The Empress's Majesty

Night fell, and Heaven Dou Imperial City was placed under martial law.

Commander of the Imperial Guard Yang Hai, leading generals controlled by Heavenly Illusion, replaced the guards at every city gate.

Entry was permitted, but exit was strictly forbidden; anyone who dared approach the gates was to be executed without mercy.

The populace huddled in their homes, trembling in fear.

They did not know what was happening.

They only knew that at dusk, squads of Imperial Guards clad in black armor had surged into the streets.

The sound of iron armor scraping, boots striking the ground, and blades being drawn echoed throughout the city.

"What is going on?"

"Why is there a sudden curfew?"

"What are they doing out there?"

The commoners peered through the cracks in their windows, watching as the Imperial Guards held torches aloft and sealed off street after street.

Whenever someone tried to step out to inquire, they were barked back:

"Go back! Curfew is in effect tonight; no one is allowed outside!"

Immediately following this, the sound of clashing steel rang out from the distance.

"Clang! Clatter!"

"Ah—!"

A scream pierced the night sky.

Firelight flared up in the eastern part of the city.

That was the district where the noble estates were gathered.

"They're raiding the houses... the Imperial Guard is heading toward the nobles!"

An old man whispered in shock before his family covered his mouth and dragged him back into the house.

All night long, Heaven Dou City trembled.

At the Marquis's estate in the east, the main gate was blasted open.

The Imperial Guards filed in, and before the estate's guards could even resist, they were pinned to the walls by arrows.

The Marquis woke from his slumber, ran barefoot into the courtyard, and turned deathly pale at the sight of the courtyard filled with torches.

"You... what are you doing?"

"By order of the Empress, we are raiding this estate." The lead Imperial Guard officer said expressionlessly, waving his hand. "Take him."

The Marquis was completely bewildered.

The Empress? What Empress?

Has there ever been an Empress of the Heaven Dou Empire?

However, he was immediately pinned to the ground, shackled, and dragged out of the estate.

He saw the neighboring Count's estate also going up in flames, and heard cries of agony coming from the Viscount's estate further away.

Overnight, dozens of noble estates were raided.

Private soldiers who resisted were slaughtered on the spot.

Those who tried to flee had their thighs pierced by arrows.

Those who cried out for mercy had their mouths gagged and were dragged away.

The scent of blood permeated the night wind.

The people of Heaven Dou City curled up in their homes, listening to the commotion outside, unable to sleep all night.

They did not know what had happened to the Heaven Dou Empire, but they vaguely sensed that the sky over this city was about to change.

The next morning.

Deep within the Imperial Palace, inside a grand hall.

Morning light filtered through the gauze curtains, illuminating a disheveled bed.

Na'er's body gave a violent shudder, and with a sharp cry, she rolled her eyes back and fell into a deep slumber.

Her long, silver-white hair was scattered across the pillow, and her pink eyes were tightly shut, her eyelashes still trembling slightly.

Yan Lingji and Xiaomeng knelt before the bed in a posture of utter defeat.

Their rounded, pert buttocks were raised high, covered in red cinnabar marks.

Every mark was the seal of the "Treasure of the Heaven Dou Emperor."

Beside them, a pitch-black tentacle coiled around the Imperial Seal of the Heaven Dou Emperor, swaying it gently.

The tone carried a hint of lazy, imperial majesty.

"The vermilion seal is like blood, the skin like fine lard—this is the Imperial Treasure of Imperial We; without Imperial We's personal permission, it shall not be used at will."

He paused, then pressed another seal onto Xiaomeng's hip.

"Thus it is decreed!"

Xiaomeng looked down at the dense rows of "Zheng" characters on her thighs, gritting her teeth.

"You bastard..."

"Does my beloved consort not like it?"

"Shall we keep the bow drawn and the arrow nocked at the waist?"

Jiang Ce's voice echoed in her mind, carrying a hint of mischief and triumph.

Xiaomeng gnashed her teeth.

This scoundrel—he had said he would use her body, but to ruin it in such a way.

"Master~"

Yan Lingji crawled over from the side, her nine snow-white fox tails swaying gently behind her. Her peach-blossom eyes were shimmering with moisture, her red lips slightly parted, and her voice was so soft it could drip water.

"Did this slave serve you well?"

