[Wuxia] Long Hui's Male Concubine (Complete) - 1

page views:1 Publication date:2023-06-23

In the first episode of the "Injustice to Consort Bai" series , the top scholar

from Wuding

looked at Bai Lingyu's tearful eyes. Long Hui's heart tightened suddenly. Considering the behavior of everyone in the palace, an answer immediately came to mind. He asked in a low voice, "Little Yu'er, is this where Consort Bai lived before her death?"

Bai Lingyu's delicate body trembled violently, tears rolling down her cheeks. She bit her lower lip and slowly nodded.

Long Hui was slightly taken aback, a feeling of pity welling up in his heart. He sighed, "Little Yu'er, I know you're in pain right now, but some things still need to be faced."

Bai Lingyu wiped away her tears and said, "I'm fine, let's keep going!"

Long Hui said, "All signs indicate that someone is trying to stir up trouble and fish in troubled waters by taking advantage of the old case of Consort Bai!" Bai Lingyu gripped her silver spear tightly in her jade hand and gritted her teeth, saying, "I want to see which villain is spreading rumors and disturbing my mother's peace!"

The two walked hand in hand into the depths of Minglang Palace. The ghostly aura around them grew increasingly gloomy, and Long Hui almost wondered if they had stumbled into the Ghost City of Fengdu.

Bai Lingyu raised her eyebrows, flicked her wrist, and channeled the power of the Qilin into the spear, producing a humming sound.

Long Hui had witnessed this unique skill of Bai Lingyu's before, using true qi to drive the weapon to produce a sound like the Buddhist chanting for suppressing demons, directly attacking the enemy's hearing and even capable of shattering their heart, lungs, liver, and gallbladder.

Gunshots rang out, and Long Hui reacted instantly, roaring as he unleashed a long, powerful dragon's cry that resonated with the Qilin's divine power, the sonic waves enveloping the entire Minglang Palace.

The sonic waves vibrated, causing the hidden hand in the shadows to lose control; a muffled groan was heard, and a figure darted away like lightning.

Long Hui shouted, "His meridians have been injured by the sonic waves! Don't let him get away!"

Bai Lingyu, full of vigor, channeled her Qilin's divine power, her spear flashing like a dragon emerging from the sea, a venomous snake emerging from its lair, pouncing directly on the shadowy figure deep within the palace.

The figure's arm trembled, unleashing a surge of Yin energy, reminiscent of the Ghost Meridian Heart Sutra. This Yin energy was lingering and resilient, weakening the sharpness of the Qilin Silver Spear by a third.

Bai Lingyu's eyes narrowed, and she channeled her divine power again, her powerful spear thrust shattering the Yin energy in one fell swoop.

The man, already injured by Huangfu Wuji, was now overwhelmed by Bai Lingyu's divine power. Bai Lingyu, fueled by his mother's hatred, fought with increasing ferocity, his spear wielding powerful winds and thunderous energy, forcing his enemy into internal turmoil with just three strikes.

Knowing Bai Lingyu's formidable spear technique, the man changed tactics, using elusive and unpredictable movements to evade attacks.

Long Hui glanced at the move and immediately recognized its origin, exclaiming, "It's the Netherworld Escape Technique from the Ghost Vein Heart Sutra! This fellow is Gui Mingya from the Haotian Sect!"

Fearing for Bai Lingyu's safety, he was about to intervene, but Bai Lingyu glared at him fiercely, signaling him not to come closer.

Long Hui suddenly realized, "Xiao Yu'er's martial arts were never weak. Before she met me, she faced challenges from all sides independently. She is an independent and resolute woman. Now that she has encountered a traitor who desecrated her deceased mother, she will surely deal with him personally. If I rashly intervene, I will only disappoint her."

Thinking of this, Long Hui decided to plan carefully and stay by his side to support his lover.

Bai Lingyu withdrew her stance by three-tenths, using the spear's seven parts hardness and three parts flexibility to unleash a small and agile martial art, restricting Gui Mingya's movements to within a ten-step radius, greatly weakening the power of the Netherworld Escape Technique.

Seeing that a prolonged battle was futile, Gui Mingya immediately replenished his internal energy, summoning ghostly energy from all directions. Instead of fighting erratically, he took the initiative to approach, entering within three steps of Bai Lingyu. This prevented the spear from being swung effectively. Then, he gathered energy in his hands, focusing it at his fingertips, and unleashed a series of sharp claws—the Soul-Chasing Claws.

Faced with this cunning and manipulative fighting style, Bai Lingyu remained calm. With a swift movement, her spear disassembled into three sections, each connected by iron chains. This would allow her to counter Gui Mingya's relentless pursuit.

Bai Lingyu lowered her shoulders, stepped back, and brought her hands together. The clanging of the chains echoed as the three-section spear, like a coiled dragon, bound Gui Mingya's hands like ropes, shattering his Soul-Chasing Claws.

Bai Lingyu raised an eyebrow, angrily throwing a punch at Gui Mingya's face. The punch landed squarely on his nose, causing blood to gush out and his nose to twist to one side.

As a member of the Six Paths Divine Palace of the Haotian Sect, Gui Mingya had never suffered such humiliation. Enraged, he laughed and said, "Well done!" Bai Lingyu's almond-shaped eyes widened in

anger, and she cursed, "You bastard, how dare you talk back!" Having spent a long time in the military, she was used to vulgar language. In her excitement, she disregarded any ladylike demeanor and blurted out crude words.

She raised her fist again and punched Gui Mingya right in the eye socket and eyebrow, splitting Gui Mingya's eyelid and causing his pupil to swell.

Gui Mingya had taken two punches and was already dizzy and disoriented. He could only stubbornly curse back a few times. Bai Lingyu then punched him squarely on the temple, knocking Gui Mingya to the ground, unable to move.

Long Hui, fearing she would kill Gui Mingya and be unable to explain to the Emperor, quickly reached out and pulled her back, advising, "Alright, you've already crippled this bastard, and you've vented your anger enough. Let's take this brat out and hand him over to the Emperor."

Bai Lingyu stamped her foot and scolded, "Don't call him 'Emperor,' that bastard doesn't deserve it!"

Seeing this, Long Hui quickly changed his tune, "Yes, yes, I won't call him that, Xiaoyu'er, calm down."

Bai Lingyu glared at him and asked, "What should we do with this scoundrel? Should we interrogate him first and find out the true strength of the Haotian Sect?" "?"

Long Hui shook his head and said, "I don't think it's necessary. Even an ordinary disciple of the Haotian Sect is extremely loyal and stubborn, let alone Gui Mingya, who ranks among the Six Paths Divine Palace. It's impossible to pry open his mouth in a short time. Moreover, Huangfu Wuji is still waiting for our results. If he finds out that we two interrogated a prisoner privately, he might become suspicious, which would greatly affect our future actions. It's better to just hand Gui Mingya over to him and let him worry about it!"

Bai Lingyu thought Long Hui's words made sense and nodded in agreement. Sure enough,

just as Long Hui had expected, as soon as they brought the unconscious Gui Mingya out of the palace gate, they saw Eunuch Wang and a group of imperial guards waiting outside.

"The two generals are indeed the two valiant generals of our Great Heng. They subdued the villain with a single move!"

Eunuch Wang said with a smile and cupped his hands.

Long Hui tossed Gui Mingya over, saying, "Eunuch, this man is Gui Mingya of the Haotian Sect. Please be careful!" Eunuch Wang

exclaimed, "Oh! So he's from the Hungry Ghost Palace of the Haotian Sect. No wonder he's so sinister! Lord Long, rest assured, this fellow will not escape once he's in our hands!"

With that, he took a steel knife from a guard with a sword and slashed Gui Mingya's hands and feet four times in quick succession, severing all four limbs. Gui Mingya awoke and fainted repeatedly in excruciating pain.

Eunuch Wang chuckled sinisterly, "I've long heard that the Ghost Vein Heart Sutra has extremely strong regenerative abilities. To prevent this brat from recovering his power, I'll cut off his hands and feet first. Even if he recovers from his internal injuries, he'll have to stay obediently in prison."

Seeing this, Long Hui couldn't help but shudder, recalling Gui You's appearance back then.

Eunuch Wang ordered someone to bandage Gui Mingya and stop the bleeding before escorting him to the Heavenly Prison.

"Generals, you've worked hard,"

Eunuch Wang said with a smile, cupping his hands in greeting. "You two have made invaluable contributions in quelling the rumors of hauntings in the inner palace. I'm sure His Majesty will reward you handsomely in a few days. It's late now, and it's not appropriate for outsiders to remain in the inner palace. Let me escort you out."

The two nodded in agreement and followed Eunuch Wang out.

It was already dawn when they left the palace. Seeing the sky turning white, and considering that the final part of the martial arts examination was about to begin, they decided not to leave their residence and headed directly to the Martial Arts Hall.

Normally, entering and leaving the examination hall was forbidden during the imperial examinations, but Long Hui claimed to be home recuperating, and Bai Lingyu had been summoned by the Emperor at the last minute, so they were exempt from this restriction.

Back at the Martial Arts Hall, the two quickly ate breakfast and rushed to the training ground to watch the final arena competition.

Bai Lingyu, as the proctor, went directly to the arena, standing proudly like a javelin, his military posture ramrod straight and resolute, exuding heroic spirit.

When the appointed time arrived, the war drums sounded, and Prince Qi, Tie Rushan, and Qiu Baifei ascended to their positions, surveying the training ground.

Looking at the martial artists preparing for the exam, Prince Qi spoke: "Gentlemen, today is the final event of the martial arts examination, the arena competition. I need not say more, but I only wish that, regardless of victory or defeat, honor or disgrace, you will display the unyielding spirit of martial artists in this final battle!"

He then ordered the drums to be beaten, signaling the start of the final competition.

A weapon rack was placed on the arena, allowing the candidates to freely choose their preferred weapon. As the war drums beat, candidates went up one after another, selecting their weapons and beginning their duel.

After several rounds, Long Hui was starting to feel drowsy, as these people's martial arts skills were utterly laughable in his eyes; their fights were like children playing games, completely lacking in excitement. Just as

Long Hui was about to fall asleep after more than ten rounds, a thunderous roar suddenly rang out: "Who dares to fight me, you brat!"

Long Hui looked up and saw a towering man step onto the stage. He had bulging eyes, a leopard-like head, dark skin, and a thick waist; his gait was powerful and imposing. It was none other than Yue Biao! Facing Yue Biao was a man wielding two axes, who, startled by Yue Biao's shout, dropped them.

Yue Biao chuckled, "Outrageous! You can't even use a weapon properly, what are you going to do?"

He then turned to the weapon rack, picked up a pair of axes, and shouted, "Grandpa will teach you how to use an axe!"

With a single, powerful swing, the heavy, massive axe moved like a bamboo pole in his hands, creating a sharp gust of wind as it struck his opponent.

The force of the wind hit the man's face, and his legs went weak. He collapsed to the ground with a thud, crying out, "I surrender! I surrender!"

Yue Biao chuckled, "I don't fight surrendered generals. Since you've surrendered, I won't make things difficult for you. Go down!"

The opponent breathed a sigh of relief and scrambled off the stage.

"Black-faced brute, let Zhao Wuliang have a go at you!" No sooner

had Yue Biao won than Zhao Wuliang leaped onto the stage, launching into a tirade.

Yue Biao glanced at him and laughed, "You little brat from the Zhao family, you've got quite the nerve. Come on, let grandpa see what you're made of!"

Zhao Wuliang didn't reply. He took a three-foot-long sword from the weapon rack, made a sword gesture

, and thrust it at Yue Biao. Yue Biao's tiger-like eyes glared, and he swung his axe to block. Instantly, the sound of metal clashing rang out, shaking the surrounding area.

The moment the sword and axe clashed, Yue Biao felt a chill enter his wrist, and he couldn't help but shiver, half of his body going numb.

Zhao Wuliang's sword technique contained hidden icy marrow energy, catching Yue Biao off guard from the start. But Yue Biao was also formidable. He gritted his teeth and endured the bone-chilling cold, swinging his other axe to strike Zhao Wuliang in the waist and abdomen.

Zhao Wuliang didn't dare risk being cut in half at the waist, so he withdrew his sword to defend, using a circular sword technique to deflect Yue Biao's axe force.

Taking advantage of the situation, Yue Biao jumped back a few steps, using the jump to move his muscles and bones, circulating his blood and energy to dispel the cold.

Determined to regain his pride, Zhao Wuliang drew his sword and attacked again. This time, he condensed his chilling energy into the blade, making it flicker unpredictably. Whenever Yue Biao clashed with him, he would immediately unleash his Ice Marrow Force into Zhao Wuliang's body, freezing his blood and qi.

Having learned his lesson, Yue Biao was now more cautious. Knowing his opponent's sword was unusual, he decided to use speed to his advantage, swinging his double axes in rapid succession. The left axe would strike, the right immediately following, alternating between left and right, giving Zhao Wuliang no chance to unleash his power. He wielded the two axes flawlessly, creating a whirlwind on the arena.

Zhao Wuliang's Ice Marrow Force wasn't activated with demon blood essence. After a few moves, his internal energy became stagnant, forcing him to switch to his own family's true qi. However, this constant fluctuation inevitably weakened his energy.

