Chapter Twenty-Eight: Is This Good-for-Nothing Fit to Break the Deadlock?

As these words fell, the hall plunged into a deathly silence. Every gaze was fixed intently upon Li Qingning.

Solve this impasse? This was a divine retribution, a warning manifested by the late Emperor himself—how could anyone possibly resolve it?

"You aren't trying to suggest that Xie Ning can solve it, are you?" The Empress Dowager let out a cold laugh, uttering a statement that bordered on the absurd.

Yet, Li Qingning gave a firm nod. "Indeed, Xie Ning can resolve this."

"Qingning, you have lost your mind." The Empress Dowager looked at her daughter, her eyes filled with disappointment and fury. "At a time like this, how can you still be spouting such nonsense? Have you truly lost all sense of propriety just for the sake of that good-for-nothing heir?"

To her, Li Qingning’s desperate attempt to protect Xie Ning had reached the point of incoherent rambling.

Beside them, Yuwen Yue wore an expression of undisguised disdain. He stepped forward and bowed to the Empress Dowager. "Your Majesty, the Princess is likely acting out of concern and has become flustered, which is why she spoke thus." He began by offering an excuse for Li Qingning, appearing magnanimous and composed, before abruptly shifting his tone. "Such metaphysical matters are ethereal and elusive; how could an ordinary person possibly resolve them?"

He paused deliberately, successfully drawing everyone’s attention. "However, I do happen to know a true master, Taoist Xuanxiao, a direct disciple of the Celestial Masters of Mount Longhu. He is deeply learned in the arts of Feng Shui and the dispelling of evil spirits."

"At this very moment, Taoist Xuanxiao happens to be in the capital. Perhaps we could invite him into the palace to attempt a solution."

Yuwen Yue spoke with a look of sincerity, though he sneered inwardly. He did not believe for a moment that the good-for-nothing Xie Ning had any capabilities. The Princess was clearly just looking for an excuse to push Xie Ning into the spotlight. Since that was the case, he would go with the flow and introduce a genuine master. When the two were compared, the difference would be immediately apparent. By then, wouldn't Xie Ning become a laughingstock? Thinking of this, Yuwen Yue could not help but feel a surge of secret satisfaction.

After considering his words, the Empress Dowager found the proposal excellent. On one hand, it could resolve the immediate crisis and soothe the public; on the other, it provided the perfect opportunity to expose Xie Ning's true colors, allowing her daughter to finally give up on him.

"Very well." She nodded, looking toward Yuwen Yue. "In that case, go and invite this Taoist Xuanxiao into the palace immediately."

"As you command, Your Majesty." Yuwen Yue wore a smug smile as he accepted the order.

Li Qingning watched her mother, then cast a glance at the self-important Yuwen Yue, shaking her head helplessly. She had not expected that, even now, her mother would prefer to trust an outsider over her. A deep sense of powerlessness and disappointment welled up within her, but she did not argue further. She knew that words were useless; only facts would force these people into silence.

"Taohua," she commanded coldly.

"Yes, Your Highness." Taohua stepped forward at once.

"Go to the Marquis of Dingyuan’s residence yourself and have Xie Ning brought to the palace immediately." Li Qingning’s tone allowed for no objection.

"Yes." Not daring to delay, Taohua hurried off with several palace attendants.

Thus, two groups of people set out, one after the other, toward the city.

Inside the ancestral hall, the atmosphere grew strange once more. For nearly an hour, Li Qingning did not cast a single glance at the Empress Dowager. The young Emperor, Li Qingzhi, looked from one to the other, his small face blank, completely at a loss as to what to do.

As if to ease the tension, the Empress Dowager gave Li Qingning a deep look before stepping toward her and lowering her voice. "Qingning, I will give you one last chance. Yuwen Yue is talented and comes from a noble family, and he is utterly devoted to you. How is he inferior to that unlearned Xie Ning?"

"It is not too late to turn back. If you promise to marry Yuwen Yue, I will treat today’s events as if they never happened."

Li Qingning, however, merely shook her head gently. Her gaze drifted toward the outside of the hall, as if it had pierced through the layers of palace walls to see the figure who was already rushing toward them.

"Mother, you need not say any more." Her voice was soft, yet carried an unprecedented firmness. "My mind is made up."

"You..." Seeing her stubborn refusal, the Empress Dowager turned ashen with rage, shaking her sleeves in frustration. "Fine, fine, fine. I shall see exactly what earth-shattering abilities this man you have chosen possesses. When he arrives, if he fails to resolve this crisis, no one will save him from the charge of trespassing in the ancestral hall."

Just then, a lazy, mocking voice drifted in from outside the hall.

"Since I have arrived, I shall naturally take responsibility for my own affairs."

Xie Ning looked the Empress Dowager in the eye without a hint of fear, then turned his gaze toward Yuwen Yue. "I hear that the Second Young Master Yuwen is a man of great literary talent, with poetry and prose at his fingertips, famous throughout the capital. Seeing you today, it is truly a reputation well-earned."

The crowd looked toward the entrance to see a youth in fine silk robes strolling into the hall. He was handsome, with a faint, enigmatic smile on his lips—it was indeed Xie Ning. Following behind him was an old Taoist with an ethereal air, his beard and hair as white as snow. The old man held a horsetail whisk and wore Taoist robes embroidered with the Eight Trigrams, looking every bit the reclusive master.

Seeing the old Taoist, Yuwen Yue’s eyes lit up. Ignoring Xie Ning’s provocation, he rushed forward. "Taoist Xuanxiao, you have finally arrived." He adopted a very low posture and bowed respectfully.

The old man known as Taoist Xuanxiao merely gave a grunt through his nose, not even lifting his eyelids, fully displaying the demeanor of a high master. He strode into the hall, scanned the surroundings, frowned, pinched his fingers to calculate, and then spoke in a deep voice. "Yin energy gathers here, and malevolent aura surges to the heavens; there is surely a demon at work."

As these words were spoken, the expressions of those in the hall grew even darker. Only Xie Ning, standing to the side, was amused by the man's pretense of profoundness.

*Keep acting. Just keep acting.*

Ignoring the old man’s charade, Xie Ning turned his attention back to Yuwen Yue. "I have long heard of your literary brilliance, Young Master Yuwen. Why don't we have a competition?"

Yuwen Yue’s brow furrowed slightly as he glanced at Xie Ning with utter contempt. Seeing that Yuwen Yue did not respond, Xie Ning became even more interested.

"What? Is Young Master Yuwen afraid, or do you suspect that you don't actually have much ink in your belly?" Xie Ning burst into laughter.

"You..." Yuwen Yue turned abruptly, his handsome face flushing bright red. "You... stop being so arrogant, Xie Ning. You are not fit to discuss poetry with me."

"Oh, oh, oh—with that little bit of sour ink you have, I’m not fit to discuss poetry with you? Do you even know what poetry is?" Xie Ning’s sarcastic tone made even the serious-minded Taohua stifle a laugh.