Chapter 598 Setting a Trap
The Azure Profound Dao Ancestor trembled all over, filled with shock and doubt.
"This, Princess Ling, I truly have no idea what Xuanxu has been doing in the capital..."
He had something on him that Xuanxu had in his hands, so he had no choice but to obey him and come to the capital.
However, Xuanxu's letter told him that his purpose in coming to the capital was simply to put pressure on Emperor Ming by having him oversee things, and to incidentally frame Jiang Ning as a witch.
To prevent his shameful deeds from being exposed, he had no choice but to travel by carriage, enduring countless hardships to reach his destination.
But before they even reached the capital, they were stopped by the Ling Prince's residence...
Even more terrifying, the Ling Prince's Mansion claimed that Xuanxu intended to rebel!
Could it be that Xuanxu has already been captured? Thinking of the matter between Xuanxu and the Empress back then, Dao Ancestor Qingxuan broke out in a cold sweat and trembled.
Zhui Feng stepped forward, placing his longsword directly against Qingxuan Daozu's neck.
He said coldly, "Qingxuan Daozu, you have lived for many years. There are very few long-lived people in the world, and you are one of them. You should know the preciousness of life. Why are you helping the traitor Xuanxu?"
Qingxuan Daozu was so frightened that he knelt on the ground with a thud and repeatedly explained, "Your Highness, Princess Ling, please listen to me. I have no intention of rebelling at all. I don't know what Xuanxu is doing in the capital. I came here because he coerced me!"
He had practiced Buddhism for many years, but he had never been able to transcend the six realms of existence and worldly concerns.
The aloof and unapproachable demeanor he projected to outsiders was merely an act.
For some reason, Heaven took special care of him, granting him an exceptionally long lifespan, but he also knew that he didn't have any real skills.
He came to the capital hoping not to ruin his lifelong reputation, to complete the task entrusted to him by Xuanxu, and then to go back to the deep mountains and forests to live out his days in peace. But he never expected to end up like this!
Jiang Ning and Yuwen Jue exchanged a glance and said with a mocking smile, "Xuanxu and the Empress had an affair and had a child, the Sixth Princess Yuwen Ling. The Emperor already knows about this. Qingxuan Daozu, if you still want to live, you should surrender as soon as possible, lest you end up being slowly sliced to death."
Seeing that Yuwen Jue and Jiang Ning already knew the truth, Qingxuan Daozu was drenched in sweat and almost fainted.
He clenched his fists tightly and swore through gritted teeth, "Your Highness, Princess Consort, I swear I have nothing to do with this matter. I have no idea what Xuanxu did!"
Jiang Ning looked down at him and laughed, "If I'm not mistaken, Xuanxu sent you to the capital this time to deal with me, right?"
"Princess Ling, you...you even knew this?!"
The Dao Ancestor Qingxuan asked with a flickering look in his eyes, his expression filled with surprise and doubt.
It seems the Ling Prince's Mansion truly possesses many secrets; perhaps Xuanxu's side has indeed been exposed...
"It's not just me and the prince; even the emperor knows everything. He's just setting up a trap to wait for you to walk right into it."
The Qingxuan Dao Ancestor gritted his teeth and cursed fiercely, "That bastard Xuanxu threatened me and tricked me into coming to the capital to help him! But I never had such intentions. Prince Ling, Princess Ling, if you are willing to give me a chance to repent, I will definitely turn against you and help you capture this evil Taoist Xuanxu!"
Yuwen Jue stared at him coldly, his unfathomable black eyes filled with a chilling aura.
"Qingxuan Dao Ancestor, don't you care about your illegitimate child anymore? Do you care about your eternal reputation?"
The Dao Ancestor Qingxuan was drenched in sweat and stammered, "Since Your Highness Prince Ling knows everything, this old Daoist has nothing left to hide..."
Yuwen Jue said without hesitation, "I have already had your illegitimate son imprisoned. If you cooperate well, I will release you both without worry afterward. But if you dare to resist, don't blame me for killing your only bloodline in this world!"
Although he was an illegitimate child, as far as he knew, Qingxuan cared a lot about this son and had been trying his best to please him.
Qingxuan Daozu quickly expressed his loyalty: "Your Highness, rest assured, I wouldn't dare."
After saying that, he looked expectantly at Yuwen Jue and Jiang Ning, "Your Highness, what does Princess Ling need me to do? I will do my best to cooperate."
Jiang Ning and Yuwen Jue exchanged a glance before letting out a sigh of relief.
