Chapter 1902: Journey (IV)

As expected, Ruyi's words made Yun Wuxin's beautiful eyes widen in surprise. The "Jade Ripple Heart Soup," which was hailed as the "number one" dish throughout the vast Southern Divine Region and had completely redefined Yun Wuxin's understanding of gourmet food, was actually called... crude?

"A month ago, my father took me to taste the Jade Ripple Heart Soup," Yun Wuxin began. "From what I experienced, it truly lived up to its reputation. Aunt Shuhe... is she really even more amazing?"

Ruyi's gaze and demeanor were much softer when facing Yun Wuxin. "Upon receiving the news, my mistress put everything aside and personally prepared refreshments for you," she said. "If Your Highness doesn't believe it, you can taste it for yourself."

With that, she moved directly to Yun Wuxin's tea table and picked up the jade cover on it. A thin barrier covered the jade lid, designed to prevent the aroma from escaping and protect against external contamination.

A cup of tea, a plate of three types of milk pastries, and a small dish of shortbreads. It was exceptionally simple yet elegant. However, for a distinguished guest like the Cloud Emperor, it seemed, at least visually, far too modest.

But before Yun Che's eyes could even register it, his nose twitched sharply. Yun Che was not a tea connoisseur, but the subtle, lingering tea aroma, as if possessing an unknown magic, silently seeped from his nose into his heart. It was indescribably fresh, ineffably fragrant, and intertwined with a sweet, comforting scent, causing his senses—his ears, eyes, mouth, and nose—and then all the nerves in his body to involuntarily relax. This inexpressible enjoyment and comfort felt as if his entire being were gently lifted by invisible soft clouds, floating amidst the spiritual rain of an empty valley.

Just from this, Yun Che realized that Ruyi's words might not have been an exaggeration.

"So... fragrant," Yun Che murmured. Yun Che's state of mind was difficult to sway, and his emotions rarely showed on his face. Yun Wuxin, however, lacked his composure entirely. With a soft murmur, almost as if entranced, she slowly walked to the tea table, her steps wavering as if gently drawn by an invisible hand.

"Your Highness, please help yourself. Then you will understand what this maid just said," Ruyi stated, setting a pair of bamboo chopsticks for Yun Wuxin and eagerly awaiting her reaction... while also casting a subtle sidelong glance at Yun Che.

Yun Wuxin's lips involuntarily pursed and then relaxed. She picked up the bamboo chopsticks, took a small piece of milk pastry, and, guided by the increasingly potent and exotic aroma, slowly and carefully placed it into her mouth.

Immediately afterward, she froze. The chopsticks left her lips, and Yun Wuxin's cheeks twitched slightly, as if chewing with minuscule movements. Other than that, she made no other movements or expressions; even her gaze remained fixed for a long time, as if her soul had suddenly been drawn out.

Yun Wuxin's peculiar reaction made Yun Che chuckle. "Is it really that exaggerated?" he asked.

"How is it? Does it suit your taste?" Cang Shuhe asked gently.

Yun Wuxin's lips moved slightly, and after a good while, she softly said, "Father, you'll know if you try it."

Ruyi, however, swiftly turned her face away, refusing to uncover the jade lid on the tea table in front of the Cloud Emperor.

Yun Wuxin had already picked up her bamboo chopsticks again, taking another piece of milk pastry...

This action made Yun Che instinctively lean back. He quickly waved his hand, saying, "No, no, I'll get it myself..." But Yun Wuxin's fair hand was already close to his lips. "Quick, try it!" she urged. "Otherwise, you'll truly regret it!"

As the Emperor of the God Realm, he ought to maintain his dignity. In private, it might be forgivable, but to be fed in public... how undignified! Yet, in front of Yun Wuxin, he had no dignity to speak of. Compared to losing imperial prestige, he was clearly more unwilling to defy his daughter's wishes. After a slight hesitation, he reluctantly opened his mouth.

The milk pastry entered his mouth, instantly smooth and fragrant. Subsequently, his taste buds seemed to be gently struck, then completely ignited. An overwhelmingly rich enjoyment and satisfaction rapidly spread throughout his entire body. His five senses wavered in supreme delight, his blood flowed joyfully, and even his soul seemed to become light and eager to dance. Though he had held extremely high expectations, his heart still stirred intensely.

It was only then that Yun Wuxin let out a cry of astonishment: "Oh my goodness, oh my goodness! Can there really be something this delicious in the world? It's so good, it feels like a dream... How was this even made?"

"That's good then," Cang Shuhe said, a pleased smile on her face at Yun Wuxin's overflowing exclamations of delight. "Time was too short, so I could only manage to prepare these simple refreshments. If Wuxin likes them, I'll make you all my best pastries and dishes over the next few days."

"Mm!" Yun Wuxin happily assented, then picked up a shortbread. Upon tasting it, she let out another nearly exaggerated gasp of delight.

