Chapter 2708: The Maniac City Lord's 31st Rule of Love and Killing

Imperial Palace, the Hall of the Crimson Yin Princess.

Jin Chen followed the guiding attendant, passing through layer after layer of palace gates, and stopped before a somewhat secluded, splendid palace.

The palace's glazed tiles glimmered with a cold light, the vermilion palace gates were tightly shut, and the palace maids and eunuchs standing before them lowered their heads and held their breath; this palace perhaps had not heard laughter and merriment for a long time, lacking a bit of the vitality of the living.

Ling Gun Gun clung to the top of Jin Chen's head, claws tugging at a strand of his black hair, looking around, muttering softly.

【Host, in the original plot it was only mentioned in passing, this Crimson Yin Princess is the daughter of the deposed empress from the Cold Palace; after the deposed empress died not long ago, the princess unexpectedly fell into a coma for five years, she's just a background character—how strange, how odd—how did she suddenly wake up and even request to see you?】

It tilted its head, its beady eyes full of confusion, 【With your current strength, even the old emperor and the national preceptor dare not easily move against you; why don't you simply refuse this bewildering audience?】

Jin Chen glanced at the gloomy guardian beasts on the palace eaves, the corner of his mouth curling up.

【Being idle is still being idle; a certain restless ghost king hasn't yet found a way to slip into the mortal realm, so one must find something to do to pass the time.】

Ling Gun Gun: 【…hiss.】

Just as they were speaking, the palace doors opened silently, and a plainly dressed palace maid bowed and came out, saying, "Young Hero Jin Chen, Her Highness the Princess summons you to enter the hall."

Jin Chen nodded, stepped forward, and entered the hall.

The hall's furnishings were elegant, suffused with a faint cold fragrance, exuding an aloof chill that could not be dispelled; the attendants standing within were more numerous than outside, yet all lowered their eyes and bowed their heads like clay sculptures or wooden carvings.

Ling Gun Gun shrank its neck, 【... hmm… this place feels even creepier than Ghost City…】

Jin Chen stopped outside the twelve-panel purple sandalwood screen inlaid with jade stone at the entrance; behind the screen, a gauze curtain hung low, through which a slender figure leaning on a couch could be faintly seen.

"Subject Jin Chen greets Your Highness the Princess."

Jin Chen clasped his hands, his voice clear and aloof, lacking the fearful reverence ordinary commoners feel when facing heavenly nobility.

Inside the curtain, silence lingered for a moment, then she raised her hand and waved; the nearby palace maid immediately understood, stepped forward, and relayed the message on her behalf.

"Your Highness invites the young hero to step forward and converse."

Jin Chen, however, remained rooted in place, motionless, his gaze piercing the screen and curtain to fall upon that blurry figure.

"Your Highness the Princess's phoenix physique has just begun to heal, yet she still feels unwell, so she cannot speak with me personally?"

The maid delivering the message visibly froze for a moment, panic flashing across her face, and she hastily lowered her head, saying, "Young hero, you misunderstand; Her Highness's phoenix constitution is sound, she simply… she simply does not like to speak much."

Jin Chen stood with his hands behind his back, gave a light smile at the words, but the smile did not reach his eyes.

"If Your Highness the Princess sincerely invites me to converse, why then does she refuse to reveal her true appearance and speak face to face?"

"Or perhaps I am unworthy to hear Her Highness's jade-like voice?"

His words were neither humble nor arrogant, even carrying a faint provocation; the messenger maid turned even paler, fell silent like a cicada in winter, and dared not speak further.

Behind the screen fell an eerie silence.

After a long while, a very soft laugh transmitted, tinged with an odd magnetic quality; the voice was not the usual softness of a woman, but a low, androgynous murmur, alluring without the speaker realizing it.

"Come forward."

It was still the same command, but this time it came directly from behind the curtain.

Jin Chen slightly raised his eyebrows, a faint interest flickering in his eyes, he went around the screen and stopped at a place three steps from the curtain.

The princess inside the curtain adjusted her posture, her voice passing through the gauze, asking nonchalantly.

"Which sect and school does the young hero come from? And… are you now married?"

Jin Chen answered readily.

"Replying to Your Highness, I come from the Divination Dao Sect; as for marriage…" He paused, "Naturally, I have not yet formed a bond; otherwise, how could I have answered Your Highness's invitation and entered the palace for an audience?"

Inside the curtain, there was a moment of silence.

The princess's pale fingertips gripped her sleeve cuff, inexplicably taking on a gritty, teeth‑grinding tone, "So you know that this time I sought you out at the emperor's behest, intending to take you as my prince consort?"

Jin Chen nodded, his tone candid: "Now I know."

"Then…" the voice from within the curtain paused, as if drawing a deep breath, "Will the young hero agree?"

Jin Chen gave a light laugh, lifted his brows, "Your Highness the Princess won't even let me behold her phoenix visage or catch a glimpse of her true appearance; how… could I possibly agree so easily to such a lifelong commitment based on just a few words?"

Princess: "…"

Immediately afterward, the curtain was lifted at a corner by an excessively pale hand, "Wait outside! Later I will accompany you for a stroll in the Imperial Garden."

Jin Chen: "I will obey Your Highness's orders."

Jin Chen withdrew from the hall and waited in the corridor for the princess's procession.

He was in a good mood, casually scanning the courtyard, but caught sight of a furtive figure peeking out from behind a nearby rockery.

At this moment, Fuling Jing's heart was torn between heaven and man.

He truly could not comprehend the Immortal's command echoing in his mind: '【Who exactly is this princess, divine as she may be? No matter how beautiful she is, you know I favor men—why would you have me seduce the princess? This… how on earth am I supposed to begin?!】'

'【Idiot! Who cares what your preferences are!】'

The Immortal was irate.

'【Now that the princess has taken a liking to Jin Chen, this is a tremendous opportunity; you must find a way to approach her, draw her attention, and ruin Jin Chen's prospects—here, take this secret manual!】'

A faint light flashed, and an aged, thread‑bound ancient book appeared in Fuling Jing's hand.

Fuling Jing gave it a rough glance, discovering that the various methods recorded within were indeed somewhat profound; his heart leapt with joy—if he could master this art, what could he not accomplish…

He immediately set aside his earlier reluctance, gritted his teeth and agreed: '【Fine! I'll go stand guard outside the princess's hall right now!】'

Thus came the scene Jin Chen now witnessed: Fuling Jing, in the garden outside the princess's hall, furtively looking about while secretly mimicking the techniques recorded in the secret manual.