A heretical cultivator in Bureau 749, I'm the fiercest at pulling out tendons and skinning peop

The group passed through several palace gates and around several halls, finally stopping in front of a palace.

The palace was not large, but it was exquisite.

The vermilion doorposts, the carved window frames, and the row of wind chimes hanging under the eaves create a tinkling sound that soothes the soul when a gentle breeze blows.

There are two osmanthus trees planted at the entrance. The trunks are as thick as a bowl and the branches and leaves are lush. I imagine that in autumn, the whole yard will be filled with the fragrance of osmanthus.

Zhu Cheng stood in front of the door, pushed open the carved wooden door, turned to the side, and made a "please" gesture: "Qiqi, this is the palace where you used to live."

Qi Qi looked up at the door, then at Ji Zuodao, hesitated for a moment, and then stepped over the threshold with her short legs.

Ji Zuodao followed behind, and as soon as he entered the door, good heavens, his eyes widened in astonishment.

This isn't a bedroom at all; it's clearly a small palace complex.

It doesn't look big from the outside, but it's a completely different world inside. There's a front hall, main hall, warm pavilion, study, side rooms...

One room after another, layer upon layer, like a maze.

The ground is paved with gold bricks, not the cheap kind, but genuine gold bricks fired in the Suzhou Imperial Kiln. They are jet black and shiny, and when you tap them, they produce a clear, metallic sound.

The furniture was all made of rosewood, with exquisite carvings, smooth lines, and a dark luster.

On the table sat a blue-and-white porcelain vase, and on the wall hung calligraphy and paintings by famous artists. In the corner stood a bronze Boshan incense burner, inside which burned an unknown incense, wisps of smoke rising and emitting a faint sandalwood fragrance.

The most outrageous thing is that there were also eight palace maids and four eunuchs in the palace.

Eight palace maids stood on either side, dressed in matching lotus-colored ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), with their hair styled in identical double buns. They stood with their hands at their sides, heads bowed, as quiet as eight porcelain dolls.

Four eunuchs stood guard at the door, bowing and holding whisks in their hands, completely still and even breathing softly.

Upon seeing Qiqi enter, the eight palace maids bowed in unison, their voices clear and melodious like silver bells: "Greetings, Your Highness."

Qiqi wasn't scared this time; she's gotten used to it.

Ji Zuodao remained calm, looked around, nodded, and commented, "It's alright, a bit smaller than I imagined."

Zhu Cheng's lips twitched, but he refrained from acknowledging him.

Ji Zuodao wandered around the palace, touching and looking at everything as if he were visiting a museum.

After reading it, he turned around, looked at Zhu Cheng, and asked in a tone that suggested, "Now it's time to proceed with the formalities":

"Alright, what's next? Call out Qiqi's parents for a big family reunion?"

Qiqi stood to the side, and when she heard the words "father and mother," a glimmer of light suddenly flashed in her eyes.

She looked up at Ji Zuodao, then at Zhu Cheng, and asked softly, "Qiqi's... parents?"

The voice was very soft, carrying a hint of cautious anticipation.

She knew that her parents were no longer alive.

She knew she came from the tomb.

She knew that, apart from her brother, she had no other relatives in the world.

but……

But even just a glimpse would be nice.

Even if it's fake, it's good to take a look.

Qiqi lowered her head, looking at her toes, and said in an even softer voice, "Even though it's fake... Qiqi wants to see it."

Upon hearing this, Ji Zuodao's heart softened.

He crouched down, reached out and gently patted Qiqi's head, wanting to say something, but when he opened his mouth, he didn't know what to say.

He looked up at Zhu Cheng, his eyes conveying a clear message—you heard that? You'd better figure it out.

Zhu Cheng remained silent for a few seconds, then shook his head.

"I can't do it."

His voice carried a hint of helplessness, a hint of confusion, and something else that was hard to explain: "I don't know why, but in this Forbidden City, only members of the royal family have never appeared."

Ji Zuodao raised an eyebrow: "Hmm?"

guessed wrong?

He originally thought that Zhu Cheng had made such a big fuss, sending toys and snacks, and taking Qi Qi back to the Ming Dynasty Secret Realm, in order to take the family route and let Qi Qi feel the warmth of family here, so that she would stay willingly.

