Reflecting on Bai Yue's identity, Luoniang suddenly understood: while being able to cultivate was a life-altering matter for an ordinary member of the Demon race, with the Demon God Emperor's power and cultivation, if he truly cared about someone, how difficult could it be to enable them to cultivate?
Though Luoniang had made a fool of herself over a misunderstanding, it also made Bai Yue pay special attention to her impending childbirth.
Bai Yue had the experienced midwife, whom the Moon Demon Consort Yun Xi had prepared for her, sent over to assist Luoniang instead. The delivery was perilous, but Luoniang's life was saved. However, she suffered a severe hemorrhage that drained her vital energy, and the royal physicians estimated she had only a little over ten years left to live.
Yet, being able to spend a few more years with her daughter Leng Xiao and watch her grow up to the age of ten was already more than enough for Luoniang, who felt profoundly grateful and indebted to Bai Yue.
Today, Moon Demon Consort Yun Xi brought over some garments prepared for Princess Leng Xiao, asking Bai Yue to help pick out the styles.
Looking at the dazzling array of racks filled with clothes, the corners of Bai Yue's mouth twitched slightly. "Second Aunt, did you practically move the entire Yueye Chamber of Commerce over here?"
"Yue'er, you don't understand. While the child is still little, trust me, dressing her up in different outfits is such a sheer delight," Yun Xi said with a bright smile.
She pulled out a light screen, flipping through photographs page by page with sparkling eyes.
Bai Yue leaned in for a look and saw that they were all pictures of little Yue Ye wearing pretty little dresses, each one more adorable and endearing than the last.
This stirred Bai Yue's impulse. Causing her own lower belly, she imagined how fun it would be to trick Haochen into taking similar photos when he was little!
In her previous life, Haochen had even worn a dance dress and danced for his father, but unfortunately, she never had the good fortune to witness that sight with her own eyes.
"Sister, Second Aunt, what are you two doing?" A Bao asked, running over on his short little legs while holding a storybook.
"We're picking out clothes for little sister Leng Xiao! A Bao, take a look and see which of these clothes would suit her," Bai Yue asked, picking up a pink bubble skirt and holding it up against herself to measure.
A Bao looked at the clothes, then looked at his own reflection in the mirror. He pouted and asked unhappily, "Why are little sister's clothes so pretty, while mine are just black, blue, white, purple, and gray?"
"Because your sister is a girl! It's perfectly natural for her to wear dresses. You're a boy, so you're suited for trousers, magic robes, and suits," Yun Xi explained with a gentle smile.
"If little sister gets to wear pretty dresses, I want to wear them too!" A Bao said, his little mouth puckering as he threw a small tantrum.
"..." Bai Yue and Yun Xi exchanged glances, their eyes lighting up.
A fitting model had just delivered himself right to their doorstep! However, just in case A Bao came back to settle scores with them when he grew up, Yun Xi secretly produced a recording pillar to capture the entire scene.
"A Bao, what did you just say? Second Aunt's ears aren't very good, I didn't catch that!" Yun Xi coaxed A Bao to repeat what he had just said.
Being so young, A Bao naturally couldn't tell that Yun Xi was teasing him. He tilted his head slightly and spoke in a louder voice, "Little sister gets to wear pretty dresses, and A Bao wants to wear them too!"
And thus, A Bao walked straight into the trap Yun Xi had woven for him, trying on dress after dress.
Standing by the side, Bai Yue used a recording device to take pictures, deeply experiencing the joy of dressing someone up.
From his initial high spirits, A Bao's gaze grew weary two hours later.
Yet, seeing that his second aunt and older sister were still as enthusiastic as ever, he couldn't bear to ruin their fun.
So be it. Since they liked it this way, His Highness would just have to suffer a little bit to keep them happy.
When the sky gradually grew dark and A Bao was struggling to keep his eyes open while letting out several consecutive yawns, Bai Yue finally realized that they had gone a bit too far today and put A Bao through quite an ordeal.
