Chapter 222 Was Shen Qiu A Puppet Of The Queen?

As Mark spoke about what he knows so far, the king collapsed on the bed and grabbed his forehead. "Sigh… I thought those traitors wanted to kill me but didn't expect that Shen Qiu will take advantage of our identical appearances and is living my life. Perhaps, it would have been possible because of my wife.

Now that I think about it, the Church of Doom might be also behind this, considering my late father-in-law was an elder in that organization. If it is the case, then, I couldn't fight them.

Either way, I don't care about my life. I have lived long enough. My only worry is my daughter. She was only 16 years old back then. Must have grown up into a fine woman by now. If I reveal myself, what if they take her hostage?"

As the king lamented how everything went wrong because of his blind trust, Mark gained considerable information, and everything slowly became clear, although there's still a mystery left. Why did they imprison him after sending him into a coma? Isn't killing an easy way to remove him from the path?

Do they have a big grudge against the king? Or is it because the King is a close person to either of them? Whatever might the case, Mark's worry about the Queen's honor was gone. He doesn't need to care about it, any longer.

On the other hand, the waters above ahead looked very deep. He wasn't sure whether it is worth making an enemy out of a Supreme level being. It's not like he has fewer enemies at present.

After thinking for a while, in the end, Mark decided to take a roundabout approach instead of just taking the king to the palace and starting a massacre.

Looking at the saddened old king, he said, "Your Majesty, do you wish to see your daughter in person? I can bring Princess Shen to you."

As soon as Mark said those words, the King's facial expression changed. He looked as if he regained hope, "Really? I guess I owe you again."

"Okay, until I return, my brother Allen will be by your side. I request you to not wander anywhere in the meantime." Mark left behind the Android to keep an eye on this quest target and he left for Lunaris city in his LMV at the fastest speed after getting directions from the owner of the inn.

<strong>Royal Palace, Lunaris City;</strong>

After finishing the urgent meeting with the ministers, Shen Qiu returned to the King's Chamber. However, there was someone waiting for him there. It's the Queen.

"Dear, you are up, already?" He let out a fake smile upon seeing the Queen. However, the latter didn't bother to put on any appearances like him. She appeared to have a serious expression on her face. She replied, "I want to speak to you, alone, Your Majesty."

The servants were quite surprised at her behavior. Everyone in the city knew that the Queen was usually a timid woman who never speak against the King but only these servants of the palace knew that from time to time, she get serious with him and when she does that, the King would eventually either take back a royal decree on something or announce a new policy in the following days.

Meanwhile, Shen Qiu was also curious. He wondered whether it is linked with the attack on Qincheng prison or it is something else. After sending away all the servants from the room and locking the door, he asked her.

Maintaining her serious look, the Queen then said, "I received a message from Elder Xi. The Doom Seal placed on him had disappeared."

"Who are you talking about" Shen Qiu furrowed his brows. At first, he didn't get it but then suddenly, it clicked in his mind. The attack on Qincheng Prison and the disappearance of the seal, his eyes widened upon realization, "Did Brother… *Ahem* I mean, did he escape from the prison? How is it possible? Except for you, me, and the elders of the Church, no one knows about it."

As Shen Qiu refused to believe that his brother could escape in that condition and neither could outsider knows of the location unless it was leaked from the organization, he said, "maybe, it's possible that he passed away. You know, the seal also disappears when one is dead."

His words appeared to have a negative effect on the Queen. The old woman stormed forward and caught his collar. Surprisingly, a seven-circle necromancer like him was easily lifted up high in the air with her frail-looking arm.

As he caught her arm and his feet started kicking the empty air, the Queen spoke sternly, "I told you long ago and I will warn you again. If you dared to speak of the death of my loved one, I will cut you into thousand pieces and serve you for our Lord Taotie."

Shen Qiu's face paled at her warning and he nodded vigorously, "I apologize for my tongue slip. Please forgive me."

As the Queen loosened her grip, he fell to the floor.

She then said in a commanding tone, "Leave for the Qincheng prison right away and check the situation yourself. If he is still in prison, then, it's alright. If not, then, find his whereabouts."

"Yes," Shen Qiu hurriedly left the room and the Queen took a seat, grabbing her head, "If Shen Niu returns, then, everything I worked hard for the past decade will be gone. No matter what, I need to fulfill my mission and resurrect the ancestor."

Roughly after three hours, Princess Shen Ling, who dolled up herself, left the room and went to check upon Mark.

However, to her surprise, the soldiers informed her about the disappearance of Mark and Allen before giving her a scroll. Thankfully, he had thought of the issue and left behind a letter in the room before he accepted the quest.

The princess read the letter, which stated that he was leaving for a morning ride in his vehicle to tour around the kingdom and will return by lunch for sure.

She was visibly disappointed as she intended to take him for a tour around the city but what can she do when the guest isn't there in the first place. The princess returned to her room, throwing away the jewelry, "Lei Peizhi, Tell my mother that I won't attend breakfast. I'm not in a mood to eat."

After sending away one of her maids to inform her mother, Shen Ling took a history book from the shelf and took a seat on the balcony before engrossing herself in the story of the Kui Empire's prince from the 11th century.

It tells how an illegitimate son, who was born from an Emperor and the maid of a sixth concubine, managed to remove all the imperial princes from his path and become the Emperor at the age of 36. Unfortunately, he could only rule for barely three years before he died due to a rare illness that he was suffering from the birth.

Another four hours passed away. Just like he stated in the letter, Mark had managed to return to the royal palace by noon.

After having a nice shower and changing his clothes, Mark proceeded towards the dining hall for the lunch. He planned to ask her out on a date after lunch so that she can reunite with her father ahead of his re-ascension to the throne.