Who's on your mind
Han Shengyao’s footsteps abruptly halted at the door. The Demon Emperor, worried about the demon fetus in Bai Wan’s belly, quickly descended the steps to check on her condition.
Noticing the unusual situation, Bai Wan swiftly rose from Lin Qianshuang’s body. She intentionally blocked Han Shengyao’s view from the door with her back, then raised her hand and fiercely slapped Lin Qianshuang’s cheek.
A crisp slap reverberated through the air.
Lin Qianshuang’s head was knocked to the side, and her cheeks instantly turned red and swollen. When she turned her head, her eyes were slightly dazed.
Bai Wan’s attack was genuine and severe.
Had she not seen Bai Wan’s eyes above her and realized she was acting, she might have believed she had been slapped out of anger.
“Exceptional acting skills, truly exceptional.”
Undoubtedly a textbook example of a “white lotus” performance, even the anger etched on her face carried a hint of heartbreak.
Lin Qianshuang secretly marveled at Bai Wan’s ability to transform her demeanor at will. She deliberately feigned a look of fear and collapsed on the ground for a few moments before slowly rising.
Bai Wan approached the Demon Emperor and leaned heavily into his arms, sobbing softly.
Lin Qianshuang’s gaze casually flickered towards a figure on the horizontal table, and the slight curve of her lips momentarily vanished.
Such a stellar performance could not have been executed without her cooperation; otherwise, it would have lacked much of its impact.
Lin Qianshuang stood up delicately from the ground. Pretending to be nervous, she looked at the Demon Emperor’s expression, covering her swollen face. Her eyes tearfully looked at Bai Wan, and she said with grievances:
“Why did you hit me, Sister Wan’er? If it weren’t for me saving you just now, you would have fallen down the stairs, and the demon fetus in your belly would also be in danger.”
Bai Wan protected her abdomen and pointed at Lin Qianshuang’s trembling nose, accusing her, “You pushed me down the stairs, endangering the child in my belly. It seems the apprentice takes after the master!”
As she spoke, Bai Wan glanced at Han Shengyao standing at the door, hinting at her in her words.
Lin Qianshuang’s expression was simple and innocent, appearing anxious to defend herself, “Sister Wan’er, it was clearly Qing Ji’s spilled beads on the ground that tripped you. How did it become my fault?”
Bai Wan pretended to be suspicious, glancing at Qing Ji on the horizontal table, then turning her gaze back to Lin Qianshuang with a hint of resentment, saying, “If you didn’t push me, why did you hold onto me and fall with me?”
“I was pushed… I… I… I don’t know either.”
As Lin Qianshuang spoke, her eyes gradually turned red, and tears as big as beans flowed down from her clear eyes. Her lips were tightly closed, and her small face was filled with grievances.
“Your Majesty the Demon Emperor, this matter was not done by the Left Protector. I witnessed with my own eyes the Beiyou Sect’s Qingji using her demonic aura to attack Bai Wan, which caused both of them to fall together.”
Standing on the side, the Right Protector Su Qing suddenly spoke up.
Su Qing could not stand to watch anymore, and he also felt aggrieved for the newly appointed Left Protector. This matter had nothing to do with her. In fact, Lin Qianshuang even fell to the ground as a meat cushion to protect the demon fetus in Bai Wan’s belly.
When the Demon Emperor heard Su Qing’s words, his gaze towards Qing Ji darkened.
Lin Qianshuang was already at odds with Bai Wan, and coupled with her straightforward personality, she could not possibly have lied.
And Su Qing was loyal to him. If he saw something, could he be mistaken?
This matter must have been done by Qing Ji!
The Demon Emperor understood the truth in his heart. He held Bai Wan protectively, and glanced at Qing Ji on the horizontal table with sinister eyes, and said angrily: “Qing Ji, you secretly plotted to kill the demon fetus in my beloved concubine’s belly. What do you have to say?”
