Chapter 955: Warm Invitation

Zu An noticed the palace maids instinctively retreating to a distance. Of course, they couldn't leave entirely; no man, apart from the emperor, was permitted to be alone with the imperial concubines in the inner palace.

He lowered his voice and said with a chuckle, "I'd love to come every day, but I'm afraid His Majesty wouldn't be pleased."

A faint blush instantly spread across Concubine Bai's flawless, jade-like face. She lightly scoffed, "You're getting bolder and bolder, daring to even flirt with me!"

She appeared indignant, yet her voice was soft and delicate, making it a pleasure to listen to.

"Does Your Ladyship have amnesia? We swung together just last time," Zu An said. He wasn't trying to take advantage of her out of lust; he merely wanted to probe the nature of her relationship with the Emperor through his words.

She was both the Emperor's woman and connected to the Demonic Cult, and he needed to ascertain where her true allegiance lay, as it would influence many future decisions.

Concubine Bai snorted and changed the subject directly. "Tell me, what are you really here for this time?"

Zu An evidently knew when to stop. Through continuous probing, some of his suspicions had been confirmed. "I wish to borrow Your Ladyship's sachet from last time."

Although he possessed the Bright Mirror of Non-Platform to conceal his aura, it would be difficult to hide from a top-tier master conducting a close examination face-to-face. On this trip to Cloud-Sky Commandery, he needed to appear as Zu An at times and as Gold Medal Eleven at others, and such frequent switching inevitably left openings.

That sachet had previously fooled even the powerful figures in the capital, so it would certainly be more than enough to deceive the people in Cloud-Sky Commandery.

Concubine Bai chuckled softly. "It seems you're planning to trick someone again. Alright, bring the Emperor's personal order."

"There's no personal order. This is just a private request from me," Zu An stated confidently.

Concubine Bai's delicate brows knitted together instantly. "Zu, who gave you such audacity?"

Zu An said with a smile, "As a friend, surely Your Ladyship can offer some assistance?"

Concubine Bai replied coldly, "Friends with an imperial concubine? If the Emperor heard you say that, your head would roll instantly."

Zu An feigned surprise. "This time, I'm acting on behalf of the Crown Prince's Palace, helping to relieve the Crown Prince's worries. As the Crown Prince's concubine, it's only reasonable for Your Ladyship to provide me with some assistance."

A faint smile suddenly appeared on Concubine Bai's tense face. "You truly are a glib talker. Very well, I can give you the sachet, but remember you'll owe me a favor, and it will have to be repaid later."

Zu An declared, "I will repay Your Ladyship's kindness even if I have to work like an ox or a horse."

He secretly added in his mind, *Just give me grass, and I'll be fine.*

Concubine Bai playfully scolded him with a laugh, "I don't plough fields; what would I need oxen or horses for?"

As she spoke, she retrieved a sachet from her sleeve and held it out. As she extended her arm, her sleeve pulled back, revealing a section of her fair wrist, so soft and delicate it seemed water could be squeezed from it.

Just as Zu An reached out to take it, she flicked her finger, sending the sachet through the air directly into his hand, as if she had learned from a past mistake, giving him no chance for skin-to-skin contact.

"Alright, you have the item, you can go now," Concubine Bai said, effectively dismissing him before sitting back down on the swing.

Feeling the lingering warmth and faint body scent of the sachet, he looked at her wonderfully graceful figure and thought, *This woman is already a mother, yet she acts so innocent and romantic, like a young girl.*

However, every time he saw her swinging, he couldn't help but recall certain classic scenes from *The Plum in the Golden Vase*.

His old face flushed, and he silently chastised himself.

He thanked her and respectfully withdrew.

This left Concubine Bai somewhat surprised. She had expected the lazy fellow to try and take advantage of her again, but why had he left so obediently?

And why was his way of walking so strange as he left?

After all, she originated from the Demonic Cult and had spent so long in the imperial harem. Recalling how he had intentionally bent over while bowing as he left, she suddenly realized and couldn't help but lightly scoff, her jade cheeks already flushed crimson. "What an audacious fellow!"

Emerging from the Palace of A Hundred Flowers, Zu An finally managed to steady his breathing, muttering to himself, "Oh, second brother, second brother, you almost made me lose face just now. You've seen the world, so why were you so out of control?"

Just then, a soft chuckle came from nearby. "Lord Zu has sworn brothers? Why have I never heard of this?"