"What do you think, Emperor?" Her beautiful eyes held a hint of anticipation and nervousness. Compared to Yun Wuxin, she was undoubtedly more concerned with Yun Che's opinion.

"Very good," Yun Che said, nodding slightly, expressionless.

Those two unenthusiastic words made Ruyi so annoyed she nearly gnashed her teeth. "Heartless man!" she muttered. "Only knows how to pretend!"

This was originally just her internal curse, but she was so exasperated that the words inadvertently slipped from her lips.

How powerful were the Cloud Emperor's spiritual senses, especially with his overwhelming divine might? His eyes narrowed slightly, and he said coolly, "Frankly, based on my experiences over the years, this tea aroma and these pastries are indeed 'second to none'." Then, his gaze suddenly turned cold. "But! Your ability to discipline your maid is far from sufficient! Have you forgotten to teach her how to write the character for 'death'?"

The Cloud Emperor's sudden rage made heaven and earth tremble. Yun Wuxin was startled, biting a half-eaten shortbread she hadn't yet dared to swallow, staring at Yun Che in astonishment.

Cang Shuhe's usually gentle and serene face finally showed alarm. She quickly rose, saying, "Please calm your anger, Emperor. Ruyi and I have always treated each other as sisters in private, and thus I have been lax in her discipline, offending Your Majesty." Then she turned to Ruyi. "Ruyi! Apologize to the Emperor at once!" As she reprimanded Ruyi, her expression changed repeatedly, fearing Ruyi's stubbornness.

Yun Che's menacing pressure, directly bearing down on her, sent a chill through Ruyi's entire body, causing her to instinctively recoil half a step. But she fiercely gritted her teeth and squeezed out words of stubborn defiance from between them: "I... won't!" "Ruyi!" Cang Shuhe cried out in urgency, reprimanding her again.

Facing Yun Che's cold gaze, Ruyi actually took a step forward. Her brows furrowed tightly as she shouted loudly, "Yun Che! I don't care if you're the Devil Master or the Cloud Emperor! I just don't like you, I just hate you!"

Yun Che: (Oh, really?)

"Ruyi, are you cra—" "Mistress!" Ruyi interrupted, "We're going to die anyway, so let me finish what I have to say! Otherwise, even if he doesn't kill me, I'll die of anger and frustration!"

Ruyi had completely let herself go, taking another step forward, her voice rising several octaves: "Because of you, Mistress was forced to become the Canglan Divine Emperor, and then forcibly sealed as Consort Shuhe. For over an entire year, you haven't stepped foot in the Canglan Realm, nor have you ever summoned Mistress to the Imperial Cloud City! In the Southern Divine Region... in the entire God Realm, countless people are making a mockery of Mistress! Almost everyone believes that Mistress is merely a tool for you to conveniently control the Southern Divine Region!"

Yun Che frowned deeply. Yun Wuxin's beautiful eyes widened. Accustomed to the world's extreme reverence for her father, this was the first time she had ever witnessed someone dare to angrily rebuke him directly to his face.

"Ruyi, get out! Get out now!" Cang Shuhe was utterly panicked, and in her desperation, she directly moved to push Ruyi away.

But Ruyi had already anticipated this; she instantly shifted, causing Cang Shuhe's push to miss, and continued to shout furiously, "Mistress has lived a life of hardship. I thought she had finally seen the clouds part and the fog disperse, but in the end, she was merely ignored by you, humiliated by you, and treated as a tool by you! And for over a year, Mistress has worked so hard she barely allowed herself a moment's rest! She... she is the best person in the world! In my heart, even if you are the Cloud Emperor, you are simply not worthy of her! What qualifications do you... *Gah!*"

Yun Che raised his hand, and the space instantly froze, a bone-chilling killing intent brutally severing Ruyi's voice. "It seems you are trying very hard to die," Yun Che said coldly.

"Emperor... no! No!!" Cang Shuhe rushed over, gripping Yun Che's arm tightly, her eyes filled with pain and pleading.

"Death... what's there to be afraid of!" Facing Yun Che's killing intent, she still spoke with resolute defiance: "You know best how much lifespan Mistress has left... If Mistress dies, I will not live alone... Why would I be afraid to die!?"

Yun Che: "..."

"I'll use my death to show you that even if you are the so-called Cloud Emperor, not everyone will let you bully my mistress!"

"Heh!" Yun Che let out a very faint cold laugh. "I can't believe it, you little girl, you're quite..."

"You're the little girl!" Ruyi snapped angrily. "Don't think I don't know that you're only half a *jiazi* old! When it comes to age and experience, you're nothing but a snot-nosed kid in front of me!"

