Managing state affairs in the Star Luo Imperial Palace, a delicate shadow leans against the emperor's side.

Leaving behind the serene moonlight of the Black Forest, Su Chen kept his appointment and headed to the Star Luo Empire's imperial palace for his private meeting with Zhu Zhuqing.

After the unification of the continent, the formerly contentious Star Luo and Heaven Dou Empires had completely submitted. Spirit City was designated as the central hub, while the Star Luo Empire's imperial palace became an administrative palace for handling the affairs of the eastern territories. It still retained the layout familiar to Zhu Zhuqing—carved beams and painted rafters, golden bricks paving the floor, majestic halls—yet it had lost much of its former solemnity and tension, gaining instead an air of peace and tranquility.

Inside the Imperial Study, sandalwood incense curled upward, and the light was bright.

The long Imperial Desk was piled high with memorials and documents from all regions: territorial demarcations, pacification of cities, resettlement of Spirit Masters, allocation of provisions and fodder, deployment of garrison troops... Each and every matter was an urgent piece of administrative business requiring attention after the continent's unification.

Zhu Zhuqing wore a form-fitting black martial attire that outlined her slender and agile figure. Her long hair was tied up in a neat high ponytail, with a few stray strands falling by her cheeks. Her cool, clear eyes held a trace of the efficiency she displayed while handling affairs. Standing beside Su Chen, her jade-like fingers lightly flipped through the memorials, her gaze sharp, able to grasp the key points at a glance. Occasionally, she would report in a soft, clear, and pleasant voice, her thoughts organized and coherent, fully displaying the steadiness and decisiveness of a Shadow Knight.

Su Chen sat on the imperial throne, dressed in simple black casual robes, his demeanor lazy yet noble. He casually perused the documents before him, occasionally nodding or issuing soft instructions.

Su Chen had always trusted in Zhu Zhuqing's abilities. As the possessor of the Hell Civet Spirit, she was meticulous, swift in action, and possessed keen observational skills. She was calm and efficient in handling both administrative and shadow affairs, making her his most capable assistant and the shadow beauty he cherished most in his heart.

The hall was quiet, with only the soft rustling of paper and the occasional low murmur of conversation between the two.

Time flowed quietly. Sunlight streamed through the window lattice into the hall, falling upon the two of them, warm and peaceful.

Unnoticed, it was already afternoon.

Having processed the majority of the mountain of administrative work, Zhu Zhuqing gently rubbed her slightly sore temples, a trace of barely perceptible fatigue appearing on her cool, delicate face.

Having grown up amidst the noble conflicts of the Star Luo Empire, she was accustomed to tension and vigilance. Even though the continent was now unified and free of threats, the diligence and seriousness ingrained in her bones still made her unwilling to slacken even a little.

However... constantly facing dull memorials and documents, even the calmest person would inevitably feel a bit of weariness.

She quietly shifted her footing, soundlessly drawing closer to Su Chen, then slightly turned her body, gently resting her cheek against his shoulder. Her cool voice carried a rare softness and a hint of a whine as she murmured lowly:

"So boring... Brother Su Chen, play with me."

Su Chen's movements paused. He looked down at the young woman leaning against his shoulder.

In the sunlight, her long eyelashes fluttered gently. Her fair cheeks held a faint hint of pink. Her usually cool and sharp eyes were half-closed, like a Hell Civet lazily at rest, having shed all defenses and aloof beauty, leaving only pure dependence and charming innocence.

This appearance was completely different from that of the swift, decisive Shadow Empress on the battlefield.

Su Chen's heart softened, his eyes filling with deep affection.

He casually closed the memorial in his hand, directly pushed the remaining documents aside, reached out, and lightly pulled Zhu Zhuqing's soft, delicate body into his embrace, letting her sit on his lap, his arms securely encircling her waist.

"Alright."

Su Chen lowered his head, his nose lightly nuzzling her smooth forehead. His voice was so tender it could drip water, filled with infinite indulgence. "I'll play with my Shadow Knight to her heart's content."

Zhu Zhuqing's body stiffened slightly, then completely relaxed. Like a kitten that had found a warm harbor, she nestled tightly into Su Chen's embrace, her arms circling his neck, burying her face in the crook of his neck, taking a deep breath of his clean, crisp scent.

Her usual cool aloofness completely dissipated, leaving only a heart and eyes full of tenderness and attachment.

