Volume 5, Chapter 291 – I Will Make Her Kneel and Beg for Mercy

“What’s the matter? Does my beloved consort have any objections?”

Lin Tu narrowed his eyes slightly.

“I wouldn’t dare. It’s just that Chief Steward Zhong is Your Majesty’s most trusted confidant. If he is sent away, this humble consort worries for Your Majesty’s safety.”

Empress Zheng quickly fabricated an excuse.

“The Empress overestimates the situation. This palace is never short of experts.”

Lin Tu took a leisurely sip of tea, his tone indifferent.

“If that’s the case, then Your Majesty may decide as you see fit. This consort will support you unconditionally.”

Empress Zheng replied with practiced obedience.

“Then I thank the Empress for her understanding.”

Lin Tu responded with polite detachment.

“However, regarding Consort Jin… Your Majesty may need to put in more effort. The Sixth Princess is also a cultivator, and she is the top talent of Poyun Peak. What will she think if you personally select that Qi Huang to enter the palace?”

Empress Zheng’s eyes flickered with calculation.

Lin Tu’s expression darkened slightly. Consort Jin was his favorite concubine, and she had borne him an extraordinary daughter. The only issue was that she was somewhat… disobedient.

“Your Majesty, if it is inconvenient for you to approach Consort Jin directly, perhaps this humble consort could first gauge her thoughts on your behalf.”

Empress Zheng volunteered eagerly.

“No need to trouble the Empress. I will visit her myself another day.”

After a brief pause, Lin Tu declined politely. He was no fool, if he let this woman intervene, the situation would only worsen.

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By the time Qi Huang returned to the Honghua Sect, another batch of her hundred ghost tomatoes had ripened. Without delay, she began the process of “dying her hair”, and her divine sense successfully advanced to the mid-stage of the Divine Ability Realm. At full strength, she could now uproot an entire palace from its foundations.

‘With just over a year left, at this rate, I will undoubtedly reach the Heavenly Tribulation Realm by the time of the next Evergreen Conference. Then, I’ll make sure the Huxiao Sect and the Immortal Alliance understand that in the face of absolute power, all their schemes are futile.’

Qi Huang’s lips curled in confidence.

‘Unfortunately, I am now Cheng Hongling’s doppelgänger, carrying her exceptional bloodline. Even if I slaughter my way through the entire Evergreen Conference, it won’t prove my father’s philosophy.’

The thought brought a twinge of regret. Such was life, it could never be perfect in every way.

With no pressing matters at hand, Qi Huang occasionally cultivated her True Qi. Though it offered little combat advantage, it was still fertilizer, wasn’t it? The higher her cultivation, the more potent the fertilizer’s effects.

Meanwhile, Cheng Hongling was not idle either. Despite being afflicted with Qi-Leaking Powder, she persisted in her daily cultivation, though to no avail. The moment True Qi entered her body, it dissipated like smoke.

“What a pity! My cultivation is only at the Incarnation Realm, allowing me to refine just one doppelgänger. Otherwise, I could have transferred the Qi-Leaking Powder away, just like that woman did.”

Cheng Hongling sighed in resignation.

Qi Huang felt a pang of sympathy but had no solution. There was one shortcut, having the main body transfer the toxin to her, the existing doppelgänger. But that required the power of the Divine Ability Realm. Any weaker, and her divine sense wouldn’t withstand the process. All she could do now was hope that Liu Yingyue would work efficiently.

At that moment, Liu Yingyue was preparing to settle a family matter. A cup of strong tea sat on the table beside her, while Xia Wei stood attentively nearby.

After a long silence, Liu Yingyue picked up the tea and took a sip, her delicate brows furrowing instantly, she disliked bitterness, but she needed it to clear her mind.

“Xia Wei, do you really think I should confront Second Uncle directly?”

Even as she set the cup down, hesitation lingered in her voice.

“Yes, absolutely! Just as that young master said, if you don’t lay your cards on the table, who knows what tricks Second Master might pull next?”

Xia Wei answered without hesitation.

“But—”

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Liu Yingyue exhaled deeply. She was sentimental by nature, and she knew this confrontation might sever all ties between them.

“Miss, don’t hesitate. If Second Master truly values your bond as uncle and niece, he might still turn back. But if you stay silent now, and irreversible damage is done later… there will be no room for reconciliation.”

Xia Wei urged earnestly.

“You’re right.”