Yue Biao noticed Zhao Wuliang's weakness and roared, unleashing a double axe strike that numbed Zhao Wuliang's arms.

Yue Biao's momentum was overwhelming, pressing forward relentlessly. His movements were fluid and effortless, his two giant axes seemingly grown from his arms, cleaving through the air and splitting rocks with unparalleled power.

The situation suddenly shifted. Zhao Wuliang steeled his resolve, unleashing his demonic power once more – the Azure Wood Tempering Technique. The three-foot-long sword glowed red-hot, like a rainbow piercing the sky, whipping up waves of heat.

Yue Biao was no fool. Recognizing the extraordinary nature of this attack, he softened his stance, switching from defense to offense, his axes forming a cross around his chest.

He blocked the sword with the axe blade, but the fiery blade softened the axe, making the massive steel axes pierce like paper.

Just as the sword tip was about to seal his throat, Yue Biao twisted his arms, decisively discarding the axe. His superhuman strength allowed him to deflect Zhao Wuliang's sword strike with the force of the throw, then he shifted his feet to the side, avoiding the sword's aura.

Having his killing move cleverly countered by his opponent, Zhao Wuliang was even more indignant. He channeled his inner energy, unleashing fiery power, shattering the double axes with a single sword strike, then switched to a horizontal slash, unleashing bursts of fiery sword flowers as he continued his pursuit of Yue Biao.

Yue Biao glared fiercely, cursing the injustice, and kicked out at Zhao Wuliang's abdomen with a cunning, swift, and decisive motion, striking him squarely in the dantian.

Although the force wasn't great, the impact on the dantian caused Zhao Wuliang's breath to falter, rendering him unable to continue his attack.

Yue Biao pressed his advantage, his hands reaching out, left hand gripping the shoulder, right hand lifting the leg, and with a shout, he hoisted Zhao Wuliang overhead and threw him to the ground.

Zhao Wuliang landed covered in dust, furious and dejected, but being off the stage meant defeat, and there was nothing he could do.

Although it was only a few rounds, Long Hui was thrilled and secretly cheered: "In terms of martial arts techniques, Yue Biao is no match for Zhao Wuliang, who possesses the supernatural powers of the demon race, but he can judge the enemy's strengths and weaknesses, find an opening, and decisively discard his weapon, using the force of throwing his axe to deflect the opponent's longsword, thus gaining an opportunity to counterattack!"

This defeat disqualifies Zhao Wuliang from competing for the martial arts champion, but based on his performance in the past few days, he should at least be a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations).

Seeing Zhao Wuliang's defeat, Ni Zixiong couldn't hold back any longer. He picked up a broadsword

, leaped onto the stage, twirled it, and pointed at Yue Biao, saying, "Ni Zixiong, please teach me!" Yue Biao chuckled and casually took a spiked club from the shelf. He had extraordinary arm strength and was extremely skilled with heavy weapons, so his weapons were either broadswords, axes, or copper hammers and spiked clubs.

The spiked club in his hands was like a withered branch, light and agile. After a few swift swings, he smashed it down on Ni Zixiong.

Seeing the club's powerful momentum, Ni Zixiong knew it was unwise to take it head-on. He used a soft, yielding style, first blocking the club, then using his blade to deflect it.

Yue Biao retracted his right arm and raised his left shoulder, spinning the club around him in a rapid, continuous attack.

Ni Zixiong defended himself with his blade, using light, deflecting the immense force. He only used three-tenths of his strength, reserving the remaining seven for later maneuvers. His broadsword moved like a drifting catkin in the wind, or a gentle spring rain or autumn breeze—a mix of feints and real attacks. After

more than ten rounds, Yue Biao raised the club overhead and brought it down. Ni Zixiong, like an eel, slipped behind Yue Biao, causing the club to miss and create a large crater in the arena, sending splinters flying. Ni Zixiong

then countered with a swift, sweeping motion, his blade flashing as he slashed towards Yue Biao's waist and abdomen.

Without turning his head, Yue Biao took a step forward, his movements as light as a swallow, using the flying wood chips as leverage to leap into the air.

This towering, black man possessed such agility and graceful lightness of movement that the onlookers cheered and exclaimed in delight.

From his high vantage point, Yue Biao turned and swung his club at Ni Zixiong, the spiked club crashing down and striking Ni Zixiong's broadsword.

Ni Zixiong felt a sudden heaviness from the blade, and his legs sank into the ground. Yue Biao pressed his advantage, unleashing another three-tenths of his strength, and smashed Ni Zixiong into the ground like a pile driver.

Dust billowed, and sawdust littered the ground. Only Yue Biao remained, holding his staff, slightly panting, staring at the large crater in the arena. Beside him lay a twisted, broken broadsword.

Yue Biao laughed loudly, "Damn, that was exhilarating! This is the first time I've ever hit someone so hard!"

"Exhilarating, isn't it?"

Before Yue Biao's voice faded, Ni Zixiong's sinister laugh rang out, "Then I'll make it even more exhilarating for you!"

As his laugh ended, another large hole appeared in the other corner of the arena, and Ni Zixiong leaped up from below, pounced on Yue Biao like a ghost, and struck with a palm.

Yue Biao raised his staff to his chest, blocking the fierce palm strike, but was still forced back three steps by the force of the blow.

Enraged, Ni Zixiong swung his right arm backhand, striking the spiked club with the force of a thousand-pound hammer, bending the steel weapon. The sheer power of his blow was astounding.

"You scoundrel, I'll take your dog's life today!"

Never before had Ni Zixiong suffered such humiliation. His killing intent surged, and his attacks became increasingly ruthless, each strike aimed at killing Yue Biao.

Yue Biao calmly fought back, wielding his bent spiked club to protect his vitals. However, Ni Zixiong's internal energy was profound, growing stronger with each move. After ten exchanges, he gained the upper hand. He grabbed the club and shouted, "Withdraw!"

Yue Biao wouldn't allow him to so easily take the weapon. With a burst of brute force, he clenched his fists, engaging Ni Zixiong in a fierce struggle, neither recognizing the other.

Ni Zixiong glared and cursed, "You black thief, how dare you fight me? You're courting death!"

He then channeled his inner strength, increasing the force of his grip. However, as his blood and internal energy surged, the hidden poison he had recently been afflicted with suddenly erupted. Ni Zixiong felt a wave of dizziness, and his true energy began to flow uncontrollably.

Just then, Yue Biao laughed, "You want this spiked club so badly? Grandpa will give it to you!" He then released his

grip. Ni Zixiong, still suffering from the poison, had much less control over his strength and stumbled backward, losing his footing.

Yue Biao, seeing his opponent's weakened stance, seized the opportunity to kick him while he was down. He delivered a powerful kick, sending Ni Zixiong off the stage.

"Ni Zixiong is off the stage, Yue Biao wins!"

Bai Lingyu announced the result. Yue Biao had won another round. If he could defeat Chen Feng, who was also among the top four, then the champion title would be his for the taking.

At this moment, Long Hui's heart tightened; the closer they got to the end, the more unpredictable things became.

Bai Lingyu asked, "Yue Biao, do you need to rest for a while and conserve your strength?"

Yue Biao laughed and said, "I've only just warmed up and haven't used my strength yet, so I don't need to rest. Please arrange another opponent for me, General!"

Bai Lingyu nodded, took the list of opponents, and called out, "Chen Feng, come up and fight!"

"Yes!"

Chen Feng, who had been tricked by Yue Biao in the military divination, was determined to regain his honor in the arena. He was ready to fight from the moment he stepped onto the stage.

Yue Biao sneered, "You defeated opponent dare to come up here? Today, I'll make you suffer another defeat!"

His seemingly reckless provocation was actually a deliberate attempt to provoke his opponent and subtly bring up the military divination incident to weaken Chen Feng's confidence.

Chen Feng was also formidable; he remained silent, walked to the weapon rack, and selected a horse-slaying sword, his calmness chilling.

Long Hui thought to himself, "Ni Zixiong's last few moves were truly impressive. His true strength must be even greater than Yue Biao's. His defeat was probably due to the effects of the hidden poison. If he were truly a member of the Haotian Sect, how could he not have realized he was poisoned and allowed the toxins to linger in his body..."

Thinking this, Long Hui became somewhat confused. Was this Ni Zixiong really a member of the Haotian Sect?

Just then, a sharp shout interrupted Long Hui's thoughts. Looking up, he saw Yue Biao wielding a steel whip, aiming at Chen Feng.

Chen Feng, holding a horse-slaying saber, lowered his stance and raised his hand to block.

The blade and whip collided, sparks flying. Chen Feng extended his knee and exerted force with his wrist, actually pushing Yue Biao back, almost causing him to drop the steel whip.

Chen Feng swung his saber forward, the blade gleaming with unstoppable sharpness. Yue Biao dared not be careless, wielding his whip to defend, but unexpectedly, he was cleaved back by the blade's light in a single exchange, leaving a deep gash on his steel whip.

Yue Biao was secretly startled: "I didn't see much skill in him during the archery and spear competition, how come he's so ferocious on the stage?"

However, he didn't have much time to think, as the blade's aura pressed down again. This time, Chen Feng slashed five times in succession, and the steel whip couldn't withstand the force, being cut into six pieces.

Yue Biao didn't panic even after losing his weapon. Instead of retreating, he advanced, crashing into Chen Feng's arms, giving him no chance to swing his sword, forcing him to be unable to use his longsword.

Yue Biao rushed into the center and punched Chen Feng in the chest, but it was like hitting cotton. The force of his punch was like a mud ox sinking into the sea. Just as he tried to pull away, he realized that his fist was already stuck to Chen Feng's chest, unable to move.

"Black thief, take my palm strike!"

Chen Feng used his sticky true energy to entangle Yue Biao's fist, and then struck with a palm strike, sweeping it across Yue Biao's chest.

A surge of powerful internal energy rushed into Yue Biao's body, causing blood to spill from his mouth and nose, indicating internal injury. Seeing this, Chen Feng added another palm strike, sending Yue Biao flying backward like a kite with a broken string.

"Black thief, prepare to die!"

Chen Feng seemed to be in a killing frenzy, his internal energy surging forth as he unleashed another fierce palm strike from afar, determined to take Yue Biao's life! "Enough!"

Just as Yue Biao's life hung in the balance, Bai Lingyu stepped in front of him, deflecting the attack with a swing of her arm and unleashing the power of a Qilin, dispersing Chen Feng's palm strike.

Bai Lingyu coldly stared at Chen Feng and said, "The outcome is already decided; why take a life?"

Her sharp eyes warned Chen Feng against recklessness.

Long Hui was slightly taken aback, thinking to himself, "Chen Feng is quite something. He was able to defeat Yue Biao in just a few moves, and his last palm strike was even more impressive. Even Xiao Yu'er would have to use the power of the Qilin to withstand it. This kid's background must be extraordinary!"

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but glance at King Qi. He saw that King Qi's face was also full of silence and solemnity. Originally, King Qi suspected Ni Zixiong and Chen Feng, but Ni Zixiong was defeated at the critical moment due to the poison, unlike the experts of Haotian Sect. However, this Chen Feng performed very well, obviously having already forced out the poison.

King Qi lowered his eyes and pondered for a moment, then said to Tie Rushan and Qiu Baifei, "Chief Examiners, after four rounds of competition, have the results been announced?"

Tie Rushan nodded and said, "Based on the combined results of the four rounds, although Chen Feng lost to Yue Biao in the military strategy game, he won with an overwhelming advantage in the martial arts competition. Therefore, Chen Feng is the champion of martial arts, Yue Biao is the runner-up, and Ni Zixiong is the third-place winner."

Qiu Baifei said, "The remaining martial arts candidates are too numerous, so it will take some time to compile the list."

King Qi nodded and said, "Then please announce the top three first."

Tie Rushan began to read the list, but Long Hui was in no mood for it, secretly worried: "If Yue Biao loses, won't Sister Luo's bet be in danger? No, we must first find out who Lu Mingluan has bet on in the martial arts examination. If we wait until the ancestral temple is opened, the consequences will be unimaginable."

With the champion's selection finalized, the martial arts examination came to an end. The doors of the Martial Arts Hall opened, and the candidates left one after another, their joy and sorrow mixed.

In a great hurry, Long Hui bid a hasty farewell to Prince Qi and the others, secretly exchanging a few words with Bai Lingyu before leaving the Martial Arts Hall and heading straight for Noble Alley, sneaking into the Pei residence.

Long Hui's spirit had recovered, and he felt refreshed. Following the scent left by Lu Mingluan, he entered a small house in the side courtyard and said, "Miss Lu, I, Long, pay my respects!"

The door opened with a creak, as if there was no wind, revealing Lu Mingluan dressed in a pink silk robe with red flowers and white leaves. Her full, firm breasts and slender waist accentuated her delicate features, making her appear even more radiant. Her face was beautiful and graceful, her features delicate and charming, her eyes full of emotion. She was truly a beauty that could enchant, a fragrance that could make flowers understand her.

Lu Mingluan smiled and said, "I was just about to go and find the general, but I didn't expect you to come first."

