As it turned out, however bad Fanli thought things could get, they could always get worse. Upon returning to St. Yejiana, she discovered that every single member of the sea race knew about her and Su Shiye.
Photos of the two of them kissing had spread with lightning speed, appearing in the *Light Sea Weekly*, *St. Yejiana Daily*, *Deep Sea Figures*, *Veda Times*, *Amaterasu Morning Post*, *Al-Ma'ti Political Daily*, *Red Moon Evening News*, *Antioch Today*, and countless others. Furthermore, they were accompanied by sensationalist, clickbait headlines:
*High Priestess of the Light Sea Commits Adultery with Crimson Moon Emperor; Evidence of Alleged Betrayal of the Light Sea*
*Deep Sea Emperor Passionately Kisses High Priestess Sui at the Wicked Shark Nest: A Deep Analysis of the Most Immoral Romance of Our Time*
*The Four-Hundred-Year Scandal of Political Collusion and Sex Between Sui and Su Shiye*
*Sui’s Marital Infidelity: What Did Moer Heiqiao Do Wrong?*
*Inviting the High Priestess to an Affair Under the Guise of Cooperation—A Tally of the Crimson Moon Emperor’s Romantic History in the Light and Dark Seas*
*Sui: Wife to Two Men, Mistress to One*
When her vessel docked at the entrance of the Temple of the Light Sea, she saw Orca guards maintaining a perimeter. However, a massive crowd of onlookers was gathered outside the cordon. Sensing trouble, she asked her bodyguards to disembark first. Immediately, a barrage of squid ink sacs was hurled at them, bursting and coating their faces in black sludge. The guards drew their weapons and shouted at the crowd; the rioters retreated slightly but continued to glare toward the hatch with fury.
Fanli took a deep breath, stepped out of the hatch, offered a small smile to those around her, and began swimming toward the temple.
“Sui, you have truly disappointed us!!”
Fanli had expected to be cursed at with filth, but she hadn't expected the first words she heard to be these. She paused for a moment, said nothing, and continued swimming forward in silence. The person continued to shout: “We once thought you were a goddess sent by the Lord of the Endless Ocean to save us, but you are nothing but a fickle woman controlled by desire! You were the one who defeated Su Shiye, yet you are also the one willing to be his mistress! You have degraded yourself so utterly, bringing shame to the entire Light Sea and your husband! You should reflect on your actions!!”
The long condemnation echoed through the seawater, followed by insults like “shameless,” “traitor,” and “slut.” The crowd continued to hiss and boo, and a few bolder individuals kept throwing ink sacs, though these were blocked by the bodyguards using arcane shields.
At that moment, Fanli’s mind went blank; she felt no pain. Under the furious gaze of the masses, she swam the rest of the way with composure and entered the temple interior.
In her capacity as High Priestess, she requested a meeting with Moer Heiqiao.
Next came the task of organizing her PR team and scheduling media briefings. Once everything was arranged, she turned on the television in her office, only to see Xitian being interviewed.
“Su Shiye must have forced her. Look at that photo again; she doesn’t look willing,” Xitian said, appearing quite angry. “Su Shiye is a good friend of mine and a respected partner, but he has always been rather casual when it comes to women. Don’t go pinning the responsibility of two people onto Sui alone, alright? Besides, does Sui’s private morality even matter?”
However, the reporter posed a sharp question: “Prince Gas Xitian, you previously said: ‘A woman should prioritize her private morality at all times, while men aren't as restricted in that regard.’ Why is High Priestess Sui such an exception? Isn't this a double standard?”
Xitian looked as if an egg had been stuffed down his throat. He stared blankly for two seconds before saying, “Regardless of what is happening between her and Su Shiye, please focus more on her political achievements and academic contributions. That is all I have to say.”
Xitian rarely accepted interviews; his logic was full of holes, and he received a barrage of criticism for it. Some commenters expressed that his defense only made them more disgusted by the scandal.
Feng Jin also shared her perspective.
