"What's wrong with Your Highness?" Zu An asked with a smile.

"It's nothing. I had something to discuss with the Regent, so I came a little in a hurry." Liu Ning said, wrinkling her nose as if preparing to smell a familiar scent in the air.

However, the room is now filled with the distinctive scent of sandalwood, making it difficult to detect anything else.

She couldn't help but glance at Bi Linglong's face again. Compared to her usual fair and jade-like skin, it seemed excessively rosy today. Could it be...?

"Your Majesty's recklessness today seems unlike your usual composure," Bi Linglong thought to herself, realizing something was amiss, and immediately switched from defense to offense.

Seeing her calm expression but sharp and sarcastic tone, Zu An couldn't help but admire her. Women are truly natural actors. If he didn't know what had just happened, he would hardly suspect that she had done anything wrong.

Bi Linglong was also secretly relieved. Fortunately, Azu's divine sense had a wide enough range that he had noticed the Empress when she arrived at the academy.

This guy wanted to continue his antics, but she knew the Empress's temperament too well and didn't dare to continue.

She hurriedly got up and dressed, thankfully she had combed her hair beforehand.

Even so, she almost didn't make it in time; she was still tidying her clothes just before the Empress entered.

Her gaze fell on the burning sandalwood incense, wondering what kind of fragrance it was, with such a lingering scent that it could even overpower all the other strange aromas.

Hmph, it seems that Ah Zu is quite experienced in this kind of thing!

"I heard that Linglong has been here for several hours and hasn't come out yet, so I'm worried that the Regent will bully you," Liu Ning said, half-jokingly and half-seriously.

Bi Linglong's heart skipped a beat, but she remained calm and said, "Are you insulting me or the High Priest? He is now a highly respected figure in everyone's eyes..."

"Linglong, why are you taking this so seriously? I was just joking with you." Liu Ning interrupted her, looking at Zu An. "I'm very close to the Regent, he won't mind, right, Regent?"

“That joke isn’t funny,” Bi Linglong snorted, then looked at Zu An with a puzzled expression. “How are the Empress and the Chief Priest so familiar with each other?”

"Ahem," seeing that the battle was about to spread to him, Zu An coughed lightly, "The Crown Princess was just asking me about some cultivation methods, so it took a while. Your Highness, please don't talk nonsense, it would have a bad impact if it got out."

"I see," Liu Ning smiled at Bi Linglong. "I didn't expect Linglong to be so devoted to cultivation. It just so happens that my cultivation has recovered recently. Linglong can come to Kunning Palace to see me more often in the future. I can help you answer your questions and avoid gossip from outside."

“Besides Her Majesty, I’m sure no one will have any gossip,” Bi Linglong said coldly. “Naturally, one should seek guidance from the strongest in cultivation.”

The implication is that the Empress has no self-awareness; she doesn't know the difference between herself and Zu'an, so why should I bother with her?

Liu Ning's breath hitched, and she snorted as well: "Linglong, your current cultivation level seems to be far from that of a Grandmaster. I am more than capable of guiding you. The Regent's realm is too far from yours, so don't be too ambitious."

Seeing the two women locked eyes, sparks seemed to fly in the air, Zu An hurriedly said, "Your Highness, don't bite off more than you can chew. I've already taught you some things; go back and digest them properly."

Bi Linglong's face flushed. She naturally understood the meaning behind his words. She glared at him irritably before getting up to take her leave.

Liu Ning and she had never gotten along, so she naturally didn't try to stop her. She watched her walk away and couldn't help but mutter to herself, "Linglong's walking posture seems to be getting more and more feminine now."

Fearing that she might have noticed something, Zu An hurriedly asked, "Why did Your Highness come to see me in such a hurry?"

Liu Ning giggled and sat down in his lap: "Can't I come to see you if I have nothing to do?"

Zuan was a little annoyed: "You were the one who just said you had something important to discuss with me."

However, with the warm fragrance and soft jade in his arms, that bit of depression was quickly swept away.

It is said that when Bi Linglong and Liu Ning hugged, the feeling was completely different.

Bi Linglong was slender and graceful, while Liu Ning was plump and full... cough cough, what are you thinking, you scumbag!

“Wasn’t that just to fool that girl Linglong? But I really did come here on business,” Liu Ning took out a brocade box from her bosom and handed it to him. “There are two million taels of silver notes here. You can keep them for now.”

Zuan: "???"

Liu Ning smiled and said, "I heard from the people below that you were buying up medicinal herbs on a large scale and even had to pay others. I suppose you must be refining pills. With such a huge amount of consumption, you must be short of money right now. This is some private money I've saved up over the years. You can use it to tide you over."

Zuan: "..."