.

.

Jiang had no choice but to swim back up, remove ice jewel and put it away, he was required to be like a newborn when cultivation using the technique "Submerge" and newborns don't wear artifacts that is why ice jewel hindered his cultivation earlier "No one is here anyway, no one can see me or hurt me" he repeated this in his head over and over again, Jiang put on a determined look, his eyes sparkled then he shut it and continued cultivating as directed by the tablet, he would not come out of the ascension pond until he achieves power.

The power he wants to rule over his destiny.

Are you really going to the northern plains on your own?" Fang Mu questioned his friend for what seemed like a hundred times.

Fang Mu continued to try and persuade the emperor into changing his mind although he already knew what the outcome of this discussion will be.

Emperor Qin Jie Huang smiled beautifully while saying such dominating and arrogant words, his iris sparkled life fire, his red seductive lips curled up to form a mesmerizing smirk, and his red long hair cascaded over his shoulders as he lay lazily on a small bed made of materials no mortal could afford, the material covering the bed was from the skin of a nine tailed white mystic fox, it was fluffy and very soft.

Also, the bed was situated at a corner of the study room, it was placed there by orders from the emperor for times like this when he wanted to relax a bit, he appeared even more enchanting than any enchantress elemental could ever hope to appear, even Fang Mu couldn't help feeling a tad bit jealous of his friend looks, it really was a crime to appear this good looking.

Fang Mu knew his friend will not relent on what he had decided on so he chose to discuss about another very important matter.

that was the only reply the emperor gave as he stood up from the bed in his usual lazy manner.

the emperor said as he walked towards Fang Mu and patted his shoulders encouragingly.

Fang Mu said with a seriousness that was very unlike his usual self because he understood that this was a matter troubling the emperor for some time now.

The fact that they were people hiding in the shadows away from his reach didn't sit well with the emperor at all, he wasn't scared of them, he just felt uneasy about the whole situation.

Fang Mu lied through his teeth, he hadn't told the emperor why he truly wanted access to his dwelling because he didn't think the emperor will agree easily, although he had noticed some changes in the emperor's treatment of the empress elect, he couldn't be absolutely certain and didn't want to take chances, Fang Mu had this urge to help the empress elect grow in strength, even he didn't understand why he was going through all this problem for her.

Qin Jie Huang said jokingly as he dragged Fang Mu out of the study room with his arms wrapped around his neck, almost choking the poor guy to death.

Immediately they stepped outside the study room they both almost bumped into the kneeling Liang Na, she looked really pitiful as she sobbed and struggled to get her words out upon seeing the emperor" Your majesty, are you really not willing to forgive little Na, I know I was wrong" Liang Na said as she began to elegantly kowtow.

The emperor disdainfully stared at her, her father and herself had come a few days ago to seek for forgiveness, the right minister was an important figure in his government because he was a good strategist and adviser, more importantly he had the empire best interest at heart so the emperor had no choice but to give him face since he came personally to seek forgiveness for his daughter.

Despite forgiving Liang Na he had banned her from ever entering the palace again after all she wasn't supposed to have such unrestricted access in the first place.

Her father had no issues with this and graciously thanked the emperor, who would have thought Liang will not care for her head and keep on forcing her way into the palace so that he could withdraw what he had said, although she didn't mention it in her statement, he knew what she wanted.

It's not that she couldn't be stopped when she did this but the guards couldn't manhandle her since they haven't gotten such orders from the emperor and she was still the daughter of someone they couldn't casually mess with.

Emperor Qin Jie Huang was really beginning to lose it, if not for her father he would have long used a tougher hand to deal with her once and for all.

Fang Mu said, the jest in his words was apparent and could clearly be heard by the emperor but before he could teach his silly friend a lesson, Fang Mu skillfully removed the emperor's hands from around his neck while he was distracted by Liang Na who had shamefully held on to the emperor's right leg and Fang Mu saw this as an opportunity to scurry away.

Qin Jie Huang was feeling really irritated and began to toss his right leg about so that the unwilling Liang Na will be flung to a distance far away from him, he didn't want to be too hard on her since he believed he had punished her enough, also she was someone he had once thought was the only one worthy of himself due to her strength, maybe he had even had some admiration for her as regards to this, now thinking about it he feels that previously he was really narrow-minded.

