Chapter 456

Hall of Supreme Harmony

His Majesty, Ye Qingran requests an audience.

"His Majesty, Ye Qingran requests an audience."

Old Eunuch reported.

Old Eunuch reported.

Donglin Emperor paused while reviewing the memorial, pondered for a moment, then said softly: "It seems she already knows."

We need to keep meaning. Use "His Majesty"? No, we have Donglin Emperor.

Donglin Emperor paused while reviewing the memorial, pondered for a moment, then said softly: "It seems she already knows."

The Old Eunuch has served Donglin Emperor for decades; he knows many of the emperor's unknown secrets, but he has always kept his mouth shut—even Gu Huanghou cannot get anything out of him.

We need to keep "Gu Huanghou" as Gu Huanghou.

Old Eunuch has served Donglin Emperor for decades; he knows many of the emperor's unknown secrets, but he has always kept his mouth shut—even Empress Gu Huanghou cannot get anything out of him.

At this moment, his face was somewhat solemn.

At this moment, his face was somewhat solemn.

"Then, Your Majesty, what should we do?"

"Then, Your Majesty, what should we do?"

Donglin Emperor set down his brush, gave a self‑mocking laugh, and said: "What else can we do? Do you think that even if I deliberately conceal it, I could keep it hidden?"

Note there is a stray quote at end; we'll just translate.

Donglin Emperor set down his brush, gave a self‑mocking laugh, and said: "What else can we do? Do you think that even if I deliberately conceal it, I could keep it hidden?"

With Ye Qingran's abilities, even this ruler of a state amounts to nothing.

With Ye Qingran's abilities, even this ruler of a state amounts to nothing.

The Old Eunuch wholeheartedly agrees with that.

Old Eunuch wholeheartedly agrees with that.

They have all witnessed Ye Qingran's methods and abilities; moreover, she has the Summit of the Contention behind her.

They have all witnessed Ye Qingran's methods and abilities; moreover, she has the Summit of the Contention behind her.

Ye Qingran arrived at the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and the Donglin Emperor personally rose to greet her.

Ye Qingran arrived at the Hall of Supreme Harmony, and the Donglin Emperor personally rose to greet her.

"Someone, grant her a seat."

"Someone, grant her a seat."

"No need."

"No need."

Ye Qingran refused.

Ye Qingran refused.

She stood by the desk, looking at the Donglin Emperor, and got straight to the point: "Your Majesty, you must have guessed the purpose of my visit."

She stood by the desk, looking at the Donglin Emperor, and got straight to the point: "Your Majesty, you must have guessed the purpose of my visit."

The smile on the Donglin Emperor's face froze slightly.

The smile on the Donglin Emperor's face froze slightly.

After a few seconds, he nodded, acknowledging it.

After a few seconds, he nodded, acknowledging it.

"Ask whatever you want; I will tell you everything I know, holding nothing back."

"Ask whatever you want; I will tell you everything I know, holding nothing back."

The ruler of a state no longer refers to himself as "We."

The ruler of a state no longer refers to himself as "We."

"Your Majesty, do you know the whereabouts of my mother, Yun Sui Feng?"

"Your Majesty, do you know the whereabouts of my mother, Yun Sui Feng?"

The Donglin Emperor's expression grew solemn; he slowly rose, his steps a little unsteady. The Old Eunuch stepped forward to support him, and he walked slowly toward the bookshelf at the back.

The Donglin Emperor's expression grew solemn; he slowly rose, his steps a little unsteady. The Old Eunuch stepped forward to support him, and he walked slowly toward the bookshelf at the back.

By the light streaming in from the windows, Ye Qingran noticed that the Donglin Emperor, who was in his prime and usually vigorous, now had traces of white in his sideburns.

By the light streaming in from the windows, Ye Qingran noticed that the Donglin Emperor, who was in his prime and usually vigorous, now had traces of white in his sideburns.

The Donglin Emperor took a scroll from the vase and handed it to Ye Qingran.

