It Turns Out, They Are the Protagonists

Tang Xue Palace.

After dismissing the servants, Luo Tan removed her white boots and stepped into the bath. The water rose to her shoulders, and the curtains around the pool were drawn.

She turned her head, looking at the young man sitting not far away through the curtains, and said with a smile, “Don’t take what happened earlier to heart. The Great Peng Emperor has several consorts, but he cares most about this Princess. Seeing you chatting with her under a pavilion, it’s natural for him to lose his composure.”

“There’s nothing between the Princess and me. The Great Peng Emperor is just overthinking things,” Mu Zhian shook his head, not really concerned about this matter.

After all, there really wasn’t anything intimate between him and the Princess.

“Seeing how calm you are, it seems nothing really happened between you two.”

Luo Tan’s beautiful and refined face was expressionless. She gently scooped up some flower petals, admiring the snowy palace, and said faintly, “But didn’t you go back to rest earlier? Why were you with the Princess again?”

“I ran into the Princess on my way back. She said she had something to ask me, so she invited me to stay and chat for a bit,” Mu Zhian replied sincerely.

“And you agreed?”

I get it, I get it. You mean the Princess looks gentle as water and is very beautiful, but she’s actually very scheming, unlike me, who always considers your best interests… Mu Zhian’s comprehension skills were maxed out. He nodded demurely, “I understand. Actually, if I have to say, the Princess only chatted with me because of Your Majesty.”

“Because of me?” Luo Tan’s tone held a hint of confusion.

“She’s suspicious of our relationship and worried that if our affair is discovered by the Nine Provinces cultivators, it will damage your reputation,” Mu Zhian explained.

“Perhaps she saw us in the garden earlier.”

Luo Tan hummed in acknowledgement, but didn’t say anything more.

“If our affair really does spread, it doesn’t seem like it would be good for Your Majesty’s reputation,” Mu Zhian said with some concern.

“And Your Majesty had a conflict with the Great Peng Emperor because of me today. What if he finds out about our affair and makes a big fuss about it?”

“Your Majesty, I’m worried about you,” Mu Zhian continued.

“You’re a rare talent. Since you’re worried about me, why not stay in Yu State? I’ll take care of everything else,” Luo Tan chuckled softly, seeing through Mu Zhian’s intentions.

“You’ve said so much, you actually just want to know why the Great Peng Emperor came to borrow the Myriad Transformations Qi Cauldron today, right?”

Mu Zhian was momentarily silent.

The Nine Provinces were vast; many cultivators couldn’t even leave their own province in their entire lives.

To Mu Zhian, Cloud Province was an extremely mysterious place, and Yu State always had interactions with Cloud Province. If he could learn a thing or two from Luo Tan, it might be useful in the future.

“If you want to understand Cloud Province, why not ask the Princess? She knows much more than I do,” Luo Tan’s tone and attitude suddenly turned colder.

“The Princess and I aren’t related, we’re not even acquaintances. I can’t possibly learn anything from her,” Mu Zhian said with a wry smile.

“Then how about I introduce you?” Luo Tan looked at Mu Zhian and said in a soft and calm voice.

Mu Zhian almost agreed.

But he quickly realized Luo Tan’s hidden meaning… Not only the Great Peng Emperor, but Luo Tan also cared about what he and the Princess talked about under the pavilion.

“No need, let’s leave it to fate. Besides, because of Your Majesty, the Princess isn’t very friendly towards me.”

Mu Zhian sighed softly with a helpless tone, “But what the Princess said wasn’t entirely unreasonable. If my affair with Your Majesty spreads, it wouldn’t matter for me, but your reputation, I’m afraid…”

The woman behind the curtains stood up and changed her clothes with the help of her personal maid. After a while, the curtains opened, revealing a breathtaking beauty in a loose white dress, her aura noble and elegant.

Luo Tan looked at Mu Zhian with a faint smile: “As long as you don’t mind, it’s fine. As for me… Not to mention the news won’t spread, even if it does, it doesn’t matter.”

