Volume 3, Chapter 459 – The Trial Ends

Inside Huayue Court, the formation master maintaining the Illusory Heart Formation was, as always, steadily channeling spiritual energy into the illusory formation.

At this point, a simple shelter had been erected in front of what had once been the trial platform, and outside that shelter stood a squad of powerful guards.

Wei Ziqing sat in the pavilion, a troubled frown on his face as he looked toward the guarded shelter in the distance.

He rubbed his fingers over the teacup in his hand and let out a heavy sigh.

“Those two girls from the Chi family, how long have they been inside the Illusory Heart Formation now?”

The ring on his finger trembled faintly. “Reporting to Noble Consort, the Illusory Heart Formation has been sustained for nine days now.”

Wei Ziqing raised an eyebrow slightly, not bothering to catch the hint of teasing in the ring spirit’s tone, and simply asked, “Has the Illusory Heart Formation ever been sustained this long before?”

“There has.” the ring spirit said. “Liu Funing of the Qinglan Sword Sect once trained within the Illusory Heart Realm for ninety nine days. After breaking through, she succeeded as sect master.”

“…” Wei Ziqing’s expression stiffened for a moment. “Those two girls aren’t really going to spend the full ninety nine days in there, are they?”

“Hehe, that I really can’t say.”

“ Hiss …” Wei Ziqing felt a twinge in his teeth and cursed under his breath. “Every single second that passes is burning through my spirit stones.”

If he could, he would have loved to march over right now and forcibly shut down the Illusory Heart Realm.

But at this point, he no longer could.

Mostly, he didn’t dare to.

Thinking of the message the Empress had sent earlier, along with the spirit stones that had been burned maintaining the formation these past few days, his heart ached in waves.

“What’s so bad about it? This is the first time the Empress has ever reached out to you on her own. Giving up a few spirit stones to win her favor, isn’t that quite the bargain?”

“Ah…” Wei Ziqing gave a helpless smile. “There you go teasing me again, fairy sister. Do I really look like the kind of person who fawns over people that easily?”

As he spoke, Wei Ziqing lifted a hand and pointed toward the distant Illusory Heart Formation. “And besides, can you really call this ‘a few’ spirit stones?”

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“That woman is clearly here to squeeze me dry. A dignified Empress, and she can’t even bear to spend this little bit of money! Might as well call her a miser!”

Just as he was speaking, Wei Ziqing’s words suddenly cut off, his gaze drifting toward the entrance of the flower garden.

There, at the garden gate, a woman in a white dress had been stopped by several officials.

“Miss, halt right there!”

The woman carried a food box in her hands, and even though she’d been forcibly stopped, a gentle smile still lingered on her face.

Seeing Wei Ziqing look her way, she bowed toward him from a distance.

Wei Ziqing understood at once. “Bu Ruyan. She’s come again.”

The ring spirit trembled faintly. “It seems she truly is fond of you. Otherwise why would she come every single day?”

“Heh.” Wei Ziqing gave a light laugh. “Is she really coming to see me? I honestly couldn’t say.”

“Hm?”

Wei Ziqing didn’t explain further, only casting a subtle glance toward the guarded shelter in the distance.

After that brief glance, he withdrew his gaze.

“Let her in.”

Once the guards received the order, they allowed Bu Lianshuang through.

“Noble Consort.” Bu Lianshuang walked up to Wei Ziqing and set the food box down on the table.

She crouched by the table and pulled out a small plate of pastries from the box, setting it respectfully before Wei Ziqing.

“This humble girl made some pastries today. I hoped Noble Consort might try them.”

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Wei Ziqing glanced at them. The pastries were beautifully made, as if crafted by a master’s hand.

He smiled faintly. “You put a lot of thought into this. These pastries must have taken quite some effort.”

Bu Lianshuang lowered her head. “Noble Consort keeps watch over the Illusory Heart Formation day after day. What little effort I’ve put in can hardly compare to yours.”

Wei Ziqing kept smiling faintly, not responding to the girl’s flattery.

He heard compliments like this every single day back at the palace.

He picked up a piece of the pastry and took a small bite.

“Huh? This flavor.” Wei Ziqing looked surprised, glancing over at Bu Lianshuang. “This pastry tastes every bit as good as the signature tea cakes at the Five Immortals House.”

“You have quite the culinary skill.”

Bu Lianshuang lowered her head with a smile. “Noble Consort jests. How could my cooking possibly compare to the master chefs at the Five Immortals House?”

Wei Ziqing found nothing out of the ordinary in the girl’s expression.

He smiled and popped the rest of the pastry into his mouth.

Bu Lianshuang waited quietly as Wei Ziqing finished eating, showing not a hint of anything unusual from start to finish.

Only once Wei Ziqing had finished the pastry did she rise and clear away the dishes on the table.

Once she’d tidied up, she rose to take her leave. “Noble Consort, this humble girl will take her leave now.”

“Wait.” Wei Ziqing called out to stop her. “You’ve come here every single day these past few days. Isn’t there something you’d like to ask?”

“Noble Consort.” Bu Lianshuang bowed at the waist. “This humble girl only came to see you. Now that I’ve seen you, my mind is at ease.”

She lifted her head. “Is there anything else, Noble Consort?”

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“Nothing else.” Wei Ziqing said.

“Understood, Noble Consort.” Bu Lianshuang bowed once more, then turned and walked toward the garden entrance.

Wei Ziqing kept watching her, his eyes narrowing slightly.

The ring trembled faintly. “What are you suspicious of? You think this girl’s true intentions lie elsewhere?”

“Mm.” Wei Ziqing responded flatly.

“So what do you think she’s really after?”

Wei Ziqing said nothing, his gaze fixed on Bu Lianshuang’s retreating back.

He watched her walk step by step toward the garden gate, missing not a single flicker of movement.

Yet to his disappointment, from start to finish, Bu Lianshuang showed nothing out of the ordinary at all.

Her steps never hesitated, not even slightly. Her path never wavered, not even slightly.

Wei Ziqing’s brows knit together.

His judgment of people had always been sharp, and Bu Lianshuang truly hadn’t shown a single sign of anything amiss.

But it was precisely because she showed no sign of anything amiss that Wei Ziqing became even more certain something was wrong with this girl.

So what exactly was her target?

Was it the Illusory Heart Realm?

But Wei Ziqing still remembered, this girl had been the very first to withdraw from the Illusory Heart Realm.

So quickly, in fact, that it was almost as if she’d never even entered the array at all.

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If it wasn’t the Illusory Heart Realm, then who was it for?

Was it one of the two people still trapped inside the Illusory Heart Realm even now?

Wei Ziqing remained deep in thought.

Bu Lianshuang had already reached the garden gate. She spoke gently to the two officials standing guard there.

“Thank you both for your hard work today as well.”

“Mm…” The two officials’ stern faces softened somewhat.

Anyone standing before such a beautiful, gentle young woman would find it hard to keep a cold expression.

“Truly flawless.”

Wei Ziqing murmured under his breath.

Just as Bu Lianshuang was about to leave, a sudden cry of alarm rang out.

“The foundation of the Illusory Heart Formation has begun to fluctuate!”

“The formation is about to be released!”

“The Illusory Heart Realm trial has come to an end!”

The alarmed voice instantly drew everyone’s attention.

Wei Ziqing couldn’t help but rise from his seat.

After nine full days, was the Illusory Heart Realm trial finally coming to an end?

“Ah… at least I don’t have to keep burning money anymore!”