Vermilion Bird Imperial Court.

Phoenix Palace.

A vast sea of ​​clouds, mist rising from the jade steps.

In the center of the vast palace stood a golden cage, inside which imprisoned a cold and beautiful woman dressed in a blue dress, who was coldly staring at the magnificent and elegant woman sitting on the phoenix couch above her with her clear and aloof eyes.

"Yaoyue, if you have any problems, come at me, the Palace Master. Don't touch my daughter."

The woman speaking was none other than Han Ning Shuang, the Palace Master of the Frost Temple and Xiao Xuan's old flame.

"Hmph, do I need a lowly woman like you to teach me how to behave?"

Yaoyue glanced at her indifferently.

Han Ning Shuang, furious, retorted through gritted teeth, "Yao Yue, you only met Xiao Lang before me and used sweet words to seize the empress's position. Xiao Lang and I are in love openly and honestly, and Han Yue is our child. If he knew what you've done today, he would certainly not let you off easily."

"Hmph, I don't need you to worry about my affairs."

Yaoyue picked up the phoenix-patterned teacup beside her, took a small sip, and said, "I have already sent people to capture that bastard. Soon, you and your daughter will be reunited."

"Invite Moon, if you do anything to Yue'er, I won't let you get away with it."

Han Ningshuang grabbed the cage, shook it, and shouted angrily.

"You? A prisoner?"

Yaoyue waved her hand dismissively, and golden chains immediately lit up on the golden cage, piercing into Han Ningshuang's body, causing Han Ningshuang to scream in pain.

"Yaoyue, you jealous woman! You're just jealous of the love between Xiao Lang and me, jealous that Xiao Lang has allowed my daughter to be recognized as a member of the royal family and added to the imperial genealogy..."

"Jealousy? Han Ning Shuang, I am the Empress, Xiao Xuan's only legal wife. My son is the legitimate heir of the Xiao royal family, the future ruler of the dynasty. Why would I be jealous of you!"

"Inviting the Moon," she said in a cold voice.

With a slight thought, the binding force on the cage intensified.

"ah…… "

Buzz!

Just then, ripples appeared in the void inside the hall, and two figures emerged from them.

"Who dares to trespass into the Imperial Palace? They're courting death!"

At this moment, the powerful figures guarding the hidden corners of the imperial palace quickly appeared, intending to capture Qin Shou and his companion.

Yaoyue's phoenix eyes narrowed instinctively, but after recognizing the person, she abruptly stood up and reprimanded:

"Stop! Stand back!"

"yes. "

The shadowy figure disappeared.

"Master, what brings you here!"

Yaoyue quickly walked up to Qin Shou and bowed.

She was quite surprised by Qin Shou's sudden arrival, but when she saw the figure behind Qin Shou and then looked at the woman in the blue dress in the cage, she understood what was going on.

"When Siwu first restored his kingdom, he built a Tower of Ascension in the capital and invited me to see it. I went, but I didn't particularly like it. Later, Siwu said that one day he would build a real Tower of Ascension in the Central Plains, and he did. But I didn't come. Today is the perfect opportunity to see it."

Qin Shou stood tall, his gaze passing through the window of the Phoenix Palace, looking at the towering building shrouded in mist and reaching straight into the azure sky.

"Master, you came here because of this mother and daughter, didn't you?"

Inviting the moon to speak frankly.

"Uh...hehe, I have to say, Xiaoyue is really smart."

Qin Shou gave an awkward smile.

It was originally a family matter, and he wasn't good at handling such things, so he didn't know how to start. He planned to try to use some rhetoric first, but the other person went straight to the point.

"Since that's the case, then I'll be frank."

Qin Shou cleared his throat and said, "Xiao Yue, the Xiao Yue I know isn't that petty. This little girl is, after all, an orphan. Why make things difficult for her?"

"Your teacher's teachings are correct."

Yaoyue bowed slightly, her bright phoenix eyes misting over.

"Sigh, what's wrong with you... why are you acting all aggrieved!"

Qin Shou was also completely baffled.

"Master didn't mean to reprimand you."

Qin Shou quickly explained.

Yaoyue raised her phoenix eyes and pouted, saying, "Master, I didn't originally intend to do anything to this little girl. I was just angry that my husband had an illegitimate daughter outside, and he even kept it from me until he ascended to heaven. He even left a secret decree for Yu'er to bestow the title of Princess Changping on that little girl and to include her in the Xiao royal family's genealogy... He never discussed it with me beforehand."