"Why didn't the child say anything if he was tired?" Yun Xi said with a pang of heartache.
"A Bao is just too sensible," Bai Yue sighed with emotion.
"Whenever anyone treats him even a little bit well, he pours his heart and soul out to them."
Yun Xi had the maidservants carry A Bao back to his bedchamber to rest, then dismissed the attendants and set up a soundproofing barrier.
"Yue'er, the real reason I came to see you today is to ask about your plans," Yun Xi stated candidly.
"Do you intend to fight for that position? If you do, I need you to make a promise: before A Bao does anything detrimental to you, you must never make a move against him. If you agree, I will represent the Moon Demon faction's influence to support you in contending for the position of crown heir."
To be honest, Bai Yue had never coveted the position of crown heir. But having lived a second life, if she wanted to change her predetermined fate and grasp power, seizing authority was an essential step, and she would inevitably have to cultivate.
If the day truly came when she had to contend with A Bao for the Demon God Emperor's throne, could she really bring herself to harm her younger brother?
Through these days of living together, Bai Yue had truly been won over by A Bao; no one could resist that sweet greeting of "Older Sister."
Bai Yue pursed her lips, lowered her gaze, and said in a solemn tone, "I cannot predict the future. All I can say is that as long as A Bao does not harm the people I love, I will not do anything to harm him."
In her previous life, Haochen and A Bao had fought a fierce battle in Dream Paradise, leaving both of them gravely wounded.
Without a doubt, Haochen was Bai Yue's reverse scale. In this lifetime, she chose to live among the Demon race, where A Bao and Haochen would recognize each other ahead of time; she would definitely prevent the tragedy of an uncle and nephew slaughtering each other from happening.
Of course, if Father dared to use the Demon God Emperor's throne like an insect-jar, tempting A Bao and Haochen to fight and devour one another, she wouldn't hesitate to throw a massive temperamental fit one day and tear the Demon God Emperor Palace to pieces!
"As for the position of crown heir, it is far too early for the Moon Demon Consort to mention such a thing. After all, Father is still in the prime of his life. Whomever Father favors as crown heir shall hold that position."
Bai Yue's evasive and deflective response left Yun Xi with a newfound respect for her niece.
Upon returning to the Moon Demon Palace, Agares was eagerly waiting for his wife to come home.
Earlier today, he had asked Yun Xi to sound out Bai Yue's attitude toward the position of crown heir—this was a task assigned by his eldest brother, and he still had to go report back at the palace tomorrow!
"How did it go? Is niece Yue'er interested in the position of crown heir?" Agares asked hurriedly.
The moment Yun Xi sat down and poured herself a cup of tea, before she could even settle properly into her chair, she was hit with that question.
Yun Xi shot Agares an annoyed glare and demanded, "Why are you so keen on this matter?"
"Could it be that you actually want to prop up a prince or princess to the throne? Don't forget the Emperor's methods—if he finds out you dared to form private factions and build cliques behind his back, you'll be the very first person he deals with."
"..." Agares couldn't help rolling his eyes.
"My dear wife, do you really think I have that much time on my hands? This matter was requested by Big Brother!"
"He wanted to establish Yue'er as the Crown Princess, but niece Yue'er declined under the pretext of pregnancy preventing her from awakening her bloodline to cultivate!"
"It was only because Princess Leng Xiao was born, and seeing that niece Yue'er is also about to give birth soon, that Big Brother asked me to have you test the waters regarding her attitude."
Yun Xi looked at Agares suspiciously. She had been married to him for quite some time, but she understood the brotherly bond between the Emperor, the Star Demon God, and the Moon Demon God less and less with each passing day.
They spoke of profound affection, yet just some time ago, Agares had been drinking in sorrow and let slip a secret: the Emperor had forced the Star Demon God Vassago to use the Life Prophecy.