Chapter 159: The Remarkable Luo Xue, Emperor Dugu and Nangong Ziluan
“She is a remarkable woman.”
Concubine Min said slowly, a faint light flickering in her dim eyes as she mentioned the name “Luo Xue.”
“Xue’er, how should I put it… meeting her was my greatest fortune. If not for this head of white hair, just like hers, perhaps she wouldn’t have even glanced at me.”
Luo Xue was a bit flustered. She wanted to interrupt Concubine Min’s reminiscing, but she couldn’t help but listen.
The name Luo Xue, combined with white hair, was hard not to associate with herself…
But wasn’t she supposed to be Concubine Min’s daughter in this dream life?
Perhaps… it was her future self… After all, after the battle against the deep space behemoth, Luo Xue had a basic grasp of the Sword Intent of Space-Time.
Although she could only use it for attack now, what if, later, she could travel through space and time?
But to achieve that level of space-time manipulation… it seemed theoretically impossible.
“Your… old friend… has she left?”
Luo Xue hesitated, then asked.
“Left?”
Concubine Min looked puzzled, then realized that her daughter didn’t know much about the outside world, and shook her head.
“No, she’s still in the southern barbarian lands of the Immortal Dynasty, the leader of a demonic beast tribe.”
Concubine Min suddenly became agitated, sat up slightly, and gripped Luo Xue’s hand tightly.
“Yes, yes, I remember now… Xue’er, you have to leave, go far away from the Imperial Sacred Land…”
She looked at Luo Xue with pleading eyes, her expression filled with despair.
“The Empress, the Immortal Emperor… they’re all…”
As she spoke, Concubine Min seemed to be choking, gasping for air, and coughing repeatedly.
“Mother Concubine!”
Luo Xue quickly patted her back, sighing inwardly.
The affairs within the imperial family were complicated. The etiquette official had warned her about this before, but she hadn’t expected Concubine Min to be involved.
And they were currently within the imperial palace… even if she wanted to badmouth the Immortal Emperor and the Empress, she had to do it somewhere they couldn’t see.
No wonder the etiquette official had told her not to talk too much…
It was clear that Concubine Min had been abandoned by the Immortal Emperor and the Empress. The etiquette official couldn’t bear to see Luo Xue suffer the same fate.
The hearts of emperors were difficult to fathom.
“Why don’t you tell me about Luo Xue, Mother Concubine?” Luo Xue said softly.
Partly to change the subject, and partly because she was also interested in this demonic beast tribe leader, “Luo Xue.”
“Yes, Luo Xue… she… go find Luo Xue…”
Concubine Min looked up, but this time, she didn’t speak, but transmitted her voice directly into Luo Xue’s mind.
“Go to the southern barbarian lands, go to the demonic beast tribes… find Luo Xue…”
“You inherited Mother’s white hair, she will definitely take you in…”
After the voice in her mind faded, an image slowly appeared.
It was her own face!
Even her temperament was similar, heroic and valiant, and because she was wearing a rough fur coat, she had a more primal, wild aura.
Luo Xue wanted to ask more questions, but after the voice transmission, Concubine Min seemed to have exhausted her strength and fell asleep in Luo Xue’s arms.
But even in her sleep, her brows remained furrowed, her expression tense.
“…”
Luo Xue suppressed her strange feelings and gently lifted Concubine Min, her biological mother in this life, who was so frail that a gust of wind could blow her away, and placed her on the bed.
Finally, Luo Xue looked up slightly and sighed.
“What a mess…”
It felt like this demonic beast tribe leader, Luo Xue, in the southern barbarian lands, was more like the real Luo Xue. After all, her own appearance had changed drastically and didn’t look much like her original self.
Luo Xue didn’t have much time left. The sky outside was gradually turning brighter; dawn was approaching.
A mark on Luo Xue’s wrist, left by the etiquette official, began to glow faintly, and a teleportation formation appeared beside her.
Concubine Min was still asleep. Luo Xue took one last look at her.
According to rumors, Imperial Concubine Min had been greatly favored, marrying into the most noble imperial family of the Great Qin Immortal Dynasty with her almost mortal bloodline, becoming one of the few imperial concubines.
