After the two finished discussing the Yunding Empire, Shen Tang changed the topic, complaining, "Ah Xiao, how could you secretly feed them those things? Where did you get them? Won’t they harm their health?"

Lu Xiao didn’t expect her to find out, and touched his nose, feeling slightly embarrassed for once, "Don’t worry, the Lu Family has special connections across the nation. Although those drugs haven’t been legally certified by the Empire, the pharmaceutical experience is quite mature, and the harm to the body is much less than illegal drugs... I only used them during your heat period, and it doesn’t affect body functions much."

"Moreover, they are High-level Beastmen. Even potent poison wouldn’t threaten their lives. The effects of those drugs are metabolized quickly and won’t have much impact."

He explained quite calmly.

Shen Tang’s face was still smeared with facial cleanser, and she leaned close, pouting, "What about you? Have you taken them?"

"Cough... Tangtang, it’s still early. Wanna go back to sleep for a bit?" Lu Xiao didn’t want to answer and simply changed the subject.

This reaction already explained everything. Shen Tang grinded her teeth. She never expected that Lu Xiao, who she thought was the most honest, actually had such thoughts!

"Humph, no wonder you didn’t dare to see me for half a month!"

Previously, Lu Xiao always said the Lu Family had things to attend to, and he was nowhere to be seen for half a month, unreachable. Turns out it was because he hadn’t taken the medication, fearing she might accidentally get pregnant.

He sure could endure, putting all the attention on those two.

Lu Xiao waited for her to finish washing, gently drying her face with a towel, and explained a bit helplessly, "My duty is to follow your wishes. You’re not ready for kids now. Those two are young and impulsive, unable to resist temptation. I can only do this, otherwise..."

He glanced down, suggesting that if not handled this way, given the strength of the other Beast Husbands, she might already have had her first child.

Shen Tang couldn’t say anything against him this time.

He indeed considered things more thoroughly.

Xue Yinzhou usually behaved well but insisted on taking half the time during heat periods.

Xiao Jin, needless to say, was impulsive and constantly had those thoughts, seizing opportunities to get amorous.

She really didn’t want to have little ones so soon. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

They’d just have to bear with it.

"Does Xiao Jin know about this affair?"

"He doesn’t know, but eats quite heartily."

"..."

In an instant, two days passed, the spaceship formally entered the Floating City State, landing on the Central Floating Island where the Sky King Palace is located.

Sky King had long received the message and was waiting there with the reception team.

Shen Tang also spotted some familiar faces—the Yunding Empire’s Cloud Peak General Feiyu, dressed in platinum armor, towering and majestic, standing on the Monarch’s left.

On the right stood the Second Prince and Third Princess.

The Second Prince folded his arms, wearing an unpleasant expression, clearly reluctant to be there for the welcome.

Especially when he saw Lu Xiao, his eyes immediately showed wariness, obviously unwelcome to his arrival.

Which was to be expected. After the Eldest Prince was deposed, the one with the highest chance of inheriting was the Second Prince, Tian Chen, who was most likely to ascend.

Lu Xiao’s presence clearly made him feel threatened.

But he was overthinking it.

Lu Xiao had long declined the Sky King’s invitation.

His ambition didn’t lie here, he just wanted to manage the Lu Family well and take care of the Female Master; other power or status didn’t hold any allure for him.

Compared to him, the Third Princess Tian Xi had a much better attitude.

Since their last meeting, her exquisite beauty had matured, showing more courage and nobility, vaguely resembling a younger Sky King, with the only unchanged feature being the lollipop in her mouth.

She warmly came forward to greet, "Hello, Brother Xiao~ Hello, Sister-in-law Tangtang, it’s been so long since we last met!"

"It indeed has been a while, got some things on the way to gift you." Shen Tang knew she loved sweets, specially bought a box of delicately packaged high-end candies—not too expensive, but Tian Xi accepted them happily, "Hehe, thank you, Sister-in-law! You must be tired after traveling, the feast is ready, come and have some food!"

Tian Chen, watching his sister’s eagerness, snorted disdainfully and left under some excuse, clearly not interested in hosting guests.

Sky King Tian Hui seemed slightly displeased with his second son’s attitude, but couldn’t say much either.

Shen Tang wasn’t bothered by the formalities; she originally came for serious business.

After the meal, Shen Tang seized the chance to speak privately with the Sky King, inquiring about the Rift Sky King’s situation.

The Sky King snorted coldly, "Why would she have any reason? We’ve been at odds since childhood; she’s doing this just to give me a hard time!"

"What do you mean?"

"Sigh, Xiao Tang, I apologize for implicating you. You probably heard that the Rift Sky King and I have always had a poor relationship, with many frictions over the years. And since you’re my daughter-in-law, due to this relationship, there’s no way she’d easily join the Dawn Alliance; she’s using this to force me to personally plead with her before she might agree." Sky King explained helplessly.

Shen Tang was astonished, never guessing this was the reason.

It was truly unexpected.

"If my temperament were that of my youth, I surely wouldn’t beg her. But now, for you, I’m willing to say some nice words... Unfortunately, things have gotten complicated, even if I go now, she probably wouldn’t agree." Sky King sighed again as he spoke.

Shen Tang was curious, "What happened?"

"Ugh, this affair involves the youngest, you guessed it—Tian Xi."

"The Rift Sky King has four children, but unfortunately all male, not a single female. However, her sons have decent talents, and she most values the Second Prince Xing Ye, initially intending him for succession." Sky King recounted, "But then, during a recent excursion, Xing Ye met our youngest, Tian Xi, and fell in love with her at first sight."

"Two talented young people liking each other normally wouldn’t be a problem."

"But traditionally, males of equal status typically marry into the female’s family. Xing Ye, as the Rift Sky King’s chosen successor, would usually marry a noble female from their tribe into the Royal Family. She certainly wouldn’t want her heir son marrying out of the tribe, nor breaking relations herself, so she previously asked me to persuade Tian Xi to end the relationship herself."

"However, despite both families’ attempts to block it, Xing Ye kept longing for Tian Xi, claiming he’d marry no one but her in this lifetime or remain unmarried forever."

"In the end, the Rift Sky King couldn’t find a way and wanted me to marry Xi’er off."

Sky King grew more indignant, "How is it possible for a royal female to marry into another tribe’s male on this earth? Especially Xi’er, so smart and the apple of my eye. How could I possibly send her away? Later this matter just fizzled out."

"The Rift Sky King was helpless when news of the alliance came from your side. She wanted to use this affair as leverage, forcing me to agree to send Xi’er away."

Shen Tang was dumbfounded, completely caught off guard by this hidden family feud!

This truly sounded... challenging indeed!