"Hmph, who’s talking nonsense?"
The Empress mustered a bit of spirit, lying in his arms, her eyelids lifting slightly as her dazed eyes looked at him.
"Last time you got injured during the Martial Arts Examination and stayed overnight in the palace, I kindly helped cover you with a blanket, only to be pulled into your arms by you."
"Not only did you talk back to me, but you also squeezed, squeezed my...!"
"You little thief, you’re truly incorrigible!"
Chen Mo was taken aback.
No wonder the Empress had been avoiding him for days; so this was the reason?
"Why didn’t Your Highness tell me?"
"How could I possibly bring up something like that?"
The Empress gave him a reproachful look, then said, aggrieved, "You used to call me your sweetie, but now it’s just ’Your Highness’ every time, so heartless..."
Chen Mo’s eyebrows twitched.
The Empress brought her crimson lips to his ear, breathing softly, "I’d like to hear it again, could you call me sweetie once more?"
Seeing the expectant look in her eyes, Chen Mo swallowed hard and said with difficulty:
The Empress closed her eyes, satisfied, and fell asleep once more.
The atmosphere in the chamber was tranquil, and Director Chen finished recording, fiddling with the Image Stone in his hand, momentarily lost in thought.
"I wonder what expression Her Highness will have when she sees the scene inside tomorrow..."
Imperial Music Bureau, The Cloudwater Hall.
In the bedroom, Gu Manzhi sat cross-legged by the window.
A subtle azure light flickered between her brows, the energy around her swirling like a tidal wave.
Ever since the dual cultivation with Chen Mo, she had sensed a hint of Mysterious Daoist Rhythm, directly advancing the Green Jade Scripture to Mastery, yet it hadn’t been fully digested.
"Chen Mo is a Martial Artist, how could he possess such pure Dao Power?"
"The phenomena concealed within, surprisingly more alarming than my master, unless he’s one of those Ultimate Venerables... Could it be Consort Yu?"
Gu Manzhi pondered deeply.
At this moment, the bathroom door opened, and Ye Henshui emerged.
Having just bathed, she wore a plain nightgown, her fair and delicate face reddened slightly, silver hair emitting steamy tendrils.
A small black-and-white dog wagged its tail, running around her.
Ye Henshui bent down to pick it up, smiling, "Heitu is still the cutest, much more pleasing to the eye than that rascal; how about I take you out for a feast later?"
The puppy nuzzled into her arms.
Gu Manzhi said blandly, "It’s just a Paper Puppet, not a real dog; you just need to replenish it with Primordial Qi, it doesn’t need food."
"I’m willing, what’s it to you?" Ye Henshui gave her a glance.
She sat down across from her, sensing the powerful aura emanating from Gu Manzhi, a flicker of eagerness in her eyes, followed by deep internal conflict.
After hesitating for a moment, she casually asked, "Didn’t Chen Mo say he’d come for dual cultivation every three days? It’s already been five days, and there’s not even a shadow of him?"
Gu Manzhi raised her lids slightly, casting a sidelong glance at her, "Feeling anxious?"
Ye Henshui’s eyes flitted, "Why should I be anxious? It’s not like I want to dual cultivate with him; men are the most annoying things!"
Gu Manzhi stood up, walked in front of her, and lifted her chin with a slender finger, her peach blossom eyes glowing with mystery, "Little Junior Sister, you’re so stubborn; it seems the earlier lesson wasn’t enough? How about another round of practice tonight?"
Remembering the previous events, Ye Henshui’s legs still felt weak.
The two Holy Daughter Paper Puppets had entangled her completely, and that girl named Yu’er actually used her mouth...
"Don’t you want to earn the master’s recognition?"
"If you can cultivate the Green Jade Scripture to Mastery, I suppose the master will view you differently?"
Gu Manzhi’s fingers slid across her smooth, delicate face as she chuckled, "Don’t worry, as long as you perform well, I don’t mind giving you a chance."
Ye Henshui’s face turned as red as a ripe tomato, stammering, "N-no need, I don’t want to..."
Suddenly, she paused.
From her bosom she took out a piece of Spirit Jade, the emblem above it flickering with red light, emitting waves of scorching heat.
"It’s a message from the sect."
The two exchanged a glance, expressions somber.
The Moon Brilliance Sect always operated discreetly, typically contacting only once a month.
Yet only a few days had passed since the Sect Master personally visited, and now there’s urgent news?
"Let’s go, I’ll accompany you over," Gu Manzhi said.
The two changed clothes, donned robes, and with a flash of their figures, vanished like shooting stars.
Outside Tiandu City, at Yushu Port.
The night was as dark as ink, moonlight slipping through the clouds, casting a silvery glow upon the river, gilding it with a layer of silvery luminescence.
Gu Manzhi and Ye Henshui descended from the sky, spotting the slender figure clad in black by the river’s edge, their pupils contracting slightly.
They swiftly approached, bowing in unison:
"Disciples greet the Master."
Ji Lianxing turned around, removing her hood to reveal a face half-hidden behind a golden mask, black and violet eyes gazing at them.
"Manzhi, you came too."
Gu Manzhi nodded, "Master, it’s been a long time."
Ji Lianxing scrutinized her, frowning, "You’ve lost your virginal essence?"
Her eyebrows relaxed, eyes filled with springtime, her body lacking in Yin Cha Qi, clearly indicating the loss of her primordial yin.
Knowing she couldn’t keep this hidden, Gu Manzhi confessed, "Yes."
Ji Lianxing’s frown deepened, she took a deep breath and said, "You’ve mastered the Soul Capturing music and excel in the Paper Puppet Technique, enough to contend with those men; hence, I sent you to infiltrate the Imperial Music Bureau, only for you to..."
Gu Manzhi replied blandly, "The Paper Puppet Technique can deal with other men but not deceive Chen Mo; otherwise, the mission wouldn’t have failed initially."