Helpless, Rouge had no choice but to sit down and force herself to watch the song and dance. A singer dressed in red silk danced gracefully, singing a song called "Jiang Cheng Zi" as she danced: "Spouting fine threads of rouge, the immortals say there are auspicious cloud branches. I yearn for you, but there is no way to express my longing. In vain I embroider the pattern of the mimosa flower, when will the time of the mimosa come?"
The enchanting song made her slightly intoxicated, and she remembered Gongzi Bai. The Emperor, noticing her lost in thought, pushed a cup of wine towards her: "My beloved consort, tonight is a fine night, let us drink a cup together first."
She thanked the emperor, raised her wine cup, and downed the entire cup of osmanthus wine. A cool sensation filled her throat, and she felt slightly dazed. Her gaze shifted, and she noticed a familiar face standing behind a pillar in the palace. At that moment, the singing and dancing abruptly stopped.
Through her drunken haze, the man emerged from behind a palace pillar and ascended the palace steps. Rouge steadied herself before recognizing him as the imperial physician who had once treated her!
She was startled and turned around to find that the emperor was already ten steps away from his seat, staring at her with a look of fear on his face.
"Imperial Preceptor, quickly subdue this monster!" The Emperor's face was devoid of any affection, and his hand trembled as he pointed at himself.
The imperial physician... was actually the Grand Preceptor?
Rouge knew something was wrong and was about to recite an incantation when her body went limp to the ground. Oh no! There was something fishy about the wine she'd just drunk!
Filled with grief and indignation, she watched as the Imperial Advisor, sword in hand, approached step by step. She heard him say, "You vixen, impersonating Consort Shu! I already knew your true nature when I examined your pulse!"
What?
Rouge felt a chill run through her body.
It turns out she gave herself away from the very beginning.
The Emperor had long suspected her identity, which is why he asked the Imperial Advisor to disguise himself as a physician to investigate her true nature. Once he confirmed she was a demon, he ordered that she be served a bowl of medicine laced with realgar daily. Unfortunately, being a tree spirit, she refused to drink the medicine and also wouldn't eat the palace food in private. That's why the Emperor devised the tactic of urging her to drink at a banquet.
It's because she lacks the necessary aptitude; she can never see through the intricacies of human relationships.
The sound of swords piercing the air.
Rouge lay helplessly on the ground, watching the sharp sword hurtling towards her, and closed her eyes.
"Young Master Bai..."
【Nine】
When Rouge woke up, she found herself chained to a palace pillar with demon-locking chains, and there was no one around her.
The hall was in complete disarray, the thin curtains fluttering like lonely ghosts in the night wind. The scene was terrifying, and she couldn't help but struggle, but the demon-locking chains immediately emitted a blinding blue light, coiling around her body like snakes.
The Demon-Sealing Chains were inscribed with a Soul-Dissolving Curse, which she couldn't withstand with her current power. Soon, Rouge's body was tormented as if burned by fire, and she gradually turned into a wisp of smoke.
At the critical moment, Gongzi Bai flew in from outside the palace gate, cleaved the demon-locking chains with a single palm, then sat cross-legged and used his immortal power to immobilize Yan Zhi's demon spirit.
"Focus on absorbing my immortal power, or your demon soul will never be reborn!" he roared at her, his eyes filled with madness.
She slowly awoke, looked down at her almost transparent body, and smiled bitterly: "Young Master Bai, this time, are you doing this for me, or for Hehuan?"
He remained silent, large beads of sweat forming on his forehead. And so she finally despaired.
Forget it, the same question will get the same answer no matter how many times you ask it.
However, at that moment, a group of people suddenly rushed into the hall, led by the Imperial Advisor. "Lord Siqing is currently gathering demonic spirits, which is when his immortal energy is at its weakest. Quickly capture him!" The Imperial Advisor's ferocious face flashed before them.
It turns out they used her as bait to lure Young Master Bai into their trap!
Rouge said urgently, "Young Master Bai, don't worry about me, you should go!"
“If I leave, your soul will instantly vanish.” He shook his head and continued to infuse her with his immortal energy. She was furious: “You’re doing this for Hehuan, not for me! Why do this!”
"I did it for you!" he roared, his eyes filled with unwavering determination.
Rouge was stunned.
In that brief moment of distraction, the Imperial Preceptor performed the Immortal Binding Spell beside him, tightly binding him with the Immortal Binding Rope.
Rouge cried until her voice was hoarse, but there was no turning back now.
【pickup】
Rouge was locked in the palace for three whole days. Demon-repelling talismans were pasted in all four corners of the palace, preventing her from escaping.
On the morning of the fourth day, the palace doors finally opened. The Emperor stood at the door, looking at her triumphantly: "My beloved consort, I wish to make a deal with you."
She glared at him fiercely: "Look closely at my face! I am not your beloved concubine! And release Gongzi Bai immediately, or you will be guilty of detaining an immortal and deserve to die!"
The Emperor was not offended at all, and said, "I know you transformed into Hehuan's appearance." He raised his hand and a painting rolled down to her feet.
Rouge unfolded the painting and saw that the person in the painting was none other than Young Master Bai.
"This painting belongs to Hehuan! He had an affair with one of my concubines, which violated the Heavenly Laws long ago! So what if I detained him?" the Emperor said. "If this painting hadn't been discovered in Hehuan's palace, how could I have bear to banish her to the Cold Palace?"
Rouge asked in a cold voice, "Then what do you want?"
The emperor squinted at her: "I want you to help me dig out his immortal roots, and then we'll become immortals together."
Why should I believe you?
"Because you had no choice," the Emperor said.
Rouge laughed bitterly, tears streaming down her face.
"good."
Rouge was led into the execution ground. Young Master Bai, bound by the Immortal-Locking Rope, sat in the center of the execution ground, staring at her and saying, "You've come."
He seemed to have already figured out his own purpose.
Rouge sat down opposite him and whispered, "Later, I will use a trick to hand over a celestial root. They will definitely think that you have lost all your celestial power and will be less vigilant towards you. At that time, you must escape."
He smiled slightly: "Okay."
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