The Donglin Emperor took a scroll from the vase and handed it to Ye Qingran.

Ye Qingran glanced at him and immediately unfurled the scroll.

Ye Qingran glanced at him and immediately unfurled the scroll.

This is a painting.

This is a painting.

In the painting, a peerless woman in a simple white robe lies on a jade bed.

In the painting, a peerless woman in a simple white robe lies on a jade bed.

Her eyes are closed, her hands resting on her abdomen; she looks tranquil and beautiful, as if asleep.

Her eyes are closed, her hands resting on her abdomen; she looks tranquil and beautiful, as if asleep.

Ye Qingran's eyes flickered.

Ye Qingran's eyes flickered.

The woman in the painting resembles her by fifty‑sixty percent; clearly it is her mother, Yun Sui Feng.

The woman in the painting resembles her by fifty‑sixty percent; clearly it is her mother, Yun Sui Feng.

Just this jade bed...

Just this jade bed...

Why would she be lying on a jade bed?

Why would she be lying on a jade bed?

It gives the feeling of eternal rest.

It gives the feeling of eternal rest.

When Ye Qingran lifted her gaze, looking at the Donglin Emperor with a question, he slowly said: "This painting is of your mother. Back then, the Imperial Physician diagnosed that she had no pulse or breath, declaring her dead. I pardoned and had her buried in the Imperial Tomb. On the night of her burial, I had a dream. In the dream, she came to me and said she was not dead. The next morning, I personally went to the Imperial Tomb to check on her."

We need to keep "Imperial Physician" as Imperial Physician, "Imperial Tomb" as Imperial Tomb.

When Ye Qingran lifted her gaze, looking at the Donglin Emperor with a question, he slowly said: "This painting is of your mother. Back then, the Imperial Physician diagnosed that she had no pulse or breath, declaring her dead. I pardoned and had her buried in the Imperial Tomb. On the night of her burial, I had a dream. In the dream, she came to me and said she was not dead. The next morning, I personally went to the Imperial Tomb to check on her."

She still had no pulse or breath, yet her body flickered with a faint light. At that moment I believed she was truly not dead. I concealed everyone, brought her into the Imperial Palace, placed her on the underground jade bed to nurture her, hoping she would one day awaken. This painting was made at that time.

She still had no pulse or breath, yet her body flickered with a faint light. At that moment I believed she was truly not dead. I concealed everyone, brought her into the Imperial Palace, placed her on the underground jade bed to nurture her, hoping she would one day awaken. This painting was made at that time.

She still had no pulse or breath, yet her body flickered with a faint light. At that moment I believed she was truly not dead. I concealed everyone, brought her into the Imperial Palace, placed her on the underground jade bed to nurture her, hoping she would one day awaken. This painting was made at that time.

But later, no matter what methods I used, she never opened her eyes."

But later, no matter what methods I used, she never opened her eyes.

Speaking of this, a hint of regret flashed in the Donglin Emperor's eyes.

Speaking of this, a hint of regret flashed in the Donglin Emperor's eyes.

In the end, he still could not wait to see her awaken with his own eyes.

In the end, he still could not wait to see her awaken with his own eyes.

"You mean my mother is now in the Imperial Palace?"

"You mean my mother is now in the Imperial Palace?"

Ye Qingran gripped the painting scroll tightly.

Ye Qingran gripped the painting scroll tightly.

A sudden surge of tension rose in her heart.

A sudden surge of tension rose in her heart.

For some reason, she instinctively felt that things were not that simple.

For some reason, she instinctively felt that things were not that simple.

Sure enough, the Donglin Emperor gently shook his head.

Sure enough, the Donglin Emperor gently shook his head.

"She is not there."

"She is not there."

Ye Qingran furrowed her brows, asking, "Then where is she?"

Ye Qingran furrowed her brows, asking, "Then where is she?"

"Five years ago, around the time you first went missing, someone came and took her away."

"Five years ago, around the time you first went missing, someone came and took her away."

