Qian Renxue's Guess

"An ornament..." Upon hearing the imperial physician's words, Xue Ye's heart finally died. He closed his eyes in pain.

He had four sons. Two had died young, and now even his youngest, fourth son had been castrated like a pig. How could his heart not ache?

"Father, please take care of yourself first. We should find out who was cruel enough to do this to my imperial brother."

Xue Qinghe stepped forward and looked at Xue Ye with concern in his eyes.

Xue Ye nodded, and at last, a trace of comfort appeared in his eyes.

Thank goodness, thank goodness. I still have Qinghe. Though his talent for cultivation is mediocre, he is highly capable in handling state affairs.

He looked sternly at Meng Shenji, narrowing his eyes as the pressure of a ruler bore down on him.

"Speak! Who beat the Fourth Prince into this state?!"

Meng Shenji and the other two prostrated themselves on the ground, their bodies trembling.

"Your Majesty, it was Spirit Hall."

"Spirit Hall?!" Xue Qinghe was startled. He wondered who in Spirit Hall could have such a ruthless style, capable of such cruel acts. It had to be some wicked, debauched scoundrel.

"Explain. Since when did the Fourth Prince become involved with Spirit Hall?" Xue Ye roared from his throne.

Meng Shenji hurriedly laid out the entire course of events.

Xue Ye slammed the table and rose to his feet.

"Useless trash! Three Spirit Douluos couldn't even defeat one Spirit Douluo, and you were even threatened by an eleven- or twelve-year-old child. You've disgraced the Heaven Dou Empire beyond redemption!"

Ning Fengzhi, having learned the full story from the side, revealed a thoughtful expression.

Two years ago, he had sent a group into the Star Dou Great Forest to ambush and kill Ye Lingsu and the others.

Yet not a single one of his men had returned. Instead, Ye Lingsu and her daughter had safely returned to Heaven Dou City a week later and opened a medical clinic as though nothing had happened. For the past two years, he had been puzzled over how Ye Lingsu had escaped from a Spirit Douluo. Wary of the power behind her, he had not dared act rashly.

After all, even if there was only a top-tier Spirit Douluo behind her, should that person fly into a rage, they could still inflict no small amount of damage upon the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had quite a few disciples traveling outside.

Now that he thought about it, if they had already joined Spirit Hall back then, everything made sense.

"Your Majesty, now is not the time to blame Meng Shenji and the Education Committee. Spirit Hall's actions this time are an extremely grave act of disrespect toward the Heaven Dou Empire and must be dealt with seriously!"

He stepped forward, his expression solemn.

"This incident shows that Spirit Hall has no regard whatsoever for the Heaven Dou Empire. That youth even dared utter such outrageous words as threatening to beat Your Majesty as well. If the Heaven Dou Empire does not make an example of them, how will the continent view us?"

"How will the Heaven Dou Empire stand upon the continent? And what of those talents? Even a prince of their own nation has suffered such treatment. How would they still dare join the Heaven Dou Empire?"

Xue Ye gave a grunt, a thoughtful look appearing in his eyes. Looking at Xue Qinghe, who stood quietly below, he asked, "Qinghe, what do you think?"

Xue Qinghe stood silently to one side, his gaze strange. It was not until Xue Ye called him twice that he came back to his senses.

"Qinghe, tell me how you think this matter should be handled."

Xue Qinghe abruptly came back to himself. The strange look in his eyes quickly vanished, replaced by intense anger.

He stepped forward. "Father, Sect Master Ning is right. If we make no response at all, how will the Soul Master world view us afterward? Although not many people know about this matter yet, even I could feel the battle between several Spirit Douluos in Heaven Dou City at the time. Paper cannot contain fire forever. We should take some measures."

He took another step forward. "However, Father, Spirit Hall is indeed powerful now. We should not respond too aggressively. We should use the strategy of slowly boiling a frog and plan things gradually."

Xue Ye nodded in satisfaction and waved his hand. "Qinghe, you are right. Draft a plan and present it to me at tomorrow morning's court session. This matter cannot be delayed."

"Yes, Father."

Xue Ye turned to Ning Fengzhi again and said with a hint of apology, "Sect Master Ning, you have witnessed an embarrassing sight."

Ning Fengzhi gave a slight bow. "Your Majesty, you are too polite. Qinghe is my student. Helping my student shoulder his worries is my duty. If there is nothing else, Fengzhi shall take his leave."

"Sect Master Ning, you have worked hard. Go back and rest."

A black vortex spun within the great hall, and Bone Douluo took Ning Fengzhi away, vanishing directly.

"Qinghe, go make your preparations as well. Imperial Physician, take the Fourth Prince away for treatment."

Watching Ning Fengzhi disappear, Xue Ye gave his instructions to those below.

"Yes, Father." Xue Qinghe glanced at Xue Beng, who still lay on the floor, shook his head, and left.

Only then did the old imperial physician tremblingly ask Xue Ye, "Your Majesty, should we reattach the Fourth Prince's little bit of flesh...?"

Rage once again appeared on Xue Ye's face, though this time it was not directed at Jin Yan.

"To hell with it! For the sake of a woman, he got himself into this state and disgraced my empire completely!"

Faced with Xue Ye's fury, the old imperial physician did not dare say anything. He could only instruct several soldiers to carefully lift Xue Beng from the ground and shakily carry him outside.

Only after the great hall had become empty did Xue Ye slump onto the dragon throne. His right thumb stroked the dragon head on the armrest, and a crystalline tear slid from the corner of his eye.

Xue Qinghe returned to Crown Prince Manor and sat in a luxurious, gleaming golden office chair, wearing a contemplative expression.

"Long Shu, come out for a moment."

A ripple of Soul Power stirred in the corner of the wall, and a lean man wearing golden armor, with a coiling snake pattern in the center of his forehead, appeared.

The moment Snake Lance appeared, he knelt before Xue Qinghe.

"Young Master."

"Uncle Snake, don't you think the style of the person Meng Shenji described today was a lot like Jin Yan's?"

"Such unconstrained and unconventional behavior could only be done by that fellow."

A smile appeared on Xue Qinghe's face as he spoke.

"Young Master, that is indeed the case. That youth's style was very similar to Jin Yan's. That brat had been sly and rotten since childhood, with a belly full of bad ideas."

She Long said.

"That is called resourceful!"

Xue Qinghe said.

The corner of She Long's mouth twitched. This had nothing to do with being resourceful...

"Still, since that fellow came, he did not even come see me. Instead, he went to help someone else out of trouble. How infuriating. Could he still be angry over that matter?"

Xue Qinghe, now restored to Qian Renxue's appearance, said viciously.

"Young Master, it has not been confirmed that the person was Jin Yan."

"Hmph." Qian Renxue snorted. "Who else could it be if not him? A Spirit Douluo with a halberd-type martial soul—wouldn't that be Uncle Zhang Yan? It must be Jin Yan!"

Caw! Caw! Caw!

Several caws rang out. Qian Renxue rose and reached her hand out the window, taking a roll of parchment from a black-feathered soul beast. She opened it and glanced at it. A smile instantly appeared on her face, but after reading further, her brows furrowed...