Chapter 1558: Opening Up Honestly

"What? Zhao Hao suspects us?" A chill ran down the Empress's spine, and she could almost hear her own heart pounding.

*Zu An thought, 'If you're so scared, why did you provoke me in the first place? And now I can't even shake you off.'* Aloud, he said, "I don't know the details, but I received a warning to be careful. Also, I've noticed Eunuch Wen has indeed been secretly following and investigating me."

He deliberately spoke ambiguously, so that if the Empress later discovered Eunuch Wen was actually investigating him and the Crown Princess, she wouldn't feel he had intentionally deceived her.

The Empress's expression kept changing. She called out, "Little Lüzi!"

"Yes!" Eunuch Lü arrived as if on a gust of wind, a hint of excitement even appearing on his face. He thought, 'Could it be that Her Majesty pities my loyalty and will reward me by allowing me to watch?' However, upon entering and seeing them both fully clothed, he was instantly disappointed.

The Empress, however, was not in the mood to notice his thoughts. Instead, she quickly relayed what she had just heard.

Eunuch Lü was also startled. If this matter were exposed, the fates of the Empress and Zu An would be uncertain. But for someone like him, deeply involved and having offered significant help, it would undoubtedly be a capital crime leading to the extermination of his entire clan.

Although he was an eunuch and had no descendants, he still had a brother. The Lü family was also considered a moderately influential family in the capital.

"Go investigate, and be careful not to tip them off," the Empress instructed.

"Your servant understands." Eunuch Lü left, filled with worry. This concerned his well-being, and he couldn't let anyone disrupt it.

After Eunuch Lü left, the Empress gradually calmed down. She then said to Zu An, "Don't worry. If the Emperor had truly found something, we wouldn't be able to sit here calmly chatting."

*Zu An thought, 'As expected of Zhao Hao's woman, her courage is truly extraordinary, far surpassing that of ordinary women.'*

"My little man, look how scared you are." The Empress giggled, patting the cushion beside her. "Come sit. Are you afraid I'll eat you?"

Zu An's expression was strange. (He thought, 'Isn't it precisely because I'm afraid you'll eat me?') He said, "Your Majesty, things are tense right now. It's better if we keep a low profile."

"What's there to be afraid of?" the Empress purred, alluringly pressing closer. "If he had solid evidence, we wouldn't be alive. Since we're still alive, it proves he hasn't found anything yet. In that case, we might as well enjoy ourselves while we can." Her mature beauty was undeniably soft and inviting.

*Zu An thought, 'This woman is truly dancing on a grave. She knows the Emperor is investigating her, yet she shows no restraint?'* Because she was so close, the rich, unrestrained fragrance from her body added a surprising warmth to the winter air.

He felt a bit parched. Remembering Bi Linglong's warning, he sat up straight, intending to push her away. But what he touched felt like sinking into a cloud of cotton. He awkwardly said, "Will you believe me if I say I didn't do that on purpose?"

The Empress giggled. "Of course I believe you! If you truly wanted to, you could come openly and honorably; I would welcome you with open arms. Why would I resort to such clumsy methods?"

Zu An lightly coughed. "Your Majesty, I just came from the imperial study. The Emperor might send for me at any moment, so I should go back now."

"Don't you hate him quite a lot?" The Empress's finger gently caressed his chin, her expression an enigmatic smile. "Why are you so afraid of him now?"

Zu An was startled. His true feelings towards the Emperor were his biggest secret; how did she know?

As if seeing through his confusion, the Empress cast a flirtatious glance, then giggled. "That night, you were so forceful, as if I were your enemy's wife. Do you think I couldn't feel that?"

Hearing her words, a wicked fire suddenly ignited within Zu An. However, his rationality still held, and he struggled to suppress himself. "Your Majesty is joking, I really must go."

The Empress sighed plaintively. "When things are good, you call me 'Ninger,' but when they're not, you call me 'Your Majesty.' You've chilled my heart."

Zu An was speechless for a moment. This woman was suddenly putting on an affectionate act, and he didn't know how to respond.

At this moment, the Empress also put away her flirtatious smile. "Do you think I'm a loose woman who doesn't adhere to wifely virtues, and secretly look down on me?"