Before she finished speaking, her eyebrows twitched slightly, revealing a joyful smile. "The general's spirit has actually recovered! Congratulations!"

Long Hui knew he couldn't hide it from her, so he simply admitted, "Indeed, thank you for your concern, young lady."

Lu Mingluan didn't ask how Long Hui had recovered, but simply welcomed him in and served him tea.

Long Hui asked curiously, "Aren't you going to ask me how you recovered?"

Lu Mingluan shook her head and smiled, "That's not important. The most important thing is that the General has recovered, which strengthens my alliance!"

Hearing the trust in her words, Long Hui tentatively asked, "Now that the martial arts champion has been announced, does Miss Lu know who won?"

Lu Mingluan shook her head and smiled, "Although I have spies in the Martial Arts Hall, their speed is no match for yours, so I still don't know. Please enlighten me, sir."

Long Hui said, "The champion is Chen Feng!"

Lu Mingluan's eyes dimmed, and she frowned, "How could it be him?"

Seeing her reaction, Long Hui tentatively asked, "Miss Lu, perhaps you didn't guess correctly?"

Lu Mingluan sighed, "I originally guessed Ni Zixiong, but alas, man proposes, God disposes!"

Long Hui was slightly taken aback and asked curiously, "Why did you guess Ni Zixiong, Miss?"

Lu Mingluan smiled and said, "Lord Long, you probably already saw through Ni Zixiong's background, didn't you?"

Long Hui didn't hide anything and nodded, "Indeed, I suspect Ni Zixiong is a hidden pawn of the Haotian Sect."

Lu Mingluan said, "More than a hidden pawn, he is also the peerless one in the Six Paths Divine Palace of the Haotian Sect."

Long Hui frowned and said, "Peerless one? Could he be the head of the Human Realm Palace?"

Lu Mingluan said, "That's right, the character 'Ni' contains the radical for 'person,' a single person radical." "It also means 'unparalleled.' And 'Zi Xiong' can be interpreted as a great talent of that time, which perfectly matches the meaning of 'unparalleled.'"

Long Hui said with a wry smile, "So this fellow's name already contained a clue, and I was completely unaware."

Lu Mingluan said, "General, there's no need to blame yourself. This 'unparalleled' person is experienced and capable, and is most skilled at concealing his identity. If I weren't an observer with a clearer perspective, I might not have been able to see through it either."

Long Hui asked, "Then who is Chen Feng?"

Lu Mingluan said, "If I'm not mistaken, Chen Feng is actually a hidden pawn of the Haotian Sect, and should be one of the Eight Holy Temples. But in terms of martial arts and wisdom, Chen Feng is inferior to Ni Zi Xiong. Why is it that he is the one who seized..." "And the martial arts champion?"

Long Hui asked, "How did you know all this, young lady?"

Lu Mingluan replied, "After I escaped from Kui Mountain, I wandered the world and secretly investigated various forces, thus learning some secrets unknown to outsiders."

Long Hui smiled and said, "I thought you would guess Zhao Wuliang?"

Lu Mingluan smiled bitterly and said, "Zhao Wuliang is not a reliable person. I only sent him to participate in the martial arts examination to confuse Luo Qingyan."

Since neither of them guessed the martial arts champion, and the civil service champion was the same person, Long Hui felt relieved. However, he then thought, if Ni Zixiong was a member of the Haotian Sect, why was he poisoned? "This person is no ordinary person to be noticed by Lu Mingluan. Having him as the martial arts champion would bring the greatest benefit to the Haotian Sect. Why deliberately lose?"

Long Hui pondered to himself, seemingly having some clues but unable to put them together.

Suddenly, a sentence Lu Mingluan had just said flashed through his mind—sending him to participate in the martial arts examination was merely to confuse Luo Qingyan.

"Confuse?"

Long Hui suddenly realized, thinking to himself, "I understand now. Ni Zixiong must have sensed Qi Wang's probing, so he deliberately didn't force the poison, letting it take effect and causing him to lose, allowing Chen Feng to win and attract Qi Wang's attention. This is a classic case of sacrificing a pawn to save the king!"

Seeing Long Hui deep in thought, Lu Mingluan casually asked, "What are you thinking about, General?"

Long Hui casually replied, "Thinking about the young lady not winning the bet makes me a little sad."

Lu Mingluan's smile suddenly froze on her beautiful face, a faint blush rising to her jade-like neck, her eyes seeming to ripple like autumn water, a hint of shy joy in them. She gently bit her lip and said, "Are you worried I'll lose?" (Advertisement break: Still relying on your hands? How can that be enjoyable? Forum reputation guaranteed! Healthy anti-premature ejaculation masturbation exerciser, real oral sex pleasure experience, hot recommendation!) Maintain the sensation of ejaculation for 30 minutes, enjoy the pleasure to the point of dizziness. Fully automated masturbation with 12 different sex positions and vibration frequencies. Click to enter.

These soft, sweet words came naturally, without any affectation, which brought the two of them closer.

Long Hui had never seen her with such a shy and charming expression before, and he was somewhat dazed. However, he quickly suppressed his emotions and coughed to change the subject, saying, "Miss Lu, I wonder how you learned about the Haotian Sect. I have never heard Gui You mention much about the Six Paths and Eight Divisions before."

Hearing Long Hui's slightly suspicious words, Lu Mingluan's beautiful face changed, and all her shyness and charm disappeared.

She said lightly, "I used to travel the world and have my own ways of gathering information. There's no need for you to trouble yourself, General." She kept referring to herself as "I" and "General," which made the distance that had just been shortened become distant again, as if a crystal curtain was blocking the two of them.

Sensing her displeasure, Long Hui changed the subject again: "Miss just mentioned wanting to see me. May I ask how I can be of service?"

Lu Mingluan replied, "General, you are too kind. I believe you will also be interested in what I have to do this time."

Long Hui asked curiously, "What is it?"

Lu Mingluan raised her eyebrows and said, "Haotian Sect killed Qian Chong, and I want to retaliate. Would you be willing to accompany me, General?"

The second episode took place on the Yujing Waterway

. The largest restaurant in Yujing, Feixu Restaurant, was bustling with customers. Many high-ranking officials and nobles liked to dine there, and even Long Hui had been there several times.

Gazing at the fragrant, well-stocked building, Long Hui was secretly astonished: "This is actually a branch of the Haotian Sect?"

"Brother, what are you standing there for? Come in with me for drinks and food!"

A male voice beside him snapped Long Hui out of his reverie. This was Lu Mingluan, using her Myriad Transformations Technique to create her appearance. She had shed her glamorous look, transforming into a greasy-faced man with shifty, beady eyes, resembling a nouveau riche.

Long Hui, too, used his own transformation technique to become a bearded man in a brocade warrior's robe, swaying with an air of arrogance.

"Oh, Master Liu, what brings you to our humble shop today!"

A young boy greeted him with a cheerful smile, clearly indicating that Lu Mingluan's persona was a regular customer.

Lu Mingluan chuckled, pulled out a silver ingot, and stuffed it into the waiter's hand, saying, "Quickly prepare a fine feast; I need to entertain my guests!"

The waiter, delighted with the silver, led the two to the inner hall with a beaming smile.

Feixu Restaurant was not a place for ordinary people; only the wealthy and powerful could enter. The restaurant had two floors: the first floor catered to the nouveau riche, while the second floor consisted entirely of private rooms, reserved for high-ranking officials and dignitaries.

Lu Mingluan, being a wealthy man in the capital, was only entitled to dine on the first floor.

The two chose a secluded spot. Long Hui transmitted his voice, saying, "I never imagined that the renowned Feixu Restaurant in the capital was actually a spy for the Haotian Sect. Cang Shitian is incredibly audacious, allowing his disciple to show his face so openly!"

Lu Mingluan laughed, "As the saying goes, true masters hide in plain sight. The more cautious the Haotian Sect is, the less suspicious they become with such ostentatious displays. Who would have thought that the mastermind behind this Feixu Restaurant is Cang Shitian?" Long Hui replied, "Neither Huangfu Wuji nor the three sects paid any attention to this restaurant. Well done, Cang Shitian! No wonder he can so easily obtain information about the court's movements!"

Lu Mingluan said, "Since ancient times, restaurants, gambling dens, and brothels have been excellent places for gathering intelligence. This is similar to the case of Yunxiang Garden back then. Who would have thought that this place, where thousands of beautiful women gathered, was actually a spy for the demon race!" Long Hui paused slightly, then whispered: "Even the best covert agents will eventually be destroyed. Isn't Yunxiang Garden now reduced to ashes?"

Lu Mingluan snorted and said, "It was just a last resort. That little brat Lianyi was too careless. If it weren't for this fire, she would probably have been taken down by the old Taoist Yuanding long ago!" Long

Hui asked in a low voice, "May I ask how you discovered the clues about Feixu Restaurant?"

Lu Mingluan lowered her eyes and said, "Actually, it's nothing special, but the details can't be explained in a few words. I'll tell you the details to the general when I have the chance."

When the wine and dishes were served, Lu Mingluan laughed heartily, "Good brother, let's have a good drink. We won't leave until we're drunk!"

After saying that, she opened a wine jar, tilted her head back, and gulped it down. Her boldness was no less than that of Yuan Qitian. If she hadn't disguised herself as a nouveau riche, Long Hui would have thought that Yuan Qitian had come.

Lu Mingluan downed several jars of strong liquor in one gulp, hiccuping incessantly, her eyes glazed over, babbling incoherently.

Just then, a waiter ran over, saying, "Oh dear, Master Liu is drunk again! Sir, are you a friend of his?"

Long Hui nodded. The waiter pleaded, "Please, sir, help Master Liu to the side room to rest. Master Liu's body is too heavy; I can't lift him."

Long Hui chuckled inwardly, "What 'heavy body'? Clearly, it's a trick of feigning intoxication. How heavy can this woman be!" But upon closer reflection, he realized that Lu Mingluan always had someone serving her when she was drunk, indicating she frequently got drunk here. It seemed this woman had been using feigned drunkenness to operate here for a long time.

What deep cunning, what a long-term scheme! She had been operating here for so long under the guise of Master Liu; no wonder she knew everything about the Haotian Cult.

Long Hui helped Lu Mingluan up and followed the waiter, asking along the way, "Waiter, is Master Liu a regular customer?" The waiter

nodded and said, "Yes, Master Liu is very generous and gives generous tips every time. He also loves to make friends, so our staff here are especially good at serving him."

After saying a few words, he led the waiter to a side room. The waiter smiled and said, "Sir, this is it. Let me open the door for you."

Just as the waiter opened the door, Lu Mingluan pointed a finger and stopped him.

"Good waiter, I'm sorry to trouble you for a while!"

Lu Mingluan chuckled, put the unconscious waiter into the room, and then closed the door tightly.

Long Hui frowned and said, "Miss Lu, if the waiter doesn't go back, won't that attract attention?"

Lu Mingluan smiled and said, "It's alright. This boy is the laziest waiter in the restaurant. It's common for him to sneak away from the miners. Even if he doesn't show up for three or five days, no one will notice. Besides, I rented this room in the name of Master Liu. Everyone knows that Master Liu always gets drunk, so no one will come in to disturb him."

Long Hui thought to himself, "What a scheme. He went to great lengths to create an opportunity and an identity. He is indeed a formidable rival to Sister Luo!"

Lu Mingluan took off the waiter's clothes, turned around and hid behind the screen. There was a whooshing sound of clothes being taken off. Through the thin screen, Long Hui could vaguely see a graceful and curvaceous figure swaying. Full breasts, a slender waist, long legs and a pert bottom, which was very attractive.

With slender, lotus-like arms, she picked up the garment and slowly slipped it over her body, gradually concealing her exquisite figure. A lifelike waiter emerged from behind the screen—it was Lu Mingluan's avatar, conjured using her Myriad Transformations Technique: "General Long, let's go!"

The two slipped into the kitchen unnoticed.

Inside, chefs were busy at work. Seeing Lu Mingluan's avatar, one of them snapped, "You lazybones, hurry up and bring the dishes up!"

Lu Mingluan snorted, her eyes flashing with a strange, demonic light. The chefs immediately lowered their heads and continued working, as if they hadn't seen anyone enter—they were under the spell of the Mysterious Charm Soul-Stealing Technique.

Lu Mingluan bent down and pried open a brick on the stove on the east side, pressing a mechanism. With a click, a hidden door opened in the ground. Long Hui thought to himself, "Putting a secret passage in the kitchen, this method is very similar to that of the Water Spirit Ti back then. It seems to be the territory of the Haotian Sect!"

The two entered the hidden door one after the other and felt a dark canyon. The canyon was diagonally oriented, and the two slid down it.

They felt a chilling cold rising from the soles of their feet, piercing their bones, and they trembled all over.

Long Hui, who possessed the Five Elements True Essence, felt that the cold air was slightly damp, and knew that there must be underground water flowing below. After slowly sliding down more than five zhang, he suddenly felt a coolness under his feet, which went directly up to his calves. It was indeed a water source.

Lu Mingluan was clearly prepared. As soon as she landed, she gathered her energy and stood on the water, saying, "This place connects to Mingxiu Lake; it's an underground waterway."

