Ten minutes later, Su Li arrived in a frantic rush with the keys and a security guard. Seeing Su Shiye keeping watch by the sofa while Fan Li slept soundly, she let out a sigh of relief. Panting, she walked over and said, "Father, that truly scared me to death. I almost thought the Great Oracle would—"
Su Shiye stood up and delivered a slap so resounding that the security guard behind them flinched. The force of the blow sent Su Li crashing into the bookshelf in the corner. The shelf wobbled violently. She instinctively curled up, shielding her head as seven or eight books tumbled down, clattering against her shoulders and back.
This was the first time Su Li had ever been struck by her father; she was utterly stunned. After a few seconds, she clutched her face, her eyes brimming with tears that turned bloodshot with sudden hatred. "Your Majesty, Emperor of the Abyss... you struck me for a woman from the Light Sea? Do you love her that much?"
"Whether I love her or not is irrelevant," Su Shiye said coldly. "You are not permitted to harm her."
"On what grounds?!"
"Because she is your biological mother."
***
Gexi was at the home of the Director-General of the Citizenry, dining with the couple and discussing their next plan to eliminate political rivals. She was shocked to hear that Fan Li hadn't died. Their plan should have been foolproof; she hadn't expected Fan Li to find a way to call Su Shiye for help at the very last moment.
But nothing was as unexpected as Su Shiye’s immediate summons.
"Miss Gexi, His Majesty wishes to see you." Hearing Aize’s voice over the line, Gexi’s hand trembled, and her communication device clattered to the floor.
"Don't be afraid, Gexi." The Director-General’s wife gave her a hug. "The Great Oracle is indeed beautiful, but you aren't lacking either. No matter how high her status, the favor she receives from His Majesty is only temporary. Once this period of passion passes and she returns to the Light Sea, everything will return to normal."
"I... I’m so afraid to face him... What if the Princess already told him about our plan? What will I do..." Gexi was on the verge of tears.
"We weren't the ones who spoke to the Princess. My husband has already dealt with the scapegoat. It’s fine, dear."
The Director-General, who had remained silent, finally spoke. "A punishment is inevitable, but His Majesty won't be too harsh on you. Even an Emperor cannot act entirely as he pleases. If he intends to punish you severely, he must consider the stance of the entire Citizenry. Recently, the Speaker, the Secretary, and the Permanent Deputy Minister have all held private meetings with me. They support our decision and believe that if His Majesty wishes to marry or have a long-term companion, you are far more suitable than Su Yi. In the Light Sea, Su Yi might be influential, but she has no background in the Abyss. You have nothing to fear."
"Really? Did the Speaker and the Permanent Deputy Minister truly say that?"
To maintain an air of impartiality, the Speaker had to resign from his political party before taking office and would join the House of Elites after retirement. He was a titan spanning both houses and an elder of the Empire. The Permanent Deputy Minister was a core figure in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and chaired the committee; to an extent, he represented the Ministry's stance. If they were all backing her, Su Shiye’s punishment would likely be a mere formality.
"Yes, they said it personally."
"Why would they help us?"
"When the Speaker entered politics, his backers were Herto Integrated Defense Systems and the Nomad Power Group. If there is no war, how can those companies sell their firearms and ammunition?"
"What? The head of the Citizenry wants war?"
"Is that so strange? The Permanent Deputy Minister handles coordination, and his backing also comes from Herto."
"But... isn't it currently better for our economic development to maintain close ties with the Light Sea?"
"Those are the words His Majesty tells you. From the perspective of a monarch, that is correct. But arms dealers need to eat too. So, set your mind at ease. As long as these companies stand tall, we need not fear being isolated."
Seeing Gexi breathe a sigh of relief, the Director-General said solemnly, "But don't get ahead of yourself. His Majesty is fond of Su Yi right now. Even if he considers the bigger picture and overlooks our actions, he will likely harbor some resentment. What will ultimately lead you to the throne is the affection between you and His Majesty. When you see him today, he will certainly be angry. Remember to yield, shed silent tears, say some sweet words of weakness, and push all the blame onto the Citizenry. Remember, you are always the most innocent one who loves him most. Leave the struggle to us, understood?"
"But won't that affect your relationship with His Majesty?"
"It won't. We old bones might not be as aggressive as Arange or Jusha, but in terms of age, we could be His Majesty’s uncles. Our influence is no less than those two young upstarts. If His Majesty comes to us, we will collectively protest his relationship with Su Yi and firmly demand he send that woman back to the Light Sea."
