No Such Intent

Meanwhile, in another part of the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, at the hall where guests were received.

Xue Ye had been waiting there for quite some time, but Chrysanthemum Douluo and the Honorary Elder from the stories had yet to arrive.

He also had a faint sense that something was wrong.

Something was going to happen today!

Xue Ye looked at the Head Eunuch again. "Where are they?"

The Head Eunuch's expression turned uneasy. "Your Majesty, he... they went to your Imperial Harem."

Xue Ye froze, then slapped the armrest in anger and stood up. "Outrageous! This is going too far!"

"Please calm down, Your Majesty. Just bear with it," the Head Eunuch soothed him.

"Spirit Hall has been riding high lately, and the war with the Clear Sky Sect isn't completely over. If we clash with them now..."

"Why didn't you say so earlier?" Xue Ye snapped.

The Head Eunuch lowered his head. "Your Majesty, they were heading toward your Imperial Garden. Hall Master Tang Yuehua is there. If you go and run into them, how will you explain yourself?"

"I..." Xue Ye froze.

The Head Eunuch continued, "Your Majesty, the Clear Sky Sect's name is a dangerous one to be associated with right now. Even the slightest connection could make someone a legitimate target for Spirit Hall's reprisals!"

He couldn't understand why this old emperor had let his lust get the better of him and insisted on seeking out Tang Yuehua at a time like this.

If Spirit Hall used this as proof that the Heaven Dou Imperial Family was colluding with the Clear Sky Sect and planning a sneak attack, they would be in serious trouble!

With the Clear Sky Sect in trouble, the Eight Great Families and the other members of the Seven Great Sects were all watching from the sidelines. Spirit Hall wouldn't go too far.

But if the Heaven Dou Imperial Family got into trouble, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect might say a few words out of courtesy. Everyone else probably wouldn't even spare them a glance!

No matter how hungry for a woman the old emperor was, he should have waited until this storm had passed!

Xue Ye suddenly came to his senses. "This is bad!"

If Tang Yuehua suddenly claimed that he had been secretly communicating with the Clear Sky Sect, the Spirit Master Army that Spirit Hall had yet to fully withdraw might march on Heaven Dou City!

"Your Majesty, don't worry. I've already sent someone to inform the Empress and have her go to the Imperial Garden. We can easily explain this as the Empress being friends with Tang Yuehua. Tang Yuehua isn't a Soul Master, so as long as you don't show up, this won't escalate," the Head Eunuch said.

Xue Ye breathed a sigh of relief. "You handled this well. You've been thoughtful."

Seeing the Clear Sky Sect get into trouble had brought all his pent-up frustration rushing to the surface. That was why he hadn't been able to hold back. He should have waited for the storm to pass.

"Welcoming Chrysanthemum Douluo!"

The announcing eunuch called out loudly from outside the hall.

Xue Ye composed himself and went to greet them. "Chrysanthemum Douluo, I apologize for not welcoming you sooner. Please forgive me."

"I won't," said Nan Feng, walking beside Yue Guan with an annoyed expression.

"Can't you see me?"

"Or do you look down on me?"

Xue Ye froze. "And this is...?"

"This is Elder Nan Feng, the greatest contributor to our Spirit Hall's campaign against the Clear Sky Sect," Yue Guan introduced him.

Xue Ye froze, and Tang Yuehua, in Nan Feng's arms, suddenly shuddered.

"So you're Elder Nan Feng. My apologies for the discourtesy," Xue Ye said apologetically.

He was only an Honorary Elder, and his cultivation was probably lower than Xue Ye's, but he was a favorite of Spirit Hall. He couldn't afford to offend him!

"Since you know you were discourteous, shouldn't you make it up to me?" Nan Feng frowned.

"What kind of emperor are you? All you can do is spout empty words?"

Xue Ye's expression stiffened.

The bastard really wasn't giving him any face!

"Elder Nan Feng, please calm down. I'll arrange a banquet right away to properly entertain you both..."

"Stop!" Nan Feng raised a hand to cut him off.

"Don't treat me like a three-year-old. You can't smooth this over with a meal."

Xue Ye's eye twitched. "May I ask what it would take to appease you, Elder Nan Feng?"

"One million Gold Soul Coins. That's my price," Nan Feng said.

"This..."

