Chapter 82

Hiss!

Yang Chen inhaled sharply at the intense cold.

“Queen Dowager, remember, you embraced me willingly!”

With Zhao Shirou trembling in his arms, Yang Chen’s lips curved into a smile. After tonight, he would officially become Li Hao’s stepfather.

Li Hao, would you be happy when you get to know?

In the palace hall, spring returned as birds chirped, while outside, the full moon hung in the sky like a golden disk.

On the high platform of the royal palace, Li Hao’s enthronement ceremony had finally concluded. The guests were gradually departing, and Li Hao felt relieved. The ceremony had gone smoothly without any objections. As the ninth prince, he had eight elder brothers, all of whom had once coveted the throne. But tonight, they all respectfully addressed him as His Majesty.

At least they were sensible. Otherwise … as a ruler, he wouldn’t hesitate to act against them.

Li Hao’s gaze fell upon the State Preceptor’s residence, where a tall, graceful figure sat among the guests. Under the moonlight, she resembled an immortal from the Moon Palace—cold and aloof, evoking reverence.

“Qingxuan’s Ice Phoenix bloodline has awakened?”

Li Hao’s eyes widened with a burning intensity. His bloodline, inherited from his ancestors, allowed him to sense the Ice Phoenix bloodline.

“If Qingxuan and I practice dual cultivation, my realm would advance by leaps and bounds! Qingxuan must become my Queen!”

Li Hao’s eyes were fixed on Xu Qingxuan. Sensing his gaze, Xu Qingxuan turned, her face cold yet with a hint of disdain in her smile.

“Damn it! What does she mean by that expression?”

Li Hao clenched his fists in anger. It must be because of that time Yang Chen forced him to kneel. Damn it. It had to be.

Yang Chen, that bastard, humiliated him in front of Qingxuan. But no matter what Qingxuan thought of him, he had to have her. The dual cultivation method he had awakened was incredibly profound. No one could resist its allure.

Thinking of the dual cultivation technique, Li Hao regained his confidence. It was a method of supreme creation that accelerated a cultivator’s progress, albeit with high requirements. The man must possess the royal dragon qi, and the woman the Phoenix blood. He and Xu Qingxuan were a perfect match.

Determined, Li Hao approached Xu Qingxuan.

“Qingxuan! Long time no see!”

Li Hao smiled, trying to appear gentle.

The onlookers bowed respectfully, “Greetings, Your Majesty!”

Li Hao nodded in satisfaction. But Xu Qingxuan frowned, impatiently asking, “What do you want?”

Li Hao was displeased with her attitude but suppressed his anger.

“Qingxuan, I have something to discuss with you privately. Can we talk over there?”

“Fine,” Xu Qingxuan agreed, albeit reluctantly. She respected the Holy Son’s decision to appoint Li Hao as the ruler of Liyang Kingdom, so she followed him to a secluded spot.

“Qingxuan, you’re my fiancée. I hope you’ll honor our engagement and become my Queen!”

Xu Qingxuan’s lips curled with disdain. “If that’s all you have to say, I’m leaving.”

“Wait, Qingxuan! I have a technique that perfectly complements your Phoenix bloodline!”

Li Hao quickly inscribed the dual cultivation technique onto a jade slip and handed it to her.

Xu Qingxuan took it without hesitation and left. Watching her elegant silhouette, Li Hao couldn’t help but swallow hard.

“Hmph, once you realize the profundity of this technique, you’ll seek me out for dual cultivation! Then, you’ll submit completely to my crotch!”

As the banquet ended, a young man approached Li Hao, bowing respectfully.

“Your Majesty, do you know where the Queen Dowager is? As the late King’s offspring, we should pay our respects to her.”

Li Hao’s eyes narrowed. He knew his mother had left earlier, likely due to her condition. Every full moon night, she suffered from intense cold. Tonight was no exception.

He looked at the young man—his second brother, Li Jun, with a Golden Core realm cultivation, the strongest among the princes. It was rumored that their father had intended to make him crown prince. But seeing Li Jun’s respectful demeanor, Li Hao believed he no longer coveted the throne.

“The Queen Dowager is unwell and has retired to her chambers. You can pay your respects tomorrow.”

“Understood,” Li Jun replied respectfully, though a flicker of something crossed his eyes as he bowed.

Li Hao glanced at his brothers before heading towards Zhao Shirou’s palace. He was worried about his mother, knowing she was alone, battling the cold.

***

As soon as Li Hao left, Li Jun’s face turned ice cold. His eyes were full of murderous intent.

“Second Brother, Father had planned to make you the Crown Prince before his death!”

“Who would have thought that in the end, it was Li Hao who ascended the throne!”

“From now on, our days will be difficult!”

Several princes walked over to Li Jun, all looking worried.

When Li Hao was still considered useless, they often bullied him. Now that he had become the ruler, with his vengeful nature, it was certain he would settle scores with each of them.

At this moment, someone said helplessly: “This can’t be helped. Li Hao has the support of Xuantian Sect’s Holy Son!”

“Now, Xuantian Sect is like our ancestor. Even if they put a dog on the throne, no one would oppose it!”

“We should just keep our heads down from now on.”

“Hmph!” Li Jun snorted coldly at these words.

“It’s only because that consort seduced Xuantian’s Holy Son!”

“Rumor has it that she tipped off the Holy Son, leading to the deaths of our ancestor and Father! Li Hao ascending the throne is the greatest shame for our Li family! Just wait, one day I will reclaim everything that belongs to me!”

Li Jun’s voice was icy, his gaze fixed northward.

Once everyone left, Li Jun returned to his residence. A woman in palace attire stood in the courtyard. Upon seeing her, Li Jun’s face lit up with excitement.

“Mother, you’re back! What did the Wind Thunder Sect say?”

The woman, Li Jun’s mother and a female cultivator married into the Li family from Wind Thunder Sect, turned to him with a loving smile.

“Jun’er, I have persuaded the Grand Elder. He is willing to help you seize the throne personally!”

“Really?” Li Jun’s excitement was palpable.

The woman gently stroked his head and said softly, “The Grand Elder is my master. His words are as good as gold. A Nascent Soul realm cultivator intervening, no one can stop him. Even the Holy Son of Xuantian Sect is no match for him. Rest assured, Jun’er, I will help you reclaim the throne.”

“Thank you, Mother!” Li Jun exclaimed, overjoyed.

Meanwhile, in Zhao Shirou’s palace, the commotion from an hour ago had gradually quieted down. The ethereal image of the green lotus had slowly faded, and the ice throughout the palace was melting. Zhao Shirou lay in Yang Chen’s arms, her beautiful eyes half-closed, her cheeks flushed.

“Queen Dowager, I have removed about one-third of the Profound Yin Qi. You should be feeling better now. If you still feel cold, let me know, and I can help again.”

Hearing Yang Chen’s words, Zhao Shirou slowly opened her eyes, filled with daze and tenderness, followed by a deep blush.

“Don’t … don’t call me Queen Dowager. It feels strange.”

Her tone softened, losing the earlier sternness, now filled with shyness and a hint of vulnerability.

Yang Chen’s throat tightened at her enchanting demeanor, but he composed himself and asked seriously, “If I don’t call you Queen Dowager, what should I call you?”

“Just … call me by my name,” Zhao Shirou whispered.

“Your name? Zhao Shirou?”

“You can call me Rou’er,” she said softly, her face turning red.

Only her master had ever called her by that name, and letting Yang Chen use it carried a different significance.

“Rou’er?” Yang Chen’s lips curled into a playful smile.