We're Not Being Undercover Anymore!

The next day.

Miaocheng Tian did not even know how she had fallen asleep. When she woke, her mind was a blank slate, completely dazed, before memories and consciousness gradually flooded back.

Suddenly, the events of the previous night rushed into her mind, leaving her emotions in utter turmoil.

To catch a tiger, one must enter its lair.

Miaocheng Tian comforted herself in her heart, but when she turned her head, she discovered Zhu Youning was still asleep on the bed.

"Your Highness? Are you awake?"

Miaocheng Tian whispered, only to be suddenly pulled into an embrace by Zhu Youning, realizing he had been awake all along.

Held tightly in Zhu Youning's arms, she was struck by how energetic he seemed; despite the madness of the night before, he did not look the least bit tired.

"Your Highness, you are truly full of energy."

"It is because you served me well that I slept so soundly."

Zhu Youning's words were pure nonsense.

He had not slept for long, but he had spent several hours cultivating his profound internal energy and had even consumed spiritual elixirs like the Great Restoration Pill, so naturally, he was brimming with vigor.

He rose quickly and said to Miaocheng Tian, "If you are not feeling well, sleep a while longer. This Seat must go and lodge a complaint."

Hearing this, Miaocheng Tian wanted to speak but hesitated, ultimately remaining silent.

She was dying to know what Zhu Youning meant by "lodging a complaint," but she could not bring herself to ask.

Her current status was merely that of a maidservant; it was not her place to inquire about state affairs, especially since she had already asked about Zhu Youzhen the night before. To ask again would seem far too suspicious.

Zhu Youning finished washing and dressing quickly, leaving the prince's residence while Miaocheng Tian remained in the room.

In truth, with her Great Star Realm cultivation, any injuries would have healed quickly, but given her current identity as a delicate maid, it was more appropriate to rest a while longer.

The "complaint" Zhu Youning spoke of was, of course, against Zhu Youzhen.

Zhu Youning held no affection for Zhu Youzhen. Furthermore, since the man had already mobilized the censors to attack him with their pens, Zhu Youning intended to strike back.

If he was going to strike, he would not do it by halves; he would settle the matter once and for all!

If you are heartless, do not blame me for being unrighteous!

Zhu Youning did not act often, but when he did, it was a lethal blow.

He went straight to Jiaolan Hall and personally submitted a report to Zhu Wen, accusing Prince Jun, Zhu Youzhen, of digging up graves, specifically exhuming the corpse of the late Imperial Consort Zhang and keeping it in his residence—an act of utter disloyalty, unfilial conduct, and moral depravity.

Zhu Wen was instantly enraged upon hearing this.

His own wife's corpse had been dug up!

If this were true, no man could tolerate it!

Zhu Wen immediately sent men to the imperial mausoleum to investigate, and sure enough, the body was gone.

Zhu Wen could no longer sit still.

Setting aside his feelings for Zhang, she was his wife, and the desecration of her remains was a blow to his own dignity that he could not overlook.

Zhu Wen immediately dispatched men to search Zhu Youzhen's residence, and to his surprise, the accusation was spot on; Zhu Youning had been right.

Zhu Wen was so furious he nearly exploded, loudly cursing Zhu Youzhen for his rebellious nature—digging up his own mother's corpse was the height of unfilial behavior! He immediately ordered Zhu Youzhen to be put to death and stripped of his status as a commoner.

Although Zhu Youzhen's faction boasted dozens of high-ranking officials, not one dared to speak a word in his defense; they could only wait for the end.

Who would dare to plead for him?

They knew Zhu Wen's temper all too well: whoever begged for mercy would be the next to die!

With Zhu Youzhen dead, the influence he had painstakingly cultivated in the imperial court for years withered away. Meanwhile, his former position as Commander of the Tianxing Army inexplicably fell to Zhu Youwen.

At the Xuanming Cult headquarters, inside a gloomy hall.

Two figures draped in mysterious, voluminous robes stood on either side. One wore a crimson robe, the other a deep blue.