Sitting on the horizontal table, Qing Ji’s face suddenly turned pale, and her body was so unstable that she knelt on the ground and trembled, saying: “Your Majesty the Demon Emperor spare my life, I did push the left protector with my demonic energy, but the bead is not…”
“Enough! I don’t want to hear your nonsense!”
The Demon Emperor’s face was extremely gloomy. He tightened his grip on Bai Wan’s shoulder and ordered Su Qing, “Right Protector, send someone to drag this treacherous woman down for me and throw her into the River of Blood.”
The River of Blood, the magma pool in the dungeon of the Demon Cave, would annihilate any spiritual creature thrown into it, leaving no trace behind.
Upon hearing the words “River of Blood,” Qing Ji was seized by several guards and writhed in desperation, pleading for mercy with tears streaming down her face.
Recalling certain details during her departure from the Tianyou Pavilion, she abruptly shifted her gaze to the two individuals who appeared to be at odds.
Lin Qianshuang’s face was concealed by her hands, her eyes cold and piercing as she regarded Qing Ji like a dead woman.
Cradled in the Demon Emperor’s embrace, Bai Wan smirked and exchanged a knowing glance with Lin Qianshuang. She then resumed her former demeanor, her eyes gleaming with triumph as she fixed her gaze upon Qing Ji.
It became apparent that the two were colluding.
Qing Ji realized this horrifying truth but was powerless to convey it to the Demon Emperor.
Despite her bitterness, she doubted the Demon Emperor would trust her words even if she spoke the truth.
Several demon cultivators escorted Qing Ji away from the Tianyou Pavilion.
The favored concubines seated at the horizontal table shivered in apprehension as they witnessed Qing Ji’s fate. They resolved to avoid provoking Bai Wan in the future to escape a similar end.
Lin Qianshuang resumed her seat, reaching for her chopsticks to select a pastry and take a bite. The pastry’s crisp and crunchy texture dissolved pleasantly in her mouth.
“With Qing Ji dead and the Frostwoods not given, the Beiyou Sect will undoubtedly resent the Demon Emperor. His disciples will grow restless due to the scarcity of demonic qi resources. You can use this opportunity to extend a helping hand and provide them the Frostwood yourself; they will surely be grateful for your assistance.”
Bai Wan sat to the right of the Demon Emperor, shielding her abdomen. A maid held a pastry and fed it to her. Despite her casual demeanor, she was covertly communicating with Lin Qianshuang.
“Incidentally, the beads scattered on the floor were deliberately dropped by you. You purposely lured Qing Ji into action by using this scene, seizing the opportunity to eliminate her and causing the Demon Emperor to lose the hearts of the Beiyou Sect. This move was a brilliant strategy to kill two birds with one stone. You are indeed cunning.”
Lin Qianshuang wiped her mouth, her gaze drifting towards Bai Wan.
Bai Wan happened to look over at the same time, and the two women exchanged a knowing smile.
“Your Majesty the Demon Emperor, is it not inappropriate to have the Holy Maiden standing at the door like this?”
Su Qing glanced at the woman in red who had been waiting at the door for a long time and couldn’t help but whisper a reminder to the Demon Emperor.
The Demon Emperor was admiring Lin Qianshuang’s profile. The more he looked at her, the more adorable and delicate he found her. He felt a surge of happiness and was no longer bothered by the mention of the “Holy Maiden.” He said to Su Qing, “Invite the Holy Maiden inside. She has been waiting for a while, and if word gets out, I will be accused once more of disrespecting the Holy Maiden.”
Han Shengyao entered through the doorway. She glanced at Lin Qianshuang, seated to the Demon Emperor’s left, then turned her gaze to Bai Wan, seated to his right, before finally looking at the Demon Emperor.
Unlike her usual practice, she did not kneel on one knee but instead stood at the foot of the steps, meeting the Demon Emperor’s gaze.
