103: Tang Yuehua's Special (Two-in-One)

Heaven Dou City.

An elegant and noble blue carriage drove into the imperial palace.

It passed through the main gates and proceeded across the white marble-like ground.

Not a single imperial guard blocked it; there was not even a need for a search.

Because this was the carriage of the Moon Pavilion.

Tang Yuehua was highly respected by Emperor Xue Ye, and rumors circulated in aristocratic circles that she was his private plaything!

Entering the palace required no announcement or search... Inside the carriage, Tang Yuehua's beautiful face was set, her brow slightly furrowed.

In truth, she was unwilling to visit the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace so frequently.

She was well aware of the gossip spreading through the Noble Circles.

But for the development of the Clear Sky Sect, she could only play along and maintain appearances.

“Emperor Xue Ye has been troubled by something lately, so he won't come to the inner palace to harass me...”

Tang Yuehua sighed softly; she had come to teach etiquette to the concubines of the inner palace.

This was also at Emperor Xue Ye's invitation. He had often used such excuses to try and get close to her in the past, though he had never managed to gain any advantage.

But it was like a toad jumping onto one's foot—it didn't bite, but it was certainly disgusting!

Suddenly, something outside triggered a mysterious sensation within her.

“Stop.”

The carriage came to a halt.

Tang Yuehua lifted the curtain and stepped out of the carriage.

Her gaze immediately turned toward the direction that was inexplicably drawing her.

It happened to be a palace building with pale yellow walls, upturned eaves, and red tiles, where a youth stood bathed in the sunlight.

Backlit by the sun, she could only see a blurred silhouette.

“This is...?”

Tang Yuehua looked at Yu Mengzhang, her brow furrowing slightly as she scanned the surroundings of the palace.

This was clearly the imperial palace; why would a youth appear here?

No, the youth was definitely not ordinary.

The noble aura radiating from him was palpable.

Others might not perceive it accurately, but she, a 'natural noble,' knew it best.

Because she had possessed the Innate Awakening Domain 'Noble Circle,' even in the presence of Emperor Xue Ye, the other party's 'nobility' would not surpass her own.

In fact, most people felt somewhat vulgar and common to her.

But facing Yu Mengzhang, she couldn't help but feel a sense of humility at this moment.

It was an unprecedented feeling.

Being watched by Tang Yuehua, Yu Mengzhang raised an eyebrow slightly. He hadn't intentionally hidden himself as he headed directly toward the court, but he wasn't someone just anyone could see.

In his merit golden body form, he was favored by heaven and earth, which usually prevented him from being in danger.

In other words, many people would subconsciously ignore his existence.

This woman could actually see him... He looked down at Tang Yuehua.

Their gazes met.

“Who are you...?”

Tang Yuehua couldn't help but ask curiously.

Yu Mengzhang did not answer, merely looking at her with an inquiring gaze.

The driver asked in confusion, “Pavilion Master, who are you talking to?”

Tang Yuehua was slightly taken aback. Pointing at the nearly ten-meter-high palace roof, she asked, “Can't you see? That youth...”

The driver looked up, shielding the sunlight with the back of his hand, and shook his head, saying:

“Pavilion Master, I don't see anything at all?”

“!!!”

Tang Yuehua was stunned. How was that possible? The youth was clearly still looking this way; why could she see him while the driver could not?

“You... look more closely. Right there on the tip of the eaves, it's a youth of about twelve or thirteen, very beautiful, looking in that direction...”

Tang Yuehua explained.

The driver took another look as she directed. After a moment, he shook his head and smiled bitterly. “Pavilion Master, are you playing a trick on me? Who could be on that roof? It's all just sunlight...”

“...”

Tang Yuehua swallowed, her face tensing up.

It was absolutely impossible for her to have seen wrongly, and the youth's eyes were definitely not something she could have imagined.

At that moment, Yu Mengzhang looked up toward another direction.

“The direction he's looking... is toward the court...?”

Tang Yuehua was slightly startled.

She became even more curious about Yu Mengzhang.

She could clearly perceive that Yu Mengzhang was not a powerful Spirit Master.

He didn't radiate any killing intent or malice either.

On the contrary, there was only a kind of noble aura that made her want to submit!

...At the end of Yu Mengzhang's gaze was the imperial court. At this moment, it was silent. The princes and ministers all had their heads bowed, and at the head of the officials, Grand Marshal Ge Long stepped forward.

“Grand Marshal, do you have a petition?”

Emperor Xue Ye spoke personally.

Grand Marshal Ge Long was the leader of the Heaven Dou Empire's nobility and had been titled the Nine-Life Divine Dragon. When the Star Luo Empire had launched a massive invasion against Heaven Dou, it was under Grand Marshal Ge Long's leadership that they were repelled.

