Gu Manor.
The twilight had deepened, and the lanterns beneath the eaves were newly lit, casting long, thin shadows on the ground.
Along the corridor, Ji Xuanyuan used Sound Transmission to speak to Fang Henian as she walked:
[Tonight, I intend to have a “thorough discussion” with Young Master Yuan. Unless it is a matter of great importance, do not disturb us.]
“Huh?”
Fang Henian expression grew worried. [Your Highness, the man is an Evil Cultivator after all. Do you need me to arrange for more guards…]
Ji Xuanyuan shook her head. [That won’t be necessary. Young Master Yuan and I have already established a Soul Covenant; he cannot harm me. To be safe, simply have the guards stand watch around the exterior of the room.]
Anticipating her future confrontation with the Demon Path Alliance, she had to make good use of this [Divine Treasure Cushion] to increase her cultivation.
[Yes! Your Highness!]
Seeing the Crown Prince’s mind was made up, Fang Henian had no choice but to concede.
However, watching her urgent demeanor, she looked exactly like a profligate young lady from a wealthy family tricking a handsome man into bed.
Fang Henian cast a strange glance at the handsome youth behind her, feeling inwardly puzzled. ‘What on earth is this kid’s charm?’
With that thought, he stopped in his tracks and watched the two of them enter the room.
As the doors closed, the candlelight inside flickered, casting two silhouettes against the paper screen.
Ji Xuanyuan turned around and pointed toward the bed. “Young Master Yuan, you know what to do, don’t you?”
Looking at the bed and then back at her, Chu Yuan hesitated. “Your Highness… this…”
Ji Xuanyuan’s phoenix-like eyes narrowed slightly as she teased, “This isn’t the first time. Young Master Yuan, why are you pretending to be chaste?”
‘This is…’
Chu Yuan pursed his lips, feeling like a virtuous woman being lured to bed by a delinquent.
Constrained by the Soul Covenant, he could only accept his fate. He walked to the bed, pulled back the covers, and lay down.
As she watched him, the smile on Ji Xuanyuan’s lips grew more meaningful. She wasted no time. Removing her shoes, she sat cross-legged on the bed.
Chu Yuan’s body stiffened, feeling intensely uncomfortable.
Ji Xuanyuan had already closed her eyes, circulating the mental technique of the Imperial World-Ordering Script.
A few days ago at the teahouse, she had already reached Level 3, Luck Induction. Without external help, it would take her at least 3 years of bitter cultivation to break through to Level 4, Equilibrium.
But the “cushion” beneath her now was her greatest external aid.
According to the System’s description, the [Divine Treasure Cushion] was an ancient relic that could help a cultivator bypass realm restrictions and practice directly.
Tonight, she was going to attempt to break through to Level 4, Equilibrium.
She focused her mind, and her cultivation technique began to rotate. A warm stream of spiritual energy slowly seeped into her body from beneath her, intertwining with her own luck.
Unlike the previous time at the teahouse, Ji Xuanyuan could feel another surge of energy entering her body, causing her cultivation to spike. The sensation was so refreshing—like sitting atop a spring of endless spiritual energy—that it made her feel slightly numb and tingly.
Chu Yuan, on the other hand, could feel the spiritual energy within his body draining away. He immediately sensed something was wrong. “Your Highness, what are you doing?”
Facing Chu Yuan’s question, Ji Xuanyuan did not open her eyes, responding casually via Sound Transmission:
[Hmph. What are you playing dumb for, Young Master Yuan? Isn’t this just the Yin Yang Harmony Sutra from before?]
[Don’t worry. With the Soul Covenant in place, I will hold back a little.]
As she spoke, she intended to slow down the absorption rate.
But at that moment, a thought flashed through Ji Xuanyuan’s mind. ‘Wait! If I drain my Junior Brother dry, won’t he lose the strength to pursue further interactions with that Fairy Gu?’
‘No!’
‘How can I think such things!’
