The next morning, the sky was half-covered with scattered white clouds, like fragmented snowflakes against the blue expanse. As time passed, some clouds merged into a thin veil, floating with the wind and welcoming the sunrise. Such a scene would fill anyone with joy, prompting a deep breath that felt refreshing both inside and out.

As time went on, the sky turned a brilliant shade, with rays of sunlight piercing even the thick curtains, casting golden beams into the room. Huayan's eyelids fluttered, and she finally opened her eyes. The room was bathed in radiant light, making her feel as if she were floating in a warm spring, surrounded by the pleasant sounds of birds and the fragrance of flowers.

She tried to get up, but her body ached all over and she fell back onto the bed. It was then that Huayan remembered the "torment" and "ravaging" from Huli the night before.

She had pleaded for mercy, but he remained fervent, kissing her ears, neck, and down to her toes.

Recalling how she had eventually fallen asleep from exhaustion, Huayan felt a twinge of injustice. She turned her attention to her body, realizing she was completely naked with a heavy arm wrapped tightly around her waist.

Before she could think more, the arm tightened, and when she turned her head, she saw Huli, wide awake and smiling with a radiant expression. It was unclear when he had woken up.

"Let go, I need to get up..."

"It's still early. A moment of spring night is worth a thousand gold coins. Let's sleep a bit more..." His strong, firm chest pressed against her back, and his lazy, husky voice, unique to him, whispered in her ear. His breath tickled, making Huayan try to push him away.

"Don't hold me so tight... don't touch me, my waist hurts."

"Then let me massage it for you." Huli laughed and really started kneading her waist. The comfort made Huayan hum softly, her guard lowered, and sleepiness began to creep back in.

However, Huli was now fully aroused. The torture of seeing his beloved but being unable to act was unbearable. He watched Huayan sleep, his body pressed against hers, unable to move without disturbing her. Initially wanting to hold her and sleep peacefully, it had now turned into a trial of patience. Huli gently scraped her nose and murmured, "Such a little tormentor, I'll let you off this time."

Unable to resist, he kissed her slightly parted pink lips. The taste was too good to pull away from. Only when Huayan felt something unusual, furrowing her brow and mumbling in her sleep, did Huli reluctantly pull back.

"Chang Ma, go see if they're awake yet," Huayan's father suddenly instructed while playing chess with Old Yang. The sun was nearly overhead, and he couldn't hold back any longer.

Though he understood his daughter's work for the state and Old Yang's role, the first impression of Old Yang was not good, leading to frequent clashes. Even now, ten out of ten sentences from Huayan's father carried a tone of displeasure.

Old Yang, unfazed by the disdain, often teased Huayan's father back, showing resilience.

Chang Ma hesitated for a while, but under Old Yang's stern gaze, she reluctantly went to knock on Huayan's door. Just as she reached the door, she felt awkward about knocking, but Huli, recognizing the footsteps, took the initiative.

Realizing it was Huayan's father's order, Huli smiled, knowing there was still tension. He dressed and assured Chang Ma they would soon come to pay their respects.

After sending Chang Ma away, Huli sat by the bed, his hands gently caressing Huayan's face, eventually waking her up.

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Just as Huayan was about to get angry, Huli said, "The sun is almost at its peak. If you don't get up soon, people will think we worked very hard last night!"

"Fox, help me get dressed..." Huayan got up, unbothered by being seen, and coquettishly flirted with Huli. It was a subtle revenge; after all, he had seen her naked the night before, so a few more glances now meant nothing.

However, for Huli, it was a tormenting sight. He could look but not touch, a nightmare for any man.

Huli scraped her nose again and, despite his own discomfort, helped her dress like a maidservant.

"Xiaoyan, I feel like I didn't marry a wife..."

"Not a wife, then what?" Huayan glanced at him with a hint of annoyance.

Huli moved back a little to keep a safe distance and leisurely said, "I married an empress."

Huayan didn't immediately react. By the time Huli had already escaped to the door and burst into laughter, she realized what he meant. Annoyed, she grabbed a down pillow and chased after him.

Everyone else watching the playful scene couldn't help but smile, though Huayan's father darkened his face and scolded both of them until they finally settled down.

By the time they were having a combined breakfast and lunch, Old Yang curiously asked about their earlier commotion. Huli felt a headache coming on. If those playful remarks reached Huayan's father, he would undoubtedly be even more displeased with him.

Huli realized that he was now like a live-in son-in-law, needing to tread carefully to avoid making mistakes that her family might pick on. He winked at Huayan, hoping she would help him out.

Unfortunately, Huayan was not the type to easily let things go. She had yet to settle scores for the troubles Huli had caused during their time in the Golden Triangle, which had upset her father. Though her father hadn't mentioned it, she could tell he was still displeased. So Huayan decided to make Huli bear the brunt, giving her father some satisfaction for the sake of his health.

"Huli's summary of our marriage is..." Huli thought to himself, "This is bad," as he saw Huayan deliberately slowing her speech to tease him, making him sweat in anxiety.

Her father glanced at the uneasy Huli and coughed. "What's the summary? Let's hear it."

Old Yang joined in, saying, "Yes, we want to hear it too."

"He said he married an empress."

Two simultaneous exclamations of surprise filled the room, though they carried different tones. Old Yang was genuinely amused, surprised to see Huli behave so childishly in front of Huayan. Huayan's father, however, was immediately displeased, his surprise stemming from anger.

"You, come with me," he coldly said to Huli.

Huayan laughed gleefully, continuing her meal without caring about Huli's plight. Seeing this, Huli felt a cold chill in his heart, muttering to himself, "You little imp, just wait. Tonight, I'll settle the score. I'll make sure to get back what I'm owed."

Old Yang, worried about Huli, dared not speak out given Huayan's father's stern expression, fearing that it might lead to more trouble for Huli.

Walking on the cobblestone path, Huayan's father remained silent for a long time, leaving Huli anxious. After a while, Huli realized that her father wasn't truly angry about his remarks but had called him out to discuss something important.

After walking a bit further, her father finally spoke. "When do you plan to return?" Huayan's father never believed Huli would never go back to the Hu family. After all, he was the only heir. Even if he didn't return now, he would eventually have to take over the family after his father passed away.

He didn't want to discuss this in front of Huayan, not wanting to burden her with these thoughts. As her father, he had to ask Huli in advance.

"Unless there's a major crisis in the Hu family, I'll live a carefree life with Xiaoyan. Even if I have to return, I won't let her suffer in the slightest."

Huayan's father, having already anticipated that Huli would one day reclaim his place in the Hu family, respected his rational judgment and sighed at the change in him.

His investigation revealed that Huayan's father used to be a man driven solely by money, just like many who were blinded by wealth, leading others into dead ends and suffering.

Huayan's early marriage into the Cheng family and the countless abuses she endured from Cheng Jie were all caused by him. Though not angered anymore, since Huayan had forgiven her father and he was genuinely trying to be a good father, Huli accepted this for the limited time the old man had left in this world.

"I'm not worried about others bullying her. I'm afraid it will be your parents, or even you, who might hurt her..." He knew his daughter well. She could tolerate criticism from others, but if Huli's parents found fault, or if Huli, even once, sided with them out of familial loyalty, it would truly break her heart.

Family disputes are hard to judge. He feared that one day Huli, intentionally or unintentionally, would hurt Huayan, causing her tears and heartbreak. A parent's worry for their children never truly ends...