Chapter 733: Master and Servant Plot

Her close, moist eyes held an indescribable meaning, making Zu An's heart skip a beat. "Are the 'certain things' Your Majesty mentioned referring to yourself?" he asked.

The Empress sat on a nearby soft couch and then naturally reclined on her side, propping her head with her hand. "What do you think?" she replied.

She was already mature and voluptuous; lying on her side like this fully displayed her breathtaking curves. Her entire demeanor exuded a lazy charm, as if silently tempting him.

"Since Your Majesty is fine, I'll take my leave," Zu An said. Though his mouth was dry, he didn't lose his head. He naturally didn't believe the Empress would act like this towards him for no reason, but he couldn't fathom her motive, so he decided to leave.

"Don't be in such a hurry. Who said I don't have anything to do?" The Empress grabbed his hand. "Our Great Zhou Dynasty has a national treasure, and I need your help to appraise it."

"A national treasure?" Zu An was taken aback. This was a world of cultivation, and he had witnessed the power of magical artifacts. For something to be revered as a national treasure by the Great Zhou Dynasty, it must be truly extraordinary.

He was indeed intrigued. "What kind of national treasure is it?" he asked.

The Empress's fingers lightly grazed her own body, and a seductive curve appeared on her crimson lips. "It's far away, yet right before your eyes," she murmured.

Zu An was utterly confused.

*This feels like the Queen of the Women's Kingdom seducing Tang Sanzang*, he thought.

Seeing him standing there stunned, the Empress let out a soft chuckle. "What's wrong? Am I not a national treasure?"

Zu An couldn't help but exclaim, "Your Majesty is peerlessly beautiful, a woman among women; naturally, you can be considered a national treasure."

A hint of moisture faintly gleamed in the Empress's eyes. "Is this your appraisal? It's far too perfunctory."

Although mid-summer had long passed, Zu An still felt somewhat hot. He answered with difficulty, "How does Your Majesty wish me to appraise it?"

The Empress looked at him with a seductive expression. "You can try it yourself," she said. "Only the closest, most intimate personal experience can lead to the most accurate evaluation."

Zu An sighed. "Your Majesty, are you trying to seduce me?"

The Empress lightly bit her finger, giggling. "I heard from Miss Chu that you're always smooth-tongued and good at pleasing women," she said. "But today, it seems that's an overstatement. You look like an insensitive blockhead."

Zu An stood up. "Although I might be a bit of a skirt-chaser, I'm no fool," he said. "Your Majesty must have an agenda. Unfortunately, I'm too dull-witted to figure out your purpose."

When he used to watch the "Women's Kingdom" episode of *Journey to the West*, he always felt that Tang Sanzang's indifference to the enchanting Queen's tender affection was an absolute disgrace to men. He never thought that now it was his turn to be a disgrace.

"I ask for nothing else," the Empress sighed faintly. "The only thing I seek is comfort in this deep palace. As I've said, I've been very lonely these past years, and no one else dares to harbor the slightest offensive thought towards me. You are the only man who dared to directly hit me... hit *me there*. After much thought, I could only confide in you."

Seeing that he still didn't speak, a hint of desolation appeared between her brows. "As the esteemed Empress, I've already gone to extreme lengths, which is incredibly shameful," she continued. "If you still show no reaction, I truly won't have the face to live on."

Zu An secretly sneered. *This woman is cunning and obsessed with power. Would she truly lose face and choose not to live because of such a minor setback? I'd sooner believe Pu Duandiao would never visit a brothel again*, he thought.

He stopped responding and strode directly towards the door. He feared that if he stayed in the room any longer, his rationality would no longer be able to control his body's instincts.

No matter how he labeled the Empress as vicious and scheming, he still had to admit that she was indeed a stunner. Unlike the rawness of young girls, her entire being exuded a mature feminine charm, irresistibly making one think of a bed.

Coupled with her special status, the anticipation it created, whether from the taboo or the sense of conquest, was immense.

It was with immense willpower that he managed not to lose his head. Now, his only thought was to leave this place as quickly as possible.

