Chapter 736: Master and Servant Plot

Her moist eyes, so close, held an indescribable meaning, making Zu'an’s heart skip a beat. "Is it you Her Majesty was referring to, about certain things that need to be done?" he asked.

The Empress sat down on a nearby soft couch, then naturally reclined on her side, resting her head on her hand. "What do you think?" she replied.

Already mature and curvaceous, her reclining posture highlighted her breathtaking curves. At the same time, her whole being exuded a lazy charm, as if silently tempting him.

"Since Your Majesty is fine, I'll take my leave," Zu'an said. Although his mouth was dry at this moment, he didn't lose his head. He naturally didn't believe the Empress would act this way towards him without reason, but he couldn't imagine why. So he decided it was better to just leave.

"Don't be in such a hurry. Who said I have nothing going on?" The Empress grabbed his hand. "Our Great Zhou Dynasty possesses a national treasure that I need your help to appraise."

"A national treasure?" Zu'an was startled. This was a world of cultivation; he had witnessed the power of magical artifacts. For something to be considered a national treasure by the Great Zhou Dynasty, it must be unbelievably powerful.

He was indeed intrigued. "What kind of national treasure is it?"

The Empress lightly traced her fingers across her own body. Her red lips curved into a charming smile. "It's far away, yet right before your eyes."

Zu'an: "???"

This felt like the Queen of the Women's Kingdom seducing Tang Sanzang.

Seeing him frozen in place, the Empress chuckled softly. "What's wrong? Am I not a national treasure?"

Zu'an couldn't help but exclaim, "Your Majesty is unparalleled in beauty, a woman among women; naturally, you can be considered a national treasure."

A faint hint of moisture appeared in the Empress's eyes. "Is that your appraisal? It's far too perfunctory."

Although it was long past mid-summer, Zu'an still felt a certain heat today. He replied with difficulty, "How exactly does Your Majesty wish for me to appraise it?"

The Empress looked at him with a seductive expression. "You can try it yourself. Only through the most intimate personal experience can you give the most accurate evaluation."

Zu'an sighed. "Your Majesty, are you trying to seduce me?"

The Empress lightly bit her finger and chuckled. "I heard from Miss Chu that you're usually glib and adept at charming women, but today, you seem to be quite overrated, like a clueless simpleton."

Zu'an stood up and said, "Although I might be a bit lustful, I'm not a fool. Your Majesty's actions must have an ulterior motive, but I'm too dull to figure out what it is."

In the past, when he watched the episode of *Journey to the West* featuring the Women's Kingdom, he always felt that Tang Sanzang's indifference to the alluring and tender affection of the Queen was an absolute disgrace to men. He never imagined it would be his turn to be a "disgrace to men" now.

"I seek nothing else," the Empress sighed softly. "My only desire is comfort in this deep palace. As I said, I've been very lonely these past years, and no one else dares to harbor even a hint of disrespectful thought towards me. You are the only man who dared to strike me... strike me in that particular spot. After much thought, I felt I could only confide in you."

Seeing that he still remained silent, a hint of sorrow appeared between her brows. "As a dignified Empress, reaching this point is already utterly shameful for me. If you still show no reaction, I truly won't have the face to live."

Zu'an secretly sneered. This woman was cunning and obsessed with power. Would she really lose the face to live over such a minor setback? He'd sooner believe Pu Duan Diao would never visit brothels again.

He stopped replying and strode directly towards the door. He worried that if he stayed in the room any longer, his reason would no longer be able to control his body's instincts.

No matter how he labeled the Empress as vicious and cunning, he still had to admit that she was indeed a stunner. Unlike the naiveté of young girls, she exuded feminine charm from head to toe, making one instinctively think of a bed.

Coupled with her special status, whether it was the taboo nature or the sense of conquest, the anticipation it aroused was immense.

It took immense willpower for him to keep his head. His only thought now was to leave this place quickly.

