The Sacred Leaves Family's Wishes for Peace-Chapter 194 Disappointing

Imperial Capital, Royal Palace.

"Failed?"

The Crown Princess frowned as she received the report, her expression darkening.

"Yes. The family discovered that Li Qing successfully escorted the Seventh Princess and the others back to the Yun family in Yun Cang," the messenger reported cautiously.

"The family didn't send more people after them?"

Her tone turned colder, a storm brewing in her eyes.

"The Emperor uncovered the matter. With the family left without its patriarch to hold them steady, they've been secretly suppressed by the Emperor's hand. They dare not act recklessly anymore."

"Useless fools!"

The Crown Princess slammed her hand against the table, her fury barely contained.

"The Emperor is here!"

Before her rage could erupt further, a eunuch's shrill announcement echoed through the hall.

The Crown Princess's face changed immediately. She rose, composing herself, and hurriedly led her attendants to kneel at the door.

"Your servant greets His Majesty. Long live the Emperor!"

Bailey Xi entered the hall, accompanied by Li Qing, and ascended to the throne. For a moment, the room was silent as the Emperor sipped his tea, his cold gaze fixed on the kneeling Crown Princess.

"Do you know your crime?"

The Emperor's voice was calm, but there was a deadly edge beneath the surface.

"Your servant does not know what crime I have committed," the Crown Princess said carefully, her face betraying no emotion. She feigned ignorance, certain the Emperor couldn't trace the matter back to her.

"The Tongshan Xia Clan has confessed everything."

The Emperor's words struck like a thunderclap, but the Crown Princess held her composure, maintaining her air of innocence.

"I still don't understand what Your Majesty is referring to," she replied.

"You're Xue'er's biological mother. I truly didn't wish to take action against you, but your behavior has sorely disappointed me," the Emperor said, his voice growing heavier.

"Do you really think I can't uncover the truth? Do you think I don't know you were behind it all?"

"Tongshan Xia's attempt to eliminate Yun Yantian could have been ignored. For their past service in defending the royal family, I might have overlooked it.

"You wanting Yun Yantian dead? I could have turned a blind eye.

"But you made one unforgivable mistake—ordering your nephew, Xia Changqing, to kill Xue'er as well!"

"Xue'er is your own daughter! Even a tiger does not eat its cubs, yet you, a mother, sought her death?

"To elevate the Xia family, you were willing to sacrifice your own child?!"

The Emperor's voice rose in fury as he stood, his eyes blazing with anger as he stared at the Crown Princess.

"How could you be so heartless? For the Xia family's ambitions, you would go so far?"

For a moment, the hall was silent. Then, slowly, the Crown Princess rose to her feet. She met the Emperor's glare with a cold smile.

"Since Your Majesty has uncovered the truth, there's nothing more to say."

"So you admit your guilt?"

"What if I do?" the Crown Princess said with a bitter laugh. "Xue'er is my daughter. If I want her to live, she lives. If I want her to die, she dies.

"She defied me. She insisted on marrying into the Yun family, to that insignificant Yun Yantian.

"She left me no choice. I had to kill her.

"The only regret I have is that Xia Changqing and his men were incompetent and failed. Instead, they've brought me all this trouble!"

Her tone was chilling, devoid of any remorse. In her eyes, everything she did was justified for the sake of her family's rise.

Even sacrificing Baili Moxue was, in her mind, a necessary step.

"Madwoman! You're a madwoman!"

The Emperor's voice was filled with disgust as he stared at her, his disappointment cutting deeper than his anger.

"Yes, I'm mad!

"I'm mad enough to wish I could kill you too! If the royal family fell, my Xia family wouldn't be in this predicament!

"You want to support the Yun family to check my Xia family's power? Let me tell you—it won't work!"

The Crown Princess's voice grew shrill as she raged, her eyes red with fury. All her pent-up resentment and bitterness spilled out in that moment.

For years, she had sacrificed everything—her freedom, her will, even her humanity—for the sake of her family.

She was nothing more than a tool, controlled and manipulated, with no choices of her own.

The Emperor looked at her with a mixture of pity and contempt. Slowly, he sank back onto the throne, his energy seemingly drained.

With a weary wave of his hand, he signaled the waiting Imperial Guard outside.

The soldiers entered swiftly, binding the Crown Princess and dragging her away.

"Why can't my Baili family be like the Yun family?"

The Emperor's voice was barely audible, more to himself than anyone else.

