Seeing Dugu Shuo's certainty, Dugu Bo grew doubtful again.
Could he really have been overthinking?
Even though Prince Xue Xing suspected Xue Qinghe of poisoning the Second and Third Princes and also poisoning Xue Ye the Great, there had been no evidence so far.
Their inference was based solely on who stood to gain the most.
If Xue Qinghe truly hadn't done these things, then judging by his conduct, he was indeed a qualified Crown Prince.
Dugu Bo was instantly swayed by the persuasion and began to waver.
But he quickly snapped out of it.
He had come to confront Dugu Shuo—how could he let Dugu Shuo lead him astray?
Although Dugu Shuo's words sounded reasonable, this nephew's character wasn't trustworthy.
"Hmph, if you hunt geese every day, sooner or later, a goose will peck you!" Dugu Bo snorted coldly and reluctantly walked out of the ancestral hall.
Soon, he exited Dugu Mansion, where an extravagant carriage pulled by eight horses was waiting outside.
Dugu Bo went straight up into it.
"Jade Phosphor Crown, how did it go?" Inside the carriage, Prince Xue Xing was staring eagerly at Dugu Bo.
He had a strong intuition that the Second Prince, the Third Prince, and Xue Ye the Great had all been poisoned by Xue Qinghe.
But lacking evidence and sufficient personal strength, he could only pin his hopes on Dugu Bo.
Dugu Bo had told him that he was equally powerless and that only Dugu Shuo had a solution.
Thus, Prince Xue Xing had no choice but to accompany Dugu Bo to seek out Dugu Shuo.
Dugu Bo sat down helplessly. "I won't hide it from you—Xue Ye the Great is indeed poisoned.
The poison is Seven-Colored Mottled, the secret art of the Destruction Clan.
My nephew also mentioned that Dugu Feng is on close terms with the Crown Prince.
Clearly, he doesn't want to get involved!"
Prince Xue Xing was instantly stunned.
From Dugu Bo's words, he finally confirmed that Xue Ye the Great was truly poisoned.
He wanted to curse Dugu Shuo a few times but restrained himself.
He couldn't afford to offend Dugu Bo.
"For the Clan Leader to reveal the source of the poison is already a great help to me.
It seems we can only turn to Yang Wudi. If he refuses to detoxify my brother, don't blame me for being impolite!" Prince Xue Xing said coldly.
Since the other party had come to Heaven Dou City, the armies of the Heaven Dou Empire were not to be trifled with.
As a prince who had long been wary of Xue Qinghe, he also commanded a portion of the military forces.
Dugu Bo said, "Go ahead with your arrangements. I'll join you in action anytime."
Prince Xue Xing was overjoyed to hear this, thinking Dugu Bo was truly loyal.
With the assistance of a Titled Douluo, their chances of success increased significantly.
He excitedly grasped Dugu Bo's hand. "The Heaven Dou Empire is in a time of crisis, Jade Phosphor Crown. Such great kindness needs no words of thanks!"
Dugu Bo nodded and said nothing more.
He just had a feeling that things might not go so smoothly!
With the matter decided, the carriage started moving, and the two left Dugu Mansion.
Prince Xue Xing immediately began making arrangements.
The first thing he did was to create public opinion.
He had already experienced the Crown Prince's cunning.
With the emperor critically ill, the Crown Prince was the foundation of the state and had legitimately taken part in the palace's defense.
Even he found it harder to enter the palace than before.
Xue Qinghe would certainly not allow him to bring anyone else into the imperial palace.
As a seasoned political operator, Prince Xue Xing understood clearly that to eliminate Xue Qinghe, they must first awaken Xue Ye the Great.
Once Xue Ye the Great awoke, he could immediately take control of the military and restore his rule.
But to awaken Xue Ye the Great, they needed to enter the palace to administer the antidote, creating a vicious cycle.
Prince Xue Xing planned to first use public opinion to pressure Xue Qinghe, exposing his hypocritical facade and causing him to lose composure.