The Donglin Emperor said this calmly, but Ye Qingran was greatly shocked.

The Donglin Emperor said this calmly, but Ye Qingran was greatly shocked.

Her mother had been taken away!

Her mother had been taken away!

"Who took her away?"

"Who took her away?"

"That person initially refused to speak, but after I told him that Yun Sui Feng had appeared in a dream to tell me she was not dead, he revealed that he came from the Shenzhou Academy in Beimingzhou."

"That person initially refused to speak, but after I told him that Yun Sui Feng had appeared in a dream to tell me she was not dead, he revealed that he came from the Shenzhou Academy in Beimingzhou."

"The Shenzhou Academy?"

"The Shenzhou Academy?"

Ye Qingran was not unfamiliar with that place.

Ye Qingran was not unfamiliar with that place.

Speaking of it, she had passed through here three years ago; more recently, yesterday she even told Fu Hanxiu that this place produces handsome men.

Speaking of it, she had passed through here three years ago; more recently, yesterday she even told Fu Hanxiu that this place produces handsome men.

Beimingzhou has three major powers that are most renowned.

Beimingzhou has three major powers that are most renowned.

First, Huangjin City.

First, Huangjin City.

Wearing nothing but golden armor, that describes this place.

Wearing nothing but golden armor, that describes this place.

It is said that the lineage of Huangjin City's lord possesses the ancient golden bloodline, with astonishing potential; every member of the clan excels in cultivation, their combat power earth‑shaking!

It is said that the lineage of Huangjin City's lord possesses the ancient golden bloodline, with astonishing potential; every member of the clan excels in cultivation, their combat power earth‑shaking!

Second, Dan Valley.

Second, Dan Valley.

The top‑tier elixir sect famed across the continent for alchemy, second only to the Purple Ridge Elixir Sect of the Xi Ji Shengyu on the Xuanmiao Continent, is filled with alchemists and masters everywhere.

The top‑tier elixir sect famed across the continent for alchemy, second only to the Purple Ridge Elixir Sect of the Xi Ji Shengyu on the Xuanmiao Continent, is filled with alchemists and masters everywhere.

Thirdly, it is the Divine Province Academy.

The Shenzhou Academy is the most renowned place in Beimingzhou.

This academy, whose purpose is to transmit the Dao, teach, and resolve doubts, has been passed down for ten thousand years; its foundation is deep, rarely seen in the world.

In the vast Beimingzhou, everyone from all clans will try every means to send their descendants to the Shenzhou Academy for cultivation.

Therefore, if you see someone from Huangjin City or Dan Valley at the Shenzhou Academy, do not be surprised.

Back then, the person who took her mother came from the Shenzhou Academy?

"Did that person leave a name?"

The Donglin Emperor shook his head. "No. I only know he was a man wearing a mask, his appearance indiscernible."

"He only said he came from the Shenzhou Academy, and you let him take her away?"

Ye Qingran's tone carried a question.

The Donglin Emperor gave a wry smile. "Although he left no name, he claimed to be your mother's senior brother." Saying that, he spread his hands, "Moreover, his strength surpasses even the Profound Emperor; do you think, with my ability, I could stop him?"

"Above the Profound Emperor?"

On the Xuanmiao Continent, there are not many such beings!

The man who took her mother and claimed to be her mother's senior brother—who exactly is he?

Watching Ye Qingran lost in thought, the Donglin Emperor slowly said: "I've told you all I know. Although I couldn't personally see her awaken, I still firmly believe she is alive. Ye Qingran, go find her— in this world, the person she cannot let go of is you."

Ye Qingran's heartstrings were plucked.

The memories of Yun Sui Feng were all inherited from the original host.

She had never had intimate contact with her.

But whenever she thought of that woman, her heart would involuntarily soften.

"I understand." Ye Qingran nodded and bade farewell to the Donglin Emperor.

She had asked everything she needed to ask.

After walking a few steps, Ye Qingran suddenly stopped, "Your Majesty, did you once like my mother?"