Chapter 107

Translator: ChuRen/ YuQiChen

Beneath the silver mask, the man revealed a sinister and eerie smile, like a monster clawing its way up from hell…

Coupled with his declaration of “until death and beyond”, it was utterly chilling.

Yet, for some reason, Tang Qing wasn’t afraid at all.

He knew he wasn’t bad-looking—was even called a beauty—but after two broken engagements, he sometimes wondered.

Did Alphas all prefer types like Tang Xiaobai or Tang Shanshan—Omegas who knew how to act coy and whisper sweet nothings? Only those delicate types could stir a man’s protective instincts.

It wasn’t that he didn’t understand social niceties; he simply disdained putting on such an act and refused to follow the crowd.

Whether he was being discarded by two Alphas or used as a pawn in his father’s marriage schemes, he had never uttered a single soft word to any of them, never shed a tear for them.

He knew someone like him—with nothing but a pretty face but stubborn and proud to the bone—could never master the art of pleasing men.

He only wanted to live by his own principles. Even if others saw him as aloof, strong-willed, or cold, it was still more comfortable than pretending to be a delicate white lotus.

That was why his father and his two former fiancés all preferred Tang Xiaobai and the others over him.

Maybe he deserved it.

But today, someone had firmly stood by his side, vowing to stay with him for a lifetime.

The subconscious self-doubt finally shattered.

Even if this person was the madman of the Imperial Star, he was also the only one who always stood by Tang Qing’s side whenever he was humiliated.

He was his lawful husband.

Hearing this, Zheng Nian roused himself again, urgently addressing Tang Qing:

“He’s insane. A complete madman. He won’t even let you go after death! Tang Tang, how can you stay with such a obsessive—”

But Tang Qing stood beside Xie Qingzhi, one hand looped through the tall man’s solid arm, and said with firm clarity:

“If that day ever comes, I am willing to accompany His Grace.”

As soon as the words fell, everyone present turned to stare at him in shock.

Even Xie Qingzhi looked at his wife—more than a decade his junior—with utter disbelief.

Earlier, when Tang Qing was entangled with Zheng Nian and the others, he had already heard Tang Qing’s confession.

Tang Qing had said that as long as Xie Qingzhi did not reject him, he would remain his wife.

He had tried hard to suppress the strange feelings stirring in his heart, reminding himself once again to be self-aware.

His wife was merely sold to him at a high price by his father—a pawn in a forced political marriage.

Tang Qing must have spoken those words impulsively.

But now…

Why was his wife confessing to him again?

Even willing to live and die with him?

He turned his head away somewhat unnaturally.

Beside them, Zheng Nian was also shocked and tried to persuade Tang Qing, but he coughed up a mouthful of blood instead.

The Duke had unleashed his S-class psychic power, its overwhelming pressure forcing Zheng Nian to bow his head.

“It seems Zheng Shixun still hasn’t managed to educate Young Master Zheng properly.” Xie Qingzhi gripped Zheng Nian’s jaw, forcing him to lift his head in humiliation.

Having lived two lifetimes as a favored son of heaven, this was the first time Zheng Nian so directly felt the disparity in power between himself and another S-class Alpha.

He was utterly powerless to resist, without even the strength to break free.

In that moment, he truly felt that Xie Qingzhi could crush him as easily as swatting a fly.

“I know Zheng Shixun had his son late in life, and it would be too cruel to simply kill his only heir.” Xie Qingzhi let out a cold, mocking laugh and abruptly released his grip, turning away indifferently.

“Young Master Zheng, I’ve heard the scenery on Kuizhizi Star is quite pleasant. Why don’t you spend the rest of your life there?”

Then, he glanced at Tang Shanshan, who stood pale and trembling, not daring to make a sound, and added leisurely:

“Since you were even willing to steal your brother’s fiancé, you must be deeply in love. You shall accompany your fiancé to Kuizhizi Star and never return to Imperial Star for the rest of your life.”

Upon hearing this, Tang Shanshan’s eyes widened in panic.

All she wanted was to marry into nobility—was that so wrong?

Her mother had been the other woman who usurped the first wife’s position. From childhood, she knew that she must marry a man of power and status by any means necessary to enjoy a life of wealth and privilege.

Tang Xiaobai already had General Shen Yanxia, and Tang Qing’s other arranged marriage partner had been outstanding. She just wanted to secure a powerful backing for herself.

Now Zheng Nian was exiled to Kuizhizi Star for life, cut off from the centers of power forever. But she hadn’t formally married Zheng Nian yet! She was only seventeen—she still had chances to use her beauty to meet other high-quality Alphas.

Why should she be forced to accompany Zheng Nian to that desolate, backwater planet?

She wanted to beg Xie Qingzhi for mercy, but faced with the man’s cold, imposing silver mask, even she—usually so skilled at acting coy and vulnerable—didn’t dare utter a word.

