Ling Xueyao was stunned.
She stared blankly at Ling Zhantian, even forgetting to wipe away the tears on her face.
The father I remember wasn't like this.
When she was a child, she broke a jade cup left by the founding emperor. Instead of punishing her, her father checked her hand to see if it had been cut by the shards.
When she was injured during her first cultivation practice, her father put aside all state affairs and stayed by her bedside for three whole days.
Her father once held her when she was young and said that if Yao'er wanted to become the empress, he would clear all obstacles for her and personally hand over the Great Qian Dynasty to her.
But ten years have passed.
The father who loved her, protected her, and indulged her in every way seemed to have completely disappeared.
Now, only a cold-hearted emperor sits on the dragon throne.
Ling Xueyao wiped away the tears on her face.
Her eyes were still red, but her expression gradually hardened.
"Father, I don't know why you've become like this. But Chu Yunfei didn't take advantage of me, nor did he force me."
She looked directly at Ling Zhantian and said, word by word:
"It was my daughter's own choice."
Ling Zhantian's face turned ashen.
Do you even know what you're saying?
"Of course my daughter knows."
Ling Xueyao did not back down.
"Father may refuse to acknowledge him as the prince consort, or he may banish him from the palace."
But Father cannot change his daughter's mind.
She paused for a moment.
"My daughter can only have him in this life."
Even in death, my daughter is willing to die with him!
"You!"
Ling Zhantian suddenly stood up.
boom!
The oppressive aura of Divine Sea Realm Ninth Level filled the hall, and the array patterns on the ground lit up one after another.
Ling Xueyao's face paled, and her skirt fluttered wildly in the wind from the spiritual energy.
But she remained standing there.
Not an inch will be retreated.
Ling Zhantian stared intently at her.
It was only at this moment that he truly realized that the daughter before him was no longer the little girl who had obeyed his every command ten years ago.
She entered the Divine Sea Realm.
There is someone I want to protect.
They also gained the courage to defy him.
She is slipping out of his control.
This feeling of being out of control caused Ling Zhantian's anger to erupt completely.
" Shen Qianyue!"
Footsteps came from outside the palace gate.
Ling Zhantian raised his hand and pointed at Ling Xueyao, his tone icy:
"Immediately take the princess back to her palace and confine her to her quarters."
"Without my permission, she is not to step out of her palace, nor is she to send any message out!"
Shen Qianyue appeared outside the palace gate.
He had clearly been keeping watch nearby, but without being summoned, he dared not enter the palace without permission.
Upon hearing the imperial decree, he looked up and glanced at Ling Xueyao.
The princess's tears were still wet, but the disappointment on her face had already turned into a chill.
Shen Qianyue's heart sank.
He vaguely understood that with this decree issued today, it would be difficult for the father and daughter to return to what they were before.
His Majesty clearly intends to sever the princess's connection with the outside world.
They were also wary of her going to see Chu Yunfei.
But he dared not disobey the imperial edict and could only bow and accept the order.
"Yes."
Shen Qianyue walked to Ling Xueyao's side and lowered his voice, saying, "Princess, His Majesty is currently very angry. Let's return to our palace first, and perhaps things can be salvaged once His Majesty's anger subsides."
"A turnaround?"
Ling Xueyao repeated it softly.
She didn't look at Shen Qianyue, but only at Ling Zhantian on the high platform.
"Father, you've changed."
Ling Zhantian met her gaze expressionlessly.
Ling Xueyao pursed her lips, tears welling up again, but she forcibly held them back.
You weren't like this before.
After saying that, she turned and walked towards the palace gate.
She didn't stop as she passed by Shen Qianyue.
She stopped abruptly after crossing the threshold, but did not turn back.
" Yao'er... I hate you."
Shen Qianyue's heart skipped a beat.
The next moment, Ling Xueyao's voice came again, trembling with resolute determination:
"Father can confine his daughter for a day, or he can confine her for a year."
But you can't keep your daughter confined forever.
Her voice regained its cool, clear tone.
Even if Father Emperor disagrees, one day I will go to him!
After speaking, Ling Xueyao stepped out of the main hall.
Shen Qianyue followed behind her, his expression complicated, but he dared not say a word.
The palace doors were closed tightly.
The main hall fell silent once more.
