Chapter 173: Night Sky
Wei didn’t speak, but looked deeply at Imperial Concubine Min, then glanced at his surroundings.
Unfortunately, the spatial collapse caused by forcibly breaking through the restriction had almost completely destroyed the Snow Palace, erasing all traces.
Although Wei could now use a retracing technique, due to the spatial collapse, the retracement would be blank.
There were many restrictions within the imperial palace, especially below the Sea Crossing Realm, almost to the limit. Even Divine Sense couldn’t extend for more than a few miles.
But this was unavoidable. Otherwise, any Soul Transformation cultivator could sneak in and spy on the imperial family.
The imperial family wasn’t just composed of powerful cultivators. There were also mortal girls like Princess Xue, and many imperial descendants were only at Foundation Establishment or Nascent Soul, not particularly strong.
“Your Ladyship, allow this subordinate to escort you to the Imperial Daughter’s palace,” Wei took a deep breath and said, “Her Highness’s room should be… more comfortable for you.”
A complicated look flashed through Concubine Min’s eyes, and she nodded slightly.
“As you wish.”
Indeed…
Wei’s expression turned serious.
Imperial Concubine Min probably already knew about the princess’s disappearance.
In that case, Wei knew that there was no need to investigate the cause and process of this incident.
What if he actually found something…
The priority now was to find Her Highness.
After a few maids helped Concubine Min leave the Snow Palace, Wei pondered for a moment, summoned a guard, and gave his orders.
“From today onwards, the Imperial Capital will be locked down, and the news of Princess Xue’s disappearance will be spread.”
“Yes.” The guard accepted the order, then hesitated and asked, “Master, should we issue a wanted notice?”
“No, just spread the news.” Wei said in a deep voice. “The imperial palace will deny this and claim that Princess Xue’s old illness has relapsed and she needs to rest.”
“But Master, with all due respect, if we do that…”
The guard wanted to ask more, but Wei raised his hand and stopped him.
“Just do as I say, don’t ask too many questions.”
Wei’s expression was grave. He knew that this matter was far more complicated than he could handle.
From now on, he could only act in secret.
Wei pondered for a moment, then said,
“Inform Ling Nuoxin, have her use the underground intelligence network to search for Princess Xue’s whereabouts.”
Even so, Wei was still uneasy and added,
“Contact the Winterfrost Empire and the Nine Heavens Sacred Land, ask them to help search. If Her Highness went to their territories, they can look after her.”
Princess Xue was important to the Immortal Emperor, but to other factions, she was just a mortal.
If they could exchange a mortal for a favor from the Great Qin Immortal Emperor, they would be happy to do so.
After giving these orders, Wei waved his hand, dismissing the guard.
He stood guard outside the Imperial Daughter’s palace, silent and unmoving, like a statue lost in thought.
At this juncture, if anything happened to Imperial Concubine Min, it would be a disaster.
…
“Are you here to tell her about… that?”
“…”
The etiquette official didn’t speak, her head lowered. The Empress sat beside her.
Today, the Empress wasn’t admiring the wildflowers in her courtyard, but had returned to her room.
Perhaps she had lost interest, or perhaps she wanted a change of pace. The Empress was always unpredictable, and the etiquette official was used to it.
Compared to the simple courtyard, the room was even simpler, with just a plain bed and an ordinary dressing table, hard to believe this was the Empress’s bedroom.
“I already know.” The Empress said slowly. “This is her choice, I don’t need to stop her.”
“But…” The etiquette official sighed. “It’s still hard to let go.”
“Wei is handling it well, there’s no need for me to intervene.” The Empress said softly. “If you can’t let go, then return to the Nangong Sacred Land. Perhaps they will go there.”
“Why?”
The etiquette official looked up in surprise.
“Why… heh, it’s just… a possibility.”
The Empress was noncommittal, her gaze casually drifting towards the window, seemingly in the direction of the southern barbarian lands.
On the southern tour.
