Chapter 1530: Out of the Pass

Zu An’s face darkened. "Aren't you forcing me to make a mistake? Let them all go; they are all pitiful people."

It had to be said, those who caught the Crown Prince's eye, even his concubines, were of the highest beauty, not to mention the added allure of being married women...

Honestly, he asked himself, if it were before his transmigration, he might not have been able to resist the temptation to be a 'Cao Cao,' but now, he naturally wouldn't be like that.

"Pitiful people?" the Little Demon Empress sneered. "These people lived in luxury, flaunted their power, and oppressed the common folk. What's so pitiful about them?" Then her eyes sparkled as she chuckled. "However, since you've spoken, I'll naturally grant you this favor. Directly releasing them is impossible, but they won't be sent to the Imperial Entertainment Bureau. They can be confined for a while first. After all, they were close to the Crown Prince, and who knows if anyone harbors ill intentions."

Zu An nodded, knowing her worries were not unfounded. Now that the young prince had ascended the throne, his position might not be stable, so she naturally wouldn't let any potential danger slide.

After dealing with the people from the Crown Prince's Residence, the Little Demon Empress took Zu An on a tour of the estate, introducing him to all the details of his new home.

Zu An thought about how exorbitant housing prices were in his previous life, where owning a house in the capital was a luxury for many, let alone a mansion of this size.

As they toured, Zu An felt as if he were back in Beijing, visiting Prince Gong's Mansion. It was truly vast and luxurious, yet also elegant and tranquil. The Crown Prince really knew how to enjoy himself.

And now all of this was his?

Having been a long-time "mortgage slave" in his previous life, Zu An momentarily felt as if he were dreaming.

"That room ahead is the Crown Prince's study," the Little Demon Empress said, suddenly stopping. "Normally, no one is allowed near it without permission." She then instructed her attendants, "The Regent and I have some matters to discuss. You all wait outside."

"Yes, Your Majesty," a group of palace maids bowed slightly.

Zu An followed the Little Demon Empress into the study. They did not close the door; with so many palace maids and eunuchs present, closing it would inevitably invite suspicion, and the repercussions if word got out would be too damaging.

After entering the room, the Little Demon Empress walked near the desk. Zu An smiled slightly. "Does Your Majesty have something to tell me?"

The Crown Prince's study naturally offered first-rate privacy, so there was no fear of their conversation being overheard.

The Little Demon Empress came all the way here to talk to him. Could there be something inconvenient to discuss in the palace? Were there spies or informants within the palace walls?

"How could I dare give you orders? It's always you giving me orders, my dear Regent~" Without outsiders present, the Little Demon Empress dropped her deliberately assumed air of dignity and gazed at him with a seductive expression.

Hearing her unusual pronunciation, Zu An immediately recalled the events of that night, and a surge of heat ignited within him.

The Little Demon Empress gently bit her red lip and just smiled, looking at him. Her dewy eyes seemed to convey a silent invitation. This woman was truly seductive to her very core!

How could Zu An resist? He pounced directly.

"Don't wrinkle my clothes," the Little Demon Empress quickly reminded him, "otherwise, it will be noticeable when we go out."

Zu An was a little dismayed. "What should we do then?"

Although she was dressed simply today, she was still the dignified Empress Dowager; even her simplest dress required a host of maids to help her put on.

The Little Demon Empress walked to a nearby table, leaned her upper body onto it, and slightly lifted her skirt. She glanced back at him, her eyes holding a lingering allure. "Like this~"

Zu An erupted like a volcano. What man could resist such temptation? He pressed directly against her.

"Mmm~" The Little Demon Empress tightly covered her mouth with her hand, afraid any sound would reach outside. Her eyes and brows were filled with sweet satisfaction.

...

"No wonder you kept leading me deeper inside. I thought you truly had something important to tell me."

"Isn't this important enough?"

"Yes, it's quite tight."

"Oh, you! If not for this, with so many attendants accompanying me, how could I have them disperse throughout the residence one by one?"

"Huh, aren't your attendants all your confidantes? I saw many of the maids outside were the same ones from your bedchamber last time."

