Chapter 891: Sudden Inspection

Zu An noticed the two young eunuchs' puzzled expressions. He cleared his throat and said, "I'm still feeling well enough, so I'll go visit the Crown Prince... and the Crown Princess." He needed to find a legitimate reason to visit so as not to arouse suspicion.

As expected, the two young eunuchs were astonished. "Master Zu's unwavering loyalty is truly admirable!" they exclaimed. After a flurry of flattery, they naturally dared not stop him. They lifted him and carried him towards the Eastern Palace.

Meanwhile, Bi Linglong was pacing anxiously in the Eastern Palace. Although she had just managed to handle her own situation, she worried about Zu An. The Emperor was exceptionally suspicious, and if he discovered anything amiss, they would all be doomed.

When she heard her subordinates announce Zu An's request for an audience, she was overjoyed and instinctively stood up, ready to go out and greet him. However, she immediately noticed the surprised look from her maid, Rong Mo. She quickly walked over, picked up a teacup, and took a drink to mask her embarrassment. After composing herself, she said, "Summon him in." In that moment, she was no longer the maiden from the secret realm, deeply concerned for her lover. She had reverted to her former dignified and noble self as the Crown Princess. Her previously anxious heart gradually calmed. Zu An's presence here proved that their plan had successfully passed scrutiny.

Zu An was soon carried in. Seeing him lying on the stretcher, Bi Linglong's lips curved slightly upward; he was quite the actor. However, the charade had to continue in front of others. She specifically inquired about his injuries and expressed her and the Crown Prince's gratitude for saving their lives. She also instructed a maid to take the two young eunuchs for tea and snacks, and to fetch some precious medicinal herbs from the Eastern Palace to treat his wounds and nourish his body.

After Rong Mo and the two young eunuchs had left, she quietly asked, "When you went to the Imperial Study just now, you didn't encounter any danger, did you?"

"Is the Crown Princess concerned about me?" Zu An looked at her with a mischievous smile.

"Hmph!" Bi Linglong scoffed, glancing around guiltily. Seeing no one was paying attention, she whispered, "Now that we're back in the palace, there are many eyes and ears. Be careful what you say normally, lest someone finds a flaw."

Zu An chuckled. "What's there to be afraid of? At worst, I'll elope with you."

Seeing his roguish expression, Bi Linglong's teeth itched, and she longed to bite him hard. She blurted out, "What about Miss Chu?"

Zu An's breath hitched. For such a deadly question, any answer would be wrong. Although he desperately wanted to boldly say, "I want them all," he knew he would surely die a spectacular death.

A strange silence fell over the room. Zu An quickly changed the subject. "Indeed, something unexpected happened in the Imperial Study just now..." Bi Linglong also regretted her words as soon as they left her mouth, so she cooperated and did not press the previous topic.

When she heard him mention that Zhao Ruizhi had a jade pendant that recorded images from his life, Bi Linglong's face also paled. "However, it seems nothing was recorded inside so far. It might be that the Qi fluctuation during Zhao Ruizhi and Xu Fu's battle was too intense, preventing normal recording." Zu An had been thinking about why this was the case all along the way, and this was his most reasonable conjecture.

Bi Linglong hesitated. "Do you think the jade pendant might have actually recorded... our affair, but the Emperor is holding back for some reason, waiting to deal with us later?"

Zu An smiled. "Do you think that's possible?"

Bi Linglong paused, then her expression relaxed. "Indeed, it's highly unlikely. Given the Emperor's character, he would never tolerate knowing about such things, especially since you also... with the Empress..."

As she spoke, her body suddenly stiffened, and her gaze towards him became rather dangerous. "I almost forgot about this back in the secret realm. I remember you said that you and the Empress..."

Zu An quickly interrupted, "That was just because I thought I was going to die, so I deliberately provoked him."

"Really?" Bi Linglong was skeptical and wanted to ask more, but then the voice of a eunuch suddenly sounded from outside:

"Her Majesty, the Empress, has arrived!"

Bi Linglong froze for a moment, then quickly reacted. "Speak of the devil!" She hastily rose, straightened her clothes, and stepped out to greet them. At the doorway, she encountered the Empress and her entourage.

"Greetings, Your Majesty," Bi Linglong bowed.

