Who is spreading rumors that my filial piety towards them has changed?

"...?"

The beautiful, voluptuous, and mature woman turned her head and saw the emperor lying right next to her.

"...?!"

Empress Pei was somewhat confused. She had no sense of anything after being engulfed by the Domain of Annihilation. Her thoughts were still stuck on the image of herself lying on the ground, and then in the next instant, everything changed to what was before her eyes.

Without any transition, it happened so abruptly that she, who had never believed in illusions, had to doubt the reality of what was happening before her eyes.

"Chu..." Empress Pei uttered only one word before remembering that her husband, the Emperor, was right beside her. She quickly stopped herself and mouthed, "Chu Mingkong?"

But Chu Mingkong made no attempt to lower his voice, nodding in his usual volume as he said:

"it's me."

Empress Pei was so frightened that her soul almost left her body, and she hurriedly covered his mouth:

"Are you trying to die? Do you even know what you're doing?"

However, Empress Pei was a clever woman and quickly realized that something was wrong. Chu Mingkong's tone just now had an indifference that she had never felt before, but his voice was so loud that no cultivator could ignore it unless something had happened to that cultivator.

The emperor, however, showed no sign of waking up.

"What happened?" she asked incredulously.

“Look at the changes around you. In the Realm of Annihilation, the Emperor cannot perceive anything around him. As long as I do not intend to kill, you don’t need to worry. You can speak more easily.”

Empress Pei remained silent, briefly glancing at the black and white surroundings, sensing an ancient stillness that was neither dead nor extinguished.

What was happening before her eyes was beyond her comprehension. With such abilities, wouldn't she be invincible in this world, able to casually barge into the bedchamber of a formidable enemy and speak so arrogantly and presumptuously?

"The emperor is now unable to move, why don't you take this opportunity to kill him?"

After she spoke, the Realm of Annihilation rippled, and circles of ripples appeared in the pitch blackness, like muddy, viscous black water being stirred by a foreign object. The two dragons on the emperor's body trembled, a sign of breaking free.

It seems that after he allowed Empress Pei to move freely here, her murderous intent would also affect the Nirvana Realm.

"Don't let your mind wander," Chu Mingkong warned calmly. "Your thoughts will also break this Annihilation Domain. This move is currently effective because the Emperor has no way to counter it. If he finds out, it may not be as useful in the future."

He continued to explain:

“The method you just mentioned is not feasible. You think I can calm my mind and eliminate him, but you can fool others, but you can’t fool yourself. If you have the thought of eliminating the other party, your state of mind will naturally cause the Annihilation Domain to shatter.”

Even if he relied on his master's wife's power to suppress his killing intent first, and then walked up to the emperor and killed him when the Annihilation Domain was broken and the emperor could not react immediately, it would still not work. He had planned to eliminate the other party in this way, so how could there be no killing intent?

If all you need is emotional calm, that's fine, but the realm of Nirvana relies on your state of mind, so you can't deceive yourself.

Empress Pei understood his meaning and gradually realized the current situation, recovering from her panic.

What do you want from me?

"The palace maids are all saying that the emperor summoned you to his bedchamber and that you made up with him. Why did the emperor make you lie on the floor after you came in?"

Empress Pei gazed at the man pressing down on her. That excessive calmness emanating from the impulsive and manic Chu Mingkong seemed strangely incongruous, yet undeniably possessed a unique allure, especially given the questions he asked…

Some asked gossip-related questions with an air of calm.

"This isn't anything important, is it?"

His teacher's wife's state of mind did not bring any real improvement to his thinking, but it directly eliminated all kinds of internal excuses and made him much more "straightforward".

As soon as the Empress finished speaking, Chu Mingkong said without hesitation:

"It's not important, but I can't figure it out, so I'm asking out of curiosity."

"..." Empress Pei felt that he was like a different person, but she still explained, "This is for others to see. He takes his anger out on me in court. The emperor doesn't want the officials to hear any rumors and then spend too much energy searching for beauties to 'present as treasures' to the emperor to be the empress."

What does it matter?

"Do you remember the story I told you before about the empire and the sects?"

Chu Mingkong recalled that it must have been when Empress Pei was still pretending to be "Baili Mi" at the beginning, and she had mentioned that example back then.

"I remember, what does that have to do with this?"

"Compared to secular empires, sects are ultimately worlds apart. The lower levels of sects that transcend worldly concerns do not need to eat or drink; after abstaining from grains, they can bathe in and absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. The entire sect only needs to cultivate and progress towards becoming stronger."

But secular empires are different. Sects can treat their outer disciples like dirt, replacing them as needed; a strong sect will never lack new disciples. However, no matter how carefree an emperor's life, he can't ignore the basic needs of the common people. One or two might be insignificant, but would he dare to eliminate the entire population of the Heavenly Empire? His very existence depends on the prosperity of the nation. With Jin in chaos and Xiling having broken away, if officials focus their energy on searching for a new empress, the situation will become even more chaotic, diminishing the emperor's capabilities.

