Chapter 1280: Marriage Contract

Jinyue was by no means an ordinary maidservant. Born in the Moon God Realm, she served the future Moon God Empress, a position that elevated her above most profound practitioners in the Moon God Realm. She was certainly not a timid person easily flustered.

Yet, in Yun Che's presence, she always felt a sense of nervousness and apprehension, especially hesitant to meet his gaze directly.

"Jinyue takes her leave." Without knowing if she had registered Yun Che's instructions, Jinyue hurried away.

Huo Rulie and the others exchanged glances. Mu Huanzhi finally couldn't help but ask, "Our Snow Song Realm has shown kindness to the God Empress? What's going on?"

Neither Yun Che nor Mu Bingyun replied.

Mu Huanzhi stroked his beard, trying to ease the awkwardness somewhat.

Yun Che and Mu Bingyun were well aware of Xia Qingyue's connection to the Snow Song Realm. After arriving in the God Realm, Xia Qingyue would naturally come to know that the Ice Phoenix Divine Arts she cultivated in the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace were, in fact, the Ice Phoenix Conferred God Canon of the Snow Song Realm.

"What did you give her?" Mu Bingyun asked, her eyes full of concern.

"My marriage certificate with her," Yun Che said indifferently.

*Pfft...*

Huo Rulie instantly sprayed the wine he had just drunk all over himself and the table. He fumbled to wipe it up, stammering, "I-I-I-I didn't hear anything just now..."

As if afraid that Huo Poyun would ask too many questions, he disregarded his disheveled state and grabbed Huo Poyun. "Poyun, your master has many important things to tell you. After you enter the Heaven Profound Pearl... blah, blah, blah..."

My marriage certificate with her...

Yun Che and the Moon God Empress's marriage certificate?!

This was more than just a bolt from the clear sky; Huo Rulie, Yan Juehai, and Mu Huanzhi, all three Divine Sovereigns, were utterly stunned on the spot. The sheer volume of information made them feel as if they had been instantly submerged by boundless ocean waves.

"I... I'll go check on the disciples." Mu Huanzhi, sweating profusely, stumbled badly over his chair as he stood up.

"Cough... I'll go too." Yan Juehai, usually as steady as a mountain, practically fled.

"It seems you don't believe what that maidservant said earlier?" Mu Bingyun said, looking at Yun Che.

"No, I believe her," Yun Che said expressionlessly. "She probably hasn't seen the profound images of the Profound God Convention and doesn't know I'm still alive."

"Why?"

"Because I know her," Yun Che said, gently closing his eyes, seemingly recalling something. "She's always been a person of extremely indifferent temperament, ever since she was little. The profound way has always been her sole pursuit; she's indifferent to everything else."

Mu Bingyun remained silent.

"Although she hasn't seen the profound images of the Profound God Convention, she must have heard my name. It's just..." Yun Che gave a self-deprecating smile, "She wouldn't connect me with the 'Yun Che' she heard about."

Just as when he first heard the Moon God Emperor call out "Qingyue," he never once imagined it would be Xia Qingyue, not even slightly.

He couldn't connect Xia Qingyue with the "Moon God Empress."

And Xia Qingyue would be even less likely to connect the "Number One Conferred God" with him... especially since he was believed to be dead.

Mu Bingyun silently watched Yun Che. Yun Che's words implied that in Xia Qingyue's world, "Yun Che" was a deceased former husband from many years ago, and whom she chose to marry was entirely her own freedom.

He said these words for Mu Bingyun's benefit, or perhaps to comfort himself.

"Since she's a person of indifferent temperament, she wouldn't covet the title of 'Moon God Empress.' Perhaps she was coerced, or had some hidden difficulties," Mu Bingyun consoled him. "After all, if the Moon God Emperor wishes someone to become the Empress, no one can refuse."

"No," Yun Che shook his head. "She's indeed not someone who covets the title of 'Empress,' but she also wouldn't be coerced by anyone."

Mu Bingyun was puzzled.

"Ice Cloud Palace Master, twelve years ago, when she and I married, she was already admired by countless people and was an official disciple of the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace. At that time, I was physically weak, my profound veins were crippled, and even the servants secretly mocked me within my own home."

"The gap between us then was so vast that 'worlds apart' wouldn't even begin to describe it. Yet, she still married me. It was absolutely not due to coercion or any hidden difficulties, but entirely of her own free will."

Mu Bingyun was slightly taken aback.

"At that time, I was grateful for her and adored her. On the very first day of our marriage, I decided in my heart that no matter her status, I would make her truly fall in love with me... perhaps it was also to satisfy my somewhat ridiculous pride."

Remembering the few days they spent together after their marriage, Yun Che smiled faintly.

"Later, I had many confidantes. As I spent time with them, they would gradually integrate me into their lives and wills, even Caiyi, who was the Little Demon Empress. But... only Xia Qingyue..."

"She and I performed the marriage rites, shared hardships, and even faced life and death together. So many times, I thought I had completely melted her icy heart... especially once, when we were both swallowed by the Heavenly Lake beast. To save me, she imbued me with all her power, nearly losing her own life..."

"However, every time I thought I had fully entered her heart, she would... almost without hesitation, leave me and return to the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace. When we met again, she would still maintain a distance that felt as if it had never closed."

