Chapter 326: Disappearance (Third Update)

After finishing her words, Chu Liuyue glanced at Xuexue beside her.

Understanding her intent immediately, Xuexue lunged forward!

Its body was massive and robust, yet its speed was incredibly fast, flying past almost like a streak of silver lightning!

In the next instant, it charged right in front of Old Man Meng!

The moment Old Man Meng saw it move, he had already sensed the danger; with a sudden movement of his feet, he turned to flee!

But after only a few steps, a white shadow flashed before his eyes. The white lion appeared right in front of him, blocking his path!

Origin power gathered in Old Man Meng's palm as he hurriedly threw a punch!

"Dragon Yang Fist!"

A flash of indifferent mockery flickered in Xuexue's ice-blue eyes.

Then, it raised its paw!

*Screech!*

Old Man Meng's fist wind was violently torn apart!

Along with it, several bloody gashes appeared on his hand!

Old Man Meng was pushed back several steps by the impact of this overwhelming force, nearly collapsing to the ground.

By the time he finally managed to steady himself, he saw the white lion slowly approaching him!

Without a second thought, he turned to flee!

*Roar!*

A sudden roar erupted within the mountain forest!

Old Man Meng had only taken half a step when his body suddenly froze.

Subsequently, thick blood began to flow from his ears.

*Thud!*

He collapsed abruptly to the ground, having already lost all signs of life.

Chu Liuyue walked over, showing no expression of surprise.

The pressure of a high-level magical beast was enough to directly shatter the internal organs of a fifth-rank martial artist.

Using a tree branch, she pulled away the black veil from Old Man Meng's face, revealing an old and unfamiliar countenance.

Chu Liuyue raised an eyebrow and looked toward Rong Zhen.

Rong Zhen forced herself to calm down and said slowly

"This is Elder Si Meng... for many years, he has been protecting me in the shadows..."

"A member of the Si family?"

"Yes..."

"The Si family doesn't seem to have an elder by this name, does it?"

"He faked his death twenty years ago. In reality, he has been serving Mother for all these years."

Chu Liuyue instantly remembered that the current Empress, Si Huijing, was precisely the younger sister of the Si family head.

"It seems the Empress and the entire Si family are keeping secrets from His Majesty..."

"It's not like that! The others in the Si family do not know about this!"

Although Rong Zhen harbored resentment toward the Empress, she did not want to drag the rest of the Si family into this.

Chu Liuyue pondered for a moment

"If you have Si Meng by your side, then what about Rong Jin and Rong Qi?"

Rong Zhen shook her head.

"The Imperial Family's guards are strict, and Mother did not dare to go too far. Previously, Elder Si Meng mostly protected Rong Jin, but ever since I was injured, he has followed me..."

Now that Si Meng was dead, the last shred of luck in her heart was utterly crushed.

While listening, Chu Liuyue took an jade bottle from her Universe Bag and poured some contents onto Si Meng's body.

Rong Zhen had already guessed what it was and cowered, not daring to speak.

Sure enough, after only a short while, Si Meng's corpse completely vanished! Not a single trace was left behind!

Rong Zhen watched this scene with wide eyes, her heart pounding violently.

Only after Chu Liuyue had dealt with this trouble did she look back at Rong Zhen.

Rong Zhen seemed startled by her actions and took a sudden step back.

Chu Liuyue looked down at her, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth.

"Alright, now, you can begin to tell me—that secret."

***

After giving Rong Jin careful instructions, the Empress finally returned to the palace.

Too many things had happened today, leaving her utterly exhausted.

The palace servants had all heard about what happened at Tianlu Academy and knew well that the Empress would not be in a good mood at a time like this, so they were all exceptionally cautious and prudent.

The Empress returned to her room and sat before her dressing table.

A face was reflected in the bronze mirror.

Dignified and beautiful, yet also aged and weary.

She reached out, her hand slowly brushing over the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes.

Even with her meticulous maintenance, she could not withstand the erosion of time; she was, after all, different from her youth.

A face like this was one even she was unwilling to look at for long, let alone His Majesty.

Furthermore, even if she could go back to a decade ago, her face was not the one His Majesty loved most.

At this thought, a strong surge of irritability rose in her heart again. With a *bang*, she knocked her jewelry box to the floor!

The servant attending her immediately knelt down.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger!"

The Empress wanted to lash out, to slaughter everyone here!

But in the end, she held back.

None of this mattered.

As long as Rong Jin could maintain his position as the Crown Prince, there was still hope for everything!

She would definitely be the ultimate winner!

Thinking of this, she softened her tone

"There is no need to be nervous. This Palace is just too tired and had a momentary lapse. Put everything away..."

"...Yes!"

The servants hurriedly picked up the scattered jewelry one by one and placed them back into the box.

The Empress asked indifferently

"How was the Fourth Princess's side today?"

The servant quickly replied

"To answer Your Majesty, the Fourth Princess has remained in her hall all day and is unwilling to come out. The meals sent in do not seem to have been used either."

The Empress's movements paused, and her brow furrowed slightly.

After she had struck Rong Zhen a few days ago, Rong Zhen had refused to come out.

Although she felt some regret for striking Rong Zhen, she also felt that Rong Zhen's temperament needed to be properly corrected.

In this situation, how could she still be allowed to be so arrogant and unrestrained?

Instead of thinking of how to ease the worries of her and Rong Jin, she only cared about herself. Did she think she was still that pampered Fourth Princess from before?

She had intended to give her the cold shoulder for a few days, thinking she would learn to be well-behaved.

But looking at it now, it seemed almost impossible.

She stood up and said

"This Palace will go see her."

By the time the Empress reached Rong Zhen's sleeping quarters, it was already evening.

The servants in the hall were startled to see the Empress arrive.

"Greetings, Empress!"

The Empress scanned the area and, as expected, did not see Rong Zhen.

"Where is the Fourth Princess?"

"To answer Your Majesty, the Fourth Princess is still in her room!"

The Empress grew increasingly dissatisfied.

She had already arrived here; Rong Zhen must have heard her, yet she still wouldn't come out.

Truly spoiled!

She composed her expression and walked straight to the closed door.

"Zhenzhen, Mother is here."

The room was silent, with no response whatsoever.

The Empress raised her voice

"Zhenzhen?"

Still, no one spoke.

Losing her patience, the Empress ordered the servants to force the door open.

Then, she stepped inside

"Rong Zhen, you have truly been getting more and more excessive lately! You—"

The rest of the Empress's words died in her throat.

Because inside the room, there was actually no one at all!

She looked around

"Zhenzhen?!"

Dead silence.

At this moment, panic finally surged in the Empress's heart.

She quickly searched the room and finally confirmed—Rong Zhen was indeed not here!

She looked at the servants behind her, a mixture of shock and fury.

"Where has the Fourth Princess gone!?"

The servants were also filled with shock and knelt in unison.

"Your Majesty, please discern! The Fourth Princess has stayed in her room these past few days and has never come out!"

"Then where is she now!?"

With so many people saying Rong Zhen had not gone out, then she certainly hadn't just gone out for a simple stroll.

"This... this servant truly does not know—ah!"

The Empress grabbed a nearby teacup and smashed it violently at the servants.

"Hurry and find her for this Palace! If you cannot find the Fourth Princess, you shall all present your heads to me!"