Has His Highness the Prince Taken a Fancy to My Granddaughter?

That very night, Lin Yu activated Spacetime Leap and took Qian Renxue with him.

Time: dusk, one year ago

Location: an alley in front of Moon Xuan Pavilion

Night fell as Lin Yu and Qian Renxue appeared in a dark alley. They huddled together furtively, watching the brightly lit Moon Xuan Pavilion.

It was especially lively tonight, with many nobles gathered there because the annual graduation ceremony had arrived once again.

His Highness Xue Qinghe was among them.

Xue Qinghe was dressed strikingly handsomely tonight. He had come specifically for the graduation ceremony, hoping to befriend a group of promising young nobles and outstanding students.

Watching from the shadows, Qian Renxue could not help clicking her tongue. "Spacetime travel is truly marvelous. I'm actually seeing another version of myself. At this time last year, I would have gone inside to socialize for the entire night without coming out."

Lin Yu said, "So, according to the plan, we can take advantage of the time he's socializing to visit Xue Ye in the Administrative Hall and pull a switch."

Qian Renxue was still dressed as Xue Qinghe. If she went to see Xue Ye now, no one would suspect a thing.

And even if they did suspect something, they could not prove it, because Qian Renxue was the genuine Xue Qinghe. No one could possibly imagine that two Xue Qinghes existed at this moment in time.

Sure enough, Qian Renxue returned to the palace without obstruction and easily met Xue Ye.

"Father, I was studying ancient herbal formulas tonight and discovered one prescription that may help treat your illness. I would like to try it myself, so I beg you to write a letter and help me obtain an herb from Dugu Bo."

Xue Ye had been unwell for a long time, and Qian Renxue often showed concern for him, personally seeking out new prescriptions to treat his condition.

She would also frequently ask Xue Ye to write letters himself, contacting various factions in search of medicinal herbs.

Thus, Xue Ye did not doubt her at all. Instead, he was moved by Xue Qinghe's concern and said without hesitation, "You have my thanks. I'll write you a letter at once."

Before long, Qian Renxue obtained Xue Ye's personally written letter. Its wording was earnest, explaining that Xue Ye urgently needed an herb due to his illness. Even a Titled Douluo like Dugu Bo would likely not refuse upon seeing it.

Waiting outside the palace, Lin Yu smiled when he saw the letter. "Qian Renxue, it really does depend on you. Otherwise, anyone else trying to get herbs from Dugu Bo would have to overcome countless hardships, only to end up empty-handed."

In his previous life, Lin Yu had read many Douluo fanfics. Not a single one had managed to obtain herbs from Dugu Bo without difficulty. They either used power to bully him or had to cure Dugu Bo's condition. It was all terribly troublesome.

Unlike Qian Renxue, who held Xue Ye's personally written letter and had a strong chance of easily obtaining the herb from Dugu Bo.

Sure enough, when Lin Yu and Qian Renxue leapt to Sunset Forest and paid Dugu Bo a personal visit, Dugu Bo immediately invited them inside upon seeing that His Highness Xue Qinghe had come in person with a letter.

Dugu Bo received Qian Renxue warmly. "Your Highness the Prince has come in person. My humble dwelling has little to offer, so please do not take offense."

As a guest Douluo of the Heaven Dou Empire, Dugu Bo had received no shortage of benefits from the empire over the years. Naturally, he treated Xue Qinghe with utmost courtesy and personally brewed tea for Qian Renxue.

Lin Yu stood behind Qian Renxue, acting as an attendant.

Snow Empress said, "That was surprisingly easy. Quite a few ten-thousand-year soul beasts roam this Sunset Forest, and this Titled Douluo guards it as well. If we had searched for herbs by ordinary means, we would have had to endure countless dangers."

Lin Yu said, "Exactly. With a dependable companion, everything we want to do becomes much easier."

After receiving Dugu Bo's hospitality, Qian Renxue smiled and expressed her wish to look for herbs in the herb garden. Dugu Bo did not refuse.

Dugu Bo brought Qian Renxue and Lin Yu to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well to search for herbs.

Qian Renxue spotted the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower at once, but her gaze did not stop at that herb. It also fell upon the other herbs around the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

Noticing that something was off about Qian Renxue, Lin Yu transmitted his voice to her. "Qian Renxue, what's wrong? Are you interested in the other herbs too?"

Ever since Qian Renxue had split off her power to become Lin Yu's Martial Soul, she had been able to communicate with him through voice transmission, just like Snow Empress.

Qian Renxue said, "Before long, that detestable Tang San will come to Dugu Bo and obtain quite a few herbs, strengthening the Shrek Seven Devils. Just thinking about it makes me unhappy. I want to take all these herbs away and leave not a single one for Tang San."

But Qian Renxue knew that was impossible. Dugu Bo was already giving them face by allowing them one herb. Trying to strip this place bare of herbs was nearly impossible.

Lin Yu said, "So that's what this is about. But it's not as though we can't do something about it."

Qian Renxue heard something in Lin Yu's tone. "Do you have a way?"

Lin Yu said, "There is a way. Those Immortal Herbs that strengthen the Shrek Seven Devils are not particularly valuable to Dugu Bo. Otherwise, they would not have been left here for so long. We may be able to discuss it with him."

Lin Yu then told Qian Renxue what to say.

Qian Renxue revealed a strange expression. "That could work too?"

Lin Yu smiled. "Why not? Dugu Bo will likely be quite interested in this as well. After all, he is already advanced in years and still has someone he cares about."

Qian Renxue hesitated, but Lin Yu kept urging her through voice transmission. In the end, she could only say to Dugu Bo, "Senior, aside from the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower my father wants this time, I also have some herbs I wish to find for myself."

"Like this one."

"That one."

"And this one too."

Qian Renxue named more than ten herbs in one breath, practically intending to pluck the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well clean and leave not a single herb behind.

Dugu Bo's expression darkened. "Your Highness the Prince, are you trying to rob this old man's herb garden?"

Qian Renxue coughed, feeling somewhat embarrassed as well. Unable to withstand Lin Yu's urging through voice transmission, she said, "I recently obtained an ancient herbal formula that I can try. It may have some effect on your granddaughter."

Dugu Bo had only one grandchild, and it was his granddaughter, Dugu Yan.

Because of the poison of her Jade Phosphor Serpent Martial Soul, she had become afflicted with Martial Soul poison just like Dugu Bo.

What Dugu Bo cared about most in his life was whether the Martial Soul poison in himself and his granddaughter could be cured.

Hearing this, he immediately could not help asking, "Will this ancient herbal formula you obtained really work?"

Qian Renxue said, "It is only an attempt."

Dugu Bo's expression immediately turned strange. He could tell that His Highness the Prince was merely trying it, which meant it would most likely still fail.

But why bring this up before him anyway, and say it might work on his granddaughter Dugu Yan?

Could His Highness the Prince's true purpose not be the herbs at all, but Dugu Yan herself?

Had His Highness the Prince taken a fancy to his granddaughter?