Their robes billowed without a breeze, exuding an imposing aura that marked them as masters of internal energy.

These two were none other than the Water and Fire Judges of the Xuanming Cult, Yang Yan and Yang Miao.

The power and status of the Water and Fire Judges in the Xuanming Cult were second only to Meng Po, and logically, they should have been the Underworld Emperor's right and left hands. However, these "arms" were, in fact, false.

In secret, they had long since pledged their loyalty to Prince Jun, Zhu Youzhen.

But now that Zhu Youzhen had been executed by Zhu Wen's order and his faction in the court had collapsed, Yang Yan and Yang Miao were deeply troubled.

After years of deep-cover work, their only contact who knew their true identity was dead. What were they to do?

The Fire Judge, Yang Yan, his face completely shrouded in his hood, asked in a hollow voice, "Zhu Youzhen has been executed. What are we to do now?"

The Water Judge, Yang Miao, clearly had more foresight. "What else can we do? We are the Water and Fire Judges of the Xuanming Cult. With Zhu Youzhen dead, no one knows we were moles. We stop being moles! From this day forward, we shall simply focus on being the Water and Fire Judges of the Xuanming Cult."

In Bian Prefecture, at the residence of Zhu Youwen.

Zhu Youwen had just finished his daily cultivation when Zhong Xiaokui brought him some good news.

This news was truly as surreal and bewildering as a dream.

It had begun with Prince An, Zhu Youning, being attacked by the censors, followed by the execution of Prince Jun, Zhu Youzhen, and in the end, Zhu Youwen had inexplicably gained the position of Commander of the Tianxing Army for no reason at all.

After reporting the explosive news that had recently occurred in Bian Prefecture, Zhong Xiaokui knelt on one knee, cupped her hands, and congratulated Zhu Youwen: "Congratulations, Ghost King, on obtaining the position of Commander of the Tianxing Army!"

There was no joy on Zhu Youwen's face; he merely said with disdain, "What is there to congratulate? This Seat owes Zhu Youning a favor for this. He was the one who stripped Zhu Youzhen of his power, yet in the end, it benefited This Seat. Isn't that a massive favor?"

Having her good news rebuffed by her superior, Zhong Xiaokui felt somewhat awkward and could only say, "The Ghost King is right!"

Zhu Youwen continued to himself, "However, this is only natural. His Majesty just bestowed the Pinglu Garrison upon Zhu Youning; he certainly couldn't give the position of Commander of the Tianxing Army to him as well, or else he would become too powerful to control!"

Zhong Xiaokui pondered for a moment and said, "Ghost King, Pinglu is situated on the shores of the East Sea. It is a vast and resource-rich land, and it lacks the long-term threats of Qi and Jin. It is a pity that the Ghost King cannot occupy it."

"A pity? Hmph! What is there to pity? What use does This Seat have for such a wretched piece of land? In the face of absolute strength, troops, power, territory, and wealth are not worth mentioning."

Zhu Youwen flicked his sleeve with an expression of contempt, then clenched his fist in front of his chest. "Because as long as one possesses absolute strength, all of these can be obtained with a wave of the hand!"

Zhong Xiaokui could only cup her hands and say, "The Ghost King is right!"

"However, this matter has reminded This Seat that this Zhu Youning is not simple either. It seems he must be guarded against."

Zhu Youwen unclenched his fist, his gaze becoming somewhat unfocused as he involuntarily looked upward, as if lost in thought.

"Zhu Youning has the Pinglu Garrison on the outside and the Longxiang Army on the inside, with over a hundred thousand troops in his hands. Furthermore, for some reason, Zhu Youning has been deeply favored by His Majesty these days."

"This subordinate has heard that Prince An has repeatedly presented elixirs and medicinal pills to His Majesty, which is why His Majesty is so delighted."

Zhong Xiaokui replied thoughtfully, then asked in a low voice, "Ghost King, Prince An's influence is already great. Do we need to take extra precautions?"