29: Chapter 29 The sisters meet again, their eyes blazing with hatred!

The eastern suburbs of the capital. The Great Princess's Mansion.

This mansion covered a vast area, yet it was not as intricately carved or resplendently adorned as the residences of other princes and princesses.

Within the courtyard, there were no exotic flowers, rare grasses, precious birds, or strange beasts.

Instead, there were only patches of emerald bamboo, rustling in the wind.

Princess Xia Qingci lived here.

At this moment, she was sitting cross-legged in the study, her eyes slightly closed, her aura restrained, appearing just like an ordinary person.

But if any powerhouse were present, they would surely be shocked by her profound aura.

After months of seclusion, she had finally fully activated the memories of her past life.

The Xuanhuang Continent, Central Region. The Zhaowu Holy Dynasty. Founding Empress. Venerable Realm.

Those memories surged like a tide, each scene as clear as if it were yesterday.

She had started from nothing, conquered vast territories, established the Zhaowu Holy Dynasty, and became one of the most powerful monarchs in the central heartland of the Xuanhuang Continent.

She had ruled diligently, ensuring national prosperity and peace, and truly achieved a state where ten thousand nations came to pay homage.

Then, that Demon Lord arrived.

That battle shook the heavens and shattered the earth.

With her cultivation at the Late Stage of the Venerable Realm, she fought fiercely with that Demon Lord for three days and three nights, eventually resulting in mutual destruction.

She died, and the Demon Lord died as well.

But she was not reconciled.

She still had too much left undone, too many wishes unfulfilled.

Perhaps out of pity from the heavens, she was Rebirth into this remote Great Xia Dynasty, becoming a princess.

In this life, she was called Princess Xia Qingci, the fifth child and first daughter of the Late Emperor.

Over these years, she had been very diligent in her Cultivation.

However, she was limited by her horizon and the level of her Cultivation Technique.

This resulted in her cultivation only reaching the Early Stage of the Grandmaster Realm.

However, fortunately, some time ago, she had suddenly experienced an Awakening of her past life's memories.

The memories and techniques of the Venerable Realm from her past life allowed her to achieve twice the result with half the effort.

In just a few short months, relying on that Venerable-level Cultivation Technique, she had broken through to the Peak Heaven-Human Realm.

With her combat experience and secret techniques from her past life, she was even confident enough to fight a Land Immortal.

But this was not enough.

She wanted to return to the central heartland, she wanted revenge, and she wanted to rebuild the Zhaowu Holy Dynasty.

And all of this required resources, Luck, and a powerful base of support.

Therefore, the first thought she had after waking up was this.

She needed the Great Xia Dynasty.

"Your Highness." The voice of a maid came from outside the door.

Princess Xia Qingci opened her eyes, a flash of sharpness crossing them, before she returned to a calm state.

"What is it?"

"The Second Princess has arrived, saying she wishes to pay a visit to Your Highness."

Princess Xia Qingci raised an eyebrow slightly.

Second Princess Xia Lingyue?

This younger sister had been fighting with her openly and secretly since they were children.

However, Xia Lingyue's Aptitude was mediocre, and she had always been completely suppressed by her.

Later, she simply moved out of the imperial palace, out of sight, out of mind.

Now that she was visiting suddenly, she was likely here with ill intent.

"Invite her in."

A moment later, the door to the study was pushed open.

A woman with an enchanting figure walked in, her brows and eyes carrying a hint of seductiveness, and a faint, elusive smile hanging on the corners of her lips.

"Elder sister has been in seclusion for months; you have finally come out."

Xia Lingyue sat down with a beaming smile, her gaze sweeping over Princess Xia Qingci.

"I heard that elder sister has had a Breakthrough? Congratulations, congratulations."

Princess Xia Qingci smiled faintly.

"It is merely a Breakthrough from the Early Stage of the Grandmaster Realm to the Middle Stage of the Grandmaster Realm; it is not worth mentioning."

"Hasn't younger sister also had a Breakthrough? The Early Stage of the Grandmaster Realm, congratulations to you as well."

The two looked at each other and both smiled.

That smile looked very harmonious, but upon closer inspection, there was not a trace of sisterly affection in their eyes.

Xia Lingyue was secretly delighted.

Middle Stage of the Grandmaster Realm? As expected, she is still that elder sister with mediocre Aptitude.

And she, she was not some trash at the Early Stage of the Grandmaster Realm.

At this moment, she had already reached the strongest Realm below the Heaven-Man Realm. Great Grandmaster Peak.

As long as she wished, she could crush this elder sister who had suppressed her for decades with one hand.

But she did not show the slightest emotion on her face, only smiling as she said.

"Elder sister is too kind. How can my meager cultivation compare to yours?"

Princess Xia Qingci looked at her, a flash of hard-to-detect sharpness crossing her eyes.

