The Empress's Younger Sister?

For a while afterward, life quieted down.

Perhaps poisoning a colleague was no easy matter, for Su Muyun never came to report any progress.

As for the Empress, perhaps after the last uproar, she understood that she could not push Chu Lu too hard, so she did not send anyone to continue watching him.

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

The Imperial Physician's medicine worked well. After drinking it for several days, his body improved greatly. He was no longer bedridden all day and could even take a few walks in the garden when he had nothing to do.

He had even picked up a straight wooden stick and, on a whim, performed a couple of sword forms.

"I really didn't expect things to be this idle." Chu Lu sat down and set the wooden stick aside, his expression subtle. Having grown accustomed to troubles arriving one wave after another, he was almost unaccustomed to these days of doing nothing.

There was always a faint unease in his heart.

"Xu Liniang, do you think the Empress might try some trick?" Chu Lu asked. "Send someone over to do something?"

"Probably not." Xu Liniang said, "I am the Emperor, after all. My status is there for all to see. Even the Empress has to show some restraint; she would not casually send servants to humiliate me. In my previous life, I only suffered at Liu Fenggu's hands."

"Is that so?"

"Ah, wait, no. There's one more person. A very troublesome one."

"Who?"

"The Empress's younger sister."

Kunning Palace.

The Empress was locked in a passionate kiss with a handsome guard when hurried footsteps and a carefree shout suddenly came from outside.

"Big Sister! I came to play with you!"

The Empress hurriedly separated from the guard, wiped her mouth, and put on a solemn, dignified appearance.

Only then did the person who had called out enter the palace.

She was a charming, adorable young woman, with peach-blossom cheeks and a pair of bright, watery eyes. The cleverness at the corners of her smiling lips made it seem as though she could come up with several mischievous ideas the very next moment.

The Empress coughed and said, "Jin'er, how old are you already? Why are you still so unruly?"

Liu Jin'er skipped to the Empress's side, looped her arm through hers, and coquettishly said, "No matter how old I get, I'll always be Big Sister's little sister."

The Empress said helplessly, "Acting like this, who would be willing to marry you?"

"Hmph." Liu Jin'er puffed out her cheeks. "I am a daughter of the Liu Family, and my elder sister is the Empress. Who would dare refuse to marry me?!"

The Empress smiled and shook her head.

"Oh, right, Big Sister." Liu Jin'er asked, "I heard something happened in the palace. Cousin Fenggu was killed by the Emperor?"

"Yes. She was probably driven into a corner, like a dog jumping over the wall." At the question, the Empress's face darkened. "I already took the Imperial Sword over there and taught her a lesson, so she knows how formidable I am. You needn't worry."

Liu Jin'er's eyes rolled as she said, "Then... can I go play with the Emperor?"

"Ah?" The Empress froze.

"You know, Big Sister, I used to play with the Emperor all the time. But ever since she fell seriously ill, I haven't even been able to see her. I miss her a little." Liu Jin'er shook the Empress's arm. "And I'm also curious how the Emperor managed to kill Cousin Fenggu, who was so formidable. Please, Big Sister?"

A sharp gleam flashed through the Empress's eyes.

Of course, she knew that the "play" Liu Jin'er spoke of was not so simple. But this was also a good opportunity. She had lost face last time, and now she could just let Liu Jin'er go take some of Chu Lu's arrogance down a notch.

She was not worried about Liu Jin'er's safety. In her mind, the Emperor had killed Liu Fenggu last time because she had likely realized that she would die if things continued this way, and so had smashed the cauldrons and sunk the boats. Liu Jin'er's methods might be vicious, but they would not endanger anyone's life. Liu Jin'er also knew how to gauge the limits. The Emperor had not exploded in anger before, so it was even less likely that she would do so now.

Moreover, Liu Jin'er's status was far higher than Liu Fenggu's. There would definitely be no problem.

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

Liu Jin'er immediately broke into a broad smile and sweetly said, "Okay!"

That afternoon, Hall of Mental Cultivation.

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

"Your Majesty, I came to play with you."

Hearing that disrespectful call, Chu Lu felt only puzzled, but Xu Liniang in his mind was struck with terror.

"It's Liu Jin'er! That's Liu Jin'er's voice!"

"The Liu Jin'er you mentioned before?"

"Yes, yes, yes! She's terribly difficult to deal with. Let's hurry and hide."

Chu Lu frowned slightly. He was not particularly willing to hide.

But when Xu Liniang had mentioned Liu Jin'er before, she had only said that she was difficult to deal with. No matter what, she refused to tell Chu Lu why she was difficult to deal with, or what had happened between them.

Knowing nothing, the only thing he could do for safety's sake was hide.

But before Chu Lu could rise, Liu Jin'er had already rushed into the pavilion. With a dazzling smile, she said, "Ah, you're here!"

"Ahhh! We've been caught!" Xu Liniang wailed in his mind.

Chu Lu did not react much. Since he could not avoid her, he would not avoid her.

He looked Liu Jin'er over. She had the image of a charming, adorable girl next door. Behind her stood a tall woman with a tranquil, otherworldly temperament, carrying herself like a reclusive master beyond the mortal world.

"Your Majesty, you're here. It's been so long since we last met." Liu Jin'er grinned as she leaned closer. "When I heard you were ill, I wanted to visit you, but Sister would not allow it. She said she was afraid I might catch the illness too. Your Majesty, how is your health now?"

"Quite good."

"That's good, that's good. Oh, right, I heard that Your Majesty killed Cousin Fenggu. I was so shocked when I heard." Liu Jin'er wore a look of worship, her eyes sparkling with little stars. "Cousin Fenggu had practiced martial arts since she was little, and she was as strong as an ox. I always thought no one in this world could defeat Cousin Fenggu, yet Your Majesty, so thin and small, actually managed to kill her. You're amazing!"

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

How could anyone admire the person who had killed her own cousin?

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

"It was merely a sneak attack."

"How did you sneak attack her? Tell me in more detail. Oh, how about we demonstrate it?" Liu Jin'er smilingly produced a pair of scissors. "Your Majesty can play Cousin, and I'll play you. How did you stab her then? Like this? Or like this?"

Without the slightest mercy, Liu Jin'er thrust the scissors forward. They either passed by to one side or stopped just before his skin, only to be withdrawn again.

The cold gleam of the scissors raised goosebumps on Chu Lu's skin.

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

Yet Liu Jin'er merely giggled. "Oh? So Cousin grabbed you back then too? Then how did Your Majesty respond? Did you keep pushing harder?"

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

"I said enough!" Chu Lu's gaze sharpened. He slightly circulated his cultivation method, and his once-feeble hands instantly filled with strength.

Liu Jin'er immediately cried out in pain, and the scissors slipped from her grasp.

She staggered back two steps, clutching her hands. She looked at the scissors on the ground, then at Chu Lu, and her face instantly darkened.