After resting for one night at the Butterfly House, Lin Yang received an invitation to the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace the next day.
He wanted to know what Xue Qinghe wanted from him.
As if she had known he would come today, the moment Lin Yang appeared, the guards hurried over from the palace gates with respectful expressions.
"Young Master Lin Yang, His Highness the Crown Prince has instructed us to wait for you here."
"Very well. Please lead the way!"
"This way, please!"
Lin Yang nodded lightly and followed the guard into the palace.
It was his first time visiting the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, so he couldn't help but casually look around.
The guards also sensed Lin Yang's thoughts and unconsciously slowed their pace.
Indeed, the palace was magnificent and imposing.
It was completely different from the golden tiles, red walls, and upturned eaves he remembered, yet it still carried the unique characteristics of the Douluo Continent, giving off a distinct flavor.
As they passed through the various gates of the palace, two figures approached them.
Leading the way was a noble young man dressed in luxurious brocade robes, with an exquisite jade ornament hanging from his waist and a golden fan in his hand. However, the frivolous arrogance between his brows completely ruined the elegance of his attire, making him look like a spoiled child.
Beside the young man stood an old man in fine clothing. He was short in stature, wearing a white robe embroidered with gold threads and floral patterns. His white hair was neatly combed, yet he carried an air of dignity.
The guard immediately stopped and lowered his head. "Fourth Prince, Your Highness the Prince, greetings."
Ignoring Xue Beng, the old man looked at Lin Yang with a proud smile.
"Lin Yang, it's been a while!"
"Fourth Prince, Prince Xue," Lin Yang lightly lowered his head in greeting.
Since Xue Beng was also a student at Heaven Dou Academy, Lin Yang naturally had some interactions with the Fourth Prince, though their relationship was not deep.
They occasionally met and exchanged simple greetings. Afterward, Lin Yang would often invite him for drinks or entertainment.
Lin Yang had never gone.
First, he didn't want to go.
Second, there were always many girls around Xue Beng, and three pairs of eyes were constantly watching him. He had no chance!
"Lin Yang, the Juxian Pavilion has some new girls recently. Want to go play together sometime? I'll save the best one for you."
As Xue Beng spoke, a frivolous and vulgar expression naturally appeared on his face.
Lin Yang remained calm and said in a low voice,
"Fourth Prince, please go ahead. I won't be participating."
"Haa, fine." Xue Beng sighed.
"You're still young, so why are you as boring as Big Brother? I heard Father is choosing a Crown Princess for Big Brother, but Big Brother doesn't seem pleased about it…"
"Cough…."
Before Xue Beng could finish speaking, Prince Xue Xing lightly coughed and interrupted him.
"Your Highness, it's getting late. We should get going."
Xue Beng, realizing it too late, lightly tapped his own head with his fan.
"Look at me, I almost forgot again. I had plans to bet on horse racing too."
"It's settled then, Lin Yang. Let's go drinking another day."
With that, Xue Beng strolled out of the palace as if he didn't know anyone, looking completely indifferent.
Once Xue Beng had left, Lin Yang looked away, his expression calm.
He had no interest in the troublesome matters of the imperial court. Whether Xue Beng was a real playboy or a fake one didn't concern him.
Guided by the guard, Lin Yang finally arrived at the Eastern Palace.
After receiving the report from the palace attendant, Xue Qinghe finally appeared in the main hall of the Eastern Palace.
"Yan Di, you're here!"
Xue Qinghe set down the book in her hand and greeted Lin Yang very familiarly.
"Brother Xue!"
Just as Lin Yang was about to lower his head, Xue Qinghe stopped him.
"It's fine. We're brothers, not outsiders. No need to be so formal."
"I heard you went on a long trip. How was it?"
Lin Yang smiled bitterly and said, "Thanks to Your Highness's consideration, I was able to obtain a spirit ring for a friend. Overall, everything went quite smoothly."
"I'm glad everything went well. Come, let's have a drink together."
Xue Qinghe pulled Lin Yang over and had him sit on a low sofa.
A small table was placed between them. As soon as they sat down, palace maids brought several dishes and a pot of wine.
Were they really here just to eat?
Xue Qinghe poured Lin Yang a small cup and smiled.
"This is Phoenix Snow Drunk, a specialty reserved for the imperial family. Its annual production is extremely limited, and even Father Emperor only has a small stock left."
"I secretly saved some. I usually can't bear to drink it, but today I'm giving it to you."
Lin Yang didn't stand on ceremony. He picked up the wine cup and took a sip. A unique flavor instantly spread in his mouth.
His eyes lit up slightly. This taste… was indeed very good. It seemed to accelerate the flow of soul power.
Xue Qinghe noticed Lin Yang's surprise and smiled lightly before pouring herself a cup as well.
After exchanging greetings and drinking a few cups, the conversation gradually shifted from Lin Yang to Xue Qinghe.
Xue Qinghe remained as calm and composed as ever.
Lin Yang sensed that something was off about Xue Qinghe, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was.
"Your Highness seems to have something on your mind?"
Xue Qinghe smiled lightly. After downing the cup of "Phoenix Snow Drunk" in one go, she spoke.
"Brother Yang, you really are perceptive."
She paused, then said with a somewhat dazed expression, "After thinking for a long time, I finally understand what I need to do…"
Lin Yang was puzzled, but Xue Qinghe didn't elaborate and only touched on the subject lightly.
Lin Yang naturally didn't ask any further questions.
At that moment, Xue Qinghe chuckled softly. "Brother Yang, are you curious why I summoned you to the palace this time?"
"A little," Lin Yang said with a smile.
"However, being able to enjoy this intoxicating snow and wind makes this trip worthwhile."
"Hahaha," Xue Qinghe laughed loudly.
"It's simple. There are still a few bottles left. You can take them all."
Lin Yang was surprised, then said somewhat embarrassedly, "This… doesn't seem appropriate."
"Haha, don't worry. I can part with this much."
Xue Qinghe paused for a moment before continuing.
"The reason I invited you to the palace this time is nothing special. In a few days, I'll be inspecting several kingdoms. It might take some time."
"Before I leave, I wanted to have a simple meal with you."
Lin Yang's heart skipped a beat. He quickly said, "Then I wish Your Highness a safe journey. When you return, let's have a drink together."
Xue Qinghe smiled lightly and said nothing more.
Lin Yang left the palace carrying several bottles of "Phoenix Snow Drunk."
As he walked, he frowned slightly. He had noticed something strange about Xue Qinghe earlier.
From her tone, it seemed like she wanted to quit.
Had the outcome of the match already been decided?
Was she discarding her false identity?
If Qian Renxue truly wanted to return to Spirit Hall, would Bibi Dong agree?
This was related to her grand plan of unifying the continent.
And in the end, what she said was completely correct.
Half a month after Xue Qinghe entertained Lin Yang, shocking news arrived from one of the subordinate kingdoms.
Crown Prince Xue Qinghe of the Heaven Dou Empire was attacked by a Titled Douluo. All his guards were wiped out, and the Crown Prince's body disappeared without a trace.
In an instant, the entire Heaven Dou imperial court fell into chaos. Emperor Xue Ye collapsed from a serious illness.
The court was in turmoil, and factional struggles intensified.
The one who was happiest was the Fourth Prince. Xue Beng was overjoyed. He had never expected things to change so suddenly.
The day before, he had still needed to act crazy to protect himself, but when he woke up, the mountain that had been crushing him had disappeared.
Hahaha!
This was truly fortunate!
Moreover, he was now the only prince under Xue Ye's command. That meant…
Thinking of this, Xue Beng's face was filled with joy.
...