Chapter 91: Auntie, Are You Happy with This Gift of Mine? (Extra Chapter! Please Subscribe)

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The Princess Consort of Nanming slowly opened her eyes, glaring at Cheng Guang with her beautiful gaze. She seemed intent on maintaining an air of authority, her demeanor stern and severe, tinged with a hint of petulant anger. She wished to intimidate Cheng Guang, hoping he would retreat and not act so boldly. Yet, upon hearing her words, Cheng Guang showed no hesitation; instead, a faint smile played on his lips as he paused briefly before approaching her with measured steps.

The Princess Consort noticed that Cheng Guang held an object resembling a black stocking in his hand. This stocking was more delicate and refined than ordinary silk fabric, clearly a finely crafted item of considerable value. However, the Princess Consort merely cast a glance at it and immediately sensed something unclean about it. The thought of Cheng Guang carrying such an item as he neared her gave her a strong sense that his intentions were far from innocent.

Though she wished to resist, her means were limited. Her stern reprimands seemed to have little effect on Cheng Guang, and a wave of helplessness crept into her heart.

Cheng Guang stopped before her, raised an eyebrow, glanced at her expression, and smiled as he spoke, “Aunt, there’s no need to be nervous. I have no intention of harming you. I’m merely presenting you with a gift.” He then gently lifted the black stocking in his hand.

This black stocking was the reward from a recent system task. Named “Princess Consort’s Stocking,” it was an unranked extraordinary treasure. Its effect was simple yet peculiar: the moment the wearer put it on, their personality would randomly shift to its opposite. If they were originally aloof and cold, they would become tender and delicate; if they were gentle and soft, they would turn cold and distant. A sadist might become a masochist. The stocking created a striking contrast.

Even after removing the stockings, the personality change would linger for some time, not easily reversed. Cheng Guang admitted the stocking, though unranked, was more powerful than most ranked extraordinary treasures. After all, who had ever seen a treasure capable of altering one’s personality so drastically? It was simply absurd.

Curious, Cheng Guang wondered how his proud and noble aunt would change after wearing the stocking. He bent slightly, lifted her slender, smooth leg, and slowly helped her put on the black stocking.

The Princess Consort’s eyes grew colder, filled with a potent mixture of shame and murderous intent. Yet, despite the humiliation she endured, her noble and dignified aura remained undiminished; in fact, her entire being radiated an untouchable majesty. Unable to resist, she took a deep breath, her graceful body rising and falling with restrained fury.

Cheng Guang, however, paid no heed to the anger and shame in her eyes. His movements were calm as he carefully dressed her in the stocking. He had to admit, in a past life, her legs could be considered legendary—slender, smooth, and fair, they looked even more exquisite under the black silk, the contours accentuated perfectly. Cheng Guang felt his heart race, his breath quicken, though he prided himself on being a gentleman and refrained from improper behavior.

After carefully fitting the stocking, a short while passed. Nearby, the black creature covered its dog-like eyes, cautiously observing the scene. It found the fate of the Abyssal Demon Emperor’s clone amusing. Speaking of which, the Abyssal Demon Emperor’s appearance was truly hideous—even in clone form, entirely hairless and grotesque. It was unclear why humans were so fascinated by his looks.

The black creature glanced away with little interest, as long as the Abyssal Demon Emperor’s clone did not attack its human master, it had no desire to interfere. Yawning, it lay quietly on the floor, already drowsy.

Cheng Guang ignored the black creature’s movements, focusing entirely on the Princess Consort. The moment she donned the black stocking, her body seemed to freeze, like a machine glitching or a system lagging. Her personality subtly shifted. Once a noble and dignified princess consort, she now resembled a courtesan, her eyes shimmering with deep desire. Her exquisitely beautiful face, usually solemn, now bore a faint, coquettish smile, tinged with teasing allure.

“A nephew, what do you mean by putting these stockings on me?” she asked, narrowing her noble eyes as she stared at Cheng Guang. When he approached with the stocking, she had felt an unsettling discomfort which vanished the instant she wore them. She noticed no adverse effects; aside from the suppressive aura of the Demon Emperor masking her, her body remained unchanged, her spirit even subtly strengthened.

