Chapter 2142: Accepting a Compromise Pt. 1

“Brother-in-law said that because he was frequently outside, he couldn't always carry something so important with him. He was worried that if he gave it to you, you would become the target of others’ schemes, so he wanted someone who's usually sharp and alert, like me, to safeguard it. That way, no one would expect it, and even if something ended up happening, the enemy wouldn’t be able to immediately get their hands on the crown,” Shang Liuyu replied.

Shang Hongyu harrumphed. “You even believed a reason like that?”

Shang Liuyu’s face reddened. “Big sister, you're so smart, so you must’ve guessed a few things. Brother-in-law did indeed have some inappropriate thoughts about me.

“He was affected by his Dragon race bloodline. They're just naturally like that, so the special attention he gave me wasn’t anything too surprising, it’s just that I didn’t think too much of it. Besides, I didn’t want to get in the way of your marriage, so I never said anything to you.”

“Little sis, you don’t have to apologize at all. You’re so pretty that it’d be weird if he didn’t feel anything toward you.” Shang Hongyu harrumphed. “We're close sisters who share the same bloodline. That Dragon King is nothing more than a stinky outsider.”

Shang Liuyu felt warm inside when she felt her strong affection for her. “But brother-in-law’s decision actually did end up being of use this time. Otherwise, the crown could have already entered the hands of those scoundrels.”

“You’re quite smart too and didn’t carry the crown on you. Otherwise, you would’ve been in danger.” Shang Hongyu was happy to see this result too.

Shang Liuyu smiled. “I’m not stupid, after all. When I realized that something happened to the Dragon Palace, I immediately hid it. The sea is so large, they can have all the fun they want searching for it.”

Outside, Ka Qier harrumphed. “This woman really is quite hateful. If not for the fact that I have I have a better plan, I would’ve properly disciplined her, so we'd see if her mouth could really stay that stubborn.”

“Don’t worry. With her older sister helping us, we'll quickly find out the whereabouts of that crown,” Zu An said with a chuckle.

Ka Qier voiced his agreement. When he noticed that the two weren't talking about the crown anymore, he went back inside with Zu An and brought Shang Hongyu out.

...

When they returned to the resting chambers, Shang Hongyu said with a deep sigh, “Little sis is still full of hope and waiting for you to save her. Should we secretly tell her about you?”

After thinking about it, Zu An rejected the idea. “We can't. The current situation is too complicated, and putting aside the fact that Ka Qier’s people are always watching us, even if we successfully inform her, something this outrageous would definitely leave her extremely shocked. It’d be difficult for her to avoid slipping up.”

For some reason, Shang Hongyu released a sigh of relief when she heard what he said. This was her and Zu An’s little secret, and they could keep it just between them for a bit longer.

As soon as that thought emerged, she felt a bit ashamed. This was her own little sister they were talking about! It really wasn't right to think this way.

“By the way, did we end up giving Ka Qier too much information during our conversation earlier?” she hurriedly asked.

“It’s fine overall, but he was a bit unhappy that you didn’t tell her that I was the real Dragon King. I managed to deal with it though,” Zu An replied.

When she heard the reason he gave, Shang Hongyu voiced her agreement. “That’s what I was thinking too. If I told her that you were the real Dragon King today, that would really be forcing it a bit. If my little sister believed me just like that, Ka Qier wouldn't think much of it at first, but after the fact, he would realize that something was strange and start suspecting us.” She paused before continuing, “Then did he say anything about what we should do now?”

“If you’re asking if he said anything, then he did.” Zu An had a weird expression as he said, “It was just telling me that he was going to find more Desires Unleashed Dew for you to drink. Also, he was going to find some medicines the Dragon King used, to help nourish my body.”

Shang Hongyu was speechless. Her pretty oval face became visibly red. She began to run after him and playfully hit him out of embarrassment. “Are you kidding me?!”

Zu An laughed. He shrugged as he avoided her playful attacks. “I wasn’t the one who said those things. He just wants you to be tamed earlier.”

“Then you can tell him that yesterday, I was already... already... by that stuff. He doesn’t have to worry about it anymore.” Shang Hongyu had been really daring and bold before, but she really had been taught a bitter lesson by the rod last night and was too embarrassed to even say it out loud.

Zu An endured the urge to laugh. “But you just said that if we told him too soon, he'd become suspicious.”

𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

“Hmph!” Shang Hongyu harrumphed. She hadn’t been talking about this stuff earlier! Otherwise, others would think that she was deliberately stalling so she and Zu An could... do that stuff.

...

The two of them play-fought for a while longer, but then Zu An took her into his arms. “I actually do have a way to convince him that you’ve been completely tamed. But you might have to suffer a bit.”

“What way?” Shang Hongyu asked, stunned. She continued with a serious expression, “As long as it can help this plan, what’s wrong with a bit of suffering?”

Zu An thought to himself for a bit, then moved closer to her ear and whispered something.

Shang Hongyu’s ear tingled a bit from the air coming out of his mouth. She reflexively pulled back, but when she heard what he said, her eyes opened wide. “You... Are you just using this as a chance to take advantage of me?”

Zu An said with a serious face, “Absolutely not. If you don’t want to, I’ll just think of something else.”

“Forget it, either way... Either way... It’s all up to you.” Shang Hongyu had never expected herself to one day act like a young lady again.

Sigh, thank goodness it’s Zu An.

Otherwise, she really didn’t know if she would have truly fallen into depravity after experiencing all of these things.

...

A while later, Ka Qier received a message and arrived outside the resting chambers. He asked, “Your majesty is looking for me?”

“Yes, come in.” The Dragon King’s voice came from inside.

Ka Qier raised his brows.

The Dragon King’s voice sounds a bit strange today.

When he entered the room, he saw that all of the maids had been chased away and the Dragon King was sitting in front of his desk. He seemed to be working, but he also seemed to be a bit absent-minded.

Ka Qier's eyes shifted to the table below. Even though he couldn't see under the desk from his angle, with his cultivation, he could sense that someone was squatting down over there.

That’s... the Mermaid Queen’s aura!

Ka Qier was a bit surprised when he confirmed who it was.

This fella really knows how to play.

But he still had some admiration for Zu An’s skills. He had actually made the normally proud and haughty queen do such a thing!

“Why were you looking for me?” Ka Qier didn’t expose him and cooperated with the other side's perverted whims.

Zu An took a deep breath to slightly calm his emotions, then said, “After thinking about it carefully, if we continue to lock up Shang Liuyu, even if the queen tells her what we want her to tell her, she’ll still be a bit guarded. She won’t necessarily believe us so easily.”

“Then what do you think we should do?” Ka Qier asked.

“Oh~” Zu An suddenly groaned in satisfaction, then said, “That’s why we must place her somewhere she thinks is safe. That way, it’ll be easier to gain her trust.”

Ka Qier’s eyes shifted to the table again.

Do you really have to do that stuff right in front of me?

Hmph, what Mermaid tradition of pure chastity? They seem just like a bunch of horny fish to me.

But inside, he felt as if a weight had fallen away from his body. He had always felt that, with the dignified and poised behavior the Mermaid Queen normally displayed, it could take a while longer for her to completely fall. But now, it seemed as if he had overestimated this woman and they could move their plans up earlier.

“What kind of new plan do you have?” he asked.