Before the space rift vanished, Dao Zhen tilted his head and followed, trailing behind the Demon Queen.
They didn't go far, directly flying over the resplendent pavilion and landing outside a hall where music and dance were underway.
In attire unlike her usual dignified self, East Victory Queen Xin appeared rather casual, her hair disheveled, as she played the zither inside the hall. Accompanied by musicians on either side, male and female dancers perford to the music, all aligned with the rhythm set by Queen Xin's zither, aiming to express the artistic conception she desired.
This demanded high standards from the dancers and other musicians; everything flowed seamlessly without a hint of disorder, showing that this was not the result of re days of practice.
As guests arrived, Queen Xin's palms suddenly pressed down to mute the zither strings, and the accompanint and dancers stopped in an instant.
Queen Xin rose from her seat, and imdiately palace maids ca to clear away the instrunts, while the musicians quickly packed up, and the dancers too retreated silently, leaving the hall cold and empty.
Queen Xin in her blue-and-white garnt and the Demon Queen in black robes t face to face; the forr, without adornnt, appeared as an ordinary person, and in terms of beauty, she was indeed far less striking than the Demon Queen.
Queen Xin smiled, "What wind blew my sister here? You're not here to plead for anyone about to be executed in public, are you? From Extre Fire Sect?"
The Demon Queen's lip curled in a disdainful smile, "Those matters have nothing to do with . Even if you kill them all, it doesn't concern . I've co to talk privately with you, sister; I've said so things already, so don't make it difficult for . Whether or not the treasure can be restored, I'll release those people of yours from East Victory after a few days. Just tell your husband not to keep pestering for communication."
Queen Xin laughed, "You should see who you've trapped; of course, they would complain to him, and he can't just ignore it. Now that you have laid things out clearly, he will understand in ti. But as for the Heavenly Court, it won't be so easy to talk to."
The Demon Queen said indifferently, "The other families are easier to negotiate with; the Heavenly Court is not making a fuss, so it's still under observation. Well, enough about that, since we're here, I can't pretend not to see. What's causing such a stir that even Feng Xi seems unclear? Did that Dao Zhen from the Demon Path stir up trouble around you?"
Queen Xin casually replied, "Who knows what those from the Demon Path are up to."
Just then, a palace maid hurriedly arrived outside, reporting, "Your Majesty, the Qingqiu Fox Clan Leader Yin Luo requests an audience."
The Demon Queen's eyes flickered slightly.
Queen Xin appeared slightly puzzled, obviously pondering Yin Luo's purpose, and instinctively glanced at the Demon Queen.
Seeing this, the Demon Queen interjected, "Don't look at , it's just a coincidence; I haven't made any arrangents with her."
Queen Xin thought it made sense; the two shouldn't be in cahoots, so she nodded at once.
The palace maid understood and left.
The Demon Queen reminded, "Not long ago, there was a disturbance over in West Niu. Could it be they're here to stir trouble again?"
Queen Xin let out a cold snort, saying nothing more.
Tilt-headed Dao Zhen remained silent throughout, arms crossed, observing and listening.
Soon after, Yin Luo arrived, followed by the woeful, limping Yin Xu.
Seeing the Demon Queen present, Yin Luo showed a hint of surprise.
The gazes of the two dignitaries in the hall fell upon Yin Xu, both of whom they had neither seen before nor recognized, puzzled about the aning of bringing along such a disheveled figure, obviously sensing no good. The Demon Queen had a slight inkling.
Seeing the two dignitaries, Yin Luo did not bow, only nodded slightly as a gesture of respect.
Queen Xin wasn't obliged to show courtesy and slightly raised her chin towards Yin Xu, asking, "What does this an?"
Yin Luo asked, "I heard that your majesty has captured soone nad Shi Chun here?"
The Demon Queen remained expressionless, her eyebrows twitching slightly, her gaze carrying profound aning.
Queen Xin said, "There is such a person, about to be executed. Are you here to plead for him?"
Yin Luo replied coldly, "Not worth it. I ca only to verify whether this Shi Chun is indeed the Wang Ping she speaks of." She gestured towards the pitiful Yin Xu, "If so, I've co to witness his execution. If he's not executed, I don't mind killing him myself; no amount of pleading will help. He must die!"
Her tone was resolute and left no room for doubt.
At this, a flicker of astonishnt crossed the Demon Queen's eyes, her reaction visibly surprised.
Queen Xin acknowledged with an "Oh," then looked at the dirty, one-legged Yin Xu, "Why, is there sothing to be said?"
Yin Luo glanced at Yin Xu, scolding, "You damn fool, explain yourself to Her Majesty the Queen."
The once tense Yin Xu, upon hearing the ntion of Shi Chun's matter, imdiately forgot her anxiety, face twisted with ferocity.
Her miserable face twisted with anger and bitterness as she recounted her ordeal publicly; it was nothing much, just that Shi Chun had pretended to be a friend of the Qingqiu Ancestor and deceived her, causing her to eagerly help, only to end up in such a state.
No specific details were given; a simple account sufficed.
Her hatred was genuine, so intense her teeth itched, and her eyes nearly blazed with fire; one could sense her profound loathing, as it shook her body when she spoke, a hatred ingrained to the bone.
It was only after being taken to Qingqiu that she learned Shi Chun was no friend of the Ancestor. The Ancestor didn't recognize him at all, and the aura of the Ancestor she thought Shi Chun carried was a misjudgnt, as Qingqiu presented a "genuine" Ancestor aura for her to identify.
