Having been away from the Light Sea for so long, Fanli was in high spirits. Since she needed to delay her return for a while, she unashamedly indulged in the local lifestyle. There was no need to wear a pressure suit; she could bathe in natural sunlight during the day, feast on various shallow-water seafood whenever she pleased, and go shopping with her friends like Fengjin and Randy Rose... It was pure bliss.
She enjoyed herself so much that she nearly forgot about the Abyss Empire. Even after the meetings concluded, she stayed for another four days before finally setting off to return.
From the day she requested an extension of her leave, Su Shiye had begun to grow restless. He didn't urge her to return, nor could he get a definitive date from her. Consequently, for every second she was away, his mood soured by another degree.
What irritated him most, however, was the realization that he was irritated at all.
Aside from *that* particular connection, they had no other relationship. Why should he wait for her in Baman Boya? If she was having too much fun to return, he could do the same. There was absolutely no need to make himself so miserable.
Thus, Su Shiye instructed Huangge to prepare the customary "New Territory, New Woman" program—to go to the most recently conquered sea and subdue the most beautiful local woman.
During the New Year of Red Moon Year 423, such an event was perfectly timed.
Accompanied by Huangge, the Arch-Prelate of the Demon God, the Chief Justice, Aize, and others, he traveled to the Vico Sea. A troupe of scantily clad, dancing girls was arranged for his entertainment.
The most captivating beauty of the Shadow Tribe in Vico emerged from the crowd of exposed dancers. Veiled and wearing a shimmering, tight-fitting outfit that bared only her navel, she swayed her slender hips, casting flirtatious glances at Su Shiye with immense charm. Finally, nudged forward by the other girls, she feigned shyness and collapsed into Su Shiye’s arms, her large eyes blinking like a temptress. "No one ever told me the Red Moon Emperor was such a handsome man..."
Following custom, Su Shiye exchanged a few ambiguous words with her, leaving her flustered and breathless. Yet, he felt no genuine interest, treating it like a chore to be completed. In the end, they had the great beauty change into a shell bikini—the cups no larger than the cross-section of a grape, held together by golden chains forming triangles at her neck and back—and sent her to his room.
On her way to Su Shiye’s chambers, she encountered Aize, whose nosebleed turned the surrounding water red.
Two weeks later, as soon as Fanli heard the news of Su Shiye’s return to Baman Boya, she received a call from him: "Come to the Endless Palace. I want to see you within half an hour."
Fanli finished the test in her test tube and immediately rushed toward the Fission Hall of the Endless Palace. But only fifteen minutes had passed when Su Shiye called again: "Where are you?"
"Almost there. It hasn't even been half an hour yet."
Another six minutes passed, and she was already at the palace gates.
"Why aren't you here yet?" Su Shiye called a third time, his voice displeased.
"Almost there, at the gate... I'm at the entrance of the Fission Hall."
"Who told you to go to the Fission Hall? Come to the Eternal Night Hall."
The Fission Hall was the monarch’s place of business; the Eternal Night Hall was his private bedchamber.
Before arriving at the Eternal Night Hall, Fanli’s heart was a tangled mess. She was happy to see him again, but over the past few days, she had heard rumors of his dalliance with the Shadow Tribe beauty in the Vico Sea. She had heard the tales of the shell bikini and Aize’s nosebleed, and she could only use work to numb her sinking spirits.
The airlocks of the Eternal Night Hall were all open. Fanli removed her helmet and answered Su Shiye’s final call.
"Fanli, where on earth are you?"
The call felt malicious. He could clearly sense her location, yet he kept badgering her, as if in a desperate hurry for something.
The moment she entered Su Shiye’s master bedroom, she was shoved against the heavy doors.
What followed was an overwhelming onslaught—Su Shiye’s wild, heated kisses and passionate caresses.
Since the airlocks had only just opened, Su Shiye was still wet, his hair dripping. As if finding his hair an annoyance, he swept it all back. With their combined momentum, the thick doors slammed shut with a resounding *thud*.
Her hands were gripped tightly by Su Shiye and pinned high against the wall. Her body was clamped firmly by his, rendering her immobile. She gasped, looking up, only to see a shadow fall as her slightly parted lips were directly invaded by his deep kiss.
Before she could exhale, she took another breath; she was already suffocating. As he kissed her roughly, she seemed to lose the ability to breathe out, inhaling sharply and repeatedly, yet it did nothing to alleviate the current shock. Her heart was violently stimulated. She tried to push his hands away, but his grip was so tight she couldn't muster any strength; she even feared her wrists might snap...
"Wait, right now is..." She tried to dodge him, but he swept her up in his arms and strode toward the bed.