Half an hour later, Yuwen Jue and Jiang Ning returned to the palace quietly with their men.
Meanwhile, Dao Ancestor Qingxuan boarded the carriage. His face was cold, and he tried to appear calm, but his heart was filled with complex emotions.
"Enter the palace, the Emperor is still waiting for us."
With a trembling voice, the Qingxuan Dao Ancestor gave an order, and the young Daoists immediately carried him toward the imperial palace.
Throughout the journey, everyone remained silent, their hearts filled with unease.
After an unknown amount of time, the cold voice of the Azure Profound Dao Ancestor came from inside the carriage again.
"You must not mention the matter of encountering Prince Ling and Princess Ling to anyone after you enter the capital, otherwise the entire Qingting Mountain will be destroyed by your own hands!"
The young Taoist priests, well aware of the risks, reluctantly agreed, sweating profusely.
"Rest assured, Dao Ancestor, we will absolutely not utter a single word to anyone!"
Xuanxu committed treason, a crime punishable by death. Xuanxu did not have nine generations of relatives; these people from Qingting Mountain were Xuanxu's nine generations of relatives...
If we are really implicated, everyone in Qingting Mountain will die!
They don't want to be implicated innocently!
That very day, Dao Ancestor Qingxuan entered the palace, and Xuanxu specially persuaded Emperor Ming to come and greet him at the palace gate.
Emperor Ming naturally gave him this face, even summoning the Empress, Consort Tan, and others to show his respect for this Qingxuan Dao Ancestor.
The carriage of the Qingxuan Dao Ancestor stopped in front of the palace gate. He stepped out of the carriage and looked at the magnificent palace, feeling a surge of emotions.
Looking again at Emperor Ming and his entourage standing in front of the palace gate, looking at him meaningfully, a bead of cold sweat slid down the forehead of Dao Ancestor Qingxuan. He forced his trembling legs to step out of the carriage.
Xuanxu stepped forward and said with utmost respect, "Greetings, Dao Ancestor."
Qingxuan Daozu glanced at him coldly, his heart seething with hatred.
The mysterious matter has been discovered by Emperor Ming, who also knows all the shameful things done back then!
The reason we haven't taken action against Xuanxu yet is simply because we want to wipe out the Empress's faction in one fell swoop.
But Xuanxu still knew nothing and needed him to come and cooperate in the charade...
The Qingxuan Patriarch ignored Xuanxu and went straight to Emperor Ming, bowing respectfully: "Greetings, Your Majesty, long live the Emperor!"
Emperor Ming's expression remained indifferent.
"Rise, Dao Ancestor. It has been many years since we last met. You are still the same as you were more than ten years ago, with an air of otherworldly grace, comparable to an immortal."
After the mystery, he saw things clearly.
What kind of immortals and Taoist priests are they? They're all just charlatans trying to gain fame and fortune.
This Qingxuan Dao Ancestor was no exception.
The Dao Ancestor Qingxuan gave a bitter smile and said, "Your Majesty flatters me. Now, I only feel that my death is imminent, and I am filled with anxiety."
Xuanxu, puzzled, stepped forward and said with a smile, "The Dao Ancestor is a person favored by Heaven, how could he have such a misconception? You must have had a long and tiring journey."
After a pause, he added, "Your Majesty, since the Dao Ancestor has come from afar, why not invite him into the palace to discuss this further?"
Emperor Ming nodded, a mocking glint in his eyes: "As the Imperial Preceptor says, please come in, Daoist Ancestor."
Consort Tan gazed at the ethereal and otherworldly Qingxuan Daozu from behind, marveling at his appearance.
She whispered to Granny Jin, "I heard that this person is already a hundred years old, yet he is still so energetic. It is truly rare."
Granny Gui whispered, "Your Highness, he is, after all, a Taoist practitioner, and is naturally different from us ordinary people."
Consort Tan nodded thoughtfully.
The Empress gave Jin Mama a cold look and said, "Jin Mama, now that the Dao Ancestor has arrived, immediately issue an order to have the Imperial Kitchen prepare a banquet to welcome him."
Jin Mama understood, her sinister gaze sweeping over Consort Tan before she said, "Your Majesty, rest assured, this servant will give the order immediately."
Granny Jin left the group, and no one noticed anything amiss.
Once they reached a secluded spot, she coldly summoned a bodyguard and handed him a packet of medicine from her bosom.
"Go and hide this thing in Shuning Palace immediately, and remember that no one can find it."
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