There is also this saying: by causing chaos among the lower classes and creating constant natural and man-made disasters, the emperor's abilities will decline. This should also be a means to target him. However, Chu Mingkong's hatred for the emperor is a personal grudge. He has no intention of causing the people to suffer and then going after the emperor. What kind of people like to oppress the people and take advantage of the innocent and weak?

However, if officials misunderstand the emperor's intentions and try to gain promotions and titles by selecting an empress for him, then there will be great chaos below. The high-ranking officials in the capital may not need to be affected, but these orders, passed down through the ranks, would essentially be used by lower-ranking officials to rob people and money from their homes, ultimately backfiring on the emperor.

It's truly laughable that an emperor, sitting on such a high position and enjoying the protection of the dragon vein, would fear such a seemingly insignificant matter.

"But I see that the common people are not living a normal life. Xiling was bombed so badly, and the Prince of Jin's mansion was possessed by demons, but the emperor is still living quite well and has not been affected much."

"Of course, because the Princess of Chu has pacified Xiling so well, the chaos in Jin is mainly caused by the Prince of Jin's mansion. Most of the people are doing alright, and it doesn't affect the emperor too much. The people are greedy and always want to keep more grain to themselves. They are also easily satisfied; as long as they can eat their fill, that's enough. If the relief is done well, the emperor will be less affected."

Therefore, the emperor summoned me to "stay overnight to serve him in bed" as a show for the officials, to prevent them from having any improper thoughts. Sometimes, even verbal warnings are ineffective; some will still try to guess the emperor's intentions and secretly offer favors. Now, by putting on this show of reconciliation, those ministers who wanted to curry favor will not suspect anything and will naturally put away their thoughts.

"So much knowledge!" Chu Mingkong exclaimed sincerely.

"This also shows that... the emperor does indeed possess the power of extreme yin, and he is indeed influenced by it. He wouldn't have done such an impulsive thing before. Throwing water in court was a sign of losing control of his emotions, ha!"

Empress Pei revealed a cold, sneer, her gaze slowly turning to her emperor husband by the bedside, her eyes filled with sarcasm and mockery.

It might seem satisfying to splash water on her in front of all the civil and military officials in court, but afterwards you still have to go through the trouble of making amends.

"Are you still wondering why I have to sleep on the floor?" Empress Pei, as if she had foreseen this, caught Chu Mingkong's curious question.

"Yes." Chu Mingkong replied immediately.

Empress Pei felt both amused and helpless.

At first, she was a little taken aback by his cold expression, which was even more frightening than when he stared at her with longing in his eyes earlier. But after talking with him, she realized that Chu Mingkong was only cold in expression; his mind was empty, filled entirely with thoughts of women.

This contrast amused Empress Pei, especially her current straightforwardness after she had shed her hesitation and indecision.

"As I told you before, the emperor is essentially a womanizer, but he is more clear-headed than those infatuated and decadent rulers, and knows the price of impulsive indulgence."

He dared not touch me until he found a replacement queen, especially now that he realized his emotions were being affected by the extreme yin energy. He could only push me to the ground. He wouldn't dare press down on me like this.”

After speaking, Empress Pei looked at him, waiting for him to ask if he had any further questions. His earlier doubts must have stemmed from discovering her "miserable situation" after entering the palace; there must have been other things before she entered.

This couldn't possibly be to find Jinyu, since Jinyu should be in the princess's residence outside the palace; they must be looking for her.

We've come to check on her condition after the Extreme Yin Curse she was previously affected by.

Empress Pei's mood was more peculiar than usual. Whether it was because she had been humiliated by being splashed with water by the court officials or because she had been driven to lie on the ground like a palace maid, she felt a deep resentment in her heart and wanted to vent it.

Heavily pressed against Chu Mingkong's body temperature, Empress Pei found her heart beating even faster.

That annoying jerk who used to cling to her and play with her thighs now seems much more pleasing to the eye...

It must be admitted that her daughter Jinyu has good judgment. Everyone thought that Chu Mingkong was about to die, but Jinyu had her eye on him and came to her, the Empress Dowager, to beg her to take Chu Mingkong back from Yongzhen and give him to her.

Putting aside his outstanding appearance, Chu Mingkong's abilities are becoming increasingly frightening.

and,

Empress Pei also remembered seeing it with her own eyes: Chu Mingkong possessed a wicked and unorthodox cultivation technique that did not harm a woman's virginity. She had personally witnessed Jin Yu being manipulated by him in the wardrobe, yet her virginity remained unaffected...

It won't harm her body, won't leave any marks, won't have any impact... But this bastard is already Jin Yu's man, this isn't right...

Empress Pei was lost in thought, torn between conflicting emotions, constantly trying to suppress the overwhelming emptiness welling up inside her. Suddenly, she heard Chu Mingkong say:

"Now I'm curious about your undergarment, Your Majesty. How is the undergarment worn by the Empress, who is the mother of the nation, different from ordinary undergarments?"