Then he would strike at the critical moment.
"When news of my brother's poisoning spreads throughout Heaven Dou City, I refuse to believe he would dare defy universal condemnation by preventing our entry into the palace!"
Prince Xue Xing thought viciously.
Several days passed in the blink of an eye, and just as Prince Xue Xing had anticipated, Heaven Dou City had become seething with public anger.
News of Xue Ye the Great's poisoning and impending death had spread to all major factions.
And permeated every street and alley.
Many people could smell the thick scent of conspiracy in the air.
It was at this moment that Dugu Feng returned to Heaven Dou City.
He was immediately surprised - who was manipulating public opinion? They were learning quite quickly.
Such public opinion was clearly targeting Qian Renxue.
Dugu Feng returned to his family and met with his father Dugu Shuo, Old Snake, and Old Scorpion.
He learned about the events that had occurred in Heaven Dou City during this period.
Including Dugu Bo's visit to their mansion, which Dugu Shuo informed him about.
Dugu Feng hadn't expected so many things to have happened in Heaven Dou City.
The merger of the Four Single Attribute Clans.
Qian Renxue's control over the imperial palace.
Prince Xue Xing's planned counterattack.
"Although Ning Zongzhu is the Crown Prince's teacher, he doesn't want to interfere in imperial succession matters. After confirming that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School could do nothing about Xue Ye the Great's illness, Ning Zongzhu stopped intervening!"
Dugu Shuo informed Dugu Feng about Ning Fengzhi's stance.
Being an old fox, Ning Fengzhi certainly understood that no matter who became emperor, they would need the support of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
Under such circumstances, why should he play the villain?
Whoever he helped, someone would resent him!
Therefore, Ning Fengzhi's plan must be to maintain a transcendent position.
With the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School not intervening and the Clear Sky Sect secluded in their mountain retreat, there weren't many significant forces left in Heaven Dou City.
If it were just a power struggle within the imperial family, it would be like serving themselves up on a platter before Qian Renxue.
However, the difference was that both Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo - these two Super Douluo - were in Heaven Dou City, so Qian Renxue didn't dare deploy Titled Douluo level strength.
Under these circumstances, Prince Xue Xing could indeed stir up some trouble.
Dugu Feng decided to watch the drama unfold for a couple of days first, to see how Qian Renxue planned to respond!
But what Dugu Feng didn't expect was that on that very day, Qian Renxue sent someone to Dugu Mansion to invite him to the Prince's Mansion.
Naturally, Qian Renxue didn't know he had returned.
But after he last brought Ning Rongrong back, he had publicly announced he was going into seclusion for cultivation.
Therefore, the outside world believed he had been staying with his family all along.
Qian Renxue had directly come to demand his presence.
Dugu Feng didn't plan to avoid her either.
After resting at the mansion for just one day, he headed to the imperial palace.
With the Crown Prince Token, his journey was smooth all the way.
But the solemn, murderous atmosphere within the palace allowed Dugu Feng to see Qian Renxue's tension.
Dugu Feng had already made up his mind - he must make Qian Renxue become emperor.
He couldn't let her return to inherit the God Test.
Come to think of it, last time she said she wanted to launch a war to unify the continent after ascending the throne.
He must support her in this.
It would be best to keep Qian Renxue busy with political affairs and neglect her cultivation.
No matter how talented she was, if she spent less time cultivating every day, he would eventually catch up to her.
Dugu Feng thought with mischievous amusement.
Qian Renxue was someone who, if her venture failed, would have to return and inherit her Godhood.
There was no way she could be allowed to fail!
Forget about Godhood!
I'll attain Godhood first!
As Dugu Feng walked along, he saw numerous ministers and officials waiting respectfully outside the gatehouse of the Prince's Mansion.
This fully demonstrated the considerable power Qian Renxue already wielded.
They were just waiting for Xue Ye the Great to die.
(End of Chapter)