# Chapter 375: Lingxi
Midnight, the Moon Embracing Palace.
By the lotus pond, Xiao Lingxi sat quietly, her cheek resting on her hand, gazing at the rippling water stirred by the gentle night breeze. The bright moonlight reflected a pure glow on the pond's surface, softly illuminating her snow-like face and her beautiful eyes, which held a hint of confusion as they stared into the distance.
She had been sitting here for a long time, lost in thought about who knows what.
"Little Aunt, why aren't you asleep at this late hour?"
The familiar and unexpected voice made Xiao Lingxi lift her head abruptly. She looked at Yun Che, who had somehow appeared beside her, and froze for a moment before exclaiming, "Xiao Che? Why are you here? Today is your and Princess Sister's wedding night—why aren't you accompanying her... and you came here instead!"
"She's already asleep. And... I was a little worried about you, so I went to your room and then followed the trail here." Yun Che said with a smile, then stepped forward and sat down beside Xiao Lingxi, joining her in watching the lotus pond shimmering under the moonlight.
"I... I couldn't sleep." Xiao Lingxi lowered her head, her heart suddenly racing inexplicably. She paused for a moment and whispered, "Why would you be worried about me? Nothing's wrong with me... Today, all your time and thoughts should be spent on Princess Sister."
Yun Che didn't answer. He stared at Xiao Lingxi for a while, then suddenly reached out, wrapped his arm around her shoulder, and pulled her into his embrace.
"Ah..." Xiao Lingxi let out a startled gasp. But she didn't resist; instead, she leaned into him, resting quietly against his body.
"Does this feel... the same as last time?" Yun Che breathed in Xiao Lingxi's scent and said with a smile.
"Last time... what?"
"Three years ago, when I got married for the first time. That night, I also sat like this under the night sky, leaning together with Little Aunt."
These words stirred both their hearts, pulling them back to that night under the dark sky—an image tinged with ambiguity and a hint of taboo, yet one they both quietly reveled in, unwilling to break for an entire night. That night was supposed to be Yun Che and Xia Qingyue's wedding night, but he spent the whole night on the back mountain, holding Xiao Lingxi tightly.
"Not the same..." Xiao Lingxi slowly shook her head and said softly, "Back then, when you married Xia Qingyue, actually... actually, I was more unhappy than happy. Because as the wedding day approached, I always felt that Xiao Che would no longer belong to me, but to someone else. I was even more afraid that Xia Qingyue would treat you badly or even bully you. After all, back then, Xia Qingyue was known as the number one genius of Liuyun City. You couldn't even beat her, and I couldn't be by your side to protect you all the time like before... Father seemed to feel the same way. He was happy when you got married, but at the same time, he carried a huge burden... But this time, it's completely different."
Xiao Lingxi's beautiful eyes grew brighter: "Princess Sister is a princess! The most honorable girl in all of Cang Feng. And she's so gentle, so beautiful... I could tell that Father was especially happy today. It was the first time I've seen him drunk. I feel the same—I'm truly happy that Xiao Che has gained such a wonderful wife."
"...If Little Aunt is really happy, then why aren't you asleep at this hour, sitting here alone in a daze?"
Xiao Lingxi fell silent. She pressed closer to Yun Che's chest, clearly hearing his heartbeat. After a long while, she uttered a dreamlike murmur: "Suddenly... I really miss the past... back when Xiao Che and I were together every single second of every moment. Whenever I wanted, I could see Xiao Che anytime. Back then, Xiao Che belonged entirely to me. It felt like the whole world was just the two of us..."
Yun Che: "..."
"Now, Xiao Che has grown up and become so powerful, admired by so many. The girls Xiao Che marries are the most outstanding in the world—one is the number one immortal fairy of Cang Feng, the other is Cang Feng's only princess... I'm very happy, very proud... but also a little lost... because... because... because..."
Xiao Lingxi shrank slightly, holding him even tighter, as if the moment she relaxed, he would disappear from her side: "Because I can no longer keep up with Xiao Che's pace and world... I'm so ordinary. I can't compare to Princess Sister or Xia Qingyue... The people who came today—every single one of them is someone I've only ever heard of in legends... And I no longer have the ability to protect Xiao Che. Instead, I've become a burden... sob..."
Xiao Lingxi's lips were gently blocked by Yun Che's hand, stopping her from saying more.
"Little Aunt, do you know..." Yun Che's voice was calm and resolute: "If I had to name the person who holds the most weight in my heart, it would be you... And for my entire life, it will always be you. No one and nothing can ever replace you! So, I will never allow anyone to say that my Little Aunt is inferior to others, not even if Little Aunt says it herself."
"Ah..."
A very soft sound escaped her lips, as if her heartstrings had been violently plucked. Xiao Lingxi's tender body trembled several times, and her heartbeat accelerated endlessly. Then, suddenly, she pressed her palm against Yun Che's chest and let out a "puchi" laugh: "Xiao Che is still Xiao Che, always so smooth-tongued, saying things just to make me happy."
"I'm not being smooth-tongued. Every word I say to Little Aunt comes from the bottom of my heart. Today's words, and all the ones I've said before." Yun Che quickly assured her. "For instance... the words I once said to Little Aunt—I wonder if you still remember them."
"...Which words?"
Yun Che looked into her eyes and said tenderly, "If... you weren't my Little Aunt, I would definitely marry you!"
The air froze. The two of them stood still, staring at each other.
The first time Yun Che had said those words to Xiao Lingxi was on his wedding night with Xia Qingyue... But the same words, spoken then and now, were completely different...
