Gao Yu, the second-in-command of the Gao faction eunuch group, rode a griffin beast into Tianshui City.
However, he did not seek out Sauron immediately. Instead, he first entered the military camp to see Yan Naier.
Upon seeing the eunuch attendant by the king’s side, Naier could not help but be astonished. Why had he come to find her?
“The king’s oral decree.” Gao Yu said.
After a moment’s hesitation, Naier knelt upon one knee, for she was in full military attire, and thus could perform the half-kneeling salute.
Gao Yu said, “It has been heard that Yan Naier, Grand Commander of the Tianshui City Guard, is intelligent, martial, brave, loyal, and righteous. This sovereign greatly favours her, and hereby adopts her as a foster daughter, and on behalf of Princess Zhiyan accepts her as an attendant. By this decree.”
Hearing that the king had adopted her as a foster daughter and made her an attendant to Princess Zhiyan, Yan Naier furrowed her brow.
Ever since Princess Zhiyan had appeared in Tianshui City, she had always tried her best to avoid her. Though an attendant to a princess was generally a position that only children of high nobles or feudal lords could fill, and for her to become Zhiyan’s attendant was a promotion, Yan Naier very much disliked it.
Moreover, her intelligence was as clear as ice and snow, and she instantly understood the meaning behind the king’s oral decree.
The king wished to bestow marriage upon Sauron, but feared she would obstruct it. Thus, by adopting her as a foster daughter and making her an attendant to Princess Zhiyan, he intended to turn a blind eye and allow her to marry over together with Princess Zhiyan in the future.
For Sauron, this was of course an immense favour.
One must know that in this world, apart from certain tribes, the vast majority of people practised monogamy.
Of course, a man could have several women, but concubines could not be considered wives.
As for a princess’s husband, his status was even more inferior, more like a man marrying into the princess’s estate. In this household, the princess was the master, and the princess’s husband was a dependent. Let alone taking concubines, even if he wished to have marital relations with his princess wife, he had to obtain her consent.
And now, the king’s hidden intention was actually to have Yan Naier marry over together with the princess.
What surged forth in Yan Naier first was anger. She and Sauron were deeply in love. Why must Princess Zhiyan and the king insist on interfering?
She was clearly Sauron’s fiancée, and now she was being asked to step aside and be reduced to a concubine?
Immediately, Naier was about to refuse resolutely with her words.
Gao Yu said, “Miss Yan Naier, hear me out. You may wonder why His Majesty the King insists on marrying the Princess to Sauron. Without this marriage contract, would Count Sauron not exert himself wholeheartedly to plan for the Princess? Of course not. The king believes that even without a marriage contract, Sauron would certainly do his utmost to assist the Princess. But His Majesty the King does this for Count Sauron’s future.”
Naier said, “Please speak.”
Eunuch Gao Yu said, “Looking at it now, the possibility of Princess Zhiyan succeeding to the throne remains minuscule. But Count Sauron’s talent is astonishingly brilliant. In the future, there may yet come a day when Princess Zhiyan ascends the throne.”
Naier nodded.
Eunuch Gao Yu continued, “Then, how should the royal house reward Count Sauron for his merits and kindness? You also know that feudal lords can lead troops in battle, but unless posthumously promoted, they may not advance in noble rank during their lifetime, nor may they hold important positions.”
Indeed, at that time, Count Suolong and Tu Lingtuo had fought battles north and south for the kingdom, and the merits they established were in no way inferior to Tu Lingtuo’s.
Yet, Suolong remained an earl throughout his life, only being posthumously promoted to marquis after death. While Tu Lingtuo had been promoted to duke nearly ten years ago. This was because Suolong was a feudal lord.
Naier said, “I believe that my husband assists Princess Zhiyan for loyalty and righteousness, and also to preserve the Tianshui City foundation. It is not for wealth and honour, nor for high office and generous salary.”
Eunuch Gao Yu said, “This too, I firmly believe. But, Miss Yan Naier, do you feel that Count Sauron’s talent is merely sufficient to serve as a feudal lord? Moreover, when Princess Zhiyan ascends the throne as king, it will certainly have been through countless hardships and dangers. The entire kingdom will have suffered heavy damage, how many powers will have been reshuffled, and how many undertakings of the kingdom will lie in ruins awaiting revival. Do you not feel that it is then that Count Sauron’s talent will be even more needed?”
