He had just been reborn when he was imprisoned by his nemesis, the Empress?

Shen Yunshu was at a loss for what to do.

This child...was it unintentional, or...?

She quickly shook her head, inwardly cursing herself for overthinking.

Yi'er is so young, what bad thoughts could he possibly have?

Most of them just put it in because they thought it looked nice.

She could understand putting the pretty anklet inside, but the other thing... was her own white socks.

She really couldn't understand it.

Never mind, I'll just look it up in books tonight.

As for those two items, since Yi'er likes them and wants to take them, then let him have them...

Shen Yunshu composed herself, stopped thinking about it, and turned to leave the room to cook.

Xu Yi, who was on the bed, felt that his mouth was a little dirty after eating the spiritual fruit given to him by Shen Yunshu, and wanted to take out a tissue from his pocket to wipe his mouth.

But instead, my hand touched something cold.

He took it out with a puzzled look, and then he was stunned.

This is... Master's anklet?

Xu Yi sat blankly on the bed, holding the anklet.

Why would I have my master's things in my own pocket?

He had no recollection of when he put the thing in his pocket.

Could it be that he took it randomly while drunk?

He panicked and quickly reached into his other pocket, took out a sock, then subconsciously touched his pants pocket and took out another one.

Xu Yi: ......

What stupid things have I done before?!

While Shen Yunshu was still cooking, he quickly climbed out of bed and ran to the dressing table.

I opened those drawers, found the original place where I had put those two items, and secretly put them back.

......

As evening fell, Shen Yunshu went to the study. She flipped through the books, trying to find a reasonable explanation for Xu Yi's behavior.

The more she looked, the hotter her cheeks became, and the conclusion she finally reached made her extremely embarrassed.

The book states that some children, when they develop a strong dependence on someone close to them, will subconsciously collect that person's belongings in order to gain a sense of security.

"Impossible! How could you let such a young child have such thoughts!"

Shen Yunshu was both ashamed and angry, and raised her hand to wave.

"impossible!"

Shen Yunshu slammed the book shut, her ears turning red.

"How could you prescribe such a thing to such a young child... with such thoughts?"

"Doesn't that make Yi'er sound like a pervert?"

"How could my Yi'er be a pervert?"

She was both angry and ashamed, so she simply raised her hand and burned all the books that were disturbing her peace of mind.

Shen Yunshu suppressed the heat in her heart, walked out of the study, and returned to the small apartment she shared with Xu Yi.

Pushing open the door, I found that Xu Yi was still awake, lying on the bed with his round eyes wide open, lost in thought.

Shen Yunshu tiptoed over, sat on the edge of the bed, and asked softly.

"It's so late, why aren't you asleep yet?"

Xu Yi blinked and slowly said

"Without my master, I can't sleep; I feel empty inside."

Shen Yunshu's heart softened; she felt the same way.

She had this feeling even a year ago.

Even though her cultivation had long since reached the point where she no longer needed to sleep, she always habitually stayed by Xu Yi's side, sitting quietly and listening to his breathing.

It was as if only in this way could that empty heart be filled.

She gently pulled Xu Yi into her arms, resting her chin on the top of his head, her heart filled with melancholy.

If Yi'er grows up and finds another woman, and leaves me...

She really didn't know what to do then.

.....

half a month later.

Shen Yunshu sat on a chair by the window, holding a cup of tea in her hand, her gaze fixed on Xu Yi practicing swordsmanship outside the window.

The little guy had a straight posture and his movements were all quite skillful, which made her very happy.

She took a sip of tea, turned to look at Shen Qingyao who was sitting to the side eating melon seeds, and asked softly.

"Why have you been staying at home for so long this time?"

"Didn't you always eagerly travel across Kyushu?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Qingyao put down the melon seeds in her hand, raised an eyebrow, and looked at Shen Yunshu with a playful expression.

"Tsk tsk tsk, sister, although you always scold me, this is the first time you've ever taken the initiative to send me away."

She moved closer to Shen Yunshu, lowered her voice, and spoke with a hint of teasing.

"Tell me, are you feeling uncomfortable and jealous because I've been spending too much time with your brat these days?"

Shen Yunshu was struck by Shen Qingyao's words, which hit a nerve. She abruptly turned her head, a barely perceptible blush rising to her ears, her tone carrying a hint of embarrassed insistence.

"Shut up! What do you mean by 'jealousy'? If you don't know how to use words, don't use them!"

Seeing this, Shen Qingyao smiled even more slyly, moved even closer, and lowered her voice, her tone inquisitive.

"Sister, I heard the elders in the sect talking privately, saying that you have no intention of grooming him as the next sect leader."

"Then why did you go to such great lengths to keep him by your side, taking such good care of him and doing everything yourself?"

These words shattered the calm that Shen Yunshu had been trying to maintain.

She paused for a moment, her fingertips caressing the jade cup, her gaze gradually becoming distant and gentle, her tone earnest.

"I took him as my disciple and treated him like family, not for the benefit of the sect."

"It's not so that he can inherit the position of sect leader in the future."

"If all parents in the world raise children only for profit, then is there any love left in this world?"

"But your love seems a bit abnormal."

Shen Qingyao deliberately slowed down her speech, drawing out the syllables.

Shen Yunshu's expression changed, and he raised his hand to set up a soundproof array around the room, completely isolating the two of them from the outside world.

She turned around, her brows slightly furrowed, her tone tinged with urgency.

"What's wrong with it? Don't talk nonsense!"

"Why are you so agitated?"

Shen Qingyao raised an eyebrow, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.

"So you mean the relationship between you and your disciple has been perfectly normal from beginning to end?"

"certainly!"

Shen Yunshu spoke slowly and deliberately, her cheeks flushing uncontrollably.

Shen Qingyao leaned forward and lowered her voice.

"Including...kissing?"

Shen Yunshu's delicate cheeks instantly turned bright red, even her earlobes were so red they looked like they were about to bleed.

"You...you were spying on us?!"

At the same time, she was shocked. When did Qingyao's spiritual sense become so strong that it could bypass her detection?

Recently, Yi'er has been constantly asking for kisses, sometimes in the courtyard, sometimes in the room.

Didn't she see all those intimate moments...?

Shen Qingyao waved her hand, her face showing a hint of nonchalance.

"It wasn't really peeping, I just happened to see it when I passed by the room door."

"Stop lying to me!"

Shen Yunshu's eyes sharpened, and her tone carried a hint of anger.

"With my cultivation level, how could I not notice someone lingering at the door?"

"Shen Qingyao, if you dare to pry into my private life again... don't blame me for enforcing family discipline!"