187: Chapter 187 A Married Couple, Trusting Each Other

"Your Majesty... do you truly intend to enter this certain-death trap for her?"

"For the Heaven-Worshiping Ceremony, the Hehuan Sect will surely come out in full force."

"Not only will that old hag from the Hehuan Sect definitely appear in person, but there will also be immortals and gods watching from the shadows."

"Even if the Heavenly Dao still has restrictions and some enemies cannot move against you, still..."

She paused, ultimately unable to voice the words "grim prospects."

Indeed.

Sometimes, she even found it a bit laughable.

He was clearly risking his life for another woman; did she even have the right to dissuade him?

Su Chen stopped, turning to look at her.

Under the moonlight, Queen Jiang's face was as elegant as ever, though her brow was clouded with an inseparable layer of sorrow.

Compared to her time in the Cold Palace, she seemed even more fragile and stubborn.

"Lier."

He called her by her childhood name, his voice softening slightly.

"I am not doing this only for her."

"The Hehuan Sect and the immortals behind the scenes will never stop wanting me dead. This ceremony is simply when they will finally show their cards."

"Even without the matter of Demon Concubine Su Daji, they would have found another opportunity to strike."

"Instead of waiting passively, it is better to take this chance to settle things once and for all."

"Furthermore..."

"It is thanks to you that Demon Concubine Su Daji's injuries have stabilized this time."

"You are well-versed in the secret medical arts of the Jiang State and have read extensively."

"If you hadn't recognized the complex condition within her body and used the Golden Needle Acupoint Method to temporarily stabilize her..."

"She likely wouldn't have lasted until now."

"I will remember this favor."

Hearing this, Queen Jiang's nose felt a slight sting.

She turned her face away and said in a low voice.

"You and I... after all, we are husband and wife."

"Your humble servant knows that in your heart, you do not hold the same affection for me as you do for Sister Demon Concubine Su Daji."

"But since we are wed in name, I do not need to be so distant."

"Moreover... Your humble servant only contributed a meager effort, why must Your Majesty say thanks?"

After a moment of silence, she added softly, her voice barely audible.

"It is just... could Your Majesty also cherish yourself a little more in the future?"

"If something happens to you, what will become of this Yin Shang Dynasty, and the people in this palace?"

Su Chen suddenly felt a pang in his heart.

To be honest, after learning the truth about the investment world...

He had always been reluctant to form emotional bonds with anyone other than the investment targets he was likely to see again after leaving.

Queen Jiang was no exception.

She was merely an ordinary mortal without any cultivation.

Su Daji was exceptionally gifted in cultivation; she might truly be able to find him in the future.

But for Queen Jiang, the possibility was slim.

This was why he had always been somewhat cold and distant toward her.

But now...

Seeing the stunning woman in the phoenix crown looking so humble, Su Chen could no longer restrain himself.

She loved him deeply as well.

He stepped forward, pulling Queen Jiang's delicate body into his arms and encircling her slender waist.

"Rest assured, I know what I am doing."

"I have my own arrangements for the ceremony."

"I will... surely return safely."

"As for you."

"Though the Cold Palace is temporarily peaceful, if I leave the palace this time, I fear some lowlifes might stir up trouble again."

"You..."

"Your Majesty does not need to worry about Your humble servant."

Queen Jiang turned around and looked up at him with a determined gaze.

"Since Your humble servant promised Your Majesty to watch over the harem and clear out the monsters and demons, I will not break my word."

"The Cold Palace... is quite good. Quiet and safe."

"Your Majesty only needs to remember to return safely."

Having said that, she seemed to have made a decision. She gently pulled away from Su Chen's embrace and moved behind him.

She took a very light, very quick half-step forward, reached out her arms, and gently wrapped them around Su Chen's waist from behind.

She pressed her cheek against his broad back.

It was an extremely restrained embrace, filled with longing and reluctance.

It was also the first time she had proactively embraced Su Chen and faced her own feelings.

Su Chen felt the warmth behind him.

His body stiffened slightly, but he didn't move.

Queen Jiang closed her eyes and took a deep breath of the scent lingering on him.

Then, she quickly let go.

She stepped back.

Before Su Chen could react, her slender hand rose lightly, as if she were merely brushing away non-existent dust from his shoulder.

Yet, with lightning speed, her fingertips quietly brushed past the ends of his hair.

A single strand of black hair quietly fell into her palm.

Su Chen only felt a slight sting on his scalp and turned to look at Queen Jiang.

"What is it?"

Queen Jiang lowered her eyes, quietly hiding the strand of hair.

"It is nothing. Your humble servant merely saw willow catkins on Your Majesty's head..."

...

In the middle of winter, where would there be willow catkins?

The two remained silent for a long time.

She took two steps back and gave Su Chen a very faint smile.

"Take care, Your Majesty."

"Your humble servant will return to her palace first."

With that, she did not linger.

She turned and walked away with light steps, her figure soon merging into the shadows of the corridor pillars.

Returning to the quiet hall of the Cold Palace, Queen Jiang walked alone to the window.

Moonlight filtered through the window lattice, spilling onto her open palm.

There, two long strands of hair lay quietly.

One was black and strong, belonging to Su Chen.

The other had a faint, soft luster, belonging to herself.

She took out a plain white silk handkerchief, placed the two hairs side by side, and with her fingers moving nimbly in an ancient and complex technique, she finely wove the two strands together.

Finally, they were tied into a firmly locked Concentric Knot.

She carefully pressed the Concentric Knot against her heart.

Gazing at the desolate moonlight outside the window, she murmured softly.

"Hair as a vow, heart as a pact."

"Heaven above, Earth below."

"Lord Sky Fox God, your believer Jiang Li is willing to sacrifice all the blessings and longevity of my remaining life."

"In exchange for the one I love, Su Chen..."

"To return safely and remain untouched by a hundred tribulations."

Meanwhile, Su Chen had just returned to his study.

"System?"

"What did you want to tell me just now?"

Earlier, while Su Chen was dealing with Queen Jiang and Su Daji...

The system had actually reminded him to check for information updates during the investment, which was rare.

This was indeed very unusual, a first in his history.

[Ding! Key information update detected.]

[This information update is related to the cultivation level of Su Daji, whom the Host is concerned about.]

[A clue to complete the cultivation technique practiced by the investment target Su Daji, "Supreme Forgetting Joy and Union Canon" (Incomplete), has appeared.]

[To reach true perfection in this technique, allowing the practitioner to completely control its power and escape backlashes and curses...]

[The final condition must be met—"Sorrow of Ultimate Love."]

[Annotation: The person most beloved by the practitioner must "willingly" "pass away" for the practitioner's path before their very eyes.]

[Furthermore, this "passing" must contain the intent of extreme deep affection and regretless sacrifice.]

[Only then can the technique's ultimate transformation be triggered, completing what is missing and forging a supreme Dao foundation.]

[And...]

[The person most beloved by the practitioner must "pass away" at the hands of the practitioner.]

[Host, please note: Whether this condition is met will directly affect the final evaluation of this investment round and Su Daji's future achievement ceiling.]