186: promise

Liu Xuaner walked up to Situ Jun and looked directly into his eyes, which held a storm within. Her voice carried a hint of resolve and ruthlessness.

"Husband, this trip to the Southern Border is not to seize treasures for Li Xuan, but to establish our Northern Border's prestige! It is to seek justice for Sister Princess and the child in her womb! We must make them understand the price of touching my husband's people! Moreover, we must make Li Xuan realize that this self-righteous 'noose' of his will only end up strangling himself!"

She paused, her tone shifting to one of deep concern.

"Of course, it is fraught with danger, so you must be careful, Husband. I will stay in East Lin with the Embroiderer and the others to secure our rear and wait for you... to return in triumph with overwhelming momentum!"

"However, Husband, you must not reveal your Nascent Soul Stage Cultivation, or you might truly fall into Li Xuan's trap. You must know that the Imperial Dynasty's regulations state that a Dynasty is only allowed one Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator to guard it, and you are not that guardian."

Situ Jun looked at his wife, who embodied both gentleness and ruthlessness, wisdom and decisiveness. The surging rage and killing intent in his chest seemed to find a channel for release, guided toward a clear and domineering direction.

"I'm not worried about the Imperial City for now. After all, Princess is his sister; no matter how cold-blooded Li Xuan is, he won't do anything to her for the time being. It's you all I'm worried about. After all, East Lin is currently at the center of the Southern Border's storm. I'm afraid things might change if I leave."

Liu Xuaner raised her delicate hand and smoothed the frown between Situ Jun's brows.

"Although not going wouldn't change much, I still hope you'll go and take a look. If there's an Opportunity, seize the Legacy for yourself in secret. As for our safety, you can rest assured. As long as the Southern Border's Legacy Immortal Cave is attractive enough, no one will come to East Lin specifically to cause trouble."

Hearing this, Situ Jun pondered for a while. Feeling that Liu Xuaner's analysis was reasonable, his furious expression faded significantly.

He reached out to hold Liu Xuaner's hand and said seriously:

"Thank you, Xuaner!"

Liu Xuaner sat on his lap, her soft and fragrant presence filling his arms and dissipating some of the lingering Evil Qi in the study.

Her fair hands held Situ Jun tightly, carrying a soul-soothing warmth.

However, in the next instant, those soft hands pinched the tender flesh at his waist with a touch of playful resentment.

"There's no need for thanks."

Liu Xuaner raised her eyes, which were like autumn waters but now held a hint of grievance and resentment, and glanced at him sideways.

"But as for you, when will you let me have a child too? I thought only Yun Niang was pregnant, but I didn't expect Sister Princess to be as well. You..."

Her unfinished words carried a young woman's bashful annoyance and genuine expectation. A faint blush colored her cheeks, making her even more moving.

She pouted slightly and looked at Situ Jun reproachfully.

"Is it that Xuaner hasn't done well enough? Or does Husband... dislike Xuaner now?"

Situ Jun was stunned by this sudden interrogation. His thoughts, which had been churning with the blood and gore of the Southern Border and Li Xuan's schemes, were instantly scattered by his wife's jealous and longing pout.

His rage and cold killing intent receded like the tide, replaced by a warm current of tenderness, guilt, and affection that quietly welled up in his heart.

He looked at Liu Xuaner's watery, expectant eyes. Where was the steady decisiveness of the Northern Border's matriarch? She was clearly just a young woman seeking a promise from her lover.

"Xuaner..."

Situ Jun's voice deepened, carrying a huskiness from being stirred. He tightened his arms around her waist, pulling her closer to him.

He raised his other hand and lovingly caressed her delicate, warm cheek, his thumb gently brushing against her slightly pouted lips.

"Silly Xuaner, what nonsense are you talking about, disliking you?"

He chuckled, his chest vibrating slightly with doting affection.

"You, Yun Niang, and Princess are all dear to my heart. How could I favor one over the other?"