Because back then, Xiao Lingxi was his little aunt.
But now, they both knew—and everyone knew—that there was no blood relation between them at all.
Thump... Thump... Thump...
In the dead silence of the night, Yun Che could clearly hear Xiao Lingxi's heartbeat. Suddenly, the soft warmth against his chest moved away, replaced by a not-so-gentle push. Caught off guard, he stumbled backward and landed flat on the ground. Before him, Xiao Lingxi stood up, but instead of being embarrassed, she had an angry, puffed-up expression...
"Y-y-y-y-you... you're starting again with your nonsense talk, taking advantage of me!" Xiao Lingxi's cheeks were flushed, her expression clearly flustered, and her words came out all jumbled: "Today is your and Princess Sister's wedding night... yet here you are, on your wedding night, telling another girl you want to marry her! Last time... last time was the same! Xiao Che, you... you really are a super flirtatious playboy!"
Yun Che quickly stood up, looking innocent: "I..."
"Don't talk anymore!" Xiao Lingxi shook her head and shouted, "Go back right now and be with your princess wife! If you stay here and keep saying nonsense, I'll... I'll... I'll tell Princess Sister! And then I won't talk to you anymore! Go back, go back, go back!"
Yun Che had grown up with Xiao Lingxi for over a decade and thought he understood everything about her, even able to sense the slightest shifts in her emotions. But this time, her sudden drastic change in mood left him completely dazed. Flustered, he stammered, "Okay, okay... I-I-I understand, I'll go back right now... Little Aunt... you should rest early too..."
"Go already!"
"Ah... okay."
Yun Che had never disobeyed Xiao Lingxi's commanding tone; it had become an instinct ingrained over more than a decade. He obediently disappeared from her sight and returned to his bridal chamber. Xiao Lingxi, however, didn't go back to her room immediately. She stood by the lotus pond for a long time... But this time, instead of looking dazed, she kept covering her face with her hands, giggling foolishly, her smile brighter than the starlight and moonlight covering the sky.
---
Just before dawn, the sky outside the window began to brighten.
Cang Yue, who had just experienced her first taste of intimacy, woke up early. Opening her eyes, she felt a slight tearing pain followed by a faint soreness in her body. All of this reminded her that everything yesterday was not a dream.
"Xueruo, why not sleep a little longer? It's still early." As soon as she stirred, Yun Che woke up, looking at her shy, tender eyes with a gentle smile.
"Uh..." Faced with the unguarded male body before her—and her own equally bare body—Cang Yue let out a whimper like a small animal and burrowed herself into the blanket. After a moment, she whispered, "Today is our first day as husband and wife. I need to go pay my respects to Emperor Father early... Let me... let me help you dress first, husband?"
"..."
Within the hazy red bed curtains, Cang Yue knelt on the bed, using her slender, satin-like jade hands to dress Yun Che. At this moment, she was no longer a princess, but a wife who had married into her husband's household, offering him the utmost tenderness. Clearly, she had never helped anyone dress before, so her movements were especially clumsy and slow. Throughout the process, her body was fully exposed, and Yun Che's hands roamed freely. By the time she finished dressing him, she was gasping for breath, her skin flushed. Then she hurriedly draped a gold-embroidered phoenix robe over herself...
"Yun Che pays respects to Emperor Father."
"Yue'er pays respects to Emperor Father."
Yun Che and Cang Yue walked hand in hand into the imperial palace, greeting Cang Wanhe, who had been waiting there. Cang Wanhe nodded slowly, a satisfied smile on his face: "Che'er, entrusting Yue'er to you gives me complete peace of mind. Especially since the two of you share mutual affection—it couldn't be more perfect. Yue'er's birth mother, watching from heaven, must surely be deeply gratified. After three days have passed, remember to take Yue'er to pay respects at her mother's grave."
"Yes, that is Yun Che's duty." Yun Che replied.
"Mm!" Cang Wanhe nodded, his expression turning solemn: "Che'er, yesterday was your and Yue'er's wedding day, so some words were inappropriate. But today, I must speak them. I believe you are not a reckless person, but what happened yesterday could have brought great risk. The power of the Fenghuang God Sect far exceeds your imagination. Even if all four great sects of Cang Feng joined forces, they would be no match for an ordinary branch of the Fenghuang God Sect. Its foundation and heritage are so deep that they border on the level of a sacred land. The reason you dared to severely injure and drive them away yesterday was probably because you were certain they would try their best to cover up the matter. However, none of us truly understand their temperament, so we cannot be sure of their decision. Moreover, so many people were present, and while it served as a deterrent, it cannot guarantee that someone won't leak the information or even spread it widely. If word gets out... the Fenghuang God Sect will certainly try to kill you."
Hearing this, Yun Che remained calm. He nodded and said, "I have considered all the concerns Your Majesty has raised. Please rest assured. My actions against the three members of the Fenghuang God Sect yesterday were not solely based on the possibility that they would cover up the matter. In fact, even if word spreads, or if they take the initiative to inform their sect, the Fenghuang God Sect will not retaliate against me in the short term."
"Oh?" Cang Wanhe looked puzzled.
Yun Che looked up and said, "Because the 'Tai Xuan Seven Nations Ranking Battle' is imminent, as is that thing called the 'Primordial Mystic Ark.' With these two major events ahead, coupled with the fact that I told those three that I would go to the Shenhuang Empire in five months, even if the Fenghuang God Sect learns of yesterday's events, they likely won't have the leisure to settle scores with me."
"However, to be safe, I must guard against possible variables. So, in one month, I will leave the palace."
...