Chapter 47: Emperor Yuan’s Weaknesses

Wang Sandong decided to be magnanimous and not pursue the matter of Chen Youde competing with her for Hongxiu.

She would spare that old dog’s life—that was what she told Zheng Xiao.

Because she had taken a liking to Chen Youde’s artifact forging ability and wanted to keep it for herself.

As for whether keeping Chen Youde alive would invite trouble down the road—she certainly had worries, but if the benefits were great enough, it was not unacceptable.

After all, artifact forging masters like “Ghost Axe” and “Divine Artisan” were, like Wang Sandong’s “nominal master” Spring-Returning Hand, far inferior in martial prowess to the Three Sovereigns, Five Emperors, and Nine Surnamed Kings, yet they were still renowned, and no one dared to underestimate them.

Plundering Ghost Axe’s memories and becoming a great artifact forger in one leap—Wang Sandong was very interested in that.

Once she had Ghost Axe’s forging ability, she wondered if she could forge a magic tool similar to that Demonic Zither.

“I’m curious. With the Zither Emperor’s skill, how could he lose his own artifact?”

Just-risen Wang Sandong sat in front of the dressing table, letting Wang Tong serve her by combing her hair.

Zheng Xiao looked at Wang Sandong’s pretty face in the mirror and laughed.

“That’s a long story. In short, even a tiger has its moments of dozing.”

“Alright, if it’s long, forget it.”

Wang Sandong yawned, as if she hadn’t slept enough.

“What brings you here so early in the morning?”

“According to Old Capital custom, newlyweds must serve tea to their elders the morning after the wedding,” Zheng Xiao said.

“You’re one of the Nine Surnamed Kings, and you care about such formalities?”

“Rituals still need to be observed.”

“No need.”

Wang Sandong leaned closer to the mirror and reached out to pluck at her eyelashes, feeling they seemed a bit longer.

“The Wang family isn’t that old-fashioned. Besides, I don’t have time. I’ll be going out soon.”

Zheng Xiao smiled and asked, “To Fengyue Tower?”

Wang Sandong didn’t answer, but said, “Don’t forget what I just told you.”

“About sparing Steward Chen’s life? I won’t forget.”

“Good.”

Wang Sandong pinched her own cheek in the mirror.

“Have I gotten fat recently?”

Zheng Xiao pursed her lips and smiled.

“I don’t know.”

“I must have. My face is puffy.”

Wang Sandong muttered, then added, “Go attend to your business. You don’t need to keep me company here.”

Zheng Xiao said, “I want to go to Fengyue Tower with you.”

“What for?”

“To chat with Miss Yuan.”

Zheng Xiao smiled.

“I get along reasonably well with Miss Yuan.”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

Wang Sandong suddenly grew displeased, turning to look at Zheng Xiao very seriously.

“Newlyweds visiting a brothel together? If you’re not embarrassed, I am.”

Seeing Zheng Xiao pursing her lips in a smile, she added, “If you’re truly bored, go play chess with Grandpa. You’re the same age; you have common interests.”

Zheng Xiao thought for a moment and nodded.

“Alright.”

With that, she turned to leave, then looked back.

“By the way, you should buy Miss Yuan her freedom and bring her home. That way you won’t have to run back and forth every day.”

‘Having you at home is already lively enough. Adding another Emperor Yuan?’

Wang Sandong gave an awkward smile.

“I have my own plans for that.”

After Zheng Xiao left, Wang Tong had finished combing Wang Sandong’s hair.

“Young Master, are you going to Fengyue Tower?”

“No.”

Wang Sandong said, “I’m going out of the city to relax.”

She said it was to relax, but it was actually to find a quiet place to cultivate.

Now that Anzhi Courtyard had Zheng Xiao, a Nine Surnamed King, Wang Sandong dared not cultivate at home for fear that Zheng Xiao would discover traces of Demonic Qi.

Even if she didn’t cultivate, she wouldn’t go to Fengyue Tower—the last time she had a quarrel with Emperor Yuan, she dropped a line and ran off.

If Emperor Yuan held a grudge and was spiteful, going today would surely result in being bullied.

The carriage left the Wang Mansion and slowly made its way along the Old Capital’s bluestone roads.

Wang Tong’s driving rhythm was becoming increasingly skilled; no matter the road conditions, he kept the carriage as steady as possible.

Wang Sandong lounged half-lying in the carriage, lazily and comfortably, and inquired about Wang Tong’s “studies.”

“How is your cultivation going?”

“Young Master, your servant is shallow in learning and hasn’t gained much yet.”

“Don’t rush. Cultivation isn’t achieved overnight.”

