Chapter 420: Helping Others Achieve Their Dreams (First Update)

Chu Liuyue said to Yan Ge

"Many thanks, Second Master Yan. When I meet the Great Chief in the future, I will surely thank him in person."

Yan Ge gave a嘿嘿 laugh

"Th-that is nothing. I shall take my leave now; I won't disturb His Highness Prince Li and Miss Liuyue any longer."

Having said that, he quickly departed.

Chu Liuyue blinked.

Why did she feel that Yan Ge's footsteps seemed somewhat hurried, as if he couldn't wait to leave?

Rong Xiu cast a faint glance at Yu Mo.

Yu Mo immediately straightened his back and resumed driving the horse forward.

Only then did Rong Xiu lower the curtain, saying nonchalantly

"So, the one you encountered in the Imperial Mausoleum was the Great Chief of the Treasure Pavilion."

Chu Liuyue withdrew her gaze

"Does Your Highness know this person?"

The corners of Rong Xiu's lips curled slightly.

"I wouldn't say I know him. I have merely heard some rumors."

Chu Liuyue gave him a meaningful look, but his expression remained indifferent; from beginning to end, she could not discern any clue.

Perhaps she was truly overthinking it?

"This person has helped me several times, and it was his help again today that allowed me to come out smoothly. However... how did Your Highness find this place?"

Rong Xiu's movements paused for a moment, but he quickly returned to normal.

"Xuexue knew you were here."

Chu Liuyue nodded in understanding.

A magical beast's five senses had always been extremely keen. Xuexue had always liked staying with her and was familiar with her scent; it was only natural that she could find her way here.

"It has indeed been quite a while since I last saw Xuexue."

"Why did Mu Qinghe bring you here?" Rong Xiu asked.

Chu Liuyue pondered for a moment, then shook her head.

"It seems it was to find something."

In reality, she truly did not know what Mu Qinghe was planning to do.

He was most likely aiming for that pyramid, but... what exactly was that thing? And what use would it be to him?

The strangest thing was, for such a critical and secretive matter, why did he insist on bringing her along?

Chu Liuyue felt as if she were standing amidst a thick fog.

Rong Xiu said

"The commotion caused this time is not small; Imperial Father will likely intensify the search. It is best that as few people as possible know that you and Mu Qinghe were here."

Chu Liuyue snapped back to her senses and nodded.

After Emperor Jiawen and the others emerged from the passage of the Imperial Mausoleum, Old Ye immediately sent out word.

Zhong Qi and the others, who had been waiting anxiously at the mountain peak, rushed over immediately upon seeing the signal.

When they saw several people standing behind Emperor Jiawen and Old Ye, Zhong Qi and the crowd behind him were shocked.

Wh-when did these people break into Sijin Peak!?

He didn't recognize the other two, but the Crown Prince, Rong Jin—he could not mistake him!

However, the usually high-spirited Crown Prince looked quite disheveled at this moment.

The young woman and the old man beside him did not look much better either.

Old Ye asked

"During this time, besides us, has anyone else emerged from the Imperial Mausoleum?"

Zhong Qi immediately bowed his head

"Additional manpower has been deployed outside Sijin Peak to guard it strictly, but no traces of anyone have been seen."

Emperor Jiawen's face was pale due to poisoning, but it turned somewhat ashen with heavy fury.

"From now on, watch closely! If any abnormality is detected, report immediately!"

He did not believe those two could truly stay inside forever!

Zhong Qi and the others did not dare ask how Rong Jin and the others had appeared here, and could only respond repeatedly.

Beside them, Old Ye glanced back and waved his palm-leaf fan.

The people inside possessed heaven-defying methods; would it not be simple for them to leave this place without a sound?

However, Emperor Jiawen was currently in a fit of rage, so there was no need to mention such things.

Perhaps the people inside had already left, for all he knew.

Old Ye smiled helplessly and shook his head.

Even though he hadn't seen them, that level of powerhouse... was truly not something a mere Yaochen Kingdom could afford to provoke...

He didn't know how Situ Xingchen and the others had offended them, but the exit didn't close early or late—it just happened to close right when they were trying to escape, trapping them inside.

This was clearly intentional!

His gaze swept over Situ Xingchen and the others.

Hehe, things are about to get lively!

Almost overnight, the capital changed.

First, the Empress passed away, followed by Rong Jin being stripped of his position as Crown Prince for being disrespectful to the ancestors.

These two events happened in succession, catching everyone off guard.

For a time, all sorts of speculations ran rampant.

Some said that for many years, the Empress and His Majesty had been very affectionate, and her health had always been good; for her to suddenly pass away like this was truly strange.

Furthermore, Rong Jin had been the Crown Prince for so many years and had always been highly valued by His Majesty. Even when he had made mistakes and been publicly reprimanded a while ago, His Majesty had not deposed him. Yet now, just as the Empress had died, Rong Jin was immediately deposed. How could people not harbor suspicions?

Others said that while the Empress presided over the inner palace and it seemed harmonious, in reality, many concubines and princes had died at her hands. His Majesty had reached his limit and finally ordered her death. Rong Jin was implicated and also became loathed by His Majesty, eventually facing demotion.

But the most widespread rumor was that the Empress's death was related to the Third Prince, Rong Jiu.

Because his biological mother, Noble Lady Ying, had been harmed by the Empress years ago, Rong Jiu had long harbored a grudge against the Empress and had been waiting for an opportunity to kill her.

As for Rong Jin, having been repeatedly reprimanded and even placed under house arrest by His Majesty over the past few months, his position as Crown Prince had long been a mere formality; being deposed was only a matter of time.

Despite strict imperial orders forbidding any discussion of the matter and various methods used to suppress these rumors, the arrival of Emperor Xiankang of the Xingluo Kingdom made the entire situation even more convoluted.

In the darkness, it seemed as if an invisible hand was easily manipulating everything, making the waves even more turbulent!

***

The Imperial Palace.

In the Great Hall, Situ Yan and Emperor Jiawen were in a confrontation.

Situ Yan's expression was cold and stern

"I will say it once more: hand over Xingchen and Lian Ning, and cancel her engagement to Rong Jin! Otherwise, my Xingluo Kingdom will never let this rest!"

Emperor Jiawen seemed to have heard the greatest joke in the world

"Hahaha! Situ Yan, you truly have the face to say such things!? You, and that precious daughter of yours—do I need to say out loud what kind of 'good deeds' you've been doing in private!? From beginning to end, you have both harbored ulterior motives! Now that the truth is out, you actually dare to come here publicly to demand people!?"

No wonder Situ Yan had been constantly bringing up the matter of the marriage alliance for a long time; no wonder he didn't care about anyone else and only valued Rong Jin!

Previously, he had naively thought that Situ Yan was after Rong Jin's position as Crown Prince. Thinking about it now, as the Emperor of the Xingluo Kingdom, why would he covet that!?

He had truly been blinded by greed back then!

Situ Yan had known since he received the news that the matter had been completely exposed; hearing this from Emperor Jiawen now did not bother him at all.

He came here only to take Situ Xingchen away!

To think that after all his painstaking efforts, Rong Jin turned out to be a fake "Chosen One"!

He didn't even know who to direct his full heart of rage and resentment toward!

"So, you refuse to hand them over?"

Emperor Jiawen sneered.

"Hand them over? The two of them are a match made in heaven; of course, I shall help them fulfill their happiness! Once the Empress's one-month mourning period is over, I shall let them hold a grand wedding!"

(End of Chapter)