Chapter 960: The Worst Plan

Zuan thought, *What's your deal? You were just smiling, and now you're suddenly angry?*

He reacted quickly, "In a way, I'm representing the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace on this mission to Yunzhong Commandery. Since I'll be away for a long time, I came to pay my respects to the Crown Prince, the Crown Princess, and the Secondary Crown Princess before my departure, to listen to their instructions and see if they have any specific requests."

The Empress's breath hitched. She had intended to seize the opportunity to lecture him, but she hadn't expected him to be so quick-witted.

Zuan took the chance to say, "If Your Majesty has nothing else, I shall take my leave. I still have various preparations to make for my journey to Yunzhong Commandery."

"Lord Zu is truly devoted to the country and loyal to the Emperor," the Empress said with a sneer, annoyed that he was using official business as an excuse.

"Your Majesty flatters me. It's merely my duty," Zuan replied, his face flushing. He knew very well that he was not loyal to the Emperor in any sense, and the Empress knew it even better.

The Empress's teeth ached with irritation. She wanted to snap, "Is 'tilling the soil' on my body also part of your duty?" But with maids present, her rationality ultimately prevailed. "It is fortunate for the Emperor to have a subject like you to share his burdens. You may leave."

Anger value from Liu Ning: 358358358...

Zuan secretly clicked his tongue, thinking that a lonely married woman's wrath was no joke.

He naturally said nothing more at that moment and quickly departed.

Seeing Zuan avoid her as if she were a plague, the Empress lost all desire to wander. Her face ashen, she returned to her sleeping quarters.

After dismissing the palace maids and eunuchs, she privately questioned Eunuch Lü, who was standing nearby. "Little Lü, am I old and losing my charm?"

Eunuch Lü immediately showered her with praise, "Your Majesty is in her prime, beautiful beyond compare. If you lack charm, then no woman in the world could possibly possess it."

The Empress snorted, "If that's the case, why does that fellow avoid me as if I'm going to devour him?"

Eunuch Lü said, "Perhaps Lord Zu has his reservations. After all, this is in the Imperial Palace. If any flaw were exposed, he would be dead."

"I'm not afraid, so what is he afraid of?" the Empress retorted, quite annoyed.

Eunuch Lü looked at her with a hint of resentment. He thought, *The Empress has never been such a proactive person, yet this time she has repeatedly sought out Zuan. That fellow must indeed possess extraordinary talents, making her crave the experience.*

At this thought, his heart felt both bitter and strange. In the end, he could only brace himself and heap praise on the Empress's beauty, trying to make her feel a little happier.

To his surprise, after listening for a while, the Empress impatiently waved her hand. "Enough, enough. You've been repeating these same platitudes for years. If you're not tired of them, I certainly am. Get out."

Eunuch Lü truly felt like crying but had no tears. *Zuan treats you coldly, yet you fawn over him. I stay by your side, attending to your every need, yet you treat me like this.*

However, after so many years, he had grown accustomed to it. Although he felt a fleeting sense of grievance and anger, his irritation quickly dissipated. He bowed to her and silently withdrew.

The night before the Imperial Envoy team departed, Zuan purposely stayed in the palace. He used the secret tunnel beneath the well to reach the vicinity of Bi Linglong's sleeping quarters.

Hearing a crisp tapping sound, Bi Linglong, who was lying in bed, instantly grabbed the short sword beside her. She warily looked under the bed, then hesitated for a long while before activating the mechanism and entering the secret chamber. "Who's there?"

"It's me!" Zuan replied from behind the wall.

Hearing Zuan's voice, Bi Linglong secretly breathed a sigh of relief and put down her short sword. However, her voice remained icy, "Do you know that sneaking into my sleeping quarters so late at night is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of your family? Considering your merits for the Crown Prince, I'll give you one chance. Get out!"

Zuan fell silent. *This woman truly holds a grudge; even after all this time, she hasn't let it go.*

He had no choice but to say, "I'm leaving tomorrow."

On the other side, Bi Linglong fell silent, then replied after a long pause, "So what?"

Zuan sighed, "The disappearance of the Duke of Yunzhong this time is extremely complex, involving a vast network of powerful forces. Someone definitely doesn't want me to uncover the truth. When I'm so far from the Emperor, I might not make it back alive. That's why I specifically wanted to see you one last time before I leave, to avoid a lifelong regret."

Soon after he finished speaking, the secret chamber door creaked open. Bi Linglong stood before him, her face frozen with displeasure. "You haven't even left yet, why say such inauspicious things?"

Zuan showed a slight smile. "It seems you do care about me after all."

"Hmph!" Bi Linglong spat, "Who cares if you live or die?"

With that, she turned to close the secret chamber door.

Zuan was no clueless scholar; at a time like this, he wouldn't let her close the door. He darted in with a swift leap.

"What are you doing!" Bi Linglong was startled and recoiled a step. "If you don't leave now, I'll call for help!"

Zuan looked into her eyes. "Even if you call people to come and have me slowly dismembered, I won't have a single complaint."

Bi Linglong was flustered and exasperated by his brazen demeanor. "How can you be such a scoundrel!"

Zuan seized the opportunity to pull her into his embrace, softly saying, "Are you just realizing that now?"

"Let go of me now," Bi Linglong said, flustered, her hands patting frantically as she urgently tried to push him away.

Sensing that she wasn't using any primal energy in her struggles, Zuan was naturally not foolish enough to release her.

Bi Linglong struggled for a while, her strength gradually diminishing. Their lips drew closer and closer, finally pressing tightly together.

This time, Zuan was exceptionally gentle. Bi Linglong clearly felt his affection, and her body grew softer and softer.

Who knew how long passed, but Bi Linglong eventually lay in his arms, her face flushed, her slender fingers slowly tracing circles on his chest. "You're really annoying, you know."

Her voice was no longer cold and aloof as it usually was; instead, it was filled with playful tenderness.

"Didn't you just enjoy it?" Zuan asked with a mischievous smile.

Bi Linglong was so annoyed that she bit hard into his shoulder. *This man always humiliates her like this, yet deep down, she seemed to enjoy it.* The thought infuriated her, and she wanted to completely vent her frustration.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." Zuan pleaded repeatedly. Their bodies pressed against each other, and soon their breaths grew hot again.

"Don't..."