"Shh," Su Shiye said displeasedly. "Have you forgotten your status?"
"Why the rush? Haven't you already been in Vico these past few days..." She never got the chance to finish her sentence; she only heard herself let out a low cry.
In truth, it had been less than a month since they last met at the hotel. But Su Shiye couldn't take it anymore.
"You were quite well-behaved today. Let me give you a reward." He pulled back slightly, pressing down on the wrists she used to push him, greedily sucking and licking the most vulnerable parts of her terrestrial form.
Since establishing their relationship, they had rarely been intimate in their marine forms, but this day was particularly excessive. The subsequent terrestrial mating shook her world like a magnitude ten earthquake.
On this day, Su Shiye was truly a bit mad. Throughout the entire night, Fanli lost track of how many times she "died." By dawn, she felt like a marionette that had been taken apart and reassembled; now that the strings were slack, she couldn't move a muscle. She was so tired she couldn't open her eyes, her voice a mumble: "Your Majesty Su Shiye... I’ll just sleep for five minutes then get up... just five minutes. Call me, I... I promise not to linger in bed. If I linger, I won't go do the Type 428 trench worm hemoglobin test the day after tomorrow..."
Watching her eyes slowly close, then snap open, then close again as she rambled incoherently, Su Shiye laughed. "Silly."
By now, her eyes were completely sealed shut, but as if trying to force herself up, she grabbed Su Shiye’s hand, muttering in some unknown language. He brushed her hair aside and kissed her forehead.
"Brother..." she called out in a voice like a mosquito's hum.
But Su Shiye heard it. The kiss lingered on her forehead for two seconds, as if he were hesitating. His lips slowly slid down, finally prying hers open gently. With one hand on the pillow and the other interlaced with hers, he pinned her between his arms and deepened the kiss, long and slow.
He didn't want to examine the meaning of this kiss. Meaning wasn't important.
"Love" was a nebulous, ethereal thing. As long as it wasn't spoken, it didn't exist.
After a while, Fanli opened her eyes dizzily. She looked awake, but she wasn't. Yet she gazed at Su Shiye with a smile, wrapping her arms around his neck and responding to him proactively, letting out lazy, slightly raspy moans that made him want to go again.
But she stopped halfway through her response because she had fallen back asleep.
Su Shiye sighed softly.
*Fine, I’ll let you off today.*
It wasn't until half-past one in the morning that Fanli woke from her dreamless, exhausted slumber. Hugging a pillow, she rolled over, only to see Su Shiye leaning against the headboard, reading a book.
"Awake?" He didn't even lift his eyelids.
Fanli froze for two seconds, then scrambled up, wanting to get out of bed to pick up the clothes she had scattered all over the floor, only to find them neatly folded on the nightstand. "Who folded these?"
"The maids."
"...She saw me sleeping here?"
"It was 'they'."
Fanli dressed as quickly as possible, saying helplessly, "You should have woken me up. I could have folded them myself... If the maids saw me here, what... what am I supposed to do in the future?"
"What do you mean, 'what to do'?"
"Never mind... I'm going back now." She ran a few steps, then doubled back. "Tell them to keep our business a secret."
"It's so late. How do you plan on getting back?"
"My private vessel."
"Fanli, I have a thought." Su Shiye paused, answering irrelevantly, "Let's change our meetings to twice a week from now on. What do you think?"
Fanli didn't react for a moment. During the time Su Shiye was away, she had thought she might never have the chance to be intimate with him again. This surprise came so suddenly she felt like crying from the emotion. She wanted to nod like a chick pecking at grain, but that seemed a bit too unrefined...
Su Shiye put down his book and looked at her calmly. "You think the frequency is too high?"
"No... I'm just a bit curious, Your Majesty. How many women are you seeing simultaneously right now?"
Su Shiye blinked for a second, then coughed. "Three... four, I suppose. Counting you, four. It's not fixed; it depends on my mood."
Besides Gexi, there were two other women. The thought of him being intimate with other women in the same way caused a sharp, lingering pain in Fanli’s heart. She lowered her head to compose herself for a moment, finally forcing a smile. "Your stamina is truly incredible, being able to meet me twice a week on top of that... Twice a week is fine with me. But I'm a bit worried about being discovered. Let's not meet at a fixed location anymore."
"We won't go to the hotel. You come to the Endless Palace."
*Is that really okay? Wouldn't it be awkward if I ran into the other girls?* But after thinking for a moment, Fanli decided she didn't need to worry about Su Shiye’s polygamous management skills. He was an old hand at this. She nodded. "Which two days each week?"