Wang Sandong comforted him, then after a moment’s thought added, “I’ll teach you another technique later.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

Wang Sandong smiled and said in a low voice, “This technique is called ‘Ten Thousand Demons Paying Homage.'”

This method originated from A-Gui.

It was also the Demon Sovereign’s technique.

Wang Sandong trusted Wang Tong, but trust also needed a foundation.

If Wang Tong also became a Demonic Cultivator… the trust would be more solid.

Wang Sandong teaching Wang Tong the Demon Sovereign’s “Ten Thousand Demons Paying Homage” was not out of generosity or kindness, but with the sinister purpose of “dragging him down.”

But Wang Tong, not yet twelve years old, was completely unaware of Wang Sandong’s malicious intentions and was even especially grateful.

Outside the city, beside a quiet grassy field.

Master and servant each cultivated peacefully until the sun slanted to the west.

Wang Sandong felt a bit tired.

She ordered Wang Tong to return home.

In the following days, Wang Sandong would go out of the city every day to find a secluded spot and cultivate quietly.

But the progress of her cultivation was far from what it had been before.

Despite such diligence, there were no obvious gains.

One day, it was drizzling.

Wang Sandong, for once, did not go out of the city.

Instead, she stayed home staring blankly at the rainy sky—actually, she was organizing her memories.

With so many plundered memories, even if sorted, they could not be “digested” instantly.

Like a scholar writing an essay—even with a mind full of knowledge, he might still occasionally forget a character or phrase.

Or like a forgetful old man, always forgetting important information.

When he suddenly remembers, he slaps his head in self-reproach for having forgotten.

What Wang Sandong was doing was repeatedly going over those memories in her mind, making them truly her own information.

It continued until the afternoon.

Wang Sandong suddenly called out to Wang Tong, “Prepare the carriage. We’re going to Fengyue Tower.”

The carriage advanced slowly in the rain.

As always.

The streets were cold and quiet.

Wang Sandong sat inside the carriage, eyes closed, listening to the rain.

A slight smile curled at the corner of her young, soft, and beautiful face.

Her long eyelashes twitched from time to time, like mischievous spirits.

The carriage finally stopped outside Fengyue Tower.

Wang Sandong did not go to see Emperor Yuan, but went to Xing Luo’s room.

Outside the window, muffled thunder rumbled, as if a storm was about to break.

Wang Sandong lay face-down on the fragrant soft bed, enjoying Xing Luo’s skilled massage, occasionally letting out comfortable moans.

“Third Young Master, it’s been a while since you last came.”

Xing Luo’s voice was seductive to the bone. She laughed, “Surely it’s because of the new marriage, full of love and affection.”

“Full of nothing.”

Wang Sandong spoke in a muffled voice, eyes closed, smiling with pleasure.

“With your skills, even if you didn’t sell your body, you could still earn a lot, right? Why put yourself through this?”

Xing Luo’s hands roamed over Wang Sandong’s back.

She leaned down, pressing close to Wang Sandong’s rounded ear and whispered, “Your servant doesn’t feel wronged.”

So close that her lips seemed to brush Wang Sandong’s ear.

Wang Sandong instantly got goosebumps.

She swallowed hard, hating her transformed state—otherwise, even if it meant death today, she would definitely have her way with Xing Luo!

Such impulse didn’t last long.

In the end, reason prevailed.

Slowly adjusting her breath, Wang Sandong smiled.

“There’s something you might be curious about.”

“What is it, Third Young Master? Don’t keep me in suspense.”

“About why the Zither Emperor struck against the Zheng family.”

“Heh, why?”

“Not telling you.”

“Annoying.”

Xing Luo laughed, her hand starting to move downward.

Wang Sandong’s heart leaped.

She swallowed hard and finally regained her senses at the “critical area,” calling out in time, “Stop.”

Her voice turned cold.

“You know my condition. If I get too excited and die… you won’t have a good outcome.”

Xing Luo’s mouth twitched, and her hand moved back up.

“What Third Young Master says is true. Your servant, even if she wanted to, wouldn’t dare act recklessly.”

“Alas, me neither.”

Wang Sandong sighed.

“Your servant has a medicine.”

“No thanks.”

Wang Sandong sighed.

“Like fine wine—not knowing the taste in one’s life is painful, but it surpasses knowing the taste but not being able to drink deeply. Some things, if you can’t enjoy them to the fullest, it’s better not to touch them at all.”

Xing Luo smiled sweetly.

“Third Young Master’s words are truly insightful.”

Her hands slid across Wang Sandong’s shoulders, pulling her arms up a bit, then grasping her soft little hands to do stretching exercises.

“Ooh! Ahh! That feels great!”

Wang Sandong’s upper body was pulled up considerably, and she couldn’t help but cry out.

