Journey to the Southern Realm

However, since it came from Louis Lin and Quentin Chin, Grace believed it completely.

After Grace left, Louis Lin continued to ask, "Who told you this?"

"It was Yunxi, the attendant by the Celestial Empress's side. I don't think it could be false," said Steward Qin.

Louis Lin frowned.

......

Evan Xiao's room.

Leon Zane checked his pulse and frowned, "Did it flare up today?"

"Just for a little while," Evan Xiao replied calmly. "I've gotten pretty good at controlling it."

"But can you control it for your whole life?" Leon Zane shook his head. "Can you really never fall in love?"

Evan Xiao: "I can."

Leon Zane let out a sigh.

"Didn't you say the Dovefeather Herb on Qishan Mountain might kill it? We'll head to the Southern Realm tomorrow."

"If it can't kill it, you'll suffer a backlash—and it'll be even worse!"

"We have to try."

Leon Zane nodded helplessly.

Grace didn't even know how she got home.

She kept replaying the past few days in her mind.

Evan Xiao turned out to be Divine Race, and he promised to marry her as his Crown Princess.

She, Evan Xiao, and Ray—just the three of them together—were so happy and sweet.

And somehow, she felt like she'd suddenly soared to new heights.

She was about to become Crown Princess of the Divine Race.

Wouldn't that make her the Celestial Empress one day?

But suddenly, everything was gone.

Her father was missing.

Evan Xiao was going to marry someone else...

She lay on her desk, tears dripping down—plop! plop!—her heart aching dully.

Ray had left his space at some point and nudged her with his head.

Grace lifted her tearful eyes to look at him.

He gazed at her with big watery eyes, tears streaming down his face too.

"Ray." Grace stroked his head. "You're a dragon, and I have no idea how to teach you to cultivate. From now on, just follow your father."

Ray shook his head stubbornly.

"Be good," Grace said. "I don't know where Dragon Abyss is, but it looks like they come and go in an instant. If you miss Mommy, just come back and see me, okay?"

Ray still shook his head hard, tears streaming down nonstop.

"Don't cry!" Grace forced herself to be tough. "It's for your own good. Tomorrow, I'll take you to find your dad."

The next morning, she went to the General's Manor bright and early.

When she arrived, she saw Evan Xiao and Leon Zane, both dressed especially neatly and ready to leave.

"So early—why are you here?" Evan Xiao frowned.

Grace looked at him and asked, "Are you two heading out? Where to?"

"We're going to the Southern Realm," Leon Zane blurted.

Evan Xiao shot him a frown and asked, "Is there something you need?"

Grace paused for a moment, then said to Leon Zane, "Could we have a private word?"

Leon Zane glanced worriedly at Evan Xiao.

Evan Xiao nodded.

So Leon Zane left them alone.

"What's wrong? Did something happen?" Evan Xiao asked.

"You're going to the Southern Realm to propose to Princess Luminia, aren't you?"

"What?" Evan Xiao frowned. "Who told you that?"

"Doesn't matter who told me. Just answer: yes or no?"

She'd heard it from Steward Qin and Louis Lin.

Whether it was a Divine Race affair or personal feelings, she would never reveal their names.

If Evan Xiao found out it was them, with his temper, he'd punish them harshly.

The two of them were close to Grace, so she wouldn't give them away.

"Of course not," Evan Xiao said. "We're going to the Southern Realm for something else."