Chapter 1396 - 759: Who? (Double-Length) (Part 2)

Chen Yi's hand paused at the sound, and he furrowed his brows, saying: "Zhu E?"

The fingers of the graceful woman in the bright yellow palace robe halted for a moment, then pretended to be unaffected as she turned another page of the book, lowering her head without looking at him. After a moment, she replied softly: "Did the Sect Hierarch see through it all?"

The flickering candlelight revealed the Buddhist scripture in her hand was alluringly blurred. The woman's lowered eyes hinted at a bit of seductive charm as she crossed her legs, displaying all her allure.

He looked at this face exactly like that of Empress An in his memory, even the tiny mole at the end of her brow was identical, yet beneath the skin, the bone structure was ultimately another person. Zhu E, the legitimate daughter of the Zhu Family from Nanwei, the Princess married to Qin Qingluo, the Bright Saintess.

"Where is she?"

He asked with utmost simplicity, shifting the direction of his unresolved killing intent.

Zhu E, or rather, Zhu E beneath the guise of Empress An, let out a low laugh at his words. That laugh sounded like it was dredged up from a deep well, carrying a cold, damp chill.

"Is this why the Sect Hierarch came in such a rush, only to ask this?" After the laughter, Zhu E sluggishly said: "How could that old maid be here? Even if she were truly here, how could that Second Rank Master of Magpie Pavilion not be present?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Yi, still stubborn, enveloped the entire manor with Sword Intent World but to no avail, only then did he turn his head, deeply inhaling.

"Zhu E, what's going on, why dress like this?"

He asked simply, his tone seemingly calm.

Zhu E detected his suppressed emotions, then eased her seductive charm a bit, explaining slowly: "The New Year has come, each household clears their own snow at the doorstep. The Forbidden Army guarding the border is leaderless, should someone hold the Empress Dowager's imperial edict and set the arsenal ablaze, only to later discover it was a fake order, what would happen to the Prince Mansion? How would the court respond?"

She lifted her eyes, and the phoenix eyes meticulously crafted to resemble those of Empress An shone with a near-cold rationality that belonged solely to Zhu E.

"The court now uses the Forbidden Army to block the outlet of Nanwei towards the Central Plains. It is a thorn in the Prince Mansion's throat; even if the Prince has no ambition for power, allowing the Forbidden Army to remain, they'll be slowly eaten away, and by then, it will be too late to escape the inevitable disaster.

Currently, with the Forbidden Army instigating trouble by attacking Dragon Tail City at night, the Prince can take advantage of this, investigating it as a misleading decree, expelling the Forbidden Army from the border, thereby securing all passes between Nanwei and the Central Plains, enabling major strategic moves or a peaceful return to wealth."

Listening to this, Chen Yi gradually found it uninteresting. Initially thinking it was truly that woman in person coming, he realized he had thought too optimistically, compounded by a momentary surge of anger clouding his head.

Before him undoubtedly was Zhu E, Zhu E's Illusion Technique and disguise skill, unparalleled in his experience. Her transformation into Qin Qingluo despite their great physique difference was nearly indistinguishable.

Moreover, if it had truly been Empress An, her speech would inevitably contain that twisted, obsessive maternal presence.

Fearing Chen Yi might not understand, Zhu E further explained: "Since the generation of the Prince's grandfather, successive Princes of Annan have long harbored thoughts of… purging the court, asserting righteousness. To prevent the Seal or other national treasures from falling into treacherous hands, they've crafted two or three sets of backup items, and multiple Dragon and Phoenix Robe Carriages to support a new emperor. Since the Sect Hierarch brought Yang Chongwei back from the World of Ignorance, the people within the sect have refined him into a puppet, thus Zhu E's actions this time went smoothly, without anyone suspecting."

These matters failed to captivate Chen Yi much, so he asked: "Does Qing Luo know about this?"

Zhu E lowered her eyelids, concealing the fleeting emotion in her eyes, her voice lightened a bit: "The Prince… will learn of it thereafter. It's enough to know the results; sometimes knowing too much becomes burdensome.

The main reason is, Zhu E harbors a personal desire."

"Personal desire?"

Chen Yi slightly raised his brows, looking at this simultaneously familiar yet unfamiliar face, his heart still agitated.

This face alone always stirred a rage within him.

Seeing Zhu E gently set down the volume of Buddhist scripture she was holding, the book landed with a soft "thud" on the purple sandalwood desk. She slowly advanced, grasping the hand that had been a moment ago filled with killing intent,

"Zhu E's personal desire is you, Sect Hierarch."

Chen Yi was slightly stunned.

Zhu E placed her face against the back of his hand, speaking softly: "In these times, due to the Prince, we could never meet in privacy. As an elder, how can Zhu E compete with her for affection? What was relinquished before must continue to be relinquished now. Zhu E generally doesn't hide matters from the Prince, but concerning the Sect Hierarch… she keeps it secret, which is why Zhu E anticipated the Sect Hierarch would come looking…"

After feeling dazed, Chen Yi didn't know what to say, momentarily helpless and amused.

The thoughts of a Southern Border Miao Girl are both predictable and unpredictable.

Zhu E reached out to gently brush his brows, slowly clasping his hand, placing it upon her soft and elevated bosom, she looked up at the face identical to Empress An's and smiling sweetly, she said:

"You've troubled yourself rushing here in anger, why not… use Zhu E to relieve the fire?"

In the candlelight, "Empress An's" visage remained regal and graceful, yet the corners of her eyes and brows emanated Zhu E's bold and heated charm. This extreme contrast was like a flame flickering deep within Chen Yi's heart.

He looked at this face, the face he abhorred to the core, yet at this moment under Zhu E's control, it presented such a seductive posture to him. An indescribable wicked flame ignited rapidly, mixed with lingering killing intent, indignation, and an insatiable, profound desire.

His breathing involuntarily grew heavier, his Adam's apple rolling up and down, struggling to swallow, he said: