Chapter 1566: Heartbeat

Zu'an had just left the Crown Princess's chambers and was still in a state of post-coital calm. He had always been wary of the Empress, constantly reminding himself to maintain a distance from her. But alas, his 'second brother' was proving uncooperative! His 'second brother' also felt wronged; it wasn't a lack of cooperation on its part, but rather that this woman had too many tricks up her sleeve.

Two sighs echoed simultaneously, each carrying a different meaning.

It was like an exquisite lock, sealed away for years, finally meeting its destined key. Once the mechanism was unlocked, the Empress gradually felt her previously stagnant and dissipated vital energy begin to recover. At the same time, her five senses became noticeably sharper than usual. She was about to speak, chuckling softly, when she suddenly wrinkled her nose, as if catching a scent in the air. "Hmm, is that the scent of another woman?" she mused.

Zu'an immediately broke into a cold sweat. Was this woman a bloodhound? How could she possibly detect that? He had, after all, just come from the East Palace and had specifically used water magic to cleanse himself. However, it wasn't a proper bath; he had only cleaned his outer garments.

"That's impossible!" Zu'an exclaimed, redoubling his efforts to help her vital energy circulate again, ensuring she had no chance to dwell on the matter.

The Empress mused for a moment and agreed. All the women in the palace belonged to the Emperor; who else would dare be so audacious? Moreover, she was immediately overwhelmed by the surging vital energy within her, leaving her no mental capacity to think further.

Seizing the opportunity, Zu'an asked, "Empress, what exactly did you mean earlier when you said the trip to Purple Mountain wouldn't be simple?"

The Empress, feeling completely at ease both physically and mentally, spoke with none of her usual haughtiness, her voice instead remarkably soft and compliant: "I don't know the specifics, but judging from various intelligence, it seems there's a vast trap laid out at Purple Mountain, with a sense of an impending storm. I also have a basic understanding of celestial phenomena, and my observations indicate a deeply ominous sign in the direction of Purple Mountain, resembling the 'Ten Catastrophes.' Historically, every time such a portent appeared, rivers of blood flowed and corpses covered the land, with very few survivors. That's why I warned you."

Zu'an was quite surprised. He knew that Qi Yaoguang of the Imperial Academy was the master of celestial divination, but he never imagined the Empress was also proficient in the art. Her grave words cast a definite shadow over Zu'an's impending journey.

He was about to ask the Empress about the specific sources of her intelligence. Normally, the Empress would never divulge such information, but in her current state, she was entirely within his control. This gave him a sense of absolute power—the desire to command her fate—and he knew she would speak.

Just as he opened his mouth, Xiao Zhuozi's shrill, reedy voice suddenly echoed from outside: "Long live the Emperor! Long live, long long live!"

Inside the bedchamber, both were aghast. Zu'an frantically tried to pull away, but at the same moment, the Empress instinctively lowered her legs, attempting to stand upright. Their combined movements created a tangled struggle, making it impossible for them to separate immediately. It was fortunate that Zu'an's physique was as strong as forged steel; otherwise, that sudden entanglement would have been enough to ruin him completely. This very urgency—the more desperate they became to separate, the more entwined they seemed—coupled with the terrifying thought of the Emperor's discovery and impending death, caused their minds to go blank. Their bodies, meanwhile, were hyper-sensitive, far beyond their usual state.

Zu'an let out a muffled roar, thankfully managing to suppress the sound in his throat just in time. The Empress felt as if countless volcanoes had erupted within her; for a split second, she nearly blacked out.

Fortunately, both managed to cling to their last vestiges of clarity and finally succeeded in separating. The Empress's face was ashen. "It's over, it's all over," she whispered, "we're dead for sure."

Zhao Hao was no fool; if he entered and saw them together in the same room, in their current dishevelled state, he would instantly know what had transpired. Their fate, then, was self-evident. Not only would they suffer a fate worse than death, but their entire nine clans would also be implicated.

A flicker of malice flashed in her eyes. If this was their end, she thought, she might as well unleash all her years of resentment before dying, ensuring Zhao Hao's remaining life would be miserable. Countless cutting remarks, capable of shattering Zhao Hao's resolve, flooded her mind.

