Chapter 1528: Marriage

"Princess," Zu'an greeted with a slight nod. He had to admit he was quite fond of Princess Soren. They had explored together, and she had sided with him on several occasions. Plus, she was beautiful.

Princess Soren ultimately didn't rush into his arms, perhaps due to maidenly reserve or because she noticed others nearby.

"Sister Shang, you're here too," Princess Soren said, her face flushing slightly. She realized Sister Shang had just witnessed her reaction to Brother Zu.

Shang Liuyu hummed in response, then gestured to Zu'an: "Clouds gather and disperse, connections begin and end. It's merely the passage of time, a blink of an eye. We shall meet again."

With that, she drifted away.

Zu'an couldn't help but sigh with emotion. From the moment he first met Shang Liuyu, she had exuded an uninhibited aura, a truly unique charm.

With his aunt gone, Chiwen had no choice but to follow. As he passed Princess Soren, he couldn't help but quietly call out, "Princess~"

The princess smelled wonderful, as if she had just used something fragrant during her bath or perhaps applied a scented cosmetic afterward.

Princess Soren was startled. "Oh, you're here too."

Chiwen almost spat blood. *So, she didn't even notice me standing here all this time.*

However, seeing her beautiful face, he suppressed his displeasure and tried to ingratiate himself with her.

Princess Soren responded to him indifferently, maintaining her noble courtesy yet undeniably cold and distant.

Chiwen could only secretly console himself, believing she had a cool demeanor. Others had described her similarly, and her behavior at the Demon Clan's residence had confirmed it. Clearly, she treated everyone this way.

So, he bid farewell to Princess Soren with a show of grace, then followed his aunt out.

But as he reached the doorway, a burst of charming laughter made him look back. He saw Princess Soren, no longer aloof, her face flushed with excitement, chatting animatedly and passionately with Zu'an, laughing so hard her body trembled.

In that instant, Chiwen felt as if something inside him had shattered.

*I shouldn't be here. I should have left faster. If I had gone out the door, I wouldn't have had to witness such a disheartening scene.*

At that moment, Princess Soren was warmly inviting Zu'an to visit the Demon Clan, an invitation Zu'an readily accepted. Who wouldn't enjoy an all-expenses-paid trip to see different sights?

Of course, he certainly didn't have time now. He still needed to return to the human realm, and thinking about the matters awaiting him there, his heart sank.

***

After seeing Princess Soren off, Zu'an received emissaries from several other races. Finally, finding a brief moment, he scaled the courtyard wall, intending to take a stroll outside.

*Ah, ordinary people all wish to be emperors, but how exhausting it is to be one! Even just being a regent is becoming unbearable for me now.*

Just then, a silvery peal of laughter rang out: "Brother Zu, where are you off to?"

A girl in a green dress appeared before him, slender and graceful, with delicate braids in her hair, exuding a fresh and natural aura.

"To find my Xue'er, of course," Zu'an replied, his mood significantly brightened by her presence.

"Hmph, that doesn't sound sincere. You haven't come to find me in days," Qiao Xueying pouted, clearly displeased. Her father had brought her back to the Elf King's manor to learn how to handle state affairs, and she had hoped Zu'an would visit her during this time. But he never came, so she lost all desire to work and ran out to find him herself.

"Wasn't I too busy? I only just managed to slip away," Zu'an said, discreetly gesturing towards the continuous stream of visitors at the gate.

"Those minor factions don't need your personal attention; you could just send a subordinate to deal with them," Qiao Xueying said, immediately linking her arm with his. "Come on, I'll show you around the royal court. The scenery here is completely different from Brightmoon City."

Previously, due to the Crown Prince, it hadn't been convenient for them to be seen together openly. Now, with those concerns gone, she felt the sky was bluer and the sun brighter than usual.

"Great!" Zu'an agreed, realizing he had been in the royal court for quite some time but had been so bogged down with various matters that he hadn't had a chance to explore.

Seeing him agree, Qiao Xueying's eyes curved into crescents as she smiled. With her arm linked in his, they began strolling through the royal court.

