Chapter 395

Chapter 395: Don’t regret this

You Bing Yue looked at Yu Zhi Yi like she was a fool. How could the emperor dare punish her? Behind her stood a Golden Core realm immortal.

Immortal Qing Feng didn’t take Yu Zhi Yi’s threat seriously either. He might be cautious, but Yu Zhi Yi must have weaknesses too. For those, she wouldn’t dare truly act. And as long as she didn’t act, he had all the time and methods in the world to handle her.

“Official Yu…” the emperor said after a pause, voice measured: “We’ll do as you suggest.”

You Bing Yue’s pupils shrank. Immortal Qing Feng snapped his gaze over. Even Yu Zhi Yi was a little surprised that the emperor sided with her-but a moment later, she understood.

She was an official of Great Sheng, and behind her stood a sect that even Immortal Qing Feng feared. You Bing Yue had only Immortal Qing Feng.

The emperor is the son of heaven among mortals, tied to the karma of countless citizens. Even a true immortal descending to the world wouldn’t dare lightly touch a human emperor. So while the emperor feared Immortal Qing Feng, he wouldn’t really let the immortal do whatever he wished to the throne.

Compared side by side, taking Yu Zhi Yi’s side made more sense. Even if it was driven by interest, Yu Zhi Yi accepted the favor in this situation.

The Empress Dowager grew anxious: “Emperor, what are you doing?!”

The emperor said coolly: “Mother, when someone does wrong, they must pay the price. Since this Miss You has broken the laws of Great Sheng, she will, of course, go to prison.”

He then looked to Immortal Qing Feng: “Immortal, this is a matter of Great Sheng. As a recluse above the world, you won’t interfere at will, will you?”

Not interfere? He wanted nothing more than to interfere!

Immortal Qing Feng was about to speak when he suddenly felt a ripple of spiritual energy. He looked sharply at Yu Zhi Yi: “What did you do?”

Yu Zhi Yi flicked her wide sleeve and showed a palm dusted with ash. The gray stood out on her fair skin. She smiled brightly and said: “Nothing much-just a Sound Transmission Talisman.”

“Miss You looking for a backer reminded me I’m not alone either. I still have my master. And even if my master is busy, I have senior brothers, and there are uncles and senior uncles in the Heavenly Secret Sect.”

“No matter who answers, I won’t be threatened so easily again,” she finished, arching a brow. “What do you think, Immortal Qing Feng?”

Think what? He was ready to explode.

You Bing Yue’s eyes reddened with rage. She had seen Yu Zhi Yi move a talisman behind her back, but there had been no flame-only a flick of the wrist, and the talisman had burned. If she had known it was a Sound Transmission Talisman, she would have made some noise to warn him, even if she couldn’t speak.

[How shameless-can’t win, so she calls for backup!] she fumed.

If Yu Zhi Yi had heard that, she would have rolled her eyes hard: [Weren’t you the one who called for backup first?]

Just then, the grip on You Bing Yue’s neck loosened and her feet touched the ground. Before she could feel relieved, Yu Zhi Yi said crisply: “Guards, take Miss You to prison.”

She looked back to Immortal Qing Feng: “Immortal, this is within Great Sheng’s borders, and His Majesty has agreed. You won’t play favorites, right?”

Immortal Qing Feng pressed the words out between his teeth: “I won’t.” Then he added coldly, “As long as you don’t regret it.”

The emperor’s spirit jolted. To offend an immortal who could travel the sky and earth-honestly, even as emperor, his heart trembled. Hearing words that sounded like a curse gave him a bad feeling.

The talk of State Preceptor and immortal attendant ended there. After Immortal Qing Feng left, the emperor also sent the Empress Dowager away. Weariness softened his stern face as he said, “Minister Yu, we’ve completely offended a Golden Core realm immortal. Great Sheng’s future is now uncertain.”

Yu Zhi Yi made a quick calculation, then smiled: “Please be at ease, Your Majesty. The future will have some small bumps, but overall, Great Sheng’s fortune is on the rise.”

That meant that, for all his vast skill, Immortal Qing Feng still didn’t dare meddle in the internal affairs of a nation with over ten million people. He couldn’t shoulder that much karma.

At first, the emperor relaxed-but a beat later he realized something. If Great Sheng’s overall fortune was rising, what about him? If he was well, the empire would be well. But the empire being well didn’t guarantee that he, personally, would be well. Unfortunately, after confirming You Bing Yue’s sentence, Yu Zhi Yi had already taken her leave.

[…I suddenly feel a bit of regret. Now what?] he thought.

Just then, the Empress Dowager asked for him. Sighing, the emperor rose and headed for the Longevity Palace.

As he reached the doors, he heard a teacup shatter. He rubbed his face, stepped inside, and asked: “Mother, who has angered you?”

The Empress Dowager answered with a biting tone: “I can’t even save my own son. How would I dare to be angry?”

The emperor gave an awkward smile and said: “Mother, I’m doing this for Great Sheng. Miss You has crooked aims. Immortal Qing Feng is powerful, yes, but he stands with Miss You, not with Great Sheng.”

“If I yield this time, I’ll keep yielding step by step. Today her crime is excused; tomorrow, if she wants my throne, I might have no choice but to hand it over.”

The Empress Dowager frowned: “How could it be that serious? Besides, she’s just a woman-why would she want your throne?”

The emperor fell silent and only looked at her. Under that gaze, the Empress Dowager also fell silent. History had seen ruling empresses before. You Bing Yue was used to defying norms-who knew if she would do something like forcing the emperor off the throne to sit there herself?

Seeing his mother’s face change, the emperor knew she understood and said: “I worry for Prince Xiao Yao as well. I’ve already sent people to search far and wide for famous doctors. If Great Sheng has none who can cure him, we’ll look to other countries. If that still fails, we’ll invite the masters of Dragon-Tiger Mountain.”

Hearing this, the Empress Dowager felt a little better and nodded.

After a moment’s thought, the emperor added: “Mother, Minister Yu may be mild, but she is still someone of the Mystic Sect.”

The Empress Dowager frowned. She understood what he meant-she had simply been blinded by hate earlier. Absolute power is the best eye-wash; she now knew some things cannot be done. Still, her heart was not reconciled.

She didn’t answer, only waved her hand: “Go tend to your work. I’m tired and need to rest.”

Yu Zhi Yi knew nothing of the emperor and Empress Dowager’s talk. She returned to the Peach Garden at her usual pace. Only when she stepped through the gate did her straight back relax a little.

Her hand trembled; the ash on her palm scattered completely. Staring at her fair palm, worry colored her eyes.

She had no Sound Transmission Talismans left. The one she had torn just now had been a blank piece of talisman paper. The spiritual energy ripple had come from a deliberate wisp she released herself.

It was only a delaying trick-not a cure.