She was perplexed. Was her nominal nephew, the son of the Duke who guarded the nation, so intent on gifting her strange black stockings just to help improve her spiritual cultivation?

Unaware, her tone softened from icy cold to gentle and coaxing, as if persuading Cheng Guang. Had it not been for the black creature’s aura suppressing her, she might have become even bolder, shedding her usual restraint and dignity.

Faced with this transformed Princess Consort, Cheng Guang felt somewhat unsettled. He had never imagined the stocking’s effect would be so immediate and potent. Her personality had flipped completely without her own awareness, yet her noble aura remained intact. Her eyes and every smile radiated intense charm, blending an inexplicable mixture of courtesan-like allure and dignified grace, creating a paradoxical beauty.

Cheng Guang clicked his tongue in appreciation. “No other meaning. Aunt, do you like my gift?”

The Princess Consort sneered coldly. To her, the black stockings held no threat. With her cultivation, she would have detected any abnormality immediately if there had been one. Thus, she regarded the stockings as nothing but ordinary clothing, albeit of a peculiar style. Her cold sneer carried a hint of mockery: “Heh, nephew, as your aunt, I’m naturally very pleased with your gift. But don’t you think giving such a gift is quite frivolous?”

To Cheng Guang, her so-called sneer was more akin to a flirtatious smile. He paid it no mind, sitting gracefully back at the desk, pouring himself a cup of tea. The morning sunlight cast a clear glow over the tea, its subtle fragrance drifting into his nostrils.

Raising the cup, he took a sip, then smiled toward the Princess Consort. “Aunt, imagine if my servants saw you in my bedroom before dawn. What would your reputation become? If this were to spread, regardless of what King Nanming might think, your reputation would be utterly destroyed.”

The Princess Consort remained unfazed. For ordinary women, reputation meant much, but she was neither a true princess consort nor a common mortal human. She cared nothing for such things. Hearing Cheng Guang’s threat, she found it laughable. Clearly, he was trying to intimidate her.

Cheng Guang continued calmly, “You may not care about your reputation, but if a princess consort sneaks to meet me secretly at midnight, King Nanming’s dignity will be lost. No one dares offend me or King Nanming. To protect the royal family’s face, some court officials would likely report this, and you would probably be sentenced to death by dismemberment.”

“Oh, you probably aren’t afraid of death, right? Then I, the Duke’s son, could at least petition the emperor to spare your life and send you instead to the Ten Thousand Flowers Brothel or the Teaching Bureau.”

The Princess Consort’s expression shifted. She cared little for death; after all, as a clone, once touched by Cheng Guang, she was already tainted. The Abyssal Demon Emperor would not tolerate her continued existence. Death held no fear for her.

But the thought of being sent to the Teaching Bureau was unbearable. Though a mere clone, she retained the Demon Emperor’s deep pride. The idea of being touched by Cheng Guang was intolerable, and worse to be confined to the Teaching Bureau without even the option of suicide—a living hell, a fate worse than death.

“No, you can’t do this,” her noble face lost composure, her eyes wide with panic and a faint plea. “You can’t do this.”

Cheng Guang, intrigued, studied the once proud princess consort who feared death but trembled over such matters. Her pride lay in strange places—undaunted by death, yet obsessed with cleanliness, a form of mysophobia.

He stroked his chin thoughtfully, never expecting this to be a weakness he could exploit in the high-and-mighty Princess Consort.

Seeing her falter, he smiled wryly. “Aunt, you say I can’t do this. But why not? You tried to assassinate me repeatedly, trying to kill me, yet I’m not allowed to fight back?”

Fixing her with a steady gaze, he sipped his tea leisurely and added, “But rest assured, once you join the Teaching Bureau, I’ll take good care of your business. I hear they have performance evaluations there.”

His words darkened the Princess Consort’s face. She bit her lip, her once vibrant complexion fading as she debated his meaning. Though she didn’t understand “performance evaluations,” the indifferent smile on Cheng Guang’s handsome face suggested nothing good. Her color drained further.

“What exactly do you want?” she demanded. “Is humiliating me amusing? If you know I’d kill you, why not just do it? If I get the chance, can you rest easy?”

She inhaled deeply, her eyes locked on his, a mixture of accusation and fear in her voice.

