Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 277: Chapter 274: The Inside Story

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Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, ”Grandmother, let’s speak inside the courtyard.”

”Let’s go in.”

Lady Concubine Rou’s voice was gentle and pleasant, though her face was unseen, her temperament was as tender as water, truly worthy of her title.

Chu Zhiyuan, however, had already Insightfully perceived her true appearance.

She was almost like a sister to Bai Ningshuang, time had not left many marks on her.

Although she hadn’t learned Martial Arts, she still possessed such grace, clearly having used some sort of Spirit Pill.

It was likely the Spirit Pill that saved her life back then.

Such effects could only come from extraordinary Spirit Pills, being the Emperor’s woman, she naturally could use the finest Spirit Pills.

The group arrived at his new residence.

Lady Concubine Rou examined it with curiosity.

Bai Ningshuang accompanied her for a round, eventually arriving at Chu Zhiyuan’s courtyard and sat in the small pavilion.

Lady Concubine Rou waved her hand, and the palace maids and eunuchs serving them withdrew, leaving only Huang Cheng departing as well.

Only Chu Zhiyuan, Lady Concubine Rou, and Bai Ningshuang remained in the courtyard.

Chu Zhiyuan personally served tea.

Lady Concubine Rou removed her veil, revealing a face that was radiant and beautiful, truly breathtaking.

Chu Zhiyuan couldn’t help but lament inwardly.

Father Chu Minghou hadn’t inherited his mother’s fine genes; his appearance clearly took after the Emperor.

Lady Concubine Rou suddenly began to cough violently.

Her face turned red, veins bulged, and it ruined her gentleness.

Bai Ningshuang quickly took out a small Jade Bottle, opening it and bringing it to her nose as a pungent scent wafted out.

Chu Zhiyuan frowned.

The medicine in this Jade Bottle was no good medicine, but rather a fierce remedy—using poison to counteract poison.

At this rate, Lady Concubine Rou didn’t have many days left.

Upon seeing this, his mood turned heavy.

Lady Concubine Rou was the pillar of Prince Qing Mansion; having an elder at home is like having a treasure. Without her, mere father-and-son affection would soon fade.

After all, the Emperor had many sons and couldn’t treat them all equally, nor could he consider every one of them.

Once there are many sons, father-son affection is divided into many parts, and no one’s attention is fully captured.

If there was no support from the palace, it would be easy to be overlooked by the Emperor, considering he was always swamped with countless affairs daily, with no time to manage the trivial matters of his sons unless something major happened.

Only when chatting with the Imperial Concubine might he casually recall how his son was faring.

After sniffing the Jade Bottle, Lady Concubine Rou’s coughing gradually subsided.

The veins on her face gradually receded too.

She noticed the heaviness on Chu Zhiyuan’s face and smiled, ”Don’t worry, I won’t die just yet.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Grandmother, you must take care of yourself; Father is deeply worried.”

”Oh, him...” Lady Concubine Rou dabbed the perspiration from her forehead with a white handkerchief and laughed, ”He has too gentle a temperament, truly unlike anyone.”

Bai Ningshuang laughed and said, ”He’s the flesh that fell from you, Lady; naturally, he takes after you.”

Lady Concubine Rou shook her head with a smile, ”I don’t have such a gentle disposition, truly don’t know what to say. Luckily, you, Yuan’er, don’t follow him.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, ”Actually, I do take after Father; I just hide it well and can control it.”

”That’s a skill.” Lady Concubine Rou nodded lightly, ”You’ve done well, especially letting Ruoling go to become the Holy Daughter of Yao Yue Palace.”

Chu Zhiyuan glanced at Bai Ningshuang.

Bai Ningshuang huffed, ”What are you looking at me for? I didn’t object!”

She was internally opposed to Xiao Ruoling becoming the Holy Daughter of Yao Yue Palace, as it delayed marriage and her wish to become a grandmother soon.

But since Chu Zhiyuan agreed, she couldn’t voice any disheartening words as a mother, only forcing herself to show agreement.

Xiao Ruoling was so keen and already knew her thoughts, but pretended not to know.

Both sides were feigning ignorance.

Chu Zhiyuan could only inwardly praise his luck.

If it were another person, it might have been the opposite situation; mothers and daughters-in-law are always foes.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Grandmother, letting Ruoling go to Yao Yue Palace was because I saw her exceptional aptitude. Just staying in the mansion was too stifling for her. Letting her go while she’s young to relax a bit prevents regrets in her later years.”

