Chapter 737 - 397: Parting Ways
Chapter 737: Chapter 397: Parting Ways
Outside the West Imperial City, Yunlin Mountain.
This mountain was once nameless and desolate, until one year when the Western Empress visited it for her birthday. The Western Emperor then named it:
Yunlin Mountain.
The people of the West Imperial Dynasty all said that the love between the Emperor and Empress was deep, and this mountain was the proof.
Little did they know, Lin Yuan ascended this mountain that year just to meet another man.
Twenty years ago, Lin Yuan descended from the Immortal Flying Peak to the West Imperial Dynasty, with the sole purpose of installing a puppet emperor to stabilize Immortal Flying Pavilion’s control over the dynasty.
For this, she did not hesitate to sacrifice her dignity, marrying Wu Zheng in a marriage of convenience.
Later, as Wu Zheng firmly took the Emperor’s Throne, his harem grew.
Lin Yuan, proud and arrogant, grew increasingly contemptuous of Wu Zheng.
But under the orders of her sect, she had to continue feigning cooperation with Wu Zheng, though her heart was full of unspoken suffering.
On her birthday that year, she didn’t wish to face Wu Zheng’s unbearable presence in the palace.
So she went out wandering alone and came to a mountain, where she met an ordinary man.
The two drank under the moonlight, and it was as if they were old friends at first sight. Lin Yuan poured out years of accumulated frustration, and the man, knowing she was the Western Empress, remained calm, treating her simply as an ordinary woman.
Lin Yuan had never met such a man before; the two fell deeply in love at first sight.
After returning to the palace, Lin Yuan could not forget this man and thus sent people to find out where he lived.
Making excuses for leaving the palace several times, she disguised herself as an ordinary woman to encounter the man.
Gradually, their affection deepened, and on a bright moonlit night, Lin Yuan gave her body and soul to this man.
Later, Lin Yuan even bore a daughter for the man, but she raised her in the palace, claiming she was the child of her and the Western Emperor, Wu Zheng.
The mountain named "Yunlin Mountain" by the Western Emperor was the place where Lin Yuan and the man first met.
At this moment, at the mountain peak where they first met.
The man was now gathering with another woman and their daughter.
However, the scene of this family reunion was not one of warmth.
Slap! Slap! Slap!
"Husband, it’s my fault, ah! Please spare me!"
Black Phoenix knelt on the ground, as Chen Qingmo swung the God-piercing Whip, relentlessly striking her back.
Chen Qingmo’s face was calm, but he showed no mercy. Deep welts appeared on Black Phoenix’s white, beautiful back beneath her torn clothes.
"You injured Qing Yun so severely, nearly killing her, almost ruining our important plans. Huang’Er, have I been too indulgent with you all these years?"
Slap! Slap!
"Ah! I’m sorry, husband, I was careless! Seeing our daughter so gravely injured pains me too, I will go kill Liu Su to avenge her right away!"
"Shut up!"
Another whip fell from Chen Qingmo, causing Black Phoenix’s body to tremble, forcing her into silence.
The mighty Ancient Divine Phoenix, in front of this man, seemed humiliated like a servant, truly unimaginable.
Chen Qingmo gazed coldly at the unconscious Cheng Qingyu on the ground and said coolly:
"She managed to acquire the Immortal Ascension Jade Token, yet was defeated by a mere maid. Such uselessness! Like mother, like daughter. Had I known, I should have kept Zhu Yinrong instead."
"Husband, please don’t abandon us, if you need the Soul Supplement Seal, I will seize it from those three when they descend from the Immortal Flying Pavilion!"
Chen Qingmo chuckled coldly: "Qiu Zhihe defeated Divinity Transformation with Nascent Soul; can you defeat her?"
"This..."
Black Phoenix lowered her head, speechless, but moments later she asked unwillingly:
"Husband, who exactly is Qiu Zhihe? Why do you wish to capture her? Could it be that you..."
Chen Qingmo looked down at the kneeling Black Phoenix, and said lightly:
"You will know in due time. No matter, Qiu Zhihe will obtain the Soul Supplement Seal when she enters the Immortal Flying Pavilion. By then, it will be easy to seize both her and the seal."
