Late at night, Grand Wilderness Imperial Palace, Zichen Hall.
Ji Liuyun, dressed in a phoenix robe, stood before the window with her hands behind her back.
Unlike the usual emperors who tied up their hair, she let her long, lustrous hair fall freely over her shoulders.
Moonlight streamed through the carved window lattice, spilling over her, outlining her cold, aloof, and stunning features.
Her appearance was seventy to eighty percent similar to Ji Linglong, yet there was less arrogance and domineering sharpness between her brows.
Instead, she exuded more of a sovereign’s calm and majesty.
“Your Majesty, it’s late. You should rest now.”
An aged voice sounded inside the hall.
An old woman in a plain gray robe, her presence as deep and boundless as an abyss, had silently appeared behind her.
“Yun Nanny, tell me… what exactly is Royal Sister planning?”
Ji Liuyun did not turn around.
There was a hint of exhaustion and worry in her voice—one that even she herself failed to notice.
It had already been five full days since Royal Sister Ji Linglong returned from the Demonic Heaven Sect.
During these five days, she hadn’t come to see her—this female emperor—even once, nor did she send anyone with a message.
She locked herself in Phoenix Palace, refusing all visitors.
If not for the familiar aura she sensed daily from Phoenix Palace, Ji Liuyun would have thought that something had happened to Royal Sister.
“Your Highness the Princess’s thoughts, this old servant dares not speculate.”
Yun Nanny’s voice was as calm and deep as still water.
“Dare not speculate?”
Ji Liuyun laughed at herself.
“Is there anything in this whole palace that Yun Nanny does not know?”
“That demon… Lu Ning, Sect Master of the Demonic Heaven Sect, was brought back to Phoenix Palace by Royal Sister, right?”
“Yes.”
Yun Nanny answered concisely.
Ji Liuyun’s brows furrowed even more.
She did not understand.
With Royal Sister’s vengeful nature, having captured the enemy who once humiliated her, shouldn’t she have immediately announced it to the world, then tortured them to death with every cruel means at her disposal?
Why would she bring him into her own bedchamber and stay shut in for five days straight?
What disturbed her even more was something else.
Almost all of the rarest healing treasures from the royal treasury had been moved to Phoenix Palace.
Millennium Snow Lotus, Nine-Turn Jade Dew, Phoenix Nirvana Heart… any one of these would make even ancient monsters at the Mahayana stage go green with envy, and now they were being sent to Phoenix Palace like running water.
Not long ago, Phoenix Palace suffered an assassin’s attack.
The news she received was that Royal Sister was not seriously harmed, just lightly wounded, and claimed she would be in seclusion for a while.
If that was the case, then who were all these medicines for?
The answer was obvious.
That demon from the Demonic Heaven Sect—Lu Ning.
A ridiculous and terrifying idea was raging in Ji Liuyun’s heart.
Could it be that Royal Sister has been bewitched by that demon?
Ji Liuyun was filled with apprehension toward the Demonic Heaven Sect Master she had never met.
Back then, he suppressed all the forces of the Northern Territory single-handedly, made the proud Royal Sister hold a grudge for so many years, and even drew the three righteous leaders—Xuantian Holy Land, Myriad Sword Villa, and Miaoyin Pavilion—into joining forces for an ambush…
Someone like that was no ordinary person.
If he was captured by Royal Sister, he must be gravely wounded and have lost much of his power.
But now, Royal Sister was going to any lengths to heal him.
If that demon recovered his strength, it would become an unpredictable disaster for the entire Grand Wilderness Dynasty.
Moreover…
A deep worry flashed through Ji Liuyun’s eyes.
The royal family’s had a fatal flaw—the “Phoenix Nirvana Tribulation”.
This tribulation was already one with almost no chance of survival, and if the cultivator fell in love and their heart became flawed during this period, the nirvana fire would turn to karmic fire, burning the soul to ashes, never to be reborn.
Royal Sister’s attitude toward that demon was far too abnormal.
She absolutely could not let Royal Sister walk down a path of no return.
“Yun Nanny.”
Ji Liuyun’s voice became resolute.
“This old servant is here.”
