Ten Years of Love Was Just a Dream After All

Facts proved that Shangguan Wan'er's worries were superfluous.

Instead of leading to the nation's downfall, the Great Xia Immortal Dynasty thrived under the bizarre rule of this incompetent emperor and her bewitching consort, reaching an unprecedented peak of power and prosperity.

Although Ye Xuan ignored court affairs, the few words he overheard while dozing on the dragon throne and the casual suggestions he offered often brought sudden enlightenment to Shangguan Wan'er and the civil and military officials, solving many problems that had plagued them for years.

Over time, the ministers grew accustomed to it.

They even formed a bizarre tacit understanding:

Whenever there was an unsolvable problem, they would find a way to accidentally run into Lady Consort Xuan in the imperial study when he was in a good mood.

Lady Consort Xuan, this humble official is overwhelmed by border trade issues. I wonder if you have any brilliant insights?

Lady Consort Xuan, I heard you have thoroughly studied formations. Our dynasty's protective grand array has been somewhat unstable lately...

And Ye Xuan was happy to enjoy this feeling of being worshiped.

He would sit with his legs crossed, cracking melon seeds, and after listening to the problems, he would offer wildly imaginative solutions.

Often, his seemingly unorthodox ideas would yield miraculous results.

He became the invisible Grand Emperor of the Great Xia Immortal Dynasty.

An existence who did not sit on the dragon throne but was more effective than the emperor herself.

Meanwhile, Wu Lingxiao completely became a hands-off boss.

She delegated all her power to Shangguan Wan'er and the cabinet, devoting herself entirely to Ye Xuan.

She accompanied him, walking through every corner of the imperial palace.

In spring, they flew kites in the imperial garden. Ye Xuan's kite flew the highest, and Wu Lingxiao would clap and cheer from below.

In summer, they went boating on the Taiye Pool. Ye Xuan would lie at the bow of the boat fishing, while Wu Lingxiao held an umbrella to shield him from the scorching sun, occasionally feeding him peeled lotus seeds.

In autumn, they climbed the palace walls to watch the falling leaves fill the sky. Ye Xuan would improvise a few cheesy poems, and Wu Lingxiao would grind ink by his side, her eyes filled with an undeniable, deep love as she gazed at his profile.

In winter, they boiled snow over a stove in the Ganlu Hall. Ye Xuan would tell her stories he had heard from the mortal realm, from Monkey Sun Wreaking Havoc in Heaven to Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, often making Wu Lingxiao burst into laughter one moment and shed tears the next.

These ten years were the most human-like ten years Wu Lingxiao had lived in centuries.

She was no longer that aloof, supreme symbol, but an ordinary woman in love who could laugh, cry, act coquettishly, and get jealous.

Of course, arguments also occurred from time to time.

For example, Ye Xuan would complain that the food she cooked was terrible.

Wu Lingxiao, are you trying to poison me? This fish probably died with remaining grievances, didn't it?

Nonsense! This is called... this is called my original flavor!

For example, Ye Xuan would complain that she was a restless sleeper.

I'm warning you, if you steal my blanket again, I'll kick you off the bed!

Husband, I'm cold...

For example, Ye Xuan would be jealous for a whole day just because she accidentally took an extra glance at a young, handsome guard.

He would deliberately ignore her, sulking alone in his room.

It wasn't until Wu Lingxiao banished that unlucky guard to watch over the imperial mausoleum and spent half a day humbly coaxing him that he would finally do her the honor of grumbling and letting her kiss him.

These sweet days, tinged with the warmth of everyday life, gradually warmed Ye Xuan's once broken and cold heart.

He started to take the initiative to hold her hand.

On her birthday, he would personally carve a wooden hairpin for her—ugly, but full of heart.

When she had nightmares late at night, he would hold her tightly in his arms and softly comfort her.

That once bottomless scar seemed to slowly scab over under the washing of time.

However, just when everyone thought they would continue living happily like this.

The appearance of one person shattered this ten-year-long peace.

The Limitless Holy Sect was one of the top immortal cultivation sects outside the borders of Great Xia, possessing unfathomable foundations.

And Ye You, as the Holy Son of the Limitless Holy Sect, not only possessed the legendary Dark Night Divine Physique, but had also stepped into the Tribulation Transcendence stage at the age of five hundred, being hailed as a peerless genius rarely seen in ten thousand years in the cultivation world.

He lacked neither resources nor status, nor even women. But he just had to set his sights on the Great Xia's Female Emperor, Wu Lingxiao.

Conquering a woman who owns the world is far more interesting than conquering the world itself.

These were Ye You's exact words before entering the palace.

Carrying the marriage intentions of two great sects and countless rare treasures, Ye You grandly moved into the side hall of the Weiyang Palace under the identity of the Limitless Holy Son.

When he first entered the palace, Ye You was brimming with confidence.

He had handsome features and an elegant bearing, dressed in clothes whiter than snow. Whether in terms of looks or cultivation, he believed he was more than enough to crush any man in the world.

He thought that relying on his charm and the power behind him, winning over the Female Emperor was only a matter of time.

However, reality dealt him a harsh slap in the face.

Half a month into his stay at the palace, he had barely even seen the Female Emperor's face.

