Transforming into a stunningly beautiful fox spirit, leaving a scar on the heart of a prodigy.

Morning light streamed through the window, illuminating the carved wooden bed in the top-tier room of Zuixianju.

Gu Xiang opened her eyes and felt a heavy weight on her chest.

Looking down, he saw a red figure curled up in his arms, fast asleep.

Because of that damned entanglement of intertwined branches, the two of them cannot move more than ten meters apart.

This resulted in Su Qing having to stay close to him even when sleeping.

Gu Xiang moved his body, trying to pull his arm, which had gone numb from being pressed down.

The person in his arms grumbled in dissatisfaction, but instead hugged him even tighter, and one of her legs was unceremoniously draped over his waist.

"Don't move... sleep a little longer."

Su Qing's voice was hoarse from just waking up, soft and sweet like a claw scratching at the tip of one's heart.

Gu Xiang sighed and reached out to tidy her disheveled long hair.

"It's time to rise; today is the grand court assembly."

"I'm not going."

Su Qing buried her head in his chest and mumbled, "Those old men talk so long and tediously, it makes me want to bite them."

Gu Xiang chuckled.

"You want me to leave you here alone?"

He pointed to the invisible line between the two of them.

"When I get to the Golden Palace, you'll probably be dragged there by this pair of intertwined branches, and that won't be a pretty sight."

Su Qing suddenly opened her eyes, her fox-like eyes wide open.

How could she have forgotten about that?

These damn tree roots are driving me crazy!

She reluctantly sat up, stretched, and her red nightgown slipped down, revealing half of her rounded shoulder.

Gu Xiang's eyes darkened, and he reached out to help her pull her clothes up.

"Hurry up and wash up, don't be late."

Su Qing pursed her lips, glanced at Gu Xiang's purple-gold prime minister's robe, and her eyes darted around.

"I'm not going to stand there and listen to their nonsense."

After she finished speaking, a red light flashed around her.

The once charming and beautiful woman is gone.

Instead, there was a small, bright red fox, only the size of a palm.

It nimbly jumped onto Gu Xiang's knee, then slid up his arm and into his wide sleeve.

Gu Xiang felt a sudden weight on his sleeve, followed by a warm sensation.

The little fox nestled inside, found a comfortable position to lie down, and didn't forget to peek out its little head and wink at him.

"Let's go, Lord Gu."

Gu Xiang shook his head helplessly, patted his sleeve lightly, got up and pushed the door open to go out.

……

The atmosphere in the Golden Palace was solemn.

The civil and military officials stood on both sides, each with their eyes downcast and their minds focused.

Since Gu Xiang returned from the northern border, his murderous aura has become increasingly strong.

The poor scholar who used to only talk about reason has now become Prime Minister Gu, who holds the power of life and death.

No one dared to provoke him at this critical juncture.

Li Yu sat on the dragon throne, looking down at Gu Xiang, and raised an eyebrow slightly.

Today's Prime Minister Gu seems somewhat different.

His face, which was usually as cold as ice, now carried a faint smile.

and……

Li Yu's gaze fell on Gu Xiang's left sleeve.

Is something moving there?

Gu Xiang stood at the head of all the officials, his expression calm.

However, her left hand was always loosely supporting her sleeve, and her movements appeared extremely cautious.

Inside her sleeve, Su Qing was not sleeping soundly.

Although the official robe was made of fine material, it was still not as comfortable as a bed.

She rolled over, and her tail accidentally brushed against Gu Xiang's wrist.

Gu Xiang stiffened slightly, then subtly pressed her finger on her sleeve, signaling her to behave.

"squeak……"

A very faint fox cry came from inside the sleeve, tinged with displeasure.

Although the sound was soft, it was exceptionally clear in the silent hall.

The Minister of Revenue, standing behind Gu Xiang, trembled and almost dropped the official tablet in his hand.

He looked up in alarm at Gu Xiang's retreating figure.

What was that noise just now?

Why is there such a strange sound coming from Prime Minister Gu?

Could it be that he has practiced some kind of evil cultivation technique?

Just as the officials were filled with doubt and uncertainty, the Minister of Rites stepped forward, trembling.

"Your Majesty, the Ministry of Rites has made all the necessary preparations for Prime Minister Gu's wedding."

"The phoenix coronet and embroidered robe have been delivered from the Imperial Preceptor's residence. They were personally sewn by the Imperial Preceptor and are made of the finest materials..."

