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

"Shall we talk?"

Zhang Lihua was greatly surprised and couldn't understand what this foolish emperor was planning.

Regardless, there seems to be room for maneuver, so let's hear what he has to say.

after all……

After their plans were exposed, the Yin Gui faction's scheme to expand in Nan Chen was completely thwarted.

Faced with the Buddhist forces that had already infiltrated the Northern Sui Dynasty, the Yin Gui Sect was in a very critical situation!

If they cannot establish themselves in Nanchen, they will inevitably face fierce suppression from the Buddhist community led by Cihang Jingzhai.

The two factions and six paths of the Demonic Sect were already facing severe internal strife.

With suppression from the Buddhist community on the outside and various factions harboring ill intentions on the inside, even if it is not in danger of being destroyed, the future will not be easy.

Therefore, Zhang Lihua would strive to seize any opportunity, no matter how small.

She turned around, sat back down on the couch, and asked, "What does Your Majesty wish to say?"

Lu Zuo composed himself and said, "My beloved consort must answer one of my questions first, and then I can decide how to treat her."

Zhang Lihua thought about it and concluded that since he hadn't deployed the Imperial Guards or the Black-Clad Guards to ambush her outside, it meant he didn't intend to kill her.

The reason for this inquiry is probably to gauge the Yin Gui Sect's stance and my intentions.

"Your Majesty, please ask."

"Did their Yin Gui faction infiltrate the Great Chen Dynasty in order to control me and seek to expand their influence here?"

Lu Zuo, who had read the original work, knew that the Sui Dynasty and Buddhism had a close relationship.

Considering the current situation and the arrival of Zhang Lihua and Zhu Yuyan, it is not surprising that the Yin Gui Sect is facing a difficult survival.

Anyone with a modicum of intelligence could guess it.

They can't all be like Cihang Jingzhai, serving the Sui Dynasty and only going so far as to conduct military intelligence gathering in Dachen, can they?

How could Buddhism agree to coexist with the Yin Gui sect?

If the Sui Dynasty were to actually do that, all it would need to do is spread the word that the court was colluding with the demonic sects, which would force the Northern Sui and the Yin Gui faction to sever ties.

Moreover, the Sui Dynasty was at its zenith, so why would it associate with the Demonic Sect?

If this gets out, how will the people of the world view the imperial court?

Zhang Lihua nodded: "Exactly."

That's enough...

The key issue is stance; the methods are not important.

As for whether Zhang Lihua lied?

Lu Zuo believed it to be true because his questioning included the matter of manipulating the emperor, and if she wanted to bluff her way out, she would definitely deny it outright.

"Alright then..."

"I will allow the Yin Gui Sect to develop in Da Chen, and will also provide you with some assistance."

What?

Such a dramatic turn of events left Zhang Lihua wide-eyed, feeling somewhat incredulous.

Every dynasty's attitude towards the Demonic Sect has been one of suppression!

Now that his plan has been exposed and his crime of trying to control the emperor has been confirmed, he is not angry or punished. Instead, he wants to help the Yin Gui Sect grow stronger.

What was this tyrannical ruler thinking?

conspiracy?

Or is he trying to win over the Yin Gui faction to serve the Chen state?

After thinking it over, Zhang Lihua felt that the latter was more likely, since the situation of Southern Chen was already precarious and it would be swallowed up by the Sui Dynasty sooner or later.

Given that the Sui Dynasty had the support of Buddhism, it was quite normal for the Southern Chen Dynasty to court the demonic sects.

Thinking of this, she smiled and asked, "Then what does Your Majesty need my Yin Gui Sect for?"

"I do not demand absolute loyalty from you, but you must work for me."

Sure enough...

Zhang Lihua thought for a moment and nodded: "Okay."

"But that's just my own opinion."

"I need to discuss the final decision with my senior sister."

This matter is of great benefit to the Yin Gui Sect; it could even be said to be their only option.

Lu Zuo didn't think the Yin Gui Sect would refuse, so he nodded: "Okay."

"Then my beloved consort, please leave the palace today to discuss this matter with Miss Zhu, and give me an answer before evening."

He stood up, tossed her a gold medal, and turned to walk out of the hall.

After taking a few steps, he stopped again: "No matter what decision you make, I will not make things difficult for you."

Zhang Lihua was taken aback, then nodded.

After Lu Zuo left Shuyu Zhai, her expression suddenly changed: "This tyrant knew I was a disciple of the Yin Gui Sect, yet he deliberately tormented me for so long?"

Looking back on the days and nights he had tormented and tormented her, a nameless rage surged within her.

"asshole!"