Long Hui chuckled, "Luckily, it's just a waterway. If it were a sewage system, that would be terrible. I, a stinky man, don't need to worry about such filth, but Miss Lu will have to suffer."

Lu Mingluan frowned and said reproachfully, "Lord Long, you're disgusting. If this were a sewage system, I would rather die than come down here."

At this moment, Long Hui's true energy flowed into his eyes, making even the darkness seem like daytime. He saw that Lu Mingluan had shed her disguise, revealing her true face: snow-white skin, jade-like features, willow-leaf eyebrows, and bright eyes, like a night-blooming jasmine blooming in the darkness.

Long Hui laughed, "That's right. The young lady is naturally clean, and even when choosing a substitute, she chose a lazy waiter because he doesn't work often and doesn't sweat much, so his clothes won't smell."

Lu Mingluan was slightly taken aback, opened her mouth, and said, "Lord Long, you are so observant that you even noticed this!"

Long Hui smiled but didn't reply, but he felt a little emotional, "She is so clean. Being covered in all kinds of filth back then must have been worse than death for her. She had a tough time..."

Water flowed through each cave, and the air was filled with a damp smell. This underground waterway was a network of interconnected paths, obviously formed naturally. Finding a suitable path was not easy, which was probably why the builders deliberately chose this place as a hidden pit.

Lu Mingluan walked on water, her graceful figure swaying gently on the surface. Her glossy black hair swayed slightly in the underground wind, making her truly resemble a fairy on the water. Long Hui, wielding his Kui Water True Essence, could also easily walk on water and followed closely behind her.

"Miss Lu, this place is a maze of paths. Which one is the right one?"

Long Hui asked.

Lu Mingluan raised her alluring eyes and surveyed the surroundings. She said, "If the Haotian Sect wants to establish itself here, they will surely leave traces. I will use the Mysterious Charm Soul-Stealing Technique to try and sense it. Perhaps I will find something."

With that, she closed her eyes and stood still on the water's surface, displaying her extraordinary skill.

After a moment, Lu Mingluan opened her starry eyes and smiled, "I have fulfilled my mission. There is indeed someone in the waterway! General, please follow me!"

Long Hui followed her into a deep waterway. Still somewhat puzzled, he asked, "Miss Lu, does this Mysterious Charm Soul-Stealing Technique also have the effect of finding a path?"

Lu Mingluan laughed, "No, I only use this technique to sense the primordial spirits of living people. But it can only be used in sparsely populated places like this. If it were in the market up there, with so many people coming and going, I wouldn't be able to distinguish one primordial spirit from another."

Long Hui then understood, and thought to himself, "The Xuanmei Soul-Stealing Technique can't just find the primordial spirit of a target at will. The reason she sensed me was because my primordial spirit was incomplete, which is why she noticed me."

The waterway meandered, the surrounding rocks were smooth and wet, covered with moss. After walking about two hundred steps, the water gradually became shallower, revealing a slope ahead.

Lu Mingluan said, "The primordial spirit I sensed is up there. Let's carefully approach it."

Long Hui nodded in agreement.

There was a hidden passage on the slope, with stalactites hanging from the cave walls, but there were traces of artificial excavation around the entrance, widening it.

This should be it! Long Hui thought to himself, "Without Lu Mingluan's profound and divine skills, just navigating these winding and intricate waterways would be a challenge; finding this place would be impossible.

" "I'll go in first to scout ahead. Miss Lu, please follow behind me. If any dangers or unexpected events occur, you can prepare accordingly!"

Long Hui concealed his aura, closed all his pores, and kept his heartbeat and breathing at a minimum before entering the cave first.

Lu Mingluan was slightly taken aback, then chuckled, "General, you have quite the manners!"

She then used her serpentine movement technique to slip into the cave.

The cave was quite deep, about ten zhang in diameter, and the narrow passages, combined with the darkness, created a truly oppressive and suffocating feeling.

Just as they reached the exit, Long Hui waved his hand, signaling them to stop. Lu Mingluan stopped and asked telepathically, "What happened?"

Long Hui replied, "There's someone inside, and their breathing is extremely heavy. They don't seem to know martial arts."

Lu Mingluan said, "Let me take a look with my snake eyes."

She then walked forward, but the passage was narrow, and to get to the front, she had to press herself against Long Hui's body to change positions.

Long Hui tried his best to press himself against one side of the cave wall, but it was still too cramped, only allowing half of his body to pass. Lu Mingluan had no choice but to also lean her jade-like back against the cave wall and slowly move over. Unexpectedly, her ample breasts pressed against Long Hui's chest. As she moved, the flesh of her breasts rubbed against the man's firm and hot chest. The delicate and smooth feeling was enough to penetrate the man's heart. It seemed that demon women were born with a good body. Lu Mingluan's breasts were comparable to Luo Qingyan's in terms of both plumpness and firmness, especially the fleshy tips of her nipples, which hardened slightly upon contact with the flesh.

Although it was only for a moment, the allure and pleasure were no less than direct, full contact. Long Hui's lower abdomen felt a surge of heat, and his erection stirred, silently pressing against Lu Mingluan's lower abdomen.

Even through her clothes, Lu Mingluan's breasts were extremely sensitive; this light, brief friction caused her cheeks to flush, her skin to tighten, and especially her chest muscles to immediately develop a layer of cute goosebumps. Her breathing became heavier and more rapid.

Suddenly, a blush spread across Lu Mingluan's face, and she glanced at Long Hui with a shy yet reproachful look in her alluring eyes. Her pearly teeth gently bit her lower lip as she said, "General Long, your energy is too abundant..." Before she

could finish speaking, the blush had already spread to her earlobes.

Long Hui closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and dispersed the blood rushing to his lower body to avoid further embarrassment.

Lu Mingluan calmed herself, focused her energy in her eyes, and activated her snake-eye technique. She could clearly see all the living beings and people inside the cave. It was a relatively spacious stone cave, with a pool of water on the west side, its flow connected to the outside, not stagnant.

A woman lay curled up on the ground, breathing heavily, clearly unskilled in martial arts. A man sat cross-legged to one side, breathing more gently, his blood and energy abundant, clearly possessing profound internal strength.

Lu Mingluan turned her head, gave Long Hui a wink, and pointed to the man's location, signaling him to come and see. Long Hui concentrated his inner energy in his eyes, unafraid of the darkness, seeing as if in broad daylight—the man was ugly, but his skill in cultivating inner energy was remarkable. With each breath, a long, hot breath escaped from his nostrils, a sign of profound internal energy cultivation.

"This person is so ugly, he must be an Asura from the Eight Holy Temples!"

Long Hui transmitted his voice. "It seems this place really is a stronghold of the Haotian Sect, but who is that curled-up woman?"

Lu Mingluan shook her head and said, "I don't know, but I'm sure there are only the two of them here. Why don't we take them down first and then find out what's going on?"

Long Hui nodded in agreement, and Lu Mingluan smiled and said, "General Long, we'll each take one of them. I'll deal with that woman, and we'll leave the tough nut like the Asura to you!"

Long Hui said, "No problem!"

As soon as he finished speaking, his body moved at will, his feet stepped in the Dragon Step, his hands transformed into golden dragon claws, and the Heavenly Dragon Yuan Gong instantly erupted, dragon energy bursting out like a giant dragon baring its fangs and claws as it pounced. Even

a lion has to go all out when pouncing on a rabbit. Although his opponent's strength was far inferior to his own, Long Hui didn't want anything to go wrong, so his attack was thunderous, aiming to defeat his enemy in one strike.

A powerful, oppressive aura pressed down upon Ashura, who sensed it and instinctively struck back with his palm. However, it was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot; before his arm could even straighten, Long Hui grabbed his throat with a claw, locking down all his energy channels.

"Speak—where is Cang Shitian!"

Long Hui demanded fiercely.

Ashura chuckled coldly a few times, then closed his eyes, appearing completely submissive.

Long Hui cursed inwardly, "What a stubborn bastard!"

Meanwhile, Lu Mingluan easily subdued the woman. As expected, she had no martial arts skills and had been rendered unconscious by the Haotian Sect's pressure points.

After releasing her pressure points, Lu Mingluan didn't do anything unnecessary and immediately used the Mysterious Charm Soul-Stealing Technique. The moment the woman opened her eyes, she was met with Lu Mingluan's alluring, bewitching gaze, and instantly became dazed and unresponsive.

Lu Mingluan asked calmly, "Who are you, and what is your relationship with the Haotian Sect?"

The woman hummed in response and truthfully replied, "I know nothing about the Haotian Sect. My name is Yu Hua, and I was captured by them!"

Yu Hua? Long Hui couldn't help but tremble, and then pressed on, "Are you Yu Hua, captured by the Haotian Sect from the Pingshan Sect?"

Yu Hua nodded in agreement! Long Hui asked again, "Were you originally a servant in the palace?"

Yu Hua nodded as well.

Long Hui was overjoyed; this was truly heaven's help, and everything had come to him effortlessly! Lu Mingluan smiled and said, "General, you seem quite interested in this woman?"

Long Hui said, "Miss Lu, this woman is very important to me. Please hand her over to me."

Lu Mingluan rolled her eyes at him and said with a grin, "I captured her, and she only told the truth because of my Xuanmei Soul-Stealing Technique. Does General really think he can take her away with just a few words?"

Long Hui said, "Then what price does Miss Lu want me to pay?"

Lu Mingluan smiled slyly, "No price is needed. Just remember that General owes me a favor."

Long Hui readily agreed, "No problem!"

Lu Mingluan giggled and then knocked Yu Hua unconscious and tossed her over, "General, you'd better catch her!"

Long Hui used a small grappling technique, gathering a gentle and agile force in his palm, and caught Yu Hua easily.

Lu Mingluan clapped her hands and said, "Small and agile, leaving no trace. Even a mere grappling technique is a divine skill in the General's hands."

Long Hui laughed and said, "You flatter me, young lady. Such a trivial skill is hardly worthy of being called elegant!"

Seeing the two flirting, Ashura angrily cursed, "You two, kill me if you want! Stop with your lovey-dovey stuff, it's making me dizzy!"

Lu Mingluan giggled, reaching out her jade-like hand to gently rest on Long Hui's shoulder, and said in a sweet voice, "I just love flirting with people, doesn't Master Ashura want to watch?"

She was very close, and her warm, fragrant breath brushed against Long Hui's ear as she spoke, extremely pleasant.

As she spoke, Lu Mingluan's eyes shimmered with a seductive light, the prelude to the use of the Mysterious Seduction Technique.

Ashura, encountering the Seduction Technique for the first time, immediately resisted, focusing his mind and fighting against the disorder in his thoughts. Lu

Mingluan was secretly surprised, not expecting this ugly man to have such an extraordinary foundation, actually able to resist the Seduction Technique. So she further intensified her power, her bright, demonic eyes shimmering with iridescent light, becoming both real and illusory.

Ashura cried out, his eyes gradually becoming cloudy! "I must not look into her eyes again!"

Before losing his mind, Ashura gritted his teeth, tightly closed his eyes, and avoided Lu Mingluan's gaze.

Lu Mingluan chuckled, "You think you can hide by closing your eyes? How naive!"

She made a hand seal and gave a sharp shout! Instantly, a vast surge of spiritual energy flooded into Ashura's mind. Ashura cried out, his body convulsing, before slowly calming down.

Lu Mingluan smiled, "Ashura, open your eyes!"

Hearing this, Ashura slowly opened his eyes, only to find them cloudy. Lu Mingluan giggled, snapped her fingers, and Ashura's eyes cleared again.

Long Hui thought to himself, "I've heard Sister Luo say that the Mysterious Charm Soul-Stealing Technique first disturbs the primordial spirit and bewilders the spiritual consciousness. At this time, the eyes of the person affected by the technique are cloudy. But once the Soul-Stealing Technique is fully implanted, the eyes will return to their clear state, making it difficult for outsiders to detect anything unusual. This is the most ingenious aspect of the Soul-Stealing Technique ."

Just then, Long Hui smelled a warm and pleasant fragrance. Looking up, he saw that Lu Mingluan beside him was covered in a light sweat, presumably from the exertion of using the divine technique. Her sweat had no odor; instead, it had a light floral scent. At first, it smelled sweet, but after a few more sniffs, one would feel an irresistible urge to succumb, as if poisoned by poppies.

Lu Mingluan wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand and sighed, "Indeed, the deeper the foundation, the stronger the willpower. This Asura is almost the limit of what my God-Stealing Technique can control. If I encounter a master like Cang Shitian in the future, I must never abuse this technique, or I will suffer a backlash!"

Long Hui was slightly taken aback and said, "So the God-Stealing Technique has limitations. I thought it was omnipotent!" Lu Mingluan chuckled and said, "If anyone could control the God-Stealing Technique, why would I have to fight so hard with Luo Qingyan? I could just make her obey! Not to mention masters, even when facing that little phoenix, I have to be careful with this method."

Lu Mingluan took a deep breath, walked to a stone stool to the side and sat down, and smiled, "Let the general interrogate this person."

After saying that, she snapped her fingers and ordered, "Asura, answer General Long's questions honestly!"

Asura respectfully replied, "Yes!"

