Chapter 105: Holy Sanctum Sealing Ceremony (Part II)

Su Nanxing stood at the highest point of the West Treasure Pavilion belonging to the Qin family, situated northwest of the imperial palace, accompanied by several cousins of Tao Ming.

Su Nanxing was tense from head to toe, staring fixedly at Tao Ming's figure with a mixture of unease and dread, not blinking once.

Qin Yunjun, the son of the Qin family's ninth young master, noticing Su Nanxing's pale and anxious expression, spoke up to offer comfort: "Young Master Su, there's no need to worry excessively. My father and several uncles are present before the Sacred Hall at this moment, so your cousin will surely emerge safe and unharmed."

Su Nanxing gave a low hum, continuing to gaze rigidly at Tao Ming's silhouette without pause.

He watched Tao Ming enter the Sacred Hall, watched Tao Ming carefully set the figure down, and watched Tao Ming approach Qin Youchuan's side.

He observed the emperor removing the restrictions from Ruan Ruan and Nuo Nuo, then saw the sixth prince present the loyalty document before Ruan Ruan. After some words from the emperor, Ruan Ruan lifted her head as if to retort.

Su Nanxing's heart gave a sharp jolt. Would the emperor become enraged?

Next, he saw Qiao Kongjin draw a small knife and seize Ruan Ruan's hand to draw blood.

Unexpectedly, chaos erupted. Qiao Kongjin suddenly burst into flames.

All the Qin young masters were left bewildered, turning to one another in confusion. "What's happening?"

"It seems the sixth prince's body is on fire."

"Orange flames, no less! The sixth prince has struck it rich this time."

"What do you mean struck it rich?"

"He'll never need to shave again in his life!"

Su Nanxing listened to the chaotic murmurs around him. He saw Tao Ming scoop up Ruan Ruan as the orange flames from the sixth prince's body reentered Ruan Ruan's form.

Seeing the emperor reach out toward Ruan Ruan, Su Nanxing cried out in alarm, "Be careful!"

Only after the words left his mouth did he recall that he was far beyond the imperial palace and could offer no assistance whatsoever.

Relief washed over him when he saw Qin Youchuan and Su Yanfeng position themselves protectively before Tao Ming. He silently vowed that he would never again allow Tao Ming to be at the mercy of others.

On the small plaza, discussions swirled among the crowd. Due to their vantage point, they could not fully discern the events unfolding inside the hall.

The sixth prince writhed in agony, body aflame, his cries echoing until the flames suddenly vanished. He was then helped out by others.

Among those acquainted with the Qin family, such as Hu Yushan, the host of the Hu family, approached Qin Sihao and inquired, "Qin Wuye, do you know what transpired within the Sacred Hall?"

Qin Sihao was equally bewildered and snapped back irritably, "We are both standing here. If you don't know, then neither do I."

Hu Yushan did not take offense. He glanced toward the Sacred Hall and lowered his voice to say, "The emperor seeks to subdue the Sacred Maiden this time. I find the prospect rather dire."

Qin Sihao brushed it off, replying, "That is not our concern."

"Truly, when words fail to align, speech becomes futile!" Hu Yushan's expression soured.

Qin Sihao's heart was likewise troubled. He retorted, "Then why did you approach me?"

Tao Ming was momentarily stunned. How far had the sealing ritual progressed? This was unprecedented.

What should be done now?

Could they withdraw?

A growing discomfort settled over him the longer they remained.

The emperor, upon discovering the loyalty document had been destroyed, grew increasingly disoriented.

Such a document appeared only when the Saint Son or Maiden descended. Following the blood offering, it would brand itself into the Maiden's body, forging an unbreakable bond with the imperial family. No matter who ascended the throne, the Sacred Maiden would never betray the realm.

This marked the first instance of the document's destruction. Attempting to replicate it would prove impossible.

Steadying his composure, the emperor spoke: "Qin family host, Su family host, the loyalty document has been destroyed. What course shall we pursue?"

Qin Youchuan reflected that its destruction was fortunate. It spared further complications. With a casual tone, he suggested, "Might it be that Your Majesty does not trust the Qin family?"

The emperor's chest tightened with pain. Trust the Qin family?

Only if four moons rose at midnight.

Yet he countered smoothly, "The Qin family has served the imperial house through generations, enduring life and death for our sake. How could I fail to trust them?"