Zu An hastily said, "I absolutely did not mean that. It's just that the situation is tense right now..."

What he and the Empress had was essentially a one-night stand between mature adults. The first time was very exciting, but the risk was simply too great. For a rational person, there was no reason to take such a big risk, especially since he still had so many people he cared about around him.

The Empress's smooth finger pressed against his lips. "You don't need to argue. I've sought you out proactively several times, and you must surely look down on me. But do you know why I was so eager to find you? Do you really think I'm that desperate for intimacy?"

Zu An didn't know how to respond and could only remain silent.

Only then did the Empress speak. "In my early years, my cultivation was quite high. And my elder sister was still alive, her cultivation equally profound. The Liu clan's influence was immense, which perhaps caused Zhao Hao to grow suspicious. He condoned and tacitly allowed certain events to occur, leading to my sister's untimely death. I also suffered an indelible spiritual injury because of it, which caused my cultivation to dissipate, and I became an ordinary person. How could I not harbor hatred in my heart? When I was intimate with you that night, besides seeking revenge on him, I also hoped to use your help to recover my cultivation."

"Recover cultivation?" Zu An was somewhat surprised by her candor.

The Empress gave him a profound glance. "Judging by your expression, you clearly suspected this already. After that night, I found that the spiritual injury within my body actually showed a slight tendency to heal. For all these years, I've tried every possible method, through overt and covert investigations, to recover from my injury, but nothing worked. Yet a single intimate encounter with you achieved what years of effort could not. There's only one possibility: you possess the legendary transcendent aptitude, and your vital essence is an ultimate divine medicine."

Zu An's expression was strange. *'I've really become like Tang Sanzang,' he thought. 'If this gets out, wouldn't all sorts of female demons drain me dry?'*

He put away his earlier feigned deference, as if reverting to his former appearance as the demon regent. "Since Your Majesty has spoken so frankly, I might as well be straightforward too," he said. "Our being together is indeed beneficial to you, but it brings me countless harms. Why should I take such a great risk?"

The Empress, however, smiled. The fact that he could speak like this, rather than being evasive as before, clearly indicated their relationship had deepened. "Didn't you say Zhao Hao has already started to suspect us?" she asked. "We are actually grasshoppers tied to the same rope now. If you can help me recover my cultivation as quickly as possible, I can help you balance Zhao Hao's power. Besides, I am still the Empress, and I can provide you with more conveniences in the future."

Zu An slightly frowned. "Zhao Hao is an Earth Immortal. Even if you recover your cultivation, how much help can you be?"

"That's not necessarily true," the Empress said mysteriously. "Moreover, there could be other benefits."

Zu An was startled. "What benefits? What are you doing? Hiss..."

At this moment, the Empress slightly raised her head, sweeping the slightly disheveled hair from her face behind her ear. A moist sheen appeared on her lips. She smiled triumphantly. "You say no with your mouth, but your body is quite honest, isn't it?"

Zu An was speechless.

The Empress leaned close to his ear, her red lips whispering, "Zhao Hao's nature cannot tolerate you. All the grievances and anger you suffer from him, you can vent on his wife. Isn't that enough?"

*Zu An thought, 'She uses this trick every time. Does she think I'll fall for it?' Then, 'Oh, my 'second brother,' you disappointing thing!'*

Meanwhile, in the Eastern Palace, Bi Linglong looked at her maidservant Rong Mo with some surprise and delight. "Really? Master Zu has entered the palace again?"

*'Doesn't that mean there's another chance to meet?' she thought.* Now that the Emperor was no longer in seclusion, it was difficult for them to meet freely. His visits to the palace were limited; they were like the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl. Any extra chance to meet was therefore welcome.

"Absolutely true," Rong Mo said excitedly, describing the news she had obtained for Bi Linglong. "However, he seems to have been sought out by Eunuch Lü, who serves the Empress, and didn't come to the Eastern Palace. That Master Zu, he's forgotten whose side he's on!"

Bi Linglong's expression darkened. She then stood up and said, "Oh, speaking of which, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager returned to the palace today, and I haven't had a chance to pay my respects yet."