Cheng Guang remained unmoved. The Princess Consort had likely run out of options. Without the black creature, she could never have harmed him in the capital. Now, with this formidable ally by his side, she was already on her knees.

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To Cheng Guang, the Princess Consort looked little different from a cute, helpless white rabbit, so he merely smiled lightly.

“Humiliate you? No, that’s not my intention.”

Her eyes flashed angrily, frustrated: “Then what do you mean?”

Cheng Guang shook his head. “It’s simple. I’m giving you two choices.”

Her brow relaxed slightly. She suspected the Duke’s son was full of schemes. If he truly intended to send her to the Teaching Bureau, he wouldn’t have revealed it in advance. He must have other strings to pull.

Under her watchful gaze, Cheng Guang calmly enumerated: “Choice one: You go to the Teaching Bureau, and we both have less trouble. You’ll contribute to the Great Zhou’s GDP.”

“Choice two: Give me a way to restore King Nanming back to the Crown Prince Huainian’s true form, or at least prove he is indeed the Crown Prince.”

The Princess Consort’s expression shifted, a faint coquettish smile replacing her noble countenance. She pondered silently before sneering, “Heh, nephew, these two choices truly are a great dilemma for your aunt.”

Cheng Guang studied her carefully. Unaware herself, the Princess Consort’s every move and smile now radiated raw desire, more alluring than any courtesan’s artifice. This unaware seductress held a potent allure to men.

Cheng Guang thought his own self-control was decent, but under her subtle temptation, he felt a strong urge to stand and salute. Her sarcasm had turned into a kind of coquettish playfulness, utterly lacking intimidation.

He found it amusing. The Princess Consort’s stockings were truly powerful.

Though she knew Cheng Guang had stared at her countless times, this time something was different. His gaze held a new color, like a patron in a brothel resisting seduction to maintain decorum.

Had he already cast her as a courtesan? She hadn’t even entered the Teaching Bureau yet, and they were already imagining what it would be like?

The Princess Consort felt deeply humiliated. A clone of the Abyssal Demon Emperor, she was being oppressed by a mere human with little strength to resist.

As for Cheng Guang’s two choices, both tormented her. The first was utterly unacceptable; her pride forbade such submission. The second was equally difficult. Though the target was no longer her but King Nanming—merely a puppet of the demon clan—she couldn’t ignore him. He was a vital intermediary controlling the human realms. Without King Nanming, neither she nor the demon clan could extend their influence here.

Though human kingdoms often fought amongst themselves, these were minor disputes within families. However, if outsiders interfered, the demon clan would face the united strength of all realms, far beyond the Great Zhou alone.

Even with demonic emperors among them, they would have little chance against the combined forces of all human kingdoms.

Exposing King Nanming would ruin any hope of dividing the Great Zhou, forcing them to wait indefinitely for another opportunity.

Moreover, though this clone shared royal blood, to the original demon emperor, it was insignificant—merely a loss of effort, easily replaced.

Her death mattered little, but King Nanming’s survival was crucial.

Frowning deeply, the Princess Consort’s face darkened to iron and then black as she struggled to decide. As a clone, she lacked the indifference her original self would have felt.

Even imagining being sent to the Teaching Bureau chilled her to the bone. She could not accept it.

Weighing her options, she finally sought a third choice, unwilling to surrender.

“Is there no third option? I’ve treated you well, haven’t I? Must you be so ruthless toward me?”

Cheng Guang sneered. “Treated you well? You mean you didn’t give it your all when trying to kill me?”

She fell silent, the air thick with tension. Her heart was torn.

Cheng Guang did not press her, sipping tea leisurely. After a moment, she sighed, pain in her eyes.

“I’ll tell you how to restore King Nanming’s original form as Crown Prince Huainian—if you release me.”

Cheng Guang smiled lightly, nodding. His gaze shifted to the black creature, still drowsy and bobbing its head, like a ticking timer.

He set down his tea cup, approached the creature, grabbed its neck, and gave it a sharp flick. The dog immediately woke, trembling, eyes wide as it stared at him.

“Can you undo it?” Cheng Guang asked, pointing to the still stiff Princess Consort frozen in place.

