When I stopped licking, the lady panicked.

The emperor frowned and turned to look at Lin Xuan.

Of course he knew that Yun Cheng had taken Yun Zhenting away; after all, it was something he had tacitly approved.

Otherwise, how could Yun Cheng have managed to maintain good relations in the palace, and how could he have brought people out of prison?

Therefore, when Lin Xuan said these words in public, the emperor even had the urge to kill Lin Xuan.

"Someone, go and investigate," the emperor said, feigning concern.

"Yes!" The chief eunuch immediately went to investigate the matter.

The emperor looked at Lin Xuan with a forced smile and said, "Minister Lin, are you satisfied now?"

"Your Majesty, I humbly request that you issue a public proclamation to the world to apprehend the wanted criminal!" Lin Xuan said again.

The emperor said, "This matter falls under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice. Go and discuss it with the Minister of Justice."

"Your Majesty, I obey!" The Minister of Justice suddenly became obsequious, which infuriated the emperor so much that he wanted to chop him up with a single stroke.

He is not attentive when he should be, and he is overly attentive when he shouldn't be.

"Lin Xuan, are you satisfied?" the emperor asked.

"Your Majesty, I thank you." Lin Xuan bowed.

"Hmph." The emperor snorted coldly and turned to leave.

The empress jogged down the steps and followed the emperor, but before leaving, she gave Lin Xuan a threatening look.

Ye Zhaozhang was the emperor's brother-in-law and the empress's younger brother. Since Lin Xuan killed Ye Zhaozhang, the empress would naturally not let him go.

Lin Xuan didn't pay any attention to that. Instead, he looked at Luo Qingxue not far away and smiled slightly.

Luo Qingxue's heart skipped a beat, her eyes darting away, but she met Xiao Zhan's gaze.

Xiao Zhan passed by Luo Qingxue without saying hello, and just snorted and left.

Luo Qingxue bowed to Lin Xuan and then hurriedly left.

"Thank you for your help, Prime Minister," Lin Xuan said.

Luo Zongfu snorted and said, "Young Master Lin is indeed quite shrewd. I underestimated you."

"Why does the Left Prime Minister say such a thing?" Lin Xuan asked knowingly.

Luo Zongfu sneered, "You know it yourself."

After saying this, Luo Zongfu turned and left.

Xun Wuqi said calmly, "I have been away from the court for many years and thought I had no chance of a career in government. I never expected that Brother Lin's son would have such a spirit. Truly, like father, like son."

Lin Xuan bowed and said, "You flatter me, Right Prime Minister. Xun Fu and I grew up together, and you and my late father were even closer friends. Our two families should help each other out."

Xun Wuqi smiled and shook his head, saying, "It is a major taboo in the court for civil and military officials to be on good terms. We helped you today only in self-defense, but the road ahead will only become more and more difficult. You should take care of yourself."

Lin Xuan nodded and said, "Thank you for the reminder."

Xun Wuqi smiled slightly, patted Lin Xuan on the shoulder a few times, and seemed to have high hopes for him in his eyes.

A grand ceremony was abruptly cut short.

But the news quickly spread throughout Daqing.

As everyone knows, the heir of the Prince of Zhenbei angrily beheaded a treacherous minister at the grand ceremony and publicly apologized. His spirit was truly surpassed even that of his father, Lin Jiangxian.

This news naturally reached Yun Xiyue's ears as well.

At this moment, Yun Xiyue was at Nalan Qinghan's house, recounting her grievances and Lin Xuan's crimes.

But Nalan Qinghan advised her, "Xi Yue, although Lin Xuan is a bit annoying, he is much braver than Xiao Zhan."

"Xiao Zhan kept saying he loved you, but when His Majesty bestowed the marriage upon him, he didn't dare say a word more."

"On the contrary, Lin Xuan actually confronted His Majesty with the head of the Imperial Uncle in front of all the civil and military officials, and even forced His Majesty into such a situation."

With such spirit, success is not difficult!

"Do you want to abandon Lin Xuan and gamble on Xiao Zhan's uncertain future?"

Who can guarantee that Xiao Zhan will inherit the throne? Who can guarantee that Xiao Zhan will emerge unscathed from the power struggle?

"What if Xiao Zhan loses? Wouldn't you be ruining your life?"

Faced with Nalan Qinghan's persuasion, Yun Xiyue also wavered somewhat.

However, she still couldn't get over that hurdle.

"But Lin Xuan crippled my second brother's cultivation and even put my father in jail. I can't stand it..." Yun Xiyue said angrily.

Nalan Qinghan patted Yun Xiyue on the back and comforted her, "Xiyue, I actually saw what happened that day with my own eyes."

"It was your second brother who couldn't accept defeat and tried to ambush Lin Xuan, but ended up being crippled by Lin Xuan instead."

"Lin Xuan gave him several chances, but he didn't take them."

Upon hearing Nalan Qinghan's words, Yun Xiyue asked incredulously, "Are you serious?"

"Of course, would I lie to you?" Nalan Qinghan said.

Yun Xiyue pouted, lowered her head, and mumbled, "But..."

"Xi Yue, don't worry about it. Lin Xuan is definitely more promising than Xiao Zhan," Nalan Qinghan advised.

Yun Xiyue was eventually persuaded and asked, "Then what should I do? Go back and apologize to him?"

Nalan Qinghan said, "Don't go back yet. Stay here with me. I'll talk to Lin Xuan and see how he reacts before you decide whether you want to go back."

"Yes, we have to see his attitude first. If he doesn't feel any remorse, I will never go back!" Yun Xiyue said.

Even at this point, Yun Xiyue still refused to let go of her pride and used the same tactics she used on sycophants to deal with Lin Xuan.

Nalan Qinghan smiled helplessly, but did not try to persuade him further.

The initial advice stemmed from the best friend's good intentions, but the subsequent lack of advice was due to a woman's selfish motives.

For a moment, Nalan Qinghan thought it was fine to let Yun Xiyue continue acting this way, as it would highlight her own merits.

But she also felt that such a thought was too evil; how could she possibly betray her best friend?

But Lin Xuan's brilliance has already begun to shine; Nalan Qinghan should start thinking about her own happiness.

Besides, if Yun Xiyue really considered her a best friend, she should have wished her well.

Therefore, Nalan Qinghan began to accept this idea in her heart.

……

late at night.

In the dark wilderness, a man draped in a black robe floated lightly across the land, his feet barely touching the ground.

Then, he vanished into nothingness, and ripples spread through the air. The man in black robes disappeared into those ripples, as if he had submerged into water.

After the ripples, a completely different scene unfolded.

The massive mountain peak resembled a wild beast, and the giant gate of the grotto was like the gaping maw of a beast, emanating a faint green light, accompanied by a cold wind and the stench of blood.

Beside the grotto stands a stone tablet with three large, crooked characters written on it: Minghun Sect.

After the man in black robes floated into the Minghun Sect, a group of people knelt down.

"Greetings, Sect Master!"

The man in black robes remained silent. After floating inside, his feet landed slowly, and he removed the cloak from his head.

Beneath the cloak was a person wearing a crown.

Who else could it be but the emperor?

The emperor slowly removed his crown, and his majesty and imperial aura vanished instantly.

Instead, it was surrounded by black and evil energy.

No wonder the emperor never removed his crown, whether he was attending court, leaving court, or going to bed.

It turns out that this crown could actually conceal the evil aura on his body and hide the truth that he was practicing the Minghun Sect's techniques!