Back then, one significant subconscious reason he agreed to enter the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace as its first male disciple was to be able to stay close to Xia Qingyue.

"She appears cold and fragile, but her will is incredibly tenacious and independent. No one can sway a decision she has made. Perhaps it's because she possesses a Glazed Heart; subconsciously, she has always viewed everyone and everything in this world from a detached perspective. No one can force her to do anything; it only depends on whether she is willing."

"Are you saying she willingly intends to marry the Moon God Emperor?"

"Yes," Yun Che nodded, his face devoid of joy or sorrow.

Eight years can change many things, but not a person's fundamental nature and will.

When Xia Qingyue appeared, her eyes were as he remembered, like a pool of unrippled autumn water.

"From her perspective, she made no mistake. On the contrary, she made the most correct choice any woman in the world could make. The Moon God Realm King... compared to him, I am merely a crawling insect who has just learned to move. For a woman, there is no more noble status in this world than being the Empress of a King Realm. Perhaps this is also a blessing bestowed by the 'Glazed Heart'."

"If there's any flaw, it's that I'm still alive."

Yun Che's words were clear and natural, his expression incredibly calm... a calmness that sent shivers down one's spine.

"Then why... why did you still give her the marriage certificate?" Mu Bingyun asked.

"Of course, it's to let her know about this flaw and then personally erase it," Yun Che smiled faintly.

Yun Che seemed to have fully regained his rationality, a terrifying rationality. Mu Bingyun, however, couldn't feel at ease in the slightest. "Yun Che, are you truly..."

"Rest assured," Yun Che looked up ahead. "This wedding ceremony is so grand; it's no longer just a marriage but tied to the prestige and dignity of the Moon God Emperor and the entire Moon God Realm."

"This is the Moon God Realm. With my meager power, even if I were to lose my life here, to spill all my blood here, I couldn't change a single thing. Instead, I would only implicate the Snow Song Realm and the Blazing Heaven Realm."

Even if Xia Qingyue herself wanted to go back on her word, it would be impossible by now.

"I still have so many things to do. I just made a promise to her. How can I... ruin myself here because of something like this?"

"Let it be."

He picked up another jade goblet and drained it.

As the goblet fell, it instantly shattered.

Mu Bingyun gently clasped Yun Che's arm with her delicate hand, offering no further words of comfort.

Yun Che, was giving the marriage certificate to her really for such a simple purpose?

Above the clouds, Qianye Ying'er's attention was mostly on Yun Che, and she naturally noticed Jinyue.

From a distance, and without releasing her profound energy, she couldn't fully hear their conversation but vaguely caught "Empress's maidservant."

"The Empress's maidservant? Why would she seek out Yun Che?" Qianye Ying'er's gaze fell on the jade box in Jinyue's hands. "Old Gu, what did Yun Che put in there?"

Old Gu's figure remained still, only his eyes flickering with an unusual light. After a moment, he slowly said, "It's a marriage certificate."

"A marriage certificate? Bring it over, let me see."

Old Gu didn't reply. His withered old hand rose at that moment. Without any discernible movement from him, a peculiar vortex suddenly appeared in the space before him.

His thin, bony fingers closed, slowly submerging into the vortex. After a few breaths, Old Gu's hand withdrew, the vortex silently vanished, and in his hand, there was now a folded paper scroll.

Below, Jinyue hurried along, completely unaware. The jade box in her hand remained intact, showing no signs of disturbance.

Qianye Ying'er took the scroll, opened it, and after a quick scan with her divine sense, her phoenix eyes behind the mask immediately narrowed.

Cangfeng Kingdom... Floating Cloud City...

Xiao Che... Xia Qingyue...

Qingyue...

She folded the marriage certificate, her movements very slow. The moment the certificate was fully folded, a dangerously subtle smile curved her lips...

"Such interesting things exist in this world, unexpectedly."

"Should I put it back?" Old Gu asked.

"No," Qianye Ying'er replied, putting the marriage certificate away. "Such a significant gift should naturally be put to its greatest use."

"I didn't bring any proper congratulatory gifts to the Moon God Realm this time. I'll take this opportunity to present Mu Wuyai with an enormous surprise!"

Inside the Moon Evasion Immortal Palace, Xia Qingyue stood before a mirror, her fingers lightly caressing its surface. Her beautiful eyes were distant and dreamy, lost in thought.

The Moon Evasion Immortal Palace was incredibly vast internally, with countless bright lights shimmering. These lights seemed drawn by an invisible force, converging rapidly towards Xia Qingyue's ethereal figure.

Only a quarter of an hour remained until the wedding ceremony began.

Jinyue, carrying the jade box, approached with light steps. Then, bowing gracefully behind Xia Qingyue, she reported, "Your Majesty, I have followed your instructions from a month ago and presented a Moon God Pellet to the Snow Song Realm, giving it to the Snow Song disciple named 'Yun Che'."

"That's good," she replied faintly.

"There's one more thing," Jinyue said. "Young Master Yun Che asked this servant to bring back a return gift for Your Majesty and said he hoped Your Majesty would open it personally."

"There's no need," she said softly. "Take it away."

Jinyue wasn't surprised by her answer. After a moment's thought, she finally said, "Young Master Yun Che also asked this servant to convey a message to Your Majesty..."

"This is a wedding gift from Xiao Che of Floating Cloud City to Her Majesty, the God Empress."