Chapter 969: Portrait

"Xiu er, wait for me, Mother!" Lady Lan shouted, hurriedly running to catch up, and Lan Ling Wang also hurriedly followed. Before leaving, he fiercely glared at Ye Qingran and the others, throwing down harsh words: "This time you were lucky; next time I will definitely kill you!"

Until the few people walked away, Qin Feixue and the others remained immersed in Fu Hanxiu's just-displayed indifferent attitude, utterly incredulous.

Even though the Emperor Sovereign was usually aloof, in front of Ye Qingran he was completely vivid, his gaze filled with infinite affection; but now he's like a stranger!

Hong Wu moved her lips, looking at Ye Qingran, wanting to say something, but ultimately swallowed it back.

"What are you all staring at me for? It's pitch black outside, go back to sleep!"

The night was dark and windy.

A suburban villa.

Magnificent and splendid, with a grand aura.

A figure fluttered down into a spacious courtyard.

Under the starlight and moonlight, one could barely make out that the newcomer was none other than Ye Qingran. Her outline blurred in the night, adding a touch of hazy beauty, like a moon‑palace fairy descending to the mortal world.

"Since you're not asleep, why not come out and meet?"

She spoke softly, her clear, moving voice like pearls falling onto a jade plate.

"How dare you brazenly intrude on my territory—aren't you afraid I'll kill you?"

His low, magnetic voice was like fine wine, making anyone who heard it want to get drunk.

The room's door slowly opened, and a tall figure stepped out.

Compared to daytime, he dressed much more casually, yet it in no way diminished his peerless charm.

"Fu Hanxiu, do you really not remember me?"

Ye Qingran got straight to the point—as soon as she opened the door, she stated her purpose for coming here.

"I don't remember." Fu Hanxiu replied without hesitation, his voice devoid of any emotion, so cold it made one's heart chill.

Ye Qingran's heart sank slightly; even though she already knew the answer, she still couldn't give up.

The person before her showed no change in appearance or aura whatsoever; only his gaze toward her had lost its former affection.

She stepped forward toward Fu Hanxiu, who slightly raised his eyebrows, watching her approach him.

One had to admit, the woman before him was extremely beautiful—words like "beauty that could overthrow nations" fell short; she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, not inferior to the one he loved.

Oh, although he no longer remembered that woman's appearance.

As Ye Qingran drew near, he could faintly smell a delicate fragrance in his breath, as pure and secluded as an orchid in an empty valley; he didn't dislike it at all, but instead felt a strange fondness.

Fu Hanxiu's brow twitched again, feeling that the unfolding events were somewhat beyond his expectations.

Ye Qingran stopped her steps when she was just one step away from Fu Hanxiu.

Fu Hanxiu was too tall, so she had to look up at him.

"If I tell you that, before your amnesia, you loved me deeply, would you believe me?"

Fu Hanxiu lowered his gaze to look at Ye Qingran, then suddenly curled his lips into a wicked smile: "I believe."

Ye Qingran also smiled, slowly reaching out her hand to touch his face; he frowned slightly but did not resist or dodge.

Her fair fingers lightly climbed onto his cheek, and at that instant his whole body stiffened.

At the same time, a strange numbness spread from his heart, leaving him inexplicably dry‑mouthed and tongue‑tied.

For Fu Hanxiu—or rather, for Fu Hanxiu at this moment—this was an entirely unprecedented experience.

"Fu Hanxiu, I will make you remember everything completely!"

Ye Qingran's eyes burst forth with brilliant light.

Having said that, she withdrew her hand and turned to walk into the darkness.

Watching Ye Qingran leave, Fu Hanxiu's uncle could not regain his composure, still immersed in the shock of what had just happened.

"How could this...?"

He clearly already had someone he liked, yet at the instant Ye Qingran touched his face, a thought flashed through his mind: Ye Qingran was exactly the woman he had always loved but could not recall the appearance of.

The next day, a huge piece of news spread throughout Wànlíng Chéng: the Divine Clan's Princess Ni Chang would soon descend upon Wànlíng Chéng!

This news swept through Wànlíng Chéng like a hurricane, prompting countless people to discuss it heatedly!

You should know, the Divine Clan's Princess Ni Chang is the most talked‑about figure in the Divine Clan; it is rumored that the God Emperor dotes on her immensely, treating her as a pearl in his palm, afraid she'd melt if held in his mouth or slip if held in his hand.

At dusk, rosy clouds filled the sky; a shaft of white light poured down from the eastern Celestial Dome, and eight figures clad in white gauze descended gracefully, while heavenly petals showered down, filling the entire firmament.

"The Divine Clan's Princess Ni Chang has arrived!"

A voice tinged with Mysterious Force came from the heavens, reaching the ears of every person in Wànlíng Chéng.

