40: Going to Pingyang Mansion tonight...

“The Son of Heaven Sword?!”

Li Shengyuan couldn’t help but exclaim.

This sword was the inherited divine sword of the Da Qian Emperor, the very one used by the Da Qian Founding Emperor to establish the nation and prove his Dao.

After a thousand years of imperial aura, the already extraordinary Son of Heaven Sword was now even more remarkable.

Over the millennia, the sword had rarely revealed its edge, only a few times to quell Demon Cult rebellions and invasions by Demon Barbarians from the border.

The most recent instance was several years ago when the Previous Emperor wielded the Son of Heaven Sword in a great battle against the Demon Emperor of the Western Regions!

Even the Cangsheng Brush that his grandfather Li Cangsheng gave him was several grades below the Son of Heaven Sword.

Princess Pingyang also looked at her Imperial Sister with a stunned expression; although she yearned for the Son of Heaven Sword in her heart, she felt she was still lacking.

She said with some trepidation, “Imperial Sister, I am far from being able to control the Son of Heaven Sword right now. If I lose it, how can I face our ancestors?”

The Empress Master Sister said indifferently, “Letting you take the Son of Heaven Sword to the Northern Territory is not only for your self-defense but also to deter all the petty scoundrels!”

“Seeing the Son of Heaven Sword is like the Son of Heaven personally arriving. If there is anyone who dares to resist, you may wield the Son of Heaven Sword to execute them first and report later!”

Seeing this, Princess Pingyang could no longer refuse and accepted with a mixture of excitement and apprehension.

“Alright then… I will protect the Son of Heaven Sword well and ensure it does not tarnish Imperial Sister’s name!”

“Mm.”

The Empress Master Sister nodded lightly in response, then said no more, focusing instead on her meal.

Li Shengyuan finally understood the Empress Master Sister’s meaning. Rather than giving it to Princess Pingyang for self-defense, it was more to deter the Prince of Yan!

As a vassal king of Da Qian and the Previous Emperor’s younger brother, he naturally knew the power of the Son of Heaven.

Another reason was to let him use this sword to improve his strength.

His Master Sister was still very good to him, and Li Shengyuan felt a warmth in his heart.

Seeing that it was getting late, Li Shengyuan stood up to bid farewell to the Empress Master Sister.

“Master Sister, it’s late. Please rest well. I’ll head back now.”

The Empress Master Sister looked up at Li Shengyuan, remained silent for a moment, then said softly,

“...Mm, Master Brother, take care.”

At this moment, Princess Pingyang also quickly stood up to bid farewell, “Imperial Sister, I’ll head back too. Please rest well.”

The Empress frowned slightly as she looked at her sister, but still nodded slightly.

Since her Imperial Sister already knew most of it, Princess Pingyang didn't hide her relationship with Li Gege.

She leaned tightly against Li Shengyuan right in front of her Imperial Sister.

Upon seeing this scene, Empress’s eyes narrowed instantly, and her hands beneath her long robes clenched into fists.

After the two of them disappeared, she finally slowly relaxed her hands, and her gaze returned to calmness.

After completely leaving the Empress’s bedchamber, Princess Pingyang unhesitatingly reached out and linked her arm through Li Shengyuan’s.

She looked at him with admiration and asked curiously,

“Li Gege, you’re amazing! How did you get Imperial Sister to give you a shoulder rub and massage? Can you ask her to give me one too?!”

Li Shengyuan glanced at her and said irritably, “You still dare to ask the Empress Master Sister to give you a shoulder rub and massage? I think you’re really asking for a beating!”

Princess Pingyang immediately pouted unhappily, “Why can she help you but not me?!”

Li Shengyuan said helplessly, “I didn’t ask Master Sister to massage me. How could I have that ability… She really did it on her own initiative.”

“It’s still a long way to go if you want to order Master Sister around and have her obediently listen.”

“Alright.” Princess Pingyang finally accepted reality.

Li Shengyuan said indifferently, “I’ll send you back first.”

Princess Pingyang’s eyes immediately lit up. “Okay! Li Gege is the best.”

