Chapter 1093: For the Main Concern

Bi Linglong calmly replied, "I am indeed a little worried about Master Zu."

"Oh?" Emperor Taishi didn't expect her to admit it so directly, and for a moment, he was taken aback. "Why?"

"After these major incidents, Master Zu has become the face of the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace. At least to outsiders, he, to a certain extent, represents the Eastern Palace," Bi Linglong said, her heart pounding with nervousness. However, she possessed enough political wisdom to understand that constantly trying to avoid suspicion was futile; it was better to admit it openly. "Therefore, if anything were to happen to him, the Crown Prince would lose a key general, and the prestige of the Eastern Palace would suffer a significant blow."

"Of course, besides Master Zu, I also worry about the imperial envoy delegation's situation. King Qi's faction is pressing hard, and we have nowhere left to retreat," Bi Linglong clenched her fists, her expression somewhat cold. "If my guess is correct, Father Emperor sending Master Sang to Yunzhong Commandery this time is likely to 'pull the firewood from under the cauldron' for the Yu family, to clip King Qi's wings. So, naturally, I don't want any mishaps to befall the imperial envoy delegation."

Emperor Taishi raised an eyebrow, and a hint of a smile appeared on his usually stern face. "Excellent, excellent. I did not choose you as Crown Princess in vain. With your wisdom as his virtuous assistant, why should the Crown Prince worry about failing to achieve his great ambitions in the future?"

"All of this is thanks to Father Emperor's protection and guidance," Bi Linglong said with a slight smile and a curtsy. Yet, her heart was cold. If she hadn't seen his true colors in the secret realm, she might have been overwhelmed with gratitude right now.

The thought of her father-in-law constantly coveting her filled her with disgust.

No, 'coveting' wasn't quite right. As the Emperor, he didn't need to covet. He was simply arranging something that couldn't be defied.

But the more she thought this way, the more disgusted she felt.

Originally, many women in the world admired a powerful figure like the Emperor.

Someone with Bi Linglong's personality might not have felt such strong aversion if he had taken her as a concubine back then.

For her family and her lifelong ambitions, she might even have wholeheartedly offered him counsel.

But the moment she considered that his plan involved possessing his son and taking over his daughter-in-law, she found it utterly revolting.

Emperor Taishi, unaware of the deep disgust the smiling Crown Princess harbored for him, was increasingly pleased when he heard her humble words, not claiming credit but first expressing gratitude for his protection. "Linglong, there's no need to worry. The situation in Yunzhong Commandery should stabilize very soon."

"As for that boy Zu An, I personally bestowed the imperial decree upon him this time. Since he successfully wielded it, no matter how powerful his enemies, I have dealt with them for him. Naturally, there's no need to worry."

Hearing that Zu An was safe, Bi Linglong's heart rejoiced, but her words were full of praise: "Father Emperor is indeed wise and mighty..."

Although Emperor Taishi was accustomed to the flattery of his officials, who could resist the soft praises of a charming daughter-in-law? He was greatly pleased, and with the situation in Yunzhong Commandery settled, he happily bestowed a large number of gifts upon the Crown Prince and Crown Princess.

Bi Linglong expressed her thanks and departed.

The imperial palace was not an airtight wall; news soon reached Kunning Palace.

"'The Crown Princess left the Imperial Study with a look of joy...' Eunuch Lü, hunched over, reported the intelligence he had gathered to the Empress."

The mature and voluptuous Empress reclined on a couch. Due to her posture, the exaggeratedly full curve of her buttocks became even more prominent.

Eunuch Lü glanced at her, unable to help but envy that boy Zu An.

How delightful and pleasurable it must be to gallop and charge in such a fertile place.

Noticing his greedy gaze, the Empress didn't expose him. Instead, she felt quite pleased inwardly. Her favorite thing to do was to fully display her feminine charm in front of this man. Every time she saw his frustration of being able to see but not touch, she felt an extraordinary sense of satisfaction.

"Zu An is that brat's favorite. Her joyful expression suggests there's good news from Yunzhong Commandery," the Empress said, a hint of eagerness in her eyes.

Eunuch Lü naturally understood why she felt this way. Though his heart was sour, he didn't show it. "Congratulations, Your Majesty! Once that boy returns, Your Majesty can ask him to treat your injuries again."

The Empress gave him a half-smile. "Are you truly congratulating me, or are you just jealous?"

Eunuch Lü respectfully replied, "Of course, I genuinely congratulate you. This old servant is incompetent and cannot relieve Your Majesty's worries. Since Master Zu is so capable, I am naturally happy for Your Majesty."

"Hmph, you're truly not a man," the Empress snorted, but a reminiscent look appeared on her face. "However, you're right, Master Zu is indeed very *capable*. This Empress misses him a little."