But who would have thought that her final fate… would be like this?
Even if her daughter was the little princess, the Immortal Emperor’s most beloved, she couldn’t escape such a predicament.
Luo Xue let go of Concubine Min’s hand, covered her with a blanket, then turned and entered the teleportation formation.
A faint light flickered, and the formation dissipated, the Cold Palace returning to its silence.
Only on the distant palace wall, a small figure with snow-white hair peeked out from behind a dilapidated wooden window.
“Mother…”
…
Within the imperial palace complex, in a remote courtyard.
Unlike the extravagant luxury of other places, the buildings here were simple, almost dilapidated, seemingly out of place among the magnificent imperial palaces.
But this simple, almost farmer-like, courtyard was located within the Imperial Sacred Land, occupying valuable territory.
Because this was the Empress’s residence, and ordinary servants weren’t allowed to enter.
“You let her see Wen Min?”
A middle-aged man stood in the courtyard. He wasn’t wearing elaborate imperial robes or a crown, just ordinary clothes, but his dignified aura was still intimidating.
He was the head of the imperial family, the Immortal Emperor of the Great Qin Immortal Dynasty.
There were less than ten people in this world who could remain calm before the Great Qin Immortal Emperor, and the woman before him was one of them.
“It was my decision.”
The Empress wore a simple cloak, her natural beauty stunning.
Even leaning lazily on a simple recliner, her every move still carried an air of imperial majesty.
The Empress seemed to be admiring the flowers, but the flowers in the courtyard had already withered, leaving only bare branches.
“I won’t allow it.”
The Immortal Emperor said in a deep voice.
They didn’t use the imperial “we” in their conversation because their status within the Great Qin Immortal Dynasty was equal.
The Sun and Moon Twin Halls, the Sun for the Immortal Emperor, and the Moon for the Empress.
“She’s already seen her,” the Empress glanced at the Immortal Emperor, a hint of mockery in her voice. “Why, feeling so heartbroken for Wen Min? If you cared so much about her… why did you take her as an imperial concubine?”
“Anyway, you’ve already used her… oh, no, it seems there’s still a daughter you haven’t used yet. It’s fine, go ahead and use her, I’ve already found a replacement for you.”
The Immortal Emperor remained silent, his expression unchanged.
“By the way, do you know what the most common joke I’ve heard recently is?” The Empress seemed interested and sat up slightly. “It’s that… the Immortal Emperor’s most beloved concubine is Imperial Concubine Min, and his most beloved daughter is Princess Xue. Don’t you think it’s funny?”
“Nangong Ziluan!”
The Immortal Emperor roared in a low voice, interrupting the Empress.
An invisible pressure spread out, collapsing countless palace walls, but the small courtyard remained unharmed.
“Dugu Di, why are you so agitated? Did I say something wrong?” Nangong Ziluan continued indifferently. “Don’t think the Great Qin Immortal Dynasty is entirely in your hands… I’m just too lazy to manage it. After letting you rule for a few years, you really think I’m beneath you?”
“But this is my affair, I will handle it myself,” the Immortal Emperor’s face darkened. “I will take care of the matters concerning Wen Min and Xue’er.”
“Your taking concubines and having children naturally has nothing to do with me, but causing so much trouble has already implicated me.” Nangong Ziluan smiled brightly. “So it’s reasonable for me to… intervene slightly, right?”
Almost all the princes and princesses were born from imperial concubines. The Immortal Emperor and the Empress hadn’t had any children yet.
The world thought it was because their cultivation levels were too high, making it difficult to have children, but in reality… it was because the Immortal Emperor and the Empress were only husband and wife in name, never in practice.
The imperial family ruled the Great Qin Immortal Dynasty, and the Immortal Emperor, Dugu Di, could be said to be the first ancestor of the imperial clan.
Back then, during his rise from a small tribe to the Great Qin Immortal Dynasty, the greatest help Dugu Di received came from the ancient Nangong clan.
Nangong Ziluan, the Clan Leader of the Nangong clan, personally participated in the battles, solving many problems for Dugu Di, which ultimately led to the establishment of the Great Qin Immortal Dynasty.
The reclusive Nangong clan rarely interfered in the affairs of the Immortal Dynasty, but their contribution during its founding was too great to ignore.
