Pampered By All In Different Planes

But Su Zhiruan worried that his appearance would steal her child, so she didn't dare to take the risk.

"My Lord, life in the Human World is monotonous and dull, day after day. As a god from the Divine World, you should return. If you stay in the Human World just for me, then wouldn't that be..." Su Zhiruan began softly, scooping up rose petals from the water as she spoke and then letting them fall back, the petals drifting slowly with the hot spring water and eventually coming together like little boats finding their destined tracks.

"I want to stay," Changqi said, looking at her, "May I?"

"If My Lord wishes, then please do stay." Su Zhiruan knew Changqi had long known the truth of the matter. Even if she didn't let him remain, he would find a way to do so himself. Rather than that, it was better for her to speak first and let Changqi stay. She suddenly laughed, teasingly said, "If the citizens of Shen Kingdom knew that Changqi Upper God had come to the Imperial Palace, they would surely be greatly shocked."

"I'm staying only to await your change of heart. The day you're willing to return with me to the Divine World, that's when my staying will have meant something," Changqi declared firmly.

Su Zhiruan was somewhat surprised. If anyone had told her when she first came to this world that a god would go to such lengths for her, even painstakingly searching for seven long years, she would have been shocked. But now, all of it had become reality, as the child of different planes was truly willing to stay with her in the Human World.

Su Zhiruan lowered her gaze.

And so, the matter was decided. Suddenly recalling something, Su Zhiruan laughed and spoke, "My Lord, what title should I give you then? Currently, I am known as Princess in Shen Kingdom. If you wish to stay, you must have a proper title, how about... concubine?"

"Concubine?" Changqi regarded her quietly.

Su Zhiruan had thought he would refuse. After all, in the ancient royal family, the term 'concubine' wasn't a flattering one; it referred to those kept by women for their leisure and pleasure. Her words, perhaps, had been too bold.

Even if Feng Qing knew of this, he would undoubtedly be frightened out of his wits. If others learned that a small Rabbit Demon had dared to make the most revered Changqi Upper God of the Divine World into her concubine, they would surely be appalled and denounce her audacity.

To Su Zhiruan's surprise, Changqi suddenly spoke.

"Alright, a concubine it is," he said, willing.

Now it was Su Zhiruan's turn to be astonished. She stared at Changqi, never in her life having imagined those words could come from his mouth.

Thus, in the short span of an hour at the Hot Spring Palace, the two experienced a transition from meeting to a barrier between them, and finally to Changqi's decision to stay.

As they left the Hot Spring Palace, Su Zhiruan kept looking back at Changqi. Seeing the innocent expression on his face, she turned away helplessly.

The events of today were overly dramatic. Were it not for the cool breeze of the night brushing against her cheeks, she wouldn't have believed that Changqi Upper God of the Divine World would personally propose becoming a concubine in her palace.

Soon, the news spread instantly throughout the entire Shen Kingdom palace.

The Emperor, the Empress, and all the ladies of the harem were utterly astounded.

Even the Emperor and Empress decided to personally visit Su Zhiruan, but because it had gotten too late, Su Zhiruan did not accept their visit.

The Emperor, in his own palace, clapped his hands in joy and said to the Empress, "It had always puzzled me why Ruanruan, despite having a child, had never married. I thought she must have been deeply wounded by a man, so I avoided arranging suitors, fearing it would touch a raw nerve. So I never brought it up."

"I hadn't expected this," the Empress, seated beside him with a scroll in her hand, showed a thoughtful expression. After a pause, she put down the scroll and continued, "And here I always believed that the woman the Crown Prince fancied was Ruanruan. Your Majesty, do you remember the bold words he once spoke?"

The Emperor waved off the thought, indicating he remembered it all, "That impudent boy told me he'd never take the throne. Instead, he'd find his sister and have her ascend to it, while he would journey far and wide, wandering the world, slaying demons, becoming a Demon Exterminator admired by all. I had thought after Ruanruan returned to the palace, he'd go off on his demon-slaying adventures and never set foot in the palace again."