The Crying Mermaids and Yu Wan'er Eavesdropping

The palace of the Jialan Clan.

The architecture was extravagantly opulent, countless times grander than the dragon palace Jiang Che had built.

Especially the thousand-meter-tall mermaid statue at the heart of the palace, so lifelike it seemed real.

"Princess, what should we do? I don’t want to marry a barbarian from the lower realm. I’ve heard humans are terribly crude, wuuu~~~"

A breathtakingly beautiful mermaid covered her face and wept, her eyes brimming with tears, her delicate frame trembling pitifully, flawless in every curve.

The other mermaids wore varied expressions, but none were in high spirits.

They were pawns—discarded by their clan and sent to the lower realm for a political marriage. Though they’d heard the man in question was a supreme cultivation prodigy, adopted as the eleventh imperial heir by the Jiang Family, with a future of limitless potential...

The mere thought of him being a lower-realm savage twisted their hearts. As celebrated mermaids of their race, their voices were melodious, their dances peerless, with fans numbering in the trillions across the Southern Maelstrom Heaven.

In short, they had the pride of idols.

"Princess, if it were an imperial heir from the Nine Heavens, we might resign ourselves to serving him. But a native from the lower realms... How can we sisters accept this?"

Another mermaid, with the demeanor of a mature beauty, flicked her tail, her face etched with resentment.

It was like forcing a beloved superstar to entertain some upstart nouveau riche. They wouldn’t refuse outright, but disdain and prejudice would fester.

"Don’t worry. I’ll accompany you to the lower realm and personally deal with that despicable lecher!"

Jia Ling'er glared at the mermaids weeping before her, her anger mounting.

Her contempt for Jiang Che had reached its peak.

"Ah?" One mermaid gasped, staring at Jia Ling'er. "Princess... You’re going to the lower realm? That’s absolutely out of the question! If you fall into that pervert’s clutches..."

"Indeed! You’re the Queen’s only bloodline. If Her Majesty finds out..."

The mermaids panicked. They’d never intended for Jia Ling'er to descend with them. If anything happened... it could alter the Jialan Clan’s fate for millennia. This was no trivial matter!

"No need. My decision is final. I’ve reached the peak of the Nine Revolutions Transcendent Realm, armed with countless protective treasures. Even a Martial God wouldn’t be assured victory against me, let alone a mere Nirvana-stage cultivator threatening my life."

Jia Ling'er’s eyes blazed with confidence.

The mermaids exchanged glances. Though they’d been forced into this arrangement, if the princess accompanied them... their fears would ease considerably.

"If the Princess insists, we won’t dissuade you..." The mature mermaid bowed slightly.

Though they appeared close, the gap in status was vast. Had Jia Ling'er not summoned them, they’d never have stood so near her.

A woman’s heart is as fathomless as the ocean—especially for mermaids who dwelled in its depths.

"But Princess, the teleportation roster is finalized, overseen by a Creation-stage elder. How will you descend?"

Jia Ling'er laughed heartily, hands on her hips. "What’s so hard about that?"

She produced a hairpin. "This is a Quasi-Emperor artifact gifted by my mother. It conceals aura, shifts forms, and bears a wisp of imperial law. Even a Creation-stage expert couldn’t see through it. I’ll disguise myself as one of you and take your place..."

The other mermaids brightened. If she replaced one of them... wouldn’t that mean one less sister suffering below?

Many eyes lingered on the golden hairpin in Jia Ling'er’s hand. Envy was inevitable.

Both were mermaids, yet Jia Ling'er was nobility—the Queen’s sole descendant, a true imperial daughter. Even her hairpin was a Quasi-Emperor artifact!

They, though born with silver spoons, paled in cultivation potential and privilege, little more than servants to their mistress.

......

"Jiang Che, you’ve gotten even handsomer lately!"

Qin Qiaoqiao was ecstatic, her eyes glued to Jiang Che, noticing even the slightest change.

"Hmm... he really has. His skin looks better than mine!" Ye Mengyao leaned in, scrutinizing him.

After consuming the Heavenly Origin Pill, Jiang Che’s body had purified, enhancing his looks.

"Wan'er, don’t you think so? Did Jiang Che sneak some beauty elixir?" Ye Mengyao tugged Yu Wan'er over.

"Oh sure, prettier so he can seduce more women. Typical man!"

Yu Wan'er rolled her eyes. After the Xiao triplets left, she’d hidden in the closet and overheard Jia Yue’s words.

A whole troop of mermaids from the Jialan Clan was descending soon, yet Ye Mengyao and the others remained oblivious, laughing without a care.

"Wan'er, aren’t you used to it by now? I am... As long as Jiang Che loves us, isn’t that enough?"

Qin Qiaoqiao was remarkably accepting, looping her arms around Jiang Che’s neck and planting a kiss on his cheek, her smile revealing adorable little fangs.

"Love is either mutual devotion between two... or once a third appears, what’s the difference between three and thirty?"

Yu Wan'er and Ye Mengyao: "..."

What nonsense. Absolute nonsense.

Technically, Qin Qiaoqiao was Jiang Che’s first. The others came later.

Jiang Che wrapped his arms around her waist. With a wife like this, what more could he ask for?

See how clear-headed she was?

Yu Wan'er remained impassive. "Qiaoqiao, what if I told you... the Jialan Clan is sending Jiang Che six stunning mermaid wives? How’d you feel?"

Qin Qiaoqiao: "???"

Silence. Awkward silence.

"Ahem! Yu Wan'er, don’t slander me. What mermaid wives? They’re just maids sent by the Jialan Clan. Maids, got it? Our dragon palace lacks talented singers and dancers."

Jiang Che’s excuse wasn’t convincing.

"Jiang Che! I’ll tolerate your flirtations, even your philandering. But... you can’t abandon us!"

Yu Wan'er glared, her tone fierce... yet her words utterly defeated.

Jiang Che couldn’t help but laugh. "Fine, I’ll swear a heavenly oath, alright?"

He raised his hand. "I vow to the heavens: Any woman I take, I’ll never cast aside lightly. Otherwise, may I..."

He paused, glancing at Yu Wan'er, who stood arms crossed—though the petite girl had little to cross.

"I was about to swear a poisonous oath—shouldn't you have rushed to cover my mouth?"

Yu Wan'er snorted lightly. "Struck by lightning? Even that terrifying heavenly tribulation last time couldn’t kill you. What’s the point of a damn oath?"

Jiang Che: "..."

P.S. Cultivation Realms: Shattering Heaven Stage, Divine Comprehension Stage, Martial God Stage, Nirvana Stage, Creation Realm, Quasi-Emperor, Great Emperor, Immortal...