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Tang Zisu could only endure so much before she snatched back her necklace. "I won't wear it, so what right do you have to take my things?"
"What right? The right that Ming Wang entrusted you to me for management. You little brat, it's unacceptable. Someone, drag her away and give her twenty lashes."
Tang Zisu felt a jolt of fear; this was getting serious. In truth, Lijia would likely have more methods of punishment, considering she was a sorceress compared to the women in the harem. However, she feared losing face and wanted to establish authority, so even if it was just two lashes, it could cost her life. With the baby still in her womb, she had to think of a way to avoid punishment.
As Tang Zisu's mind raced, the henchmen approached, each grabbing her arms and preparing to drag her away.
Not far behind the artificial hill, Lang Ye gritted his teeth in anger and was about to rush out to save the damsel.
A slender hand belonging to Bai Xi grabbed him. Kong Xuan asked, "What are you going to do?"
Lang Ye, fuming, tried to shake off Kong Xuan: "What do you think? They're about to kill your woman, and you're here making sarcastic remarks. Are you even human?"
Kong Xuan coldly laughed: "Of course I'm not human. Is Lord Wolf human? She brought this upon herself; she has no one else to blame."
"That's nonsense, Kong Xuan. Even if she strayed and got pregnant by someone else, you don't have to kill her. Let her be; she'll manage on her own." Lang Ye argued with Kong Xuan, but Kong Xuan's grip was like iron, holding him firmly in place.
"Lang Ye, those who betrayed me are long dead. I've been more than lenient with her; your tolerance makes me think of other possibilities."
In a fit of rage, Lang Ye swung a punch at Kong Xuan, who dodged and tightly grasped his hand. Lang Ye struggled fiercely: "Let go of me, Kong Xuan. I really want to knock your teeth out. I'm doing this because I don't want you to regret it later."
Kong Xuan released him and coldly replied: "I never regret my actions. As for you, Wolf King, you'd better mind your own business or you'll bring trouble upon your precious Softy."
Lang Ye stared at Kong Xuan, seemingly not recognizing him. "Kong Xuan, do you dare to threaten me?"
"Kong Xuan, you better understand your identity and who the king of the Infinite Demon Realm is."
"Kong Xuan, I misjudged you. Do whatever you want; I don't care anymore." Lang Ye huffed angrily and turned to leave. Kong Xuan watched his back with a blank expression, while behind them, a pair of eyes had been watching for a long time.
Two strong men grabbed Tang Zisu, as if they were going to tear her apart. In a moment of desperation, Tang Zisu shouted, "Wait!"
Lijia had already regarded Tang Zisu as an ant in her palm. She was looking forward to what Tang Zisu would do next; the more trouble she caused, the more opportunities Lijia would have to deal with her. She waved her hand at Little Demon, and the two immediately released Tang Zisu.
"Number 121, do you have anything else to say?"
Tang Zisu rubbed her sore arm and replied, "Who are you to control me?"
Lijia smiled brightly; she was already extremely beautiful, and this smile was captivating: "Don't you recognize me? Fine, I'll say it again. I am Celestial Maiden Lijia, the fiancée of Ming Wang. I am currently acting on his behalf to manage the internal affairs of Infernal Palace. Am I not qualified to manage you?"
Tang Zisu had been waiting for this moment: "So you're the Celestial Maiden. Is the Heavenly Emperor your father? So you're a deity. The battle between demons and gods ended only three hundred years ago, and our Ming Wang's anger hasn't subsided yet. The daughter of a god has infiltrated our organization; what are your intentions?"
Although the Little Demon below were all brought by the Celestial Maiden, they had secretly considered this matter as well. Now that Tang Zisu boldly raised the question for the Celestial Maiden to answer, they didn't dare to make a fuss but looked at her with eager eyes.
Lijia's anger flared up. She waved her hands, and in an instant, a gust of wind swept through, making everyone unable to open their eyes. Then screams erupted as people were lifted into the air by the sudden force.
Tang Zisu tried to distance herself from them but was also struck hard by the wind on her face, leaving cuts that bled. She used her sleeve to shield her face while desperately grabbing onto a nearby fake tree, but her facial muscles were still distorted by the force of the wind.
