Black Myth: The Legend of Tianpeng Seeking Demons

Night fell as dark as ink, and the lanterns were just lit. Under the hazy moonlight, the palace of the Women's Kingdom resembled a fairyland on earth.

Inside the banquet hall, palace lanterns swayed, their soft light reflecting off the magnificent carved beams and painted rafters, making them appear as if endless jewels were shimmering in the night sky.

The melodious music from the palace drifted through the air, the strings and pipes seeming to weep and lament, yet also to captivate the soul, stirring the emotions within.

The air was filled with the aroma of delicacies, and fine wines and dishes were laid out on every table, making even Zhu Xiaoxiao, the "Marshal Tianpeng" from the Heavenly Court, swallow hard.

"The Kingdom of Women is indeed full of beauties..." Zhu Xiaoxiao sighed inwardly, her gaze wandering among the elegantly dressed female officials.

They were all of varying shapes and sizes, with elegant clothes and graceful movements, exuding endless charm.

However, even the most beautiful appearance cannot conceal the subtle tension, as if unknown dangers lurked beneath the calm surface of a lake.

Although Zhu Xiaoxiao pretended to be fine on the surface, she felt uneasy inside, sensing that there was an undercurrent of unrest behind the bustling and lively scene.

Dressed in the magnificent clothes bestowed upon her by the Empress, Zhu Xiaoxiao sat gracefully to one side, savoring the delicious food while stealing glances at the beauties around her.

Especially Liu Ruyan, the Minister of the Imperial Household, sitting not far away—her well-tailored palace dress perfectly accentuated her graceful figure, especially the bold deep V-neck design, which made her voluptuous curves appear and disappear.

Zhu Xiaoxiao couldn't help but recall the chance encounter in the Imperial Garden during the day.

Liu Ruyan's flippant words and seemingly casual physical contact at the time made his heart flutter, and even now his heart still races.

At this moment, she sat at the table, chatting and laughing with several female officials. Her languid and elegant expression, every glance, and every smile was full of hints and seduction.

"My God, she's absolutely gorgeous..." Zhu Xiaoxiao's heart fluttered, and she couldn't help but swallow hard. She quickly looked away, silently reminding herself, "Calm down, calm down! Zhu Xiaoxiao, you can't let yourself be captivated by beauty! Don't forget your mission!"

"You bastard, can't you be a little more capable? All you do is look at women!" The voice of the Ringwraith White suddenly rang in his mind, tinged with mockery.

Zhu Xiaoxiao smiled awkwardly, replying in his heart, "I know, I know, I'll be careful!" He picked up his wine glass, trying to use the fine wine to calm his restlessness. However, the mellow wine only made his mind more unsettled.

Just as he was trying to compose himself, he heard a few whispers behind him, which caught his attention.

"Have you heard? The Grand Tutor has been spending more and more extravagantly lately."

"Yes, I heard that all the maids in her household are beautiful, and she eats delicacies every day. Where does she get the money to spend so lavishly?"

"Shh, keep your voice down! You can't say things like that, the Grand Tutor is no pushover!"

These whispers alerted Zhu Xiaoxiao. He had always harbored suspicions about Grand Tutor Shangguan Yanran, and hearing these rumors only strengthened his suspicions. The thought of that well-maintained face, yet often revealing a sinister smile, filled him with unease.

"It seems my intuition was right; the Grand Tutor is indeed suspicious," Zhu Xiaoxiao said secretly to the spirit beast Xiaobai.

"Hmph, I told you long ago, that woman was obviously no good!" Xiaobai said with a hint of schadenfreude. "If you were smart, you would have found some solid evidence to expose her!"

Zhu Xiaoxiao decided not to waste any more time. He concentrated his mind and activated the "Eye of Insight" in the Moonlight Treasure Ring. The scene of the Grand Tutor's Mansion immediately appeared before his eyes.

It was an extremely luxurious mansion, with pavilions and towers, winding streams, servants bustling about, and exotic flowers and beautiful maids in the back garden complementing each other. Every scene made one wonder whether it was a government office or an imperial palace.

Zhu Xiaoxiao stared intently at these details and discovered that the expenses of the Grand Tutor's mansion far exceeded what she was entitled to for her official position.

Rare ingredients arrived daily in an endless stream, and silks and satins piled up like mountains—such a luxurious lifestyle could not be supported by an ordinary salary. Clearly, there was more to Shangguan Yanran's life than met the eye.

Just as Zhu Xiaoxiao was deep in thought, a gentle voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Advisor Xiao, what is it that makes you so focused?"

Zhu Xiaoxiao was startled and looked up to see the Empress standing there with a smile, her gaze as gentle as water as she looked at him. There seemed to be a hint of inquiry in her bright eyes, as if she had already seen through the secrets of his heart.

"Your Majesty..." Zhu Xiaoxiao quickly stood up and bowed her head to cover up her displeasure. "I am simply amazed by the magnificent scenery in the palace. The Kingdom of Women is indeed a prosperous and glorious place."

The Empress chuckled softly, raised her wine cup, and said with a glint in her eyes, "Advisor Xiao, you flatter me. Come, drink a cup with me."

Zhu Xiaoxiao dared not refuse and quickly raised his cup to drink with her. As the fine wine flowed down his throat, his heartbeat gradually quickened under the Empress's gaze.

"Advisor Xiao seems to be paying special attention to my Grand Tutor?" The Empress put down her wine cup and asked with a half-smile, her gaze still fixed on him.

Zhu Xiaoxiao's heart tightened immediately, and she hurriedly said, "Your Majesty misunderstands. I just think that the Grand Tutor has an extraordinary demeanor, which is admirable."

"Oh?" The Empress smiled. "Then why were you staring at her the whole time?"

Zhu Xiaoxiao immediately felt like she was being pricked by needles. Countless excuses flashed through her mind, but in the end she could only awkwardly reply, "Your Majesty... Your Majesty's face just seemed familiar, as if I had seen it somewhere before."

The Empress's smile deepened, a hint of mockery in her eyes: "Is that so? Then Advisor Xiao should think carefully about where we've met before."

Zhu Xiaoxiao's back was drenched in cold sweat, and he could only lower his head and remain silent. He knew that today's situation was more complicated than he had anticipated; he not only had to face the Grand Tutor, but also the Empress's inquisitive mind.

This seemingly peaceful court banquet actually concealed undercurrents everywhere.