"Your Majesty, unless we find a similar skin, I have a way to transfer that person's skin to the Empress, otherwise..."
Everyone knew that there was a favored concubine in the harem.
She was granted residence in Yao Ju.
But few knew that this noble consort bore a ninety percent resemblance to Yun Chao's little princess, Yun Yao Yao.
The only difference was her eyes.
Sheng Huai Zhi suddenly smiled, sending a cold sweat down Su Ming's back.
"You don't need to worry about this; I am prepared."
Su Ming was even more astonished.
"Your Majesty, although this method is feasible, the reason the Empress's body is currently intact is due to this ice bed. However, if the skin is removed, she will instantly turn to ash..."
The person whose skin was taken would die in agony without a new one.
Sheng Huai Zhi sneered at this.
"I only care for Yao Yao's well-being!"
The meaning was clear.
Su Ming did not continue his next words, only stating, "Your Majesty, may I know who the person Your Majesty intends to use is?"
Sheng Huai Zhi replied without hesitation, "Consort Yao of the harem. Have you met her?"
Although Su Ming had not personally met Yun Yao Yao, he had heard of the Yun Chao princess's peerless beauty.
He had met Consort Yao. Her face was indeed incomparably beautiful, but her eyes were utterly mismatched with her face.
He had never expected that the reason for her favor was her striking resemblance to Yun Yao Yao.
Judging by Sheng Huai Zhi's reaction today, he had clearly known about the skin-swapping method for some time.
What he had asked earlier was merely a pretense.
As for this Consort Yao, the Emperor had perhaps never cared about her from the beginning.
Or perhaps, her current favor was solely due to this skin.
Nothing more.
"I have had the honor of meeting the Consort."
Sheng Huai Zhi looked at Su Ming and smiled, "Since you have met her, have you noticed anything strange?"
Could it be that the Emperor knew something?
Su Ming vaguely sensed something amiss with Consort Yao, but he was not yet certain.
The Emperor's words had made him reconsider his own suspicions.
Consort Yao's face probably wasn't hers either.
"I... I dare not say..."
"What are you afraid of? Speak freely!"
Su Ming then cautiously asked, "The Consort's eyes seem mismatched with her skin..."
Upon hearing this, a glint of ruthlessness flashed in Sheng Huai Zhi's eyes. He said hatefully, "How dare such a lowly woman secretly wear a face so similar to Yao Yao's? How is she worthy?"
A killing intent erupted.
Su Ming flinched, feeling enveloped by a chill.
"This skin can only be used by Yao Yao. So, do you understand what I mean?"
Before Su Ming could react, a voice came from behind him.
"Mmm..."
A woman's voice.
He glanced back slightly and heard the person on the throne call out, "Bring her in!"
His voice devoid of any emotion.
"Your Majesty?" Su Ming exclaimed in shock upon seeing the woman's face, then looked at the man on the throne.
"What is it? My trusted minister, you are so intelligent, you should understand my intentions, shouldn't you?"
"Wuwu..."
The woman naturally sensed danger and struggled frantically.
However, her body was tightly bound, her mouth covered, making it impossible for her to speak, let alone break free.
Sheng Huai Zhi did not even look at her, as if the favor of recent days had been a mere pretense.
Just a few days ago, she was a high and mighty noble consort, and now she was a hunted dog.
"My trusted minister, I have brought the person. Do not disappoint me..."
...
Outside, the sky had completely darkened. The Divine Observation was once again silent. Even beyond the Emperor's residence, only a crescent moon could be dimly seen in the sky.
"Master, Wu Jin Chu has been settled!"
In the darkness, a shadow appeared before Su Ming.
Clad in black, he almost merged with the night.
Ling Ye bowed and then stood upright, the half-mask he wore adding to his mystery.
"Good!"
Su Ming thought of something and suddenly said, "If this secret ritual can truly succeed, perhaps that girl Xing Ru can also be resurrected..."
Su Ming squinted, looking at the man before him.
Ling Ye had been saved by him years ago. He had also hired someone to teach him martial arts, with the purpose of getting close to Xing Zhan.
Their final plan was to use Xing Ru.