”It’s rare for you to think so.” Lady Concubine Rou smiled, ”It’s Ruoling’s good fortune to follow you.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled slightly, feeling a bit relieved.

This was the thinking of the previous generation influencing him, as it didn’t conform to the current mainstream and seemed a bit unusual.

Lady Concubine Rou said, ”The relationship between the Four Great Sects and the Emperor is complex; Yao Yue Palace is the Court’s most relied upon force and the most steadfast ally.”

Chu Zhiyuan raised an eyebrow, catching the underlying meaning: ”What about the other three sects? Do they have grudges with the Imperial Grandfather?”

”Yongling Divine Sect’s relationship with the Emperor is most tense,” Lady Concubine Rou said softly, ”It’s already irreconcilable.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”So the Stepping Cloud Iron Cavalry was brought into the pass?”

Lady Concubine Rou shook her head, ”This is Yongling Divine Sect’s retaliation against the Emperor; the Emperor also had actions against Yongling Divine Sect.”

”Because of the Second Uncle, right?”

”That’s one of the roots.” Lady Concubine Rou lightly nodded, ”The Emperor holding back to this point is his limit, but Yongling Divine Sect shows no relent, going beyond the Emperor’s limit.”

”What did the Imperial Grandfather do?”

”Cut down the Eternal Spirit Divine Tree with the Emperor’s Sword, causing tremors in the Yongling Secret Realm, with huge consequences.”

”Did this lead to Yongling Divine Sect inviting the Stepping Cloud Iron Cavalry into the pass?”

”Yes.”

”And the Imperial Grandfather again inflicted serious damage on the Sect Hierarch of Yongling Divine Sect?”

”Yes.”

”What next?” Chu Zhiyuan asked curiously, ”Yongling Divine Sect won’t let it go, right?”

”As I understand them, they won’t.” Lady Concubine Rou sighed, ”They’re both stubborn; the Sect Hierarch of Yongling Divine Sect and the Emperor are old acquaintances, neither will bow.”

Chu Zhiyuan raised an eyebrow.

Lady Concubine Rou said, ”Besides the intense conflicts with Yongling Divine Sect, there’s also Jiuli Divine Sect, which isn’t close, and then there’s Wuyou Sect... Wuyou Sect is increasingly excessive.”

”What are they trying to do?” Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Haven’t they been at peace for so long?”

”There’s no such thing as peace.” Lady Concubine Rou shook her head lightly, ”If not for the Emperor’s strong hand, suppressing them all along, they would have revolted long ago.”

Chu Zhiyuan frowned puzzled, ”They only have one Secret Land, how can they contend with the Court?”

”Their lineage is long-standing, their mental methods are wondrous, more easily producing Great Grandmasters, and their Secret Land has its unique advantages. Unlike the Court’s Secret Lands and Grotto Heavens, which only Great Grandmasters can enter, theirs benefit more.”

”So,” Chu Zhiyuan said, ”The Court has acquired more Grotto Heavens and Secret Lands, they may have fewer Secret Lands but of better quality?”

”That’s about right.” Lady Concubine Rou nodded lightly, ”At that time, the Sect Masters of the Four Great Sects were even superior to the Grand Ancestor, and to appease the four sects, it had to be this way.”

”The Four Great Sects got the larger piece of meat, while the Court suffered a loss... The Emperor has always been dissatisfied, right?” Chu Zhiyuan said.

Lady Concubine Rou gave him an approving look.

Chu Zhiyuan had seen through to the core.

It’s not that the Four Great Sects want rebellion, but rather successive Da Jing Emperors were unsatisfied and wished to swallow the Four Great Sects.

How could the Four Great Sects willingly accept that?

Thus, they retaliate, and the conflict has become increasingly fierce.

Chu Zhiyuan furrowed his brow and pondered, ”Have the Four Great Sects already joined forces?”

”As of now, they haven’t, but how can the Emperor not worry about them joining forces?... If they really did swallow one sect, the other three might join forces.”

”Yao Yue Palace...” Chu Zhiyuan frowned.

”The Emperor won’t touch Yao Yue Palace, and Yao Yue Palace should be aware of this; Yongling Divine Sect, however, is uncertain.”

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