The next morning, the two set off. They didn’t bring many people along—thanks to Sophie Qiu’s persistent persuasion, Damien Gray reluctantly agreed to take a few companions, lest the Azure Kingdom assume Silvermoon Kingdom was left defenseless. For Damien, as long as those people didn’t bother him, it made no difference whether they came or not. After all, whatever he intended to do, he would never consider those unrelated bystanders.
This journey to Azure Kingdom would likely lead to a confrontation with Blood Wraith. After all, Blood Wraith was now entangled with Azure Kingdom, and Luo Jin had even become their Grandmaster. Clearly, Blood Wraith was plotting something. Morgan Shangguan and Damien Gray both speculated whether this marriage alliance owed some credit to Blood Wraith’s machinations.
However, thanks to the Jade Seal, both of them had improved their cultivation. Besides, Ethan Gray and Roxy Shangguan were safe where they were now, so there were no worries holding them back.
All along the way, the two remained as carefree as ever. Everyone knew the Ghost King’s purpose for this trip, yet no one could tell if he was happy, nor did the Ghost Queen show the slightest hint of displeasure. The two stayed inseparable, their affection obvious, leaving the onlookers puzzled. Was the Ghost Queen truly so understanding and dignified? Or was she simply putting on a show to secure her own position?
Truth be told, the Ghost Queen only carried the title of princess—she wasn’t a real princess. But since the late Emperor of Azure Kingdom personally bestowed the title, she counted as one. She entered the Ghost King’s manor ahead of time and claimed the title of Ghost Queen, so now the real princess could only rank beneath her. Wouldn’t that be a bit unfair to the true princess?
But then again, who could say? After all, the other woman was true royalty, wasn’t she? Perhaps they would end up as equal wives.
Constantly being watched, Morgan Shangguan couldn’t help but frown. She glanced at Damien Gray and asked, “That person isn’t one of yours?” Though she posed it as a question, her tone suggested she already knew the answer and didn’t need Damien’s reply.
She was referring to the official leading their entourage. Anyone chosen by Damien Gray was usually exceptional, yet this person seemed utterly ordinary and spent the whole journey curiously observing them. Though he tried to hide it, his gaze was far too obvious.
Damien Gray sneered, “Sophie Qiu is worried that if my people accompany me, she’ll have no way to stop me from doing whatever I want!”
Morgan Shangguan looked at him, amused. “Even so, could she really stop you from doing anything you wanted?” Damien Gray only smiled and kissed her.
Even though it wouldn’t change much, having Damien Gray’s own people by his side was always more reassuring, wasn’t it?
Morgan Shangguan shook her head and said, “Doesn’t Sophie Qiu worry that sending someone like this could embarrass the kingdom?”
Damien Gray chuckled softly, “Everything comes at a price. She can only choose one or the other.”
It wasn’t that Sophie Qiu didn’t want to send someone more capable; it was that Damien Gray’s influence at court was so great, all the talented people had already been recruited by him. Compared to them, this minister was the best she could offer—while he hadn’t achieved much, at least he hadn’t made any major mistakes.
Sophie Qiu had considered gradually planting her own influence, but after weighing the risks, she gave up. Facing the Ghost King, she dared not take any chances. She was certain that if she made a move, Damien Gray would notice immediately—and if she angered him, everything she had now would be lost in an instant, with disaster awaiting her.
Now, all she could do was hope her child would prove extraordinarily clever—maybe, in a hundred years, her child might reclaim the throne.
She should be grateful she’d never met Ethan Gray. Otherwise, she wouldn’t even have hope. But it was still too early to say—Ethan had no interest in the throne. Who knew if he’d end up like Damien Gray, playing with people’s lives out of boredom, turning everyone into his toys?
Azure Kingdom showed great respect, sending Minister Magnus Shangguan, the Prime Minister, to greet them. Their manners left nothing to be criticized.
Although Morgan Shangguan was supposed to reunite with her family in Azure Kingdom, after Minister Magnus Shangguan settled them in, he said nothing about it. Morgan herself had no intention of returning—compared to being with Damien Gray, that so-called home couldn’t bring her joy.
In the Prime Minister’s Estate, Mona Shangguan, heavily pregnant, wandered the garden admiring the flowers. Yet her drifting gaze seemed lost, and her face looked weary—like a flower deprived of water, her beauty was no longer what it used to be.
"I heard the eldest miss has returned!"
Faint voices drifted into Mona Shangguan’s ears, snapping her out of her thoughts. She frowned and listened carefully.
“Sigh... The eldest miss really is unlucky. She should have been made a consort, but ended up disgraced and married to a sickly man.” Some news traveled fast, but some things remained unknown to most.
“Who says she’s unlucky? I say the eldest miss is fortunate. If she’d married the emperor, wouldn’t she be a widow now?”
“Exactly! And that Ghost King is quite handsome! Even if he’s sickly, he’s still better than an old man!”
“How would you know? Have you seen him?”
“I…”
Suddenly, the voices stopped. The maids, caught up in gossip, saw Mona Shangguan’s gloomy face appear and were so frightened they immediately fell silent and knelt down.
Mona Shangguan swept her gaze over them, snorted coldly, and turned away. Morgan Shangguan—she’s come back at just the right time!
Mona’s hatred for Morgan Shangguan had long seeped into her bones, incurable. No matter what misfortune befell her, she would always find a way to blame Morgan. Now, with Adrian Yarrow’s coldness toward her, Mona was convinced it was Morgan’s fault. She had only approached Adrian to get back at Morgan; now that Adrian knew her true motive, he treated her with indifference. If not for Morgan, Mona wouldn’t have sought revenge, and none of this would have happened.
Moreover, she knew that Adrian Yarrow’s coldness was also because he’d fallen for that vixen, Morgan Shangguan!
Her eyes twisted with mad hatred. She would make Morgan Shangguan taste the same pain she’d endured!
"Xuanxuan..."