"Pfft!" Yun Wuxin spat out the half-chewed shortbread from her mouth. "Ah! Such precious pastries!" After spitting it out, she immediately let out a cry of dismay. It was the first time she so clearly understood what it meant to waste something precious, and she was so distressed she was almost at a loss.

And it wasn't just the shortbread that suffered... most of Yun Che's killing intent was suddenly dispersed by Yun Wuxin's unexpected spray.

Reaching down to lift the hem of her skirt, stained by the spat-out shortbread, she said rather miserably, "I'm sorry, Aunt Shuhe, for wasting your delicious pastries..." At that moment, she suddenly thought of something, and her beautiful eyes lit up. "Aunt Ruyi, could you take me to change my outer robe? Father told me that in the Ten Directions Canglan Realm, there's a 'Phantom Water Canglan Robe,' a gift from the endless Canglan Sea. I've longed for one for a long time."

"Huh?" Ruyi, who had been prepared to be struck dead by Yun Che's palm and thus make Cang Shuhe give up, was momentarily stunned. She didn't know how to react.

"Ruyi! Go quickly and take Her Royal Highness to change!" Cang Shuhe, still gripping Yun Che's wrist tightly, urgently commanded, "Go quickly!"

"Let's go!" Yun Wuxin had already grabbed Ruyi's sleeve. Ruyi was practically half-dragged away by Yun Wuxin, bewildered with every step, until they disappeared from Yun Che's sight.

Yun Che's palm remained suspended in mid-air, but he did not strike. Cang Shuhe's taut nerves finally relaxed. She let out a long sigh of relief and bowed before Yun Che. "Thank you, Emperor, for your mercy. This concubine will surely discipline her more strictly from now on... If Your Majesty disapproves, this concubine will no longer let her approach Your Majesty's sight."

Yun Che's expression remained unchanged, and he slowly said, "Back then, when I first met you, it was when my malevolence was at its peak and my reputation was at its worst. From ordinary mortals to Divine Emperors, including your elder brother, all feared me to their very souls. Yet on that day, whether you saw me or when I was healing you, I barely felt any fear in your heart."

Cang Shuhe: "..."

"Even later, when I forcibly integrated the Canglan divine power into you, you endured immense pain throughout, clearly sensing a significant loss of lifespan, yet your heart remained calm like a still lake, completely unruffled." He looked into Cang Shuhe's eyes. "Therefore, until yesterday, I always believed you were a person of extremely weak emotions, so weak that all your feelings seemed to have frozen dead in ten thousand years of desolate solitude."

Cang Shuhe: "..."

"But just now, when I displayed killing intent towards your maid, I felt your intense panic and fear..." His gaze shifted downwards. "Your heart rate hasn't slowed down yet." Clearly, he had misjudged.

Cang Shuhe raised her eyes. "Is that why Your Majesty has always neglected this concubine?"

Yun Che did not respond.

Cang Shuhe lowered her eyes and softly said, "For ten thousand years of hardship and coldness, Ruyi has always been by my side. Without her, this concubine would not have been able to endure until meeting Your Majesty. Though she is called my maid, in truth, our bond is deeper than that of blood sisters, something others might not even comprehend."

"I can probably understand," Yun Che said. "Judging by how she looked as if she wanted to swallow me whole, she truly can't stand to see you suffer even the slightest grievance, hmph!"

Yun Che's words caused a faint ripple in Cang Shuhe's beautiful eyes. "Your Majesty is no longer blaming her, right?" she asked.

"I, the dignified Emperor of the God Realm, would hardly bother with a mere little girl..." He paused, then said coldly, "I wouldn't stoop to the level of an old woman!"

Cang Shuhe immediately smiled sweetly. "If the Empress or Consort Mu were to hear that," she said, "Your Majesty might find yourself sleeping alone for several days."

Cang Shuhe's smile was exceptionally gentle and beautiful, possessing a captivating charm like clouds drifting in the evening breeze.

After casually uttering that thoughtless remark, Yun Che regretted it. Not only Chi Wuyao and Mu Xuanyin, but Cang Shuhe in front of him had also been directly implicated. "That damn little... maid!" he thought. "Although she's clearly out of her mind, given her devotion to protecting her mistress, which is somewhat touching, the death penalty can be waived. But if I just let her off, what would become of my imperial prestige and dignity as the Cloud Emperor?!" "Just you wait and cry!"

"My Empress and Imperial Consorts are not to be compared with her," Yun Che said. Then he added blandly, "You... wouldn't tell them, would you?"

Cang Shuhe neither nodded nor shook her head. Her gentle smile was like a serene spring containing endless beautiful illusions, silently drawing one's gaze and thoughts into deep immersion—until capitulation. "Throughout history, the biggest mistake many men have made," she said, "is believing that women can keep secrets."

Yun Che chuckled momentarily. It was then that he suddenly realized how enjoyable it was to meet Cang Shuhe's gaze and listen to her words.