The next day.
As a maid, Li Suxin was becoming more and more professional.
At first, she had been shy and clumsy, her hands trembling when she poured tea or tried to massage his shoulders. But now… she was willing, almost eager.
Serving tea, fetching water, kneading shoulders and legs—there was no hesitation anymore.
In private, she even studied etiquette and techniques from the older servants, determined to perfect herself. Every day her progress was obvious.
That afternoon, Xiao Tian reclined lazily on a deck chair, basking in the sun.
Unlike others, he didn't need to shut himself away for decades of bitter cultivation. He didn't need to meditate for hours, fighting to absorb scraps of spiritual qi.
For him, Heaven and Earth's aura flowed naturally, rushing into his body like rivers into the sea.
The seventy-two spirit orifices within him were fully opened—this was the legendary nine sun supreme yang physique.
"Your Highness, do you still feel comfortable?"
Li Suxin stood behind him, dressed in a simple moon-white gown that hugged her delicate frame. Her beauty was radiant yet quiet, and when her slender hands gently pressed into his shoulders, the touch was soft as willow catkins.
A faint fragrance drifted from her body, refreshing yet subtly intoxicating.
Xiao Tian let out a sigh. "Comfortable. You've made great progress."
More than comfortable—it was bliss.
He couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. If this were a "serious" cultivation story, this scene would look very different.
The heroine would be pestered by some villain, the protagonist would rush in at the last moment to save her, and after enduring endless hardships, the two would finally fall in love.
How exhausting.
Why bother, when one could simply enjoy life like this?
"By the way, Your Highness…" Li Suxin lowered her voice, her fingers pausing slightly. "I have a younger sister who wishes to meet you."
"Oh? Who?"
"The Holy Maiden of Serene Cloud Valley, Zi Lianyou. She says she once had ties with Ye Fan… she came to plead for his life."
Xiao Tian's eyes flickered with amusement.
That little pest Ye Fan had been causing him a headache—but if the Holy Maiden came personally… could she perhaps be turned into a tool instead?
"If Your Highness does not wish to see her," Li Suxin added quickly, "I can refuse her in your name."
Xiao Tiao arched a brow.
He hadn't said anything yet, so why was she assuming he'd reject the meeting?
Ah… so that was it. Possessiveness.
This little maid didn't want any other woman approaching him.
"It's fine," Xiao Tian said leisurely. "Bring her in."
"Ah… Your Highness truly wishes to meet her?"
"Why? You don't approve?"
Li Suxin bit her lip. "It's just… Ye Fan's crime is unforgivable. He even holds a grudge against Your Highness. There is no need to trouble yourself with pleas for him."
Xiao Tian almost laughed out loud.
According to the so-called "original script," wasn't this Zi Lianyou supposed to be Ye Fan's heroine? Yet here Suxin was, openly disgusted by her rival's plea.
Women truly did change faster than the weather.
He reached back and gave Suxin's soft rear a playful slap. Even through the thin fabric, he felt the springy elasticity of her flesh.
"Go quickly. If you disobey, I'll enforce family law."
Her cheeks burned crimson, but she bowed her head. "...Yes."
Though ashamed, there was no trace of resistance in her tone—only a subtle shiver of hidden delight.
Outside the courtyard.
Zi Lianyou had been waiting nervously, but her eyes lit up when she saw Suxin approach.
"Sister Suxin! Well? Did His Highness agree?"
"Under my persuasion, His Highness agreed," Suxin replied with a soft smile.
"Sister Suxin, you're too kind!" Zi Lianyou grasped her wrist affectionately, lowering her voice. "But… I don't understand. You always had no interest in men before. Why now? Why are you so willing to serve him?"
In the past, Zi Lianyou had envied Su Suxin
greatly—her beauty, her poise, her reputation as a goddess in countless men's dreams.
But now?
Now, she pitied her. To Zi Lianyou's eyes, her elder sister had become a caged bird, devoting herself to a man, perhaps forever losing the chance to find her own love.
"You need not worry about me," Suxin replied calmly, her gaze serene. "I have my reasons."
Of course, she would never share those reasons. The Dao Body was not something to be spread around—especially not with sisters. Even blood ties wouldn't sway her.
The two women stepped through the stone archway into the fragrant courtyard.
Zi Lianyou's eyes immediately fell upon Xiao Tian, lounging beneath the sun, his robes faintly glowing.
Her breath caught.
Dao rhythm surged around him, nine golden sun shining faintly above his shoulders…
"This… this aura…"
Her heart thundered.
It was the legendary Nine Sun Supreme Yang Body.
The same divine constitution once possessed by an ancient great emperor, whose three thousand consorts were all peerless beauties.
The same emperor whose tales claimed that even a tofu-selling village girl he once fancied ascended to the peak of cultivation simply by being favoured.
Zi Lianyou's hands trembled. She turned sharply to Suxin, suspicion flickering in her eyes.
Had her elder sister also seen this vision? Was that why she had willingly devoted herself to him?
If so… it all made sense.
What woman could resist such a destiny?
"What's wrong, Little Sister?" Suxin asked, noticing her pale face.
Zi Lianyou quickly shook her head. "N-nothing…"
Suppressing the wild pounding of her heart, she forced herself to calm down. She couldn't forget her purpose here—she had come to plead for Ye Fan, not to lose herself in fantasies.
And yet… if she could touch this legendary body, if she could…
No! Bah! She shook the thought away.
Bowing respectfully, she said, "Zi Lianyou of Serene Cloud Valley greets His Highness."
Xiao Tian smiled faintly at the purple-robed beauty before him.
Another woman carrying the glow of purple fate.
Interesting.