As they exited the palace gates, Wang Yi walked leisurely at the back with his hands tucked in his sleeves, while Xu Yan pulled Song Ren aside, chattering incessantly.
“See you later, Prime Minister,” Minister Xu said with a forced, insincere smile.
With that, he turned and left, leaving Song Ren to bow awkwardly toward Prime Minister Wang.
“After all these years, everyone knows Xu Yan—he just loves putting on a sour face for no reason. You’ve had it rough, old Song,” Wang Yi remarked with a sigh.
News of the three leaving the palace spread like wildfire, reaching the ears of certain interested parties.
In a distant, elegant courtyard, several dignified and noble middle-aged and elderly men sat facing each other. After dismissing the messenger, the one with the darkest beard, Head of the Xiao Family, furrowed his brows, unable to contain his impatience. “What do you all think? Is this so-called Ghost-God real, or could it be a scam?”
“Stay calm. That young Li brat couldn’t possibly control so many people to lie for him. I’d say it’s eighty percent true,” another clan head, Xie Fu, said excitedly.
People fear death, especially those like them who enjoy the greatest wealth and luxury in the world. Once dead, everything is gone.
A ghost emerging from hell to testify firsthand was of utmost importance to them.
When it came to their treatment after death, no one could afford to let go!
“Eighty percent true is already quite good. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have gathered here,” one clan head chimed in, adding, “Ah, have any of you prepared how to force that ghost to tell the truth? I heard its power is extraordinary—it even drove those rustic ancestors of the Li family to reincarnate.”
“What kind of foundation could those country bumpkins have? Even if they rule the Underworld Dynasty, they could be dealt with by a mere ghost!”
Though they said this, everyone envied the Li family’s ability to govern the Underworld Dynasty.
They were aristocratic families with millennia-old legacies, noble beyond compare. Surely, they should fare much better than the rustic Li family, yet they knew nothing about their own status in the underworld.
Though they comforted themselves, thinking that aristocratic families would remain aristocratic wherever they went, and surely held status in the underworld as well, deep down, they felt uneasy. That was why they were so eager to coerce Ling Xiao.
“Setting aside everything else, that being is still a ghost. Who knows if mortal methods will work?” At this, Head of the Xiao Family proudly produced a jade ring. Though of decent quality, it was nothing special in their eyes.
“Hmph, I’ve long been prepared. A fierce ghost possessed a minor official in the mortal realm. I consulted an expert, drained that official’s blood, and refined it with the jade ring the ghost had worn since childhood. It should definitely offer some resistance.”
Head of the Xie Family laughed and scolded, “You old fox, you acted early. No wonder that family couldn’t find anyone.”
The others nodded, clearly having sought out the Ling family as well.
Then, they each displayed the items they had prepared.
There were Buddha’s relics, Daoist golden elixirs, and even stranger things like an Eight-Treasure Wheel refined from the essence of women’s blood.
……………………
Early the next morning, the Emperor held a banquet, inviting not only members of the aristocratic families but also important court officials and imperial relatives.
After everyone was seated, each table held only a cup of clear tea, a plate of fragrant candies, and a dish of seasonal flowers—all fragrant and elegant items. Li Yue drank his tea, and the Chief Eunuch beside him presented cloves of spice to be placed in the mouth and held between the lips.
Seeing this, Wang Yi soon revealed a faint smile, understanding His Majesty’s intention.
According to folk legends, ghostly beings become purified when near fragrant and clean things, but go mad when encountering blood and foul odors.
He had thought His Majesty, having been noble for so long, might be too proud to bend. Now, it seemed he was still quite flexible.
Thinking this, he slowly sipped the flower petal tea, his peripheral vision noticing others had also begun to move. His heart sank halfway, yet refused to fully settle.
After this incident, although the noble families could be suppressed, the title of Ghost-God would be firmly established. Who knew how many factions would desperately try to flatter and get close to the Grand Princess of Qin?
Great Jin was about to face turbulent times.
They waited until the sun gradually rose to mid-sky, and the noble families grew extremely impatient, before Ling Xiao finally arrived, skipping and hopping.
Under the bright sunlight, the little girl who lifted her foot to forcefully step over the threshold pouted, seeming somewhat displeased.
