Chapter 398: Xun Yu

"It seems you have figured it out. Although it is currently only a guess, as ministers of the Heaven Dou Empire, we cannot sit idly by. To verify this matter, our primary task is to head to the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace and find the Emperor," Zhuge Liang said. Many things still required the participation of Xue Ye; only with him present would it be justified and proper.

"During this time, the Emperor has remained in a coma. Lady Ye, I know that even the Nine Heart Begonia cannot cure the Great Emperor, but if you stimulate the full soul power of the Nine Heart Begonia to make him regain consciousness and wake up for a short time, that should be no problem, right?"

"I could do that, but Xue Qinghe has sealed off the entire Imperial Palace. Aside from his own people, no one can see the Emperor. We cannot simply force our way into the palace," Ye Nichang said, troubled.

At this moment, even Ge Long could not enter the Imperial Palace unless he forced his way in, but Ye Nichang knew that Ge Long would not do such a thing.

After all, Xue Qinghe's regency was legitimate and proper. As long as he did not rebel, Ge Long had to obey the orders he issued.

If anyone were to force their way into the palace, he would even step in to stop them.

"That is correct. As ministers, we certainly cannot force our way in. But the Emperor is not only an emperor; he is also a father. Beyond state affairs, there are family matters. A father is lying in a coma, so it is only human nature for his children to visit him. Even if the imperial guards do not allow it, forcing one's way in would merely be out of urgent concern," Zhuge Liang smiled. "I believe the Royal Knights would also be able to understand. Taking advantage of this time while Xue Qinghe is not in the imperial city is the best opportunity."

"Good idea!" A flash of inspiration struck Ye Nichang. Zhuge Liang was exploiting Ge Long's psychology.

Ge Long and the Royal Knights were indeed blindly loyal, but they were by no means stupid. How could they not be worried about Great Emperor Xue Ye in their hearts? They simply could not go against the imperial decree.

But if Xue Ye's children did not come as ministers, but as children visiting their father, then they would surely use the principle that reason does not override human emotion, and turn a blind eye.

In normal times, with Xue Qinghe present, they might not be able to fish in troubled waters like this. After all, as long as Xue Qinghe issued another decree stamped with the Jade Seal, they would have to obey.

But now that Xue Qinghe is away, the Emperor is in a coma, and Xue Xing is dead, the highest authorities in this Tiandou City are Ge Long and the two commanders of the Imperial Guard.

If they wanted to be lenient and let people in, it would really not be a difficult task.

"But Prince Xue Beng has been poisoned much more severely than the Emperor. I fear he won't live much longer and can't even stand up. How can he help us enter the Imperial Palace?" Ye Nichang asked, worried.

In order to deal with Xue Beng as quickly as possible, the poison Ci Xue used at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy was much heavier than the one used on Xue Ye. If not for the Nine Heart Begonia suppressing it, he would only have a few days left.

"Lady Ye, have you forgotten? Aside from the Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince, the Emperor has another family member," Zhuge Liang reminded her.

"You mean Princess Xue Ke!" Ye Nichang's eyes lit up. "Her Highness the Princess is indeed a good candidate. Moreover, she has a special status; she is Nan Feihuang's wife and the daughter-in-law of the Profound Ice Crown. If she returns, she might even bring helpers. By then, even if there is a change in the imperial court, there will be hope to turn the tide. It's just that she is far away in the Gu Lei Kingdom; is there enough time?"

Their plan had to be completed before Xue Qinghe returned. Even if they sent a letter now, the time for a round trip might not be enough.

"Do not worry. A few days ago, I already had Prince Xue Beng write a letter to his sister," Zhuge Liang smiled. At that time, Xue Beng had only just begun to be poisoned, and the toxicity had not yet penetrated his bone marrow. Although his body was uncomfortable, his consciousness was at least clear, so he sought him out on the first day Xue Qinghe left.

After conducting the same analysis on him as he did for Ye Nichang, Xue Beng immediately agreed to seek Xue Ke's help.

Or rather, he was desperate for it. If he could use this opportunity to get rid of Xue Qinghe, then as the only remaining prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, he would be the undisputed Crown Prince.

Moreover, he really needed Nan Feihuang to save his life now. In this world, if anyone could cure the poison in his body, it was likely only the Poison Douluo Dugu Bo who had the ability. But ever since the Soul Hunting Operation, Dugu Bo had vanished without a trace along with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Family.

In this world, I fear only Nan Feihuang still has a way to find him.

Xue Beng's idea was not wrong, but unfortunately, Nan Feihuang had no intention of saving him at all. His plan was to repel Qian Renxue and cause the Spirit Hall's plan to control the Heaven Dou Empire to fail.

Then, with both Xue Ye and Xue Beng sent home, a single Xue Ke would be enough for the Heaven Dou Imperial Family.

As the only remaining bloodline, even if she were a girl, Ge Long would have no choice but to serve her as his sovereign. By then, the other Heaven Dou Infiltration Plan would also be considered complete—only the one being infiltrated would not be the Spirit Hall, but Nan Feihuang.

"Mr. Zhuge, your plans are flawless. I admire you," Ye Nichang said with respect. No wonder this person had been appreciated by so many people in the past few years and had been promoted so rapidly.

Just based on this ability for deductive analysis and decisive action, he far exceeded ordinary people.

Next, they only needed to wait quietly for Xue Ke to return.

Xue Beng's letter was delivered to the Gu Lei Royal Palace just as the two were talking.

Xue Ke felt very strange upon receiving the letter. One must know that her relationship with Xue Beng was not good at all. Why would Xue Beng write to her? When she opened the letter and looked, Xue Ke's eyes were stunned. Then, she immediately flew to Nan Feihuang's study. "Brother Feihuang, look quickly! My father and eldest brother are both in danger."

"What happened? Ke'er, don't be anxious. Give me the letter to see." After offering a little comfort, Nan Feihuang took the letter and began to read it with a feigned expression.

Xue Beng—or rather, Zhuge Liang, who was acting on Xun Yu's will—was very clever.

The letter did not say that Xue Qinghe was harming Xue Ye, because Xun Yu knew that Xue Ke would not believe it. So, when he had Xue Beng write the letter, this is how he wrote it.

The general meaning was that Great Emperor Xue Ye was in a coma, Xue Qinghe's recent style of conduct had undergone a great change, and he had inexplicably sealed off the Imperial Palace. Xue Beng himself had also been poisoned.

Therefore, Xue Beng suspected that someone was secretly harming the Heaven Dou Imperial Family. He and his father had been persecuted, and Xue Qinghe might have already been controlled by someone.

Now the situation was critical. The Clear Sky Sect was in hiding, the Seven Treasures had been destroyed, and the Blue Lightning and Dugu Bo had disappeared. There was not a single Title Douluo in the country at this moment; it was the most critical time.

Therefore, Xue Beng hoped to ask his sister and brother-in-law for help, bringing the Title Douluo of the Gu Lei Kingdom to assist his relatives.

This letter did not place Xue Qinghe in the position of the perpetrator, but as a victim. As soon as Xue Ke saw it, she became anxious. With teary eyes, she begged Nan Feihuang, "Brother Feihuang, please help me. Father is poisoned and in a coma, and Eldest Brother might be controlled by someone. I cannot stand by and watch them die, especially Eldest Brother. He and you are both the most important people in my heart. I cannot lose either of you."

(End of chapter)