Seeing him turn to leave, the Empress, feeling both shame and anger, immediately sat up from the couch. "Zu, are you even a man? You were just beaten like a dog by the Emperor, and you have no temper about it? I'm giving you a chance to get revenge on him, and you don't dare? Are you that afraid of him?"

Hearing these words, Zu'an, who had already reached the door and was about to push it open, paused. He then abruptly turned to face the woman on the couch, his eyes slightly reddened. "What did you say?"

This matter was indeed a knot in his heart. He had just accumulated overwhelming rage. Now, with this jab from her, he indeed could no longer suppress it.

Noticing his expression, a triumphant glint flashed deep within the Empress's eyes, but her face still maintained a disdainful, superior look. "What, do I need to repeat myself? The Emperor is invincible; it's no shame that you can't defeat him. But I'm giving you a chance to get revenge through his woman, and you actually don't dare? Heh, it seems you fear the Emperor to your very core. You're destined to be his loyal dog... Ah!"

Before she finished speaking, Zu'an's figure flickered, and he tightly grasped her neck. "Woman, I know you're deliberately provoking me, but I must admit, it's quite effective."

Feeling the strong grip on her neck, the Empress found it difficult to breathe. However, she wasn't afraid. Instead, she felt a current run through her body. "What, do you dare to kill me? I doubt you have the guts."

Zu'an's breathing suddenly became ragged. The veins on his hands bulged. Clearly, he was undergoing an intense inner struggle.

The cloisonné gold thimble on the Empress's finger lightly brushed against his skin. The cold, sharp touch made his pores contract. "I know you don't dare to kill me, and I know you're furious. So I'll give you another chance. You can vent all your rage on that man's wife. Do you dare, or not?"

Her usually majestic and sharp phoenix eyes now held three parts seduction, three parts nobility; the rest was pure provocation.

So be it!

Zu'an didn't reply. At that moment, he had only one thought: to completely conquer this woman who was usually so high and mighty and complete the first step of his revenge.

If he didn't even dare to take this step, how could he ever possess the heart of a powerful cultivator daring to challenge the Emperor?

He directly pushed the Empress onto the soft couch and lunged forward with a roar.

Although the Empress felt disoriented from being pushed by his immense strength, her lips curled slightly upward. Everything was within her control.

However, it wasn't long before she realized some things were beyond her control. Her phoenix eyes widened significantly. What was supposed to be a mature woman teasing an inexperienced boy, in that instant, made her feel as if she had returned to the shyness and apprehension of her youth. "You... are you a beastman?"

Zu'an grunted. He was not in the mood to answer her. He only wanted to unleash all his pent-up ferocity and rage.

Eunuch Lü, who had been guarding outside the hall, was trembling all over. He had waited for this day for a very long time. Ning'er had finally completed her plan.

He remained outside the hall, using his qi to block sounds from escaping and alarming other palace maids and eunuchs, while silently observing the "storm" raging inside. Throughout the process, a smile of satisfaction gradually appeared on his face.

Zhao Hao, this is what you get!

He didn't know how much time had passed when he finally frowned. "Will this brat ever stop?!"

He went to the designated window, opened the mechanism on it, and looked at the scene inside. His pupils contracted, and his entire face flushed.

He took a deep breath to calm his turbulent emotions, then transmitted his voice using qi. "Your Majesty, it's almost time. Just as planned, you keep him distracted, and this old servant will strike to end his life!"

He had seen Zu'an in action before. Although that fellow's cultivation wasn't high, his various troublesome skills were quite annoying. If they failed to strike him down in one blow and he escaped, alerting the Emperor, that would be no laughing matter. Both he and the Empress would die, and their respective families would be implicated.

If the Empress cooperated, a man in such a moment would be at his least guarded. His strike would certainly be a fatal one.

The Empress's usually majestic and dignified coiffure was now undone. Many strands of hair, dampened by fine sweat, clung to her face. She bit her red lips tightly and subtly shook her head at him.

Eunuch Lü frowned. Just as he was about to say something more, the Empress gave him no chance. She reached out and pulled the nearby curtain. The translucent light gauze canopy slowly descended, completely obscuring their figures.