Chapter 355: Your Majesty, You Wouldn't Want...

Chapter 355: Your Majesty, You Wouldn't Want...

Mingyue Imperial Palace, Fengqi Hall.

Having just returned from the Nether Vein, Empress Zhou Wu sat exhausted behind her desk, rubbing her forehead.

After The Imposter had placed her under house arrest, those Old Ancestors deep within the imperial palace had completely vanished without a trace.

Upon investigation just now, she discovered that the remains of those Old Ancestors were all near the Nether Vein.

It was clear they had been executed by the Nether Clan.

Those Old Ancestors were all ancestors of her lineage and the strongest supporters when she first ascended to the throne of the Empress.

She wanted to take revenge, but the current Nether Clan was far too powerful for her to contend with.

She could have sought help from Qin Xuan, but since Qin Xuan already regarded the Nether Clan as his subordinates, why would he cripple his own arm just for her selfish desire?

"Sigh..."

As she sighed, Empress Zhou Wu felt a gentle breeze stir within the hall.

Raising her eyes, she saw Qin Xuan appearing before her with a playful expression. Her heart tightened immediately, and she asked in surprise, "Why are you here?"

A storm of thoughts swirled in her mind.

Why would Qin Xuan visit late at night?

Why was his expression so mocking, as if he had seen through her secrets?

Could it be that Qin Xuan had already discovered her use of the three lives mirror to infiltrate Shangguan Ying's body?

Qin Xuan said softly with a smile, "I just felt that Ming Yuan was hiding something, so I came here specifically to investigate and see if the Nether Clan had any ulterior motives. Your Majesty, please do not be alarmed."

Empress Zhou Wu adjusted her collar, tightening her loose gold-threaded black robe.

Even the slightest loss of composure in front of Qin Xuan made her feel flustered.

The affair with Shangguan Ying had made her realize Qin Xuan's true nature.

He seemed unreliable, but in reality, his mind was filled with all sorts of colorful, devious thoughts.

His ability to bully others was top-tier!

As she was now, she was no match for Qin Xuan.

In the dead of night, if Qin Xuan were to give in to his beastly nature, even she would find it difficult to resist.

"Since that is the case, Master Qin, please go and investigate whatever puzzles you. It is getting late. You must be exhausted from your training in the God Ruins, and with the recent events involving the Nether Clan, you must be mentally drained. Once you finish your investigation, go back and rest early."

Empress Zhou Wu issued an order to leave.

Being alone with Qin Xuan made her feel panicked and insecure.

She wanted Qin Xuan to leave sooner.

"That goes without saying." Qin Xuan nodded. His gaze drifted, then suddenly paused, and he walked deeper into Fengqi Hall.

He reached out and picked up a wide dress, comparing it to Empress Mingyue, who had hurried over with a tense expression, and asked suspiciously, "This dress shouldn't belong to Your Majesty, right?"

Even among the people Qin Xuan knew, only Luo Xinyi could rival Shangguan Ying's figure.

Empress Mingyue was voluptuous, but compared to the baby-faced, busty Shangguan Ying, she was still lacking.

The nervousness in Empress Zhou Wu's eyes vanished in a flash.

The affairs of the Nether Clan had left her completely overwhelmed.

She had forgotten that Fengqi Hall was where Shangguan Ying had previously resided.

Those clothes were naturally left behind by Shangguan Ying and had not been disposed of.

In terms of size, they did not fit her.

She did not know if Qin Xuan would recognize Shangguan Ying's clothes, but considering their relationship had developed to that extent, they must be very familiar with each other.

Not daring to hide anything, she said directly, "These clothes are naturally not mine. Previously, when the Nether Qi in my body became abnormal, I worried that an accident might occur, so I had Shangguan Ying stay in the imperial palace so that guards could protect her closely. Coincidentally, Shangguan Ying was staying in this Fengqi Hall."