Upon hearing the words "phoenix crown," Gu Xiang's sleeves suddenly trembled violently.

Foxes love shiny things.

Especially those golden phoenix crowns inlaid with jewels.

Su Qing suddenly perked up, disregarding the occasion, and poked half her head out from her sleeve.

Its two pointed ears twitched, and its pair of black gem-like eyes stared intently at the Minister of Rites.

"..."

The Minister of Rites abruptly stopped speaking.

His eyes widened as he stared at the...fox that had emerged from the prime minister's sleeve?

Red hair?

It can still move?

The entire Golden Palace fell into a deathly silence.

All eyes were focused on Gu Xiang's cuffs.

The little fox seemed to sense the gazes around it. Instead of being shy, it tilted its head, grinned at the crowd, and revealed two sharp little tiger teeth.

"Absurd! Utterly absurd!"

A furious shout shattered the silence.

A white-bearded imperial censor strode forward, his hand trembling as he pointed at Gu Xiang.

"Prime Minister Gu is the head of all officials. The imperial court is a solemn and dignified place; how can he bring his personal playthings into the palace!"

"This act disregards the laws of the court and the authority of His Majesty!"

"Your Majesty, I beg you to punish Gu Xiang for his great disrespect!"

This censor, named Liu Tiezui, was notoriously stubborn and liked to find fault with Gu Xiang.

Today he finally got his chance.

Gu Xiang remained calm, not even lifting his eyelids.

He reached out and touched the little head inside his sleeve, his movements incredibly gentle.

"plaything?"

He chuckled softly.

But the little fox in the sleeve wouldn't have it.

It is a nine-tailed celestial fox, a demon queen. When did it become a plaything?

That old man has a really foul mouth.

Su Qing narrowed her eyes and gently waved her little paw through her sleeve.

An invisible demonic aura shot out instantly.

"Snapped!"

A crisp sound.

The official hat on Liu Yushi's head seemed to have been slapped hard by an invisible hand, flying out and spinning several times in the air before finally falling to the ground with a thud.

Imperial Censor Liu felt a chill run down his spine and was completely stunned.

He touched his sparse head, then looked at the hat on the ground, his old face turning a deep purplish-red.

"You...you..."

Gu Xiang slowly adjusted his cuffs and spoke calmly.

"Lord Liu, please be careful with your words."

"These are my family members, not playthings."

"My wife is unruly and cannot stand others shouting at me. She has frightened Lord Liu."

family?

The entire court of officials gasped in shock.

I'd heard long ago that Prime Minister Gu was going to marry a vixen, but I never imagined it was true!

And they even brought it directly to the Golden Palace!

This is too...too much pampering, isn't it?

Imperial Censor Liu was so angry that he trembled all over, and he couldn't speak for a long time while pointing at Gu Xiang.

On the dragon throne, Li Yu clenched his fist and coughed lightly to hide the smile on his lips.

This is Guxiang.

Anyone else who dared to do that in the imperial palace would have been dragged out and beheaded long ago.

But what can you do when he's Gu Xiang?

He is the pillar of the Great Zhou Dynasty, a ruthless person who would give his heart for the sake of the Great Zhou's empire.

"alright."

Li Yu waved his hand, interrupting Imperial Censor Liu's attempt to continue his remonstrance.

"I am deeply gratified by the profound affection between Prime Minister Gu and Miss Su."

"Since they are family members, it's fine to bring them along."

"By imperial decree, Prime Minister Gu's wedding will be held in three days."

"The Ministry of Rites is to organize the event according to the standards for a prince, with ten miles of red procession in the capital, a cause for national celebration!"

"I want the whole world to know that Prime Minister Gu's marriage is a momentous event for the Great Zhou Dynasty!"

These words caused an uproar throughout the court.

Princely rank?

This is overstepping the bounds!

But seeing the emperor's unquestionable gaze and Gu Xiang's matter-of-fact demeanor, no one dared to say another word.

After the court session ended.

Gu Xiang walked along the long palace path.

The little fox in the sleeve had already shrunk back in; it had probably exhausted itself with that attack and was now asleep again.

"Lord Gu, please wait."

A clear, cold voice rang out.

Gu Xiang stopped and turned around to look.

Li Qingge stood beneath the palace wall, her expression somewhat solemn.

At this moment, the soul that dominates her body is Bi Yao's.

"Your Highness." Gu Xiang nodded slightly.

