The Empress stood in the bath, her back to Luo Xiu behind a sheer curtain. She secretly circulated her Cultivation Technique, quietly releasing an invisible spiritual pressure.

She was cultivating the "Bright Dragon Emperor Heart Art," an ancestral art of the Di Family. This was a peak-level Cultivation Technique that only those with the imperial bloodline could practice! The imposing aura released by this imperial technique alone was enough to spiritually suppress anyone.

But on Luo Xiu, it had no effect.

Hiding within the Soul Imprisonment Mark, Lin Tong felt this spiritual pressure and scoffed. She has a bit of an imperial air, I'll give her that, he said to Luo Xiu. But in front of you, Big Brother, even an emperor can only kneel at your feet!

Luo Xiu, long accustomed to Lin Tong's flattery, asked in his mind, Do you think this Empress will move against me?

Lin Tong considered it. I'm not sure. But if she does, with the Little Queen at the Chu Family's residence, you'd have a hard time dealing with her using only Necromancy. Besides, her imperial aura is the very bane of Necromancy.

As man and soul conversed, the invisible pressure suddenly receded, vanishing in an instant.

Soon after, the Empress's gentle laughter came from ahead.

"Little Mule, after all these years… to think you haven't changed one bit."

Startled by the name "Little Mule," Luo Xiu froze. In his memory, only three people ever called him by such an affectionate nickname.

They were his three senior martial sisters!

"Your Majesty, you…"

Gazing at the stunning silhouette, Luo Xiu's eyes trembled, and he hesitated to speak.

"Silly boy, you don't recognize me?"

The Empress's delicate hand reached out, gracefully taking a bathrobe and putting it on before she slowly turned to face Luo Xiu.

As the sheer curtain swayed in the breeze, Luo Xiu finally saw her exquisitely beautiful face.

"It… it really is you…"

"First Senior Sister!"

His eyes widened in disbelief. The renowned yet utterly mysterious Hua Country Female Emperor… was his own First Senior Sister?!

"Such a fool."

The Empress stepped toward Luo Xiu and parted the curtain. Her delicate hand gently caressed his face, her thumb tenderly wiping away a pastry crumb from the corner of his mouth.

Meeting her gaze, as gentle as water, his eyes misted over, blurring his vision.

In that moment, the high and mighty, awe-inspiring Empress of Hua Country was gone. Before him stood only the senior sister who had once doted on and cherished him the most.

"Hahaha…"

Luo Xiu suddenly burst into laughter.

"What are you laughing at?"

"Nothing… I'm just so surprised. I'm really happy to see you."

The Empress gently poked his forehead with her finger and said tenderly, "Such a fool."

"By the way, Big Sister, I still don't know your real name."

The Empress tutted playfully. "You really have no conscience, not even knowing your own senior sister's name."

Clutching his forehead, Luo Xiu looked innocent. "You can't blame me for that. Growing up, I only knew your nickname was 'Big Girl.' Master and the others never told me your real name."

The Empress smiled, lost in fond memories of the past.

"That's true," she said.

"I was gravely ill as a child when Master brought me to Ghost Valley Mountain. I am actually the eldest daughter of the Di Family; the previous Emperor was my father. Because of my special status, I never used my real name."

"My real name… is Di Xuanji."

Luo Xiu said, "Now I know."

"Hm? What's wrong with you?"

Di Xuanji's brow furrowed as she stared intently at Luo Xiu, as if she had discovered something. She suddenly grabbed his wrist to take his pulse.

A moment later, Di Xuanji released his wrist. Her voice trembled as she asked, "Little Mule, your cultivation… what on earth happened to it?"

Luo Xiu sighed in resignation.

"It's a long story… but not that long, I guess."

He then told Di Xuanji everything that had happened since Xia Chan had captured him.

Di Xuanji was furious when she heard his story.

Luo Xiu looked at her and asked, "By seniority, the Tianyu King must be your uncle. How do you plan to handle this?"

Di Xuanji snorted coldly. "If it were anything else, I might turn a blind eye. But since they're involved with the Holy Boi Religion, I can't be soft-hearted."

With that, she took Luo Xiu's arm and led him toward the grand hall.

Gazing at her stunning profile, Luo Xiu was reminded of his simple-minded senior sister from their childhood and felt a sudden sense of unfamiliarity.

Time, indeed, could change a person so much.

His First Senior Sister now was the high and mighty Empress, her every move filled with imperial dignity. Still, she was his First Senior Sister—the one who had always doted on him most.

As Luo Xiu was lost in thought, Di Xuanji suddenly called out, "Attendant!"

