t been fed for over two weeks. He needed to do something about that.

    - - - - -

    "Take a deep breath and let your body relax. Let your mind clear and imagine those familiar blue sparkles that you saw back then. See if they will reform themselves and allow you to see another side of their essence." Wu Xie guided her as they once again sat on the surface of the river that flowed in the Cloud Realm.

    "You should not be here helping her like this. It won''t be..."

    "Stop being jealous! If you really want her attention then you should have helped her. However, since you decided to act cold and unhelpful, you should at least let me do the right thing here." Wu Xie immediately cut off Qing Shan before the latter could finish his sentence.

    Ever since Wu Xie decided to accompany Jiang Ying Yue during her night training and started helping her to call out the spiritual essence of water, Qing Shan had started feeling left out as he was no longer needed to guide her. Neither was she asking him for help now since Wu Xie was there to help her out.

    He was clearly jealous of their bond that was not only getting stronger with time but was also bringing them closer to each other. He was suddenly feeling like his bond with her wasn''t strong enough even though he was bonded with her through a second stage mate bond unlike Wu Xie and Ah Shu who were bound to her through the first stage mate bond.

    Not knowing what to do anymore in his current situation, he just decided to let them be. After all, if Wu Xie really helped her then it would actually be beneficial for her. The sooner she would get a grip on the essence of spiritual energies, the earlier she would be able to start her cultivation.

    After Qing Shan left them, Wu Xie started guiding her again step by step as he told her to project the water spiritual essence in her mind that Qing Shan showed her during her first practice.

    Jiang Ying Yue tried to do as she was told. She closed her eyes and started making all the extra thoughts leave her mind so that she could relax enough to start projecting the blue sparkly particles that she had been searching for all this time.

    She recalled the memory of the day when she first got to see those sparkly particles for the first and last time so far. She tried to recall that feeling, the amazement, and the happiness that she felt when those blue sparkles appeared in front of her eyes.

    Surprisingly, after concentrating for quite some time, she did succeed in recalling that memory completely with those familiar emotions that made it appear even more realistic as she tried to merge those blue sparkles into different shapes and sizes. She wanted to find out what she would see those particles as when she would call them out.

    Almost half an hour passed but the particles remained the same. Though they didn''t disappear, they did refuse to change their form. Was it possible that she too would see them as blue sparkles? Jiang Ying Yue questioned herself as she tried to keep that image of blue particles on her mind while she once again tried to call out the essence of the spiritual energy of the water that was flowing beneath her feet.

    "You are doing good. Just keep working on it and remember... every person sees the spiritual essence in a unique way that only they can unveil. You have to find that special form of spiritual energy. The form that not only you want to see but you have to see to keep going on if you want to learn cultivation. Search for that special form and don''t stop unless you have found it." Wu Xie reminded her as he also cheered her on to keep going.

    Listening to the Third Prince''s words, Jiang Ying Yue realized that her guess was probably wrong. Since every person had to see the spiritual essence in a unique form of their own, the sparkly blue particles weren''t the ones meant for her.

    As she kept calling the essence of the spiritual energy of water, she finally felt something changing in the blue sparkles that were surrounding her in her memory.

    The blue sparkles fluttered and started becoming misty one by one, almost giving Jiang Ying Yue a mini panic attack as she thought that something wrong was going on. However, her concern was short-lived because soon enough she watched the mist clearing before a wonderful sight appeared in front of her eyes.

    The blue sparkles first turned into mist before the mist started changing into small fluttery insects with blue wings that were printed with sparkles. The physical form of her spiritual essence was a butterfly!

    As hundreds of butterflies with sparkly blue wings surrounded her in her memory, Jiang Ying Yue finally felt the water beneath her feet starting to respond to her call.

    For the very first time, she felt the water actually touching her feet as it even made her feet wet but she still didn''t sink into the depths of the river and remained standing on its surface.

    She heard the fluttering sounds of several wings around her which finally made her open her eyes to look at her surroundings and this caused her to lose her connection over the memory that she had conjured in her mind.

    However, as her eyes took in the scene in front of her eyes, she was far beyond the point of caring about that memory. Those beautiful butterflies were no longer trapped inside her mind, instead, they were finally out in the open. She had finally succeeded in calling out the essence of the spiritual energy of the water.

    "They are so beautiful..." Wu Xie failed to stop himself from whispering out those words as he stared at the hundreds of spiritual butterflies that were surrounding his mate in a protective layer.

    Jiang Ying Yue turned towards him with a beautiful smile playing on her lips and her eyes full of sparkles. She was surprised when she found Qing Shan returning along with Wang Shu and Silver. The rest of her mates also seemed just as amazed and surprised to see the physical form of her spiritual essence as Wu Xie and she herself was.

    "They are butterflies." Silver whispered in pure awe as his eyes settled on her. He seemed proud of her which made Jiang Ying Yue even happier than she already was.

    "From a colorless caterpillar to the exquisite winged creature of delicate beauty, a butterfly is a symbol for transformation and hope. A symbol for rebirth and resurrection, for the triumph of the spirit and the soul over physical prison, the material world. It''s the perfect symbol to represent you." Qing Shan spoke as he looked at the beautiful winged creatures.

    Listening to his words, Jiang Ying Yue realized how well the butterflies represented her reality. Her heart became warmer as she kept looking at butterflies with sparkly blue wings.

    She had successfully passed the first round of her training.. Now, it was time for her to start the second round - Qi Gathering.

 Chapter 103 - General Gu Is Back

    After Gu Chen got the news that his father and brother were finally returning to the Capital, he too became high-spirited. And that''s why when Jiang Ying Yue offered him to attend to ''Glamour and Fashion'' during her absence, he immediately accepted the offer.

    Ying Yue was aware that if there was someone who could really look after the shop in her absence was none other than Gu Chen. She was giving him a chance to prove himself to his father and brother, and she knew that she would also benefit from this plan of hers.

    After that day, both Jiang Ying Yue and Gu Chen became busy with the stores as they had two shops to renovate and start over while there was still the issue of the wedding dress and she had more or less only a week left in her hands.

    "You don''t do anything that doesn''t bring profit to you in the end, right?" Silver joked as he massaged her temples as the two sat inside her bed-chamber.

    They just had their dinner and there was still an hour left before she was supposed to start with her cultivation training.

    "I''m a businesswoman. How can I not think about profit every single minute of the day? If I stopped thinking about earning profits, I''ll embarrass myself as a businesswoman. Besides, my plans never hurt anyone. It''s always a win-win for every party." Jiang Ying Yue replied as she kept her eyes closed and just enjoyed the massage.

    The two remained silent for the rest of the time as Silver happily massaged her temples, trying his best to soothe her headache. Besides, he was aware that she hadn''t been fed for over two weeks. He needed to do something about that.

    - - - - -

    "Take a deep breath and let your body relax. Let your mind clear and imagine those familiar blue sparkles that you saw back then. See if they will reform themselves and allow you to see another side of their essence." Wu Xie guided her as they once again sat on the surface of the river that flowed in the Cloud Realm.

    "You should not be here helping her like this. It won''t be..."

    "Stop being jealous! If you really want her attention then you should have helped her. However, since you decided to act cold and unhelpful, you should at least let me do the right thing here." Wu Xie immediately cut off Qing Shan before the latter could finish his sentence.

    Ever since Wu Xie decided to accompany Jiang Ying Yue during her night training and started helping her to call out the spiritual essence of water, Qing Shan had started feeling left out as he was no longer needed to guide her. Neither was she asking him for help now since Wu Xie was there to help her out.

    He was clearly jealous of their bond that was not only getting stronger with time but was also bringing them closer to each other. He was suddenly feeling like his bond with her wasn''t strong enough even though he was bonded with her through a second stage mate bond unlike Wu Xie and Ah Shu who were bound to her through the first stage mate bond.

    Not knowing what to do anymore in his current situation, he just decided to let them be. After all, if Wu Xie really helped her then it would actually be beneficial for her. The sooner she would get a grip on the essence of spiritual energies, the earlier she would be able to start her cultivation.

    After Qing Shan left them, Wu Xie started guiding her again step by step as he told her to project the water spiritual essence in her mind that Qing Shan showed her during her first practice.

    Jiang Ying Yue tried to do as she was told. She closed her eyes and started making all the extra thoughts leave her mind so that she could relax enough to start projecting the blue sparkly particles that she had been searching for all this time.

    She recalled the memory of the day when she first got to see those sparkly particles for the first and last time so far. She tried to recall that feeling, the amazement, and the happiness that she felt when those blue sparkles appeared in front of her eyes.

    Surprisingly, after concentrating for quite some time, she did succeed in recalling that memory completely with those familiar emotions that made it appear even more realistic as she tried to merge those blue sparkles into different shapes and sizes. She wanted to find out what she would see those particles as when she would call them out.

    Almost half an hour passed but the particles remained the same. Though they didn''t disappear, they did refuse to change their form. Was it possible that she too would see them as blue sparkles? Jiang Ying Yue questioned herself as she tried to keep that image of blue particles on her mind while she once again tried to call out the essence of the spiritual energy of the water that was flowing beneath her feet.

    "You are doing good. Just keep working on it and remember... every person sees the spiritual essence in a unique way that only they can unveil. You have to find that special form of spiritual energy. The form that not only you want to see but you have to see to keep going on if you want to learn cultivation. Search for that special form and don''t stop unless you have found it." Wu Xie reminded her as he also cheered her on to keep going.

    Listening to the Third Prince''s words, Jiang Ying Yue realized that her guess was probably wrong. Since every person had to see the spiritual essence in a unique form of their own, the sparkly blue particles weren''t the ones meant for her.

    As she kept calling the essence of the spiritual energy of water, she finally felt something changing in the blue sparkles that were surrounding her in her memory.

    The blue sparkles fluttered and started becoming misty one by one, almost giving Jiang Ying Yue a mini panic attack as she thought that something wrong was going on. However, her concern was short-lived because soon enough she watched the mist clearing before a wonderful sight appeared in front of her eyes.

    The blue sparkles first turned into mist before the mist started changing into small fluttery insects with blue wings that were printed with sparkles. The physical form of her spiritual essence was a butterfly!

    As hundreds of butterflies with sparkly blue wings surrounded her in her memory, Jiang Ying Yue finally felt the water beneath her feet starting to respond to her call.

    For the very first time, she felt the water actually touching her feet as it even made her feet wet but she still didn''t sink into the depths of the river and remained standing on its surface.

    She heard the fluttering sounds of several wings around her which finally made her open her eyes to look at her surroundings and this caused her to lose her connection over the memory that she had conjured in her mind.

    However, as her eyes took in the scene in front of her eyes, she was far beyond the point of caring about that memory. Those beautiful butterflies were no longer trapped inside her mind, instead, they were finally out in the open. She had finally succeeded in calling out the essence of the spiritual energy of the water.

    "They are so beautiful..." Wu Xie failed to stop himself from whispering out those words as he stared at the hundreds of spiritual butterflies that were surrounding his mate in a protective layer.

    Jiang Ying Yue turned towards him with a beautiful smile playing on her lips and her eyes full of sparkles. She was surprised when she found Qing Shan returning along with Wang Shu and Silver. The rest of her mates also seemed just as amazed and surprised to see the physical form of her spiritual essence as Wu Xie and she herself was.

    "They are butterflies." Silver whispered in pure awe as his eyes settled on her. He seemed proud of her which made Jiang Ying Yue even happier than she already was.

    "From a colorless caterpillar to the exquisite winged creature of delicate beauty, a butterfly is a symbol for transformation and hope. A symbol for rebirth and resurrection, for the triumph of the spirit and the soul over physical prison, the material world. It''s the perfect symbol to represent you." Qing Shan spoke as he looked at the beautiful winged creatures.

    Listening to his words, Jiang Ying Yue realized how well the butterflies represented her reality. Her heart became warmer as she kept looking at butterflies with sparkly blue wings.

    She had successfully passed the first round of her training.. Now, it was time for her to start the second round - Qi Gathering.

 Chapter 104 - Dinner Party

    After Gu Chen got the news that his father and brother were finally returning to the Capital, he too became high-spirited. And that''s why when Jiang Ying Yue offered him to attend to ''Glamour and Fashion'' during her absence, he immediately accepted the offer.

    Ying Yue was aware that if there was someone who could really look after the shop in her absence was none other than Gu Chen. She was giving him a chance to prove himself to his father and brother, and she knew that she would also benefit from this plan of hers.

    After that day, both Jiang Ying Yue and Gu Chen became busy with the stores as they had two shops to renovate and start over while there was still the issue of the wedding dress and she had more or less only a week left in her hands.

    "You don''t do anything that doesn''t bring profit to you in the end, right?" Silver joked as he massaged her temples as the two sat inside her bed-chamber.

    They just had their dinner and there was still an hour left before she was supposed to start with her cultivation training.

    "I''m a businesswoman. How can I not think about profit every single minute of the day? If I stopped thinking about earning profits, I''ll embarrass myself as a businesswoman. Besides, my plans never hurt anyone. It''s always a win-win for every party." Jiang Ying Yue replied as she kept her eyes closed and just enjoyed the massage.

    The two remained silent for the rest of the time as Silver happily massaged her temples, trying his best to soothe her headache. Besides, he was aware that she hadn''t been fed for over two weeks. He needed to do something about that.

    - - - - -

    "Take a deep breath and let your body relax. Let your mind clear and imagine those familiar blue sparkles that you saw back then. See if they will reform themselves and allow you to see another side of their essence." Wu Xie guided her as they once again sat on the surface of the river that flowed in the Cloud Realm.

    "You should not be here helping her like this. It won''t be..."

    "Stop being jealous! If you really want her attention then you should have helped her. However, since you decided to act cold and unhelpful, you should at least let me do the right thing here." Wu Xie immediately cut off Qing Shan before the latter could finish his sentence.

    Ever since Wu Xie decided to accompany Jiang Ying Yue during her night training and started helping her to call out the spiritual essence of water, Qing Shan had started feeling left out as he was no longer needed to guide her. Neither was she asking him for help now since Wu Xie was there to help her out.

    He was clearly jealous of their bond that was not only getting stronger with time but was also bringing them closer to each other. He was suddenly feeling like his bond with her wasn''t strong enough even though he was bonded with her through a second stage mate bond unlike Wu Xie and Ah Shu who were bound to her through the first stage mate bond.

    Not knowing what to do anymore in his current situation, he just decided to let them be. After all, if Wu Xie really helped her then it would actually be beneficial for her. The sooner she would get a grip on the essence of spiritual energies, the earlier she would be able to start her cultivation.

    After Qing Shan left them, Wu Xie started guiding her again step by step as he told her to project the water spiritual essence in her mind that Qing Shan showed her during her first practice.

    Jiang Ying Yue tried to do as she was told. She closed her eyes and started making all the extra thoughts leave her mind so that she could relax enough to start projecting the blue sparkly particles that she had been searching for all this time.

