When emotions run deep, everything falls naturally into place.
Just as the two were about to continue their intimate encounter, a warning from Yun Lan echoed in Zhang Yuge’s ear.
“Two people are coming upstairs, both cultivators.”
Zhang Yuge snapped awake and hurriedly stopped Zhang Qingyao, whose face was flushed red and was practically glued to him.
Qingyao’s shoulder slipped free from her clothing, revealing her snow-white, fragrant shoulder.
Her eyes were dreamy as they gazed at Zhang Yuge.
“Xiao Yao, quickly get yourself cleaned up. Those two brothers are coming.”
“Ah? This…”
The girl’s expression froze as if she had reached a stopping point.
She looked both uncomfortable and flustered as she hurriedly tidied herself.
After a moment, there was a knock at the door.
“Who is it?”
Zhang Qingyao asked calmly.
“It’s me, Li Yuluo.”
A pleasant voice came from outside.
“Young master, I’ve brought the imperial brother here.”
Suddenly realizing Li Yuhan was still standing beside him, the girl outside quickly corrected herself:
“Zhang Qingyao, my imperial brother wants to see you.”
“Go open the door for them,”
Zhang Yuge ordered.
Opening the door, two people entered, their attire concealing their features completely.
Zhang Qingyao casually closed the door behind them.
“Please, have a seat.”
Zhang Yuge gestured.
The black-robed figure wearing a mask was equally unceremonious and took a seat opposite Zhang Yuge.
Li Yuluo, dressed in palace maid attire, stood by his side.
Her smooth infiltration into the palace during the day was thanks to this set of the lowest-ranking palace maid’s uniform.
Unfortunately, Li Yuluo’s appearance was too striking, outshining all the concubines.
To avoid drawing attention, Zhang Yuge had even asked Lüzhu to help make her look less attractive with makeup.
Li Yuluo stood close to the black-robed man, while Zhang Qingyao naturally stood beside Zhang Yuge. They faced each other across the room, the atmosphere suddenly turning serious.
“Your Majesty,”
Zhang Yuge cupped his fists respectfully.
The masked black-robed man was silent for a moment before saying,
“Since you know I am the emperor, why not kneel and kowtow?”
The voice under the mask was processed, sounding mechanical and identical to the tone when they first met.
“Your Excellency does not reveal your true face, so I cannot be certain you are truly the emperor. If you were deceiving me, wouldn’t that be a great loss?”
“How dare you! How do you speak to your imperial brother like that?”
Between Li Yuhan and Zhang Yuge, no one needed to guess — naturally, Li Yuluo sided with her brother.
Now that Li Yuhan was backing her up, Li Yuluo no longer needed to endure hardship like before.
Her tone toward Zhang Yuge grew blunt.
Zhang Yuge remained expressionless, merely casting the girl a meaningful glance without saying anything.
But Li Yuluo felt a chill run down her spine from that look.
She dared not meet Zhang Yuge’s eyes directly.
His gaze seemed to warn,
“Say one more word out of line, and I’ll expose all your unspeakable secrets.”
Recalling how she had flattered him desperately, crawling beneath him, Li Yuluo wished she could just disappear into a hole.
Zhang Yuge was definitely not someone to be kept around.
Once their cooperation ended, he would have to be killed!
And Zhang Qingyao, who also knew her secret, must disappear too!
Those humiliating past deeds must never be revealed.
Thinking this, Li Yuluo’s attitude hardened instantly.
“Zhang Qingyao, watch your tone! Now you’re the one asking for help. The only one who can save your family is my imperial brother, the reigning emperor.”
Li Yuluo’s assertive words caused Zhang Qingyao standing across to furrow her brows deeply.
As expected, this person was not sincerely submitting to the young master — a fence-sitter at best.
Qingyao wanted to retort for her young master but thought of her family still relying on them for rescue and held back.
“All right, all right, my fault. I apologize if I offended Your Majesty. But let’s get down to business. I’ve already heard from Yuluo that only the emperor and Yuluo remain of the Great Zhou royal family, correct?”
“…Yuluo?”
“Oh, I should say Prince, please forgive me for the informality, Your Majesty.”
Noticing the other party seemed displeased with his use of “Yuluo,” Zhang Yuge quickly corrected himself.
What a strange pair of brothers, Zhang Yuge thought.
“Heh heh heh, ‘Young Master’ and ‘Yuluo’ — these two really have a special relationship.”
A fifth figure appeared beside the masked man, though only Li Yuhan could see him.
“Yuluo has returned to my side. Don’t keep using his face to show up before me,”
Li Yuhan said displeased.
“But he’s already become a woman, hasn’t he? It won’t cause confusion, so what does it matter?”
“Don’t you have a face of your own?”
“Hehe, honestly, I don’t even remember what my original body looked like. I’ve possessed too many, I’ve lost count.”
Li Yuhan was speechless but let it go.
“But, brother, haven’t you noticed something?”
“…Notice what?”
“That your brother who turned into a woman and this Zhang family young master have definitely had something happen between them.”
“…What do you mean?”
“Well, what else could it be?”
Li Yuhan fell silent and looked at the girl standing beside him.
Indeed, when she spoke with Zhang Yuge, her expression held a complicated mixture of disdain and a hint of shyness, though she dared not look him in the eye.
“I have lived tens of thousands of years, killing more people than you’ve ever seen in your life. No one can hide from my Fiery Eyes of Truth. I’ve witnessed too much love and hate — lovers killing each other, parents killing children, children killing parents, brothers killing brothers. I’ve seen it all. Feelings are the most worthless thing in this world. Only by becoming stronger yourself do you gain enough say. Strength is everything.”
The Underworld Blood God King never missed an opportunity to brainwash and manipulate Li Yuhan.
His efforts bore fruit; Li Yuhan was gradually changing under his influence, growing colder and more ruthless.
But there remained one soft spot — Li Yuluo.
As long as this unstable factor capable of shaking Li Yuhan’s mind was removed, all other obstacles could be wiped out in one fell swoop.
The Underworld Blood God King could strike down all the insignificant pests at any time, whether the Five Great Families or their Sect-backed protection.
The prerequisite was that Li Yuluo must die.
“Yuluo… will she betray me?”
After a long pause, Li Yuhan asked.
“For now, she’s still on our side. But how things develop from here, who knows if she won’t stand against us.”
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