Inside the East Palace
Qian Renxue sat on a chair beside the jade table, crossed her long legs, crossed her arms, and stared at the figure in front of her with her pale golden eyes:
"Speak, what do you want to say to me?"
Lin Chen sat down beside her with a smile, looking her over. " Xue'er, how have you been lately?"
Qian Renxue curled her lip in a smirk. "Get to the point. Don't try to get close to me. You're nobody to me."
"How could that be?" Lin Chen said seriously, "How could Xue'er think we have no relationship!"
Qian Renxue's heart skipped a beat, and she pouted, "What kind of relationship could there be between us?"
Lin Chen joked, "I'm your mother's man, and also your nominal father, so naturally I have a relationship with you."
As soon as she finished speaking, Qian Renxue's beautiful face turned cold instantly. She wasn't angry because Lin Chen had taken advantage of her, but because of the words, "I am your mother's man."
"Roll!"
Lin Chen quickly waved his hand with a smile, " Xue'er, just kidding~"
"Is there anything else?" Qian Renxue's tone turned cold, more ruthless than when she spoke to a stranger.
Lin Chen said softly, "I talked to your mother about you yesterday."
Qian Renxue's delicate body trembled slightly, and she casually asked with 'indifference,' "What are we talking about?"
"Actually, her feelings for you have been very complicated over the years. From your initial disgust, to your later dislike and apology, and now to your guilt and helplessness." Lin Chen did not directly explain what happened back then, but first explained the changes in Bibi Dong's feelings for her to attract her attention, and then gradually untangled the knot between mother and daughter.
Qian Renxue indeed asked, "Why does she hate me? If she hates me, why did she give birth to me?"
Lin Chen sighed softly, " Xue'er, let me tell you a story. Once upon a time, there was a couple who joined a powerful force and became disciples of its leader. The girl was exceptionally talented, while the boy was a good-for-nothing. He was only able to join the force because the girl pleaded for him."
"Later, the leader of the power forced himself on the girl, but she drove him away to protect the boy. Soon after, the girl discovered she was pregnant, but just as she was about to abort the child, the leader of the power was unexpectedly severely injured. The girl endured it, and during one of his healing sessions, she killed him!"
Qian Renxue's heart trembled violently. She seemed to have guessed something and asked softly, "But... why didn't she abort the child?"
Lin Chen: "Because the leader of the power still has a father, she wanted to survive, so she gave birth to a daughter. Although the daughter is very cute, she... cannot like her at all."
Qian Renxue asked in a trembling voice, "What you said... is all true?"
Lin Chen chuckled lightly, "While I may not be a good person, I wouldn't joke around with my own woman. Xue'er, think it over carefully."
"I'll say it again: if you still resent her and want revenge, I understand. At worst, I'll take the blame for her, and then after you've vented, I'll properly educate and guide you."
Qian Renxue's large, pale golden eyes filled with tears, and she said in a trembling voice, "Get out of here, let me have some peace and quiet..."
Lin Chen stood up with a relaxed expression and strode away.
Watching his departing figure, Qian Renxue curled up on the carpet, a look of bewilderment on her face. Why? Why did this happen?
She wasn't innocent, but wasn't I innocent too? If I gave up, what would be the point of twenty years—twenty years of youth gone, twenty years of perseverance and purpose? If I didn't fight her, where would I go from here?
outside the palace
Lin Chen strode out, and Qian Jun and Jiang Mo immediately came forward to greet him, asking, "What did the Emperor and Your Highness Xue discuss?"
Lin Chen glanced at them indifferently. "What? Since when did I become one of your people from the Worship Hall?"
"Uh..." Qian Jun Douluo paused slightly. " Your Emperor, by order of the Great Enshrined, in order to protect Your Highness Xue, we need to know what each person who met with Your Highness Xue in private talked about. Please cooperate, Your Emperor."
Lin Chen said casually, "You need to obey the Great Enshrined's orders, but I don't. Get out of my way!"
Qian Jun Douluo wanted to say something, but was stopped by the Enshrined Jiang Mo beside him.
After Lin Chen left, the two headed straight for the inner hall. Since Lin Chen was uncooperative, they could only ask Qian Renxue directly. Given their status, they should be able to find out the answer even if they had to bite the bullet.
In front of the inner palace gate
Enshrined Qian Jun: "I was the one who went up just now, you do it this time!"
The Enshrined Jiang Mo, "Brother, is this a good idea?"
"Why not? This is the Great Enshrined's instruction. If we mess it up, we might run out of resources!"
"Alright, I'll go, I'll go." The Enshrined Jiang Mo cleared his throat. "Um... Your Highness Xue, it's me, the Enshrined Jiang Mo, I have..."
"Get out! All of you, get out!"
The Jiang Mo man shuddered and quickly retreated. "Brother, you should go."
After a long silence, Enshrined Qian Jun said, "How about... we just pretend it never happened?"
"That's reliable. Even if you and I don't tell, the Great Enshrined might not know. Besides, even if he did know, he wouldn't blame us for such a small matter, would he?"
"Let's do it that way then."
The two simpletons managed to cover it up, unaware that their actions had impacted Qian Daoliu's grand plan.
Meanwhile, the main hall of the palace
Tang San and Dugu Bo's group had arrived in front of the Imperial Palace. The latter, with his golden waist token, could move freely throughout the entire palace.
Dugu Bo's strength and status, including the respect Xue Ye held for him during his lifetime, created a special position for him, an outsider, in the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.
It can be said that, apart from Crown Prince Xue Qinghe and Prince Xue Xing, the guest advisor Dugu Bo is the most important!
Inside the Imperial Palace
Standing before the dragon throne, everyone looked at the Xue Ye, whose eyes were ashen. Tang San frowned deeply. "A few years ago, the Xue Ye was full of energy and spirit. How could it have vanished so quickly in just three years?"
Dugu Bo frowned deeply. "The imperial physicians in the palace all say that the Emperor has a 'serious illness,' but I don't think so. I suspect that the Emperor has been poisoned by a chronic poison, but we can't find any clues."
Tang San examined the body for a while, then shook his head. "All the internal organs are failing, and I can't find the root cause of the illness."
"Huh?"
Just then, Yang Wudi suddenly said, "No, the Emperor isn't seriously ill, he's been poisoned!"
As soon as he finished speaking, everyone was startled, because only by understanding the nature of the poison could it be neutralized. If they couldn't even recognize the poison, how could they cure it?
"What kind of poison?" Dugu Bo asked hurriedly.
Yang Wudi's expression turned grave. "What a formidable technique! This is made from seven colorless and odorless spiritual herbs. Each of these herbs is beneficial to the human body, but when mixed together, they form a deadly poison that can damage the body's internal organs and heart!"
"Now, the Emperor's heart meridian has been corroded by that deadly poison. If it's not dealt with soon, he will surely die within two days..."
"What?!" Dugu Bo's face darkened. "It really is poison!"