    She recalled the memory of the day when she first got to see those sparkly particles for the first and last time so far. She tried to recall that feeling, the amazement, and the happiness that she felt when those blue sparkles appeared in front of her eyes.

    Surprisingly, after concentrating for quite some time, she did succeed in recalling that memory completely with those familiar emotions that made it appear even more realistic as she tried to merge those blue sparkles into different shapes and sizes. She wanted to find out what she would see those particles as when she would call them out.

    Almost half an hour passed but the particles remained the same. Though they didn''t disappear, they did refuse to change their form. Was it possible that she too would see them as blue sparkles? Jiang Ying Yue questioned herself as she tried to keep that image of blue particles on her mind while she once again tried to call out the essence of the spiritual energy of the water that was flowing beneath her feet.

    "You are doing good. Just keep working on it and remember... every person sees the spiritual essence in a unique way that only they can unveil. You have to find that special form of spiritual energy. The form that not only you want to see but you have to see to keep going on if you want to learn cultivation. Search for that special form and don''t stop unless you have found it." Wu Xie reminded her as he also cheered her on to keep going.

    Listening to the Third Prince''s words, Jiang Ying Yue realized that her guess was probably wrong. Since every person had to see the spiritual essence in a unique form of their own, the sparkly blue particles weren''t the ones meant for her.

    As she kept calling the essence of the spiritual energy of water, she finally felt something changing in the blue sparkles that were surrounding her in her memory.

    The blue sparkles fluttered and started becoming misty one by one, almost giving Jiang Ying Yue a mini panic attack as she thought that something wrong was going on. However, her concern was short-lived because soon enough she watched the mist clearing before a wonderful sight appeared in front of her eyes.

    The blue sparkles first turned into mist before the mist started changing into small fluttery insects with blue wings that were printed with sparkles. The physical form of her spiritual essence was a butterfly!

    As hundreds of butterflies with sparkly blue wings surrounded her in her memory, Jiang Ying Yue finally felt the water beneath her feet starting to respond to her call.

    For the very first time, she felt the water actually touching her feet as it even made her feet wet but she still didn''t sink into the depths of the river and remained standing on its surface.

    She heard the fluttering sounds of several wings around her which finally made her open her eyes to look at her surroundings and this caused her to lose her connection over the memory that she had conjured in her mind.

    However, as her eyes took in the scene in front of her eyes, she was far beyond the point of caring about that memory. Those beautiful butterflies were no longer trapped inside her mind, instead, they were finally out in the open. She had finally succeeded in calling out the essence of the spiritual energy of the water.

    "They are so beautiful..." Wu Xie failed to stop himself from whispering out those words as he stared at the hundreds of spiritual butterflies that were surrounding his mate in a protective layer.

    Jiang Ying Yue turned towards him with a beautiful smile playing on her lips and her eyes full of sparkles. She was surprised when she found Qing Shan returning along with Wang Shu and Silver. The rest of her mates also seemed just as amazed and surprised to see the physical form of her spiritual essence as Wu Xie and she herself was.

    "They are butterflies." Silver whispered in pure awe as his eyes settled on her. He seemed proud of her which made Jiang Ying Yue even happier than she already was.

    "From a colorless caterpillar to the exquisite winged creature of delicate beauty, a butterfly is a symbol for transformation and hope. A symbol for rebirth and resurrection, for the triumph of the spirit and the soul over physical prison, the material world. It''s the perfect symbol to represent you." Qing Shan spoke as he looked at the beautiful winged creatures.

    Listening to his words, Jiang Ying Yue realized how well the butterflies represented her reality. Her heart became warmer as she kept looking at butterflies with sparkly blue wings.

    She had successfully passed the first round of her training.. Now, it was time for her to start the second round - Qi Gathering.

 Chapter 105 - Its Not That Easy

    After Gu Chen got the news that his father and brother were finally returning to the Capital, he too became high-spirited. And that''s why when Jiang Ying Yue offered him to attend to ''Glamour and Fashion'' during her absence, he immediately accepted the offer.

    Ying Yue was aware that if there was someone who could really look after the shop in her absence was none other than Gu Chen. She was giving him a chance to prove himself to his father and brother, and she knew that she would also benefit from this plan of hers.

    After that day, both Jiang Ying Yue and Gu Chen became busy with the stores as they had two shops to renovate and start over while there was still the issue of the wedding dress and she had more or less only a week left in her hands.

    "You don''t do anything that doesn''t bring profit to you in the end, right?" Silver joked as he massaged her temples as the two sat inside her bed-chamber.

    They just had their dinner and there was still an hour left before she was supposed to start with her cultivation training.

    "I''m a businesswoman. How can I not think about profit every single minute of the day? If I stopped thinking about earning profits, I''ll embarrass myself as a businesswoman. Besides, my plans never hurt anyone. It''s always a win-win for every party." Jiang Ying Yue replied as she kept her eyes closed and just enjoyed the massage.

    The two remained silent for the rest of the time as Silver happily massaged her temples, trying his best to soothe her headache. Besides, he was aware that she hadn''t been fed for over two weeks. He needed to do something about that.

    - - - - -

    "Take a deep breath and let your body relax. Let your mind clear and imagine those familiar blue sparkles that you saw back then. See if they will reform themselves and allow you to see another side of their essence." Wu Xie guided her as they once again sat on the surface of the river that flowed in the Cloud Realm.

    "You should not be here helping her like this. It won''t be..."

    "Stop being jealous! If you really want her attention then you should have helped her. However, since you decided to act cold and unhelpful, you should at least let me do the right thing here." Wu Xie immediately cut off Qing Shan before the latter could finish his sentence.

    Ever since Wu Xie decided to accompany Jiang Ying Yue during her night training and started helping her to call out the spiritual essence of water, Qing Shan had started feeling left out as he was no longer needed to guide her. Neither was she asking him for help now since Wu Xie was there to help her out.

    He was clearly jealous of their bond that was not only getting stronger with time but was also bringing them closer to each other. He was suddenly feeling like his bond with her wasn''t strong enough even though he was bonded with her through a second stage mate bond unlike Wu Xie and Ah Shu who were bound to her through the first stage mate bond.

    Not knowing what to do anymore in his current situation, he just decided to let them be. After all, if Wu Xie really helped her then it would actually be beneficial for her. The sooner she would get a grip on the essence of spiritual energies, the earlier she would be able to start her cultivation.

    After Qing Shan left them, Wu Xie started guiding her again step by step as he told her to project the water spiritual essence in her mind that Qing Shan showed her during her first practice.

    Jiang Ying Yue tried to do as she was told. She closed her eyes and started making all the extra thoughts leave her mind so that she could relax enough to start projecting the blue sparkly particles that she had been searching for all this time.

    She recalled the memory of the day when she first got to see those sparkly particles for the first and last time so far. She tried to recall that feeling, the amazement, and the happiness that she felt when those blue sparkles appeared in front of her eyes.

    Surprisingly, after concentrating for quite some time, she did succeed in recalling that memory completely with those familiar emotions that made it appear even more realistic as she tried to merge those blue sparkles into different shapes and sizes. She wanted to find out what she would see those particles as when she would call them out.

    Almost half an hour passed but the particles remained the same. Though they didn''t disappear, they did refuse to change their form. Was it possible that she too would see them as blue sparkles? Jiang Ying Yue questioned herself as she tried to keep that image of blue particles on her mind while she once again tried to call out the essence of the spiritual energy of the water that was flowing beneath her feet.

    "You are doing good. Just keep working on it and remember... every person sees the spiritual essence in a unique way that only they can unveil. You have to find that special form of spiritual energy. The form that not only you want to see but you have to see to keep going on if you want to learn cultivation. Search for that special form and don''t stop unless you have found it." Wu Xie reminded her as he also cheered her on to keep going.

    Listening to the Third Prince''s words, Jiang Ying Yue realized that her guess was probably wrong. Since every person had to see the spiritual essence in a unique form of their own, the sparkly blue particles weren''t the ones meant for her.

    As she kept calling the essence of the spiritual energy of water, she finally felt something changing in the blue sparkles that were surrounding her in her memory.

    The blue sparkles fluttered and started becoming misty one by one, almost giving Jiang Ying Yue a mini panic attack as she thought that something wrong was going on. However, her concern was short-lived because soon enough she watched the mist clearing before a wonderful sight appeared in front of her eyes.

    The blue sparkles first turned into mist before the mist started changing into small fluttery insects with blue wings that were printed with sparkles. The physical form of her spiritual essence was a butterfly!

    As hundreds of butterflies with sparkly blue wings surrounded her in her memory, Jiang Ying Yue finally felt the water beneath her feet starting to respond to her call.

    For the very first time, she felt the water actually touching her feet as it even made her feet wet but she still didn''t sink into the depths of the river and remained standing on its surface.

    She heard the fluttering sounds of several wings around her which finally made her open her eyes to look at her surroundings and this caused her to lose her connection over the memory that she had conjured in her mind.

    However, as her eyes took in the scene in front of her eyes, she was far beyond the point of caring about that memory. Those beautiful butterflies were no longer trapped inside her mind, instead, they were finally out in the open. She had finally succeeded in calling out the essence of the spiritual energy of the water.

    "They are so beautiful..." Wu Xie failed to stop himself from whispering out those words as he stared at the hundreds of spiritual butterflies that were surrounding his mate in a protective layer.

    Jiang Ying Yue turned towards him with a beautiful smile playing on her lips and her eyes full of sparkles. She was surprised when she found Qing Shan returning along with Wang Shu and Silver. The rest of her mates also seemed just as amazed and surprised to see the physical form of her spiritual essence as Wu Xie and she herself was.

    "They are butterflies." Silver whispered in pure awe as his eyes settled on her. He seemed proud of her which made Jiang Ying Yue even happier than she already was.

    "From a colorless caterpillar to the exquisite winged creature of delicate beauty, a butterfly is a symbol for transformation and hope. A symbol for rebirth and resurrection, for the triumph of the spirit and the soul over physical prison, the material world. It''s the perfect symbol to represent you." Qing Shan spoke as he looked at the beautiful winged creatures.

    Listening to his words, Jiang Ying Yue realized how well the butterflies represented her reality. Her heart became warmer as she kept looking at butterflies with sparkly blue wings.

    She had successfully passed the first round of her training.. Now, it was time for her to start the second round - Qi Gathering.

 Chapter 106 - Jealousy

    "Congratulations for gaining ten percent of your original powers back!" Silver quickly congratulated Jiang Ying Yue as soon as she succeeded in breaking through the first three levels of the first cultivation circle that immediately gave her the ability to use one/tenth of her vampire powers.

    "Wait! How can you tell that it''s only ten percent? What if it''s more than that, or probably less than that?" Wu Xie quickly asked as he looked at Silver with a curious look on his face.

    In response to his question, Silver just gave an innocent smirk before he turned his attention away, not bothering to say anything as he wanted to see the Third Prince getting anxious to know the answer.

    "Thank you for what you all did for me today and also for all the patience that you showed me all this time." Jiang Ying Yue spoke in a voice filled with sincerity as she thanked the Princes and even Silver.

    "There''s no need to be so happy just yet. There''s still a long way to go before you will be able to use your original powers to their full extent. You will only need to work harder from now on." Qing Shan was the first one to speak and just like his usual self, he didn''t try to sound happy or impressed at all. He just decided to remind her that she should not be rejoicing, at least not yet.

    Listening to his matter-of-fact tone, Jiang Ying Yue wasn''t the only one who let out a groan of dissatisfaction. Silver along with the Second and the Third Prince also seemed just as unimpressed by his words as she was.

    "You are such a mood killer. Can''t you leave this grumpy face of yours at your home every once in a while?" Silver asked as he gave an unimpressed look to the First Prince.

    "I''m just stating the facts." Qing Shan spoke in response before he turned around and started walking away as it was the end of her training session for the night.

    "I''m leaving too." Wu Xie said, grabbing everyone''s attention as he gave Jiang Ying Yue a mesmerizing smile before he teleported away.

    "I..." Wang Shu was ready to say his goodbye too but got stopped when Jiang Ying Yue suddenly placed her finger against his lips, silencing him immediately.

    "You are coming with me." It wasn''t a question, neither a request. It sounded like she was telling him that he had to follow her to the Cold Palace, not like he was complaining. If his mate wanted him to stay with her, he was more than eager to comply.

    "Let''s go then." Silver spoke as he came to stand next to both of them. Wang Shu watched as the man, Silver, took hold of one of Ying Yue''s hands before he pulled all three of them into the teleportation array that led them straight to Jiang Ying Yue''s bed-chamber in the fifth courtyard of the Cold Palace.

    "Thank you." Jiang Ying Yue whispered next to Silver''s ear as the man wrapped both his hands around her tiny waist in response.

    Wang Shu suddenly started feeling like a third wheel as he stood at a little distance from them. His eyes struggled to find something to put his attention at. However, his ears were still paying full attention to what the two of them were talking about. He just couldn''t help himself.

    A small smirk appeared on Silver''s lips as he noticed the state of the Second Prince. "It looks like you two will need some space tonight." He whispered to his mate who replied with a beautiful smile that held the power of melting him into a puddle.

    "Are you jealous?" She asked after a few seconds of silently observing him.

    Silver immediately shook his head in denial and it was the truth. He could be and was the insecurity of the Princes when it came to her, however, no one in the world could make him insecure about her, especially after he had seen that the Princes'' presence in her life hadn''t made any impact on his relationship with her.

    He was only insecure when he was tied to the curse because of Ying Yue''s incomplete bonds with her destined soulmates. But now, since she was sharing a good with each of the Princes, he no longer felt that insecurity.

    He smiled softly at the girl in his arms as he replied, "I am your first love, your first kiss, the first person with whom you made out, the first man for whom you cried and cared for. No one can ever take these things away from me. And most importantly..."

    Jiang Ying Yue watched as Silver placed his hand over her heart before he continued. "... You loved me when your heart was dead. Now, you have a heart that beats. And I''m aware that I''m still the first person who earned his place in that special heart of yours. Since I''m so lucky, why should I be the one to feel jealous?"

    ##

    Jiang Ying Yue felt her heart filling with warmth at his words. She cupped his face between her palms before she placed a soft feathery kiss on his forehead.

    "I love you, Silver." She whispered before placing a soft kiss on his lips. She was aware that Wang Shu was also present in the room along with them and that''s why she had planned to pull away from Silver after that peck on his lips. However, her plan didn''t work because the man didn''t give her the chance to pull away.

    Before she could have stepped away from him, his hands tightened their hold around her waist as he pulled her closer to his body before he deepened the kiss. His tongue successfully made its way into her mouth which caused her entire body to shiver with an intensity that threatened to take over her senses to pull her into the beautiful world of pleasure.

    The kiss lasted for a couple of seconds before Silver finally pulled away. The two of them were breathing heavily and Jiang Ying Yue watched the burning desire in his eyes that caused her to take in a deep breath.

