2. Trashy Excuse

Ding! Ling Qingzhu feels anxious and uneasy. Emotion points +99

Chen Xuan suddenly understood everything.

He stared intensely at Ling Qingzhu and tested her with a suggestion. "Since that's the case, why don't we go ask Master? Maybe after seeing this martial technique, she'll allow us to consummate our marriage right away."

"I still need to cultivate. How about we go see Master in a little while?"

Ling Qingzhu couldn't go immediately, fearing that her master might sense something wrong. She could only stall for time.

"Senior sister, cultivation isn't something that can't wait!"

Today, Chen Xuan wanted to see just what kind of excuses this genius wife of his would come up with.

"I… I feel like I'm touching the barrier to the Nirvana Realm, so I need to go into seclusion and break through quickly."

Ling Qingzhu wanted to escape immediately.

Ding! Ling Qingzhu feels like fleeing. Emotion points +50

Chen Xuan made another suggestion. "I just broke through to the Nirvana Realm and have some insights. Maybe I can help you."

"There's no need. I can do it on my own," Ling Qingzhu refused again.

Seeing her constant evasion, Chen Xuan's heart sank. His fists clenched tighter.

Still not telling me the truth?

How long do you plan to hide it from me?

Having lost his patience, he grabbed Ling Qingzhu's snow-white wrist forcefully.

"Why didn't you listen to my advice and go to the Great Yan Empire alone? Why?!"

"I... I went to the Great Yan Empire on official business, not for leisure."

Ling Qingzhu was startled by Chen Xuan's sudden anger, but she didn't feel like she had done anything wrong by going to the Great Yan Empire.

In fact, she thought Chen Xuan was being overly controlling. However, when she recalled what had happened there, her confidence faltered.

Ding! Ling Qingzhu feels guilty. Emotion points +99

Guilty?

What's the use of feeling guilty now?

Is this your rebellious phase, where you have to go against everything I say?

It's not like I told you not to go. I only asked you to take a strong bodyguard. Was that really so hard?

Chen Xuan, frustrated, said, "Official business? Didn't I tell you that before you reach the Nirvana Realm, you must have an elder with you when you travel?"

"I'll bring one next time, alright? If there's nothing else, I need to get back to my cultivation."

Ling Qingzhu knew she was in the wrong.

She tried to pull her wrist free from Chen Xuan's grip, eager to return to her courtyard to wash away the scent that didn't belong to her and bury the event deep in her memory, never to be spoken of again, so she could remain perfect.

But unfortunately for her, she couldn't escape.

Ding! Ling Qingzhu feels guilt, resentment, regret, and anger. Emotion points +369

"Tell me, is there something else you're hiding from me, something you don't want me to know?"

Seeing Ling Qingzhu's distressed expression, Chen Xuan felt no sympathy.

The Ling Qingzhu he knew had always been cold and distant to others but never treated him like this before.

She now seemed like a stranger to him.

"I have nothing to hide from you," Ling Qingzhu said, avoiding his gaze without hesitation.

She hadn't even thought of telling the truth.

After all, Chen Xuan had warned her multiple times not to go to the Great Yan Empire, especially not to Tianyan Mountain.

And if she did go, she was supposed to bring a Nirvana Realm elder for protection. She had no one to blame but herself for making such a grave mistake.

For now, all she could do was hide the truth for as long as possible, hoping that one day she might find a way to make up for it.

Besides… it wasn't entirely her fault.

If it weren't for that despicable tomb owner and that Lin Dong kid, she wouldn't have lost her purity there! It was all their fault!

Hearing Ling Qingzhu's response, Chen Xuan angrily grabbed her arm, rolling up her sleeve, and pointed to her wrist.

"You still say there's nothing to hide? Then let me ask you, where did the mark on your wrist go?"

Originally, Ling Qingzhu had a purity seal on her wrist placed by the Nine Heavens Palace Master herself, meant to indicate whether they had crossed the line. Now, it was gone.

How could that not be proof?

"I… I don't know what you're talking about."

Ling Qingzhu trembled, her voice shaky.

Ding! Ling Qingzhu feels guilty, regretful, panicked, anxious, and uneasy. Critical hit! Emotion points +999

Ding! Congratulations, Host. You've earned a triple draw. Would you like to start the lottery now?

The system's notifications chimed continuously, but Chen Xuan had no mind for them. He hadn't expected Ling Qingzhu to still try to deceive him even now.

His eyes filled with disappointment and rage. "Even now, you're still trying to hide the truth from me?"

"I don't understand what you're accusing me of."

Ling Qingzhu's hands clenched, and she continued to avoid his gaze, feigning ignorance and stubbornly sticking to her lie.

Accusing you of nonsense?

Chen Xuan laughed coldly. "You really think I'm an idiot? Do you not know what you did in the Tianyan Mountains of the Great Yan Empire?"

"I… I just went to help a friend. Stop overthinking things!" Ling Qingzhu turned her head, unable to look at Chen Xuan.

Overthinking?

Chen Xuan let out a cold laugh. "Do you really think I'll believe that?"

Ling Qingzhu, trying to change the subject, said, "Let go. You're hurting me."

Hearing that, Chen Xuan sneered. "This is hurting you? And what about what you did in the Tianyan Mountains? Didn't that hurt you?"

"Why are you being so unreasonable today?"

"Heh, unreasonable? Want me to help you remember what happened in that tomb?"

"Chen Xuan! Did you… did you spy on me?" Ling Qingzhu finally snapped, her eyes widening in shock, thinking he had sent someone to follow her.

Ding! Ling Qingzhu feels shame and rage. Emotion points +699

Chen Xuan sneered. "If you didn't want anyone to know, you shouldn't have done it!"

"If you had someone watching me, why didn't you help when I needed it?" Ling Qingzhu didn't bother to explain and instead tried to accuse him.

If someone had helped back then, she wouldn't have been trapped, and she wouldn't have lost her purity!

"I didn't send anyone to follow you. I was just guessing, but it looks like I guessed right."

Chen Xuan felt utterly disheartened and deeply sorrowful.

He had cherished her, but she had betrayed him.

Ling Qingzhu, knowing she had been exposed, tried to appeal to his emotions. "This wasn't entirely my fault. I was forced! I didn't want it to happen. You have to believe me!"

So now you're saying it doesn't count because you didn't want it?

What kind of trashy excuse is that!?

Chen Xuan laughed bitterly. "You still have the nerve to claim you were forced? I warned you more than once not to go to the Great Yan Empire alone. You didn't listen, so who's to blame?"