"My identity is quite sensitive, after all. The fewer people who know, the better. I also don't want my son to think I'm a bad mother when he finds out."

"Doesn't he already call me Father? What does it matter if he knows?"

"You rascal~ Ah~"

...

After a while, a maid suddenly reported from outside, "Your Majesty, Queen Medusa requests an audience. She seems to be looking for the Regent."

"Ah?" The two inside jolted in fright. After a few seconds, the Little Demon Empress finally replied, "Please ask her to wait in the main hall. Serve her tea and attend to her well."

"Yes, Your Majesty," the maid slowly retreated, a little confused. The Empress's voice just now seemed strange, unusually languid and sweet, making one's heart flutter.

The two inside were panting heavily, already many times more sensitive than usual due to people guarding outside. Coupled with the sudden mention of Queen Medusa, it was like a spark igniting a powder keg.

The Little Demon Empress stood up, carefully lowered her skirt, and tidied her clothes, ensuring there were no wrinkles or other marks.

Her face was flushed, and her brow was exceptionally radiant. "I truly envy Queen Medusa," she said. "She can openly be with you."

Zu An righted the table that had almost toppled over. "You can too," he said. "Whenever Your Majesty misses me, just send for me."

"You said that," the Little Demon Empress said, her eyes lighting up. "You're not allowed to go back on your word."

"Of course," Zu An replied. He had to admit, the Little Demon Empress was truly born with a seductive charm. He wondered what kind of immortality the old Demon Emperor was cultivating, leaving such a charming wife to guard an empty bedchamber.

The Little Demon Empress sighed inwardly, knowing that given their respective statuses, this was impossible to achieve.

"Let's go out. Don't let Queen Medusa wait too long," the Little Demon Empress said. Just as she took a step, a strange sound suddenly echoed, and her face instantly flushed deep red as she cast a mortified glance at Zu An.

Zu An was a little worried. "Won't the palace maids find out then?"

After all, whether it was the Empress Dowager or the Empress, they couldn't possibly wash their own clothes. All worn clothes were handed over to subordinates for handling. Wouldn't it be impossible to hide then?

The Little Demon Empress bit her lip. "Don't worry," she said, "I'll use my cultivation to absorb what you've left inside me."

Zu An was startled, thinking of a line from a movie in his previous life. In that movie, the female protagonist forced it out, but what was this reverse operation?

...

Soon, the two arrived in the main hall together. Even though the Little Demon Empress herself was a great beauty, she couldn't help but be dazzled. A graceful figure was draped in a snow-white fox fur coat, yet showed no hint of bulkiness. Instead, she appeared noble and elegant, like a plum blossom gracefully emerging amidst a snowy mountain.

Looking at the other's exquisite face, especially her captivating eyes, as brilliant as a starry sky, the Little Demon Empress secretly sighed. She knew it would probably be impossible to keep Zu An tied to her by beauty alone.

She composed herself and chatted warmly with Yu Yanluo for a few moments. Noticing she was holding a hand warmer, she then instructed her attendants to arrange for skilled artisans to install underfloor heating in the Snake Tribe's new residence.

Yu Yanluo's eyes lit up, and she immediately felt a strong liking for her. The winters in the royal court were indeed quite harsh.

The two chatted happily. The Little Demon Empress soon got up and left, and Yu Yanluo found this perfectly normal given her special status.

Watching her depart, she couldn't help but quietly remark to Zu An, "Her Majesty looks so well, completely unlike..."

She had originally intended to say, "completely unlike a recent widow," but immediately realized that would be impolite, so she closed her lips.

Zu An thought to himself, *With constant 'watering' day and night, how could her complexion not be good?*

Worried she might notice something, he quickly asked, "Huh, you've already broken through to Grandmaster?"

"Yes, with the help of the Sacred Spirit Pearl, it was much easier for me to awaken the power in my bloodline," Yu Yanluo said, a hint of pride on her face. She suddenly took another look at Zu An, and her expression immediately changed. "Huh, something's wrong with you!"