"Let's not fix the days. I'll make an appointment with you in advance each time, alright?"
"Mm-hmm, okay." Fanli pointed toward the door. "Then I'll be going now."
"It's too late today, and it's not safe outside. Just sleep here." Su Shiye pointed to the space beside him. "Next time, remember not to fall asleep."
"Okay."
Fanli took off her clothes again and obediently lay back in bed, pulling the covers up to the lower half of her face, leaving only her eyes to blink at him. He glanced at her, thought she was far too cute, and felt irritated. He picked up his book and got out of bed. "I'm going to sleep next door. Goodnight."
The next day was Monday. For two days straight, Su Shiye summoned her to the Eternal Night Hall.
But there was no "letting her off." He was simply obsessed with her.
Being tormented for two days by a man of his constitution was more than anyone could handle. Fanli skipped work on Wednesday, sleeping until one in the afternoon. However, by evening, she already started missing him.
*Sigh, why did we have to meet back-to-back? Wouldn't Tuesday and Saturday be better? With this arrangement, I won't see him for five days...*
But on Thursday morning, Su Shiye called her: "Come over tonight."
*Eh? Three times?*
Fanli was confused but didn't mention it, showing up for the rendezvous at eight that night.
Friday, Saturday—he invited her every day. On Saturday, he didn't let her leave, and on Sunday, they continued their bedroom activities.
What was going on?
Could it be that Su Shiye’s only woman right now was actually her?
Just as she felt a surge of secret joy at this hypothesis, she quickly dismissed the thought.
*Don't let your expectations get too high, or the fall will be too painful.*
But regardless of whether Su Shiye was only sleeping with her, he had successfully made her surrender. Except for when he was exceptionally busy, he wanted to mate with her for two or three hours every day, tormenting her until her heart rate was erratic, her body numb, and her entire frame aching. Only when she begged, "Let's rest today, please," would he stop, looking somewhat unsatisfied. On his days off, as long as she was breathing, he would throw her onto the bed. Her body simply couldn't take it; she even began to hope his polygamous instincts would flare up so he would go find some other women...
But secrets have a way of getting out. Eleven months later, even though Fanli had done an excellent job of keeping things quiet, the news of her frequent visits to Su Shiye’s bedchamber reached Gexi’s ears. Gexi immediately informed the Governor-General of the Citizenry Chamber.
"That woman is truly insane," the Governor-General hissed through gritted teeth. "Is she not afraid of being assassinated or having her reputation ruined?!"
"What should I do? His Majesty hasn't taken the initiative to talk to me for nearly two years. If I didn't go to him myself, I doubt he’d even remember my name..."
"Don't you worry. Since Great Oracle Sui wants to break the rules of the game and monopolize our monarch, we can break the rules too."
"What can breaking the rules do to her? She is Sui. We can't exactly kill her."
"Why not?"
The Governor-General’s casual remark made Gexi turn pale, but soon, she began to smile slightly. "You're right. In the Dark Sea, she is powerless... It's just, if we kill her, His Majesty will surely be furious, won't he? He said he didn't want to sour relations with the Light Sea."
"Don't you know? Recently, the Light Sea has done a series of malicious things that have deeply angered His Majesty. He will come to hate Sui along with them. Rest assured, the Citizenry Chamber’s diplomacy with the Starry Sea and the Bodhi Sea has been going very well lately. Our relationship with the Holy City will continue to deteriorate. We just need to find the right moment to strike."
"Really? Will it really go that smoothly?"
"I don't know how long he’s been having this underground affair with Sui, but since it hasn't been made public, it means he’s just playing around. He has no intention of replacing Moore Heiqiao as Sui’s husband. Don't forget, His Majesty is a monarch who understands the balance of power. As long as our side remains closely tied to his interests, he won't rashly punish us for killing one Sui."
"Good! Then if we successfully split the Light Sea and solidify our influence there, is it... is it possible I could become Queen?"
"It's not impossible."
Hearing this answer, Gexi’s eyes seemed to sparkle with a brilliant light. "Now I know the delicious taste of power. Love really isn't that beautiful. Saint Tifongjin was right."
"However, just to be safe..." The Governor-General mused for a moment. "We should find a scapegoat."
The "malicious things" the Governor-General mentioned were indeed exactly what Fanli had planned. Ever since the Empire’s grain entered the Light Sea’s black market, Fanli had been monitoring the news from both sides while allowing the major grain companies of the Empire and the Light Sea to trade on the black market.
Finally, at the end of the year, it was time to harvest.
