Chapter 074 Night Patrol

Qin Xuanxi stepped into Song Ye’s small courtyard.

She looked around and saw that almost nothing had changed in the yard since more than a year ago. What surprised her, however, was that the sabretooth black-armored goat was still alive, and seemed to have become a member of this household. Back then, she had given the goat to Song Ye with the intention that he would slaughter it for a meal, yet unexpectedly, it had survived until now.

Apart from that, there was now an ugly, stunted tree in the yard: its trunk and branches were pitch-black throughout. In Qin Xuanxi’s eyes, this unsightly sapling was, of course, Song Ye’s demonic pet, Blackie. Because Song Ye was hosting Zhao Zhigao at home today, he had ordered Blackie to enter a “dormant state” in advance, so it exuded not the slightest trace of demonic power—even Qin Xuanxi couldn’t detect anything unusual.

Zhao Gao, upon seeing Qin Xuanxi suddenly appear in the yard, was so startled that he sprang to his feet. “Your… Your Highness!”

Qin Xuanxi was quite tall; even barefoot, she stood level with Zhao Zhigao in his official boots, and Song Ye was only a little taller than she.

“Zhao Zhigao, there’s no need to be so nervous. We met more than a year ago. Since Brother Ye regards you as a good friend, then you will surely be mine as well,” Qin Xuanxi said with a gentle smile.

“Y-yes, Your Highness!” Zhao Zhigao replied stiffly.

“Did you really move to the house next to mine?” Song Ye asked Qin Xuanxi for confirmation.

“Yes, I moved in during the afternoon, while you were still on duty,” Qin Xuanxi answered.

“How long do you plan to live next door to me?” Song Ye pressed.

“Until the day you agree to marry me,” Qin Xuanxi replied.

Just as Song Ye had suspected—Qin Xuanxi was here to force the issue of marriage once again!

In truth, Song Ye himself did not understand what exactly this female Demon Lord wanted from him. If she desired his body, then back at the Prince Xiang’s manor, when he suggested they “love before marriage,” she had refused. If she truly loved him and wished to marry him for a lifetime of companionship, that seemed even less likely—after all, she had deceived him from the very beginning. If it were genuine love, why would she use a false identity to marry him?

If not love, then there must be another motive.

Still, he knew that Qin Xuanxi would not harm him—he had, after all, saved her once. But clearly, she intended to use him to achieve some purpose.

“But you’re a princess. For my sake, you moved here—do you not realize what damage this could do to your own reputation, and even to the royal family’s honor?” Song Ye said gravely.

He meant to remind her not to ruin her role as princess. What princess would ever do something so outrageous—leave her palace behind to move next door to her rumored suitor just to pressure him into marriage?

“Brother Ye, actually, how much my reputation suffers doesn’t depend on what I do, but on what you do. If you agree to marry me now, I’ll immediately move back to the palace.” Qin Xuanxi wandered barefoot around the yard as she spoke, the evening glow illuminating her delicate features.

Yet it wasn’t the sunset that enhanced her beauty, but her beauty that endowed the world with a unique and unparalleled allure.

“Moreover, Brother Ye, you may not realize that I am also a direct disciple of the Lone Jade Sect,” she continued.

“Perhaps ordinary folks like you have never heard of this sect, so let me put it simply.” Her expression grew solemn.

“In short, Brother Ye, if we don’t have a child in the future, the sect will perish!”

“So now you should understand why I’m so desperate to marry you.”

After hearing this, Song Ye felt inexplicably guilty, as if he would be a sinner if he didn’t agree to marry her soon.

Damn, I’m being manipulated by this demoness!

He had never imagined that Qin Xuanxi was not only a demon queen, but also a master of manipulation.

“Brother Song, I must say a word. The princess has gone to such lengths for you. As a man, why be so hesitant? Marry soon and enjoy your days as the royal consort!” Zhao Zhigao also spoke up for Qin Xuanxi. Clearly, he had “switched sides” and was now standing with her.

Fortunately, Song Yan couldn’t speak; otherwise, she might have blurted out, “Marry her, marry her!”

“I never said I wouldn’t marry the princess; I just need a little more time to prepare myself,” Song Ye replied to Zhao Zhigao.

Qin Xuanxi, hearing Song Ye’s response, frowned slightly, inwardly complaining:

“This boy Song Ye is as stubborn as an ox. I’ve done all this for him, and he still won’t agree to marry me!”

“Does he want me to give him my body first, or even bear his child, before he’ll comply?”

“But how could I go that far…”

The key point was, now that many people knew the princess was infatuated with Song Ye, if she tried to find someone else to play the groom, it would arouse suspicion, and that wily Flute Immortal might not take the bait!

Besides, facing other mortal men, she simply couldn’t bring herself to call them “dear husband” or “brother.” In other words, in this play of marriage, there was no one but Song Ye who could act as the groom.

If she was the heroine, the hero had to be Song Ye.

She had to admit to herself, Song Ye already occupied a place in her heart that belonged to him alone.

“Very well, I’ll give you time to prepare yourself. But until you’re ready, I’ll continue living next door. Now, I won’t interrupt your drinking any longer.” With that, Qin Xuanxi turned and left.

After she departed, Zhao Zhigao breathed a sigh of relief, but immediately grew anxious and asked Song Ye, “Brother Song, did I say anything wrong just now in front of the princess?”

“The fact that you’re still alive means you didn’t say anything wrong,” Song Ye replied, half-joking.

Yet this single remark left Zhao Zhigao restless and uneasy for most of the night…

…

The next morning,

As usual, Song Ye took Song Yan to the yamen to report for duty. Afterward, Head Constable He informed Song Ye that it was his turn for night patrol, so he could go home and rest in the afternoon to be ready for the night shift.

Of course, Head Constable He also said that if Song Ye didn’t like night patrol, someone else could cover for him.

The reason Song Ye received such special treatment was that everyone at the yamen knew the princess was his backer, and before long, he might become the princess’s consort.

But Song Ye insisted there was no need for special favors—if it was his turn, he would do it himself.

So he was assigned to patrol that night as scheduled, but still had to work the morning shift.

When Song Ye brought his sister to Dongshi to begin their rounds, he unexpectedly caught sight of Zhang Zixuan’s master, Su Xiqiu.

He still remembered—the last time he had seen Su Xiqiu had been two years ago!