The head poking out from behind was quickly pushed back by Baili An, their red clothes dancing as they tiptoed.

Forcefully concealing Baili An to the point where not even a corner of their clothes or hair was visible.

Her phoenix eyes glared at Baili Yu, icy and severe: "Whether he is a Taixuan disciple is not up to you to question, not to mention even if he wants to be this Taixuan disciple, entered the Demon Path...

If I want to protect him, no one can take him from my side!"

How dare such words that defy morals and reject propriety be spoken?!

Baili Yu was both furious and astonished.

What’s this about entering the Demon Path, she wants to protect him and no one can take him from her side?!

Is this, before her husband, a declaration of another man’s sovereignty?

And for a young lad whose bone age looks so vulnerable?

Veins throbbed uncontrollably on Baili Yu’s forehead, furious yet understanding that his wife is not so ridiculous.

If his wife were so easily swayed, how could she have committed the deeply felt act of excising her Spirit Core and remaining silent back in those days.

He raised two fingers, forcibly pressing down the veins bulging on his forehead.

Forced himself to calm down and then met Ying Ji’s cold and unfamiliar gaze, his heart panged bitterly as he stepped forward wanting to touch her cheek.

"Little Ji, I know I’ve owed you and our son too much in my life, you married me, endured hardships, and excised your Spirit Core for my sake, suffering much.

Little An also sacrificed himself for Tianxi’s people, all these experiences haunt my dreams at midnight, tormenting and causing me deep pain.

I know I’m not a good husband, nor a good father, I lived being radical, arrogant, even foolish.

If I had softened to you, lowered my pride, if my obsession with the world’s people wasn’t so deep, would we have ended up where we are now."

Ying Ji evaded Baili Yu’s reaching hand with cold eyes, and felt a sense of powerlessness and sadness at his belated gentle words and admission of fault, it felt somewhat ridiculous.

Baili Yu’s outstretched fingers slowly curled, no longer as cold and aloof as they were before, as he spoke, feeling a bit desolate:

"You blame me, hate me, even if it means stabbing me with a sword, it’s punishment I deserve to bear, and to this day, I wouldn’t dream of you forgiving me.

But there’s truly no need to use irrelevant people to provoke me, because it will only push us further apart..."

"Irrelevant person?!" Ying Ji’s voice suddenly sharpened with eyes that looked ready to devour: "You say he is irrelevant..."

Mid-sentence, she seemed to realize something, abruptly stopping her words.

With a suspicious look, she scrutinized Baili Yu, as if understanding he seemingly... apparently... had not recognized who was behind her.

The anger in her eyes slowly shifted into a mocking sneer.

Ying Ji couldn’t quite describe her feelings towards Baili Yu at that moment.

Might as well go along with the mistake, so Baili Yu wouldn’t further entangle.

Driving him away is better than watching her son being coaxed away by this man right before her eyes.

"You say he is irrelevant?" The same question, yet completely different tone, the tail end of the words winding around like twists and turns, inexplicably preparing to deceive.

Forced Baili Yu into a stupor, completely unsure of how to respond.

Ying Ji no longer hid Baili An, openly pulling him out, placing a hand broadly on his head, rubbing, then pressing his head into her embrace.

Majestic Empress bowed her head, planting a loud kiss on Baili An’s cheek, leaving a faint rouge imprint.

Baili An’s eyes slightly opened, looking somewhat bewildered.

Ying Ji wrapped an arm around his shoulder, cuddling him in a manner where Baili An appeared obedient and reliant, her phoenix gaze fiercely swept towards Baili Yu whose complexion was beyond grim.

Her long, elegant fingers playfully scratched Baili An’s chin as if teasing, using actions and words to demonstrate to outsiders that this young man was a particularly significant presence to her.

The audience below gasped in surprise.

Fang You was dumbfounded, thinking the Empress of Central Netherworld might be here to cause trouble?

Had she not heard what he just said, that the lad was a suitor for his beloved daughter, yet she came right up and pulled him into her arms, planting a kiss.