Based on the *Light Sea Property Protection Act*, the Saint Yejiana government claimed to treat every nation in the sea fairly, including the Abyss Empire of the Dark Sea. Using this as a basis, they sued all grain companies trading with the Abyss Empire, demanding they pay patent fees on behalf of the Abyss Empire’s grain farmers and inventors. The number of companies and the volume of trade were staggering. Such lawsuits usually dragged on for years, and with the grain companies’ trade being heavily restricted, they couldn't afford the wait. They soon approached the Saint Yejiana government for a settlement.
In the form of loans, Saint Yejiana imposed various requirements that restricted the Abyss Empire’s exports and favored the economic development within the Light Sea. As Fanli had planned, the Light Sea’s demand for Abyss grain plummeted. The Abyss Empire’s farms suffered massive losses, and they were forced to suffer in silence, unable to voice their grievances.
Then, also as Fanli expected, someone informed her that His Majesty Su Shiye requested her presence in the Fission Hall for a talk.
"Fanli, you are truly clever." In the office, Su Shiye opened the door for Fanli with gentlemanly grace. "Even while in Baman Boya, you could come up with such an impeccable scheme. In this regard, I admit defeat."
For some reason, seeing Su Shiye smile so softly made Fanli feel uneasy, giving her a bad premonition. She hadn't expected Su Shiye to figure out it was her so quickly. Since he had guessed, he should have wanted to cleave her in two; why did he look so relaxed?
"Once the Light Sea government has collected all the patent fees, they will compensate you in full."
"Not only are you clever, but you're also kind, even thinking about compensating us." Su Shiye returned to his chair and sat down, crossing his long legs. He lightly covered his mouth with his slender fingers and smiled faintly. "No need. Keep that money to buy crystal coffins for your people."
Fanli nearly fell over. "Don't—don't make that kind of joke. That's not how politics is played."
"How is it played? Do you still not understand my style of doing things?" Su Shiye’s expression remained unchanged. "In terms of wisdom, I might not be a match for Great Oracle Sui, but I am very good at killing."
Fanli couldn't help but shudder. "What's the point of a war where both sides suffer so much? If you want to cooperate, we can talk. You can't just start a massacre every time something doesn't go your way. That really isn't how politics works."
"Who’s playing politics with you? Right now, I want to play a killing game."
Fanli suppressed her fear, showing only anger: "Everything was my idea. Why take it out on the Light Sea? If you're really that angry, you can kill me. What kind of hero vents his anger on innocent people?!"
"Innocent people? Who do you mean? Gath Xitian?"
"What do you mean..." Fanli had actually been referring to the citizens of the Light Sea; she was bewildered by the mention of Xitian.
"You went back to Saint Yejiana at the beginning of the year just to see him, and then what?" Su Shiye’s face gradually grew cold. "Rekindling an old flame, then teaming up to screw me over?"
Fanli remained utterly confused.
"And Heiqiao? Did you see him?" Su Shiye’s voice grew deeper and deeper. "Do you miss your three hundred years of married life?"
Hearing this, Fanli breathed a massive sigh of relief. It turned out she and Su Shiye were not on the same wavelength. What did he mean by repeatedly mentioning Heiqiao? Was it what she thought it was?
It wasn't the first time she’d felt this—Su Shiye seemed to have a possessive streak regarding her.
She wasn't entirely sure, but she decided to test the waters. She walked softly up to him and brushed his hand aside.
"What are you doing?" Su Shiye frowned.
Fanli sat on his lap, rubbing her calves against his, then cupped his face with both hands and looked into his eyes. "Your Majesty Su Shiye, thank you for taking care of me this past year. Being in an intimate relationship with a man as handsome as you makes me feel so happy."
"You're seducing me." Su Shiye frowned.
"Hmm? I'm not. These are my heartfelt thoughts."
Su Shiye tilted her chin up, turning it left and right, not buying it. He leaned back against the chair, his gold and ruby earring swaying slightly, his gaze cold as he looked at her. "Speak. What is your goal?"
"Have the Light Sea subsidize the patent fees to the Abyss Empire, and then have them formally apologize to you. Then you, being the great man you are, can overlook the faults of us lesser people and stop being angry, okay?"
"You realized you might not be able to beat me in a war, so you started using this method?" Su Shiye laughed. "Great Oracle Sui, have you no shame?"
Hearing him say that, Fanli’s heart stung with a sense of humiliation. But quickly, she realized something was off: Su Shiye had always maintained the image of a gentle lover. If he suddenly turned cold, it only meant...
Time for a further test.
Fanli lowered her head aggrievedly, looking up at him from under her lashes. "It's because I can't beat you. Can't I just admit defeat?"
"Heh." Su Shiye remained unmoved.