Hearing the Empress emphasize certain words, Eunuch Lü's heart ached with bitterness. He thought, 'That Zu An truly had smoke rising from his ancestral grave'; 'who knows where he got such good fortune.'

The Empress deliberately provoked him for a while, but finding his lack of reaction somewhat uninteresting, she changed the subject. "Right, how are the preparations for the matter I asked you to arrange earlier coming along?"

"Your Majesty, rest assured, I have already contacted the monastery and arranged everything. A quiet room has been specially prepared within the monastery; as long as the time spent there isn't too long, it won't arouse suspicion. Furthermore, the external palace has also been cleaned and prepared; at night, as long as we can evade the guards, there shouldn't be much of a problem," Eunuch Lü said, lowering his head.

"You! Am I such a person obsessed with carnal desires, that you'd specially find a quiet room in a monastery?" the Empress reprimanded him. Her main point was that burning incense would undoubtedly be during the day, with a retinue of maids and guards, making exposure far too easy.

Eunuch Lü explained, "Although it would be a bit risky, that kind of situation might actually create a greater sense of excitement. I observe Master Zu; while seemingly refined and quiet on the surface, he has an adventurous spirit at heart. Didn't we have trouble persuading him before? If we use this as an enticement, he might actually be tempted."

"Am I the type of woman who needs to be enticed like that, resorting to such underhanded tricks?" the Empress immediately retorted, displeased. However, upon reflection, the idea of a passionate encounter in broad daylight, with a crowd of palace maids and guards waiting outside, rushing against time... it seemed rather... intriguing?

Thinking this, she gave a light cough. "Is that quiet room you found reliable? Are the people in the monastery aware?"

Seeing that she was indeed tempted, Eunuch Lü showed a hint of satisfaction. "Doesn't Your Majesty trust this servant's arrangements? That quiet room is absolutely safe. The monastery merely thinks it's a wealthy patron's acquisition, and would never connect it to the palace."

"That's good," the Empress nodded with satisfaction, then looked at him with a peculiar expression. "Little Lü, where did you learn all these things? You're just a eunuch, yet you know quite a lot."

Eunuch Lü displayed a fawning smile. "As long as Your Majesty is well, this servant is well."

The Empress snorted. "Go make the arrangements. These days, this Empress can stay out a few times. I'll just wait for Master Zu to return."

"Yes!" Eunuch Lü lowered his head, his heart greatly conflicted. On one hand, he didn't want Zu An to return so soon, but on the other, he harbored a secret anticipation.

At this moment, deep within the ice cave of the Great Snow Mountain, Zu An was diligently holding Yu Yanluo, healing her.

He was somewhat puzzled. After she had just drawn the Changxin Palace Lantern and it was destroyed, could the backlash really be this severe?

Her internal condition was a complete mess. If she hadn't coincidentally met him, who could use the Primordial Chaos Sutra to heal, her condition would likely take several years to recover, and she would probably be left with lasting after-effects.

Right, what happened just now when her hair suddenly came undone, and her whole body actually swelled dramatically?

Uncle Ming could clearly have interrupted his chanting earlier, but he seemed to freeze for some reason?

And he seemed to say, "You are..." What exactly did he want to say?

As he pondered these unanswered questions, Yu Yanluo suddenly let out a soft moan and slowly regained consciousness.

Clearly, his desperate attempts at vital energy healing in such a short time had taken effect.

The moment Yu Yanluo awoke and found herself cradled in a man's arms, her expression instantly changed dramatically.

Just as she was about to struggle, a voice whispered in her ear: "Don't move around. Your injuries are very severe, and I don't want all my efforts to go to waste."

Recognizing Zu An's voice, Yu Yanluo's tense body immediately relaxed, and her cheeks flushed. "Thank you. You've saved me again."

"I also have you to thank for your help just now," Zu An replied with a smile.

Yu Yanluo gradually became fully conscious and quickly checked her internal condition, realizing her injuries were indeed very severe.

It seemed that the power she had been forced to unleash... was indeed too strenuous.

Her heart grew even more grateful for his timely rescue, but she couldn't help but whisper, "Why are you holding me like this?"

Zu An replied, "Mainly because your injuries were too severe at the time, and the cold air here is quite unusual. If I let you sit on the ground, the cold could easily penetrate your body and cause chronic ailments that would be difficult to heal for life. So, I had no other choice but to resort to this..."

After explaining, he couldn't help but chuckle. "Is Madam feeling shy?"

Yu Yanluo turned her face away, not answering him.

Zu An continued, "Our contact in the cold pool earlier was even more intimate than this. I thought this should be fine."

Yu Yanluo let out a soft huff. "Your explanation makes it worse!"