“How much do you know about the Human Race?”

The Demon Emperor watched Mu Nanyan expertly toss medicinal ingredients into the pot. Her slender hands moved as steadily as a machine, measuring out each ingredient with astonishing accuracy.

The Demon Emperor was even starting to wonder whether Mu Nanyan was really the daughter of an ordinary farming family.

“The Human Race? What aspect are you asking about?”

Mu Nanyan kept her head down as she prepared the antidote, occasionally straightening her slightly rumpled camisole.

It was really hard to work like this, but the Demon Emperor liked her this way. There was nothing for it—Mu Nanyan could only force herself to endure the discomfort and play along.

“Nothing in particular. Haven’t you heard any news about the Human Race?”

“I have.” Mu Nanyan poured water into the pot and put the lid on. “I heard the Demon Emperor took a woman from the Human Race as his wife.”

“……”

Mu Nanyan’s answer made the Demon Emperor furrow his brow slightly. He wasn’t amused by her joke at all.

But it seemed the woman before him really didn’t know anything. The loss of the Demon Clan’s northern cities had nothing to do with her.

Of course Mu Nanyan knew what the Demon Emperor wanted to talk about. She was just holding back. After all, she’d read the original story from beginning to end, so she knew exactly what was troubling the Demon Emperor right now.

The Human Race had occupied a newly established Demon Clan city, and Long Aotian was behind it. It was a scheme to win favor with both the Human Race and the Demon Clan at the same time.

It was also his way of approaching Alisha, the Demon Clan’s acting ruler, while the Demon Clan teetered on the brink of collapse.

But the story’s course had changed. Under normal circumstances, the Demon Emperor would remain unconscious for another two days. During those two days, the Human Race would thoroughly loot the Demon Clan’s northern cities and slaughter their residents, leaving no evil undone.

That would force Alisha, who still lacked the ability to govern, to take the Demon Emperor’s place at the negotiating table.

With Long Aotian pushing things along, the Human Race would smoothly return the cities. Of course they would—they hadn’t even finished building the walls around those three cities.

If the Human nations really wanted to keep them, they’d have to figure out how to divide them among their alliance. And that was before even asking whether they could defend them.

The Human Race had no intention of keeping those three cities, either. The whole thing was a carefully laid scheme.

The Human Race gained the vast resources left in the cities, while the Demon Clan got them back without further trouble. Long Aotian benefited both sides, got close to Alisha, and even found an excuse to approach the Demon Emperor further and treat his illness.

It was a masterfully calculated plan.

Mu Nanyan knew all of this, but she couldn’t say it. She couldn’t exactly tell the Demon Emperor she’d already read the script and that he didn’t need to be surprised—he could just carry on with the story.

Ridiculous. The Demon Emperor would take her for a mole and kill her on the spot. Mu Nanyan wanted to make a good impression, but she couldn’t be too reckless or too eager to rush things.

So she waited for the Demon Emperor to speak.

“I called you here tonight because there’s something important I need to tell you.”

Seeing that Mu Nanyan reacted normally, the Demon Emperor put his probing aside for the time being.

“I have an important meeting to attend tomorrow. As my wife, you ought to appear there with me.”

“I understand. I’m there to be a pretty face, right? No problem. I’ll do as you say.”

Mu Nanyan agreed without the slightest hesitation. As if she had any choice.

Rather than pretending to be torn about it, she might as well be straightforward and sensible. That could put the Demon Emperor in a better mood, too.

Maybe one day he’d be in such a good mood that he’d set me, Mu Nanyan, free. Maybe I should start teaching the Demon Emperor about the benefits of setting things free, and how to do it.

After all, people set chickens, ducks, fish, stones, milk, and bottled water free all the time. Setting one Mu Nanyan free shouldn’t be a big deal.

“Mm. For my wife, you certainly have the right attitude.”

“You don’t need to do anything. Just make the most of your strengths, dress yourself up beautifully, and stay by my side.”

The Demon Emperor studied Mu Nanyan’s profile. When it came to showing off her beauty, there probably wasn’t anyone in the world better at it than Mu Nanyan.

“Yes, I understand, Lord Demon Emperor.”

Mu Nanyan nodded slightly. At the same time, the medicinal liquid in the pot had come to a boil……