The night gradually deepened, and the city gates were brightly lit.
Xue Zi Ning stood outside the city, Xue Zi Xuan beside her. "Sister, can Master Li be trusted?"
Xue Zi Ning turned to look at Xue Zi Xuan, who lowered his gaze slightly. "Sister, please don't be angry, I just feel that after experiencing so much, can he still be as loyal to you as before?"
"I know what Zi Xuan means, but I don't want to doubt those who were once loyal to me. I want to try."
To try if he would betray me.
Although human hearts can be treacherous, I want to maintain a pure heart, that original heart.
Xue Zi Xuan was slightly stunned upon hearing this, then smiled. "Sister, I understand."
"However, we cannot be entirely unguarded. After all, Li Manor is not just Zi Xuan alone now; there are others. Thus, we must be cautious."
"Sister means..."
Xue Zi Ning looked at Xue Zi Xuan and whispered, "Zi Xuan, you and five thousand soldiers will stay behind. I will lead the rest into the city."
"No, Sister, if anyone must go, it should be me," Xue Zi Xuan refused.
"Zi Xuan, you must listen to your sister." Xue Zi Ning reached out and patted Xue Zi Xuan's shoulder.
This time, Xue Zi Xuan was firm. "Sister, I can listen to you on other matters, but not this."
"Zi Xuan, Chen Xuan knows me, not you..."
Xue Zi Ning continued, "Moreover, keeping you here doesn't mean you have nothing to do; it means that if an accident occurs, we won't be completely wiped out."
"Sister, I still disagree," Xue Zi Ning insisted.
"Zi Xuan, your sister is the Emperor. You must obey your sister. This is a royal decree."
Xue Zi Xuan bit his lower lip, lowered his head, and said, "Your subject obeys!"
Xue Zi Ning looked up at the city gates. Now, she just needed to wait for Li Chen Xuan's news.
Xue Chang An lay on the soft couch, with Li Chen Xuan kneeling beside her, gently massaging her body.
"My loyal minister, you were quite proactive today." Xue Chang An raised her eyes, looking at Li Chen Xuan from the corner of her eye.
Li Chen Xuan was slightly startled and said, "Your Majesty, your subject has always been so."
"Is that so? But why does this Majesty feel that you were reluctant the previous times?"
"Your Majesty, your subject was indeed unwilling before, but this time..."
Li Chen Xuan closed his eyes tightly, then opened them again and leaned towards Xue Chang An.
"My loyal minister, you smell so good..." Xue Chang An flipped over and pressed Li Chen Xuan beneath her.
In the past, he would strongly resist. Only when she threatened his entire Li Manor would he compromise. But today, he offered no resistance and was even somewhat proactive...
She narrowed her eyes, but she had no time to think, as the person beneath her had already become active.
Feeling that Xue Chang An was motionless, Li Chen Xuan tried to wake her. "Your Majesty, Your Majesty..."
Xue Chang An did not move. Li Chen Xuan pushed her away, casually picked up his clothes to wipe off the filth, donned an outer robe, and walked out of the sleeping quarters.
He whispered, "Chang Bai..."
"My lord, I am here." Chang Bai emerged from the darkness.
"Take my official seal and bring your men to replace the city gate guards. The timeframe is one incense stick's length," Li Chen Xuan quietly instructed.
Chang Bai nodded. "Your subordinate will go at once. My lord, be careful!"
Li Chen Xuan nodded. "Go quickly!"
Chang Bai turned and disappeared into the night.
Li Chen Xuan returned to the inner chamber. Upon seeing Xue Chang An, who was supposed to be asleep, sitting on the bed, wrapped in a blanket, his heart skipped a beat. He felt a sense of foreboding, yet he still stepped forward. "Your Majesty, you are awake."
Xue Chang An let out a cold laugh. "My loyal minister, where did you just go?"
"Your subject thought Your Majesty might be thirsty upon waking and asked a palace maid to bring some fresh tea."
Xue Chang An walked down from the soft couch, her clothes slipping off. She approached Li Chen Xuan and sneered, "This Majesty almost believed your sweet words, your tender affection. It's a pity it was all fake."
"Your Majesty, your subject dares not deceive. If your subject does not resent it, no one can force me."
Xue Chang An chuckled softly. "Yes, that's why this Majesty threatened you with the lives of everyone in your Li Manor. But now, I haven't threatened you with them, and yet you willingly serve this Majesty. Li Chen Xuan, let this Majesty guess who it is for?"
Li Chen Xuan fell to his knees with a thud. "Your Majesty, your subject is not doing this for anyone."
"Xue Zi Ning, isn't it?"
Li Chen Xuan's body trembled. Xue Chang An sneered, "She is truly tenacious. Even after death, she can still stir up trouble in this capital, and make you willingly work for her. This Majesty almost admires her. Tell me, what exactly did she do to make you no longer fear death?"
"Your Majesty, what are you saying? Your subject does not understand!" Li Chen Xuan lowered his gaze.
"You don't understand? But this Majesty knows that you, Li Chen Xuan, like Xue Zi Ning..."
Li Chen Xuan trembled all over and instinctively looked up, seeing Xue Chang An's furious eyes. "Your Majesty, your subject already has a wife."
"A wife? So what if you have a wife? Aren't you still doing these things that only couples do with this Majesty?"
Upon hearing this, Li Chen Xuan's expression turned grim. Xue Chang An walked forward, came before him, and leaned down, whispering, "Li Chen Xuan, you think you are helping her? In reality, you are only hastening her death."
Li Chen Xuan stood frozen in shock. Xue Chang An laughed softly, then burst into wild laughter. After her laughter subsided, her face was filled with cold mockery. "Because this Majesty knew your plan all along."
Li Chen Xuan frowned deeply. Xue Chang An lifted his chin with one hand and sneered, "My loyal minister, watch well as Xue Zi Ning becomes a spirit lost in this capital!"
Li Chen Xuan suddenly pushed Xue Chang An away and ran out.
Xue Chang An sneered, "Want to go tell Xue Zi Ning? Too late."
"Xue Chang An..." Li Chen Xuan turned back, his teeth gritted, looking at Xue Chang An with fury.
Xue Chang An sat on a chair and sneered, "What, you want to kill this Majesty? Do you think you can even touch a single finger of mine?"
"How will you know if you don't try?" Li Chen Xuan suddenly walked towards Xue Chang An.
If I can kill Xue Chang An, perhaps His Majesty will be a little more at ease.
"Li Chen Xuan, you had better think carefully. This is regicide. If you fail, how many people are in your Li Manor?"
"At worst, it's death." Li Chen Xuan was ready to face death.
Xue Chang An's expression turned cold. "This Majesty has been so good to you, yet you want to kill me for Xue Zi Ning, disregarding your own life. You have disappointed me."
"Good? Your subject has a family, but every night, I accompany you, not my family. You threaten me with the lives of everyone in my manor. Xue Chang An, you are simply not human..."
A hint of coldness flashed in Xue Chang An's eyes. "Fine, today this Majesty will let you know what it truly means to wish for death rather than life..."
She picked up the whip hanging on the wall and lashed it towards Li Chen Xuan.
Li Chen Xuan, unable to dodge, was struck, leaving a bloody gash.
Xue Chang An did not stop. The whip fell again and again, and soon Li Chen Xuan was covered in bloody marks.
In the end, he collapsed on the ground, unable to move.
"Speaking of which, you are considered this Majesty's first man in this life. Do you have any requests? This Majesty will fulfill them..."