"Princess Ni Chang has come!"

Upon hearing that voice, everyone in Wànlíng Chéng showed a look of astonishment!

They had just heard the news, never expecting that Princess Ni Chang would actually arrive that very day!

In the Ling Domain, nobody had not heard of this Divine Clan princess, yet none had ever been fortunate enough to see her in person; they were intensely curious—just what kind of stunningly talented and gorgeous being was this princess, beloved without limit by the God Emperor?

Soon after the eight figures, a richly adorned silhouette fluttered down, as if the Mysterious Maiden had descended to the world; the heavenly light suddenly brightened, all radiance gathering on her alone, as though she stood under a spotlight, the focus of all eyes.

Petals of every hue fell like rain, celestial music played, dreamlike and illusory, making people lose track of time in a dazed haze.

"Is this Princess Ni Chang? She's practically a celestial fairy!"

"How magnificent! No wonder she's a Divine Clan princess!"

The citizens of Wànlíng Chéng below stared agape, having never seen a single person make an entrance so spectacular.

Before the Wànlíng Xuégōng, Lu Qiqi rolled her white eyes so hard they almost turned upward.

"Such a spectacle—only that boring person Ni Chang could pull off!"

Ye Qingran glanced at Lu Qiqi and asked, "What, do you have a problem with her?"

Lu Qiqi thought of something, curled her lip, and said, "It's more than just an opinion—I have a grudge against her! Though everyone thinks Princess Ni Chang is supremely noble, she's actually a jealous, petty, domineering woman..."

Lu Qiqi used many derogatory words to describe Ni Chang.

Ye Qingran raised her eyebrows slightly; regarding this person Ni Chang, she didn't know much, only knowing Ni Chang was not the God Emperor's biological child.

However, last time on the Heaven-Reaching Road, Hua Luo told her that she might be the Divine Clan God Emperor's daughter; if that's true, wouldn't this Ni Chang have stolen her father? And her father still dotes excessively on Ni Chang.

Ni Chang floated down gracefully, yet she did not land on the ground, for then many would not see her; she wanted everyone to see her peerless appearance, to make everyone envy her!

Thus, she hovered in the void, enjoying the gazes of countless people; this feeling made her feel extremely delighted, and she especially enjoyed it!

Especially among the crowd, the endless praise directed at her constantly came, further greatly satisfying her vanity!

She, Ni Chang, is a princess of the Divine Clan, the most exalted woman in the entire Xuyu, the object of admiration and envy for countless people!

Divine Clan.

Supreme Divine Hall.

"Your Majesty, Hua Luo, disciple of Master Hua Jiu, requests an audience!"

"Hua Luo?"

The God Emperor did not know Hua Luo, after all Hua Luo's status in the Divine Clan was not high, but the God Emperor knew Hua Jiu.

"What does Hua Jiu's disciple want with me?" the God Emperor asked nonchalantly.

"... Master Hua Jiu... has fallen!"

"What?!"

The God Emperor sat upright, shock appearing on his face.

Although Hua Jiu is idle and fond of beauty and wine, his strength is great; those who could kill him are few.

How did he suddenly fall?

In the Divine Hall, Hua Luo, covered in blood, horizontally embraced the lifeless Hua Jiu.

"What on earth is going on?" His Majesty the God Emperor stepped forward to look, confirmed Hua Jiu had no breath, and his expression instantly turned grim.

Hua Luo's face was covered in wounds, a mess of blood, his eyes slightly raised, filled with endless fury.

He slowly recounted everything; everyone listening to Hua Luo's account was shocked beyond words.

Hua Luo said, Your Majesty has a biological daughter, Mingzhu, who was lost in the Xuanmiao Continent; he brought this news back, but on the way he was pursued by assassins sent by Princess Ni Chang, and Hua Jiu sacrificed himself to protect him.

Even the God Emperor of the Divine Clan was stunned for a moment before slowly asking, "Where is Ni Chang?"

"Your Majesty, I have already ordered someone to summon Ni Chang!"

As the words fell, a figure ran in, shouting, "Not good, the Divine Staff has been stolen!"

"What?!"

Everyone in the Divine Hall was shocked, for the Divine Staff is the Divine Clan's treasure of the clan; how could it be stolen?

"Who stole it?"

"Your Majesty, it was Princess Ni Chang!"

The crowd exchanged glances, feeling a premonition that the Divine Clan was about to undergo a upheaval; at least the glory of this Princess Ni Chang was coming to an end.

The person sent to summon Ni Chang returned, kneeling on the ground and saying, "Your Majesty, Princess Ni... she went to the Ling Domain's Wànlíng Chéng." As he spoke, the guard presented a painting, "Your Majesty, this painting was just found in Ni Chang's courtyard."

The God Emperor took the painting, seeing only a person depicted; when he made out the person's appearance,