Fairy, please have some self-respect. I am not the reincarnation of your deceased husband.

"Hmm..."

Chen Lianshu seemed to sense something, her brows furrowed slightly, and she slowly opened her eyes.

At this moment, the sky outside the window was just beginning to lighten, while the inside of the hall was still shrouded in darkness.

"hiss--"

For some reason, I had a headache as soon as I woke up.

I slept soundly last night, but I still feel inexplicably tired, like I haven't had a proper rest.

Because the hall was too dark, he subconsciously wanted to light the oil lamp on the small table.

"..."

However, while looking at the oil lamp, he also noticed that the incense in the incense burner had already burned out.

Looking at the remaining ashes in the furnace, Chen Lianshu inexplicably moved closer and gently sniffed them.

Although the incense has burned out, its lingering fragrance remains.

"It really smells delicious."

This made him sigh softly.

Perhaps it was because it was still early, or perhaps it was because they hadn't adjusted to their new place of residence.

After smelling the fragrance, a wave of drowsiness quickly washed over me again.

He didn't think much of it, just tucked the blanket back in and planned to take another nap.

After all, it was still early, and there was still some time before Chen Xiu arrived.

"Um?"

But when she covered herself with the blanket again, Chen Lianshu noticed something was amiss.

He brought the corner of the blanket close to his nose, and an exceptionally rich lotus fragrance immediately filled his nostrils, refreshing and invigorating.

"How can this fragrance be so strong?"

I don't know if it's just my imagination.

He remembered that although the bedding had a lotus scent last night, it wasn't as strong as it had been.

"Ha~~"

But as he grew increasingly sleepy, he fell into a deep sleep again before he could think about it.

About fifteen minutes later.

The palace doors were pushed open very gently once again.

When Chen Lianshu opened her eyes again, it was already fully light.

The morning light streaming in through the window was so bright that it made it difficult for him to fully open his eyes for a moment.

"?"

But her cool, aloof expression under the sunlight stunned him instantly, leaving him bewildered.

"..."

The air seemed to freeze for a moment.

"!"

Chen Lianshu's eyes widened, and she suddenly sat up as if waking from a dream.

"Senior sister?"

What are you doing here?

Despite this, Mu Qianxue remained completely at ease, her posture relaxed, as if she had been there for quite some time.

"This is my home; what's so strange about me coming here?"

As she spoke, she picked up the teapot on the table, poured a cup of water, and took a small sip.

However, his gaze seemed to casually drift towards the corner of the room—

There lay a small, snow-white dumpling bound by spiritual power, staring at her with its round eyes wide open.

The immobilized little spirit beast was none other than "Little Snowflame".

This morning, to avoid disturbing her husband, she quickly used magic to subdue the little guy the moment she saw him upon entering the house.

Although we don’t know why it lives here, if we let it cause trouble, it will surely lead to disaster.

"That's true."

Chen Lianshu chuckled awkwardly in a low voice.

"What brings you here so early, Senior Sister?"

"Um."

Mu Qianxue responded calmly; the answer was already prepared.

"I'll take you on your morning practice."

She feigned indifference, sipping the water in her glass, but her gaze kept lingering on her junior brother.

Although she had been quietly watching her husband's sleeping face for a long time, her heart still trembled slightly when he got up and she saw that he was only wearing his undergarments.

"Morning study?"

"Yes, morning study."

Mu Qianxue repeated it.

When her husband looked over, she instinctively looked away guiltily.

However, her tone remained cold and aloof, as if everything was her responsibility as a senior sister.

"After all, you're new here and unfamiliar with everything."

"Since Master has entrusted me with taking care of you, as your senior sister, I will do my best."

She paused, her voice steady:

"After morning practice, I will show you around Jade Spirit Peak and several important places in the inner sect."

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Senior Sister."

Although Chen Lianshu agreed gently, he immediately changed the subject:

"However, junior brother has another matter he would like to ask senior sister, if that is alright...?"

"Hmm? Please speak freely."

Mu Qianxue's heart stirred slightly. She couldn't guess what her husband would ask, but she would tell him whatever he wanted to know.

