"The Phoenix Feather Hairpin." The Celestial Empress looked at Sophie Shang. "When you went down to protect Evan, I gave you the Phoenix Feather Hairpin. And you just handed it over to Grace? You really don't hesitate, do you!"
"Celestial Empress, it wasn't me! How could I ever harm you?" Sophie knelt down, trying to explain. "The Phoenix Feather Hairpin... yes, I gave it to her. I told her to reveal Grace's true identity to you, and I asked her to switch medicines when you took them, so Grace couldn't cure you—and then I could heal you myself! But I never told her to give you the Tianji Pill!"
The Celestial Empress looked at Sophie, her face full of disappointment.
Sophie glanced at the equally disappointed God Emperor, then at Evan Xiao whose face was cold as ice. Suddenly, she snatched the Divine Crimson Pill from Evan's hand, dragged her loyal dragon steward Ray Shang over, and forced the pill into his mouth.
"Grace only contacted Ray!" Sophie said. "Now Ray has taken the Divine Crimson Pill—ask him! Then you'll know I'm not lying!"
But the Celestial Empress didn't ask.
She just shifted her gaze and called, "Grace Zhu."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Grace replied.
"This is for you!" The Celestial Empress handed her the Phoenix Feather Hairpin.
"Huh? Why give me something Sophie doesn't even want?"
"Aren't you going to thank Mother?" Evan Xiao shot her a look that screamed, 'Are you dumb?'
Grace could only reach out and accept it, saying, "Thank you for your generosity, Celestial Empress!"
Sophie watched as Grace took the Phoenix Feather Hairpin, nearly biting through her lip. She cried out, "Celestial Empress! I—"
"Sophie Shang, Goddess." The Empress used to call her just 'Sophie' or 'Zhi'er.' Now it was "Sophie Shang, Goddess."
"There's no need to say anything more. This matter will be handed over to the Temple for investigation. Whether you were the mastermind, or how much you participated, the Judiciary God will find out."
"Celestial Empress..." Sophie looked at her with red-rimmed eyes. "I've always thought of you as my own mother—I could never harm you!"
The Empress waved her hand, "Everyone, leave! I’ve only just recovered from a serious illness and need to rest and recuperate for a while."
"Yes!" All the gods left.
Sophie and Ray Shang left as well.
Of course, they were escorted away by the Palace Guard.
Grace was taken back to Evan Xiao’s territory by him, and she seemed to be in a pretty good mood.
Grace pouted and tossed the Phoenix Feather Hairpin to him.
"What’s wrong?" Evan asked.
"Your mother really cares about Sophie! She gave me this just to spite her." Grace’s tone was sour. "So what am I, huh? In her eyes, I’m no different from this hairpin—just a tool to get under Sophie’s skin!"
Evan picked up the Phoenix Feather Hairpin and said, "You’re overthinking it!"
Grace huffed, "I am not!"
"This Phoenix Feather Hairpin contains a hundred thousand Phoenix Feather Needles. Once fired, they’ll return on their own. With this hairpin, you could fight off tens of thousands of enemies," Evan said. "Plus, it’s the strongest magical communication device in existence. No matter how far apart you are, even in different dimensions, as long as there’s spiritual energy, it can let you talk to anyone who’s performed a blood ritual with it."
After he finished, he looked at Grace, whose mouth was slightly open and who seemed pretty tempted. He teased, "You really compared yourself to a top-tier magical artifact like this? You’re definitely overthinking it! There’s no comparison at all!"
"Wait… it’s really that powerful?" Grace reached out to grab it.
But Evan didn’t let her have it. He tucked the hairpin into his robe and said, "Since you don’t want it, I’ll just return it to Mother!"