To his astonishment, he discovered that the legendary decisive, ruthless, and peerlessly domineering Female Emperor was actually acting like an ordinary mortal wife, revolving all day around that Consort Xuan who was only at the Golden Core stage.

Your Majesty, this subject is playing the zither for you...

Get lost, don't disturb my husband's nap.

Your Majesty, this is a tribute from the Limitless Holy Sect...

Just leave it there. I still have to go peel shrimp for my husband.

Standing in the shadows, Ye You watched Wu Lingxiao's submissive and cautious demeanor in front of Ye Xuan, and watched how Ye Xuan would pull a long face at the slightest displeasure, forcing the red-eyed Female Emperor to coax him.

A strong sense of absurdity and jealousy grew wildly in Ye You's heart.

Why?

Ye You crushed the jade cup in his hand, his eyes sinister:

Does a piece of trash at the Golden Core stage deserve to ride on the head of a Tribulation Transcendence stage Female Emperor?

He noticed a trace of exhaustion and unwillingness hidden deep in Wu Lingxiao's eyes.

That was the resentment accumulated from suppressing her true nature and playing the virtuous wife for a long time.

Ye You smiled.

What he excelled at most was excavating the cracks in people's hearts.

The opportunity soon arrived.

For the past few days, Ye Xuan had lost his temper over a certain matter and hadn't spoken to Wu Lingxiao for three days.

Feeling irritated, Wu Lingxiao was drowning her sorrows with wine in the imperial garden.

The sound of a zither rang out.

The melody was like weeping and complaining, capable of evoking the most secret desires in one's heart.

Wu Lingxiao looked toward the sound and saw Ye You sitting under the moonlight, his white clothes brighter than snow. The notes flowing from his fingertips were exactly her favorite piece from her youth, Phoenix Seeking His Mate.

It's you? Wu Lingxiao's drunken eyes were blurred as she waved her attendants away.

Your Majesty seems to be in a bad mood.

Ye You stopped playing the zither and stood up to bow. His movements were smooth and flowing, exuding a nobility and elegance that Ye Xuan lacked:

This subject saw that the gloom between Your Majesty's brows is hard to dispel, and I boldly guess, is it because of Lady Consort Xuan?

At the mention of Ye Xuan, Wu Lingxiao's expression darkened, and she smiled bitterly, My husband... he is stubborn and is still angry with me.

Ye You slowly approached, stopping three steps away from Wu Lingxiao. This distance was neither offensive nor prevented her from smelling a faint fragrance on him.

Your Majesty, forgive my bluntness.

Ye You's voice was deep, carrying a hint of bewitchment:

"You are the Supreme Sovereign, the ruler of Great Xia. Over the past ten years, you have washed your hands of worldly affairs to cook for him, concealing your sharp edges. You have done more than enough. But Lady Consort Xuan... has never truly understood your difficulties."

"He is merely a Golden Core cultivator, while you are a mighty Almighty of the Tribulation Transcendence realm."

"This inequality dooms him to be sensitive, suspicious, and even... unreasonable when facing you."

These words accurately struck Wu Lingxiao's sore spot.

For the past ten years, she had lived too exhaustingly.

She had to constantly cater to Ye Xuan's sensitive ego and suppress her own imperial pride.

Seeing Wu Lingxiao fall silent, Ye You emboldened himself, took a step forward, and knelt on one knee before her. He looked up, his gaze burning:

"Your Majesty, you are not just a wife; you are a woman, and an Emperor."

"You also need to let loose, need to be served, and need... true happiness."

"Lady Consort Xuan is frail and cannot bear your thunderous grace. But this subject is different."

An aura of the Tribulation Transcendence realm suddenly erupted from Ye You's body. The aura was powerful and domineering, instantly resonating with Wu Lingxiao's spiritual energy:

"This subject possesses the Dark Night Divine Physique and is also at the Tribulation Transcendence realm. This subject... can bear it."

"This subject is willing to be the shadow behind Your Majesty, asking for neither title nor status. I only ask to share Your Majesty's burdens, allowing Your Majesty to have a moment of... reckless indulgence in these long years."

Wu Lingxiao's heart suddenly skipped a beat.

She looked at the peerlessly handsome and powerful man before her.

It was the aura of a kindred spirit.

It was the aura of a powerhouse.

At this moment, the blood in her body began to boil. The desire to conquer, suppressed for ten years, screamed madly under the influence of alcohol.

But the next moment, Ye Xuan's cold and aloof face surfaced in her mind.

"From now on, you shall remain faithful to me, and I shall be your only one."

It was like a basin of cold water being poured over her.

"Insolent!"

Wu Lingxiao suddenly stood up and kicked Ye You away. Her eyes were panicked, yet she put on a fierce front:

"What kind of person do you take me for? I promised my husband that it would be just the two of us for our entire lives!"

"Scram! Scram back to your side palace right this instant!"

Ye You was kicked to the ground, but he did not panic.

Because he saw the Empress's trembling fingers as she turned around, and the lack of true murderous intent in her eyes.

She was hesitating.

She was struggling.

"Yes, this subject takes his leave." Ye You wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and respectfully withdrew.

The moment he turned around, a cold smile of inevitable victory curled the corners of his lips.

The seed had already been planted. Its blossoming and bearing fruit was only a matter of time.