"Last night, Junior Brother noticed that Senior Sister seemed displeased... Was it because of me?"

"After all, this place originally belonged to my senior sister."

As his suspicions deepened, Chen Lianshu began to test her reaction.

"You noticed?"

Mu Qianxue did not show any unusual behavior, nor did she think much of it; instead, a hint of joy rose in her heart.

Last night, she thought she had concealed it very well, and even her master had not seen through it.

The fact that her husband could notice this not only shows his keen mind, but also means that... his attention to her is far beyond ordinary.

As the saying goes, when you start to notice someone, it's the beginning of feelings developing.

How could she not be secretly delighted?

"Yes, junior brother noticed that senior sister's expression was different from usual."

Chen Lianshu certainly noticed it.

After all, it was the first time he had ever seen such a strong emotional reaction.

"Don't worry, it's not because of you."

Mu Qianxue's voice unusually softened, but she didn't explain why, only vaguely mentioning it:

"It's just some trivial matter."

She then changed the subject, picked up the small white dumpling bound by spiritual power, and held it up to her eyes.

Xiao Xueyan opened her watery eyes, looking extremely aggrieved.

But Mu Qianxue pretended not to see her and asked:

"By the way, how did this little thing end up in your room?"

"Um... even my junior brother..."

Chen Lianshu was about to declare that he knew nothing about it.

It's clear that when Xiao Xueyan cast that pitiful look at him, he ultimately softened.

"It has been resting here all night, Senior Sister, please let it go."

Actually, Xueyan wasn't in his room last night, and he hadn't noticed her this morning either. He really didn't know when the little guy had sneaked in.

But he didn't take it seriously; it was just a spirit pet.

Since they could open their master's bedroom, it's not surprising that they could enter this side hall.

"Oh, I see."

"It seems I misunderstood you, little one."

With a light tap of her fingertips, Mu Qianxue released the spell binding Xiao Xueyan.

Despite saying that, she didn't believe it.

She had seen her husband's hesitation just now and knew that he was covering for the little one.

But since he had already spoken, there was no reason to restrain him anymore, so he had no choice but to loosen his grip on the little dumpling.

Once freed from its restraints, Xueyan immediately bared its fangs and claws, breaking free from Mu Qianxue's grasp and leaping into Chen Lianshu's arms.

She whimpered and rubbed against his clothes, looking both aggrieved and amusing.

In fact, it itself didn't understand the situation.

I was sleeping soundly in the master's bedroom, how did I end up here when I woke up?

Before she could even react, she was subdued by this cold-faced senior sister.

"Then junior brother, please change your clothes first. Senior sister will wait for you outside."

After saying that, Mu Qianxue picked up Xueyan from Chen Lianshu's arms, gently threw it out the door, and then stepped out herself, closing the palace door behind her.

She knew perfectly well that the little thing was a "girl".

She had never even seen her husband change his clothes, so how could she allow any "person"... or "beast" to peep at her?

Xueyan, who had been thrown out of the door, seemed afraid that Mu Qianxue would use her "poisonous hand" again, and ran away as if fleeing.

Before long, Chen Lianshu changed his clothes and went out.

"Senior sister."

"Now that everything is ready, please follow me."

"Your senior sister will take you to 'morning meditation'."

Mu Qianxue left with her junior brother without specifying where they would cultivate in the morning.

After all, if she were to reveal the truth, her husband might become resistant.

But as soon as the two stepped out of the side hall, they saw a graceful figure in lotus-colored robes in the courtyard, seemingly tending to a spiritual plant.

"Hmm? Where are you two headed?"

The other party had clearly already noticed them, and looked over with a smile, asking in a gentle voice.

"..."

Upon hearing this, Mu Qianxue paused in her steps.

Clearly, she had already been discovered.

Unlike her senior sister's sudden tension, Chen Lianshu looked at her master, Pei Wanyun, with a hint of doubt.

Because in his sea of ​​consciousness, the progress of the karmic tribulation had quietly increased on its own without him even realizing it.

[Master-Apprentice Ratio: 35%]