From Cold Palace Princess to Celestial Empress Ch. 171
“Oh?”
Xiao Minghuang raised an eyebrow, her eyes showing confusion as she looked at Lin Wanqiu.
“What do you mean…?”
Lin Wanqiu’s gaze was sharp as she asked in a deep voice:
“Does Your Highness still remember the details of that dream?”
Hearing this question, Xiao Minghuang felt a bit embarrassed, a faint blush rising on her cheeks.
Although so many days had passed, the details of that dream were still clear in her memory.
“I… I remember.”
Xiao Minghuang said somewhat guiltily. Even though so many days had passed, she couldn’t remember other dreams, only this one so clearly. Did it mean she truly had feelings for Sheng Bailan?
Moreover, in the dream, she was like a delicate and weak little girl, completely at Sheng Bailan’s mercy, which made her feel even more embarrassed!
“If you remember, then something is wrong!”
Lin Wanqiu frowned. “Ordinary dreams are forgotten moments after waking up, but Your Highness can remember this dream so vividly and in such detail. Doesn’t that indicate something?”
“What do you mean…”
Xiao Minghuang’s gaze fell on the undergarment on the table, her heart skipping a beat.
Lin Wanqiu spoke slowly, as if recounting some ancient and evil legend.
“That might… not have been just a dream!”
As soon as these words were spoken.
Xiao Minghuang shuddered all over, a sense of foreboding rising in her heart.
“Could it be…”
Lin Wanqiu took a deep breath and shook her head.
“This is just my speculation, not necessarily the truth.”
Xiao Minghuang still found it hard to believe, hesitating as she said:
“Bailan is the sect master of the Spirit Sword Sect, renowned far and wide, and a pure sword cultivator with an innate clear sword heart. How could she possibly do such… disgraceful things?”
Before, Sheng Bailan had only shown an attitude of appreciating a junior.
Later, however, there was a hint of desire in Sheng Bailan’s gaze, which she hadn’t noticed at first.
But now, with this assumption in mind, every move Sheng Bailan made, every glance, even the most subtle and ordinary actions, seemed to carry profound meanings.
“No! I must get to the bottom of this! Otherwise, I won’t be able to sleep or eat in peace!”
Xiao Minghuang took a deep breath. If she didn’t uncover the truth of this matter, it would feel like a ticking time bomb was constantly by her side, leaving her restless!
“But Your Highness, Sect Master Sheng is at the Nascent Soul Realm. Even if we figure it out, there’s nothing we can do to her!”
Lin Wanqiu said.
“The urgent task now is to improve our strength!”
Xiao Minghuang realized that her current cultivation was at the third level of the Divine Sea Realm, but the bottleneck to progress had already been broken. She could advance unimpeded all the way to the peak of the Divine Sea Realm.
After that, if she could successfully merge with the Innate Fire, she could break through to the Spirit Seed Realm.
Once she reached the Spirit Seed Realm, within the borders of the Great Xia, with the support of the nation’s fortune, she could even suppress a Nascent Soul Realm expert with ease!
“Moreover, the Old Ancestor has also broken through to the Nascent Soul Realm. With him around, I shouldn’t have to worry about Sheng Bailan’s threats for now.”
“Then why doesn’t Your Highness move to the palace for a while? You can say you’re going into seclusion to cultivate, which would also help you avoid Sheng Bailan.”
Lin Wanqiu suggested.
Hearing this, Xiao Minghuang nodded in agreement.
“Good!”
If before, Xiao Minghuang had only seen Sheng Bailan as a gentle elder, after this discussion, her perception of this person had undergone a dramatic reversal.
Someone who used unknown methods to secretly engage in unspeakable acts at night, then pretended as if nothing had happened, and repeatedly used tactics to stay close to her.
If it weren’t for Lin Wanqiu’s reminder, she might still be in the dark.
What an unfathomable schemer she was!
“Ah! It’s true that you can know a person’s face but not their heart!”
Xiao Minghuang sighed softly, holding Lin Wanqiu’s hand, and said:
“Let’s go to the palace together. During this time, stay by my side and don’t go anywhere. I’m afraid Sheng Bailan might harm you.”
“Mm!”
Lin Wanqiu nodded, leaning closer to Xiao Minghuang.
She hadn’t expected that what started as casual chatter would unravel a major conspiracy.
But it was a fortunate coincidence, allowing Her Highness to see the evil face of that woman.
This was good.
One less person to compete with.
As dawn approached.
Xiao Minghuang concealed her aura and secretly took Lin Wanqiu away from the princess’s residence.
Before leaving, she instructed the servants to inform Sheng Bailan that she had gone to a secret place in the palace for seclusion and cultivation, asking her to wait patiently until she broke through to the Spirit Seed Realm.
On the other side.
After the events of the previous day, Sheng Bailan was also feeling quite down.
She had devoted herself to sword cultivation since childhood and had little exposure to worldly affairs.
She felt increasingly guilty for forcibly intervening between Xiao Minghuang and Lin Wanqiu, causing a rift between them.
“I need to find a way to properly apologize to them. At worst, I’ll just…”
As she pondered, a blush appeared on Sheng Bailan’s face.
Although she wasn’t well-versed in such matters, some elders in the Spirit Sword Sect had multiple dao companions.
Among them, there were distinctions of rank and order.
These arrangements were usually based on cultivation level.
But she thought that since she had already wronged Lin Wanqiu, she might as well take a lower position.
After all, she didn’t care much about such titles.
As long as she could obtain tangible benefits, that was enough.
“I need to find an opportunity to share this idea with Lin Wanqiu.”
Sheng Bailan pondered in her heart. Such matters were not convenient to discuss with Xiao Minghuang.
After all, her image in Xiao Minghuang’s eyes was primarily that of an elder.
“Forget it, I’ll just wander around the estate these next few days. Perhaps I’ll run into Lin Wanqiu at some point.”
It would be best if she were alone, making it easier to talk.
With this thought, she stepped out of her room.
Outside the courtyard, a servant hurriedly bowed and saluted.
“Elder Sheng, the Princess has sent word that she has gone to the imperial palace for closed-door cultivation. She asks that Elder Sheng make herself at home in the estate.”
“Closed-door cultivation?”
Sheng Bailan narrowed her eyes. With Xiao Minghuang in seclusion, this was the perfect opportunity to have a good talk with Lin Wanqiu.
“Where is Lin Wanqiu? I’d like to go and have a chat with her.”
“Miss Lin has accompanied the Princess to the imperial palace.”
Upon hearing this, Sheng Bailan felt a pang of disappointment.
“Very well. Notify me immediately when they return.”
Sheng Bailan returned to her room in disappointment.
She was pleased that Xiao Minghuang could enter closed-door cultivation, as once the Princess reached the Nascent Soul Realm, they could finally marry.
However, the suddenness of this seclusion, without even a personal farewell or a kiss goodbye, made her feel as though Xiao Minghuang didn’t value her much.
“Enough, I should focus on my own cultivation.”
A soft sigh echoed in the room, followed by silence.
Translator: Glariosa
Editor: Ruu
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