…
The Immortal Emperor finished reading the message from the imperial palace word by word and slowly closed his eyes.
“Xue’er, is this your choice…”
The Immortal Emperor knew that whether it was the Empress’s arrangement or the stand-in’s scheme, it couldn’t be without Dugu Xue’s own will.
Xue’er was just a pawn, only slightly more important because of his love.
The Immortal Emperor had told Xue’er that he was going on a southern tour to find a way to save her life, but he knew that it would be very difficult.
The Snow Maiden bloodline was actually a very powerful ancient bloodline, almost on par with the Nangong clan.
It was only because of their unique illness that they had declined to their current state, with only a few descendants remaining.
“Your Majesty, are you… returning to the palace?”
The guard beside him asked cautiously.
“No.” The Immortal Emperor opened his eyes, staring straight ahead. “Continue as planned, proceed with the southern tour.”
“…Yes, Your Majesty.”
The guard bowed and left, leaving the Immortal Emperor alone in the room.
As if remembering something, the Immortal Emperor took out a letter he had received during his southern tour.
He didn’t know who sent it, and it couldn’t be traced, but the envelope itself was very ordinary, containing only a single sheet of paper.
However, the Immortal Emperor guessed that it was probably sent by the Empress.
What was her purpose…
The Immortal Emperor opened the envelope. He had already read this letter, but he couldn’t help but read it again.
Because the contents were simple.
Just a portrait.
The Immortal Emperor took out the paper and placed it on the table.
It was a portrait of a young girl.
The girl stood with her back to a monstrous beast in the barbarian lands, her head slightly turned, her delicate profile unforgettable.
But even more striking was the girl’s cascading white hair.
“Luo Xue…”
The Immortal Emperor stared at the portrait silently.
So similar… incredibly similar…
To Xue’er, it was almost unbelievable…
Was Nangong Ziluan… trying to tell him something?
…
Not long after, a supposedly top-secret message spread throughout the Great Qin Immortal Dynasty.
—The imperial palace was attacked, and the beloved Princess Xue had disappeared.
Although the imperial palace claimed it was a rumor, that Princess Xue was just unwell and couldn’t appear in public…
But…
With so many talented individuals within the Immortal Dynasty, through various clues and deductions, the truth was gradually revealed.
Everyone believed that the little princess was truly missing.
Almost all attention was focused on this, ignoring another important piece of information: the matter of the Snow Palace and Imperial Concubine Min.
Wei knew that such a serious incident within the imperial palace couldn’t be hidden, unless they killed all the maids and guards.
Therefore, he deliberately spread the news of the little princess’s disappearance, while officially denying it, creating the illusion of trying to cover it up.
With the subtle guidance of the underground intelligence network, all attention was focused on the little princess, preventing the situation from escalating further.
Now, the entire Great Qin Immortal Dynasty was searching for the little princess, even several ancient clans were alerted.
And the Imperial Capital, closest to the imperial palace, because of this incident, attracted many cultivators from outside, causing various problems, like a butterfly effect, creating chaos.
And the Immortal Emperor’s southern tour continued, unaffected by the turmoil in the palace.
No one knew his attitude towards this matter, not even those accompanying him.
The southern tour to the barbarian tribes… was truly important to the Immortal Emperor, even his most beloved daughter had to be put aside for now.
…
Meanwhile.
“Fortunately, it was a smooth landing…”
Luo Xue, hanging from a tree branch, breathed a sigh of relief. Below her was a bottomless abyss.
Unfortunately, there was a problem with this random teleportation.
To be precise, it was a bit… too powerful.
Unlike the carefully prepared teleportation formation in the Imperial Daughter’s palace, the hastily constructed formation and Xue Ling’s assistance had resulted in this… slightly precarious situation.
“Big Sister Luo, are… are you okay?”
Dugu Xue, carried by Xue Ling, finally found Luo Xue, her face filled with worry.
Dugu Xue’s situation after the teleportation wasn’t much better, but because she was being carried by Xue Ling, she wasn’t in danger.