"Good..." His words were so satisfying that Gexi felt emboldened. "You're right! Su Yi is just a mistress. Who does she think she is? She slept her way to the top!"
"Now, that is a low-quality remark. Aren't you also trying to find a way to sleep with the Emperor? You even dragged your best friend Nini along, but you misjudged his interests—he wasn't interested at all. Remember, if you want to be Queen, you must love the Emperor, but not to excess. Not only must you not hate your enemy, you must learn from her strengths. Learn from Su Yi; regardless of how she seduces him in private, on the surface, she is wise and elegant. She is far more presentable than you."
"Fine... I understand."
***
Gexi adjusted her state of mind, mentally preparing herself for a scolding, and met Su Shiye in the Fission Palace, where he was reviewing documents at his desk.
Strangely, she was not met with anger or coldness. On the contrary, Su Shiye looked calm, with a hint of softness between his brows. Seeing Gexi arrive, he set down his pen and looked up. "Gexi, it seems I haven't contacted you in a long time. How have you been lately?"
"I..." Gexi froze for a moment, then tears began to fall uncontrollably into the seawater. "I missed you dearly."
"Ah, why are you crying?"
Su Shiye stood up immediately, appearing before her in a flash. He used his knuckles to brush away her tears. "Don't cry."
The gentler he was, the sadder she became. She threw her arms around his waist and sobbed into his chest. Su Shiye patted her back and said softly, "You are just a bit too naive. How could you let yourself be used as someone else's blade?"
"Your Majesty, I... I really didn't mean it! If you can understand me, I can die without regrets, waah—"
"Of course I understand you. You're a silly girl, too kind, too devoted. Seeing you fall so deep makes my heart ache for you."
"They made me do it, I didn't want to... They said if I didn't, they would never let me see you again..."
"Oh? And who are 'they'? Tell me about them."
Following the Director-General's instructions, Gexi laid everything out. Su Shiye listened quietly until she finished, then nodded. "I see. They are dissatisfied with Su Yi because the agreement I signed with the Light Sea is too biased in their favor. Furthermore, Su Yi is a woman of the Light Sea with a husband. If rumors of a scandal between us spread, it would indeed affect the Empire's image."
"Yes, Your Majesty, she has a husband! Moore Heqiao—haven't you met him? She's playing around with you behind his back; Moore is so pitiful..."
"You're right. I have considered these issues carefully over the past few days. However, Gexi, you must also realize your mistake. Didn't I tell you from the start not to touch her? I intend to cooperate with the Light Sea."
"I'm sorry." Gexi lowered her head, shaking it with remorse. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. It's just that I love you too much; I couldn't help myself..."
"It's alright. Emotionally, I don't blame you, but rationally, I must punish you."
"Whatever the punishment, I am willing to endure it!"
"Return to Naixi for a week. Reflect on your mistakes, then come back."
"Okay! When do I leave?"
"Go now. I've already arranged a vessel; it's waiting for you outside the Endless Palace."
"Understood!"
As she swam toward the office door, Gexi looked back at Su Shiye one last time. Beside the floor-to-ceiling window behind him stood two flags. On the left was the black flag of the Abyss Empire, with a golden griffin emblem at the center of a cross, symbolizing the dominant power of the deep sea's greatest nation. On the right was the Trench Red Moon military flag of the Crimson Moon Empire, its pattern identical to the bracer on Su Shiye’s arm. In the water that flowed as soothingly as piano music, Su Shiye stood tall, his white hair drifting slightly. All the scenery of Bamanboya outside the window could not compare to the tenderness filling his golden eyes.
She still remembered when the Crimson Moon warships first entered the capital of Naixi. Su Shiye was the last to emerge from the vessel. At first sight, she had felt utter contempt for her own husband's incompetence. She would rather be a concubine to the Crimson Moon Emperor than remain the Queen of a humiliated Naixi.
The more she learned about Emperor Su Shiye, the more infatuated she became.
Now, she was so close to him. No matter what method it took, she would have this man. She would become the woman at the peak of the Empire's power. No matter what.
She would definitely return.
At the same time, she couldn't help but marvel at the Director-General's brilliant foresight. Su Shiye had indeed punished her, but it was clearly just for show. As long as she had the support of the politicians, she didn't have to worry about missing her chance to turn the tables.