The kidnapping was deliberately arranged by Su Ming for two reasons: initially, to threaten Xing Zhan, but if that method didn't work, it would at least allow Ling Ye to enter the Xing family smoothly.
However, Xing Zhan, that old fox, was not as doting on his only daughter, Xing Ru, as the rumors suggested.
At least, he chose himself and abandoned his daughter.
The kidnapping finally ended with Xing Ru falling into the water and being rescued by Ling Ye.
But fate had other plans, and it was disrupted by Yue Bei Yang.
Ling Ye rescued Xing Ru, but the foolish girl mistakenly believed it was Yue Bei Yang, who arrived later.
She fell deeply in love with him.
From then on, because of Ling Ye's life-saving grace, Xing Zhan brought him into the Xing Manor.
He became Xing Ru's secret guard.
But perhaps this foolish girl never knew this until her death.
She died so tragically, and it was this masked secret guard who retrieved her from the pile of corpses.
At that time, Su Ming knew the youth had fallen in love.
Love, as they say, is poison.
Ling Ye's continued service to him over the years was merely due to his own obsession, much like Sheng Huai Zhi's...
But could such a secret ritual truly succeed?
Su Ming himself did not know.
Su Ming looked at the sparse stars in the night sky, now completely obscured by the approaching dark clouds.
He sighed, and his breath condensed into white mist in the night air.
"Let's go back..."
The half-visible face of Ling Ye twitched at the corner of his mouth, and he then said, "Yes!" and vanished into the night.
...
Within the Imperial City.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, the Emperor's return has been delayed again. They say it will be some time before he returns."
Sheng Xuan Yin could only sigh at this and casually waved his hand, "You may go."
The soldier withdrew.
A beaded chain jangled, and a man in white emerged from behind a screen.
"Xian Qing, I see the shadow of the old Emperor of Yun Chao in my father. Do you think I should do as the former crown prince did..."
Sheng Xuan Yin's words suddenly ceased as he thought of something.
"Your Highness, the current political situation is far from as dire as in the previous dynasty. Your Highness need not worry too much."
The man in white was Liu Qi, who had disappeared.
He had quietly returned to the Imperial City before the suffering of Chun Feng Du and Xi Liu City.
It was because of the Crown Prince standing before him now.
He had the good fortune to meet the Crown Prince some time ago, the year he came to the Imperial City to search for Lu Ming Cang.
They hit it off immediately, and their contact had continued over the years.
Lu Ming Cang had said that the sword in his hand must protect his country and loved ones.
This was something he had never forgotten.
"Your Highness, even if that day comes, I will certainly advance and retreat with Your Highness the Crown Prince," he said firmly.
Looking at the determined expression of the man before him, Sheng Xuan Yin was moved.
He patted Liu Qi's shoulder several times.
"The matter of Xi Liu City had actually reached the Imperial City long ago, but my father... suppressed it..."
Upon hearing this, Liu Qi was overcome with grief. His previously straight back suddenly bent.
As if he had been crushed by something.
"But I sent people to inquire, and the bodies of the County Princess and General Xiao were not found. My father has already sent people to secretly retake Xi Liu City..."
"The bodies of your father, mother, and brothers were displayed on the city gate for several days, then stolen. They have not yet been found."
Hearing this, Liu Qi seemed unable to bear the weight and suddenly knelt on the ground.
Only he remained.
"Xian Qing, you..."
Sheng Xuan Yin sighed and bent down to help him up.
"I promise you, when my father returns, I will petition for the decree to personally go to Xi Liu City and retrieve the bodies of your father and brothers!"
Liu Qi nodded solemnly.
"But my father is obsessed with seeking immortality, and my elder brother is now making moves. I fear..."
The First Prince and Consort Ru were currently accompanying His Majesty at the Divine Observation. Coupled with Grand Tutor Su Ming, who had secret dealings with the First Prince, the current situation was truly precarious.
This was why Sheng Xuan Yin was so worried.
"Your Highness, if that is not the case, shall I go to the Divine Observation?"
After a long silence, Sheng Xuan Yin finally said, "Be careful in all things!"