The night was as dark as ink, enveloping the Heavenly Dou Imperial City.
Outside the Crown Prince's Palace, palace lanterns flickered, casting dappled light and shadow.
"His Majesty has arrived!"
The eunuch's shrill voice pierced the night sky, echoing somewhat abruptly in front of the empty palace.
However, the scene of the palace gates opening wide and everyone kneeling to welcome the newcomers, as expected, did not occur.
The Crown Prince's Palace was eerily quiet, without a single ray of light, and filled with a deathly stillness.
Emperor Xueye frowned.
"What happened?"
A hint of suspicion flashed in Prince Xuexing's eyes. "Qinghe has always been polite. Even if he has rested, he should still react upon hearing the report."
He took a few steps forward and listened intently, but the silence inside was still so profound that you could hear a pin drop. Instantly, an ominous premonition welled up in his heart.
"Your Majesty, please wait here for a moment. I will go in and take a look first."
Having said that, Prince Xuexing waited no longer, and with a swift movement, he darted into the hall like a night owl.
Emperor Xueye stood still, hands behind his back, a sense of unease rising within him as well.
"ah--!"
A short, startled cry came from inside the hall; it was Prince Xuexing's voice.
Emperor Xueye's expression changed drastically. He no longer cared about his imperial demeanor and his figure transformed into a blur as he rushed into the palace.
The sight before him struck him like a thunderbolt, leaving him feeling utterly cold.
The vast Crown Prince's Palace was filled with people lying haphazardly.
From the guards to the palace maids and eunuchs, and even the officials in the Crown Prince's palace, everyone fell to the ground silently, unconscious.
In the center of the main hall, his son, Xue Qinghe, the crown prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, lay on the cold ground with his eyes closed.
"presumptuous!"
What an arrogant tactic!
Someone actually managed to sneak into the palace without anyone noticing and take down everyone in the Crown Prince's palace!
This is a provocation, the most blatant humiliation to the Heavenly Dou royal family!
"Brother, they... they've just fainted."
Prince Xuexing quickly checked around, his voice hoarse.
There were no wounds, no bloodstains, and not even a trace of a battle of soul power.
This method is unheard of, and its eeriness sends chills down one's spine.
Just then, Xue Qinghe on the ground trembled her eyelashes and slowly woke up.
He opened his eyes blankly, looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar surroundings. After a moment, his gaze fell on Emperor Xueye and Prince Xuexing.
The next moment, a complex expression appeared on the Crown Prince's face, a mixture of grievance, fear, and ecstasy.
"Father! Uncle!"
Xue Qinghe scrambled over and grabbed Xue Ye Dadi's leg, bursting into tears. He cried so hard, like a child who had suffered a great injustice.
"Father! I...I'm back! I'm finally back!"
Emperor Xueye and Prince Xuexing were both stunned.
"Qinghe, what's wrong with you...?"
Emperor Xueye bent down, intending to help him up.
"Father, your child..."
Xue Qinghe raised her head, her face streaked with tears.
"I was kidnapped by thieves a few years ago! They locked me in a dark and sunless place until just now, when they knocked me unconscious. When I woke up, I saw you and my royal uncle!"
These words were like a bolt from the blue for Emperor Xueye and Prince Xuexing.
The two of them stood there dumbfounded.
Kidnapped? A few years ago?
So who is Xue Qinghe, who has been by their side all these years, handling government affairs and answering their questions fluently?
A chilling thought emerged that sent shivers down their spines.
Fake!
That prince is a fake!
"This is outrageous!"
Prince Xuexing was the first to react, and flew into a rage.
"How dare someone commit such a heinous act! Your Majesty, this matter must be thoroughly investigated! Seal off the capital city and search every house! I refuse to believe that we can't find the imposter even if we dig three feet into the ground!"
His voice was filled with shame and indignation.
Being manipulated for so many years is an utter disgrace.
"No need."
However, Emperor Xueye stopped his enraged younger brother.
"I don't understand it either."
Emperor Xueye slowly shook his head, his gaze sweeping over the unconscious people in the hall.
"The other party has such extraordinary abilities that they can silently replace the crown prince and then silently send him back. Their strength is beyond our imagination."
"Since he didn't take anyone's life and only sent them back, he left them a way out. If we make a big fuss, it will only provoke him, and the consequences will be unimaginable."
Prince Xuexing's lips moved, but in the end he didn't say anything more.
He understood that his elder brother was right. This matter had already exceeded their control.
Emperor Xue Ye helped Xue Qinghe up and carefully examined his son.
This face is indeed Qinghe's face, but the affection and dependence in his eyes are something that the "imposter" never had.
Suddenly, he exclaimed "Eh!"
"Qinghe, your soul power... has not been wasted over the years, but has instead improved considerably."
He could sense that the soul power fluctuations within Xue Qinghe's body were far more profound than he had anticipated.
Xue Qinghe wiped away her tears and said with lingering fear:
"I was locked up in that place and couldn't do anything. All I could do every day was cultivate my soul power."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Xueye and Prince Xuexing exchanged a glance, both seeing the light in each other's eyes.
It was truly fate!
They were worried about how to persuade Qinghe to devote himself to cultivation, but unexpectedly, this incident directly solved their biggest problem.
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