“Heh heh…” Ye Jingyu stood up straight from the floor, offered a slight bow toward Luo Xiaofeng, and then walked out of the Imperial Study. Zhuge Yishi and Luo Fengfeng naturally followed suit with their farewells. Only Liang Xiaoke, just as he was about to depart, lingered to take an intensely long look at Luo Xiaofeng before quickly hurrying after Ye Jingyu. The thought occurred to the onlookers that this fellow must have slept with many of Luo Xiaofeng’s consorts in the past, and he was now trying to gauge what kind of man he was—a man whose cuckold he had been countless times...

A person—no, a ghoul—who could cultivate their audacity to such an extreme degree, surely only he could manage it...

Seeing everyone depart the Imperial Study, Luo Xiaofeng finally turned his gaze toward Nan Fengyun...

“How was it? Could you discern his cultivation?” Luo Xiaofeng asked casually.

“I couldn't, but this old servant dares to assert that the Duke’s physical cultivation has reached at least the Seventh Level. As for the other one…” Here, Nan Fengyun’s expression grew grave.

“What about him?” Luo Xiaofeng found Liang Xiaoke the most impenetrable. In this world, who possessed the ability of Earth Evasion?

“He carries no trace of life force whatsoever, nor any energy fluctuation. If this old servant’s deduction is correct, that must be the Corpse Puppet spoken of in ancient legends!” Nan Fengyun stated grimly. This was knowledge he had gleaned from exceedingly rare ancient texts.

The Nan Feng family, once one of the Three Great Clans, possessed knowledge far exceeding that of others. These hidden secrets were entirely unknown even to Luo Xiaofeng.

“Corpse Puppet?” Luo Xiaofeng’s brow furrowed. What sort of thing was that?

“Indeed. As for its origin, this old servant does not know. I only encountered a reference in a volume called Treatise on Ghosts and Gods when I was very young. All I know is that it is a monstrous entity that sustains itself by draining human blood, or perhaps, a corpse that should have perished yet still lives on,” Nan Fengyun explained calmly.

“No wonder I couldn’t sense any aura of energy from him—it seems he is just a corpse. Heh heh, just what is the background of this young man? Not only is he surrounded by an ancient ferocious beast like the Taotie, but now such a monster that shouldn't exist in this world appears too. Heh heh, interesting, very interesting…” Luo Xiaofeng shook his head with a faint smile, yet there was no real sense of blame in his eyes.

He was an Emperor, moreover, an Emperor who had attained the Martial Saint realm. He had witnessed countless strange occurrences; how could he possibly care what sort of company Ye Jingyu kept?

As long as Ye Jingyu remained loyal to him, and he could control those around him, wouldn’t it all ultimately serve his purpose?

From that sincere bow of fealty Ye Jingyu offered, Luo Xiaofeng had become completely convinced of his loyalty. At the very least, for Luo Ling’er’s sake, he would never betray him.

He trusted Ye Jingyu, and he trusted his own judgment...

Ye Jingyu, however, remained unaware that his heartfelt obeisance had utterly solidified his standing in Luo Xiaofeng’s heart. Preoccupied with thoughts of Luo Ling’er, he sprinted toward the Palace of Eternal Joy at incredible speed. Along the way, he left nothing but streaks of afterimages, frightening some palace maids and eunuchs into involuntary screams. Coupled with Liang Xiaoke occasionally tunneling through the earth, a significant number of staff members were so terrified they actually fainted...

Luo Fengfeng and Zhuge Yishi could only shake their heads repeatedly, sighing at the pair’s antics...

Meanwhile, within the Palace of Eternal Joy, Luo Ling’er sat quietly beneath a osmanthus tree. Before her, upon an exquisitely carved bamboo table, lay sheets of Xuan paper. Her right hand tightly gripped a writing brush, and she was sketching something onto the paper.

Upon closer inspection, it was a portrait of a person—a handsome youth with delicate features. Who else could it be but Ye Jingyu?

In just a short while, a lifelike portrait emerged from beneath Luo Ling’er’s hand. Looking at the beautiful man on the scroll, whose lips curved into a faint smile, a gentle smile also touched Luo Ling’er’s own face.

“Princess, this is already the third scroll you’ve drawn today. Shouldn’t you stop and rest?” Noticing Luo Ling’er smiling at her own artwork, a woman dressed in a pale-yellow court gown spoke up.

“No, just one more, and I’ll have a hundred. I’ll rest after I finish this one...” Nearly a month had passed since Ye Jingyu left, and drawing him had become her sole method of tethering her longing.

“Princess, this maid truly doesn’t understand what is so good about him. You pine for him day and night here, yet he runs off to Medicine City to save some other woman! Where does that place the Princess?” The maid, named Yufei, had been Luo Ling’er’s childhood playmate and attendant.

“That is one of his subordinates; naturally, he must go rescue her!” Luo Ling’er replied, though she immediately began unrolling another sheet of paper, preparing to sketch again.

“There’s never a case of a leader running off so far to rescue a subordinate; only subordinates rescue their leaders. I suspect that woman has some unspeakable secret with him!” Yufei remarked with a hint of sarcasm, clearly harboring significant distrust toward Ye Jingyu.

“I believe him!” Luo Ling’er stated without lifting her head.

“Princess, you must not be fooled by his outward appearance! I think he is not a good person at all. I’ve even heard that he frequents the House of Flowery Pleasures and maintains an intimate association with their top courtesan, Yao Rao!” Yufei continued casting aspersions on Ye Jingyu.

“Yufei, you probably don’t understand him well enough, which is why you say these things. He is not that sort of man!” Luo Ling’er showed no anger toward the personal maid who had cared for her since childhood; she considered Yufei practically a sister.

“Alas, the Princess is just too kind-hearted. I only worry that the Princess will be deceived...” Yufei sighed heavily, feigning deep concern for Luo Ling’er.

“Heh heh, I know, but I trust him!” Luo Ling’er murmured softly, her entire focus absorbed by the brush in her hand.

Little Ye Zi, what are you doing right now? Luo Ling’er sighed deeply in her heart...

“Mm, trust. The Princess trusts, and Yufei trusts too. Princess, please have some tea!” Seeing Luo Ling’er’s resolute expression, a flash of malice—quickly suppressed—crossed Yufei’s eyes. Yet, her face remained lit with a gentle smile as she presented a cup of tea to Luo Ling’er.

“Mmm…” Having been seated for over an hour, Luo Ling’er did indeed feel thirsty and reached out to take the tea Yufei offered. Just then, a shout pierced the air...

“Ling’er…” Upon hearing that familiar voice, Luo Ling’er’s body trembled, and the teacup fell directly from her hand, splashing across the table, even wetting the scroll she had just been painting.

But she paid no mind to the paintings she usually guarded so fiercely; her entire body shot upward as she turned toward the source of the sound, catching sight of a long-awaited figure rushing toward her...

“Little Ye Zi...” Luo Ling’er instantly abandoned her usual demure composure, ignoring the gazes of the surrounding maids, and skipped joyfully toward the approaching person...

As for Yufei beside her, upon seeing the tea spilled on the floor, a look of distinct regret crossed her eyes...

(Third update complete!)