Immediately afterwards, Empress Pei felt a chill on her chest as he ripped open her strapless dress, revealing the empress's specially made bodice. The bodice was made of soft, silky material that was gentle on the skin, almost like silk or a membrane covering her proud and full breasts. Embroidered on it were two golden phoenixes soaring and spreading their wings, one on the left and one on the right. Each phoenix was looking at a small bean-sized protrusion in front of it, in the shape of "phoenix holding a pearl".

"presumptuous!"

Empress Pei was both surprised and embarrassed. Her phoenix eyes widened, and she scolded Chu Mingkong coquettishly. But the scolding voice immediately turned into a soft moan, because Chu Mingkong curiously twisted the smooth surface of the bodice, and a "phoenix bead" stood up.

The title of "Number One Beauty of the Heavenly Realm" may indeed have been enhanced by her royal status, but it wouldn't be fair to say it was undeserved. Empress Pei's exquisite body was graceful and voluptuous, exuding unparalleled beauty and charm. Her skin was flawless, translucent, and crystal clear. Her unparalleled allure as a royal beauty was such that, without bringing back the former Empress Zhen, it would be difficult to find a match for her.

Her delicate body twisted and turned symbolically, and the two phoenixes on her bodice seemed to flutter and sway, chasing after the phoenix pearl in front of her, but this struggle stopped after a short while.

Empress Pei stared coldly at Chu Mingkong, her expression stern, but the blush on her face did not fade, and the pounding of her heart was exceptionally clear to Chu Mingkong's ears.

"Are you done being curious?"

"After my curiosity was satisfied, I remembered the doubts I had before the attack."

Chu Mingkong's expression remained unchanged, still the expressionless indifference he had learned from his master's wife, but he grabbed the thin undergarment and tossed it aside casually.

The pearl that the two golden phoenixes were chasing has disappeared, and the bodice flutters and falls onto the emperor's face, like a fragrant shroud covering his face.

This time, it was Chu Mingkong who held the phoenix pearl in his mouth. He asked in a muffled voice, like a baby suckling:

"How much do you know about that soul-shifting technique?"

Chapter 111 Can You Open the Door?

Empress Pei's eyebrows trembled with suppressed emotion, her heart surging with intense feelings, yet her expression remained icy. She reached out to stop Chu Mingkong's face from burying itself in her chest.

"Stop! If you keep fooling around, don't even think about me talking to you!"

"Alright, I won't peck at the beads anymore." Chu Mingkong looked up decisively, without lingering, stopping the baby's thirsty behavior. His expression remained indifferent, due to his master's wife's state of mind.

His expression and his decisive action of giving in infuriated Empress Pei, as if... "Although I desire you, you are not beautiful enough for me to give up."

"How old are you, still doing such a ridiculous thing!" Empress Pei scolded in a reproachful tone before saying, "The royal family's cultivation method of the soul was only roughly translated at the end of the late emperor's reign. After the late emperor, it was only passed down to the current emperor. However, it seems that there was some trouble when it was just translated. Someone saw the whole book, which should be Empress Dowager Zhen."

As for the Emperor's purpose in wanting this technique, I suspect it's to seize control of the dragon vein.

Chu Mingkong's gaze remained fixed on the two warm, plump mounds of flesh, shimmering with each breath, but upon hearing her words, his gaze returned to her face:

"Occupy the dragon vein? The emperor already has control over the dragon vein, so why bother with this?"

The two maintained their intimate posture, Chu Mingkong's elbow still resting beside the ripe beauty, occasionally stroking her hair. Although Empress Pei forbade indiscriminate kissing, she did not stop this "wall-slamming" posture.

Seeing Chu Mingkong's frank gaze, the woman felt a surge of satisfaction, but her expression quickly turned cold, like that of a dignified empress, as if she were defying Chu Mingkong's indifference. She chuckled and said:

"A redundant move? Have you forgotten what I just said? The emperor may seem to rule over everything in the empire and control the lives of any commoner, but if the hearts of the people are truly broken, the dragon vein of the nation will turn against him."

A sentence flashed through Chu Mingkong's mind, and without much thought, he blurted out: "Can water carry a boat, or can it capsize it?" (This original classical Chinese sentence has been censored, so it has been slightly modified.)

Empress Pei raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes:

“Jin Yu is right. You do have a way of occasionally saying something nice. That’s exactly what you’re saying! The emperor seems to control the dragon vein and enjoy its protection. Moreover, this kind of protection from the dragon vein is something that no major sect can do. It can be seen as the unique advantage of the Heavenly Emperor. He wants to completely dominate the dragon vein and become the will of the dragon vein so that he no longer has to suffer the backlash.”

If the protection of the dragon vein is the power gathered from the hearts of the people of a country, then the emperor now only wants to enjoy the power brought by the people, and no longer needs to worry about the backlash.