Chapter 14

Is the imperial sister-in-law's deadly calamity coming from someone closest to her?

At first, Madam Yin still didn't understand the meaning of these words.

When she finally reacted, her eyes widened instantly.

This is impossible! Absolutely impossible, my imperial elder brother and the imperial sister-in-law are deeply in love; my imperial elder brother would never harm the imperial sister-in-law!

Madam Yin shook her head frantically; obviously, she could not accept Ao Yifan's claim.

I also wish this were all fake, but my physiognomy prediction is exactly this!

Ao Yifan sighed and said, 'The queen will ultimately die at the great king's hand, and before death she will suffer extremely cruel torment!'

Upon hearing Ao Yifan's words, Madam Yin's body trembled uncontrollably.

She could not imagine how she would face all of this if that time truly came.

Could it be that, Prince Consort, your physiognomy technique is mistaken?

At this moment, Madam Yin was already tearful, tears streaming down her face.

Queen Jiang, who had always cared for her like a mother, if she truly met that fate, she might really be unable to accept it.

Whether this matter is true or not, I actually have a way to verify it!

Ao Yifan suddenly said.

Verify? How should we verify?

Madam Yin said nervously.

Madam, do you still remember that demon clan spy in our manor?

Ao Yifan asked.

What's the point of bringing her up out of nowhere?

Madam Yin said, her tone tinged with a hint of jealousy.

Because, after seeing Mirage's true appearance, even Madam Yin, who usually didn't care much about looks, felt a twinge of jealousy.

There's nothing to be done; she is simply too beautiful.

Cough cough.

Ao Yifan gave a light cough and said, 'To verify whether my physiognomy technique is genuine, we actually need a secret art of the Mirage Dragon clan!'

Huh?

Madam Yin was somewhat doubtful.

Madam, lean in close to listen!

Ao Yifan said, then immediately whispered a few words into Madam Yin's ear.

After hearing Ao Yifan's words, Madam Yin's eyes flickered, and she hesitated, saying, 'Are you sure doing this won't cause any trouble? I don't want to upset my sister-in-law.'

Don't worry, there definitely won't be any problem; perhaps afterward your sister-in-law will even thank you, for you have spared her from a deadly calamity!

Ao Yifan said.

Like that!

After a moment's thought, Madam Yin firmly nodded and said, 'Alright, I'll listen to you and do as you say; for my sister-in-law, even if I take some risks and she later blames me, I am willing to do it!'

At this moment, Madam Yin's eyes were full of determination.

……

'Sister-in-law, this is the awakening tea I specially had prepared for you; drinking it will greatly relieve the fatigue of your journey.'

In the early morning, Madam Yin held a cup of amber-colored tea and sought out Queen Jiang.

Hearing this, Queen Jiang, without suspicion, took the tea and said, 'I know, you've been thoughtful!'

Saying this, Queen Jiang then, under Madam Yin's anxious gaze, slowly drank the tea in the cup.

Huh?

However, after finishing the tea, Queen Jiang's consciousness instead became somewhat dazed and heavy.

What's wrong with me?

Queen Jiang gently swayed her head.

At this moment, Madam Yin stepped forward, supported Queen Jiang, and said, 'Sister-in-law, this is the tea beginning to take effect; please get a good rest, and when you wake up, everything will be fine!'

Mm.

Without a shred of doubt, Queen Jiang, supported by Madam Yin, lay down on her own bed and fell into a deep sleep.

Creak!

The next moment, the door was pushed open, and Ao Yifan and Mirage walked in.

'My Dragon Saliva Tea only lasts for an hour; we must hurry, after all, I have never used the Dream-Return Technique before.'

Mirage said.

'Don't worry, there's no problem; I can help you from the side!'

Ao Yifan said, then immediately grabbed Mirage's small hand.

Immediately afterward, the two placed their hands on Queen Jiang's forehead respectively, under Madam Yin's anxious gaze.

……

A sheet of multicolored clouds dragged Ao Yifan and Mirage swiftly across a river of starlight.

'At the end of this river, we can find her past life.'

Mirage said: 'According to what you said, this woman's past life is very likely an ancient deity; when we meet her, we must be careful!'

Mm.

Ao Yifan nodded and then said: 'Right, the things I asked you to prepare—have you gotten them ready?'

'Don't worry, I've long had them ready; along the way I've already scattered Dream-Weaving Incense into the river water—if you can truly guide her past-life true spirit into the river water, you will surely achieve your goal!'

The Mirage spoke, and their eyes grew somewhat complex.

"Speaking of which, I never expected you to think of using my Mirage clan's secret art to do something so despicable!"

"What does 'despicable' mean?"

Ao Yifan reached out and patted, saying, "I am doing this to relieve her of the killing calamity; it is an act of great compassion!"

Feeling the scorching heat behind them, the Mirage gave Ao Yifan a dissatisfied glance, but did not continue with nonsense, merely following Ao Yifan's instructions and scattering the dreamweaving incense into the river water.

"This is!"

At the end of the river, the scene shifted, and what appeared before the two was a sky full of icy moonlight.

"Is this the Heavenly Moon Palace?"

Ao Yifan scanned the surroundings, a suspicion forming in his mind; immediately, his pupils contracted slightly, and what his gaze fell upon was a cold, aloof figure standing before a small sapling amidst the sky-full of icy moonlight.

"I will wait for you beneath this osmanthus tree we planted together back then, for you to return once more from the River of Time!"

A faint, echoing voice issued from the cold, aloof figure's mouth.

For some unknown reason, upon hearing the other's voice and seeing their back, both Ao Yifan and the Mirage felt a pang of sorrow well up in their hearts.

Time flowed on, and the osmanthus tree grew slowly, yet it did inch by inch grow larger.

The cold, aloof figure came each day to stand beneath the osmanthus tree, as if waiting for someone's arrival.

Yet each time, they came full of hope and left disappointed.

"She..."

The Mirage, unsure whether they were affected by the other's emotions, was already tear-streaked.

However, at the very moment she spoke, the originally gentle and tender sky-full of moonlight suddenly gained a hint of murderous aura.

"Who dares to spy upon this Star Lord?"

A cold snort sounded, and at the same time, the sky-full of moonlight condensed into countless icy blades, hovering high above Ao Yifan and the Mirage.

"Go!"

With almost no hesitation, Ao Yifan embraced the Mirage, twisted the surrounding void, and vanished from the spot.

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh..."

And at the very instant the two disappeared, countless moonlight blades descended, blanketing the place where they had just stood.

Seeing this, the cold, aloof figure slightly furrowed their brows, but also had no intention to continue the pursuit; it seemed that waiting beneath the osmanthus tree was the more important matter.

Just then, the osmanthus blossoms, already as tall as a person, suddenly trembled slightly.

"The osmanthus tree foretells—has he returned?"

The cold, aloof figure's face showed a hint of doubt, but that doubt quickly turned icy.

"Hmph, when you return, you actually bring another woman—you faithless wretch, I will not let you go!"

Saying that, the cold, aloof figure flickered and chased after Ao Yifan and the Mirage, leaving behind a trail of moonlight footprints.