The Underworld Emperor Zhu Yougui!

Although it is a pity not to be able to touch, merely observing from afar is not bad either.

Zhu Youning's gaze drifted inadvertently over the graceful curves of Xuanjing Tian, eventually settling on a peony flower.

Of course, this was no ordinary flower, but one tattooed upon her snow-white skin.

"Xuan'er, this flower of yours is truly beautiful."

Looking at the ridges, they are peaks; looking from the side, they are ranges; near and far, high and low, they all appear different. Zhu Youning stared at the peony tattoo on Xuanjing Tian's chest and sighed in admiration: "Only the peony possesses true national beauty. If one could observe this peony up close, it would surely be exquisite."

Xuanjing Tian understood the subtext of his words, but she dared not speak, fearing that if she opened her mouth, she would be walking straight into the tiger's den.

Unexpectedly, Zhu Youning changed the subject: "Xuan'er, you are a respectable woman; why would you have such a tattoo on your body?"

Xuanjing Tian was instantly rendered speechless. This was indeed difficult to explain, for she was no ordinary woman.

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

Xuanjing Tian's thoughts raced, and finally, she gave Zhu Youning a charming smile and said: "My Lord, this peony on your servant's body is actually meant for my future husband to see."

"Oh?"

Zhu Youning glanced at her, thinking to himself how clumsy that attempt to change the subject was, yet he teased on the surface: "Doesn't Xuan'er's meaning imply that this Prince is your husband? Since this Prince is already your husband, what should Xuan'er do in front of her husband?"

"My Lord~"

Xuanjing Tian first feigned shyness, then curled her lips into a coquettish smile and slowly approached Zhu Youning. At the same time, she hid her palm behind her back, secretly gathering internal energy; if Zhu Youning made any untoward move, she would strike immediately.

But Zhu Youning did not let her get any closer, saying instead: "Xuan'er, Miaocheng Tian has not returned yet, so you shall dance for this Prince until she does."

Xuanjing Tian froze, her expression clearly darkening for a fleeting moment. She bit her lip in silence for a moment, then suddenly beamed.

If she didn't have to sacrifice her body, she was more than happy to do this!

"Since the Lord wishes to see a dance, this servant shall dance. It is just that after I finish, I fear I will have no strength left to serve the Lord."

"No matter, won't Miaocheng Tian be here by then?"

When Miaocheng Tian released the carrier pigeon and walked back to the room, she was filled with worry.

She had actually left her sister behind like this. If Xuanjing Tian were to clash with Zhu Youning, she would likely come out on the losing end.

She had to find a way to escape, not just to help Xuanjing Tian, but to help herself as well.

Just then, footsteps echoed from the corner of the corridor.

The person approaching was a soldier of the Longxiang Army. And the direction he was heading was exactly the room where Zhu Youning and Xuanjing Tian were.

"Stop!"

Miaocheng Tian immediately barked at the soldier, her expression stern: "The Lord is at a critical moment right now. By the Lord's orders, no one is to enter and disturb him!"

The soldier had seen Miaocheng Tian before and knew she was the maid Zhu Youning had specifically requested. Upon hearing the words "critical moment," he hesitated for a moment before decisively choosing to stop.

He was no fool, and as a normal man, he immediately guessed what "critical moment" implied. Entering now would clearly only invite Zhu Youning's wrath.

However, some matters could not go unreported, and he found himself in a bind, so he could only say to Miaocheng Tian: "I have an urgent matter to report to the Lord!"

"Reporting to me is the same," Miaocheng Tian said. "I will go in and report to the Lord."

The soldier hesitated before saying: "Please inform the Lord that Prince Ying invites him to the Xuanming Cult for a talk."

When Miaocheng Tian walked into the room, the first thing she saw was Xuanjing Tian, drenched in sweat.

What was this? What had happened?

Miaocheng Tian looked at Xuanjing Tian, whose face was flushed a delicate, dripping red, and found it hard to believe.

A bad premonition suddenly rose in her heart, and she wanted to ask her sister what exactly had occurred. But with Zhu Youning present, it was not the time to ask.

However, she was certain that Xuanjing Tian was already exhausted.

What on earth had this Zhu Youning done?

Miaocheng Tian could not help but look toward Zhu Youning, only to meet his gaze. Perhaps due to a guilty conscience, she quickly looked away.

"My Lord, Prince Ying invites you to the Xuanming Cult for a talk."

"Oh?" Zhu Youning looked at Miaocheng Tian and asked: "Why did you come to report this?"

"This servant did not want others to disturb the Lord's leisure."

"Do not do this again next time," Zhu Youning said indifferently before walking out of the room.

"Yes."

After Zhu Youning left, Miaocheng Tian hurried to Xuanjing Tian's side.

"Sister, what on earth happened?"

Xuanjing Tian gritted her teeth and said: "I originally thought Zhu Youning was going to act improperly, so I planned to ambush him when he let his guard down, but for some reason, he only made me dance incessantly."

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

Xuanjing Tian was uncertain now, too: "I don't know."

Miaocheng Tian handed the maid's outer garment to Xuanjing Tian, signaling her to put it on, and said: "This place is fraught with danger. Even if Zhu Youning hasn't seen through our identities, he might still make a move against us. Once my body recovers a bit more, we shall seize an opportunity to escape, lest we lose ourselves here."

"Hmm."

Zhu Youning frowned upon hearing the news of the invitation from Prince Ying.

The person who had invited Zhu Youning was none other than the Commander of the Left and Right Crane-Controlling Army, Prefect of Lai Prefecture, and Prince Ying, Zhu Yougui.

Of course, one could also call him the Underworld Emperor, Zhu Yougui!

If one were to speak of those in the current Great Liang Dynasty who were wholeheartedly devoted to Liang, while others were hard to vouch for, the Underworld Emperor Zhu Yougui was certainly one of them.

Regardless of how great Zhu Yougui's ambitions were, he was ultimately the prince closest to the position of Crown Prince and would never commit an act of betrayal against Liang State.

It was only a pity that due to his appearance and origins, he was not favored by the Emperor, Zhu Wen.

What exactly does Zhu Yougui intend by inviting me?

Carrying a heart full of doubts, Zhu Youning boarded the carriage heading toward the headquarters of the Xuanming Cult.

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

Zhu Youning looked left and right. This Xuanming Cult headquarters was quite imposing yet also very eerie; it was truly worthy of being the base for the world's number one assassination organization.

However, Zhu Youning did not like such places at all. Staying in such a gloomy environment for a long time would cause anyone's mental state to deteriorate.

Zhu Youning ascended the steps, passed through a long, narrow corridor lit by torches on both sides, walked past the Xuanming Cult members standing beneath each torch, and finally arrived inside a palace.

The palace was reasonably luxurious, but it was likely far inferior to his own Prince An's Mansion. After all, it was merely a stone palace carved out of deep mountains and old forests; in terms of location, it truly could not compare to the extravagance and splendor of Bian Prefecture.

Two Xuanming Cult assassins stood in front of the palace, appearing to be guards.

"Your Highness Prince An, the Underworld Emperor has given the order: please, enter."

The two Xuanming Cult guards respectfully gestured toward the inside of the hall before leaving their posts at the door. When big figures met, small fry had no right to eavesdrop. If they were to force themselves to stay here, it would only cost them their lives.

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