Fortunately, Zu'an restrained her. He shook his head, then opened a cabinet in the corner and slipped inside. The Empress watched, exasperated and anxious. Given Zhao Hao's cultivation level, how could Zu'an possibly hide from him in there? Yet, there was nothing else to be done. She quickly straightened her gown and, her heart pounding with trepidation, stepped out to greet him.

"You useless dog! Why are you shouting so loudly?" Zhao Hao's furious reprimand rang out from outside, clearly displeased by Xiao Zhuozi's sudden, high-pitched cry.

Xiao Zhuozi knelt on the ground, trembling and kowtowing. "This servant deserves to die! This servant deserves to die!" he cried.

Zhao Hao frowned. While annoyed, he wouldn't punish the eunuch merely for that, especially since the man belonged to the Empress's household. He ignored Xiao Zhuozi and pushed open the doors, stepping inside.

Just then, the Empress was emerging to greet him. "Your humble consort greets Your Majesty," she said.

Empress Liu Ning was terrified at that moment, her mind a complete blur. Her body trembled slightly, whether from fear or the lingering after-effects of what had just transpired, she couldn't tell.

Zhao Hao was about to speak when his eyes suddenly lit up. He found the Empress's face exceptionally radiant and alluring today. Her current timid demeanor was a stark contrast to her usual haughty and defiant self, exuding an inexplicable, captivating vulnerability. He instinctively stepped forward and helped her up. "Empress, please rise," he said.

When his hand touched her, the Empress felt a surge of resistance and instinctively recoiled. Zhao Hao, being exceptionally perceptive, immediately darkened. This woman was still the same as ever.

However, the Empress, surprisingly, began to calm down. She realized Zhao Hao didn't seem to have detected Zu'an; otherwise, he would have instantly exploded in rage, not gently helped her to her feet. She was utterly astonished, completely baffled as to how Zu'an had managed it. Zhao Hao was widely acknowledged as the foremost expert in the land. When his spiritual sense was fully extended, not even the slightest movement in the entire capital could escape his notice; he simply didn't usually waste his mental energy in such a manner. Yet at such close proximity, even without actively extending his spiritual sense, Zu'an, hidden in the cabinet, should have been detected instantly.

Inside the cabinet, Zu'an felt immensely relieved. His Keyboard System's skill proved reliable: 'Dark Invisibility.' In complete darkness, it rendered him entirely unseen and concealed his aura, making him imperceptible even to the Emperor.

Just then, Zhao Hao's voice drifted over. "Why is your body trembling so violently? Are you perhaps afraid of me?" The latter part of his question carried a distinct undertone of sarcasm.

Zu'an wore a peculiar expression. The relationship between these two seemed rather odd; there must be some hidden history between them.

"Your Majesty's might is awe-inspiring across the realm," the Empress replied, her head bowed. "How could your humble consort not be afraid?"

Zhao Hao met with a subtle rebuff and couldn't help but frown. "Raise your head," he commanded. "Why is your face so flushed?" A strange feeling arose within him. This woman was unusually radiant today, almost unnaturally so.

By then, the Empress had completely regained her composure. Years of living in the imperial inner court had forged a formidable inner resolve within her. "I was merely trying to practice my cultivation," she explained.

"Practice cultivation?" Zhao Hao sighed. "It seems you're still unwilling to be an ordinary person."

The Empress retorted, "Your Majesty, in my circumstances, who could possibly be content?"

Zhao Hao looked displeased, but still said, "I will have more spirit medicine sent over. Recently, the local regions presented a rare natural treasure; perhaps it can aid in your recovery."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." The Empress secretly sneered. For years, he had spoken such fine words, yet if he had truly put in his best effort to help her all this time, how could there have been no improvement whatsoever? Ultimately, an Empress whose cultivation was crippled served his interests best. Fortunately, she had already found a way to restore herself; she no longer needed his pretense of concern.

"You are always like this," Zhao Hao said, seemingly detecting the perfunctory tone in her voice. He felt a surge of annoyance, on the verge of an outburst, but ultimately reined it in. "Very well. I don't blame you for your grievances about what happened back then."

Zu'an's curiosity was instantly piqued. What exactly had happened back then that could make someone as supremely arrogant as Zhao Hao yield to a woman?