And Dugu Di didn’t dare to grant Nangong Ziluan a military title, letting the Nangong clan control the military, for fear that the Great Qin Immortal Dynasty would be divided one day.
He didn’t dare to let her participate in politics either, as the Nangong clan’s prestige as an ancient, reclusive family was considerable.
Therefore, after much deliberation, Nangong Ziluan finally accepted the title of Empress, residing in the Moon Hall, becoming the second most powerful figure in the Great Qin Immortal Dynasty.
Essentially, it was a cooperative relationship.
Otherwise… with their equal status, how could the Empress so readily allow the Immortal Emperor to take concubines?
This wasn’t just… Nangong Ziluan wasn’t a “generous” person.
After his anger subsided slightly, Dugu Di also knew that his actions weren’t appropriate.
Especially regarding Wen Min, she shouldn’t have ended up in such a state.
But… he firmly believed that his love for his daughter, Princess Xue, was genuine. He would never use her like Nangong Ziluan mocked.
“Did Wen Min say something she shouldn’t have?”
Dugu Di asked calmly.
“Perhaps she wanted to, but didn’t,” Nangong Ziluan said casually. “But she did mention that rather troublesome human brat in the southern barbarian lands. They seem to be quite close.”
Her gaze still lingered on the bare branches, patiently waiting for the first buds to appear after the long winter.
Perhaps it would take several months.
But the Empress was patient.
She had always been patient.
“You mean that Nascent Soul brat?” Dugu Di frowned slightly. “I’ve heard of her, but how could a mere Nascent Soul cultivator pacify the demonic beast tribes in the southern barbarian lands, which have been fighting for so long? There’s something fishy about this.”
“And although Wen Min is from the south, she should be quite far from the barbarian lands…”
“Why don’t you go to the south and take another concubine?” Nangong Ziluan raised an eyebrow. “And that one… also seems to have white hair…”
“…I thought we were discussing serious matters.”
“There are no serious matters, Dugu Di.” Nangong Ziluan retracted her gaze and looked at the branches again. “My serious matter is admiring flowers.”
Dugu Di’s face darkened. He always avoided meeting with Nangong Ziluan, because she was like a thorn in his side, a constant reminder that this vast Immortal Dynasty didn’t just belong to the imperial family, but also to the sixteen reclusive ancient clans, including the Nangong clan, and Nangong Ziluan was their representative.
Dugu Di flung his sleeve and turned to leave, but just as he was about to step out of the courtyard, Nangong Ziluan’s voice slowly rang out.
“Wen Min will soon pass away. Does His Majesty need me to arrange her burial?”
Dugu Di paused, his expression indifferent.
“There’s no need to trouble Your Majesty.”
…
After passing through the teleportation formation and leaving the Cold Palace, Luo Xue returned to the familiar palace.
As her mind cleared, the etiquette official immediately rushed over, supported Luo Xue, and said in a soothing voice,
“Your Highness, are you alright?”
She also signaled to the surrounding palace maids to bring the soul-nourishing soup they had prepared earlier.
Luo Xue was fine, but to avoid suspicion, she let the etiquette official support her, sat down, and drank the soup.
Perhaps because Princess Xue was a mortal, the direct effect of the soul-nourishing soup wasn’t very strong, but it was long-lasting.
After drinking it, Luo Xue could clearly feel her soul being nourished, and her vision became clearer.
Seeing that Luo Xue had recovered, the etiquette official immediately dismissed the maids, looked at Luo Xue with a slightly anxious expression, and asked,
“Your Highness, did Imperial Concubine Min… tell you anything?”
“It seems… nothing much,” Luo Xue said vaguely. “Just… about some of her old friends…”
She didn’t dare to say that Concubine Min had told her to escape the imperial palace. If she did, she wouldn’t be able to leave.
Luo Xue knew very well that she couldn’t stay in the imperial palace forever.
The events of the past few days had made her realize that the imperial palace, to her, was no different from a cage.
“From the south?”
The etiquette official frowned, a puzzled look on her wrinkled face, but it quickly disappeared.
“It’s fine, Your Highness, you should rest. Today’s lessons can be skipped.”
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