"Oh?" "Is that so?" Lord Piaoyan began to exert slight pressure on the Nuwa Stone, causing it to creak and groan as if about to split.
"Then that's not important. Chen'er, let me tell you, there are countless Nuwa Stones in the Divine Emperor's Sacred Land Sect, but why did you choose only this one?"
Empress Xingchen said, "This was given to me by a friend of an old acquaintance. Is there a problem?"
Lord Piaoyan smiled involuntarily, "A friend of an old acquaintance? Do you take this Emperor for a three-year-old child?"
Empress Xingchen replied, "If that's how you see it, there's nothing I can do."
Lord Piaoyan nodded. "Good."
"Whoosh!"
He casually tossed the Nuwa Stone in his hand out the window. It plummeted from the Divine Emperor's Sacred Land Sect to some unknown place, likely lost forever.
Empress Xingchen immediately became agitated, "What is wrong with you?"
"Slap!" Lord Piaoyan backhanded her.
"You've never hit me before," Empress Xingchen looked at him in disbelief.
Lord Piaoyan lifted his chin, as if his true nature was now fully revealed, "Then today, I'll make an exception to teach you a lesson, so you know who is in charge of this Divine Emperor's Sacred Land Sect!"
Empress Xingchen clutched her reddened and swollen cheek, but she held back her anger, knowing the consequences:
"Are you crazy?"
Lord Piaoyan sneered, "So that pretty boy was your old flame. You've been hiding him from this Emperor for a long time!"
In fact, he had secretly investigated and discovered that Mingzhitian was a disciple of Wu Sheng Ran Yizhou. Empress Xingchen had known this all along but hadn't told him. Moreover, he knew Mingzhitian's purpose was to eliminate him and avenge his master, and Empress Xingchen was undoubtedly involved, perhaps even poisoning his food. This made Lord Piaoyan wary.
Empress Xingchen said, "Have you been listening to some nonsensical rumors?"
Lord Piaoyan shot her a cold glance. "Get out. Don't let me find you entangled with that kid again, or I'll lock you in solitary confinement!"
Empress Xingchen's heart grew cold. She glanced at the window and left in silence. She had always been afraid to confront Lord Piaoyan for this very reason. At this moment, he was truly capable of anything, which made her a hundred percent certain that Lord Piaoyan had murdered Ran Yizhou back then.
After Empress Xingchen left, an attendant emerged. "Your Excellency, Princess Jialuo has arrived."
Lord Piaoyan's expression immediately became one of longing and lust. "Bring her in."
"Yes."
The attendant then brought in a peerlessly beautiful woman, a vision of elegance and grace. She possessed every desirable quality a woman could have.
Princess Jialuo was indeed a rare beauty, specifically chosen to serve the powerful. It seemed Lord Piaoyan frequently sought out such women to satisfy his private desires.
...
Mingzhitian arrived in the grand hall. Xia Wei had been waiting for a long time. Upon seeing Mingzhitian, she quickly stirred from her doze.
"Xia Wei?" Mingzhitian's heart sank. Xia Wei, as Empress Xingchen's shadow guard, her presence here could only mean one thing.
Xia Wei immediately dispelled his doubts. "Don't be nervous, Mingzhitian. I'm here on behalf of the Empress. I've already sent word, and she'll be here soon."
Mingzhitian breathed a sigh of relief. "I thought something had happened to Xingchen."
Xia Wei frowned. "Don't jinx it. The Empress is perfectly fine. And besides, didn't I tell you not to call the Empress by her name anymore?"
Mingzhitian waved his hand. "Xia Wei, please stop. I don't want to argue with you."