Chen Xin fell silent for a moment before slowly speaking. "So you think this is a Spirit Hall conspiracy?"
Ning Fengzhi did not answer immediately.
He returned to his chair and sat down, lifting the cup of tea that had long since gone cold and taking a light sip. The bitterness spread across his tongue, yet it could not compare to the indescribable turmoil in his heart.
"A conspiracy?"
He set down the teacup and shook his head.
"I'm not sure."
Chen Xin raised an eyebrow but said nothing, waiting for him to continue.
Ning Fengzhi leaned back in his chair, his gaze falling upon the ancient pine tree standing proudly in the courtyard outside the window.
Sunlight filtered through its branches and leaves, casting mottled patches of light and shadow across the ground.
"There is something unusual about every part of this. No matter how one looks at it, it is highly likely to be a Spirit Hall scheme. Sending a peerless beauty into the Heaven Dou imperial harem to influence the emperor's decisions and even secretly control the Heaven Dou Empire... It isn't a new tactic."
Chen Xin remained silent, simply watching him quietly.
Ning Fengzhi picked up his teacup again, only to discover that it had gone completely cold. He put it down, his fingers tapping softly against the tabletop in a steady rhythm.
"However..."
His tone shifted, carrying a trace of hesitation.
"I thought of someone else."
Chen Xin raised an eyebrow slightly. "Who?"
"Bibi Dong."
When Ning Fengzhi spoke that name, his voice was soft, yet it carried an indescribable sense of emotion.
"The former Saintess of Spirit Hall, and now Her Holiness the Pope."
Chen Xin's brows furrowed slightly. Clearly, he did not understand why Ning Fengzhi had suddenly brought up Bibi Dong.
Ning