"Where have you been?" The emperor asked his little eunuch with a serious tone.

Xu Zhengming and Empress Xue Chi walked for quite a long time before finally settling in the imperial garden. Also, on his way back to the Lotus Hall, he can't avoid getting lost. His memory isn't bad but when it comes to direction, he has it hard to get back into the right path.

When he reached the Lotus Hall, the discussion between the emperor and Princess Yin Xiulan was long through and so, he has to find his way again to his majesty's hall. He almost got drenched when a sudden rainfall started to wet the ground.

By the time he arrived, the emperor is already having his lunch. Xu Zhengming couldn't help but unconsciously swallow his saliva as he stares at his majesty's luxurious meal.

"Didn't court lady Han tell you, your majesty?" His gaze is still at his majesty's dish.

The emperor played his chopsticks saying, "She did. She informed me that you went to a walk with the empress." He looks at Xu Znengming with a cold gaze, "Where did you two go?"

Due to this gaze, Xu Zhengming felt chills on his back. He thought, his majesty is being sour.

He grins as he asks, "Is his majesty jealous?" No one knows where this eunuch got his guts and bravery the moment he teased the emperor. 

The emperor almost rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Hmph! Why would I?"

His grin spreads even wider. "Well, she's her highness the empress herself after all."

Emperor Yin Renshu glares at him. "Do you want to get castrated?"

"..."

Where did all his fluffiness from earlier go to? Why is he being ruthless again?

The emperor put his chopsticks down and turns his upper body to face Xu Zhengming. "It's not that I want to marry her. It's the grand empress dowager's will. All for the sake of political power."

"So she's not the type his majesty fancies?"

The emperor is puzzled. "Type?"

"Well, it seems his majesty is innocent regarding this matter." Xu Zhengming sat on the opposite side of the small table where the emperor is dining. He smirked to show that he got wisdom in this field. "I tell you, your majesty, there are several types of women."

"There are?"

Xu Zhengming said with confidence, "So far, I know thirteen classifications. If your majesty will tell me the things he likes for a woman, then it would be easy for me to identify what type of woman you fancy."

"Hmm... interesting." The emperor thinks for a while. "Perhaps a woman who knows she's beautiful? I don't like giving compliments after all. But of course, she must not compliment herself. Witty but dumb in a way, that makes her fun to tease. A little short-tempered but gentle. I like a strong woman but seek help from me. Possessive but doesn't threaten my freedom. Is there such a type?"

Xu Zhengming faked a smile. "Heh, I think his majesty is looking for a temperamental woman. This kind of woman is unpredictable as fuck. Truly, a woman of this kind is a perfect match to his majesty." He said sarcastically.

"Oh! And most importantly, she must not nag at me." The emperor said as he nods.

Xu Zhengming raised his eyebrows, "Your majesty, that kind of woman doesn't exist."

"They don't?" The emperor's hopes scattered all at once.

Eunuch Xu, "Every woman loves to nag."

His majesty, "Ah, then I do not wish to have a woman by my side."

Xu Zhengming wants to laugh at his majesty's reaction but he couldn't do so. He's too worried that the empress might not be able to do all of his requirements. These thoughts made him feel even more hungry.

He beams a smile to the emperor. "Your majesty, can I have some?"

"No." The ruthless Emperor Yin Renshu replied without thinking twice.

Xu Zhengming, "But you gave me half of your breakfast only a few hours ago. A share good for one person!"

"I did?" Xu Zhengming isn't sure if the emperor looks surprised for a moment or it's just his imagination due to hunger. "Well, that was then and this is now. It's different."

"Pssh..." Xu Zhengming thought, whenever his kind self shows up, he'll be sure to get the advantage of it.

Out of nowhere, court lady Han announced the arrival of a group from the outside of the hall. "Your majesty, the Ministry of War and Defense has come."

"Let them in."

As the doors slide open, a group of men headed by the princess general came in.

"Renshu, this is an emergency. There's a strange activity happening in the town square." Princess Yin Xiulan speaks in between her deep breaths. "A trace of demonic cultivation has been identified."

Emperor Yin Renshu's face darkens. He quickly rises on his seat and grabs his sword by the nightstand.

They didn't waste any second and headed towards the exit of the hall. The emperor noticed that his little eunuch followed him.

"Stay here. Go eat the food before it gets cold." He didn't wait for his response and immediately left the hall together with the Ministry of War and Defense.

The doors slide shut on Xu Zhengming's face. He was left alone by his master. Mingming grins, no master means no orders. Also, he's left with a luxurious meal. Not bad, not bad.

He noticed that the emperor didn't even have half of his meal, but who cares? That makes Mingming even happier. He doesn't care if it's all leftover by that unpredictable emperor, it's still edible!

On the other hand, the royal siblings, together with a number of soldiers made their preparations to leave. The princess general wears armor and is equipped with a bow and arrow. Her fan is hung on her hip. Her long hair in a high ponytail swayed as she mounted a black horse.

The emperor on the other hand didn't have the chance to change into his battle outfit.

Though this is not a big breakout of war, the emperor himself wants to go. Dark cultivation is involved after all. The only ones in the palace who have experience in cultivation are only him and his twin sister. Their soldiers are only ordinary citizens that are trained to fight in a war.

"We already relayed a message to Wan MoliHua Palace. Let's just hope either our shizun or Wang-shifu could come in time to aid us." The princess general speaks to the emperor.

Emperor Yin Renshu responds as he rides a white horse. "Good. In the meantime, we have to minimize the damage and loss. Let's go!"

The large group of horses with soldiers riding on them started to head towards the palace gates.

"Order from the emperor! Open up the gates!" Princess Yin Xiulan yells as they approach nearer.

"I didn't. How dare you use my name to order around!" The emperor jokingly said.

Princess Yin Xiulan's eyebrows twitched. "Save your jokes for later, you foolish emperor! You're just lucky that I am born a woman. I am better than you. What can you brag to me? You still have a lot of things to learn."

"Save your nag for later. Why did you all make me the emperor? Now you have a fool as a ruler. It's your fault, not mine. Don't nag at me."

The princess is left speechless. How much more could she feel so disappointed with her brother? She suppressed her anger and could only roll her eyes.

The light rain doesn't seem to stop any time sooner. In fact, it might rain harder sooner or later. It seems a storm is about to form.

With the speed of their horses, it didn't take them too long to arrive at the town square. The scenery they met is quite gory. There are bloodstains on the ground, screaming voices, vicious walking undead. These monsters have bitten their victims and drink their blood until they are thoroughly drained. When the body was all drained with blood, it becomes a new monster as well. But these vicious corpses aren't contented with only one victim. It is as if their thirst will never be quenched.