However, Zhu Cheng said that no member of the royal family had ever appeared.

In other words, Qiqi's parents will not appear.

What was Zhu Cheng's purpose?

Did he really just want to bring Qiqi back to see the place she used to live?

Ji Zuodao narrowed his eyes, looking at Zhu Cheng, and the doubt in his heart grew even larger.

Zhu Cheng seemed to sense his doubt, sighed, and said, "Mr. Ji, I know you don't believe me. But I truly have no ill intentions towards Qi Qi."

He paused, his gaze falling on Qiqi, his voice softening slightly:

"I didn't intend to keep her. We are both of the Zhu family bloodline. I just wanted Qiqi to stay in her former home for a while and experience the era she once lived in. She is a princess of the Ming Dynasty, and she will receive all the treatment she deserves."

Ji Zuodao looked at Zhu Cheng, his face expressionless.

But in his heart, he had already sneered.

Again.

That bastard is lying again.

When Zhu Cheng said "I didn't intend to keep her," his heart beat a tiny bit faster.

Who knows what they're plotting in their hearts.

However, Ji Zuodao did not expose him.

He simply shrugged and said in a nonchalant tone, "Fine, whatever you want."

Zhu Cheng nodded, said nothing more, and turned to leave the palace.

After he left, Ji Zuodao finally understood what "royal treatment" meant.

A group of palace maids surrounded Qiqi, serving her with utmost care.

As soon as Qiqi sat down on the daybed, a palace maid immediately brought over a cup of warm honey water, knelt in front of her, and held her hands above her head: "Your Highness, please have some tea."

Just as Qiqi finished drinking her water, another palace maid came over with a plate of snacks, kneeling as she offered them: "Your Highness, please have some snacks."

Just as Qiqi picked up a pastry, another palace maid came over with a warm towel and carefully wiped the crumbs off her fingers.

Having everything handed to you and being waited on hand and foot is nothing.

If Ji Zuodao's care for Qiqi was like taking care of a precious treasure, then these palace maids were like serving their ancestors.

That cautious, timid attitude, as if walking on thin ice, for fear of accidentally bumping or bruising oneself.

At first, Qi Qi was a little uncomfortable. Being surrounded and served like this, she felt a bit helpless and would occasionally turn around to look at Ji Zuodao, as if to confirm, "Is my brother still here?"

Ji Zuodao leaned against the door frame and nodded to her, which reassured her to continue enjoying the services.

But she got used to it in no time.

After all, she was born a princess, with royal blood flowing in her veins. The feeling of being served was like an instinct etched into her genes; she didn't need to learn it and accepted it naturally.

She sat on the daybed, sipping honey water. A palace maid gently fanned her, while another maid squatted at her feet, straightening her slightly askew socks.

She squinted her eyes, a contented expression on her face, like a kitten that had been stroked and felt comfortable.

Ji Zuodao leaned against the door frame, watching this scene, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

He recalled how he would hurriedly braid Qiqi's hair every morning, making it crooked and uneven, but Qiqi never complained and happily went to school with her crooked braid.

He remembered cooking for Qiqi, who never picked at her food and always ate everything clean.

Now, Qiqi sits in Yongning Palace, drinking warm honey water and eating exquisite pastries.

She was fanned and served by palace maids, enjoying the treatment befitting a princess of the Ming Dynasty.

He couldn't give her those things.

He couldn't even braid her hair nicely.

Looking at Qi Qi's contented little face, a thought suddenly popped into Ji Zuodao's mind—

Perhaps Zhu Cheng is right; Qi Qi should indeed stay here.

The moment the idea popped into his head, he nipped it in the bud.

He shook his head to banish the bullshit thought from his mind, then clicked his tongue and cursed himself inwardly: Damn it, what am I thinking?

Qiqi is my sister, and no one can take her away from me.

I don't care if she's a princess or not, I don't care if she's from the Ming Dynasty or not, she's my sister, Ji Zuodao's sister.

Ji Zuodao began plotting murder and robbery again. If Qiqi liked life here, he would kill Zhu Cheng and seize this secret realm of the Ming Dynasty's Forbidden City.

As a heretical cultivator with crooked roots and evil lineage—

Ji Zuodao is extremely selfish.