His voice was a slight roar, fueled by agitation.
"Love her? What right do you have to say you love her? Do you even know what love is? Mother was a living, breathing person, not your throne, not your imperial seal, and certainly not your empire!" Zi Lin Ling sneered.
A flicker of anger entered her eyes. "I believe what she needed was a simple, ordinary life, not an emotional altar!"
"Your Majesty! You are the Son of Heaven, high and mighty, with a strong possessive nature, and that's understandable. But please, do not insult the word 'love'!"
Having said this, Zi Lin Ling turned and pulled open the door to the imperial study.
The sunlight outside lifted her spirits considerably. Discussing love and its absence with a madman left her both furious and suffocated.
She took a deep breath and, turning back, said coldly, "Your Majesty, not everyone cares about thrones, imperial seals, and empires."
"Love has never been about possession, nor obsession. It is about doing everything possible for your happiness!"
"My words are my final, and I hope Your Majesty will take care of yourself. Zi Lin Ling bids farewell!"
She stepped across the threshold of the imperial study.
"No matter what, I do not wish for you to fall for Ye Ling Yuan, nor will I agree to your marriage to him. If you insist on defying me, do not blame me for disregarding your mother's life-saving grace!" Ye Mo Yuan's expression was exceedingly grim.
This time, he did not conceal the coldness and ferocity in his eyes. This was the true purpose of summoning Zi Lin Ling today.
Zi Lin Ling turned back, her gaze equally sharp. "Ye Mo Yuan," she stated coldly, "I respect you, and you are the Emperor! I do not respect you, and you are nothing! I advise you, it's best not to provoke me, for you cannot bear the consequences!"
"Furthermore, Ye Ling Yuan is mine in life and mine in death! Without my permission, no one can harm him! If gods move against him, I will slay gods; if demons move against him, I will slaughter demons; if you move against him, I will... kill you!"
With that, Zi Lin Ling circulated her spiritual energy and departed the imperial palace directly.
She had not intended to speak such treasonous words, but Ye Mo Yuan's final two sentences had utterly enraged her. She disliked trouble, but that did not make her a pushover. When the Ghost Hand Poison Doctor was angered, even the King of Hell would tremble. She dared to kill the Grand and Deputy Palace Masters of the Hundred Flowers Palace; she dared to extort elders of the Black Water Hall, guardians of the Holy Temple, and the Sect Master of the Flowing Cloud Sect; she dared to offend the Zi family of the empire, let alone Ye Mo Yuan? If pushed too far, she could annihilate the entire Tian Qi Kingdom. It wasn't arrogance, but a capacity she possessed! This capacity stemmed not only from her cultivation but also from her identity as a physician, an alchemist, and a poison master! In terms of cultivation, she was comparable to an Emperor Realm expert; across not just three kingdoms, but perhaps even four empires, few could best her. And once her identities as a physician and alchemist were revealed, her influence would be immeasurable. After all, the Tian Yuan Continent had no shortage of desperate individuals for whom killing an emperor was no different from killing an ordinary person, as long as the price was right. Most terrifying of all was her identity as a poison master. Poisons, after all, were insidious and undetectable. Especially poisons refined by an alchemist, they were not only potent but also exceedingly difficult to counteract. This was why she could be so audacious before Ye Mo Yuan.
Watching Zi Lin Ling's extremely defiant retreating figure, Ye Mo Yuan was beside himself with rage. In his fury, he swept aside the dragon table before him, wrecking the imperial study.
"Zi Lin Ling! Ye Ling Yuan! Since you seek death, I shall grant it to you!" Ye Mo Yuan's face contorted with savagery.
Outside the imperial study, Xue Lang trembled. Although he was a favored official of Ye Mo Yuan, he understood the principle of accompanying a ruler being like accompanying a tiger. Moreover, he had never seen Ye Mo Yuan so furious, not even the Underworld King Ye Ling Yuan had possessed such power. Of course, that was also because Ye Ling Yuan had no desire to wield it; otherwise, Ye Mo Yuan would likely have suffered from heart disease long ago. But now, a brazen Zi Lin Ling had appeared, daring not only to address Ye Mo Yuan by his given name but also to openly threaten the ruler of a nation. Furthermore, Zi Lin Ling's threatening words were spoken from the doorway of the imperial study, which greatly compromised the dignity of Ye Mo Yuan, the Son of Heaven. Xue Lang, well-versed in the ways of court survival, naturally knew that this was not the time to appear before Ye Mo Yuan. But in this world, how often did things go as one wished? More often than not, one's fears came true. And so it was: after a barrage of crashing noises from within the imperial study, Ye Mo Yuan's furious roar echoed out.
"Xue Lang, you dog-like slave, why haven't you rolled in here yet!" Xue Lang felt utterly wretched. In all his years, the Emperor had never called him a slave, let alone a dog-like slave! This clearly indicated that the Emperor was truly enraged this time, even abandoning the most basic skill of a monarch – emotional concealment. Faced with such an enraged Ye Mo Yuan, could Xue Lang not be afraid? But fear or not, he could not evade it. Xue Lang sighed, put on a brave face, and entered the imperial study, closing the door behind him. He chose a spot not littered with debris and knelt, saying cautiously, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger! Allow this old servant to report!"
"Speak!" Ye Mo Yuan's voice was still filled with anger.
Xue Lang considered his words carefully before tentatively saying, "Your Majesty, she is merely a twelve-year-old brat. Why is she worthy of your thunderous wrath?" Ye Mo Yuan remained silent, but his expression was terrifyingly grim. Xue Lang knew the Emperor was waiting for him to continue. Thus, he continued even more cautiously, "Your Majesty, forgive this old servant's bluntness. Did you not summon that girl today to sow discord between her and the Underworld King?"
"Actually, there are other ways to create a rift between them."
"Oh?" Ye Mo Yuan let out a faint hum. Xue Lang glanced up slightly, stealing a look at Ye Mo Yuan, confirming the Emperor was listening, before continuing, "Your Majesty, that girl is ungrateful. You could also make a move on the Underworld King's side."
"How?" Ye Mo Yuan's anger had not completely subsided, but the oppressive aura of speaking only single words had lessened slightly.
Xue Lang said, "Your Majesty, a hero cannot pass the beauty's test! Your Majesty could bestow some beauties upon the Underworld King's residence."
Ye Mo Yuan coldly berated, "Terrible idea! My imperial brother will not accept them."
Xue Lang hastily replied, "Your Majesty, it is not important whether the Underworld King accepts them. What is important is to force him to keep those women in his residence by imperial decree, and then let that girl know the news."
A glint appeared in Ye Mo Yuan's eyes. "You mean... a stratagem of estrangement?" Xue Lang nodded. "Your Majesty, her temper is so fiery. How can she tolerate others encroaching on her territory?"
"Therefore, she will certainly demand that the Underworld King expel those women. At that time, the Underworld King will be in a difficult position."