The empressâ gaze was filled with a feeling of uncertainty. Zu An was startled and asked, âWhen your highness talks about doing certain things, are you talking about yourself?â
The empress sat down and reclined comfortably. She rested her chin on her hand and replied, âWhat do you think?â
She had been a mature and curvaceous woman to begin with. When she lay down like this, her figure was even more seductive and carried a relaxed air. An invisible sort of seduction was taking place.
âSince your highness doesnât need me for anything else, Iâll leave first.â Even though Zu An felt his throat going dry, he didnât lose his head. He obviously couldnât believe that the empress would have feelings for him for no reason, but he couldnât figure out what she was really thinking, so he decided to just leave first.
âDonât be in such a hurry; who said I donât need you for anything else?â The empress grabbed his hand. âMy Great Zhou Dynasty has a national treasure I need your help to evaluate.â
âNational treasure?â Zu An asked, stunned. This was a world of cultivation, and he had experienced the power of magical artifacts. Just how powerful did the item have to be for the Great Zhou Dynasty to treat it as a national treasure? He became excited and continued, âMay I ask what type of national treasure it is?â
The empress gently ran her fingers across Zu Anâs body, her bright red lips rising into a lovely arc. âIt might be right before your eyes.â
Zu An was speechless. Why did he feel like Xuanzang suffering temptation in the country of women?[1]
The empress giggled when she saw Zu An standing in a stupor. âWhat, is this empress not enough to be a national treasure?â
Zu An couldnât help but sigh. âYour highness is incredibly charming, a woman among women. Of course youâre a national treasure.â
The empressâ eyes grew a bit moist. âIs that all for your evaluation? Arenât you being too half-hearted here?â
It was clearly already long past the height of summer, yet Zu An felt the night was extremely hot. He replied with difficulty, âThen may I ask how your highness wishes for me to evaluate you?â
The empress looked at him in a seductive manner. âYou can give me a try yourself. Only through the most intimate experience can you give the most accurate evaluation.â
Zu An sighed. âYour highness, are you tempting me right now?â
The empress gently bit her fingertip and giggled. âI heard from Chu First Miss that youâve always been a slick-tongued person, that you know how to make a girl happy. But why do you seem stiff today? Itâs almost as if you donât have an ounce of romance in you.â
Zu An got up and said, âEven though Iâm a bit of a lustful person, Iâm not a fool. Your highness definitely has ulterior motives, but unfortunately, Iâm too slow-witted and canât read your true objective.â
When he had watched that episode of Journey to the West where Xuanzang remained completely indifferent before the seduction of endless charming beauties, he had felt that was a disgrace for all men. He hadnât expected to be in the same situation today. He really was quite a disgrace today too.
âIâm not asking for anything else.â The empress sighed. âMy only request is for you to console me tonight. I already said that Iâve been extremely lonely these years, and no one else dares to do anything to me. Only you alone dared to hit⦠hit me there. I canât ask anyone else but you.â
A bit of distress showed on the empressâ face as she observed Zu Anâs silence. âIâm a glorious empress, you know? Itâs already quite embarrassing for me to go this far. If you still donât respond at all, then Iâll really be ashamed.â
Zu An sneered. This woman was full of schemes and infatuated with authority. Would she really be discouraged by just that? It would be more believable for you to say Piao Duandiao decided to never go to the government brothel again.
He didnât reply, and instead walked out. He was worried that he might really be unable to control his own instincts if he stayed here. No matter how two-faced he thought the empress was, he had to admit that she was incredible at seduction.
The underripe methods of young girls couldnât compare. The empress gave off a powerful feminine charm that could make others unable to help but think of ravaging her in bed. Furthermore, her identity was special, so the thought of doing so carried a taboo feeling. It really was something exciting to look forward to.
Zu An only managed to free himself with tremendous willpower. The only thought in his head right now was to leave this place as quickly as possible.