The outco was predictable; having been trapped in such a situation, she truly wished she could tear Shi Chun apart.
Upon hearing these things and learning Yin Xu's identity, Queen Xin and the Demon Queen couldn't help but exchange glances; they had known about Yin Xu pretending to be a maid of the Qingqiu Ancestor, but hadn't realized Shi Chun was even bolder, daring to impersonate a friend of the Qingqiu Ancestor.
With such differences on all fronts, can they really beco good friends?
Queen Xin responded after hearing this: "Shi Chun should be that Wang Ping."
Yin Luo: "It's better to verify, to avoid any trickery."
Queen Xin didn't say much, waving her hand to signal a nearby palace maid to take them to the prison for verification.
As the palace maid took Yin Luo and another away, the Demon Queen also tilted her head to signal Dao Zhen, standing beside her, to follow. Queen Xin cast a puzzled glance but didn't stop it.
After they left, the Demon Queen explained, "The Qingqiu Clan Leader personally ca over, fearing what is said doesn't match what is done."
"It's not likely to be a jailbreak; Yin Luo doesn't have the capability to easily take soone from the prison. Over at Qingqiu, they view that fox spirit as almost divine. Yin Luo personally running over here makes sense, considering this place isn't sowhere just anyone can co to." After expressing her opinion, Queen Xin couldn't help but chuckle, "That Shi Chun is quite daring, really courting death."
Speaking of daring, the Demon Queen recalled the scene of Shi Chun getting handsy upon their first eting, a smile tugging at her lips, not responding to this point...
In the dimly lit prison, Shi Chun lay in the corner, legs crossed, arms behind his head, toe tapping idly, appearing so leisurely that it seed he might start humming a tune.
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps approached, and he turned his head to see several Royal Court personnel stopping outside the cell. One lifted a food box, another opened it, taking out a plate of exquisite food and opening the small hatch to pass the food in, along with a jug of fine wine.
Being locked up here, it was his first ti seeing a al delivery situation.
No, even in previous incarcerations, he hadn't seen anything like this.
Shi Chun scrambled up, walked over to check, and found it made from high-quality ingredients, and the aroma indicating it was top-grade wine, couldn't help but click his tongue and say, "The Royal Court's prison is indeed different, even the prison als are of such high quality."
The leader among the servers slightly shook his head at the comnt, "I've heard of your fa, Shi Chun. You're living a good life, what are you ssing around for? Ah, unpleasant words aside, enjoy the fine food and wine, eat well to fare well on your way."
What do they an? The legendary last al?
Shi Chun was initially taken aback, then calmly sat cross-legged, picked up the exquisite food, tasting it with ease, and confidently drank the wine.
Trying to scare him, he wouldn't fall for it.
Yu Xuanbing had already reported back, his plan was executed in place, he had distanced himself to such an extent, cleared all obstacles, laid all the groundwork, if Situ Gu and the others still couldn't get him out, then people like Situ Gu were nothing.
He wouldn't have co here to turn himself in.
After being captured, they only interrogated him once, if they provided a last al every ti they interrogated, they would be kidding themselves!
Hence, he was well aware this wasn't his end.
As for these prison guards, they know nothing, and he was too lazy to waste words with them.
One of the prison guards laughed, "Hey, he's quite a cheerful one, much better than the ones before, going about properly, eating, drinking, dying as needed."
Another guard chuckled, "I've watched over this prison for years, seen prisoners of all sorts, those who remain unfazed by impending doom are a first for today. Shi Chun, there aren't many I admire, but you're one. If food and drink aren't enough, just shout, we've plenty, worst case, I'll pay out of my own pocket to ensure you die a satisfied ghost."
Shi Chun smirked, raising his wine jug in a distant toast.
"Magnificent!"
One of the prison guards praised.
They had other matters to attend to, telling Shi Chun to go ahead with his al, and then they all left.
Must admit, the prison als weren't perfunctory, indeed delicious, the wine was indeed fine, justifying the Royal Court's reputation, therefore Shi Chun did not waste any.
However, halfway through eating, as Shi Chun sat near the bars scooping food into his mouth, he once more heard footsteps approaching, looking up while chewing, calmly seeing Yin Luo's group enter his view.
Besides having seen the accompanying prison guards, Shi Chun didn't recognize Yin Luo, or Dao Zhen who had his head tilted. At this mont, Yin Xu appeared disheveled and filthy, quite different from before. With dim light and cultivation constrained by Dharma Eye, who would have thought it was the enchanting proprietress of Zhu Lang Pavilion?
Chewing his food, seated, he observed the group, pondering why they had co, discerning they didn't appear to be interrogators.
Swallowing his food, he continued to scoop in more without asking questions, confident the group would reveal their purpose.
Finding sothing odd, Dao Zhen tilted his head, asking curiously, "What are you doing?"
Shi Chun took a swig from his wine jug, sending down the food, chuckled, and tapped his chopsticks on the plate, "Isn't it obvious? A last al, a final feast."
He then continued eating contentedly, not moving an inch, caring not who they were, intending to not be tricked.
"..."
Yin Luo, Dao Zhen, and their group were collectively stunned, even with their insight, they hadn't noticed Shi Chun was rrily having his last al, indeed extraordinary people do extraordinary things, they were truly seeing sothing rare today.
Anger simring in Yin Xu's eyes forcibly cooled down, dumbstruck.
The group turned to the prison guards in succession, all showing inquisitive expressions for confirmation.
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