At this roar, Fu Huan felt as if her head was buzzing, momentarily thinking there was something wrong with her ears.
The person in the forbidden area had disappeared?
“There’s no one inside?” Fu Huan stood up, looking at the Celestial Emperor with astonishment.
She had never set foot in this forbidden area and had no idea who was imprisoned there. She only knew this person was extremely important to the Celestial Emperor.
But now the Celestial Emperor said the person inside had disappeared. Could it be…
Si Qing…
Fu Huan’s heart sank, but she tried to maintain her composure, revealing no clues.
“Come here.” The Celestial Emperor’s eyes darkened as he glanced at Fu Huan, then turned and walked into the forbidden area.
Fu Huan hurriedly followed.
…
…
She had imagined that this forbidden area would be like the Eighteen Levels of Hell, with iron doors, chains, and various torture instruments.
But upon entering, she discovered it was a very cozy living quarters.
And from the way it was arranged, it seemed to be a woman’s residence.
Fu Huan carefully examined the chamber. There was a wooden bed, a table and a chair, and a dressing table with several pieces of jewelry still placed on it.
Behind the living quarters was a small door, with wisps of smoke seeping through the cracks, suggesting it might be a hot spring.
Seeing this, Fu Huan thought that the owner of these quarters seemed less like a prisoner and more like someone in seclusion.
“Kneel!” The Celestial Emperor suddenly flew into a rage, raising his hand and sending a fierce light toward Fu Huan’s legs.
Caught completely off guard, Fu Huan was struck, her legs buckled, and she immediately fell to her knees, the impact causing her kneecaps to vibrate painfully.
“Tell me, where is the person who was here?” The Celestial Emperor demanded in a low voice, his face full of fury, staring intently at Fu Huan kneeling on the ground.
Fu Huan quickly shook her head and rubbed her knees. “I don’t know. I’ve never been here before.”
“Your phoenix power is a unique ability in the world. The seal spell at this entrance can only be broken by you, apart from me. And the spell-breaking incantation is known only to you and me. How dare you say you don’t know?” The Celestial Emperor was truly enraged. In his excitement, a whip had appeared in his palm, and he lashed Fu Huan’s shoulder viciously.
Fu Huan instinctively clenched her fists, naturally not daring to reveal Si Qing’s involvement. If she were to expose Si Qing now, neither of them would survive.
“In reply to the Celestial Emperor, it’s precisely because of this that Fu Huan would never do such a thing.”
“Only I know this spell-breaking technique in the world. If I secretly took the person here away, wouldn’t that be seeking my death? Besides, I don’t even know who the person here is. I have no motive to take her away, isn’t that right?”
Hearing Fu Huan’s words, the Celestial Emperor, who was about to deliver another lash, pulled back in time, seemingly finding Fu Huan’s reasoning sound.
Indeed, this girl had no reason to do this.
But…
The person he had confined here was truly gone.
Thinking of this, his anger surged again. With nowhere to direct his fury, he aimed it at Fu Huan before him. “Fu Huan, your spell-breaking technique was compromised. It’s your dereliction of duty, your incompetence!”
“Fu Huan is willing to accept punishment.” At this point, Fu Huan could only take the blame. The Celestial Emperor was furious; the more she said, the angrier he would become.
“Go to the gate of the Celestial Realm and kneel in punishment for seven days.”
“Fu Huan accepts the edict.”
……
Fu Huan had initially thought that the angry Celestial Emperor ordering her to kneel for seven days was already showing leniency. But when she saw what an immortal attendant brought, her previous good feelings toward her Uncle Celestial Emperor instantly vanished.
A spiked board…
The Celestial Emperor wanted her to kneel on a board covered with sharp spikes.
Kneeling for seven days would surely cripple her legs.
Who could this person in the forbidden area be, to make the Celestial Emperor so furious and inflict such punishment on her?
The gate of the Celestial Realm was a busy place with people coming and going. Kneeling here was already extremely humiliating, and now they had brought a spiked board…
For the first time in her life, Fu Huan felt wronged.
But this wrongdoing was also self-inflicted—who told her to give the spell-breaking technique to Si Qing?
“Hiss…” After kneeling on the spiked board, Fu Huan felt a burning pain in her knees. Her shoulder had just been viciously whipped by the Celestial Emperor and hadn’t been treated yet. Now kneeling on this spiked board, Fu Huan felt pain throughout her body.
“Master, what should we do? Do you need me to find the Underworld God?” After seeing Fu Huan’s punishment, Zi Yu quickly concealed her form, preparing to help Fu Huan spread the news.
“What for?!” Fu Huan replied using a secret sound technique, and then said, “Go back first and wait for my news.”
“But…” Zi Yu hesitated.
Fu Huan repeated, “Go back first.”
Hearing this, Zi Yu didn’t dare to disobey Fu Huan and left the Celestial Realm.
The celestial soldiers guarding the gate witnessed this scene and exchanged glances. This phoenix daughter, Fu Huan, had always been deeply loved by the Celestial Emperor and was the daughter of the Great Emperor Ziwei. How could she receive such a severe punishment?
Moreover, the Celestial Emperor specifically had her kneel at the gate of the Celestial Realm, intending for everyone to see. It seemed that Upper God Fu Huan had caused serious trouble.
The Great Emperor Ziwei hurried to the gate of the Celestial Realm upon hearing the news. Seeing the scene before him, his eyes showed shock, followed by deep concern.
“Huan’er, what happened?” The Great Emperor Ziwei approached, crouching in front of Fu Huan. Seeing the blood seeping from her shoulder and the blood at her knees, his eyes reddened.
His precious daughter, whom he couldn’t bear to harm even a finger of since she was little, had now suffered such severe injuries.
