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墨書 Inktalez
When I opened my eyes, the carriage had already set off. The sounds of chatter and shouting gradually filled my ears. I blinked and moved my body slightly, and outside came Lianchi's voice, "We've entered Underworld City. You can take a look."
I straightened up, lifted one side of the window curtain, and opened the window to gaze outside.
Since it was still early, the sunrise in the Underworld was always slow. At the moment when the moon and sun intertwined, a silvery golden brilliance spread out, casting an unspoken beauty over the eaves of the loft.
On both sides, small vendors bustled about, and a continuous stream of people filled the streets, their calls rising and falling in an endless chorus, adding vitality to this dynasty.
In the distance, magnificent towers loomed high; just a glance was enough to make it unforgettable for a lifetime. They stood grandly at the highest point of the dynasty, majestic as lions yet beautiful like delicate women. The swirling white mist around them added a layer of hazy allure.
I shrank back slightly, feeling a chill. My stomach rolled uneasily, stirring some restlessness that made me anxious. I reached out to cover it with one hand while my other hand touched the Mystic Spirit Bracelet on my left wrist, murmuring to myself, "It will be fine. Everything is okay."
The carriage moved slowly forward without stopping. After watching for a while, I closed the window. Just as I did, I caught sight of someone standing behind a slightly open window across from me. Their cold eyes softened into a gentle curve when our gazes met. In that moment, it felt as if all the flowers in the world bloomed for that one person, and all affection belonged solely to them.
My hand slowly fell but did not close the window. I leaned back against the soft cushion, an involuntary smile gracing my lips; that was enough.
I kept my attention on the road ahead until we left the small town and headed toward higher ground.
When the heavy red double doors swung open, I felt the carriage tremble slightly as if the earth itself shook. We had arrived at Underworld Palace, my final destination in the Underworld. To navigate better here, I needed to familiarize myself with the geography.
The Underworld Palace felt just like a royal palace from television—everywhere exuded regal authority. The only difference was that this place had an intensely cold atmosphere; its chill was completely different from that of Underworld City below. I sensed that the baby in my belly was awakening; the strong yin energy surged in, causing subtle tremors in my stomach as if it might expand at any moment.
My hands trembled slightly as I took deep breaths, hoping to adjust to a better state.
"The king has ordered that Miss Anxin be allowed to enter the Dragon Spring Palace to rest."
Before I could say anything, I heard Lianchi's puzzled voice ask, "Did I hear that right? Is it really the Dragon Spring Palace?"
"My lord Lianchi, how could a servant mishear such an important command? This is indeed the king's order."
"Alright, I understand." Just as Lianchi finished speaking, I heard his voice close to my ear, "The Dragon Spring Palace is the king's residence. Since he ascended the throne, no woman has ever entered there. Be careful; we rarely go there ourselves."
A chill ran down my spine. What was the king planning?
Lianchi's voice rang out again, "Where is the king now?"
"My lord Lianchi, please follow me this way."
"Good." Lianchi then instructed the maids beside him, "Take good care of Miss Anxin and do not let anything go amiss."
"Rest assured, my lord Lianchi."
The carriage started moving again. Through the half-open window, I saw Lianchi leave with a Gray-Clad Man. Then I noticed a group of Gray-Clad Men and women in Floral Attire by the side of the carriage. They all looked obedient and did not carry swords, suggesting they were servants of the king, much like the eunuchs and palace maids in the royal palace.
When I finally stepped out of the carriage, I realized that the so-called Dragon Spring Palace was merely a title. All the palaces here looked quite similar; aside from the main hall where the king resided, the large palaces were almost identical, and even the smaller ones bore some resemblance.
I suddenly felt overwhelmed. With so many similar places and such vastness, how was I supposed to tell them apart?
"How do you distinguish one place from another here? I feel like every location looks the same!"
As I was being helped forward, I casually asked one of the maids, and one of them replied, "It's because we've been here for a long time, so we know the way. Miss Anxin, don't be afraid. If you get lost, just call out, and we will appear."
"Oh, thank you for your help."
I didn't ask further questions, fearing that if I inquired too much right away, it might alert the King of the Underworld. He had let me enter this place, and he could very well be watching me from somewhere, so I had to be careful not to act overly curious.
However, a sense of unease crept into my heart. The maid's words implied that no matter where I went, someone would be secretly following me, and I was completely unaware of it. That could indeed become a problem.
"Miss Anxin, please take a bath."
I was led directly to a bathing area. White mist curled up like smoke, enveloping the space with a delightful floral fragrance. The warm water surrounded me like a gentle embrace, and I immediately felt incredibly relaxed. The fatigue from my recent travels washed over me all at once. Leaning against the warm water, I slowly closed my eyes as drowsiness quickly took hold.
In my hazy state, I felt an itch on my face and absentmindedly swatted at it. But the sensation persisted, which made me impatient. There was nothing worse than being disturbed while trying to sleep—unless it was Jun Chong; I could tolerate that. But anyone else would surely make me lose my temper.