"Lijia, stop," the crowd fell to the ground, all bowing their heads obediently. They truly were more obedient than dogs after training. Lijia glanced at Tang Zisu and sneered, "Remember your place as a slave; you are not allowed to raise your head to look directly at your master. If anyone dares to defy this again, I will gouge out their eyes."
A cold glint flashed in Lijia's beautiful eyes, sending shivers down Tang Zisu's spine. This mistress was incredibly violent; they weren't even on the same level in terms of combat power. Forget it, there was no point in competing. After all, Kong Xuan was already despicable enough; a scummy man and a cheap woman were a perfect match for each other. Let them love and kill each other!
Though she said this outwardly, her heart still ached. However, before she could fully process her emotions, Lijia pointed directly at her.
"Number 121, how dare you question your master's affairs? Your punishment is now increased by one count of disrespect towards your master—thirty lashes. Someone, take her away."
Tang Zisu thought it was over; this woman was incredibly difficult to deal with. She was determined to ruin me today—what should I do?
In her panic, Tang Zisu shouted again, "Stop, wait!"
Lijia waved her hand again, feeling that the opportunity for the fortieth lash had arrived.
Tang Zisu looked around and said, "I have something to discuss with you privately."
Lijia haughtily sniffed with her noble nostrils raised, "What trick are you trying to play? I have nothing to say to you."
"What can I do in front of you? I can't beat you or insult you. What? Is the Celestial Maiden afraid of me?" Tang Zisu feigned calmness, but inside, the little Tang Zisu was trembling in fear. A woman as terrifying as you would give me nightmares just by looking at me!
Lijia stepped forward two paces; although she was slightly shorter than Tang Zisu in height, her presence absolutely overshadowed her. Leaning closer to Tang Zisu's shoulder, she whispered, "You don't need to provoke me; crushing you is easier than squashing an ant."
Tang Zisu suppressed her disgust and mimicked her tone: "Then what about Kong Xuan? The matter I'm discussing with you naturally involves Kong Xuan."
Kong Xuan successfully poked Lijia twice, and she waved her hand at the others, saying, "That's enough for today; go do what you need to do." In reality, Lijia only wanted to scare Tang Zisu and had no intention of truly hurting her. After all, Kong Xuan's attitude towards Tang Zisu was still unclear. The men of the Phoenix Clan were different from ordinary men; they might have multiple wives, but once they fell in love, they would be unwavering. Although Lijia knew that Kong Xuan liked Tang Zisu because of Light Eye, it was always better to be cautious.
Once everyone had left, Lijia said, "If you have something to say, hurry up; I'm quite busy."
Tang Zisu asked, "Do you know why Kong Xuan still lets me stay in his room?"
Lijia's expression changed: "He just wants to make it easier to torment you; don't overthink it."
"Maybe I'm overthinking it, but you know we've shared a bed. Who knows what could happen when we're in the same room every day? Men can be impulsive and reckless, especially Kong Xuan. Don't let his seemingly aloof demeanor fool you; he can be quite playful."
For the sake of her own safety and her child, Tang Zisu was determined to take down Kong Xuan.
Her words made Lijia feel both jealous and envious. Although she had successfully stayed by Kong Xuan's side, he had never looked at her twice. Tang Zisu's words sparked a new idea in her mind: since Kong Xuan was a man, if she could let go of her reservations and be a bit more proactive and daring, she might not have to worry about winning him over.
Taking the opportunity, Tang Zisu said, "He may seem cold and dull most of the time, but if you win his favor, he can be very gentle. I can help you get into his good graces if you let me off the hook. What do you say?"
Lijia looked up and down at Tang Zisu, her face full of disdain: "Tang Zisu, if you can stick it out until the end, I might think differently of you. But your cowardice is truly disgusting."
Tang Zisu: "If you're disgusted, just vomit; don't hold it in. Holding it in only makes it worse."
Lijia: "You…"
Tang Zisu: "It's settled then. I'll help you get into Kong Xuan's good graces if you promise not to make things difficult for me anymore. Deal?"
Lijia: "This Celestial Maiden is countless times more beautiful than you, do I need your opinion?"
