One of my fairy-like friends

Various conflicts... In the royal family, this kind of thing is quite common.

Although there are some differences between the immortal dynasties and the mortal dynasties, they are generally the same.

"Besides that, the Crown Prince's talent is also a very important factor. I'm afraid Young Master Ming may not know this, but the Crown Prince is actually at the Divine Realm." Yu Mudan said with her hands behind her back and a light laugh.

"Hmm... I'm a little embarrassed to have kept this from Young Master Ming all this time, but Young Master Ming probably wouldn't even look at my level of cultivation now, right?" Zhu Yuyan said with a smile.

Her tone was soft and feminine. When Mingyan learned that she was a woman, he really thought it was strange for a man to speak in such a tone. Moreover, her fair and pretty face was already somewhat eerie. A woman who looked like that would be a charming and beautiful woman, but a man who looked like that... was he a transvestite?

So before, Mingyan always felt strange whenever he saw the Crown Prince or heard her speak, but now that he knew she was a woman, her soft, feminine voice became pleasant to hear.

However, when it came to the matter of cultivation level, Mingyan was somewhat surprised, "Could it be that His Highness the Crown Prince has some method to conceal his cultivation level?"

"Yes, it's something passed down from our ancestors." Zhu Yuyan nodded gently. "Having an extra trump card always makes people feel more at ease."

As Zhu Yuyan said, Ming Yan's current cultivation level at the initial stage of the Divine Palace realm is not surprising at all, given that he has already reached the forefront of the younger generation and reached the Taiyi realm...

"I've heard that Empress Yin is not His Highness the Crown Prince's biological mother?"

“Hmm…” Zhu Yuyan smiled upon hearing this. “That is indeed the case. However, I have always regarded my mother as my own mother. She has been extremely good to me… My father and mother met because of some past events. They were not a normal couple. My father had done a great favor for my mother. My mother came here to repay that favor, but because of my father’s poor health and my birth, it was decided to let my mother stay and become the empress of this country. This was to stabilize the entire Shengyuan Dynasty before I grew up.”

"Although Empress Yin is nominally the Empress of the Holy Yuan Dynasty, her relationship with the Holy Emperor is merely one of repaying a debt of gratitude; there is no affection between them," Yu Mudan said. "People of the demon race... always value gratitude."

“Sister Yu, it’s not just demons who value gratitude, you know?” Zhu Yuyan looked at Yu Mudan and said with a smile.

"Among the human race, although there are some who value gratitude, such as Young Master Ming and the Huang family, you are a very small minority. The vast majority are quite cold-blooded," Yu Mudan said with a smile.

The fact that these two people were telling me so much about the Shengyuan Dynasty and Empress Yin—things they shouldn't have told outsiders—was probably because they wanted to get closer to me.

Mingyan is no longer the same Mingyan he used to be, and he is well aware of his feelings for Yu Mudan and Zhu Yuyan.

If they could become friends with him, it would mean that they would receive the support of Feng Lingyueying, the Huang family, and Yaochi, and most importantly, they would also receive Wang Qingchu's protection.

Mingyan smiled but said nothing.

On the other hand, it's not all bad. He extended the old emperor's lifespan, and the jade pendant the old emperor gave him even saved him from a fatal blow. He wasn't treated unfairly, so there's nothing wrong with being friends.

The two women chatted with Mingyan for a while. They had a very close relationship and were like sisters. They didn't talk about anything like interests during their conversation, which made Mingyan feel quite comfortable.

Moreover, both women are exceptionally beautiful. Yu Mudan, of course, needs no introduction; she's undoubtedly the most beautiful woman in the demon race... Oh, wait, we also have to consider Bai Ze...

As for Zhu Yuyan, although her appearance is delicate and beautiful, she seems to have used some kind of disguise, so this should not be her true appearance. Perhaps her true appearance is even more stunning.

Chatting with such stunningly beautiful women, or simply looking at them, is a truly delightful experience.