Her hair was styled into flower bud buns adorned with strings of Hepu pearls. The delicate goose-yellow palace dress was exquisitely tailored, with slender silk ribbons tying up the sleeves, revealing two small, fair, and adorable arms.
By all appearances, she looked like an ordinary little girl, at most quite pretty.
Could it be that the Li family’s young master was truly putting on a show to mock us? Several heads of noble families felt both furious and disappointed.
The Head of the Xiao Family was the most impatient, his eyes practically spitting fire by now.
Once Ling Xiao sat down, Li Yue eagerly offered her fragrant tea. By chance, he touched the girl’s fingertips and felt an icy chill that pierced to the bone, a coldness that traveled from his hand straight to his heart and lungs.
He glanced outside—the summer sun was so brilliant it seemed to melt the flowers and grass. Inside the hall, large ice containers filled with ice blocks were placed every few steps to maintain a comfortable temperature.
Ghosts are creatures of extreme yin—
Ling Xiao gave him a meaningful look but said nothing.
In her mind, 18888 detected the Emperor’s heartbeat rapidly accelerating, and the entire System perked up.
“Host, your persona as an underworld Goddess is quite well-developed. But how did your hands suddenly become so cold?”
The System was utterly puzzled.
“Better not inquire about things you shouldn’t know. Be good, it’s not good for you.”
System: …
Before Ling Xiao could even take a sip of the tea, someone had already reached their limit.
With the almost imperceptible rustle of clothing, the Head of the Xie Family rose as smoothly as flowing clouds and water, looking directly at Ling Xiao and saying, “Your Majesty, this girl’s origins are unknown. Her talk of being an underworld ghost is nothing but a cheap trick to gain attention.”
Is this what we agreed on? The Head of the Xiao Family felt somewhat bewildered. Wasn’t it a bit inappropriate to start cursing outright?
Don’t worry, the Head of the Xie Family reassured him with a glance, then fixed his gaze on Ling Xiao, stepping forward without pause, growing more impassioned with each word.
In his speech, Ling Xiao had become someone who relied on sleight of hand, daring to deceive the Emperor and court officials.
She must be taken out immediately, without delay, to face punishment.
Of course, he also hinted that if she wanted to prove her identity, she would need to provide solid, tangible evidence.
Li Yue slammed the table fiercely. “How dare you! Do you know what you’re saying? Step back at once!” His peripheral glance darted toward Ling Xiao, fearing she might be angered.
Seeing the little girl appear stunned, her eyes filled with confusion, he grew even more enthusiastic in his role as a nephew defending his aunt.
“System, do you think I’m being too merciful by only planning to take a bit of their lifespan?”
“Hmm, Host, don’t worry. This System thinks you’re already sufficiently malicious.”
18888 sighed, recalling how Ling Xiao had borrowed money from the System to purchase materials from the mall, such as skulls and blood from women born at yin hours in yin locations.
Humming a tune while tinkering with them, he felt a chill in his heart, so much so that he didn’t even have the energy to scold Ling Xiao for borrowing money again.
Holding the prepared talisman in her hand, Ling Xiao watched the performance before her with leisurely composure.
Li Yue had court officials chiming in, while the noble families banded together, accusing each other.
The poor nephew’s face grew darker and darker, even cracking the fine white porcelain teacup in his grip. Truly befitting an Emperor who rose through military prowess.
This was no longer just an act; both sides had long-standing grievances. Since Li Yue ascended the throne, his achievements had been remarkable, and he held immense power.
However, the noble families looked down on the Li family for their humble origins. The previous two emperors had already significantly weakened the noble families.
By Li Yue’s generation, if the noble families did not resist, they would be completely controlled by the imperial family. Thus, they frequently made moves, which naturally displeased the Emperor.
Noticing Ling Xiao’s relaxed and carefree demeanor, the Head of the Xie Family blurted out, “If this girl can prove her identity, I will willingly submit!”
“Is that true?” Ling Xiao asked softly.
Touching the monk’s relic in his pocket, the Head of the Xie Family raised his head high, his pale beard tracing a graceful arc in the air:
“My word is my bond.”
“Very well.”
The young girl stood up, raising a childish smile on her face. She gently grasped the Head of the Xie Family’s hand and giggled, “Then I’ll take ten years of your life!”