Chapter 481: Birthday
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As for the incident of him peeping on her while she bathed, she decided not to mention it to her daughter. Men were all the same, after all.
As long as that guy behaved himself and didn't make a move on her, she wouldn't make a fuss.
To be able to see her with her own eyes, touch her with her own hands, and even embrace her daughter right before her—this was something she never dared dream of.
Her daughter had grown up. As long as her daughter was happy, nothing else mattered.
Watching Ye Qinghan sit down at the table surrounded by everyone, birthday gifts piled high on the table beside her.
"Senior Sister! Happy Birthday!"
"Miss Ye, happy birthday!"
"Fairy Qinghan, happy birthday!"
"Happy Birthday, Demon Emperor!"
"Happy Birthday to the First Lady! Long live the First Lady, ten thousand years!"
"Xu Zhanfeng, you're fucking cursing me, aren't you? Who the hell am I to live ten thousand years?"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, Grand Matriarch… slip of the tongue…"
Ye's mother watched as the crowd engulfed her daughter, saw Ye Qinghan marveling at the unfamiliar cake, and witnessed Ye Qinghan clinging to her master, tears streaming down her face like rain.
Lingxian Mountain was teeming with people, filled to capacity with distinguished guests. Friends from all four realms had come at the first word.
"Who is that?"
All eyes turned upward to behold a mountain floating in the sky—none other than Lord Gu Ai’s Eleventh Mansion, a rare sight in the public eye.
A dozen celestial maidens, each clad in otherworldly finery, descended from the heavens.
They glided toward Lingxian Hall atop the mountain peak. Instantly, the crowd realized these were likely immortal friends of Immortal Su!
They had come to celebrate Ye Qinghan's birthday!
Today, the major figures from the Four Realms would also have the opportunity to witness the lineup of the Thirteen Female Martial Gods.
"Xiao Ai, greets the Master and the Young Miss."
"Amber, accompanied by the Thirteen Female Warrior Gods, pays respects to the three young ladies!"
Ye Qinghan knew this was a gesture of respect for her and hurried forward to greet them.
"Gu Ai, no, no, no! Please sit, Gu Ai! Qinghan is your junior—how could I possibly accept such formal greetings from my sisters?"
To be honest, Shi Mingyi standing nearby was utterly dumbfounded. Could these Goddesses of War truly make Ye Qinghan, that stubborn brat, behave with such refined courtesy?
Who on earth was this person?
Judging by the atmosphere, it seemed Ye Qinghan was the one granting them favor!
Then he noticed Shi Yao and Dongfang Jue, along with the entire Lingxian Hall entourage, also preparing to bow to this pink-haired loli!
"Shiyao greets Lady Gu Ai. Shiyao misses her little sister so much! I wonder if she'll come visit her big sister!"
"Jue'er, I greet Lady Gu Ai and Lady Amber."
Shi Mingyi nudged the elders beside him, whispering and murmuring among themselves for a long while, trying to figure out just who this Gu Ai was!
Three direct disciples were bowing to her? Could she be an immortal on par with Su Chengneng?
"Steward Xu, who are these individuals?"
Xu the Steward was now walking around with an air of immense importance. To put it plainly, this was all thanks to his connections!
This was all thanks to his foresight!
"This? I wouldn't dare ask—do you dare? Don't pry!"
Truth be told, Su Cheng had already heard some bizarre rumors—some even claimed Xiao Ai was his illegitimate daughter!
But Su Cheng thought to himself: his entire life had been spent either fighting wars or on his way to fight them. An illegitimate daughter?
Someone would have to be willing to bear his child for that to happen!
Just as this thought crossed his mind, Su Cheng’s gaze swept over Shi Yao…
Well, it wasn't entirely untrue that no one was willing. That particular specimen, with his divine physique for childbearing, had been coveting the idea for ages!
But curiosity being human nature, Shi Mingyi summoned Shi Yao and cautiously broached the subject.