    Silver gave her a sweet smile before he turned his attention towards the Second Prince. "Take care of her." He told the Prince and with a quick nod of his head, his silhouette disappeared from the room.

    The next couple of seconds were filled with silence as Jiang Ying Yue tried to calm herself down. Her body was still on fire from the kiss that she just shared with Silver and she was having a hard time pulling her attention away from the hunger that had started bothering her vampire.

    "Are you alright?" Wang Shu asked when he noticed the frown that was decorating Ying Yue''s face as she stood there in the middle of the room with her eyes closed.

    Jiang Ying Yue shook her head in denial before she slowly let her eyes fluttered open. She was fully aware that her eyes were no longer looking normal and the look on the Second Prince''s face confirmed her doubt.

    "Your eyes... they are so pretty..." Wang Shu commented as he moved one of his fingers to lightly touch her eyelashes. He didn''t even realize that he had moved to stand right in front of the girl and there was barely any space left between their bodies.

    "Really?" Jiang Ying Yue asked as she tilted her head back to look into the eyes of the second Prince.

    "Really." Wang Shu replied without missing a single beat and found his heart blooming with happiness when a sweet smile appeared on Ying Yue''s lips.

    "Ah Shu..." Jiang Ying Yue called his name endearingly as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and stepped closer to him, making their bodies come in direct contact with each other.

    Wang Shu loved it when she called him like that. Other than Qing Shan, and his mother, no one ever called him Ah Shu, and hearing his woman call him that made him feel things that he never knew he was capable of feeling.

    "You should feed." He found himself saying as he noticed that the main reason behind the red color of her eyes was her hunger. He had noticed that she liked to skip feeding from them as much as she could unless it came to a point where she could no longer resist anymore.

    This time, Jiang Ying Yue didn''t try to turn down his offer as she was aware of her body''s condition. She didn''t want to lose her control in public the next day during her working hours in the store just because her vampire was hungry for blood.

    Wang Shu led her towards the bed and they both settled down comfortably before the second Prince did something that took Jiang Ying Yue by complete surprise.. She watched as one by one, he started taking off his clothes.

 Chapter 107 - No More Dreams

    Congratulations for gaining ten percent of your original powers back!" Silver quickly congratulated Jiang Ying Yue as soon as she succeeded in breaking through the first three levels of the first cultivation circle that immediately gave her the ability to use one/tenth of her vampire powers.

    "Wait! How can you tell that it''s only ten percent? What if it''s more than that, or probably less than that?" Wu Xie quickly asked as he looked at Silver with a curious look on his face.

    In response to his question, Silver just gave an innocent smirk before he turned his attention away, not bothering to say anything as he wanted to see the Third Prince getting anxious to know the answer.

    "Thank you for what you all did for me today and also for all the patience that you showed me all this time." Jiang Ying Yue spoke in a voice filled with sincerity as she thanked the Princes and even Silver.

    "There''s no need to be so happy just yet. There''s still a long way to go before you will be able to use your original powers to their full extent. You will only need to work harder from now on." Qing Shan was the first one to speak and just like his usual self, he didn''t try to sound happy or impressed at all. He just decided to remind her that she should not be rejoicing, at least not yet.

    Listening to his matter-of-fact tone, Jiang Ying Yue wasn''t the only one who let out a groan of dissatisfaction. Silver along with the Second and the Third Prince also seemed just as unimpressed by his words as she was.

    "You are such a mood killer. Can''t you leave this grumpy face of yours at your home every once in a while?" Silver asked as he gave an unimpressed look to the First Prince.

    "I''m just stating the facts." Qing Shan spoke in response before he turned around and started walking away as it was the end of her training session for the night.

    "I''m leaving too." Wu Xie said, grabbing everyone''s attention as he gave Jiang Ying Yue a mesmerizing smile before he teleported away.

    "I..." Wang Shu was ready to say his goodbye too but got stopped when Jiang Ying Yue suddenly placed her finger against his lips, silencing him immediately.

    "You are coming with me." It wasn''t a question, neither a request. It sounded like she was telling him that he had to follow her to the Cold Palace, not like he was complaining. If his mate wanted him to stay with her, he was more than eager to comply.

    "Let''s go then." Silver spoke as he came to stand next to both of them. Wang Shu watched as the man, Silver, took hold of one of Ying Yue''s hands before he pulled all three of them into the teleportation array that led them straight to Jiang Ying Yue''s bed-chamber in the fifth courtyard of the Cold Palace.

    "Thank you." Jiang Ying Yue whispered next to Silver''s ear as the man wrapped both his hands around her tiny waist in response.

    Wang Shu suddenly started feeling like a third wheel as he stood at a little distance from them. His eyes struggled to find something to put his attention at. However, his ears were still paying full attention to what the two of them were talking about. He just couldn''t help himself.

    A small smirk appeared on Silver''s lips as he noticed the state of the Second Prince. "It looks like you two will need some space tonight." He whispered to his mate who replied with a beautiful smile that held the power of melting him into a puddle.

    "Are you jealous?" She asked after a few seconds of silently observing him.

    Silver immediately shook his head in denial and it was the truth. He could be and was the insecurity of the Princes when it came to her, however, no one in the world could make him insecure about her, especially after he had seen that the Princes'' presence in her life hadn''t made any impact on his relationship with her.

    He was only insecure when he was tied to the curse because of Ying Yue''s incomplete bonds with her destined soulmates. But now, since she was sharing a good with each of the Princes, he no longer felt that insecurity.

    He smiled softly at the girl in his arms as he replied, "I am your first love, your first kiss, the first person with whom you made out, the first man for whom you cried and cared for. No one can ever take these things away from me. And most importantly..."

    Jiang Ying Yue watched as Silver placed his hand over her heart before he continued. "... You loved me when your heart was dead. Now, you have a heart that beats. And I''m aware that I''m still the first person who earned his place in that special heart of yours. Since I''m so lucky, why should I be the one to feel jealous?"

    ##

    Jiang Ying Yue felt her heart filling with warmth at his words. She cupped his face between her palms before she placed a soft feathery kiss on his forehead.

    "I love you, Silver." She whispered before placing a soft kiss on his lips. She was aware that Wang Shu was also present in the room along with them and that''s why she had planned to pull away from Silver after that peck on his lips. However, her plan didn''t work because the man didn''t give her the chance to pull away.

    Before she could have stepped away from him, his hands tightened their hold around her waist as he pulled her closer to his body before he deepened the kiss. His tongue successfully made its way into her mouth which caused her entire body to shiver with an intensity that threatened to take over her senses to pull her into the beautiful world of pleasure.

    The kiss lasted for a couple of seconds before Silver finally pulled away. The two of them were breathing heavily and Jiang Ying Yue watched the burning desire in his eyes that caused her to take in a deep breath.

    Silver gave her a sweet smile before he turned his attention towards the Second Prince. "Take care of her." He told the Prince and with a quick nod of his head, his silhouette disappeared from the room.

    The next couple of seconds were filled with silence as Jiang Ying Yue tried to calm herself down. Her body was still on fire from the kiss that she just shared with Silver and she was having a hard time pulling her attention away from the hunger that had started bothering her vampire.

    "Are you alright?" Wang Shu asked when he noticed the frown that was decorating Ying Yue''s face as she stood there in the middle of the room with her eyes closed.

    Jiang Ying Yue shook her head in denial before she slowly let her eyes fluttered open. She was fully aware that her eyes were no longer looking normal and the look on the Second Prince''s face confirmed her doubt.

    "Your eyes... they are so pretty..." Wang Shu commented as he moved one of his fingers to lightly touch her eyelashes. He didn''t even realize that he had moved to stand right in front of the girl and there was barely any space left between their bodies.

    "Really?" Jiang Ying Yue asked as she tilted her head back to look into the eyes of the second Prince.

    "Really." Wang Shu replied without missing a single beat and found his heart blooming with happiness when a sweet smile appeared on Ying Yue''s lips.

    "Ah Shu..." Jiang Ying Yue called his name endearingly as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and stepped closer to him, making their bodies come in direct contact with each other.

    Wang Shu loved it when she called him like that. Other than Qing Shan, and his mother, no one ever called him Ah Shu, and hearing his woman call him that made him feel things that he never knew he was capable of feeling.

    "You should feed." He found himself saying as he noticed that the main reason behind the red color of her eyes was her hunger. He had noticed that she liked to skip feeding from them as much as she could unless it came to a point where she could no longer resist anymore.

    This time, Jiang Ying Yue didn''t try to turn down his offer as she was aware of her body''s condition. She didn''t want to lose her control in public the next day during her working hours in the store just because her vampire was hungry for blood.

    Wang Shu led her towards the bed and they both settled down comfortably before the second Prince did something that took Jiang Ying Yue by complete surprise.. She watched as one by one, he started taking off his clothes.

 Chapter 108 - The Baby Spirit Beast

    The day had already turned into night and the outside world that had been basking in the bright warm sunlight was now illuminated by the beautiful moonlight.

    Millions of stars filled the night sky, creating a beautiful scenery that one would want to capture in their heart for eternity.

    However, unlike the beautiful and calm view of the outside world, the atmosphere inside the Star Lake Manor wasn''t that calm and beautiful.

    Jiang Ying Yue sat on her seat around a wooden table placed in the center of the study while her mates stood in front of her while their hard gazes were trained on her.

    Who would have thought that instead of getting angry at her for making a deal with the Empress Dowager, they would actually become this unhappy about the spiritual crystal ball that she had handed over to their so-called mother?

    "Come on, guys. It was just a spirit beast and that too just a little baby. You don''t have to glare at me as if I have handed her the most powerful and sacred weapon of this world." She finally found the courage to complain but immediately shut up when she noticed the unhappy look on their handsome faces.

    "Even though it was a baby spirit beast, it''s still a treasure. It''s the sole spirit beast that the four of us chose for you and you gave it to someone else. How can you think of doing something like this?" Wu Xie didn''t give her the satisfaction of having any sort of upper hand in the situation.

    Jiang Ying Yue was feeling unhappy as she considered her current situation unfair. First of all, she had no freaking idea that the baby beast was actually a sacred snow dragon and the only one alive of its kind.

    Second, she didn''t know that it was a gift from the Princes. Even though she found it in the back garden of their manor, it didn''t mean that it belonged to them.

    Third and the most important point, they never told her that it was a gift for her. Then how was she supposed to know that she should cherish it? They could have given it to her like normal people. Instead, they tried to hand it to her in such a stupid and mysterious way.

    Though she was wrong for using the spirit beast as a bargaining chip for her deal with Empress Dowager, she wasn''t the only culprit here.

    "Why don''t you go and get it back from your dear mother? She''s your mother in a manner, no matter how we see this. You can get at least a spirit beast baby from her, right?" Silver, of course, was the first one who decided to support her as he also thought that she wasn''t the only one at fault.

    Jiang Ying Yue immediately passed a bright smile to her sweet mate who moved to sit beside her before wrapping one of his arms around her waist.

    Following Silver''s actions, she rested her body in his arms as she placed her head on his shoulder while keeping her eyes on the Princes. The immediate shift in the expressions and body language of the Princes didn''t skip her notice and it took everything inside her not to smile.

    "I think she''s right about..." Qing Shan started speaking but immediately stopped when his brothers turned their attention to him with raised eyebrows and questioning stares.

    "Just because you are now mated to her doesn''t mean you are going to support her even when she''s wrong. Be sensible." Wang Shu tried to get his brother out of his protective mate mode.

    Ever since the two of them had completed their bond a week ago, the others had seen a tremendous change in Qing Shan''s attitude towards her.

    Though he was still cold, aloof, and indifferent in his usual life, whenever it came to her, he would become all soft and understanding. It was like there were two different Qing Shan living in the same body.

    "Don''t stop him from speaking the truth. He''s not protecting me. He''s just stating the truth that you guys are also equally responsible. I don''t know how come you are not feeling ashamed at all." Jiang Ying Yue quickly defended herself along with the First Prince.

    They all heard Wu Xie letting out a deep sigh as the Third Prince just shook his head as if he was all done with her and Qing Shan protecting and defending each other at every possible moment.

    "Fine! Let''s say that we all are at fault." Wang Shu finally spoke as he too let out a sigh, clearly a sign that he was giving up on the argument.

    His statement immediately gifted him with a questioning look from Wu Xie. "There''s no point in arguing. Besides, they aren''t wrong. We should have told her about the spirit beast and since we failed to do so, we gave to take at least half of the responsibility."

    The Second and Third Prince remained silent after that for the next couple of minutes. Both seemed to be thinking about something very deeply.

    "Is there something else that I can trade with your mother instead of the spirit beast?" Jiang Ying Yue asked as she suddenly thought of this idea.

    "Maybe if you can hand over all three of them to her on a plate, she would return the spirit beast baby." Silver suggested as he pointed at the three Princes. His remark made Ying Yue giggle as she watched the dark expressions on the Princes'' faces.

    "This doesn''t sound like a bad idea. What do you guys think?" She teased the Princes and watched as Wu Xie gave her his precious nose scrunch, a clear sign that he wasn''t pleased with her sense of humor at all.

    "Don''t worry, love. I can turn into an Ice dragon for you anytime you want. You don''t have to think too much about that baby beast. If the Princes can''t get it back, you can always have me turn into one." Silver suggested as he rubbed the tip of his nose against her temple before placing a soft kiss there.

    Jiang Ying Yue heard someone groaning and when she turned to face the Princes, she found that all three of them were glaring at Silver. Especially Qing Shan as he was the only one out of four of them who was actually connected to her through a proper mate bond. His possessive mate side was taking a troll on him as he watched Silver acting so sweetly and intimately with her.

    Letting a bright smile bloom on her lips, she opened her arms wide and called the Prince to come closer to her through their newly formed mind link.

    Qing Shan didn''t waste any time before he was in her arms. His face immediately went to rest in the crook of her neck as he inhaled her scent to calm himself down while his arms wrapped around her waist securely.

    "He''s being possessive. And while I can understand exactly what phase he''s going through, don''t expect me to keep my distance from you. He has to learn that he''s not the only one in your life." Silver whispered into her ear as his arm around her shoulder tightened a little and he placed another kiss on her temple as if to emphasize his words of not keeping his distance from her.

    ####

    Letting a bright smile bloom on her lips, she opened her arms wide and called the Prince to come closer to her through their newly formed mind link.

    Qing Shan didn''t waste any time before he was in her arms. His face immediately went to rest in the crook of her neck as he inhaled her scent to calm himself down while his arms wrapped around her waist securely.

    "He''s being possessive. And while I can understand exactly what phase he''s going through, don''t expect me to keep my distance from you. He has to learn that he''s not the only one in your life." Silver whispered into her ear as his arm around her shoulder tightened a little and he placed another kiss on her temple as if to emphasize his words of not keeping his distance from her.

    ####

    Letting a bright smile bloom on her lips, she opened her arms wide and called the Prince to come closer to her through their newly formed mind link.

