Chapter 638: A Belated Apology

Chapter 638: A Belated Apology

Helian Zhan stood rigidly in place for a moment, his eyes filled with complexity.

Finally, he put away his sword and made way.

Su Youyue followed the man past the two brothers and entered the room.

The room reeked of medicine.

Princess Pingyang lay still, her eyes half-shut.

"You must hate me, don't you?"

Without waiting for anyone to answer, she continued on her own.

"Back then, I took your older brothers with me, but I couldn't take you, leaving you to endure humiliation in Yanjing. You must hate me..."

The man simply lowered his gaze: "I don't hate you, Mother."

A tear rolled down Princess Pingyang's cheek: "How could you not hate me... I know the suffering you went through. I wanted to take you with me, but on the day we left, when the capital's envoys came to escort us, you and your father were taken away by Emperor Jing's men...

As soon as we returned to the capital, we were under constant surveillance, and your side was under strict watch by Emperor Jing. The people I sent had to turn back each time."

"You finally see me, and I use such means to keep you here."

Su Youyue listened to Princess Pingyang's voice, which carried a hint of sobbing, but she felt nothing.

She had already guessed that there was another reason why Princess Pingyang didn't take Xie Yuan with her when she left, but what she couldn't bear was the way she forced Xie Yuan to stay.

Didn't she know the sacred poison was incurable!

Just as Su Youyue was about to say something, Princess Pingyang on the bed slowly turned her head and glanced at Xie Yuan.

Her eyes were blood-red.

Su Youyue was shocked, and the words she was about to say got stuck in her throat.

Was Princess Pingyang poisoned this severely?

Seeing that Su Youyue had noticed her eyes, Princess Pingyang quickly looked away and shut her eyes.

"Ayuan, you've found a good wife. For your sake, she's so daring, trying to save you with such methods."

The man, silent until now, finally spoke: "Yes."

Though Su Youyue hated Princess Pingyang, she was, after all, Xie Yuan's birth mother. She didn't wish her dead.

She thought Xie Yuan felt the same.

Otherwise, even bound by the sacred poison, he would have returned to her.

"Princess, I'm sorry... I didn't realize you were in such pain."

Being poisoned so deeply, it wasn't just her bond with Xie Yuan, but also...

Her feelings for her late father-in-law.

Back then, her father-in-law, Xie Changlou, was famously fond of crane patterns. People always mocked him, a great traitor, for trying to use the white crane to feign nobility and integrity, but these voices never changed his preferences.

Previously, she had noticed concealed patterns on Princess Pingyang's sleeves, so after making an educated guess, she used Silver Crane Tea as a lure to administer the Holy Medicine to her as well.

Returning the favor.

If it weren't for the Silver Crane Tea, Princess Pingyang, who was even more cautious than the emperor, would never have consumed anything so readily.

Princess Pingyang spoke softly: "It's not your fault. Your feelings for Ayuan were genuine. It was I who harmed you. I should be the one apologizing."

"Ayuan, Yue'er, I'm sorry..."

Su Youyue did not respond.

In a sense, the Princess Pingyang of the previous life had indeed harmed them.

This apology was long overdue.

But.

They had waited for it.

As for why Princess Pingyang, who was the wife of a powerful minister and also a secret princess of an enemy country, Su Youyue had temporarily decided not to delve into the reasons.

She let out a long-held breath of frustration and said, "The urgent task now is to gather all the doctors from both nations to urgently develop an antidote for the Holy Medicine."

This was the ultimate goal of her administering the medicine to so many people.

To harness the full resources of both nations to develop an antidote for the Holy Medicine.

She was determined to bring Xie Yuan back.

Even though he carried half Dongrong blood.

But she knew that Xie Yuan was different from his two elder brothers. Even if he had been taken back to Dongrong back then.

He would definitely return to Dasheng.

Princess Pingyang hesitated weakly: "I fear the Holy Church may withhold the ingredients for making the Holy Medicine once they find out..."

"Would they truly disregard the emperor's life?" Su Youyue found it unbelievable.

No matter how high the Holy Church's status was, it was still under the sovereign. If they dared to climb over the sovereign's head...

Princess Pingyang nodded: "This situation is intricate. In any case, we must be prepared for the Pope's refusal to provide the ingredients..."

"We may have to resort to theft." Su Youyue had no goodwill towards the Holy Church. She still couldn't comprehend why Princess Pingyang had administered the Holy Medicine to Xie Yuan and then sent him to be a Holy Son.

Princess Pingyang shook her head: "My dear, it's far more complex than you imagine. Over the years, the Holy Church has secretly amassed a considerable force... Even if all the Shadow Guards of the Xie family were mobilized, they would not be a match."

The name Tian Valley suddenly crossed Su Youyue's mind.

She dispatched two Shadow Guards, second only to Zhe Jing and Zhe Ying in skill, to steal Tian Valley Seeds. Despite their success, they failed to uncover the secrets hidden in Tian Valley.

Had it not been for the abundance of Tian Valley Seed trees in the valley, the two might have failed, as they never managed to peek inside the mysterious palace.

Thus, she chose to remain silent.

Without understanding the opponent's capabilities, her confidence might come off as arrogance.

"So... should we keep stealing?"

Su Youyue asked softly.

"..." This time, it was Princess Pingyang who fell silent.

After a moment, she said hesitantly, "Perhaps, while the Holy Church is still unaware, it’s still feasible to send more people to steal some back."

The man who’d been listening to their talk about stealing finally spoke up, "There’s no need to steal."

The two women turned to him, and he continued, "The Holy Church currently has thirty-six Priests in total. Except for four who are still selecting divine envoys outside, the remaining thirty-two are all in the temple or the Tian Valley."

"Among them, sixteen are already willing to act for me."

"That’s enough."

The man’s voice was steady, but it startled Princess Pingyang into sitting up, "Ayuan, you..."

Su Youyue was also surprised.

So, during Xie Yuan’s time as a Saint in the Holy Church, he wasn’t the poor, pitiful soul she’d imagined, but rather a scheming mastermind who successfully turned the Priests?

Well, well, he’s certainly her man!

If so many Priests are willing to help, that’s enough!

If Xie Yuan weren’t wearing a mask right now, she would’ve wanted to jump on him and kiss him.

The man seemed to feel her passionate gaze, turned his eyes to her, and his eyes held a faint smile.

Su Youyue blinked at him.

They’re truly a perfect match.

If the Holy Capital let them in, they’d turn it upside down.

Princess Pingyang seemed to have thought of this as well. After her initial surprise, she stayed quiet for a moment, then sighed, "No wonder you got the holy medicine formula so fast. You two as a couple..."