This inevitably reminded him of Gu Hanshuang, and he wondered where Gu Hanshuang was at this very moment...

After Mingyan returned, Yu Mudan and Zhu Yuyan stood there. Zhu Yuyan sent a telepathic message to Yu Mudan, "Sister, do you have feelings for Mingyan?"

Yu Mudan looked at her with some surprise, "Why do you ask that? I do have a good impression of Young Master Ming, but it's not romantic... Could it be that you want to..."

"I was thinking... how about I make Mingyan my Crown Princess?" Zhu Yuyan smiled sweetly.

Yu Mudan chuckled, "Young Master Ming is the kind of man with a rather chauvinistic personality. He probably wouldn't want to be your Crown Princess. If you have feelings for him, don't forget that he already has quite a few women around him. In the future, you'll just be one of them..."

"Then... Sister, if Mingyan didn't have any other women around him, would you...?" Zhu Yuyan asked curiously.

“I’ll get closer to him, after all, he’s the only one who’s good enough for me.” Yu Mudan smiled gently. “However, I don’t want to be a part of his life right now. He can fall in love with me, but I won’t fall in love with him.”

"Sister Yu, are you so sure? I heard from Mother that the Sage Bai Ze once prophesied that you would marry him," Zhu Yuyan asked curiously.

"It's just a prophecy, it doesn't mean anything. Besides, I'm not interested in this kind of 'predestined' feeling." Yu Mudan shook her head. "But you, what are you thinking... Actually, if you want to use his influence, just being friends is enough. Of course, I mean true friends, not just using him."

Zhu Yuyan smiled and said, "Isn't it normal for me to develop feelings for someone who is worthy of you in my heart? Besides, he also saved Father Emperor."

Chapter 163 With this bond...

Yu Mudan shook her head. "Don't develop feelings for him so easily. If he didn't have those women around him, I wouldn't want to stop you. But none of those women around him are simple."

Zhu Yuyan smiled without saying a word. Seeing this, Yu Mudan couldn't help but sigh in her heart. This silly girl, if she takes the initiative to get close to him, she probably won't even have a chance to regret it.

She looked away, thinking to herself that she would not do such a stupid thing. Mingyan was good, but too many people wanted him, which made him lose his original charm.

After all, no matter how good it is, it ultimately belongs to only one person. Even if an emperor has three thousand concubines, he only has one empress.

Meanwhile, Mingyan was walking towards his residence when he unexpectedly encountered Empress Yin on the way.

Empress Yin, dressed in palace attire, exuded an air of nobility. It was said that Empress Yin was a fox spirit, which naturally gave her a seductive aura, quite different from the empress Mingyan remembered as the mother of the nation.

She was accompanied only by one maid; there was no one else with her.

If we're talking about the most desirable person in the Holy Yuan Dynasty, it has to be the Empress, right? While Yu Mudan is beautiful, she possesses a certain aloofness, whereas the Empress is the kind of woman whose gaze cannot be taken away at first glance.

Mingyan stopped and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress."

"You bow to me, aren't you worried about shortening my lifespan?" Empress Yin said with a helpless smile, "Your seniority is far higher than mine, and your status is far more noble than mine. It should be me bowing to you."

As she spoke, Empress Yin actually bowed slightly and gave Mingyan a proper greeting.

Before Mingyan could speak, Empress Yin straightened up and said with a light laugh, "I would like to have a chat with you, Young Master Ming."

Mingyan nodded, and Empress Yin waved her hand to dismiss the maids beside her. Then she led Mingyan to a pavilion by a nearby pond and sat down.

Empress Yin was dressed very appropriately, almost completely covering her body, but for some reason, Mingyan could always sense a subtle allure about her. It seemed to emanate from the faint charm in her eyes and brows, the almost imperceptible smile between her delicate nose and red lips—anything that stirred a fire within him...

What is this? Racial talent?

