Chapter 943 The Secret of Reincarnation Lies There

After examining Jiang Fenghua, Gongsun Lan couldn't help but glance at her a few more times. "The Empress is very good at taking care of the body. Your Highness's body is fine and you are very healthy."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Fenghua's eyes darted away. She actually wanted to know Xie Shang's reaction because some time ago, in order to deceive Xie Shang into believing that she had not regained her memories, she pretended to be suffering from blood deficiency and physical weakness.

In fact, she pays great attention to health and wellness, and she can spend a third of her life focusing on her health.

Xie Shang asked, "Is the Empress alright? Are you sure the flower mark on the Empress's forehead is not related to the antidote for the Gui Ning Pill? Gongsun Ling examined the Empress's pulse a while ago and said she had qi deficiency."

Gongsun Lan had indeed made a clear diagnosis; her pulse did not indicate qi deficiency, unless…

She glanced at Aoxue, whose eyes were filled with cries for help.

Jiang Fenghua forced a calm smile and said, "My maids know some remedies for conditioning the body, and I am fortunate to have their careful care."

"Has Your Majesty been having many dreams lately, and seeming tense, anxious, and worried?" Gongsun Lan asked.

Jiang Fenghua hadn't expected Gongsun Lan's medical skills to be so amazing. "I do have a lot of dreams, because that dream keeps me up at night, filled with worry. But this dream is strange, because I can't remember what happened in the dream after I wake up." She couldn't tell anyone else that there was a woman's voice in her dreams constantly telling her to kill Xie Shang.

She felt neither love nor hatred for Xie Shang, and she wanted to understand what was going on.

Gongsun Lan continued, "That explains it. Your Majesty's qi deficiency may be caused by dream interference. Poor sleep can also lead to qi and blood deficiency. Your Majesty can burn Guining incense when you sleep, which can help you dream less. With better sleep, Your Majesty's health will naturally improve."

Gongsun Lan wondered to herself: Why would Aoxue help Empress Jiang fabricate a lie to deceive the Emperor?

Jiang Fenghua didn't expect Gongsun Lan to help her cover up the lie. She then asked, "What's the matter with the flower between my eyebrows? Can Miss Gongsun see the problem?"

"I can't tell," Gongsun Lan said again, "It is indeed somewhat unbelievable."

Xiao Shang sat to the side eating snacks and drinking tea. He interjected, "You still don't believe me? She is the reincarnation of Ashina Xue, which is why she has the mark of a queen on her brow. There's no need to investigate any further. Let's set off immediately to find the Ghost Realm. Once we reach the Ghost Realm, Empress Jiang will definitely remember everything."

No one present responded to Xiao Shang's words. Xie Shang had official business to attend to, so he gave a few instructions and went to the Imperial Study.

Jiang Jinyan was also busy dealing with disaster relief and other matters, so he followed the Emperor.

Xiao Shang, who had been under the watchful eyes of the guards, said, "I will not run away. You don't need to keep such a close eye on me."

Still no one paid him any attention, so he said again, "I have another subordinate who has been captured by you. Could you release him as well? Xing Yun has been helping me with my affairs outside. He is very familiar with the terrain of the Great Zhou. Perhaps he can be of help to your Great Zhou."

Still, no one paid any attention to him.

Xiao Shang felt as if he were invisible in their presence. Now that he finally had a clue, he had to find the method of rebirth for the ancient kingdom of Yinchuan as soon as possible.

Xiao Yu didn't go inside; he just stood straight outside the door, like a gatekeeper.

Xiao Shang said to Xiao Yu, "The Emperor of Great Zhou asked you to assist the Empress in searching for the Ghost Realm. Didn't you ever suspect his intentions?"

Xiao Yu simply didn't want to cause trouble for the Empress; he should also maintain proper decorum as a subject to the Empress.

"You like Jiang Fenghua, don't you?" Xiao Shang said in a low voice.

Xiao Yu's eyes flashed with anger, and he said in a deep voice, "Prince Xiao, please watch your words."

Xiao Shang scoffed, "What a pretense. If you like someone, you like them. What's there to be afraid to admit? A woman as beautiful and intelligent as her is very attractive to men. If he's willing, I can take her away from the palace to live a free and unrestrained life. Empress Jiang won't be happy staying in the palace. The Emperor of Great Zhou doesn't trust her at all. I don't believe you haven't seen that."

Xiao Yu knew he was being provoked, but he remained calm, unmoved, and too lazy to pay him any attention.

Xiao Shang said, "You and I are of the same lineage. I will not harm you. The future world belongs to our Northern Xiao Kingdom."

“Prince Xiao is poisoned but still not behaving himself,” Xiao Yu said in a deep voice.

Xiao Shang said, "The Emperor of Great Zhou will not kill me. In seven days, he will definitely obediently offer up the antidote."

What makes you so confident?

"Given that this torrential rain in Great Zhou will not completely stop in a short time, the disaster in Great Zhou has only just begun. If he wants to save Great Zhou, he has no choice but to cooperate with me."

Xiao Shang was full of confidence. He understood the mind of a ruler all too well. He would not have a moment's peace until the crisis of the Great Zhou was resolved.

Xiao Yu had to admit that if there were a better way, the Emperor would not have given up, which was why the Emperor agreed to release Xiao Shang.

"To tell you the truth, I come from the future, several decades from now. At that time, the Great Zhou Dynasty will already be mine. The Northern Owl Kingdom has occupied the Great Zhou Dynasty, and everyone in the Great Zhou Dynasty will submit to the Northern Owl Kingdom." Xiao Shang said in a deep voice, "I also know that Jiang Fenghua's lifespan is very short, and she will not have a good end in the future, but will die a violent death."

Xiao Yu paused, staring intently at Xiao Shang's face. "What do you mean? What do you know?" He had long suspected that Jiang Jinyan was also hiding something from him, but he didn't want to pry.

Xiao Shang directly exploited Xiao Yu's weakness, "Now you know you're in a hurry? I'll tell you when I'm in a good mood."

Xiao Yu glanced into the hall and saw that the Empress and Gongsun Lan had long since disappeared.

A moment later, a woman wearing a blue fitted long dress suddenly appeared in the hall. Her hair was not styled into a bun, but neatly braided into two pigtails tied with ribbons. At first glance, she didn't seem particularly beautiful, but upon closer inspection, her eyes were bright and her face became more and more attractive. She wasn't stunning, but she was certainly pretty.

Gongsun Lan walked up to them and teased, "Grandson, you don't recognize your grandma anymore?"

Xiao Shang was almost speechless with shock. His mother-in-law was so young, she wasn't even as old as him!

He began to doubt the truthfulness of her words, "You're not lying to me, are you? You really know the place where the red spider lilies grow—the Ghost Realm."

Gongsun Lan said indifferently, "If you don't believe me, fine."

She turned to leave, but Xiao Shang quickly stopped her, "How could I not believe you, Miss? You even poisoned me. If I don't believe you, I'll truly be ungrateful."

He was respectful, humble, and polite.

Gongsun Lan continued, "At the deepest point where the Western Regions and the Great Zhou meet, there is an ancient ruin known as the Ghost Realm, where the secret of reincarnation is hidden."