Secular Immortal of the Nine Realms - Chapter 159

Chapter 159: Threat

No one was allowed to enter the emperor’s bed chamber without the emperor’s permission. A huge group of imperial guards was stationed at the entrance of the emperor’s quarters.

Yet, Yan Beihan immediately stepped aside upon seeing Fang Chen and respectfully bowed to the latter. It was only after Fang Chen entered the emperor’s quarters that he straightened his back.

“Commander, isn’t Imperial Duke Fang being too lawless? His Majesty didn’t even grant him an audience! How could he barge into His Majesty’s bed chamber just like that? If we let him in just like that, won’t we…” one of the imperial guards frowned.

“Hush. There’s some things you don’t understand,” Yan Beihan said. “During this period of time, we need to tuck our tail between our legs and lie low.”

Since the day Xiao Shence and the others were put to death, Yan Beihan and the others hadn’t been able to approach the Palace of Great Peace. Even so, as a veteran in the imperial palace, he still found ways to receive updates about the most recent situation.

It was due to such insider information that he dared not to stop Fang Chen… though admittedly, he wouldn’t have dared to stop Fang Chen either even if he didn’t have the insider information.

The emperor’s bed chamber was massive, but it was now so empty so it felt eerie.

“Isn’t it chilling to stay in such a big room by yourself?” Li Daoye muttered.

“The emperor has a rear palace of three thousand beauties,” Fang Chen casually replied before searching the room for trails.

Ten seconds later, he found an envelope in a hidden compartment.

“He left this for you?” Li Daoye peeked over and frowned. “That fellow… knew that you would come here? And he somehow predicted that you would find the hidden compartment too?”

Doesn’t this mean that he had already anticipated that a day would come when he would need to flee from his own country?

“This…” Li Daoye gasped.

He couldn’t help but think that if a person like that became a cultivator, it would be like a dragon descending into the great ocean. In the world of cultivation, the deeper one’s thoughts were, the more likely that one would survive to the very end.

Fang Chen tore open the envelope to read the letter.

Fang Chen, I would have taken my empress away with me by the time you open this letter. To think that I, despite being the emperor, would be cornered to this extent by one of my subjects. Should I laugh or cry?

Some things should be kept between us. A calamity might befall Great Xia if the word gets out. As long as you treat the imperial family kindly, I’ll treat the empress kindly. This is my promise to you. We’ll meet again.

“That dogshit Xia Xuanji is using your aunt to threaten you?” Li Daoye couldn’t stand how underhanded the Great Xia’s emperor was. “Just how low can he stoop?”

“Aren’t you skilled in the art of omen reading? Can’t you find them?” Fang Chen stowed away the letter before looking at Li Daoye.

“Well, it’s called the art of omen reading and not the art of finding people for a reason. The world is huge! How am I supposed to find them? I am a cultivator, not an immortal…” Li Daoye shook his head. “But if he really sets his mind to hide, I doubt that you’ll find him any time soon.”

At this point, Li Daoye’s eyes suddenly lit up. “I have an idea! There’s a way for you to curse an entire clan by the virtue of their bloodline. You can remotely curse Xia Xuanji to death through it even if you can’t find him.”

He paused for a second before continuing on, “It’s just that his other close kin will be cursed to death too. Well, that’s a bummer.”

“That won’t do.” Fang Chen shook his head. He wouldn’t resort to this curse even if he was capable of planting it, for Xia Ji had descended from Xia Xuanji’s bloodline.

“There’s nothing else I can do. But I don’t think you need to worry yet. He took the empress away with him because he didn’t want you to go after the imperial family, so I doubt he’ll harm her,” Li Daoye said.

Fang Chen thought about it before nodding. There was not much he could do about this either, so he could only take a step at a time.

The two of them left the emperor’s bed chamber and were just about to head back when they bumped into a group of concubines and their offspring.

“Paying respect to Imperial Duke Fang!” the concubines greeted him.

The princes and princesses bowed to Fang Chen as well. They were fairly young, with their ages ranging from six to sixteen. These were the imperial offspring who had failed the spirit assessment.

They wouldn’t have to bow to Fang Chen in the past, but he was now the Xia Imperial Duke, a transcendental-grade noble… and that was still the secondary reason here.

They had no idea what happened in the Palace of Great Peace that day, but it ended with the abdication of the emperor, along with the deaths of Crown Prince Xia Yu, Xiao Shence and ten other important officials.

Convinced that that was Fang Chen’s doing, they were filled with fear toward Fang Chen, so much so that they dared not offend him in the least.

“You may spare with the formalities,” Fang Chen said with a smile.

A glint flashed across one of the concubines’ eyes, and she spoke with a smile, “It’s still early, Imperial Duke Fang. Why don’t you have a seat in my Inspiration Palace? Our Xia Li has always looked up to you, and he’d like to seek your pointer regarding his martial arts.”

“Please fulfill my wish, Imperial Duke Fang,” Xia Li clasped his fist as he looked at Fang Chen with hopeful eyes.

Xia Li was the Fourth Prince, and he was around sixteen years of age. Unfortunately, he was hindered by his mother’s common birth, and that was his biggest hurdle to taking the crown.

“That woman!”

The other concubines quickly figured out her intent and were furious. They quickly extended invitations to Fang Chen too.

The current political situation in Great Xia was clear to them—whoever wins Fang Chen over was the most likely one to become the successor to the throne. After all, this was a powerhouse who stood as equals with the immortals!

“Such a ladies’ man,” Li Daoye enviously scoffed under his breath.

“I’ll have to turn down your invitations.” Fang Chen smiled. “I still have business to attend to. Let’s talk about it next time.”

The concubines were disappointed, though they were also relieved that Fang Chen turned all of them down.

“Fang Chen, how could you be so vicious? Xia Yu would no longer be a thorn in your eye once he became a cultivator at the South Heaven Sect, but you still refused to spare him. Why? Why do you have to kill my son?!”

All of a sudden, a wretched cry screeched from behind.

The concubines quickly looked over, only to see Noble Consort Hua looking over with reddened eyes and sunken cheeks. Her pupils were dull and without spirit, yet they were staring intently at Fang Chen.

“It’s the madwoman…” the concubines murmured among themselves.

There were rumors that Noble Consort Hua had gotten worse in recent days. She frequently struck her maids and eunuchs while shouting “Die, Fang Chen!” again and again. That made those maids and eunuchs flee from her, and they dared not approach her.

Xia Yu’s death was indeed a pity. He could have become a cultivator if he survived.

While lamenting Xia Yu’s death, many consorts and concubines actually felt relieved. If Xia Yu had still been alive, Noble Consort Hua would have gotten more arrogant. That would have only made their days even harder.

“She doesn’t seem to know what’s going on,” Li Daoye whispered.

Fang Chen looked at Noble Consort Hua and nodded.

Just then, Eunuch You and a large group of eunuchs ran over. He ordered his subordinates to drag Noble Consort Hua out before rushing up to Fang Chen to apologize, “Imperial Duke Fang, my subordinates have failed to keep an eye on Noble Consort Hua, resulting in this situation. Please pardon our incompetence.”

“Keep a close eye on her, but don’t mistreat her,” Fang Chen ordered before leaving with Li Daoye.