A vision of a timid girl appeared before Ye Yuanhao, calling him "Crown Prince Brother" in a soft voice.
A gentle smile graced his face as he whispered, "Lin'er!"
"Crown Prince Brother, since you dislike Jin'er, then Jin'er shall leave!"
Outside the door, Zi Jinling's voice was choked with sobs as she continued.
Her tear-like eyes, small as beans, fell pitter-patter, evoking pity even from the guards beside her.
Ye Yuanhao's heart ached. He scrambled to his feet, staggering towards the door.
As he walked, he cried out, "No! Don't go! Please, don't go!"
Zi Jinling, who was about to leave, heard these words of entreaty, and a flicker of smugness crossed her eyes.
But her smile quickly froze.
For the moment Ye Yuanhao, reeking of alcohol, embraced her, she heard the name that made her grit her teeth in hatred—Lin'er!
That's right, it was her Ye Yuanhao had held, but the name he uttered was "Lin'er."
Zi Linling! It was Zi Linling again!
She hadn't suffered enough from her family's ruin, and now this woman was trying to steal her Crown Prince Brother!
Zi Jinling's body stiffened, her smugness transforming into fury.
She desperately wanted to push away the drunken Ye Yuanhao and declare clearly, "I am not that slut Zi Linling!"
But the words, poised on her lips, were swallowed back down.
Zi Jinling suppressed her rage and smiled charmingly, "Crown Prince Brother, the night is cool. Jin'er will help you inside first."
As she spoke, she turned to the guard and smiled, "Thank you for saving me just now! You can go back now. I'll tidy up for Crown Prince Brother."
The guard, smitten by her smile, dazed, returned to his post.
Zi Jinling supported Ye Yuanhao and entered his residence, only then noticing the mess everywhere.
"Lin'er, I was wrong before. I shouldn't have looked down on you as useless, I shouldn't have..."
Leaning against Zi Jinling, Ye Yuanhao mumbled his apologies in his stupor.
At this moment, the Zi Jinling before him had completely transformed into Zi Linling in his eyes.
Zi Jinling seethed inwardly, but still spoke gently, "Crown Prince Brother, let me help you to bed to rest first."
With that, she supported Ye Yuanhao, skillfully navigating around the wine jars scattered on the floor, and led him to the Crown Prince's carved bed.
Although Ye Yuanhao was heavy, Zi Jinling was a spirit cultivator of the third level of Body Tempering, so helping a man to bed was not overly taxing for her.
She removed his shoes and socks, placed the uncooperative Ye Yuanhao onto the bed, and then went outside to call two maids. She instructed them to clear away the wine jars and clean the floor.
Next, she ordered them to bring a basin of warm water, and then she ushered them out.
In the spacious chamber, only Zi Jinling remained with the groaning Ye Yuanhao.
Zi Jinling dipped a sweat cloth in water, wrung it out slightly, and meticulously began to clean Ye Yuanhao.
"Lin'er!"
Another tender call.
Zi Jinling's hand faltered, and she was about to turn away in anger.
Indeed, any woman would find it impossible to control her temper upon hearing the man she loved call out another woman's name!
While Zi Jinling's feelings were intertwined with some considerations of benefit, her love for Ye Yuanhao was undeniable.
This was why she was angry.
After all, love was selfish. Moreover, someone was threatening her position as Crown Princess!
"Lin'er, don't be angry. I was superficial before. Don't divorce me!"
"Lin'er, come back to me. The position of Crown Princess is still yours!"
"Lin'er, I really like you! When I ascend the throne, the position of Empress will be yours!"
"Lin'er..."
...
Drunk words speak the truth!
This was precisely Ye Yuanhao's state at this moment.
Zi Jinling, who was about to leave, glared fiercely at Ye Yuanhao.
She found it hard to believe that Ye Yuanhao, who professed his love for her and insisted that the position of Crown Princess was hers alone, could, in his drunken state, make the same promises to another woman.
No!
She would not allow it!
She absolutely would not allow it!
Zi Jinling subdued her anger, sat back down on the bedside, leaned close to Ye Yuanhao, and asked, "Crown Prince Brother, how could you fall for someone else?"
"No! I won't allow it! You are mine, and the position of Crown Princess is mine!"
As she spoke, she reached out and gently caressed Ye Yuanhao's lips.
"Crown Prince Brother, I have nothing left now. All I have is you. Therefore, I absolutely will not let another woman take you away."
"Crown Prince Brother, originally, I wanted to marry you with great fanfare and give you the most beautiful wedding night. But now, I've changed my mind."
"Crown Prince Brother, once I am carrying your child, you will return to my side, won't you?"
"Crown Prince Brother..."
...
Zi Jinling's gaze shifted from gentle to sharp, from sharp to resentful, and from resentful to determined.
Then, her slender fingers landed on Ye Yuanhao's waist, and with a gentle pull, the belt embroidered with a four-clawed golden dragon was undone.
Moments later, Ye Yuanhao's four-clawed dragon robe was also hung on the clothes rack, revealing his well-built physique.
Zi Jinling greedily caressed him again and again, murmuring, "Crown Prince Brother, you are so outstanding. You must be mine, and only mine!"
Then, she stood up and blew out the lamp in the chamber.
Darkness immediately enveloped the room.
Zi Jinling shed her outer garments and lay down beside Ye Yuanhao.
...
On the Heavenly Ascent Ladder, Zi Linling was already drenched in sweat.
She had reached the eighty-first step last time, so this time she began directly from the eighty-first step.
After a brief pause on the eighty-first step to adjust her breathing, she hurried upward.
At this moment, she had climbed another tier, which was nine steps.
In other words, she was now above the ninetieth step.
On the Heavenly Ascent Ladder, the higher one ascended, the greater the pressure and resistance, and the stronger the gravity.
Compared to last time, Zi Linling had only improved by two minor realms, so she hadn't found it much easier.
Under this pressure, her physical strength was also gradually increasing.
She was immersed in her cultivation and unaware that the Tai Zi Manor was in turmoil.
Of course, even if she knew, it wouldn't evoke much emotion from her; at most, it would be a little dinner conversation.
Tonight was destined to be a sleepless night.
In the Underworld King's Manor, the atmosphere was extremely oppressive. Qingfeng and Qinglei hid in the darkness, not daring to breathe.
The other servants, even more so, avoided Ye Lingyuan's quarters, doing their best to minimize their presence.