"Promise me, okay?" She tugged at his collar and blinked. "Promise me..."
*This woman is truly detestable,* Su Shiye cursed her in his heart. Usually so strong-willed, the moment she couldn't win by force, she started acting soft and acting spoiled, trying to get every advantage.
But she was so beautiful.
Her deep blue eyes were like the sea in late spring or early summer—there was a hint of coolness, but soon one could see the bright, radiant sunlight. Her seaweed-like waves of hair flowed over her shoulders, bouncing slightly with her every move. Her skin was flawlessly delicate, her nose elegant and straight, her lips...
He closed his eyes, forcing himself to stop.
But even though he wanted to say "no," he couldn't bring himself to speak the word.
Though he didn't say a single syllable, Fanli’s heart began to pound wildly when she saw his Adam's apple bob. She realized something that made her leap with joy: Su Shiye liked her, and it was the kind of liking he couldn't pull himself out of. She didn't know how many lovers he had now, but she was certain she was his favorite. He had just hidden it so well that she hadn't noticed for all this time. If this trade war hadn't happened, she didn't know how much longer he would have kept her in the dark.
"Your Majesty Su Shiye..." Her hand slipped into his palm, her cheek rubbing gently against his neck. "You've already let me enjoy the benefits of your handsome looks for so long. Help me one more time and be a little gentler with me, won't you?"
"Get down. Don't sit on me."
*Haha, Su Shiye really does like me! The more defensive and cold he acts, the more it shows he can't hold out!* Fanli suppressed her laughter and went for the finishing move, reverting to the way she used to act cute when she was little: "Brother, aren't you the one who dotes on me the most?"
But at that moment, Su Shiye flipped his hand to catch hers, pulling her entirely into his embrace. Then, a kiss was pressed upon her. She was stunned for a moment and accidentally let down her guard; the tip of her tongue met his as he drove deep.
Instantly, a bolt of electricity struck the center of her heart. The numbing sensation nearly made her faint.
He cradled her head, kissing her roughly. His heavy breathing triggered her own, making her breath come in short gasps. Every inch of her skin felt as though a scalding current was flowing beneath it.
*Help...*
She had intended to seduce him into backing down. How had it turned into her losing control...
*No, no, not like this...*
She tried to push him away several times but failed. On the final attempt, just as her hand touched his chest, his soft, husky voice sounded in her ear: "I promise you."
"Really..." She wrapped her arms around his neck, her eyes misty. "You really promise..."
"Whatever requirements you have for the Empire, you can bring them to me. I will try my best to satisfy them. But you are not allowed to see other men behind my back again."
"Okay, from now on, I'll report to you before I see anyone!" She hesitated. "Then... can you stop the counterattacks against the Light Sea? Right now, the Light Sea is on the verge of falling apart..."
"Fine."
"Can you give us more time to prepare the patent fees?"
"Don't bother. The Red Moon government isn't short of that little bit of money. Keep it and distribute it yourself."
"Really? Thank you, Brother!" Fanli grew excited. "I'll work with you to find a way to compensate for the Abyss Empire’s losses this time. As long as you don't target the Light Sea, I am at your beck and call!"
"I know. Any other requests?"
"Then, can you promise me not to look for any new female companions?" Seeing Su Shiye’s look of surprise, Fanli quickly added in a whisper, "You—you don't have to break up with your current girlfriends, but while you're in a relationship with me, don't get to know any new girls for the time being, okay?"
"Okay."
"That's wonderful." Her eyes filled with tears of joy. "Brother, you are so great. I love you. I will work hard to make you fall in love with me again."
The sudden, overly blunt sweet words left Su Shiye completely stunned—the person saying this was none other than Lili.
Before he could recover from his dizziness, Fanli took the initiative to kiss him.
At that same moment, his heart skipped a beat.
*To be continued...*
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
--- | --- | ---
维科海域 | Vico Sea | A territory recently conquered by the Abyss Empire.
幽影族 | Shadow Tribe | A tribe known for their beauty, likely the Umbra or Shadow people.
无尽宫 | Endless Palace | The royal palace of the Abyss Empire.
裂变殿 | Fission Hall | The administrative/office hall of the monarch.
永夜殿 | Eternal Night Hall | The private residential/sleeping hall of the monarch.
公民院 | Citizenry Chamber | A political body in the Abyss Empire, likely the House of Citizens.
总督导 | Governor-General | A high-ranking official or Chief Supervisor within the Citizenry Chamber.
光海产权保护法 | Light Sea Property Protection Act | The legal basis Fanli uses to sue the grain companies.
海沟虫血红素 | Trench worm hemoglobin | A biological substance Fanli is researching.