The palace maid from before hurried over. Her eyes widened in shock when she saw Her Majesty holding Luo Xiu's arm so intimately.

"Your Majesty, your orders?" she asked, lowering her head, not daring to look at Luo Xiu.

"Summon the Ageless Beauties at once."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Shortly thereafter, two figures, one old and one young, arrived in the grand hall.

It was none other than the Ageless Beauties.

They were both stunned to see Di Xuanji holding Luo Xiu's arm so intimately, like a couple deep in love.

Does this Luo Xiu have some kind of secret relationship with Her Majesty the Empress? Looking at Her Majesty's blissful expression, could he be her boyfriend? No wonder Her Majesty didn't stop him when he raised hell at the Ye Family. And after he disappeared, she was absolutely furious, so desperate she would have dug the earth three feet deep to find him.

Di Xuanji said coolly, "Immediately seal the Tianyu Royal Mansion and bring the Tianyu King to me."

"Yes!"

The Ageless Beauties flickered and vanished from the hall.

In the now-silent hall, Luo Xiu spoke. "If they aren't fools, they would have started evacuating the moment I left the mansion yesterday."

A small smile played on Di Xuanji's lips. "Chen Xuanbao can be allowed to escape for now, but the Tianyu King must be dealt with. He is a member of the imperial family, after all. For him to collude with a heretic cult… he must be punished."

Luo Xiu said, "When I first came across the Holy Boi Religion, I learned they worship someone they call the Holy Boi Religion God, who they believe will descend to change the world."

"Does this Holy Boi Religion God really exist?"

Di Xuanji was quiet for a moment before replying, "You should stay out of matters concerning the Holy Boi Religion. I only hope I can eradicate this heretic cult completely during my reign."

"Little Mule, you've lost all your cultivation. Why don't you stay here in the Capital City with me?"

Luo Xiu, however, gently shook his head.

"Third Senior Sister told me that Second Senior Sister is in danger. I have to wait for the Moon Tide Siphon to appear so I can go find her at the bottom of the sea."

Di Xuanji said with concern, "But in your current state, it's no exaggeration to say you don't even have the strength to truss a chicken. What could you possibly do if you go?"

Luo Xiu smiled. "Don't worry, I have help."

"Besides… I need to find a cure for my condition."

At the mention of Luo Xiu's condition, a sharp pain pierced Di Xuanji's heart. She reached out to ruffle his hair and said softly, "When do you plan to leave?"

"In a few days, I suppose. This is my first time in the Capital City, so I'd like to look around first."

Di Xuanji said, "Then I'll take you out tomorrow. I know the Capital City very well."

Luo Xiu had a strange expression. "Is… is that a good idea? You're the Empress, after all."

Di Xuanji's expression changed as she poked his forehead twice with her finger.

"What's not good about it? Are you saying you'd feel wronged to be seen with me?"

"Besides, Little Mule, I'll be honest with you. If I had a choice, I really wouldn't want to be the Empress. I have to maintain this persona all day, and there are so many duties… it's beyond frustrating."

"You finally made it to the Capital City. This is a good chance for me to relax a little, too."

Luo Xiu smiled and shook his head. "Alright, then."

"Come on, let's go to my rooms. Big Sister will make you something delicious. You've always loved the spicy chicken I used to make for you when we were young."

Luo Xiu swallowed. "Now that you mention it, I really do miss it."

"Of course. Even Master said my cooking was the best," Di Xuanji declared proudly.

Then, she glanced at him furtively and whispered, "By the way, Little Mule… when you saw Hongye and Jiao Jiao, did they… give you their Yin Essence?"

"Yes, they did," Luo Xiu nodded. "But I don't need it anymore. Third Senior Sister gave me a Sky Yin Pill she developed herself, and my condition hasn't flared up since."

"Oh… I see."

Di Xuanji lowered her head, a little crestfallen. Did that heartless boy forget about that matter? Or does he simply not know about it at all?

***

As dusk fell and the city's lights began to glow, night descended.

In the Empress's private courtyard, the senior sister and her junior brother sat at a stone table by the lotus pond, enjoying dinner together. They chatted happily about old times, their voices filled with warmth.

Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps approached.

"Your Majesty!"

Di Xuanji put down her chopsticks and looked at the old woman rushing toward them.

"Did something happen?"

Seeing the old woman's urgent expression, Di Xuanji suddenly had a bad feeling.

Tears welled in the old woman's eyes as she gritted her teeth. "My Senior Sister was too eager to capture the enemy and fell into an ambush! She's been critically injured and her life is hanging by a thread! I implore Your Majesty to save her!"

"…"

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