"Shiyao, is that the Second Elder of Lingxian Hall? Should we pay our respects?"
Shi Yao tilted her head, her face radiating wit!
"No need, no need! Shiyu has plenty of clout! Lord Gu Ai won't think the Elder is being rude."
"Lord Gu Ai? Is she even higher in rank than Shiyu?"
Li Shiyu looked astonished, thinking to herself, Isn't that perfectly normal?
"Of course! Even our Master obeys Lady Gu Ai's commands!"
At another nearby table, the Human Emperor also summoned Dongfang Jue in perfect sync, inquiring about the identities of those present!
"You mean Lady Gu Ai? Hmph. What cultivation level does she have? Let me put it this way—if not for the favor of my Master and Jue'er, you'd have to kneel to speak with her."
Dongfang Shuo was stunned. He was the Human Emperor!
Heaven itself couldn't make him bend his knee, yet he was expected to kneel before a woman?
"How preposterous! Jue'er, even your father need not bow to your master. I hear that self-styled Xiao Ai still addresses her as 'Master.' How could your father possibly kneel before a subordinate?"
Dongfang Jue was utterly dumbfounded, his face instantly draining of color!
She instantly covered Dongfang Shuo's mouth and nervously scanned the room, especially glancing at the Valkyrie's table…
"Holy shit, Dad, stop talking nonsense! She's no servant—she's a goddamn legendary Immortal Sovereign!"
"Even if you tied up everyone here together, they wouldn't stand a chance against her!"
Dongfang Shuo didn't know if this was true or not, but he didn't think the fear on Dongfang Jue's face was fake.
Ye Qinghan's birthday gifts piled up so high they filled the entire courtyard. Later arrivals had nowhere to place their presents, forcing Ye Qinghan to instruct Xu Zhanfeng to store the earlier gifts in the storeroom.
Ye's mother watched it all quietly, seated on the steps outside Ye Qinghan's room. In that moment, she finally understood what her daughter had fallen in love with.
It was this new life, this man, who had given her a fresh start—one where she no longer had to grovel or be treated like an object.
Being born into this world was cruel for women.
Often, a beautiful woman's life was merely a glossy facade. The bitterness and grievances hidden behind it were understood only by her.
And for a beautiful woman without any support? Her looks were nothing more than juicy meat to attract wolves.
Only by possessing power—power that could match anything—only by standing at the top of the food chain, only there could she find safety.
"Mother, won't you wish your daughter a happy birthday?"
Gazing at her daughter, who ran toward her with a smile, seemingly intent on pulling her into the commotion, Ye's mother remained silent for a long while before finally speaking.
"Chen… Qinghan, happy birthday."
She let the little fox tug her arm to the table. "Hey? Who's pulling this emperor's tail?"
"Eek! Shiyao didn't mean to! Sorry, sorry!"
"Sorry, but you should let go first!"
Li Shiyu quickly let go. Truth be told, she'd been dying to feel the texture of Ye's mother's tail for ages!
After all, Senior Sister rarely showed her tail, always saying it was only for the Master to touch. How stingy!
"Fox Mother, my name is Shiyu. I'm your senior sister's junior sister and the second disciple of our Master. Nice to meet you!"
"Human brat, I'm your senior sister's mother. Nice to meet you too!"
Ye's mother had grown up, and few had ever dared tug at her tail! This Li Shiyu really had a wandering hand!
Ye Mu glanced at Ye Qinghan, then at Su Cheng, utterly bewildered. She thought to herself, Don't any of you have any manners?
But this time, Su Cheng spoke up: "Shiyao, how could you do that? Next time, remember to ask before touching, okay? This is Qinghan's mother. Shiyao, you mustn't be rude. Otherwise, if Qinghan beats you up, your master won't be able to help you~"
"Fine, Shiyu knows she was wrong. But you fox mother, can I touch your tail?"
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