She really knows how to spout nonsense... Qin Xuan felt like laughing, but he didn't expose her. Instead, he continued to press, "Fengqi Hall is Your Majesty's residence; how could an outsider live here?"

"Outsiders naturally cannot." Empress Zhou Wu thought for a moment and replied seriously, "However, Shangguan Ying is the Young Palace Master of the Double-Pupil Palace, and the Double-Pupil Woman and I are friends regardless of age. As the future Palace Master of the Double-Pupil Palace, it is not a problem for her to stay in Fengqi Hall."

"If Master Qin has nothing else, you may go back and rest."

Empress Zhou Wu issued the order to leave again.

Qin Xuan smiled without a word. He proactively sat on Empress Mingyue's dragon couch, crossed his legs, and said playfully, "Upon investigating just now, I discovered that there was actually a trace of my aura left in the Nether Vein. I am very curious; before this, I didn't even know the Nether Vein existed, so why would my aura be left there?"

"Your Majesty, when Shangguan Ying came to the Underworld Kings Mansion to chat earlier, I noticed traces of Nether Qi cultivation in her body."

"The Double-Pupil Woman Cultivates pupil power, which has nothing to do with Nether Qi. Why would she let Shangguan Ying switch to cultivating Nether Qi? Even if the Double-Pupil Woman wanted to, I imagine Your Majesty would not be willing, right?"

At this moment, Empress Zhou Wu had an attitude of denying everything to the death.

No matter how much he hinted, Empress Zhou Wu would never admit to what she had done.

Instead of continuing like this, it would be better to just break the truth open.

"This... I do not know!"

Empress Zhou Wu's heart was in her throat.

She knew it; given Qin Xuan's devious and intricate mind.

How could he fail to notice the clues within?

However, even if that matter were exposed, she could not admit to it.

Otherwise, wouldn't that be equivalent to admitting in front of Qin Xuan that she had already been bullied by him in every possible way?

"How could Your Majesty not know?"

Qin Xuan raised his hand, grabbed Empress Zhou Wu's delicate hand, and pulled her into his arms.

Unlike the fair, baby-fat softness of Shangguan Ying, Empress Zhou Wu was more mature and gentle; her slender jade arm was as warm as mutton-fat jade.

He leaned close to Empress Zhou Wu's ear, blew a puff of hot air, and said, "After all, all of this was Your Majesty's doing."

"Using the three lives mirror to swap Souls—even those at the Peak of the Imperial Realm, or even the God Realm, would find it difficult to fathom the mystery of it."

"If I hadn't already met Shangguan Ying, who was hiding inside your body, here in Fengqi Hall earlier, I might have truly been kept in the dark by Your Majesty!"

Empress Zhou Wu tensed her delicate body, looked back, and said in shock, "You knew everything?!"

"Then earlier, in the Underworld Kings Mansion, when you disregarded my wishes and took me by force, it was all because you knew that the Soul inside Shangguan Ying's body was me!?"

Qin Xuan had a smile on the corner of his lips and a lewd glint in his eyes as he asked, "What does Your Majesty think?"

Empress Zhou Wu was furious, "Qin Xuan, you have such gall! How dare you seize the opportunity to bully me!"

Qin Xuan lifted the corner of his mouth slightly and asked in return, "How does Your Majesty think you should deal with me?"

*Hoo—*

Empress Zhou Wu let out a breath of air, trying her best to suppress the violent heaving of her chest, and snorted coldly, "I am indeed no match for you right now, and I cannot deal with you. But even if I cannot afford to offend you, I can certainly avoid you, right?"

She stood up and walked towards the outside of the hall decisively.

Since she could not drive Qin Xuan away, she would leave herself.

She had already suffered a huge loss earlier.

If she continued to stay in Fengqi Hall, she would be devoured until not even her bones were left.

Seeing Empress Zhou Wu's back drifting further and further away, Qin Xuan paused for a long time. Just as she was about to leave Fengqi Hall, he slowly said, "Your Majesty, you wouldn't want Your Highness the Underworld Prince to know..."