"The three elders of the palace!
They're still alive? "
The appearance of the three elders was completely out of Hua Ling's expectations. Her eyes were filled with shock.
Ever since Qin Shi got to know Hua Ling, he had never seen Hua Ling so shocked. He could not help but ask in surprise, "What kind of old men are these three?"
Hua Ling was silent for a long time in response to Qin Shi's question, before gradually recovering his composure. "If I remember correctly, these three old fellows have already lived for over two hundred years. They were princes of the empire during the late king's father's generation. They were called Fang Qingyuan, Fang Qinghu, and Fang Qingyu. Back then, when the empire was invaded by foreign races, it was all because of them that the empire was defended. However, the three of them should have died of illness a hundred years ago.
"Second Grandpa, Third Grandpa, Fourth Grandpa!"
Fang Xin and her sister's eyes reddened when they saw the three elders. "Grandpas, you're still alive?"
However, in the face of the three sisters' questions, the three old men kept their mouths shut as if they were deaf. They forcefully pushed the three of them aside and steadily stood beside Fang Heng.
This action caused everyone to be shocked.
Qin Shi frowned. For some reason, he felt that there was something strange about the three elders. However, he couldn't put his finger on it.
The Lin Concubine's heart sank when she saw the three elders' positions. "Seniors, what do you mean by this?" she asked in disbelief.
"Hehe, can't you tell?
The three seniors will naturally support Heng 'er. I've said it before, a person needs to live a little longer to understand things. "The Xiao Chong Little Man stopped the Qilin Concubine and smiled lightly.
As soon as these words came out, the previously shaken hearts of the people clearly calmed down. These three old men still had a lot of weight in the empire.
However, the Lin Concubine and the others couldn't understand. The three elders were once heroes of the empire. Fang Chong was also at the Extraordinary Venerable Realm. Why would they support Fang Heng now?
Xiao Chong's smile reached his ears when the Lin Concubine didn't speak. "Sister, come and count the votes. Let's see who won. Don't delay the registration of the new king."
Xiao Chong's overbearing manner caused the Lin Concubine, Lin Yu, Hua Ling, Qin Shi, and Fang Xin's expressions to darken. Was there even a need to count the votes?
Both sides had three more people. Eleven against ten. It was obvious who would win and who would lose.
"It seems like we've all underestimated Xiao Chong."
"Little guy, get ready. It's going to be a tough fight." Hua Ling stared at Fang Qingyuan and the other two elders with her beautiful eyes, showing an unprecedented fear.
Even Hua Ling did not dare to underestimate the aura that Fang Qingyuan and the other two were exuding.
"En!"
Qin Shi took a deep breath and prepared himself for the worst.
"Little guy, can you hear me?"
At this moment, a buzzing sound suddenly rang out from Qin Shi's Space Ring.
Hearing that, Qin Shi could not help but be stunned. Then, he was overjoyed. "Senior Howling Moon?"
"Yes."
Howling Moon's voice rang out again. There was a hint of killing intent in it. "Hmph, Xiao Chong is really unscrupulous in order to let his son take the throne. He won't even let the dead go!"
"Dead?" Qin Shi frowned in confusion. "Senior, what do you mean?"
Xiao Yue said hatefully, "Can't you tell? One hundred years ago, I personally led my three younger brothers into the Treasure Trove. I could not sense any signs of life from the three of them. It is clear that Xiao Chong used some method to control their corpses."
"What?" Qin Shi was shocked. "There's actually something like that?
No wonder I felt that their auras were a little strange. "
"Yes, let me out. I originally didn't want to participate, but since Xiao Chong has used such a despicable method, there's no need for me to hide anymore." These few words were almost squeezed out from under the Howling Moon Fang.
At this moment, Xiao Chong had already turned around and headed for the dragon throne with Fang Heng smugly. Along the way, his sharp, disgusting laughter echoed.
"Wait!"
Seeing that Fang Heng was about to sit on the dragon throne, Qin Shi suddenly stepped forward.
This voice attracted many gazes. Xiao Chong turned around and frowned. "Sect Leader Qin, is there anything else important?
If it's not important, I think we should wait until Heng 'er takes the throne. It won't be good if we delay the new king's coronation! "
Faced with Xiao Chong's angry rebuke, Qin Shi smiled nonchalantly. "Haha, the new king's coronation cannot be delayed. However, it seems that the new king has not been decided yet, right?"
"Not decided?"
Xiao Chong was stunned. Not only Xiao Chong, but everyone was stunned as well. "The votes are already very obvious. Don't you know how to count?"
Faced with such doubts, Qin Shi only smiled in disdain. "Haha, based on the votes here, His Highness Fang Heng is indeed slightly ahead. However, how do you know that no other relatives of the royal family will stand out to support Xiao Yu?"
"Other relatives of the royal family?" Everyone was surprised.
"What a joke. Within the royal family, within the past two hundred years, other than the missing Fang Wan Yan, the rest are all present. Do you think there's someone else who can stand out? Could it be that you're talking about Fang Wan Yan?" Xiao Chong's tone was ice cold as he glared at Qin Shi.
Regarding this, the Lin Concubine, Fang Xin, and the other two sisters also questioned Qin Shi. Xiao Chong's words were not wrong. Other than Fang Wan Yan, who else would it be in the royal family?
