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

"Didn't Your Majesty tell the late Emperor?"

Empress Dowager Zhen gently flicked his forehead and scolded him:

"That's impossible to say. How could I know whether the strange object in this dragon vein was left by the royal family? What if the emperor discovers that I can sense the dragon vein so deeply and worries that I might affect it, and thus becomes wary?"

That seems to make sense. If the strange object in the dragon vein belongs to the royal family, speaking about it without authorization would be asking for trouble. If the strange object doesn't belong to the royal family, it might be able to trick them in the future. From the perspective of the Golden Crow Phoenix Body, that would be something they would be happy to see.

In short, we have to ignore this matter no matter what, and it's impossible to tell the royal family.

In that case, there's a possibility that the emperor could be deceived by strange objects.

The Golden Crow Phoenix Body was never meant to bear the karmic backlash for the emperor. The so-called dragon vein backlash might be that the strange creature was absorbing the emperor's life essence? In order to force the emperor to keep looking for "offerings," this deception was created.

On the surface, he's just the emperor, but there's such an unexpected layer of treachery hidden beneath!

But how should they deal with this strange creature? After discussing it with Daoist Yun, they managed to come up with a way to weaken the dragon vein's power. But before they could even confront it head-on, they unexpectedly learned of another hidden enemy.

"What secrets does the Golden Palace hold?" Chu Mingkong pressed for the next question.

"You were able to notice the unusual things in the Golden Palace. Who told you about it?" Empress Dowager Zhen asked in surprise.

"Your Majesty, what you told me was that the place was dangerous and strange, but I forgot what the dangers and strangeness were."

"Oh~ So it seems the current 'me' has amnesia, and must be looking silly and easily fooled?"

"She's not stupid, nor is she easily fooled; she's a very good woman!"

Empress Dowager Zhen stared at him with an unusual gaze, as if trying to read his mind. Finding that he was now consistent in his words and actions, she said nothing and returned to the main topic:

"The Golden Palace is indeed a very strange place. If you ask me for specific details, I won't have the answers you're looking for. I can only tell you about the 'strangeness' of the Golden Palace."

"During my time as Empress, the Imperial Palace was haunted."

"Haunted?!" Chu Mingkong exclaimed incredulously.

Ghosts are not uncommon in this world; desolate places like the wilderness can indeed harbor wandering ghosts.

However, it depends on the location. No matter how incompetent the officials and military officers of the Heavenly Empire are, or what kind of things are hidden in the dragon vein, the Golden Palace will always have a vast dragon aura gathered there. With dragon aura there, how could it be haunted?

Unless there is some unjust or tragic case that has accumulated strong resentment, it is difficult for a wandering ghost to grow in the home of an ordinary person with normal daily life.

"Your Majesty, please don't make fun of me."

"This isn't funny, so what's the amusement in it? The ghost story is real. A young eunuch on night duty saw it with his own eyes and was scared half to death. After recovering for a while, when he recounted what happened, the young eunuch suddenly had a ferocious expression, as if something was trying to cover up the truth. Before he could finish speaking, his neck was snapped by something invisible, right in front of the imperial physician and others."

Similar incidents occurred two or three times during that period, and then things returned to normal. This matter was detrimental to the emperor's reputation—that is, the late emperor you mentioned—so it was suppressed to avoid damaging his reputation before his throne was secure.”

"Was the truth ever found out later?"

Chapter 165 Did you see the brilliant night sky? (15.4/18)

"No, even the emperor himself is secretly ordering people to investigate. He's terrified, ha!"

Empress Dowager Zhen, a beauty of unparalleled beauty, gave another disdainful sneer. With this comparison, Chu Mingkong realized that Empress Dowager Zhen's genuine disgust, hatred, and disdainful sneer were different from the mocking sneers she had shown him earlier. Those smiles she gave him were as if she were teasing him and making fun of him.

"Moreover, among those ghost stories, there was one who was a highly skilled person from one of those secluded sects who died, dying mysteriously like a chick. It would be very difficult for you to find out now, as the incident happened quite early and was covered up long ago. The person directly in charge was still Eunuch Cao."

Therefore, the Golden Palace remains a mystery. All I can tell you is that it is dangerous and extremely unusual; beyond that, I have no other useful information to offer.

Even the late emperor didn't know what had happened in the Golden Palace? This is truly...

Chu Mingkong suddenly felt sorry for the current emperor. Not only had the women of three generations been robbed by this handsome young man who wished to remain anonymous, but the palace was also not a safe haven for him. There were problems with the dragon veins and problems with the Golden Palace!

And he probably has no idea that so much is hidden in the palace, unbelievable...

