“Strip.” An unquestionable command struck him. After he was taken to the palace, he had been left with her alone, nothing said between them until she finally sat down. One leg crossed over the other, fingers resting lightly against the arm of the chair, eyes fixed on him. There were several maidens around as well, standing with their heads bowed. It didn’t take him too much to put two and two together. She was the empress of this kingdom and she must have only spared him due to curiosity. He remained unmoving trying to understand what this was leading to. His body still ached from the tribulation, every vein feeling like it had been torn open and stitched back wrong, but even that pain dulled for a moment under her fierce full gaze. Even though she had given the command to strip a few minutes ago, he still hesitated feeling a bit embarrassed. Then she spoke again, her voice still calm but filled with a threatening intent this time around. “Take your clothes off and enter the po

Li Kaien The prison door opened with a heavy creak and the chains were removed by a gruff looking guard. “The queen has ordered for your release.” he said coldly as he took off the last suppression seal. Though he felt a bit skeptical, he pushed himself up slowly and walked out together with him in silence. After they had walked a bit, the guard finally spoke again, his tone rough and careless. “You’re so lucky,” he said. “Most people don’t get to ever leave that cell. And you? You’re not only getting released but also being given a private quarter right next to the Queen’s chambers.” He let out a low scoff like his lack of reaction annoyed him more than words. “Well, here we are.” he continued, glancing at him strangely. “I still don’t get what exactly you did to get her interest.” His eyes moved over him in a slow and insulting way. “Guess all that prettiness isn’t for nothing.” He stopped for a second. Then he kept walking because none of it mattered. The room they gave h

Third POV Kaien’s words had barely settled in the air before the reaction came. At first it was silent, but it did not last long. The soldiers around the tower began to murmur, their expressions shifting from confusion to disbelief, then slowly into mockery as they looked at him more closely. A few of them laughed under their breath. Others shook their heads. Some simply stared at him as though he had just spoken something impossible. “Who is he to say that?” one of them muttered. “He must be very muddled in the head,” another added. “He thinks he can save the kingdom?” a soldier scoffed louder this time, his voice carrying through the group. The words spread quickly and soon Kaien was surrounded by judgment, ridicule and doubt from every direction. He did not lower his gaze. He simply stood there, none of their words were enough to shake him one bit. Even when the insults grew harsher, Kaien did not withdraw his statement. He remained silent after speaking, but hi

Third POV Kaien’s breathing grew weaker with every passing moment. His body lay still in the inner chamber, his earlier confidence now replaced by a stillness that made the entire room feel heavier. The healers surrounded him quickly, their hands glowing with spiritual energy as they tried to stabilize his condition, he wasn’t responding at all to the treatment. Luo Xueyi arrived not long after. Her footsteps were fast, but she tried her best to calm down. She refused to let panic show on her face even for a single moment. Yet the moment her eyes landed on Kaien, expression tightened. She moved closer and asked hurriedly. “What’s wrong with him?” One of the senior healers lowered his head slightly before responding. “We cannot determine it,” he admitted carefully. “His body is rejecting both medicine and qi at the same time. It is as if something is interfering with his meridians from within and outside.” Another healer continued. “We have tried stabilizing him,

Third POV While Li Kaien remained locked away, Guo Tiancheng walked free with a profound sense of ease in his chest. Everything had gone exactly as he planned. A faint smile rested on Guo Tiancheng’s lips as he rode away from the kingdom, his cloak moving gently with the wind, because in his mind, there was nothing left tying him to that place anymore. Not loyalty. Not duty. Not even Luo Xueyi. He had watched her choose someone else over everything they had built, and that single moment had been enough to break whatever remained between them. So he did not look back. He only moved forward, toward the Zhong Empire. Toward the one man who would understand the value of what he carried. By the time he arrived, the great palace stood tall before him, untouched by the chaos spreading across other lands, its gates opening without resistance once his name and purpose were announced. He was led into the throne hall. Until he stood before Emperor Zhong. Guo Tiancheng lo