One must know that Ning Chen had come to the imperial palace before. He had met Emperor Chu Yuan inside Heaven’s Pole Hall, and he clearly remembered that Heaven’s Pole Hall was definitely not in this direction!
Up ahead, the eunuch’s figure visibly paused for a moment, but he quickly explained, “His Majesty is not in Heaven’s Pole Hall today. He is waiting for you at Phoenix Cry Palace!”
“Phoenix Cry Palace?”
Ning Chen sharply sensed something was off, yet the imperial palace had countless halls and courtyards—how could he possibly distinguish the difference between Heaven’s Pole Hall and Phoenix Cry Palace?
Here, he also didn’t dare let Shadow Ghost reveal its power casually. With no better option, he followed along. Before long, Xiao Xuanzi led him straight to Phoenix Cry Palace.
“His Majesty is waiting for you inside the hall. Go in,” Xiao Xuanzi said.
Ning Chen could only push the door open and enter Phoenix Cry Hall. Yet once inside, he discovered—
There was no sign of Emperor Chu Yuan. Only a graceful woman sat behind a curtain of beaded pearls!
“Are you Ning Chen?” came the woman’s voice from behind the pearl curtain.
Ning Chen frowned and replied, “I am Ning Chen. Where is Emperor Chu Yuan?”
Bang!
At that exact moment, the hall door behind him was slammed shut!
Then, the graceful woman rose from behind the curtain. “There is no Emperor Chu Yuan. Today, it was this consort who forged the imperial decree and summoned you here!”
“This consort is Imperial Consort Mei of the inner palace. My full name—Wanyan Meier!”
Swish!
As her words echoed, Wanyan Meier stepped out from behind the pearl curtain.
That fox-like, enchanting face was now filled with cruelty and murderous intent!
“Wanyan Meier? A member of the Wanyan Family!”
At this moment, Ning Chen—who already had his suspicions—finally understood. He had fallen into Wanyan Meier’s trap!
Damn it… an imperial consort, and from her aura she even seems to be a Martial Saint… and you’re setting traps for a powerless useless scholar? Are you sick?!
Oh?
But I have Shadow Ghost with me. Invincible below the Martial God Realm—then it’s fine.
Ning Chen quickly calmed down. He looked at Wanyan Meier and said, “Imperial Consort Mei, you want revenge for the destroyed Wanyan Family, don’t you?”
“But I’m just a weak scholar with no strength to even tie up a chicken. You went as far as forging an imperial edict and tricking me into the deep palace… surely it isn’t just to kill me and vent your anger, is it?”
The moment he spoke, Wanyan Meier’s beautiful eyes flickered.
She immediately let out a seductive laugh. “Hehe… you little pretty boy. I thought, with such a handsome face, you’d definitely be a fool. I didn’t expect you to be quite clever!”
“You guessed right. Killing a useless cripple with no cultivation like you—this consort has ten thousand ways to do it. There’s no need for such trouble.”
“The reason I lured you here today is because this consort is giving you a chance to live!”
Tch.
Ning Chen sneered inwardly. This woman really thought she was someone important.
Back then, I made your father—a half-step Martial God—scream like a pig. You’re only in the Martial Saint Realm, so what are you acting so arrogant for?
Still, since he was already here, Ning Chen naturally wanted to know what scheme she was plotting.
So he deliberately put on a “frightened and respectful” expression and said, “Imperial Consort Mei, I’m not close to the An Family at all… please instruct me, Your Highness.”
“Smart!”
Wanyan Meier’s red lips parted slightly. A look of complete control surfaced on her face. Then she pulled out a delicate jade bottle from her robes.
“This consort has a dose of Five Poison Powder. It is colorless and tasteless, yet violently toxic. Even if a Martial Saint expert is hit by it, even if it doesn’t kill them, it will still leave their whole body weak and powerless!”
“You only need to follow this consort’s instructions and seize an opportunity to sprinkle it into the An Family’s water supply and food.”
“Afterward, once this consort destroys the An Family, I will naturally spare your life!”
“Oh!”