Her heart pounded wildly, and she began to let her imagination run wild. Li Shengyuan was voluntarily sending her back; was he planning on dual cultivation?

Should she be more proactive then, or more proactive…

Meanwhile, Li Shengyuan was already contemplating his plan to kill Minister Sun and perform soul-searching.

Being with Princess Pingyang could better prove that he was not the Demon Head Shura.

The Da Qian laws stipulated that no matter how heinous the criminal, secret techniques like soul-searching, which violated both human and heavenly principles, could not be used!

The higher the position, the stronger the backlash!

If used too much, it would go against heavenly and human harmony, and the national destiny would gradually weaken, which was not conducive to the long-term prosperity of the nation.

If too many people died in various parts of the country, it would also harm the national destiny.

Only when the country was peaceful and the people were content could the national destiny become more prosperous and long-lasting.

In the previous dynasty, Da Yu, the emperor and court officials indulged in pleasure, disregarding the lives of the common people. Coupled with natural disasters, man-made calamities, and the rampant Demon Barbarians, thousands of people died every day!

This ultimately led to the collapse of the national destiny, with uprisings everywhere. The Da Qian Founding Emperor was the first to break into the capital of Da Yu, behead the tyrant, and then quell the various disputes and riots throughout the land, as well as the border Demon Barbarians. He established the Da Qian dynasty, allowed the people to recuperate, and only then did the national destiny gradually stabilize.

Da Qian could not use cruel secret techniques like soul-searching, but what did that have to do with him, the Demon Head Shura?

Now Minister Sun was imprisoned in the Demon Suppression Division’s dungeon. If it were elsewhere, Li Shengyuan would have trouble sneaking in.

But entering the Demon Suppression Division was too familiar to him, after all, he had been struggling there for more than ten years.

Within the Demon Suppression Division, except for special circumstances, at least one third-rank Division Lord and three fourth-rank Golden-robed Demon Suppressors were on duty every night. It was very difficult for ordinary people to sneak in quietly.

But Li Shengyuan was not among ordinary people; his mind had already planned out the route to infiltrate the Demon Suppression Division’s prison.

No one would have thought that the dignified Demon Suppression Division was actually harboring a “ghost”...

Just as Li Shengyuan was deep in thought, Princess Pingyang’s voice, shy yet expectant, reached his ears.

“Li Gege, I’m home…”

“Oh, we’re here already?” Li Shengyuan looked up and indeed, they had arrived at the Princess’s Residence.

“Li Gege, you…” Princess Pingyang said softly, her face burning, as she lowered her head.

“I haven’t been to your place in a long time. Would you welcome me in for a sit?” Li Shengyuan smiled at her.

“Ah?!” Princess Pingyang was stunned, thinking she had misheard.

It was so late, Li Gege really wanted to come to her residence for a sit. Did that mean tonight they really would…

Princess Pingyang’s breathing immediately quickened, her face flushed, her eyes moist and hazy, as the words and postures her mother had mentioned that afternoon flashed rapidly through her mind.

“If not, then forget it…” Li Shengyuan looked at Princess Pingyang with some confusion, not knowing why she had suddenly become shy.

It wasn’t as if he hadn’t been there before.

Princess Pingyang excitedly shook her head and waved her hands, saying, “No, no, no, Li Gege is very welcome to visit my residence; I’m just a little too happy…”

Then she grabbed Li Shengyuan’s hand and walked towards her Princess’s Residence.

“Li Gege, come with me…”

Li Shengyuan let Princess Pingyang lead him towards the backyard of the Princess’s Residence, not knowing what she was up to.

Finally, when the two arrived at Princess Pingyang’s bedchamber, Li Shengyuan looked at her with a shocked expression.

What was this girl trying to do?!

Could it be that in the dead of night, she was planning something improper with me?

But I have something important to do tonight!

Princess Pingyang’s next words made his heart pound even faster, and he began to get excited.

With a flushed face, Princess Pingyang lowered her head shyly and whispered,

“Li Gege, please sit for a while. Is it alright if Princess Pingyang goes to bathe first to wash away the dust, and then comes to serve you?”