Fairy, please don't do this!

Sure enough, this woman was not only petty and narrow-minded, but also vindictive.

It was just a slight press on the Yongquan acupoint.

Is it really necessary to repay kindness with enmity?

Moreover, if it weren't for that perfectly timed stimulation, how could the raging, maddening desire within her have subsided so quickly?

Jing Shu stepped forward gracefully and, seeing his disheveled appearance, asked with some curiosity, "Commander Gu, how did you manage to fly out of the palace?"

"This one……"

Gu Jinzhao straightened his disheveled clothes and casually made up a story: "I've recently been practicing a palm technique that descends from the sky, but I haven't mastered it yet, so..."

Upon hearing this, Jing Shu was taken aback at first, but then burst out laughing.

That smile was like a quiet orchid blooming in the still of the night, so elegant and refined that it made all the other flowers in the garden pale in comparison.

Sensing something was amiss, she quickly suppressed her laughter: "Chief Gu is truly diligent!"

"But Eunuch Cao is still waiting, so we shouldn't delay him."

As he spoke, he looked at the old man in a python robe who was guarding outside the Jinglan Hall.

"Thank you for reminding me, Auntie!"

Gu Jinzhao bowed respectfully and walked toward the old eunuch.

"His Majesty is already waiting for you in the Imperial Study."

Cao Jinyan glanced at him, her voice flat and emotionless: "Come with us."

Gu Jinzhao had truthfully reported to Emperor Yongxing that he had chosen to side with Xiao Qingyi.

After hearing this, Emperor Yongxing's expression darkened for a moment, but he quickly recovered and said, "It was out of necessity for this boy to stand on the right."

"The Empress Dowager is capricious and wields great power. If we offend her, even the Qingyun Sect may not be able to protect us."

"Go and wait outside Jinglan Palace. See what he looks like when he comes out, then bring him to see me."

Therefore, Cao Jinyan waited outside the palace to observe the situation.

Returning to the present moment, he had already led Gu Jinzhao through layers of palaces, around vermilion corridors, and arrived at the Imperial Study.

"Please wait a moment, Commander Gu."

Cao Jinyan left a message and then turned and went into the inner room.

A moment later, he turned back and gestured for Gu Jinzhao to enter.

Gu Jinzhao nodded slightly and stepped across the threshold.

Inside the imperial study, Emperor Yongxing sat upright behind his desk, his eyes lowered as he reviewed memorials, his vermilion brush lightly touching the paper.

"Gu Jinchao, Commander of the Demon Suppression Division, greets Your Majesty!"

Gu Jinzhao walked to three steps in front of the imperial desk and bowed with his hands clasped.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Yongxing put down his vermilion brush, looked up, and a warm smile appeared on his face: "I have long wanted to see you."

"Meet that young swordsman from Qingyun who single-handedly swept aside his peers in the Zen Realm."

"Having met you today, I can confirm your extraordinary demeanor; your reputation is well-deserved."

Gu Jinchao remained calm and said slowly, "Your Majesty flatters me. I dare not accept such praise."

Emperor Yongxing rose from his seat and walked slowly to him, his smile becoming even more amiable: "As far as I know, Zen Master is an unparalleled genius in the realm of Zen, and is also among the top talents of our time."

"Even if that Daoist disciple from the Dao Realm were to come in person, he might not be able to secure a victory against him."

"Unexpectedly, Gu Qing, with only the early stage of the seventh rank, was able to defeat him."

"Such achievements truly impress me."

Gu Jinzhao lowered his head slightly and said humbly, "Zen Master, you gave me three moves back then and did not use your full strength. I am ashamed to have won."

This statement is not an exaggeration.

During their encounter that day, Zen Master did not reveal his full strength.

Firstly, he felt confident of victory, and secondly, he needed to keep some cards up his sleeve to deal with any potential confrontation with Mu Yiren later on.

Unexpectedly, Gu Jinzhao's [Sword Nurturing Technique] was so fierce and domineering that it caught him off guard and caused him to completely lose his composure...