The Holy Maiden of the Demon Realm possessed greater authority than the Demon Emperor himself. If she chose not to submit, none could compel her to kneel.
Han Shengyao’s languid expression vanished, replaced by a stern demeanor as she addressed the Demon Emperor. “Your Majesty, Qing Ji’s offense does not warrant the death penalty. A lesser punishment would suffice. Why consign her to the River of Blood? The Beiyou Sect’s need for Frostwood is a trivial matter that could be easily resolved. Why provoke their ire over a jesting promise to your concubine? Your disregard for your responsibilities as Lord of the Demon Realm in favor of indulging your concubine is unbecoming.”
The Demon Emperor’s joyful mood dissipated as he listened to Han Shengyao’s harsh admonitions, which bordered on threatening.
From childhood to adulthood, he had grown up under Han Shengyao’s shadow.
The former Demon Emperor had always praised Han Shengyao’s academic performance, but whenever he saw him, he would always shake his head.
It was clear that he had done perfectly enough, and it was clear that in terms of cultivation, his talent was far higher than that of Han Shengyao.
However, the former Demon Emperor never praised him a single time. Even before his death, his words were, “The Holy Maiden can help you, you should listen to her more, remember.”
The Demon Emperor looked towards Han Shengyao, the woman who was nearly perfect in his eyes yet made him feel disgusted now, and overturned all the pastries on the table to the ground as he roared, “It’s not for you to be in charge of my father’s affairs! Han Shengyao! You’re meddling a little too much!” “Do you know that Qing Ji injured the demon fetus in Xiao Wan’s stomach, and this father, as the biological father of the demon fetus, learned that the unborn child was nearly assassinated, shouldn’t he impose that evil penalty?”
“The Frostwoods were originally left to me by the previous Demon Emperor. Without my permission, even if people from the Three Demon Sects kneel together, I will not easily change my decision!”
Lin Qianshuang watched the subtle expressions of the Demon Emperor and Han Shengyao from the side.
The Demon Emperor has always called Han Shengyao the Holy Maiden, but now calling her by her full name is obviously an emotional outburst.
She curled her lips. It must have been the words of her master that made the Demon Emperor feel as if they had touched his dignity, and that’s why he became so angry. This powerful and arrogant man is foolish and annoying.
Listening to the Demon Emperor’s words, Han Shengyao’s expression gradually became disappointed. She bowed slightly and said, “Your Majesty, acting recklessly will inevitably harm others and yourself. If you can’t distinguish between choices, one day you will be in great trouble.”
“Stop right there!” Seeing Han Shengyao about to leave, the Demon Emperor suddenly got up and shouted angrily.
“What is it, Your Majesty the Demon Emperor?” Han Shengyao turned around with an indifferent expression, and was pulled by the arm by the Demon Emperor who appeared beside her. His cold and heartless words brushed softly past her ears.
“Tonight, I will surely make your disciple attend me in bed. She has an innocent nature, and every move exudes a pure and lovely charm. She should have been well protected by you. I don’t know what kind of charming reaction your precious disciple, whom you have worked hard to cultivate, will have when she repeatedly twists and turns with various interesting patterns under me. Her eyes are so beautiful, and the way she cries must be very moving, and the expression twisted due to pain must be very poignant.”
“Won’t the Holy Maiden come to personally witness the debauchery that she has caused?”
Han Shengyao inhaled deeply, seemingly calming her inner turmoil. Her gaze shifted to Lin Qianshuang, who sat in a chair in the upper left corner, merrily nibbling on a pastry. Her heart felt as if it had been forcibly squeezed and twisted together.
After a moment, she uttered coldly, “I will send her to your presence. What you do with her is your affair, and none of it concerns me.”
The Demon Emperor watched as Han Shengyao departed with indifference, a sense of belittlement rising within him once more.
After gazing at her retreating figure for a long time, he muttered, “Han Shengyao, do you truly have no heart?”