Chapter 107: The One-Month Deadline Has Arrived

When Zhou Tian woke up the next day, he indeed found himself lying exactly as he remembered—between Wu Zhao and Afra. If it were someone else, being in such a sensuous setting might have been enjoyable. Yet Zhou Tian felt no pleasure at all; instead, he was plagued by a headache caused by the irreversible circumstances.

Wu Zhao claimed she had “borrowed his body,” but Zhou Tian naturally did not believe they had been intimate. After she bore a son as she wished, the matter was supposed to be over.

Judging by Wu Zhao’s past behavior, it was certain she would not let go of anything useful. Although she was the empress, the child in her womb was not of royal blood. Who knew how many challenges she would face in the future? Adding in her other rivals, Wu Zhao’s troubles would be far from over. And given that the child she bore was Zhou Tian’s, it would be no surprise if she used him for her own ends.

Although Zhou Tian wouldn’t mind helping the woman and child if such a situation arose, the fact that every reaction he made was already part of Wu Zhao’s scheme—and that future troubles might come from this—made it impossible for him not to feel a headache.

“You’re awake.” Just as Zhou Tian was troubled by his predicament, Wu Zhao also woke up right then.

Changing her previous harsh demeanor, Wu Zhao now displayed a gentle, feminine grace. She lay behind Zhou Tian, tracing a circle on his back before affectionately asking, “When will you return?”

“Though I left a clone behind, much time has passed, and I fear the clone’s energy is nearly depleted. If there’s nothing else, I should hurry back.” After saying this, Zhou Tian glanced at Afra, who was still asleep nearby, and added, “If Afra wakes, tell her to come back as well, to avoid unnecessary trouble from her abnormal condition.”

“Understood.” Without any resistance, Wu Zhao readily agreed to Zhou Tian’s arrangement. After a pause, she hesitated before asking, “Will you still come to me in the future?”

“What nonsense.” Zhou Tian patted her, teasing under her anxious gaze, “Since things have come to this, if once is done, often done is also done. Don’t you want to seize the throne of the Yanhuang Empire? One try might not be enough. I’ll come see you often whenever I have the time.” After saying this, Zhou Tian’s smile was unclear in its sincerity as he used his teleportation technique to return to his own palace.

After withdrawing his clone and appearing in his palace, Zhou Tian first ensured that no one had noticed his departure. Only when he was certain that the outside watchers were unaware did he begin his training anew.

Thus, Zhou Tian embarked on a journey of cultivation within the imperial palace—first practicing the Yinglong secret method. Each time he reached the limit and had to pause to recover, he used his old method to sneak into Wu Zhao’s palace, spending joyful, if exhausting, days with her and Afra.

This routine made time pass swiftly. Until one day, after another encounter with Wu Zhao, she took the initiative to raise the topic.

“The one-month deadline after today will have arrived. With the help of the secret medicine during this time, I believe I can conceive. If the child resembles me, I will help him claim the throne. But if he looks like you, then I’ll find a way to stage an accident to make him disappear from sight and send him out of the palace. When that time comes, I hope you will take good care of our child.” She touched her belly, a maternal glow shining through.

“What nonsense.” Zhou Tian patted Wu Zhao’s back irritably. “Your child isn’t mine, so I’d do this without you telling me. And... I’m not going to stop visiting. If anything happens, we’ll handle it together. With our joint efforts, I’m sure your wishes will come true.”

“You’ll still come over?” Wu Zhao was clearly surprised, having only a vague understanding of Zhou Tian’s abilities. Sneaking within the inner palace was one thing, but outside and back into her presence would be exponentially harder. She had almost accepted that this might be their last private meeting.

Seeing her reaction, Zhou Tian slapped her again, feigning anger. “You really underestimate your man! Not just this little imperial palace—if I want, there’s nowhere in the world I can’t go.”

“That’s wonderful.” Without doubting him, Wu Zhao smiled brightly. But when she caught his strange look, her face flushed slightly before she composed herself. Placing Zhou Tian’s hand on her chest, she threatened, “Since you can enter the palace, you must spend at least two or three days a month with me. If you dare skip, I’ll sleep with that scoundrel and the men in the royal family.”

“Do you dare?” Though Zhou Tian knew Wu Zhao wouldn’t really do such a thing, her words still annoyed him enough to glare.

Unfazed, Wu Zhao glared back defiantly, “You want to see if I dare?”

Their eyes locked, but Zhou Tian was the first to relent, exasperated. “I’ll try to make time, but I have my own affairs and can’t always come. If you want more time with me, then work hard to make our son emperor. When you achieve that, you can retire behind the scenes. Then, even if you come to be with me, no one will care.”

“That’s a promise. Don’t bother me then.”

“The great beauty eager to share a bed with me—how could I ever be annoyed by that?”

“Who said I want to sleep with you?” Though thick-skinned, Wu Zhao blushed at Zhou Tian’s words. Turning her head away in frustration, she whispered, “Go, and don’t let them notice you’re missing from the palace. If they find any clues, they might suspect us.”

“Mm.” Zhou Tian nodded softly, kissed Wu Zhao, and then, despite her reluctant gaze, used teleportation to return to his own palace.

Just as Wu Zhao expected, Zhou Tian might forget his promised time with the Yanhuang Emperor, but the emperor would not. Less than an hour after Zhou Tian left Wu Zhao’s palace, the Yanhuang Emperor arrived at Zhou Tian’s residence, accompanied by many saint-level warriors.