Long Hui said solemnly, "Asura, Cang Shitian... " "Where is the Heaven?"

Asura replied, "The Master's whereabouts are elusive; I do not know."

Long Hui was slightly taken aback and glanced at Lu Mingluan. Lu Mingluan nodded and said, "General, you can rest assured. Under the influence of the God-Stealing Technique, he would never lie."

Long Hui then asked, "Then how did you take Yu Hua hostage?"

Asura said, "I did not capture her."

Long Hui then asked, "Then who captured her?"

Asura said, "It was the work of Di Li and Shura Jue."

Long Hui then asked, "How did you contact them?"

Asura said, "There is no direct contact between the Six Paths and Eight Divisions; everything is done through the Holy Mother's orders!"

Long Hui knew he had reached a crucial point and his spirits tightened. He pressed him sternly, "Then where is the Holy Mother?"

Asura shook his head and said, "I do not know. Each time, the Holy Mother writes the orders on paper, transfers them in bottles, and sends them by water."

Long Hui pointed to the pool and asked, "Is it sent from here?"

Asura nodded in agreement.

Seeing that Ashura answered every question, Long Hui couldn't help but admire Lu Mingluan, praising, "This Mysterious Charm Soul-Stealing Technique is truly ingenious! It has tamed Ashura like a dog, making him answer every question without leaving a trace. It's much better than torture!"

Lu Mingluan laughed, "It's just a trivial skill, nothing to brag about. However, if General ever has any troublesome ideas in the future, I'm willing to help. I guarantee these scoundrels will obey." Long Hui laughed

, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. Why don't you teach me a few moves, Miss Lu? That way,

I won't have to trouble you in the future!" Lu Mingluan looked at Long Hui with her alluring eyes, a half-smile on her

face, and said, "General, do you perhaps not want to see me again?" Learning someone else's unique skills is a taboo in the martial arts world. Long Hui hadn't held out much hope; it was just a casual joke. But Lu Mingluan spoke like that, and her tone was quite resentful, which made his heart tremble.

Long Hui shook his head and said, "I was just joking, I didn't mean to pry into your skills." Lu Mingluan smiled and said, "Actually, it's nothing special. If you want to learn, General, I will definitely teach you everything I know!"

Seeing that her words were sincere and her eyes were clear, Long Hui felt a little guilty: "She already trusts me, but I'm still lying to her. It's really frustrating..."

In order to avoid Lu Mingluan noticing anything amiss, Long Hui's guilt was fleeting, and he instantly suppressed his unease.

Long Hui coughed lightly, letting the matter drop, and then asked Yu Hua, "Miss Yu Hua, have you ever been bullied by these thieves?"

Yu Hua shook her head and said, "No."

Long Hui said, "Forgive my impertinence, but do you remember how Consort Bai died?"

One advantage of the Soul-Stealing Technique is that it only affects the subconscious of the person under its influence, unlike ordinary Soul-Stealing and Mind-Bewitching Techniques, which make people become foolish and stupid. Therefore, Yu Hua still had her own feelings and emotions. When she heard the name Consort Bai, she immediately shivered, and fear flashed in her eyes.

Long Hui gently comforted her, "Don't be afraid, young lady. No one here can hurt you. Just tell me what's wrong!"

Yu Hua took a deep breath and said in a trembling voice, "I was originally a palace maid by Consort Zhou's side, so I know a little about what happened to Consort Bai back then."

Long Hui asked, "So what happened?"

Yu Hua lowered her head and thought for a moment, slowly recalling the past events, sorting out her thoughts, and gracefully recounting the whole story... At that time, Consort Zhou seemed to have something to do, and brought Yu Hua and a group of palace maids to Minglang Palace.

Yu Hua said to the palace maid outside Minglang Palace, "Consort Zhou has come to visit Consort Bai. Please announce her arrival."

The palace maid dared not neglect her, replied "Yes," and went back to announce her arrival. After a moment, she ran out again and bowed, saying, "Her Highness Consort Bai invites you. Please, Consort Zhou, come with me."

Consort Zhou nodded lightly, moved gracefully, and slowly walked into Minglang Palace.

Springtime filled the Minglang Palace, with flowers in full bloom. In the courtyard, a woman in palace attire bowed her head, intently working on her needlework. The beautiful woman had a fair complexion, a graceful figure, and her hair was styled in a bun. Her almond-shaped eyes were bright and clear, her eyebrows were delicately painted, and her small red lips were always pursed in a half-smile. Her fair skin was like jade, as if it had been exquisitely sculpted, making her radiant and charming. She wore a round-necked long gown with a pink base embroidered with many pink peach blossoms. The light color and loose style easily concealed her mature and full figure. Every gesture she made exuded a scholarly air, making her seem like a delicate and pitiful young lady. This was none other than the mistress of Minglang Palace—Consort Bai.

Looking at Consort Zhou, her hair was styled in a bun, adorned with a gold hairpin with a phoenix pendant and a jade hairpin carved with a phoenix. The hair shimmered with gold and was serene with jade. She wore a silk shawl over a low-cut dress, her breasts creating a charming curve, her fair and plump mounds revealing a deep cleavage. Her pink breasts were half-hidden, like snow in the dark, but she did not appear frivolous. Instead, she exuded a noble and dignified air. Consort Zhou had a round face and a slightly plump appearance. She was well-proportioned. Although her eyes were not as lively and affectionate as Consort Bai's, they contained a hidden majesty that made people dare not be disrespectful or act rudely. She had the air of an empress. However, her thin lips added a touch of sharpness and meanness to her noble and dignified appearance.

"I hope my sister won't mind my unauthorized visit, elder sister."

Consort Zhou entered the palace the earliest and was older, so all the concubines addressed her as elder sister. On the other hand, Consort Bai entered the palace the latest among the four imperial concubines, making her the youngest of the four, but also the most favored. Unfortunately, a year ago, Consort Zhou brought a beautiful woman surnamed Su from Jiangnan to present to the emperor. This woman was skilled in singing and dancing, and had a clever mind, which won the emperor's favor. She was even given the title of Noble Lady Su, thus taking away a lot of Consort Bai's favor. However, Consort Bai did not feel any displeasure and stayed in Minglang Palace all day, never leaving the palace and ignoring the trivial matters outside.

Consort Bai put down her needlework and gently raised her hand, gesturing for her to sit. She said, "I've been feeling quite bored here, and I was just worried about having no one to talk to. Your arrival is perfectly timed."

Consort Zhou sat opposite Consort Bai and smiled, "How long has it been since you last saw the Emperor?"

Consort Bai was slightly taken aback and lowered her head, saying, "Several months."

Consort Zhou sighed, "You're doing alright, sister. I haven't seen the Emperor for a full six months. Not only that, but Consort Wang and Consort Xiao have also been away for quite some time."

Consort Bai said, "The Emperor is busy with state affairs every day. We consorts shouldn't interfere."

Consort Zhou sighed, "You are truly virtuous, sister. It's a pity that the Emperor isn't entirely concerned with national affairs; he spends all his time in Consort Su's boudoir. I initially thought I was recommending a lovely girl to the Emperor, but in the end, I've only made things difficult for myself, letting this little fox steal His favor!"

Yu Hua, who had served Consort Zhou for a long time, sensed the probing and instigating intent in her mistress's words, as if she wanted to provoke Consort Bai into competing with Consort Su for the Emperor's favor.

Consort Bai frowned slightly and said, "Whom the Emperor favors is not something I, as a younger sister, can inquire about, nor do I wish to."

Although she was simple-minded and did not see through Consort Zhou's deeper meaning, her quiet nature and aversion to conflict prevented her from falling for Consort Zhou's scheme. Seeing that Consort Bai was not fooled, Consort Zhou smiled, took a sip of her fragrant tea, and said nothing more. After sitting quietly for a while, Consort Zhou noticed Consort Bai's needlework and couldn't help but ask, "What are you sewing, younger sister?"

Consort Bai's face flushed, her eyes filled with joy, and she bit her lip

, saying, "It's children's clothes." Consort Zhou exclaimed, "Princess Lingyu is already three years old; these clothes seem a bit small."

Consort Bai gently shook her head and smiled, "It's not for Lingyu..."

She paused, a faint blush of happiness spreading across her jade-like cheeks, and a sweet smile curved her lips.

The beautiful woman, blushing with joy, was charming and captivating, even Yu Hua couldn't help but be amazed. However, this beautiful scene was dispelled by an invisible resentment, and Yu Hua couldn't help but shiver. She looked towards her mistress and saw that although Consort Zhou still wore a gentle smile, there was a barely perceptible anger in the corner of her eyes. Consort

Zhou, with her cunning mind, saw through Consort Bai's thoughts at a glance and tentatively asked, "Is my sister pregnant?" Consort Bai was extremely shy and lowered her head, softly replying, "Yes."

Consort Zhou clapped her hands and laughed, "That's wonderful news! Sister, you must take care of yourself from now on and not overwork yourself!"

Consort Bai nodded gratefully and said, "Thank you for your concern, sister."

Consort Zhou instructed, "Yu Hua, quickly summon Physician Li and have him examine Consort Bai properly!"

Consort Bai declined, saying, "Sister, there's no need to trouble yourself. I already consulted Physician Chen a few days ago and got some medicine to prevent miscarriage." Consort

Zhou said, "Sister, Physician Chen isn't a specialist in gynecology. Physician Li is more skilled in childbirth. You may not know, but Physician Li has a special skill..." "A mere pulse reading can reveal the sex of the fetus!"

Consort Bai was slightly taken aback, exclaiming in surprise, "The Imperial Hospital has such miraculous skills?"

Consort Zhou smiled, "My sister has only been in the palace for a short time and doesn't know many things yet."

Consort Bai exclaimed happily, "So that's how it is! Then quickly go and fetch Physician Li!"

Yu Hua sighed inwardly, "This Consort Bai is too naive. As the saying goes, a mother's status rises with her son. Once she gives birth to a son, she may be made Empress. So how can anyone other than the Emperor know whether the fetus is a boy or a girl!"

Although somewhat helpless, Yu Hua still went to fetch Physician Li.

This Physician Li had a goatee and was somewhat hunchbacked, but his spirits were still good.

Consort Bai said, "Imperial Physician Li, I've heard you have a special skill: you can tell the sex of a fetus. Is that true?"

Imperial Physician Li cupped his hands and replied, "Your Highness, I do know some methods of pulse diagnosis to determine yin and yang, but I'm not always accurate."

Consort Zhou smiled and said, "Imperial Physician Li, there's no need for modesty. You diagnosed my pregnancy back then, and you were absolutely certain I would give birth to a prince. Sure enough, after ten months of pregnancy, I did give birth to a prince." Imperial

Physician Li smiled and said, "That was Your Highness's great fortune, it has nothing to do with me!"

Consort Zhou said, "Imperial Physician Li is too modest. Please take a good pulse diagnosis for Consort Bai as well."

Consort Bai extended her jade-like wrist . She smiled and said, "Physician Li, please take my pulse!"

Physician Li replied, "Yes, Your Majesty," and took the pulses of Consort Bai's left and right wrists respectively. He gently lifted three fingers, sometimes lightly and sometimes heavily, stroking his beard and nodding occasionally, muttering to himself, "The pulse in the left hand is smooth, strong, and solid, indicating abundant yang energy..."

Consort Bai asked, "Physician Li, is this fetus a boy or a girl?"

Physician Li stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty, I am ninety percent certain that this fetus is a prince!"

Consort Bai's face lit up with joy, and she ordered her servants, "Quickly, bring one hundred taels of silver to give to Physician Li."

A shadow of gloom flashed in Consort Zhou's eyes, and her red lips pursed slightly, as if suppressing a surging anger.

After sending Physician Li away, Consort Bai said gratefully, "Sister, if it weren't for your introduction, I wouldn't have known there was such a miraculous doctor in the palace. When my child is born, I'll have him recognize you as his godmother!"

Consort Zhou's eyes darted around, concealing her displeasure and replacing it with a gentle smile: "Then you must thank me in advance, sister."

The two consorts chatted again, but Consort Zhou remained all smiles, showing no displeasure whatsoever. She even shared some pregnancy tips with Consort Bai. After half an hour, Consort Zhou took her leave and returned to the palace.

As soon as she entered the palace, Consort Zhou raised her eyebrows, picked up a vase, and smashed it down. The porcelain shattered instantly, startling all the palace maids and eunuchs into kneeling.

Consort Zhou gritted her teeth and cursed, "Outrageous! This little wretch is already favored by the Emperor. If she gives birth to a boy, will there still be a place for me in this palace!"

Yu Hua shivered and remained silent, afraid of offending her mistress.

Consort Zhou was furious. She smashed five or six more vases and porcelain pieces in one go, leaving sharp shards scattered across the luxurious carpet, threatening to cut and bleed at any moment.

A palace maid rushed in, reporting, "Your Highness, Consort Su requests an audience!"

Consort Zhou snorted coldly and flicked her sleeve, saying, "I'm in a bad mood, I won't see her!"

The maid hurriedly ran out to refuse Consort Su, but then she heard a sweet, soft voice outside the door: "Your Highness, I heard you're in a bad mood, so I specially prepared a bowl of snow lotus and pear soup to help you calm down!"

