The Demon Lords

Zheng Fan bent over and picked up his godson.

"Oh, you’ve gotten heavier."

"Hee hee hee..."

"Why are you wearing so many clothes?"

Lord Zheng took off one layer for him.

After playing together for a while, Lord Zheng went to the icehouse. Liang Cheng was there, holding a watering can, pouring blood over A Ming.

Lord Zheng leaned against the icehouse door, admiring the scene.

Liang Cheng put down the watering can and said, "Rest assured, my lord, A Ming’s condition is already improving."

"No, I just think this scene is beautiful. It’s a pity that the paint here doesn’t easily melt; otherwise, I’d love to paint a picture."

"Paint a picture?"

"Yes, there’s a word that I think perfectly describes this scene."

"My lord, what word?"

"Ice fetish."

Liang Cheng furrowed his brow, then smiled. Indeed, it was strikingly appropriate.

"My lord, I’ll report on the military training after dinner. Just as well, there are some updates from the blind man’s side. It’s too cold here, my lord, you should go up."

"No worries, I just need to cool off a bit."

Zheng Fan sat down on a piece of ice nearby. The fire ignited by Liu Ruqing during his bath earlier had been forcibly interrupted by Shatuo Queshi’s sudden commotion.

Now, back at the mansion, Liu Ruqing’s shy demeanor kept resurfacing in his mind, and a nameless fire was kindling again.

This was quite normal because, having been a martial cultivator all his life, as a Sixth Rank martial cultivator, Lord Zheng’s constitution was naturally much better than ordinary people. In the past, he had Siniang’s needlework for companionship, but since the wedding until his return, Lord Zheng hadn’t had a taste of flesh for quite a while.

Freeze it out, take it slow, shiver it off; it’ll be fine.

To think that a dignified Lord Pingye would have to "cool down" in such a manner; no one would probably believe it if told.

...

"He hasn’t touched you?"

"Ah, elder sister, no, he hasn’t."

"No, I mean, hasn’t asked for your help with needlework or something?"

"On the run, who has time to mend clothes?"

Siniang’s lips curled upon hearing this response.

Truly, hard on my lord.

Meanwhile,

in the bedroom,

Siniang sat in the chief seat. Though her hidden injuries weren’t healed, she remained enchantingly beautiful—a woman who stayed lovely no matter the circumstances.

Xiong Liqing sat next to Siniang. This princess, from the moment she met Siniang, adjusted her position, not attempting to elevate herself with her princess title.

Below,

kneeling was a woman, none other than Liu Ruqing.

However, she wasn’t kneeling on the floor tiles but on a prayer mat.

In a typical household, a concubine would occupy this position.

But it wasn’t Siniang who made her do so; she insisted on it herself.

After leaving the Fan family and arriving at Lord Pingye’s mansion, Liu Ruqing felt very insecure.

She was originally a widow, having left the shelter of the Fan family, and now essentially became a concubine of Lord Pingye. At this point, even the princess of Chu only sat in a secondary position, acknowledging herself as a younger sister before that beautiful woman; so what about her?

What status did Liu Ruqing have?

Siniang spoke: "Come, lift your head, let me see you again."

At her words, Liu Ruqing raised her head.

Siniang studied her carefully for a moment, then looked to the side at the princess and asked, "What do you think?"

The princess sighed, "They’re all prettier than me."

Siniang shook her head and said, "But the way you address me as Your Highness feels unique."

Xiong Liqing looked somewhat bewildered, unable to grasp the meaning.

Liu Ruqing’s face turned shy and red again.

"Tsk tsk tsk, truly a captivating creature," Siniang praised. "Her figure is graceful and delicate, yet her demeanor is gentle and serene."

Liu Ruqing lowered her head and said:

"Elder sister is the most beautiful."

Siniang smiled slightly and said, "Stand up, don’t let Lord see this scene and think we’re bullying you."

"Before the two elder sisters, how dare I take a seat?"

