Many children, many blessings: Stealing the offspring of powerful figures to cultivate immortality.

As dawn broke, the rain outside the window had stopped, leaving only the dripping water under the eaves.

Jiang Yining opened her eyes, her head feeling extremely dizzy.

The breathing beside her was steady and long, the scent of a young man, carrying a faint medicinal fragrance and a cool minty aroma, forcefully penetrating her nostrils.

She stiffened her neck and turned her head, only to be met with Chu Sikong's pale, almost transparent sleeping face.

He clung to her like an octopus, one arm around her waist, his head buried in her neck in a tender embrace.

Jiang Yining felt a throbbing sensation in her temples.

What possessed me last night that made him climb onto the bed?

"Squeak—"

The door was pushed open from the outside without knocking.

Jiang Yining was startled and instinctively tried to kick the person off her, but it was too late.

Mother Chu held a bowl of steaming ginseng soup in her hands. The expression on her face went from astonishment to shock, and finally to ecstasy.

She looked at the two of them lying intimately with their necks intertwined, and the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes relaxed with a smile. She didn't even notice that the soup bowl in her hand was sloshing and spilling soup.

"Okay...okay!"

Chu's mother was so excited that her voice trembled and her eyes instantly reddened.

"I knew it! I knew Ningning was a kind-hearted child!"

Jiang Yining propped herself up, frantically trying to explain, "Mother, it's not what you think. Last night it was because of the thunder, Sikong he..."

"No need to explain, Mother understands. Mother has been through this."

Chu's mother waved her hand, her eyes filled with relief and ambiguity.

"Since you've already... then it's settled!"

Before Jiang Yining could even retort, Mother Chu had already turned around in a flurry and shouted towards the door, "Old Zhao! Old Zhao! Quickly prepare the red candles and auspicious characters! Tonight, we're having a wedding in our household! Although we can't have a grand affair, all the proper customs must be observed. We must ensure that the Second Young Master and the Young Mistress are officially married!"

Jiang Yining stared dumbfounded at Chu's mother's departing figure, feeling as if she had fallen into a huge trap.

Just as she was about to chase after him, a voice that sounded childish yet strangely mature suddenly echoed in her mind.

Don't refuse. If you want to possess Situ Kong's monstrous talent, being bald is definitely not enough.

Jiang Yining paused, looked around, and found the room empty except for Chu Sikong.

Who are you? Who is Situ Kong? Could it be referring to Chu Sikong?

She asked herself, filled with doubt and unease.

I am your... future child with Chu Sikong.

The voice chuckled, tinged with a hint of coaxing: "Only if you take this blind man in can you unravel the Chu family's secret, and only then will I be born."

Jiang Yining was deeply shaken.

A child? The Chu family's secret?

She hesitated for a moment, then the voice rang out again: "Besides, this blind man isn't bad-looking either. Mother didn't lose out."

Will I have a child with him?

Yes, if Mother doesn't capture him, this realm cannot be broken, and with your cultivation level, you will be trapped here to die.

I can't say too much... he'll find out...

Remember... take down Chu Sikong and Ye Wuhen, or you will lose your child.

Jiang Yining was confused and found it hard to believe, yet she inexplicably felt that the voice was very familiar.

She bit her lip, but ultimately didn't chase after them.

She hadn't originally intended to marry Ji Lingxiao; he was from a prominent family, and his family must be very troublesome.

The Chu family's interpersonal relationships are not as simple as theirs.

Jiang Yining got up, walked to her desk, picked up her pen, and wrote a letter rejecting Ji Lingxiao.

……

The atmosphere in the Prime Minister's residence, particularly in the study, was so oppressive it was almost suffocating.

Ji Lingxiao exuded a chilling aura that kept strangers at bay.

The trusted bodyguard knelt on the ground, handed over the letter, and didn't even dare to breathe loudly.

"What did you say?"

"Reporting to Master, news has come from the Chu residence that... that Young Madam Chu has agreed to the continuation of the family line."

The guard, forcing himself to speak, reported: "Old Madam Chu is making preparations for the wedding tonight, wanting... wanting the young mistress to marry the second young master, Chu Sikong."

"Click."

The priceless white jade teacup in Ji Lingxiao's hand shattered into dust in his palm.

