Douluo Continent: Tonight, a Fairy Tale Descends

"I thought too much."

Chen Xin didn't reply, but simply walked into the study and sat down opposite Ning Fengzhi.

“People change.” Chen Xin’s voice was calm and even. “Especially those who sit in that position. Power is the best catalyst; it can transform a person into someone you wouldn’t recognize at all.”

Ning Fengzhi sighed.

“I know,” he said, “but I still can’t help but wonder, if I hadn’t chosen to support him and had chosen another prince instead, would the outcome be different now?”

Chen Xin looked at him, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly said, "There are no 'what ifs.' A choice is a choice. Now, the question is not who to choose back then, but what to do next."

Ning Fengzhi nodded and said nothing more.

The next day.

The Heavenly Dou Imperial Palace, the bedroom of Empress Eva.

Eva leaned against a soft couch covered with snow-white animal hides. Her dark green dress made her skin appear even whiter, and her long, dark hair was loosely tied back, with a few strands falling around her ears.

She toyed with a string of understated black pearls in her hand, her emerald eyes half-closed, as if she were dozing off, or perhaps deep in thought.

"Your Majesty the Empress."

The voice of the personal maid came from outside the hall, tinged with a hint of caution.

"The wife of the Minister of Rites, the wife of the Censor-in-Chief, and several female members of the imperial family sent invitations, requesting an audience with Her Majesty."

Eva opened her eyes, a barely perceptible smile flashing in her emerald green pupils.

coming.

She had long anticipated this day would come.

Since the court officials couldn't persuade Xue Qinghe, they naturally thought of the Empress.

After all, in their eyes, although she was neglected by the emperor, she still had another identity: the mother of Snow White, the pearl of the empire.

For Snow White's sake, the emperor would listen to her a little.

Eva slowly sat up straight, placed the pearl necklace in her hand on the table beside her, and a perfectly timed smile appeared on her lips.

That smile was gentle, dignified, and regal, without a single flaw.

"Please invite them in."

"Yes."

Before long, a series of light footsteps came from outside the hall.

The wife of the Minister of Rites walked at the front, followed by the wife of the Censor-in-Chief and several other female members of the imperial family dressed in fine clothes.

Everyone wore a respectful smile, but beneath those smiles lay unconcealed anxiety and urgency.

"Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress."

The group knelt down in unison to pay their respects.

Eva raised her hand, her voice gentle and dignified: "No need for formalities. Please take a seat."

The palace maids brought out embroidered stools, and the ladies took their seats according to their rank.

The wife of the Minister of Rites sat at the very front. She was about forty years old, with a round face, and wore a crimson palace dress. She looked like someone who often moved around the inner palace.

She glanced at Eva, then quickly lowered her eyes, carefully choosing her words.

"Your Majesty," the wife of the Minister of Rites began, her voice carrying just the right amount of concern, "how have you been lately?"

Eva smiled, her voice as gentle as a spring breeze in March: "I am well. Madam need not worry."

The wife of the Minister of Rites nodded, then glanced at the wife of the Imperial Censor beside her.

The Censor-in-Chief's wife understood and took over the conversation: "Your Majesty, we have come to the palace today, firstly to pay our respects, and secondly..." She paused, seemingly hesitant about how to proceed.

"Secondly, I would like to ask Your Majesty for a favor."

Eva raised an eyebrow slightly, her face showing just the right amount of confusion: "Oh? What kind of help?"

The Censor-in-Chief's wife sighed, lowering her voice slightly: "Her Majesty the Empress must also know that His Majesty has recently... shown exclusive favor to Consort Hu. He spends most of the month at Consort Hu's place."

She paused, observing Eva's expression.

Eva's face remained unchanged, still bearing that gentle and dignified smile.

The wife of the Imperial Censor continued, "We are not ignorant people. It is His Majesty's freedom to favor whomever he desires. However, the harem is about distributing favors evenly. If His Majesty favors only one person, it will inevitably lead to instability in the harem and turmoil in the court in the long run."

The wife of the Minister of Rites quickly chimed in, "Yes, Your Majesty. We are not targeting Consort Hu, nor are we interfering in His Majesty's private affairs. It's just... throughout history, those who have been favored in the harem have never had a good ending. We are only thinking of His Majesty and the Tiandou Empire."

Several female members of the imperial family echoed this sentiment.

"Your Majesty, please say something. You are the Empress, His Majesty's legal wife. His Majesty will listen to you to some extent."