Consort Zhou was no ordinary woman; she sensed the hidden meaning in Consort Su's words and suppressed her anger, calming herself before signaling Yu Hua to bring Consort Su in.

Yu Hua went outside and saw a beautiful, elegant noblewoman standing gracefully. Her eyes were clear and bright, like flowing spring water; her skin was as smooth and delicate as a peeled egg, almost translucent and moist—a quality only women from Jiangnan possessed.

Yu Hua had seen this woman once before when Consort Zhou recommended her to the palace; now she was favored by the Emperor and had been granted the title of Consort.

"Consort Su, Her Majesty requests your presence. Please follow me!"

This woman was the Emperor's new favorite, and Yu Hua dared not delay in welcoming her into the palace.

Upon entering the palace, Consort Su glanced at the shattered porcelain shards scattered on the floor and laughed, "Your Majesty, what has made you so angry?"

Consort Zhou snorted, "Consort Su, you receive His Majesty's favor day and night, of course you're enjoying yourself immensely. Why come to my palace and suffer this loneliness?"

Consort Su bowed and said, "Your Majesty is too kind. If it weren't for Your Majesty's introduction, I wouldn't be where I am today. I will never forget this kindness!" Consort Zhou

raised a cold eye and sneered, "Consort Su, there's no need for such formalities. Although you are only a consort today, who knows if you won't rise to prominence in the future? Becoming an imperial concubine is not out of the question. Moreover, once you ascend to the throne, your position... " "Wearing a phoenix robe is not impossible!"

Consort Su hurriedly knelt down, landing on a sharp shard of porcelain. Blood immediately flowed from her knee. This action shocked Consort Zhou: "Consort Su, what do you mean by this!"

Consort Su kowtowed and said, "I was brought into the palace by Your Highness, and only then did I have the good fortune to serve the Emperor. I dare not compete with Your Highness for favor, much less covet the Empress's position!"

Consort Zhou knew that this woman was extremely favored, but her family had no power and posed little threat to her. Therefore, seeing that she had injured her knee, she did not want to make things difficult for her any further. She personally helped her up and ordered a palace maid to summon a female physician to bandage her wound.

After Consort Su's wounds were treated, Consort Zhou asked, "Sister Su, what important matter brings you to me today?"

Consort Su lowered her voice and said, "I have served His Majesty day and night and have discerned some of His Majesty's intentions, so I have come to inform Your Majesty to repay your great kindness!"

Consort Zhou narrowed her eyes and sneered, "Since you have figured out His Majesty's intentions, why not please him yourself? Why inform me?"

Consort Su sighed, "Your Majesty still doesn't trust me. Let me put it this way, what His Majesty wants to do is not something I have the ability to interfere with, but Your Majesty... " "Yes, Your Highness, with your strength, you can certainly share the burden for the Emperor!"

Consort Zhou immediately became interested and asked, "What exactly is it?"

Consort Su glanced around, hesitating to speak. Consort Zhou smiled and said, "Sister, please rest assured, everyone here is my confidante."

Consort Su nodded and said, "The Emperor intends to target the Bai and Gong families. These two powerful families are high-ranking officials in the cabinet, with immense influence. My family has no power or influence; how can we share the burden for the Emperor? Looking at the entire harem, only your family has the ability to relieve the Emperor's worries."

"Is this really true?"

Consort Zhou was still somewhat skeptical.

Consort Su swore, "I swear to Heaven, if I utter a single falsehood, may I be struck by lightning and die without a burial place!"

Consort Zhou lowered her eyes in deep thought, sitting quietly for over half an hour. Suddenly, she opened her eyes and said calmly, "I have a plan that kills two birds with one stone. Not only can it deal with that little bitch Bai, but it can also ensure that the Bai and Gong families never rise again!" Consort Su smiled and said, "Since you have such a brilliant plan, I won't bother you any longer and will take my leave!" Consort Zhou took her hand and said, "Don't be hasty, sister. I don't know if my humble plan will work. I need your consideration."

Yu Hua realized that her mistress wanted to drag Consort Su into the scheme, so she deliberately revealed the plan. This way, Consort Su would become an accomplice, and Consort Zhou wouldn't have to worry about her reporting her.

But if Consort Su dared to refuse again, Consort Zhou would definitely kill her to eliminate this threat.

Consort Su's face darkened, and she reluctantly smiled, "Since you think so highly of me, elder sister, then I shall respectfully comply!"

Consort Zhou revealed a smug smile and said, "Elder sister just learned that Consort Bai is pregnant with the emperor's child, and Imperial Physician Li has confirmed it's a boy."

Consort Su was taken aback, "In that case, won't Consort Bai be even more favored in the future?"

Consort Zhou sneered, "More than favored, being made empress wouldn't be an exaggeration!"

Consort Su nodded, "No wonder elder sister is so eager to get rid of her!"

Consort Zhou said, "That's right. Consort Bai is carrying a prince, the Bai family will definitely take it very seriously and will certainly send their own people to protect her, but the Bai family's people serving in the palace..." "His rank isn't high. On the contrary, the Gong family has a member named Gong Liuguang who serves as a Silver Knife Guard. When the time comes, the Bai family will definitely appoint Gong Liuguang to guard Minglang Palace."

Consort Su asked, "Then how does Sister plan to proceed?"

Consort Zhou whispered in Consort Su's ear, "I heard that you know some extraordinary figures in the martial arts world, so I'd like you to obtain a colorless and odorless aphrodisiac. Give it to both the Bai family's little slut and Gong Liuguang, so they'll become infatuated and engage in illicit affairs. This way, we can frame her for promiscuity in the palace, and the Emperor can use this to eliminate the Bai and Gong families in one fell swoop!"

Consort Su nodded, "This servant knows how to do it, please rest assured, Your Majesty!"

Zhou The Imperial Concubine said, "This matter concerns the royal family's reputation. Sister, you must not speak of it, nor can the Emperor know. As imperial concubines, we should only share the Emperor's burdens and not say too much! The final result is that I will eliminate the enemy, and the Emperor will reclaim the power of the cabinet, regardless of the process or means!"

In the third palace scandal

, Imperial Concubine Zhou summoned Yu Hua and said, "Yu Hua, do you have a cousin from your hometown who works in Minglang Palace?"

Yu Hua respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, this servant does indeed have a cousin in Minglang Palace. She entered the palace in the same year as me, and her name is Xia Zhu."

Imperial Concubine Zhou asked, "What is Xia Zhu's character like?"

Yu Hua replied, "Although Xia Zhu and I are relatives,..." Her family was rather poor, and she was also quite snobbish, so we didn't have much contact.

Consort Zhou was very satisfied and said, "Very good. Bring her to my palace whenever she's not on duty!"

Yu Hua thought for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, Xia Zhu isn't on duty the day after tomorrow, so I'll summon her on your behalf!" Consort

Zhou nodded and said, "Even if you're from the same hometown, you must not have seen each other for a long time. I'll give you some fine wine and food; entertain her in her room first. Alright, you may leave now. I'll speak with Consort Su for a while longer."

Yu Hua responded with a "Yes," and withdrew. Having served Consort Zhou for many years, she knew what to listen to and what not to listen to.

Li Ri then went straight to the West Palace and found the quarters for the palace maids and eunuchs.

Entering a room, Yu Hua frowned slightly. The room was not only cramped, but also contained ten beds. She felt a pang of displeasure, thinking to herself, "This room is so small, it's cramped even for one person, yet they've crammed in ten."

She glanced around and saw a palace maid arranging the bedding, seemingly oblivious to her arrival.

"Xia Zhu!"

Yu Hua called out.

The maid appeared startled and quickly turned around.

While Xia Zhu wasn't as beautiful as Yu Hua, her fair skin, almost translucent in the sunlight, possessed a unique charm.

Xia Zhu had just returned from her shift and was resting in her room. These palace maids and eunuchs were of different ranks. Yu Hua, a palace maid who served Consort Zhou closely, lived in a side room of the Consort's palace. Although it was a side room, it was extremely spacious and fully furnished. Moreover, she lived alone, which was a hundred times better than Xia Zhu and a large group of people crammed into this small room.

When Xia Zhu saw Yu Hua enter the room, her fair face broke into a smile: "Oh, Sister Yu Hua, what brings you here to see your little sister?"

Yu Hua replied, "Little sister, I happen to be off duty today, and since you were free too, I came to see you."

Xia Zhu covered her mouth and giggled, "Sister, you're now a favorite of the Imperial Concubine, how can I accept such hospitality?"

Yu Hua took her hand and said, "Little sister, you flatter me. I'm just a servant of the Imperial Concubine, how dare I call myself a favorite? There's no need for such formalities. I'm honored by the Imperial Concubine's kindness in bestowing some fine wines upon me, and I've come to invite you to enjoy them with me."

The rules in the palace were strict. The meals for concubines and noble ladies were carefully selected, while palace maids and eunuchs could only eat simple fare. This was an inviolable hierarchical system, and unless bestowed by their master, they were not allowed to touch anything, even if it was placed right in front of them.

Xia Zhu had served Consort Bai for many years and had seen many delicacies, but the feeling of being able to look but not eat was truly unbearable. Now, hearing that the Imperial Consort would bestow a gift upon her, how could she not be tempted? Without a second thought, she agreed.

Yu Hua led Xia Zhu into her room, and Xia Zhu's eyes lit up. She said enviously, "Sister, your place is so big! You live more comfortably than all ten of us!"

Yu Hua smiled and said, "This is all thanks to the Imperial Consort's kindness. If you serve the Consorts well in the future, you will also have a big house to live in!"

As she spoke, she lifted the food box on the table and took out the dishes one by one. Among them were exquisite delicacies such as Tianxing Huaren cake, crystal lamb trotters, thousand-layer egg yolk pastry, osmanthus roasted chicken, fragrant coconut pastry, and shaved lotus root in ice soup. They were all beautifully presented and delicious, making Xia Zhu's mouth water.

Yu Hua waved her hand and beckoned, "Sister, come and try some!"

Xia Zhu swallowed hard and said, "Then I won't be polite!"

Xia Zhu picked up her chopsticks and started eating the delicious dishes and pastries. Just as she was enjoying herself, a voice suddenly rang out from outside the door, "The Imperial Concubine has arrived!"

Xia Zhu and Yu Hua hurriedly put down their chopsticks and knelt down to acknowledge her. They saw Imperial Concubine Zhou slowly step into the room and said with a gentle smile, "Yu Hua, is this your cousin Xia Zhu that you've been talking about?"

Yu Hua had never mentioned anything about Xia Zhu to her mistress, but at this moment she understood perfectly and said in a cooperative tone, "Your Majesty has discerning eyes. This is my cousin from the same hometown."

Imperial Concubine Zhou smiled and said... "No need for formalities, please rise and speak!"

After the two women stood up, Consort Zhou gazed at Xia Zhu for a few moments and said, "Indeed, you are a wonderful person, clever and obedient. I only have Yu Hua as my trusted maid, but when there are many matters to attend to, Yu Hua is a bit overwhelmed. Since you are Yu Hua's cousin, I wonder if you would be willing to come and help Yu Hua?" Being

a personal maid of the imperial consort meant a significant rise in status. Not only would she eat and live well, but she would also have the opportunity to receive the emperor's favor. Such a good thing had actually happened before her eyes, and Xia Zhu was flattered and stood there dumbfounded until Yu Hua whispered for her to quickly express her gratitude, at which point she came back to her senses.

"This servant thanks Your Highness for your kindness!"

Xia Zhu knelt down with a thud to express her gratitude.

A smug glint flashed in Consort Zhou's eyes as she continued, "But you are, after all, Consort Bai's maid. If I were to take you from Minglang Palace so easily, it might displease Consort Bai. Moreover, Consort Bai is pregnant with the Emperor's child; if she were to become ill from anger, it would be a huge problem."

Xia Zhu's expression darkened, disappointment appearing in her eyes.

Consort Zhou continued, "Actually, as long as Consort Bai's health isn't harmed, everything is negotiable. Here's what we'll do: I have a pregnancy-stabilizing medicine here, a family secret recipe passed down through my clan. It not only ensures the safety of both mother and child but also gives the child extraordinary talent from birth. I've already ordered it to be ground into powder. From now on, you can add this powder to Consort Bai's medicine every day. It will definitely ensure the safety of Consort Bai and her child!"

Adding unknown powder to a royal concubine's medicine was a capital offense. Xia Zhu hesitated, yet she couldn't let go of the wealth and power she was about to receive.

Consort Zhou smiled and said, "Are you afraid this powder will harm Consort Bai's health?"

Xia Zhu trembled and said, "Your Majesty, please understand, this servant truly dares not violate the palace rules."

Consort Zhou smiled slightly, poured a small amount of powder into a cup, mixed it with tea, and drank it down in one gulp. Xia Zhu was startled.

Consort Zhou waved the empty cup in front of her, quite proudly saying, "Look, you see. I drank quite a bit of this pregnancy-stabilizing medicine when I was pregnant, and nothing bad happened. If you don't believe me, think about Prince Qi. He could call out 'Father Emperor' as soon as he was born, all thanks to this secret formula."