Grand Marshal Ge Long cupped his hands in greeting and said loudly:

“Reporting to Your Majesty, I am a rough man who doesn't understand much of the big picture. I only know that merit must be rewarded and crimes must be punished... Since the Temple has harmed so many innocent nobles, if we leave it be, where is the law of the land? Where is the national prestige?”

“...”

Emperor Xue Ye was stunned, looking at him in surprise.

The day before, Grand Marshal Ge Long had not expressed an opinion, but now he was actively applying pressure!

“Xue Qinghe” hurried forward and said, “Grand Marshal, this is a matter of great importance and cannot be decided overnight. Furthermore, it is not yet known if it was truly the work of the Temple...”

“The victimized nobles all say it was the work of the Azure Dragon Temple. Could they all be lying?” Grand Marshal Ge Long said coolly.

At this point, an old official with a white beard also stepped out, coughing as he said:

“Your Majesty, this old servant knows that you worry about the power of the Azure Dragon Temple, but who can be certain that the Azure Dragon Temple still possesses the strength to threaten the palace? Within the Temple, aside from a group of commoners, there are only two priests, and they are both children...”

“If the priests are dead, wouldn't the Azure Dragon Temple exist in name only? Furthermore, if those commoners stop going to worship, the Azure Dragon Temple will eventually fall into ruin...”

The old official spoke with a trembling voice.

The other nobles remained in the same state, not coming forward to speak.

But their silence at this moment already indicated their will.

“Xue Qinghe’s” expression changed upon hearing his words.

The two figures representing the nobility were both too troublesome.

One was the Grand Marshal who held sway over the court and whose words carried immense weight; even Emperor Xue Ye had to fully consider his opinion.

The other was an old official with only one young son. After his death, the hereditary title would be cut off. For the sake of this young son, he would certainly stand up for the nobles!

“Xue Qinghe” then looked at Prince Xue Xing to the side.

The nobles had even persuaded him.

And the one who could truly bring a proposal to Emperor Xue Ye was precisely Prince Xue Xing!

In the next second, Prince Xue Xing indeed emerged from the ranks and came to “Xue Qinghe’s” side with a face full of smiles.

“Imperial Brother, I feel that we could consult the opinions of some experts, such as Mr. Dugu or School Master Ning of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School...”

Emperor Xue Ye frowned slightly upon hearing this, then nodded and said, “Very well, then let us invite them to the court for a meeting.”

Prince Xue Xing immediately said, “I shall go and invite them now...”

Following his departure, quiet discussions broke out within the court.

The nobles exchanged glances, each looking quite smug.

“The Azure Dragon Temple only has two little kittens. If they lose their Believers and priests, what else can they do?”

“I've made inquiries. That High Priest comes from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. Give Yu Yuanzhen some benefits, and he can have that child leave the Temple...”

“It has to be said that Mr. Dongguo is ruthless enough. To pave the way for his youngest son, he fears nothing...”

“...”

The Mr. Dongguo mentioned by the nobles was that old official.

Listening to the nobles' discussions, “Xue Qinghe’s” brow was tightly furrowed, filled with worry.

If they truly set themselves against the Azure Dragon Temple in a head-on confrontation...

She couldn't help but recall Yu Mengzhang's attitude at that time.

She feared... it would be a bloodbath!

This group of gloating nobles thought the Heaven Dou Imperial Family was suppressing them because they were afraid to fight.

In reality, they were preventing them from going to their deaths!

“Your Highness, a family has its rules, and a nation has its laws. If we always yield to the strong, what dignity will our Heaven Dou Empire have left?”

Grand Marshal Ge Long came to “Xue Qinghe’s” side, stating his own views.

“Xue Qinghe” shook his head helplessly and said, “Grand Marshal, there is something you do not know. Even a Titled Douluo does not possess the strength of the Temple.”

“Then does Your Highness think that Azure Dragon Divine Lord is a deity? Or is it something just playing god?”

Grand Marshal Ge Long asked with a frown.

“Xue Qinghe” hesitated for a moment and said, “At the very least, he has surpassed the mortal realm... whether he is a deity or not is no longer important, is it?”

Grand Marshal Ge Long shook his head. “It is very important. If he were a true deity, I naturally wouldn't stick my neck out. But I am good friends with the Holy Dragon Douluo of Spirit Hall. I have contacted him and learned that this Azure Dragon Divine Lord cannot possibly be a deity.”

“Uh...”

“Since he is not a deity, then there is a fight to be had. Besides, we don't need to directly level the Temple; we only need to blockade its Believers and cut off its incense, and that will be enough.”

Grand Marshal Ge Long smiled confidently.

“Xue Qinghe” was somewhat helpless and didn't know what else to say.

Grand Marshal Ge Long continued, “I have some friendship with the First Master of the Yu family and will speak with him to bring that child of the clan back.”

