I have always been loyal to the Imperial Concubine from beginning to end

"Are you not afraid of us, girl?"

The two masked kidnappers were completely bewildered, their eyes filled with astonishment.

In the past, anyone they cornered in this alley would have already been trembling and wailing in terror; how could anyone be as calm and collected as this person, even smiling with such playful intrigue?

"Scared to tears? Are you joking with me?"

Ye Yunxi pursed her lips and chuckled, her peach-blossom eyes curving into crescents. Her gaze was brimming with mockery as she looked at the two fools, who seemed so certain of their success, finding them simply laughable.

"Stubborn! I hope you won't be crying and begging for mercy in a moment!"

"Go, grab her!"

The lead kidnapper roared, and the two lunged forward in unison. One swung a hemp rope while the other pulled out a syringe, the pale Cyan Drug Liquid inside sloshing as he aimed it directly at Ye Yunxi's shoulder.

"Too slow."

Ye Yunxi whispered from her red lips. She suddenly executed the Lingbo Microsteps, her figure becoming like a faint shadow. She narrowly dodged their pincer attack; her afterimage remained in place while her true form had already drifted to their side.

In the next second, a pale pink spiritual light exploded outward. Nine fluffy, pearlescent white fox tails erupted from her body, lashing out like lightning to wrap around their limbs and torsos. She tightened her grip, causing their bones to creak and groan.

"Thud!"

The hemp rope and syringe in their hands fell to the ground with a clatter.

The binding force of the fox tails was incredibly tyrannical. The two struggled with all their might, veins bulging and their soul power surging wildly, yet they couldn't find even the slightest room to break free.

They were Soul Ancestor cultivators, possessing a fair amount of strength in Tiandou City, yet at this moment, they were rendered completely immobile by this woman's tails!

Terror flooded them like a tidal wave.

Ye Yunxi leaned down, her jade fingers picking up the syringe from the ground. She channeled a wisp of soul power to probe its ingredients.

A moment later, having grasped the composition, Ye Yunxi looked up at the two tightly bound men, her voice cold.

"So this is what you use to kidnap young girls. This Cyan Drug Liquid is laced with hallucinogens, isn't it? One touch and the victim faints; you two are truly vicious."

The pupils of the two men shrank, their faces turning deathly pale. She had seen through the nature of the concoction at a single glance!

"Who... who exactly are you!"

"The strength of a Soul Ancestor is no different from an ant in my eyes."

Ye Yunxi spoke indifferently, walking slowly toward them with the syringe pinched between her fingertips.

Before they could beg for mercy again, she raised her hand and, with swift, precise, and ruthless movements, injected half the liquid from the syringe into each of their necks.

As the drug entered their bodies, the effects took hold instantly. The two felt their heads grow heavy and their soul power dissipate. Their eyelids felt as heavy as lead; before they could even scream, their eyes rolled back, and they fainted dead away, collapsing limply within the fox tails.

Ye Yunxi leaped directly onto the roof.

The wind whistled.

Her messy long hair was blown upward.

Ye Yunxi's expression was cold and detached. Without a moment's hesitation, she retracted the Nine-Tailed Sky Fox martial soul into her body, leaving the two men hanging above the ground.

Ye Yunxi raised her hands and stripped the two men of all their clothes, leaving only their undergarments.

She then grabbed the hemp rope they had prepared for their victim, tied their hands and feet behind their backs, and secured one end of the rope to the eaves of the roof, leaving them hanging upside down.

Their naked bodies swayed incessantly, looking particularly ridiculous in the night.

After finishing all this, Ye Yunxi brushed the dust from her palms. Her peach-blossom eyes swept over the two unconscious fellows, and a cold, thin smile curled her lips.

"Using such despicable methods to harm others, you deserve to taste this feeling yourself."

Ye Yunxi said no more. With a light tap of her jade feet, she vanished into the night.

Only the two men remained standing in the darkness.

When daylight came, the patrol guards of Tiandou City would surely find them and throw them into the dungeon.

A moment later, Ye Yunxi's figure landed steadily in the courtyard of the Dugu Manor in the south of the city, making no sound.

