Explanation

In the Imperial Palace, Qian Renxue saw that Xue Ye had dozed off and quietly made her way to the door.

She instructed Snake Lance, "Go watch the Imperial Palace Gate. When Lin Jin returns, tell me immediately. That man's thoughts are impossible to fathom, and I want to know at once what he plans to do next."

"Yes, Your Highness!" Snake Lance understood immediately.

After receiving the order, Snake Lance Douluo melted into the night like a ghost and silently arrived at a patch of shadow near the Imperial Palace Gate.

About half an hour later, Lin Jin's figure indeed appeared at the Palace Gate.

Yang Wudi, Dugu Bo, and Dugu Yan followed behind him.

As for the Blood Blade members, they had returned to the estate.

Seeing this, Snake Lance Douluo vanished from where he stood in a flash.

In the Sleeping Quarters, Qian Renxue sat in the outer room. She appeared to be meditating with her eyes closed, but in reality, she was deeply unsettled.

Hearing the faint sound of something slicing through the air, she immediately opened her eyes.

Snake Lance Douluo's figure appeared. He said in a low voice, "Your Highness, Lin Jin has returned."

"He brought Dugu Bo, Dugu Yan, and Yang Wudi with him, and they're coming this way. From the looks of it, they didn't fight. Dugu Bo seems... to have come willingly."

"Willingly?" Qian Renxue's delicate brows drew together slightly, and a trace of surprise flashed through her eyes.

This was completely beyond her expectations!

With Dugu Bo's proud and extreme personality, how could he have been "invited" back by Lin Jin?

Could Lin Jin really have seized some fatal leverage, forcing Dugu Bo to submit?

She quickly calmed down, her mind racing.

Regardless of what method Lin Jin had used, Dugu Bo's arrival was a good thing.

At the Palace Gate, the Royal Knights guarding it saw that Lin Jin had returned with the famous Poison Douluo. They did not dare stop him and immediately let them pass.

After entering the Imperial Palace, Lin Jin did not go directly to His Majesty Xue Ye's Sleeping Quarters. Instead, he said to the Eunuch leading the way:

"Please report to His Highness the Crown Prince first. Tell him that Lin Jin has found Poison Douluo Dugu Bo and obtained the aid of Clan Head Yang of the Breaking Clan. Regarding His Majesty's poisoning, I have important information that must first be reported to His Highness the Crown Prince before we jointly meet with His Majesty."

The Eunuch did not dare delay and hurried to the East Palace to deliver the report.

A sharp glint flashed through Qian Renxue's eyes when she heard the Eunuch's report.

"Invite them to wait in the Side Hall. I'll be there immediately." Qian Renxue straightened her robes, and her face once again took on the composure and dignity belonging to "Xue Qinghe."

Inside the Side Hall.

Lin Jin, Dugu Bo, and Yang Wudi stood quietly waiting.

Dugu Yan, meanwhile, had been asked to wait outside the Side Hall.

Dugu Bo's expression still did not look very good. He kept his eyes closed, appearing completely unapproachable.

Yang Wudi, on the other hand, looked around the Imperial Palace with some curiosity, examining its furnishings.

Before long, footsteps approached. Qian Renxue, dressed in the Crown Prince's usual attire, strode into the Side Hall.

"General Lin, you've worked hard!" As soon as she entered, Qian Renxue offered Lin Jin her greetings.

Then her gaze swept over Yang Wudi before finally resting on Dugu Bo. In an even tone, she said, "Dugu Bo, do you know your crime?"

"You joined forces with the Empire's Prince Xue Xing to plot against His Majesty Xue Ye and conspire to rebel!"

Qian Renxue's voice echoed through the Side Hall, carrying the Crown Prince's authority and oppressive force.

Dugu Bo abruptly opened his eyes, a flash of anger passing through his green eyes.

He was already filled with pent-up fury. Being questioned so harshly by Qian Renxue nearly made the pride of a Titled Douluo erupt once more.

But remembering his granddaughter's safety, he forcibly suppressed his anger. He merely snorted, turned his head away, and ignored her.

"Hmph. My poison has always been incomparably overbearing. The moment it is touched, one instantly turns into a puddle of blood and pus. If I had joined forces with Xue Xing to poison His Majesty Xue Ye, why would I have waited until now?" Dugu Bo declared with an extremely firm attitude.

