"Yesterday? But His Highness arrived the day before yesterday," Ian Zhu said.
"The day before yesterday?" Grace frowned and touched her forehead. "I didn't bite the Heartscale the day before yesterday, did I?"
Evan Xiao said nothing and went straight to the teleportation array.
Grace, Ian Zhu, and Gene Goldenthread—now back in human form—hurried to catch up.
In fact, Evan Xiao hadn't even known Grace had come to Elderworld.
It wasn't until he went to pick her up that night that he learned about it from Rona Yin.
He waited all night, but Grace never returned.
The next morning, just as he was in the middle of a meeting with the gods, he suddenly lost his sense of the Heartscale.
That was because Grace had entered the Hidden Manor, whose powerful barrier cut off Evan Xiao's connection to the Heartscale.
He immediately dropped everything and rushed to Elderworld, searching everywhere for her.
He searched for a long time before suddenly sensing her again.
And Grace had bitten the Heartscale again.
So, he immediately rushed in Grace's direction.
Luckily, he flew at full speed the whole way—otherwise, she would've lost her life!
......
Grace pretty much figured it out. Back in Drake Abyss, she secretly tugged Evan Xiao's hand and whispered, "Your Highness, thank you for coming to save me!"
Evan Xiao glanced at her and rewarded her with four words: "Don't let it happen again!"
Grace nodded quickly.
Just then, a Dragon Steward from the Celestial Empress came over and said, "Your Highness, Miss Grace, the Empress requests your presence."
So Evan Xiao took Grace to the Empress's palace.
Normally, there were always Dragon Stewards guarding the entrance to the Empress's residence.
But today, Grace found it strange—there wasn't a single person outside.
Right away, she sensed something was off.
Once inside, she saw Leon Zane and Vivian Xiao, both looking as if they'd been hit by a frost spell.
There was also Lucy, the Empress's personal maid.
Grace glanced at Lucy, then walked over with Evan Xiao and bowed. "Greetings, Mother Empress!"
The Celestial Empress's face was terrifyingly dark, and she didn't tell them to rise.
"Mother Empress, Grace was in danger in Elderworld, so I went to rescue her. I left in a hurry and didn't get a chance to inform you—please forgive me—" Evan Xiao began.
"Evan Xiao!" the Celestial Empress interrupted him, no longer calling him 'my son,' but using his full name. "I want to hear it from your own mouth—is Chloe Zhu the daughter of Empress Eva?"
Evan Xiao's eyes flickered, and he glanced at Leon Zane.
Leon Zane blinked at him and subtly shook his head.
He meant that the Celestial Empress already knew, but it wasn't clear who had told her.
"Mother Empress—"
"Just answer yes or no!" the Celestial Empress interrupted again.
Evan Xiao was silent for a moment, then said, "Yes."
Bang!
A teacup landed heavily right in front of Evan Xiao and Grace, splashing water all over them.
Leon Zane shivered, tucking in his tail and not daring to breathe.
Vivian Xiao glanced worriedly at Evan Xiao, then at the Celestial Empress.
"Yes? You actually said yes!" The Celestial Empress was furious. "Divine Lady Miyin disgusted me my whole life, and now, with half my body in the grave, you bring her granddaughter here to torment me? You really are a dutiful son!"
"Mother Empress, who was gossiping in front of you?" Evan Xiao asked.
"Oh? Does His Highness want to kill the witness too?" the Celestial Empress said, voice dripping with sarcasm.
Evan Xiao said nothing.
Leon Zane couldn't bear to see his master scolded and tried to help: "Celestial Empress, Chloe Zhu—"
"I don't want to hear the name Chloe Zhu ever again!" the Celestial Empress snapped. "Get her out of Drake Abyss, now! I don't want to see her again!"
Grace was standing right there, but the Celestial Empress ignored her completely. Leon Zane glanced at Grace, but didn't dare say another word.
The atmosphere instantly turned unbearably tense.