No One Is Allowed to Leave

That afternoon, Grace noticed the distinct taste of the Celestial Meridian Pill in the Frostheart Dew the Celestial Empress drank.

She didn’t say anything at the time, but after returning, she asked Evan Xiao to arrange a private meeting with the Empress.

The Celestial Empress investigated but couldn’t determine who had tampered with her drink.

With the forty-nine days deadline approaching, the Empress decided to play along with the scheme.

She had Grace secretly visit her that morning, refine the pills, and restore her Storm Core.

At noon, she drank the final cup of Frostheart Dew laced with the Celestial Meridian Pill.

Sure enough, that evening, when she began her cultivation, the Tribulation Storm struck.

Grace gave her the Phantom Revival Pill, allowing her Soul Core to feign death and avoid further damage from the Tribulation Storm.

……

The Celestial Emperor finally understood the whole plot. He frowned at Grace and Evan Xiao: “You two are unbelievable! How could you let the Empress risk herself like that? Tribulation Storms aren’t something to mess with!”

"Don’t blame them. I insisted on doing it this way," the Celestial Empress said with a gentle smile. "At least, it wasn’t all for nothing."

As she spoke, she glanced at Lucy, her eyes full of disappointment and coldness.

Lucy’s face was already pale as a sheet, barely able to stand.

"Lucy, for the sake of all the years you’ve served me, confess honestly! You can still avoid a beating," said the Empress.

Lucy trembled and said, "Your Majesty, it was me... I fell for Crown Prince Evan Xiao and was jealous of Chloe Zhu! I did it all!"

"You did it? No one ordered you?" the Empress asked.

"No! I told you her real identity on purpose, and I was the one who put the Celestial Meridian Pill in the Frostheart Dew. It was all me! No one else!"

After speaking, her face twisted and she lunged at Grace.

Her spirit energy exploded, stabbing Grace’s skin with pain.

She was trying to self-destruct her Spirit Core and take Grace down with her!

Grace didn’t move.

With so many gods, deities, and the Celestial Emperor present, letting a mere half-immortal Dragon Steward succeed would be a joke.

Sure enough, Evan Xiao immediately sensed her intent. A terrifying divine power descended and restrained her.

"Do you have any more Divine Crimson Pills?" Evan Xiao asked.

"I have one left," Grace replied, taking out the Divine Crimson Pill.

She only had two—one was given to Sophie Shang, and this was the last one.

Evan Xiao took it, preparing to force-feed Lucy the Divine Crimson Pill.

But Lucy, knowing she was walking a tightrope, was already prepared to die at any moment.

Nobody saw what she did, but suddenly she spat out a mouthful of black blood, her head lolled, and she died.

Evan Xiao tore open her robe and examined her chest and abdomen, frowning: "She hid a deadly poison in her belly; her Spirit Core is destroyed."

"Outrageous! Who’s bold enough to plant a spy right under my nose?" The Celestial Empress slammed the table. "Guards, search her quarters!"

Immediately, Palace Guards rushed off to search her residence.

Sophie Shang shot Ray Shang a look, and Ray instantly tried to leave.

"No one is allowed to leave!" The Empress stared straight at Sophie Shang and Ray Shang.

Sophie Shang’s face turned pale.

Loose lips sink ships.

Everything she just said… sounded like she was working with Lucy to frame Chloe Zhu.

The Empress was probably already suspicious of her!

The Palace Guards thoroughly searched Lucy’s quarters.

Then, they reported that they’d found a secret chamber in Lucy’s residence.

They brought out all sorts of things from the secret chamber and placed them before the Celestial Empress.

The Empress’s gaze landed on a beautiful Phoenix Feather Hairpin. She picked it up and looked straight at Sophie Shang.

For the first time, a crack appeared on Sophie Shang’s eternally calm and icy face—she looked genuinely flustered.