‘Everything I am doing is so that I can face my Junior Brother alone and keep him out of danger. This is also for the sake of letting him be with Fairy Gu sooner!’
Despite her thoughts, Ji Xuanyuan unconsciously accelerated the speed. Her subconscious was driving her directly—
Drain him! Drain him dry!
Drain him until he no longer had the energy to get involved with other women!
Chu Yuan wanted to resist, but in this state, he found himself unable to move. He could only protest:
[Highness, this is not what we agreed upon. If you keep this up… ghk!]
As the technique became more intense, Ji Xuanyuan felt herself touching the threshold of Level 4, Equilibrium, of the Imperial World-Ordering Script.
***
Outside the room, the moonlight was like water, drenching the courtyard.
The guards stood in formation, their expressions solemn. Even though the Crown Prince had set up a barrier, they could still faintly hear strange sounds coming from inside.
“Your Highness, you can’t… ugh… ah… mmgh!”
The sounds coming from the room were intermittent, sounding like something was being suppressed.
” Ah… ngh…”
The guards looked at each other with peculiar expressions. One of them couldn’t help but use Sound Transmission, her tone filled with confusion.
[What is the Crown Prince doing in there? Why are such strange sounds coming out?]
Another hesitated for a moment before offering a careful guess. [Could it be that Her Highness is… engaged in “affairs of the flesh” with that Young Master Yuan?]
As soon as these words were spoken, all the women were shocked. One of them immediately shook her head. [Impossible! What kind of person is the Crown Prince? How could she do such a thing?]
Indeed. What kind of person was the Crown Prince?
In the hearts of the guards, Ji Xuanyuan was a genius the Immortal Dynasty only saw once in 1,000 years. Over the years, she had managed the government on behalf of the throne, handling countless difficult cases and suppressing internal and external unrest without ever needing help.
She was cold and aloof, never showing interest in men.
Back when she was still just the Grand Princess, the love poems sent to her could fill one entire room. The young masters of the noble families in court tried every trick to get close to her.
However, she never gave them a second glance, directly ordering her attendants to use those love poems as kindling for fires.
One year during the Shangyuan Lantern Festival, the eldest son of the Prime Minister publicly confessed his love to her. His words were earnest and his affection deep, drawing the attention of the entire city.
She had merely given him a faint glance and politely rejected him, causing that young master to flee the scene in shame.
How could such a person… how could she…
[But these sounds…] one guard said weakly. [They really make one’s imagination run wild!]
The group fell silent. Under the moonlight, their expressions were quite a sight.
After a long while, someone whispered, [That Young Master Yuan looks rather ordinary… thin and weak, and his cultivation isn’t high. Why would the Crown Prince…]
Another chimed in, [Exactly! You can find men like that by the handful in our Immortal Dynasty. Why would she…]
The group chatted back and forth, their discussion growing more heated.
[Enough!]
A sharp, cold Sound Transmission suddenly rang out, cutting off their whispering.
The Captain of the Guard stood with a grim expression, her gaze sweeping over the group like a blade.
[The Crown Prince has her own reasons for her actions.]
As Ji Xuanyuan’s personal guard, she had followed Her Highness through life-and-death situations for many years. She knew the Crown Prince better than anyone. Seeing her subordinates overstepping, she had to reprimand them.
[Do you all wish to go to the Department of Punishment for your reward once we return to the Imperial Capital?]
The women shuddered and quickly bowed their heads. [We wouldn’t dare!]
With that, they mentally shook their heads, forcing those stray thoughts away. Under the moon, they stood tall once more, their faces as solemn as if those transmissions had never happened.
Only occasionally would their eyes drift toward the tightly closed door.
Inside the room, those strange sounds continued.
Regarding this, the Captain of the Guard watched the door with a complicated expression. She had served the Crown Prince for years and had never seen Her Highness show such “interest” in anyone. She couldn’t help but wonder herself.
‘That kid… what is so special about him?’