Chapter 469 - 468: Restless Snake Tail

Yu Zhizhi stood to the side, feeling somewhat reserved.

Come to think of it, it had been a long time since she and the Duke had been alone together this "peacefully."

Night had fallen, and the light from the Glazed Lamp in the room was dim. On the low table lay an unrolled scroll that looked like a map.

Today, the Duke had changed into his everyday clothes, a deep purple robe with a slightly loosened collar. He sat cross-legged before the low table, his deep, golden, vertical pupils fixed on the map. His face was cold, pale, and unsmiling—

’Considering the Snake Clan female the Duke was supposed to marry just had an accident, the world-weary air he’s giving off seems pretty normal.’

Yu Zhizhi didn’t disturb him. She averted her gaze, which gently landed on the map.

From her angle, she couldn’t see it clearly.

After staring for several seconds, it dawned on her that this might be a Valoran Empire state secret. She instinctively turned her head away, pulling back her gaze.

But the Duke didn’t seem to care about her "peeking."

The Holy Tower was very quiet.

It was as if this place was cut off from the rest of the world.

Since the Duke’s return, no one had entered this bedchamber.

The tea on the table was almost cold.

A glimmer passed through Yu Zhizhi’s eyes. She picked up the teacup. "I’ll go get some fresh, hot tea."

It seemed like an attempt to curry favor; after all, she had a favor to ask of him later.

The Duke paid her no mind, which she took as tacit permission.

Just as Yu Zhizhi reached the door, she saw the middle-aged attendant standing outside. She gave a slight nod, and he returned a gentle smile.

Learning her purpose, he led her to the tea room.

Yu Zhizhi remembered that the Snake Clan liked to drink bamboo-leaf green tea.

And add a small spoonful of crushed osmanthus flowers.

Tea brewed this way was very fragrant.

"Mr. Billy," Yu Zhizhi called softly, "When does the Duke plan to return to the Imperial City?"

The Duke’s personal attendant stood to one side, smiling slightly. "My apologies, but it is not my place to speak on such matters. If Miss Zhi Zhi wishes to know, you can ask Lord Bo Lan yourself."

He saw Miss Zhi Zhi preparing the tea.

’To think, after being away for so long, she still remembers the Duke’s preferences.’

’Perhaps Lord Bo Lan’s mood will improve a little today.’

’—I hope so.’

Billy smiled as he watched the Rabbit Clan Lady leave the tea room.

Yu Zhizhi returned to the room carrying the freshly brewed tea.

The Duke seemed to have just finished his work. On the tea table piled with scrolls, the map was half-folded.

He was sitting in a chair, resting with his eyes closed.

Yu Zhizhi walked slowly to the table and set down the teacup.

"Lord Bo Lan..." she called softly.

The Duke opened his eyes slightly. He looked at the steaming cup of tea before him, and at the anxious young Rabbit Clan female standing in front of the tea table.

"Mm," he grunted in acknowledgment.

Yu Zhizhi pursed her lips slightly. "Little Amon is here. I, I came to the Holy Tower to see him this afternoon. I don’t know how long he’ll be here? Duke, can Little Amon stay with me for the next few days?"

She was still a little nervous facing the Duke. She stumbled over her words, but the main point was that she wanted to stay with Little Amon.

Afraid the Duke would misunderstand that she planned to take Little Amon back to the Deep Sea Empire’s warship, she quickly added, "We, we could stay at the mansion, would that be okay?"

The moment her words fell, her eyes unexpectedly met that pair of golden, vertical pupils. Flustered, Yu Zhizhi looked away.

’The Duke is looking at me.’

He’d been busy with official affairs ever since he returned, and she was the one who kept sneaking glances at his face.

Now, their eyes had suddenly met, and Yu Zhizhi was utterly panicked.

’...How strange.’

’Why am I panicking?’

’Maybe it’s because it’s been too long since I’ve been around the Duke. Or maybe the Duke I saw in Silan City was too much of a stranger.’

