Chapter 1527 - 1526: Heading to the Divine Capital

Chapter 1527: Chapter 1526: Heading to the Divine Capital

"Young master, where are we going now? Are we still heading to Yangzhou?"

Hong Ye asked.

"No, let’s go to the Divine Capital first. I need to ask Empress Yun Yao what she means by this."

Ling Chen frowned. Empress Yun Yao shouldn’t have awarded this marriage. Given his relationship with Empress Yun Yao, she shouldn’t have agreed to it.

Could it be because of the incident last time?

Thinking of this, Ling Chen looked at Hong Ye beside him and suddenly asked, "Hong Ye, I need to ask you something, and you must answer truthfully."

"Please go ahead, young master."

Hong Ye was momentarily stunned, then nodded slightly.

Ling Chen roughly recounted the incident of Empress Yun Yao drugging him to Hong Ye.

"Such a good opportunity... young master, you actually refused it?"

After hearing the whole story, Hong Ye couldn’t help but widen her eyes. To spend a night with Empress Yun Yao was the dream of many. If it happened, it would be like reaching the pinnacle of success in one step, saving so many years of struggle. Not mentioning that Empress Yun Yao would go to such lengths as drugging, but no matter what, Ling Chen should not have resisted!

But he actually blocked Empress Yun Yao’s pressure point in the midst of her enthusiasm and escaped!

If you told this to anyone else, they probably wouldn’t believe it.

However, while Hong Ye didn’t trust others, she did believe Ling Chen. No wonder her earlier attempts to seduce Ling Chen had failed, making her even doubt if Ling Chen was a man!

Even though she was confident in her own exceptional qualities, compared to Empress Yun Yao, there was still quite a gap. If even Empress Yun Yao’s charms couldn’t faze Ling Chen, it was no wonder she ended up with nothing.

"If you were in Empress Yun Yao’s position, how would you feel?" Ling Chen couldn’t help but ask.

Even someone like Ling Chen, who wasn’t very emotionally perceptive, vaguely sensed that he might have thoroughly offended Empress Yun Yao with his previous actions.

"Do I even need to say? I’d be furious."

Hong Ye replied bluntly, then continued, "If I were Empress Yun Yao, I would definitely harbor hatred born of love. At the very least, I would make him pay a heavy price, making him regret his actions for life. At worst, I would want him dead to quell my anger!"

After speaking, Hong Ye noticed Ling Chen’s rather unpleasant expression and restrained her emotions, realizing she had become too involved in the scenario.

"Is that necessary?"

Ling Chen couldn’t help but frown.

"Women can be very ruthless sometimes."

Hong Ye nodded seriously, then said helplessly. This was just her thinking; a supreme woman like Empress Yun Yao probably had even harsher thoughts.

"Alright, I got it."

Ling Chen waved his hand, looking indifferent on the surface, but feeling annoyed inside. This was quite an unexpected disaster for him.

However, a woman understands a woman’s thinking, and Hong Ye was likely right. He had probably offended Empress Yun Yao, and offending the Empress in the Central Dynasty meant difficult times ahead.

He needed to find a way to make amends.

Ling Chen’s eyes flickered with thought. To ruin the marriage alliance between the two great families, he must first mend his relationship with Empress Yun Yao; otherwise, the marriage would be an unbreakable deadlock.

"Keep this matter to yourself and do not mention it to anyone."

Ling Chen instructed Hong Ye.

This was a secret between him and Empress Yun Yao. If a third party found out and it spread, it would drastically impact Empress Yun Yao’s reputation and bring Ling Chen significant trouble.

"Understood."

Hong Ye nodded solemnly.

"I didn’t expect to come back to such a mess..."

Ling Chen sighed lightly. After being away from the Nine Provinces for so long, he initially intended to settle the score with Desolate Fire City for the incident at sea. Yet, unexpectedly, so much had happened during that time.

Right now, the matter concerning Liu Xiling was his most urgent priority. If he couldn’t even protect those closest to him, then what was the point of all his cultivated skills?

Three days later.

Central Dynasty, Divine Capital.

Imperial Palace, within the Imperial Garden.

An extravagantly dressed woman was tending to the flowers among the gardens. Her posture was light and tall, yet she exuded an immensely powerful aura that made it difficult for others to look directly at her.

This woman was the Supreme of the Nine Provinces’ Central Dynasty, Empress Yun Yao.

Just then, a young Court Eunuch hurriedly entered the Imperial Garden and arrived before Empress Yun Yao.

"Your Majesty, Ling Chen requests an audience."

The young Court Eunuch performed a deep ceremonial bow before reporting in a low voice.

"Oh?"

Empress Yun Yao raised an eyebrow, then let out a cold laugh, "I haven’t sought trouble with him, yet he dares to come see me?"

"Should I chase him away then?"

The young Court Eunuch raised his head, revealing a handsome face with a hint of coldness flashing across it, "Or perhaps, shall we apprehend him directly?"

"No, let him in."

Empress Yun Yao waved her jade-like hand, her gaze turning slightly colder, "He’s probably here regarding the Xingliu Family marriage alliance. I’d like to see what he has to say after treating me like that last time and daring to appear before me again."

That incident was still fresh in Empress Yun Yao’s memory. Even though she had humbled herself to such an extent, Ling Chen had actually abandoned her and escaped. Fortunately, no one else knew about it, or she would never have enough lives to punish Ling Chen for this affront.

Even so, the incident left Empress Yun Yao feeling an unprecedented sense of humiliation. She had extended herself to charm a man, only to be rejected by him. Wasn’t she, as an Empress, at least somewhat enticing?

This time, Ling Chen was undoubtedly seeking something from her. She was eager to see what he had to say and to seize the opportunity to exact a measure of revenge and make him suffer a little.

Shortly afterward, the young Court Eunuch led a young swordsman into the Imperial Garden.

The young swordsman was Ling Chen.

This time Ling Chen had entered the palace alone. As for Hong Ye, she was resting at an inn within the city.

After bringing Ling Chen in, the young Court Eunuch retreated quietly.

"Ling Chen, you and I have broken all ties. What are you doing here?"

Just as Ling Chen was about to speak, Empress Yun Yao preempted him with a voice full of indifference.

"Is it that serious?" Ling Chen couldn’t help but frown. How had it come to breaking all ties?

"Hmph,"

Empress Yun Yao gave Ling Chen a half-smile that somehow unsettled him,

"After what you did to me, you think we can pretend it never happened?"