Chapter 1935: Every time so accurate?

After a long while, Bi Linglong gently pounded Zu An's back with her small fists, complaining coquettishly, "I can't breathe."

Zu An then released her, gazing at her slightly flushed face from holding her breath. Under the candlelight, she appeared even more beautiful and captivating. "Linglong, thank you."

"Thank me for what?" Bi Linglong tilted her head up, her voice full of a spoiled charm, completely unlike the decisive Crown Princess she usually was.

"Thank you for saving everyone from the Qin and Murong families." Zu An held her delicate body, his eyes softening.

"Given our relationship, there's no need for thanks." Bi Linglong's finger lightly traced circles on his chest. "Besides, with your current cultivation, even if I hadn't gone, it wouldn't have been difficult for you to rescue them."

"That's different," Zu An shook his head slightly. "If I had gone to rescue them, I would inevitably have resorted to violence. But your rescue aligned with imperial regulations, saving us from many future troubles."

"With your current strength, to still consider imperial laws, I suppose you just didn't want to make things difficult for me." Bi Linglong sighed softly, her eyes filled with gratitude.

Zu An smiled. "Actually, there's more to it. When I was in my hometown, because I was just an ordinary person, I deeply disliked privileges that went beyond the law. I believe that things unchecked and unrestrained can easily breed 'evil dragons.' I didn't want to become that kind of person, which is why I always tried to keep everything within the rules."

"Who knew the Meng family and Prince Dai would force my hand? I'm not so rigid either. Since they didn't want to act honorably, I helped them gain 'honor.'"

Bi Linglong was a little puzzled. "A'Zu, your philosophy is quite advanced. It's truly a blessing for ordinary people, but for us rulers, it might be somewhat disadvantageous."

Zu An sighed. "Indeed."

Bi Linglong smiled faintly. "A'Zu, don't worry. I also don't want the world to become as you described. I will strive to improve the laws, restrain the powerful, and protect the common people."

Zu An's heart warmed. "It's truly rare for you to have such intentions."

This world was even more exaggerated than ancient feudal societies. One must know that the imperial court members were all cultivators, infinitely more powerful than any feudal dynasty. Ordinary people had no ability to resist whatsoever.

"A'Zu, *you* are truly rare. Despite having such formidable power, you still consider the common people," Bi Linglong's beautiful eyes gazed at the man before her. "A'Zu, I had no idea your cultivation had reached such a level."

From the battle at the Meng family estate today, she had already received the most detailed intelligence. Seeing those top experts dispatched by Zu An as if slaughtering chickens, she was utterly stunned and disoriented.

This terrifying suppressive power was as if Zhao Hao himself were alive.

She and A'Zu had indeed grown distant, to the point where she didn't even know his true current strength.

"You won't blame me for hiding this from you, will you?"

"You didn't blame me for not intervening to save the Qin and Murong families earlier, so how could I blame you?" Bi Linglong smiled. "Besides, you didn't want anyone to flagrantly violate laws and rules due to strength or privilege, so naturally, it was impossible for you to reveal it publicly before."

"Mainly, I recently experienced life-or-death situations in a secret realm, and some fortuitous encounters led to an increase in my power. I had intended to seclude myself for a period to consolidate my realm, but unfortunately, these people in the capital constantly deny me that opportunity." Zu An felt a bit annoyed as he spoke of this.

Bi Linglong, however, smiled and comforted him, "Speaking of which, Prince Dai and the Meng family essentially brought ruin upon themselves, which actually solved a major problem for me."

During this period, various factions had been restless, all coveting the position of Crown Prince, and she had been overwhelmed trying to manage them.

As a result of what happened today, all those problems were no longer problems.

After witnessing the fates of Prince Dai and the Meng family, who would still be so foolhardy as to cause trouble?

Seeing Bi Linglong's smile, illuminated by the mingling candlelight, truly more radiant than the candles themselves, his heart stirred. "So, how do you plan to thank me?"

Bi Linglong's heart thumped. She pursed her lips and whispered, "I'm wearing casual clothes today."

Zu An's heart fluttered. On several previous occasions when he met her, she was wearing the Crown Princess's elaborate formal attire for beauty's sake, which made certain things impossible.

After all, those palace gowns were extremely intricate, often requiring several maids to assist in dressing and styling for over an hour to put on. Thus, they were easy to take off but difficult to put on by oneself.

Now that she had deliberately worn informal, everyday attire, what it implied was self-evident.

Many words didn't need to be spoken. Zu An simply pulled her into his embrace, simultaneously lowering his head to capture her luscious red lips.

Bi Linglong let out a soft moan, her slender arms immediately wrapping around his neck.

At this moment, a large, chubby man burst into the courtyard in a flurry, his face beaming with excitement. "I heard Lord Zu entered the palace? Quickly, take me to see him."

Behind him followed a retinue of eunuchs and palace maids, clearly identifying him as Crown Prince Zhao Ruizhi.

Hearing the voice, the two inside stiffened. "How does this fellow always pick such precise timing?"

"Your Highness, halt. The Crown Princess is inside, deeply discussing national affairs with Lord Zu." Rong Mo quickly emerged to block the Crown Prince.

Hearing her voice, Bi Linglong visibly relaxed, her body gradually softening.

Outside the door, the Crown Prince was somewhat displeased. "Why are you blocking me again? Lord Zu can enter Linglong's chambers, so why can't I?"

Rong Mo frowned. "Your Highness, please don't act impulsively. They are truly discussing important matters. If Your Highness has anything important to say, please tell this servant, and this servant will inform them later."

The Crown Prince's eyes gradually lit up. "Good! Go tell Lord Zu that I want to become his disciple."

