My Celestial Ascension

Inside the unfamiliar tavern, two men sat together at a table in a dark corner, far from the bustling crowd. Their presence went largely unnoticed by the other patrons.

"The situation is worsening for us," one of the men said, taking a big gulp of his drink. He nearly choked as the strong alcohol burned his throat, causing him to cough. "The Emperor has increased city security, and the soldiers are keeping a close eye on everyone."

"T-That idiotic Prince," the other man hissed, frustration lacing his voice. "He couldn't keep his mouth shut and ended up dead. Now, the Empire knows, and our workload has doubled. We're in an even more dangerous position because of him."

"On top of that, the higher-ups are asking for progress reports," the first man added with a grimace. "I have no idea what to tell them. And one thing's certain—they won't tolerate excuses or failure."

"That's a real problem," the second man muttered. "I just hope they show some leniency toward us. After all, it wasn't our fault that Fedrick got caught by his father and ruined everything."

"That fat bastard probably soiled himself when he found himself face-to-face with that wild woman!"

"Well," the second man said with a sly grin, "can you blame him? We'd probably do the same if we were staring down that bitch! Haha!"

A few drinks later, the mood grew more somber. One of the men's expressions turned serious as he leaned forward. "We have to act soon. If we don't fix this, our lives will be on the line."

"Act? On what?" the other man scoffed. "Fedrick is dead. Whatever he knew died with him. There's no need to panic—for now. Relax, have another drink." He poured more wine into the empty glass and slid it across the table.

"You're impossible…" the first man muttered with a sigh, picking up the glass.

The second man laughed heartily as his companion downed the drink in one motion and slammed the empty glass onto the table.

"We need to deal with one loose end," the man said, his tone sharp. "Someone who knows about our plan. If we want to succeed and avoid disappointing the higher-ups, she has to go."

"You mean that bitch? Concubine Agatha, or whatever?"

"Exactly," the man replied with a dark chuckle.

—

Meanwhile, inside the Imperial Palace, Emperor Philip, Empress Selena, and Concubine Priscilla sat together on a luxurious sofa. An air of worry and unease hung over them, as though danger loomed just beyond their reach.

Across from them, Yuan and his wives sat together, their expressions serious. Out on the balcony, Miss Zara played with Little Zoe, the two enjoying the breathtaking view of the Capital City.

"So, what's your plan?" Valeria asked, her tone sharp and her legs crossed. A stern expression settled on her face. "How are you going to deal with this mess?"

Emperor Philip remained silent, his gaze fixed on the floor. After a long pause, he finally decided to spoke.

"I don't know," he admitted, his voice heavy with despair. "I had no idea something like this was happening. To think that a snake was hiding right here in the palace... and it was none other than my own son, my own flesh and blood."

Upon hearing her brother's response, Valeria felt as though Emperor Philip had trampled all over her patience. Fury ignited within her, her eyes blazing with anger as her blood boiled.

The room's temperature rose sharply, and an orange aura enveloped her body, radiating waves of intense heat. Everyone in the Imperial Capital City felt the oppressive aura emanating from her.

"You idiot! Are you out of your damn mind?!" Valeria roared, flames bursting from her body in her rage. "How could you look so pathetic just because your useless, good-for-nothing son got himself killed in a conspiracy orchestrated by someone hiding in the shadows?!"

Suddenly, she felt a hand rest gently on her shoulder. Turning sharply, she saw it was none other than her husband, Yuan.

"Calm down, Valeria," Yuan said, his voice steady and his smile calm. "You'll scare Little Zoe with that pressure you're releasing. And, let's not forget, both of them are only Spirit Warriors."

The calm reassurance in his tone quelled her wild energy.

"I'm sorry, Yuan," Valeria said softly, her flames extinguishing as she exhaled deeply. Turning to the others, she added, "I apologize for my outburst."

"We understand, Valeria. You're angry—we get it," Emma said with a gentle smile. The others nodded in agreement.

"Just try not to frighten the little girl," Mireya added, her tone soothing. "And don't forget, Priscilla is pregnant. You need to keep your emotions in check."

"I'm sorry. I'll keep that in mind," Valeria replied with a small smile, warmth returning to her demeanor. The support from her sisters filled her with a comforting sense of security.

Once Valeria fully calmed down, the tension in the room shifted back to the seriousness of their predicament.

After a moment of silence, Valeria turned her fiery gaze back to Emperor Philip. Her voice, though now controlled, still carried an edge of anger. "You should realize by now that Agatha and Fedrick aren't alone in this 'grand plan.' There must be others involved—aristocrats, perhaps. Let's be honest, your son isn't exactly clever."

