The palace was a maze of glittering walkways, floating steps, moonlit bridges, and political tension thick enough to spread on toast.
Lin Yue followed Xuan Mo as he stalked through the corridors like a living eclipse. Every servant bowed so low their spines reconsidered their life goals.
Behind them, two dozen officials trailed like panicked ducklings.
"Your Majesty," one elder wheezed, "you cannot simply declare a mortal girl as— as— yours—"
Xuan Mo did not slow down. "I can."
"Yes, but—"
"I did."
Lin Yue pinched the bridge of her nose. "If it helps, I also didn't know he was going to say that."
It did not help. The elders looked at her like she'd just sprouted horns and announced she controlled tax policy.
As if things weren't chaotic enough, a messenger sprinted into the hall, panting.
"Emergency! The North Court demands an audience. They say the Night Emperor has—" He gulped. "—claimed a mortal soulmate."
Lin Yue choked so hard she almost achieved spontaneous ascension.
"I AM NOT—!" she started.
But Xuan Mo casually raised a hand.
Silence fell.
Actual silence.
He had muted the entire hallway.
Lin Yue flailed angrily in the silence bubble.
Xuan Mo, very calmly, said, "Prepare the Council Chamber."
He released the silence.
"—HIS ANYTHING!" she finished loudly.
Every official turned pink.
Xuan Mo looked at her, gaze steady and annoyingly unreadable. "We will clarify matters after I stabilize your cultivation."
"Stabilize my—?? When was it unstable?"
"When you touched my soul," he said, as if discussing weather.
The elders fainted again.