Shang Hongyu stepped forward with a frown. âGeneral, this is my personal palace. How can you barge in with so many people in the middle of the night?â
Ka Qier sneered inwardly.
This woman really knows how to act. Sheâs clearly already been toyed with until sheâs our plaything, yet she's still putting on this high and dignified queen act.
Even so, there was no way he would expose her right now. His eyes scanned the surroundings as if he was looking for any suspicious things.
Shang Liuyu naturally blended among the palace maids and quickly lowered her head he wouldnât find her expression suspicious at all.
Ka Qier then asked, âWhat was the queen doing just now?â
âResting, of course. Why would I even need to explain anything to you in the first place?â Shang Hongyuâs expression turned cold. There wasnât even a trace of her flirtiness from when she was with Zu An.
Ka Qier harrumphed.
These palace maids might be fooled by your arrogant act, but I know that you were kneeling and servicing the fake Dragon King in that humiliating manner. If not for the greater plan, I would definitely make you pay for saying that.
âYou didnât leave?â he asked, then turned to the maids and guards.
âThe queen seems to have been in her room the whole time,â the others replied.
Shang Hongyu had grandmaster rank cultivation, after all. Additionally, Ka Qier had deliberately lowered the number of guards around her. That was why she had been able to secretly leave and return without anyone noticing anything.
âIs that so?â Ka Qier became quiet.
In a far corner, Shang Liuyu was really nervous. If she was found, not only she, but even her big sister and brother-in-law, could be in danger.
These imposters are way too mysterious. Theyâve already almost completely cut off communication with the outside world. Even brother-in-law and big sis were dealt with before they could activate most of the Ocean racesâ forces.
She felt a bit of regret when she realized that. She was still a bit too rash. If she really ended up harming her big sister and brother-in-law, not even ten thousand deaths would atone for her crimes.
Just then, Zu An arrived with a group of guards. He asked, âWhat happened? Why are there so many people here?â
Shang Hongyu harrumphed. âWhy donât you ask him?â
Zu An looked toward Ka Qier.
Ka Qier almost laughed.
This woman only acts like a toy in front of the Dragon King. Sheâs still acting all haughty in front of me.
He coordinated with the performance and said, âThere was someone who brought away the third... Ahem, I came here to check on the situation.â
âI also noticed that something was strange and investigated personally, but I didnât find any traces of that traitor. The other side was probably already prepared for our reaction, so what we should be doing now is quickly seal off all important routes to prevent them from escaping,â Zu An replied.
âWeâve already caused a huge ruckus with the queenâs arrest order. If we do something like that again, we might... Forget it, thatâs all we can do for now.â Ka Qier seemed a bit hesitant, but he still decided to leave. However, when he walked by Shang Liuyu, he suddenly stopped and asked, âWhy is your majestyâs taste so bad? Is a servant this ugly even worthy of serving you?â
Shang Liuyu immediately became nervous when she heard that.
Ah! I forgot that brother-in-law is a huge pervert! The maids that serve him are all beauties. Now that an ordinary-looking face like me has appeared, Iâll end up standing out!
Shang Hongyu seemed to be staring at her too, as if she was really nervous.
Zu An gave her a look and said nonchalantly, âHer face might be ordinary, but her figure is excellent.â
Shang Liuyu was speechless. Never had she expected to actually be grateful for someone else âpraisingâ her this way.
Ka Qier sized her up. âHer figure is not bad indeed. Perhaps your majesty could reward me with this maid?â
When she heard that, Shang Liuyu was so scared that her heart almost jumped out of her chest.
âIf you want someone like her, go look for one yourself. I like this one and sheâs mine.â Zu An stepped in front of Shang Liuyu.
Shang Liuyu was speechless.
I never thought that I would one day be grateful for my brother-in-law being perverted...
âEnough, enough, how could this humble subordinate dare to fight over someone your majesty favors?â Ka Qier only wanted to scare Shang Liuyu a bit and didnât really want her. He then used the situation to leave.
Shang Liuyu secretly sighed in relief.
Thankfully, he doesn't know.
Ka Qier grinned as he left.
She thinks I donât know...
Zu An and Shang Hongyu watched Ka Qier leave. Their expressions were a bit strange.
He thinks we donât know he knows.
In the end, it would all just depend on who was more skilled.
...
Once Ka Qier left, several maids quickly approached to serve the Dragon King and queen. At the same time, many of them looked at Shang Liuyu with hostility.
Just where did this maid come from? She just arrived and the Dragon King already likes her?
More importantly, this maid really isnât that pretty. Isnât it just her butt sticking out a bit more when she stands up, her bearing a bit more graceful, and her figure being a bit better?
It could have been a bit easier for them to accept if she was extremely pretty. But when she looked like this, it made all of them feel a sense of âI could do it too if it were meâ.
Shang Hongyu sensed their jealousy and was worried that her little sisterâs identity would be exposed, so after some hesitation, she ordered for her sister to serve her personally in the future.
Still, that only made the other maids even more jealous. However, Shang Liuyuâs expression was extremely calm.
These people donât know anything, so thereâs no need to fight with them. Even showing any negative emotion toward their reactions is unnecessary.
Soon after, some maids brought over a beautiful case, delivering it to the Dragon King. Shang Liuyu frowned and she stopped them, asking, âWhat is this?â
âIt was sent by General Ka Qier. He repeatedly warned us that we have to hand it to the Dragon King,â the maids replied.
When she heard that it was brought by Ka Qier, Shang Liuyu became even more nervous. She said, âGive it to me, and Iâll bring it to the Dragon King.â
The maids were a bit hesitant, but Shang Liuyu said with a harrumph, âWhat, are you worried that Iâll take it for myself?â
Since she had even said that, the maids could only hand it to her. When they turned around and left, they continued to grumble.
âWhat is she acting so proud for?!â
âExactly! She was just promoted by her highness, and yet she's already forgotten her own surname!â
...
Even though their voices were soft, with Shang Liuyuâs cultivation, how could she not hear them? But she didnât take it to heart. When they left, she opened the case and was about to check what was really inside to make sure that they werenât delivering poison to her brother-in-law and big sister.
There were several bottles resting inside the beautiful case. One of the bottles was labeled âDesires Unleashed Dewâ, and the other was labeled âNine Flavor Earth Emperor Pillsâ.
Shang Liuyuâs expression went blank.
What kinds of medicines are these?
She had never heard of them before. They seemed to touch upon a gap in her knowledge.
The names suggest that theyâre nourishing products...
But she was still worried and planned to examine them first. Even though she wasnât proficient in medicine, at her level of cultivation, she could roughly deduce whether a certain drug was harmful or not. She opened the Desires Unleashed Dew first, and prepared to give the contents a gentle sniff.
Suddenly, a pair of hands shot out and seized the bottle away. At the same time, she was pushed aside.
As she looked at her anxious older sister, Shang Liuyu was a bit stunned. She asked, âBig sister?â
âDo you smell something strange? Like something sweet?â Shang Hongyu looked at her nervously.
âI didnât? Why did you push me away?â Shang Liuyu replied. Her eyes landed on the bottle and she asked, âWhat kind of medicine is that?â