MTLNOVEL Chapter 235: "Guest Elder, Xue Ye suspects me!"
Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, Emperor Xue Ye Study Room,
"Your Majesty, you're not being fair with your words!"
"My obedient and sensible disciple, how did she become a liability in your eyes?"
"Exactly, exactly!"
"If you don't explain yourself clearly today, the three of us aren't leaving!"
Meng Shenji, Bai Baoshan, and Zhi Lin, their faces flushed with indignation, spoke in unison.
They were here again to request another spirit bone.
And the quality? It couldn't be lower than the last one!
Hearing this, even Emperor Xue Ye couldn't help but darken his expression.
Did they really think spirit bones were as common as cabbages?
It was already enough of a headache that these three veterans were requesting spirit bones again, but even fifty-thousand-year-old ones weren't good enough for them!
Investing in a genius was fine. Investing in Xiao Feilian's cultivation was even more justifiable.
But pouring resources into such a bottomless pit—what if there were no returns? Wouldn't that make her a liability?
Rubbing his forehead, Emperor Xue Ye found himself lost in thought.
If Xiao Feilian could form a marriage alliance with Xue Qinghe and truly become one of his own, then no amount of investment would matter.
But no matter how close her relationship was with the Body Sect right now, she wasn't truly "one of us."
Time changes people. Decades, maybe centuries from now, who could say if the Body Sect would still be the same?
Xue Ye glanced at the three old men and fell into deep contemplation.
He was willing to invest in Xiao Feilian.
The ninety-thousand-year-old spirit bone he had given her previously was proof of his determination.
This time, he intended to give her a fifty-thousand-year-old spirit bone, but these three old men outright rejected it.
Since when did their standards become so high?
"Fine, fine!"
Xue Ye sighed deeply. The Heaven Dou Empire's accumulation of wealth over millennia was bound to be used eventually.
"You may return now. As for the spirit bone, I will have the Crown Prince deliver it."
Hearing this, Meng Shenji and the others were taken aback, their faces puzzled.
Let the Crown Prince deliver it?
Why couldn't they take it back themselves?
Why involve the Crown Prince?
"Your Majesty, what do you mean by this?"
Meng Shenji cupped his hands respectfully, his tone cautious.
They had already argued with Emperor Xue Ye once; pushing their luck further would be unwise.
Xue Ye turned his head slightly, his expression unchanged, and asked, "What do you think of the Crown Prince and Xiao Feilian?"
The trio's bodies tensed. Emperor Xue Ye had laid it out so clearly—if they still didn't understand, they didn't deserve their positions.
"The Crown Prince…"
Meng Shenji stroked his beard, while Bai Baoshan and Zhi Lin scratched their heads, all falling into thought.
From their perspective, they naturally hoped Xiao Feilian could become the Crown Princess, the future Empress of Heaven Dou.
But if Xiao Feilian were to assume the role of Empress, her freedom would be significantly curtailed.
After all, life in the deep palace was stifling and dull.
Why do birds fly?
Because...
"Your Majesty, this is not for us to decide. Ultimately, it depends on Feilian's own wishes and the opinion of the Martial God."
Meng Shenji cupped his hands again, his tone solemn.
Xiao Feilian was not just their student; she was also the Saintess of the Body Sect and a likely future Sect Master.
If she were to marry Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, what would become of the Body Sect?
This matter gave Emperor Xue Ye quite a headache as well.
Xue Ke was so adorable and obedient, yet her attempt to woo Du Siji had failed.
If not for that, he wouldn't have shifted his focus to Xiao Feilian so soon.
Of course, a temporary setback wasn't the end of the world. After all, the Body Sect members were all cultivation fanatics.
"Enough. Leave this matter alone. The Crown Prince will handle it as he sees fit."
"Your Majesty, but..."
"???"
"But please don't let this delay Feilian's regular cultivation!"
Xue Ye froze, looking at Meng Shenji and the others in disbelief.
"Get out!"
"Leave now—I don't want to see any of you!"
After the trio left, dejected and defeated, Xue Ye took a moment to calm himself.
He had it rough.
Sometimes, he just wanted to abdicate and let Xue Qinghe take over this mess.
But he was afraid Xue Qinghe was too softhearted and inflexible, potentially jeopardizing their ancestral foundation.
After a long while, Xue Ye summoned a close attendant.
"Have the Crown Prince come see me."
"Yes!"
At the Crown Prince's residence, "Xue Qinghe" was perplexed upon hearing the attendant's message.
It was late at night—why wasn't Emperor Xue Ye resting? What could he want now?
Though confused, she wasted no time heading to the palace.
"Father, you summoned me?"
"Qinghe, what do you think of Xiao Feilian?"
"Xue Qinghe" glanced at Xue Ye, her expression puzzled.
What did she think of Xiao Feilian?
What else could she think?
A lucky catgirl, naturally.
If someone else had her opportunities, achieving similar results wouldn't be difficult.
"She's a genius. A prodigy," "Xue Qinghe" replied earnestly.
Xue Ye twitched slightly. Was that what he was asking?
Who didn't already know Xiao Feilian was a genius and a prodigy?
"Not that!"
Xue Ye sighed, exasperated.
Sometimes, he genuinely doubted whether Xue Qinghe was a normal man.
Even Xue Beng, who was younger than him, already had several women.
Yet Xue Qinghe, the Crown Prince, older than Xue Beng by several years, didn't even have a single concubine!
Wasn't that too "normal"?
Hearing this, "Xue Qinghe" stiffened slightly, realizing what Xue Ye was implying.
So this was about that!
If she were a normal man, saying she didn't like Xiao Feilian's type would surely raise suspicions.
Strong, beautiful, feline traits, ethereal aura, and influential background—what's not to like?
But she wasn't a man...
If Xiao Feilian were replaced by Zhongli, she could probably talk about him passionately for hours.
"Father, Miss Feilian is undoubtedly a phoenix among people, both in appearance and in talent."
"Of course, I like her," "Xue Qinghe" replied, suppressing her true feelings.
"Good."
Xue Ye nodded approvingly. Before he could say more, "Xue Qinghe" continued, "But Miss Feilian is a guest official's maid and the Saintess of the Body Sect. If I were to pursue her, this..."
"Qinghe, you need not worry about that. Love between a man and a woman is only natural."
"The Martial God would never blame you for it."
"Now go. This is the gift I've prepared for Miss Feilian—deliver it to her!"
"This… what is it?"
When "Xue Qinghe" left the palace, she was still in a daze.
Xue Ye had actually brought out such a "gift"!
Even she was momentarily stunned.
"What should I do?"
Returning to the Crown Prince's residence with a heavy heart, she pondered deeply.
"Is this Xue Ye testing me?"
"Or does he genuinely want to draw Feilian into the royal family without ulterior motives?"
"Xue Qinghe" dared not act rashly. She decided to visit Zhongli the next day before making any decisions.
••••
At dawn, outside Zhongli's mansion, a figure stood quietly, her gaze filled with untold stories.
Moments later, the doors opened, and without hesitation, she stepped inside.
"Guest Elder, Xue Ye suspects me!"