And the day after tomorrow, the festival will begin.
Duke Denver had enough time to escape.
Lexis also could not cause trouble with foreign envoys present.
He could bury the empire’s dignity in the ground and show their internal strife.
“However, the crucial point is that during that long period, no one had a child. It wasn’t just me. Other women couldn’t have children either. But Canary succeeded. It’s a highly suspicious coincidence.”
“What are you trying to say?”
Lexis asked coldly.
It felt like icy water spreading through his brain.
The cold rationality returned.
Lexis wanted to expose the truth he had avoided so far.
Even Canary betrayed Lexis?
Even the woman he chose?
Intense vitality filled Lexis’s purple eyes.
“I’ll say one more thing, Your Highness. Didn’t Duke Cloud know about this situation?”
Renisha extended the hilt of a dagger.
“Duke Cloud is a person with thick bones, having survived in the political arena for a long time. Yet Duke Cloud chose Canary. There must be a reason for that, right?”
Renisha planted a seed of new suspicion.
There was a conflict between Lexis and Duke Cloud, and it needed to be delved deeper.
Deep enough to sow seeds of doubt in the depths.
Lexis’s eyebrows rose.
“Could Duke Cloud be behind this?”
“If Duke Denver knew nothing, there must be a reason for that too. If a noble as shrewd as Duke Cloud is turning a blind eye, that’s what I mean.”
“Can you take responsibility for what you’re saying?”
“I’m just telling you what I know.”
Renisha smiled faintly.
Before the storm, Renisha laid the foundation.
Lexis would wield a sharp sword based on Gale.
Towards Duke Cloud and Canary.
“I can’t let the imperial blood be tainted.”
Renisha somewhat understood Lexis’s anxiety.
He was afraid that Duke Rothera would seize Lexis’s throne again.
His attachment to that position ran deep.
But a prince was born? It was natural for feelings of inferiority to surge.
“You need to be careful.”
Renisha bowed deeply.
The Everna Hall, where the envoys are welcomed.
Every time envoys come to honor the Festival of the Three Serpent Gods, Hientry opens this hall.
All the nobles of Hientry were gathered, boasting their grandeur.
Duke Cloud always sat to the left of Lexis.
However.
“You can’t enter.”
“What? Are you not ready yet? Why is it so indecisive! The envoy will soon finish the ritual and come to the banquet hall! Do you intend to keep the Emperor waiting!”
“It’s not like that…”
At the right moment when Chancellor stamped his foot, Renisha appeared.
Renisha smiled gently.
“Duke Cloud.”
“Lady of the Duke. It’s been a while.”
Duke Cloud smirked arrogantly.
He and Renisha stood in perfect opposition.
Duke Rothera and Duke Cloud had not been on good terms for generations. Moreover, Duke Cloud was deeply connected to the demise of Rothera. Didn’t he conspire with Canary to incite Lexis?
“Rothera is aiming for the Emperor’s position. People trust Rothera more. The public sees Rothera as a hero. What will happen if they point their swords towards the imperial city? Kill them. Abandon them and protect your position.”
Next to him, someone whispered such words in his ear.
“It’s been a while, Duke.”
Renisha smiled gently.
So, what Renisha did was merely returning a favor.
“Can’t I go in too?”
Chancellor raised his head questioningly.
The ones not allowed in this place were Duke Cloud, Canary, and her prince. Besides them, even a beggar from the street could enter. The Emperor’s command was absolute.
“No, Lady Renisha. Please go in quickly.”
Renisha turned her head and smiled again.
Duke Cloud gritted his teeth as if he found it absurd.
“I’ll go in first. The envoys are waiting.”
Renisha smoothly disappeared through the narrow opening of the door.
And the door closed, never to open again for Duke Cloud.
“What is this! Don’t you know who I am? I am Duke Cloud! The Duke of this empire! Daring to block my way! Do you know what that means? Report this to the Emperor immediately…”
“It is the Emperor’s order. He has instructed not to admit Duke Cloud. I am just a humble chancellor, and I don’t know the intentions of the Emperor.”
“Open the door immediately!”
Taking advantage of Duke Cloud’s outburst, the music in the banquet hall began.
As if mocking him.
Duke Cloud ground his teeth in frustration.
That heavy door wouldn’t open, no matter what he did.
Then, is there any need to waste time here now? If the Emperor has abandoned Duke Cloud, he should prepare for that as well. He should be ready to turn that young one into an Emperor.
Duke Cloud sharply turned his body.
What Duke Rothera did was unforgivable! Lexis also needed to know the helplessness when there’s no one around.
It would be good for the Emperor to kneel before him and beg.
Duke Cloud took sharp strides.
The Male lead Always Seduces Her with His Beauty (Matriarchy)
Xin Jiao Zhou is the leader of the world’s premier sect. She has just experienced betrayal from all sides, was poisoned in an assassination attempt, and faced death squad attacks while the poison was taking effect. After finally clearing out the scum from her sect, she was drugged again while trying to detoxify.
After waking up from a night of unconsciousness, she gained a “beautiful and kind-hearted” husband.
Xin Jiao Zhou: “???”
He fell ill.
She came to see him, bringing breakfast.
As she put down the breakfast and was about to leave, his hand slipped while holding the spoon. “Clank!”
She turned around upon hearing the noise.
He looked up at her, his eyebrows drooping: “My hand… has no strength.”
“Shall I… feed you?” she asked tentatively.
He opened his mouth cheerfully: “Ah—”
Thinking she was drowning, he jumped in without hesitation to save her, but nearly drowned himself. In the end, it was she who swam over to rescue him, giving him air underwater.
After emerging from the water, his ear tips turned red. He lightly brushed his cheek, tucking his sideburns behind his ear, revealing delicate, pink-tinged ear tips. He lowered his gaze, too embarrassed to look at her.
Xin Jiao Zhou: He’s truly beautiful, kind-hearted, and adorable.
A certain someone when disciplining subordinates behind the scenes: “If they don’t obey, just kill them.”
What’s that? She might already have someone she cares about in her heart? A certain someone: Find out who it is, kill them, and then there won’t be anyone.
What? She met a man by the riverside? What? That man even hurt her? A certain someone: Whichever hand hurt her, chop off his entire arm.
Love at first sight without realizing it, gradually falling in love, slowly getting closer…
Family and national grudges, schemes and desires, good and evil, crime and punishment, she and he face the future together, seeking justice with passion!
A naturally dark female lead who could accidentally destroy the world but is actually an honest person VS a weak, pitiful, and helpless but skilled fighter, beautiful white-cut black male lead
My heart is not of stone, how steadfast is your love? — Tao Yuanming “Imitating the Ancients (No. 3)”
— Reading Guide —
Cold female lead & dramatic black lotus with hidden yandere traits male lead
