Chapter 2061: Tussling From All Sides
Chapter 2061: Tussling From All Sides
Zu An was stunned. Judging from what she was saying, could it be that the Snow Lady was the incarnation of Great Snowy Mountain herself? He asked, “If you can’t die, why do you still need the Soul Capturing Jade for your recovery?”
The Snow Lady gave him a strange look and replied, “Not dying doesn’t mean I can’t be injured. You look pretty smart, so why are you asking me such a stupid question?” There was a bit of purity in her expression, as if she didn’t really know the affairs of the world too well. However, the more it was like that, the more it hurt.
Being called stupid by someone naturally ignorant definitely didn’t make Zu An feel good. He could only ask, “Just how did you find out that the Soul Capturing Jade could treat your injuries?”
After all, the Soul Capturing Jade was one of the three divine artifacts needed to strengthen the seal. That was the Fiend races’ greatest secret, and not even the higher-ups of the Fiend races knew about it. He himself had only managed to piece together the information by chance, so how did the Snow Lady know that this thing could treat her injuries?
The Snow Lady casually replied, “In the past, a human told me that if I was injured in the future, I could find the Soul Capturing Jade to heal my injuries.”
“Just what kind of remarkable person was it? How long ago did this happen?” Zu An exclaimed in surprise. The word she had used was 'human', meaning it wasn't a fiend. How could a human actually know so many secrets?
The Snow Lady reflexively opened her mouth to reply, but her expression became a bit lost. In the end, she said, “I forgot.”
Zu An was stunned. That was a reply he wasn’t expecting at all. How could someone as powerful as the Snow Lady possibly forget that kind of thing?
The Snow Lady seemed to have realized that her behavior was a bit unusual too. She explained, “I don’t know what's happening either, but there are many events of the past that I can't remember anymore. Even so, these should all be things from a long, long time ago.”
Zu An wanted to ask some more, but he discovered that she was already in deep thought and muttering to herself, “That’s strange... Why would I trust the words of a human that much?”
The Snow Lady continued to walk forward in a daze, as if she really couldn't figure the situation out.
Zu An became more and more curious, wondering just who could have been so incredible. The two of them walked through the snowstorm just like that, one behind the other, creating an extremely tranquil and harmonious scene.
...
Meanwhile, in the human side’s Imperial Palace, Liu Ning stood in front of her mirror while dressed in splendid clothes. When she saw the beautiful figure in the reflection, she sighed deeply.
Off to the side, Eunuch Lu was absolutely breathtaken. Immediately after, he asked with an apologetic smile, “What seems to be bothering your highness?”
“Little Lu, do you think I’m beautiful?” Liu Ning asked, running her fingers across the exaggerated curve between her waist and bottom.
Eunuch Lu swallowed with difficulty before answering, “Your highness is as beautiful as a heavenly immortal, the number one beauty under the heavens.”
“Tsk, it clearly sounds so fake.” Liu Ning harrumphed. “I still know myself. Among my peers, I can’t compare to Yu Yanluo, and among the younger generation, the Chu clan’s first miss, the Bi clan’s hussy... None of them are worse than me, and they have their age to their advantage.”
“What is your highness saying? In this servant’s eyes, your respected self is the most beautiful. None of the others added together can compare to even a single fingernail on your respected self’s body,” Eunuch Lu said eagerly.
“Who cares if that’s what you think? What’s most important is what Ah Zu thinks,” Liu Ning said. She gently raised her dress and turned in front of the mirror, continuing, “Such a beautiful body, and yet it can only remain untouched at home.”
“The regent will return to spend time with your highness once he finishes handling affairs on the Fiend side,” Eunuch Lu said. He wasn’t too upset; he knew that he had a fundamental deficiency in that department and couldn't console his goddess. Besides, he had already found an avenue for even greater gratification - the regent, who was powerful regardless of which aspect one was talking about. That was the man most suitable for the woman he loved the most in this life.
“I really wonder when he'll be able to come back. He'll no doubt have so many women at his side once he comes back too,” Liu Ning said, seemingly realizing something; she couldn't help but feel a bit upset.
Eunuch Lu’s expression darkened and he offered, “Your highness, what if this servant got rid of those vixens for you?”
Liu Ning was startled and exclaimed, “Are you going mad? I was just randomly speaking my mind. If something happened to those women, Ah Zu would definitely know that I did it. Wouldn’t he hate me forever then?”
Eunuch Lu quickly said, “This servant will make sure to do it secretly, and even if it ends up being exposed, this servant will apologize for the offense myself, and will definitely not implicate your highness.”
“Pah, who doesn’t know you’re one of my people? How could I not be involved?” Liu Ning glared at him and cursed in annoyance.