Tang Zisu: "At least I've slept with him. He has many quirks; if you can't meet his expectations even a little, he'll throw a tantrum. But as long as you do what he wants, he'll make you feel on top of the world."
As Tang Zisu spoke, she scolded herself internally, wishing that the scumbag would just be shaken up and that the cheap mistress would be dealt with harshly. As for herself, she was just cannon fodder—after one encounter, she'd vanish without a trace.
Seeing Lijia with a look of lust as if she were already imagining being powerfully taken by Kong Xuan, Tang Zisu cursed the cheap currency in her heart and forced a smile as she continued, "Think about it; with his foul temper, when do you think you could develop further? But Celestial Maiden, you're so noble and pure that you wouldn't even consider doing such things. Let me help you make this happen; what do you say?"
Lijia's face flushed with excitement: "What can you do?"
Tang Zisu glanced sideways at her: "You don't need to worry about that; I have a way to make him come to you."
Having signed an unfair treaty with Lijia, Tang Zisu returned to her room unscathed. Leaning against the door, she wiped the cold sweat from her forehead. But before she could catch her breath, a tall figure loomed over her. Kong Xuan trapped her in his arms, looking down at her. Strands of hair fell from his forehead, covering one eye, giving him a dangerous and rugged appearance. It was then that Tang Zisu realized that Kong Xuan had changed his hairstyle.
In the past, whether dressed as a man or a woman, he always tied his long black hair back, exposing his smooth forehead and attractive widow's peak. But now he let one side of his hair fall, obscuring his left eye.
His hand pressed against Tang Zisu's neck, fingers slipping under her clothing to gently caress her collarbone, his fingertips icy.
"You have some nerve to use me as a bargaining chip. Should I strangle you or roll you up?"
Tang Zisu looked at him without crying, feeling only sadness in her heart. "Neither; if you strangle me, you'll have no outlet for your anger, which isn't good for your health. Being with a woman carrying someone else's child will make you feel dirty. I'm afraid you won't be able to perform, which would cause even more problems later."
Kong Xuan gazed at Tang Zisu, his eyes a deep blue with a mysterious beauty that pierced through to her soul. In that moment, Tang Zisu almost believed they had returned to the past when he looked at her with such deep affection.
Tang Zisu found her own naivety laughable. She shook her head and pushed against Kong Xuan's chest, saying, "Ming Wang, please let go of me. I still have a lot of work to finish today."
Kong Xuan remained motionless, lowering his head so that his soft lips nearly brushed against Tang Zisu's forehead. "Did you not say that I am very *?* People like me enjoy being with pregnant women who are carrying children, preferably to the point of bleeding."
Tang Zisu didn't know where she found the strength, but she pushed Kong Xuan away with all her might and ended up sitting on the ground. "Kong Xuan, enough! If you want to be aroused, there is a woman outside waiting for you who is just as noble as you are. Don't come here to torment me. Someone as lowly as I am doesn't deserve it!"
Kong Xuan squatted down and grasped Tang Zisu's chin, forcing her to look up at him. "Is that what you want? For me to be with her? Fine, as you wish. Tonight, you will stand outside and not leave without my permission!"
After saying this, Kong Xuan released her and walked past the screen, kicking over a sandalwood stool in the process.
Tang Zisu stood up awkwardly while holding her stomach. Heaven had not been too cruel to her; just when she was racking her brain on how to match Kong Xuan with Lijia, the next moment Kong Xuan had thrown himself into the trap. It was truly wonderful. Tang Zisu smiled faintly, yet tears streamed down her face.
How annoying it was that she wanted to cry when she felt happy!
In a part of the room where Tang Zisu could not see, Kong Xuan sat down in a corner against the wall. His long hair spread out around him; at that moment, he was still breathtakingly beautiful but no longer radiant.
Night Pearls emitted their glow in every corner, the curtains flowed like cascading moonlight, and the screens depicted birds flocking towards a phoenix—all surrounded by crystal, agate, coral, and jade—yet everything felt desolate and dim.
Tang Zisu hugged the bedding she had changed and made her way to the water room when she unexpectedly ran into Lang Ye.
Lang Ye pulled her to a secluded spot and handed her a small box. Then he pointed to his own face and gestured for Tang Zisu to apply it. "Put it on; it won't leave a scar."
