The Empress’s Despair and the Demon King’s Pursuit

Seeing Su Xiaoxiao’s head droop, Chitang offered another comforting word. “Your Majesty has no need to worry,” she said gently. “The Sovereign will certainly grow fond of this child.”

Su Xiaoxiao merely responded with a faint voice. “Is that so? Then that would be quite good…”

Yet, within Su Xiaoxiao’s heart, immense waves churned like a tempestuous sea, refusing to settle.

She had deliberately questioned Chitang earlier, simply to ascertain if the practice of consuming offspring truly existed in the Demon Realm. The maid’s calm reply, devoid of even a flicker of pity in her eyes, confirmed it. Such a horrifying act was, in fact, an entirely normal occurrence within this realm.

Chitang’s assurance that ‘the Sovereign would grow fond of this child’ did little to ease Su Xiaoxiao’s mind.

Instead, her thoughts relentlessly replayed Xiyue’s reactions ever since they discovered the little fish cub’s existence.

From the very beginning, right up until last night.

Su Xiaoxiao had questioned Xiyue numerous times, receiving the same answers: “I don’t like this child,” and “I promised I would let you give birth.”

But what would happen after that?

Xiyue had never spoken of what would transpire afterward. She had only ever promised to let her give birth.

To give birth… but what then?

If Xiyue truly disliked the child, how would she treat it?

Would she… would she truly devour it, just as those two demons had claimed yesterday?

This horrifying thought detonated in her mind. Cold sweat beaded on Su Xiaoxiao’s palms, her face grew increasingly pallid and drawn, and her chest heaved with greater intensity.

She covered her mouth, a cough escaping her lips. Chitang, alarmed, asked, “Your Majesty, are you feeling unwell? I shall immediately send for the Ghost Doctor.”

Su Xiaoxiao stopped her. “There’s no need! I’ll be fine after a short rest!”

Su Xiaoxiao made an effort to keep her voice sounding normal. She then instructed Chitang, “Please arrange the carriage. I wish to go out for a walk around the Demon Palace later.”

“This…” Chitang hesitated, her expression troubled. The Demon King had specifically instructed her that morning, before his departure, to keep a close eye on Su Xiaoxiao.

The wind and snow were too heavy today, and Su Xiaoxiao was not to go out. Later, Gu Yan was to come as usual to check her pulse and administer acupuncture. If Su Xiaoxiao truly couldn’t stay indoors, she was to be allowed to walk in the small courtyard to clear her head.

Yet, with Su Xiaoxiao insisting on going out, Chitang found herself at a loss. She dared not disregard the Demon King’s orders, but he had also previously stated that Su Xiaoxiao’s mood should take precedence in all matters.

“Your Majesty, please wait,” Chitang said. “I’ll send someone to inquire with the Sovereign.”

Su Xiaoxiao nodded, then settled back onto the soft daybed. Her complexion remained visibly poor.

****

Meanwhile, at the training grounds, Xiyue was inspecting the demon soldiers’ formations. Upon hearing the report about the Empress, she merely frowned slightly. “She was so frightened yesterday,” Xiyue mused. “Does she still wish to go out today?”

“The Empress herself stated it,” the demon soldier replied.

“Then indulge her,” Xiyue commanded. “Keep a close watch, and ensure yesterday’s events do not repeat themselves.”

When Su Xiaoxiao heard the messenger confirm she could go out, she boarded the sedan chair as wished. She maintained a semblance of normalcy as she entered. Yet, once she was alone inside, she could no longer hold back, silently weeping as she clutched her swollen belly.

Xiyue’s temperament was erratic. The little fish, still unborn, had nearly been aborted by her several times. What if, once it was born, Xiyue truly consumed it…?

Su Xiaoxiao’s hands and feet turned icy cold. ‘I cannot stay here, I cannot stay here…’

‘I absolutely cannot remain here!’

She had no plan. Tears splattered onto her swollen belly, yet fearing her sobs would be heard outside, she clamped a hand over her mouth, her face flushing crimson from the effort.

Su Xiaoxiao, draped in a new fox-fur cloak, swayed slightly as she descended.

Turning to the demon soldier trailing behind her, she spoke in a calm, natural tone. “I wish to walk by myself. Do not follow.”

