360: Chapter 358: Qixuan Tongjun appears, Nangong Zhiyan complains

Zhou Yuren gently wiped the medicine stains from the corner of Nangong Yuntian's mouth. "She is just a child after all, with a soft personality. Although she's a bit stubborn, the child doesn't have any malicious intent."

Nangong Yuntian set down the medicine bowl, his expression somewhat gloomy.

Empress Zhou Yuren sighed helplessly, thinking she would return empty-handed, but then she heard Nangong Yuntian say, "Pass down the decree to first withdraw the wanted order. Let the Brocade Guard go and capture her, and we will question her crimes once she is brought back."

Below, Eunuch Huang bowed and accepted the order, departing silently.

A smile blossomed on Zhou Yuren's face, becoming increasingly gentle as her graceful figure leaned softly against Nangong Yuntian.

"That's enough, Empress. I still have government affairs to handle. You should take your leave now!"

Having achieved her goal, Zhou Yuren flattered Nangong Yuntian a few more times before finally departing.

In the Imperial City, Nangong Jinglan, having changed her appearance, found an inn to stay in. While she was resting, she heard a commotion outside. Looking out the window, she saw that the wanted posters were being torn down and new notices were being posted.

It stated that the convoy had been attacked by Yao Beasts at the time, which caused the Fifth Princess, Nangong Jinglan, to be separated from the escorting party, and it was not an act of defying the imperial decree.

Gu Shengge naturally learned of the situation outside as well. He sneered, "What a joke. Your imperial father must not be much of an emperor if he runs things like this, right?"

Nangong Jinglan thought the same in her heart. Over the years, whether it was the Yao Race or the Barbarians, there had been a trend of counterattacks. The borders had already lost quite a bit of territory, but the news was simply being suppressed.

"I can return to the Imperial Palace now. Should I go back?" Nangong Jinglan asked.

"Go back. Call me when it's time to kill people," Gu Shengge said.

Nangong Jinglan felt quite helpless. She felt that Gu Shengge was like a bloodthirsty Devil Head who didn't care about right or wrong at all; as long as things didn't go his way, he would resort to killing.

In the Imperial Palace, Nangong Zhiyan had already returned. She had originally thought Nangong Jinglan was certain to die. Hearing that her mother had actually pleaded for that little slut, she immediately rushed to the Empress's bedchamber.

"Imperial Mother! Imperial Mother!"

"Where are you?"

Zhou Yuren was inside the hall. Setting down her teacup, she said with a darkened face, "Nangong Zhiyan! Where has your royal dignity and decorum gone?"

Nangong Zhiyan approached Zhou Yuren angrily, her face full of indignation. "Imperial Mother, why did you plead for that little slut?"

Nangong Zhiyan's rage was not just because of her hatred for Nangong Jinglan, but also because of the System's punishment. Last time, because she failed to strike at Nangong Jinglan, the System had tempered her Divine Soul. That kind of pain was something she would never want to experience a second time after trying it once!

Zhou Yuren's expression was serene. "Nangong Zhiyan, you are both princesses. Why must you fight for superiority? Whether it is this Empress or your Imperial Father, we have never mistreated you. Your honors and favors far exceed Jinglan's. Why are you still not satisfied?"

Nangong Zhiyan looked at her mother blankly. "Imperial Mother, back when Li Anlan was here, how much humiliation did you, the so-called Empress of the main palace, endure? How much ridicule did you suffer? Even we were... Imperial Mother, don't you have even a little bit of resentment? Why do you always protect her!"

Zhou Yuren's expression turned somber. She called Nangong Zhiyan to her side and lightly stroked the back of her hand.

"Zhiyan, the past is in the past. I owe it to Li Anlan. I didn't care when you were cold and cynical in your daily lives, but if you dare to strike at her again, this Empress will act as if I never gave birth to you as a daughter and will surely punish you severely."

Zhou Yuren spoke gently and sadly, but Nangong Zhiyan didn't doubt her for a second.

"Imperial Mother! What if I said that if I don't kill her, I will die?" Nangong Zhiyan said emotionally.

"You child, what nonsense are you talking!" Zhou Yuren patted the back of her hand in annoyance.

Nangong Zhiyan pulled her hand back. "Imperial Mother, your daughter understands. I shall take my leave!"

Zhou Yuren warned Nangong Zhiyan once more and said nothing else, signaling for her to withdraw.

Inside Nangong Zhiyan's body, Lord Seven Mysteries said coldly, "host, you only have three chances for mission failure. Once the chances are used up, you will surely die!"

"I know. Once I see Nangong Jinglan, I will definitely find a way to kill her!"

"host, Nangong Jinglan has already returned. She just arrived at the Imperial Palace."

Nangong Zhiyan's eyes turned cold. "Hmph! This Princess will go see now how that slut managed to survive!"

Nangong Jinglan's palace was in a corner, very old and with a small courtyard, not much different from a cold palace.

After Nangong Jinglan returned, she immediately set about cleaning and tidying up.

"Don't you have any palace maids or attendants? How can it be so shabby?" Gu Shengge asked in confusion.

Nangong Jinglan said bitterly, "You've seen my status in the imperial family. Even the palace maids who served me would be made things difficult for and bullied, so I let them leave. The courtyard isn't big anyway; I can clean it myself."

Watching her tidy up with nimble hands and feet, Gu Shengge smiled. "Not bad. Once things are settled, are you interested in becoming a maidservant for this seat?"

Nangong Jinglan was stunned for a long time before saying, "Alright! If things go smoothly and my mother's grudge can be avenged, what does it matter if I become your maidservant?"

"Someone is coming. It's Nangong Zhiyan and the System inside her. Be careful!"

Nangong Jinglan's expression turned cold. After all, Nangong Zhiyan was a mortal enemy who wanted to kill her. If it weren't for the need to investigate the truth of the past in the palace later, she would even want to kill Nangong Zhiyan right now.

Nangong Zhiyan walked in with her head held high, expecting to see a wretched, half-dead Nangong Jinglan. To her surprise, she saw a bright, capable, and high-spirited Nangong Jinglan.

The injuries on her body had all healed, and it seemed as if not a single hidden wound remained; she was in excellent condition.

"You... I didn't expect you to actually be alive!" Nangong Zhiyan mocked.

Nangong Jinglan replied coldly, "Imperial Sister must be joking. Since you aren't dead yet, how could I possibly die?"

A sharp killing intent instantly erupted from Nangong Zhiyan. With the System's enhancement, her cultivation even faintly showed signs of being about to step into the Soul Transformation Realm.

However, using force in the Imperial Palace was a major taboo. She forcibly suppressed the indignation in her heart. "Nangong Jinglan, you just wait. I'm going to inform Imperial Father right now!"

Nangong Zhiyan walked away quickly, heading straight for the Lizheng Hall.

Nangong Yuntian was reviewing memorials when a guard from outside came to report that Nangong Zhiyan had arrived.

"Zhiyan? What is she doing here?"

"Let her in!"

As soon as Nangong Yuntian finished speaking, Nangong Zhiyan's shouts could already be heard from outside: "Imperial Father! Your daughter wishes to accuse Nangong Jinglan! She has returned!"

Nangong Yuntian's expression suddenly turned stern. "Nangong Jinglan? Since she has returned, why hasn't she come to see me!"

Nangong Yuntian's anger rose again. "Huang Cheng! Take men immediately and bring that rebellious daughter to me!"

Eunuch Huang hurriedly complied and immediately gathered guards to head towards Nangong Jinglan's palace.

A trace of a smile finally appeared on Nangong Zhiyan's face. "Imperial Father is wise!" (End of Chapter)