“At worst, I’ll just marry you in Yu State, going with the flow.”

Then, if Jade Empress Sister comes back and finds out, she’ll probably throw me into the little black room on the spot… Mu Zhian smiled, not responding.

He left Tang Xue Palace with Luo Tan, walking along a quiet path towards the bedchamber.

Perhaps because she had just finished bathing, a pleasant fragrance faintly wafted from the woman walking ahead. Her hair slightly covered her beautiful and charming face, and a delicate red flower ornament adorned her forehead.

It was in the shape of a plum blossom.

Her figure was captivating, her every move exuding the nobility and elegance of an empress.

Soon, the two arrived at Daochu Palace. Luo Tan led Mu Zhian to a quiet room. Two chairs, a finely crafted table, a soft white cloth covering the table, and pink and white flowers adorned the room.

The space was spacious, everything appearing incredibly luxurious.

Graceful maids entered the quiet room carrying trays, placing various medicinal dishes on the table.

Almost every dish emitted a faint rosy light, the trays overflowing with Spiritual Energy, quite extraordinary.

“You may all leave,” Luo Tan instructed softly.

After the maids left and closed the lattice door, Luo Tan, in a loose white dress, sat on a chair. Her hair was slightly messy from her recent bath, simply tied up with a hairpin, strands of hair framing her face, adding a touch of charm.

Mu Zhian casually glanced over and saw the medicinal dishes on white jade plates through the table.

Then, he glanced at the Empress sitting opposite him, his gaze instantly fixed on her chest.

Truly unfathomable…

But when you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you… Mu Zhian quickly looked away, assuming the posture of a gentleman.

Luo Tan seemed to have noticed something and looked at Mu Zhian with a playful gaze.

Mu Zhian said seriously, “Your Majesty, you didn’t have to specially prepare these medicinal dishes, going through so much trouble. This makes me feel somewhat uneasy.”

Luo Tan rested her cheek on her hand, her ample bosom pressing against the table, and said with a faint smile, “The medicinal dishes in Yu State are different from other places. You’ll know their wonders after just one bite.”

Mu Zhian calmly picked up his chopsticks, took a bite, and occasionally glanced at her discreetly.

It had to be said, with a beauty accompanying him, this medicinal meal was indeed quite delicious.

Such a superb beauty, her voluptuous figure, and the charm hidden in her eyes at this moment… calling it a feast for the eyes wasn’t an exaggeration.

“The Great Peng Emperor wanted to borrow the Myriad Transformations Qi Cauldron today. Do you think I should lend it to him?”

Luo Tan admired Mu Zhian sitting opposite her and casually brought up the question.

Mu Zhian was stunned for a moment, then said calmly, “Your Majesty, if I remember correctly, Cloud Province and Yu State have always been allies, right? Whether to lend the Great Peng Emperor the Myriad Transformations Qi Cauldron is something Your Majesty should decide, it’s not appropriate for me to interfere.”

Luo Tan casually picked up a pastry from the white jade plate, put it in her rosy mouth, and said slowly, “With our relationship, there’s no need to be so distant. Just speak frankly.”

“Your Majesty should already have the answer in your heart, why ask me again?”

Mu Zhian saw through Luo Tan’s thoughts at a glance: “The Myriad Transformations Qi Cauldron is mostly used as an ancestral artifact for refining pills. The only one in this world who can possibly refine immortal-grade pills is Your Majesty. And the only reason the Great Peng Emperor wants the Myriad Transformations Qi Cauldron is for immortal-grade pills.”

“But according to Your Majesty just now, he wanted to borrow the cauldron, not ask you to help refine pills… This is concerning.”

“I think Your Majesty also has some doubts, even worries, about this, right?”

Luo Tan silently gazed at Mu Zhian: “Sometimes I wonder why I didn’t meet you sooner.”

Even without the strengthening of the Innate Celestial Furnace constitution, Mu Zhian could still be her advisor.