The appearance, anyone who sees it would undoubtedly suspect that this disciple of the Scripture Master Wen is the little lover raised by Her Majesty the Empress?

"That Sect Master Baili guessed wrong, he is, in my view, a little lover who invites affection, hardly an insignificant person. Sect Master should watch his wording, so as not to hurt my little darling’s feelings."

She actually admitted it so openly!

And to think, with such sticky, cloying lines, Lady Ying Ji can say it so naturally and righteously.

Only Baili An knows, as the son of his mother, in a sense, isn’t he precisely the close and agreeable little lover?

To his mother, how could he not be her little darling?

To those aware of the inside story, what she said is perfectly reasonable.

Unfortunately, Baili Yu happens to be an oblivious fool, unable to recognize that the person before him is actually his own son, his rage already consuming him.

Baili Yu stared fiercely at Ying Ji, his cold dark eyes surging with anger, his long-suppressed emotions finally beyond control, brewing into a scorching fury.

"Absolutely ridiculous! What utter nonsense! An unruly kid from who knows where! You actually..."

Baili Yu is ultimately a gentleman who adheres to etiquette. Even driven by rage, he could not utter any excessively crude curses.

He could only swallow endless frustration, his face flushed red, the angry color clearly showing.

Baili An had never seen his father become so frustrated and helpless due to fury.

While he felt amused inside, there was also an inexplicable frustration difficult to express.

If you valued my mother so much, why did you once so easily let go?

Now you are so visibly furious, while just then, Golden Immortal Feng Xu was teasing Mother, why didn’t you act decisively?

Are you truly going to let that old thing swagger off triumphantly?

At such a time, indulging in pointless jealousy born from suspicion?

Are you so angry? Do you truly suspect that my mother, who was so devoted, secretly acts like those wanton emperors, raising favorites and male concubines?

This fury, isn’t it also a form of doubt and distrust?

Baili An sighed inwardly, but his mother’s actions, however outrageous, must be tolerated and favored.

He soon slipped into his role, picking up the bizarre tricks learned from Ning Feiyan, sensibly nestling in his mother’s embrace.

He made a frightened appearance, lifted a finger to draw circles on Ying Ji’s shoulder, twirling around her silky hair, pitifully saying:

"Lady Ying Ji, is this the so-called sham husband you mentioned? Truly, as you said, he seems to be someone with a temper that’s hard to get along with, unlike in the past, when he only felt sorry for you."

This excessively coy and pretentious posture not only made Baili Yu’s head steam in anger but also left Ying Ji stunned and deeply surprised.

This child was supposed to have feared his father since childhood? Yet, he could follow her lead this quickly, acting subtly to hurt Baili Yu.

Moreover, what’s with this entirely natural acting skill? In her memory, her little An had always been a pure, kind, well-behaved, harmless child.

Since when has his belly been filled with dark ink that even she, his mother, didn’t know?

But... such a little An, suits my liking.

Ying Ji nodded quietly, exchanged a glance with Baili An, then sighed mournfully:

"Alas, had I been born when you were, when you were born I was already old. Otherwise, if you were to enter the Central Netherworld, why bother with a flower-picking excursion across thirteen cities for one night, the sword rain soaking delicate flowers unyielding?

You are so agreeable, just come directly to my Empress Palace. Whatever flower you fancy, I’ll pick it for you."

This statement truly had immense impact, Baili Yu was so enraged he was trembling, one hand covered his forehead, the other tremblingly pointed at Ying Ji:

"You... you... you... how can you act so absurdly! Don’t forget your identity! You are Lady Tianxi, the Sect Master’s wife I married with rightful rites back to Bai Tuo Mountain!

Even with all the hardships, you still are my wife, we are destined to grow old together holding hands, I firmly believe we certainly will..."

When Ying Ji’s gaze fell upon Baili Yu, she coldly interrupted him:

"Who wants to grow old with you, I am determined to keep my hair dark and remain forever young."