Xia Zhu had also heard about Prince Qi. Legend has it that this little prince could speak as soon as he was born, and now, at just nine years old, his strength is comparable to that of a fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy. He is skilled in martial arts, poetry, and song, and is a little genius in the royal family.

Hearing this, Xia Zhu believed it to some extent, but still had some reservations. She cautiously asked, "May I ask Your Highness, why don't you just give the pregnancy-preserving medicine to Consort Bai?"

Consort Zhou sighed, "Right now, everyone in the palace is saying that I'm dissatisfied with Consort Bai. If I rashly send the pregnancy-preserving medicine over, not only will Consort Bai not appreciate it, but it might also give those with ulterior motives a chance to slander me in front of the Emperor. So I want to take this opportunity to let Consort Bai take the medicine first. After she gives birth to a clever and bright child, I will reveal the truth. At that time, I can not only shut up those gossipy women, but also clear up the misunderstanding between Consort Bai and me."

Xia Zhu pondered for a moment and said, "Your Highness, please rest assured, I am in charge of Consort Bai's meals when I am on duty. This servant will definitely fulfill Your Highness's good intentions." Consort Zhou

chuckled, "What a well-behaved child! I like her more and more every time I look at her!"

After saying that, she ordered someone to reward Xia Zhu with some jewelry and precious stones, which made Xia Zhu beam with joy. She wished she could give her heart to Consort Zhou.

Upon reaching this point, Yu Hua stopped and sighed, "The rest of the events took place within Minglang Palace, so I don't know much about them."

Long Hui said in a deep voice, "So, did Consort Bai really have an affair with Gong Liuguang?"

Yu Hua nodded and said, "Yes. About a month later, news spread throughout the palace that Consort Bai had encountered an assassin. The Emperor immediately rushed to Minglang Palace and caught them in bed together. Afterwards, both of them were beaten to death with sticks..."

Long Hui then asked, "Did Xia Zhu drug Consort Bai?"

Yu Hua nodded and said, "Whenever she was on duty, she would add drugs to Consort Bai's food."

Long Hui frowned and said, "Why did you leave the palace?"

Yu Hua said, "Actually, I didn't..." "I was banished from the palace walls, but Consort Zhou wanted to silence me, so I escaped."

Long Hui was even more puzzled and asked, "How did a weak woman like you escape from Consort Zhou?"

Yu Hua sighed, "It's strange, really. I heard that Xia Zhu had died suddenly from a serious illness, so I guessed that Consort Zhou wanted to silence me. I packed my bags that very night to escape. But Consort Zhou's men had already surrounded my residence. I had no way to escape. Just when I resigned myself to my fate, a man in black appeared silently in my house."

At this point, not only Long Hui, but even Lu Mingluan became interested, and the two of them asked at the same time, "And then?"

Yuanhua swallowed hard and said, "That's what the man in black said: 'Consort Zhou is so heartless and unjust, why should you risk your life for her?' I said, 'I also want to escape, but now Consort Zhou's henchmen are about to come in and kill me.' The man in black chuckled and said, 'Your life isn't meant to end here. I'll take pity on you today and save your life so you can expose Consort Zhou's crimes and seek justice for the unjustly killed Consort Bai.' As soon as he finished speaking, he casually flipped over, and my bed board automatically opened, revealing Xia Zhu's corpse underneath. I was terrified. The man then said, 'I brought Xia Zhu's body out of the mass grave to save your life.' With that, he knocked over the oil lamp and set the room ablaze... A sea of fire engulfed the room, choking me and making it hard to breathe. Just then, the man used some kind of magic to pull me out of the fire and even out of the palace."

Long Hui was slightly taken aback and said... "So, when Consort Zhou saw the charred corpse, she assumed you were dead and gave up the hunt?"

Yu Hua said, "That seems to make sense, but the fire came so suddenly; it couldn't have escaped Consort Zhou's notice. And so, I was still dragged out."

Long Hui asked, "Did you see what that person looked like?"

Yu Hua shook her head, "I couldn't. He seemed shrouded in a layer of black mist; I couldn't see his face at all." Lu Mingluan said, "Since this person saved Yu Hua but didn't reveal his face, his motives seem suspicious… Could it be that Cang Shitian is behind this?"

Long Hui shook his head, "It doesn't seem like Cang Shitian. Given the Haotian Sect's style, if they had contact with Yu Hua more than ten years ago, they would definitely have her under their control. They would never have let Tang Ranke find her first."

Lu Mingluan frowned, "Then who exactly is playing tricks here?"

Long Hui said, "I…" The most puzzling thing is that Consort Zhou clearly drank the powder, so could this so-called aphrodisiac be fake?

Lu Mingluan shook her head and said, "It shouldn't be fake. It's just a kind of slow-acting poison that takes effect only when a certain amount is ingested." Long

Hui asked curiously, "But Xia Zhu gave Consort Bai the medicine for a whole month. It didn't take effect earlier or later, but it just happened when Huangfu Wuji came to visit. What a coincidence!"

Lu Mingluan said, "Actually, as long as the amount of medicine added each time is controlled, the timing of the poisoning can be controlled!"

Long Hui turned to Yu Hua and asked, "Did Consort Zhou tell Xia Zhu how much to add each time?"

Yu Hua shook her head and said, "No, Consort Zhou just told Xia Zhu to add as much as she wanted, as long as she gave the powder to Consort Bai. There was no prescribed dosage."

Lu Mingluan couldn't help but ask curiously, "Strange, if the dosage isn't controlled, then what is the cause? " "How did the lustful poison come about?"

Long Hui sighed and said, "Miss Lu, let's just gather this much information for today. Let's leave now. As for Yu Hua, I want her to stay here. And this Asura, I'll ask you to handle things after I've asked him some questions."

Lu Mingluan chuckled and said, "No problem. These two have been affected by the Soul-Stealing Technique. They have my unique mark on their consciousness. Even if they run to the ends of the earth, I can bring them back. Moreover, leaving these two spies in secret will allow us to give Cang Shitian a big surprise when the time is right!"

Long Hui then summoned Asura to ask him some questions about the Haotian Sect. However, Cang Shitian managed these disciples separately, each with their own stronghold and mission. Even communication had to go through the Haotian Holy Mother. Therefore, Long Hui only managed to find out some things about Asura, including that the Haotian Sect rotates its personnel to wait for orders at the waterway every three days.

"Remember this, you have never seen me or General Long!"

Lu Mingluan raised her hand, and the two respectfully responded before returning to their original positions. Yu Hua continued to sit in the same curled-up position, while Ashura continued to sit cross-legged and practice her breathing.

Long Hui was about to turn and leave when Lu Mingluan grabbed his sleeve. "General Long, you're not just going to leave like this, are you?"

Long Hui shrugged. "Staying here won't yield any information."

Lu Mingluan gave him a flirtatious look, a half-smile on her face. "Who says you won't find anything? Isn't there a pool over there?"

Long Hui suddenly realized, slapping his thigh. "I almost forgot! This pool is the channel through which the upper echelons of the Haotian Sect issue orders."

Lu Mingluan nodded. "Indeed. Doesn't the general want to know which water vein this pool connects to?"

If they could find the source of the water vein, they might be able to locate the Haotian Sect. Long Hui felt a surge of excitement, kicked Ashura, and shouted, "Tell me quickly, where does this pool lead to!"

Ashura got up from the ground and shook his head. "This humble servant doesn't know. Without the orders of the sect leader or the Holy Mother, we are not allowed to enter the pool without permission."

Lu Mingluan sneered. "What an obedient dog!"

Long Hui snorted. "Fine, I'll go see for myself!"

With that, he was about to jump into the pool, but Lu Mingluan grabbed him. "General Long, this is Haotian Sect territory after all. If you go into the water alone and something happens, there's no one to help you. Why

don't I go in with you?" Long Hui laughed. "Miss Lu, the groundwater is cold and damp. Soaking in it for too long won't be good for your health. You shouldn't go in. Leave this rough work to me. Besides, I possess the Kui Water True Essence, which allows me to control the waters of the five lakes and four seas. I'm not afraid of water battles at all. So even if those Haotian Sect thieves turn into sharks, I can crush them into shark fins!"

Lu Mingluan scolded, "General

, you're so capable. Does that mean you look down on me, a mere woman?" Long Hui waved his hand. "Miss Lu is both wise and brave. How could I dare to underestimate you?"

Lu Mingluan glared at him and spat, "It's good that you know. Haotian Sect killed my compatriots, so this is also my business!"

With that, she jumped into the pool first, and Long Hui had no choice but to follow.

The pool water was dark and murky, making it difficult to see. Completely disoriented, Lu Mingluan couldn't tell which way was which. She inwardly groaned; this demon race lacked water-based skills, so after swimming only a dozen or so feet, she had already lost her way. She wanted to turn back but couldn't find a way, truly caught in a dilemma.

"Damn it! I was too reckless and plunged in. Now I'm disoriented. If I can't find my way back, I'll probably suffocate!"

Although Lu Mingluan possessed profound internal energy, enough to hold her breath underwater for several hours without harm, her internal energy would eventually be depleted, leaving her no choice but to drown.

In her panic, Lu Mingluan's movements became somewhat uncoordinated, and her splashing created a strong current, stirring up some objects that had settled at the bottom of the pool.

Lu Mingluan saw clearly that they were indeed human skeletons, and more than one. She was shocked and thought to herself, "These people must be disciples of the Haotian Sect. They lost their lives trying to find the direction of the pool's flow."

Just then, Long Hui swam to her side, grabbed her arm, and pulled her forward, gesturing for her to follow. Lu Mingluan didn't suspect anything and let Long Hui lead her.

Long Hui used his Kui Water True Essence to sense the direction of the water flow, so he wasn't afraid of the murky pool.

After swimming for a while, the water gradually cleared, but three waterways appeared before them. Lu Mingluan was dumbfounded and looked to Long Hui for help, asking him with her eyes which path to choose. Long Hui tried to sense the direction with his Kui Water True Essence and after a moment concluded—all three were exits.

Long Hui, still holding her soft hand, wrote on her palm, "All three passages lead out. Let's try the left one first."

Lu Mingluan nodded in agreement, then suddenly her face flushed. Remembering that Long Hui was holding her hand, she quickly pulled away, indicating to him that she could swim on her own.

Long Hui gave her an apologetic smile.

Approaching the first one on the left, they saw traces of artificial carving at the entrance. They realized this was also the work of the Haotian Sect, and their curiosity about the world beyond the entrance grew even stronger.

The two swam in one after the other, and slowly a glimmer of light appeared before them, indicating that the exit was right in front of them.

Emerging from the tunnel, the scenery opened up before them, with fish swimming around, seemingly on the riverbed or lakebed.

Although the current was gentle, a subtle undercurrent flowed towards the cave entrance. While not enough to carry a living person, it could probably support a few bottles, presumably the place where the Holy Mother of the Azure Heaven issued commands to her subordinates.

Long Hui looked around and saw a bridge pier not far away, so he gestured for Lu Mingluan to swim there.

The two climbed onto the pier and slowly rose to the surface. Above was an arched bridge, which would provide cover.

After Long Hui surfaced, he glanced around and couldn't help but gasp. This was clearly the pond in the Imperial Garden, with several pavilions standing in the center of the lake. Moreover, the arched bridge above Long Hui's head was the very spot where he had fought Fu Jiuyin.

Lu Mingluan was astonished, clicking her tongue in amazement, "What a cunning Haotian Sect! I initially thought the waterway would connect to some remote place, but who would have thought they'd build an underground waterway right up to the palace? What audacity, what a scheme!"

Long Hui frowned, "In any city, there are people listening for underground activity to prevent the enemy from digging tunnels to launch a sneak attack. But the Haotian Sect unexpectedly dug a waterway, using the flow of underground water to cover up the noise of construction. However, digging a waterway is extremely dangerous, not only taking a long time but also risking the lives of the diggers. It seems this waterway is not a short-term project; it appears Cang Shitian has been planning this for a long time!"

Lu Mingluan, having infiltrated the Pei family for many years, was extremely familiar with the affairs of the palace. She nodded, "Because the Imperial Garden is a place for the royal family to enjoy themselves, to avoid affecting their mood, they say there aren't many guards stationed there. Most of the guards are on duty on the outer perimeter. Moreover, the Imperial Garden is located in the center of the palace; if Cang Shitian..." "Shi Tian sent in a team of assassins; they could catch the emperor completely off guard!"

Long Hui sighed. "What I'm wondering now is, what else does Cang Shi Tian have to hide his identity?"

Lu Mingluan frowned and asked, "What do you mean, General?"

Long Hui said, "First it was the Feixu Restaurant, then the underground waterways, and now it leads to the palace. These grand schemes require not only money but also power. Otherwise, how could they have fooled the officials of the capital?"

Lu Mingluan said, "If we investigate the owner of the Feixu Restaurant, we might find some clues."

Long Hui sighed, "That's all we can do!"

Lu Mingluan said, "There are two more passages; let's investigate them together."

Long Hui nodded and said, "Since we're here, let's find out all the waterways!"