Naier fell into silence.
Eunuch Gao Yu said, “Therefore, His Majesty the King’s bestowal of marriage upon Count Sauron is not to show him favour, but because the kingdom needs Count Sauron’s talent. Yet, he is a feudal lord, unable to be promoted in rank or hold important positions. Unless, there is another identity that surpasses his status as feudal lord. Therefore, His Majesty the King has given the Princess in marriage to Sauron. Thus, after Princess Zhiyan succeeds to the throne, Count Sauron can be appointed as Regent King, to oversee all state affairs.”
Hearing the three words “Regent King,” Yan Naier’s delicate body could not help but tremble.
She had not expected that His Majesty the King would value Sauron so greatly.
Eunuch Gao Yu said, “I believe Miss Yan Naier can also see that Princess Zhiyan is by nature detached and otherworldly. She is capable of being a king. But in governing state affairs, she is lacking. So to whom can the kingdom’s political affairs be entrusted afterwards? It can only be Count Sauron. But he is a feudal lord, unable to serve as commander of the military department or prime minister of the kingdom. Therefore, making him the queen’s husband is the only way.”
Naier nodded gently.
Gao Yu pressed further, “I can see that you and Count Sauron love each other deeply. Therefore, you would certainly wish for Count Sauron’s talent to be put to full use, to see him achieve great deeds that will last for ages. Only then will his life not be lived in vain. As for the feelings between you and him, they can still be perfectly beautiful. Why must you covet the empty name of husband and wife? Moreover, the king also has the intention that in the future, the son of Sauron and Princess Zhiyan will inherit the throne, while the son of you and Count Sauron will inherit the position of Tianshui City Lord. Would this not be the best of both worlds?”
Yan Naier fell into silence.
In matters of the heart, she possessed a powerful desire for exclusivity, unwilling to share her beloved with any woman.
But she must consider Sauron’s ambitions and ideals.
As a woman, she of course wished for her husband to establish immortal merit and realise his grand ambitions.
And most importantly of all, at that time she had been assassinated by Black Ice Mansion assassins sent by Tu Lingduo, and had been struck by a strange poison. Afterwards, she had refused the antidote sent by Tu Lingchen, and instead chose to have Sauron save her.
Sauron had used evil energy to save her life, but the consequence was the透支 of her future lifespan.
A few days ago, upon hearing the false news of Sauron’s death, she had fought desperately with Tu Lingchen and been heavily wounded once more. This caused the evil energy to save her again, instantly healing her, but the consequence was once more透支 her lifespan.
So, how much longer could she actually live? Perhaps less than ten years.
Thus, should she still hold Sauron back? After she died, who would accompany him? Could she allow him to live alone in loneliness?
Of course, Naier herself did not feel much pain. To be able to stay with her beloved, she was already very satisfied. If next, she could give Sauron several children, it would be even more perfect.
Though this eunuch Gao Yu before her had ulterior motives, one thing he said was correct. Since they were deeply in love, why care about the empty name of husband and wife?
Though Naier told herself again and again why care about the empty name of husband and wife, her heart ached as if being twisted. She of course cared about this name of husband and wife, for marriage was the best ending to love, and marriage was also the most beautiful symbol of love.
For a full quarter of an hour, Yan Naier took a deep breath and said, “I accept the decree!”
Gao Yu let out a long sigh of relief and said, “Thank you, Miss Yan Naier, for your understanding.”
Then, he went to transmit the decree to Sauron, announcing the king’s bestowal of marriage.
…
At the same time, to the northwest by north of the Nu Lang Kingdom!
White Antelope City was the northwesternmost city of the Nu Lang Kingdom, likewise belonging to one of the kingdom’s feudal lords.
Beyond White Antelope City, one left the territory of the Nu Lang Kingdom.
The peerless beauty A Shi Liren had just left White Antelope City yesterday.
By her side still followed that little girl called A Nan. This child was someone she had rescued from beneath the swords of the Underworld Society assassins.
Speaking of which, this child was also Sauron’s saviour.
At that time, Sauron had already been captured by the Underworld Society assassins. A Shi Liren had passed by with not the slightest intention to save him. Later, the Underworld Society assassins had galloped their horses to trample the wheat fields, and were rebuked by the little girl, and were about to strike to kill her.