    Qing Shan didn''t waste any time before he was in her arms. His face immediately went to rest in the crook of her neck as he inhaled her scent to calm himself down while his arms wrapped around her waist securely.

    "He''s being possessive. And while I can understand exactly what phase he''s going through, don''t expect me to keep my distance from you. He has to learn that he''s not the only one in your life." Silver whispered into her ear as his arm around her shoulder tightened a little and he placed another kiss on her temple as if to emphasize his words of not keeping his distance from her.

    ####

 Chapter 109 - A Date With Her Mates

    Jiang Ying Yue soon became busy with the opening of her new shop and renovation of ''Glamour and Fashion''.

    By the end of the week, both the shops reopened once again to the public with a clear announcement that Lady Yue and Young Master Gu were both the shared owners of these two shops.

    While most people had been already circulating about this, the uproar was still high after the news became official. Everyone in the Capital was already picturing the comeback of the Gu family after so many years of their downfall.

    Besides, the curiosity to know the real identity of the famous Lady Yue was now making people guess randomly. Some believed that she was someone from the Gu family, while some believed that she was just a smart businesswoman who ended up helping Gu Chen.

    Then there were also those who believed that she was a crafty person who was either extracting some kind of revenge from the Prime Minister or that she had taken advantage of Gu Chen during a time when he was at his lowest.

    Jiang Ying Yue was really impressed to hear all these rumors that had been circulating around the capital city. However, she was too busy with her work to pay any attention to such a thing. She didn''t care what people thought of her as long as they kept visiting her stores to shop.''

    After both the stores opened up, she got busy supervising the staff of both stores. While ''Glamour and Fashion'' was providing clothes and jewelry services, the new store - ''Beauty and Lifestyle'', was the only salon in the historical world where she had ended up.

    At last, she decided to find some potential disciples to teach them the art of making makeup and skincare products so that she didn''t have to handle all the major work alone.

    - -

    "Lady Yue, Supervisor Hao has sent this invitation for you." Ming Ming, the newly appointed manager of ''Beauty and Lifestyle'', entered the office where Jiang Ying Yue was busy checking the account of the sales of beauty and skincare products.

    She took the invitation from the girl before signaling her to take her leave. The invitation was for the welcome banquet for General Gu that was going to take place after two days. According to the latest news that she had got, the General was supposed to enter the Capital City before evening the coming day.

    Taking a look at the invitation, she placed it safely in a box before she continued with her work. She needed to get everything quickly so that she could return home early. She had a date with her mates!

    *****

    "Babes, you are looking so pretty." Silver complimented as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer as soon as she stepped out of the portal and entered the pavilion where they all were going to eat their dinner together.

    A huge smile bloomed on Jiang Ying Yue''s lips as she thanked him in return. Her eyes landed on the pavilion that was beautifully decorated with flowers, lanterns, and incented candles.

    While she was dressed in a baby pink colored silk dress that felt so light, unlike those heavy dresses that the women of this world usually liked to wear. Her long hair was left loose in curls with two simple white jade hairpins that matched perfectly with her earrings and the bracelet that she was wearing.

    Silver, on the other hand, was dressed in an olive turtle neck along with black cargo pants and his usual leather boots. His shoulder-length silver and red hair were tied in a high bun with a few loose strands falling over his cheeks.

    A huge diamond earring was dangling from his left ear that matched with his pendant and rings along with the dozens of bracelets that were tied around both his wrists.

    No matter how many times she has already said this but this man''s taste in fashion was the best she had ever seen in her entire life as a Vampire.

    Then there were the Three Immortal Princes in their long ancient clothes, looking nothing less than the high deities whom she used to see in the dramas and movies.

    Qing Shan was wearing a black brocade robe with golden designs. His long hair was tied up in a ponytail with a golden coronet.

    Wang Shu was wearing a sky blue-colored silk robe with his long hair left loose and he too was wearing a white jade hairpin.

    Wu Xie decided to bring some colors to the party as he was wearing a crimson-colored brocade robe with his hair styled perfectly with a golden hairpin in it.

    Looking at the set up of the pavilion and the way her mates had dressed up, Jiang Ying Yue was happy that she ended up deciding to doll up for the occasion.

    "All of you are looking great too. I''m kinda lucky that my mates are so handsome. Ain''t I?" She teased them as she turned her head slightly to look at Silver behind her and it gifted her with a small peck on her lips from her mate.

    "Ying''er..."

    Jiang Ying Yue turned around at the sound of Qing Shan''s voice and found the Prince standing right in front of her with a yearning look in his eyes.

    Within the last three weeks, since they completed their bond, his possessiveness towards her had started to calm down. Though it was only for the other Princes and Silver. He still became possessive of her whenever it comes to other people.

    The one thing that hadn''t changed even after these three weeks was his need for her attention. He''s like a big bad wolf who ends up turning into a cute little puppy whenever he''s with her.

    While this drastic change in his behavior was too much for the other Princes, both her and Silver found this side of him cute.

    "Come here." She called while opening her arms wide to pull him into a hug.

    "Hey! This is really too much. I want a hug too." Wang Shu complained as he headed in their direction followed by Wu Xie who was nodding his head to show his agreement.

    Jiang Ying Yue chuckled softly but gave both the Second and the Third Prince warm hugs along with small pecks.

    "Let''s go. The dinner is ready." Silver pulled their attention towards the food that the servants had already set on the table placed under the beautifully decorated pavilion.

    "Did you guys decorate this place?" Jiang Ying Yue asked as

    ####

    Within the last three weeks, since they completed their bond, his possessiveness towards her had started to calm down. Though it was only for the other Princes and Silver. He still became possessive of her whenever it comes to other people.

    The one thing that hadn''t changed even after these three weeks was his need for her attention. He''s like a big bad wolf who ends up turning into a cute little puppy whenever he''s with her.

    While this drastic change in his behavior was too much for the other Princes, both her and Silver found this side of him cute.

    "Come here." She called while opening her arms wide to pull him into a hug.

    "Hey! This is really too much. I want a hug too." Wang Shu complained as he headed in their direction followed by Wu Xie who was nodding his head to show his agreement.

    Jiang Ying Yue chuckled softly but gave both the Second and the Third Prince warm hugs along with small pecks.

    "Let''s go. The dinner is ready." Silver pulled their attention towards the food that the servants had already set on the table placed under the beautifully decorated pavilion.

    "Did you guys decorate this place?" Jiang Ying Yue asked as

    Within the last three weeks, since they completed their bond, his possessiveness towards her had started to calm down. Though it was only for the other Princes and Silver. He still became possessive of her whenever it comes to other people.

    The one thing that hadn''t changed even after these three weeks was his need for her attention. He''s like a big bad wolf who ends up turning into a cute little puppy whenever he''s with her.

    While this drastic change in his behavior was too much for the other Princes, both her and Silver found this side of him cute.

    "Come here." She called while opening her arms wide to pull him into a hug.

    "Hey! This is really too much. I want a hug too." Wang Shu complained as he headed in their direction followed by Wu Xie who was nodding his head to show his agreement.

    Jiang Ying Yue chuckled softly but gave both the Second and the Third Prince warm hugs along with small pecks.

    "Let''s go. The dinner is ready." Silver pulled their attention towards the food that the servants had already set on the table placed under the beautifully decorated pavilion.

    "Did you guys decorate this place?" Jiang Ying Yue asked as

    ####

 Chapter 110 - Fireworks And Lanterns

    "Mmm... This one tastes really delicious. I love spicy food." Jiang Ying Yue complimented as she finished the hot and spicy soup of the noodles that Ah Shu had cooked.

    It appeared that the Second Prince was pretty happy to see her enjoying the food that he had prepared with so much effort.

    "Here, drink this to soothe your taste buds. Your cheeks are flushed because of the spicy soup." Wu Xie said as he handed her a glass of pomegranate juice.

    Jiang Ying Yue accepted the juice and even though she was reluctant to drink it as not to ruin the aftertaste of the spicy soup, she still ended up drinking the juice because Wu Xie refused to listen to any of her excuses.

    "Now what?" She asked after finishing the juice as she stood up from her seat and headed towards the terrace that was attached to the pavilion, leading towards the little pond built at the end of the garden.

    "Now... let''s enjoy this beautiful view." Qing Shan replied to her question as he came to stand next to her before entangling their fingers together.

    Jiang Ying Yue turned to look at the First Prince with questioning eyes but got distracted when she felt Wang Shu coming up to stand on her other side before wrapping one of his hands around her waist.

    "We have prepared one more thing for you. Hope you will like it." The Second Prince said as he started walking towards the edge of the terrace while pulling her along with him.

    At this point, she was excited to see what more the guys had in the bag to surprise her. She was already super happy after seeing the hard work that they had put into decorating the pavilion and cooking the dishes.

    "Where are Silver and Wu Xie?" She asked as they came to stand against the railing of the terrace. Her eyes hurriedly looked around to spot her other two mates but she found no trace of theirs.

    "Don''t worry, they will be here soon. For now, let''s close your beautiful eyes for a few moments." Qing Shan said as he came to stand behind her and one of his palms moved to cover her eyes.

    "What are we doing?" Jiang Ying Yue asked as she took hold of his hand covering her eyes but didn''t try to pull it away.

    "You will see in a moment."

    She heard Wang Shu answering next to her ear before he placed a soft feathery kiss against her lobe that made small sparks erupt all over her body. Since her eyes were closed at the moment, the rest of her senses had heightened.

    She waited patiently or at least she tried her very best to stay patient while waiting to finally see the next surprise that her mates had planned for her.

    She wasn''t sure how many long minutes passed like that before she finally heard Wang Shu speaking, "It''s time."

    She felt Qing Shan''s hand, which was covering her eyes, sliding away from her eyes and allowing her to finally see the beautiful scenery that Silver and Wu Xie had created in front of her.

    "This... I..." Jiang Ying Yue couldn''t find any word to explain her feelings as she looked at the pond that was now filled with dozens and dozens of floating lanterns.

    Right at that moment, her attention was grabbed by a sudden sound that made her look up at the sky only to find a firecracker blasting into thousands of sparks that created a wonderful and attention-grabbing view.

    "Happy Birthday, Yue."

    Jiang Ying Yue turned around at the sound of Silver''s soft voice and found the man standing there with a big smile on his face along with Wu Xie who was also beaming. "Happy Birthday, Yue''er." The Third Prince wished as he signaled towards the firecrackers that were still going off in the sky.

    "Happy Birthday..."

    "Happy Birthday..."

    Qing Shan and Wang Shu followed next as the two of them also wished her.

    Jiang Ying Yue was so touched that it was proving hard for her to not become emotional. She had become too busy with her new life to remember about her birthday.

    "Have I turned fifteen hundred and seventy-two or twenty-one?" She asked suddenly as the thought popped up into her mind, confusing her as she struggled to decide how to decide her age.

    "Hmm... It''s a tricky question. Let''s say that you are twenty-one in mortal form but fifteen hundred and seventy-two in actuality. How does that sound?" Wu Xie suggested and found his mate nodding her head in agreement as she liked the idea.

    "Thank you so much, guys. I''m really happy and this means a lot to me." Jiang Ying Yue confessed while thanking the four of them for all that they had done to make the day special for her.

    She felt Qing Shan''s fingers squeezing her fingers softly while at the same time, Wang Shu tightened his arm around her waist and also gifted her with another soft kiss but this time on her temple.

    The five of them stood there in a close group as they enjoyed the beautiful fireworks and the lanterns that were floating on the surface of the pond.

    "We will need to think of something even better for her next birthday. I''m sure her expectation will be high after today." Silver said as he came to stand next to Wang Shu before he wrapped one of his hands around the Second Prince''s shoulders while the other was resting over Wu Xie''s shoulders as the Third Prince stood beside him.

    "We will depend on you then, Brother." Wang Shu said in response as he gave Silver a small smile.

    "Ah Shu is right. You are really good at these kinds of stuff. You will need to guide us in the future." Wu Xie added next as he completely agreed with his brother''s words.

    Listening to the conversation between the Princes and Silver, Jiang Ying Yue found her smile becoming wider. She was really happy to see the four of them getting along. As time was passing by, the four of them were growing closer.

    "I''ll be looking forward then. Can''t wait to see what new you guys will do to make my future birthdays special." Jiang Ying Yue responded with a cheerful smile as she watched the last firecracker getting off before the sky became as silent and serene as before.

    *****

    The next day brought a new wave of excitement to the Capital as everyone was excited for the return of General Gu and the Young Marshal.

    Gu Chen had done a marvelous job in renovating the Gu manor. Though it was nowhere near the previous look of the manor, it was a hundred times better than what it used to look a few weeks ago.

    Instead of returning the original servants to him, Jiang Ying Yue gave him enough money to hire around a hundred new servants so that he could train them according to their requirements.

    "Can you stop jumping around? Besides, why am I even here?" Ying Yue could not help but complain when she got tired of Gu Chen who was too nervous and excited at the same time to calm down.

    "Lady Yue, I hope that we didn''t disturb you. It was my wish to call you here on this special day. General would be arriving in the Capital within an hour so and after visiting the Palace briefly, he would be coming straight here. As our benefactor, it''s your right to be present here on this occasion." The Madam of the manor, General Gu''s wife spoke as she appeared in the front garden where Jiang Ying Yue was sitting with Gu Chen.

    "Furen." Jiang Ying Yue greeted the woman with a little bow. As usual, she was still wearing the veil that hid the lower half of her face and only left her eyes visible to express her emotions.

    "I just don''t want to create any discomfort on this happy occasion. Today is going to be a happy reunion between your family, an outsider like me should stay away for the time being. I would definitely pay a visit later to greet General Gu and Young Marshal." She tried but knew immediately that it was a futile attempt.

    "Who told you that you are an outsider? You are just like a family to us. Besides, you are not only our benefactor but also our business partner. I''ll need your help to review all about our businesses to my father. And... you are my friend too. There are several reasons for you to stay here to welcome my father." Gu Chen quickly stated.

    "See! You are one of us. So don''t think about such useless things. Let''s wait together for General''s return. I''m sure you will become their favorite too."

    Both mother and son duo seemed determined to make Jiang Ying Yue meet the General as soon as possible.

 Chapter 111 - The Generals Return

    The day went by quickly and even before Jiang Ying Yue knew she was already standing at the entrance of the Gu Manor along with Gu Chen, his mother, and the servants of the manor as they all waited for the General''s arrival along with Young Marquis.

    "Are you nervous or excited?" Jiang Ying Yue asked Gu Chen as she came to stand next to him. She could clearly see the young man fidgeting around as his eyes were fixed on the entrance of the manor.

    "I''m feeling both. I''m excited to finally see and meet my father and brother after so many years but at the same time, I''m feeling anxious about facing them in such a state. Do you think they will hate me for my incompetence?" Gu Chen couldn''t hide his nervousness in front of Ying Yue, not like he was trying to in the first place.