Mingyan remembered reading a novel called Investiture of the Gods when he was in the village. In it, there was a fox spirit goddess. It was said that King Zhou was so infatuated with the fox spirit goddess that he lost his way. Mingyan thought that it was not really King Zhou's fault. Let alone a mortal like him, even he, as a cultivator, would have to deal with such natural temptation.

"What does Your Majesty the Empress want with me?" Mingyan asked, trying to divert his attention.

Empress Yin smiled and said, "It has been quite some time since we last met, but seeing you here again, Young Master Ming, is still quite surprising. I never expected that you would have already broken through to the Taiyi realm. Such a speed of growth is truly astonishing."

"It was just a few lucky breaks," Mingyan said with a smile.

So Wang Qingchu's existence was just a small stroke of luck? Oh, no, they're siblings. Maybe Wang Qingchu isn't even a stroke of luck in Mingyan's eyes. Empress Yin smiled and didn't take it seriously.

"I think you understand why the Holy Yuan Dynasty is on good terms with Young Master Ming," Empress Yin said. "Some things don't need to be said so bluntly, but after thinking it over, I still think it's better to put them out in the open."

Mingyan smiled.

"In the past, the Holy Yuan Dynasty might have been somewhat attractive to Young Master Ming, but now, with your sister's presence, the Holy Yuan Dynasty has become dispensable." Empress Yin sighed softly, "No matter how beautifully words are used to embellish it, the fact that the Holy Yuan Dynasty needs to rely on your influence cannot be erased."

Mingyan remained silent, though somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected that Empress Yin would speak to him so soon after Yu Mudan and Zhu Yuyan had just gotten closer to him...

"Peaceful times are fine, but now darkness and turmoil are approaching. Who wouldn't want peace and stability? Young Master Ming, do you think the Holy Yuan Dynasty is hypocritical?"

“I don’t think so. On the contrary, I would be happy to become friends with Fairy Yu and the Crown Prince.” Ming Yan shook his head and smiled. The Holy Yuan Dynasty is not just a bloodsucker. Although, as Empress Yin said, the Holy Yuan Dynasty is now dispensable to Ming Yan, it is said that it is better to have more friends than more enemies. Why not?

Empress Yin opened her mouth, realizing that Ming Yan was telling the truth. Her prepared remarks were now useless. Empress Yin smiled helplessly, "It seems I have been judging a gentleman by my own petty standards... I'm truly sorry to have made you laugh."

"Empress Yin was only considering the interests of the Shengyuan Dynasty, there's nothing wrong with that," Mingyan said with a smile. "I've never minded having more friends."

Empress Yin chuckled softly, "Young Master Ming's kindness to the Shengyuan Dynasty is as high as a mountain. I wonder how the Shengyuan Dynasty can ever repay it."

These words carried a hint of emotion, and seemed to be a test of Mingyan's thoughts. Mingyan looked at Empress Yin and smiled without saying a word.

Before Mingyan could reply, Empress Yin smiled and said, "If Young Master Ming could become friends with Mudan and Yuyan, I would be most pleased. I wonder if Young Master Ming knows that Yuyan is actually a woman?"

“The Crown Prince already told me this before,” Mingyan said with a smile.

"If we really want to be friends, then we should be honest with each other." Empress Yin said with a smile, "Actually, Peony is not yet married. If Young Master Ming is interested, I think Peony and Young Master Ming are quite a good match."

Mingyan felt a little embarrassed. You guys are really...

Bai Ze said back then that Yu Mudan would marry me, and now you're proposing marriage again. Are you really worried that Yu Mudan won't be able to get married? Yu Mudan is, after all, the number one among the younger generation of the demon race, and the most beautiful among them. There are plenty of people who want to marry her, okay?

Mingyan had no romantic feelings for Yu Mudan. Although she was beautiful and exceptionally talented, she was a woman with a complicated mind. Mingyan didn't like her or wanted to get involved with her. So, he thought it was a good thing for Yu Mudan to keep her distance.

