NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 13:
Chapter 13: Shen Yuan Takes Action to Heal the Princess:
After listening to Shen Yuan’s passionate speech, the Empress, though fully aware that he was spouting nonsense, found herself unable to refute him.
“Enough. Since this is a matter of the Shen family, and given that your family is one of the eight great clans of Northern Qi, I will allow you the right to handle your own affairs.”
“However, Prime Minister, your methods were indeed somewhat inappropriate. As the Prime Minister, you gouged out someone’s eyes. If this news spreads, it will not only affect your reputation but also tarnish the image of our Northern Qi.”
“If the neighboring nations learn of this, they might think of us as a ruthless and bloodthirsty people.”
Shen Yuan clenched his fists in secret but quickly released them, exhaling deeply.
“Your Majesty is right. It was my oversight. Please punish me accordingly.”
“There is no need for such formalities, Prime Minister. Since it was a family matter, I will not intervene too much. However, your actions have indeed damaged the image of Northern Qi. As a solution, you shall compensate with a thousand taels of gold and hand over the Frostfall and Light Snow mirrors to the Demon Suppression Division to help pacify the neighboring states and clear up any misunderstandings. What do you think?”
A thousand taels of gold were of little concern, but handing over the Frostfall and Light Snow mirrors… The Empress was clearly aiming to weaken the Shen family.
Everyone in Northern Qi knew that the empire did not tolerate demons, hence the establishment of the Demon Suppression Division. This division was split into twenty-four mirror units, named after the solar terms. The Empress controlled ten mirrors, the head of the division held six, the Ministry of War controlled three, the Imperial Guards had one, and Wei Qi’s Dragon Gate Guards possessed two.
The last two mirrors were in Shen Yuan’s possession.
Now, the Empress was demanding them back. If she succeeded, it would completely sever Shen Yuan’s influence over the Demon Suppression Division.
The Empress was well aware that Shen Yuan had infiltrated many governmental institutions, but she could not allow him to extend his reach into the Demon Suppression Division.
“Prime Minister, I am doing this for your own good. You wouldn’t want the neighboring nations to think of the Northern Qi Prime Minister as a ruthless, eye-gouging man, would you? As a high-ranking official, you must always be mindful of your image.”
The Empress narrowed her eyes and looked at Shen Yuan meaningfully.
Shen Yuan cursed inwardly. No wonder in the original novel, Shen Yuan eventually rebelled—this Empress was constantly trying to undermine him.
He understood her fear of his power and her desire to weaken him, but wasn’t she acting too hastily?
Even Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang had taken time to prepare before eliminating his prime minister, Hu Weiyong.
Seeing Shen Yuan remain silent, the Empress’s expression turned cold.
“What’s wrong? Are you unwilling or reluctant, Prime Minister?”
Shen Yuan smiled.
“Since it is Your Majesty’s will, how could I possibly disobey?”
Hearing this, Wei Qi’s lips curled into a smirk.
If the Empress retrieved the Frostfall and Light Snow mirrors, Shen Yuan’s influence over the Demon Suppression Division would be completely erased.
After all, the division gathered the most elite prodigies of the empire. From the name alone, it was clear they specialized in subduing demonic entities—these were no ordinary cultivators.
Even the Empress was surprised at how readily Shen Yuan agreed. She had expected a long struggle with him.
The officials in the court whispered amongst themselves, shocked at how quickly Shen Yuan had conceded. Losing these two mirrors was akin to a tiger losing its fangs.
Officials aligned with Shen Yuan were especially anxious.
“What is Prime Minister Shen thinking? How could he just hand over those two mirrors?”
“Exactly! Without them, and with Wei Qi still holding two mirrors, how will he stand against him in the future?”
Shen Yuan, however, remained calm, closing his eyes as his fingers moved rhythmically beneath his long sleeves.
The timing should be just about right…
The Empress, pleased but maintaining a composed exterior, was eager to conclude the matter swiftly.
“In that case, Prime Minister, please hand over the Frostfall and Light Snow mirror seals as soon as possible.”
“Of course, Your Majesty. I shall comply.”
But before the matter could proceed, a eunuch rushed in hurriedly and whispered something into the Empress’s ear.
“What did you say?!” The Empress lost her composure. “Princess Qianrou’s soul has been injured? How is this possible?!”
“Your Majesty, this old servant does not dare to speak falsely! Early this morning, Princess Qianrou was found pale and cold to the touch. I immediately summoned the imperial physicians, but after examination, they confirmed that while her body was unharmed, her soul had sustained severe damage!”
The officials exchanged glances in shock.
“Princess Qianrou’s soul has been injured?”
“But she has always remained in the Sunset Palace. How could this happen?”
“Who has visited the Sunset Palace recently?”
As soon as the question was raised, all eyes, including the Empress’s, turned toward Shen Yuan.
Yesterday, he was the only one who had visited Princess Qianrou…
Could it be…
“Shen Yuan! How dare you harm the princess!” Wei Qi accused loudly. “You were the only one to meet her yesterday. It must have been you who caused her soul to be injured! How audacious!”
Remaining composed, Shen Yuan bowed to the Empress.
“Your Majesty, I am innocent. Everyone knows that injuries to the soul manifest immediately. Firstly, my Shen family does not possess any techniques capable of harming the soul. Even if we did, why would the princess only experience symptoms today if I harmed her yesterday?”
The officials nodded in agreement.
Unlike the physical body, the soul was purely ethereal. Any damage would manifest instantly, unlike some physical injuries that could remain dormant.
Furthermore, Shen Yuan’s words were not lies. The Shen family was well-known for their Thousand Illusion Spirit Pupil, which specialized in control and healing, not harm.
“Lord Wei, you seem rather eager to frame me. Perhaps you have other motives?”
“Nonsense! My loyalty to Her Majesty is as clear as the sun and moon!” Wei Qi retorted.
The Empress bit her lip.
She was equally baffled by her sister’s condition, but the priority now was to heal her.
If Qianrou’s soul remained damaged, it could endanger her life.
For now, Princess Qianrou was the person the Empress cared about most—at least until she fell for the protagonist Qin Yang.
The head eunuch anxiously suggested, “Your Majesty, we must find someone skilled in soul healing to treat Princess Qianrou immediately!”
Healing the soul, or “Soul Restoration,” was a rare ability.
Only the Thousand Illusion Spirit Pupil, once cultivated to the eighth level, could achieve such feats.
The Empress turned expectantly toward Shen Yuan.
“Prime Minister, if I remember correctly, your Thousand Illusion Spirit Pupil has reached the seventh level?”
“Your Majesty, I am humbled to report that I recently broke through to the ninth level.”
The court fell silent, and even Wei Qi’s expression changed.
This man had already cultivated his pupil technique to the ninth level? And he was also a half-step Supreme realm cultivator?
If he weren’t crippled, his power would be monstrous—possibly rivaling the Empress herself!
“Ninth level…”
Seeing a glimmer of hope, the Empress softened her gaze.
“I have heard that the eighth level of the Thousand Illusion Spirit Pupil is sufficient to perform Soul Restoration. Would you be willing to help the princess?”
Shen Yuan bowed, clasping his hands.
“Your Majesty, forgive me, but I have pressing matters and must return home soon. I fear I have no time to visit Sunset Palace…”
He looked up, his cold and shadowy gaze locking onto the Empress.