A Soul Transformation puppet could naturally fly.
And Luo Xue hadn’t even mastered sword-riding yet, let alone flying.
“I’m fine for now, but if you don’t get me down, I might not be.”
Luo Xue looked up at the branch she was hanging from, which seemed about to break.
It couldn’t even support her light weight…
“Xue Ling, quickly save Big Sister Luo!”
Dugu Xue’s face paled, and she quickly urged Xue Ling to help.
Xue Ling silently broke the branch and lifted Luo Xue with one hand, like a handbag.
Luo Xue: “…”
This was not a graceful posture!
Fortunately, there was no one else around.
Xue Ling carried Luo Xue and Dugu Xue to the top of the cliff and put them down.
“Phew…”
Luo Xue breathed a sigh of relief, then saw Dugu Xue swaying, barely able to stand, and quickly went to support her.
“Little Dugu, are you okay? Could it be the teleportation formation…”
Luo Xue frowned slightly, wanting to use her spiritual power to check Dugu Xue’s condition.
“No, it’s not… Big Sister Luo, don’t worry, it’s just my old illness.”
Dugu Xue forced a smile, but Luo Xue could see from her trembling lips that she was in pain.
“What… illness do you have?” Luo Xue asked softly.
“It’s… complicated…”
Dugu Xue’s expression turned melancholic, then she relayed all her information to Luo Xue through Xue Ling.
After reading through Dugu Xue’s information, Luo Xue was silent for a moment, then sighed.
“You’ve truly… suffered…”
Dugu Xue’s condition was similar to ALS, but thanks to the Immortal Emperor’s technique, she hadn’t been completely paralyzed yet, just unable to walk on her own.
The main cause was her Snow Maiden bloodline. This enviable ancient bloodline had become Dugu Xue’s curse.
Honestly, Luo Xue couldn’t do anything about this illness.
If it were the will of withering threatening her life, perhaps she could intervene slightly, but in this complicated situation…
Luo Xue could only try her best to find a place Dugu Xue liked and bury her there.
After all, even the Immortal Emperor, the ruler of the Great Qin Immortal Dynasty, couldn’t do anything about it. How could Luo Xue have a solution?
Xue Ling casually created two stone stools, and Dugu Xue slowly sat down. She needed to rest.
After leaving the imperial palace, Dugu Xue’s mood seemed to have improved, and she looked at her surroundings with curiosity and joy.
Perhaps she thought it was fortunate to see different scenery before her death, instead of being confined within the oppressive palace walls.
Luo Xue sat down opposite Dugu Xue, Xue Ling guarding them.
The two girls and the puppet sat in silence.
Dugu Xue’s eyes soon drooped with exhaustion.
She leaned slightly against Luo Xue’s shoulder, a familiar fragrance reaching Luo Xue’s nose, her white hair falling into Luo Xue’s lap.
Soft snores echoed as Dugu Xue fell into a deep sleep, a faint smile on her lips.
Luo Xue looked down at her, this pitiful girl finally free from her cage, but with little time left.
She gently lifted Dugu Xue’s head and placed it on her lap.
In her sleep, Dugu Xue’s smile seemed even more blissful.
Luo Xue didn’t want to disturb this rare moment of peace. Her anxiety subsided slightly, seeing Dugu Xue’s sleeping face.
“Sleep well, rest well…”
As the sun set and night fell, Dugu Xue woke up again, opening her eyes to see Luo Xue’s gentle gaze.
“Big Sister Luo…”
“Shh,” Luo Xue placed a finger on Dugu Xue’s lips and whispered, “Listen.”
Bright moonlight shone down from the sky, countless stars twinkling like breaths in the boundless night sky.
Faint chirping insects filled the quiet night, a scene Dugu Xue had never seen before.
Dugu Xue stared at this beautiful scene, her mouth slightly open, trying to find the words to describe it.
She leaned against Luo Xue, her gaze fixed on the sky, and murmured softly,
“It’s… so beautiful…”
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