A Shi Liren could not bear to watch, and acted to kill the dozen or so Dragon Warrior-level Underworld Society assassins cleanly, rescuing the little girl, and thus Sauron was indirectly saved as well.
A Shi Liren rode a snow-white steed, travelling along a country path.
Her face was still veiled, but the exposed eyes, and her figure like an immortal or a demoness, and her cold-as-ice temperament, wherever she passed, even if only a back view, made all who saw her lose their souls.
Wherever she went, the temperature there would drop by over ten degrees, and the air would be suffused with an enchanting, faint fragrance.
At this time, there were scattered villagers walking along the road. Once they caught sight of A Shi Liren’s figure, they either stared dumbstruck, or immediately knelt prostrate by the roadside.
So-called beauty that could overthrow cities and states, nothing more than this.
“Auntie, where are we going?” the little girl A Nan asked.
A Shi Liren said, “To pay respects to someone!”
Today was the tenth anniversary of her husband’s death. Therefore, she had travelled ten thousand li to come and pay her respects!
Her husband, Yan Ping, had come from a common rural family. After death, his fallen leaves returned to their roots, buried beside the ancestral home in the countryside.
Her husband’s hometown was a small place called Fallen Leaf Village.
There, maple trees grew in abundance. Every autumn, fallen leaves drifted down in profusion, covering the ground.
Of course, it was already spring now. All the fallen leaves had basically rotted away. It was precisely the season when all things revived.
At dusk!
A Shi Liren entered her husband’s hometown, Fallen Leaf Village.
Here, it was still sparsely populated, desolate and barren.
And her husband’s ancestral home had long since been completely abandoned, becoming the dwelling of wild beasts.
Her husband’s grave was also overgrown with weeds.
A Shi Liren first cleared the weeds from the grave completely clean, then placed incense and candles before the grave, along with a pot of wine and a roasted quail.
Then, A Shi Liren knelt before the grave.
The little girl A Nan, seeing this, also knelt by her side.
“Husband, I have come to see you. These years, not a single day has passed without me thinking of you!”
“Our child is still so mischievous it gives one a headache, completely disobedient. I truly am somewhat at a loss. He has already beaten away over a dozen tutors. Now he is like a demon king of chaos, beyond anyone’s control. Husband, in your spirit in heaven, help Liren!”
Normally, A Shi Liren was cold as ice, taciturn and sparing of words.
But at this moment, she seemed like a different person, like a tender, clinging girl pouring out her heart to her beloved.
As she poured out her heart, she recalled her husband’s voice and smile, and A Shi Liren’s heart ached as if being twisted, her tears falling like rain.
Her husband, Yan Ping, had merely been delicately handsome in appearance, completely unable to practise martial arts, and of common birth.
On the surface, he was utterly unworthy of A Shi Liren.
But at that time, A Shi Liren had looked down upon the sons of princes and nobles, looked down upon the outstanding young men of the entire human kingdom. She had even rejected the courtship of the eldest prince of the Eastern Li Kingdom.
Yet, she had taken a fancy to this unremarkable Yan Ping, who lacked the strength to truss a chicken.
In her heart, her husband Yan Ping was so profoundly learned, so intelligent, so kind, so humorous, so gentle.
He was completely the best man in the world. He completely cherished her with his very life.
After her husband died, she would never again encounter even half such a man.
The time spent with her husband was merely a little over a year, but it was her happiest time.
This was truly a meeting of golden wind and jade dew, surpassing countless mortal encounters!
…
Outside White Antelope City.
The demonically handsome A Shi Luo, no matter where or when, never concealed his exaggeratedly beautiful face.
Moreover, he always had a dozen or so beauties by his side.
But now, he was concealed within a black cloak, with not a single person beside him!
How important was the battle to destroy Sauron, but after leaving the Rock Island palace, he had directly vanished without a trace, not participating in the great battle at all.
Because, he had even more important matters to attend to.
His lust for his elder sister A Shi Liren had already lasted over a dozen years. From the time he understood such matters, his elder sister A Shi Liren had been the woman of his dreams.
He had slept with countless women, but had never loved a single one.
Even a woman like Suo Ningbing, after marrying into his household, he had played wife-swapping with others, not cherishing her in the slightest.
