Night falls.

The palace fell into a deathly silence.

The imperial concubine held the emperor in her arms and fell asleep peacefully on the pillow.

Suddenly a cold wind arose, lifting the gauze curtains in the hall.

In the shadows.

The imperial concubine opened her eyes.

A tall figure in a moon-white robe flashed past outside the tent.

His hair was completely white.

A dark blue scale pattern shimmered between his forehead.

It was exactly like the mermaid from her dream!

"ah--!!!"

Screams ripped through the darkness.

Amidst intense fear, the imperial concubine heard a faint, almost imperceptible murmur.

She clutched her head, her eyes wide with fury.

"Get out! Get out!" She reached out to pull at the curtain, but accidentally kicked the emperor in the chest.

The emperor opened his eyes amidst excruciating pain.

A fishtail pattern was outlined outside the curtain.

It dragged on the ground, making a rustling sound.

Then, in the candlelight, he suddenly moved closer!

The imperial concubine screamed and kicked the emperor hard in the waist and abdomen!

"Go to hell! Go to hell!"

"Evil spirits, get out! Get out!"

The emperor was furious!

"Outrageous! Lady Li! You've lost your mind!" He roared in fury, restraining the maddening concubine, and shouted outside, "Guards! Protect the Emperor!"

The guards burst through the door!

Nianchu followed behind him.

The imperial concubine had already gone mad, and under the emperor's control, she felt even more terrified.

Her eyes were bloodshot and her long hair was disheveled.

It has long lost its usual elegant and luxurious appearance.

He casually grabbed the jade ruyi from beside the pillow and smashed it against the emperor's forehead!

"How dare you!"

The emperor kicked her off the bed!

The guards rushed forward and grabbed the screaming and struggling imperial concubine.

"This is outrageous!" The Emperor, holding a jade ruyi, smashed it at the feet of the Imperial Concubine!

"Li! How dare you attempt to assassinate me!"

His face turned ashen. "Guards! Throw this madwoman into the cold palace! She is not to leave without an imperial edict!"

"Yes!" The guards dragged the imperial concubine away.

She was startled awake for a moment.

"Your Majesty...Your Majesty, spare my life..."

The cries faded into the distance.

The hall fell silent once more.

Nian Chuying stepped forward and knelt down to pick up the broken pieces of the jade ruyi on the ground.

"Your Majesty, please calm down." She tidied up the broken pieces, brought over a cup of calming tea, and knelt at the emperor's feet. "Your Majesty, I have offended you. Please forgive me."

"Don't let this harm the dragon's body..."

She bowed her head and offered the teacup with both hands.

The emperor glanced at it, then his gaze froze.

She wore a thin white nightgown, her long hair was half-tied up, and her slender body seemed to be trembling slightly with fear.

But she forced herself to endure it and served him a teacup.

She knelt before him, her body slightly bent, easily revealing her delicate collarbone and the soft, warm curves of her breasts illuminated by the moonlight…

The Emperor's Adam's apple bobbed heavily.

He picked up the teacup and lifted her chin with his fingertips.

A pitiful face appeared before my eyes.

Her eyes were clear.

Sheng Man was filled with worry for him, and even... a little admiration.

This stands in stark contrast to the mad concubine.

"What's your name?" The Emperor asked, setting aside the calming tea and taking her wrist in his hand.

Delicate skin.

It has a jade-like luster.

He couldn't help but stroke it a couple more times.

"This servant is Nianchu." Nianchu raised her eyes, a just-right glint of tears welling up, easily arousing a protective instinct in one's heart. "Your Majesty's health is of utmost importance; you should drink the calming tea as soon as possible..."

The emperor leaned down and pinched her chin.

"Your mistress is causing me trouble. As her maid, you should accept her punishment and serve me until I rest."

He pulled hard, and Nian Chu let out a soft cry as she sat on his lap.

"emperor……"

She clung to his neck in a panic, like a timid fawn.

The emperor was instantly enraged.

"I never knew that such a treasure like you was hidden in the Imperial Concubine's palace," he said in a hoarse voice, pressing down to kiss her.

Nianchu closed her eyes, accepting the situation with trepidation.

The lowered eyelashes concealed the triumphant glint in the depths of her eyes.

The next day.

A piece of news spread like wildfire through the palace—

The imperial concubine was dismissed from her post and banished to the cold palace.

However, a new Consort Chu has appeared in the palace where she originally lived.

For a time, he was the most popular and favored concubine.

*

seabed.

Qingyuan, holding Shen Zhiyi, was drawn into a magnificent palace.

There seemed to be a barrier outside the hall.

Isolate all seawater.

The air inside is fresh and warm, and the ground is covered with a soft, cloud-like seaweed carpet.

As far as the eye could see, there were pearl curtains hanging down in layers.

Everywhere radiates the soft glow of gemstones.

Shen Zhiyi was stunned by what she saw the whole way.

Red coral...

Pearl oysters...

And these priceless jewels on land were simply piled up in a corner.

Some are even embedded in the wall!

Her eyes shone.

Lian Qingyuan didn't even know when he put her on the jade bed.

"These...are all yours?"

She didn't look at him, but stared at the jewelry on the wall, and asked in astonishment.

Qingyuan pinched her chin, forcing her to look at him.

A dark fire burned in his eyes.

It also stirred up a deep and indistinct sense of jealousy.

"Qingqing, you still aren't focused." His voice was hoarse and restrained, but the way he looked at her seemed like he wanted to devour her at any moment.

"It seems it's time to teach Qingqing a profound... lesson."

He suddenly leaned down and captured her lips.

"Hmm..." Shen Zhiyi realized that being here was no different from being on land; she could still breathe freely.

But now, all that freedom—the freedom to breathe freely, the freedom to speak—has been swept away by him.

She gradually felt the dizziness and distension caused by lack of oxygen.

Her face gradually flushed slightly.

Her eyes also glistened with tears.

She looked like a delicate woman ready to be picked at will.

It's as if you can do anything to her.

Qingyuan felt his blood surge.

Unable to control himself, he tasted the sweet fragrance that was originally his from her mouth.

The deadly sweet scent that haunted his dreams...

"You like mermaid silk?" he asked in a low, hoarse voice.

In her hazy state of consciousness, Shen Zhiyi felt two layers of mermaid gauze wrapping around her wrists.

Trapped between the warm jade and the burning chest.

"Where's the mermaid pearl? Do you want it?" His gaze fell upon her, deep and intense.

His large hand slowly climbed up to her waist.

His breathing grew heavier.

Shen Zhiyi felt several cool beads slowly rubbing against her skin along his palm.

Those places...

She stared wide-eyed in alarm.