Chapter 59: The Sigh of the Ghost Lord

"The Emperor is about to have his grand wedding, taking the eldest daughter of the Su family, Su Xi, as his bride. She is already at the Su residence now, waiting to be married as Empress," Chi Ruiniang said in one breath.

She knew that Chi Jue had always cared deeply about the eldest daughter of the Su family and was always asking her to inquire about news of Su Xi. Later, for convenience, she went to the Su residence to work as a wet nurse, and later still, she went to work as a helper at the Su Family Braised Delicacies.

Chi Jue froze, as if it took him a long time to understand what Chi Ruiniang had said.

Yet he smiled, "Mm! The Emperor's dragon-like bearing and phoenix-like grace are worthy of her."

Chi Ruiniang could not bear to see him like this, "Brother, why don't you go see her and fight for yourself? For so many years, you have only watched over her silently, and she doesn't even know you."

"I don't need her to know; as long as she is well, that is enough." Chi Jue looked up at the sky, where a pair of birds flew wing to wing, heading toward the distance.

Everything was nothing more than his own delusional fantasy.

Imperial Palace, Yong Wu Dian.

After a spin, Su Xi kicked her long leg with full force toward Zhou Chuchen's head.

Zhou Chuchen dodged to the side, easily grabbed her ankle, and pulled hard, causing the beauty to fall into his arms with her legs wrapped around his waist—a truly ambiguous posture.

"I already ordered people to make the Empress's ceremonial robes, but the measurements still need to be refined; don't go back to the Su Zhai today."

"Already made? Then whose measurements were they?" Su Xi teased him with eyes as alluring as silk threads.

Zhou Chuchen's heart rippled instantly, his composure difficult to maintain, yet his hands firmly supported her waist and hips, "Since our parting seven years ago, I have already had eight or nine parts of your measurements, thinking that if I were to return to my ancestors in the future, I would take those Empress robes and phoenix gown with me to the tomb."

Su Xi looked into his solemn and dignified eyes, knowing he truly intended to do so, and for a moment, her heart felt sour and numb, "... Why does Your Majesty value me so much?"

Zhou Chuchen replied, "I fell for you at first sight."

Su Xi paused, "It is not good for Your Majesty to be too emotional."

Zhou Chuchen gazed at her, "Then that is also my fault, and I shall take responsibility for it myself."

Su Xi slowly smiled, like flowers in full bloom, beautiful beyond compare, "That is what Your Majesty said; if one day in the future—"

Zhou Chuchen lowered his head and kissed her lips, blocking the rest of her words.

Su Xi responded passionately...

After lingering for a long time, he said in a low, charming voice, "I accept every decision you make."

Su Xi tilted her head slightly to look at him, "With a Majesty like this, how could I bear to let go?"

She had originally planned to leave him once the reversal of fate was successful.

"Then don't let go." Zhou Chuchen held her tightly.

Su Xi's heart trembled, and as she leaned close to his ear, she whispered, "Zhou Chuchen, are you willing to offer everything you have to Su Xi?"

"I am willing." Zhou Chuchen's voice was low but deafening!

Su Xi leaned forward and bit into the pulse on his neck...

Zhou Chuchen's pupils suddenly constricted; the scent of blood, sweet and metallic, lingered as she swallowed it!

【Er Miao, Sigh of the Ghost Lord.】

【Yes, Host.】

On the side of Zhou Chuchen's neck where he had been bitten, a tangled snake-shaped mark gradually appeared, with a blooming rose on top of it.

At the same time, an identical mark appeared on Su Xi's heart!

【Congratulations to the Host, S-level Skill—Sigh of the Ghost Lord, successfully activated! Duration: until the end of life. Blood Oath Blessing: When either party is attacked, damage is halved. Absolute Constraint: If the rose withers, memories will gradually fade until they are blank. There is a possibility that the Host may trigger the Curse of the Ghost Lord!】

A mirror appeared in Su Xi's hand, and she showed Zhou Chuchen the mark on his neck, "Is it beautiful?"

Zhou Chuchen looked at the mark reflected in the mirror, "Am I the only one who has it?"

Su Xi replied, "I have it too, but mine is on my heart; you cannot see it."

Zhou Chuchen's pupils suddenly constricted, "What did you say?"

Su Xi stroked the mark on his neck, "The tangled snakes signify that you and I have only each other, and the flower symbolizes a blessing. If you no longer belong to me, the flower will wither, and this mark will disappear. The parts of your memory concerning me will become blank. If I betray our blood oath, you will forget me just the same."

Er Miao added: 【Host, the Curse of the Ghost Lord is terrifying; it will curse the existence you care about the most.】

Su Xi: 【Isn't that you?】

Er Miao was taken aback, then giggled: 【Oh... Host, you are so good at coaxing your baby~ I will definitely not let you be cursed. Besides, it is only a possibility, not a certainty.】

Although Su Xi did not say what the consequences would be if she betrayed the blood oath, Zhou Chuchen knew it must be very serious!

"You..." He did not even dare to ask.

The mark gradually hid itself, and even the bite marks vanished, leaving the skin smooth and clean as if it had never appeared.

Su Xi said, "Your Majesty should go to court and be a good emperor. This merit is a gift from the heavens; it is not an opportunity everyone gets."

"The measurements for the ceremonial robes?"

"I will finish measuring them first; I have some other matters to attend to. I will come back to dine with you tonight, alright?"

"Alright."

Since Zhou Chuchen had decided not to pry into her secrets, he would never have any doubts. Moreover, he had already obtained her promise.

The mark on his neck felt faintly warm, reaching straight into his heart.

After Su Xi finished her measurements, the palace lady in charge of clothing told her that no alterations were needed at all, as they were the same as the measurements the Emperor had provided.

Su Xi rewarded the lady with a bag of spirit tea and returned to the Su residence to eat with the two elders.

Gu Shi ladled a bowl of soup for Su Xi, her round face full of blessings, "My parents sent over fifteen Wu Yu Jin Zhua Ji this morning. The soup made from them is especially delicious; Sister-in-law, try it while it's hot."

"You should rest and stop walking around so much; looking at your belly makes me feel dizzy." Su Xi looked at Gu Shi's exceptionally large belly, which looked as if she were about to give birth at any moment.

"It's just that carrying the previous three little rascals stretched my belly out; there's a lot of amniotic fluid, but the baby doesn't feel that big." Gu Shi had gained experience from giving birth.

Su Xi took a sip of the soup, "It's delicious."

Seeing a large chicken leg in the soup, she fished it out and gave it to Gu Shi, "You eat it."

"I eat it every day; I'm tired of it." Gu Shi put it back into Su Xi's bowl.

Su Mu said, "Girl, do you have any more of that spirit tea?"

Su Xi said: 【Not much left, how much does Mother need?】

"It isn't because your grand wedding is coming up. Everyone knows that last time your younger brother got married, you sent spirit tea as a return gift. So this time, people have been coming to the door every day to offer congratulations and ask if there is spirit tea."

"That's no problem, I will go prepare the spirit materials now; refining them is quite fast."

Gu Shi said: "Then I will have my father rush to make the tea boxes, about how many?"

Su Mu said: "Last time there were about two hundred portions in total, this time I think it cannot be fewer than one thousand."

Su Xi: "... Then how much tea was sent in each portion?"

Su Mu replied: "At least two taels, and you can pair it with some braised snacks, pastries, and candies."

Su Xi did a rough calculation; the spirit materials she had on hand were simply not enough. Moreover, one of the spirit materials could only be found in the Ling Shou Yuan of the Southern Dao Sect.