Underworld Emperor Zhu Yougui!

Though it was a bit of a shame that he couldn't touch her, admiring her from afar was still nice. Read.

Zhu Youning's gaze casually roamed over Xuanjing Tian's graceful curves before finally settling on a peony.

Of course, it wasn't an ordinary flower. It was tattooed on her snow-white skin.

"Xuan'er, that flower of yours is quite beautiful."

Seen from the side, a ridge; head-on, a peak. Near or far, high or low, it looked different from every angle. Gazing at the peony tattoo on Xuanjing Tian's chest, Zhu Youning praised it. "Only the peony is truly worthy of being called the nation's fairest. It would be wonderful to admire it up close."

Xuanjing Tian understood the implication in Zhu Youning's words, but she didn't dare say much, afraid that the moment she opened her mouth, she'd be walking right into the tiger's den.

Unexpectedly, Zhu Youning changed the subject. "Xuan'er, you're a respectable young woman. Why do you have a tattoo like that?"

Xuanjing Tian was at a loss for words. It really was difficult to explain, since she wasn't an ordinary woman to begin with.

Could she really tell Zhu Youning that she was one of the Nine Heavens Holy Concubines of Huan Yin Workshop?

Xuanjing Tian's thoughts raced. At last, she smiled sweetly at Zhu Youning and said, "Your Highness, this peony on my body is actually meant for my future husband to see."

"Oh?"

Zhu Youning glanced at Xuanjing Tian, thinking that was a clumsy change of subject. Aloud, he teased, "So you mean that I'm your husband? Since I'm already your husband, what should you do in front of me?"

"Your Highness~"

Xuanjing Tian first pretended to be shy, then curled her lips into a coy smile and slowly moved closer to Zhu Youning. At the same time, she concealed one hand behind her, quietly gathering her inner force in her palm. If Zhu Youning so much as made a move, she would strike without hesitation.

But Zhu Youning didn't let her come any closer. "Xuan'er, Miao'er hasn't returned yet. Dance for me first, then. Keep dancing until she comes back."

Xuanjing Tian froze, and her expression briefly darkened, though the change vanished in a flash. She bit her lip and fell silent for a moment, then suddenly broke into a smile.

She'd much rather do that than give up her body!

"If Your Highness wants to see a dance, then I'll dance. But when I'm done, I'm afraid I won't have the strength to serve you."

"Don't worry. Won't Miao'er be there then?"

When Miaocheng Tian returned to the room after releasing the carrier pigeon, her face was full of worry.

She'd actually left her younger sister behind. If Xuanjing Tian and Zhu Youning came to blows, she probably wouldn't stand a chance.

She had to think of a way to get out of there. It wasn't only for Xuanjing Tian's sake, but for her own as well.

Just then, footsteps suddenly sounded around the corner of the corridor.

The person approaching was a soldier from the Longxiang Army, heading straight for the room where Zhu Youning and Xuanjing Tian were.

"Stop!"

Miaocheng Tian immediately called out to the soldier, her expression stern. "His Highness is at a critical moment. By his order, no one is allowed to enter and disturb him!"

The soldier had seen Miaocheng Tian before and knew she was a maid Zhu Youning had specifically summoned. At the words "critical moment," he paused, then promptly stopped in his tracks.

He wasn't a fool, and he was a man, too. He immediately guessed what "critical moment" meant. Going in now would obviously only earn Zhu Youning's displeasure.

Still, there were matters he had to report, and now he was in a bind. He could only say to Miaocheng Tian, "I have urgent business to report to His Highness!"

"You can tell me. I'll go in and inform him."

The soldier hesitated before saying, "Sorry for the trouble, but please tell His Highness that Prince Ying invites him to visit the Xuanming Cult."

When Miaocheng Tian entered the room, the first thing she saw was Xuanjing Tian, glistening with sweat.

What had happened? What was going on?

Looking at Xuanjing Tian, whose flushed face was as lovely as a blooming flower, Miaocheng Tian could hardly believe her eyes.

A sudden sense of foreboding gripped her. She wanted to ask her younger sister what had happened, but with Zhu Youning there, she couldn't bring herself to question Xuanjing Tian.

One thing, however, was certain: Xuanjing Tian was already exhausted.

What on earth had Zhu Youning done?

Miaocheng Tian couldn't help looking toward Zhu Youning—and met his gaze. Perhaps out of guilt, she quickly looked away.

"Your Highness, Prince Ying invites you to visit the Xuanming Cult."

"Oh?" Zhu Youning looked at Miaocheng Tian and asked, "Why did you come to deliver the message?"

"I didn't want anyone else disturbing Your Highness's leisure."

"Don't do that again." Zhu Youning left the room after tossing out the words.

"Yes."

Once Zhu Youning had left, Miaocheng Tian hurried over to Xuanjing Tian.

"Little sister, what happened?"

Xuanjing Tian gritted her teeth. "I thought Zhu Youning was going to make an improper move, so I planned to ambush him when he let his guard down. But for some reason, he only made me dance nonstop."

Miaocheng Tian was startled and asked suspiciously, "Did he see through your identity?"

Xuanjing Tian wasn't sure either. "I don't know."

Miaocheng Tian handed her the outer robe of a maid's outfit, motioning for her to put it on first, while saying, "This place is full of danger. Even if Zhu Youning hasn't seen through our identities, he might still make a move against us. Once I've recovered a little, we'll find a chance to escape, before we get ourselves killed."

"Mm."

At the news that Prince Ying had invited him, Zhu Youning furrowed his brows.

The man who had invited him was Zhu Yougui, Prince Ying, Prefect of Lai Prefecture, and Commander of the Left and Right Crane-Controlling Army of Great Liang.

Of course, he could also be called the Underworld Emperor, Zhu Yougui!

Of all the people in the Liang Dynasty today, if anyone was wholeheartedly devoted to Liang, no one could say for certain about the rest, but the Underworld Emperor Zhu Yougui was undoubtedly one.

No matter how great Zhu Yougui's ambitions were, he was still the prince closest to the position of Crown Prince. He would never betray Liang State.

Unfortunately, because of his appearance and birth, Emperor Zhu Wen did not favor him.

"Why has Zhu Yougui invited me? What does he want?"

With a head full of questions, Zhu Youning climbed into the carriage bound for the Xuanming Cult's headquarters.

The carriage traveled deep into the Xuanming Cult's territory before Zhu Youning finally stepped down.

Zhu Youning looked around. The Xuanming Cult's headquarters was imposing and gloomy indeed, befitting the stronghold of the world's foremost assassination organization.

But Zhu Youning disliked places like this. Spending too long in such a sinister place could mess with a person's mind.

Zhu Youning climbed the steps, passed through a long, narrow passage lit by torches on either side, and walked past the Xuanming Cult members standing beneath each torch. At last, he arrived inside a palace.

The palace was fairly luxurious, but it was probably nowhere near as fine as his own Prince An's Mansion. After all, it was merely a stone palace hewn out of the wilderness deep in the mountains; in terms of location, it couldn't compare to the opulence and splendor of Bian Prefecture.

Two Xuanming Cult assassins stood in front of the palace, apparently serving as guards.

"Your Highness, Prince An, the Underworld Emperor has ordered us to let you in."

The two Xuanming Cult guards respectfully gestured toward the palace, then left the entrance. When powerful figures met, minor ones had no right to eavesdrop. If they insisted on staying, they'd only get themselves killed.

As he stepped inside, Zhu Youning soon spotted the Underworld Emperor, Zhu Yougui, standing in the center of the hall.