She leaned toward Jiang Ce, enchanting and alluring, like a cat begging for a reward.

Jiang Ce's tentacle reached out and patted her head gently.

"Not bad."

Yan Lingji smiled with satisfaction, her fox tails wagging even more happily.

"Then, Master, will you reward this slave with a few more seals?"

"Greedy."

Though Jiang Ce spoke the word, his tentacle curled around the seal and pressed another one onto her hip.

Yan Lingji let out an "Mm~," her face flushing a rosy pink.

Xiaomeng watched this scene coldly and turned her head away.

"Shall I not stamp you?" Jiang Ce asked.

"Get lost."

Jiang Ce laughed, and his tentacle reached out to add another "Zheng" character to her thigh.

Xiaomeng bit her lip, the tips of her ears turning red.

The hall was quiet for a moment before the three of them began to tidy their attire.

Pitch-black Venom tissue surged from their bodies, rapidly wrapping around their graceful forms.

Once again, two black tails were attached to them.

On Yan Lingji, a black and red dress took shape, nine fox tails emerged from behind the skirt, and fox ears twitched atop her head, as bewitching as ever.

On Xiaomeng, a water-ink dress appeared, cold and ethereal, with the Qiuli Sword hanging at her waist.

Na'er was still fast asleep, covered in a thin layer of Venom tissue, her breathing steady.

Yan Lingji glanced at Na'er and smiled, "This little girl, she was worn out last night."

Jiang Ce said, "Let her sleep."

Xiaomeng straightened her dress and walked toward the hall exit with an expressionless face.

Yan Lingji followed behind her, her nine fox tails swaying gently, her steps light.

"Sister Xiaomeng, why walk so fast?"

Xiaomeng ignored her.

"You weren't like this last night~" Yan Lingji leaned in, smiling.

Xiaomeng's footsteps faltered, and she turned to glare at her.

"Shut up."

Yan Lingji laughed even more joyfully.

The main hall of the Imperial Palace.

The palace doors were wide open, and the morning light spilled in, illuminating the red carpet that covered the floor.

The hall was filled with people kneeling.

Nobles, court officials, and members of the imperial clan formed a vast, dark mass, their foreheads pressed to the ground, trembling in fear.

The Heaven Dou Emperor knelt at the very front, his aged face flushed red, his entire body shaking.

He was still wearing his dragon robes, but they were crumpled, looking like a discarded rag.

Imperial guards stood on both sides, a forest of blades and spears, their cold light flickering.

The center of the hall was piled high with items—gold and silver vessels, jewelry and jade, antiques and paintings, silks and satins... row upon row, stack upon stack, piled up like a small mountain.

That was what had been seized from the secret chambers of the imperial palace last night.

"Clack, clack, clack—"

The sound of heels striking the stone floor echoed from outside the hall doors.

Each step landed like a hammer blow upon everyone's hearts.

Everyone bowed their heads even lower.

Two figures strolled in from behind the screen.

Yan Lingji walked in the lead, her black and red gown trailing across the red carpet.

Nine snow-white fox tails swayed gently behind her.

Her fox ears twitched slightly, her peach-blossom eyes arched, and the corners of her lips curled into an enigmatic smile.

Xiaomeng followed behind her, her ink-wash style dress fluttering without a breeze; though the Qiuli Sword remained sheathed, its sword intent already shrouded the entire hall.

Yan Lingji ascended the steps, turned, and seated herself upon the imperial throne.

The golden throne shimmered with a cold light in the morning sun as she leaned back, crossed her legs, and tapped her fingers against the armrest.

"Rise."

Her voice was not loud, yet it carried the unquestionable majesty of an empress.

The kneeling crowd stood up tremblingly, yet none dared to lift their heads.

Only the Heaven Dou Emperor remained on his knees.

His legs had already turned to jelly.

He had spent the entire night documenting the palace, searching every hidden compartment, and registering every item.

Even if he had wanted to hide his private wealth, false reporting was utterly impossible.

The will within his mind had compelled him to spill every single secret clean.

Yan Lingji swept a glance over the mountain of treasure piled in the center of the hall, then looked toward the shivering nobles.

"Are these things all that the Emperor found in the palace?"

A deathly silence filled the hall.

"We—" Yan Lingji paused, then changed her form of address, "are quite curious."

"You nobles, how much have you embezzled over these years?"