"Then how do you explain your repeated visits to Prince Xue Xing's Mansion and the poison in His Majesty's body?" Qian Renxue questioned again.

"Though I'm no good person, I have not fallen so far as to join forces with someone else to poison another and commit such a despicable act!" Dugu Bo's attitude remained unchanged.

The atmosphere in the Side Hall instantly grew tense.

At this moment, Lin Jin stepped forward and appropriately placed himself between Qian Renxue and Dugu Bo. He bowed slightly and said respectfully:

"Your Highness, please calm your anger. There are Hidden Circumstances in this matter. Please allow me to report everything clearly!"

"Oh?" Qian Renxue turned her gaze toward Lin Jin. Her eyes were deep and scrutinizing. "General Lin, you're the one who brought him back. What do you have to say? Could Ironclad Evidence possibly be false?"

Lin Jin replied calmly, "That's right. Before seeking out Dugu Bo, I had already sent people to investigate him."

"More than ten years ago, Dugu Bo was hunted by people from Spirit Hall and was accidentally rescued by Prince Xue Xing. At that time, Dugu Bo promised Prince Xue Xing that he could help him with three matters that did not violate his principles."

"I believe Dugu Bo carelessly allowed Prince Xue Xing to borrow some kind of poison from his Soul Skill, which was then added little by little to food or tea."

"Tonight, when I met Dugu Bo, I used Dugu Yan to threaten him. He admitted that he had indeed lent out the Jade Phosphorous Purple Poison from his Fourth Soul Skill years ago for use as a means of self-defense."

"When Dugu Bo heard that His Majesty had been poisoned, he was deeply shocked and enraged. To prove his innocence, and even more so for the safety of the Empire, he willingly followed me into the palace. He is willing to work with Clan Head Yang and do everything in his power to cure His Majesty's poison!"

"That is how I was able to bring Dugu Bo to the Imperial Palace so quickly. Otherwise, given Dugu Bo's strength as a Titled Douluo, we probably couldn't have even stopped him, let alone captured him."

Lin Jin's words defused the situation while striking at the same time. Not only did they clear Dugu Bo of the crime, they also portrayed him as a loyal subject who put the greater good first and willingly took on his Lord's troubles.

"Dugu Bo, this Crown Prince asks you: Is the truth as Lin Jin has said?" Qian Renxue said coldly. "This is your final chance to prove your innocence!"

Dugu Bo thought for a while before slowly sighing. "Ten years ago, Prince Xue Xing came to me and asked me for some poisonous liquid, claiming that he needed it for self-defense. I used the Jade Phosphorous Purple Poison Soul Skill from my Fourth Soul Skill and condensed a drop of poisonous liquid."

"I never expected Xue Xing to use it to poison two Imperial Princes and His Majesty. If I had known, I would never have condensed my poison for him."

"So this really happened..." Qian Renxue took a deep breath and looked at Dugu Bo. "Since you were unaware, the ignorant are not guilty. However, this poison was ultimately provided by you. This Crown Prince is willing to give you a chance to atone through meritorious service."

"If you are willing to cooperate with Clan Head Yang and safely remove His Majesty Xue Ye's poison, this Crown Prince can ask Father Emperor to pardon you."

"Thank you, Your Highness!" Dugu Bo immediately replied.

"There's no time to waste. Let us go to the Main Palace and cure Father Emperor's poison." Qian Renxue could hardly wait.

Qian Renxue turned around first and led everyone out of the Side Hall toward the Inner Hall of the Sleeping Quarters where His Majesty Xue Ye was staying.

Inside the Inner Hall, the lamps burned brightly, yet a suffocating Aura permeated the room.

His Majesty Xue Ye lay on the Dragon Bed. His face was grayish white, and his lips were even more bloodless.

"Father Emperor, Your Child has brought Dugu Bo and the Breaking Clan to cure your poison. As for Dugu Bo poisoning you, Your Child already understands the whole story. Once the poison is removed, Your Child will explain everything in detail." Qian Renxue got straight to the point.

"Begin." Xue Ye slowly looked up at Qian Renxue and spoke weakly.