The Prince Wants You to Enter and Serve Him Tonight!

Zhu Youning rested his head on Xuanjing Tian's lap for a while, and his energy began to return.

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

He sat up and noticed that Miaocheng Tian looked restless; her thighs were pressed tightly together while her calves were splayed, and her face and lips were deathly pale, giving her a sickly appearance.

"Miao'er, what is wrong?"

Miaocheng Tian shook her head and said, "Your Highness, please do not worry. This servant is fine. It is just an old ailment; I will be fine once I endure it."

Xuanjing Tian also looked worried, wanting to speak but ultimately holding her tongue.

She could not reveal the truth about the Innate Severed Meridians.

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

It was likely that Miaocheng Tian's Innate Severed Meridians had flared up again.

Innate Severed Meridians was a rare affliction in this world.

Those who suffered from it not only struggled to achieve anything in martial arts, but they also endured excruciating pain whenever the condition flared up. The only way to alleviate this agony was through the constant infusion of internal energy from an external source.

Zhu Youning placed his hand on her and found that the blood and qi within Miaocheng Tian were freezing cold. Her meridians felt like frozen streams—narrow, constricted, sluggish, and seemingly on the verge of snapping at any moment.

"Looking at you, this does not seem like something you can just endure."

As soon as Zhu Youning asked, Zhong Xiaokui volunteered to share the burden, saying, "Your Highness, this subordinate has heard of the symptoms Miss Miao'er is displaying. May I check her pulse?"

"There is no need to trouble yourself, Lady Zhong."

Miaocheng Tian politely declined Zhong Xiaokui's suggestion.

She certainly did not want Zhong Xiaokui to take her pulse.

If Zhong Xiaokui checked her pulse, the discovery of her Innate Severed Meridians would be a minor issue, but exposing her martial arts cultivation would be a disaster!

However, Zhu Youning did not stop Zhong Xiaokui; instead, he nodded and said, "Go ahead."

Zhong Xiaokui leaned in and placed her hand on Miaocheng Tian's wrist.

Though Miaocheng Tian was weak, she braced herself with every ounce of her focus, not daring to slacken for a moment.

After a long while, Zhong Xiaokui finally finished.

"Your Highness, in this subordinate's opinion, Miss Miao'er suffers from Innate Severed Meridians. This condition is incurable and can only be managed by continuously infusing her with internal energy."

Zhong Xiaokui paused before adding, "Furthermore, this subordinate discovered that Miss Miao'er possesses a hidden talent; her cultivation has actually reached the Great Star Realm!"

Hearing this, Xuanjing Tian and Miaocheng Tian tensed up, their hearts sinking.

Zhu Youning, however, showed no surprise and asked calmly, "Xiaokui, are you saying my Miao'er is also a martial arts expert?"

"Yes!"

"Do you think I didn't know that?"

Zhong Xiaokui looked up, her mouth slightly agape in astonishment.

"Your Highness, you knew all along?"

Zhu Youning nodded and said, "You only had to touch Miao'er's pulse to gauge her cultivation, but I have touched her entire body—how could I not know?"

"This..."

Zhong Xiaokui was rendered speechless, looking awkward and unsure of how to respond. After a long pause, she finally managed, "This subordinate is guilty."

"There is no need for guilt. Xiaokui, you did well; you are not at fault."

Zhu Youning would not blame Zhong Xiaokui without reason. Instead, he turned to Miaocheng Tian and said, "Well then, Miss Miao'er, would you care to explain?"

He wanted to see how Miaocheng Tian would patch up this lie.

Miaocheng Tian remained calm and composed, her speech clear and articulate.

"This servant has suffered from Innate Severed Meridians since childhood. My late father traveled all over the Central Plains to find a cure, but to no avail. In his desperation, he begged an old master to teach my sister and me martial arts to prolong our lives. This servant did not intend to hide this from Your Highness; please forgive me!"

"If it was to save your life, what crime is there?" Zhu Youning did not blame her, adding, "If you didn't have this cultivation, you would have perished long ago, and I would never have met such a beauty! Xiaokui!"

"This subordinate is here!" Zhong Xiaokui quickly cupped her hands.

"Infuse Miss Miao'er with internal energy."

"Yes."

By evening, they arrived at Yun Prefecture, and Zhu Youning settled into the government relay station, staying in the room prepared by the local officials.

Although it was the best room in the prefecture, it had been prepared in haste and required tidying. After Miaocheng Tian and Xuanjing Tian finished making the bed for Zhu Youning, they stepped out of the room.

They ran straight into Zhong Xiaokui.

Zhong Xiaokui's expression sharpened upon seeing them. "Why have Miss Miao'er and Miss Xuan'er come out?"

Miaocheng Tian replied, "His Highness is practicing martial arts tonight and did not require us to attend to him."

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

Miaocheng Tian and Xuanjing Tian exchanged a glance, and one of them said, "Lady Zhong, your words seem to carry a hidden meaning."

Zhong Xiaokui said slowly, "What hidden meaning? I serve His Highness, so naturally, I must be concerned for his safety!"

"That Lady Zhong is truly loyal and righteous!"

Xuanjing Tian mocked with a sarcastic tone, implying something as she added, "The Prince's status is noble; Lady Zhong must be careful of those with ulterior motives approaching him."

Zhong Xiaokui naturally caught the mockery in their words and retorted on the spot, "I don't need you to remind me!"

At this moment, Miaocheng Tian suddenly spoke up, "Lady Zhong, come to think of it, we do have one thing we need to remind you of."

Zhong Xiaokui's eyes sharpened, "What is it?"

Miaocheng Tian covered her mouth and chuckled, saying, "The reason the Prince didn't have us attend to him tonight is because he wants you to go in and attend to him instead."

"What?"

Upon hearing this, Zhong Xiaokui was stunned on the spot, her expression freezing instantly.

Watching Zhong Xiaokui's reaction, Miaocheng Tian immediately countered, "You wouldn't dare disobey the Prince's orders, would you?"

"That's none of your business!"

Zhong Xiaokui managed to squeeze out this sentence after a long pause, then walked toward Zhu Youning's room without another word.

Seeing Zhong Xiaokui's retreating figure, Miaocheng Tian beamed with joy, wearing the smile of someone whose prank had succeeded.

They then headed toward the rooms prepared for them by the Yun Prefecture government office.

Along the way, Xuanjing Tian finally couldn't help but ask.

"Sister, Zhu Youning only asked us to call Zhong Xiaokui in; why did you have to say it was to attend to him in bed?"

"That Zhong Xiaokui knows the depth of our martial arts and is already on guard against us; I only said that to tease her."

Miaocheng Tian glanced at Xuanjing Tian, smiling coquettishly with deep meaning, "Perhaps Zhu Youning just happens to like petite and delicate women, who knows?"

"In my eyes, all men are fickle." Xuanjing Tian sneered, "Ignoring two delicate beauties like us to let that Zhong Xiaokui go in instead—perhaps he really does like that petite figure!"

"What? Are you willing to let that Zhu Youning lay a hand on you?"

"Sister, what are you saying? Sooner or later, I will personally..."

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

"Sister, there are many eyes and ears here; watch your tongue."