Under everyone's gaze, Qin Shi's lips still had a leisurely smile. He took a step forward. "Haha, you'll know who it is when you see it."
Qin Shi's actions completely infuriated Xiao Chong. Her beautiful eyes darkened as she scolded, "Hah, fine. I'll see what tricks you can play!"
"Whether it's a trick or not, you'll know soon enough."
Qin Shi smiled and raised his left hand high up. His fingertips flickered with a faint purple light. After the purple light, there was a raging inferno. The Explosive Flame Bead was reborn from the raging inferno.
The Explosive Flame Pearl emerged from the fire.
Once the Explosive Flame Pearl appeared, Lin Yu suddenly realized something. "It's, it's grandmother?"
"Grandmother?"
The Lin Concubine was stunned at first. Then, she immediately focused her gaze on the Explosive Flame Pearl.
The Explosive Flame Pearl slowly rose into the air and spun in the center of the hall.
As it spun, a leisurely silhouette gradually appeared in everyone's eyes. The moment this silhouette appeared, everyone's eyes widened in shock.
"That's …!"
"It's Xiao Yue. It's the Empress Dowager?"
It was unknown who was the first to cry out in shock, but it immediately caused the entire arena to erupt like a volcano, boiling over.
"Mother!
Mother, is it really you? "The Lin Concubine, Fang Xin, and the other two sisters were so excited that their eyes turned red.
Xiao Chong's delicate body trembled violently. She never expected Xiao Yue to appear. She widened her eyes in fear. "You, you, how are you still alive?
This, this is impossible. This is absolutely impossible! "
Qin Shi snorted in disdain at Xiao Chong's sudden change in expression. "Xiao Chong, do you think that you have calculated everything? You don't know that you were muddle-headed for a moment. In your mind, Senior Xiao Yue should be dead, right?
You should have sent someone to throw her into the Bejewelled Lava Volcano, right?
Haha, but unfortunately, you never expected that she would reappear in the Imperial Court, right? "
Hearing Qin Shi's words, countless people were shocked. The Lin Concubine, Fang Xin, and the other two sisters glared at Xiao Chong. "Xiao Chong, did you harm Mother back then?"
Xiao Chong immediately fell into a predicament. She took a few steps back in terror. However, she immediately adjusted her mentality and took a deep breath. She smiled and said, "Haha, my sisters really know how to joke. Xiaoyue is also my mother. Why would I harm her?"
After saying that, she smiled at Xiao Yue. "Mother, don't you agree? I'm so happy to see you again. I wonder where you have been for the past hundred years. Why haven't you returned to the imperial city?"
Xiao Yue felt a chill. She didn't expose Xiao Chong. She didn't want to force Xiao Chong into a corner right now. She only smiled palely. "When one gets old, they don't like noisy places. It's good to live a carefree life."
"Then, why did you come back today?" Xiao Chong asked in a low voice.
Many people frowned. Wasn't she asking the obvious?
A breeze blew past. Xiao Yue's gaze paused on Fang Qingyuan and the other two for a few seconds. Then, she revealed a sorrowful expression. However, it disappeared quickly. "Aren't I participating in the voting? I'm old, so I should be considered a relative of the imperial family, right?
I wonder if I have the right to participate? "
Hearing Xiao Yue's words, Xiao Chong's beautiful eyes darkened. However, she smiled. "Of course. If Mother doesn't have the right, I'm afraid none of us do."
"Haha, that's for the best."
Xiao Yue smiled coldly. She bent down and landed next to Lin Yu. She patted Lin Yu's shoulder and said, "Yu 'er, grandma supports you."
"Thank you, grandma."
Xiao Yue's words caused Lin Yu's eyes to redden. He choked with emotions. However, he wasn't grateful for Xiao Yue's support. He was grateful that Xiao Yue didn't care about her life for him.
Perhaps other people didn't know, but he knew very well that with Xiao Yue's current condition, she couldn't survive outside of the Explosive Flame Bead for long. It was very likely that her soul would scatter and she would lose all hope of being reborn.
Looking around, Qin Shi revealed a sly smile. "Haha, Empress Xiao Chong. Didn't I say that I was right? Who will sit on the throne hasn't been decided yet."
Xiao Chong's face darkened. She said coldly, "Hmph, don't be happy too early. The votes are eleven to eleven. Lin Yu isn't ahead of our Heng 'er."
This time, the situation was in a stalemate.
Eleven to eleven. Once again, it was a tie. Helpless looks appeared on everyone's faces.
Qin Shi also had an embarrassed look on his face. This situation was not beneficial to them. If they couldn't win the votes this time, who knows what tricks Xiao Chong would play.
While everyone was silent, Yu Luocha had left her seat. She dragged her beautiful figure to Qin Shi's side and softly said, "Shi Tou, do you really want Lin Yu to ascend to the throne?"
The sudden voice stunned Qin Shi. When he turned around to look at Yu Luocha, his eyes immediately softened. He nodded his head and said, "Yes, Xiao Yu is my brother. He's the first brother that I've risked my life for. I've said that I'll make him a king and an emperor, so I'll definitely make him a king and an emperor."
Hearing Qin Shi's resolute reply, Yu Luocha's beautiful face revealed a complicated expression. However, this emotion was hidden behind the green silk veil and no one noticed it. After a long time, she only nodded her head. "Alright, I understand."