After Xue Qinghe ascended the throne, she stabilized the court in just three months and issued a series of policies that benefited the people. She was already showing the makings of an enlightened ruler.
During that time, Xue Qinghe made no move against the five vassal states, though she had been preparing in secret.
Meanwhile, in the Papal Palace of Spirit City!
After hearing the report from her subordinate, Bibi Dong frowned and sneered. "Well, well. Emperor Qinghe is certainly working hard to govern his empire!"
Sending Qian Renxue to infiltrate Heaven Dou had been Bibi Dong's idea from the start.
Otherwise, why would an eleven- or twelve-year-old girl like Qian Renxue suddenly decide to spend more than a decade undercover in Heaven Dou City?
But Bibi Dong had sent Qian Renxue away from Spirit Hall for more than just the sake of having her out of sight. There was another, far more important reason.
Qian Renxue was Spirit Hall's rightful Saintess and its future Heir.
If Qian Renxue had remained in Spirit Hall, Bibi Dong would have struggled to truly control it even after becoming Pope.
That was why she had sent Qian Renxue undercover in Heaven Dou City, far from Spirit Hall's center of power.
Yet even Bibi Dong had not expected Qian Renxue to go from an undercover agent to usurping the Heaven Dou Throne.
And now, that success had left Bibi Dong in a dilemma.
Qian Renxue's seizure of the Throne had won the approval of Spirit Hall's Titled Douluo elders.
Bibi Dong could already imagine it: once Qian Renxue's plan succeeded, her standing among Spirit Hall's leaders would rival the influence Bibi Dong had spent more than a decade building.
And that was before considering the Angel Clan's special status within Spirit Hall.
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