    Jiang Ying Yue turned to look at the young man as she replied, "Why would you even think like that? He''s your father. No matter what, he can never hate you. Besides, you are not incompetent. Don''t keep blaming yourself. If you will keep looking down on yourself, how can others treat you otherwise?"

    Gu Chen remained silent as he stared at her for the next few moments before finally speaking, "Why are you so good? It seems like you have a solution for every problem and every situation. You seem to see things differently from others. Aren''t we of the same age? Then why do you sound like someone who has a ton of experience through the ups and downs of life?" Instead of being suspicious, he sounded impressed and amazed.

    Jiang Ying Yue let out a small sigh as she turned her attention back towards the entrance as her heightened hearing sense had already picked on the sounds of horses trotting down the street towards the manor. "Because I really have seen a lot. Besides, you don''t need to be hundreds of years old to become mature. Some people learn these important lessons pretty early in their lives. Also, I didn''t say anything impressive, to begin with. I just told you the truth."

    Gu Chen opened his mouth to say something but got interrupted when a guard came running inside the manor to inform them about the arrival of General Gu and the Young Marquis.

    Even though she had no particular reason to feel any sort of nervousness, Jiang Ying Yue was still feeling a little bit anxious for some weird and unknown reason. Probably because General Gu was an important person in her plan to make her business successful and his opinion about her mattered a lot.

    It took less than five minutes before the General and Young Marquis were stepping inside the Gu manor.

    Jiang Ying Yue swiftly stepped away to let the family reunite. The atmosphere became super emotional almost immediately.

    Though she didn''t allow Gu Chen to take away his servants considering she had been training them to work at the stores, she did allow them to take the day off so that they could meet their Master and be a part of this happy moment.

    It took around twenty minutes or so before she finally found herself greeting the General face to face as the furen kept complimenting her non-stop. She tried to signal Gu Chen to help but the man seemed totally oblivious to her request.

    "On my way here to the capital, I got to hear a lot about Lady Yue from the Head Guard Fei. She praised you a lot for your talent and skills and also for your kind and humble nature that has won the hearts of our people. It''s good to finally meet you, Lady Yue." General Gu spoke as he smiled warmly at the young lady who seemed uncomfortable because of all the praises that his wife had just voiced out.

    Jiang Ying Yue bowed her head to thank the General as she tried to recall exactly when she acted kind and humble to any of the citizens. While it was true that she wasn''t a mean person and was actually good at her work, she wasn''t someone who went out of her league to help others. Then why did people keep labeling her as a kind person?

    "If Lady Yue doesn''t mind, I have just one simple question to ask her. Can I?" This time the person who spoke was none other than the Young Marquis who was sitting beside Gu Chen.

    "Sure. Go ahead." Jiang Ying Yur responded affirmatively and waited to hear his question. She was actually impressed by the young marquis'' personality. Even though he was a young man, his aura was as powerful and dominating as one''s should be in his position. He carried himself perfectly and even though he appeared aloof and hard to approach, he wasn''t a cold person.

    "Why did you decide to work with our family? Especially when we are in such poor condition?" The young man didn''t waste any time in beating around the bush and came straight to the point.

    Jiang Ying Yue''s gaze landed briefly on Gu Chen and the young man nodded his head in return as if to encourage her. Returning her attention towards the Young Marquis, she replied, "Because I didn''t want to work under Prime Minister."

    There was a deep silence following her reply and it seemed like everyone was waiting for her to speak something more but to their surprise and dismay, she didn''t.

    "Just that?" The young marquis couldn''t help but ask when the girl refused to add anything more to her answer.

    "Just that." Jiang Ying Yue confirmed immediately with a firm tone.

    "But why choose our family? We are in no condition to help you against the Prime Minister. Our family is no longer what it used to be. Don''t you think you made the wrong decision?" General Gu questioned her as he observed her reactions closely.

    Jiang Ying Yue knew perfectly that she was being tested and she was happy because she could easily pass the test just by telling them the truth.

    ####

    "If Lady Yue doesn''t mind, I have just one simple question to ask her. Can I?" This time the person who spoke was none other than the Young Marquis who was sitting beside Gu Chen.

    "Sure. Go ahead." Jiang Ying Yur responded affirmatively and waited to hear his question. She was actually impressed by the young marquis'' personality. Even though he was a young man, his aura was as powerful and dominating as one''s should be in his position. He carried himself perfectly and even though he appeared aloof and hard to approach, he wasn''t a cold person.

    "Why did you decide to work with our family? Especially when we are in such poor condition?" The young man didn''t waste any time in beating around the bush and came straight to the point.

    Jiang Ying Yue''s gaze landed briefly on Gu Chen and the young man nodded his head in return as if to encourage her. Returning her attention towards the Young Marquis, she replied, "Because I didn''t want to work under Prime Minister."

    There was a deep silence following her reply and it seemed like everyone was waiting for her to speak something more but to their surprise and dismay, she didn''t.

    "Just that?" The young marquis couldn''t help but ask when the girl refused to add anything more to her answer.

    "Just that." Jiang Ying Yue confirmed immediately with a firm tone.

    "But why choose our family? We are in no condition to help you against the Prime Minister. Our family is no longer what it used to be. Don''t you think you made the wrong decision?" General Gu questioned her as he observed her reactions closely.

    Jiang Ying Yue knew perfectly that she was being tested and she was happy because she could easily pass the test just by telling them the truth.

    ####

    "If Lady Yue doesn''t mind, I have just one simple question to ask her. Can I?" This time the person who spoke was none other than the Young Marquis who was sitting beside Gu Chen.

    "Sure. Go ahead." Jiang Ying Yur responded affirmatively and waited to hear his question. She was actually impressed by the young marquis'' personality. Even though he was a young man, his aura was as powerful and dominating as one''s should be in his position. He carried himself perfectly and even though he appeared aloof and hard to approach, he wasn''t a cold person.

    "Why did you decide to work with our family? Especially when we are in such poor condition?" The young man didn''t waste any time in beating around the bush and came straight to the point.

    Jiang Ying Yue''s gaze landed briefly on Gu Chen and the young man nodded his head in return as if to encourage her. Returning her attention towards the Young Marquis, she replied, "Because I didn''t want to work under Prime Minister."

    There was a deep silence following her reply and it seemed like everyone was waiting for her to speak something more but to their surprise and dismay, she didn''t.

    "Just that?" The young marquis couldn''t help but ask when the girl refused to add anything more to her answer.

    "Just that.." Jiang Ying Yue confirmed immediately with a firm tone.

 Chapter 112 - The Jealous Mates

    Jiang Ying Yue opened her mouth to reply to Gu Chen but got stopped when General Gu suddenly started laughing out loudly. It seemed like she wasn''t the only one who was confused by the General''s reaction, the others seemed just as surprised and clueless as her.

    "Lady Yue, why don''t you stay for the dinner. This old man will be happy to hear about your views on the future plans of our businesses. Besides, as our business partner, you are just like another member of our family. Please don''t stand on formality." General Gu seemed totally chilled as he leaned to whisper something in his wife''s ears.

    "I..."

    Jiang Ying Yue was totally at loss. She no longer had any idea about what was going on. While she was expecting to be thrown out of the manor, she actually got the invitation from the General to join them for the dinner.

    "Is father alright?" Gu Chen whispered in her ear as he gazed at his father who was still talking to his mother.

    Before Jiang Ying Yue could have gotten a chance to speak, they got interrupted by the Young Marquis who came to stand between her and his brother, making the two of them step away from each other. "Don''t you think you are standing too close to each other?" He commented while looking at both of them with questioning eyes.

    Jiang Ying Yue didn''t reply and just ignored the Young Marquis. However, her eyes caught the blush that took over Gu Chen''s cheeks as he looked away.

    "I want to take a look at the kitchen. I want to see what the chefs are cooking." She told the boys before she walked away and headed towards the direction where a group of servants was heading with empty plates in their hands.

    "She''s a nice girl. Honest and straightforward but at the same time, she also seems kind and humble. You chose the right person, brother." The Young Marquis said as he turned to look at his brother.

    A beautiful and shy smile immediately bloomed on Gu Chen''s lips as he seemed proud after hearing his brother complimenting Jiang Ying Yue.

    "Your brother is right. This young lady is really one of a kind. She will prove to be a great partner to our business and family. Besides, no matter how selfish her reasons sound, there''s no denying that she has helped our family during a period where no one wanted to do anything with us." General Gu added as he too came to stand next to both his sons.

    "She''s really a good child. No matter how cold she sounds, she''s really soft deep down in her heart. She just pretends to be cold and indifferent most of the time. But in reality, she''s really a nice child." Madam added as she came to join the rest of her family members.

    "It looks like we all like her as a person and have nothing against her being our business partner." The Young Marquis commented as he looked around at his parents and brother and received affirmative responses from all of them.

    -

    While these people were busy showing their appreciation towards Jiang Ying Yue''s presence in their lives, the Princes and Silver who had been observing the entire scenario through a spiritual mirror didnt seem happy at all.

    "Why I don''t seem to like the fact that they all seem pretty accepting towards Yue?" Silver asked the question out loud to no one in particular.

    "I have no problem with the General and Furen, but I don''t want these two boys anywhere near Yue''er." Qing Shan murmured as he stared at Gu Chen and his brother through the spirit mirror. His possessive mate side was once again coming out but this time he had a proper reason to feel in such way. He didn''t seem to like the way those two brothers were looking with admiration at his mate.

    "Is it really that serious? I don''t think we should worry since Yue''er doesn''t seem to be close with either of those two. The only reason she''s close with Gu Chen is because of their business." Wu Xie added but even though he sounded calm unlike his elder brother and Silver, his eyes were also shooting daggers at the two young masters of the Gu family.

    "I''m going to bring her back." Wang Shu suddenly stated as he stood up and without waiting for any response from the others, he disappeared from the place.

    *****

    Jiang Ying Yue stared at the Princes and Silver who were staring back at her with guilt-filled eyes. She could hardly believe the drama that had just taken place a few moments ago.

    "Do you really think that what you just did was necessary? You guys should learn to control yourself and your possessive selves." She pointed her attention at Qing Shan who immediately took a few steps back and moved to stand behind Silver.

    ####

    Jiang Ying Yue was totally at loss. She no longer had any idea about what was going on. While she was expecting to be thrown out of the manor, she actually got the invitation from the General to join them for the dinner.

    "Is father alright?" Gu Chen whispered in her ear as he gazed at his father who was still talking to his mother.

    Before Jiang Ying Yue could have gotten a chance to speak, they got interrupted by the Young Marquis who came to stand between her and his brother, making the two of them step away from each other. "Don''t you think you are standing too close to each other?" He commented while looking at both of them with questioning eyes.

    Jiang Ying Yue didn''t reply and just ignored the Young Marquis. However, her eyes caught the blush that took over Gu Chen''s cheeks as he looked away.

    "I want to take a look at the kitchen. I want to see what the chefs are cooking." She told the boys before she walked away and headed towards the direction where a group of servants was heading with empty plates in their hands.

    "She''s a nice girl. Honest and straightforward but at the same time, she also seems kind and humble. You chose the right person, brother." The Young Marquis said as he turned to look at his brother.

    A beautiful and shy smile immediately bloomed on Gu Chen''s lips as he seemed proud after hearing his brother complimenting Jiang Ying Yue.

    "Your brother is right. This young lady is really one of a kind. She will prove to be a great partner to our business and family. Besides, no matter how selfish her reasons sound, there''s no denying that she has helped our family during a period where no one wanted to do anything with us." General Gu added as he too came to stand next to both his sons.

    "She''s really a good child. No matter how cold she sounds, she''s really soft deep down in her heart. She just pretends to be cold and indifferent most of the time. But in reality, she''s really a nice child." Madam added as she came to join the rest of her family members.

    "It looks like we all like her as a person and have nothing against her being our business partner." The Young Marquis commented as he looked around at his parents and brother and received affirmative responses from all of them.

    -

    While these people were busy showing their appreciation towards Jiang Ying Yue''s presence in their lives, the Princes and Silver who had been observing the entire scenario through a spiritual mirror didnt seem happy at all.

    "Why I don''t seem to like the fact that they all seem pretty accepting towards Yue?" Silver asked the question out loud to no one in particular.

    "I have no problem with the General and Furen, but I don''t want these two boys anywhere near Yue''er." Qing Shan murmured as he stared at Gu Chen and his brother through the spirit mirror. His possessive mate side was once again coming out but this time he had a proper reason to feel in such way. He didn''t seem to like the way those two brothers were looking with admiration at his mate.

    "Is it really that serious? I don''t think we should worry since Yue''er doesn''t seem to be close with either of those two. The only reason she''s close with Gu Chen is because of their business." Wu Xie added but even though he sounded calm unlike his elder brother and Silver, his eyes were also shooting daggers at the two young masters of the Gu family.

    "I''m going to bring her back." Wang Shu suddenly stated as he stood up and without waiting for any response from the others, he disappeared from the place.

    *****

    Jiang Ying Yue stared at the Princes and Silver who were staring back at her with guilt-filled eyes. She could hardly believe the drama that had just taken place a few moments ago.

    "Do you really think that what you just did was necessary? You guys should learn to control yourself and your possessive selves.." She pointed her attention at Qing Shan who immediately took a few steps back and moved to stand behind Silver.

 Chapter 113 - Not For You

    What did you find out?" Da Xia asked the kitty as soon as they returned to her house. She was filled with anticipation to hear all that the kitty had got from its search through the inner circle of the mountains.

    "Master, I checked the area and just like what Master Yichen told you, there''s really a divine spiritual flower growing on the tallest peak of the inner circle. Most importantly, according to the system''s data, that spiritual flower has five spiritual circles and it will get the sixth one on the night of the full moon." The kitty told her what it had found out.

    "A divine spiritual flower with six spiritual circles. It''s such a rare treasure. I don''t think it will be easy for us to get our hands on it." Da Xia stated as she started working on washing the vegetables to start cooking the dinner.

    She had specially bought some pork during the morning so that she could cook some meat for her husbands who had been eating only simple vegetables for years. They really needed a well-balanced diet to build up their lean bodies.

    The kitty nodded his tiny head in agreement to its Master''s words. "You are right about that. It looks like Master Yichen forgets to tell you that getting your hands on that spiritual flower is almost next to impossible. Do you know why you barely came across any powerful spiritual beast today even though you went as far as the outskirts of the inner circle?"

    Da Xia stopped in her movements at Kitty''s question before she let out a small sigh and resumed her work. "I had my doubts that it wasn''t all because of the six rings spiritual core that I have in my possession. But I could not find out any other possible reason. Though it seems like you know the answer."

    The kitty flapped its wings twice before it jumped to sit on the counter before it started speaking, "That happened because nearly ninety-five per cent of the powerful beasts of the Phoenix mountains are currently at the tallest peak of the inner circle, guarding the spiritual flower. It''s almost impossible to step your foot anywhere near that peak, let alone the spiritual flower itself."