The two turned back and swam out through the middle opening. This time, they came to another pool, which was covered with aquatic plants. It had obviously been abandoned for a long time and no one had cleaned it.

Upon surfacing, what came into view was a dilapidated and old palace—the Minglang Palace! Long Hui was completely stunned. A waterway led to the Imperial Garden, and this waterway connected to the Minglang Palace. What exactly was Cang Shitian planning?! Lu Mingluan pondered for a moment and said, "General Long, I have an idea. The waterway leading to the Imperial Garden is for launching a swift and decisive attack, while the waterway connecting to the Minglang Palace is for accumulating troops and waiting for the right moment to strike." Long Hui, having spent a long time in the military camp, understood the general idea after hearing Lu Mingluan's suggestion—the Imperial Garden was close to the center of the palace, allowing for a surprise attack and a decapitation strike, but it also had relatively many guards, so too few people could be sent in; only elite experts could be deployed, making it somewhat of a gamble, a do-or-die situation.

The Minglang Palace, on the other hand, had been abandoned for a long time because of Consort Bai, so more troops could be deployed there. Once enough troops were accumulated, they could storm the palace, suggesting a protracted war.

Thus, these two waterways represent two operational strategies of the Haotian Sect—ambush and decapitation strikes or direct assault and fierce fighting—both capable of catching the Imperial Guards off guard.

The two returned to the underground river to explore the third waterway. Just as they were about to reach the cave entrance, a sudden surge of turbulent water rushed towards them. This turbulent current was fast and swift, carrying a cloud of sand. Lu Mingluan was hit hard, first by sand hitting her eyes, then swept off her feet by the current, nearly crashing into the cave wall.

Fortunately, Long Hui reacted quickly, catching her in his arms and preventing her from hitting her head. He then used his Kui Water True Essence to part the turbulent current, leading Lu Mingluan out of the cave.

The surrounding area was brick-lined and quite narrow, forming a roughly circular space—a well.

The exit was located underground, and the small size of the exit likely caused the violent turbulence. Long Hui swam to the surface with Lu Mingluan and asked, "Miss Lu, are you alright...?"

Before he could finish speaking, Long Hui was immediately stunned.

The hotel staff, who were serving tea and dishes, wore looser clothing than usual men's attire. Because they had been soaked in water, their clothes clung tightly to Lu Mingluan's delicate body. The current had further pushed open her collar, revealing a glimpse of her alluring figure.

Lu Mingluan's hairpins were scattered, her dark hair wet and clung to her forehead, cheeks, and even her snow-white neck, with a few strands hanging down her slender collarbone... Water droplets dripped down, making her appear especially pitiful; her collar and bodice had been swept down to her shoulders, revealing not only her fair and delicate shoulders but also the pink and green butterfly-patterned undergarment beneath.

Although only half of her bodice was visible, her breasts were round and full, firm and perky. Her large, round breasts stretched the satin fabric to its fullest extent, and the folds and lace of her undergarment revealed glimpses of her proud cleavage, which was fair and tender, making one's blood boil.

At this moment, not only was her springtime exposed, but she was also held in the man's arms, her voluptuous body pressed seamlessly against Long Hui's strong frame. Lu Mingluan blushed and bit her lip, trying to close her eyes to hide her surging shyness. Unexpectedly, the man's gaze was filled with aggressive dominance, staring directly at her. Where his gaze swept over her, a burning heat, as if on fire, arose, her delicate skin felt as if it were being melted. Her mind was in chaos, and she even recalled the battle of Baisha Plain... This scoundrel was so hateful, snatching the bodice she was wearing in the tent, causing her plump breasts to shyly escape their restraints and be exposed to the summer air, letting the hot summer wind blow on them.

At that time, the hot summer wind was like a steamer, baking her snow-white, round breasts until they swelled and fermented, like honeydew melons about to ripen.

Lu Mingluan's eyes were tightly closed, and she trembled shyly in my arms. Her breathing grew heavier, her lips slightly parted, and she exhaled warm, fragrant breaths. Her bright red lips were like poppy petals laden with dew, both beautiful and dangerous.

Undeniably, Lu Mingluan's beauty and talent were in no way inferior to Luo Qingyan's. Unlike Luo Qingyan's mature and alluring charm, Lu Mingluan exuded a dangerous wildness, yet possessed a youthful shyness that belied her experience and age, giving her a uniquely alluring charm.

A beautiful face was within reach, pearly teeth and flowery lips were readily visible. Long Hui couldn't resist lowering his face, opening his lips to kiss the two petals of a poppy flower. His lips parted for the first time, and Lu Mingluan was kissed by a man for the first time. She was instantly overwhelmed, letting out a soft moan, slightly opening her beautiful eyes, her face flushed even more, her body limp in Long Hui's arms.

In a daze, a flood of emotions surged within Lu Mingluan: the humiliation of the mortal world, the death of her mentor, the estrangement from her sisters, the separation from her brother… Alone and helpless, she wandered with Xiaoxiao, homeless and destitute, her body and soul still frozen, feeling no warmth even under the blazing sun. Her senses seemed forever frozen in that bitterly cold winter on Puppet Mountain.

Yet, though her body was weak, she felt the intense heat emanating from the man's chest, seeping into every pore of her skin. After so many years, she felt her own body still had warmth, and her heart still beat.

"So warm..."

Lu Mingluan's mind went blank, her eyes glazed over. Seemingly unconsciously, she stretched out her arms, deliberately passing them under Long Hui's armpits, pressing her body as close to the man's as possible, greedily feeling his fiery breath.

Their lips met, their saliva mingled, and Lu Mingluan's fragrant tongue was drawn to Long Hui, shyly and awkwardly letting the man do as he pleased.

The warm, soft, and voluptuous body pressed against his chest, and Long Hui was captivated by its beauty. His hands slid down from Lu Mingluan's fragrant shoulders to her jade-like back, where he felt a smooth, warm touch and a well-proportioned figure. Below that was her slender and graceful waist, which was without an ounce of excess fat, strong and elastic. Unlike Luo Qingyan's mature, honeyed, and alluringly boneless body, Lu Mingluan's body was plump yet firm, gentle yet wild.

In his moment of passion and confusion, footsteps echoed outside the well, followed by a familiar and melodious female voice: "Tao'er, you've been so busy with the civil service exams these past few days, it's been so long since you've come to see your mother!"

The voice was clearly that of Consort Xiao Yuan, and the Tao'er she spoke of was none other than Prince Song. Long Hui suddenly understood, realizing what Cang Shitian's strategy this third waterway represented. He whispered, "Miss Lu! I understand, what's this third waterway for…"

Before he could finish, Lu Mingluan glared at him fiercely, scolding him angrily, "If you dare call me 'Miss Lu' again, don't ever come looking for me again!"

Long Hui's heart skipped a beat; he already knew… Seeing his intentions, he smiled gently

and said, "Sister Lu..." Lu Mingluan scolded, "Don't call me 'sister,' it makes me sound old!"

Long Hui changed his address again, "Mingluan!"

Lu Mingluan spat, "No, it sounds weird when you say those two words!"

Long Hui racked his brains and finally came up with another address, "Sister Luan!"

Lu Mingluan got goosebumps from his address and scolded, "Fine, the first one sounds better."

Lu Mingluan rested her pointed chin on Long Hui's shoulder, her slender arms tightly wrapped around the man's waist and back, and whispered, "Hold me tighter, I'm cold!"

Long Hui tightened his arms and said, "Is this warmer?"

Lu Mingluan squinted her eyes, like a well-fed cat, and nodded slightly.

Long Hui said in a low voice, "Mingluan, I've figured out what this third waterway is for."

Lu Mingluan said, "The waterway leads directly to the well in Consort Xiao's palace. If Consort Xiao isn't a member of the Haotian Sect, then she's being used by the Haotian Sect to hold hostages!"

Long Hui nodded and said, "Exactly. It seems I was overthinking things. With your intelligence, you probably figured it out long ago!" Lu Mingluan felt a sweet warmth in her heart and rested her head on Long Hui's shoulder, enjoying this rare warmth that she hadn't felt in many years.

Suddenly, Consort Xiao's voice came from the well: "Tao'er, who passed the provincial examination in the civil service examination?"

Hearing this, Lu Mingluan's ears perked up, and she listened quietly. She heard Prince Song say, "This year's civil service examination is truly full of talented people. With the recommendation of the three chief examiners, eleven people passed the provincial examination, three more than last year."

Consort Xiao asked, "Who won first place in the provincial examination this time?"

Prince Song said, "It's a poor scholar named Xue Le. However, whether he can pass the imperial examination depends on Father Emperor's will."

Consort Xiao said, "Since Xue Le was able to win first place in the provincial examination, it means he has some talent. Whether he passes the examination or not, Tao'er, you must find a way to win him over."

Prince Song agreed, and then Consort Xiao sighed and said, "These past few days, I've been worried about your civil service examination, Tao'er. I haven't been able to sleep well, and my back aches terribly..."

Prince Song said, "Let me massage Mother's shoulders."

Consort Xiao hummed in agreement, and then silence fell above.

Lu Mingluan patted Long Hui and said in a low voice, "You won't get any more information if you stay any longer. Why don't you go back first?"

Long Hui nodded and let go of Lu Mingluan. Lu Mingluan blushed and gave her a reproachful look. She lowered her head and straightened her clothes. Her fair body was quickly covered again under her loose clothes. Long Hui was still a little unsatisfied.

Just as he was about to dive to the bottom of the well, he heard a languid, seductive moan coming from the wellhead. Then he heard Prince Song say, "Mother, was my massage comfortable?"

Consort Xiao replied in a soft, nasal voice, "Very good, very comfortable. You've almost rubbed my bones apart..."

This sweet, seductive voice didn't sound like a mother speaking to her child at all; it sounded more like Chu Wanbing's coquettishness towards him. Long Hui couldn't help but feel suspicious. Then he heard Prince Song say, "Mother, how long has it been since Father last visited your palace?"

Consort Xiao sighed deeply, "It's been over a year. If it weren't for you and Ming'er coming to the palace to keep me company these past few days, I don't know how I would have gotten through these long nights. Alas, now Ming'er is gone, and only you, Tao'er, are left..."

Her tone was first sorrowful, then turned to resentment, sending

shivers down Long Hui's spine. "Mother, don't be sad. Once I ascend the throne, I will surely accompany you every day,"

Prince Song said softly.

Consort Xiao giggled, "Good boy, you have such a sweet tongue. If you become emperor, with beauties galore in your harem, will you still remember your old mother?"

Prince Song laughed, "Mother isn't old at all! Mother is becoming more and more mature and beautiful, far surpassing those shy young girls!"

The more Long Hui listened, the more uneasy he felt. Logically speaking, the well-read Prince Song would never say such disrespectful things to his mother. These words were probably only spoken between lovers. Thinking of this, Long Hui created a suction force on his palms, sticking to the well wall. Using a gecko-like climbing technique, he climbed directly to the well's edge.

He cautiously poked his head out and saw Consort Xiao sitting gracefully in a pavilion in a garden full of flowers. There were no other palace maids or eunuchs around. Prince Song, in his brocade robe and jade crown, stood right behind Consort Xiao, gently massaging and patting her shoulders.

At this moment, Consort Xiao Yuan had her cloud-like hair piled high on her head in an intricate style, adorned with a gold-embroidered jade hairpin at the base. A jade hairpin was aptly placed horizontally at the base, and tassels adorned with transparent beads dangled beside her fair ears, making her elegant and noble temperament even more captivating.

Her high bun revealed her snow-white neck and flawless complexion. Her mature and beautiful face was lightly made up, appearing rosy and radiant with a soft glow. Her crimson lips, like two flower petals, were gently pursed.

Consort Xiao was dressed in a noble and elegant manner. She wore a bright yellow patterned undergarment, with a brocade red embroidered phoenix-patterned bodice that accentuated her ample bosom. The soft fabric made her breasts appear fuller, and a light green sash cinched her waist, highlighting her slender figure. She wore a goose-feather yellow skirt with layered pleats that concealed her long, straight legs. Her delicate hands were clasped below her abdomen, giving her an air of elegance, poise, and virtue.

However, as Prince Song massaged her shoulders and back, his hands secretly pulled down Consort Xiao's collar, revealing a glimpse of her fair and full arms.

Consort Xiao Yuan closed her eyes and let out a soft moan, scolding, "You naughty boy, is this how you massage someone... Hmm, where are your hands going..."

At this moment, Prince Song's hands had already brazenly slipped inside Consort Xiao Yuan's bodice. Her already ample breasts, hidden beneath the bodice, were now squeezed in by his large hands, leaving them no room to hide. The soft, plump flesh overflowed from the edges of her clothing, white and fluffy like steamed, fermented dough.

Consort Xiao Yuan squinted and panted, saying, "Tao'er, not here, let's go... let's go back to the room."

Prince Song's hands kneaded more and more vigorously, shaping her breasts into various forms. Although Long Hui couldn't see the full view, he could see the fresh, flushed color on the overflowing skin, and could imagine how forceful his hands were.

"No, I want Mother now!"

Prince Song kissed Consort Xiao Yuan's neck, saying willfully.

"Tao'er... not here, someone will see... Mother will grant you anything after we go back to the room..."

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