"Two million!"

"Deal!" Xue Ye gritted his teeth and hurriedly called out.

Damn it! He was shaking him down right to his face!

Spirit Hall had just finished fighting the Clear Sky Sect and won a great victory. They were riding high, and Xue Ye truly didn't dare offend them!

"Good. Since Your Majesty is so sensible, it would be wrong of me to keep pressing you," Nan Feng said.

Xue Ye only smiled weakly, saying nothing.

Sensible?

I didn't even say anything, and you went straight to extortion!

Damn it!

"Now that we've dealt with that, it's time to discuss the real matter." Nan Feng walked forward and sat in a glittering golden chair.

Xue Ye's expression stiffened.

That was his seat!

Couldn't the man tell the difference between the host's seat and a guest's?

"I saw someone in Your Majesty's Imperial Garden just now," Nan Feng said, gently stroking Tang Yuehua.

"Do you know who it was, Your Majesty?"

"This... I don't," Xue Ye replied, his expression grim.

You barged into my harem, and now you have the nerve to say it out loud?

This is outrageous! Outrageous!

"Tang Yuehua." Nan Feng turned slightly and glanced at Xue Ye.

"Old man, do you really not know, or are you pretending?"

"Those reckless Clear Sky Sect disciples attacked our Spirit Hall's Pope. The battle has only just ended, and now you dare contact the Clear Sky Sect. What are you planning?"

Xue Ye's heart went cold. "Elder Nan Feng, what makes you say that?"

"I truly don't know why the Tang Yuehua you mentioned would be in the Imperial Harem..."

"Xue Ye!" Nan Feng's voice turned cold.

"Let's not beat around the bush. I'll give you one last chance. What are you planning?"

"Are you trying to join forces with the Clear Sky Sect's remnants and plot something underhanded?"

"I have no such intent!" Xue Ye hurriedly said.

"Elder Nan Feng, I don't know why Tang Yuehua was in the Imperial Garden either."

"Oh? Really?" Nan Feng narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Then what will you do if I find evidence?"

"Could it be that the Heaven Dou Imperial Family..."

Xue Ye's expression stiffened. "Forgive me, Elder! I was rash!"

"..."

Yue Guan watched the scene with a strange expression.

The boy really had the commanding presence of a leader. He sounded so much like Qian Xunji.

A few words had been enough to scare Xue Ye.

Spirit Hall had only just finished fighting the Clear Sky Sect. Though they claimed a great victory, they had suffered heavy losses too. They also needed to quickly seize and absorb the Clear Sky Sect's assets, or the whole campaign would have been pointless. At a time like this, they wouldn't start a war with the Heaven Dou Empire over such a small matter.

Besides, the other sects wouldn't just sit back and watch. They wouldn't directly interfere in a war between Spirit Hall and the Heaven Dou Empire, but they would certainly make trouble behind the scenes.

And the Heaven Dou Empire's plan had only just been put into motion. Spirit Hall couldn't afford to move against the empire. Otherwise, if they stripped away the last shred of dignity from the Heaven Dou Imperial Family, the kingdoms and duchies below would truly spiral out of control.

"Rash?" Nan Feng raised his brows.

"I think you've been planning this for a long time."

"The Clear Sky Sect was just defeated, and you chose this moment to approach them. Were you hoping to offer help when they were down?"

"Old man, aren't you afraid that this little spark will burn you too?"

"Elder, please hear me out. I had no such intent!" Xue Ye panicked.

He absolutely couldn't admit to it! If he did, the Heaven Dou Imperial Family would be finished!

"No such intent?" Nan Feng lifted the little rabbit's head.

"Do you think I believe you?"

"His Holiness the Pope sent me to check on Heaven Dou. I thought that at your age, you'd know better, but I didn't expect you to be so dishonest."

"What, did you think Spirit Hall would be too busy to deal with you after fighting the Clear Sky Sect?"

"I had no such intent!" Xue Ye said urgently.

Nan Feng looked at Xue Ye curiously. "Then what was your intent?"

"Tell me. If it's reasonable, I can report back to His Holiness the Pope. Otherwise, if it turns out later that your Heaven Dou Imperial Family is entangled with the Clear Sky Sect—or even helping them do evil..."

Nan Feng sighed. "When that happens, I'll be the one in trouble..."