However, this would not shake Chu Mingkong's resolve to take action against him. Weren't the debts in Xiling and Jin also his doing? As for those hidden troubles, he could deal with them all at once; none of them were good.

While we didn't get many direct solutions from Empress Dowager Zhen, we did learn about the mysterious entities lurking in the shadows, which made all the preparations for the ceremony worthwhile.

After chatting for a while and having fulfilled Chu Mingkong's wishes to a certain extent, Empress Dowager Zhen, feeling rather bored, rested her delicate chin on her hand and instead started asking Chu Mingkong questions.

"You just said that the late emperor deposed me as empress in his later years. Why?"

Chu Mingkong shook his head: "I have heard that the late emperor had an unfortunate later life... No, he was mentally unstable in his later years."

Empress Dowager Zhen, hearing his vague words, guessed that something must have happened to her later and she must have lost her memory, otherwise Chu Mingkong would not have such a vague understanding.

“Mental instability... wouldn’t that be the same as that little eunuch who died in the haunting? No, that’s not right either. Those little eunuchs were castrated from childhood, and this late emperor had played with several Golden Crow Phoenix bodies before me.”

"There's something else I don't quite understand. Your Majesty, how did you obtain so much information? And how did you overcome the illusion of childbirth? From what I've seen, the Emperor keeps a very close watch on the Empress's movements."

"This should be considered a struggle of the Golden Crow Phoenix Body throughout the ages, or you could call it an 'effort'. The empresses who perished under the demands of the dragon vein, after a long connection with the dragon vein, left behind not only resentment, but also scattered but important fragments of memory. These numerous scattered fragments provide a lot of information, telling me what to be careful of and how to avoid it."

"You even know about the illusionary magic of childbirth? This couldn't have been told to you by 'me,' could it be the new Empress? Actually, at the time you summoned me, I was secretly plotting to destroy the illusionary magic artifact in the delivery room. What a disgusting thing, playing games with women's children!"

After uttering a harsh rebuke, Empress Dowager Zhen suddenly sighed:

"I was still planning this, and then you suddenly told me it was already done. This is really a strange feeling..."

"Very well, it saves me the trouble of thinking. I know the result directly. You've done a good job reporting, so I'll reward you with licking my toes. Although you weren't thinking about it, you were watching me every now and then."

Chu Mingkong was ashamed. The reason he didn't have any wild thoughts was that he kept his eyes off Empress Zhen's upper body. Who could resist looking at her when she was soaking wet?

But when I lowered my gaze, I naturally stared at her feet. Fortunately, my mind was focused on the information in her words, so my gaze remained relatively "clean."

It can only be said that the "evil spirit" summoned during the ominous time was indeed ruthless in nature. Faced with such a spirit, Chu Mingkong wanted to put on a show of politeness and refuse it as a gentleman.

But Empress Dowager Zhen had no intention of negotiating at all; her soft, warm jade feet were already pressed against his lips, seemingly carrying a delicate fragrance.

Chu Mingkong wanted to reach out and hold it for her, but Empress Zhen's other jade foot gently stepped his hand back onto his knee.

"Don't move. You reported with your mouth, and I rewarded you with your mouth and your tongue, not with your hands~ That's right, that's exactly it!"

Empress Dowager Zhen's jade-like face flushed with satisfaction, like the sunset. Ripples spread through her heart, and her brows trembled with restraint as she suppressed the surging emotions, a tingling, pleasant current coursing through her from her toes to the depths of her heart.

...How does this kid know so well which part of my feet is sensitive?

"I ask you, are you Yongzhen's man, or 'my' man?" Empress Dowager Zhen stared at him.

Just as Chu Mingkong was about to speak, he suddenly remembered something, continued receiving his reward, raised his hand and made a "V" sign, but in reality it meant "two".

—Both of them! (Proud.jpg)

Empress Dowager Zhen's expression froze for a moment, somewhat unable to believe that she would one day...

But thinking about it, it makes sense. Knowing the complexities of the royal family, it's not surprising that a foolish person who still plots to assassinate the emperor would do anything outrageous. The question is, is she sharing a husband with Yongzhen, or are they sharing a male concubine?

Forget it, there's no point in dwelling on it. I'll get over it in a little while.

Back to the present, Empress Dowager Zhen watched as Chu Mingkong emphasized his presence by waving his hand repeatedly, as if to say that he had just answered with his hand, and asked if he could also be granted a hand gesture.

Empress Dowager Zhen yawned, letting out a soft hum from deep in her throat, and then nodded in agreement. Only then did Chu Mingkong take her jade feet in his hands.

"Have you figured out how to 'fulfill your vow'?" She looked down at the hem of her skirt, and through the damp and drying fabric, she looked at the man beneath her skirt, while her breath and moans grew increasingly hot and sweet.