But if anyone dared to lay a single finger on his elder sister A Shi Liren, he would slaughter their entire family.
Therefore, that cheap brother-in-law Yan Ping had been killed by him, his entire family exterminated.
In this world, there was only one woman he truly loved, and that was his elder sister A Shi Liren.
For over a dozen years he had yearned for her day and night, for over a dozen years he had drooled with desire, yet never had he obtained even half a chance.
Because his elder sister A Shi Liren’s martial arts had always been higher than his, and with her keen intelligence, she had evaded every one of A Shi Luo’s schemes.
But now, the opportunity had come!
Because his elder sister A Shi Liren’s Dragon Yin Absolute Meridian could no longer be suppressed.
Originally, she should not have lived past twenty years of age, but the world’s number one powerhouse, Jiang Shang, was truly too formidable. By guiding the energy of her Dragon Yin Absolute Meridian appropriately, he had not only allowed her to live until now, but also made her martial arts so astonishing!
A Shi Luo could be certain that throughout the world, those whose cultivation surpassed his elder sister A Shi Liren would not exceed a few.
But even so, by now A Shi Liren could no longer suppress the backlash of the Dragon Yin Absolute Meridian. Once she exerted her power excessively, or was excessively grief-stricken, she would suddenly faint.
The last time A Shi Liren had fought over a dozen Dragon Warrior Underworld Society assassins, she had directly suffered the backlash of the Dragon Yin Absolute Meridian and fainted to the ground. (Of course, A Shi Luo did not know of this matter.)
And this time, it was the tenth anniversary of her husband’s death. She would certainly be unable to bear her grief, and would certainly once again suffer the backlash of the Dragon Yin Absolute Meridian and faint to the ground.
At that time, his, A Shi Luo’s, opportunity would arrive.
Therefore, he had not appeared at all in the battle to destroy Sauron. How could such a matter compare in importance to possessing his elder sister A Shi Liren?
To miss this opportunity, perhaps he would have to wait another ten years.
To possess his elder sister A Shi Liren was the dream of his life!
…
A Shi Liren knelt before the grave, her mind recalling every bit of her time with her husband, that happiness and sweetness that penetrated to the very bones, completely causing one to sink into oblivion.
But now…
Her beloved had long since departed, leaving only her alone and desolate!
Instantly, A Shi Liren felt her heart suddenly turn cold.
She immediately stopped her thoughts, stopped her grief.
But, it was already too late. The backlash of the Dragon Yin Absolute Meridian surged forth unceasingly.
No matter how she desperately tried to suppress it, it was useless. Dizziness flickered before her eyes, and darkness swept over her.
“A Nan, quickly hide.” After speaking these final words, A Shi Liren’s beautiful eyes tightly closed, and she fainted to the ground, unconscious.
At this moment, A Shi Luo, spying from a thousand metres away, also felt wave after wave of dizziness.
But, this was blissful dizziness.
For a dozen or twenty years, he had yearned for his elder sister A Shi Liren day and night, had drooled with desire for over a dozen years.
Now, the opportunity had come. He would have his long-cherished wish fulfilled.
The most beautiful woman in this world, without equal.
The strongest woman in this world, also without equal.
Now, this woman was about to become his.
A Shi Luo nearly wept with joy, nearly laughed wildly, his heart pounding madly, his breathing rapid.
“Sister, I will cherish you. I will cherish you in the gentlest, yet also the most violent way. Only thus can I fully express my love for you.” A Shi Luo murmured to himself, then walked out.
Seeing A Shi Luo appear before the grave.
The seven-year-old little girl A Nan immediately spread her hands like a chick, protecting A Shi Liren behind her, and said warily, “Who are you? You are not allowed to come over.”
“Too bad you’re too small. In a few more years I would eat you up.” A Shi Luo smiled, and his palm gently swept past.
Instantly, the little girl A Nan fainted to the ground, unconscious.
A Shi Luo squatted beside his elder sister A Shi Liren, inhaling her cold, enchanting faint fragrance, gazing upon her figure with curves like mountains and valleys, radiating a demonic beauty.
These curves, like a demon, yet also like an immortal.
In this world, was there any woman more beautiful and bewitching than her? None!
“Sister, now, you are mine.”
A Shi Luo trembled, and stretched his evil hands towards A Shi Liren’s immortal body.