The black creature whimpered, wanting to snap at its tormentor but intimidated, it nodded timidly. A paw reached out and lightly touched the Princess Consort, drawing a black aura from her body.

With this aura removed, she relaxed instantly, her legs weakening. Had she not cared about her dignity, she would have collapsed outright. Even so, her body trembled slightly, revealing the immense pressure she had endured.

The black creature’s suppression was indeed formidable.

Cheng Guang stroked his chin, observing the foolish yet cowardly creature and the weakened Princess Consort with amusement.

He casually dropped the creature at his feet, playfully nudging its head, then turned his gaze back to the Princess Consort.

“Aunt, let’s not waste time. Speak quickly—once you finish, you can leave. If we delay too long and the household wakes, leaving won’t be so easy.”

The Princess Consort clenched her teeth in anger. Upon the aura’s withdrawal, she had prepared to use a teleportation treasure to escape but knew it would do no good. She was no match for Cheng Guang’s black dog, whom she suspected to be a demon emperor.

A proud demon emperor reduced to such misery before Cheng Guang—her clone’s suffering was insignificant by comparison.

Taking a deep breath, her noble demeanor undiminished, she subtly shifted her curves, revealing her alluring figure.

“The method to transform Crown Prince Huainian’s body into King Nanming’s is simple: merging King Nanming’s physical form into the Crown Prince’s.”

Cheng Guang frowned, confused. “Merging bodies? How does that work?”

She explained, “I possess a technique to refine the corpse of the deceased, integrating it into my body. This allows my appearance to mimic the deceased’s, inheriting some of their strength and bloodline.”

“Since Crown Prince Huainian is not me, he cannot fuse King Nanming’s corpse. However, with the aid of an extraordinary treasure, he shares some of my abilities, enabling him to maintain King Nanming’s appearance and spirit.”

“Restoring King Nanming to the Crown Prince’s original form simply requires the removal of my abilities from him.”

Cheng Guang understood how the Crown Prince had become King Nanming. He asked, “How is this treasure marked? Must it be destroyed to restore King Nanming?”

The Princess Consort reached into her collar, revealing a large expanse of fair skin as she withdrew a necklace with a jade pendant.

“This jade marks the target. The treasure is called Sitong, a pair. Breaking one renders the other ineffective.”

“Alternatively, removing this jade from me would expose King Nanming’s true identity.”

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The Princess Consort seemed to wilt after speaking. She knew that once Cheng Guang learned this, King Nanming—or rather Crown Prince Huainian—would have no hidden cards left. The Abyssal Demon Emperor’s grand plan would fail. Her clone faced a grim fate, whether banished back to the tenth layer of the demon sea or destroyed upon the original’s awareness.

Her body weakened visibly.

Cheng Guang narrowed his eyes, drumming his fingers thoughtfully. The treasure was voluntary in nature—sharing abilities required mutual consent. Removing the jade ended its effect. Simple to use, yet visibly powerful.

Such a treasure allowed one to inherit abilities from any other race. If Cheng Guang obtained it, even placing it on the black creature would be highly beneficial.

Moreover, Sitong was reusable, not a one-time wonder.

Cheng Guang clicked his tongue, rising to approach the Princess Consort. As he neared, a pleasant scent emanated from her. She tensed nervously, unwilling to act against him, aware that the black creature’s gaze would sweep over her instantly, imposing immense pressure and a suffocating aura. She surrendered her resistance.

Having been touched countless times and gazed upon, one more glance was no matter. Better than being sent to the Teaching Bureau, at least.

Unaware of her inner turmoil, Cheng Guang reached for the jade. It was exquisitely crafted, moist with luster, seeming fused with her skin. Shaped like an oval leaf, finely carved with smooth lines, it shimmered softly like dew-kissed blossoms, serene and noble.

Her elegant, slender neck, with visible vertebrae, appeared even more graceful against the jade’s glow.

No, no—focus on the jade, Cheng Guang reminded himself, though her fair neck seemed irresistibly enchanting. He quickly set the jade aside.

As his fingertips brushed her smooth skin, the Princess Consort shivered subtly, opening her eyes to glare at him. Though angry, her now coquettish personality made the glare seem like a playful pout, stirring a faint itch in Cheng Guang.

The stocking’s effect was too strong. Buddha forgive him.