“I’m fine, Father. Don’t worry.” Upon seeing the Great Emperor Ziwei, Fu Huan was also full of grievance, but since she had angered the Celestial Emperor, being punished was an unchangeable fact. She couldn’t let her father worry too.
The Great Emperor Ziwei frowned. “What exactly happened that you can’t even tell your father?”
“This matter concerns the Celestial Emperor’s taboo. Father, please don’t ask me. Let me kneel here for seven days first, then we’ll talk.” Fu Huan, fearing eavesdroppers, sent a secret message to the Great Emperor Ziwei.
The Great Emperor Ziwei looked hesitant, but seeing that Fu Huan had angered the Celestial Emperor, he ultimately didn’t say anything more. He placed his hand on Fu Huan’s shoulder, helping to heal her wound.
“Tomorrow is the Celestial Empress’s birthday. With people coming and going at the gate of the Celestial Realm, I fear many will come to mock you.” The Great Emperor Ziwei sighed, deeply dissatisfied with the Celestial Emperor’s actions.
“It’s alright. They wouldn’t dare mock me to my face. What I don’t see doesn’t bother me. I don’t care about these things,” Fu Huan comforted the Great Emperor Ziwei.
The Great Emperor Ziwei shook his head helplessly. “Fine, I’ll leave you be then.”
“Yes, Father Ziwei, please go back and rest. Seven days will pass quickly, in the blink of an eye.” Fu Huan smiled at the Great Emperor Ziwei.
Hearing this, the Great Emperor Ziwei couldn’t say much more. With a heavy sigh, he turned and left.
After the Great Emperor Ziwei left, Fu Huan rubbed her knees. The spikes underneath pierced her knees, and even the slightest movement brought excruciating pain. It truly was torture.
Not far away, Leng Yuan and Fu Ling stood at a corner, watching Fu Huan kneeling at the gate of the Celestial Realm. Both seemed somewhat surprised.
“Is this another of You Lan’s schemes?” Leng Yuan looked at Fu Ling.
Fu Ling shook her head. “No, this isn’t my divine lord’s doing.”
“Then, did she truly offend the Celestial Emperor?” Leng Yuan frowned, thinking to herself that the Celestial Emperor had always loved Fu Huan. What had happened today? He had punished Fu Huan like this, making her kneel for seven days.
Lost in thought, Leng Yuan looked again at the spiked board Fu Huan was kneeling on and bit her lip, unable to understand.
“Upper God, should we go over and see?” Fu Ling asked.
“No need. Let’s go.” At this moment, Leng Yuan only urgently wanted to know why the Celestial Emperor had punished Fu Huan to kneel here.
With that, without waiting for Fu Ling to say anything more, she headed toward the palace where the Third Princess Bing Lian lived.
……
After kneeling at the gate of the Celestial Realm for two hours, Fu Huan’s entire body had stiffened, and her whole leg had lost all feeling, to the point where she couldn’t even feel the pain anymore.
If two hours were so difficult to endure, seven days might cost her life.
What to do, what to do…
Fu Huan knocked on her head, desperately trying to think of a way to protect herself.
“Oh my, isn’t this the noble Upper God Fu Huan? Why are you kneeling here? Are you practicing some divine skill?” A sharp, mocking voice sounded from Fu Huan’s side.
Hearing this voice, Fu Huan silently rolled her eyes.
News certainly traveled fast, quickly attracting flies.
The Third Princess Bing Lian had disliked Fu Huan for a long time. Upon hearing that Fu Huan had been punished, she hurried to the gate of the Celestial Realm to see for herself.
When she saw Fu Huan truly kneeling there, she immediately smiled so widely her mouth almost twisted. This was truly a rare sight.
Seeing that Fu Huan was ignoring her, Bing Lian quickly stood in front of Fu Huan, covering her mouth with a laugh. “Why is Upper God Fu Huan kneeling to me? Quickly rise, this princess cannot accept such a grand gesture.”
“…” Fu Huan ignored her.
“Oh my, get up quickly. Why are you being so polite today, insisting on performing this grand ceremony for this princess?”
“…”
“Since you’re so eager to kneel, you can continue kneeling to this princess. Oh, why are your knees raised?” Bing Lian noticed that the spikes under Fu Huan’s knees weren’t completely embedded. Her eyes revealed coldness as she moved behind Fu Huan, pressing on her shoulders to push her body down.
With this press, Bing Lian felt some sticky blood on her palm and realized Fu Huan’s shoulder was also injured. She coldly curved her lips, and the hand pressing on Fu Huan’s shoulder increased in force, with a viciousness that seemed intent on piercing through Fu Huan’s shoulder.
Originally, after the Great Emperor Ziwei had treated Fu Huan’s wound, her shoulder only felt sore, with no other sensation. Now with Bing Lian’s pressure, the wounds on her shoulder completely reopened, and she could feel the blood continuously flowing down her shoulder.
This Third Princess had gained some skill today…
After pressing for a long time, Bing Lian looked at her palm full of blood, finally satisfied, and released Fu Huan’s shoulder. She circled back to stand in front of Fu Huan, thoroughly enjoying the sight of Fu Huan kneeling before her.
“Someone, bring a chair for this princess.” Bing Lian folded her arms, ordering an immortal attendant to bring her a chair.
Finally, Bing Lian raised her eyes and stared directly at Fu Huan, warning, “This princess knows you have many abilities. Don’t try any tricks, or I’ll report you to Father Celestial Emperor again!”
Fu Huan looked at the Third Princess Bing Lian before her and suddenly realized that the Third Princess seemed to have become smarter today.
Because she had just been about to use her mental powers to teach this Third Princess a lesson, but unexpectedly, the princess had spoken first.
In this case, it truly wasn’t easy for her to act.
However, submitting to such humiliation without a fight wasn’t Fu Huan’s style…