Chapter 50
Even though he had imagined what Xia Qian might have gone through during her disappearance of more than ten years, he never imagined that her experience would be so bumpy.
All of this was orchestrated by the Empress.
That stepmother who kept saying she would treat them well never had a single good day.
Xia Che looked at Xia Qian and felt even more heartache.
It is said that he used to wear a slave ring around his neck.
She's a princess, born noble, how can we let her wear something like that!
They were all empresses!
"Your Highness, we have thirty minutes left before departure. We must get back as soon as possible," Xia Che's attendant whispered in his ear.
But no matter how quiet the sound is, it's not a secret to highly gifted superhumans; they can hear it.
Xia Qian is one of them.
Her gaze involuntarily fell on Xia Che. "Brother, are you still going back?"
The word "brother" from the girl's mouth clearly echoed in the room, leaving Xia Che somewhat stunned.
I thought I'd be hearing that title for a long time, but I heard it on our very first meeting.
Without any suspicion, he was trusted and treated like family.
It was as if the brother and sister had never lost contact over the past ten years.
"Hmm." Xia Che suppressed his emotions and turned his head away, not wanting to appear out of control in his sister's eyes. "We have a very bad stepmother. She does bad things when her brother isn't home, so I have to go back."
Xia Qian was taken aback. "Then why did you—"
They knew perfectly well that someone would do something bad at this time.
However, Xia Qian didn't say the whole sentence in the end, because she had already seen the answer in Xia Che's eyes.
for you.
That's why I came out.
Xia Qian didn't know what to say.
"Don't worry." Xia Che understood Xia Qian's eyes and immediately knew what the girl was thinking. "I have my own plans."
This is his plan.
He plotted to make sure his stepmother couldn't resist the temptation, that she would borrow troops from the Church of Light, and then truly tear off the mask of civility, seizing the Source of Life for herself.
Only in this way can he rightfully kill his stepmother, expose her ugliness to the public, and make his bloody purge of those traitors seem justified.
I didn't care before; all I wanted was revenge.
Because he couldn't find her, but things are different now.
Xia Qian is coming back, and he wants to give her the best treatment. Her reputation cannot be ruined, and it cannot be tarnished because of him.
That's why he used this method to deal with the Empress.
It's not a matter of whether it's worth it or not; protecting my sister makes it all worthwhile.
His gaze fell on Hughes, who was standing next to Xia Qian. Xia Che's feelings toward this young man were truly complicated.
“Let’s sit down and talk,” Hughes, who was never very approachable, said. He was holding Xia Qian’s hand, and his dark pupils reflected the girl’s small face beside him.
All the idle people in the hall had left, leaving only their group in the room.
Xia Che sat down to one side, his gaze falling on Xia Qian. The next second, both eyes fell on Hughes, as if silently asking him something.
Before Xia Qian could react to what was going on, her palm was suddenly tickled lightly.
The faint warmth of that person's body still lingered on her fingers, remaining in her palm.
“Xiaxia,” Hughes said, “you can sit next to your brother.”
As he said this, he slowly loosened his grip on the hand, appearing very generous and not at all bothered.
But in a corner where no one could see, his little finger hooked her little finger, as if reluctant to part.
But the person hooking his thumb around hers remained completely calm and composed, as if he hadn't done it at all.
That's shameless.
She pulled her hand away from his, but his little finger followed, this time not hooking hers, but rubbing his fingertip against hers.
At the same time, his deep voice slowly came over, "Xiaxia, be careful, don't fall." There seemed to be a hint of laughter in his voice.
"I won't fall."
Xia Qian couldn't help but retort, her gaze seemingly a little guilty as she avoided Hughes's eyes and Xia Che's gaze.
She herself didn't know what she was feeling guilty about.
As long as Hughes doesn't do anything underhanded and always holds her hand and strokes her hair, she won't get distracted.
Xia Qian sat down next to Xia Che, while Hughes sat opposite them.
Contrary to Xia Che's expectations, the boy was neither arrogant nor humble, which made Xia Che take a few more glances at the black-haired boy in front of him.
He is intelligent.
Xia Che thought to himself, knowing how to retreat in order to advance, and knowing that his brother was not easy to deal with, so in order not to trigger his plan, he temporarily returned his sister to him.
But that's just being smart; it doesn't mean anything. It certainly doesn't mean he approves of her as her boyfriend.
Xiaxia is still so young.
Xia Che's eyes darkened.
Besides, he and Xiaxia hadn't seen each other for so many years. Shouldn't they be given some space to talk alone?
These requirements were clearly explained to his subordinates before departure. Was Hughes knowingly refusing to comply?
The atmosphere in the hall was quiet and somewhat silent; everyone seemed to be frozen in time, with only the steam rising from the hot tea on the coffee table.
The unique aroma of tea still lingered in the mist. The hot tea was almost ready. Hughes picked up the teapot and poured the hot tea into the cups one by one.
This is clearly an ordinary action, but when Hughes performs it, it becomes extremely elegant, making people want to look at him more.
The boy lowered his brows and eyes. From this angle, the beauty mark under his eye was even more obvious and could be seen at a glance. His usual arrogance seemed to have been restrained at this moment. However, a wolf is always a wolf.
His docility is only temporary; he remains inherently unruly and difficult to tame.
"I've put a little surprise in Hans's villa. You'll see in a bit."
As soon as the words were spoken, someone stepped forward silently and respectfully said, "Let's begin relaying the orders!"
