We're Done Being Undercover!

The next day.

Miaocheng Tian herself had no idea how she had fallen asleep. When she woke, her mind was completely blank, and she was still dazed. Only then did memories and awareness gradually fill her head.

Suddenly, she remembered what had happened the previous night, and her feelings became tangled.

You couldn't catch a wolf without sacrificing a child.

Miaocheng Tian consoled herself, then turned her head and saw Zhu Youning still lying in bed, not yet awake.

"Your Highness? Are you awake?"

Miaocheng Tian asked softly, only for Zhu Youning to suddenly pull her into his arms. That was when she realized he was already awake.

Held tightly in Zhu Youning's arms, Miaocheng Tian suddenly felt that he was full of energy. Despite the previous night's wild passion, he seemed not the least bit tired.

"Your Highness, you're really energetic."

"You served me well, so I slept very comfortably."

Zhu Youning was talking nonsense.

He hadn't slept for long the previous night, but had spent several hours cultivating his rich inner power. He had even taken a Great Restoration Pill and other miraculous medicines, so of course he was full of energy.

He quickly got out of bed and said to Miaocheng Tian, "If you're not feeling well, sleep a little longer. This prince is going to file a complaint."

Miaocheng Tian heard him and seemed about to speak, but in the end, she said nothing.

She really wanted to know what Zhu Youning meant by "filing a complaint," but she didn't dare ask.

Her current status was only that of a maid, so it wouldn't do to pry too much into political affairs. Besides, she had already asked about Zhu Youzhen the previous night; asking again now would seem far too unusual.

Zhu Youning soon finished washing and dressing, then left the prince's residence, while Miaocheng Tian remained in the room.

With her Great Star Realm strength, any injuries would heal quickly. But her current identity was that of a delicate maid, so it seemed more normal for her to rest a little longer.

The complaint Zhu Youning had mentioned was, of course, against Zhu Youzhen.

Zhu Youning had no fondness for Zhu Youzhen. On top of that, Zhu Youzhen had already set his censors to denounce him with pen and ink, so Zhu Youning planned to impeach him in turn.

If he was going to strike, he wouldn't strike at all unless he could bring the matter to a decisive end!

If you show no mercy, don't blame me for showing none either!

When Zhu Youning acted, he didn't hold back. His first move was a killing blow.

He went straight to Jiaolan Hall and personally submitted a memorial to Zhu Wen, accusing Prince Jun Zhu Youzhen of secretly digging up a corpse and having the late imperial consort Zhang's remains removed from her tomb and kept at his residence. He was a thoroughly disloyal, unfilial, unkind, and unrighteous man.

Zhu Wen flew into a rage as soon as he heard.

Someone had dug up his wife's body!

If it was true, who could possibly tolerate that?

Zhu Wen immediately sent people to inspect the imperial mausoleum. Sure enough, the body was gone.

At that, Zhu Wen could no longer sit still.

Whether or not he had loved Zhang was beside the point. She had been his wife, after all. Just the thought of her remains being dug up was enough to make him lose face!

So Zhu Wen immediately sent people to search Zhu Youzhen's residence. He hadn't expected the search to hit the mark so perfectly, but Zhu Youning had indeed been right.

Zhu Wen was so furious he nearly exploded. He shouted that Zhu Youzhen was a traitor who had committed the ultimate outrage, digging up even his own mother's corpse—a born son without filial piety! He then ordered Zhu Youzhen put to death and stripped of his rank, reducing him to a commoner.

Although dozens of high-ranking officials in court belonged to Zhu Youzhen's faction, none dared speak up. They could only wait obediently for death.

Who would dare plead on his behalf?

They knew Zhu Wen's temper all too well. Anyone who begged for mercy would die!

With Zhu Youzhen dead, the influence he had painstakingly built up in court over the years withered away completely. Meanwhile, the position of Tianxing Army commander he had once held somehow fell into Zhu Youwen's hands.

