"Princess Consort, please eat." Lost in thought, Fiona heard that gentle, warm voice again beside her.
Standing behind Morgan Shangguan, unseen by others, Ryan Ouyang wore a look of gleeful schadenfreude. At last, someone could tame this cunning fox!
Morgan Shangguan glanced at the plate of tofu in front of her, then picked it up and said gently, "Your Highness, you should try it too. It's truly delicious, and so nourishing!"
As she spoke, she poured most of the tofu into Damien Gray's bowl, her face full of anticipation as she looked at him.
Damien Gray looked a bit moved. "Princess Consort... cough, cough..." Perhaps he was too touched, for he started coughing uncontrollably.
Morgan Shangguan hurriedly reached out to pat his back, asking with concern, "Your Highness, are you alright?" Watching Damien Gray's expression carefully, a faint smile appeared in Morgan's eyes. Could it be that Damien also dislikes tofu, just like she does?
"It's nothing. I'm just a little touched. Princess Consort, you are truly good to me!"
Morgan Shangguan blushed, then poured the rest of the tofu into his bowl, piling it high. "If Your Highness likes it, please have more. Husband and wife are... husband and wife are one. It's only right for me to treat you well."
She nearly blurted out the saying, "Husband and wife are birds in the same forest; when disaster strikes, they fly apart." Clearly, seeing Damien Gray in this predicament was deeply satisfying—she was so delighted she almost slipped up!
Prince Ethan watched as Damien Gray struggled to eat the tofu and couldn't help but laugh. "Third Brother, I thought you didn't like tofu?" He had investigated Damien Gray's preferences thoroughly, though, of course, only as much as Damien wanted him to know.
Damien Gray looked up at him, surprised. "Second Brother, how did you know?" Before Prince Ethan could reply, Damien smiled gently, his eyes shining with happiness. "Princess Consort said it's nutritious!" He looked utterly enchanted by Morgan Shangguan, hopelessly smitten.
Morgan Shangguan mused inwardly, unconcerned that her performance might seem excessive or backfire. In moments like these, she found a wicked delight in the playful game between them.
Emperor Alexander watched Damien Gray, his expression somewhat complicated.
He had always harbored doubts about Damien Gray, which was why he sent people to keep an eye on him. Yet every woman bestowed upon Damien would soon meet an untimely end—was it really just coincidence? Was his fate truly so cursed?
This only made him more suspicious of Damien Gray, though he could never find a shred of evidence. Without proof, he could not act against him. Each time he saw Damien's frail appearance, guilt would stir in his heart, reminding him of that beautiful woman who had passed away—his most beloved, Consort Bella Simon. He knew that acting rashly might create a monster, but he couldn't bring himself to destroy Damien, afraid that if he did, Consort Bella Simon would never forgive him!
What he didn't know was that, after making that choice, Consort Bella Simon had already decided never to forgive him. Maybe he had his reasons, but for the woman he loved to harm her own child—such despair had made Consort Bella Simon lose all hope. That was one of the reasons she chose death. Though she appeared gentle, Consort Bella Simon was in truth a resolute woman!
Throughout the family banquet, Damien Gray and Morgan Shangguan were constantly displaying their affection. More precisely, it was Damien showering Morgan with adoration, while she simply played along. Watching their seamless performance, no one would guess they hadn't seen each other in over three months!
The others were lost in their own swirling thoughts; in truth, few paid any real attention to the meal before them, each heart quietly adrift.
The carriage rolled slowly toward the prince's residence. Damien Gray lounged lazily against the wall and asked, "Why didn't you expose me?"
Morgan Shangguan smiled faintly. "What would I gain by exposing you? And why are you so sure I wouldn't do it?"
Damien Gray curled his lips, a rare hint of mischief flashing across his features. "I never assumed you wouldn't expose me. It's just... even if you did, it wouldn't matter. Besides—" He narrowed his eyes at Morgan Shangguan, his voice soft, "You're not someone Emperor Alexander can control."
Morgan Shangguan raised an eyebrow, her lips curving in a mysterious smile. The carriage settled into a hush, the silence between them gentle but charged, words suspended in the air.
Back at the Shadow Court, Susie Yun rushed out to greet her. "Miss, are you alright? Where's Ryan?"
Susie Yun had been worried ever since Morgan Shangguan went to the palace. She'd never entered the palace herself, but she knew how complicated things could be there. Even though she knew her mistress was no ordinary person, she couldn't help but fret—especially since Morgan and the Ghost King had always been so distant. That made her even more uneasy.
Morgan Shangguan smiled faintly. "Are you really asking about me, or about Ryan?"
Susie Yun didn't hesitate. "Of course I want to know about both!"
Morgan laughed. "Don't worry, I'm fine. Ryan saw two lost souls on the way and went to take care of them. He should be back soon."
Just as she finished speaking, Ryan Ouyang drifted in. He was starting to think being a ghost wasn't so bad—he could float around freely, even better than lightness skill. People couldn't see him, but as long as Susie Yun could, that was enough.
Ryan Ouyang handed Morgan Shangguan a small Spirit Gourd, asking curiously, "Miss, how did you know I'd run into lost souls outside? You even gave me the Spirit Gourd ahead of time and told me to put any wandering spirits inside."
Morgan Shangguan brushed her hand over the Spirit Gourd, now hanging at her waist like a beautiful ornament. She had crafted it herself, specifically to hold spirits, releasing them only when needed.
Morgan sat down in a chair, picked up the tea Yun Su had poured for her, and took a sip before replying, "I didn't know! I just thought I might run into some ghosts while I was out."
Ryan Ouyang was speechless. He'd thought she could predict the future! Then, still curious, he asked, "Miss, why didn't you expose the Ghost King?"
Yun Su was confused, so Ryan Ouyang, ever the doting companion, quickly explained the situation to her.
Yun Su's eyes widened in shock. "The Ghost King was faking illness?" And right under the emperor's nose for so long, without anyone noticing? Still, she was curious why Morgan hadn't exposed him—maybe it was because of their marriage?
But Morgan didn't seem like that kind of person! In all her time at the prince's residence, she and the Ghost King had barely interacted. Morgan didn't even act like a married woman; anyone who saw her would simply think she was some family's young lady.