Chapter 566: The Last Hope Shattered

"Xiao San, you're also coming to wade into these muddy waters?"

At the request of the royal family, Qin Jian led a team from the Judgment Group and entered the Imperial Palace with them.

Xue Beng and the others were clearly planning to rely on Dugu Bo and Tang San to diagnose Emperor Xue Ye.

Qin Jian and Tang San were not far apart and were already able to use their soul power to wrap their voices for communication.

"I haven't figured out what exactly is going on yet; it was Old Monster who invited me..."

Tang San transmitted his voice to Qin Jian without shifting his gaze: "Besides, that Xue Beng promised me that if he ascends the throne, he will use the power of the Heaven Dou Empire to help me develop the Tang Sect."

"So that's how it is. I didn't expect that one day we would stand on opposing sides." Qin Jian said silently.

Tang San immediately said: "I have no choice. Recently, an Elder from the Clear Sky Sect quietly left the mountain gate to follow me. Recovering the four affiliated sects and establishing the Tang Sect as a springboard for the Clear Sky Sect—these things are already being done, and they value cooperation with the royal family very much."

"Why haven't you considered Xue Qinghe?" Qin Jian asked.

"Xue Qinghe's methods are too formidable; it's hard to control..."

Tang San explained: "Xue Beng seems much easier to deal with."

"Who is easier to deal with is not yet certain. You might as well think about getting rid of them all and supporting Xue Ke; that would be truly easy to control, as long as they are handsome." Qin Jian said, tucking his hands into his sleeves.

Tang San: "..."

"Qin Jian, are you helping Xue Qinghe now for the sake of the Spirit Hall?"

He hesitated slightly, but still said: "If you need me to help cover things up, I can try my best to assist you."

Qin Jian glanced at him and couldn't help but laugh: "It's fine. You do your thing, I'll do mine. There's no need for our relationship to be affected by this kind of power struggle."

Tang San was stunned, then suddenly realized: "I understand. We won't mix in personal friendship; we will each do our own thing, and even if we suffer a loss, there is no need to blame the other."

Qin Jian nodded casually.

Tang San was a bit curious: "Could it be that Xue Qinghe really didn't poison him? You look so confident."

Qin Jian curled his lips: "I just think your political maneuvering methods are still too weak. How could Xue Qinghe possibly leave any evidence behind? So even if you investigate, it's useless."

"I'm not just here to inspect; I'm here to detoxify. Once Emperor Xue Ye wakes up completely, then Xue Qinghe will be in big trouble." Tang San smiled.

Qin Jian crossed his arms: "So, don't even think about finding anything."

Tang San chuckled: "Then let's have a competition."

As the two spoke, they had already walked into Emperor Xue Ye's bedchamber along with the others.

"Qin Jian..."

Xue Qinghe lagged behind and gently squeezed Qin Jian's hand.

Qin Jian squeezed back and whispered: "Don't worry, leave it to me."

Seeing their little interaction, Tang San's eyes behind them instantly lit up...

"Your Majesty, please forgive the intrusion."

The leading royal Prince said to Dugu Bo and Tang San: "I'll trouble the two of you."

Dugu Bo and Tang San nodded and moved forward together.

Qin Jian stood at the foot of the bed without any trace of hostility, forming a circle with them to watch Tang San and the other investigate.

Dugu Bo had already tried in secret and naturally failed to find anything unusual, but just as Tang San was preparing to check, Qin Jian quietly activated his soul bone, silently enveloping Emperor Xue Ye's entire body, and instantly drew all the chronic poison into the soul bone.

The characteristic of the soul bone after the Fusion with the Immortal Herb, the Tulip of the Ghostly Fragrance: Poison Control!

"Huh?"

Under Xue Beng's expectant gaze, Tang San frowned and re-examined it several times before glancing at Qin Jian in surprise: "There is absolutely no sign of poison, only the physical condition of an old man whose life force is exhausted..."