Only then did Tang Zisu remember the pain. She wiped at her hand; the blood had already dried. Looking at the small box in her hand brought a slight warmth to her heart but also feelings of loss and sorrow.
Lang Ye opened his mouth several times but didn't know what to say. Finally, he could only say, "Well, just be careful. Don't go against Liya. I don't know what Kong Xuan was thinking, leaving her here. Her abilities are on par with mine, so just be cautious. That, Kong Xuan, he..."
"Lang Ye, stop talking," Tang Zisu interrupted Lang Ye. "By the way, where is Horse Abdomen now? He kicked Kong Xuan's kneecap and I wonder how he's doing?"
Lang Ye looked around cautiously to ensure there were no demons before whispering, "You should keep your distance from him. The closer you get, the more it could harm him. That kid is a strange beast with strong healing abilities. Although he suffered a bit at the time, it’s not a big problem. He's currently sleeping in the stable, which is far from trouble."
Tang Zisu nodded. Lang Ye turned to leave; he really couldn't bear to face Tang Zisu. Her small face was pale, and her large dark eyes lacked their usual sparkle, making her look like a pearl covered in dust.
Watching Lang Ye walk far away, Tang Zisu slumped her shoulders and tucked her hands into her sleeves like an old man. She touched the box in her hand and ultimately couldn't resist going to the stable.
On her way, Tang Zisu noticed that Infernal Palace had undergone significant changes. The broken walls from before had been repaired; it seemed that magic had been used for such quick restoration. From a distance, she could hear the neighing of horses coming from the stable and cautiously slipped inside, startled by what she saw.
It was just a matter of time; she didn't know where they had gotten so many black steeds. These horses were tall and strong with shiny coats, sharp horns on their foreheads, and enormous wings under their ribs. They were not horses at all but clearly the legendary Divine Unicorns.
Tang Zisu was staring wide-eyed at the Divine Horses when suddenly someone patted her shoulder. Startled, she turned around to see Horse Abdomen.
Horse Abdomen looked disheveled with straw stuck in his hair but seemed fine otherwise. Tang Zisu quickly grabbed his sleeve and examined him from top to bottom. "How's your leg? Is it better?"
Horse Abdomen maintained a calm expression. "It's fine; it's already healed." He lifted his leg as he spoke.
Tang Zisu felt a pang of sadness and sat down on a nearby pile of straw. "Horse Abdomen, can you still return to the Jade Ring?"
Horse Abdomen shook his head. "The Jade Ring is shattered; I can't go back."
"Then you should leave and stop getting involved in this mess." Tang Zisu reached out and removed a straw from his head. For some reason, this boy who had transformed from a strange beast always made her feel like he was a little brother in need of care.
Horse Abdomen shook his head. "Wherever the master is, that's where I will be."
Tang Zisu sighed helplessly. "Why are you so stubborn? If you were really strong, it wouldn't be impossible for you to stay, but you keep getting your arms and legs broken every few days. I can barely take care of myself, let alone worry about you. Do you want to wear me out? Can we not have fun anymore?"
Horse Abdomen's deep eyes suddenly showed a hint of emotion. He lowered his head and said softly, "I'm sorry, Master. Horse Abdomen is useless."
Tang Zisu couldn't bear it and softened her voice. "I'm not scolding you; it's just that it's very dangerous here right now. I don't understand why your abilities and intelligence seem to have diminished after becoming human."
Horse Abdomen kept his head down and didn't speak for a while before finally looking up, a suspicious blush crossing his face. "When Nuwa created humans, she also created tigers. One day, when she was drying them outside, it started to rain heavily. In her fluster, she accidentally glued a human's head to a tiger's body, which resulted in Horse Abdomen. Horse Abdomen is just a strange beast and cannot cultivate into a human. If I force myself to become human, it will drain my power and wisdom."
After stumbling through the explanation, Horse Abdomen finally made himself clear. Tang Zisu asked, "Then why do you want to become human?"
"Because I want to protect you." This time, Horse Abdomen answered fluently, almost without thinking.