Li Qingge took a few steps closer, her gaze falling on Gu Xiang's cuffs.

"Her breathing was somewhat unsteady."

Gu Xiang's expression tightened: "Is something wrong?"

Li Qingge shook her head.

"After being reborn, my soul and body are not yet fully integrated, and I have been exposed to demonic energy, so I am inevitably somewhat weak."

"However, I have something to remind you of."

She looked up at the azure sky above.

"On the wedding day, heaven and earth unite, and yin and yang converge."

"That was a joyous occasion, but also a time of great turmoil in the heavens."

"You two have special destinies, and now you're forcing yourselves to get married. I'm afraid it will attract some unclean things."

Gu Xiang's eyes were slightly cold.

"You mean, someone's going to cause trouble?"

Li Qingge didn't say anything explicitly, but just gave him a deep look.

"Be careful to the north."

After saying that, she turned and left, leaving Gu Xiang with a meaningful silhouette.

Gu Xiang stood still, her fingers gently stroking her cuffs.

North?

The Mountain Moving Sect has been destroyed, and the land abandoned by the gods is guarded by an army of 300,000.

What else could there be?

No matter what it is.

He would kill anyone who dared to ruin his wedding.

……

After leaving the palace, Gu Xiang did not go straight back to his residence.

Instead, he took Su Qing to the most bustling Zhuque Street in the capital.

"Come out, I'll take you somewhere."

Gu Xiang patted his sleeves.

A flash of red light.

Su Qing returned to her human form and stood gracefully beside him.

Today she wore a fiery red dress with a gold belt around her waist, which accentuated her slender figure.

That stunningly beautiful face carried a hint of languid sleepiness, and her eyes were full of charm.

Passersby stared in disbelief.

The once bustling street fell silent for a brief moment.

"That's...Prime Minister Gu?"

"Who's that woman next to you? She's so beautiful!"

"I heard that Prime Minister Gu is going to marry a vixen, could it be her?"

"What fox spirit? This is clearly a deity descended to earth!"

The murmurs of the people reached my ears.

Su Qing raised an eyebrow, took Gu Xiang's arm, and practically clung to him.

"Lord Gu, they say I'm a vixen."

Gu Xiang, seemingly oblivious to everyone else, put his arm around her waist, asserting his dominance.

"You are my wife."

The two entered a jewelry shop called "Linglong Pavilion".

This is the largest gold and silver shop in the capital, and everything inside is a masterpiece.

The shopkeeper was so frightened when he saw Gu Xiang that his legs went weak and he hurriedly came to greet him.

"This humble subject pays his respects to Prime Minister Gu!"

Gu Xiang waved his hand, his gaze falling on a jade bracelet in the cabinet.

The jade bracelet was entirely emerald green, without any impurities. What was most remarkable was that there was a faint trace of red blood inside, resembling the tail feathers of a phoenix.

"Take it out."

The shopkeeper quickly took out the jade bracelet and presented it with both hands.

Gu Xiang picked up the jade bracelet and took Su Qing's hand.

Her wrists were fair and slender, and the emerald green bracelet made her skin appear even whiter than snow.

"Do you like it?" Gu Xiang asked.

Su Qing shook her wrist, and the bracelet shimmered in the sunlight.

"It's alright, barely good enough for me."

Gu Xiang smiled and gently ran her fingertip across the bracelet.

A surge of righteous energy flowed into it.

On the inner wall of the bracelet, a small character "乡" (xiang, meaning village or hometown) slowly emerged.

Su Qing was taken aback.

"What are you doing?"

Gu Xiang held her hand, their fingers intertwined.

"Stamp it."

"In this life, you can only be mine."

"No matter where you go, you'll always be a family person."

Su Qing blushed slightly and spat.

"overbearing."

Although she said that, she felt secretly delighted.

She gripped Gu Xiang's hand tightly in return, her nails lightly scratching his palm.

"Then Lord Gu will have to hurry."

"I'm a very popular girl."

The two smiled at each other, and everything around them seemed to fade into the background.

Night falls.

The capital city was brightly lit.

Every household hung up red lanterns, eagerly anticipating the grand wedding three days later.

The entire capital was immersed in a festive and peaceful atmosphere.

however.

In the far northern frontier.

The cold wind howled.

A strange wisp of black energy was silently seeping in through the crack in the ground.

Wherever the black mist passed, vegetation withered and life was extinguished.

It's like a gaping maw, greedily gazing at that prosperous land in the south.