Just then, the Antler Serpent leapt out of Chloe Zhu’s pocket and lunged at Colin Gu’s throat with its jaws wide open.
Colin Gu was startled. He let go of Chloe and dodged backward, but the Antler Serpent only grazed him, leaving two faint bloody marks on the side of his neck.
"What is that thing?" Colin Gu’s killing intent flared.
"Your Majesty! That’s my spirit pet!" Chloe hurriedly grabbed the Antler Serpent. "It must’ve thought I was in danger and lashed out. Please forgive it, Your Majesty!"
Colin Gu touched his neck, saw the blood on his hand, and glared at the Antler Serpent. "Your spirit pet? You’re not even a Spirit Practitioner. How do you have a spirit pet?"
"My mother gave it to me," Chloe said. "It hurt Your Majesty, so please punish me however you wish. I won’t complain. Just spare its life!"
Colin Gu stared at Chloe Zhu, enunciating each word: "Chloe Zhu, if you’re playing hard to get, you’ve done enough."
Playing hard to get?
Chloe took a deep breath. "I’m not playing any games. Every word I say is from the heart!"
"You really don’t want to enter the palace?" Colin Gu’s face darkened.
"Yes." Chloe replied. "I know I’m not a Spirit Practitioner. Even if I held a high position, I probably couldn’t survive in the palace."
"The Empress is your younger sister. I’ll protect you—I won’t let anyone hurt you."
"I don’t want to share a husband with my own sister."
"So many reasons... In the end, is it because you’ve fallen for someone else?" Colin Gu asked slowly.
"Your Majesty, you’re overthinking it. That’s not it at all."
Colin Gu picked up his own cup of tea, swirled it under his nose, and took a sip.
Whenever he did this, it meant he was deep in thought.
Usually, thinking about things like murder.
Like in her previous life—before he sentenced her and her child to death, he did exactly this. Once he made up his mind, he’d set down his teacup and issue the decree right in front of her.
......
After a suffocating silence, Colin Gu set down his teacup and asked, "Is it Evan Xiao?"
Chloe’s grip tightened around the Antler Serpent. "How could it be? Your Majesty, you must be mistaken."
"You heard it yourself today," Colin Gu insisted. "His wife will be the winner among the Four Great Houses. You and him—impossible!"
Hearing this, Chloe suddenly had a thought.
Back then, when the Empress Dowager wanted to match her and Evan Xiao, Colin Gu probably threw out the idea of a competition on purpose.
Because he knew, no matter who won and married Evan Xiao, it could never be Chloe Zhu.
......
"Why does Your Majesty keep bringing up General Evan Xiao?" Chloe asked.
Colin Gu looked into her bright, beautiful eyes. "Your eyes."
"My eyes?" Chloe was puzzled.
"You looked at him the same way you used to look at me."
What the heck?
What kind of look could give away that kind of information?
She’d have to check herself in the mirror when she got home...
"Your Majesty, you really misunderstood! There’s nothing going on," Chloe insisted.
She was terrified of getting Evan Xiao into trouble.
But Colin Gu suddenly changed the subject: "I heard Aunt Wan is about to be promoted to Co-Head Wife?"
"Yes," Chloe said. "We’re just waiting for the Imperial Advisor to return and pick an auspicious date, then it’ll be official."
"If you enter the palace, I’ll grant your mother the title of First Lady of Blue Moon. Her status will be absolutely unshakeable," Colin Gu said.