Black Phoenix looked at the pale-faced Cheng Qingyu beside her; a trace of heartache flashed across her face, and she said to Chen Qingmo:
"Husband, let’s go home and treat Yu’Er’s injuries, shall we?"
Chen Qingmo glanced at Cheng Qingyu: "No rush, find somewhere nearby to treat her injuries."
Black Phoenix took in the beautiful scenery around them, biting her lip, suddenly asking:
"Husband, is this the place where you and Lin Yuan met? Are you... waiting for her?"
Chen Qingmo’s expression remained unchanged, with his hands behind his back, looking at the bright sky:
"Our fates began here, and so they should end here."
Then he looked towards the grand and majestic West Imperial City in the distance, his face showing mockery:
"The show is about to begin."
...
Western Emperor Palace.
The Golden Imperial Chariot stopped before the Phoenix Palace.
The eunuch stepped forward to lift the curtain. Lin Yuan got off the chariot.
"Empress."
Wu Zheng, seated inside the chariot, spoke:
"Thank you for everything these past years, go and rest well."
Lin Yuan’s smile was gentle: "It is my duty to share Your Majesty’s burdens."
She then turned and walked towards the Phoenix Palace, her smile turning cold.
The curtain of the chariot closed, and inside, Wu Zheng’s gentle expression changed to one of sharpness.
The chariot headed to the Celestial Martial Hall.
Lin Yuan walked towards the Phoenix Palace.
The two parted ways.
Arriving in front of the Phoenix Palace, Lin Yuan frowned slightly, asking the palace maid beside her:
"Where are the guards who were stationed in front of the palace?"
In front of the Phoenix Palace, her trusted palace maids were usually stationed, but they were nowhere to be seen.
Just then, a eunuch stepped forward: "Reporting to Your Majesty, the Emperor has prepared a gift for you in the Phoenix Palace to surprise you, thus he sent away the maids."
Lin Yuan looked at him: "What gift?"
The eunuch smiled and said: "The Emperor ordered that it must not be revealed to Your Majesty in advance, saying it wouldn’t be a surprise otherwise. Your Majesty, the Emperor has been preparing this gift for a long time; you are sure to like it."
Lin Yuan was silent for a moment, then nodded, stepping into the Phoenix Palace.
The eunuch bowed and left, walking out of the Phoenix Palace. He spoke in a low voice to the eunuch guarding outside:
"Hurry and report to His Holiness; the Demon Queen has entered the trap."
Not far from the Phoenix Palace.
The Second Prince, Wu Tai, was speaking respectfully to Si Minglan:
"Master, I have already given the orders. Once I enter the Phoenix Palace and a stick of incense has burned, the Grand Array of the Imperial Palace will close. When you move, I will pretend to protect Lin Yuan, and then wait for my chance to act."
Si Minglan nodded: "Go ahead."
"Yes!"
Wu Tai departed, and Si Minglan said to Fang Xue and the others: "Once the Imperial Palace’s Grand Array is lifted, create chaos at once but remember not to reveal your identities."
Fang Xue said worriedly: "Third Senior Sister, let me help you?"
Si Minglan raised her hand to pat her head, smiling: "This is my revenge; it’s enough that you’ve helped me this much."
With her words finished, her form flickered and disappeared.
Inside the Phoenix Palace.
Lin Yuan walked in slowly and said to the palace maid beside her:
"Notify the Golden Snake Guard, it’s time to act."
"Yes."
The palace maid looked around, then said in a low voice: "Senior Sister, something doesn’t feel right."
Lin Yuan was silent, then looked up to see a scroll hanging from the ceiling of the Phoenix Palace.
As she entered, the scroll unfurled swiftly, revealing a giant painting.
In the painting was a scenic mountain peak with a magnificent and beautiful woman. In front of her stood a scholarly man dressed in simple cloth.
It depicted Lin Yuan’s first meeting with Zhou Qing at Yunlin Mountain.
But why would such a painting appear in the Imperial Palace?
Was this the surprise Wu Zheng had prepared for her?
Lin Yuan’s expression changed.
"Who’s there?!"