Even though he was being cursed at, Eunuch Lu still felt a sweet senation inside. Those words continued to echo in his mind.
You’re one of my people, you’re one of my people...
Heh, her highness did treat me as one of her people after all.
“Don’t think about doing those random foolish things. Forget about implicating me; even if it didn’t, you wouldn’t be able to kill those vixens. For example, that Chu clan one has Sect Master Yan behind her. Could you win against her?” Liu Ning continued.
“Your highness’ criticism is correct,” Eunuch Lu said, bowing and nodding. His mood was clearly really good.
Liu Ning released a long sigh. “Sigh... I was perfectly fine as an empress, but I suddenly became an empress dowager. It makes me feel as if I suddenly became a few decades older for no reason.”
“Of course not! Your highness is still in your prime. Last time the southern border tribe’s official came to visit your respected self, he even thought you were the crown princess,” Eunuch Lu immediately said.
“That’s just a subject’s craftiness, and he clearly said that to make me happy. You even believe something like that?” Liu Ning said. Despite that, the happiness in her expression was still clear. Her mood was clearly lifted.
Eunuch Lu chuckled. Her highness had frequently been at odds with the Eastern Palace. The fact that she was happy to be mistaken for the crown princess could be a first.
“Little Lu, what major events have happened recently in the capital?” Liu Ning asked, her mood clearly having become much better. She turned her attention to the court's affairs.
“Your highness, the most significant event recently has been none other than King Wu entering the palace. King Wu is quite handsome, and Madam Wu is also exceptionally beautiful, so they immediately received a lot of popularity when they revealed themselves at the capital. Madam Wu in particular is someone who is difficult to forget after just a single look. There are even rumors that if she had been at the capital, perhaps the crown princess would not have been able to win her position among the younger generation so convincingly,” Eunuch Lu said with a bow.
“Hmph, that wench Linglong isn’t pretty enough to completely dominate the others anyway. Madam Dai and Madam Jin aren’t any worse than her. Isn’t it because she relied on her special identity as the crown princess to add to her charm?” Liu Ning remarked disdainfully.
“Your highness is absolutely correct,” Eunuch Lu immediately said in agreement, but he found it a bit amusing deep down.
It seems her highness and the crown princess really don’t like each other much.
Liu Ning harrumphed. “Stop paying so much attention to all this love affair stuff and start talking about proper affairs. What do you think about King Wu’s entrance into the palace?”
“Perhaps the Bi clan invited him in to reinforce their side?” Eunuch Lu asked to test the waters.
“Hmph, who else could it be but them? Kings outside the capital are absolutely not allowed to enter the capital unless summoned, and yet he used the pretext of mourning his father and brother to do so. If not for the Bi clan voicing their support, those two excuses alone wouldn’t have been enough for them to enter,” Liu Ning said with a sneer.
“I believe King Wu visited all sorts of different clans after entering the capital, and he also sent Madam Wu to socialize with those prestigious clans. It seems he is preparing something,” Eunuch Lu reminded her.
“Hmph, everyone has already seen how King Dai courted death, and yet this brat still has aspirations to the throne?” Liu Ning remarked, sounding a bit excited to see some more chaos. “The Bi clan lass must want to use him to go against me, but has she not considered that he might betray her, and that she might not even be able to keep the position of empress anymore?”
“Your highness is wise!” Eunuch Lu remarked approvingly.
“You only know how to flatter me. How boring.” Liu Ning harrumphed.
Ah Zu wouldn’t just submit to me like this; only I submit to him...
Her thoughts were inscrutable, but a layer of redness appeared on her face.
Eunuch Lu spoke up and asked, “Your highness, do we really need to act against King Liang’s side? He has a good reputation, and the repercussions might be great.”
Liu Ling retorted coldly, “What good reputation? It’s just some seniority in his clan. Ever since he was little, he received endless resources from the royal family, and yet even after all these years, he's only managed to barely scrape his way into the master rank. All of his age was wasted on that idiot. Recently, he’s been relying on his high status so much that he’s begun to forget his place, even frequently telling me what to do! If I don’t teach him a good lesson, that old bastard will want a mile if he’s given an inch.”
After a pause, she added, “Besides, according to our intelligence, that guy bothered Ah Zu before in Brightmoon City, so it’s a good chance to help him vent out some resentment.”
Eunuch Lu still looked a bit worried.
Her highness seems to have become completely bewitched by the regent! Just King Liang alone naturally isn't a big deal, but the Eastern Palace is watching over their every move. There's also that ambitious guy, King Wu, so it’ll be easy for things to go wrong...