Drawing Cards Begins in Douluo World

Before long, the Empress arrived. Consort Lian immediately rose and paid her respects with the grandest ceremonial bow of the Star Luo Royal Family, still without saying a word.

Empress Zhu Zitang was a clever woman. The moment she saw this, she knew Dai Zhen must have sent someone to inform her as well. She dismissed everyone present, including even her closest lady-in-waiting.

As an agility-attack Soul Sage, she had no fear of Consort Lian trying anything during a private meeting.

Whether Consort Lian intended to harm the Empress or herself, she would have no chance at all before the reflexes of a feline Soul Sage.

After the palace maids had left, Consort Lian rose and bowed to the Empress once more, pleading in a gentleness she had never used before:

"Please spare my son Mubai's life."

"Zhen Lian is willing to pay with her life!"

The Empress's gaze was cold. She made no move to help her up and remained seated upon her phoenix throne, without even the slightest thought of moving.

Consort Lian rose a second time, then bowed to the Empress for a third time.

"Please spare my son Mubai's life."

"Zhen Lian is willing to sever all ties with the Zhen Clan, then pay with her life!"

The Empress's gaze remained cold, but this time, she did not stay silent.

Consort Lian had shown more than enough sincerity.

If Consort Lian severed ties with the Zhen Clan, it meant Dai Mubai would never again receive support from his mother's family. Once he also lost Consort Lian, his only support within the imperial palace, he would no longer have even the slightest possibility of competing with Dai Weisi.

The Empress rose to her feet, her long legs filling out her magnificent phoenix robes. Then she bent down to look at Consort Lian, who was kneeling on the floor. At this moment, the Empress felt neither pity nor contempt—only relief.

Luckily, my son lived up to expectations. Otherwise, the one kneeling here and begging would have been me.

That was the Empress's true inner monologue.

"It is not impossible. But after all the trouble you have caused these years, will your son listen?"

The Empress's tone was so cold it felt as though one had fallen into an ice pit. If anyone else had heard those words, no matter how clever they were, they would surely have thought Zhu Zitang intended to leave them no way out.

But Consort Lian and the Empress had openly and secretly fought for ten years. It could be said that she understood the Empress better even than Dai Zhen did. Upon hearing those words, she felt like a victim on the verge of freezing to death in an ice pit who had suddenly been handed a cup of hot tea, glimpsing her final hope.

Zhu Zitang never wasted words on people she believed were doomed to die. Moreover, she was exceedingly proud and even less willing to lie to those she considered weak.

Since she had said this, it meant that whether it was Consort Lian or Dai Mubai, she did not intend to kill either of them.

At least, not for now.

"He'll listen! He'll listen! He'll definitely listen!"

"Mubai will definitely be an obedient younger brother. Whatever his elder brother tells him to do, he'll obey!"

"If he ever dares disobey his elder brother in the future, even if I become a ghost, I'll come back and break his legs!"

As Consort Lian spoke, she repeatedly kowtowed to the Empress.

Ever since she had entered the palace, won the Emperor's favor, and outshone all the other consorts, she had never shown such a sorrowful and humble side. Yet at this moment, Zhen Lian felt happier than she had at any other time.

Because her son would live.