A Surprising Discovery

Su Xiaoxiao dared not even breathe. Who could have imagined that, simply because Xiyue was not around and her legs ached from standing all day, she had rested her head on the table for a brief nap. Upon waking, she found herself in Xiyue’s embrace! It wasn’t until Xiyue placed her back on the bed that Su Xiaoxiao quickly pulled away, shrinking back into the covers and looking at Xiyue timidly, as if this would make her feel safe.

Xiyue was slightly annoyed. Su Xiaoxiao had been quiet in her arms just moments ago, but now she acted this way. Truly, she was a fish that could never be tamed.

In the silence, a magical soldier came with a report.

‘Surely something urgent has happened,’ he thought, ‘for he did not notice Su Xiaoxiao’s presence.’ ‘Empress, the Merfolk have sent envoys again.’

Su Xiaoxiao, whose eyes had been filled with fear, suddenly perked up at the mention of the Merfolk’s arrival. She quickly emerged from the covers, clutching Xiyue’s hand, eager to speak but unable to due to her injured vocal cords. She began to cough uncontrollably.

‘Mmh… Cough, cough…’

Xiyue couldn’t bear to see her in such distress, so she grasped Su Xiaoxiao by the nape of her neck, her voice growing colder. ‘What are you so excited about?’

Seeing Xiyue about to leave, Su Xiaoxiao, despite her fear, sat up and held tightly to Xiyue’s hand, her intentions clear.

She had been confined here by Xiyue and knew nothing of the outside world. It had been half a year since coming to the Demon Realm, and she had not seen a single member of her clan. She worried endlessly, fearing that Xiyue might harm them.

Su Xiaoxiao’s throat was raw from trying to speak, and she could taste the blood in her mouth. After the coughing fit, she realized there was only one thing left to do.

She stood by the bed, enduring her fear and humiliation, as she wrapped her arms around Xiyue’s waist and nuzzled her cheek against Xiyue’s neck. Her soft skin against Xiyue’s brought a secret joy to Xiyue, though she didn’t show it. Xiyue patted Su Xiaoxiao’s cheek gently, as if rewarding her. ‘If you had been this obedient from the start, you would have suffered less. You just don’t learn.’

Su Xiaoxiao’s hands trembled as she hugged Xiyue, and tears slid silently down her face, soaking into Xiyue’s clothes.

Xiyue ran a hand under Su Xiaoxiao’s shirt, feeling the smooth, silky skin, though she noted how thin she was.

‘Once you can speak again, I’ll let you see your elders,’ Xiyue said.

Su Xiaoxiao lifted her head, her eyes red and disbelieving, as if she couldn’t trust Xiyue’s words. ‘Cough, cough…’

Xiyue touched Su Xiaoxiao’s throat lightly, her voice calm. ‘Do you understand?’

Su Xiaoxiao nodded vigorously.

Finally, Xiyue dismissed the Merfolk envoys, telling them to return later.

****

Thinking of the possibility of seeing her clan, Su Xiaoxiao no longer resisted taking her medicine. She humbled herself, pleasing Xiyue, and rose early each day, despite her exhaustion. In these days, she managed to create things of some quality, though Xiyue rarely praised her efforts.

Apart from this, Su Xiaoxiao, despite her revulsion, would initiate intimacy with Xiyue. Xiyue called her a ‘lewd fish,’ her words sharp and cutting, but her expression betrayed her enjoyment. Su Xiaoxiao, however, felt only pain.

Since her throat injury, Xiyue made Su Xiaoxiao speak more. ‘Talk!’ ‘It hurts…’ ‘No, say my name.’ ‘Xiyue…’

As soon as Su Xiaoxiao spoke her name, a sharp pain struck her. She thought she could endure it, but the pain only intensified. Unable to hold back any longer, tears streamed down her face. The pain was unbearable, especially in her lower abdomen.

Sweat beaded on her forehead, and she clutched her stomach, trying to pull away. This annoyed Xiyue, who grabbed Su Xiaoxiao by the waist, restraining her. Su Xiaoxiao’s cries of pain echoed through the room. Her beautiful face was slick with sweat and tears.

Seeing Su Xiaoxiao’s severe pain and the blood, Xiyue was forced to stop. ‘What’s wrong with you?’ Xiyue asked, her brow furrowed, clearly dissatisfied. ‘I didn’t even exert myself.’

‘The one who initiated this was you, and now you’re the one crying stop,’ Xiyue said. Su Xiaoxiao, clutching her stomach, whimpered and pushed Xiyue away, trying to back away. ‘It hurts… My stomach…’ ‘Ah…’

Her reactions were too intense, and she seemed on the verge of passing out. Xiyue had to stop. She held Su Xiaoxiao close, feeling her body still trembling. ‘What’s wrong with you? Is it really that painful?’ Xiyue asked, confused.

Su Xiaoxiao’s coughing worsened, as if she were coughing up her very lungs. Xiyue got up to pour her a cup of water, but even after drinking, Su Xiaoxiao still clutched her stomach in pain. ‘Are you feeling better?’ Xiyue asked. Su Xiaoxiao shook her head weakly, managing to say, ‘It still hurts…’

It felt as if a knife were twisting in her abdomen, and the pain radiated through her entire body. Xiyue, unable to help, had used a bit of spiritual energy to ease Su Xiaoxiao’s pain, but it was hardly effective. She had no choice but to send for Gu Yan.

Gu Yan arrived slowly. During this time, Su Xiaoxiao’s condition did not improve. Her sweat drenched her, and she curled up on the bed, clutching her stomach. The bleeding continued, and Xiyue grew anxious. ‘Where is Gu Yan?! Is she dead?!’ Xiyue shouted.

Su Xiaoxiao moaned in pain, curled up on the bed. ‘Mmm… It hurts…’

Xiyue approached, infusing a bit of spiritual energy into Su Xiaoxiao, but the effect was minimal. When Gu Yan finally arrived, Su Xiaoxiao was in Xiyue’s arms, barely conscious.

Seeing Gu Yan, Xiyue snapped, ‘You took your sweet time! Come over here and examine her!’

The room’s atmosphere suggested what had recently transpired, and Gu Yan assumed Xiyue had injured Su Xiaoxiao. ‘So, what did you do to her this time? I’ve told you, her body…’

‘I didn’t do anything! Just come and look at her!’ Xiyue growled. Gu Yan approached, initially thinking it was just Su Xiaoxiao’s old condition. ‘She’s been taking her medicine on time, so this shouldn’t be happening…’

After checking Su Xiaoxiao’s pulse, Gu Yan’s expression changed from confusion to shock. ‘She… She’s…’ ‘She! How is this possible?! Did you… Did you…’ ‘You’re both women! No, no, what’s going on?!’ Gu Yan stammered, unable to form coherent thoughts.

‘What’s wrong with her?! Just tell me!’ Xiyue demanded. ‘I… You…’ Gu Yan, fearing she might be mistaken, said, ‘Let me check again.’

After a moment, Gu Yan looked up at Xiyue, her face a picture of disbelief. Xiyue thought Su Xiaoxiao’s condition had worsened, but Gu Yan’s words left her stunned.

Gu Yan spoke slowly, each word a shock. ‘Su Xiaoxiao… She’s… pregnant.’