Staring in the direction of the Chu residence, her usually aloof phoenix eyes were now surging with a raging dark fire.

What a Jiang Yining, begging him to spare the Chu family.

Today you ignore me when I mention my skirt, but then you want to marry someone else?

Ji Lingxiao never expected that this woman would be willing to accept this arrangement in order to reject him.

His possessiveness was suppressed by anger, and he sneered, "Shameless! Do you really think I can't live without her?"

Ji Lingxiao waved his hand: "Step down. From now on, there's no need to report on matters concerning the Chu family."

……

As night fell, although the Chu residence was not decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, the main courtyard was filled with red candles.

The flickering candlelight bathed the entire room in an ambiguous crimson glow.

Jiang Yining pushed open the door and entered. The hot air that hit her was mixed with a sweet and cloying fragrance, which made her frown uncomfortably.

Chu Sikong sat on the edge of the bed, wearing the hastily made red wedding dress.

The vibrant red color made his face appear even paler and sickly. The white blindfold was replaced with a red silk embroidered with gold thread, which added a touch of bewitching fragility.

He did not wear a jade crown; his long, ink-black hair was loose and tied back with only a red ribbon.

Hearing the door open, Chu Sikong did not look up.

He toyed with a lit red candle in his hand, his long, pale fingers moving back and forth above the flickering flame, as if playing a dangerous game.

"Smack."

A drop of scalding candle wax fell onto the back of his hand, quickly burning a red dot.

Instead, he chuckled softly, "Sister's here?"

Seeing his self-destructive behavior, Jiang Yining felt a sudden tightness in her heart and quickly walked over to snatch the red candle from his hand.

"Are you crazy? That's boiling oil!"

Jiang Yining grabbed his hand, looked at the several blisters on it, and said with a hint of annoyance.

"Are you really going to degrade your body like this?"

Chu Sikong let her hold his hand and did not struggle.

He tilted his head slightly, his eyes, covered by the red silk, "looking" at her, a weak yet satisfied smile playing on his lips.

"Is my sister feeling sorry for me?"

"I..." Jiang Yining choked, trying to shake off his hand, but he held it tightly in his own.

"If you think I'm blind, you can sleep in the guest room."

Chu Sikong lowered his head, his voice low and hoarse, making one's heart tremble: "Even if tonight is our wedding night, even if I have to guard this room full of lonely lamps alone... Sikong would not dare to wrong my sister."

Seeing his humble and contemptible demeanor, Jiang Yining took a deep breath and told herself not to argue with him.

"I'm not leaving."

She went to find some medicine for the wound: "Stretch out your hand and apply the medicine."

Chu Sikong obediently opened his palm, like the most obedient child.

But when the cool ointment was applied to his wound, he couldn't help but tremble slightly and let out a very soft groan.

The voice was soft and gentle, with an indescribable allure.

After applying the medicine, Jiang Yining was about to get up when Chu Sikong grabbed her sleeve.

"Sister, we haven't drunk the nuptial wine yet."

He fumbled for two wine glasses on the table, handed one to Jiang Yining, and smiled expectantly yet nervously: "This is the rule. After drinking this glass, we'll be husband and wife."

Jiang Yining looked at the glass of wine, her feelings complicated.

Is it really necessary to go this far for that vague and elusive secret?

"elder sister……"

Seeing that she didn't move, Chu Sikong's hand trembled slightly, and a few drops of wine spilled out, landing on the bright red wedding dress and spreading a dark stain.

"Are you unwilling?"

"No." Jiang Yining sighed and took the wine glass.

The two men's arms were intertwined.

Because he couldn't see, Chu Sikong got very close, his nose almost brushing against Jiang Yining's earlobe.

"Cough cough cough..."

He probably drank too quickly and choked.

The pale red liquid slid down the corner of his mouth, flowed over his chin, and dripped onto his collarbone.

Jiang Yining instinctively reached for a handkerchief to wipe him, but before she could finish, Chu Sikong grabbed her wrist.

"No need for a handkerchief."

He turned his head and rubbed his cheek against Jiang Yining's hand, like a spoiled cat.

He slightly opened his mouth, swirled the drop of wine that was about to fall from the corner of his lips, and then casually brushed it across Jiang Yining's fingertips.