Liu Yingyue downed the rest of the tea in one gulp, then picked up the Thousand-Mile Communication Tube to contact her uncle, Liu Biao.

“Oh? It’s Little Yue. Has the sun risen from the west today? You’re actually reaching out to your dear uncle?”

Liu Biao’s voice dripped with sarcasm from the very first sentence.

“My apologies, Uncle. You know how busy I am, there’s never any time to check in on family. I hope you’ll forgive me.”

A trace of disgust flickered across Liu Yingyue’s delicate face, but she suppressed her anger.

“That’s your own fault. With your looks and all those suitors, you could’ve married into a wealthy family and lived a life of leisure—sipping tea, strolling through gardens. Why must a woman be so stubborn?”

Liu Biao feigned concern.

“To each their own.”

Liu Yingyue’s reply was terse.

“Ambition is admirable, but one must know their limits. Don’t blame your uncle for speaking harshly, but you simply don’t have what it takes. Why keep struggling? Once your beauty fades, even the nobility won’t glance your way.”

Liu Biao continued his veiled barbs.

“If Uncle truly believes I lack the ability, then why interfere at all?”

Liu Yingyue could no longer hold back her accusation.

“When have I ever interfered? Niece, you can’t go around slandering people!”

Liu Biao played the fool.

“Whether you admit it or not, I’ll say this plainly, if you still consider me your niece, stop meddling. Otherwise, next time, I won’t be so polite.”

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Having lost all patience, Liu Yingyue laid everything bare.

“A daughter of the Liu family, yet so disrespectful! Do you have no sense of hierarchy? No upbringing? It seems your father truly is unfit to be clan head, if he can’t even discipline his own daughter, how can he lead the family?”

Liu Biao’s voice turned furious with humiliation.

Liu Yingyue ended the communication. She had done her part. If her so-called uncle remained obstinate, she would show no further mercy.

“Miss, do you think Second Master will understand your good intentions?”

Xia Wei asked worriedly.

“I hope so.”

Liu Yingyue forced a smile, though she had little confidence. Beyond blood ties, there was no genuine affection between her and Liu Biao.

Steadying herself, she then contacted her father, Liu Zheng.

“Little Yue, how is the Yongning Branch lately? No more casualties, I hope?”

After some pleasantries, Liu Zheng inquired with concern.

“…”

Liu Yingyue fell silent. She didn’t want to worry him.

“Why aren’t you speaking? Has the situation not improved?”

Liu Zheng’s voice grew anxious.

“Father, don’t worry. There have been no further incidents. Moreover, a noble patron has gifted us dozens of vials of pure Nine Nether Demon Cat tears. The auction house is livelier than ever, we’ll surely meet our year-end targets.”

She quickly reassured him, omitting the unpleasant details.

“Dozens of vials of pure cat tears? That’s indeed a fine auction item. Not only will it bring substantial revenue, but it will also elevate our reputation.”

Liu Zheng acknowledged, then asked curiously, “But who is this patron? To produce so many vials at once… In the cultivation world, these tears are priceless!”

“I don’t know. You’re aware of our auction house’s rules, if the client doesn’t offer, I don’t pry.”

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Liu Yingyue replied.

“Little Yue, anyone who can produce so many cat tears at once is no ordinary figure. You must treat them with utmost courtesy. If this opportunity slips away, it won’t come again. Whether I remain clan head is trivial, I just don’t want to see your efforts go to waste.”

Liu Zheng admonished her repeatedly.

“I understand! Father, actually… ‘he’ has requested a small favor from us.”

Seizing the moment, Liu Yingyue relayed Qi Huang’s request.

“A spatial ring isn’t hard to find, it depends on how much space he needs. As for those three herbs… they are indeed rare. But don’t worry, leave it to me. I’ll have them ready within half a month.”

Meanwhile, in the Liu family’s estate in the capital…

Liu Biao sat stiffly in his chair, his face ashen. Not only had his agent failed, but he had also been threatened by a junior!

“That ill-bred brat has no manners! If she dared say those words to my face, I’d rip her mouth apart!”

The extravagantly adorned woman beside him seethed with equal fury.

“She dares threaten me? I will make her kneel and beg for mercy!”

Liu Biao slammed his fist on the table and suddenly bellowed toward the door, “Someone!”

“Master!”

The steward hurried in.

“Find me a cultivator at the Incarnation Realm!”

Liu Biao commanded.