At the Xuanming Cult's headquarters, in a dimly lit great hall,

two figures in mysterious, voluminous robes stood on either side. One wore a red robe, the other a deep blue one.

Their robes fluttered despite the lack of wind, giving them an imposing air. Anyone could see they were experts in inner cultivation.

These two were the Xuanming Cult's Water and Fire Judges, Yang Yan and Yang Miao.

Within the Xuanming Cult, the Water and Fire Judges held power and status second only to Meng Po. In theory, they should have been the Underworld Emperor's right-hand men. In truth, though, those two arms were fakes.

They had secretly pledged their loyalty to Prince Jun Zhu Youzhen long ago.

But Zhu Youzhen had now been sentenced to death by Zhu Wen, and his faction in court had crumbled and scattered. Yang Yan and Yang Miao were deeply troubled.

They had been undercover for years, only for the one superior who knew their identities to die. What were they supposed to do now?

Fire Judge Yang Yan's face was hidden beneath his robe. In a hollow voice, he asked, "Zhu Youzhen has been sentenced to death. What should we do?"

Water Judge Yang Miao was clearly more resourceful. "What else can we do? We're the Xuanming Cult's Water and Fire Judges now. With Zhu Youzhen dead, no one knows we were undercover anymore. We're done being undercover! From now on, we'll just focus on being the Xuanming Cult's Water and Fire Judges."

At Zhu Youwen's residence in Bian Prefecture,

Zhu Youwen had just finished a day of cultivation when Zhong Xiaokui brought him some good news.

The news was truly like a dream—mysterious and hard to fathom.

At first, Prince An Zhu Youning had been denounced with pen and ink. Then Prince Jun Zhu Youzhen had been sentenced to death. And in the end, Zhu Youwen had somehow gained the position of Tianxing Army commander out of nowhere.

After reporting the recent explosive developments in Bian Prefecture, Zhong Xiaokui dropped to one knee, clasped her fist, and congratulated Zhu Youwen. "Congratulations, Ghost King, on becoming Tianxing Army commander!"

There was no joy on Zhu Youwen's face. He merely said disdainfully, "What's there to congratulate me for? I owe Zhu Youning a favor now. He brought Zhu Youzhen down, and in the end, I was the one who benefited. Isn't that a huge favor?"

Her congratulatory report had been rebuffed by her superior, leaving Zhong Xiaokui somewhat embarrassed. All she could say was, "The Ghost King is right!"

Zhu Youwen continued as if to himself, "Still, it makes sense. The Emperor has just granted Pinglu Garrison to Zhu Youning. He certainly couldn't give him the position of Tianxing Army commander as well, or his power would grow so great that it would be hard to control."

Zhong Xiaokui considered this, then said, "Ghost King, Pinglu lies on the shore of the Eastern Sea. Its land is vast and rich, and it has none of the distant threats posed by Qi and Jin. It's a pity you can't have it."

"A pity? Hmph! What's there to pity? What use would I have for a worthless patch of land? Before absolute strength, soldiers, power, territory, and wealth are all beneath consideration."

Zhu Youwen flicked his hand with a disdainful look, then clenched his fist in front of his chest. "Because with absolute strength, all these things are mine for the taking!"

Zhong Xiaokui had no choice but to clasp her fist and say, "The Ghost King is right!"

"Still, this matter has reminded me that Zhu Youning is no simple man. It seems I can't afford to let down my guard."

Zhu Youwen unclenched his fist, his gaze turning distant as he looked upward, lost in thought.

"Outside, Zhu Youning has Pinglu Garrison; within the court, he has the Longxiang Army. He commands more than a hundred thousand troops, and for some reason, the Emperor has taken a great liking to him lately."

"I heard that Prince An has presented the Emperor with miraculous pills and medicines many times. That's why His Majesty has been so pleased."

Zhong Xiaokui answered thoughtfully, then asked in a low voice, "Ghost King, Prince An's power has grown considerable. Should we take greater precautions against him?"