The Empress's sister?

Chapter 37: The Empress's Sister?

For a while after that, things calmed down.

Perhaps poisoning her colleagues wasn't easy, as Su Muyun never came back to report.

As for the Empress, after the previous commotion, she probably realized she couldn't push Chu Lu too hard. Thus, she didn't send anyone to continue monitoring him.

Chu Lu was able to recuperate peacefully in the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

The Imperial Physician's medicine was effective. After a few days of taking it, his body greatly improved. He was no longer bedridden all day and could even take a few steps in the garden when he felt up to it.

He even picked up a straight wooden stick and, on a whim, practiced a couple of sword stances.

"It's surprisingly idle," Chu Lu sat down, placing the wooden stick aside with a subtle expression. Accustomed to a constant stream of trouble, he was finding it hard to adjust to this life of doing nothing.

He felt a sense of unease.

"Xu Liniang, do you think the Empress might be planning something?" Chu Lu asked. "Sending someone over to do something?"

"She probably won't," Xu Liniang replied. "After all, I am the Emperor, and my status is there. Even the Empress has to be a little considerate and wouldn't casually send a subordinate to humiliate me. In my past life, I only suffered at Liu Fenggu's hands."

"Is that so?"

"Ah, wait, no, there's one more person. Very troublesome."

"Who?"

"The Empress's sister."

Kun Ning Palace.

The Empress was in the middle of a passionate embrace with a beautiful guard when hurried footsteps and a boisterous shout suddenly echoed from outside.

"Sister! I've come to play with you!"

The Empress quickly separated from the guard, wiped her mouth, and assumed a prim and proper posture.

Just then, the person who had made the noise arrived at the palace.

It was a charming and adorable young woman. Her face was rosy, her large eyes were bright and lively, and a mischievous glint played on her smiling lips, as if she could come up with a few naughty ideas at any moment.

The Empress coughed and said, "Jin'er, how old are you, and you're still acting so wild?"

Liu Jin'er giggled and came to the Empress's side, linking her arm and acting spoiled. "No matter how old I get, I'm still your sister."

The Empress said helplessly, "If you're like this, who would dare to marry you?"

"Hmph," Liu Jin'er pouted. "I'm a daughter of the Liu Family, and my sister is the Empress. Who would dare not marry me?!"

The Empress smiled and shook her head.

"By the way, Sister," Liu Jin'er asked. "I heard something happened in the palace. Did the Emperor kill Cousin Fenggu?"

"Yes. She was probably cornered and lashed out. Like a cornered dog." Hearing the question, the Empress's expression turned grim. "I already took the Imperial Sword and taught her a lesson, letting her know the consequences. You don't need to worry."

Liu Jin'er's eyes darted around. "Then... can I go find the Emperor to play?"

"Ah?" The Empress was taken aback.

"Sister, you know, I used to often go find the Emperor to play. But ever since she fell seriously ill, I haven't even been able to see her. I miss her a little." Liu Jin'er tugged on the Empress's arm. "Besides, I'm also very curious how the Emperor managed to kill the formidable Cousin Fenggu. Please, Sister."

A glint flashed in the Empress's eyes.

She knew, of course, that Liu Jin'er's idea of "playing" wasn't so simple. But this was also a good opportunity. Having lost face last time, she could now use Liu Jin'er to curb Chu Lu's arrogance.

She wasn't worried about Liu Jin'er's safety. She reasoned that the Emperor killing Liu Fenggu last time was likely because she felt she was dying and decided to make a desperate move. While Liu Jin'er's methods were malicious, they wouldn't reach a life-threatening level. Liu Jin'er also knew how to gauge the situation. The Emperor hadn't lost her temper before, so she was even less likely to do so now.

Furthermore, Liu Jin'er's status was far higher than Liu Fenggu's, so there definitely wouldn't be any problems.

"If you want to go, then go. But remember to bring someone with you and be careful," the Empress said.

Liu Jin'er immediately grinned and said sweetly, "Okay!"

In the afternoon, at the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Chu Lu was enjoying the scenery in a garden pavilion when he suddenly heard a voice from not too far away.

"Emperor, I've come to play with you."

Hearing the disrespectful shout, Chu Lu felt confused, but Xu Liniang in his mind was startled.

"It's Liu Jin'er, that's Liu Jin'er's voice!"

"The Liu Jin'er you mentioned earlier?"

"Yes, yes, yes! She's very difficult to deal with. Let's hide quickly."

Chu Lu frowned slightly. He wasn't particularly inclined to hide.

But Xu Liniang had only said that Liu Jin'er was difficult to deal with, and refused to tell Chu Lu why or what had happened between them.

With no information, the safest course of action was to hide.

However, before Chu Lu could get up, Liu Jin'er had already rushed into the pavilion, her face beaming. "Ah, you're here!"

"Ahhh! Caught!" Xu Liniang wailed in his mind.

Chu Lu, however, remained unfazed. Since he couldn't hide, he wouldn't.

He sized up Liu Jin'er. She looked like a cute and charming girl next door. Behind her stood a tall woman with a calm and ethereal aura, exuding the presence of an otherworldly master.

"Your Majesty, you're here. We haven't seen each other in so long." Liu Jin'er chirped, leaning in. "When I heard you were sick, I wanted to visit, but my sister wouldn't allow it, saying I might catch the illness. Your Majesty, how is your health now?"

"Much better."

"That's good, that's good. Oh, right, I heard you killed Cousin Fenggu. I was so surprised!" Liu Jin'er's face was full of admiration, her eyes sparkling. "Cousin Fenggu practiced martial arts since she was little; she was as strong as an ox. I always thought no one in this world could defeat her, but you, Your Majesty, so thin and small, actually killed her. That's amazing!"

Chu Lu frowned slightly, sensing something was off about this person.

How could someone admire the person who killed their own cousin?

Just then, Liu Jin'er continued, "I heard from the soldiers that you stabbed Cousin through the throat with a pair of scissors? Your Majesty, Your Majesty, can you tell me how you did it?"

"It was a sneak attack."

"How did you sneak attack? Tell me more. Oh, why don't we demonstrate? Your Majesty, you can play Cousin, and I'll play you. How did you stab her? Like this? Or like this?"

Liu Jin'er thrust the scissors forward without holding back, either passing through the air or stopping just before her skin, before pulling back.

The cold glint of the scissors sent goosebumps prickling on Chu Lu's skin.

Chu Lu suddenly grabbed Liu Jin'er's wrist. "Enough."

However, Liu Jin'er just giggled. "Oh? So Cousin grabbed you at that moment? Then what did you do, Your Majesty? Did you just push harder?"

As she spoke, she gripped the scissors with both hands and pushed them inward.

"I said, enough!" Chu Lu's eyes narrowed. He subtly circulated his cultivation technique, and his previously weak hands instantly filled with strength.

Liu Jin'er let out a yelp of pain, and the scissors slipped from her grasp.

She stumbled back two steps, clutching her hands. She looked at the scissors on the ground, then back at Chu Lu, her expression suddenly turning grim.