Chapter 127, "Prepare a few pairs of ice silk stockings for me!" (3K)

Emperor Yongxing sat leisurely down at the rosewood table, his posture amiable. He gestured for Gu Jinchao to sit down as well: "No matter what happened, victory is victory."

Gu Jinchao bowed slightly and sat down as instructed.

Cao Jinyan, who was standing to the side, silently stepped forward and served the two of them fragrant teacups.

Emperor Yongxing, with a gentle expression, asked as if addressing an old friend, "I heard that when Minister Gu went to block the gates of Chanjing Mountain, it was because their disciples provoked us first?"

Gu Jinzhao nodded: "At that time, the disciples of the Zen Realm used the name of practicing [Immovable Zen] to set up a arena in Qingyun City and injured many of my fellow disciples."

"In a fit of anger, I took my junior sister to their lodging, Qingyuezhai..."

Emperor Yongxing's eyes revealed admiration: "Although he is young and impetuous, he also shows his heart to protect the sect and will not tolerate any damage to the sect's reputation."

"If all the subjects of Cangyue could be like Minister Gu, how would those villains and evil spirits dare to act recklessly, and how would the Northern Desert Demon Court dare to repeatedly invade the border?"

Gu Jinzhao smiled and said, "Your Majesty flatters me!"

He knew very well that Emperor Yongxing would soon begin to recruit him.

After all, he had just been kicked out of Jinglan Palace by Xiao Qingyi, which would naturally be seen as a lack of favor from the Empress Dowager in the eyes of a shrewd person like Cao Jinyan.

As expected, Emperor Yongxing changed the subject and extended an olive branch: "The court is currently facing internal and external troubles, and this is the time to use talented people."

"If Minister Gu is willing to serve the court, I will certainly not fail him."

Gu Jinchao remained silent for a moment, then slowly raised his eyes: "This humble servant has already promised Her Majesty the Empress Dowager that I will be loyal to the court."

Instead of playing games, it's better to lay your cards on the table.

I'm not pretending anymore; I'm the Empress Dowager's person now.

A cold glint flashed in Emperor Yongxing's eyes, but it disappeared in an instant. He then smiled and said, "It seems that the Empress Dowager also values ​​Minister Gu highly. I have gone to unnecessary lengths."

Gu Jinzhao lowered his eyes and remained silent.

He knew quite a bit about this Emperor Yongxing.

On the surface, he is gentle and easygoing, but inside he harbors a sharp edge.

In the game, Gu Jinzhao also chose Emperor Yongxing's camp to help him depose the Empress Dowager and regain power.

In the end, however, this emperor betrayed him and used the Zen master to get rid of him as soon as possible.

The Imperial Study fell silent for a moment, with only the lingering aroma of tea.

Emperor Yongxing slowly picked up his teacup and took a small sip.

Serving tea is a way of saying goodbye to guests.

"This humble servant takes his leave."

Gu Jinzhao tactfully got up.

Emperor Yongxing gave him a deep look and waved his hand.

Gu Jinzhao said no more and turned to leave.

Watching his figure disappear outside the palace gate, Emperor Yongxing sighed softly, "What a pity."

Cao Jinyan smiled and agreed, "It is indeed a pity."

Unfortunately, it wasn't that they failed to recruit such talent.

It's a pity that they can't be used by the emperor; they are enemies.

Since they are enemies, they should be eliminated as soon as possible to prevent them from becoming powerful and a major threat in the future.

The Empress Dowager may value Gu Jinzhao and think he is a dragon, but he has not yet grown up!

In this way, even if she dies in the Demon Suppression Division, the Empress Dowager will not break off relations because of it.

……

Inside the Jinglan Hall, the fragrance of orchids wafted gently.

Xiao Qingyi had just finished bathing and changed into a dark-colored palace dress with phoenix patterns. She sat upright in front of the dressing table.

The mirror reflected a flawless face, her cheeks still flushed slightly after a bath, adding to her alluring charm.

Jing Shu stood quietly behind her, holding a warm jade comb, gently combing her cascading black hair, and asked softly, "Where are the clothes and bedding that Your Highness changed out of? I will take them to wash later."