The empress was ashamed and annoyed when she saw Zu An turning to leave. She stood up and asked âMister Zu, are you even a man? You were just beaten by his majesty like a dog, yet you donât even feel anything? Iâm giving you a chance to get revenge, but you donât even dare. Are you really that scared of him?â
When he heard this, Zu An, who was already at the doorstep, stopped. He suddenly turned around to look at the empress, his eyes slightly reddening. âWhat did you say?â This was precisely what had been gnawing at his mind. He had held back tremendous rage until just now. Now that he had been struck in his sore spot, he could no longer hold himself back.
A complacent smile flashed through the depths of the empressâ eyes when she saw Zu Anâs expression. However, she sneered with arrogant disdain, âWhat? Do I need to repeat that for you? His majesty is unrivaled in this world, so itâs not all that shameful if you canât beat him. But this empress is giving you a chance to get revenge through his woman, yet you donât even dare to do such a thing? Heh, it looks like fear has already been etched into your bones. Iâm sure youâll be quite the loyal and devoted dog in the future⦠Ah!â
As soon as the empress finished speaking, Zu Anâs figure flashed forward, his hand clamping down on her throat. âWoman, I know youâre deliberately provoking me, but I have to admit itâs working.â
The empress found it a bit hard to even breathe from the force on her neck. However, she wasnât scared. Instead, it felt as if electricity were running through her entire body. âWhat, donât tell me you actually dare to kill me? I donât think you have the guts.â
Zu Anâs breathing quickened and the veins on his arms began to pop. He was currently engaged in a powerful inner conflict.
The empressâ golden fingernails gently caressed Zu Anâs skin, and the sharp, cold feeling made all of his bodyâs pores contract. âThis empress knows that you donât dare to kill me, and I know that youâre angry. Thatâs why Iâm giving you this chance. You can pour out all of your rage on that personâs wife. Do you dare, or not?â Her usually sharp and dignified gaze now carried thirty percent charm, and thirty percent grandeur, and the rest was all provocation.
If I die for this, then so be it! Zu An didnât reply. There was only one thought in his head right now, which was to completely subdue this arrogant woman and complete the first step of his revenge. If he didnât even dare to do this, how was he supposed to challenge the emperor in the future?
He pushed the empress straight down onto the soft seat. Then, he pounced on her with a roar. Even though the empress was left a mess by that powerful force, her lips instead curved upward. Everything was within her control.
â¦
However, a while later, she soon realized that some things were far beyond her control. Her eyes widened in horror. This was supposed to be a scene of a dignified big sis teasing a little brat, yet in that instant, she seemed to have returned to when she was just a young girl. She was full of shame and fear as she murmured, âYou⦠Are you a beastman?â
Zu An harrumphed. He wasnât in the mood to reply to her at all. Right now, the only thing he wanted to do was vent out all of his rage.
â¦
Eunuch Lu, who had been standing guard outside the entire time, was shaking all over. He had waited for this day for a long, long time. Ningâer had finally completed her plan.
He stood guard outside while keeping all the sounds from reaching the other maids and eunuchs. Meanwhile, he silently paid attention to the crazy things that were happening inside. A single thought gradually appeared in his head. Who could have thought that this would happen to you today, Zhao Han?!
â¦
After a long time had passed, Eunuch Lu frowned. You damn brat, havenât you finished yet?! He arrived outside the window they had agreed on and undid the mechanism. When he saw the scene inside, his pupils narrowed and all of his skin turned red. He took a deep breath to calm his pounding heart.
Next, he sent a ki transmission. âYour highness, itâs about time. Weâll continue according to plan. Youâre in charge of holding onto him, while this old servant will end his life!â
He had witnessed Zu An fight before. Even though this fellowâs cultivation wasnât high, he had endless pesky tricks. If he failed and ended up alarming his majesty, that would be no joke. Both he and the empress would be dead for sure, while their respective clans would also be finished.
If the empress worked with him, then any man would be at his weakest in this sort of situation. Eunuch Lu was confident he could finish Zu An in a single blow.
The empressâ dignified hair bun was already completely scattered, and her hair stuck to her face from sweat. She bit down on her red lip and shook her head slightly in his direction.
Eunuch Lu frowned. He began to say something, but the empress didnât give him another chance. She grabbed the curtain nearby, and then the half transparent curtain slowly descended, hiding her and Zu Anâs bodies.
1. Xuanzang is the monk in Journey to the West.