Tears streamed down her face as she looked pleadingly at Tang Qing, for the first time genuinely and desperately begging her half-brother:

“Elder Brother, elder brother, I’m sorry, I—”

But Tang Qing only glanced at her indifferently.

Since she had chosen to seduce her own brother’s fiancé back then, spending the rest of her life with Zheng Nian was the fate she deserved.

Without another look at the pair, Tang Qing followed Xie Qingzhi and left the chaotic engagement farce behind.

…

In the hovercar, the two people who had just boldly declared their stance in front of an ex-fiancé now sat in awkward silence.

They looked like complete strangers.

Remembering the words he had blurted out in the heat of the moment, Tang Qing felt so embarrassed he could dig out a planet with his bare hands.

Things like “I will always be His Grace Xie Qingzhi’s wife,” or “If Your Grace dies, I will follow.”

Help…

Had he caught some kind of social bravery disease from Zheng Nian? Why else would he say such shameless things in front of so many people?

Even if they were his true feelings.

The two sat somewhat stiffly, each looking out the window at the utterly ordinary scenery.

Feeling awkward, Tang Qing lowered his head and unconsciously began fiddling with his long, pale fingers.

His skin was delicate and marked easily. The slender, jade-white fingers turned faintly pink under his nervous pinching.

“Stop fiddling with your fingers.” A cold voice suddenly broke the silence.

Tang Qing looked up in surprise.

He thought Xie Qingzhi hadn’t noticed him.

Only then did Xie Qingzhi turn his head, abandoning his pretense of watching the scenery.

He looked into Tang Qing’s clear, amber eyes, then added fiercely, as if to cover his tracks:

“Remember, every part of you belongs to me.”

Tang Qing let out a soft laugh, his amber eyes glinting slightly.

He realized he was no longer afraid of Xie Qingzhi’s displayed obsessive collector’s tendencies.

“Understood, Your Grace. I’ll take good care of myself for you.”

Recalling the earlier events, Tang Qing couldn’t help feeling a little worried and asked, “Your Grace, won’t humiliating Zheng Nian like this have negative consequences for you?”

“The Zheng family is one of the Five Great Dukes. Could they seek revenge?”

Duke Xie Qingzhi snorted coldly. “Anyone who dares to bully my wife is challenging me.”

“So what if they’re one of the Five Great Dukes? If they displease me, I don’t mind reducing the Five Great Dukes to Four.”

Tang Qing fell silent for a moment, struck by his domineering declaration.

He rephrased, looking seriously at Xie Qingzhi:

“I know you aren’t afraid of such petty individuals, Your Grace. But even the sturdiest dam can be destroyed by ant holes. I worry these villains might gather and stab you in the back when you least expect it.”

“Though we act with integrity, we must still guard against those who scheme in the shadows.”

What Tang Qing said reflected issues he had been pondering lately.

Duke Xie Qingzhi was so notorious throughout the Imperial Star, always openly dragging those who displeased him straight to the black prisons, offending countless people.

Tang Qing truly worried he might be assassinated one day.

Recalling Zheng Nian’s ominous words earlier—though he didn’t know their basis—if the royal family were ever overthrown, someone like Xie Qingzhi, with so many enemies, would surely…

That’s why he didn’t want Xie Qingzhi to offend a major family like the Zheng’s over him.

He genuinely wished for Xie Qingzhi to live a long life.

Xie Qingzhi looked at his young wife—forced into this marriage—his beautiful eyes sparkling as he earnestly worried about his well-being.

It was rather adorable, like fretting over imaginary troubles.

He felt an inexplicable itch in his heart.

He didn’t know what this emotion was.

Perhaps it was because it was the first time he’d heard someone worry about a notorious madman like him—it was almost laughable.

Especially coming from such an innocent, lovely beauty more than ten years his junior.

He coughed and pretended with an air of indifference, asking coldly, “Weren’t you sent by my dear mother, Katerina? I thought your only duty was to have a child with me.”

Immediately, he regretted it.

Had his tone been too harsh?

Some things didn’t need to be said outright.

Even if Tang Qing’s duty was to have a child with him, it wasn’t like he couldn’t accept it.

He glanced worriedly at his young wife.

But Tang Qing simply smiled gently and said, “Your Grace, as you know, I was indeed sent by Her Majesty Katerina. But my purpose is not to have a child with you.”

“I don’t have such grand ambitions. Moreover, a newborn child is innocent. I was merely forced by my father to become a pawn in this political marriage.”

“Rather than bearing a child to participate in power struggles, I just want to live my life well.”

After speaking, Tang Qing looked at Xie Qingzhi and smiled somewhat shyly.

His beautiful amber eyes seemed sprinkled with scattered starlight.

His gaze was clean and clear, stating his desires plainly, without any sense of sycophancy or deliberate seduction.

“I only hope that you, Your Grace, can live well. As your collectible, I only wish to be properly kept and cherished.”

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