Chapter 230 - 228. Stop! II

Third-person POV

Lin Zhenxin took out her notebook which she drew the magic circles that were drawn in the bas.e.m.e.nt.

"Lan Laoshi noticed there was something suspicious about the magic circles that we saw in the bas.e.m.e.nt, the splatters of the blood were in odd places. Such as, the spot here and here were covered by the blood and at first, we thought that the meaning of the words was not that special.

But Lan Laoshi said that Divine Language is complicated, even if one stroke of the word is wrong, then the whole meaning of the word would be totally different. And if we compare the blank spaces which were covered by blood splatters filled with the words from here." Lin Zhenxin moved the paper and her notebook to compare it side by side.

(A/N: This language doesn't exist on our planet earth, I made it up.)

She pointed at the blank spaces on her notebook with her left hand and pointed the same spot at the paper with her right hand, "From the word 'transfer' to 'demon king' in just four strokes. This has proven the true motive of the dark guild."

"Thus, they use similar magic circles to cover up the dark magic circles. Is that what Miss Lin is implying?" Lu Ping tapped his fan on the table and glanced at Lin Zhenxin.

"En. But in this case, they also use the eye transplantation magic circles. Therefore they could use the sacrifice's eyes and Qi to activate both circles at once. Her Majesty Empress's Qi is very powerful and it is more than enough to activate the magic circles.

To maintain the color of the eye, the original owner has to alive because the color of the eye is connected to one's soul. If the soul dies, the color would also vanish." Lin Zhenxin replied.

Weisheng's fingers stopped tapping the table, he looked downwards to Lin Zhenxin because of their height difference.

"Hong er is alive," Weisheng exhaled a deep sigh of relief.

Knowing that Hong er is still alive was a great relief for Weisheng.

"They definitely deploy a few people to keep her alive and it would be easier for us to find Her Majesty Empress." Lu Ping glanced at Weisheng.

"Lu Ping, make her say it." Weisheng rose from his seat and turned around to the exit.

(A/N: her = Murong Qing.)

But before he took another step, Weisheng halted in his track and spoke without looking back. "No matter what you use."

Lu Ping stood up and bowed to Weisheng, "Yes, Your Majesty Emperor."

A eunuch opened the door for Weisheng and in front of the door, a boy with silky white hair stood silently with his head lowered. Weisheng looked at Xue Lang and waved his hand to the eunuch as a signal for him to retreat.

The eunuch bowed to Weisheng before he retreated into the shade. Weisheng had noticed Xue Lang's presence for quite a while and purposely let Xue Lang listen to their conversation because he didn't want to lie to Xue Lang about Hong er's situation.

Lu Ping and the others peeked over and felt pitiful to the father and son. They decided to give the two lone time and left the room from the back door. After Weisheng heard the back door closes, he brought Xue Lang into the room and sat on his throne with Xue Lang sitting on his lap.

Weisheng patiently waited for Xue Lang to calm down while his hand gently patting Xue Lang's back. Xue Lang clenched his hands into fists as he mustered up his courage to part his lips.

"Imperial Father is it true that…Imperial Mother is missing?" Xue Lang mumbled with his head still lowered down.

Weisheng's hand froze for a second before he continued to pat Xue Lang's back.

"En, but father will bring mother back," Weisheng replied with a determined tone.

"Is it because of that girl?" Xue Lang asked again but this time his voice was as cold as ice.

"No, it is because of father. Father left you and mother alone in here, I can't protect all of you." Weisheng spoke with a heavy tone.

Xue Lang looked up to Weisheng and took Weisheng's big hand with his two small hands.

"It is not Imperial Father's fault. If they didn't plan to hurt Imperial Mother then none of this would happen. Father came back to save all of us, it is their fault…" Xue Lang's voice got smaller and smaller at the end of the sentence.

Weisheng noticed the tears that pooled on Xue Lang's eyes, he pulled Xue Lang into a hug and caressed his hair. At first, Xue Lang promised to himself that he won't cry but Weisheng's warmth made Xue Lang's tears fell without any sign of stopping. He cried his heart out while gripping on Weisheng's clothes.

"We will find mother, father will try his best to find mother." tears unconsciously streamed down Weisheng's cheeks.

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Half an hour later, Xue Lang fell asleep on Weisheng's arms because he tires himself from crying too much. Weisheng carefully rose from his seat and carried Xue Lang all the way to his bed. Xue Lang's servants silently followed Weisheng back to Fei Hong Palace.

(A/N: Prince or princess lives in their mother's palace. So, Xue Lang and the twin are staying in Fei Hong Palace but they have their own quarter. Meanwhile, Princess Yue's quarter is in Lu Cixi's palace.)

After he tugged Xue Lang in his bed, Weisheng walked out of the room and glanced at Xue Lang's servants.

"How can you let the prince run around when he is still injured?" Weisheng reprimanded with a low voice, so his voice won't wake Xue Lang up.

The servants immediately went on their knees and profusely kowtowed to Weisheng. The eldest maid crawled to the front of the servants and kowtowed.

"It-it is this servant's fault. This servant doesn't have the heart to lie when His Highness Prince Xue asked for Her Majesty Empress's whereabouts. Thus this servant told His Highness Prince Xue the truth.

His Highness Prince insisted to meet Your Majesty Emperor, this servant couldn't refuse His Highness Prince Xue's order because His Highness Prince Xue threatened to hurt himself if we didn't bring him to Your Majesty Emperor." The old maid explained with her forehead pressed against the cold floor.

Weisheng glanced at the old maid and the image of Hong er's smiling face passed his mind.

'If it is Hong er, she would forgive them without hesitation.' Weisheng stared at the falling snow.

Weisheng exhaled and a cloud of white smoke blew out from his lips.

"Rise. Be more careful the next time. Report to Zhen if the prince woke up." Weisheng's coat flapped as he turned around to leave.

(A/N: Reminder, Zhen is the way an emperor call himself)

The servants stared at Weisheng in disbelief, they quickly kowtowed once again and expressed their gratitude in unison.

"This servant thanks Your Majesty Emperor for Your graciousness!"

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The moon was up above the dark sky, Xue Lang sleepily opened his eyes. He sat on the side of his bed and stretched his body. The maids that were standing outside of Xue Lang's chamber heard some noises from inside the room.

They gently knocked on the door and asked in a small voice, "Your Highness Prince Xue, are you awake?"

"En," Xue Lang hummed.

The maids entered the room and served Xue Lang his dinner. Xue Lang obediently ate his dinner while vacantly looked at his reflection in the mirror.

His eyes were swollen from crying and in some way, his gaze had turned cold. The bubbly and cheerful part of him died the moment he heard the news about his mother's disappearance.

His servants also felt the smile that he had been showing them seems to be fake and distant. They sincerely worried about Xue Lang because of his strange behavior. A few minutes later, he placed down his chopstick on the empty bowl and clasped his hands to thank the god for the food he ate.

Then he remembered the time when Hong er taught him to appreciate everything that he had, no matter what it is.

"Imperial Mother…." Xue Lang whispered under his breath.

He stared at the bright moon and a small smile appeared on his pale lips.

'I can't kill her…then I will make her wish better be dead than live.'