A dangerous premonition rose in Xia Che's heart, and he couldn't say whether it was good or bad. "What do you mean by this?"
At the same time, the man standing behind Hughes, whose wireless earpiece was flashing, bowed and said respectfully in a low voice, "Your Highness, Hans and the Holy Maiden have started talking again."
These words clearly reached the ears of Xia Qian and Xia Che, who were on the other side of the sofa.
Xia Che subconsciously looked at his younger sister beside him, his questioning gaze fixed on her. Just as he was about to ask something, the projection screen in the hall suddenly flashed, and the projected light shone on them.
On the projection screen, Hans and the celestial maiden were displayed.
They were facing away from them, unable to see their presence, and seemingly unable to sense it.
This is surveillance!
Xia Che was shocked. He never imagined that Hughes was going to show him this!
"Aren't you afraid of being discovered?" Xia Che looked at Hughes with a complicated expression, feeling that the boy seemed overconfident. However, the boy's face remained calm, and he even handed the coffee table to him. Every move he made was full of perfect manners.
“It won’t be discovered.” He seemed unconcerned. “His villa is full of my people.”
It is obvious who will control this empire in the future.
Choosing a master to serve is the wisest choice. There is an insurmountable gap and no comparability between the first and second in line of succession.
Hughes' eyelids narrowed.
We let Hans live too long.
They had initially given him some leeway, allowing him to eke out a living in this remote place, but he still wouldn't settle down. To this day, he still doesn't know that the villa he lives in is filled with needle-based surveillance cameras, and all conversations are being recorded.
Including the outrageous things he said.
Want to take turns?
Does Hans know who will ultimately be the one to be gang-raped?
Hughes lowered his brows and eyes, successfully concealing the hint of danger in his eyes with his long eyelashes.
"You probably don't know this, but I'm telling you now." The saint's voice came from the projection screen, clearly echoing throughout the room. Not only were there surveillance cameras installed, but listening devices were also installed, and every word of the saint's voice was crystal clear.
"We've hidden Xia Che's father's crystal core here!"
They were talking and negotiating in the study, clearly unaware that their entire scene was being watched by someone on the other end.
"I knew it was her a long time ago." Xia Che sneered, showing little surprise. His face remained calm, but when he thought of his younger sister sitting next to him, his handsome face softened a bit. "The year you disappeared, it was because of a severe natural disaster at the Source of Life, which gave that stepmother the opportunity to take you away during the chaos."
"It was a devastating disaster; many people died, and then an infectious disease broke out."
"The Pope came around that time with a group of people, saying he wanted to bless us and drive away the illness. But shortly after they left, our father collapsed! He hasn't woken up since."
"Given that everyone had a chance at the time, the Celestial Maiden had the best chance of succeeding."
The children were young, which made the ministers and guards less wary.
Moreover, at that time, it was impossible to suspect anyone but the saintess who was only ten years old.
It's unbelievable that a ten-year-old child could possibly knock their powerful, middle-aged king into a coma.
But what if she has outside help?
For example, the Pope.
Having sexual relations with superhumans of a higher level over a long period of time would improve one's superpowers with each encounter. But who could have guessed that such a young saintess would have such a relationship with the Pope?
Therefore, it is no surprise that they were able to successfully ambush the king.
She was the Pope's constant companion, and wherever she went, she wouldn't arouse anyone's suspicion, making her the most convenient person to handle confidential matters.
For example, the king's crystal core.
If a child sneaks out and is seen by someone, they will only think that the child is out playing and will not pay much attention.
So, isn't this the reason why the Pope successfully buried the crystal core here when he visited the Empire more than ten years ago?
"Xiaxia's return cannot be delayed." In the hall, Hughes' voice fell clearly, his dark pupils unfathomable, calm as if he had calculated everything into his plan, victory was in his grasp, staring at the two figures on the monitor, as if he had already thought about his fate.
But the boy kept his eyes and brows furrowed, seemingly knowing how to conceal his own danger. "I'm Xiaxia's boyfriend. They're here. You don't need to do anything; I'll handle them."
What are you planning to do?
Xia Che and Hughes locked eyes, creating a subtle atmosphere that made Xia Qian, caught in the middle, feel unable to get a word in edgewise. She felt small and almost invisible, yet every word they spoke carried her name.
Just then, a burning gaze fell upon her. The familiar gaze made Xia Qian unable to help but raise her eyes and follow the gaze, her eyes falling upon that familiar handsome face.
"Dinner is ready, Xiaxia, go and eat," Hughes said.
The sudden words caught Xia Qian off guard. Was this an attempt to get rid of her?
The boy's pupils reflected her face. He looked at her without flinching, and the look in his eyes seemed to say, "Yes."
Because what follows is going to be bloody.
Will she be traumatized?
It seems she already has enough shadows in her heart; what if she has to add another one—what if she has nightmares while sleeping?
Thinking of this, the boy's expression softened even more. "Good boy."
Xia Che's eyebrows twitched, and he glared at Hughes with displeasure. The other man remained calm, and nothing could be seen. However, in a corner where no one could see, his fingertips began to gently rub, as if even his palms couldn't help themselves.
He savored the memory of the girl's soft, white hands, and his palms seemed to start to itch.
I want to hold your hand.
Xia Che has been here for a long time.
Hughes lowered his gaze, seemingly somewhat displeased.
Just then, a voice, transmitted through spiritual energy, came over, audible only to the two of them: "Heh, I reckon I'll be staying here even longer!"
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