They had only walked a few steps when she suddenly wrinkled her nose, leaning in to sniff his clothes. "Such a strong fragrance! Have you been consorting with other women?"

Zu'an: "..."

"You're an Elf, not a dog! How is your nose so sharp?" Zu'an retorted. "Yes, I just met a few women: the Mermaid Princess of the Sea Clan, Princess Soren of the Demon Clan, and... but these were all official matters. It's not as sordid as you imagine."

"Pah, *you're* the dog nose," Qiao Xueying scoffed. "I can't believe Teacher Shang is the Mermaid Princess... But that Princess Soren definitely has ulterior motives for you."

She didn't suspect Shang Liuyu, given her exalted status and their past connection at Brightmoon Academy, but Princess Soren was another matter entirely.

"It's nothing like that, just official interactions."

"Official? Didn't you see the way she was practically drooling over you?"

***

Seeing Zu'an remain silent, Qiao Xueying felt a little unsure. "What's wrong? Do you find me annoying like this?"

Zu'an chuckled wryly. "No, not at all. I was just remembering the first time I met you in Brightmoon City. You had the same personality back then."

"Whose fault was it that you were so annoying back then?" Qiao Xueying said, blushing slightly as she recalled their past. "Oh, by the way, what did you mean when you said my boyfriend would definitely have uremia?" Zu'an stumbled, completely caught off guard that an old jest had come back to haunt him. "It's nothing, haha! Pure childish nonsense, just childish nonsense."

Just then, he noticed a vendor selling *tanghulu* nearby, bought a skewer, and handed it to her.

"I don't even like *tanghulu*; I prefer melon seeds," Qiao Xueying said, though she happily licked the treat. "I didn't expect to find such delicious *tanghulu* here in the royal court."

As she licked, her face suddenly turned bright red, and she playfully punched Zu'an. "You rascal! I know what you meant by uremia now!"

Zu'an looked crestfallen. He hadn't bought her the *tanghulu* to hint at the answer. No wonder people said married women weren't as innocent as young girls.

After they playfully bickered for a while, Qiao Xueying pointed out the local customs, notable sights, and famous landmarks along the way. Each landmark was essentially a testament to the glorious history of a powerful demon clan figure, making for an enjoyable listen.

Feeling the soft, fragrant presence beside him, Zu'an thought, *Even an airfield has its planes, right?* Sensing the excitement and joy in her voice, a wave of tenderness welled up in his heart. "Xue'er, I have a gift for you."

"There's no need to be so formal between us," Qiao Xueying said, though her eyes were brimming with anticipation.

Zu'an took her hand and slipped a ring onto her slender finger.

"This ring is ugly," Qiao Xueying said, though her eyebrows betrayed her delight. This world shared many similarities with his previous life, and rings were not given lightly; they often symbolized love and marriage.

"This isn't an ordinary ring. It's called the Qiankun Ring. It can expand and shrink, serving as a defensive weapon for you..." Zu'an explained the ring's functions and how to use it. He no longer needed such magical artifacts himself, but it would be very useful for Xue'er.

"Brother Zu, you're so good to me." Qiao Xueying, naturally aware of the rarity of Heaven-grade weapons, couldn't contain her emotions. She threw herself into Zu'an's arms, stood on tiptoe, and kissed him.

As the two were lost in their tender moment, a light cough came from nearby. "Ahem, perhaps I've arrived at an inopportune time?"

"Oh, Father!" Qiao Xueying exclaimed, like a startled rabbit, instantly hiding to the side, her face flushed with embarrassment.

Seeing the imposing and elegant Great Elf King nearby, Zu'an also felt a bit awkward. "Uncle."

"You've practically stolen my daughter, and you still have the nerve to call me 'Uncle'?" the Great Elf King snorted with dissatisfaction. "There's been a lot of gossip about Xue'er in the royal court recently. Since we've run into each other today, let's just settle the marriage. Your status as regent is no longer a concern, so plan a date and hold the wedding."

"Huh?" Zu'an was dumbfounded.