Siniang heard this and said:

"So you sincerely want Lord to see this scene?"

"I don’t dare, I don’t dare."

Liu Ruqing quickly stood up, moved to a chair beside her, and sat down slowly, barely touching the edge of the chair, her presence as delicate as a willow on a riverbank, rooted in the ground, rising above the river.

"Where are you staying now?" Siniang asked.

"In the side house."

Siniang shook her head and said, "You shouldn’t endure this, I’ll have Xiao Yibo arrange a separate courtyard for you later. You may arrange the furnishings and flowers in the courtyard as you wish, but the maids and servants must come from me.

It’s not that I want someone to keep an eye on you, but it’s for the safety of the mansion."

"I don’t dare, I, a broken willow, am already immensely grateful to have a place in the mansion and wouldn’t dare hope for more."

"Broken willow? That’s actually your advantage."

"What do you mean, elder sister?" Xiong Liqing asked.

Living in the palace, she could surely hear tales of other lands, but who would dare tell the princess of such romantic affairs?

"Better not to know," Siniang didn’t intend to explain to the princess. While others might throw shade at my lord, there’s no need for us to do so among ourselves.

"Arrange the courtyard according to your idea, make it elegant so that Lord will have a place for leisure in the future."

"Yes, I understand."

"Look at it this way, a woman carrying a bit of melancholy can be charming, but overthinking can harm the body. Rest assured, no one here will bully you, and we have no time for petty scheming to amuse outsiders."

"Yes."

"You may leave."

"Yes, elder sister."

Liu Ruqing rose, paid her respects, and withdrew.

"Little sister, you should also choose a courtyard, arrange it as you wish."

"Alright, elder sister, I’ll take my leave."

Only Siniang remained in the room.

At this moment,

Lord Zheng entered, exhaling breath as he did.

Siniang saw water droplets on Lord Zheng’s head and immediately got up to fetch a towel.

"You’re injured, don’t move, I’ll do it myself."

Lord Zheng took a towel and wiped his face and hair.

Siniang sat down, watching Lord Zheng with a slight smile.

Once Zheng Fan had finished, he picked up a half-drunk cup of tea and brought it to his lips. Siniang said:

"The princess may not be an unparalleled beauty, but she should be competent with needlework, right?"

Lord Zheng put down the teacup and said, "On the run, who would have the mind for that?"

"No, my lord, generally when fleeing, lives uncertain and future unknown, people become more tense and are more likely to think of that thing to relieve stress."

Lord Zheng looked at Siniang and said, "At that time, not knowing whether you lived or died, how could I bring myself?"

He was fleeing with the princess, but it was Siniang and her people who bore the real risk by drawing away pursuers.

This was indeed Lord Zheng’s sincere thought. As humans, we must hold on to a bit of conscience, or what separates us from beasts?

Before Siniang could speak,

Zheng Fan continued:

"As for Liu Ruqing and the princess, just assign them their own courtyards, keep them as decorative vases. After all, A Ming and A Cheng often brought back vases before; after a while, one gets used to it."

"My lord wasn’t tempted? Putting aside the allure of the princess’s status, even Liu Ruqing stirred something within me."

"Heh, I’ve never thought of having a harem."

"Are you afraid of feeling guilty towards me, my lord?"

"Yes."

"So you’d rather continue enduring?"

"Yes."

One asked directly, and the other answered just as candidly.

"The princess was taken to build our reputation, and Liu Ruqing was sent by the Fan family without a word. It’s not a harem, so don’t feel pressured.

For me, having one dignified and one graceful under my care, the responsibility is quite interesting."

"I don’t want complications, let’s keep things as they were; I feel it’s quite good."

"It’s just....."

"Just what?"

"Just that I don’t want things to stay as they were."

Siniang brought her red lips to Lord Zheng’s ear,

and whispered softly:

"My lord, once my injuries have healed, shall we try for a child?"

————

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