Liu Xuaner's nose twitched slightly. With an imperceptible sob, she buried her face in his broad chest and nuzzled him gently, like a small animal seeking comfort.

"I... I also want a child of our own... a little life that looks like you and like me..."

The longing and a subtle hint of jealousy in her voice were clearly audible.

Situ Jun's heart was struck hard by her unprecedented, straightforward plea, so full of a young woman's sentiment.

He looked down at the person in his arms. The candlelight danced on her porcelain-like skin, and her long eyelashes cast a small, fan-shaped shadow under her eyes.

The City Lord's wife, who had strategized and controlled all the household expenses in Northern Border City, had shed all her coldness. She was now just an ordinary woman longing to be a mother and craving more of her husband's favor.

The rage and coldness on Situ Jun's face vanished completely, replaced by a dense, inseparable tenderness and guilt.

He tightened his arms, pulling her closer into his embrace, his chin resting on the top of her fragrant hair.

He lied kindly:

"Yun Niang's pregnancy was a pleasant surprise, and Princess... was also a result of passion and fate. As for you..."

He paused intentionally and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, his movements full of treasure.

"It's just... we've known each other the longest. You handle everything inside and out daily, which is most taxing on your body and mind. I... I always thought of waiting until things were more stable so you could focus on nurturing our child in peace."

Liu Xuaner's heart fluttered at his words.

She looked up, her eyes shimmering with tears, yet she said with a hint of stubbornness:

"Stable? Husband, when has this world ever known true stability? Must we really wait until the world is at peace and the seas are calm? By then, I'm afraid I'll be old and withered..."

"How could that be?"

Situ Jun laughed. He leaned down, his warm breath brushing past her ear and causing a slight shiver.

"My Xuaner is magnificent and will only become more enchanting. It's just..."

A trace of solemnity flickered in his eyes.

"The trip to the Southern Border is imminent and fraught with unknown dangers. I must go and turn everything upside down to let Li Xuan know the meaning of agonizing pain. If you were pregnant now, I... would not be at peace."

He cupped her face, his thumb gently wiping away a stray tear from the corner of her eye. His voice was deep and full of promise:

"When I return in triumph from the Southern Border, having thrown that Dark Crow Legacy into chaos, struck fear into the hearts of the petty, made Li Xuan pay the price, and sought justice for Princess and her child to completely clear away any future worries... then, I will go nowhere else."

His gaze was so hot it could almost melt someone, filled with intense possessiveness and endless tenderness.

"I will stay by your side, day and night, focusing my mind... on only one thing."

"What thing?"

Liu Xuaner asked knowingly, her cheeks flushed and her heart pounding like a drum.

Situ Jun's lips were almost touching hers, their breaths mingling with a bewitching magic.

"To complete our long-overdue wedding night and give you one... no, perhaps more than one, direct Bloodline of our own. I want the entire Northern Border—no, the entire world—to know that you, Liu Xuaner, are the love of my life!"

"Husband..."

Liu Xuaner's voice had turned into a soft moan. All her resentment and jealousy were melted by this burning oath and promise.

She took the initiative to wrap her arms around his neck, burying her burning cheek in the crook of his firm neck, feeling his powerful heartbeat.

"Alright, I'll wait for you."

Her muffled voice came through, filled with infinite trust and an imperceptible sob.

"Return safely, and then... no breaking your word. I want you... to pay me back slowly for the rest of your life."

Situ Jun's throat moved. He tightened his arms around her as if he wanted to rub her into his very bones and blood.

He lowered his head and kissed the top of her fragrant hair, then her smooth forehead, and finally, with irresistible heat and reverence, he captured those two tempting red lips.

The candlelight flickered gently on the desk, lengthening their tightly embraced shadows and casting them onto the wall.

In the study, all the power struggles and bloodshed temporarily faded away, leaving only the whispers and murmurs between lovers and a burning promise about the future and the continuation of their Bloodline...