Inside the house, Dugu Bo, who was instructing Dugu Yan in her cultivation, instantly sensed the unfamiliar yet familiar aura of soul power in the courtyard. His figure flickered, and he appeared in the yard.

As his gaze met the stunning woman who had removed her veil, Dugu Bo's breath hitched.

The moonlight spilled onto Ye Yunxi, making her skin appear as white as snow. Her peach-blossom eyes were naturally alluring, and a faint smile played on her lips. She was peerlessly beautiful, her radiance blinding.

When Ye Yunxi smiled at him, Dugu Bo's old face flushed red. He hurriedly turned his head away, coughing repeatedly to forcefully suppress the surging agitation and shock in his heart.

With such beauty and such temperament, it was no wonder the Crown Prince was determined to take her as his concubine; a woman like this was rare in the world.

"Cough, cough!"

"Imperial Concubine, visiting so late at night, is there something important you need to command?"

Dugu Bo straightened his robes, composed his disarray, and looked back at Ye Yunxi. He bowed deeply, his attitude extremely respectful.

Ye Yunxi did not beat around the bush. Her peach-blossom eyes fixed on him, and she got straight to the point.

"I will be blunt, Senior Dugu. Are you willing to stand on the side of the Crown Prince?"

As the words fell, Dugu Bo instantly understood the purpose of her visit. There was not a shred of hesitation in his eyes as he said in a deep voice:

"If it is the request of the Imperial Concubine, this old man will not hesitate. Ever since you stepped in to cure the Jade Phosphor Snake poison in my granddaughter and me, and reshaped the foundation of our martial souls, you have been the savior of the Dugu Family."

"Whether it be the instructions of the Crown Prince or the requests of the Imperial Concubine, this old man has not the slightest objection."

Dugu Bo was never one to be ungrateful. The favors he owed Prince Xue Xing for his service over the years had long been repaid; now, his heart held only gratitude toward Ye Yunxi.

"Very good." Ye Yunxi nodded faintly. "The Crown Prince intends to eliminate the hidden threat of Xue Beng soon. You should understand the boundaries of such a task."

Dealing with Xue Beng?

Dugu Bo's heart gave a slight jolt. The Crown Prince was in such a hurry to clear his obstacles, likely fearing complications once he ascended the throne.

"Rest assured, Imperial Concubine, I understand." He replied in a deep voice, without a hint of hesitation.

After a pause, Dugu Bo raised his eyes, his gaze sincere and his words earnest: "However, Imperial Concubine, I must make it clear: the person I, Dugu Bo, pledge my loyalty to is you, not the Crown Prince."

Upon hearing this, the smile on Ye Yunxi's lips deepened. Her brows and eyes were soft and charming, yet carried a knowing, icy clarity:

"I am naturally aware of that. On the day the Crown Prince truly ascends the throne, everything you desire shall be yours, including the enhancement of your power. By then, spirit bones and wealth will all be within reach."

Spirit bones!

Dugu Bo's body stiffened abruptly, a tempest surging in the depths of his eyes. He bowed immediately, his voice thick with choked, earnest emotion:

"Imperial Concubine, if that day truly comes, I beg you to bestow the spirit bone upon Dugu Yan. She needs it more than I do. You helped our grandfather-granddaughter pair achieve Martial Soul Evolution from the Jade Phosphor Snake to the Jade Scale Dragon Emperor, and Dugu Yan's martial soul has already shifted completely from the poison type to the assault type. This opportunity is all thanks to your grace."

"Martial Soul Evolution is, after all, a tremendous blessing." Ye Yunxi smiled lightly.

"The Dugu Family will never forget this great kindness."

As the two spoke, a dainty figure emerged from the room. Dugu Yan had just retracted her martial soul, her breath slightly ragged. When she lifted her eyes and caught sight of the stunning Ye Yunxi in the courtyard, her pretty face flushed crimson instantly. Her gaze darted away, and she called out timidly.

"Imperial Concubine?"

"Has Miss Dugu Yan finished her cultivation?" Ye Yunxi smiled toward Dugu Yan.

Dugu Yan's heart began to race, and she clutched her chest.

"Yes... yes!"

Thanks to Nuomi Tuanzi Haochi for the previous tip.

And to everyone who cast their monthly votes, thank you.