Measured footsteps sounded from outside the hall.
Dressed in a dark purple brocade robe, Gu Qing crossed the grand hall's high threshold with unhurried ease.
His steps were steady, and he made no effort to release even the slightest trace of Soul Power.
Yet the calm confidence and oppressive presence that seemed to come from his very bones made the royal guards lining both sides of the hall tense up without realizing it.
Gu Qing's gaze swept over the long red carpet.
At once, it settled on Xue Qinghe, standing on the steps below the dragon throne.
Looking at that flawlessly disguised man's face, a hint of amusement flickered in Gu Qing's eyes.
The corners of his mouth lifted slightly as he brazenly raised an eyebrow at him.
That teasing, provocative look made Qian Renxue's heart skip a beat.
Her hands, hidden beneath her wide sleeves, clenched into fists.
Her toes curled tightly inside her knee-high boots. She almost wished she could dig a deep pit into the golden-brick floor.
The humiliation of having her cards seen through left her feeling utterly uncomfortable.
"Gu Qing, the Martial Soul Hall Holy Son, pays his respects to Your Majesty."
Gu Qing walked to the center of the hall and bowed slightly, his tone neither servile nor arrogant.
Xue Ye put away his scrutinizing gaze, a warm smile appearing on his face.
"Holy Son, you may rise."
"I've long heard that His Holiness the Pope took in an exceptionally talented adopted son. Seeing you today, I find you every bit as impressive as the rumors say."
The old emperor's voice echoed through the hall.
"May I ask why the Holy Son has traveled thousands of miles to Heaven Dou City with the Pope Token?"
Gu Qing had no intention of making small talk or beating around the bush.
With a flip of his wrist, an exquisite gold-embossed invitation appeared in his palm.
"I came here especially to deliver an invitation to my wedding."
At his words, the air in the hall seemed to freeze for an instant.
Gu Qing raised his voice, making sure every word reached everyone present.
"In one month, Miss Qian Renxue, the Martial Soul Hall Saintess, and I will be married at Spirit Hall."
"This is a momentous happy occasion. I hope Your Majesty will honor us with your presence, or send a delegation to witness the ceremony."
The smile on Xue Ye's face abruptly stiffened.
Astonishing light burst from his cloudy old eyes, eyes that had seen countless people.
The Martial Soul Hall Saintess, Qian Renxue?
The only daughter left behind by the former Pope, Qian Xunji?
Everyone knew that Qian Renxue's talent and strength were legendary among the continent's upper echelons.
Now the Saintess was marrying the Pope's adopted son.
Such a powerful union would undoubtedly bring together Spirit Hall's two major factions.
Spirit Hall's overall strength would likely rise to an even more despair-inducing level.
The Heaven Dou Empire's future would become even more precarious.
Before Xue Ye could recover from his immense shock, Gu Qing had already taken a second invitation from his robes.
He walked straight over to Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, who stood at the foot of the steps.
They were now less than three feet apart.
Gu Qing held out the invitation with both hands, staring straight into the other man's eyes.
"Brother Qinghe, it's been a while."
"I hope Your Highness the Crown Prince can attend the wedding and do me the honor of sharing a celebratory drink."
Xue Qinghe's chest heaved violently.
Beneath his disguise, Qian Renxue was so furious she was on the verge of losing her reason.
What the hell was this bastard up to?
Not only was he spreading rumors about their wedding in front of the Heaven Dou Emperor, he had even come right up to her and tried to press that damned invitation into her hands!
Xue Ye's keen gaze immediately swept toward them.
After years of mastering the art of imperial intrigue, he instantly sensed the unusually subtle interaction between Gu Qing and the crown prince.
Feeling the emperor's gaze upon her, Qian Renxue crumbled inside.
She cursed Gu Qing's ancestors for eighteen generations in her heart.
He had exposed her secrets the moment he arrived. It was as if he wouldn't be satisfied until he'd dragged her straight into the abyss.
Xue Qinghe took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the rage about to burst out of him.
He forced the corners of his mouth to twitch, but made no move to accept the invitation.
"The Holy Son certainly knows how to joke."
The crown prince's voice was cold and hard.
"This should be our first time meeting, shouldn't it?"
"We're hardly familiar enough to be calling each other brothers."
Hearing the unmistakable rejection in his words, Gu Qing deliberately tapped his forehead and put on an expression of sudden realization.
"Oh, right. Right."
"Sorry, I did mistake you for someone else."
Gu Qing put on a show of sighing, his tone sounding perfectly sincere.
"It's just that my fiancée, Qian Renxue, often talks about Your Highness in my presence."
"She says that Your Highness is not only suave and handsome,"
"but also someone she's admired greatly all her life."
Gu Qing's gaze fell once more on Xue Qinghe's livid face.
"I've heard so much about you that I've long wanted to make your acquaintance."
"You could say we've been friends in spirit for a long time. I got carried away just now. I hope Your Highness will forgive me."
His words were flawless, even tinged with humility.
But to Qian Renxue, they were like a thunderclap from the heavens.
Her nails, hidden inside her sleeves, had sunk deep into her palms, drawing a few thin streaks of blood.
When had she ever called him suave and handsome?
When had she ever agreed to be his fiancée?
His shameless act of lying through his teeth and pinning the blame on her was simply beyond the pale.
If not for her current identity, she would have summoned the Angel Sword and sewn the bastard's mouth shut right there.
Xue Ye watched the scene in silence. The suspicion in his eyes only grew stronger.
Why would the lofty Saintess of Spirit Hall know so much about the Heaven Dou Empire's crown prince?
And why would she praise him so highly?
There had to be some deeply secret connection between them.
The atmosphere in the hall grew stranger by the moment.
After a moment's thought, Xue Ye waved to the chamberlain beside him.
The old eunuch hurried down the steps with short, quick strides and respectfully accepted the two invitations from Gu Qing.
"I appreciate the Holy Son's kindness. The crown prince and I accept your invitation."
Xue Ye's voice regained its former steady, imperial bearing.
"I'll keep the invitation. If state affairs aren't too busy a month from now, I'll certainly send an envoy to Spirit City to offer my congratulations."
Hearing this, Gu Qing nodded with satisfaction.
He had accomplished his goal, and he'd had his fill of stirring up trouble.
He turned and strode toward the exit.
"Now that I've taken care of my business, I won't disturb Your Majesty's affairs of state any longer."
He had barely taken a couple of steps when Xue Ye suddenly called out from the high dais.
"Holy Son, wait."
Gu Qing stopped and looked back.
Xue Ye wore an exceptionally warm smile.
"The Holy Son has come from afar and represents His Holiness the Pope. How could I let you leave just like that?"
"There happens to be a grand banquet at the palace tonight."
"I insist that the Holy Son join us, so the officials of the Heaven Dou Empire can behold your splendor as well."
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