You, a tyrannical ruler, roam the heavens; you cannot understand my joy.

Jiankang City, the Empress's Palace.

Empress Shen Wuhua was sitting in front of her dressing table, having her long hair combed by a maid.

She wore a light-colored palace dress with a long, flowing skirt, exuding solemnity and elegance. Her hair was adorned with a gold hairpin with plum blossoms and pearls, and her loose hair hung down to her neck, making her neck appear as white as jade bathed in moonlight.

Shen Wuhua was naturally beautiful, with a graceful figure, long, slender legs, and skin as white as jade and as tender as snow.

Her bright, clear eyes were sparkling with life, the corners of which were adorned with a touch of rouge. Her lips were full and moist, with a touch of cherry blossom. Paired with her slender waist, she perfectly blended charm and allure.

"Senior sister."

"Since you married into the palace, that tyrannical emperor has never laid a finger on you. Could it be that he was already on guard?"

The maid who was combing her hair did not address her as "Empress," but rather as "Senior Sister"...

"impossible."

Shen Wuhua waved her hand and said, "If he had noticed anything amiss, he would have already taken action against the Shen family of Wuxing."

"That's true..."

The maid nodded and added, "By the way, Senior Sister, Senior Sister Xiuxin and Senior Sister Qinghui will also be arriving in Jiankang in the next few days."

Shen Wuhua raised an eyebrow: "What are they doing here?"

"It is said that several Yin Gui sect witches have infiltrated Jiankang, intending to control Chen Shubao, seize the Southern Chen dynasty, and rival the Sui dynasty."

"snort!"

"These evil heretics only want to stir up trouble!"

The Empress gave a cold snort and was about to speak when she heard light footsteps beside her, so she quickly shut her mouth.

A moment later, a high-pitched voice came from outside the hall: "Reporting to the Empress."

"His Majesty has returned to the palace."

Shen Wuhua's heart skipped a beat, and she felt a strange sense of tension. Her eyebrows furrowed slightly.

Shouldn't he have died in Jiangling City?

Uncle Si failed to succeed?

Oops……

Could it be that this tyrannical emperor has already learned his and the Shen family's true identities from his fourth uncle...?

No, that's not right.

If he knew everything, he wouldn't have sent someone to inform them; instead, the Black-Clad Guards would have come to his door with their swords drawn.

"understood."

……

Meanwhile, two special guests arrived at the residence of Kong Fan, the Minister of the Capital of the Southern Chen Dynasty.

These are two women of unparalleled beauty and captivating charm.

One of them wore a long red and black dress, with a slender waist, long and graceful legs, and a red satin bodice that accentuated her stunning curves like undulating waves.

This woman's eyebrows and eyes were like ink dipped in rouge, her lips were as dark as blood, and she looked like a fairy who had walked out of a painting.

The other person was dressed in white, with delicate skin like freshly laid porcelain after the first snowfall, gleaming with a warm glow under the soft light in the hall.

Her eyebrows were like painted willow leaves, thick and luscious, her eyes were bright and clear, her nose was straight and elegant, and her lips were the color of cherry blossoms.

Her whole being is like a meticulously painted fairy painting, every stroke outlining her extraordinary charm and exuding a myriad of allure.

Kong Fan, a high-ranking official of the third rank, wielded immense power in the court, yet he appeared cautious and apprehensive in front of these two women.

"I was unaware of your arrival, ladies. I apologize for not welcoming you properly."

The woman in white waved her hand: "There's no need to panic. We, your fellow disciples, have come to find you not to interrogate you about that matter."

"I need you to do two things for me."

Upon hearing this, Kong Fan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, and asked, "What does the young lady wish me to do?"

"It's very simple, just recommend me to the emperor to enter the palace as a concubine."

what?

Kong Fan was slightly taken aback, then quickly nodded: "Miss Zhang is stunningly beautiful; it wouldn't be difficult for her to enter the palace."

"And what about Miss Zhu?"

"You don't need to worry about my senior sister; she'll be taken care of later."

Kong Fan: "And the second thing?"

"We suspect that Consort Yu, Su Yanzhi, is actually the Red-Clothed Ghost Maiden of the City of a Hundred Ghosts. Please investigate this for me."

……

Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation in the Imperial Palace.

The ground here is paved with gold bricks, so shiny they can reflect a person's image.

On several thick pillars, lifelike golden dragons coil around, their heads majestic and looking down upon all directions.

The carved window was half-open, and the evening breeze brought a touch of coolness, but it could not dispel the rich ambergris fragrance in the hall.

In the southeast corner, there is a large imperial couch, with bright yellow silk curtains hanging on it, and a white jade incense burner beside the couch is emitting wisps of smoke.

Lu Zuo sat on the rosewood table, thinking to himself that being an emperor was a troublesome job...

Since returning to the capital, Lu Zuo, under the arrangement of Li Chengan and Shi Wenqing, met with officials from various departments and held a small court meeting in the Imperial Study.

The meeting's content was nothing more than what had been agreed upon beforehand: to promote Shi Wenqing to higher official rank, bestow titles and honors, and to grant Li Chengan command of the Imperial Guards, etc.

This matter likely involved a complex interplay of various parties, and several ministers immediately stepped forward to strongly oppose it.

So, he spent the entire afternoon in the Imperial Study watching Shi Wenqing and Li Chengan argue with these ministers.

But the arm can't twist the thigh. The two men already held immense power in the court, and now they controlled the emperor, so naturally they got what they wanted.

One was granted the title of Marquis of Jingning and put in charge of the military command of the Five Cities.

One took over the Imperial Guard and the royal intelligence agency, the Black-Clad Guard.

"For Shih Wen-ching and Li Cheng-an, I am a very useful tool."

"But isn't it the same for me?"

What constitutes a tyrannical and incompetent ruler?

"Isn't it just neglecting state affairs, favoring sycophants, alienating virtuous and capable individuals, abusing cruel punishments, imposing exorbitant taxes, and indulging in lewdness and debauchery?"

"Apart from being lecherous and dissolute, they can achieve everything else for me."

"I just need to lie in the harem and accumulate strength."

"But the problem now is..."

"I only have a fragment of the Imperial Path Ultimate Scripture, I have no other cultivation methods."

"How can I become stronger?"

The old eunuch was cautious, fearing that Lu Zuoxian might rise to power, and that the palace was full of his people.

Upon returning to Jiankang, he issued an order forbidding him from entering the royal armory.

To avoid arousing his suspicion, Lu Zuo dared not mention the matter.

After much deliberation, he realized that traveling incognito was the only option he could take.

Just then, the palace door slowly opened from the outside, and a young woman dressed in a light-colored palace dress walked in gracefully and knelt down not far from Lu Zuo.

"Your Majesty, I, Shen Wuhua, pay my respects."

Empress of Chen Shubao?

Lu Zuo then remembered that when the emperor returned to the palace, the empress would naturally have to pay her respects.

He waved his hand: "Rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Shen Wuhua responded, stood up, and asked, "Your Majesty, would you like me to stay and serve you tonight?"

She has asked this question many times.

However, Chen Shubao had suffered a qi deviation while practicing martial arts three years prior, rendering him unable to perform sexual acts, and thus he refused her every time.

This time, Shen Wuhua simply asked a question as usual, just to brush it off.

She only needed to wait for the emperor to refuse, then feign a show of grief before returning to her palace, out of sight, out of mind.

"it is good."

Lu Zuo nodded: "Stay here tonight."

what?

Shen Wuhua's beautiful eyes widened, and she froze on the spot, staring blankly at Lu Zuo, somewhat bewildered and at a loss...