Ning Chen took the Five Poison Powder, looking as if he suddenly understood. “So it’s poison. That’s actually easy for me.”
Wanyan Meier smiled brightly, her expression overflowing with charm.
“You little pretty boy are quite interesting. I thought you would refuse. For that, this consort even came up with many ways to torture you!”
“But now it seems… I should replace those with a reward!”
As she spoke, Wanyan Meier twisted her slim, willow-like waist and approached Ning Chen. Her peach blossom eyes shimmered, her gaze thick with seduction.
Her snow-white swan-like neck flushed faintly red. Her thin gauze dress could not conceal the swelling curves beneath the purple undergarments, nor could it hide her fair, tender skin as it swayed before Ning Chen’s eyes, making them reel.
She leaned to his ear and breathed softly, “Little pretty boy…”
“How about this consort uses her body to reward you properly?”
“This consort is Imperial Consort Mei—Emperor Chu Yuan’s woman. Playing with the Great Chu Emperor’s woman… that must be thrilling for you, right?”
Ahem… ahem…
Ning Chen’s breathing grew rapid. A trace of redness appeared in his eyes as he mumbled unclearly, “It really is thrilling…”
“Since it’s thrilling, then come,” Wanyan Meier purred. “That old thing Emperor Chu Yuan can’t do it anymore. And Xiao Xuanzi is a eunuch without manhood. Sure, he can only play with his mouth, but it’s never truly satisfying!”
As she spoke, she reached out her jade hand and grabbed at Ning Chen’s manhood!
Bang!
But the instant her hand closed around it, a strong, powerful hand seized her wrist forcefully and stopped her cold!
At the same time, Ning Chen’s icy voice sounded by her ear.
“Thrilling is thrilling, but sorry—this daddy doesn’t play with rotten goods!”
The moisture in Wanyan Meier’s eyes vanished instantly, replaced by blazing anger. The words “rotten goods” struck her with overwhelming humiliation!
Ning Chen’s voice rang out again, sharp and forceful.
“I, Ning Chen, am the husband of Great Chu’s Empire-Defending Valkyrie. You, a filthy low-class slut, dare try to seduce me?”
“And you even want me to poison the An Family for you so you can wipe them out? Absolutely ridiculous!”
“Bastard! You’re courting death!!”
At this moment, how could Wanyan Meier not realize she had been played?
Boom!
In furious rage, she erupted with Martial Saint Realm cultivation, trying to suppress Ning Chen, then use the terrifying methods she had prepared to torture him thoroughly.
“A mere 1st stage Martial Saint Realm wants to suppress me? You’re still too green!”
Facing Wanyan Meier’s power, Ning Chen didn’t move at all!
With a shout, Shadow Ghost—lurking at his feet—rose in an instant, and its peak Martial Saint aura exploded out!
On the spot, it forcibly suppressed Wanyan Meier’s 1st stage Martial Saint Realm aura!
“Ah! How is this possible?! What is this ghost thing?!”
Wanyan Meier screamed in shock, terrified by the sudden appearance of Shadow Ghost!
But in the next instant, it was as if she thought of something. She cried out again in disbelief.
“Hiss… this is that mysterious black shadow that saved the An Family multiple times! My heavens—YOU are that mysterious person protecting the An Family?!”
To take revenge on the An Family, she had already ordered her people to investigate thoroughly. She knew there was a mysterious person guarding the An Family.
She had even paid Bloodcloud Tower an extra 100,000 gold taels because of him!
But she never imagined that person was Ning Chen—that the famous “useless husband” of An Nanjing was actually the one protecting the An Family. The truth shook her to the core!
At the same time, regret surged within her. If she had known Ning Chen was that mysterious protector, how would she ever dare trick him into the palace—let alone summon him alone?!
Bang!
And the very next moment, Shadow Ghost showed no mercy at all.
That thick, black hand clamped directly onto Wanyan Meier’s snow-white neck and lifted her into the air!
Wanyan Meier immediately began to suffocate!
That soft, boneless, graceful body looked like a dying fish—
Struggling wildly… flailing desperately…