Chu Mingkong didn't want to give his mouth a chance to speak. After the reward was over, he didn't get stopped by her. He had already asked the beautiful woman for some water to quench his thirst.

However, given Empress Dowager Zhen's question, Chu Mingkong couldn't refuse to answer. Reluctantly, he finally agreed, saying:

"To be honest, not yet. Initially, I thought of offering the best cattle and sheep, and spiritual medicines to the goddess, but I felt that the goddess probably didn't need such things, so I wanted to ask the goddess what she wanted as a 'repayment' gift, and then I would prepare it."

Empress Dowager Zhen's plump, white legs draped over Chu Mingkong's shoulders, resting on his broad back. She closed her beautiful eyes in enjoyment and nodded, saying:

“Indeed, it’s not necessary. The fact that you were able to use a ritual to invite someone who hasn’t passed away yet is already an unprecedented exception. Incense offerings and religious vows are useless to me. Knowing about the future from you is enough to repay you.”

"That won't do. Next time I invite the Empress again, I will definitely prepare a reward and fulfill my vows twice."

"No need. The vow will be fulfilled next time. Silly boy, do you really think I am an independent person? If you invite me again next time, I will not be the same person I am today. The vow will be fulfilled next time."

Chu Mingkong's heart sank. His excitement was suddenly dampened, leaving him feeling uneasy.

Empress Dowager Zhen noticed his reaction and mocked him mercilessly, saying with utter contempt:

"So sentimental, I really doubt that your talk about the future is just to fool me. Are you so weak-willed that you waver in your heart because of a woman? How can you achieve anything great?"

"For me, people and things are important, but women are even more important."

If it weren't for women, I might have already packed up my belongings and died in some obscure corner. I could even let go of some personal grudges and feel a little resentful, but I can't let go of the women around me.

Your Highness's words just now have chilled me to the bone.

After delivering what seemed like a profound statement, Chu Mingkong couldn't maintain his composure and shamelessly kissed the pink lips so close to his face, just like a young girl.

Empress Dowager Zhen let out another snort, her beautiful eyes burning with passion, as if her pent-up emotions were about to burst forth, her high, full breasts heaving.

"I'm wondering if I should play with male concubines? The former Golden Crow Phoenix Body was tortured before its death. Although it has no memory of the past, the disgust and revulsion it left behind remain with me. How annoying!"

"Then Your Majesty should also inherit this custom and try it with me. If you also find it repulsive, then you can continue to pass on this dislike and disgust the Golden Crow Phoenix Body that follows. How can you have a deep understanding if you don't try it?"

This is just something to say when the occasion calls for it. As Empress Dowager Zhen just said, everything that has happened now is over and done with.

"Alright, come on, fulfill my vow."

Chu Mingkong tightly embraced the alluring body with its slender waist and plump hips, hugging and cuddling.

Stepping into the narrow, secluded valley of the river, one slowly walks towards the depths of a woman's heart, gaining a deeper understanding of her...

In a brief yet long silence that spoke volumes, Empress Dowager Zhen's mind, filled with the resentment of her predecessors, was gradually filled by Chu Mingkong with a different kind of blissful joy.

As one woman's soft, melodious cry ended, Chu Mingkong was about to continue with another when he noticed a malevolent aura swirling around the altar.

"What is that?" Chu Mingkong asked.

"When you invited me here, your petition was unclear... which naturally attracted some wandering ghosts who greedily coveted the incense offerings you made." Empress Dowager Zhen panted as she spoke, her face flushed as if she were drunk.

"What a disappointment..." Chu Mingkong reluctantly withdrew. "Your Majesty, please wait a moment while I clean up before serving you."

When something is ominous, there are ominous signs. In addition to those evil spirits that can curse and steal people's life force, it is normal for them to be accompanied by some small, hairy ghosts.

The discontent in his chest transformed into an intensely hot flame in his palm, which he slammed upwards, exploding into a dazzling, brilliant burst in the night sky, dispelling the gloom of the night.

Chu Mingkong came to his senses and saw that the jade-like woman was asleep. The red tattoo on her body and the eerie aura had disappeared without her noticing, and she had turned back into a doll, lying quietly.

Chapter 166 No Impact (15.7/18)

This really is... no wonder it's a malevolent spirit that escaped during a time of great misfortune; it took his life essence and then ran away.

Looking at the bright night sky, the fireworks released by the lonely ghosts ignited by the extreme yang fire spiritual energy were still there, illuminating the night as if it were daytime.

Even the most dazzling fireworks are fleeting, fading away after their brilliance. Chu Mingkong just didn't expect that the Empress Dowager Zhen he had invited would disappear even faster than fireworks.