Great Grandmaster Peak? When did this younger sister become so strong?

After Princess Xia Qingci broke through to the Peak Heaven-Human Realm, how sharp was her perception?

Although Xia Lingyue deliberately hid it, only displaying the aura of the Early Stage of the Grandmaster Realm.

She saw through the other's true cultivation at a glance. Great Grandmaster Peak Realm.

From the Peak Great Martial Master before seclusion to the Great Grandmaster Peak, she had crossed two whole major Realms.

This was definitely not a speed achievable through normal Cultivation.

Her younger sister, with her mediocre Aptitude, did not have such talent.

Even in the Zhaowu Holy Dynasty, there was no such Prodigy.

There must be a problem.

Moreover, the aura faintly emanating from Xia Lingyue... made Princess Xia Qingci feel a trace of unease.

That was not an aura that an ordinary Martial Artist should have. That aura was cold, violent, and carried a chilling sense of evil.

It was very similar... very similar to that Demon Lord who had perished with her back then.

Princess Xia Qingci's heart sank abruptly. She hurriedly suppressed the turbulent waves in her heart, yet her face remained calm and unruffled.

As if none of this had happened.

"Younger sister came to see me, surely not just to offer congratulations, right?"

Princess Xia Qingci extended her slender, jade-like hand, slowly picked up the teacup, and took a light sip. Her phoenix eyes lifted slightly, she blinked, and looked at Xia Lingyue, asking indifferently.

Xia Lingyue chuckled and said in an extremely seductive tone.

"Hehe, elder sister is indeed sharp and intelligent. Little sister came today to chat with you about our Eighth Prince."

Princess Xia Qingci raised an eyebrow slightly, feeling a bit puzzled. This Eighth Prince had been sent away for eight years; why bring him up suddenly at this time?

"Xia Chen? What has happened to our Eighth Prince?"

"What has happened?" Xia Lingyue covered her mouth and chuckled.

"Hehe, elder sister has been in seclusion for months; I fear you do not know what has happened outside."

She paused, lowered her voice, and a complex expression flashed in her eyes.

"The Late Emperor Xia Tianlin passed away some days ago. The Late Emperor passed the throne to the Eighth Prince, Xia Chen, and Empress Su Wanxi was actually, actually a remnant of the Former Chen Dynasty; she has already been executed along with the Tenth Prince Xia Jing."

"Moreover, Grand Tutor Zhang Jingzhi has also been thrown into the celestial prison for the crime of treason. Tomorrow, he will hold the enthronement ceremony."

Princess Xia Qingci's expression changed slightly. Late Emperor Xia Tianlin passed away? Xia Chen ascended the throne? The Empress was a remnant of the Former Chen Dynasty?

She had not expected that Empress Su Wanxi, who embodied the model of motherhood for the world, was actually a remnant of the Former Chen Dynasty. How interesting.

Playing the role of the model mother, winning the hearts of the ministers, and helping her son ascend the throne. Subsequently, overthrowing the Great Xia Dynasty and re-establishing the Great Chen Dynasty. A fine strategy.

However, she was already accustomed to such tactics in her past life.

However, this Eighth Prince ascending the throne was something she had never expected.

Xia Chen, a prince with no maternal clan, no background, and no strength—a "three-no" prince. No one would have expected such a minor character to become the heir.

Moreover, the Late Emperor Xia Tianlin was a powerhouse at the Heavenly Human Realm Late Stage, already standing at the Peak of the Great Xia Dynasty. How could a person with such cultivation suddenly pass away?

Even if he did pass away, how could such a distinguished and talented person be so muddled as to choose a "three-no" prince to succeed him?

As a former Empress, she quickly sensed the scent of a conspiracy within these suspicious points. Interesting...

Princess Xia Qingci put on a sorrowful expression. The Late Emperor Xia Tianlin had passed away; as his daughter, she naturally had to be grieved.

"What did you say?" Her voice trembled slightly. "You said, the Late Emperor... has passed away?"

Xia Lingyue nodded and sighed.

"It is said that in order to make a Breakthrough of his Bottleneck, the Late Emperor damaged his Foundation. Coupled with the fact that he Cultivated too diligently when fighting for the throne in his youth, and added to that his day and night of toil, he contracted a chronic illness."

"This time, the new injuries and old illnesses flared up together, and in the end, he passed away."

As she spoke, Xia Lingyue took out a handkerchief, lowered her head, and wiped away the tears she had squeezed out.

"The imperial edict passed the throne to the Eighth Prince. Grand Tutor Zhang Jingzhi was also thrown into the celestial prison for treason. Tomorrow, the Eighth Prince will hold the enthronement ceremony."

Princess Xia Qingci was silent for a moment, then murmured with a choked voice.

"Late Emperor... alas, may you rest in peace."