In the past, it had always been this way; they would simply follow Su Xiaoxiao discreetly from a distance. The demon soldiers bowed respectfully to her. “Your Majesty, please proceed as you wish,” they replied. “The Demon Queen has commanded us to be at your beck and call at all times.”

Su Xiaoxiao walked on, utterly distraught.

Today, she avoided any bustling areas. Around her neck hung the small jade tablet Xiyue had given her. The clothes she wore, the fox-fur cloak, and even the warm, comfortable shoes on her feet—all prevented her from feeling cold or slipping, even as she walked through the snow.

Su Xiaoxiao walked slowly, glancing back periodically to see if the demon soldiers were following her.

The ground was a vast expanse of pristine white. Aside from the skeletal branches of withered trees, there was no one else in sight.

At the training grounds, Xiyue’s heart suddenly constricted. She frowned slightly and summoned a demon soldier, inquiring about Su Xiaoxiao’s whereabouts that day.

Even after receiving the answer, Xiyue felt an inexplicable surge of irritation.

‘What is there to be uneasy about?’ she thought. ‘The little fish wears red jade bracelets on both wrists, protecting her. Around her neck hangs a jade tablet bearing my own Demon King’s imprint. Nothing in the Demon Realm dares to harm her. There’s even a curse I placed on her feet; she couldn’t escape even to the ends of the earth. What is there to worry about?’

As Xiyue pondered this, a demon soldier burst in moments later, looking utterly flustered. “Sovereign Cangmu!” he gasped. “The Empress, she…”

“What is it?”

“The Empress has run into the Bramblewood!”

“What? Why would she go there?”

The Bramblewood was a place even demons of the Demon Realm rarely ventured. Thorns grew in dense thickets, and danger lurked everywhere. Towering trees blotted out the light, their sharp, blade-like thorns a constant menace. Xiyue had no idea why Su Xiaoxiao would go there.

The moment she heard the news, Xiyue didn’t feel the anger she might have expected. Instead, a profound worry consumed her.

She abandoned her duties, rushing out as dusk descended. The frigid wind was biting, and the snow had already settled into a thick blanket.

“Sovereign…”

Upon her hurried arrival, Xiyue didn’t hesitate. Without even sparing a glance for her demon soldiers, she tossed a command over her shoulder. “You will all receive your punishment later.”

She plunged into the Bramblewood, summoning her personal sword. The black blade seemed to possess a consciousness of its own, effortlessly severing the sharp thorns that blocked her path, carving an unimpeded route for Xiyue.

The cinnabar talisman on Su Xiaoxiao’s ankle not only contained a transmitted secret art but also Xiyue’s own blood. This ensured that no matter where Su Xiaoxiao went, Xiyue could pinpoint her exact location.

She could be found even at the ends of the earth, or soaring through the heavens, or delving into the deepest abyss. How much more so when Su Xiaoxiao was still within the Demon Realm, still on Xiyue’s own territory?

Su Xiaoxiao’s state had been off last night; she had cried far too much. Even Xiyue, a demon of such ruthless disposition, couldn’t help but reflect on the way. Had Su Xiaoxiao been provoked at the tavern yesterday, or had Xiyue erred by taking her to the dungeon, allowing her to witness such a gruesome scene?

She was very close now. On Xiyue’s sword-wielding wrist, exposed from her sleeve, a circle of cinnabar-red runes appeared. They spiraled and intertwined, forming a pattern identical to the concentric knot on Su Xiaoxiao’s ankle.

Xiyue could already sense Su Xiaoxiao’s proximity. She scanned her surroundings, relieved to find no traces of blood.

She didn’t even realize she had subconsciously let out a breath of relief.

Aside from the howl of the wind, there was only silence.

Yet Xiyue knew Su Xiaoxiao was nearby. She spoke, her voice cutting through the stillness. “Su Xiaoxiao, you should know that you cannot escape.”

Receiving no reply, Xiyue lowered her gaze to her wrist. She then made an effort to conceal her rising anger. “Come out now,” she called. “I will not pursue this matter with you today.”

Su Xiaoxiao remained hidden behind a thicket of brambles, merely ten meters away. Her hand clamped over her mouth, she dared not make a sound.