Then… she could have Mu Zhian do things for her, and when there was nothing to do, she could do Mu Zhian.

It was just a pity that it was too late to think about these things now.

“You guessed correctly, I do have some doubts about the Great Peng Emperor suddenly wanting to borrow the cauldron.”

Luo Tan said, “He obtained a quasi-immortal medicine earlier.”

Mu Zhian was somewhat surprised: “So the Great Peng Emperor borrowing the cauldron really is to refine pills? But besides you, who else in this world is confident in refining immortal-grade pills?”

Luo Tan gently shook her head: “I can’t guess what the Great Peng Emperor is planning… But perhaps after the Princess returns to Cloud Province, the answer will be revealed.”

Mu Zhian was stunned: “Didn’t you say their relationship isn’t very good?”

“Indeed, it’s not very good, but the Princess’s status in Cloud Province is noble. The Great Peng Emperor’s actions can’t be completely hidden from her.”

Luo Tan looked at Mu Zhian and said with a faint smile, “Let’s not talk about this for now. Didn’t you ask me about combining Heavenly Court Spiritual Energy with pills today?”

“Does Your Majesty already have a solution?” A glint of light flashed through Mu Zhian’s eyes.

Luo Tan took out a jade bottle from her sleeve, placed it on the table, and poured out a second-grade Minor Rejuvenation Pill.

She toyed with this worthless pill, her gaze casually glancing at Mu Zhian: “Do you know the difference between high-grade pills and low-grade pills?”

Mu Zhian pondered for a moment: “If I remember correctly, the higher the pill grade, the more likely it is to attract a Pill Tribulation. If an alchemist’s strength is insufficient, the pills they refine might even turn to dust during the Pill Tribulation.”

“But there are some exceptions,” Luo Tan gazed into Mu Zhian’s eyes and said with a faint smile, “All things have spirits, and pills are the same. Some high-grade pills, the moment they’re refined, might even try to escape.”

“And these high-grade pills can often withstand Pill Tribulations on their own, without the alchemist’s protection.”

Mu Zhian understood the underlying meaning in Luo Tan’s words: “Your Majesty means I need to refine high-grade pills to contain Heavenly Court Spiritual Energy?”

Heavenly Court Spiritual Energy was vast and boundless. The moment it was infused into a pill, the pill might instantly shatter.

But the higher the pill grade, the less likely it was to shatter. He refined second-grade pills before because his alchemy skills could only support refining second-grade pills. But if he refined high-grade pills, then infused them with Heavenly Court Spiritual Energy… what would happen?

“Indeed, I refined Minor Rejuvenation Pills in the past because my alchemy skills were average, and the alchemy competition was imminent. But now, with enough time, I can slowly hone my alchemy skills…” Mu Zhian murmured thoughtfully.

“Besides that, there’s actually another method to refine the Heavenly Court pills you want.”

Luo Tan’s words instantly caught Mu Zhian’s attention.

“What method?” Mu Zhian asked.

“There’s no rule stating that all pills must be refined by a single person. Some high-grade pills have extremely high requirements for the alchemist’s spiritual power and mental energy, so some high-grade pills are often refined by two or three people.”

“You mean… Your Majesty and I refine pills together?” Mu Zhian understood Luo Tan’s meaning. During the alchemy competition before, there were some problems with Ye Lingxuan’s pill, and it was Mu Zhian who assisted her, ultimately completing that unique Heavenly Court pill.

“During the alchemy competition last time, you ultimately helped the Forbidden Zone imperial daughter win in this way. I think you should be very familiar with this method of alchemy, right?”

Luo Tan casually picked up some food from the plate, placed it in Mu Zhian’s bowl, and looked at him with a smile.

Mu Zhian also gazed at her noble and beautiful face. The snow-white dress clung tightly to her voluptuous and graceful figure, her curves fully displayed, as if her every move, even the act of eating, was incredibly elegant.

Just then, Luo Tan suddenly stood up, placed her hands on the table, and slowly approached the young man.

