Linghu Ming immediately disregarded his injuries, straightened up, knelt on the bed, and bowed his head, saying, "Master, your disciple would never dare to show you the slightest disrespect, really not?"

Upon hearing this, Li Minshuang glanced at his crotch and chuckled, "You're all talk and no action; your body is very honest."

Linghu Ming hurriedly grabbed the sheet to cover himself and whispered, "Master, this is just a normal phenomenon. After all, after all..."

"After all what?"

Li Minshuang asked curiously.

Linghu Ming stammered, "After all, a man and a woman alone in a room, and my disciple is completely naked, it's inevitable that there will be a reaction."

"hehe."

Li Minshuang smiled upon hearing this.

"So, to you mean, Ming'er isn't treating me as your master right now, but as a woman?"

"Yes...no, no, it's not..."

Linghu Ming had absolutely no idea how to answer.

That's so damn embarrassing.

Lee Min-shuang chuckled: "So, is it or isn't it?"

Linghu Ming was drenched in sweat and had no idea what to say.

Li Minshuang said, "Ming'er, many things are not as they seem."

"You should rest well first."

Li Minshuang picked up the basin of water and gave a word of instruction.

As they approached the door, he added, "Ming'er, I wasn't joking with you. Think carefully about what I told you before."

Watching Li Minshuang's departing figure, Linghu Ming pulled back the covers and glanced at his little brother.

He was immediately heartbroken and exasperated: "You thing, you've really caused me a lot of trouble!"

Liang Hao, who witnessed everything from outside the door, scoffed dismissively.

"This idiot deserves to be single forever. Your master has already spoken to you like this, and you still haven't reacted. You really don't know what's good for you."

...

Inside the Dingxian Residence.

Mu Qiuyao sat quietly in front of the dressing table, holding a piece of rouge paper and pressing it to her lips.

After careful dressing up, Mu Qiuyao looked like a bride-to-be, as beautiful as a lotus emerging from the water.

Adorned in a phoenix coronet and embroidered robe, her face and the peach blossoms reflected each other's rosy hue.

Behind her, Shen Zhao gently combed her hair, each stroke meticulous and tender.

"Shen Zhao, I can't see anything right now. Tell me, am I beautiful?"

Mu Qiuyao put down her lipstick and rouge and asked softly.

"Beautiful, you are the most beautiful bride in the world."

Shen Zhao spoke calmly, forcing back sobs to avoid disrupting the atmosphere.

"Could you do my eyebrows for me, Shen Zhao?"

"Um……"

Shen Zhao walked around to her side, picked up an eyebrow pencil, and gently drew a cloud-like stroke between Mu Qiuyao's eyebrows.

“Shen Zhao”.

"What?"

"Can you call me by my name?"

Shen Zhao felt a lump in her throat, turned her face away, and tried her best not to let her emotions burst out.

Then he turned around with a smile and took her cold hands in his.

"Qiu Yao..."

"Shout it again."

"Qiu Yao, Qiu Yao, Qiu Yao..."

Upon hearing this, Mu Qiuyao smiled contentedly.

Her smile was so poignant, so heartbreaking.

She reached out and touched Shen Zhao's face, gently stroking it.

"Shen Zhao, I, Mu Qiuyao, am incredibly honored to have met you in this life. I wish for us in the next life..."

If we can truly be together, remember, you must come find me, you must come find me...

"Qiu Yao..."

Tears streamed down Shen Zhao's face.

At that moment, far away in the wilderness, the fortune teller looked up at the night sky.

A shooting star streaked across the sky for a fleeting moment, prompting a sigh of awe.

"The Empress of the Northern Region has come to an end. What a pity, what a lament..."