The emperor didn't use any mana apart from that of his body strength to try and get Liang Na off him and this should have normally done the trick but he didn't think the girl's determination will be this much and she wouldn't let go no matter how ridiculous she looked while been flung about, her outer robes flapped about and with the way the guards standing behind her were hiding their faces and even blushing, it was obvious that Liang Na's inner robes must have been exposed.

She began to hit her head more hardly on the ground.

The emperor had since stopped moving his right leg radically not necessarily because he cared so much for her reputation or well being but because he thought his actions of throwing his leg around was somewhat comical, it wasn't something a majestic ruler like himself should be doing especially before his servants, as if sensing his mood, the guards decided to dispense on their own, claiming to have some urgent patrol to do. This were just all excuses, since they were all stationary guards but the emperor didn't bother calling them out for this.

Although the guards had gone the emperor believed it was still better to continue this affair with Liang Na inside his study room, so he stepped back into his study, dragging the kneeling Liang Na along, blood trail from Liang Na's kneecap followed her into the study room, she didn't scream out in pain this time because her powers were back and all she felt was an itch on her knees, she even felt somewhat happy that the emperor stylishly dismissed his guards for her sake or so was her wishful thinking

The emperor scrutinized Liang Na as she calmly knelt beneath him all the while not voicing out the grievance she might be feeling due to his recent actions but instead admitting her wrongs and seeking forgiveness, this made the emperor begin to view her in a new light.

If it was before she did say she was in the right and then apologize half-halfheartedly, even with such actions by her he did condone it, that was his way of spoiling his future true empress so this big change in Liang Na made him think that she still had hope in becoming a better person although he could never accept anyone but Jiang as his true Empress.

The elegant and dignified Liang Na was willing to accept humiliation after humiliation in his hands and accept her wrongdoing, such thinking made the emperor's resolve to keep maltreating her weaken a bit.

after saying this he wanted to leave without wasting more time but Liang Na blocked his path, a frown graced his handsome face, not diminishing his appeal one bit.

He impatiently inquired, after all, he had some ants causing trouble at the northern plains furthermore he had to go and squash them personally, a choice he decided on his own.

The issue at the northern plains wasn't something that couldn't wait so the emperor concluded he might as well hear Liang Na out one last time.

Liang Na took out a jade flask from her space pouch and then opened its cover, the delicious scent spread through the air to every corner in the study room, even Liang Na was drawn to the enticing soup and was tempted to take a taste, she didn't cook it herself if not her reaction wouldn't be this big but she was ready to take all credit for it, Liang Na looked at the food as if she was reminiscing about a very fond memory, she wished she had taken out of it before having to bring it here.

The emperor could care less about the taste of the soup, he just wanted to be done with the pest called Liang Na, he took the Jade flask and downed its content in one go, he then handed the jade flask back to her and uttered coldly he wondered why Liang Na's eyes suddenly looked like it was about to pop out of its socket, then it turned back to normal and a smile graced her lips, the smile was so much to the point that it seemed her eyes were smiling too, she even looked a bit spooky.

The emperor didn't care about what nonsense was going on in Liang Na's brain so he ignored it, he just wanted her to be quickly out of his view "Let yourself out" he said and walked past her, as he held the door handled and turned it he suddenly became dizzy, an abnormal kind of heat that he had never experienced before suddenly took control of his whole body, he was fighting to stay In control, he was a fire elemental so normally there shouldn't be any kind of heat that will affect him in such a strange and negative way, the emperor felt like the extinct mystic dragon beasts were roaring and releasing their pressure in his brain,also it was like they were constantly releasing their overbearing flames all over his body, the pain cruising through his body won't be this much if he didn't keep resisting it.

Emperor Qin Jie Huang turned and faced the slowly retreating Liang Na with eyes as red as blood as he demanded "what did you put in that damn soup Liang Na?" his thunderous voice vibrated inside the room, instantly shattering Liang Na's eardrums.