"Indeed," Empress Selena agreed with a nod. "But we have no clue who they are or why they're targeting our family and the throne. Until we uncover more about their identities, we're stuck."

Valeria leaned back against the sofa, her brow furrowed in thought.

"Finding them will be a huge pain in the ass," she muttered. "But luckily, we have that 'bitch' with us. She must know who's behind the planning and who fed such grandiose ideas into Fedrick's pig-sized brain."

"Well," Yuan said with a sly grin, placing a hand on Valeria's thigh, "why don't we just interrogate her? Emma can make her talk like a parrot if she uses her poison. Pain worse than death should do the trick."

Valeria considered the suggestion, a slow, vicious smile spreading across her face. Without a word, she leaned in and kissed Yuan firmly on the lips, her grin never faltering.

"You're amazing, Yuan. You have such a unique way of torturing people—I love it. Let's act quickly and make that 'bitch' talk," Valeria said, her grin widening as she spoke. The chilling intensity in her voice sent a shiver down Emperor Philip's spine, as well as those of his two wives beside him.

Emperor Philip squirmed in his seat, an uneasy feeling growing in his chest. He looked at Valeria with a confused expression.

"Are you sure this will work? What if she dies before giving us any answers? And… aren't poisons banned in the Empire?" he asked, his voice edged with concern.

"Don't worry," Yuan replied with a calm smile. "We won't be using any man-made poison. Instead, we'll rely on a natural one—one that comes from one of my wives." Yuan gestured toward Emma, who sat beside him on the sofa. Enjoy new chapters from m-v l'e|m,p y r

"This is Emma," Yuan said, pulling her closer. "She's not human, in case any of you were wondering. Her entire body is poisonous. Even her breath could kill over a hundred people in a single moment."

The room fell silent, the gravity of his words sinking in. Yuan continued, his voice calm but filled with pride. "Even a single drop of her sweat could poison thousands. She's dangerous, but in the most alluring way."

"Humph! Am I dangerous to 'you'?" Emma asked, narrowing her eyes at him with mock indignation.

"Why would I ever think that?" Yuan replied, his tone playful. "Don't you know how much I love you, wife?" He leaned in and kissed her neck, his lips brushing her skin with a teasing lick that sent an electrifying shiver through her.

"Stop it! You're embarrassing me in front of everyone!" Emma exclaimed, her cheeks flushing bright red.

"I-I was only joking…" she added, giggling nervously.

"I don't mind," Empress Selena interjected with a soft chuckle. "After all, we're all family now."

Priscilla joined in, laughing quietly. The scene's tenderness lightened the mood momentarily, and even her cheeks turned slightly pink.

A few minutes later, Emperor Philip cleared his throat, regaining focus.

"Soldiers!" he commanded. "Bring Concubine Agatha here for questioning about those involved in the coup d'état."

"Yes, Your Majesty," the soldiers replied in unison, bowing before swiftly leaving to retrieve Agatha from her confinement chamber.

Once they had left, Empress Selena turned her gaze toward Yuan, her tone serious.

"Yuan," she said, "ensure that after the procedure, there's no trace of poison left in her body. She still has a child to care for."

"I understand. Once we extract the information about the perpetrators, I'll ensure her body is completely cleansed of any harmful substances," Yuan replied with a nod and a calm smile.

A few minutes later, the soldiers returned, escorting Concubine Agatha into the room. Her expression was one of sheer disdain, her fury palpable. The loss of her son had consumed her, and her anger was directed squarely at Yuan and his wives.

"You've already taken my son's life! What more do you want from me now?!" Concubine Agatha shouted, tears streaming down her face. Her voice trembled with a mixture of grief and rage.

"Tell us about the people behind this," Emperor Philip commanded coldly, his gaze icy and devoid of any warmth. "Who convinced our son—'your' son—that he could take the throne? Because of them, Fedrick paid with his life."

His voice held no trace of affection for the woman he had once sworn to protect. The betrayal had severed any love he once felt for her. Now, she was nothing more than the mother of his children, a hollow connection with no remaining emotion.

Concubine Agatha's laughter rang out, sharp and deranged. Her bloodshot eyes glared at Philip as her lips twisted into a bitter smile.

"Hahaha! Do you think I'm foolish enough to tell you anything? Husband?" she spat the word with venom. "You killed my son. And now, the entire empire will pay for it!"

Philip's brows furrowed slightly, but he remained composed. "Oh? Are they that powerful?" he asked, his voice laced with skepticism.

"Powerful? You have no idea!" Agatha exclaimed, her grin stretching into something vicious and wild. Her body trembled with the intensity of her emotions, her voice rising to a frenzied pitch.

"You're all doomed now!" she roared, her voice echoing through the chamber. "Every single one of you is going to die! This empire will burn to ashes!"