“Sui is my university classmate and a dear friend. Based on our friendship of several hundred years, she is absolutely not the kind of person who would betray her husband. I sincerely suggest everyone wait and see; there will surely be a turn of events.”
The reporter interviewing Feng Jin was equally pointed: “Princess Feng Jin, some are curious—you were once engaged to Su Shiye, and now he has been photographed like this with your best friend. Does this not affect your relationship?”
Watching this, Fanli felt a surge of anger on Feng Jin's behalf. That was something from so many years ago; why were they still making things difficult for her?
“It won't have any impact at all,” Feng Jin said, looking remarkably calm. “The success or failure of my engagement to Su Shiye was based on a political alliance. There was no love between us, and no physical contact. Sui, on the other hand, is my best sister; she is as important to me as family. It would actually be quite difficult for me to feel any resentment over this.”
Feng Jin’s response earned her the admiration of many, but her help could not overturn Fanli’s public image.
Switching to any channel yielded similar news:
“Following the ‘Infidelity Gate’ incident, the Light Sea’s High Priestess Sui rushed back to St. Yejiana from the Dark Sea’s Wicked Shark Nest. At 2:30 PM today, over three hundred citizens of St. Yejiana protested at the Temple of the Light Sea, throwing squid ink sacs at Sui, though they were blocked by her bodyguards. Sui remained silent throughout, refusing all interviews as she entered the temple and has not been seen since...”
Finally, Fanli turned off the TV and sat at her desk, cradling her head in her hands.
Only now did the delayed pain slowly creep into her nerves. She had once considered herself a free-spirited and pragmatic person who focused on her work and didn't care about the opinions or evaluations of others. Moreover, the worst-case scenario was simply losing her position as High Priestess; knowledge and love would accompany her until the end of her life.
But that wasn't the reality.
Being so misunderstood was still agonizing.
If the crowd had simply started cursing her, she might not have had such a strong emotional reaction. But the word people fear most is “disappointment.”
Her heart felt hollowed out, and a hundred invisible ants seemed to be crawling up her spine. She wanted to hide, to see no one, to say nothing, and she certainly didn't want to face Heiqiao and deal with their conflicting interests...
But avoidance was not a solution.
Heiqiao eventually arrived, swimming silently into the office and gently closing the door. In all the years Fanli had known him, this was the first time she had seen him looking so heavy-hearted and even somewhat fearful. She said, “The situation is quite bad, isn't it?”
“Yes. The group’s stock has plummeted.”
“Why would it have such an impact? This has nothing to do with you.”
“Many are predicting we will divorce. For a long time now, the Moer Group’s image has been tied to yours.” Heiqiao let out a long breath toward the floor, then looked up at Fanli. “Actually, I can understand the love between you and Su Shiye. As your former family, I give you my blessings. No matter how difficult things are for the company right now, I am still gratified to see you find happiness.”
“Thank you, Heiqiao. You truly are the most magnanimous man I’ve ever met. This is my fault.”
The two looked at each other for a moment, both feeling a sense of chaos. Heiqiao swam in a few circles with his head down, then suddenly turned back. “What if we publicly state that we have a polygamous marriage license? If it’s perceived that I’ve permitted you to be with Su Shiye, the issue of adultery disappears.”
“That method solves the problem for a moment, but not for a lifetime.” Moreover, even if she admitted to a polygamous arrangement, she would still carry the infamy. Because Su Shiye had no intention of acknowledging her, it would only make Heiqiao look more like a cuckold and her look like she was failing her husband even more.
“Sui, things are really difficult right now. So many people rely on us for their livelihoods. If the group collapses and a massive number of people lose their jobs, I dread to think what will happen to them, their families, and their children.”
She was faced with an awkward choice.
For Fanli, the best course of action was to announce that she and Heiqiao had been divorced for a long time and have Su Shiye acknowledge their relationship.
For Heiqiao, the best course of action was to maintain the marital facade to protect the group’s interests.
