True · Incompetent Emperor, "Qingque, what... what's wrong with you?"

Thinking of this, Dai Li felt a chill run down his spine, and a deep sense of humiliation surged into his heart.

If the Empress was in that villa right now... then what was he doing by going over there?

Was he being sent over as a mere accessory?

Or was he going to catch her in the act?

No, what right did he have to catch her in the act?

He was the one who had pushed the Empress away with his own hands; what face did he have to go and catch her?

At this thought, Dai Li felt a sharp, twisting pain in his chest, as if someone had forcibly shoved a piece of red-hot iron inside. He struggled to speak, but only a hoarse, rattling sound escaped his throat, like a fish thrown onto the shore.

"Your Majesty had better save your strength."

The Soul Saint carrying him spoke expressionlessly, "You will have words to say when you see Sect Master Chen later."

Dai Li closed his eyes.

His swollen eye socket was oozing blood and stinging fiercely, but compared to the humiliation in his heart, this pain was not worth mentioning.

He remembered twenty-five years ago.

Back then, he was still the Crown Prince, the situation was perilous, and his eldest and second brothers were fighting tooth and nail.

It was Zhu Qingque who stood by his side, accompanying him step by step through it all.

The vows he made back then were sincere: to share in the hardships and never betray her in this life.

But tonight, he had slapped her face until it was swollen, and then pushed her onto another man's bed.

"Heh..."

Dai Li suddenly laughed, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth down his chin, his voice filled with bitterness and self-mockery.

Perhaps Zhu Qingque was right... he, Dai Li, truly was not much of a man.

They arrived at the villa.

Though called a villa, it was actually a sprawling manor outside the city, an asset Chen Jianjun had acquired by chance during his early years of training.

The outer walls of the manor were not high, and the vermilion gate was tightly shut. Two lanterns hung from the lintel, swaying slightly in the night breeze, casting flickering patches of light onto the ground.

Clearly, the banquet had long since dispersed, or rather, the invited nobles had been so distracted that they hadn't paid any attention at all.

"Sect Master Chen!"

Cheng Ming stood at the entrance and called out loudly toward the courtyard, "My Star Luo Majesty has prepared a generous gift and wishes to apologize to you for what happened three days ago!"

Inside the courtyard.

Cheng Ming's sudden voice was like a bolt of lightning, instantly striking Zhu Qingque's heart and leaving her mind blank.

His Majesty? Why was he here!?

It's over!

This time, she had really messed up!

In an instant, the color drained from her bright red face, leaving it deathly pale.

She knew better than anyone that the Star Luo Emperor was not only an eighty-ninth-level Soul Douluo, but his spiritual power was also incredibly strong, and his perception was extremely keen.

She wanted to put her clothes back on, but... she had been kneeling for so long that she had no strength to get up!

Gritting her teeth, Zhu Qingque was just about to push herself up from the ground with her hands, but the next moment, a soft nasal sound made her entire body freeze!

"Hmm?"

Zhu Qingque, "..."

Her face turned even paler. She tremblingly raised her head to look at Chen Fan, who was sitting leisurely on a grand armchair, watching her with a faint, mocking smile.

Zhu Qingque, "..."

She lowered her head in silence, only to hear Chen Fan speak, "During my search these past few days, I found something that is second only to a fairy herb in quality."

"You are currently at level eighty-five soul power; after consuming this, you might be able to step into level eighty-six."

Hearing this, Zhu Qingque felt a stir of excitement and looked up, "You... you are giving it to me?"

"Of course, otherwise why would I tell you?"

"Then... what is it?"

Chen Fan leaned down and whispered into her ear with a chuckle, "It is this, the Cold Sky Stone Ginseng!"

As he spoke, he shoved it into Zhu Qingque's mouth.

And it really worked!

The moment it was shoved in, Zhu Qingque instantly felt a surge of cold, potent energy spreading from her mouth, gradually turning into refined power flowing into her body.

So cold! So icy!

After Empress Zhu consumed the Cold Marrow Stone Ginseng, her entire body gradually turned freezing, and even Chen Fan was nearly turned into an ice sculpture.

"So cold!!"

This was a heavenly treasure second only to immortal herbs, yet it was not something Empress Zhu could easily refine on her own.

Under normal circumstances, one would need to meditate in seclusion and make thorough preparations before consuming it to achieve the perfect effect.

Thinking of this, a trace of regret sprouted in Zhu Qingque's heart.

"Hmm?"

But the next moment, she discovered with surprise that Chen Fan's body was radiating a warmth; as long as she leaned against him, she felt comfortable, and the sensation of cold receded.

Before Chen Fan even moved, she took the initiative to press herself against him.

As he circulated his secret technique, the efficacy of the Cold Marrow Stone Ginseng was stimulated by Chen Fan's Three Yang Mana, transforming into the purest, gentlest spiritual energy to nourish her dantian.

It was like sweet rain after a long drought.

Zhu Qingque felt her soul power level showing signs of a breakthrough, and she couldn't help but gasp, "Ah..."

Outside.

Hearing Zhu Qingque's voice, Dai Li asked with immediate concern, "Qingque, what... what is wrong?"

Subconsciously, Dai Li released his spiritual power, but it was immediately blocked by a spiritual force as sharp as a sword. It sent a buzzing sound through his brain, and a nosebleed trickled from his swollen nostrils.

This was the spiritual power of a Titled Douluo!

In the instant he was repelled, the answer immediately dawned on Dai Li!

At this moment.

He also understood.

The security for this entire manor had never been withdrawn; Chen Xin had been watching him from the shadows the whole time.

After all!

In Chen Xin's eyes, the arrival of him, Dai Li, along with these dozen-plus Soul Saints, was highly likely an assassination attempt.

So...

"Sect Master... Chen..."

His voice was as hoarse as sandpaper rubbing together, and every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, "I am sorry..."

The moment those two words left his lips, Dai Li felt as if his heart had been viciously torn open.

To think.

He, the dignified Emperor of the Star Luo Empire, was actually being forced by his ministers to grovel before a junior, kneeling like a dog to apologize.

Furthermore!

His Empress was inside, suffering such immense grievance!

What a mockery this was!?

Such humiliation made Dai Li almost lose his composure entirely!

But he could not lash out!

The entire Dai Family's fate rested on this man's whim!

Even if the Seven Kill Sect did not destroy his Dai Family, as long as they were pushed off the throne and the Xu Family was propped up in their place, then not a single member of the Dai Family would be able to escape!

Thinking of this, Dai Li's chest heaved violently. The surging humiliation and heartbreak made him feel as if he were suffocating; his nose stung, and tears he couldn't control spilled over.

Dai Li bit his lower lip hard, forcing that surging bitterness back down. He felt his head spinning, and the world before his eyes began to blur.

He was too tired.

The physical pain, the mental humiliation, and the shock of witnessing the Empress here were like three mountains pressing down on his shoulders simultaneously, leaving him unable to breathe.

Dai Li opened his mouth, wanting to say something more, but only a low, hoarse whimper escaped his throat.

Then, his vision went black, and he collapsed straight backward, hitting the stone floor with a heavy thud.

"Your Majesty?!"

Cheng Ming's voice rang out, carrying a hint of perfectly timed surprise, "Quick! Help His Majesty up!"

Several Soul Saints stepped forward, scrambling to lift Dai Li.

Meanwhile, Cheng Ming stood to the side, watching the unconscious Dai Li with his eyes narrowed slightly.

The Dai Family...

It seemed they had reached the end of their rope, hadn't they?