Chapter 762 - 222: Subtly Sending Fragrant Bait to Entice the Eunuch, Secretly Engaging the Cyan Lotus to Take in the Ghost Hammer

Chapter 762: Chapter 222: Subtly Sending Fragrant Bait to Entice the Eunuch, Secretly Engaging the Cyan Lotus to Take in the Ghost Hammer

On either side of the pebble path, palace maids and eunuchs stood respectfully.

The Empress Dowager had announced she would visit the lake today, and they had prepared early for the occasion.

Yet, in the midst of this serene atmosphere, there was an underlying strangeness.

The newly arrived palace maids, unfamiliar with protocol, whispered gossip to those beside them.

"Why isn’t Chief Steward Chang here?"

"Yes, usually at this time, isn’t he always at the forefront? He should be waiting at the closest point to the Lan Zhou."

"I don’t know, could it be..."

The speaking maid lowered her voice, "Is the Empress Dowager tired of him?"

Luckily, a cautious maid nearby quickly interrupted, "Do you want to live? Keep quiet."

Only then did the young maids fall silent.

Meanwhile, Chang Xin delightedly arrived at the An Divine Hall.

Lately, he felt the Empress Dowager growing closer to him.

No! It wasn’t just his feeling; the entire harem could see it.

It hadn’t been long, but he was on the verge of completing his master’s task. And if he could gain the Empress Dowager’s favor, even as a eunuch, he would be indescribably happy.

Today, he was supposed to wait by the lake, but the Empress Dowager had summoned him directly to the An Divine Hall. He had a faint guess about her intentions...

Was the Empress Dowager going to promote him to her personal eunuch, to serve her in the An Divine Hall from now on?

With such thoughts, Chang Xin quickly stepped into the hall, only to see that the usually dignified woman was sitting alone before a copper mirror.

The surrounding maids had been dismissed, and hearing the sound, the Empress Dowager beckoned with a smile, "Xiaoxinzi, come here."

Chang Xin swallowed nervously, hurried over, and approached the Empress Dowager from behind, about to speak, when suddenly everything went black and he fainted.

Soon...

Yet another Chang Xin stood by the Empress Dowager’s side.

This Chang Xin’s eyes exuded an aura of grandeur, and his stature was as imposing as a mountain.

Xie Wei quietly observed the eunuch standing behind her through the copper mirror and said, "It’s truly unbelievable."

Chang Xin, or rather Li Yuan, said, "Haven’t you seen it before?"

Xie Wei gently grasped his hand and said softly, "The Emperor has passed, and Gucheng belongs to Xiaoyu’Er. Then...you belong to me.

I need you."

Li Yuan said, "What if I’m not here..."

His words abruptly stopped because he already heard the sound of a knife being swung in the secret chamber below.

Xie Wei said softly, "He’s dead."

Silence fell between them.

Xie Wei spoke quietly, "I’m a harlot, but not one for everyone. In my life, I only want you... After today, I’ll confer upon you the title of Marquis. Marquis Carefree, free to enter and leave the palace at will, is that okay?"

Li Yuan said, "Isn’t this too hasty?"

Xie Wei said, "That will depend on how you and I perform on the Lan Zhou today."

Li Yuan shook his head and said, "No need to rush, we’ll confer it in a few days.

Currently, Chang Xin has gained absolute trust from the Mountain Hall, and I’ll take this opportunity to investigate."

The two spoke softly, engaging in a conspiracy, then stood up and left.

The Empress Dowager boarded her sedan chair.

Li Yuan followed.

Upon arriving at the Lan Zhou, to everyone’s surprise, the eunuch known as Chang Xin directly aided the Empress Dowager onto the boat.

The Lan Zhou drifted away, and once hidden among the lotus leaves, muffled female laughter emanated from within...

Quite a few people heard it distinctly, clicking their tongues, but everyone knew...that eunuch named Chang Xin was really about to rise in status.

However, that wasn’t all. That day, Chang Xin was transferred to the An Divine Hall to become the Empress Dowager’s personal eunuch.

...

Night fell.

The An Divine Hall extinguished its lights and fell silent, yet many speculated about what might be happening inside...

Such speculation naturally reached the young Emperor’s ears.

Of course, the young Emperor didn’t know that this eunuch was the same man who, during his childhood, took him by the hand to teach him how to fly a kite, giving him some happy memories.

Although still young, he had experienced far more than most do in a lifetime, and having learned from renowned teachers, he was precociously intelligent.

At this moment, he felt he had seen through the filth within the An Divine Hall and was so angry that he intended to prepare a carriage to visit the hall and ask his mother why she did such things.

But the young Emperor quickly restrained himself.

He understood his mother’s difficulties.

"Mother...has her reasons."

"She has her reasons!!"

"I’m still young, I don’t understand!"

With his small fists clenched tightly, teeth gritted desperately, and deep breaths, the young Emperor’s eyes reddened, filled with both fierce light and tears.

...

Yet, after nightfall, Li Yuan did not stay at the An Divine Hall; instead, he returned near Huakai Town.

He was waiting for Bai Lianjue.

But Bai Lianjue neither contacted him nor appeared, as if he had vanished.

However, while Bai Lianjue did not reach out, someone else returned to Huakai Town.

That time was tonight.

The Firefly Demon was brought by Li Yuan into a cave, and unexpectedly, she bowed respectfully, greeting him, "Senior."

Li Yuan said in a gruff voice, "Sect Leader of the Cyan Lotus Sect."

"Just call me Xiaoying."

Firefly Demon’s eyes were as enchanting as jade, and her white clothes made her appear flawless.

Such flawlessness was once the nightmare of the Ghost Riders.

The two fell silent.

Firefly Demon said, "Actually, my master is not picky about allies. He can just as easily be someone from the East Sea Supreme Profound Sect or anyone else."

Li Yuan quietly looked at her.

Honestly, he hadn’t considered this much, but...it seemed like a good choice.

"Why is that?" he asked.

Firefly Demon revealed a sweet smile, "The Supreme Profound Sect thinks we don’t know their plans, but my master is aware of everything. In the Three-Part Ghost Realm, who is strong and who is weak, isn’t it still up to them?"