Xue Qinghe glanced at Qin Jian with slight surprise; Qin Jian winked at him, almost making him laugh out loud.

"How is this possible?!"

Xue Beng was incredulous.

"Unfortunately, this is the reality."

Tang San shook his head and stood up.

"Whew..."

Contrary to Xue Beng, the royal relatives breathed a sigh of relief. They didn't care who was right or wrong; they only cared whether the Heaven Dou Empire could find a successor without problems—Xue Beng or Xue Qinghe would both do.

"Since there is no problem with the Crown Prince, then this matter is a slander by the Fourth Prince. Coupled with those past misdeeds, let the Spirit Judgment Hall deal with it as they see fit." The leading Prince stated.

The relatives behind him also nodded repeatedly.

Unless forced to, they were unwilling to oppose Qin Jian, who was currently at the height of his power.

Xue Beng's face turned ashen, and even his pupils grew dim.

"Xue Qinghe must not—"

But at this moment, Emperor Xue Ye, with the poison removed from his body, suddenly opened his eyes as if he were a corpse coming back to life. However, before he could finish his sentence, Qin Jian *whoosh*ed the poison right back into him.

"Ugh..."

As a result, Emperor Xue Ye's eyes rolled back, and he fainted again.

Everyone: "..."

"Father Emperor's meaning was definitely that Xue Qinghe must not ascend the throne!" Xue Beng suddenly shouted.

Once these words were spoken, everyone's expressions varied.

Xue Qinghe said unhurriedly: "I think Father Emperor might have meant that I must not be lenient with my Fourth Brother, after all, my Fourth Brother has done so many evil things..."

Inside the bedchamber, most people were completely confused.

Only Qin Jian, Xue Qinghe, and Xue Beng understood what was going on; Emperor Xue Ye definitely wanted to prevent Xue Qinghe from succeeding to the throne.

"If that was Father Emperor's meaning, he would have called me 'Qinghe' instead of 'Xue Qinghe'!"

Xue Beng clutched at this last straw: "Senior Dugu, Mr. Tang San, please find a way to make Father Emperor wake up for one more moment, so we can hear clearly what Father Emperor wants to say."

Dugu Bo and Tang San looked at each other.

"I have no way; I only know how to poison people, not how to save them," Dugu Bo said.

Xue Beng cast a hopeful gaze toward Tang San.

Tang San frowned and said, "Forcibly stimulating Emperor Xue Ye's bodily functions will inevitably lead to his immediate death; do you really want to do this?"

"I must know my Imperial Father's wishes! I believe my Imperial Father himself would be willing!" Xue Beng said, clenching his fists.

The royal clansmen behind him looked on askance.

"Do you Imperial Uncles really intend to let Xue Beng make such an unreasonable scene?"

Xue Qinghe stood with his hands behind his back and said, "Regardless of what Imperial Father wants to say, as his sons, we should not treat his life as a joke."

"But he is already dying!"

In his great anxiety, Xue Beng said the wrong thing.

This remark, which showed complete disregard for his father's life and death, caused the royal clansmen to frown in unison.

"Fourth Prince, that remark of yours went too far."

The elderly clansman leading them delivered the final verdict: "This matter ends here; stop making a spectacle of yourself, our royal family's reputation is almost completely lost!"

"Take him down; after the trial, send him to Slaughter City," Qin Jian said, waving his hand.

Spirit Masters from the Judgment Group stepped forward to seize Xue Beng, while the members of the royal family watched with cold eyes.

"Master Dugu, save me!"

Xue Beng shouted as he ran toward Poison Douluo.

Dugu Bo frowned, and seeing Qin Jian's eyes fixed on him, he could not help but say, "Xue Beng, I do not have the ability to take you out right in front of him; give up, our relationship as Honorary Elder also ends here."

"You! You all! Scoundrels!"

Xue Beng was pinned to the ground by two Judgment Group Spirit Masters, yet he still struggled frantically: "You cannot arrest me! Otherwise, you will definitely regret it!"

(End of chapter)