"Brother Su Chen..." she whispered, her voice carrying a hint of contentment. "Before, I was always evading assassins, always desperately trying to become stronger, always worried that the next moment might bring life-or-death separation... I never imagined that one day I could lean against you so peacefully and securely, without needing to be on guard, without needing to fight, without needing to fear loss."

Su Chen tightened his arms, holding her closer. His fingertips gently brushed through her tied-up hair, tenderly smoothing it.

"It's all in the past," he consoled in a low voice, his tone firm. "The God Realm Passage is sealed, the remnants of the Spirit Hall have been purged, and there are no more conflicts on the continent. From now on, no one will dare harm you, and I will never let you fall into danger again."

"I conquered this world not to have you help me handle administrative affairs, not to have you be some cold empress."

Su Chen lowered his head and whispered softly by her ear, each word filled with sincere affection:

"I only want you to be yourself again—to be that Zhu Zhuqing who can be willful and act spoiled, who can be carefree, who can pester me to play with her anytime."

"No matter how important administrative affairs are, they are not as important as my shadow beauty."

Zhu Zhuqing's nose tingled, her eyes slightly reddened. Glittering tears welled up but she stubbornly held them back.

She had walked a path out of the darkness of the Star Luo Empire, had witnessed the treachery of human hearts and the partings of life and death. She had long grown accustomed to disguising herself with coldness and strength. It was only after meeting Su Chen that she finally found a harbor to rely on, an embrace where she could shed all her defenses.

He was her sky, her light, her only destination in this life.

"Brother Su Chen..." Zhu Zhuqing's voice was slightly choked, yet it carried unwavering resolve. "Whether as a Shadow Assassin or an empress, I only want to be by your side, to follow you forever."

"I know," Su Chen responded softly, lowering his head to place a gentle kiss on her cool, exquisitely beautiful cheek, leaving a faint, warm mark. "I will also stay with you forever, dote on you, and never let you suffer the slightest grievance."

He raised his hand, his fingertips gently tracing over Zhu Zhuqing's brows and eyes, carefully outlining her features.

The young woman before him was cool and proud, her posture as straight as bamboo, yet it was only in front of him that she revealed such a soft, dependent side.

This tenderness belonged to him alone; this shadow beauty was his alone.

Nestled in Su Chen's embrace, Zhu Zhuqing felt his warm hold and steady heartbeat, her heart filled with peace.

She no longer thought about those dull memorials, those complicated administrative tasks. She only wanted to hold him like this, quietly enjoying this tender time belonging solely to the two of them.

The sandalwood incense still curled upward in the hall. The sunlight was warm and gentle, spilling over the embracing couple, coating them in a golden halo.

The usually solemn and majestic Imperial Study of the Star Luo Empire was now filled with boundless sweetness and tenderness, the very air permeated with a sweet fragrance.

Zhu Zhuqing gently raised her head. Her cool eyes looked at Su Chen, brimming with an unmistakable, profound love. She slightly rose on her toes and actively placed a light kiss on Su Chen's lips, like a butterfly skimming water—soft and shy.

The smile in Su Chen's eyes deepened. He gently cupped the back of her head, deepening this tender kiss.

There was no intense passion, only the gentle flow of deep affection—the cherishing born from experiencing life and death, the stability after unifying the continent, the sweet intimacy belonging solely to Su Chen and Zhu Zhuqing.

After a long while, the two slowly parted.

Zhu Zhuqing's face flushed crimson as she buried herself back into Su Chen's embrace, not daring to look up. Even the roots of her ears were tinged with a faint pink, her usual coolness completely transformed into shyness.

Su Chen chuckled softly, holding the delicate young woman in his arms, lightly patting her back as if soothing a shy Hell Civet.

"Still bored?" he teased her gently.

Zhu Zhuqing shook her head lightly, her voice soft as cotton. "Not bored anymore... With Brother Su Chen here, nowhere is boring."

She only wanted this—to hold him like this forever, to lean against his side forever, year after year, never to part.

Su Chen held the young woman in his arms, leaned back in the chair, and quietly enjoyed this sense of peace and tenderness.

Outside the window, the sunlight was just right, the breeze not too strong. Inside the hall, he held a beauty in his arms, with deep affection flowing between them.

The former battles and turmoil were long gone. Now, only peaceful years and enduring love remained.

This was time belonging solely to Su Chen and Zhu Zhuqing—the tender intimacy after unifying the continent, the sweetest companionship between the Shadow Knight and her sovereign.

And this unique tenderness, he would also give to each and every one of his beloved.