Chapter 35: Something is Different About My Son
*Tiandou Palace*
After hearing the reports from Old Zhao and Old Qin, Emperor Xue Ye's face flickered with surprise.
His eldest son, Xue Qinghe, was always respectful and gentle in his presence. Connecting him to today's incident was difficult.
Especially considering Xue Qinghe's usual demeanor, Xue Ye couldn't help but frown.
"Are you sure it was Qinghe who did it? Not the guards or servants of the Prince's Mansion?"
"Confirmed! We didn't lie to Your Majesty. A Soul Emperor from the Ye family was also present," Old Zhao replied.
"Ye family?" Xue Ye's gaze settled on the two respectful old men below.
The Ye family gave him, the Emperor of the Heaven Dou Empire, a headache.
A Titled Douluo tied to both the empire and a family was, in theory, a great boon!
It meant the Heaven Dou Empire had its own high-level combat power!
This would ensure his safety and boost the empire's deterrence and control over its vassal states!
But it also meant a massive rise in the Ye family's influence!
As the only Titled Douluo in Heaven Dou, and the Emperor's father-in-law, their power would be immense!
As Emperor, Xue Ye was naturally wary.
If the empire didn't desperately need such a Titled Douluo, he'd have considered sabotaging their soul beast hunt!
"Did the Ye family say anything? Did they cause trouble at the First Prince's Mansion?" Xue Ye asked, his tone neutral.
"No, they left after picking up the Second Prince," Old Qin answered.
"Hm."
Xue Ye nodded, unsurprised.
Xue Tian started it. Unless Xue Qinghe went overboard, the Ye family would be foolish to stir trouble now!
"By the way, you said Qinghe defeated Tian'er in one strike. Did you see his strength clearly? Has he broken through to Great Soul Master?"
Old Zhao and Old Qin exchanged glances, hesitating.
"From our observations, the First Prince likely broke through to Great Soul Master, but his strength… seems a bit abnormal…"
"Abnormal?" Xue Ye narrowed his eyes, waving casually. "How abnormal can a Great Soul Master be?"
"And when did Qinghe break through?"
Xue Ye didn't care much about Xue Qinghe's strength. A Great Soul Master at his age?
If he weren't his eldest son, Xue Ye wouldn't bother noticing.
Like himself, Xue Qinghe might reach Soul King, or at best Soul Emperor, in his lifetime. That's it!
More than his strength, Xue Ye was concerned about something else.
His son had broken through and hadn't told his father.
Was it just delayed, or was he hiding his strength?
"Your Majesty, we don't know when the First Prince broke through. We haven't heard of him visiting the Soul Hunting Forest recently," Old Zhao said.
"Is that so?"
Xue Ye tapped his throne, sinking into thought.
His eldest son was… different.
Especially since returning from the Royal Hunting Ground, he seemed more diligent, eager to prove himself…
"Was he spurred by Tian'er? Trying to prove himself?" Xue Ye mused, recalling Xue Qinghe's actions over the past month.
He shook his head with a smile.
Then, he turned to the two men below. "Since Tian'er caused this, it's reasonable for Qinghe to discipline him."
"Go, retrieve Tian'er from the Ye family and confine him for another month! Let it be a lesson!"
Hearing Xue Ye's punishment, Old Zhao and Old Qin's mouths twitched.
Damn!
They said six months' confinement, but he was out in one!
Now another month?
This bias was blatant!
But they couldn't argue. He was not only the Emperor but also Xue Qinghe and Xue Tian's father.
In a sibling dispute, if the father favored one, the other had to swallow it…
"Your Majesty, that's… tricky…"
"Why?" Xue Ye asked.
"Xue Tian wasn't sent to the Ye family. He's in the palace…"
"…"
Xue Ye fell silent, his headache worsening at the thought of Xue Tian's mother.
…
*Palace*
"Damn it! Who did this?"
A graceful, fair-skinned woman glared at the unconscious Xue Tian on the bed, her face seething with rage!
Her anger made her chest tremble as she questioned the person before her.
The maid hurriedly explained, "It was the First Prince."
"The First Prince?"
At the name, murderous intent flashed in Ye Fei's eyes!
That damned bastard dared hurt her son like this! Damn him!
"Tell me! What happened?"
Through the maid's embellished account, Ye Fei pieced together the incident.
Though exaggerated, it was clear Xue Qinghe wasn't at fault—Xue Tian had provoked it!
Learning the truth, Ye Fei's anger surged!
Her son was beaten for nothing?
Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!
Then came Xue Ye's order.
Hearing Xue Tian faced another month of confinement, Ye Fei exploded!
"Where's the healing Spirit Master? It's been so long! Are they dead? If they can't come, don't bother!"
She was livid…
…
*First Prince's Mansion*
"Two Soul Saints and one Soul Emperor?" Qian Renxue's face showed surprise as she listened to Falling Devil and Fifteen Ton.
"Who are they?"
"Two from the royal family, one from the Ye family…" Fifteen Ton replied.
"Royal offerings?" Qian Renxue frowned. "Heaven Dou… has such weak offerings?"
She recalled that Heaven Dou's offerings started at Soul Douluo. Soul Saints…
"They're both level 79, one step from level 80. Heaven Dou likely recruited them early," Fifteen Ton explained.
Qian Renxue nodded.
"After this, I doubt Xue Tian will back down. Uncles, any solutions?"
"Solutions…" Fifteen Ton and Falling Devil pondered. There was one, but…
"When will the Ye family patriarch break through?" they asked.
[end of the chapter]