153: Chapter 153 You didn't eat him?

However.

Fortunately, his mental strength was stronger than average, allowing him to see.

That the three women before him were not physical entities.

But rather phantoms condensed from soul power.

After confirming that the three women probably couldn't "eat" him today, Su Chen regained a bit of his backbone.

The first to break the silence was Zhuge Jinyu.

She took a gentle half-step forward, the hem of her plain white dress brushing across the polished floor like flowing water.

On that cold and ethereal face, the tear stains had dried, leaving only a faint crimson at the corners of her eyes, adding a breathtaking touch of color to her beauty.

Her phoenix eyes gazed at Su Chen, and her voice, which had been trembling with emotion moments ago, had already returned to its usual calm.

As if she were stating an undeniable fact.

"Since Mister has returned and your memories have awakened."

"Jinyu will not dwell on the past."

"From now on, Mister shall stay by Jinyu's side. The Huaxi Hall of Heroic Spirits and the Marquis Wu Secret Realm can both serve as Mister's cultivation grounds. As for outside disturbances and the schemes of petty people, Jinyu will handle them all alone."

At this point, the corners of her eyes lifted slightly, revealing a dangerous smile.

"Mister, please do not forget the promise you made to Xiao Yu."

"The snow of Luodu."

"And..."

"Mister once said you wanted to see a peaceful world. Although the Great Qian no longer exists, Jinyu can still accompany Mister to slowly see all of this Blue Star world."

As she finished speaking, the Female Prime Minister didn't even spare the other two women a glance.

Her certainty and declaration of sovereignty—that "Mister naturally belongs with me"—were plain for all to see.

Striking first to gain the upper hand.

But before she could finish, her voice was interrupted by another voice carrying an undisguised sharpness.

"Hall Master Zhuge, it is far too early to say such things."

Ye Jingjun, dressed in a fiery red dress, shot a fierce glare at Zhuge Jinyu with her crimson eyes.

Then, her gaze locked firmly onto Su Chen.

"Husband."

She struggled slightly to utter this form of address that had been frozen for a thousand years.

As if she were confirming something.

"In the Great Ning World, through a formal marriage with an eight-man sedan chair and the traditional rites, we bowed to Heaven, Earth, and our parents, and drank the nuptial cup together."

"I, Ye Jingjun, am your legitimate wife, Su Chen, as witnessed by Heaven and Earth."

"Even through reincarnation, this bond does not fade, and this pact shall not be broken."

"I, Ye Jingjun, am grateful for the bond of master and disciple and the grace of protection that Prime Minister Zhuge has shown you."

"But the ethics and principles of husband and wife must prevail."

"Now that my husband has returned, he should naturally return to his wife's side."

"My North China Hall of Valor is located in the Imperial Capital and is far more grand than the West China halls; it can serve as my husband's Sword Hut."

"Whoever dares to harm you must first answer to the sword in my hand!"

Ye Jingjun finished speaking calmly.

Although her exterior remained cold, her heart was already blooming with joy.

In terms of identity, her status as his wife was enough to crush the vague statuses of the other two women.

In terms of status, as the Hall Master of the North China Hall of Valor located in the Imperial Capital, her power was naturally the greatest.

In terms of strength, she commanded slaughter; let alone Cang Mingyue, whose abilities leaned toward support, even the versatile Zhuge Jinyu could not withstand a single strike from her sword at full power.

From any perspective in this "Holy Rod War."

She, Ye Jingjun, was the one with the highest chance of winning.

"Wife?"

Zhuge Jinyu and Cang Mingyue's voices rang out simultaneously, their delicate breaths carrying a hint of grievance.

"That's right... Mister is already her husband..."

In the Young Prime Minister's wise eyes, a rare trace of despair appeared.

If Mister really has already consummated his marriage with Ye Jingjun...

Then... does she no longer have a chance?

Cang Mingyue naturally thought of this as well.

Her dejected expression was identical to Zhuge Jinyu's.

"Wait..."

"Consummation of the marriage?"

"I remember that when they got married, Young Master Su was already on the verge of death. It's said he perished in a hurry before they could even drink the nuptial wine..."

"Is it possible...?"

At this thought, Cang Mingyue felt a sudden jolt of excitement.

It was like grasping a lifeline.

Her azure eyes suddenly lit up as she looked at Ye Jingjun.

"Sister Jingjun, you just mentioned the ethics of husband and wife?"

"Then you and Young Master Su must have already performed the marital rites and consummated the marriage, right?"

Cang Mingyue's question was abrupt and bold.

Even Zhuge Jinyu turned her head, as if she too had grasped a lifeline.

Waiting for Ye Jingjun's answer.

Upon hearing this, Ye Jingjun's frost-cold, beautiful face turned red from her neck to her ears at a visible speed with a "whoosh."

The blush was exceptionally striking against her fair skin, like red plum blossoms blooming in the snow.

Her crimson eyes flickered as she subconsciously avoided Cang Mingyue's direct gaze, not even daring to look at Su Chen.

Her normally straight back stiffened imperceptibly for a moment, and even the biting sword intent around her seemed to falter.

"I..."

She opened her mouth, wanting to lie and say she had, but considering Su Chen was also present, she ultimately only managed to utter a single syllable.

The Crimson Phoenix Sword Immortal, who had cultivated for a thousand years, now looked like a maiden whose secret had been exposed, overwhelmed with embarrassment.

In the Great Ning World, although she and Su Chen were husband and wife in name and had even shared a bed (while Su Chen was unconscious from heavy injuries).

But Su Chen had little time left then, his heart set only on securing a future for her and Cang Mingyue; how could he have had the mind for such things?

Afterward, there was only life-and-death separation.

This matter of "consummation" became one of the regrets and obsessions she kept hidden deep in her heart, never spoken of to anyone.

How could her reaction possibly be hidden from Zhuge Jinyu and Cang Mingyue, who were also women and possessed keen minds?

Zhuge Jinyu was stunned for a moment before a flash of realization crossed her phoenix eyes.

Immediately after, the corners of her lips, which were usually cold and emotionless, uncontrollably curved upward in a tiny arc.

She covered her lips with her sleeve and coughed softly, the laughter in her eyes almost overflowing.

Meanwhile, after a moment of daze, Cang Mingyue's azure eyes widened, and her small mouth hung slightly open, as if she had heard some fantastic tale.

Then, a secret feeling of joy immediately surged in her heart.

"Pfft..."

A very faint laugh finally escaped Cang Mingyue's lips.

She quickly covered her mouth, but her body betrayed her.

The shoulders beneath her blue dress shook uncontrollably, and her azure eyes were filled with mirth.

The tears had not yet dried, but now they were joined by a new sense of amusement.

"Sister Jingjun, you, you actually..."

Cang Mingyue was laughing so hard she couldn't speak coherently.

"You bowed at the altar, you got married, he even rode a tall horse to come and fetch you."

"And yet, and yet you still haven't... haven't 'eaten' him?"

"Hahahaha..."

The more she thought about it, the funnier it became. With a bit of relief that "it turns out I haven't lost completely," she laughed so hard her whole body trembled.

"Cang. Ming. Yue!"

Seeing her feelings for Su Chen mocked by her biggest rival, Ye Jingjun was filled with shame and anger. Her crimson eyes almost spat fire as she shouted through gritted teeth.