Inside the room, Bi Linglong's face was flushed like peach blossoms. She looked at the man so close to her, her glistening eyes seemingly speaking without words: "He actually wants to become your disciple."

Zu An leaned into her ear and whispered with a laugh, "I can teach him spear techniques, the 'straight thrust' kind."

Bi Linglong, blushing, lightly slapped his chest and couldn't help but lean in to bite him hard.

Outside the door, Rong Mo said gravely, "Your Highness, Lord Zu, as the Crown Prince's Junior Tutor, is already considered your teacher."

"That's different! I want to learn Lord Zu's flying techniques, and that skill where he just lights up! I saw it all, it was so cool!" The Crown Prince's playful spirit suddenly flared up.

Rong Mo had a headache, but could only agree. "Alright, Your Highness, I will convey this matter to Lord Zu."

The Crown Prince shook his head. "No, that won't do! I heard storytellers say that to take a master, one must show genuine sincerity; only then will the master impart true skills. How can having you convey it show my sincerity? I'll wait here for him to come out and personally ask him to be my master."

Having said that, he gestured for the eunuchs and palace maids holding gifts to reveal them, showing off proudly, "Look, these are the gifts I've prepared for my apprenticeship!"

Rong Mo glanced worriedly towards the room. "Your Highness, Lord Zu will be a very, very long time. It's already late, Your Highness should rest."

"No, I'm wide awake! You all better stay alert. If anyone dares to damage these gifts, I'll skin you alive!" the Crown Prince threatened everyone.

"Yes, Your Highness!" The eunuchs and palace maids holding the gifts secretly groaned. They knew the Crown Prince wasn't just talking; he hit people without restraint, and the junior eunuchs or palace maids around him were often injured or maimed. No one wanted to serve him, but there was no other way.

Rong Mo saw him lingering and refusing to leave, and there was nothing she could do. After all, he was the Crown Prince, and she couldn't force him to leave.

As long as he didn't go inside, she considered her mission accomplished. She just wondered if the two inside would find it a bit strange...

It was unknown how long passed, but the Crown Prince, sitting in the courtyard, began to yawn. "Why is Lord Zu taking so long?"

He grew impatient, but it was the eunuchs and palace maids behind him who suffered.

Their arms were already weak from holding the gifts for so long; they felt the gifts in their hands growing heavier and heavier.

Many of the weaker ones involuntarily lowered their hands, then subtly raised their legs to prop up the gift boxes in their arms, thus getting some rest before lifting the gifts again.

After a while, their arms couldn't hold on again, so they had to lower them and use their feet to support the weight of the gifts.

At first, their movements were very discreet, fearing discovery by the Crown Prince.

But later, their arms reached their limit, and they no longer cared about being discreet.

Constantly lifting and then heavily lowering them, many palace maids were already drenched in fine sweat at their temples, enduring silently through gritted teeth, which was why no sounds escaped them.

They didn't know how much longer they could last. Although the biting wind raged outside, their bodies were already soaked with sweat.

How they wished for a pair of strong arms to hold them then, so they wouldn't have to exert themselves.

Rong Mo seized the opportunity to come out and advise, "Lord Zu always takes a long time; he probably won't be out anytime soon. Your Highness, you should return first."

"No! I must stand here to show my sincerity!" the Crown Prince declared loudly, though his tone was less resolute than before.

For him, everything was a fleeting enthusiasm. His ability to persist this long was only because Zu An's previous aerial display had been too dazzling, filling him with longing.

Rong Mo quickly added, "Your Highness, you've stood here this long and already shown your sincerity. Moreover, you know that Lord Zu has always been very kind to ordinary eunuchs and palace maids. If he came out and saw them exhausted like this, he might get angry."

The Crown Prince shivered, remembering how Zu An had reprimanded him before. Even his desire to become a disciple faded somewhat.

He hurriedly told his subordinates, "I, the Crown Prince, am most considerate of my subordinates. Quickly, leave the gifts here and all of you come back with me."

Hearing this, those people could no longer hold back. They heavily set the gifts on the ground, each person exhaling a long sigh of relief, as if a great burden had been lifted. The sounds of their rapid breathing filled the air.

Soon, the group followed the Crown Prince and left. Only then did Rong Mo sigh in relief. She then seemed to recall something, and a hint of worry appeared between her brows.

At this moment, after the Empress had finished dealing with the Meng family's affairs, she had just returned to Kuning Palace. Her first priority was to bathe and change. At the same time, she instructed her subordinate, "Little Lu, has Zu An entered the palace? No, that's not right. How could I make him enter the palace and wait for me? You should go quickly and invite him. I'll wait for him here."

Eunuch Lu's expression was odd. "Your Majesty, Lord Zu has already entered the palace, but he first went to the Crown Princess's side."

The Empress's face changed. "How long has he been in the Eastern Palace?"

"It has been some time now. The two of them are in the room, discussing some important matters, presumably, and the Crown Prince is still waiting outside," Eunuch Lu replied.

The Empress snorted. "Those two don't even know how to avoid suspicion. So late at night, aren't they afraid of gossip?"

Eunuch Lu quietly said, "After tonight, who would dare to spread gossip?"

The Empress considered this and realized he was right. After Zu An's display at the Meng family estate, who would dare offend him?

Moreover, that girl Bi Linglong had always conducted herself with integrity, possessing an inherent dignified aura that subtly kept people at a distance. Both inside and outside the palace, everyone respected her greatly.

And with the Crown Prince waiting outside, it was even less likely for the two to do anything untoward.

Still, she felt a persistent irritation in her heart. "Little Lu, go to the Eastern Palace yourself. Be sure to bring Lord Zu here."