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Lan Xi listened, her eyelids twitched slightly, and her lips stiffly moved.

"So, he made decisions for me without my consent. He traded his life to bring me back to the Immortal Realm. Did he ever ask me?" Lan Xi clenched her fists, fueled with frustration. She had waited for him to propose, but he had been slow to act.

"Lan Xi, calm down. He did it for you." Mi Xi said. Back then, he was willing to let them be together, but Shaoqing disagreed.

He said that Lan Xi could owe him, but not owe anyone else.

"For my sake, he left me!" Lan Xi couldn’t help but be agitated. Once, she and he shared life, vowed to accompany each other through lifetimes, never to be separated.

He had also said that wherever she was, was his ends of the world.

But now?

Did he despise the Demon Realm or did he find her too ugly?

Lan Xi only felt a suffocating discomfort in her heart.

Now, a man identical to him appears, could he be her Ah Qing?

Even if he is, he has forgotten her.

Rebirth signifies a new beginning.

Why was Ah Qing so cruel in making choices for her?

As long as they were together, living in the dark, sunless Demon Realm wouldn’t be bad.

"Junior sister, he has sincere feelings for you. You must believe he will return for you." Mi Xi comforted.

"You should go! I want to be alone." Lan Xi leaned against the cherry blossom tree, her long lashes tightly shut. As she breathed, petals fell on her, inexplicably making her feel desolate.

She foolishly waited for him, waited for twenty thousand years, thinking he had important matters, and once done, would return to marry her.

In the end, he became someone else, with a completely different identity, a stranger.

Her Ah Qing was dead...

Mi Xi hesitated to speak, realizing that no amount of persuasion would help, so he opted to watch over Quan Shaoqing, hoping he was the reincarnation of Ah Qing.

Inside the hall, Quan Shaoqing’s gaze fell on Cui Luo’s back.

He found the hairpin on her head incredibly familiar.

In countless midnight dreams, he always saw the silhouette of a stranger woman in a water-blue dress, with jet-black hair flowing like a waterfall.

No matter how hard he tried, he could never see the woman’s face, only remembering the exquisite jade hairpin slanting in her bun.

The Heavenly Emperor, noticing Quan Shaoqing’s prolonged gaze on Cui Luo, smiled and asked, "I wonder if the Mortal Emperor has any intention of marrying?"

Returning to his senses, Quan Shaoqing slightly shook his head, "My father wishes for me to pacify the world soon and bring peace to the Mortal World, naturally making marriage secondary."

"Then, is there a lady you fancy in my Heavens? If so, I’d be glad to make the match for the Mortal Emperor." The Heavenly Emperor laughed.

Quan Shaoqing shook his head, "Thanks for the heavenly emperor’s kindness, my family has already arranged a marriage for me."

Simply put, an empress had already been chosen for him. If he married from the Heavens, it would only be taking a concubine.

Bu Qiao and Gu Mo were both raised by Lan Xi herself.

They didn’t know much about Lan Xi’s affairs, but this person before them, whether in name, appearance, or temperament, closely resembled the former Shaoqing.

Hearing such words, it was inevitable they felt displeased.

"So, the Mortal Emperor is engaged. May I ask who the empress is?" Bu Qiao inquired.

Quan Shaoqing saw no reason to hide it; he would wed when he turned thirty thousand years old and invite everyone to celebrate. "The young princess Nie Shu of the Fire Phoenix Clan."

"Oh!" The Heavenly Emperor nodded. "The Fire Phoenix Clan has been hidden for millions of years; marrying their young princess is indeed a stroke of luck. Then I extend my early congratulations to the Mortal Emperor."

Bu Qiao set down his wine cup, his gaze growing solemn.

The Fire Phoenix Clan were divine descendants. Although not as esteemed as Lan Xi, who was a god herself, they were still of noble lineage.

In the Ancient Clan, many old-timers were formidable. Various forces sought to ally with them, none daring to offend.

It seems the Mortal Emperor has come well-prepared, explaining why, in just twenty thousand years, he revived the reputation of the once-declined Imperial Power Clan.

Hearing this, Cui Luo appeared slightly disheartened.

However, given her status, even marrying into a concubine role wouldn’t be impossible.

Yet, such a matter, how could she shamelessly suggest it herself?

With her head lowered, the Queen Mother of the West saw through her thoughts.

She only had this one child and wished for her to live well. While Quan Shaoqing was indeed a superior choice, having her daughter become a concubine was something she couldn’t accept.

"Ah Luo, I hope you will have a good life. Marriage isn’t child’s play. Know where to draw the line."

Cui Luo nodded, but internally she felt empty.

Once you fall for someone, it’s impossible to let go.

If she could, being a concubine to Quan Shaoqing would be fine.

Until the banquet ended, Lan Xi never returned.

In a gesture of goodwill, the Heavenly Emperor gave some of his Imperial wine to Quan Shaoqing.

Not refusing, Quan Shaoqing had Zhi Yi fetch it while he strolled through the Imperial Garden.

As he entered the garden, he saw a woman asleep in a pavilion, leaning against a stone pillar with a wine pot in her hand.

Seemingly troubled, her sleep was restless, her brow furrowing as if stricken by a nightmare.

"Ah Qing!" Lan Xi suddenly awoke, the wine jar slipping from her hand.

She hurried to retrieve it, but another hand got to it first.

Unintentionally, she held onto that man’s hand.

Feeling the heat of the man’s wrist, Lan Xi quickly withdrew her hand and looked up.

There stood Quan Shaoqing before her, expression indifferent, his gaze deep.

She froze again.

Quan Shaoqing didn’t know why, but hearing her call Ah Qing, made his heart inexplicably pound.

The voice was incredibly familiar, as though the woman who had haunted his dreams had stepped out into reality.

"Have we met before, Miss?" Quan Shaoqing handed back the wine pot.

Lan Xi supported herself against the rail to stand up.

Though slightly intoxicated, her mind was clear.

Step by step, she forced Quan Shaoqing to retreat, a cautious look appearing in his deep eyes.

Ultimately, with no space left, Lan Xi cornered him against a stone pillar.

"Miss? Try calling me that again," Lan Xi fumed. Her Ah Qing would never call her that.

He loved it when she called him Ah Qing!

"Aun--!" Realizing his mistake, the word swallowed back!

Instinctually, Quan Shaoqing’s heart trembled, feeling inexplicably guilty.

He once commanded with his sword, leading troops, unafraid even in the face of bloodshed.

Yet somehow, he genuinely feared the woman before him.

"Aunty?" Lan Xi reached out, her fingers lifting Quan Shaoqing’s handsome chin, eyes fierce. "Though some years older, this princess lacks brothers, where would the nephew come from?"

"Your Highness Lan Xi!" It took Quan Shaoqing a moment to find his voice, frowning slightly, reversing their grip to stand tall. Yet, he couldn’t shake the feeling that being cornered by a woman was somewhat embarrassing to speak of.