He would rather become a Daoist partner with a woman like Gu Hanshuang than have any romantic relationship with Yu Mudan. Otherwise, his hard-won and stable "family" would be turned upside down by Yu Mudan.

Seeing that Mingyan didn't seem particularly interested, Empress Yin was still a little surprised. Mingyan definitely liked women; there was no need to think about it. He had so many women around him: Feng Lingyueying, the Huang family, Yaochi—were there few women he was involved with?

Why am I not interested in peonies? Peonies aren't bad, are they?

If possible, it would be best if these two, who are mutually in love, could get together. After all, with this bond, Mingyan would definitely keep an eye on the Holy Yuan Dynasty.

However, she ultimately couldn't control Yu Mudan's wishes...

Thinking of this, Empress Yin's heart stirred.

This chapter has not been approved.

The content of this chapter has not been approved.

Chapter 165 The Rebellious Disciple Sounds Good Too

"So you're just going to keep staring at me without talking to me?" Yue Wuxia turned around and looked at Ming Yan. Her tone was still as cold as ever, but now it no longer had that sense of distance. It only made people want to conquer her and hear their master beg for mercy in his cold voice.

"Could it be that Master actually wants me to do something? Like, sleep in bed with Master?" Mingyan asked curiously. "I misunderstood Master's meaning, but it's not too late to realize it now..."

As he spoke, Mingyan tried to get into bed and embrace Yue Wuxia, but Yue Wuxia glared at him, her pretty face flushing slightly. "Don't come up here!"

Mingyan looked somewhat innocent. "Didn't Master mean that?"

"Of course not..." Yue Wuxia frowned. This rebellious disciple was simply too optimistic. "You want Feng Lingyueying back, and... You said it yourself, do you want to go back on your word?"

“Why do you say that, Master? We became master and disciple in Fengling Yueying, so naturally we should also show our respect to you in Fengling Yueying. I won’t waste your first time in such a place,” Mingyan said with a smile.

Yue Wuxia's face flushed. This rebellious disciple had no shame at all, still showing filial piety to his master... Is this how you show filial piety? Showing filial piety in bed? Thinking of this, Yue Wuxia spat lightly.

"I don't need your filial piety, you unfilial disciple... Do you have any shame?" Yue Wuxia said coldly. This unfilial disciple was becoming more and more unscrupulous.

“Master, this is not good…” Mingyan walked to the bedside, got on the bed, lay down in front of Yue Wuxia, and reached out to put his arm around Yue Wuxia’s slender waist. “How can Master refuse his disciple’s filial piety? This is his heartfelt gift.”

"Pah! Is that filial piety?" Yue Wuxia's face flushed as she thought of the crucial point. How could this rebellious disciple be so shameless? She didn't remember teaching him any of these things. She didn't know if he was self-taught or spoiled by Wang Qingchu.

“That’s one way of showing filial piety,” Mingyan said with a smile. “Of course, my filial piety towards my master is not limited to that one way.”

Yue Wuxia turned over, her back to Ming Yan, not wanting to talk to him anymore.

Upon seeing this, Mingyan pressed himself against his master, embracing him tightly until the only thing separating them was their clothes.

Master's demeanor was aloof, but her body was warm. Mingyan held Yue Wuxia tightly, not wanting to leave any gap between them. He whispered, "Does Master not want his disciple to be filial to Master, but instead wants his disciple to 'disobey' Master?"

The word "talk back" was emphasized by Mingyan, and the implication was somewhat baffling to Yue Wuxia, who didn't know much about matters between men and women.

She knew about things like sexual intimacy between men and women, and had gained quite a bit of experience with Mingyan in her dreams. But compared to Mingyan, who already had a wealth of experience, Yue Wuxia was still too innocent.

Of course, although she didn't know the true meaning of "talking back," Yue Wuxia knew that it was definitely not the word's original meaning...

I suspect it's just like the distorted meaning of "filial piety" he used—all vulgar and obscene language...