Zu An turned around to see a beautiful middle-aged woman approaching, surrounded by several palace maids. She wore a dark red robe embroidered with golden phoenixes and a magnificent phoenix coronet. Beside her stood a eunuch with a pallid, ghost-like face.

Who else could it be but the Empress and Eunuch Lü?

"Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress!" Zu An quickly bowed. He had to admit that the Empress was an extremely beautiful woman. Though she was no longer young, her charm remained undiminished. While she lacked the youthful vivacity of girls like Sang Qian and Zheng Dan, her mature and alluring elegance possessed a unique allure, especially when combined with her noble status, which far surpassed that of many young girls.

Of course, the presence of the unsightly Eunuch Lü beside her also served as a stark contrast, making her beauty even more striking.

"Lord Zu has yet to answer my question," the Empress said. In front of the other eunuchs and palace maids, her every gesture and mannerism were impeccably regal, truly befitting the mistress of the inner palace and mother of the realm.

The palace maids gazed at her with envy, thinking, *Her Majesty the Empress is truly graceful and noble. When will we ever possess such dignity?*

*And aren't there rumors that Lord Zu is arrogant and unruly? Yet he seems very respectful toward Her Majesty.*

But these young palace maids had no idea that the seemingly respectful monarch and subject in their eyes had already engaged in various inappropriate acts in private.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, this servant has no sworn brothers. I was merely repeating some stories I heard from a storyteller at Sky Bridge a few days ago," Zu An replied.

"Oh? I haven't left the palace in a long time. If Lord Zu doesn't mind, could you tell me some of those storyteller's tales?" The Empress walked towards a nearby pavilion, motioning for Zu An to follow.

As the mistress of the inner palace and Zu An's senior in age, she was less constrained than ordinary concubines and didn't need to be so cautious about interacting with external officials.

Zu An felt a little dejected. He had just spoken casually, never expecting her to probe so deeply.

However, with so many palace maids and eunuchs watching, he couldn't openly defy her. Resigned, he followed her and began, "Long, long ago, there was a fair-faced man with hands reaching past his knees, a red-faced man with a beard down to his chest, and a dark, burly man with a full beard, who became sworn brothers in a peach orchard..."

Fortunately, as a transmigrator, he might not have much else in his head, but he certainly had plenty of stories. He quickly recounted the tale of the Oath of the Peach Garden.

The Empress had initially just wanted an excuse to talk more with him and wasn't truly interested in the story. Yet, to her surprise, she became increasingly engrossed, and the surrounding palace maids and eunuchs were also captivated.

Upon hearing an exciting part, Eunuch Lü couldn't help but clap his hands and exclaim, "What a righteous Guan Yunchang!"

After speaking, he immediately realized his lapse and quickly begged for forgiveness. "Your Majesty, please forgive this servant; I became too absorbed in the story."

Zu An's expression was odd. Historically, eunuchs either worshipped Yue Fei or Guan Yu. He hadn't expected them to be so drawn to eunuchs from another world.

"No matter," the Empress said, smiling as she looked at Zu An, naturally not blaming Eunuch Lü. "I am curious, though, how exceptionally magnificent was that renowned steed named Diaochan, that so many heroes throughout the land wished to ride her?"

"Those people certainly did all wish to ride her…" Zu An quickly glossed over the remark.

"What about the rest?" the Empress eagerly asked.

"Uh, there's no more after that." Zu An's throat was dry from talking, and he had no desire to slowly recount the Romance of the Three Kingdoms to her.

"Well then, Lord Zu, next time you hear the rest of the story, you must come to the palace and tell it to me. I'm quite eager to hear it," the Empress said, secretly casting a seductive glance at him.

Zu An understood her implicit invitation. "Reporting to Your Majesty, this servant will soon depart for Cloud-Sky Commandery. I shall explain the rest of the story to Your Majesty upon my return."

*No dates, Your Majesty, no dates!*

While the Empress was indeed beautiful, the risks involved were simply too great. One couldn't walk by the river constantly without getting one's shoes wet. How could he abandon an entire forest for just one tree?

Moreover, each time, he felt as if the Empress was draining him, which was quite unpleasant, so he decisively refused.

Upon hearing his refusal, the Empress's smiling face instantly darkened. "It seems Lord Zu just came from Concubine Bai's palace?"