"No need for formalities, Linglong," the Empress said warmly as she helped her up. "Oh, your hair has turned white! It truly pains my heart to see. Quickly, sit down and rest, don't run around..."

As she helped Bi Linglong walk inside, she suddenly noticed Zu An on the stretcher nearby and froze. Bi Linglong's eyes darted between the Empress and Zu An, her expression growing increasingly suspicious.

However, the Empress was someone who had weathered many storms. She quickly recovered and said with a smile, "So, Master Zu is here too. I heard Master Zu performed a great service in the secret realm, sustaining severe injuries while saving the Crown Prince and Crown Princess."

Gazing at the mature and beautiful noblewoman before him, Zu An couldn't help but recall the intense encounter from that night, where they were perfectly matched opponents. His heart warmed slightly. However, he immediately noticed Bi Linglong's suspicious gaze. He snapped back to attention and said solemnly, "Your Majesty flatters me. This is simply what we, as your subjects, ought to do."

The Empress couldn't help but pat Bi Linglong's hand. "Look, look at this! Your Eastern Palace has such loyal subordinates; it truly makes me envious. I wish I could have him for myself."

Bi Linglong's expression grew even stranger. If she didn't know about their relationship, these words would mean nothing. But knowing they might have 'that kind' of relationship, hearing it now felt exceedingly odd. She suspected they were subtly flirting right in front of her, but she had no proof.

With a smile, she replied, "Master Zu is indeed excellent. The Crown Prince also likes him, and after spending these past days together, he can no longer accept instruction from anyone else." She brought up the Crown Prince, effectively neutralizing the Empress's underlying request for Zu An.

"I was just speaking casually; how could I possibly steal your affection?" the Empress said, her expression unchanged. "By the way, my main reason for coming here was to visit you and the Crown Prince. I heard your lifespan has been affected, so I specifically brought some nourishing spiritual medicines." At her signal, the palace maids behind her emerged, carrying various brocade boxes. A refreshing medicinal scent could be detected from afar, indicating that all the items were extraordinary.

"Thank you for your generosity, Your Majesty," Bi Linglong said, thanking the Empress while instructing Rong Mo to receive the gifts.

While responding, the Empress pretended to casually notice Zu An. "Since Master Zu is also here, what a timely coincidence. I happen to have brought some extra medicinal ingredients that Linglong might not need, but they should be useful for your injuries. Consider them a token of gratitude for your care of the Crown Prince and Crown Princess during this time."

Looking at her fiery red lips, Zu An felt his mouth go dry. The woman was speaking normal words, yet her eyes held a captivating, soul-snatching allure.

"Cough~" At that moment, Bi Linglong lightly coughed from nearby. "Master Zu, aren't you going to thank the Empress for her generous gift?"

*These two definitely have something going on!* A woman's intuition led her to this conclusion.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Zu An finally came to his senses. *When young, one doesn't know the allure of a married woman, mistakenly valuing a young maiden as a treasure... Uh, actually, young maidens are quite good too.*

The Empress smiled at him, then turned her gaze away and spoke to Bi Linglong. "Oh, Linglong, besides visiting you all, I also have a task. The Emperor is concerned you might have sustained hidden injuries in the secret realm, and the imperial physicians find it inconvenient to examine you, so he sent me with a few experienced old nannies to check on you."

Hearing this, Bi Linglong's hairs stood on end. The Empress's words about worrying about injuries sounded pleasant, but in reality, wasn't this merely an inspection to confirm if she was still a virgin? Zu An also cursed inwardly. The Emperor was indeed suspicious by nature, still sending people to check even after everything that happened.

Bi Linglong forced a smile. "I'm fine; I just have some loss of lifespan, but I'll recover with some rest and recuperation."

"Oh," the Empress chuckled, "what if it leaves some hidden ailment that affects you for a lifetime? Don't worry, these are all experienced nannies from the palace; they won't harm you. And if they don't complete their task, they won't be able to report back properly."

Hearing her words, Bi Linglong knew she couldn't refuse. Her heart filled with extreme panic, and she instinctively looked towards Zu An, as if seeking help. The Empress's brows immediately furrowed. Why did she look at Zu An first, and with such a gaze?