Chapter 841: Meeting the Emperor (4/10, Request Subscription)

The head steward blinked in surprise, then immediately understood, and couldn't help but smile bitterly: "Lord Xiao Ye suspects I falsified the report and plotted against them? That's a grave injustice—I have no grudge against those two, and they're guests of the Seventh Prince's household; how would I dare be disrespectful?"

"... So they truly never returned?"

"Yes! I swear on my life—if those two were ever in the mansion, I willingly offer my head!"

The head steward's face was resolute; with words spoken this far, even if Fang Yue still harbored a trace of doubt, he would say no more.

This situation was troublesome.

At this hour, those two still hadn't returned—could it be…

"Xiao Ye, don't panic. This is Jingcheng—the city's security is far stronger than in Gu Yue Cun; few would dare cause trouble here. Besides, Jing Yan and the others are newcomers to Jingcheng and haven't offended anyone—they won't come to harm."

Words were easy to say, but the problem was… he had many enemies; they might have been caught in the crossfire.

Fang Yue felt unease in his chest, paced back and forth a few steps, then suddenly looked up.

"I'm going out to find them."

"Lord Xiao Ye, you mustn't! Tomorrow you're to meet the Emperor—leaving now, if you miss the hour or meet with misfortune, every single person in this mansion will be punished and executed!"

Fang Yue had wanted to say, "What's it to me?" but the words stuck in his throat.

After all, the head steward was innocent; the hundreds of servants in the Qi Huang Fu were all innocent.

"Don't worry—I'll return on time."

"Jingcheng has been unsettled lately; it's not as simple as saying you'll return on time… How about this, Lord Xiao Ye? I'll take men out to search for them—you stay here and wait for news, alright?"

"You?"

Fang Yue looked at the head steward, a flicker of unease in his heart.

At that moment, Lin Ling suddenly spoke.

"I'll go! Let me lead the search!"

Both turned to look at Lin Ling. Fang Yue hesitated, then said gravely: "No, it's still too risky—if Jing Yan and Qing Chen are in trouble, I'll have only you left. You can't afford to be harmed!"

To Fang Yue, Lin Ling was more than just Lin Ling—he was the hope of Lord Han's resurrection! He would not allow Lin Ling to be harmed!

"Then what will you do? You don't trust the head steward, you can't go yourself, and you won't let me go—who else can go find them? If they're in danger, every second counts! Every delay increases their chance of death!"

Fang Yue clenched his fists.

"I'll go myself! You stay—"

"Let me lead the search."

Before Fang Yue could finish, a voice from afar suddenly interrupted him.

Fang Yue froze, turned toward the sound—and saw…

"Tian Ruichi?!"

Fang Yue and Lin Ling both showed relief.

"Lord Tian!"

The head steward bowed respectfully.

"I've heard what happened from the servants, Brother Xiao Ye. This is my territory—after you came to Jingcheng, for guests to vanish is my responsibility. Rest assured, I'll stake my head on bringing those two back safely!"

"... Fine. I trust you."

Fang Yue had some trust in Tian Ruichi.

After all, on the Han Jiang riverboat, they had shared life and death; that bond still existed.

When Fang Yue asked why Tian Ruichi had returned so late, Tian Ruichi gave a bitter smile.

"Court matters—even simple reports—require countless procedures. Even as the Seventh Prince's trusted aide, I still must follow protocol. I've moved quickly already; a regular official might take seven or eight days just to submit the report."

Tian Ruichi wasn't lying. After years of development, Qing Guo's many flaws had begun to surface.

Bloated, cumbersome, corrupt…

That was Qing Guo today—only its absolute rule, millennia-deep roots, and vast accumulated strength had kept it stable, hiding its decay.

With Tian Ruichi's help, Fang Yue naturally felt at ease—and no longer needed Lin Ling to risk himself.

As the Seventh Prince's trusted aide, Tian Ruichi could mobilize more personnel, stronger forces, and thus ensure greater safety.

Carrying human-soul lanterns resembling paper lamps, Tian Ruichi led a group of sword-bearing guards out of the Qi Huang Fu.

When something happens, waiting is often the most agonizing part.

When Lin Ling was troubled, he liked to practice martial arts; his spear technique improved daily, his strength steadily rising.

Fang Yue felt the day he would pass on his legacy to Lin Ling was not far off.

Meanwhile, he sat down casually beside Lin Ling and began his cultivation.

Perhaps because his cultivation had surged dramatically these past few days.

Fang Yue felt his foundation was unstable—he needed patience, to settle and consolidate.

Also, the disappearance of Jing Yan and Qing Chen left him restless.

He activated the Frozen Heart Method, letting himself gradually calm, fully immersing in cultivation.

Cultivation knows no time—when the first rays of morning sun fell, Fang Yue opened his eyes.

Under the rising sun, Lin Ling still sweated as he wielded his spear.

Beyond Lin Ling, the head steward and others knelt not far off—they had been there for some time.

"The hour has come. Lord Xiao Ye, please bathe and change clothes, and enter the palace to meet the Emperor!"

Fang Yue scanned the crowd, his expression turning cold.

Among them, he saw no Tian Ruichi—and no Qing Chen or Jing Yan.

"After I meet the Emperor, I demand an explanation! Whoever is behind this, I will make them pay!"

The swinging spear halted. Lin Ling's gaze turned icy, his muscles rising and falling with his breath.

"I'll pick three of the Seven Great Medical Halls."

"Wait for me to come back, then we'll go together!"

"Alright."

Bathing, changing clothes, leaving the manor, mounting the sedan chair.

Fang Yue closed his eyes to rest, waiting to enter the palace for an audience with the Emperor.

He'd only been in the capital two days, and at dawn, Jing Yan, and even Tian Ruichi, had successively lost contact.

Behind the scenes, someone must be pulling the strings, scheming something!

The power within Fang Yue's body stirred restlessly.

It's really been... too long since I killed anyone, I've almost forgotten how ravenous my Eerie Realm truly is!

The muscles on his back silently writhed twice, arching up slightly into a small bulge.

The whites of his eyes gradually flushed black, spreading to cover them...

"Lord Ye, Wen Wu Da Dian has been reached. Please step down from the sedan chair and wait to be summoned."

The blackness receded, and his back returned to stillness.

Fang Yue calmed himself down.

The time isn't right yet. Once I meet the one behind all this, I'll let him know just how terrifying the consequences of provoking me will be!

Lifting the curtain, Fang Yue stepped down from the sedan chair.

The moment his front foot touched the ground, someone was already running over from ahead, shouting.

"Announcing: Ye Baiyi, enter Wen Wu Da Dian for an audience with the Emperor!"

"Yes!"

Fang Yue offered a bow, then stepped forward.

Passing through the great gate, at the end of the vast, expansive plaza stood that very Wen Wu Da Dian.

(End of chapter)