Seeing him turn to leave, the Empress, both shamed and enraged, instantly sat up on the couch. "You, Zu, are you even a man?" she challenged. "You were just beaten like a dog by the Emperor, and you have no temper at all? I'm giving you a chance to get revenge on him, and you still don't dare? Are you really that afraid of him?"

Hearing this, Zu An, who had reached the door and was about to push it open, paused. He then suddenly turned around to look at the woman on the couch, his eyes slightly reddened. "What did you say?" he demanded.

Noticing his expression, a triumphant smile flashed deep within the Empress's eyes, but her face still maintained an arrogant and disdainful look. "What's wrong? Do I need to repeat myself?" she scoffed. "The Emperor is invincible; it's no shame that you can't defeat him. But I'm giving you a chance to get revenge on his woman, and you actually don't dare? Heh, it seems you're afraid of the Emperor to your very bones. You're destined to be his loyal dog from now on... *Ah*."

Before she could finish speaking, Zu An flashed forward and tightly grasped her neck. "Woman," he growled, "I know you're deliberately provoking me, but I have to admit, it's very effective."

Feeling the strong grip on her neck, the Empress found it a little difficult to breathe. However, she wasn't afraid. Instead, she felt a jolt of electricity run through her body. "What's wrong?" she taunted. "Do you dare to kill me? I doubt you have the guts."

Zu An's breathing quickened, and the veins on his hands bulged. Clearly, he was undergoing a tremendous internal struggle.

The Empress's cloisonné gold finger guard lightly grazed the skin on his face. The cold, sharp touch made the pores on his entire body contract. "I know you don't dare to kill me, and I know you're very angry," she whispered. "So I'm giving you another chance. You can unleash all your rage on that man's wife. Do you dare, or do you not?"

Her usually majestic and sharp phoenix eyes now held a third seduction, a third nobility, and the rest was pure provocation.

*So be it!*

Zu An did not answer. At this moment, he had only one thought: to completely conquer this woman who was usually so high and mighty, and complete the first step of his revenge.

If he didn't even dare to take this step, how could he ever possess the heart of a strong challenger to the Emperor?

He directly pushed the Empress onto the soft couch and pounced on her with a roar.

Although the Empress was a little disoriented by his immense strength, her lips curved into a faint smile. Everything was within her control.

However, it wasn't long before she quickly discovered that some things had exceeded her control. Her phoenix eyes widened in shock. What was originally a mature woman teasing an inexperienced young man instantly transformed into her feeling the shyness and apprehension of her youth. "You... are you a beastman?" she stammered.

Zu An grunted, having no intention of answering her. He only wanted to unleash all his ferocity and rage.

Eunuch Lü, who had been guarding outside the hall, was trembling all over. He had waited for this day for a very long time; Ning'er had finally completed her plan.

He remained outside the hall, using his vital energy to block out sounds from alarming other palace maids and eunuchs, while silently observing the storm raging inside. Throughout the process, a smile of quiet satisfaction gradually spread across his face.

*Zhao Hao, you have your day too!*

He didn't know how much time had passed before he finally frowned. *Will this brat ever finish!* he thought.

He went to the designated window, opened its mechanism, and looked at the scene inside. His pupils contracted, and his entire face turned red.

He took a deep breath to calm his agitated feelings and transmitted his voice using vital energy. "Your Majesty," he said, "it's about time. As planned, you are to keep him entangled, and this old servant will strike to end his life!"

Having seen Zu An in action before, Eunuch Lü knew that while the young man's cultivation wasn't high, his miscellaneous skills were quite troublesome. If a single strike missed and Zu An escaped, alerting the Emperor, it would be no laughing matter. Both he and the Empress would die, and their respective families would be implicated.

If the Empress cooperated, a man's guard would be at its weakest at such a moment, and his strike would surely be a fatal blow.

The Empress's usually majestic and dignified bun was already undone, with many strands of hair damp with sweat and clinging to her face. She bit her crimson lip and faintly shook her head at him.

Eunuch Lü frowned, about to say something more, but the Empress didn't give him the chance. She reached out and pulled the nearby curtain. The translucent gauze canopy slowly descended, completely obscuring their figures.