When she returned to the palace, she saw that the bedding on the phoenix bed was brand new, and that the Empress had taken another bath before nightfall.

However, the clothes and bedding that had been changed, along with a pair of phoenix clogs and silk stockings, were nowhere to be found.

Jing Shu never entrusted these personal items to palace maids; she took care of them all herself.

Xiao Qingyi's expression was slightly unnatural: "I didn't like it, so I ordered it to be burned."

She had only been massaging his feet, and she didn't know why she had shown such a shameful side in front of that lackey.

This is the second time.

The last time was in the realm of the mind, when I was bound by the red ribbon and allowed him to defile my feet.

dislike?

Jing Shu blinked, her hand pausing slightly as she picked up the comb.

If she truly disliked it, the Empress would never have put herself on it, so how could it have remained until today?

She didn't ask any further questions, but changed the subject: "Today, Zen Realm officially entered Zhongzhou, and along the way, it performed good deeds and gave alms, which was widely praised by the people."

"In addition, they also exterminated many evil cultivators and even destroyed a branch of the Corpse Immortal Sect, making quite a great impact."

Xiao Qingyi's lips curled into a mocking smile: "Just putting on airs."

"In times of chaos, the Taoist sects exorcise demons and protect the people, while the Buddhist sects remain closed off, only chanting scriptures and reciting Buddha's name in temples."

"When the world is at peace, he will come out to relieve suffering and distress."

"These bald monks are utterly hypocritical."

What she said was true.

During the Yong'an era, Emperor Yong'an became obsessed with beautiful women and neglected state affairs, which led to the rampant spread of demonic practices, repeated invasions by foreign enemies, and unrest in the five states.

At that time, the imperial court summoned Buddhist monks to the Central Plains several times to join forces with Taoist monks to quell the chaos.

The Buddhist community, however, always uses the excuse that "the time is not yet ripe" to avoid the issue.

Xiao Qingyi knew perfectly well that this was a way for Buddhism to take advantage of the situation and weaken Taoism.

In addition, the Zen Master was in seclusion at the time, attempting to break through to the highest level, so he had no time to attend to other matters.

Jing Shu also disliked Buddhism, but she continued to report: "In addition, the Buddhist nun and the Buddhist monk from the Zen Realm have entered Yujing City ahead of schedule and joined the Zhiming Prefecture as Xuanwu Guards."

"On their first day on duty, the two of them joined forces to kill the 'Red and White Twin Demons' who were ranked twenty-third and twenty-fourth on the Demon List, and have been promoted to captains by special honors."

The Demon List is compiled by the Demon Suppression Division, and those listed are all heinous criminals with heinous crimes.

Jing Shu said solemnly, "If this continues, within a few days, the reputation of Zen Realm will surely spread throughout the five states."

"Once temples and monasteries are built and believers are widely accepted, the power of Buddhism will surely expand further with the blessing of incense and vows."

The Buddhist community openly and secretly supported Emperor Yongxing, hoping to help him regain power from the Empress.

Therefore, Buddhism is naturally an enemy.

In particular, the Zen Master who has already reached the half-step transcendent realm clearly poses a threat to the Empress.

Xiao Qingyi narrowed her phoenix eyes, a cold glint flashing in them: "The Daoist sect will not sit idly by, and I have already arranged for people to deal with it."

Jing Shu asked subconsciously, "Does Your Highness mean Commander Gu?"

Xiao Qingyi's lips curled up slightly, forming a faint smile: "This boy's ability to sweep through the younger generation of the Zen Realm at the Six Sects Heroes Gathering, defeating the Buddhist nun and Zen disciple in succession, is no accident."

“That’s true.” Jing Shu nodded, then frowned slightly. “But Commander Gu is only one person, and his opponents are not only the Buddhist nun and the Zen Master, but also the people arranged by His Majesty. I’m afraid it will be difficult to deal with them.”

To help Zen Realm build its reputation, Emperor Yongxing will naturally send people to assist it.