"Who is it—ah—"
With a splash accompanied by my scream, I turned to see who was beside me and immediately crouched down, crossing my arms over my chest as I instinctively moved away in panic. My eyes widened in shock at the sight of the smiling King of the Underworld.
"What kind of expression is that?" He splashed some water with his hand and looked at me with a grin. "Are you afraid I'll eat you?"
"Don't you know about the propriety between men and women?"
"Propriety between men and women?" The King found it amusing as he sat down on the edge of the pool. One foot propped up while he rested his chin on one hand, his beauty mixed with an air of authority. "You are my woman; what propriety is there to speak of?"
"Jun Rui," I said firmly, "let's not beat around the bush. You know that Jun Chong and I are married; I'm your sister-in-law. Please show some respect."
“Sister-in-law? Anxin, are you joking?” He extended his palm, and a piece of red and white paper appeared in his hand. He held it upright in front of his eyes. “Is this what you’re talking about?”
Although I didn’t understand what procedures were needed for a Ghost Marriage, I could read the words on the paper—it was a marriage agreement. Just as I reached out to take it, the King of Hell flicked his fingers, and the paper vanished.
“Anxin, I am the King of Hell. With just a word, this kind of thing can appear in my hands, and I can tear it up at any time. At that moment, you would be nothing!”
A chill ran through me. I had no idea he had such a trick up his sleeve. If he destroyed that paper, then my relationship with Jun Chong would also be severed. He could do whatever he wanted because it would all be justified.
I pursed my lips and remained silent, not expecting to suffer such a defeat in our first confrontation at the Underworld Palace.
Seeing that I wouldn’t speak, the King of Hell twirled his long hair with one hand. It was then that I noticed his hair wasn’t entirely black; there was a layer of silver mixed in. Since it had been styled upright before, I hadn’t noticed it, but now that it was all down, it became vaguely visible.
“How about it? Would you like to be my queen?”
“The Queen of the Underworld requires grace and beauty; both Stunning and I are far inferior to her in those aspects, and she understands charm better than I do. You should choose her.”
“Stunning?” The King of Hell suddenly narrowed his eyes, a hint of displeasure glimmering in the glassy slits, accompanied by an indifferent expression on his face. “Just her? A discarded woman has no right to be my queen! She may excel in many ways compared to you, but I know that having you is far more valuable. Anxin, you don’t even realize how high your worth is.”
“You shouldn’t say that about Stunning!” I felt indignant and retorted without thinking. “True, she has a past, but that was due to deception; it has nothing to do with her character. As for my own worth, I am clear about it; what remains is not mine, and I would rather not have it.”
“Anxin.” The King of Hell waved his finger, letting his hair fall freely as he stood up from the ground. His tall figure looked down upon me with the air of a ruler surveying his subjects. “Whether you need it or not, some things cannot be erased. I advise you to obey me; otherwise, others will be dragged into this mess—either way, it will be your fault!”
The King of Hell smiled slightly, exuding an icy aura that made me shiver uncontrollably. He gave me one last glance before turning to leave.
I stayed in the bath for a long time until the water turned cold and froze me before finally getting up. By then, the King of Hell had already left Dragon Spring Palace. I was attended to meticulously; no matter what I wanted or how much trouble I caused, there would immediately be spirits to take care of everything for me—it truly felt like being a queen.
No matter how much I stirred up trouble, Hades did not appear again. I hadn't even seen Lianchi, nor any other reapers besides the servants here. Every day, I was confined in this place, with a ghost following me wherever I went, leaving me completely without any freedom.
"Do you know where Stunning lives? I was chosen by the king alongside her, and we have a decent relationship. I'm feeling a bit bored lately; could you help me pass on a message?"
"Stunning?" The maid who was combing my hair, a girl named Xiao Qing, looked to be in her teens and had nimble fingers that always managed to style my hair beautifully. Hearing my question, she blinked in surprise. "I've been serving the king here for several years, and aside from Miss Anxin, no other women have come to the Underworld Palace during this time."
"No women at all these years?" I was astonished. "What about the courtesans chosen from the Four Cities?"
"Oh, those!" Xiao Qing chuckled lightly. "They were all given to the Guardians. The king doesn't like them. I heard that to welcome Miss Anxin back to the palace, the king even had Lord Lianchi personally escort her! Lord Lianchi is one of the Seven Guardians, truly someone of great importance!"
"Lianchi is that impressive?" I scoffed slightly and asked again, "So besides me, there isn't anyone named Stunning accompanying the king back to the palace?"
"That's right."
I stared into Xiao Qing's eyes for a moment and felt she wasn't lying. A growing sense of unease settled in my heart. Hades hadn't mentioned anything about Stunning that day, and if she were in danger, Jun Chong would surely find a way to inform me. But there had been no news at all—what did that imply?
Just then, an angry shout came from outside. I turned toward the slightly open window and immediately spotted a small figure kneeling on the ground.
"Little Bugs?"
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