The Prince Wants You to Go In and Attend His Bed!

Zhu Youning rested with his head on Xuanjing Tian's thighs for a little while, and soon felt a bit more energetic.

The carriage was spacious, with seats on both sides. Zhong Xiaokui sat opposite them.

He sat up and noticed that Miaocheng Tian seemed restless. Her thighs were pressed tightly together, but her lower legs were spread apart. Her face and lips were pale, and she looked sickly.

"Miao'er, what's wrong?"

Miaocheng Tian shook her head. "Your Highness, there's no need to worry. I'm fine. It's an old ailment. I just have to bear with it until it passes."

Xuanjing Tian also looked worried. She seemed to want to say something, but in the end, she remained silent.

She couldn't tell him about the Innate Severed Meridians.

Zhu Youning noticed Xuanjing Tian's expression and immediately understood.

If he wasn't mistaken, Miaocheng Tian's Innate Severed Meridians had flared up again.

The Innate Severed Meridians were a disease rarely seen in the world.

Those afflicted with the Innate Severed Meridians not only struggled to achieve anything in martial arts, but also suffered excruciating pain throughout their bodies when the illness struck. The only way to ease their suffering was to continuously channel internal energy into them from outside.

Zhu Youning placed a hand on Miaocheng Tian and found that the blood and qi within her body were ice-cold. Her meridians were like frozen streams—narrow and sluggish. The flow was not only slow, but seemed liable to stop altogether at any moment.

"Looking at you, I'd say this isn't something you can just bear until it passes."

As soon as Zhu Youning asked, Zhong Xiaokui volunteered to share her ruler's worries and spoke up. "Your Highness, I've heard of symptoms like Miss Miao'er's. May I take her pulse?"

"There's no need to trouble Officer Zhong."

Miaocheng Tian politely refused Zhong Xiaokui's offer.

Of course she didn't want Zhong Xiaokui to take her pulse.

If Zhong Xiaokui took her pulse, discovering her Innate Severed Meridians would be one thing. The real problem would be if she uncovered Miaocheng Tian's martial arts!

But Zhu Youning didn't stop Zhong Xiaokui. Instead, he nodded. "Go ahead."

Zhong Xiaokui moved closer and placed her hand on Miaocheng Tian's wrist.

Although Miaocheng Tian was very weak at the moment, she stayed on high alert and didn't dare let her guard down.

After a while, Zhong Xiaokui finally finished taking her pulse.

"Your Highness, in my judgment, Miss Miao'er has the Innate Severed Meridians. There is no cure for this condition. The only way to ease her suffering is to keep channeling internal energy into her."

Zhong Xiaokui paused before continuing, "Besides that, I also discovered that Miss Miao'er is a master of martial arts. Her skill has even reached the Great Star Realm!"

At that, Xuanjing Tian and Miaocheng Tian grew tense, their hearts clenching as if someone had seized them.

Zhu Youning showed no surprise. He simply asked, "Xiaokui, are you saying my Miao'er is a martial arts expert?"

"Yes!"

"Did you think I didn't know?"

Zhong Xiaokui immediately raised her head, her mouth slightly agape with astonishment.

"Your Highness, you already knew?"

Zhu Youning nodded. "You could tell how strong Miao'er was just by taking her pulse. But I've already felt every inch of her body. How could I not know?"

"This..."

Zhong Xiaokui was at a loss for words, looking awkward and unsure how to respond. After a long moment, she finally managed, "This subordinate has sinned."

"There's no need to say that, Xiaokui. You did well. You've committed no sin."

Zhu Youning wasn't about to blame Zhong Xiaokui without reason. Instead, he turned to Miaocheng Tian and said, "So, Miss Miao'er, won't you explain this to me?"

He wanted to see how Miaocheng Tian would cover up her lie.

Miaocheng Tian remained perfectly calm, speaking with complete clarity.

"This servant has suffered from the Innate Severed Meridians since childhood. My father traveled all over the Central Plains seeking a cure, but no one could help. With no other choice, Father asked an elderly master to teach my sister and me martial arts, so we could prolong our lives for a time. This servant never meant to hide it from Your Highness. Please forgive me!"

"Since it was to save your life, what is there to forgive?" Zhu Youning showed no sign of reproach. "Without those martial arts skills, you would have already withered away, and I would never have met such a beauty! Xiaokui!"

"This subordinate is here!" Zhong Xiaokui hurriedly clasped her fists and answered.

"Channel your internal energy into Miss Miao'er."

"Yes."

By dusk, they reached Yun Prefecture. Zhu Youning rested at the official post and moved into a room prepared by the officials there.

Though it was the finest room in Yun Prefecture, it had been prepared in haste and still needed tidying. After Miaocheng Tian and Xuanjing Tian made Zhu Youning's bed, they left the room.

They happened to run into Zhong Xiaokui.

At the sight of the two, Zhong Xiaokui's expression turned stern. "Why have Miss Miao'er and Miss Xuan'er come out?"

Miaocheng Tian replied, "His Highness is going to cultivate martial arts tonight. This time, he hasn't asked us to attend his bed."

"That's for the best." Zhong Xiaokui nodded coldly, clearly suspicious of their identities.

Miaocheng Tian and Xuanjing Tian exchanged glances. "Officer Zhong, it sounds as though there's more to your words than meets the ear?"

"What do you mean, 'more to my words than meets the ear'? I serve His Highness, so of course I have to consider his safety!"

"Officer Zhong is certainly loyal to the core!"

Xuanjing Tian spoke with biting sarcasm, her words pointed. "His Highness is a man of exalted status. Officer Zhong, you must be careful not to let anyone with ulterior motives get close to him."

Zhong Xiaokui naturally heard the mockery in their words and shot back, "I don't need you to remind me!"

Just then, Miaocheng Tian suddenly spoke. "Officer Zhong, as it happens, there's something we really do need to remind you."

Zhong Xiaokui's gaze sharpened. "What?"

Miaocheng Tian covered her mouth with a smile. "The reason His Highness didn't ask us to attend his bed tonight is that he wants you to go in and attend his bed."

"What?"

Zhong Xiaokui froze at once, her expression stiffening on the spot.

Seeing her reaction, Miaocheng Tian immediately asked, "You wouldn't disobey His Highness's order, would you?"

"Mind your own business!"

Zhong Xiaokui managed to choke out a reply after a long pause, then headed for Zhu Youning's room without another word.

As they watched Zhong Xiaokui's back recede into the distance, Miaocheng Tian broke into a delighted grin, looking like her prank had gone exactly as planned.

They then headed to the room the Yun Prefecture authorities had prepared for them.

Along the way, Xuanjing Tian finally couldn't hold back her question.

"Sister, Zhu Youning only asked us to call Zhong Xiaokui in. Why did you say he wanted her to attend his bed?"

"Zhong Xiaokui now knows how strong we are, so she's on her guard against us. I only said that to tease her."

Miaocheng Tian glanced at Xuanjing Tian and giggled meaningfully. "Maybe Zhu Youning really does like petite women like her?"

"I think men are all fickle," Xuanjing Tian said with a cold laugh. "He's ignoring two lovely beauties like us and asking Zhong Xiaokui to go in instead. Maybe he really does like women who are petite!"

"What? Are you willing to let Zhu Youning have his way with you?"

"Sister, what are you saying? Sooner or later, I'll personally—"

Before Xuanjing Tian could finish, Miaocheng Tian covered her mouth.

"Little sister, there are too many ears around. Watch what you say."