Su Yanfeng had yet to recover his senses. He had arranged for individuals to tamper with the loyalty document beforehand, laying traps of isolation and teleportation arrays.

Should Ruan Ruan's blood be dropped upon it, the isolation array would activate, confining the essence to the document while the teleportation array would send it to the Su family study. The remainder would then be managed by Su kin.

To outsiders, it would appear as though the document had successfully branded itself into Ruan Ruan's form, leaving no trace of anomaly.

No one could have anticipated that all their elaborate preparations would amount to nothing. Ruan Ruan had resolved the matter herself.

Thoroughly and completely.

Hearing the emperor's exchange with Qin Youchuan, Su Yanfeng regained his bearings and interjected, "Your Majesty, the Sacred Maiden is a descendant of the Su family. Our house stands ready to share in your burdens."

The emperor's chest felt even more constricted. Share burdens?

If the Su family were removed, his worries would be halved!

He replied coolly, "I am grateful to the Su family host. The Sacred Maiden will proceed to the Sacred Mountain in the afternoon. Please escort her from the side."

Tao Ming's ears perked up. To the Sacred Mountain? The seventh prince had mentioned it before.

Qin Youchuan retorted directly, "The Sacred Mountain is remote and sparsely populated. The Sacred Maiden is young. There is no harm in delaying her visit for a few years."

Su Yanfeng nodded in agreement. "The Qin family host speaks wisely."

Though the emperor had anticipated this, the direct confrontation still irked him. Furthermore, by residing on the mountain, the Sacred Maiden could distance herself from the Qin and Su families' sightlines, granting him the opportunity to present her to the Upper Immortal. His tone hardened as he replied, "It has always been so since antiquity. Even if the Sacred Maiden is young, she must reside upon the mountain."

Qin Youchuan's eyes shifted. "Recently, arrangements are being made for the Sacred Maiden's parents' nuptials. She should remain by her mother's side during this time. Only after the marriage is completed should she proceed to the mountain."

The emperor glanced at Tao Ming and asked, "The Sacred Maiden's parents have not yet been wed?"

Tao Ming thought, "What business is it of yours?" and nodded with a composed expression.

The emperor studied Tao Ming more carefully. In his estimation, Tao Ming's unchaste behavior, resulting in an illegitimate child, constituted the utmost impropriety. She ought to feel profound shame. Yet Tao Ming held Ruan Ruan in her arms, gazing at him without a trace of embarrassment.

The emperor could not resist a mocking remark: "Truly radiant as peach and plum. No wonder the young master of the Su family could not restrain himself."

Tao Ming found the words deeply displeasing. What did he mean?

Was he accusing her of seducing men?

Even if she were, what business was it of his?

Tao Ming rolled her eyes inwardly and offered a smile in return: "Thank you for Your Majesty's praise."

The emperor had expected Tao Ming to fly into a rage of shame and fury. Instead, Tao Ming appeared neither ashamed nor abashed but rather pleased, even thanking him. This was entirely unexpected. A flicker of curiosity stirred within him as he inquired, "Are all women from the other realm so?"

The word "shameless" remained unspoken.

Tao Ming wondered what he meant. What exactly was his point?

She answered coolly, "No."

Ruan Ruan, frowning, interjected, "Mommy, what does 'couldn't restrain himself' mean?"

Tao Ming's heart skipped. She replied quickly, "He's simply praising Mommy for being beautiful."

Ruan Ruan hummed in understanding. "Then may I praise others in the same way?"

Tao Ming's head throbbed. "Little one, there are many words one might use to praise someone. It is not necessary to employ this particular phrase."

Ruan Ruan abandoned the topic. "I'm feeling a bit hungry."

Qin Youchuan and Su Yanfeng were still pondering the emperor's intentions. Upon hearing Ruan Ruan express hunger, Qin Youchuan suggested, "Your Majesty, the sealing ritual can no longer proceed. Perhaps it would be best to conclude here."

The emperor's gaze grew profound. "Qin family host, I am not without reason. The Sacred Maiden shall travel to the Sacred Mountain in the afternoon, spending one night there before returning to the imperial city at dawn tomorrow. What say you?"

Qin Youchuan and Su Yanfeng exchanged a glance. Su Yanfeng answered, "Your Majesty has considered everything thoroughly. We shall proceed accordingly."