Am I really that untrustworthy?

Do you think I, the Empress, would be unable to tolerate a mere little girl?

"If he had just told me earlier, I would have personally organized a princess ceremony for that little girl, wouldn't that have been better?"

"I'm just a little angry... angry that my husband doesn't even ask for my opinion, and doesn't care if I'll be ridiculed by others..."

Yaoyue expressed her dissatisfaction with Xiao Xuan.

"I see."

Qin Shou frowned helplessly. Women's minds are truly difficult to fathom...

"Yes, that rebellious disciple Xiao Xuan is always getting into trouble with women. When I see him next time, I'll definitely castrate him for you."

"...That won't be necessary, Master." Yaoyue said sadly, "In this last era, lifespans are waning. Those who don't become immortals are destined to return to dust. Will I ever see my husband again in this lifetime?"

"Yes, it will."

Qin Shou responded affirmatively.

He glanced up at the golden cage, and it instantly turned to dust.

"Mother!"

"Cold Moon!"

Xiao Hanyue immediately stepped forward to help Han Ningshuang up.

Yaoyue glanced at it but didn't say anything.

"Actually, I came here for another matter."

At this moment, Qin Shou looked at Yaoyue and said, "Little Yue, why did you condone the conflict between Yuanbao and Xiaotianxia?"

Yaoyue paused slightly, then said, "Master, I think... Tianxia is more suitable to be an emperor than Yuanbao."

"More suitable?" Qin Shou's lips curled into a smile. "What makes you say that?"

Yaoyue said, "In terms of talent, aptitude, and cultivation, Tianxia is superior to Yu'er in every way, and he also desires to be an emperor. I don't understand why my husband wants Yu'er to inherit the throne, when Yu'er himself has said he has no desire for it. Moreover, I know Tianxia's temperament; he is arrogant and unruly, and even if Yu'er inherits the throne, he won't be able to control him."

"Hehe, Xiaoyue, you still don't understand Siwu."

Qin Shou, with his hands behind his back, shook his head and said calmly:

"Siwu went from nothing to something, experiencing life and death, and in just over a thousand years, it unified half of Tianxuan's territory and established this unparalleled divine dynasty."

Didn't you ever consider that someone as wise and capable as him could possibly make a mistake on such a crucial matter as choosing an heir?

"Master, I don't understand what you mean?"

Yaoyue frowned deeply.

Qin Shou chuckled, not answering directly, but continuing to ask, "For this mere throne, you allow these two brothers to kill each other. Have you ever considered how Si Wu will feel when he witnesses such a scene?"

"Master, no, that won't happen." Yaoyue shook her head and said, "Yu'er is kind and won't harm his younger brother. Xiaotianxia has also assured me that he will only make his older brother abdicate and will never harm him."

"But power has always been a powerful force, and there are always unexpected events in the world," Qin Shou said calmly. "Do you know that the Crown Prince Xiao Yu of the Vermilion Bird Empire is currently trapped by the Ten Directions Killing Array on the banks of the Yeluo River?"

"Impossible, no one in the world would harm his brother." Yaoyue didn't believe it.

"Come on, let me show you."

With a flick of his sleeves, Qin Shou and his companions vanished from the spot.

......

......

at this time.

They fell to the riverbank, their blood flowing like a river.

Xiao Yu, with a plump figure, stood on the riverbank dressed in a golden python robe, with the rolling river flowing beside him. In front of him, dozens of powerful figures guarded him.

In the sky, killing formations appeared one after another, trapping Xiao Yu and the others in this place.

"Brother, we are siblings from the same mother, why must we be like this!"

Xiao Yu gazed at the cold, handsome young man in golden armor, wielding a black-gold halberd, in the sky, and said in a sorrowful voice, "Turn back, it's not too late."

"Brother, I promised Mother that I would spare you if you relinquished the throne."

Xiao Tianxia stood in the void, followed by more than a thousand powerful figures.

At this moment, he was in his prime, his blood surging, burning like a blazing sun, awe-inspiring and arrogant.

“Brother, I have no desire for the throne. I only promised Father that I would protect this empire for him, until he looks back.”

"Alright, brother, stop with your hypocritical words. If you truly have no desire for the throne, why won't you let me ascend it?"

Xiao Tianxia questioned, "Do you perhaps believe that with my abilities, I am incapable of unifying the land, of lasting for eternity, or of doing better than you?"