After daybreak, Zhang Lihua changed into casual clothes, took the gold medal Lu Zuo had given her, and left the palace with a palace maid, heading straight for Zhu Yuyan's lodging.

.......

As dawn broke, a thin mist, like gauze, gently enveloped a small courtyard with blue bricks.

The courtyard is not large, with only a few rooms and a fairly spacious open space.

In the north corner, under the sunlight reflecting off the grape trellis, dappled shadows spread across the ground, and the broad grape leaves trembled gently in the morning breeze.

The stone well railing beneath the frame is covered with mottled moss, and the well opening is deep and damp, exuding a cool, damp feel.

Zhu Yuyan stood by the well, a letter spread out in her hand, her brows furrowed with worry: "Sigh..."

"Another one was pulled out?"

The conflict between Buddhism and demons has a long history.

Since the Holy Sect's ancestor Cang Qu shattered the void, the two sects and six paths have been struggling to survive under the dual suppression of the imperial court and the Buddhist sect.

It can be said that...

Nowadays, the Holy Gate is seen by the world as a rat in the gutter, unworthy of respect, and can only operate in the shadows.

Even though various factions of the Holy Gate had infiltrated the court in different ways, the results were minimal.

Those in power and important figures usually discard their tools after using them, treating them like worn-out shoes.

They completely treated the Holy Gate like a chamber pot!

After all, no one wants to bear the stigma of "colluding with demonic monsters"!

This situation has persisted for over six hundred years.

After the establishment of the Sui Dynasty, the situation became increasingly severe.

Since she and Zhang Lihua infiltrated the Southern Chen Dynasty, the Yin Gui faction has had three peripheral forces successively eliminated by the imperial court.

"If this continues, even if the Yin Gui Sect is not destroyed, it will be pushed out of the top position of the Holy Sect."

The Sui Dynasty was at its zenith and would sooner or later annex the Southern Chen Dynasty.

Seeking development here is the worst possible strategy, but what can the Yin Gui School do?

There is no other way!

dong dong dong...

Just then, a series of knocks came from the door.

"Is it Lihua?"

Since being targeted by that tyrannical emperor, Zhu Yuyan left the Kong family mansion and settled here.

During this time, he sent a message to Zhang Lihua through a disciple of the Yin Gui Sect who had already infiltrated the palace, and they agreed on the timing of knocking on the door.

With a flick of her wrist, she channeled her inner energy, and the letter turned into dust, scattering across the ground.

He quickly walked to the gate, unlatched it, and gently pushed it open.

squeak...

With a soft sound, Zhang Lihua's stunningly beautiful face came into view.

"Why are you here?"

Zhang Lihua did not reply directly, but turned to the palace maid and instructed her, "Stay here and wait for me."

"Yes."

After saying that, she walked into the courtyard, closed the gate, and pulled Zhu Yuyan into the main hall. Then she slowly said, "Senior sister, that tyrant already knows my identity."

"What?"

Zhu Yuyan's expression changed drastically: "You've been exposed?"

"Um."

Zhang Lihua nodded gently and recounted everything that had happened that day.

……

A short while later.

Zhu Yuyan narrowed her eyes slightly: "It seems... this Chen Shubao is not as simple as we thought."

Zhang Lihua shared the same thought and nodded: "I've always wondered why the charm technique hasn't worked yet."

"So this tyrannical ruler was prepared all along!"

"He must have practiced some kind of calming and tranquilizing technique!"

Thinking of this, a nameless rage surged within her. She clenched her fists, gritting her teeth: "You bastard!"

"All that trouble for him for nothing!"

Zhu Yuyan smiled and said, "You specialize in the Maiden's Great Art, so you'll have to practice dual cultivation with someone sooner or later."

"Although you look a little tired, your aura is quite strong, which is a clear sign of your cultivation level increasing."

"It's not like we're at too much of a disadvantage..."

Zhang Lihua rolled her eyes at her: "Senior sister, you don't know that tyrannical emperor..."

"Oh well, never mind."

She sighed softly and asked, "Before you left, your master instructed you to have full authority over the affairs of the Southern Chen Dynasty."

"Senior sister, what do you think?"

Zhu Yuyan pondered for a moment: "The Yin Gui Sect has no other choice."

"Either serve Chen Shubao, or hide in seclusion and wait for the situation to change before emerging from seclusion."

Zhang Lihua: "So, Senior Sister, you've decided to serve us?"

Zhu Yuyan nodded: "Now that his identity has been exposed, facing it honestly may not be a bad thing."

"but……"

"Let me talk to him first, and see what he thinks and what his intentions are."