Chapter 185: Chapter 185

"What? A fox spirit?"

Mu Hongxuan was shocked, dizzy on the spot. "Ever since I’ve known the Princess, I feel like my half-life experiences have become enriched."

"Then shouldn’t you be grateful to me?" Yu Nianzhao teased him effortlessly.

Mu Hongxuan scratched his nose, awkwardly saying, "Actually, I feel that ignorance is bliss at this moment."

Xie Jiuxiao’s lips curled up, "Listening to the Princess, letting her broaden your horizons, isn’t so bad either."

Mu Hongxuan was on the verge of tears, as he was merely a guard, he didn’t need to broaden such horizons.

As dawn broke, amidst ghostly cries and wolf howls, the fox spirit dashed out of the small grove, panting as it returned the gourd to Yu Nianzhao.

"Sir, I have refined it according to your instructions, and consumed quite a bit of demon energy."

The fox spirit’s eyes whirled, speaking in a way clearly aiming for credit.

"Understood. If you obediently work for me, you’ll naturally receive good things. Return to the Temple of King Yan to absorb the incense smoke. Walk the righteous path and approach Buddha, and the benefits will be plentiful."

Yu Nianzhao shook the gourd, and indeed, several pills were inside. Her eyebrows curved as she grabbed a wisp of purple energy from Jiu Ying’s shadow and tossed it to the fox spirit, giving him a taste of the reward.

"Thank you, sir. Thank you!"

The fox spirit swallowed the purple energy, smiling gratefully while lying on the ground, its tail happily wagging.

When the sunlight hit, Yu Nianzhao had already returned to Prince Su Mansion, and fed the pills from the gourd to Dongfang Chenyue.

The medicinal effect took hold, causing the corpse poison to dissipate visibly.

"The corpse poison has mostly disappeared."

Seeing Dongfang Chenyue’s face gain some color, Yu Nianzhao sighed in relief, "It’s just that this cold syndrome is a lingering effect and may take some time to fully vanish."

"It’s not easy for my sister to survive, many thanks to the Princess for saving her."

Dongfang Chenyuan’s nose felt sour as he sincerely expressed his gratitude.

"It’s no bother! I said it from the start; whatever originates from me, I must solve it."

Dongfang Chenyue awoke from her slumber. Though her body felt cold, her spirits were alright. Recalling past events, she sat up and threw herself into Yu Nianzhao’s embrace.

"Boo hoo hoo... Zhaozhao, that ugly thing almost ate me. My arm hurts so much. I’m not dead, right? Did you save me? I’m so cold, I feel cold all over..."

Dongfang Chenyue acted coyly in Yu Nianzhao’s arms, crying with tears and mucus.

Yu Nianzhao was quite helpless, "It’s okay now, that ugly thing is dead beyond death. Rest assured, you’re safe, and the corpse poison has receded. After some rest, you’ll recover."

Xie Jiuxiao glared at Dongfang Chenyue, his eyes filled with murderous intent.

He hadn’t even held Zhaozhao , and yet she dared to snuggle in her embrace endlessly? Truly infuriating!

"Ahem, Prince, Yue has survived from a near-death experience, hence she’s a bit emotional."

Having sensed the murderous aura from Xie Jiuxiao, Dongfang Chenyuan hurriedly explained, lest Dongfang Chenyue, freshly free from corpse poison, be eliminated by Xie Jiuxiao.

Turning to Dongfang Chenyue, "Yue, it’s the Princess who found the antidote for you, freeing you from the corpse poison. You should indeed thank her properly."

"Yes yes, life-saving grace, repay with my body..."

Dongfang Chenyue’s words were barely out before Xie Jiuxiao interrupted her, nearly tossing her out.

Fortunately, Yu Nianzhao pushed Xie Jiuxiao out of the room, thus averting a conflict.

"Zhaozhao, what’s this Buddha string about?"

Alone together, Xie Jiuxiao asked in a muffled voice, curious about his heart’s doubt.

"Nothing much. Just infused it with a touch of spiritual power, otherwise, it would’ve disintegrated in the ghost realm."

Yu Nianzhao had just finished her bath, her hair damp, drying it with a cloth as she casually replied to him.

His tall figure slowly approached her from behind, a clear and cold scent wafting from Xie Jiuxiao. He naturally took the cloth, gently helping her to dry her hair. "That kind of power gave me a strong feeling that it’s not simply spiritual power, right?"

"Eh? What else could it be?"

Yu Nianzhao blinked her beautiful eyes, innocently saying, "Even as the person involved, I said it’s spiritual power. What are you worried about?" ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ novelFirｅ.net

Xie Jiuxiao spoke with a deep voice, "This is the first time you’re injured, how could I not worry? Since you’ve been beside me, I’ve never seen you hurt. This is the first time, and it’s because of me..."

"Xie Jiuxiao, we’re partners. I said I’d ensure your safety, and I will, so you don’t need to worry about me!"

She perceived the guilt and unease in his tone, and earnestly said, "Come on, what was your mindset when you first heard I could save you? Wasn’t it that you were resigned to fate? That mindset was pretty good, wasn’t it?"

He let out a long sigh, "Zhaozhao, can anyone be unmoved? We’ve been together for so long, and we’re still just partners?"

Yu Nianzhao slightly tilted her head, feeling a subtle emotion in her heart, but without romantic entanglement, she couldn’t quite articulate it.

Xie Jiuxiao took a deep breath, "My imperial brother has already set the wedding date for us, scheduled for after the fall, when the weather is cool and pleasant, the perfect time for a wedding."

Yu Nianzhao didn’t have much thought regarding marriage. It’s just a more legitimate reason to stay by Xie Jiuxiao’s side.

A body walking among humans, it merely serves as an identity for her to exist in the mortal realm.

"Zhaozhao, don’t you feel anything?"

Xie Jiuxiao frowned tightly, evidently dissatisfied with Yu Nianzhao’s attitude. "Marriage is a big deal, do you think just a partnership can lead to marriage?"

"Don’t you want to marry me?" Yu Nianzhao asked, her eyes puzzled.

Xie Jiuxiao felt a pang in his chest, denying, "Of course not. I never thought about being with a woman before, let alone marrying. Initially, I indeed thought of using you to crack my destiny, and the marriage proposal was merely an expedient plan at the time. But now, it’s different. I find marrying you is something to aspire to."

His expression became much more tender. "Imagining a future where we admire each other and have many descendants makes me feel happy just thinking about it."

Yu Nianzhao sensed the change in Xie Jiuxiao’s emotions, feeling a bittersweet warmth in her heart.

"But, having many descendants is unlikely, right."

Yu Nianzhao blinked her beautiful eyes, breaking the atmosphere unexpectedly.

Her body was already dead, extending life was one thing, but bearing children was impossible, unless it was a stillborn.