    Da Xia let out a deep such as she found her biggest fear coming true. She had guessed that there would be some powerful spiritual beasts guarding that divine flower but she wasn''t prepared to find out that there wasn''t just some but nearly all the powerful spiritual beasts standing between her and the spiritual flower.

    "There''s more..." The kitty spoke again, successfully pulling its master''s attention towards itself.

    "What is it?" Da Xia asked as she finished chopping onion rings and moved to prepare the meat after putting some water to boil.

    "It looks like you aren''t the only one who is aware of the presence of this divine flower. During my search today, I found three different noble families from the capital and other cities, camping around the area. And they are the ones in the open. There is the possibility that more people will appear on the night of the full moon. Who knows what kind of scene is going to play out on that night in the inner circle?" The kitty shivered as some disturbing scenes appeared in its head.

    Da Xia was silent for some minutes as she continued working on the meal before she finally spoke, "We don''t have the option of backing off. That divine spiritual flower is important for the Princes to continue with their cultivation. Let''s find a plan to get this situation in our favour. I''m not sure how we are going to do that. But we have to find a way soon."

    They stopped discussing the matter after that as Da Xia prepared the meal. She did find some meat packets from the system to feed Li Jun''s little snake before she returned to the underground cave to give the meal to her husbands.

    That evening, she didn''t stay with the Princes and returned home as soon as they finished their meal. Sh I didn''t want to distract them too much from their daily practices. As she closed her eyes that night while going to sleep, Da Xia wasn''t aware that a not-so-beautiful surprise was waiting to greet her in the morning.

    ***

    "You guys... are back..." Da Xia stated as she stared at Shu Mei and Bai Lin who were standing outside her house. Who would have known that she would stumble upon them as soon as she would set her foot out of the house early in the morning?

    She really thought that the two of them had left Jia Province since she neither saw them nor heard anything from them in the last few days. She wasn''t expecting to find them standing right outside her house''s main gate so early in the morning.

    "We spent the last two days looking around the village. It''s way different from what I used to hear back at my hometown. Everyone outside thinks that Jia Province is still a poor and barren land like before. But it''s far from reality." Bai Lin spoke first as she glanced in the direction of the dirt road that led deeper into the village.

    "Yeah! We also found out from the villagers that you are the one who has helped to bring these impossible changes in this village and that too in a very short period. You are really impressive." Shu Mei sounded like she was praising Da Xia and her eyes were staring at the latter with a look of awe in them.

    Not knowing how to reply, Da Xia ended up just nodding her head in acknowledgement with an awkward smile on her lips. "So..., what are you both planning to do next?" She finally asked the question.

    Both Shu Mei and Bai Lin shared a quick look between them before they turned to look at Da Xia and for some weird reason, the look in their eyes made Da Xia uncomfortable as she suddenly had a feeling that she won''t be liking their reply.

    "We have decided to stay here for a little while longer. We will be staying with you."

    There you go! That''s why she had felt that weird feeling that something bad was about to happen. What did these girls mean? Why would she take them in? Da Xia wanted to reject immediately but as if they sensed it, she got stopped by Shu Mei even before she opened her mouth to speak.

    "Lady Xia, you shouldn''t reject us before finding out why we have decided to stay here. I''m sure you will change your mind after hearing what we both have to say." Shu Mei sounded so confident that it made Da Xia hesitate and in the end, she decided to give them a chance to speak whatever they had to tell her.

    "Wait! Are you two familiar with each other?" Da Xia asked as she looked at the woman and the young girl with suspicion filled eyes.

    "We don''t..."

    "Of course not..."

    Both Shu Mei and Bai Lin answered at the same time and shared a heated glare right after that. It ended Da Xia''s suspicion but she still was a little sceptic towards what they were planning to tell her.

    "Let me talk first. Since I''m the first one who met her, I have at least that much privilege. Right?" Shu Mei asked as she looked at both Da Xia and Bai Lin with questioning eyes.

    "Whatever!" Bai Lin muttered in response before she headed inside the house to both Da Xia and Shu Mei''s surprise. It seemed like they would be taking outside the house if they needed privacy. What an irony!

    Da Xia turned her attention to the young girl and asked, "So, what''s the thing that you want to tell me?"

    The girl gave her a little smile before she pulled out a white jade pendant from her sleeves and handed it to her. As Da Xia''s eyes looked at the carvings on the pendant, she found herself star-struck. She looked up from the pendant and stared at the young girl before whispering, "So you are a descendant of that family..."

    As Shu Mei nodded her head in affirmation, Da Xia found her head spinning as she still was struggling to believe it. This was the last thing she expected to find out early in the morning. Though she always knew that Shu Mei wasn''t a normal girl or from a normal family, she would never have guessed her real identity to be this noble and high.

    But the truth about the young girl''s identity wasn''t the only shock she received that morning. When she later got to talk with Bai Lin, the woman also revealed something that once again blew her mind because Bai Lin''s identity was even more scarier than Shu Mei''s.

    Just how did things end up like this?

 Chapter 114 - Hard And Soft

    By the time Da Xia reached the inner circle of Phoenix Mountains, it was already half past six in the evening. She hid behind a huge bush as she peeked at the people who had camped at the south end of the Xinling Peak, the tallest peak in not only the inner circle but in the entire mountains.

    The bush was not the only thing saving her from the prying eyes of her opponents but the ring on her index finger was also doing its job very well. The ring was one of those expensive items that she had purchased from her system for her task of obtaining the divine spiritual flower.

    The ring had many spells attached to it and one of those spells was the invisibility spell that was currently keeping her hidden from the eyes of the people and beasts present in the inner circle of the forest. Another spell of the ring helped her in giving the wrong impression that her spiritual core had seven circles and that too at master level. The latter would work as her best weapon against the spiritual beasts as her invisibility spell won''t work on them for too long.

    "Master, there''s still a couple of hours left before the moon will make its appearance. Besides, the flower will bloom at midnight. In short, we have nearly five hours left before you will need to take action." The kitty informed its master as it came to sit on one of the lower branches of the tree standing right next to the bush where Da Xia was hiding.

    Five hours was a lot of time and she had nothing much to do. "You told me that these guys are going to compete among themselves to decide who will head up the peak to get the divine flower. When is the competition going to start?" Since she had nothing better to do, then she was going to enjoy the competition where she would probably get to see people using their cultivation powers.

    "It should be starting soon. But we will need to go to the west end to see the competition. It''s the Celestial Sword Clan that is holding the competition at their campsite." The kitty replied as it turned its little head in the west direction as if it could see the said clan''s campsite from where it was sitting.

    Da Xia let out a deep sigh as she heard the kitty mentioning the Celestial Sword Clan. This particular clan was not only the most powerful clan in the entire empire but the master of this clan was at Sage Cultivation Rank along with three elders under him who were at Divine Cultivation Ranks. The four most powerful people based on spiritual cultivation in the entire empire belonged to this clan alone. She had a strong feeling that someone from this very clan would win the competition and she would have a hard time dealing with that person.

    Da Xia had no idea at this moment that she was completely wrong in her judgement. A few surprises were waiting for her.

    *****

    The kitty let out a big yawn as it snuggled closer into Da Xia''s arms, seeking more warmth from her as it tried to get a little more sleep but it was proving to be a hard job considering the shouts of cheers and fights that were taking place at a little distance away from where it''s Master was sitting on one of the top branches of a tree that provided a clear view of the arena where the competition was taking place.

    For the past two hours, Da Xia had been enjoying the show where the fighters used their spiritual powers to fight their opponents to win the competition. But even after all this time, it seemed like they were nowhere near finding a winner anytime soon, not like they didn''t have time in their hands. It would only take less than half an hour to climb the cliff and there were still three hours left before midnight.

    Though the moon had already made its appearance, no one seemed to be in any haste to climb the cliff to get their hands on the divine flower as soon as it would bloom at midnight. It was almost like they no longer cared about the divine flower and were just enjoying their competition.

    "What''s wrong with these people?" Da Xia asked no one in particular as she also started getting bored from watching the fights going on down below. Though she enjoyed the free show of different spells and powers, she was getting anxious to see the winner who would head up the cliff to get the divine flower.

    "Master, should we head up? Though there''s still a lot of time left before midnight, there are also other treasures around this area that will prove fruitful to you. Let''s go and collect some of those treasures to earn more prowess points." The kitty suggested and as soon as Da Xia heard it mentioning prowess points, she became as ready as possible to collect those so-called treasures.

    She had spent a lot of money on the ring that she was wearing and also on upgrading it with more spells than it had initially. If she could find a way to earn more money then she won''t be letting go of that chance.

    "Let''s go then. We are going to find as many treasures as possible." Da Xia chirped excitedly as she started climbing down the tree so that she could start with her search for treasures.

    The kitty flapped its wings as if to wake itself fully so that it could help its master in her search of treasures. The system''s digital screen popped up in front of its eyes, showing the exact locations where the treasures were hidden around or on the Xinling peak.

    "Master, let''s head to the south. There''s a rare spiritual fruit with four rings growing there somewhere. You will get over three hundred prowess points for getting that fruit." The kitty told its master after checking the map and the other additional data carefully.

    Da Xia nodded her head in understanding before she started heading in the same direction where she had been keeping an eye on the campsite of the Zhu family before she came to watch the competition. The fact that the system could point out the exact location of rare spiritual flowers, fruits, herbs or other treasures, was one of the best features of the system.

    She was lately realizing that as time was passing by, she was finding her system to be more and more helpful. If she ignored the fact that the system''s market wasn''t available to her for free or at very cheap prices, she would have proudly said that she had got the best system possible.

    It took Da Xia nearly fifteen minutes before she found the spiritual fruit that looked like a big cherry but she could tell that it was anything but just a cherry. Just one glance at the fruit and she could tell that it was enriched with spiritual energy. The fruit in itself wasn''t a treasure but this particular one was considered a treasure because of the four spiritual circles that it had accumulated over the years.

    Very few people dared to enter the second circle of the Phoenix mountains, let alone coming as deep as the inner circle. It was kind of clear why no one ever noticed the fruit growing on a creeper that was located in the crack between two huge rocks that did their best to hide the creeper and the fruit from anyone passing by. Unless someone is particularly looking for that fruit, it was almost next to impossible to ever find it by chance.

    Within the next two hours, Da Xia ended up collecting almost nearly eleven or so treasures, mostly - flowers, fruits, herbs, gems, stems, and roots, that earned her a total of Twenty Thousand Prowess Points.

    By the time they finished just about half an hour before midnight, Da Xia had a beautiful smile on her lips as she was feeling both happy and content from inside out just thinking about all the prowess points that she had earned from the treasures that she had collected.

    "It''s almost time. Let''s head up." She told the kitty who nodded its little head before leading the way to the middle of the Xinling peak because unlike what others believed, the divine spiritual flower wasn''t located at the top of the cuff but in the middle of the cliff where a lot of poisonous plants were growing all around it to prevent anyone from getting their hands on the divine spiritual flower.

    As soon as they started heading up the peak, Da Xia noticed an entire herd of spiritual wolves that were guarding the perimeters of the cliff.

    "Goddess! I''m feeling very terrified at the moment. I just hope this ring will work properly and will get me through all this.." Da Xia muttered as she stared at the wolves who were staring right back at her as if the invisibility spell had stopped working completely.

 Chapter 115 - His Pure Aura

    "It''s that little brat...!"

    Jiang Ying Yue whispered under her breath as she stood up from her seat, ready to march towards the young man and teach him a lesson for lying to her.

    However, even before she could have gotten the chance to stand up from her seat, Silver cast a swift spell on her that enabled her from moving at all. She turned her face to glare at the girl who just smiled in return as if she (he) was totally innocent.

    ''I''m just stopping you from causing any scene here. I don''t think you want to be the center of attention of this party for beating a young handsome man for no particular reason. Besides, if you will calm down and try to ponder on the issue some more, you will be able to thread the clues together to find out exactly what''s going on with him.'' He responded through their mind link.

    Jiang Ying Yue relaxed in her seat as she too realized that she was in a royal banquet and needed to keep a low profile for her own good. As soon as she calmed down, the spell vanished, allowing her to move on her free will once again. She passed a glance at the young man and found him looking back at her with a small smile on his face. It was like he too was aware that she had finally recognized him.

    She gave him an unimpressed look before she turned her attention away from him and took in a deep breath to calm herself down completely. She once called out her powers and channeled them towards the young man, trying to read his energy and to recall the exact details of their first meeting in the mountains when she went out to find Immortals.

    The one and only thing for which she needed to thank this kid was for him to help her in finding her way to Wang Shu, not like she wouldn''t have found the Second Prince on her own considering he was her destined soulmate and the two of them were meant to meet one way or another. But she really needed to thank the young man for helping her.

    It took her a few seconds but soon things started unfolding in her mind. And it finally appeared to her that the young man actually didn''t lie to her back then. When they first met, he was in the form of a hellhound and he told her that he had been trapped in that form for years and couldn''t turn into his human form.

    Realizing his identity as the Hellhound, she thought that he lied to her back then but reading the energy difference between his current self and the past self, it appeared that he was indeed trapped in his hellhound form back then.

    Then the question was - how did he suddenly turn into a human form? And the fact that he was now sitting in the royal banquet also raised questions.

    She slowly opened her eyes and once again turned her attention towards the young man who immediately looked up at her with that same smile on his lips. To make things interesting, he finally stood up from his seat and headed straight towards her seat.

    Silver helped her to stand up as she turned her full attention towards the young man.

    "My Lady, it''s nice to finally meet you here at this banquet. I''ll like to propose a toast to you." The Hellhound boy said as he accepted a cup of wine from his servant and turned towards her, waiting for her to do the same.

    Jiang Ying Yue wanted to slap her forehead at the moment. She was just drinking hot herbal tea and now she would be drinking wine. Though she should not be worried about her health because neither the tea nor the wine was either beneficial or bad for her health considering she was a vampire even if she was trapped inside a human body.

    "Sure." She replied as she too accepted the wine cup from Silver before she turned her attention back to the boy and after raising her glass, she gulped down the wine.

    Right at that moment, the banquet hall became intensely silent as both Prime Minister Fang and General Gu''s families entered the hall, grabbing all the attention as they headed towards their respective seats.

    She nodded her head in regards as they all passed by her, moving straight towards the direction of the sitting arrangement placed specially for them. They were sitting on the right-hand side of the hall right below the platform where the empty seats were placed for the Princes.

    "Can you feel the cold? It''s like the temperature has suddenly dropped to zero." Jiang Ying Yue whispered to Silver as she kept her eyes focused on the Prime Minister''s family.

    "Are you sure it''s not in minus? Look again, some people are already trembling." He whispered back in her ear as he helped her in rearranging the table.

