I don't know when it started, but a rumor had begun circulating in Heaven Dou City. The content of this rumor was so terrifying that people shuddered upon hearing it. People in the streets and alleys were all talking about it.
"Have you heard? Someone poisoned His Majesty."
"I don't know if it's true or not!"
"Who would be so bold as to poison His Majesty?"
"I heard it was the prince?"
"What! How could His Highness the Prince do something so treasonous! It must be a rumor!"
"Who's to say it's not? But what if—just what if—it's true?"
"Don't say such nonsense. If the patrol guards hear it, we'll be in trouble."
Heaven Dou Palace.
Emperor Xue Ye sat in his chair, resting his chin on his right hand, staring at Xue Qinghe with a grim expression.
Xue Qinghe spoke nervously.
"Father, I don't know who is ruining my reputation out there. How could I be so rebellious?"
"Well, of course, Father wouldn't believe such rumors."
Emperor Xue Ye's words carried neither sadness nor joy. It was impossible to discern his mood from his tone.
A drop of cold sweat rolled down Xue Qinghe's forehead.
Although Emperor Xue Ye didn't accuse him of anything, the silence was even more unsettling.
After a moment of silence between father and son, Emperor Xue Ye suddenly spoke with slight interest.
"You may leave."
"Yes, Father."
Xue Qinghe bowed and turned to leave.
Just as he reached the door, Emperor Xue Ye called out again with meaningful words.
"Qinghe, remember this."
"Everything in this world is yours only if your father gives it to you."
"If your father does not give it to you, you cannot take it by force."
Xue Qinghe's body trembled, and he quickly raised his head to try to explain something.
But as soon as he looked up, he met Emperor Xue Ye's deep gaze.
The words reached his lips, but he didn't know how to say them. He could only lower his head and reply,
"I understand, Father."
"Good. You may go now."
As if pardoned, Xue Qinghe bowed again and immediately left.
After he left the room, Emperor Xue Ye could no longer maintain his majestic demeanor and collapsed in his chair, tears streaming down his face.
"My children, what a pity…"
Just now, Xue Qinghe's facial expressions and words were flawless—too flawless. So flawless that they didn't seem real.
Furthermore, Tang Yuehua had sent him a very special piece of information.
According to this, it was confirmed that there was indeed a kind of spice used in the palace, uniquely associated with Xue Qinghe.
This deepened his suspicions.
Moreover, long before Xue Qinghe arrived, Dugu Bo had already examined Emperor Xue Ye in the palace.
It had been confirmed that there were traces of two poisons in his body.
Therefore, before summoning Xue Qinghe, Emperor Xue Ye had basically confirmed that something was wrong.
What he said today was merely a gentle warning.
After being lost in thought for a while, Emperor Xue Ye wiped his tears and gave orders to the guards around him.
"Pass on my decree: Crown Prince Xue Qinghe is not allowed to enter the palace without a summons from now on, and those carrying the Crown Prince's warrant are also barred entry."
"Fourth Prince Xue Beng shall immediately go to Lan Ba Academy to study. He will stay in the student dormitory and may not leave the academy without a summons."
"Prince Xue Xing shall be responsible for accompanying him in his studies and may not leave the academy without a summons either."
"People are forbidden from spreading this rumor. Anyone caught talking nonsense shall be severely punished with ten lashes."
---
After leaving the palace, Xue Qinghe returned to his prince's residence with a grim expression.
Emperor Xue Ye's decree had already reached his ears.
Clearly, he had been exposed.
He did not know how much Emperor Xue Ye knew.
Did he only know that he had harmed the second and third princes, or did he know the greater truth—that he wasn't Xue Qinghe at all?
After dismissing the surrounding guards, he entered his room.
After closing the door, he sat in his chair, took a deep breath, and spoke softly.
"Blood, She Long, come out."
His voice was no longer the calm tone of a man, but that of a cold young woman.
As her voice fell, a tall, thin old man over two meters tall and a medium-built old man appeared in the room together.
As soon as they appeared, they respectfully said,
"Greetings, young master."
Xue Qinghe reached toward the front of his hair, and then a strange mask connected to his bun was lifted off by her.
The face of a young woman in her early twenties was revealed.
She had already opened her Angel Domain within the room, so she was not afraid of being spied on or eavesdropped.
Only now did she dare reveal her true face—as the daughter of the Spirit Hall's Pope, Qian Renxue.
"How's the matter I asked you to investigate?"
The tall, thin old man, She Long, shook his head and said,
"My Lord, the rumor seems to have spread from street vendors and has been circulating for a long time, so there's no way to trace the source."
Cixue also continued,
"My Lord, a few days ago, an unknown Title Douluo entered the palace. It is suspected to be Poison Douluo, Dugu Bo."
"Dugu Bo went to the palace? Why didn't you say so earlier?"
Qian Renxue's voice was full of anger.
Dugu Bo's visit to the palace meant Xue Ye had known about the poisoning before their meeting today.
What kind of intelligence is this? Such a delay!
Cixue replied helplessly,
"My Lord, Dugu Bo's appearance has changed so drastically that we couldn't confirm his identity at all."
"His appearance changed drastically? How much can a living person change? Could he be like me, wearing a human-skin mask every day?"
Qian Renxue frowned and slammed the chair's armrest as she roared.
Cixue also looked disheartened.
In his memory, Dugu Bo was still the green-haired old man.
But the man who had entered the palace over the past two days clearly looked like a brightly dressed young man.
After venting her anger, Qian Renxue leaned back in her chair and said lightly,
"Xue Ye has just ordered that I can no longer enter the palace. The plan to steal the throne will be temporarily suspended."
"Send this news to Spirit Hall and let the old men there decide what to do next."
"Also, did you find what I asked you to investigate last time?"
Upon hearing the theft plan was suspended, Cixue and She Long looked at each other and reluctantly answered.
After hearing her next question, She Long said in a deep voice,
"We've found part of the information. That boy is heavily guarded. If we get too close, it will alert the enemy."
"So far, we only know he is the second son of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. He always calls himself the young master of the sect."
"His soul power is very strong. He defeated a level 41 genius from the Divine Wind Academy using only his physical strength."
"But the boy has a terrible reputation among the nobility. He has beaten nearly all the noble children."
"Also, he's already engaged to the daughter of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Young master, two of the top three sects uniting through marriage—this is something we should be wary of."
"The boy is usually very cautious. This is all we've found."
Qian Renxue was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed.
"You've got conflicts with those stupid nobles? No wonder you were so cold to me last time."
"Then I'll play with you again—this time, as an ordinary person."
"Hehehehe—"