Chapter 3 — Thanh Xa Marries the Dragon, the Heavenly Emperor Stands in Tears

Someone once asked him why, and he just smiled and replied gently: "We must save the blessings for Thanh Thanh." Late at night, it's quiet, people often hold me in their arms, caress my head, their eyes full of joy, their voice soft like a spring breeze: "Nowadays, every little snake I see looks like Thanh Thanh." At that time, I was still a stupid little snake, curled up in your chest, not understanding anything, only feeling that my whole body was as warm as spring. Remembering that time, the night light was yellow, I was sleepy, drifting into the darkness. In the moment before falling asleep, it seemed like I heard Duc Hanh mocking himself and lamenting: "I only hope that in the future there will not be demon snakes that cause chaos in the world. If I don't think about Thanh Thanh, I won't be able to take action." The snake's body is inherently cold, but thanks to that one sentence from you, I feel warm inside like early spring. But time passed like water... those words, in the end, I alone believed them to be true. It's so stupid. I turned pale and returned to the palace, no longer having the energy to think anymore. Tieu Thao frantically ran over, busy taking care of me all night long, not leaving even a single step. The next morning, Lang Lac Lac personally came to the palace, with a look of fake guilt on his face. As for Duc Hanh - who just stood outside the palace, waiting for her... not even bothering to step in and look at me. I just stood quietly behind the half-closed door, through the gap quietly catching a glimpse of that shadowy figure. Just one look... I quickly bowed my head, not daring to look any further. Lang Lac Lac brought many gifts, his mouth asked questions and concerns, but every word contained a taste of provocation. “Sister, I was negligent yesterday… I forgot that you are also a group of lowly snakes.” The first half of the sentence was smiling, but the second half was deliberately lowered, as if intentionally letting us hear. His facial expression was still gentle and gentle, but his eyes were full of hidden malice. She laughed and told me Duc Hanh's reaction after eating that bowl of snake soup, telling me how he gently praised her cooking skills. I just replied faintly: "Is that so? It seems that your skills are not bad." Throughout the entire conversation, I kept my face calm, not angry, not jealous, not miserable like she expected. Lang Lac Lac saw that he could not achieve his goal, so he turned his gaze elsewhere and began to evaluate the surrounding temple. “This place is fine, just… it seems a bit close to A Hanh's residence.” This palace was originally the place Duc Hanh personally arranged for me. Over the years, people have brought all kinds of strange treasures, each item was hand-selected by him. The night pearl is as big as a human head, the red coral glows like fire, the clear moon silk curtain is dreamy like the moon reflecting water's reflection... All... are the thoughts of people in the past. Yet in Lang Lac Lac's eyes, she just curled her lips and lightly said: "A Hanh and I are preparing to get married, but we lack a place to live in Heaven... I wonder if I can borrow this place for a while?" After she finished speaking, she glanced at me with provocative eyes. I'm about to get married to the Crown Prince of the Dragon Clan, leaving this place is only a matter of sooner or later... Tieu Thao carried my weak body and sent Lang Lac Lac to the door. Right outside the palace, Duc Hanh stood straight, his white shirt flowing, his eyes cold. “Are you better?” - People ask. I nodded slightly, but then my eyes unconsciously looked down at his wrist... That blue string of beads was gone. Instead, it was a simple red string, and Lang Lac Lac was also wearing an identical string. That string of green beads... is the first gift I gave to you. I had to risk my life to fight monsters in the abyss, dig out internal pills, and make beads - just to be a protective item for people. Now that I think about it... such a vile gift is truly unworthy of the dignity of a Heavenly Emperor. We are no longer like before, trying to cling to people and talk and laugh. Just quietly lowered my eyes, didn't look, didn't speak, didn't face. The atmosphere between me and you... suddenly became quiet and cold. I was no longer jealous, just gently asked: "Is the wedding date set yet?" Duc Hanh paused, as if he wanted to say something but stopped: "Thanh Thanh, I..." Before he could finish his sentence, Tu Menh Tien Quan used the sound transmission technique to send news of the Demon Clan's invasion to Thien Thuy Bich. Duc Hanh only threw back a short sentence: "Wait for me to return." Then he took Lang Lac Lac's hand and hurriedly left. My eyes fell on their clasped hands, and I couldn't help but exclaim: "What a perfect couple." So... it seems like those hundreds of years were just an empty, unreal dream. Originally... it shouldn't belong to me. War between Heaven and Demons broke out, the three worlds were in chaos, smoke and fire spread throughout the universe. Chi Uyen and I finished discussing and decided to simplify the wedding. But the night before the wedding day, Duc Hanh suddenly returned. As soon as we stepped into Bich Thuy Thien, before our eyes was a scene of desolation. Tieu Thao was forced to show her true form, her small body was trampled under foot by Lang Lac Lac's maid. As soon as I saw it, I immediately rushed forward, hugged the dying Tieu Thao, and shouted: "What are you doing?!" Lang Lac Lac leaned against Duc Hanh, his face pale, as weak as a willow in the wind, chokingly said: "Sister Thanh Thanh, if you resent me, just tell me directly... why did you let a poisonous snake bite me..." Duc Hanh frowned slightly, his face darkened: "Thanh Thanh, give me the antidote." "In the past, I pampered you too much, but now I've learned how to use snakes to harm people?" In people's eyes, the crime has already been determined for me - all eyes are filled with disappointment. I took a deep breath, trying to stay calm: "I don't release snakes." "Besides... I have no reason to hate her? She likes to kill snakes, so this is the snake clan's karma towards her, what does it have to do with me?" Lang Lac Lac's maids all laughed coldly, with a contemptuous tone: "Do you still need to ask? You have loved the Emperor for so many years, and now you see our young lady being brought back, of course you are crazy jealous!" "Sure enough, the humble snake race not only clings to the Emperor every day, but also dares to dream of getting married to him?!" A set of dark red robes was torn to pieces by the palace maids and thrown to the ground. It is the set that I have hand-embroidered stitch by stitch - the intention, the wait, the final desire. Now the red silk is torn to shreds, scattered on the ground like broken pieces of my trampled heart. Duc Hanh gently closed his eyes, his eyelashes fluttered, then slowly opened - only a piece of cold indifference remained inside. “It should have been in the past I shouldn't have brought you back." The person bowed his head and gently looked at Lang Lac Lac lying in his arms: "Don't ask for the antidote from her anymore, I will find another way for you." Lang Lac Lac nodded obediently, looking weak and pitiful. … I suddenly felt extremely tired. Duc Hanh was the one who raised me from childhood, how could he not know my personality? Her tricks are so clumsy, yet people still choose to believe her. Before leaving, Lang Lac Lac looked back at me, his eyes filled with laughter: "That year, to save you, you injured me... today, everything... I returned it to you." In the palace, only me and the dying Tieu Thao remained. She tried to transform into human form, raising her trembling hand to wipe away the tears on my cheek. “Thanh Thanh, don't cry…” I bit my lip, nodded vigorously, transferring half of my internal strength into her body, saving the only life that was always by my side. After that, without looking back, I led her out of Heaven — without saying goodbye. The day I got married to Dragon Clan Crown Prince Chi Uyen, the two of us carved our names together on Tam Sinh Stone - the Tam Sinh stone engraved with destiny, proving the marriage between husband and wife. Right at the moment I made the final stroke, a heart-wrenching, desperate call suddenly rang out from behind: "Thanh Thanh - wait for me!!"