The envoy looked at the Emperor with some concern.
The Emperor waved his hand, "No matter. Meeting an immortal being from beyond the world should be like this."
Following the young page as he turned left and right, they finally entered a deep, secluded room. A tall, slender figure stood with his back to him, searching for something among the bookshelves.
The young page said, "Young Master, the person has been brought," then left the study, closing the door behind him.
The Emperor broke the silence first, "Daoist Immortal, I..."
"Your Majesty, do you wish to inquire about the fortune and misfortune of the empire? Do you wish to know your own lifespan?" the man asked without turning his head.
"Ah, yes."
"Your Majesty, those are all heavenly secrets. Even I, a Daoist immortal, dare not speak carelessly." the man said.
"If you could tell me, then any reward, I can provide," the Emperor urged.
"This is not about rewards," the man suddenly turned around, staring intently at the Emperor, "Your Majesty, you have imprisoned your wife in the cold palace. This poses a great threat to the stability of the empire."
The Emperor was stunned.
The man had already turned back, "This is all I have to say. How you decide, whether to release her or not, is your decision, Your Majesty. I am merely an observer."
The Emperor was speechless for a long time.
Ye Qingcheng looked at the mirror in her hand, trembling all over, unable to speak.
Shangguan Hong's face appeared in the mirror, clearly showing everything from his arrangements of unfavorable events against her, to his taking Bi Xi's life, and maliciously slandering her relationship with Xiao Wangye.
Ye Qingcheng bit her lip, her face drained of color.
Seeing her like this, Cai Wei was also surprised.
Knowing that she must be very sad, Cai Wei still couldn't help but remind her, "Ye Qingcheng, what this mirror shows can only last for the time it takes an incense stick to burn..."
As soon as Cai Wei finished speaking, the scene displayed in the mirror disappeared, and then reflected Ye Qingcheng and Cai Wei's faces.
"What... why isn't it working?" Ye Qingcheng shook the mirror and turned to look at Cai Wei.
"Because it can only last for the time it takes an incense stick to burn. After that, it will be a while before it can be used again," Cai Wei said.
Ye Qingcheng frowned, staring intently at the mirror in her hand.
Cai Wei asked cautiously, "Ye Qingcheng, have you found that very important person?"
Ye Qingcheng snorted, "I was thinking about why he died, and I actually saw the cause and effect of his annihilation."
Cai Wei exclaimed, "What happened?"
"It was someone hidden very deeply by my side," Ye Qingcheng frowned, "I had suspected him before, but he was too cunning, and I was completely deceived by him."
"Then do you want to take revenge on that liar?" Cai Wei asked.
"I must take revenge, but I can't beat him yet," Ye Qingcheng lowered her eyes.
Shangguan Hong had seized Bi Xi's inner energy and, by resorting to sinister methods, had significantly increased his cultivation.
As for her? Not only was she no longer the Ye Qingcheng of the past, but the spells remaining on her were exchanged at the cost of her life. Even the spells obtained at the price of her life could not match Shangguan Hong.
If they were to confront each other directly, Ye Qingcheng would undoubtedly lose.
Cai Wei clenched her fists and vowed, "Don't worry! Ye Qingcheng, your matters are my matters. If you want to take revenge, I will definitely stand by your side and help you."
She was a straightforward and forthright girl, and from Ye Qingcheng's expression, she could sense her anger.
Therefore, Cai Wei, who considered Ye Qingcheng her good friend, could not stand by and watch her be wronged.
"Thank you, Cai Wei," Ye Qingcheng smiled gratefully.
"Look at you, you're being distant with me again," Cai Wei pouted.
Ye Qingcheng smiled, handed the mirror to Cai Wei, "Here, as we agreed."
She took a deep breath and said, "I already know who I need to seek revenge against."
As Cai Wei took the mirror, she asked curiously, "Hearing you say that, it seems you are quite confident. What are you going to do now? Go get reinforcements?"
Ye Qingcheng shook her head, "I don't know where to get reinforcements, so I need to leave this place first."
After speaking, she walked towards the outside of the cave.
Cai Wei nodded and followed Ye Qingcheng's steps, "Makes sense. If you can't afford to offend them, can't you just avoid them? This is a good plan."
However, as soon as Ye Qingcheng stepped out of the cave, she saw a familiar figure.
A few days ago, facing that figure, Ye Qingcheng might still have been full of gratitude, but now, she wished she could dismember and scatter the ashes of the owner of that figure.
It was Shangguan Hong.
He, unaware of what Ye Qingcheng had just seen, smiled slightly and said, "Miss Qingcheng, where have you been? I've been looking for you for a long time."
Ye Qingcheng did not speak.
Shangguan Hong walked closer to her, "Miss Qingcheng, it is getting late. Please come back with me."
"Wait a moment, stand there, don't come any closer," Ye Qingcheng suddenly said.
Shangguan Hong was slightly startled but obediently stopped and did not move.
He looked at Ye Qingcheng and asked, "What happened?"
"Wait for me."
With that, Ye Qingcheng turned and walked back into the cave, where she saw the slowly arriving Cai Wei.
She grabbed Cai Wei and pulled her into the shadows of the cave, ensuring she wouldn't be seen by Shangguan Hong outside.
The bewildered Cai Wei smiled sheepishly, "I saw something else just now, so I stopped for a bit. You don't know, besides this mirror, there are several night-luminescent pearls in the cave."
Ye Qingcheng looked at Cai Wei nervously, "Now, my enemy is outside."
"Really? Then wait, I'll go teach him a good lesson for you right now." Cai Wei tucked the mirror into her clothes and aggressively rolled up her sleeves.
"No! The two of us combined are no match for him. We'd best leave here quickly," Ye Qingcheng pulled her back.
"Why? I never slack off during my cultivation. Who says we can't beat him?" Cai Wei was unconvinced.
Ye Qingcheng looked at her pleadingly, "Please, Cai Wei. You are my good friend, and I don't want to see anything happen to you."
Cai Wei sighed, "Alright then."
"Then let's go quickly. I noticed there's another exit in the cave," Ye Qingcheng said, taking Cai Wei's hand and heading deeper inside.
"I'm only not fighting that person outside because of you," Cai Wei allowed herself to be pulled, chattering away, "It's not because I'm scared. How could I be afraid of an ordinary person? Don't be ridiculous."