APTnovel Chapter 139 Reencounter with Jiang Zao!
Chapter 139 Reencounter with Jiang Zao!
Is there a problem with Hexi Palace itself?
That's interesting. Zhou Wei and the Princess both looked at Zhu Qi, waiting for his explanation.
“Our Kongshan Temple is also shrouded in mystery, mainly because it is to cover up the theft of the blessed land’s fortune.”
"Therefore, elder sisters, the problem of Hexi Palace is now comparable to that of Kongshan Temple."
Zhou Wei thought for a moment and asked, "Is it difficult to conceal the secrets of heaven?"
"Extremely difficult!" Zhu Qi exclaimed. "Not only does it require cultivation, but it also requires external assistance. Most importantly, the person who makes the move will suffer a backlash and have a short lifespan."
How could something like this affect lifespan?
"If someone at the Celestial Realm level makes a move, will they also be affected?"
"Of course, the Celestial Realm is just a realm. Reaching this realm can extend one's lifespan, but one will not die as quickly as ordinary people."
Zhou Wei pondered for a moment. If that were the case, the person who attempted to conceal the secrets of heaven was essentially risking their life.
"If that's the case, why did this person take action?" Zhou Wei asked, puzzled. "Let's assume that the events at Kongshan Temple and Hexi Palace were both the work of the same person. How much damage would that have caused him? Could the benefits gained from deceiving the heavens outweigh the backlash that could shorten his lifespan?"
In the world of cultivation, living is the ultimate goal, and lifespan is the fundamental principle.
What's the point of any great benefit if the person is gone?
Jiang Yueli then asked, "What if the person who benefits is not the same person who made the move?"
"That makes even less sense! Who would take such a big risk to benefit someone else?"
The group fell silent for a long while before Jiang Yueli said, "I can only think of two reasons: one is that this person was coerced and had no choice but to do it."
Zhou Wei nodded: "That makes sense. However, this person is capable of using the secret techniques of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, so he must be extremely capable. For someone to coerce such a person, it can only mean that the other party's abilities far exceed his."
"When one's cultivation reaches a certain level, one's status and position in the secular world become irrelevant."
At this point, the image of the Great Zhou Emperor flashed through Zhou Wei's mind.
The emperor hiding in the Hexi Palace is becoming increasingly suspicious.
Thinking of that wisp of national fortune flying towards Hexi Palace, Zhou Wei suspected that the Great Zhou Emperor was a hidden master!
"Another possibility is that this person has other plans, and he is willing to risk his life to accomplish them."
Zhou Wei had only ever seen this kind of situation with Avengers.
This is a fight to the death, a mutually assured destruction scenario!
In both of the possibilities Jiang Yueli mentioned, the beneficiary must be a master.
His cultivation level was enough to coerce others; even if others risked their lives, they could only perish together with him.
If this person really is the Great Zhou Emperor...
A human emperor, already holding a high position and wielding great power, seeks nothing more than immortality.
When one's cultivation breaks through to the Celestial Realm, one's lifespan will increase.
However, the fact that the Heavenly Secrets of Hexi Palace are still obscured at this moment due to the theft of the blessed land's fortune indicates that the Great Zhou Emperor's ambitions extend beyond the Heavenly Realm.
Simply increasing lifespan is no longer enough for him!
What he wants is true immortality!
After figuring it out, Zhou Wei couldn't help but sigh that the pursuits of emperors on earth were indeed simple and unpretentious.
No matter how many thousands of years pass, their pursuit remains the same.
Zhou Wei looked up at Jiang Yueli. With the Princess's intelligence, she probably already suspected the Great Zhou Emperor.
However, since he is her biological father, thinking of him as a great demon king must be a painful thing for Jiang Yueli.
Zhou Wei didn't know how to comfort her, so she remained silent.
Jiang Yueli needs to think this through herself; otherwise, no one can help her.
……
The next day, before dawn, Zhu Qi left the princess's residence.
After investigating the palace, he had a clear idea of what was going on and felt that Yuanxing would not have hidden the Heavenly Secret Stone in the palace.
Most likely, it's hidden somewhere in the capital.
Therefore, dressed in thin clothes, he began to wander around the capital.
While investigating the Heavenly Secret Stone, they saw the distressed people and directed them to the soup kitchen in the west of the city.
Thanks to Ning Heshi's half bowl of porridge, they were able to survive the snow disaster!
If he encounters a deceased person, Zhu Qi will stop and perform a ritual to help them pass on to the afterlife.
Jiang Yueli, with the help of Hongxiu and Ziyu, changed into her court attire and went to court.
As the Princess Protector of the Nation, she had the right to attend court meetings, but she had never used it before.
The death of Lady Li yesterday, and the imperial decree issued by the Great Zhou Emperor from Hexi Palace, threw her into turmoil.
She did not force the crown prince to hand over the tiger tally.
We must find an opportunity to take back military power at this court assembly!
Zhou Wei accompanied Jiang Yueli into the palace. As the military commander of the princess's residence, she was allowed to stand at the very end of the Fengtian Hall to listen to the government affairs.
Even the palace roads were extremely difficult to traverse during the blizzard.
Many court officials were delighted to hear that the court session was being held today, and in order to avoid being late, they set off from their residences early.
The court assembly had not yet begun, and many people huddled under the eaves outside the Fengtian Hall, shivering from the cold.
Even veteran officials like Chen Wenyu were dozing off while leaning against a pillar.
Seeing Li An approach, Chen Wenyu opened her eyes.
"Lord Li, how is everything at the manor?"
Li An bowed to Chen Wenyu and said, "Everything is fine."
Chen Wenyu sighed. The news of Li's death had spread throughout the court and the country yesterday.
The Crown Prince's concubine died under mysterious circumstances, and the Emperor's decree was also incomprehensible.
As a father, Ang Lee must be filled with boundless hatred at this moment.
Chen Wenyu didn't know how to comfort him, so he could only say, "If Lord Li reports this matter at today's court assembly, I will certainly speak out for justice."
Upon hearing this, Ang Lee's eyes welled up with tears.
The court is deeply entrenched in power, and many are adept at protecting themselves.
Chen Wenyu was willing to stand up for Ang Lee, and Ang Lee was naturally grateful.
"Thank you very much, sir."
As the two were talking, they suddenly heard the sound of wheels rolling on the palace road not far away.
Looking in the direction of the sound, they saw a young palace maid braving the wind and snow, pushing a small cart.
The accompanying eunuch stood with his hands in his pockets, constantly urging her to hurry up.
"What are you dawdling for? The pancakes and soup will get cold soon, and you'll lose your head."
Jiang Zao nodded repeatedly and put even more effort into her steps.
After finally managing to push the cart to the corridor, the eunuch immediately ran to Jiang Yueli to claim credit.
"Your Highness, the Imperial Kitchen has delivered what you requested."
Jiang Yueli glanced at it and then instructed, "Go and distribute it to the adults, so they can eat their fill and warm up."
There was still more than an hour before the morning court session.
Many court officials, afraid of being late, were already standing under the eaves. It was freezing cold, and many of them were shivering.
The eunuch obsequiously stepped aside, then walked up to Jiang Zao and berated her.
"Hurry up and distribute the food to the adults, you idiot."
Jiang Zao immediately sped up her work and began distributing the items.
Jiang Zao was taken aback when the last pancake was handed to Zhou Wei.
"Aunt Zhou, what brings you here?"
Zhou Wei looked at Jiang Zaosheng's hands, which were covered in chilblains.
"When we last met, didn't you say you were going to be transferred to the Crown Prince's Palace? I didn't see you there. I didn't expect you to go to the Imperial Kitchen?"