“Wait, what are you doing?”

A trace of panic crept into the Demon Emperor’s voice. Mu Nanyan had already slipped the strap off her left shoulder, exposing skin as fair as jade to the air. It gave off an alluring, almost intoxicating warmth.

Mu Nanyan already had a delicate, pitiful look about her, as if she were always being bullied. Add her slightly disheveled appearance now, and she was even more alluring.

“What else would I be doing?”

Mu Nanyan furrowed her brow in confusion. She couldn’t quite understand what the Demon Emperor meant.

“I—I summoned you to make medicine for me. Why are you taking off your clothes?”

“Huh? I-I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I thought you meant… Never mind. This is so embarrassing.”

Mu Nanyan covered her flushed cheeks in embarrassment. The Demon Emperor stared at her, dumbstruck by how adorable her reaction was.

The Demon Emperor had seen plenty of beautiful women, but Mu Nanyan was the first who was so pure and charming, so easy to feel for.

That innocent, worldly-unaware reaction changed the Demon Emperor’s opinion of Mu Nanyan quite a bit.

“My imperial physicians have tried again and again, but they still haven’t been able to recreate the medicine you brought me today. And the poison in my body hasn’t been completely purged. I summoned you this time so you could make the medicine for me yourself, right here.”

“Was that why you did that…? Is it because this dress would make it inconvenient to prepare the medicine?”

The Demon Emperor pressed her lips together slightly as she watched Mu Nanyan grow flustered, her cheeks gradually turning red.

Mu Nanyan was mortified. Her toes curled against the insoles of her high heels, and she turned her face away in embarrassment.

“N-no. I thought you meant… Before I came, they told me I was here to attend you for the night. I thought that meant…”

Mu Nanyan didn’t dare meet the Demon Emperor’s eyes.

“Hahaha, you really are something. On our wedding night, you wouldn’t even let me touch your hand. When I kissed your lips, you poisoned me. And now, after just one day apart, you’re the one taking off your clothes.”

“Seems you’ve had a change of heart. Good. Like I said, though we’re both women, I won’t mistreat you now that you’ve married into the Demon Clan.”

The Demon Emperor rose from the bed with keen interest. She hadn’t even had time to put on the shoes beside it, and her slender, fair feet showed faintly beneath her sheer nightdress.

She hurried over to Mu Nanyan and grabbed her hand.

“That’s more like it. Now you’re acting like my princess consort.”

“But I’ve only just recovered from a serious illness, so I can’t be with you that way just yet. Since you’re so eager, make me the antidote first.”

“Once I’ve recovered, I’ll naturally grant all your wishes.”

The Demon Emperor leaned in close to Mu Nanyan. She was so near that Mu Nanyan could feel her warm breath as she spoke.

“So close…” Mu Nanyan couldn’t help holding her breath. At such close range, she finally had a chance to take a good look at the Demon Emperor’s face.

There was no denying it: the Demon Emperor was truly beautiful, the kind of beauty that could bring a nation to its knees.

Mu Nanyan had also heard that the Demon Emperor disliked appearing in public. She usually wore a veil or stayed behind a curtain that hid her figure.

Only a handful of people had seen the Demon Emperor’s true face. She showed it only to people she trusted and knew well.

Almost everyone the Demon Emperor hated who had seen her face had died without exception.

At the thought, Mu Nanyan swallowed nervously. She didn’t know which group she belonged to, but she was probably in the latter.

“Of course, that includes what you have in mind.”

Mu Nanyan tried to pull the strap back up over her shoulder, but the Demon Emperor stopped her.

“You look just fine like this. I like it. Did you do this on purpose to please me, or are you naturally this adorable?”

The Demon Emperor smiled faintly. Mu Nanyan read a mix of complicated emotions in that smile.

“Go prepare the medicine first. I still have a few questions for you. Be sure to answer truthfully.”

A knife? Mu Nanyan glanced at the Demon Emperor without meaning to, and saw a small, sharp blade concealed beneath her sheer nightdress.