Since the establishment of Song Daxing's school of philosophy, this type of skirt has been mostly worn only in chambers of women.

Empress An stood up, placed her hands flat in front of her abdomen, and said slowly:

"When the time comes, wear this to the banquet."

Dong Gong Ruo Shu's cheeks flushed red in a rare manner. In her life thus far, she truly hadn't seen many people wear such skirts.

Empress An pinched a corner of the garment and spoke in a tone that was gentle yet left no room for rejection:

"There will be no outsiders at the private banquet. You are exceptionally delightful. Wear it for him to see, and you'll be able to bind his heart within the palace."

"But…" Dong Gong Ruo Shu naturally did not wish to wear it. She hesitated briefly and said, "The Empress Dowager is far more beautiful than I am—why doesn't she wear it instead?"

Empress An's expression stiffened slightly.

A series of embarrassing memories flashed through her mind, and her gaze darkened.

It seemed that being direct and unreserved had its downsides as well.

If only she spoke tactfully, she could have said more…

Completely oblivious to the change in Empress An's expression, Miss Donggong instead boldly studied her figure.

Her wide phoenix robes billowed in the wind, accentuating her graceful curves. The taut and balanced silhouette exuded the ripened allure of a luscious peach. Complemented by her skin resembling congealed jade, her features boasted a beauty that could inspire awe, while still maintaining an air of regal dignity. In every aspect, she was undoubtedly the Capital City's reigning beauty.

Noticing Dong Gong Ruo Shu's gaze, the Empress Dowager's eyes grew icier. With a smile that never truly reached her eyes, she said:

"Ruo Shu, you will ultimately be the one to marry him. When I summon those two women later, you may inquire about him through them."

After saying this, Empress An turned away.

Dong Gong Ruo Shu wanted to step forward and ask something, but Su Xin stepped in first and raised her hand to stop her.

Thus, she could only ask:

"Then… does Your Majesty know him well?"

"A mother knows her son best," Empress An halted her steps slightly, then sneered and said, "Ruo Shu… When you marry him, be sure not to allow jealousy to overcome you. He is, by nature, a shameless libertine."

A shameless libertine...

As those last few words resonated in her ears,

The words Dong Gong Ruo Shu wanted to say dissolved, leaving her frozen in place. Cold sweat began to bead on her forehead.

A shameless libertine—a term often proudly used by regular patrons of brothels...

Which meant he...

He truly had mistresses?!

............

............

After leaving the Underworld, Chen Yi noticed that the coffin outside the Gate of Yin and Yang had vanished.

It was likely taken away by Yu Zhen Yuanjun. Chen Yi didn't dwell on this. Having spent far too long in the Underworld, his current desire was simply to return home.

No matter that only a single night had passed in the human realm,

For Chen Yi, his stay in the underworld had spanned an actual forty to fifty days.

Now, despite it being the heart of winter, the gentle breeze of the mortal world brought him a feeling of warmth.

Returning with Little Yin to the familiar courtyard, the warmth in Chen Yi's heart multiplied.

Even his usual annoyance with Min Ming—who brought little appeal beyond her ample bosom—softened by quite a bit.

The group of four stepped through the courtyard gate. Min Ming, in her role as a maid, called out "Master" before announcing "First Lady, Second Lady."

When addressing the female crown, naturally, it was...

"Third Lady," Min Ming curtsied respectfully. She'd heard a few things from Min Ning.

Yin Weiyin raised her delicate brows slightly.

This maid was entirely lacking in perception.

Could she not see that she was the First Lady?

An irritated thought stirred in Yin Weiyin's heart. After all, Chen Yi had proposed to her first, followed by Tingxue. Moreover, given the affection visible in Chen Yi's eyes now, by all accounts, she was the true First Lady.

As for Master Tongxuan—logically speaking, since the nuptials had yet to be arranged, she couldn't even be considered a "Third Lady," much less any kind of "Lady."

Yin Weiyin gave Min Ming a deliberate glance, but hastily correcting her would only make her seem petty. She chose to stay silent and shifted her gaze away.

Indeed, it was no wonder Min Ming was Min Ning's older sister. They were both equally oblivious.

She smirked inwardly and strode across the threshold.

If she encountered that "Min" later, she'd let them know exactly how deeply one could sink into the folly of a mortal's desires.

That "Min" could only respond one way:

Pleas, perhaps even tears, begging her not to sever the Scarlet Dragon.

The thought sent a shiver up Yin Weiyin's spine, accompanied by a twinge of excitement.

Chen Yi had no clue what Great Yin was thinking at the moment. Now that he was finally home, he just wanted to relax for a while.

Entering the main hall, before Chen Yi had a chance to speak, the little fox scurried around pouring tea for everyone.

Watching her tiny figure dart back and forth across the hall, Chen Yi felt a wave of warmth in his chest—a tender current of happiness.

This was home...

In comparison, the journey through the Underworld had felt like an endless trek.

Chen Yi's concept of home was simple: to wake up every morning and hold the little fox in his arms; to step out into the courtyard and see Zhou Yitang; to finish a meal and find Zhou Yitang naturally seated beside him while the little fox served tea for them both.

With these thoughts swirling, Chen Yi glanced at the seat beside him.

As if prompted by a faint sense of synchronicity, Zhou Yitang walked toward that seat with measured steps.

Then, Great Yin nonchalantly took that seat.

The one-armed woman halted her steps and squinted slightly.

Chen Yi froze for a moment but, seeing that the female crown seemed entirely unaware of her misstep, hesitated to ask her to move. Instead, he cast an awkward glance at Zhou Yitang.

Zhou Yitang's expression remained cold as she said:

"Get up. Practice swordsmanship."

Chen Yi was about to rise, but Yin Weiyin tugged his wrist to keep him seated.

The female crown turned to Zhou Yitang and gently advised:

"Now that he's just come back—the fact that Master Zhou is his teacher aside—why not let him sit a little while longer?"

The one-armed woman remained expressionless, her voice cool as she said:

"Get up. Practice swordsmanship."

Sweat began to bead on Chen Yi's forehead.

During those numerous days in the Underworld, his tenderness and affection toward Yin Weiyin had made him momentarily forget her penchant for taking undue advantage.

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