    As it was finally the time for the banquet to start, she won''t be needing tea anymore as they all would be making toasts. Besides, the taste of the wine was really good and she had decided to shift to wine from tea considering she won''t be getting drunk no matter how much she would end up drinking.

    "She''s about to appear." Silver suddenly whispered under his breath as his attention shifted towards the entrance of the hall.

    Jiang Ying Yue suddenly tensed as she turned her attention to Silver. "Will her dark aura cause trouble for you?" She asked as she couldn''t keep herself from worrying for him.

    Considering his powers were one of the purest kind, the dark aura was the last thing he needed to experience as the two energies would repel each other.

    ####

    Minister Fang and General Gu''s families entered the hall, grabbing all the attention as they headed towards their respective seats.

    She nodded her head in regards as they all passed by her, moving straight towards the direction of the sitting arrangement placed specially for them. They were sitting on the right-hand side of the hall right below the platform where the empty seats were placed for the Princes.

    "Can you feel the cold? It''s like the temperature has suddenly dropped to zero." Jiang Ying Yue whispered to Silver as she kept her eyes focused on the Prime Minister''s family.

    "Are you sure it''s not in minus? Look again, some people are already trembling." He whispered back in her ear as he helped her in rearranging the table.

    As it was finally the time for the banquet to start, she won''t be needing tea anymore as they all would be making toasts. Besides, the taste of the wine was really good and she had decided to shift to wine from tea considering she won''t be getting drunk no matter how much she would end up drinking.

    "She''s about to appear." Silver suddenly whispered under his breath as his attention shifted towards the entrance of the hall.

    Jiang Ying Yue suddenly tensed as she turned her attention to Silver. "Will her dark aura cause trouble for you?" She asked as she couldn''t keep herself from worrying for him.

    Considering his powers was one of the purest kind, the dark aura was the last thing he needed to experience as the two energies would repel each other.

    Minister Fang and General Gu''s families entered the hall, grabbing all the attention as they headed towards their respective seats.

    She nodded her head in regards as they all passed by her, moving straight towards the direction of the sitting arrangement placed specially for them. They were sitting on the right-hand side of the hall right below the platform where the empty seats were placed for the Princes.

    "Can you feel the cold? It''s like the temperature has suddenly dropped to zero." Jiang Ying Yue whispered to Silver as she kept her eyes focused on the Prime Minister''s family.

    "Are you sure it''s not in minus? Look again, some people are already trembling." He whispered back in her ear as he helped her in rearranging the table.

    As it was finally the time for the banquet to start, she won''t be needing tea anymore as they all would be making toasts. Besides, the taste of the wine was really good and she had decided to shift to wine from tea considering she won''t be getting drunk no matter how much she would end up drinking.

    "She''s about to appear." Silver suddenly whispered under his breath as his attention shifted towards the entrance of the hall.

    Jiang Ying Yue suddenly tensed as she turned her attention to Silver. "Will her dark aura cause trouble for you?" She asked as she couldn''t keep herself from worrying for him.

    Considering his powers was one of the purest kind, the dark aura was the last thing he needed to experience as the two energies would repel each other.

 Chapter 116 - The Mind Links

    "So... how does the hell look like?" Jiang Ying Yue asked as she picked up a red grape and popped it in her mouth.

    Since the hellhound was working for Empress Dowager, he could more or less be considered an acquaintance if not an ally. At least, they weren''t enemies.

    "Why don''t you come for a visit? Seeing and experiencing everything on your own will definitely be much better than hearing about it from me." The hellhound boy replied as he picked a grape from her bowl and popped it into his mouth.

    Jiang Ying Yue immediately covered her bowl of fruits with her hands as she glared at him. "Eat from your own bowl. How did you even dare to pick from mine?"

    The boy gave her an unhappy look as he seemed totally unimpressed by her reaction. "It''s just a grape. Why being so stinky?" He murmured under his breath but Jiang Ying Yue heard him clearly.

    "Hey, can I really visit your realm?" She asked after a few moments of silence while she kept her eyes fixed on the young lady from the Wen family who was playing the zither.

    "I think you can. While demons are prohibited from stepping out from the Demon Realm, there''s no rule saying that a mortal or an Immortal can''t go there. I can go in and out of the realm because I personally don''t belong to the Demon Realm, to begin with, but my identity as a hellhound bounds me to that realm."

    Jiang Ying Yue listened patiently as she seriously contemplated about visiting the Demon Realm after asking for permission from Empress Dowager. She wanted to see what kind of place it was that the demons didn''t want to live there anymore.

    For a moment, she pictured the demon realm as hell that she used to read about in ancient magic and history books. But the thought left her mind as soon as it appeared. A realm for demons wasn''t the same as hell in general.

    "What about those pixies? I can tell that they carry demonic powers, then how come they are allowed to step in and out from the Demon Realm?" She asked as she suddenly recalled the demon pixies that she had seen around Empress Dowager.

    "Her Grace has created them using the dark energy that''s present in the mortal realm. On one hand, it helped in purifying the spiritual qi in this realm, and on the other hand, she found some companions for herself." The hellhound boy answered while he enjoyed the wine.

    Jiang Ying Yue found herself turning to look at the woman who was deemed as the most powerful and also dangerous demon. However, from the very beginning, Ying Yue hadn''t felt any negative energy from that woman.

    The said woman suddenly turned her attention towards Ying Yue, giving her a quick wink which almost caused the latter to choke on the grape that she was eating.

    Jiang Ying Yue hurriedly looked around to see if someone had noticed the interaction between her and Empress Dowager but only found the hellhound boy and Silver paying attention while the rest were too focused on the performance and talking with each other.

    "Don''t worry, no one noticed." Silver whispered to her when he noticed her frowning.

    Letting out a small sigh of relief, she relaxed in her seat as she once again turned her attention towards Empress Dowager but the woman was no longer looking at her. Instead, she was talking about something with the Head Eunuch.

    It didn''t take her long to realize that it was finally the moment for which and probably everyone had been waiting for ever since the banquet started. All the eyes turned towards Her Grace as the woman stood up from her throne and moved to stand in front of her seat as she addressed her people. "Since all of you are present here, we will use this occasion to sort out a very important business. It''s time for us to correct the wrongs that had been happening in our Empire. But before we start on that, let''s welcome the Princes of our Hyuang Empire."

    Once again within a few minutes, Jiang Ying Yue found herself choking on a grape as she heard the announcement. Though she was waiting for the Princes to surprise her and everyone with their entry, she wasn''t expecting to get such a surprise. They were actually collaborating with their mother!

    Silver nudged her from behind when she forgot to follow the suit as the rest of the guests stood up to greet and welcome the Princes.

    It took barely a couple of seconds before the three Princes finally stepped inside the banquet hall. All three of them were looking majestic and ethereal in their high-quality clothes and the aura that they hold. It was hard deciding which Prince was better than the others.

    Everyone was left dazzled as they all stared wide-eyed at the Princes. It wasn''t until the Head Eunuch cleared his throat loudly to bring everyone out of their stupified state, did they all started greeting the Princes while also welcoming them back.

    While others looked mesmerized, Jiang Ying Yue was glaring daggers at the three of them. If looks could kill, the three of them would already have lost their lives.

    [Count it as a payback. You didn''t tell us about your plan of collaborating with our temporary mother and now we kept it a secret that we will be working with her to deal with the situations here in the Capital.]

    It was Qing Shan who spoke through the mind link that the two of them shared, a gift that they received after completing their soulmate bond.

    On the other hand, the only reason she could talk through the mind link with Silver without even completing their bond was that the two of them were linked together through an exchange of their blood. She was his Sire.

    ******

    [Flashback~

    Jiang Ying Yue was on her way to the Vampire Court as the Seelie Court had invited high members of all the supernatural courts for the Year-End Council meeting and for some weird reason, the Vampire Lord had chosen her to attend the meeting this year.

    "My lady, it''s getting darker. Do you want to stop by an inn to rest for the night?" The coachman asked as he stopped the carriage and came to stand next to the window to ask her about her decision of what they should do next.

    It was still medieval times and there was still a long way to go before the word technology would enter the dictionary of their world.

    Jiang Ying Yue, who was already irritated because of the ''attending the Council meeting'' thing, became even more irritated at the coachman''s words. She was suddenly regretting for leaving in such a hurry and not bringing her own men along with her.

    She lifted the drape of the window and looked outside to glare at the man who immediately gulped down his saliva as fear took over his eyes.

    "Are you afraid of the dark? Or are your tiger eyes unable to see in the darkness? Should I hire someone else for the job?" Just to be clear, she was genuinely asking those questions and there was only a little bit of taunting mixed in it.

    "No... No, my lady. It''s just... the guards of the Seelie Court have been hunting down a criminal around this area and this place isn''t considered safe during the night as they could mistake us..."

    "Unlike you, the Faes have sharp eyesight. They won''t dare to attack the carriage of a High Lord from the Blood Court. Now get moving. We need to reach the Night City before dawn." Jiang Ying Yue didn''t give the tiger shifter any chance to speak further as she cut him off before he could finish and threw a glowing crimson ball on the top of the carriage where it started hovering in mid-air while glowing brightly. It was a symbol of the carriage belonging to a High Lord from the Vampire Court.

    The coachman immediately kneeled down on the ground as he started looking repeatedly. "Your Grace, please forgive this lowly servant. I... I w-wasn''t aware of your..."

    "Enough!"

    Jiang Ying Yue gritted through her clenched teeth as she tried to not get angry at the poor man. She was already having trouble calming down after reading the official decree that the Vampire Lord had sent her and now she was dealing with a man who couldn''t listen to her directions properly.

    She took a deep breath to calm down a little bit before speaking, "Don''t worry too much. I''ll make sure that you won''t die here tonight. Let''s get moving."

    The coachman didn''t stall any longer and they immediately continued their journey.. The next few hours passed in silence as nothing bizzare happened but it didn''t last for long as all of sudden, the carriage came to a stop and Jiang Ying Yue heard a loud crash outside.

 Chapter 117 - A Halfling

    "What now?"

    Jiang Ying Yue murmured under her breath as she lifted the drapes of the carriage window to look outside but she got immediately blinded by the bright light that suddenly shone and disappeared, turning everything just as dark as before.

    Not having another option, she stepped out of the carriage and found the coachman lying unconscious on his seat. After quickly checking his pulse and making sure that he was alright, she moved her attention towards her surroundings.

    The darkness was her best friend and unlike others, she as a vampire was the last person to feel any sort of fear when surrounded by this friend of hers. Her eyes quickly scanned the area, searching for the source of that sudden light and the reason that stopped her from moving ahead.

    It was during that moment that she picked on the sweet smell of blood that had started to fill the air. Being a Vampire High Lord, she would have easily turned down the temptation of blood but for some weird reason, she couldn''t stop herself from giving in to the temptation this time.

    Even before she realized it, she had already started moving as her senses followed the direction from where the smell of the blood was coming. It was the sweetest and most tempting smell of blood she had come across in her entire life as a vampire. Her throat started drying up as the smell became strong with every step she took closer to the person who was the owner of this sweet blood.

    A few minutes later, she found herself standing in a little clearing in the middle of the woods with someone lying on the ground with a pool of blood around him. His entire body was covered in deep injuries and blood was rapidly oozing out. However, he was still alive.

    "A halfling..."

    She whispered as she stepped closer to where the young man was lying on the ground, struggling for his every next breath as his life was hanging on the very edge of the cliff of death. She took in his waist-length black hair that still looked silky smooth even though he was in such a poor state.

    His deep green eyes were looking right back at her with dozens of emotions swirling in them, the biggest one being hope. Was he hoping for her to save him? Jiang Ying Yue almost chuckled at the thought.

    As she silently took in the rest of his appearance, she noticed that he looked like a weakling belonging to the mortal world, and if not for the fact that she could sense his weak powers, she would have also considered him an intruder from the mortal world who had ended up walking through the veil and got attacked by some rogues.

    As she took a closer look at his wounds, she realized that they were no normal wounds. A small twitch appeared on her lips as she dragged her eyes to look straight into his emerald ones as she spoke, "So you are the said criminal that the Elementals were looking for. What a painful ending! You won''t be able to die at least for a few hours. They have made sure that you will learn the true meaning of pain tonight. What did you do to deserve such a punishment?"

    She was really interested to know the answer. The method that the faes had used to kill this young man was known to be the second most powerful and scariest one in their realm. The bright light that she saw a few moments ago belonged to the weapon that injured the man.

    "... P... P-pl-please... H... He...lp... m-me..."

    The young man somehow mustered out these barely audible words. If not for heightened hearing sense, she would have definitely missed them. Another twitch appeared on her lips as she crouched down beside him and pressed her finger against his cheek where a small cut was covered in blood.

    As soon as her finger was covered in his blood, she brought it back to her lips and licked it with the tip of her tongue. An immediate moan of satisfaction escaped her mouth as her entire body and soul hummed in pleasure after tasting the sweetest and most delicious blood that she had ever come across.

    She opened her eyes, which she had closed at some point without even realizing, and looked back at the young man. "Help? I think I can help you. How about I take your blood as compensation for my help? In return, you won''t need to get tortured for a long time before dying. We both will get what we want. Does this sound good?"

    The young man immediately started shaking his head as his eyes took on an impatient expression. His sudden movement only caused him more pain and his blood to seep out at a more rapid speed.

    "No? Then what do you want? Because I definitely want your blood. It''s really tasty." She whispered as she looked at him with raised eyebrows and a little evil smile playing on her crimson painted lips. It was probably the worst day in this young man''s life. First, he got tangled with the Seelie court and ended up in such a situation, and then she found him, only to add to his miseries."

    "Please... S-save... m...me..."

    He spoke through clenched teeth as he suddenly clutched her dress and immediately let out a groan filled with nothing but pain that was caused by his sudden movement.

    ####

    As she took a closer look at his wounds, she realized that they were no normal wounds. A small twitch appeared on her lips as she dragged her eyes to look straight into his emerald ones as she spoke, "So you are the said criminal that the Elementals were looking for. What a painful ending! You won''t be able to die at least for a few hours. They have made sure that you will learn the true meaning of pain tonight. What did you do to deserve such a punishment?"

    She was really interested to know the answer. The method that the faes had used to kill this young man was known to be the second most powerful and scariest one in their realm. The bright light that she saw a few moments ago belonged to the weapon that injured the man.

    "... P... P-pl-please... H... He...lp... m-me..."

    The young man somehow mustered out these barely audible words. If not for heightened hearing sense, she would have definitely missed them. Another twitch appeared on her lips as she crouched down beside him and pressed her finger against his cheek where a small cut was covered in blood.

    As soon as her finger was covered in his blood, she brought it back to her lips and licked it with the tip of her tongue. An immediate moan of satisfaction escaped her mouth as her entire body and soul hummed in pleasure after tasting the sweetest and most delicious blood that she had ever come across.

    She opened her eyes, which she had closed at some point without even realizing, and looked back at the young man. "Help? I think I can help you. How about I take your blood as compensation for my help? In return, you won''t need to get tortured for a long time before dying. We both will get what we want. Does this sound good?"