Once inside the vessel, she fell into a reverie of longing for Su Shiye and the throne. She fantasized about the day she would sit beside the Eclipse Throne, commanding the winds and waves under his favor, becoming the most powerful woman in the entire ocean. She would humiliate those "heroes" and "virtuous women" of Naixi who had mocked her for betraying her former husband to kneel before the Crimson Moon Emperor.
*Su Yi, I don't hate you enough to kill you, but in the Abyss Empire, it's either you or me.*
Gexi bit her lip, a trace of ruthlessness gradually appearing on her face.
Just then, she received a call from the Director-General.
"What? His Majesty told you to return to Naixi for a week?" The Director-General was confused, mulling over the words repeatedly. "Just a week? What does that mean?"
"It means exactly what it sounds like. It's like being grounded, just for a short time."
"No, that isn't His Majesty's style. It isn't."
"Why wouldn't it be? Maybe he just didn't want to hold it against me. He was so gentle to me, even comforted me and told me not to cry."
"...He didn't get angry with you?"
"No."
"Not at all?"
"No..."
At that moment, the vessel came to a halt, and the hatch opened automatically. Gexi looked at the door, but no one entered for a long time. She called out twice, but there was no response. On the other end of the line, the Director-General’s breathing was rapid and shallow. Then, she slowly stood up and swam toward the hatch. But just as she reached it, she heard the Director-General whisper:
"It's over. It's really over. Go to the City of Volcanoes immediately. My wife and I will meet you there to find a way to escape—"
He never got the chance to hear Gexi’s reply. A muffled *thwip* sounded from the other end, and the connection was cut.
Then, his face turned pale as he looked at his wife. "Pack your things immediately. we can't stay in Bamanboya."
"W-what do you mean?"
"Gexi is dead."
"Dead?! How is that possible!" The Director-General’s wife’s eyes nearly bulged out of her head. "Does His Majesty not know that the Speaker also supports Gexi?"
"It's possible... no, impossible. He must know..." At this point, the Director-General clutched his head in panic. "I don't know. I don't know what he's thinking. We just need to flee now, don't think so much..."
"Don't rush. Let's call the Speaker. Things might not be as bad as you think. If we flee now, that's treason. Don't be impulsive..."
The wife picked up her communication device and turned around to call the Speaker, but her arm was nudged twice by her husband. She waved him off, telling him to stay still, unaware that he was staring out the window with eyes full of terror. Then, a *thwip* sounded. The smell of gunpowder and blood mixed into the seawater.
The wife's eyes snapped wide. Before she could turn around, there was another *thwip*. A small object pierced the back of her skull and exited through her forehead. As her body slowly slumped forward, the seawater turned a deep crimson. The couple fell together, their pupils dilated until only black remained. Two bullets rolled beneath them.
***
The next morning at six o'clock, the Speaker was woken from a groggy sleep by the ringing of his phone. Yawning, he rolled over and sat up, picking up the receiver. "Hello..."
"Good morning, Speaker Duanliang. Did I disturb your rest?"
Hearing that lazy voice, the Speaker’s sleepiness vanished instantly. He sat bolt upright. "Of course not, Lord Prime Minister. Please, give me your instructions."
"It's nothing major. It's just that His Majesty has three modest gifts to send to you. Please be so kind as to accept them."
"His Majesty is sending me gifts? This... I haven't done anything to deserve such an honor..."
"You have performed a great service." Arange’s voice dropped an octave, drawing out the words. "The gifts are at the foot of your bed. Take a look."
Confused, the Speaker grabbed his glasses from the nightstand, put them on, and looked toward the foot of the bed. Then, his scream woke his wife beside him.
"What are you doing so early in the morning..." The wife sat up and looked at the foot of the bed. Her scream was several decibels higher than his.
Standing at the foot of their bed were three upright, elongated "gift boxes," elaborately wrapped in ribbons. But inside the boxes were three people.
***
By that afternoon, Fan Li had been confined to the bedroom of the Eternal Night Palace. Su Shiye said he had matters to attend to and ordered her not to leave the chambers, warning that it would be dangerous. Her communication device had also been confiscated. She was bored to the point of illness and could only lean against the headboard, flipping through a long novel from his bedside titled *Hero of the Seven Seas*, which was about the seaweed trade in the mechanical age. Within half an hour, she had finished over two hundred pages. She was marveling at the culture and history of three million years ago when she heard Su Shiye’s voice.