For Su Shiye, the best course of action was to remain silent and not admit he had caught feelings for a Light Sea woman who had been married multiple times.
All three wanted the solution that benefited them most. Fanli felt exhausted. She didn't want to hurt anyone, nor did she want to carry a false reputation. But even if the Moer Group had later gained more profit through her fame, she couldn't deny that Heiqiao had helped her achieve many of her early ambitions. Now that he was pleading with her for the first time, she didn't want to be ungrateful.
“I’ll think about it more. We don't need to rush this decision,” Fanli said weakly.
“Thank you, Sui.” Heiqiao swam over and gave her a gentle hug. “You’ve weathered so many storms; I believe you can handle this as well.”
Now that Heiqiao had placed the initiative in her hands, she found it even harder to be ruthless toward him. She thought for a long time and took out her communicator to call Su Shiye, only to realize she had forgotten to activate Light Sea roaming services while in the Dark Sea; she had no signal. Just as she placed her hand on the landline, a call came in.
“You ran straight back to the Light Sea without even telling me?” Su Shiye’s voice was cold.
“I was just about to call you...”
“Oh, so you still remember I exist. I’m touched.”
“Brother, don't be angry. The situation is indeed tricky, so I had to hurry back. And you should reflect on yourself too—why did you have to do that in public?”
“Why did I do it? The Abyss is my territory. I do whatever I want.”
“The Wicked Shark Nest isn't your territory, though.”
“It will be.”
He was too willful. Completely unreasonable. Fanli was a bit annoyed, but she maintained her composure. “Let’s not discuss that for now. This is urgent. Let me tell you my proposed solution...”
“Fine. Speak, I’m listening.”
Fanli told him about Heiqiao’s suggestion. Then, before he could comment, she cut in: “Don't worry, you don't have to say anything, and you don't have to acknowledge our relationship. I’m just letting you know what Heiqiao and I plan to do.”
“Polygamy?” Su Shiye paused, then let out a laugh. “Fanli, your desires are becoming truly uncontrollable. You’ve started fantasizing about building a harem.”
“It’s just a PR tactic! How is that a harem? In private, I only have you.”
“Do you think I’m just like your previous husbands? A toy you can control, someone who ignores the big picture and listens to your every whim? That no matter what you demand, I must satisfy it immediately? You want the citizens of the Empire to think their sovereign is just one of your many men? Does that give you face?”
“Who told you to kiss me in a place like that?! I didn't want it to turn out like this either! You’re being mean to me now, but why don't you reflect on your own actions?”
“You are truly too strong-willed,” Su Shiye said, his voice dropping low. “I always thought I was assertive enough, but I have to admit, you’ve got me beat. You’ve been acting so obedient in front of me lately, but it turns out it was all an act.”
Fanli’s anger vanished instantly. She breathed sharply for a moment, feeling wronged. She wanted to demand why he wouldn't acknowledge their relationship—was it because she had been married four times and he looked down on her? But she couldn't speak, fearing he might give her an affirmative answer.
Because when Su Shiye had been engaged to Feng Jin, he hadn't hesitated to announce their engagement to the entire Light Sea, and the ceremony had been grand. Even though he didn't love Feng Jin and had various flings on the side, he didn't mind everyone knowing she was his future wife.
Yet, from the time they had registered their marriage until now, he hadn't told anyone about their relationship.
Fanli had never felt insecure about her marital history before, but now she was starting to be afraid.
“So, our personalities are actually incompatible, right...” Fanli knew that “strong-willed” was likely just a fig leaf for his disdain, so she followed his lead. “It’s hard for two people who are both too strong to make it to the end.”
“Yes.” Su Shiye thought for a moment and sighed. “You’re right.”
Fanli felt her heart shatter into pieces, but she still bolstered herself, saying in a light tone, “It’s fine. Being strong has its perks. For instance, you don't have to worry about Heiqiao’s plan anymore. Just control the public opinion in the Empire, and wait for me in Bamanboya after I’ve settled everything here, okay?”
