Chapter 1039 - 23: I Can See All the Cheats

Concubine Shu had formulated a plan in her heart, but before she could start executing it, the Emperor and the Empress Dowager summoned her.

Startled, she wondered if her scheme had been exposed?

No, impossible.

What she had done was flawless, and besides, she hadn’t made any moves yet. Just deny it; there’s no evidence.

Arriving at the Empress Dowager’s palace, Concubine Shu paid her respects to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. Though her heart was somewhat anxious, her face remained calm.

"Concubine Shu, I summoned you to give you a choice," the Emperor suddenly said after she sat down.

Concubine Shu was startled, her eyes filled with uncertainty as she looked at the Emperor. Could it be the Emperor really knew about her plan?

"The space you have operates using yourself as its sustenance. Although you’ve gained temporary benefits, various negative effects will manifest later. It consumes your life, fortune, and even soul as nourishment. Do you understand soul? It’s like you won’t be able to reincarnate later. I summoned you to let you choose: continue utilizing this space or let me have it stripped away from you?" The Emperor spoke calmly as he looked at Concubine Shu.

As the Emperor spoke, Concubine Shu’s face grew paler and her eyes filled with horror and disbelief.

How did the Emperor know she had a space?

Why did the Emperor say this space feeds on her own sustenance? Impossible, how could this be? This was the method of the immortals. That divine being had said that the Spiritual Spring in this space was only beneficial to the human body.

"I know it’s hard for you to accept and believe this news immediately. I’ll give you a few days to think it over. Decide whether you want to live or die. Think it through and then come to the Empress Dowager." The Emperor said indifferently, "Do you really think the changes in you before and after entering the palace are unnoticed by others? The Spiritual Spring made you beautiful, do you think there’s no price to pay?"

Concubine Shu, looking pale, wanted to say something, but the Emperor waved his hand: "Go on, think it over carefully."

Concubine Shu paid her respects and retreated, returning lost and despondent.

She originally thought it was her greatest trump card, but the Emperor had known all along.

Is this space really as the Emperor said, using her as a source of sustenance? The more Concubine Shu thought, the more frightened she became, feeling cold all over as she stumbled back.

Next came Consort Jing, and the Emperor similarly pointed out that she carried a system, asking if she wanted it to be stripped away.

Consort Jing panicked, only now realizing the reason the Emperor had been indifferent to her for over a year was because of this troublesome system. She had deluded herself into thinking she could rely on this system to win the Emperor’s favor, not knowing it was precisely this system that was the biggest obstacle to gaining his affection.

She naturally pleaded with the Emperor to quickly have this system removed. An elderly monk with a white beard emerged, waved his hand, and removed Consort Jing’s system. Consort Jing thanked profusely, finally learning that this monk was a master the Emperor had invited.

Consort Jing left happily in the end.

Noble Lady Qing’s reaction was the same as Consort Jing’s. Like Consort Jing, she was a person of this world, merely encountering so-called immortals and believing in these so-called immortal methods, but fundamentally, both of them regarded the Emperor as their heaven. Knowing that this system was the obstacle, they naturally chose to have it swiftly removed.

After resolving the systems of Consort Jing and Noble Lady Qing, the Emperor turned and looked at the monk, Dong Xiao, whose form shifted as he clasped his hands with gratitude.

Dong Xiao simply waved his hand, indicating it was justified.

When it was Lin Daying’s turn, she hesitated, listening to the system’s wailing in her mind, but still pleaded: "Emperor, the system with me has mended its ways. Now it’s just a talking piece of junk. Please let it stay to chat with me."