Another Bridal Candle Night

Radiant Dawn Palace.

After bathing and changing, Lily Bai arrived before Sean Shaw—fresh, fragrant, and looking gorgeous.

Sean, however, was just sitting there staring blankly at a communication talisman.

"What are you doing?" Lily asked. "It's bedtime."

"I haven't seen my big brother these days, and I can't reach him either," Sean said. "I'm worried something's happened to him."

Lily said, "Why not ask Mia to help track him down?"

Sean nodded and sent someone to fetch Mia.

Mia used her bloodline tracking skill and found him right in his own quarters.

Then Sean went over invisibly to check, and saw his brother meditating—perfectly fine.

Turns out, they were just worrying over nothing.

"Mia, sorry about this," Lily Bai said. "Dragging you out here so late at night."

Mia was her usual self—still not much of a talker. She just shook her head and turned to leave.

"Hey!" Lily grabbed her back. "What's up with you? Why won't you even say a word to me anymore?"

Mia said, "It's... it's nothing, really..."

You know now, right? I'm really your big sister Lucia! It's been ages—how did we end up so distant?

Mia hung her head. "I don't deserve to face you."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"Back then, when they all wronged you, I never stood up for you," Mia said, head down. "I don't deserve to be your friend!"

Lily finally understood, and squeezed her hand. "You silly girl!"

"I'm sorry, Lucia!" Mia's eyes reddened with sadness.

Lily pulled her into a hug and patted her back. "Given how things were back then, you can't blame yourself. Don't beat yourself up! To me, you've always been my good little sister!"

Mia looked up at her. "Really?"

Lily nodded. "You always were—and you always will be!"

Mia grinned, instantly brightening. "So tell me! How did you jump from Warden straight to High Goddess? Was it really just a talisman?"

Lily was about to answer when Sean suddenly yawned. "It's late! Whatever it is, let's talk tomorrow. I'm exhausted—time for bed."

Mia shot him a look, clearly reluctant. "Fine, I'll come find you tomorrow, Lucia."

Lily nodded.

After Mia left, Lily turned to Sean and said, "You go ahead and sleep. I'm not tired yet—I'm going to read for a bit."

Sean wrapped his arms around her waist. "Honestly, today feels like our real wedding day to me. That time at the Eastern Luo Royal Palace was way too simple."

"So what?"

"So tonight is our bridal chamber night!" Sean grinned.

Lily turned to leave, but he yanked her back. "Where do you think you're going?"

"I need to hide from you," Lily said. "Please, spare me!"

"Any other night, maybe. But tonight? Absolutely not." Sean scooped her up and carried her into the inner room.

...

Lily forcibly broke the Blood Rite between the Divine Empress and the Thunder-Heaven Void-Breaking Chain. The Empress was injured, but soon recovered.

She skipped yesterday's Grand Investiture Ceremony. Lily figured the Empress was probably planning to tough it out to the bitter end, go down swinging.

But to Lily's surprise, the next morning—right after Sean left for morning court—the Empress summoned her in the name of the Divine Empress, asking her to come perform the daughter-in-law's formal salute.