"Is it good?"
Fan Li looked up to see Su Shiye sitting on the edge of the bed. She had grown accustomed to his movement speed and his startling ability to remain undetected.
"It's great! This author is so talented. How can he write a novel that feels so real? I think he must have studied horsemanship; otherwise, he couldn't have described the different sensations of riding a whale versus a shark so vividly." Fan Li couldn't quite snap out of the story yet, resting her chin in her hand. "Speaking of which, the invention of machinery and vessels by the sea folk was truly a revolutionary feat. Just think, the animal husbandry industry took such a hit. The market and the global economy must have been so volatile back then. Mise-Sheng and Ningning were separated for years; they must have missed each other so much..."
She was referring to the male and female leads of the novel. Seeing her brow furrowed in concern, Su Shiye gave a light chuckle. "Ningning isn't pregnant. You are. And yet you're worrying about her affairs."
Fan Li slowly closed the book, her face heating up. "I'm just bored. You were gone for so long..."
"Alright, stop with the novel. Let's talk about the child."
"Ah, okay." Fan Li set the book on the nightstand and sat up straight.
"The child must be born. The sooner, the better."
"But my work..."
"Put work aside for now. Have the child first."
"But I..." Fan Li closed her eyes and frowned, taking a long moment before voicing her concern. "I eventually have to return to the Light Sea. I can't stay in Bamanboya forever, you know that, right? When that time comes, what will happen to the child?"
"That is exactly what I wanted to discuss with you." Su Shiye raised his voice slightly. "Aize, is everything ready? Come in."
Aize entered and placed a document on Su Shiye’s desk.
Su Shiye walked over, sat at the desk, picked up a sea-pen, and rapidly signed his name. Then he said to Fan Li, "Come here and sign."
Fan Li got out of bed and walked over, feeling apprehensive. *Su Shiye wouldn't want me to sign some agreement giving him the child, would he...*
The first thing that caught her eye was the bottom right corner of the agreement. In the "Husband" column, a name had already been filled in with beautiful, cursive handwriting: *Su Shiye*. Then she looked at the top and froze.
*Abyss Empire Marriage Registration Form.*
Her mind went blank for an instant. But Fan Li didn't ask why; she unhesitatingly signed her name next to "Wife."
"Take this to the registration bureau. I want the certificates today." Su Shiye handed the application back to Aize.
"Your Majesty, just in case you've forgotten, I'd like to mention that the Empire practices monogamy. The law dictates that even across borders, bigamy is forbidden, and the cost of polygamy is very high. Once you're married, you can only have one wife."
"And?" Su Shiye arched an eyebrow.
"And so, many things don't necessarily require marriage to be done... I feel that after the Great Oracle returns to the Light Sea, given your habits, you might not be able to visit her often. It would be quite bad to neglect her..."
In truth, the real meaning of Aize’s words was: *Your Majesty, have you thought this through? You really want to marry this divorce-obsessed Great Oracle? After the wedding, she’s going back anyway. What if she goes back to the Light Sea and registers a polygamous marriage with someone else? If you're left alone in the Abyss Empire, you'll be the one in the harem—a Queen in a lonely boudoir...*
"Thank you so much for your patient explanation, Aize. Can you go do your job now?"
Su Shiye spoke politely, but his aura made Aize shiver. "Yes, I'll go handle it immediately."
"...Why?" Fan Li asked nervously.
"I've made up my mind." Su Shiye crossed his fingers, his gaze indifferent. "I don't need to make things so hard for myself. You like playing at political marriages? Fine, I'll play with you. I'd like to see what new tricks you can come up with."
Aize, just reaching the door, broke into a cold sweat.
*What is wrong with His Majesty? He can flirt with a girl until she's blushing and sleepless, but as soon as marriage comes up, he gets this awkward... And the Great Oracle is strange enough too; she didn't resist at all, just let him decide unilaterally...*
*How did these two turn marriage into child's play?*
Despite his internal grumbling, Aize’s efficiency was staggering.
Only fifteen minutes later, he returned with two marriage certificates. The covers bore the Crimson Moon emblem of the Abyss. Opening them, the information was indeed complete.