“After doing this, you still want to return to Bamanboya?”
“Ah...”
“Lili, you really are too naughty,” Su Shiye said tiredly. “I’m very exhausted right now and don't really want to see you for a while. Just stay in the Light Sea for now. There’s no need to come back yet.”
After the call ended, Fanli slumped over her desk and didn't move for a long time. Outside the window, the sounds of protest were still loud. Every few minutes, a subordinate would knock to report some latest news that only gave her a headache. The passage of time seemed to lose all meaning...
Several times, she picked up the phone, wanting to find Su Shiye again and say: “Brother, I’ll listen to everything you say from now on, just don't ignore me.” Or: “Do you not love me anymore?” Or: “Have you not loved me since I came to the Abyss?”
In the end, she did nothing, intending to let herself calm down for one more day before making a final decision.
She went back to her home in the Sea Mist Trees and slept. When she woke up, the first thing in her mind was Su Shiye. She still missed him terribly, felt fragile, and wanted him to hold her. She didn't want to care about the Light Sea’s public opinion anymore.
Then, she thought of Heiqiao’s proposal again and felt his method was the most moderate. Publicly stating they were in a polygamous marriage would turn the “affair” with Su Shiye into nothing more than idle gossip after the initial outrage died down.
However, less than an hour later, she received a call from Heiqiao.
“Is what Shao’an said true?” Heiqiao sounded frantic. “Did he take a bribe from someone? Why would he expose news that’s disadvantageous to him at a time like this? If it’s fake, clarify it immediately.”
Fanli turned on the TV and flipped through a few channels until she saw Shao’an speaking to reporters.
“I found it strange myself. If she was still married to Heiqiao, how could she have registered a monogamous marriage with me?”
“General Shao’an, are you certain what you are saying is true?”
“What else is this?” Shao’an held up a divorce certificate. “She and I had a whirlwind marriage and a whirlwind divorce. We divorced right after getting the certificate; we didn't even have time to hold hands. It was a complete blunder, don't ask why. But my question is, how can she and Heiqiao be considered a couple? They were divorced long before she married me.”
“Ah, so that’s how it is... May I see your divorce certificate?”
“Of course, look all you want.”
While the reporter was verifying the document, Shao’an continued to grumble irritably, “I’ve raised so many troops and trained so many military spies, but this is the first time I’ve heard of someone hiring actors to throw ink at their opponent’s ex-wife just to take them down. That’s a fresh tactic. Throw a few ink sacs, start a trend, slander her private morality—it might make the public dislike her for a moment, but what about in five years? Ten years? She’ll still be the Goddess Sui...”
Fanli didn't understand why Shao’an was going to such lengths. This direct method of clarification shifted the tide of public opinion instantly.
The media, naturally, gave extensive coverage to her divorce from Heiqiao. In most publications, the commentary turned to sympathy, affirming the contributions she and her ex-husband had made to the Light Sea, calling her a “heroine,” a “legendary revolutionary,” and an “outstanding politician and social egalitarian.” In some wealthy-interest papers that still opposed her, she was depicted as a foolish woman who failed to scam money, left with nothing, and then threw herself at the Deep Sea Emperor.
There is a saying that if a person is vehemently opposed by one group, but that group is smaller than the number of supporters, then that person has already succeeded.
Fanli understood the logic, but seeing those descriptions, she still tore several newspapers to shreds.
To deal with it, she began planning a move to abolish tax incentives for the management of large corporations as a way to pay back the media outlets that couldn't hold their tongues. She needed to keep herself busy so she wouldn't have time to think about her dying romance with Su Shiye.
At the same time, she called Yujin, Shasha, and Hege, telling them to return to the Light Sea and bring back all her belongings from Bamanboya.
At noon the next day, Fanli went to a restaurant in Eternal Square with Feng Jin, Randy Rose, and two other friends. Two Sea Gods at the next table didn't notice them. One said, “Sui really knows how to play. She went to the Abyss for two years and slept with Su Shiye. What a powerhouse.”