“Rest assured, doing this will not enrage that Azure Dragon Divine Lord. If he truly acts because of this, I fear the gods themselves will not let him off.”

Grand Marshal Ge Long laughed easily.

The benefits he would gain from stepping forward this time were immense, accumulating wealth that his descendants wouldn't be able to exhaust for several lifetimes!

Persuading “Xue Qinghe” now was not just to maintain a good relationship and prevent the other from harboring resentment.

It was also a form of self-reassurance... that nothing would go wrong!

...On the roof of a palace diagonally opposite the main hall.

Yu Mengzhang frowned slightly as he listened to the voices inside. He had originally come to see who was targeting the Azure Dragon Temple from behind the scenes so he could deal with them directly.

He was too lazy to investigate the assassination incident.

He might as well just kill all the nobles involved in the conspiracy.

But he hadn't expected that only two nobles would step forward today.

The other nobles were all acting like timid quails.

He looked up at the sky.

At this moment, the sky was cloudless, but in the higher reaches of the atmosphere, there was a celestial phenomenon he had arranged in advance.

As his Divine Soul connected, the thunderstorm vortex high in the sky began to react, gathering the energy in the atmosphere downward.

The air pressure began to drop.

The breathing of the creatures on the ground began to grow heavy.

“Who... are you exactly?”

Tang Yuehua's voice rang out again.

Yu Mengzhang looked down. That elegant woman had not yet left, her eyes full of curiosity.

Tang Yuehua added, “Perhaps I can help you with something? You...”

The driver beside her was already terrified by Tang Yuehua.

A perfectly normal person was suddenly talking to the thin air, saying things he couldn't understand.

“Pavilion Master, are you feeling unwell? Should we return to the Moon Pavilion first?”

The driver said in a low voice.

Tang Yuehua shook her head and said, “I'm not...”

At that moment, another carriage approached from a distance.

A woman in white robes stepped out; she was a court Female Spirit Master responsible for the safety of the concubines.

“Pavilion Master Tang, why have you stopped here? Her Majesty the Empress knows you are coming and is waiting for you in Fengyi Palace.”

The Female Spirit Master said with a smile.

Tang Yuehua shook her head slightly and looked at Yu Mengzhang on the roof again, saying, “You... can you see him? A youth, very beautiful looking, with a pair of golden eyes...”

The Female Spirit Master was taken aback and looked up at the palace eaves.

But in her eyes, there was no sign of Yu Mengzhang; there was nothing there at all.

“No... Pavilion Master Tang, are your eyes playing tricks on you?” the Female Spirit Master said sheepishly.

“...”

Tang Yuehua fell silent. Even a Spirit Master couldn't see Yu Mengzhang's figure?!

However, she was absolutely certain that Yu Mengzhang truly existed.

Now, Yu Mengzhang was looking up at the sky.

Tang Yuehua looked up as well, and only then did she notice her breathing had become heavy.

It felt as if a stone were pressing down on her chest.

In the sky, there was nothing unusual.

Yet it inexplicably gave her a faint sense of unease.

“Could he be a deity? Or...”

Tang Yuehua couldn't help but guess, but thinking of those golden eyes and that incomparable noble aura.

It seemed only a deity could explain it.

The Female Spirit Master gave the driver a questioning look, wondering if Tang Yuehua was ill. How could she be talking nonsense?

The driver shook his head awkwardly; he couldn't figure it out either!

“Should we head to Fengyi Palace first?” the Female Spirit Master asked.

“No, we will wait right here!”

Tang Yuehua's voice was firm.

She had to find out the other party's identity.

“What is that palace? Can I go up?” Tang Yuehua asked... On the main road leading to the court hall.

A luxurious carriage decorated with gold, silver, and jewels was traveling along.

Inside, Prince Xue Xing and Poison Douluo were sitting opposite each other.

Poison Douluo frowned and said, “This is simply reckless! For gold coins, you'd even throw away your lives? That Azure Dragon Divine Lord is not someone a Titled Douluo can afford to provoke!”

“I won't be wading into these muddy waters!”

Poison Douluo was wicked and arrogant, but he was no fool!

Having personally experienced the power of the Azure Dragon Divine Lord, he was unwilling to stand on the opposite side of him!

Prince Xue Xing gave a sheepish smile and said, “Mr. Dugu, I didn't want to either, but those fellows offered too much!”

“Besides, we naturally don't need to stand in opposition to the Azure Dragon Divine Lord. We just need to give a statement, speak the truth—that he's a powerful Spirit Beast... Furthermore, that Temple wasn't even established by the Azure Dragon Divine Lord; it's just a group of commoners...”

“After it's done, Mr. Dugu, we will split the benefits equally. When you pass away in a hundred years, those will be Yanzi's inheritance.”

Prince Xue Xing persuaded him patiently.

Poison Douluo fell silent, his heart beginning to waver.