Chapter 247: Emperor Xue Ye and Xue Qinghe
The Crown Prince did not know what was happening inside the prison, and perhaps he was unaware of the rumors about the royal family.
Could it be that everything was Emperor Xue Ye's doing?
Vendors let their imaginations run wild, while a nearby guard said something even more shocking.
"Forgive me, Your Highness. By imperial decree, no one may approach the prison without His Majesty's permission," the guard said, looking troubled.
"Not even me?" Qian Renxue frowned, still disguised as Xue Qinghe.
"No," the guard answered nervously.
Qian Renxue took a deep, theatrical breath and said to the guards, "I will speak to Father personally!"
With that, she turned and walked straight toward the imperial palace, leaving behind only a pale, solitary figure.
…
Only when she reached a deserted alley did Qian Renxue exhale and let a faint smile curl her lips.
It had to be said—Luo Ling's plan was flawless.
As the Crown Prince, she accepted a commoner's plea for help, then allowed the man to be killed publicly by Emperor Xue Ye's guard.
Throughout the entire incident, she acted as though she knew nothing, yet was righteously angry.
To the merchants and passersby, it would be clear that the Crown Prince had nothing to do with the emperor's alleged heresies.
It could be foreseen that what had just happened would spread across the entire Heaven Dou City in no time.
That was the most prosperous district of the city, after all, and it had happened before countless witnesses.
Even if Emperor Xue Ye tried to clamp down on the rumors, brute force would not resolve the problem.
"You did well just now," a voice suddenly whispered beside Qian Renxue's ear.
"Who?!" Qian Renxue jumped, spinning around.
Luo Ling stood behind her with a soft smile.
"Do you walk without making a sound?" Qian Renxue snapped.
Luo Ling shrugged. "Just a reminder—don't forget there's another scene to perform."
"No need to lecture me!" Qian Renxue pouted.
Luo Ling's eyelid twitched. In Xue Qinghe's form, such an expression was a bit of an eye-sore.
"As long as you remember," he said, then vanished.
Qian Renxue curled her lip and continued toward the palace.
…
Passing unhindered, Qian Renxue entered the imperial palace.
Over the past three months she had occasionally come here. As Crown Prince, it was her duty to address the rumors festering in the capital.
But Emperor Xue Ye had refused to see her.
After issuing those harsh decrees, he would vanish intermittently.
Having broken through to Titled Douluo through the Blood Demon Ritual, Emperor Xue Ye had not restrained himself—he craved even greater power.
What was the use of becoming a Titled Douluo?
Platinum Bishop Salas, merely a Contra, could still trample him publicly.
Emperor Xue Ye needed greater strength to wash away the humiliation Salas had dealt him.
So he often slipped out of Heaven Dou City through a secret passage and, together with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, hunted soul beasts in the Star Dou Forest and Sunset Forest.
By killing soul beasts, he offered their corpses in sacrifice to obtain power.
…
Inside the palace, Emperor Xue Ye received word from his guard.
"Qinghe wishes to see me?" He frowned, annoyed.
He already knew why Xue Qinghe had come—those incessant rumors outside.
His gaze grew distant. In recent years, he had spent all his effort chasing strength and had neglected the Crown Prince.
Xue Beng was dead; only Xue Qinghe remained as his heir.
But he had no intention of abdicating. He had worked tirelessly to become stronger—not to surrender the throne to Xue Qinghe.
If one had the ability, who would willingly give up the crown?
Now that he had broken through to Titled Douluo and extended his lifespan, he was even less inclined to step down.
After a brief thought, he instructed the guards to admit Xue Qinghe.
Soon, Qian Renxue stepped into the grand hall and saw Emperor Xue Ye upon the throne.
"Father," she said, forcing the word.
"Qinghe, what brings you here so early?" Emperor Xue Ye said coolly.
"Father, have you heard the rumors spreading through Heaven Dou City?" Qian Renxue asked.
"You mean those lies?" Emperor Xue Ye's face darkened. "Do you think I'm the kind of man who would do such things?"
Qian Renxue launched into a fervent retelling of what had happened in the market moments earlier.
By the time she finished, Emperor Xue Ye's expression had grown even uglier. "So you came to question me over this?" he said coldly.
"For the sake of a lowborn, you would defy your father?"
His anger swelled. "I am the Emperor! The entire Heaven Dou Empire belongs to me!"
"What happens in the prison—must I report it to those wretches?"
"Those thrown into prison bring death upon themselves! Would you oppose me for the sake of a criminal?"
Qian Renxue was left speechless by his tirade, though she had never intended to argue—she was only here to play her part.
Emperor Xue Ye forced down his temper. Had Xue Qinghe not been his son, he might have struck him dead on the spot.
Just then, a knock sounded at the door.
"Enter," Emperor Xue Ye said after composing himself.
The door opened, and a man walked in.
It was Yu Tianheng.
Qian Renxue was taken aback by how casually he strode into the hall.
For the heir of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan to move so freely in the palace—
Had the clan become this intimate with the royal family?
She had known they were allies, but not to this degree.
"Your Majesty, the clan leader invites you to visit," Yu Tianheng said after a brief bow to Xue Qinghe.
Emperor Xue Ye's eyes lit up.
This was the code between him and the Blue Lightning Clan.
Yu Tianheng's words meant that Yu Yuanzhen had prepared another batch of sacrificial offerings.
Delight flickered across the emperor's face. He glanced at Xue Qinghe and said, "Qinghe, I have matters to discuss with the clan leader of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. You may go."
"Think carefully. You are my son. Do not waste your heart on those lowborn."
He signaled the guards to escort Qian Renxue away.
Qian Renxue feigned reluctance, but did not defy his command.
After she and the guards left, Yu Tianheng asked, "Your Majesty, have you not taught the ritual to the Crown Prince?"
Emperor Xue Ye paused, then replied awkwardly, "Qinghe is Ning Fengzhi's disciple, so I did not pass the ritual to him. Enough—no more on this. Take me to the clan leader."
Yu Tianheng's expression grew slightly odd, but he said nothing more. He led Emperor Xue Ye toward the secret passage in the rear garden.
(END CHAPTER)
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