    The young man immediately started shaking his head as his eyes took on an impatient expression. His sudden movement only caused him more pain and his blood to seep out at a more rapid speed.

    "No? Then what do you want? Because I definitely want your blood. It''s really tasty." She whispered as she looked at him with raised eyebrows and a little evil smile playing on her crimson painted lips. It was probably the worst day in this young man''s life. First, he got tangled with the Seelie court and ended up in such a situation, and then she found him, only to add to his miseries."

    "Please... S-save... m...me..."

    He spoke through clenched teeth as he suddenly clutched her dress and immediately let out a groan filled with nothing but pain that was caused by his sudden movement.

    As she took a closer look at his wounds, she realized that they were no normal wounds. A small twitch appeared on her lips as she dragged her eyes to look straight into his emerald ones as she spoke, "So you are the said criminal that the Elementals were looking for. What a painful ending! You won''t be able to die at least for a few hours. They have made sure that you will learn the true meaning of pain tonight. What did you do to deserve such a punishment?"

    She was really interested to know the answer. The method that the faes had used to kill this young man was known to be the second most powerful and scariest one in their realm. The bright light that she saw a few moments ago belonged to the weapon that injured the man.

    "... P... P-pl-please... H... He...lp... m-me...."

 Chapter 118 - Patially True

    A That night, Da Xia mixed a sleeping potion in the food of Shu Mei and Bai Lin and made sure the two females won''t create trouble for her for the rest of the night so that she could easily take Qingtan to her husbands.

    She asked the kitty to double-check that the girls weren''t just acting of sleeping and only after the system confirmed that both of them were actually deep asleep and won''t won''t be waking up for at least the next six to seven hours, did she relax and start preparing to visit her husbands.

    She hurriedly heated the food before packing them up in the wooden crate and after placing the box in a warm hearth in the system''s space, she took hold of Qingtan''s arm and teleported both of them to Master Yichen''s secret manor before once again teleporting. This time, they landed at the entrance of the cave where the princes had been staying for quite some time by now.

    "Don''t you feel lonely staying at home all alone?" Qingtan asked as he followed behind her as they entered the game and started making their way deep into the dark space.

    "Why do you even ask such a stupid question? After staying with me for an entire day, do you seriously think that I have time to feel lonely amid the chaotic life that I''m living?" Da Xia asked the boy who slowly nodded his head in understanding, realizing that she was indeed too busy dealing with her daily life to have free time to feel lonely or anything like that.

    "There''s an abundance of spiritual energy stored here. This is really a good place for cultivating." He commented next as he looked around the cave. The deeper they went, the presence of spiritual energy kept getting stronger. He was actually curious to know why a cave was storing so much spiritual qi inside it.

    "There''s an underground stream in this cave. That''s why so much spiritual energy." Da Xia answered his unasked question with a little shrug of her shoulders as they reached the secret door built in the wall of the cave that opened into a nature-made staircase that led down in the cave.

    The two of them stayed silent after that and it took them barely five minutes or so before they appeared at the clearing where the princes were usually seen cultivating or resting. Da Xia looked around the area and spotted Little White, the baby snake that they found in the Phoenix Mountains, playing around a few rocks.

    As she approached the little snake, she realized that it was not playing with the tiny rocks but was actually trying to shift them with the end of its tail. The scene made her chuckle softly and it successfully grabbed the Little White''s attention who abandoned its rocks and turned its attention towards her.

    "Is it that snake you mentioned...?" Qingtan asked as he came to stand next to her. Da Xia slowly nodded her head in response before she took a few steps back to put some more distance between herself and Little While. Even though Little White was little, she did not doubt that it was just as dangerous as a big one from its family.

    While she was steeping back, her body came in contact with something hard and before she knew what was happening, strong arms came to surround her in a warm embrace of her husband. Without even turning around, she could tell that it was Li Wei who had pulled her into a back hug.

    "What is he trying to do with Little White?" Li Wei asked while signaling towards Qingtan with his chin before resting it on her shoulder for support.

    Da Xia looked in the direction he just pointed and found Qingtan kneeling next to Little White. For a moment, she was tempted to warn the boy to keep his distance from the snake but before she could whether to actually do it or not, she got to see a very surprising scene.

    The boy placed his hand on the ground upside down in front of Little White, his palm facing upwards. The little snake seemed just as clueless as Da Xia and Li Wei were but then after remaining still for a few seconds, it finally made a decision.

    The very next second, it was seen crawling towards the boy''s hand, and soon enough, it was curled up on the cold palm that belonged to the young boy. It even went as far as rubbing its head against Qingtan''s thumb and let out a purr like sound.

    "Who is this boy?"

    Da Xia was pulled out of her shocked state when she heard Li Wei''s question and as she finally turned her face slightly, she saw his eyes staring right at Qingtan. There was the same energy and sense of recognition present in his eyes that she saw in Li Jun''s eyes when he first saw Little White. It seemed like Qingtan was speaking the truth about him being the chosen spiritual best for the first prince of demons.

    Before Da Xia could say anything, Qingtan was there, standing right beside her as the boy stared back at Li Wei with dozen of emotions running through his eyes that it was impossible for her to pinpoint them. She was so focused on Qingtan and Li Wei''s silent communication that she ended up shrieking at the top of her lungs when Little White tried to jump into her arms.

    Li Wei was quick to pull her aside while Qingtan took a few steps back to create some distance between them. "Are you alright?" He asked Little White and the little snake gave a light nodding of its head in response, a view that ended up shocking Da Xia even more.

    "Xiaxia, are you okay?" Li Wei asked as he turned her to make her face him fully. His eyes were busy inspecting her arms to see if she was really alright or not. His worried expression made her smile as she gave his hands a light squeeze.

    "Where''s Jun''er?" She asked him to change the subject. Her eyes quickly scanned the from to see if she could find Li Jun hiding somewhere but the young demon prince was nowhere to be seen.

    Da Xia was pulled out of her shocked state when she heard Li Wei''s question and as she finally turned her face slightly, she saw his eyes staring right at Qingtan. There was the same energy and sense of recognition present in his eyes that she saw in Li Jun''s eyes when he first saw Little White. It seemed like Qingtan was speaking the truth about him being the chosen spiritual best for the first prince of demons.

    Before Da Xia could say anything, Qingtan was there, standing right beside her as the boy stared back at Li Wei with dozen of emotions running through his eyes that it was impossible for her to pinpoint them. She was so focused on Qingtan and Li Wei''s silent communication that she ended up shrieking at the top of her lungs when Little White tried to jump into her arms.

    Li Wei was quick to pull her aside while Qingtan took a few steps back to create some distance between them. "Are you alright?" He asked Little White and the little snake gave a light nodding of its head in response, a view that ended up shocking Da Xia even more.

    "Xiaxia, are you okay?" Li Wei asked as he turned her to make her face him fully. His eyes were busy inspecting her arms to see if she was really alright or not. His worried expression made her smile as she gave his hands a light squeeze.

    "Where''s Jun''er?" She asked him to change the subject. Her eyes quickly scanned the from to see if she could find Li Jun hiding somewhere but the young demon prince was nowhere to be seen.

    Da Xia was pulled out of her shocked state when she heard Li Wei''s question and as she finally turned her face slightly, she saw his eyes staring right at Qingtan. There was the same energy and sense of recognition present in his eyes that she saw in Li Jun''s eyes when he first saw Little White. It seemed like Qingtan was speaking the truth about him being the chosen spiritual best for the first prince of demons.

    Before Da Xia could say anything, Qingtan was there, standing right beside her as the boy stared back at Li Wei with dozen of emotions running through his eyes that it was impossible for her to pinpoint them. She was so focused on Qingtan and Li Wei''s silent communication that she ended up shrieking at the top of her lungs when Little White tried to jump into her arms.

    Before Da Xia could say anything, Qingtan was there, standing right beside her as the boy stared back at Li Wei with dozen of emotions running through his eyes that it was impossible for her to pinpoint them.. She was so focused on Qingtan and Li Wei''s silent communication that she ended up shrieking at the top of her lungs when Little White tried to jump into her arms.

 Chapter 119 - Sleep Sleep And Sleep

    "Not really. But it seemed like they could detect my spiritual aura and that''s why they decided to track me down and attack me. Maybe I came out as a threat to them." Li Jun answered as he gave her a small smile.

    Da Xia couldn''t tell if he was telling her the truth or not but she didn''t try to pry more into the topic. The two of them hurriedly returned to the underground stream where Li Wei and Qingtan were waiting for them.

    "Who''s he?" Li Jun questioned as he started at Qingtan with curious eyes.

    "He''s Ah Wei''s, Little White." Da Xia answered before either Li Wei or Qingtan could speak and just like she expected, a beautiful smile bloomed on Li Jun''s lips as realization dawned over him.

    "Now brother too have a Little White." Li Jun seemed pretty happy after finding out that Qingtan was Li Wei''s spiritual beast. "He''s already in his human form and my Little White still has a long journey to complete."

    Listening to Li Jun''s words, Da Xia recalled that she had something in her possession that didn''t belong to her. She took out the python''s spiritual core from her system''s space and handed it to Qingtan. "Can you help me return it to its real owner?" She requested and received a positive nod in response from the boy.

    Qingtan took the spiritual core and stepped closer to where Little White had been playing around the firewood that Li Jun just brought. It was probably due to their connection as spiritual beasts that made Little White act calmly around Qingtan. Besides, the latter was a powerful spirit beast with full seven spirit circles and had already gained his human form. Another reason why Little White behaved around him.

    They all watched as Qingtan channeled his spiritual energy into the spiritual core before letting Little White consume the spiritual core.

    "Master, let me cultivate with Little White tonight so that I can help in stabilizing the energy of the spiritual core." Qingtan turned around to ask for permission from Li Wei before turning to look at Li Jun and Da Xia.

    They all nodded their heads and Da Xia watched as Li Wei took them to a secluded corner in the other end of the stream where they could cultivate.

    "What is he doing with Little White?" Li Jun questioned as he started helping Da Xia in setting up the firewood to start a fire. As midnight was approaching, the temperature was getting lower and Da Xia could already feel goosebumps arising all over her arms because of the cold.

    "He''s only helping to make your Little White powerful. Don''t doubt the little boy." Da Xia quickly defended Qingtan as she left Li Jun to start the fire while she started preparing the table for their very late-night dinner.

    "You don''t like my Little White and now you are taking the side of that boy." Li Jun murmured as he clicked his fingers to start a fire.

    His complaining tone made Da Xia chuckle as she stopped what she was doing and moved closer to where her husband was standing. She let both her hands circle his waist from behind as she gave him a tight back hug while resting her head against his back.

    "I''m not picking sides. Qingtan is really a good boy and since he''s not only powerful but also able to take human form, he will be of great help to both of you in the future. Besides, the boy knows a lot and it will also benefit you. As for Little White... give me some time. I''m sure I''ll come to like it at some point."

    Li Jun smiled at his wife''s words and turned around to face her as he wrapped his arms loosely around her. "I know wifey is the best." He said while giving her a warm hug. Her body seemed small, soft but perfect against his and he didn''t want to let her go at all.

    "Are we eating or not?" Li Wei asked as he returned from the other side of the stream and took a seat to start the dinner.

    Da Xia and Li Jun pulled away from each other and turned to make their way towards the table where Li Wei was already seated and even though Da Xia had already eaten dinner, she still let Li Jun feed her every now and then as the man insisted. By the time they finished dinner and got ready to take a break, it was already midnight.

    "Are you guys planning to continue with your cultivation training?" Da Xia asked as she loaded all the dirty dishes back into the wooden crate before shifting the box inside the system to wash it later when she would return to her house.

    "I want to sleep with wifey." Li Jun shouted with excitement as he pulled her on the mattress that was spread over the hay laying on the cold ground of the cave.

    Da Xia almost choked on her saliva at his words and even though she knew that his words were totally innocent, she couldn''t help her mind from thinking of some images that did things to her body. Recently, she was realizing that she had started desiring her husbands and it sure didn''t seem like a good idea.

    "Wifey, you should sleep here, between Jun''er and brother." Li Jun said as he patted the space on his right. Da Xia didn''t get the chance to choose or even think because Li Wei was soon there, pulling her to lie down on the mattress before he took his place on her other side. Now, it was exactly what Li Jun wanted, her sleeping between both of them.

    Her current situation only made her cheeks flush as she realized just how close both her husbands were sleeping to her. She could already feel their bodies'' heat that engulfed her completely. She neither dared to turn right nor left as she couldn''t decide whom to face at the moment. That''s why she decided to stay in her current position, facing upwards, and sleep.

    However, sleep was the last thing on her mind. No matter how hard she tried to empty her mind and think about sleeping and relieving herself from her current misery, she couldn''t do that. Both her body and mind were aware of the two handsome and got men sleeping on either side of her and this knowledge was not letting her sleep.

    "Xiaxia, are you alright?"

    She heard Li Wei asking from her left and without even turning her face to look at him, she nodded her head and then even hummed to respond in positive. She would be perfectly okay if they would leave her alone for some time.

    "Wifey, are you feeling cold?" Li Jun asked from her right side and as Da Xia felt him turning on his side to face him, she almost cursed out loudly. Because he turned his body, the space between them decreased and now she could even feel the contest touch of his warm breath against her shoulder.

    "A little bit." She muttered out as a reply to his question before she wrapped both her arms around her chest as if to warm herself up a little bit. But her answer and action were not the right thing to say or do because the very next second, she found herself wrapped in two pairs of strong arms that belonged to her husbands.

    Her eyes flew open and as she turned her head to look at both sides, she found her husbands right beside her. Their faces were so close that one little mistake from her and she would end up kissing them on their eyes, cheeks, nose, or some other places.

    "Now, you won''t feel cold. You can sleep without any worry." Li Jun told her as he rested his face next to her face, nuzzling against her neck before he took a deep breathe and relaxed.

    ###

    She heard Li Wei asking from her left and without even turning her face to look at him, she nodded her head and then even hummed to respond in positive. She would be perfectly okay if they would leave her alone for some time.

    "Wifey, are you feeling cold?" Li Jun asked from her right side and as Da Xia felt him turning on his side to face him, she almost cursed out loudly. Because he turned his body, the space between them decreased and now she could even feel the contest touch of his warm breath against her shoulder.

    "A little bit." She muttered out as a reply to his question before she wrapped both her arms around her chest as if to warm herself up a little bit. But her answer and action were not the right thing to say or do because the very next second, she found herself wrapped in two pairs of strong arms that belonged to her husbands.

    Her eyes flew open and as she turned her head to look at both sides, she found her husbands right beside her. Their faces were so close that one little mistake from her and she would end up kissing them on their eyes, cheeks, nose, or some other places.

    "Now, you won''t feel cold.. You can sleep without any worry." Li Jun told her as he rested his face next to