Ling Zhantian stood on the steps, gazing at the closed palace door, his expression a mixture of emotions.
After a long while, he slowly raised his hand.
The palm of his hand vibrated with spiritual power, and the jade cup on the table shattered into powder on the spot.
"Looking for him?"
Ling Zhantian let out a cold snort.
There was no trace of a loving father's gentleness in that voice.
You'll never find him.
He lowered his eyes, a cold smile curving his lips.
"Before even reaching the Divine Sea, he already possessed the Myriad Poison Tyrant Body."
"Perfect, it can fill the void left by Flawless Spirit Physique..."
Outside the imperial palace.
Ling Xueyao walked silently along the palace path.
She walked quickly, her long, moon-white dress billowing in the wind. She had wiped away the tears on her face, but the pain in her eyes was impossible to hide.
Shen Qianyue followed behind her, wanting to speak several times, but each time it turned into a sigh.
Your Highness.
Ling Xueyao did not stop walking.
"If Elder Shen wishes to persuade me on behalf of the Emperor, then there is no need for him to speak."
Shen Qianyue remained silent for a few moments before speaking in a low voice, "His Majesty has just awakened and has many things weighing on his mind. What he said just now may have been just said in anger."
"Once His Majesty calms down, he might change his mind."
Ling Xueyao suddenly stopped.
She turned around and looked at Shen Qianyue.
"Does Elder Shen also think that Chu Yunfei should leave the palace?"
Shen Qianyue was speechless for a moment.
He had personally witnessed Chu Yunfei remove the Soul-Devouring Nether Poison from Ling Zhantian.
He also witnessed firsthand how, when the Blood Baleful Intent Tower stormed the palace, Chu Yunfei used the Soul-Devouring Nether Poison to create the illusion that the emperor was still poisoned.
If we only consider gratitude, the royal family does indeed owe Chu Yunfei a debt.
But he was a royal retainer.
Ling Zhantian gave the order, and he had no choice but to obey.
Shen Qianyue avoided Ling Xueyao's gaze.
"Your Majesty must have had his reasons for making this decision."
The last glimmer of hope in Ling Xueyao's eyes faded away.
"So, Elder Shen already knew?"
Shen Qianyue's expression changed slightly.
"Your Majesty does not know what Your Majesty and Young Master Chu discussed. I only received orders to keep a close watch on the princess and not allow her to leave the palace without permission."
Ling Xueyao nodded gently.
I see.
No wonder Chu Yunfei refused to take her with him.
He had long known that once the truth was revealed, his father would surely confine her to the palace.
Therefore, he preferred to face the Four Sects and the Blood Baleful Intent Tower alone rather than leave her in the relatively safe palace.
That bastard.
Even though she had been driven away by her father, she still lied to him and said it was some kind of secret mission.
He was even smiling before he left.
A sharp pain shot through Ling Xueyao's chest, and tears nearly welled up in her eyes again.
She forced down her emotions and asked in a low voice, "How long has he been gone?"
"In less than half an hour."
"Send people to chase them now; it's not too late."
Ling Xueyao immediately said, " Elder Shen, go and bring him back. Tell him I want to see him."
Shen Qianyue, however, took no action.
"Princess, His Majesty has ordered that you are not to communicate with anyone outside the palace."
"If I bring Young Master Chu back, it will be considered disobeying the imperial decree."
Ling Xueyao clenched her hands tightly.
"So, you want to lock me up?"
Shen Qianyue said with a wry smile, "This old minister dares not."
"But His Majesty has ordered that I can only escort the princess back to her palace."
Ling Xueyao looked towards the east gate of the palace.
At Chu Yunfei's speed, half an hour would be more than enough for him to leave the imperial city.
Even if we chase after him now, we might not be able to find him.
Moreover, Shen Qianyue would not let her leave the palace.
Ling Xueyao remained silent for a moment, then suddenly turned and continued walking towards the palace.
"Good."
"I'm going back."
Shen Qianyue breathed a slight sigh of relief.
But he didn't see that a discreet cyan jade talisman had quietly appeared in Ling Xueyao's hand, which hung by her side.
That was a communication talisman she had left behind a long time ago.
It is not a royal item.
It is also not among the jade slips that need to be confiscated during the confinement period.
Since her father forbade her to leave, she would find a way herself.
She would never let Chu Yunfei face all the dangers alone.