"Your Majesty… this… this isn't quite proper, is it?" Wang You vaguely knew that the Ninth Prince had previously impersonated the Emperor at the latter's behest to handle certain affairs, as the Ninth Prince's disguise skills were indeed extraordinary. Coupled with growing up together with the Emperor, mimicking him was second nature.
However, Wang You never imagined that the Emperor would actually ask the Ninth Prince to stand in for him even for something as intimate as visiting the Empress.
"What are you thinking?" Situ Chuan Qiong said displeasantly, looking at Wang You's expression. "Old Ninth knows what he's doing. He'll handle it for me."
"Yes, this servant will go at once!" Wang You took his leave, but his heart remained conflicted. He thought that if the Ninth Prince were to make any improper move, he would have to warn the Empress, even at the risk of his own life.
Upon receiving the command, Situ Zixian rushed to the imperial palace and was still bewildered when he met his imperial brother in the secret chamber to change clothes. "Imperial Brother, are you truly asking me to go see the Empress?"
"Zixian, I have no other choice. I had already promised the Empress for tonight, but Xiao Xiang'er is pregnant and her condition is unstable. I cannot leave."
"What if the Empress finds out? How can I explain that after everything was prepared tonight, I suddenly couldn't consummate the marriage?" Situ Zixian tentatively asked.
"Do as you see fit. Just get through tonight. If it's really necessary, give the Empress some medicine so she thinks the night was successful!" Situ Chuan Qiong urged, as he had told Leng Yuanxiang he was just going to the latrine. He needed to return quickly, or she would start overthinking.
"Imperial Brother… this medicine has side effects. If not handled properly, it could lead to addiction. Imperial Brother…" Before Situ Zixian could finish speaking, Situ Chuan Qiong had already hurried out of the secret chamber.
With everything ready, Situ Zixian looked in the mirror for a final, meticulous inspection. Once certain there were no flaws, he calmly proceeded to the Emperor's sleeping quarters to fulfill his appointment.
"The Empress has waited. I was delayed by some urgent state affairs. Forgive my tardiness." Situ Zixian mimicked Situ Chuan Qiong's tone.
Chu Yulan (Xiao Wen Qiang) had already known that the person entering the Emperor's sleeping quarters was not the real Situ Chuan Qiong. This was because she had used her soul artifact to track Situ Chuan Qiong and Leng Yuanxiang, knowing they were currently dallying together. How could he possibly keep his appointment? Then, who was this fake Situ Chuan Qiong before her?
"Is Your Majesty late, or does he not wish to come at all!" Xiao Wen Qiang feigned anger, looking at him.
"Empress, please do not overthink it. How could I possibly not wish to come!" Situ Zixian sat by the table and poured them both a cup of wine. While pouring, he secretly added a small amount of hallucinogenic powder into her cup. "Empress, with such a beautiful night, let us first have a drink!"
Xiao Wen Qiang observed that the outward appearance and build of the person before her were indeed not significantly different from Situ Chuan Qiong. However, the gaze of this person was different. His eyes held gratitude and shame towards her, often avoiding direct contact. Thus, she began to form some guesses and said to the system, "86365, locate Situ Zixian."
[Locating successful!] The human-like voice of 86365 did not appear, replaced by a crisp and decisive mechanical tone.
It seemed that 86365 had gone out to compete for tasks again, which explained its prolonged silence.
Simultaneously with the successful location, on the compass within Xiao Wen Qiang's mind, besides the red and blue dots, a small green dot representing Situ Zixian appeared.
As expected, the green dot was currently within the Emperor's sleeping quarters. Therefore, the person disguised as Situ Chuan Qiong was indeed the Ninth Prince, Situ Zixian.
Xiao Wen Qiang picked up the cup of wine and, under Situ Zixian's watchful gaze, spun it around before suddenly smiling and saying, "Your Majesty, why don't we have a toast of joined cups?"
Situ Zixian nervously swallowed and playfully retorted, "I didn't expect the Empress to be so amorous." He then picked up his own cup from the table.
Their hands intertwined, and they brought the wine to their lips. Fearing any mishap, Situ Zixian quickly drained his cup and then watched Chu Yulan (Xiao Wen Qiang) with intense eyes.
Xiao Wen Qiang also drank the wine and, when Situ Zixian relaxed, suddenly leaned in to his lips.
Before Situ Zixian could recover from the shock of being kissed by the Empress, he felt warm liquid entering his mouth through their gently meeting lips. He hastily pushed Xiao Wen Qiang away, and in his fright, the cup laced with hallucinogenic powder was completely consumed.
"Your Majesty, do you not like it when Concubine serves you this way?" Xiao Wen Qiang, pushed forcefully to the ground, looked at Situ Zixian with a pitiful expression.
Situ Zixian's pupils widened in alarm. He clenched his fists, then managed an awkward smile and helped Xiao Wen Qiang up. "No, it's just that I was momentarily too surprised, and the Empress was startled."
"That's good! Concubine thought you didn't like it!" Xiao Wen Qiang feigned shyness and lowered her head, but a gleam of triumph flickered in her eyes where he couldn't see.
"Ahem! I just feel that the Empress has changed somewhat from before," Situ Zixian said, probing. In his memory, Chu Yulan had always been heroic and spirited; when had she ever appeared so alluring?
"It's because Concubine feels Your Majesty's heart has changed recently, so I wish to please Your Majesty!" Xiao Wen Qiang sat back on the stool.
"My heart has always been with the Empress. Empress, please do not overthink it," Situ Zixian hastily explained. This time, with extremely swift movements, he added the medicinal powder to the entire pot of wine, then poured her another cup. "Here, let this cup be my apology to the Empress. The Empress must drink it!"
Xiao Wen Qiang had secretly awakened Dandan, so she naturally accepted the cup and drank it. At the same time Dandan drank the wine, it swallowed the wine laced with hallucinogenic powder into its own belly. As a mythical beast, the powder had no effect on Dandan.
Situ Zixian had thought his movements were quick, unaware that Xiao Wen Qiang had already seen through him. So, she poured herself a cup of wine and gently sat on his lap.
Situ Zixian's muscles tensed, afraid to touch her too much, and could only loosely embrace her with one arm. He couldn't help but wonder: when would the medicine take effect?
Xiao Wen Qiang put an arm around Situ Zixian's neck and offered him the wine cup with her other hand, bringing it to his lips. "Your Majesty, this cup is Concubine's toast to you. Concubine is truly so happy that Your Majesty could come as promised tonight. Does Your Majesty know? At one point, Concubine truly thought you wouldn't come!"
Situ Zixian hesitated. Relying on his superior martial arts and profound internal energy, he also raised his head and drank the cup of wine. "I wouldn't. I promised you… and I will fulfill it!"
Within a few short sentences, Situ Zixian knew he was in trouble because he began to feel a heat spreading through his body…