CHAPTER 56: CHAPTER 55: PASSING VITAL ENERGY, BREAKING THE DEATH TRAP!

"What? Turning my son into an infant spirit wasn’t enough, they won’t even spare Ziyin’s soul?"

Emperor Anqing ground his teeth, his anger boiling over, "Investigate! Turn the palace upside down if needed, but find them for me."

"Yes!"

The guards sprang into action, and for a moment, the palace was filled with panic.

"People don’t die, what kind of ruse is this!"

Yu Nianzhao pulled open Xie Jiuxiao’s collar, revealing a mass of dead energy surrounding his heart, all blocked by the Protective Talisman she had given him.

The dead energy desperately tried to penetrate his heart, and the golden light from the talisman was nearly exhausted.

Seeing the black blood was drained clean, the child Gu did not emerge again.

A furnace was placed in front of her, Yu Nianzhao, without blinking, tossed both the child Gu and mother Gu into the fire.

Sizzle sizzle!

The instant the Mother and Child Gu reunited, they were scorched to a crisp by the flames.

Xie Jiuxiao had already fallen into a coma, his lips pale as he tightly clenched Yu Nianzhao’s wrist with the hand that wasn’t bled.

Yu Nianzhao squeezed Xie Jiuxiao’s hand, her tone resolute, "Rest assured, with me here, you won’t die."

After speaking, Yu Nianzhao leaned in without hesitation, cupping his cheeks with one hand, her red lips pressing against Xie Jiuxiao’s thin lips, transferring energy breath by breath!

Her brow burned, transferring all the collected merits and purple energy to Xie Jiuxiao.

Xie Jiuxiao felt the heat on his lips, his entire body stiffened. Though his body couldn’t move, his consciousness was clear, aware of Yu Nianzhao’s actions, a warm flow coursing from her lips through his body, invigorating him like a person on the brink of death filled with life.

Hiss—

This awe-inspiring act stunned the onlookers.

The Dowager Empress blinked rapidly, "Could my crying have caused hallucinations? What’s the Princess Consort doing? The person’s almost gone, and she wants a kiss? Really... Is this appropriate?"

Emperor Anqing’s gaze was unfocused, "Sometimes it’s better not to watch, but the Princess Consort Su is quite bold, seems she’s truly captivated by Ziyin!"

The Empress covered the young one’s eyes, a blush flitting across her face, slightly turning away out of discomfort.

[Master, this is soul energy!]

[Whimper, whimper, hungry...]

The heat between her brows gradually dissipated, and Jiu Ying felt aggrieved, having surrendered all the merits and purple energy it had painstakingly consumed to Xie Jiuxiao.

Once the energy was transferred over, Yu Nianzhao stood up calmly, withdrawing a strand of golden thread from between her brows and placing it on his chest.

The dead energy met its nemesis, fleeing crazily with hardly a trace left.

Xie Jiuxiao’s heartbeat accelerated.

The surrounding eerie winds gradually faded, and the ringing of bells abruptly ceased.

Under the tense and worried gazes of the crowd, Xie Jiuxiao slowly opened his eyes, first looking at Yu Nianzhao, dark emotions swirling in his gaze.

The Dowager Empress, seeing him awake, burst into tears, "Waa... Ziyin, you’re okay? Are you feeling any pain? You little rascal, not telling your mother about such a big issue. You’re intentionally making me worry."

Emperor Anqing’s eyes were red too, relieved, "Ziyin, your Princess Consort truly has skills, pulling you back from the brink of death. Your heart had stopped, scared me half to death."

Mu Hongxuan knelt, eyes red, "Thank you, Princess Consort, for saving the Prince’s life!"

"Zhaozhao..." Xie Jiuxiao opened his mouth, his voice unusually hoarse.

"This is what it means by survival after near-death!" Yu Nianzhao winked at him, "I promised, I won’t let you die; no one can take your life."

"Thank you, Zhaozhao!"

"You’re welcome! But there’s a charge!"

Yu Nianzhao extended her hand to him, "I also said, even close brothers’ dealings should be clear, even the Prince must pay!"

"Yes, sever ties and cause-effect, I understand. Once back at the manor, you’ll receive it." Xie Jiuxiao’s lips curved into a smile, his gaze lingering as he looked at her.

It’s a feeling of coming back from the dead, clarity after the storm.

"Alright, that’s fine."

Yu Nianzhao withdrew her hand, stood up and looked at the maid who had already taken her last breath, "This maid’s life fate clashed with Xie Jiuxiao’s. Just now, the Soul Summoning Bell called away her soul."

The Empress glanced at the maid, frowning, "If I’m not mistaken, she’s a maid by Consort Lian’s side."

"Consort Lian again? How can a mere Consort Lian have such audacity?"

Emperor Anqing wasn’t naive, coldly declaring, "The palace is in turmoil, unjust deaths, suspected infiltrators. To ensure the Empress Dowager’s safety, search her residence thoroughly."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Meanwhile, in Shoukang Palace, a Daoist’s Soul Summoning Bell shattered completely in his hand, the maid’s soul counterattacked, causing the Daoist to suffer backlash, spitting blood and losing half his life.

"What’s happening? Yong’an, are you alright?" The Empress Dowager furrowed her brows, watching the Daoist’s ritual with unease.

Yong’an’s eyes were stern, he wiped his mouth’s blood, "There’s an expert by Prince Su’s side who can break his death trap? Such a feat the mystical families couldn’t accomplish. I thought this time victory was assured; truly a wasted effort."

"An expert? I’ve only heard of a young lad from the Dongfang Family by Prince Su’s side, but his Daoist skills shouldn’t surpass yours." The Empress Dowager said urgently, "Now that the death trap is broken, the Emperor must have noticed."

"Empress Dowager, the guards are heading towards Shoukang Palace." The eunuch beside her rushed to inform.

The Empress Dowager furrowed her brows tightly, "Yong’an, you should leave quickly."

"Yes, Empress Dowager!" Yong’an’s gaze was fierce, "Rest assured, even if Prince Su can break the death trap now, his body won’t sustain long. The Evil Qi entrenched for years will ensure he doesn’t survive past twenty-six, so Empress Dowager, please wait a little longer."

The Empress Dowager angrily retorted, "How could I not know? Prince Su is truly despicable, ruining many connections of mine. His Dragon Shadow Guards obey only his commands, now even the Shangyuan Gambling House has been raided. I’m afraid once he’s gone, everything I’ve painstakingly built will be reduced to ruins! My nephew’s sudden death? I don’t believe it; it must be someone he sent secretly. Every day he lives is a day of worry for me. Only with his death can I face the Emperor without concern!"

Hearing the hurried footsteps outside, Yong’an replied, "As long as there’s life, there’s hope. There’s still a chance, let me probe the strength of those around him and promise not to disappoint the Empress Dowager."

After speaking, he leapt, scaling walls and roofs, silently departing the palace.

The Empress Dowager maintained a cold demeanor, arranging the aftermath, sternly and composedly addressing those disrupting.