Mu Zhian subconsciously looked up at her, then, as if drawn by some force, his gaze involuntarily fell to her neckline.

This time, it really wasn’t Mu Zhian’s fault. After all, any normal man… couldn’t help but look, especially with the current ambiguous atmosphere between them.

Luo Tan clearly noticed the young man’s gaze. In Yu State, anyone looking directly at the Empress like this was considered disrespectful. But facing Mu Zhian’s direct gaze, not only wasn’t she annoyed, but a smile even appeared at the corner of her mouth.

Mu Zhian watched as her beautiful face approached him, the distance between them closing bit by bit. At this moment, time seemed to slow down.

Finally, Mu Zhian couldn’t resist any longer. He stood up, wrapped his arms around Luo Tan’s neck, and kissed her rosy, rouge-painted lips.

Finally tasted it…

Having been interrupted by the Great Peng Emperor once before, Mu Zhian felt some regret, but in this quiet room, there wouldn’t be any interruptions.

Just as Mu Zhian was about to close his eyes and enjoy the softness of the Empress’s lips, Luo Tan seemed to sense something, her eyelashes trembling slightly, and she slowly opened her eyes.

“What’s wrong?”

Before Mu Zhian could finish speaking, Luo Tan suddenly placed a finger against his lips, making a “shh” sound, then held his hand, and before he could speak, pulled him under the table.

“She’s coming,” Luo Tan transmitted her voice to Mu Zhian.

Almost at the same time, a knock came from outside the quiet room, accompanied by a woman’s soft voice: “Is it convenient to come in now?”

Luo Tan casually glanced at the young man beneath the table, then covered him with a cloth, enveloped him with Spiritual Energy to conceal his aura, looked up, and said with her usual elegant demeanor and a smile, “There’s no need to be so polite between us, come in.”

As her voice fell, the door to the quiet room opened.

Luo Tan looked at her close friend and said with a smile, “I just had some medicinal dishes prepared, you can join me.”

The beautiful and alluring Princess glanced at the medicinal dishes on the table, then said with a half-smile, “I’ll pass, lest I interrupt your good time.”

“These were prepared for that young cultivator called Mu Zhian, right? Where is he now?” The Princess sized up Luo Tan and asked.

Luo Tan crossed her legs under the table and said with a smile, “He left after finishing the medicinal dishes.”

The Princess raised an eyebrow slightly and sat down opposite Luo Tan: “It seems he’s deliberately avoiding me?”

Luo Tan said faintly, “You just met him and persuaded him to leave my side, naturally he doesn’t want to see you.”

“You know about it…?”

It seemed Mu Zhian had ‘complained’ to Luo Tan… The Princess sighed softly, “Even if you don’t care about your own reputation, don’t you care about what the Jade Empress would think if she knew her Dao Companion was being…”

She suddenly stopped speaking, turning her face away, a faint blush appearing on her fair cheeks.

Although she wore a veil, it wasn’t hard to imagine the beauty of the Princess’s face.

“Don’t worry, I know my limits,” Luo Tan said calmly, “You suddenly came to see me, you must have something important to say, right?”

The Princess quickly collected her thoughts and nodded gently: “I might know why the Great Peng Emperor wants to borrow the Myriad Transformations Qi Cauldron.”

She gazed into Luo Tan’s eyes and said, “The Northern Frontier’s Star Abyss, even Dao Integration Realm experts are suppressed there. The Great Peng Emperor went to the Star Abyss before, and he bragged to me that he had found the method to transcend and ascend.”

“Star Abyss? Isn’t that where the forbidden beings reside? Those sealed old monsters would let the Great Peng Emperor enter?” Luo Tan’s eyes flickered, and she hesitated.

Within the Nine Provinces, there were several ‘forbidden lands’, all formed by ancient forbidden beings.

According to Luo Tan’s deductions, the lifespans of these forbidden beings were even longer than the current Dao Integration Realm experts.