Even now, she could still recall the thick fog that had pervaded the wedding.

A bone-chilling, bloody stench permeated the fog.

Ever since that massacre, Yu Zhizhi couldn’t stop an involuntary shudder whenever she saw the Duke.

The Duke watched the young female before him. Today, she wore a light blue, waist-cinching long dress, her soft, long hair falling over her chest. Her hair ornaments were exceedingly simple. Her small, porcelain-white face wore an unnatural expression; her eyes were evasive, yet she seemed to be forcing herself to remain calm.

His gaze then fell on the young female’s white rabbit ears.

The Duke’s fingertips, resting on the tabletop, tingled slightly.

He recalled the past, when he would hold this little rabbit constantly. Whenever he stroked and kneaded her ears, her cheeks would flush red, right up to the tips of her ears. It was utterly adorable.

"Duke?"

Seeing that he hadn’t answered, Yu Zhizhi couldn’t help but call out softly.

The Duke retracted his gaze. "The mansion isn’t safe. If you want to see him, you can come to the Holy Tower."

"But I want to be with him all day."

"Did the Holy Tower Guard stop you?"

"...No."

Yu Zhizhi paused. "But, it’s not very convenient for me to stay here..."

’After all, Miss Jin She’s incident just happened.’

’For me to stay overnight at the Holy Tower... it’s just not appropriate, no matter how I think about it.’

Seeing the young female stammer, the Duke asked, "What’s inconvenient?"

Yu Zhizhi struggled for a long moment, then mumbled, "People will get the wrong idea. And besides, Miss Yu Xiang, she..."

She suddenly realized she had mentioned the Snake Clan female by name and quickly shut her mouth.

’This must be a sore spot for the Duke.’

’I shouldn’t have brought it up.’

Yu Zhizhi peeked at him cautiously and saw that the Duke’s expression was calm. His gaze had fallen on the cup of tea, where a few osmanthus petals were floating.

"A mother and son reuniting. What is there to misunderstand?"

The Duke said coolly, "If you want to live with Yu Meng, come to the Holy Tower."

"...Oh." Seeing the Duke wouldn’t budge, Yu Zhizhi didn’t press the matter.

"Then I’ll head back to the warship for now. I’ll... I’ll come back tomorrow." After speaking, Yu Zhizhi turned to leave.

She had to go back to the warship to pack her things. She needed to tell Buli to pass a message to Lord Shen He that she would be staying at the Holy Tower for the next few days.

’The Duke won’t let me take Little Amon to the mansion. Hmph...’

Suddenly, her steps halted.

She had only taken two steps when she felt a resistance.

Looking down, she saw that a cloud of mist had wrapped around her waist. And hidden within the mist, a snake’s tail was slowly tightening.

Yu Zhizhi felt her blood run cold. She swallowed hard and turned her head to look at the man sitting behind the white mist, a bewildered expression on her face.

’Duke...’

’Why is he stopping me?’

Seeing the young female about to leave, the Duke’s body moved faster than his mind. His snake tail shot out uncontrollably, a great restlessness churning within him.

Realizing his own body’s reaction, a flicker of anger crossed his face.

The snake tail contracted.

He held her waist tightly in its coil.

The Duke stared at her darkly. "You still have something to say to me."

’...Huh?’

Yu Zhizhi froze for a moment.

’I—I only wanted to ask about Little Amon. I have nothing else to say.’

Seeing the displeasure flickering in the Duke’s golden, serpentine pupils, she suddenly realized that she hadn’t—

Yu Zhizhi lowered her eyes, her tone incomparably sincere. "The dead cannot be brought back to life, Lord Bo Lan. Please accept my condolences."

"Not that."

The mist in the room gradually thickened, and the Duke’s tall, deep-purple-robed figure slowly blurred.

It was as if he was hiding himself.

"Take it back."

From within the mist, the Duke’s voice carried a trace of arrogance. "What you said before. Take it back."