“Transmit my secret order.”
Ji Liuyun slowly turned around.
At this moment, in those phoenix eyes so like Ji Linglong’s, there remained only the cold cruelty and murderous intent that belonged to an emperor.
“Tomorrow, during Royal Sister’s birthday banquet, I will find a way to keep her at Qilin Hall.”
“You send people to infiltrate Phoenix Palace.”
“At any cost—kill that demon.”
“Remember, do it cleanly, leave no trace, and above all, don’t let Royal Sister know I gave the order.”
Ji Liuyun knew that Royal Sister would certainly hate her for this in the future.
But for Royal Sister’s safety, for the future of the Grand Wilderness Dynasty, only she could play the villain.
Yun Nanny’s body trembled slightly, a complicated emotion flickered in her cloudy eyes, but in the end, she bowed and accepted the order.
“This old servant… obeys.”
“And also…”
Ji Liuyun paused, then added, “Although that demon is severely wounded, he was once a giant among demon cultivators. His methods are sinister and unpredictable—do not underestimate him. Send the strongest among the Shadow Guards.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
A black shadow separated itself from behind Yun Nanny, dropped to one knee, and accepted the order in silence.
It was a woman clad in tight black clothing, a silver mask covering her face except for her eyes.
Her presence merged seamlessly with the surrounding darkness, as if she was born from the shadows themselves.
“Shadow Seven accepts the order.”
“Go.”
Ji Liuyun waved her hand and turned back toward the window, gazing at the cold, bright moon outside.
“Royal Sister, don’t blame me…”
“That demon is a tremendous hidden danger. He must be dealt with. All of this is for you and for the Grand Wilderness Dynasty…”
…
At the same time.
Inside Phoenix Palace.
Lu Ning was experiencing a sweet “torment”.
Ji Linglong seemed to have become addicted to this game of personally feeding her, finding endless delight in it.
After being forced to eat yet another whole plate of “Amethyst Grapes” brimming with pure spiritual energy, Lu Ning felt as if her stomach would soon burst.
“Big Sister Linglong, I… I really can’t eat any more.”
Lu Ning spoke in a soft, pleading tone.
After this period of “adjustment”, she had fully mastered the art of handling Ji Linglong.
This proud Princess only responded to gentleness, never force.
As long as she behaved obediently and submissively, and occasionally acted a bit spoiled, calling out sweetly, “Big Sister Linglong”, Ji Linglong would become incredibly agreeable.
“Really can’t eat anymore?”
Ji Linglong pinched Lu Ning’s cheeks, now a bit chubby from all the feeding, her eyes full of doting affection.
“Mm, mm.”
Lu Ning nodded repeatedly like a little chick pecking rice, her big, dewy eyes brimming with innocence.
“All right then.”
Ji Linglong finally showed mercy and let her off.
Watching Lu Ning’s well-behaved, adorable appearance, Ji Linglong felt an overflowing sense of satisfaction in her heart.
She loved this feeling.
That former high-and-mighty demon, who once looked down on her, was now like a gentle kitten lying in her embrace, completely at her mercy.
“A-Ning.”
Ji Linglong pulled Lu Ning into her arms, gently rubbing her chin on the top of Lu Ning’s head.
“Tomorrow is my birthday banquet.”
“Mm, I know.”
Lu Ning answered obediently.
“By then, I’ll need to leave for a while. You stay here in Phoenix Palace and wait for me, all right?”
Ji Linglong’s tone carried a hint of coaxing.
Lu Ning’s heart stirred.
Ji Linglong was going to her birthday banquet?
Didn’t that mean she’d have a chance to look for an opportunity to escape?
Ji Linglong lowered her head to gaze at Lu Ning in her arms.
The black maid’s outfit hugged Lu Ning’s figure in an alluring way.
“A-Ning, tomorrow I’ll personally dress you up. That will be your birthday present to me, and only I get to see it.”
As Ji Linglong finished speaking, excitement sparkled in her phoenix eyes.
Listening to her overbearing declaration, Lu Ning was speechless, but she still replied sweetly, “I’ll do whatever Big Sister Linglong says…”