Eternal Life Starts as a Hunter

Chapter 680: Chapter 205: The Empress’s Secrets, Li Yuan and the Ugly Child, and the Realm’s Diligent King

She directed a gaze filled with motherly love at the young Emperor in front of others, but behind the scenes, there was hardly any maternal warmth, only a calm expression as she looked at the chess pieces on the board.

Instead, Li Yuan... surprisingly took better care of him.

The young Emperor naturally carried the surname Ji, with the given name "Hu," meaning "protect," symbolizing the guardianship of this land, but perhaps it also implied protecting the Xie family.

Unknowingly, the time had reached March.

The peach blossoms, some pink, some white, bloomed across the training ground and at the Xie Mansion.

In the quiet mansion courtyard, jade cups held fresh tea, with steam rising, revealing three people having tea.

Over the days of getting along, Xie Yu gradually began to change her impression of the Emperor.

This was also thanks to Xie Wei’s brainwashing.

"The Emperor was previously amorous" was just a facade, a disguise to make the demonic factions of the Lotus Sect believe in the Emperor’s frivolousness. In reality... the Emperor was nothing like that.

Xie Yu secretly observed her brother-in-law several times, and indeed, she no longer saw any lasciviousness in his eyes. Moreover, she noticed that her second sister seemed genuinely inseparable from the Emperor, so she was finally willing to sit and have tea together and confide in her second sister as she had over the past twenty years.

Li Yuan drank tea on the side.

Xie Yu, however, pulled Xie Wei aside to whisper.

"I don’t know what happened to my husband; he’s been in closed cultivation for a year and still hasn’t come out," Xie Yu lightly sighed, resting her cheek in her hand, looking at the tea in her cup, softly murmuring, "Cultivation is already troubling daily, but what’s frustrating is that even though we’re married, I’m still alone in the bridal chamber. I really don’t know why we got married."

Her expression was dim, filled with grievance.

A fleeting look of discreet panic flashed across Xie Wei’s face, yet this panic carried an inexplicable thrill, and she clasped her sister’s hand, smiling, "He’s always been a martial fool; perhaps he just happened to think of something, striving for a breakthrough."

Hearing "happened to think of something" surprised Xie Yu, reminding her of when "the Emperor flirted with her in public" before. At that time, her husband said nothing, seeming dull and foolish, but perhaps he took it to heart...

She was straightforward and spoke as she thought, "Isn’t it Your Majesty’s fault

for putting on such an act that day, teasing me...

My husband probably got upset over it."

In the past, Xie Wei would have interrupted Xie Yu before she could speak, but now... she actually allowed Xie Yu to continue.

After Xie Yu finished, she even added jokingly, laughing, "Your Majesty, you’ve caused my brother-in-law to retreat for arduous cultivation, leaving my sister alone in the empty chamber, this is truly... sigh..."

Li Yuan was momentarily taken aback.

He looked at the two "ladies" before him.

This peculiar situation of identity misplacement was something he had never witnessed before.

So, he raised his cup and said, "Then I shall apologize with tea instead of wine."

Xie Yu was momentarily surprised.

Xie Wei also raised her cup, saying, "Xiaoyu’Er, I apologize together with your brother-in-law."

Xie Yu blinked, this scene somewhat unexpected for her.

Nevertheless, she picked up the teacup and added, "Second sister, just let His Majesty offer the toast, why you too?"

Xie Wei awkwardly laughed, "Since I’ve married your brother-in-law, we’re one and the same, his toast is mine as well."

Xiaoyu’Er was helpless, thus she picked up her tea and shared a drink with them.

After a while, Li Yuan left temporarily.

Xie Yu then pulled Xie Wei aside and softly asked, "Second sister, why are you suddenly getting along so well with brother-in-law?"

Xie Wei laughed, "The previous discord was just for outsiders."

Xie Yu’s eyes shifted as she said, "Earlier, when I spoke of His Majesty like that, he didn’t get angry, could it be... he doesn’t have any power left in his hands and must rely on our Xie family?

And afterward... can we really just push him around?"

Xie Wei:...

"Ah... yes... yes indeed... you can push him..."

Xie Yu lowered her voice, "Sister, has he truly become the Puppet Emperor manipulated by our Xie family? Is that why he treats you so well, and doesn’t get upset even if I offend him?"

Xie Wei:......

"Ah, well..."

Xie Yu continued, "Isn’t it? I’ve secretly watched and inquired, and he has no army, nor does he have any eunuchs or generals by his side."

Xie Wei didn’t expect her sister to have so much time and thought to ponder over this, and momentarily at a loss, she could only say, "He is one of our own Xie Family members; don’t go shaming him."

"I know, I know," Xie Yu laughed, "it’s just that in the future when I see him, I won’t need to bow my head anymore, hmph, just a Puppet Emperor!"

Xie Wei:...

She sternly said, "Xiaoyu’Er, he is the Emperor after all, you mustn’t be disrespectful."

"I know, I know, I’m not stupid, I won’t show it on my face," Xie Yu replied.

...

...

That night.

Li Yuan once again witnessed the transformation of Xie Wei, so dignified in public, yet uninhibited and wanton in bed.

After the debauchery, they normally started their pillow talk.

The topics were none other than daily life, matters concerning Ji Hu, and the general situation of the world, but perhaps because of Xiaoyu’Er’s visit today, Xie Wei intentionally shifted the topic in that direction.

"Your Majesty, Xiaoyu’Er is really pitiable, her husband is just a martial fool, he’s been in closed cultivation for a year and still hasn’t come out, sigh..."

Li Yuan listened to her speak, saying nothing.

Xie Wei continued, "Perhaps influenced by the Beifeng Inn, recently there appeared a Fifth Grade Meat Field in my Mingyue Prefecture, and it just happens to be around our Xie Mansion, allowing my mansion to benefit from its vital energy, making cultivation more effective...

Maybe that’s why my brother-in-law is so obsessed with cultivation and doesn’t come out."

She gently covered her mouth, laughing softly.

Li Yuan knew that among the Great Zhou Nine Paths, aside from the Cloud Mountain Path, the other eight paths had terrifying ghost realms akin to Miracle Beast Gardens.