In his mind, he couldn't shake the image of his visit to the Yun family. He recalled the warmth, the unity, and the harmony he had seen among their members—a stark contrast to the bitterness and scheming within his own palace.

"Your Majesty, the human heart is the hardest thing to predict or control," Li Qing said gently, his tone meant to comfort the Emperor.

"If my Baili family's princes and princesses cannot stand together through honor and adversity, this house will inevitably fall apart.

"Our royal lineage, this kingdom… it will one day vanish into the annals of history," Baili Xi said, his voice tinged with despair.

"Your Majesty need not worry so deeply. With the Seventh Princess, this dynasty will remain in the Baili family's hands," Li Qing assured him.

"I hope so," Baili Xi sighed.

"How goes the matter of removing the spies planted by the Three Clans and the Seven Families?"

"According to reports, a group has already been purged," Li Qing replied.

"Good."

"Come, let us take a walk in the imperial gardens. A bit of fishing may lighten the heart," Baili Xi said, rising from his throne with a sigh. With Li Qing at his side, he left the hall for a moment of respite.

Lanlin County, Su Family Manor.

Yun Yunyang and Yun Yunrui stepped out of their carriage and approached the grand gates of the Su family estate, accompanied by several Yun family elders.

"Halt!"

The Su family guards immediately blocked their path, spears crossed to bar entry.

"Please inform your masters that Yun Yunyang of the Yun Cang Yun family has come to pay a visit," Yun Yunyang said calmly.

"The Yun Cang Yun family?"

The guards exchanged uneasy glances, knowing full well that the Yun family had become a formidable cultivation clan in recent years. They dared not be careless.

"Please wait here while I inform the masters," one guard said, bowing respectfully before hurrying inside.

Inside the Su family's inner courtyard.

Su Yinglong, dressed in a luxurious robe, sat in discussion with several family elders when the news arrived.

"Beaten?" Su Yinglong frowned as the report was delivered.

"Yes. The rogue cultivators we secretly sent to disrupt the Yun family's shop were thoroughly thrashed by their spiritual root descendant, Yun Wenxuan.

"Not only that, the Yun family seized all the spirit stones from those cultivators.

"And now, the Yun family has come to our gates, demanding an explanation," the elder reported.

"Hmph! An explanation?" Su Yinglong scoffed. "For a mere Embryo Breath Second Stage rogue cultivator, does my Su family owe anyone an explanation?"

"Then… what should we do?"

"Did the rogue cultivator reveal anything to the Yun family?"

"He swore he didn't."

"Then have Yun'er deal with him. Make sure there's no trail leading back to us."

A cold glint flashed in Su Yinglong's eyes as he issued the command.

"Yes, Clan Leader."

The elder departed quickly.

"Clan Leader, Yun Yunyang of the Yun Cang Yun family has arrived to pay his respects," the guard reported upon reaching the inner courtyard.

"Why would the Yun family suddenly visit us?" Su Yinglong muttered, his brows furrowing in suspicion.

Over the past year, with the Wang family's secret support, the Su family had managed to expand rapidly, swallowing up several other fledgling families in Lanlin County.

But even with their newfound strength, they couldn't compare to the Yun family's deep foundation and swift rise.

Su Yinglong was reluctant to provoke the Yun family, but he couldn't let his anxiety show.

"Never mind. We'd have to deal with them eventually. Since they've come, let's see what they want," he said after a moment of thought.

He waved the guard away and gathered the family elders to meet their guests in the clan's reception hall.

"Clan Leader, Yun'er has dealt with the rogue cultivator who caused the trouble," the elder reported as they made their way to the hall.

"Good," Su Yinglong said with a nod. "Have Yun'er join us in the reception hall. Let him meet the Yun family representatives."

"Understood."

Su Family Reception Hall.

Led by Su family guards, Yun Yunyang and his entourage entered the grand hall. Su Yinglong, flanked by his elders, rose to greet them with a broad smile.

"Brother Yunyang, I've long heard of your reputation!" Su Yinglong said warmly, stepping forward before Yun Yunyang could even bow.

"The pleasure is mine, Brother Yinglong," Yun Yunyang replied, returning the courtesy.

"It's a great honor to have the esteemed Yun family visit our humble Su family. Truly, you've brought light to our home," Su Yinglong said, his tone effusive.

"Come, Brother Yunyang, and all your esteemed companions, please take a seat.

"I knew you were coming, so I had my servants prepare tea and refreshments. Forgive the simplicity of our offerings; our resources are far humbler compared to your family's," he said, gesturing for them to sit.