The other sighed. “Don't say that. Sui doesn't seem like the type who just plays around. I don't think this was a mutual fling; it looks like Sui caught feelings, and Su Shiye was just playing.”
“Really? I don't believe it. She was such a decisive heroine; how could she catch feelings?”
“True. Rather than our High Priestess being hurt by a man, I’d much rather she was just playing him.”
Fanli was stung by their words. Not wanting to face the awkward expressions of her friends, she looked out the window in frustration.
There, on the screen of the shopping mall across the street, she saw news from the Abyss Empire.
The person being interviewed was Su Shiye. To avoid disturbing pedestrians, the large screen only showed subtitles without sound.
Aside from his features becoming a bit more steady and mature, Su Shiye looked no different from the first time Fanli had seen him on TV—still aloof and somewhat untouchable.
Every television station in the Light Sea and the Abyss was broadcasting this interview live.
“Your Majesty Su Shiye, this is your first public response to the ‘Infidelity Gate’ incident. Since the Light Sea warlord Shao’an clarified the facts of Fanli’s divorce, everyone knows that an immoral affair between you and High Priestess Sui does not exist. However, many people believe that you and High Priestess Sui are not in a relationship and were merely putting on an act. What is your view on this?” the reporter asked cautiously.
“Sui is indeed not my girlfriend.” Su Shiye lowered his head, leaning closer to the microphone. “We only registered our marriage on September 25th. We haven't even had time to set a wedding date before these baseless rumors started spreading. It’s quite incredible. Fortunately, rumors stop at the wise. The facts are now known to all; I have nothing more to say.”
“Your Majesty Su Shiye, this...” The reporter’s voice trembled, as if he couldn't believe his ears, repeating foolishly, “You mean, you and High Priestess Sui are... are already married?”
“Yes,” Su Shiye said calmly. “She is not my girlfriend. She is my Queen.”
This news meant that from this moment on, the political landscape of the Abyss and the Light Sea would undergo a cataclysmic shift.
Feng Jin and the other friends were already wide-eyed with shock. Fanli had no heart to consider the massive implications of this announcement. Without looking back, she boarded a vessel and raced toward the Well of Storms. But just as she left St. Yejiana, she saw a longship of the Abyss Empire in the Twilight Zone.
Then, both vessels stopped simultaneously. She and Su Shiye swam out of their respective hatches at almost the same moment.
She rushed in front of him, opening her mouth but finding no words.
“Don't bother questioning it; I arranged for Shao’an to do that,” Su Shiye said frostily. “Moer Heiqiao is in for some bad luck, but I don't care. I know you’re going to lose your temper with me again, but this is my way of doing things. If you can't accept it...”
Before he could finish, he saw tears welling up in Fanli’s eyes. His tone softened involuntarily. “Do you think I’m being excessive? But I really cannot accept any public ‘polygamous’ relationship, not even in name. We are married. I don't want to keep sneaking around with you anymore.”
Fanli still said nothing. She threw herself into Su Shiye’s arms, hugging him with all her strength. Su Shiye froze for a moment, then let out a helpless laugh, lowering his head to silently hold her back.
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 圣耶迦那日报 | St. Yejiana Daily | A newspaper in the Light Sea. |
| 全海大人物 | Deep Sea Figures | Literally "Great Figures of All Seas." |
| 吠陀时刊 | Veda Times | A publication name. |
| 天照阐幽晨报 | Amaterasu Morning Post | A publication name. |
| 给亚麦提政治日刊 | Al-Ma'ti Political Daily | A publication name. |
| 今时安条克 | Antioch Today | A publication name. |
| 永恒广场 | Eternal Square | A location in St. Yejiana. |
| 兰迪玫瑰 | Randy Rose | A friend of Fanli. |
| 9月25日 | September 25th | The date they registered their marriage. |
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