However, they seemed to be sealed by someone, unable to leave for their entire lives.

Because they had been sealed for too long, these forbidden beings were incredibly violent, attacking any cultivator who set foot there… But the Great Peng Emperor not only entered the forbidden land, but even took a stalk of Immortal Medicine from within?

The mature and beautiful Princess sat on the chair, her gaze fixed, and said seriously, “This matter is strange. I’ll investigate clearly after returning to Cloud Province this time. As for the Myriad Transformations Qi Cauldron… don’t lend it out for now.”

Luo Tan chuckled softly, “Do you really think I plan to lend it out? The Myriad Transformations Qi Cauldron is a sacred artifact of Yu State. There’s no way I would let it leave Yu State… No matter who asks to borrow it.”

“What if it’s Mu Zhian?” the Princess suddenly asked casually.

Luo Tan’s smile faded slightly: “Why do you suddenly mention him?”

Seeing this, an incredulous and strange look appeared on the Princess’s beautiful face beneath her veil: “You didn’t refuse immediately… Could it be that if Mu Zhian really wanted to borrow the cauldron, you would actually lend it to him?”

“What kind of love potion did that person give you? The Myriad Transformations Qi Cauldron is the cornerstone of Yu State, carrying the faith of an entire province… You—”

At this moment, the Princess felt a pain in her chest from anger, momentarily speechless.

She had reached Dao Integration earlier than Luo Tan and even saved Luo Tan’s life once. She had always seen Luo Tan as a younger sister.

But now, not only did Luo Tan find a Dao Companion, but this Dao Companion already had other women…

And one of them was even the Jade Empress.

“What’s so good about this Mu Zhian that you have to protect him like this?” The mature and beautiful woman sighed softly. Even with her veil, it wasn’t hard to imagine the displeasure on her beautiful face.

Because of this Mu Zhian, she even had a conflict with the Great Peng Emperor.

Although she didn’t care what the Great Peng Emperor thought.

Luo Tan looked at the Princess with complex eyes and said faintly, “You don’t understand.”

“It seems I can’t persuade you… But Mu Zhian is ultimately the Jade Empress’s Dao Companion. If you’re intimate with him… remember not to let anyone outside know,” the Princess sighed helplessly, her brows furrowing with worry.

They hadn’t seen each other for a long time, yet she didn’t expect this close friend to have developed such a strange hobby as ‘liking married men’…

And the other party was a little cultivator who seemed to be less than twenty years old?

The Jade Empress too, and now the Pill Emperor as well… These two Empresses were so proud, how could they be so devoted to a little cultivator?

Besides being handsome and delicate, easily arousing a woman’s maternal instincts… did that little cultivator have any other merits?

Talent? Luck? Luo Tan and the Jade Empress had seen countless talented and lucky people in the past. It was obvious it wasn’t related to these two things.

Perhaps it was simply because they were compatible… The Princess could only comfort herself this way.

“Sister, have some medicinal dishes before you leave?” Seeing the Princess seemingly giving up, Luo Tan couldn’t help but invite her with a smile.

The Princess glanced at Luo Tan, then lifted her veil, revealing a breathtakingly beautiful face.

It was no wonder the Great Peng Emperor had been pursuing her all these years and refused to give up. Such beauty was truly rare in this world.

“Eh…? When did you have the time to refine this grade of pill?”

Just then, the Princess suddenly asked doubtfully, picking up the small jade bottle on the table.

Luo Tan’s eyes changed slightly, “Wait—”

Before she could finish speaking, the Princess had already opened the jade bottle, then chuckled softly, “A second-grade pill… Even children in Yu State can refine this, right? I didn’t expect you to have the time to refine Minor Rejuvenation Pills—”

Her voice suddenly stopped, as if sensing something unusual. She frowned and sniffed the pills in the jade bottle.

“…”

After a long silence, the Princess slowly looked up, her gaze instantly sharpening, staring intently at Luo Tan: “This pill originates from the Heavenly Court…”

“Where did you get this?”