Tang Zisu looked at Horse Abdomen's pale and delicate face and suddenly felt like she understood something yet nothing at all. She patted Horse Abdomen's shoulder and spoke in an ethereal tone like a ghost, "Forget it; if you want to stay, then stay. If anything goes wrong, don't blame me. I have medicine here for you to use; I'm leaving now."
Tang Zisu got up and staggered out of the stable. She suddenly felt weak all over like cotton, reluctant to move.
On her way back, Kong Xuan was throwing a tantrum. Upon seeing her, he overturned the water in the golden basin all over her before kicking the door shut with a bang.
Tang Zisu was dressed warmly and wasn't scalded by the hot water, but the blatant humiliation weighed heavily on her entire sense of self-esteem.
Without saying a word, she crouched down to clean up the puddle of clear water on the ground. Her eyes felt a sudden heat, and before she knew it, tears began to fall, each drop hitting her hand.
The moisture in her eyes made everything blurry for Tang Zisu. She was angry at her own weakness but couldn't stop crying, so she bit her hand to keep herself from making any noise.
She thought Kong Xuan had already left, but she didn't realize he was standing right behind her, watching her. His eyes formed a gentle arc, and some emotions were about to spill over, his long eyelashes unable to conceal them.
After squatting for too long, when Tang Zisu stood up, her vision went dark, and she swayed unsteadily. Kong Xuan stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her into his embrace.
Holding Tang Zisu's soft body and inhaling her warm scent, he couldn't help but call out, "Tang Zisu..."
Tang Zisu trembled; she pushed against him with all her might, rejecting the inexplicable warmth he offered. She didn't want the bowl of soup he brought from someone else's hands; he was now the person she wanted to avoid at all costs, the one who had brought her despair.
Kong Xuan held her tightly; this long-lost feeling of embrace was both familiar and somewhat strange. The woman in his arms seemed to have lost weight; when his arms wrapped around her shoulder blades tightly, he even felt a bit of discomfort. Yet it gave him a sense of security; even the slightest warmth transmitted through their skin was enough for him to feel alive and that life still had meaning.
This embrace came too suddenly but was warm enough that Tang Zisu couldn't push him away nor wanted to. She even thought that if Kong Xuan could hold her like this forever, without needing an apology, she could forgive him entirely.
But in the next moment, he pushed her away with such force that Tang Zisu's back hit the corner of the table.
"You went to the stables again; you went looking for Horse Abdomen again and still said there was nothing between you two," Kong Xuan exclaimed as he swept the teapot and teacups off the table onto the floor.
Tang Zisu rubbed her sore lower back. Just when she had felt a bit of warmth in her heart, it turned cold as ice again. She crouched down to pick up the shards of the teacups piece by piece; this time she did not cry.
Kong Xuan turned to leave and threw out one last remark: "Clean up; let Liya stay over tonight."
Tang Zisu felt a tremor in her hand upon hearing those words, and the sharp porcelain shard cut a deep gash into her finger, blood droplets falling onto the white porcelain, creating a striking contrast. Tang Zisu thought to herself, how wonderful, the mistress is finally going to be promoted.
Under the dim lights of the Shuying, night fell upon the Infernal Palace.
Kong Xuan seemed to have had a drink; he walked to the bedroom door and picked up Liya in his arms. Liya giggled charmingly, wrapping her arms tightly around Kong Xuan's neck. As Kong Xuan kicked open the door, Tang Zisu stood at the entrance, caught in a dilemma—neither able to walk away nor stay, pretending not to see anything.
Kong Xuan pulled off Liya's snow-white thin shirt.
Tang Zisu laughed, "Wearing so little is just to be taken off."
Kong Xuan pressed her down and began to untie the silk ribbons of her bodice.
Tang Zisu thought: That person once said, "Young master, your bodice has fallen!"
Kong Xuan propped himself up against the pillow, his long hair cascading down and entangling with his light-colored clothing. His eyelashes fluttered, illuminated by the warm glow of the lights, enchanting more than just one pair of eyes.
He said, "Number one-two-one, lift your head and look closely."
Tang Zisu indeed lifted her head, but her eyes were filled with flames of anger, as if she wanted to skin Kong Xuan alive: "I'm watching; you all continue. If you can't come up with something new, I would be embarrassed to say I know you."
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