Ye Ziling walked outside the door and silently recited the incantation to summon her divine beast.
Mu Heng heard the sound and appeared before her in no time.
"Palace Master, I'm busy with the affairs of Jiuling Palace day in and day out. Can't you give me some leave?"
Mu Heng complained while looking at her, waiting for her to speak.
"I have an important matter for you," Ye Ziling glanced at Mu Heng and turned away.
Mu Heng watched Ye Ziling's receding back, feeling at a loss. He scratched his head, his expression puzzled.
After seeing her off, Mu Heng noticed someone leaning against the wall behind him, his gaze also fixed on Ye Ziling's figure.
"Well, isn't this Scholar Ling? Someone working under the Heavenly Emperor has fallen to such a state!" Mu Heng tilted his head, still unable to resist a sarcastic remark.
He understood now. Ye Ziling must have called him to witness Ling Xi's humiliation. How could he miss such a spectacle?
"What? Even the Heavenly Emperor can't protect you? How about you kowtow three times to me, and I can help you back."
Ling Xi lazily opened his eyelids but remained silent.
Mu Heng felt it was no longer interesting and that he should leave now that the show was over.
However, why was Ye Ziling being so kind this time? Usually, when she summoned divine beasts from afar, it was for important matters. This time, it was as simple as letting him watch a joke?
Mu Heng shook his head. Just as he was about to leave, a voice came from behind him, and the smell of medicinal powder quickly spread.
At this moment, he was like a scarecrow, unable to move his limbs.
"What did Commander Mu just say? This scholar's ears are not good, could you repeat it?"
Ling Xi propped himself up, his voice melodious. He smiled gently, holding a handful of beast-controlling powder in his hand.
A handful of beast-controlling powder was enough to deal with Mu Heng, this divine beast.
"You... beast-controlling powder? Ling Xi, what do you want to do?"
Mu Heng struggled a couple of times, but his body was stiff, leaving him no room for resistance. He could only widen his eyes and watch Ling Xi approach.
Although Ling Xi could walk, every step felt like walking on the path to the underworld, making it difficult to move. He now needed someone to support him.
"Commander Mu just needs to agree to one thing for me," Ling Xi said with a wicked smile.
Mu Heng could only consider himself unlucky. He had accidentally provoked this plague; he deserved it!
–
After resolving Ling Xi's matter, Ye Ziling returned to Qing Le Palace, only to find the entire courtyard filled with people kneeling and waiting for her.
"Goddess, you're finally back!" Several immortal maids crawled to her and quickly kowtowed, saying, "The Emperor requires you to appear in the main hall."
Ye Ziling suddenly felt a sense of unease.
"Get up and speak."
The immortal maids stood up, holding their skirts, and said earnestly, "General Li's men reported that you led troops to break into the prison and attempted to rescue the prisoner. Now the Emperor has issued a death order to our Qing Le Palace... saying that we will be punished."
Ye Ziling knew Li Yang's character well. Qing Bai's lackey still had a trick up his sleeve, and she had prepared for it.
Punishment?
If Qing Bai could punish her alone, he would have died eight hundred times over by now.
He wanted her to wait in the main hall this time, probably having prepared a cage for her to fall into. She wanted to see how he intended to punish her.
Ye Ziling hurried towards the main hall.
On both sides of the main hall sat various immortals. As she entered, countless sharp gazes fell upon her.
"How is this possible? The Goddess is still alive?"
"Did she break the Sun and Moon Divine Lamp?"
"She does resemble the Goddess by about eighty to ninety percent, perhaps they mistook her for someone else?"
...
Ye Ziling listened to the clamor and glanced at the ministers on both sides, startling them into silence and lowering their eyes.
"May I know why the Emperor summoned this goddess?"
Ye Ziling, as usual, did not perform the customary bow and met Qing Bai's gaze directly.
The man on the throne was upright, looking at her with dark eyes, his lips almost a straight line.
"Heh, Goddess Tu Yao has quite some skill!"
Ye Ziling stood in place, her gaze unwavering, and calmly watched Qing Bai descend from his seat and approach her side.
Those hawk-like eyes held an unresolvable coldness, fixed on her.
The surrounding temperature dropped sharply, and the gods were too scared to even watch the unfolding events, only nervously sipping their tea, lest the two argue again and destroy the Heavenly Realm.
"I underestimated you. I didn't expect you to be so stubborn, actually leading troops to surround East Island. Are you trying to rebel!"
"Capturing the Heavenly Scholar was an imperial decree from the Heavenly Emperor. This charge of rebellion, the Goddess must be more aware than anyone else!"
Ye Ziling listened to Qing Bai finish speaking, a mocking smile pulling at the corner of her lips. She let out a cold laugh, "Does the Emperor also know it was the Heavenly Emperor's order?"
"The Heavenly Emperor ordered you to apprehend the Heavenly Scholar, not to abuse private punishment!"
"Moreover, you know the identity of the Heavenly Scholar better than anyone present."
Ye Ziling shamelessly enjoyed Qing Bai's gritted teeth, her eyes showing increasing defiance.
Qing Bai's eyes showed shock. He hadn't expected Ye Ziling to discover Ling Xi's identity as well. He stared at her face, speechless, and angrily flicked his long sleeves.
As expected, even erasing her memory couldn't stop her entanglement with Jun Lan. When would this fated romance end?
But if she had just cooperated with him a little, he wouldn't be so heartless!
He had been foolish for a lifetime, foolishly hoping she would return to his side one day.
Originally, he was going to leave the position of Empress for her. If she hadn't betrayed him first, why would he have treated her this way?
"The Heavenly Emperor's order was only house arrest, but the Emperor privately tortured the scholar. Isn't this disobeying the Heavenly Emperor's command?"
"Furthermore, do you think that once War God Jun Lan returns, your position will be threatened, and setting a trap is how you plan to deal with General Jun Lan?"
Ye Ziling looked at Qing Bai's wrinkled, angry face and let out an untimely laugh.
Her laughter was filled with endless mockery.
Upon hearing that General Jun Lan was returning, all the immortals stirred. They began whispering and discussing amongst themselves.
"What? Didn't General Jun Lan go missing? How can he be returning?"
"This old monk heard that the General was in seclusion, not missing."
"You don't know this. After the heavenly collapse tens of thousands of years ago, it was the General who repaired the Heavenly Realm. Otherwise, do you think the Heavenly Realm would still be here?"
...