Xie Yun’s face flickered, and he said, "There might be earth-shattering secrets within this divine temple. To uncover the truth, she deliberately approached the First Prince."
After confirming her feelings that day, Bai Qianluo brought up the matter.
Xie Yun no longer refused and thus respected her decision.
He allowed her to feign acceptance of the First Prince's overtures temporarily, using him as a potential breakthrough. Kuaishuge.
Xie Yun had a premonition that the downfall of the Xie family was inextricably linked to all of this.
There seemed to be a monumental secret hidden behind it.
"Brother Xie, Noble Consort Ru and Su Ming are colluding in private."
Qin Jiujiu had discovered this secret before leaving the palace but hadn't had the chance to tell Xie Yun.
Looking at Xie Yun's expression now, it seemed he and Bai Qianluo already knew.
"Not only are Su Ming and Noble Consort Ru colluding, but Su Ming is actually working for the First Prince, and the First Prince has been plotting something recently..."
It was because of this that he became suspicious when facing Bai Qianluo, who had always rejected him but suddenly became intimate.
This led to him monitoring Xie Yun.
And thus, the incident of the two palace maids lurking in Xie Yun's courtyard occurred.
"Plotting rebellion?"
Xiao Yuan, who had been silent, suddenly perked up and interjected.
Xie Yun nodded, "That's the information we have for now, but whether Su Ming is involved, we don't know yet!"
Everyone's expressions turned grim. This was no minor matter.
With the imperial carriage on the mountain, the palace was only overseen by the Crown Prince. If the First Prince intended to seize the emperor and ascend the throne, all he needed was the military seal, rendering the Crown Prince in the capital a mere figurehead.
The thought of it all was terrifying.
However, the current emperor was neglecting state affairs, solely focused on seeking immortality in this divine temple.
"What should we do then? Once the First Prince makes his move, it might be too late to change things..."
Although the Shengqi Kingdom had established a Crown Prince, there was still an ambitious First Prince, naturally supported by a faction of ministers.
This faction naturally included military commanders who held significant power!
"Therefore, we must meet the Emperor in advance!"
Xiao Yuan answered Liu Jin's question.
Liu Jin nodded. She had intended to see the Emperor anyway, but this matter now seemed more critical.
If the Shengqi Kingdom plunged into internal strife and external threats, the common people would suffer greatly!
"I'll lead the way!" Qin Jiujiu volunteered.
After all, she had served in the palace before. Even though she was now considered one of the missing palace maids, at least she wouldn't arouse too much suspicion, and even if discovered, it wouldn't be a major issue.
"No!" Xie Jing refused outright upon hearing this.
Qin Jiujiu was about to say something more when Xie Jing grabbed her hand and pulled her away.
"Xiao Jing!"
"Second Young Master Xie!"
"Xie Jing!"
Finally, it was Qin Jiujiu's voice that stopped his actions.
"Don't you remember what you promised me? I said that once this is over, we'll go home!"
Back to the Qin family in Shangyang Town.
Xie Jing's eyes flashed, and his lips twitched slightly. He let go of her hand.
Looking at the two standing at the door, the three people inside the room had varied expressions.
Once involved, it would be difficult to escape.
"Remember what you said!"
Xie Jing, his eyes red, stared directly at the woman before him.
Qin Jiujiu nodded solemnly.
"System, if I die, will I return to modern times or..." her soul drifting in space?
She couldn't bring herself to ask the latter part.
Qin Jiujiu had been tormented lately. She had fallen in love with Xie Jing but couldn't bear to leave her family.
One cannot have everything.
Her family's faces were already blurred...
As if they had never existed.
"Host, please actively complete the mission. I told you, you've now gained the favor of the villain, and the male and female protagonists have confirmed their feelings for each other. As long as you survive to the end and the great villain doesn't undergo a dark transformation, you can return to your home!"
What the system didn't say was that this "home" might not be the home she imagined.
Hearing this, Qin Jiujiu didn't feel relieved.
Especially the eyes of the boy before her, filled with stubbornness, piercing her heart with pain.
After she left, he would be alone again...
The burden in her heart grew heavier, but Qin Jiujiu showed no outward signs of it.
"Ah Jing, I promised you. I will do it, even unto death!"
If she died in the end, it wouldn't be a breach of her promise, would it...
Xie Jing's eyes remained fixed on the young woman before him, unwilling to look away. He wanted to see something on her face but couldn't.
Yet, he inexplicably had a premonition...
In the secret chamber of the divine temple.
"Your Majesty, the sacrificial ceremony is scheduled for tomorrow night. Everything is ready, and we await the full moon!"
Su Ming finally entered the deepest part of the secret chamber and saw the person on the ice bed.
However, he could only see a figure in red. The exposed skin was scorched, looking rather horrific.
But this was also the first time he had seen such an expression in Sheng Huai's eyes – grief, anger, hatred, all wrapped in deep affection.
So, this cold and unfeeling emperor could also be tormented by love.
But was Sheng Huai's love too heavy?
"We must ensure it's foolproof! I... cannot bear the pain of losing Yao Yao!"
One moment, filled with profound affection, even boundless tenderness, but the next—
Sheng Huai turned around, his cold eyes sweeping over Su Ming, "Do you understand?"
As Su Ming met his gaze, he inexplicably felt as though the person before him could see right through him.
All these years, he had known that Sheng Huai was not as incompetent and muddle-headed as outsiders claimed; it was all a pretense.
He couldn't let go of Yun Yao Yao, but he was unwilling for her to be slandered.
If it were to spread that the emperor built a divine temple and held a sacrificial ceremony not to pray for the people but to resurrect Yun Yao Yao, it was likely that Yun Yao Yao would be labeled a demonic concubine.
Therefore, Sheng Huai would rather be reviled himself.
"Your subject understands!"
He felt guilty but still forced himself to affirm.
No matter what, once the sacrificial ceremony concluded, it would be the First Prince's time to rebel.
Regardless of whether the ceremony succeeded or failed, the soldiers of the Manluo Kingdom, secretly infiltrated into Xiliu City by the First Prince, would take action.
He, Su Ming, could still be the Imperial Advisor of the Shengqi Kingdom in the future!
Leaving the secret chamber, Su Ming still looked up at the night sky.
This sky was truly bizarre!
Before, it had been calm and peaceful, but now it was covered by dark clouds, and even the round moon was nowhere to be seen.
Everything awaited tomorrow night!
"Wow! Look, the moon is so round tonight!"
A little palace maid, catching sight of a full moon in the sky, couldn't help but call others to come and see.
"Don't you need to attend to the Empress?" someone asked, seeing her return so early, with a puzzled expression.
"The Empress went to bed early."
"So early?"
"Yes, no one can guess the Empress's thoughts."
"It's so cold! Let's go back!"
...
After the two palace maids entered the room, the full moon in the night sky was gradually enshrouded by dark clouds.
Somewhere within the divine temple, a red light began to emanate.
A color like blood.
Magnificent yet eerie.