Silent Plotting

Early the Next Morning

Luo Ruying woke up leisurely. As soon as her eyes opened, she found herself face-to-face with Ning Yechen's handsome features. He was so close that she could feel his warm breath.

One of Ning Yechen's arms was used as a pillow for Luo Hongye, who was sleeping between them. The other arm was draped across Luo Ruying's hips, and one of his feet had been resting on her body all night.

Luo Ruying frowned slightly, clenching her fists. She had tried several times to move Ning Yechen's foot off her body during the night, only for it to end up back in the same position. Eventually, she had given up and endured.

She sighed, deciding to let it go this time. After all, he hadn't done it intentionally. Besides, she and her child had finally enjoyed a peaceful night's sleep.

Carefully, Luo Ruying moved Ning Yechen's hands and feet away, got out of bed, and sat on the edge. Biting her hairpin, she began to arrange her hair.

Ning Yechen, peeking with one eye open, admired Luo Ruying's delicate back and couldn't help but smile. His wife looked stunning as she styled her hair.

When Luo Ruying finished and turned around, Ning Yechen quickly closed his eyes again. Seeing him smile contentedly in his sleep made Luo Ruying both curious and amused. He must have had a pleasant dream to be smiling so happily.

Looking at Luo Hongye's sweet smile, Luo Ruying felt a pang of fondness. The child took after her father in this regard.

Luo Ruying looked at the two on the bed with affection, dressed and headed to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. Though she didn't need food herself, Ning Yechen and the child did, and she wanted to take good care of them.

While she was busy, Ning Yechen was at the door, squatting with Luo Hongye and brushing her teeth. Though the child didn't fully understand, she mimicked him with curiosity and delight.

Luo Ruying glanced at the father and daughter outside, shaking her head with a smile. She was unsure what he was teaching her, but seeing them happy was enough for her.

After a while, Luo Ruying called out, "It's time to eat!"

"Hehehe, mother, we're coming!" Luo Hongye, riding on Ning Yechen's shoulders, entered the house, a flower perched on his head.

Luo Ruying tried to stifle a laugh at the sight of Ning Yechen with a flower on his head. She quickly took Luo Hongye off him. Ning Yechen, unbothered, sat down at the table with a smile.

The breakfast was made from crops and herbs from the fairy medicine garden. Luo Ruying had chosen milder varieties to avoid any adverse effects on Ning Yechen's mortal body.

Luo Hongye, too young to sit at the table, was held in Luo Ruying's arms, eating with enthusiasm until her face was covered in rice.

Luo Ruying lovingly wiped her daughter's mouth and fed her bite by bite. "Come on, eat more."

Ning Yechen, appreciating the effort, served vegetables into both Luo Hongye's and Luo Ruying's bowls. He praised, "My wife's cooking is excellent—beyond my expectations!"

A slight blush appeared on Luo Ruying's cheeks when Ning Yechen ate from her chopsticks, and she felt a bit flustered.

Seeing this, Luo Hongye looked up with wide eyes, saying, "I want this every day!"

"Alright, alright," Luo Ruying replied, smiling as she fed her daughter more vegetables.

Ning Yechen also fed Luo Hongye, who happily accepted both servings with her cheeks puffed up.

Luo Ruying looked at her family, feeling a contented smile spread across her face. It was a sense of peace she hadn't experienced as an empress. Perhaps this secluded life with her family could be her future.

Outskirts of the Demonic Forest

Four figures stood outside the Demonic Forest, their eyes fixed on the dense, dark woods.

"Old Ghost, are you sure they're hiding in this forest?" asked a man in green robes, raising an eyebrow at an old, stooped figure with spotted skin.

"Do you doubt my ghost-hunting skills?" the old man replied with a sinister smile, holding a terrifying puppet.

"The ghost infant puppet holds a clue and can track them from miles away. The fairy girl is in this forest!" the old man claimed.

A burly man with his chest exposed laughed heartily. "There are many demon kings in the forest. It won't be easy to capture them if they are indeed hiding here."

A scholar frowned slightly. "Is the master of the Master of the Martial Arts Temple afraid?"

"Is Palace Master Su afraid?" the strong man sneered, challenging Su Sheng.

Su Sheng glared back, his aura rising. "Even the Master of the Martial Arts Temple isn't afraid, so why would the Confucian Palace be?"

Wu Kuang and Su Sheng exchanged intense stares, their auras clashing fiercely.

"Enough!" Lu Jian interjected, standing between them with his sword. "The purpose of our gathering is not to bicker but to capture Luo Ruying and Luo Hongye, alive or dead!"

The two men begrudgingly withdrew their auras, refocusing on their mission.

Their goal was clear: to find and capture the mother and daughter, no matter the cost.