Stepping back, he sat again, averting his gaze from her to the tea cup. Watching the steaming clear tea swirl, an idea struck him. He lifted his eyes to the Princess Consort.

“By the way, how did King Nanming die? If you replaced Crown Prince Huainian with King Nanming, it must have taken effort. Being royal, the death would have caused unusual phenomena in the heavens and earth, not easily concealed.”

Her face turned uneasy; she nodded slightly. A faint blush of shame and anger colored her jade-like cheeks. She shifted coquettishly, more seductive than a brothel’s queen, rivaling even Bai Shuxuan—pure, natural, with only the added touch of black stockings.

Clearly, she sensed something was amiss but didn’t understand it was the stockings’ doing.

She explained, “When King Nanming died, he cast a restriction to limit the celestial phenomena’s spread. It couldn’t be hidden completely. Within a hundred-mile radius, all witnesses were killed or silenced.”

“Initially, some suspected the royal heir had died when strange signs appeared at King Nanming’s domain, but when Crown Prince Huainian appeared as King Nanming, their doubts vanished.”

“Secrecy measures ensured the matter was suppressed, and skeptics could not investigate.”

“Perhaps a royal offspring died young. Such incidents, though rare, occur silently within the royal family.”

Cheng Guang grasped her meaning. He realized the Princess Consort and Crown Prince Huainian had not enjoyed the same care he had. His own restriction, “Nine Dragons Stealing Heaven,” confined the effect to a single room, so no one witnessed the true heir’s death.

He felt fortunate. Without this system reward, killing the true heir would have been much more troublesome, far more so than what the Princess Consort endured.

After pondering, he glanced toward the round window. Gradually, dawn brightened the land, soft orange and pale yellow hues suffusing the sky, clouds glowing gently. A morning breeze rustled the leaves, dispersing the mist for clearer views.

In a side chamber, Qingluan quietly opened the window, yawning sleepily and stretching before fetching water to prepare Cheng Guang’s morning toiletries.

Cheng Guang watched her briefly, then returned his gaze to the Princess Consort.

“Your Highness, you may leave now.”

Her expression brightened with relief, though a hint of curiosity remained. “Won’t you take this treasure?” She produced the jade again, revealing more of her fair skin. Now that her personality had changed, she was generous and flamboyant. Quite pleasant, Cheng Guang thought, giving a mental thumbs-up.

After a moment’s admiration, he shook his head.

“No need. Even if I had it, it would be useless. If Crown Prince Huainian discovers his identity is exposed, he’ll vanish into some hole like a turtle.”

“Better not to alarm him.”

His gaze returned to her as he smiled, “By the way, Aunt, you’re on my side now, right? You know how to handle King Nanming, yes?”

“Feel free to visit your nephew often. Don’t just disappear; otherwise, I’ll search the entire Great Zhou to find you.”

“Of course, if you flee to the Tenth Layer of the Demon Sea, your nephew won’t say a word.”

His words carried a deeper meaning. The Princess Consort felt immense pressure from his glance. Hearing “Tenth Layer of the Demon Sea,” she froze. How did the Duke’s son know about it? She had never told him she came from there!

She stared at him, noting his indifferent expression and the faintly meaningful smile at his lips. Sweat beaded on her forehead. She bit her silver teeth and shot him a glare, quickly withdrawing a compass-like object. Within a breath, her delicate form vanished.

Cheng Guang, seeing her disappearance, stretched lazily. Just then, the door opened. Qingluan entered, carrying a delicate ceramic vessel filled with warm water. Surprised to find Cheng Guang already awake and smiling, she remarked, “Young master, you’re up early today.”

Setting down the toiletries and rolling up her sleeves to tidy the bed, she suddenly caught an unfamiliar scent in the room—not her own floral fragrance nor the usual chamber aroma—but another woman’s scent. Not the madam’s or any servant’s, but that of a princess consort.

Frowning in suspicion, she glanced at the noble young master. “Young master, did the princess consort visit earlier?”

Cheng Guang’s smile stiffened. “No.”

“You’re lying!” Qingluan exclaimed.

Caught off guard, Cheng Guang coughed awkwardly. Women truly had a sixth sense for such things.

— End of Chapter —