"Yes, Your Majesty. Now, only you can persuade His Majesty."

"We know we're putting you in a difficult position, but we really have no other choice..."

Eva listened quietly, her smile never wavering.

Gentle, dignified, and a model of virtue for the nation.

But deep within those emerald green eyes, a very faint smile flickered, one that only she herself could perceive.

After the ladies had finally finished speaking, Eva let out a soft sigh.

The sigh was soft, yet it silenced everyone perfectly.

"I understand your concerns."

Eva's voice was still gentle, but it carried a hint of weariness.

"However... although I am the Empress, Your Majesty is the sovereign, and I am a subject. What the sovereign does is none of my business, nor do I have the right to interfere or question it."

The wife of the Minister of Rites became anxious: "Your Majesty, what you said is incorrect. You are His Majesty's wife; it is only natural for a wife to advise her husband!"

Eva shook her head, a bitter smile playing on her lips.

"Of course I tried to persuade them. But... some things can't be changed by persuasion."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the ladies, and her voice lowered.

"All I can do is fulfill my duty and manage the harem well so that His Majesty has no worries. As for anything else... I am powerless to do so."

The ladies exchanged glances, their anxiety growing even stronger.

The Censor's wife opened her mouth, as if she wanted to say something more, but Eva raised her hand to stop her.

"I know you mean well. I will find another opportunity to persuade His Majesty. As for the outcome... I cannot guarantee it."

Her voice was gentle yet firm, carrying an undeniable force that signaled the end of the conversation.

The ladies exchanged glances, knowing that further discussion was pointless, and could only rise and bow.

"Then I'll have to trouble Your Majesty the Empress."

"We, your humble servants, take our leave."

Eva nodded and instructed the maid to see the guest out.

Several ladies walked out of the palace and along the long corridor.

The wife of the Minister of Rites sighed and lowered her voice to say to the wife of the Imperial Censor beside her, "Her Majesty the Empress has it tough too. She's been neglected by His Majesty like this, yet she still has to worry about us outsiders."

Chapter 481 Divine Test Selection

The Censor-in-Chief's wife nodded, her voice tinged with emotion: "Who can argue with that? But then again, although Her Majesty the Empress has been neglected, she is, after all, Snow White's mother. His Majesty will give Her Majesty some face out of respect for the princess."

"I hope so."

The figures of the ladies gradually disappeared at the end of the corridor.

Inside the palace, Eva leaned back on the soft couch, picked up the black pearl necklace, and gently fiddled with it between her fingertips.

In her emerald green eyes, the smile finally became undisguised and slowly rose to the corners of her mouth.

Persuade Xue Qinghe?

Advise Qianrenxue?

A faint smile curved at the corners of Eva's lips.

Little did they know, she and Qian Renxue were in the same boat.

No, they are not just in the same boat; they are allies with completely aligned interests, and partners in this palace.

She knew every move Qian Renxue made perfectly.

From making her empress to marrying Hu Liena, and now deliberately neglecting her as empress and favoring Consort Hu.

All of this is part of Qian Renxue's plan.

They put on a show for the court officials, and for the people of the world, staging a grand spectacle of a "tyrant bewitched by beauty."

The more anxious and worried the courtiers were, the more they felt that the emperor was being led by the nose by the Spirit Hall, the more successful Qian Renxue's plan became.

Because people's bottom line is broken step by step in this way.

Today they can accept the emperor's exclusive favor towards the Holy Maiden of the Spirit Hall; tomorrow they can accept the Heaven Dou Empire aligning itself with the Spirit Hall; and the day after tomorrow... they can accept the complete fusion of the two major powers.

Boiling a frog in lukewarm water.

By the time they realized what was happening, the water was already boiling, the frog was cooked, and it couldn't jump out anymore.

As for Eva, all she needs to do is cooperate with Qian Renxue to perform this play well.

To be a virtuous and kind empress neglected by the court officials, and a pitiful woman who "would advise His Majesty" but was powerless to do anything about it in front of the ladies.

Then, wait.

They waited for Qian Renxue's plan to proceed step by step, for the bottom line of the Heavenly Dou Empire to be crushed one by one, and for their common goal to be achieved.

Her ultimate goal, which she had planned and waited for for many years, was finally achieved.

At that time, all her goals will be achieved.

Eva closed her eyes, the smile lingering on her lips.

The candlelight flickered gently in the night breeze, casting her long shadow on the wall.