Su Shiye took the booklets, didn't even give them a second glance, and stuffed them into a drawer. Then he stood up to leave. As he passed Fan Li, he pinched her chin and said softly, "If you dare pull a stunt like this with anyone else when you return to the Light Sea, you will see exactly what the end of the world looks like."
"I wouldn't dare, and I don't want to." Fan Li looked up at him, still in a daze. "I... I will be loyal to you from now on."
Su Shiye didn't buy it at all; his smile grew colder. "Of course you will be loyal. I am the ruler of the Abyss Empire, your ideal marriage target, am I not?"
"Of course not." Fan Li thought for a moment, then shook her head blankly. "Wait, you are... but that's not the reason I want to be loyal. You clearly know the reason..."
"It doesn't matter." Su Shiye let go and smiled faintly. "Think about what you can give me in this marriage. Right now, it seems I'm the one getting the short end of the stick."
"Whatever I can give you, I am willing to give."
"Then I shall see what I can get from you. Have the child first."
"Mhm. I'll start its development in two weeks."
"Why two weeks?"
"There are... a few other things I need to handle..."
"Fine, whatever. Let me tell you one more thing regarding your 'living in two different places' concern. I don't care where you plan to live in the future—whether you stay in Bamanboya or return to Saint Yejana—remember this: you are married. You are not allowed to have private flirtations with other men."
Fan Li nodded, her mind still wandering.
"Rest for now. I have a few things to finish; I'll be back in a while."
"Okay..."
Then, Su Shiye left. Fan Li sat back at the head of the bed and picked up *Hero of the Seven Seas*. She flipped through two pages, but her mind was a total void; she didn't process a single word. When she finally realized what had happened, she instinctively curled into a tiny ball, cupping her face, and whispered to herself, "Lord of the Deep Blue..."
She took out the marriage certificate, opened it, and her mouth fell wide open. "Ahhhhh..."
She buried her face in her palms, took several deep breaths, rubbed her eyes, and opened the certificate again—Husband: "Su Shiye"! Wife: "Fan Li"!! She couldn't suppress her excited voice: "Ahhhhhhh!!!"
She lay on the bed, rolling back and forth, twisting this way and that. She jumped up from the bed, pumping her fists in the air, then did a "tiger pounce" face-down onto the bed, hugging the pillow and gasping in a state of continuous euphoria. "Ahhhh... ahhhhhhh! Ahhhhhhh..."
"What are you screaming about?"
With the sound of the door opening, Su Shiye appeared at the entrance.
Fan Li froze mid-roll for two seconds, then quietly pulled the duvet over her flushed face, leaving only a pair of round eyes peeking out. After staring at Su Shiye for a moment, she slowly pulled the duvet over her eyes as well.
Seeing her like this, the corners of Su Shiye’s mouth twitched upward slightly, but he forced the smile down. "Get some rest. Stop acting like a lunatic."
***
### Glossary
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
--- | --- | ---
公民院 | Citizenry | A legislative or administrative body in the Abyss Empire.
总督导 | Director-General | A high-ranking official title within the Citizenry.
议长 | Speaker | The head of the Citizenry/Parliament.
常任副大臣 | Permanent Deputy Minister | A high-ranking diplomatic/administrative official.
赫托综合防务系统公司 | Herto Integrated Defense Systems | A major arms manufacturing corporation.
游牧者动力集团 | Nomad Power Group | A major industrial/defense corporation.
奈希 | Naixi | A country or region, formerly ruled by Gexi as Queen.
裂变殿 | Fission Palace | One of the palaces or halls within the imperial complex.
无尽宫 | Endless Palace | Another palace within the imperial complex.
巴曼薄亚 | Bamanboya | The capital city of the Abyss Empire.
赤月帝国 | Crimson Moon Empire | Su Shiye's original empire/military force.
日蚀王座 | Eclipse Throne | The throne of the Abyss Emperor.
永夜殿 | Eternal Night Palace | Su Shiye's primary residence/palace.
七海的英雄 | Hero of the Seven Seas | A fictional novel within the story.
米瑟圣 | Mise-Sheng | A character in the novel Fan Li is reading.
凝凝 | Ningning | A character in the novel Fan Li is reading.
深渊帝国结婚登记表 | Abyss Empire Marriage Registration Form | Official document for marriage.
圣耶迦那 | Saint Yejana | The capital of the Light Sea.
端亮 | Duanliang | The name of the Speaker of the Citizenry.
