Chapter 89: Empress Dowager: "Want to Be the Second Most Powerful Man?" Empress: "Would a Widow Be Interested?" (3)
"Xiao Qing, remember what I told you. Give it serious thought, or else… mmph!"
Before Su Mengxi could finish, her mouth was promptly covered.
"Mother, how is it that someone as beautiful as you was also gifted with such a talkative mouth?"
"Since you love fishing so much, why not use yourself as bait and see who takes the hook?"
The Empress's voice was chillingly cold.
Su Qing: "…"
He glanced at the Empress Dowager, who was now looking at him pleadingly for help, and silently turned away.
Nope. Can't save her. Not a chance.
Better to focus on the real task at hand.
After taking his leave, Su Qing headed straight for the dungeon.
The moment he stepped out of the White Jade Pavilion, his expression shifted from relaxed to grave.
His acceptance of this mission wasn't out of any particular interest in the so-called "widow."
The real reason lay in the significance of this prisoner's role in the story.
If his memory served him correctly, she was the sister-in-law of an incoming protagonist.
The [Chronicles of the Divine Maiden] didn't have just one heroine—nor did it have only one protagonist.
Because the [Son-in-Law Arc] was too oppressive and lacked excitement, the authors introduced a second protagonist to liven things up.
This new protagonist followed a classic trope—
A young boy sent to train in the mountains, only to return home years later and find his entire family slaughtered.
All except for one person—his newlywed sister-in-law, left behind for him to protect.
It was a textbook case of a tragic hero's journey.
The story practically screamed "Dragon King Descends from the Mountain," a power fantasy in the making.
Yet, the creators had tried to add unnecessary "depth" to the plot, resulting in a tangled mess of misplaced melodrama.
The supposed protagonist was burdened with endless grief—mourning his late wife on one side, while dealing with an overly clingy mother on the other.
Rather than being profound, the story ended up being needlessly awkward.
This new protagonist wasn't as easygoing as Gu Qingzhou, but he wasn't a full-fledged villain either.
What truly concerned Su Qing, however, was the larger implication—
The introduction of this character signaled the impending climax of the capital's storyline!
During this crucial period, countless branching paths would unfold, most of which led to his untimely demise.
Looking back, his scripted fate during this phase involved a spectacular variety of deaths.
This was a terrible omen.
Even the Empress, the grand boss of the empire, was about to face her own major crisis.
He had to prepare thoroughly—otherwise, he was headed straight for a dead end.
No matter how favorable things seemed now, one wrong move could mean total ruin!
After all, he wasn't a protagonist. Who knew what unexpected disasters lay ahead?
—
Outside the dungeon.
A dark-haired young man lay hidden, searching for an opportunity to infiltrate.
His name was Tang Xuan—the very protagonist in question.
He had been lurking in wait for some time, but no opening had presented itself.
Tang Xuan had evaded the dungeon's detection arrays, allowing him to observe the entrance unnoticed.
His stealth wasn't particularly impressive—it was only thanks to the Fire Spirit Jade, a gift from his master, that he remained hidden.
Long ago, due to his special physique, he had been chosen by an immortal and taken to train in the mountains for a decade.
When he finally returned, ready to reclaim his birthright, he had received devastating news—
His family had been wiped out in a single night.
And the one responsible… was none other than the current Empress!
Curse that tyrant! One day, I will overthrow your rule and avenge my family!
Tang Xuan's eyes burned with hatred, completely ignoring the fact that his family had been collaborating with rebels.
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to remain composed.
There was someone waiting to be rescued—he could not afford to make a mistake.
His sister-in-law was trapped in this wretched place, undoubtedly suffering unspeakable torment.
But… there was one small problem.
He couldn't even get past the front gate.
Tang Xuan stared at the heavily guarded dungeon and felt a deep sense of frustration.
This was as close as he could get without exposing himself.
Not only were there elite guards stationed at the entrance, but there wasn't a single place to hide nearby.
His artifact could mask his presence, but it couldn't make him invisible.
If only it had stealth capabilities—then he could sneak in undetected.
Time was slipping away, and he was growing anxious.
Should he take the risk? Perhaps capture a guard and impersonate him?
It was an incredibly dangerous gamble, but he was running out of options.
Just as he prepared to make his move, he noticed someone approaching the dungeon.
"Take me to the prisoner immediately. I have urgent matters to interrogate her about."
Su Qing's voice rang out.
"Lord Su, please proceed. The prisoner is securely detained—untouched, as per orders."
The once-stern guards immediately bowed deeply at his arrival, personally escorting him inside.
Tang Xuan observed the scene with narrowed eyes.
Though he had never met Su Qing in person, he knew exactly who he was.
This was the Empress's favored courtier, notorious for his shady dealings in the capital.
Why was he here?
From the brief exchange he overheard, Tang Xuan quickly realized the truth.
He was here to interrogate his sister-in-law.
And the way the guards spoke…
Why did it sound so much like a thug bragging about capturing a helpless woman?
Tang Xuan's eyes darkened.
If Su Qing was involved, there was no telling what sort of despicable acts awaited her.
After all, even though he had never met his sister-in-law, he had heard the rumors.
It was said that his sister-in-law was young and beautiful. Could this lapdog of the Empress really resist such temptation?
It's not the small chance that worries me; it's the big one!
Even someone as upright as me can't guarantee I'd remain unaffected, let alone a villain like him!
As Su Qing walked, he suddenly sneezed.
He looked around in confusion, feeling as if someone was thinking about him.
Could it be... that new protagonist?
Thinking carefully, a protagonist wouldn't be able to ignore something like this. There's a high probability he'd show up here.
With that thought in mind, his steps paused slightly, and he already had an idea.
"Bring the criminal directly to the top floor. I will interrogate her there."
An interesting idea surfaced in Su Qing's mind as he spoke.
He had been looking for a breakthrough, and now inspiration struck him like a lightning bolt.
"Yes!"