“Third Young Master’s body is very soft.”

Xing Luo laughed.

“Ordinary people can’t be stretched this far.”

“And Yuan Yuan’s body? Is it soft?”

“It’s okay. Since you dance often, your body must be even softer, right?”

“Not really,” Xing Luo replied.

“Have you been intimate with her?”

Xing Luo was momentarily stunned.

“No.”

“Really?”

Wang Sandong clicked her tongue.

“With a stunning beauty like you right next to him, and he doesn’t make a move… Is Yuan Yuan impotent?”

“…”

Xing Luo hesitated for a moment before replying, “I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?”

Wang Sandong said with ill intent.

“You haven’t seen?”

Still impotent?

No matter how she answered, it was wrong.

Even saying “I don’t know” seemed somewhat inappropriate.

“I’ve heard that Yuan Yuan is a eunuch,” Wang Sandong said.

Xing Luo opened her mouth, her face full of bitterness.

On the question of “eunuch,” if she didn’t speak up, she would surely anger Emperor Yuan.

She believed Emperor Yuan must be “eavesdropping.”

“Of course not,” Xing Luo answered decisively.

“Oh? So sure? Have you seen it?”

Wang Sandong asked with a laugh.

Seen it?

No.

But if she said no, how could she prove “of course not”?

Xing Luo was speechless.

Before the troubled Xing Luo could think of a reply, Wang Sandong sighed again.

“Or maybe he simply doesn’t like women.”

“Alas.”

She closed her eyes.

“A man who looks like a woman—there’s no help for that. But if he likes to wear women’s clothing and pretends to be a woman all day, that says a lot.”

Sweat formed on Xing Luo’s forehead.

She gave a dry laugh and said, “His Majesty dresses like this only to conceal his identity and to facilitate easy entry and exit from the Wang Mansion at any time, in case anything happens to Your Young Master.”

“Your Majesty” was Xing Luo’s title for Emperor Yuan.

“What could happen.”

Wang Sandong laughed.

“At the very least, I’m the heir of the Wang family, the wife of the Righteous Butcher, and a close friend of Emperor Yuan.”

Xing Luo’s mouth twitched.

She didn’t agree with the “close friend” claim, but didn’t want to refute it.

“Don’t you think I should adopt a title too?”

Wang Sandong laughed again.

“By the way, what is Emperor Yuan’s real name?”

“Your servant does not know.”

“As for a title… don’t you already have one, Young Master?” Xing Luo said.

“Huh?”

“The Glazed Glass Prince.”

“Hah, that doesn’t count.”

Wang Sandong laughed again.

“Now, in the Old Capital, everyone knows that Miss Yuan Yuan is a woman I, Wang Sandong, have my eye on…”

Wang Sandong glanced at the door, a smile on her lips.

“And Yuan Yuan always dresses as a woman… If this goes on day after day, won’t it become real?”

Xing Luo frowned. She didn’t want to respond at all.

She seriously doubted how many more days she had to live.

His Majesty might not kill Wang Sandong, but he might not hesitate to kill her to vent his anger.

A woman’s anger can be…

No, His Majesty is not a woman!

Having watched His Majesty dress as a woman all day, she had unconsciously started thinking of His Majesty as a woman.

Thinking this, Xing Luo pursed her lips and smiled, then sighed.

“Young Master is overthinking. His Majesty is a man. Even if he were a woman, there would be no outcome between you.”

“Overthinking?”

Wang Sandong chuckled.

“If it becomes real… that’s fine too.”

“…”

Xing Luo looked at the back of Wang Sandong’s head, her heart full of complexity.

Really?

Could this pretty young master have taken a fancy to His Majesty?

Alas, of all the people to fancy, why did it have to be His Majesty?

Wang Sandong recalled Emperor Yuan’s cool and indifferent demeanor when he killed A-Gui, and then recalled the battle between the Demon Sovereign and Emperor Yuan that A-Gui had witnessed with his own eyes.

A bold speculation brewed in Wang Sandong’s mind.

The Demon Sovereign had once told A-Gui:

“The Great Way is simple! Power breaks all methods! Emperor Yuan possesses Near-Emperor Power!”

Wang Sandong suspected that the Demon Sovereign’s victory over Emperor Yuan, who possessed “Near-Emperor Power,” might not have been related to combat strength.

Perhaps the Demon Sovereign knew Emperor Yuan’s fatal weakness!

A strong person with “Near-Emperor Power,” even if inferior to the Three Sovereigns, was still an exalted existence.

Yet such a person was painstakingly creating a new technique…

The reason behind it might be worth scrutinizing.

It might not be just for sacrificing the Demon Abyss!