Then I'll Leave?

Xuanjing Tian naturally heard the footsteps as well, so she immediately clamped her mouth shut and remained silent.

About ten seconds later, Zhu Youning finally arrived in the room.

As soon as he entered, he saw Miaocheng Tian's pale and weary face and remarked casually, "Miss Miao'er's complexion doesn't seem too good."

Miaocheng Tian dragged her weak body forward and offered a slight bow to Zhu Youning, putting on a frail and pitiful appearance as she said timidly, "Reporting to the Prince, Miao'er has been weak and sickly since childhood. I hope the Prince will forgive my unsightly state."

Zhu Youning smiled at her on the spot, saying, "Rest assured, now that you are with This Seat, there is plenty of medicine for you to recuperate."

He then looked toward Xuanjing Tian and asked, "Do you know why I requested the two of you?"

"To serve the Prince, of course!" Xuanjing Tian lowered her head and replied tactfully, "As a lowly servant girl, now that I have encountered a noble personage like the Prince, how could I not put in my utmost effort to serve you well?"

Miaocheng Tian also giggled charmingly, "It is this servant's honor to be able to serve the Prince."

"Good." Zhu Youning clapped his hands and laughed, "Then remove your clothes now; let me see what your figures are like."

The smiles on the faces of Xuanjing Tian and Miaocheng Tian froze instantly.

How could this Zhu Youning be so direct?

For a moment, the two did not know how to respond.

Should they comply? Or should they strike?

In the end, Miaocheng Tian was the first to make up her mind. She giggled, "You are wicked, Prince! It isn't even night yet!"

Zhu Youning watched her with a smile and retorted, "Between a man and a woman, who says it must be night?"

"This..." Miaocheng Tian and Xuanjing Tian exchanged a glance, their words faltering.

"I only want to see your figures to order you some well-fitting clothes; your current maid outfits are far too dowdy." Zhu Youning sneered inwardly, but on the surface, he teased them, "To be my handmaidens, you must naturally dress more beautifully. Are you saying you don't wish to become more beautiful?"

"We naturally wish to."

Miaocheng Tian answered quickly. Since Zhu Youning had put it that way, refusing would only invite suspicion.

She exchanged a look with Xuanjing Tian and gritted her teeth, letting their outer maid garments fall to the floor.

With their silk skirts loosely tied, their chests were half-exposed; the two women's undergarments appeared to be of the same material, and the style was quite revealing.

Save for a thick piece of silk covering their plump, jade-like bosoms, the rest of their skin was visible through the thin, translucent gauze. Coupled with their graceful, supple waists and fair, creamy skin, it was quite a sight to behold... Such beauties, truly worthy of being the Nine Heavens Holy Concubines of the Huan Yin Workshop!

Of course, Zhu Youning had no intention of admiring them carefully at the moment; instead, he was surprised.

He had deliberately made such an insolent demand to provoke their anger, even preparing himself for a fight, yet he had not expected them to actually comply.

However, although Miaocheng Tian and Xuanjing Tian had removed their outer garments, he could clearly sense that the two young women were extremely nervous.

"What, am I some sort of wild beast?"

Since they did not make a move, Zhu Youning carefully observed the beautiful curves of the two women. When his gaze shifted to their faces, he found them both looking shy and embarrassed.

However, Zhu Youning felt that they were likely just putting on an act.

"Miao'er, Xuan'er, come here and let me take your measurements."

Miaocheng Tian felt deeply humiliated and wanted nothing more than to strike at Zhu Youning, but she ultimately held back.

Because her Innate Severed Meridians had flared up not long ago, leaving her body weak and powerless, attacking now would be a futile gesture. She had no choice but to plead softly, "Prince, could you... could you wait a little longer? This servant is feeling a bit unwell."

Zhu Youning was never one to be impatient; he had only made them do this to tease them and probe their true intentions. He said gently, "Miao'er, Xuan'er, if you are not ready, there is plenty of time; there is no need to rush. Well, shall I leave then?"

Xuanjing Tian asked in a low voice, "Does the Prince speak the truth?"

Unexpectedly, Zhu Youning's expression shifted, and he laughed loudly, "Of course it is a lie. The arrow is on the string and must be released; surely you two beauties understand that logic?"

Miaocheng Tian felt that this Zhu Youning was truly fickle. She turned her face away and buried it against her chest, whispering like a mosquito, "Prince, in truth... I, I am unwell, I would like to... like to go brew some medicine first..."

With her soft pleas and deathly pale complexion, although Zhu Youning did not believe her, he acted as if he had no choice but to accept it.

However, Miaocheng Tian's complexion was indeed poor, and it did not look faked. After a moment of thought, Zhu Youning concluded that her Innate Severed Meridians had indeed flared up.

"Then you may leave first. Let Xuan'er stay to keep me company."

Miaocheng Tian had not expected Zhu Youning to actually let her go. She glanced at Xuanjing Tian, hesitated for a moment, then put on her outer garment and left.

Once outside, Miaocheng Tian immediately sought a secluded spot, summoned a carrier pigeon, wrote down the situation she and her sister were in, and sent it toward Fengxiang.

Inside the room, Xuanjing Tian was left alone to face the predator.

At least, that was how she perceived it.

Was Zhu Youning not a predator?

As she thought this, Xuanjing Tian suddenly felt a bit of resentment toward her sister.

With a formidable enemy at the door, her sister had actually abandoned her and fled alone. What if this Zhu Youning really had those intentions?

She did not actually know how skilled Zhu Youning was in martial arts, as she had never seen him fight.

However, to be a general who commanded three armies and achieved great results, and to have escaped from the hands of Li Cunxiao—who was hailed as the fiercest warrior under heaven—he could not possibly be a fool.

She suddenly recalled Zhu Youning's official title, Commander of the Left and Right Longxiang Army, and remembered that the commander of the Left Longxiang Army, Wang Yanzhang, was a fierce warrior of the current age.

For a fierce warrior like Wang Yanzhang to be willing to serve as his subordinate, Zhu Youning's martial arts must certainly be formidable!

Although Xuanjing Tian had previously told Miaocheng Tian that escaping from Li Cunxiao was not difficult, she had only said that to comfort her sister. At the very least, she knew she did not have the ability to escape from Li Cunxiao's grasp herself.

Furthermore, Xuanjing Tian had practiced archery and hunting since she was a child. Now that her preferred bow and arrows were not at hand, she could not unleash her full martial prowess. To take down Zhu Youning, she would have to launch a sneak attack while they were intimate!

So, in the end, I still have to sacrifice myself? Xuanjing Tian thought with a touch of sorrow.

While Xuanjing Tian was busy plotting how to ambush him, Zhu Youning naturally guessed a portion of her intentions. He dared not actually do anything, however.

Those who excel at swimming often drown; those who indulge in lust often die in the saddle. Zhu Youning was well aware of such truths.

Although he had already stepped into the Great Heavenly Rank, the vast internal energy he had absorbed from Li Cunxiao had not been fully converted by his Northern Dark True Qi, making his cultivation base somewhat unstable. If he were to be attacked while relaxed and indulging in pleasure—at his most unguarded moment—it would be difficult for him to react in time.

If he were to make a move, he would at least have to wait until his Great Heavenly Rank was fully consolidated.

Therefore, Zhu Youning's plan this time was to admire from afar without touching. As for when he could finally indulge, he estimated it would be in about two days.

Because in two days, his Great Heavenly Rank would be completely consolidated.