"Ye Ziran, tonight, you will accompany him well. From now on, whether at the Taigu Academy or the Supreme Empire, you will be his woman. Serve him well, attend to him, do you hear me?"
Tears streamed down Ye Ziran's face. Truth be told, even though the Emperor looked old and Zhou Hong was young, if she had to choose, she would undoubtedly pick the Emperor without hesitation. After all, the Emperor was a strong cultivator in the Spirit Transformation stage, and in his youth, he was a genius she would have admired. What right did a good-for-nothing like Zhou Hong have to possess her? Unwilling, Ye Ziran's heart was filled with unwillingness.
"Alright Zhou Hong, there are beds behind this main hall. I'll leave it for you. I'll take my leave tonight. You decide when to return to Taigu Academy."
"Okay." Zhou Hong nodded.
The Emperor chuckled ambiguously and left quickly.
Only Zhou Hong and Ye Ziran remained in the hall.
The atmosphere seemed somewhat awkward. Zhou Hong didn't know whether to comply with the Emperor's wishes tonight. After all, the Emperor had been kind enough to bestow a beauty originally meant for him. If he didn't make good use of her, wouldn't that be rather unappreciative?
"Ye Ziran, by rights, I should call you senior," Zhou Hong broke the silence with a laugh.
"Hmph." Ye Ziran let out a soft hum, her face appearing extremely dejected.
Zhou Hong could see the dislike on Ye Ziran's face at a glance.
"Don't you like me?" Zhou Hong asked with a laugh.
"What do you think? You are a student from Class 30 of Taigu Academy. What qualifications do you have to make me like you? If not for this special occasion today, in Taigu Academy, I wouldn't even spare a second glance at a man of your caliber."
"Hahaha, of my caliber? What caliber am I?" Zhou Hong asked with a hearty laugh.
"In my eyes, everyone below Class 1 is a good-for-nothing."
"As expected of someone from Class 1, your tone is similar. It's just a pity that no matter how much you dislike me, tonight you belong to me."
Ye Ziran immediately burst into tears. She had cultivated to the Golden Core stage, yet she had to serve a good-for-nothing man in the Heart Coalescence stage.
"I'm not resigned, I'm truly not resigned! The Emperor summoned me to the palace, wasn't it to take me into his harem? Why is it like this? Why?" Ye Ziran cried.
"What? In your heart, am I not even as good as the Emperor?" Zhou Hong asked, somewhat taken aback. He thought that since she wasn't married to the Emperor, she would at least be more accepting. After all, the Emperor was an old man, and he was a young and handsome fellow. Yet, from Ye Ziran's words, it seemed otherwise.
"Ridiculous, what right do you have to compare with the Emperor?" Ye Ziran sneered.
"I'm younger than the Emperor. Would you rather choose an old man than a young and strong one?" Zhou Hong said incredulously.
"Ridiculous. Although I'm not resigned to becoming a concubine in the Emperor's harem, I'm still ten thousand times better off than you. Although the Emperor is old and frail now, he is, after all, a cultivator in the Spirit Transformation stage. In his youth, he was a genius at Taigu Academy, ranked even higher than I am now. Who are you, someone from Class 30?" Ye Ziran's anger grew as she spoke.
"Is that so?" Zhou Hong was slightly surprised. He hadn't expected that the current Emperor was once a student of Taigu Academy, and also from Class 1, ranked very high.
No wonder Ye Ziran was so unwilling. Indeed, someone from Class 30 had no future.
"Hahaha." Zhou Hong couldn't help but laugh.
"What are you laughing at?"
"Nothing. Regardless of whether you're resigned or not, tonight you are mine." Zhou Hong hadn't originally decided whether to have fun tonight, but now he decided to. Because this Ye Ziran, with her arrogance, ignited Zhou Hong's desire to conquer.
Ye Ziran didn't speak, tears silently flowing.
Zhou Hong walked up, stood before Ye Ziran, wiped away her tears, and caressed her smooth skin. He leaned in, intending to kiss her.
Ye Ziran immediately turned her head away, preventing Zhou Hong from touching her.
"Ye Ziran, you're not planning to defy the imperial edict, are you? If I report your performance tonight truthfully to my father, what consequences do you think there will be?"
Hearing Zhou Hong's words, Ye Ziran indeed dared not resist any further, allowing Zhou Hong to nibble on her face a few times.
"Why? Why did the Emperor take you as his adopted son?" Ye Ziran asked, tears flowing.
"Because I cured the Emperor's illness."
"As expected...!" Ye Ziran seemed to have guessed it already. Her heart was filled with unbearable sadness. The Emperor had previously said that whoever cured his illness would be taken as his son-in-law. Now that he was truly cured, he was unwilling to give his daughter away and sacrificed her instead.
"Fine, fine, accept your fate." Ye Ziran said painfully in her heart.
Zhou Hong immediately scooped Ye Ziran up and walked towards the bed behind the hall.
One by one, Zhou Hong stripped off Ye Ziran's clothes.
The night was silent.
The next morning, Zhou Hong opened his eyes. Last night was truly a happy night.
However, Ye Ziran had not slept at all. She didn't know how she would face the gazes of teachers and students when she returned to Taigu Academy. She, a senior from Class 1, had become the woman of a junior from Class 30.
"What are you thinking about?" Zhou Hong asked with a smile.
"Nothing. I only beg you for one thing."
"What is it? As long as you say it, I will agree to it."
"When we go to Taigu Academy, do not let anyone know about our relationship."
"What? Are you ashamed?" Zhou Hong wanted to see into Ye Ziran's heart.
Ye Ziran did not answer Zhou Hong.
"Alright, I promise you." Zhou Hong nodded.
Meanwhile, at the Princess's residence, Lu Qianqian was dejected. She had also stayed up all night.
Because she had received news from the palace last night that her father had bestowed Ye Ziran upon Zhou Hong. Not only that, but Zhou Hong had readily accepted. Afterward, Ye Ziran had stayed overnight with Zhou Hong.
Lu Qianqian's feelings were indescribable. Last night was supposed to be her wedding night with Zhou Hong, but it had become Zhou Hong and Ye Ziran's wedding night.
Now, she didn't know what their relationship was. Zhou Hong would be the Crown Prince, and she was a Princess.
After washing up, Zhou Hong was having breakfast, attended by palace maids.
Ye Ziran did not stay for breakfast and left the imperial palace in a daze.
"Zhou Hong, good morning." The Emperor specifically came to find Zhou Hong.
"Old Lu, good morning." Zhou Hong was not polite, directly calling the Emperor "Old Lu," as if they were truly friends.
"How was last night? You didn't really leave a beautiful woman there for nothing, did you?" the Emperor asked with a chuckle.
"How could that be? Thank you for the gift, Old Lu. This Ye Ziran is indeed a beauty, her figure is excellent," Zhou Hong said with a smile.
"As long as you like her, she is yours from now on."
"Okay, then I'll return to Taigu Academy after breakfast."
"Alright. I will also make a public announcement to the world regarding your identity."
Zhou Hong smiled helplessly, saying nothing.