Ex-Wife is a Big Villainess
Chapter 755 - 371: Incompetent Ruler of the Previous Dynasty?_2

Chapter 755: Chapter 371: Incompetent Ruler of the Previous Dynasty?_2

However, before he could complete his action, Xiao Lingqiu suddenly nestled into his embrace.

Familiar and docile, like a tiny kitten.

Jiang Shouzhong’s body stiffened slightly.

The woman’s damp, fragrant hair clung to the man’s bare chest, ice-cold to the touch.

Jiang Shouzhong was momentarily lost in thought, then gently embraced her.

"Don’t touch me."

A moment later, the woman’s firm warning echoed.

Jiang Shouzhong touched his nose awkwardly and had no choice but to withdraw his hands.

Xiao Lingqiu snuggled closer into his chest, her warm breath tickling his skin. Soft and tingling, she whispered, "Jiang Mo, I don’t like you at all. Truly."

——

The capital of Dazhou was still plagued by the calamity of warfare.

Though Crown Prince Zhou Yin’s elite troops repeatedly launched relentless offensives on the city, with fires raging and arrows raining down like a storm, the newly enthroned Emperor Zhou Kang was no fool.

Not only had he kept a tight grip on the city, but he had also occasionally sent out surprise forces to counterattack, catching the enemy off guard.

Thus, for now, the capital remained relatively peaceful.

That night, King Zhen’s Mansion was brightly illuminated.

When Yeying heard the intelligence Zhuge Xuanji brought, her lustrous and lively eyes widened abruptly, her face filled with shock: "What?! Brother Jiang has gone missing on Zhenxuan Mountain!?"

"Indeed, he has gone missing."

Zhuge Xuanji nodded slightly.

Yeying instantly exploded, her brows furrowing in disbelief and anger: "You’re kidding me, wasn’t he supposed to go to Zhenxuan Mountain to retrieve the Taoist River Map? How could he just disappear?"

Zhuge Xuanji stroked his long beard and frowned, saying:

"I didn’t expect this mishap either. By all accounts, as long as he smoothly passed the Taoist Ancestor’s trials, he should have obtained the Taoist River Map. But who knew that once he entered the Taoist Ancestor’s tomb, he vanished.

Now the people on Zhenxuan Mountain have almost turned the entire mountain upside down, but not even a shadow of him has been found. Even Dugu Luoxue and the rest are searching too. That lad seems to have completely disappeared into thin air—it’s truly baffling."

"Where did he go?" Yeying’s face darkened.

Zhuge Xuanji shrugged: "I already told you, that lad vanished into thin air—I don’t know either."

"Don’t know?"

Yeying stormed over, grabbing his long beard with fierce determination, her face livid. "Then hurry up and calculate where Brother Jiang is!"

Zhuge Xuanji yelped in pain: "Girl, are you trying to bully your master and betray your ancestors!?"

"I don’t care; you bring him back to me!"

Yeying snarled viciously.

Zhuge Xuanji finally managed to break free, rubbing his aching chin as he sighed helplessly:

"Can this even be calculated? Your master is nothing more than a charlatan wandering the Jianghu—you know that perfectly well. Although I appear very adept at foretelling omens and such, it’s really just piecing together large amounts of information to make educated guesses.

But girl, don’t you know Jiang Shouzhong well enough by now? That lad’s fortune is far too abundant; nothing bad will happen to him."

Yeying’s eyebrows shot up: "But without Brother Jiang, what will happen to our plan moving forward?"

Zhuge Xuanji leisurely sat down in a chair, picked up a pear, and took a bite, saying:

"Just proceed with the initial plan. Girl, I really don’t understand which nerve you’ve got twisted, insisting on making Jiang Shouzhong the Emperor. Just look at him—a dimwit as an Emperor..."

Seeing his disciple glaring coldly at him, Zhuge Xuanji hastily swallowed the rest of his remark and chuckled awkwardly:

"Anyway, you can’t go wrong listening to your master. The rightful Empress of Dazhou should be you—that would fulfill your mother’s last wish, don’t you agree?"

Yeying sneered, "My mother would never scheme for something as trivial as the imperial throne. You once claimed our Mo Family was descended from the Dragon Guard Clan of the previous dynasty, but who knows if you’re just making that up."

Zhuge Xuanji responded with a cryptic smile.

Seeing her master’s smug silence, Yeying, still sulking, prompted Zhuge Xuanji to patiently explain:

"Girl, there’s much that I cannot tell you yet, simply because I too am caught within the fog of this grand game. Among All Schools, the Mo Family has dwindled down to the single lineage in Pingyang. The Mo Family truly did descend from the Dragon Guard Clan, tasked with protecting the Human Emperor.

Do you know why the court wanted to massacre your entire family? Do you truly believe it was because I casually mentioned that ’Pingyang the Mo Family possesses the Dragon Slaying Skill,’ scaring the Emperor into wiping out your bloodline?

Do you honestly think it was solely about subduing that snake demon called Mengniang that they acted so brazenly?

Haha, Zhou Chang may act impulsively at times, but he doesn’t bother unless the threat is real and dire.

Because your mother, Mo Ruye, was indeed secretly searching for the descendants of the previous dynasty’s royal family. And because your Mo Family truly withheld the legendary Dragon Slaying Skill. That was why Zhou Chang became terrified..."

Yeying slapped away the pear in his hand and said coldly, "But you are a liar who once claimed the legitimate lineage of the previous dynasty’s royal family has been completely eradicated."

"That is correct."

Unfazed by his disciple’s rudeness, Zhuge Xuanji picked up the pear from the ground, cleaned it with his sleeve, and took another bite, nodding as he said,

"The last Emperor of the previous dynasty left behind no heirs. So, the legitimate lineage of the Human Emperor no longer exists."

Yeying glared at him with a look that could kill: "If that’s the case, what was my mother searching for? Clearly, you’re deceiving me and making things up."

Now slightly unstable due to Jiang Shouzhong’s disappearance, Yeying’s words grew increasingly sharp.

Zhuge Xuanji sighed: "I’m certain the last Emperor of the previous dynasty had no offspring, but your mother seemed to have heard some rumors, which is what prompted her search."

Yeying remained silent for a moment before saying, "Honestly, even if what you claim is true, I can’t comprehend the meaning behind my mother’s actions. What was she thinking?

Dazhou has existed for 235 years. It’s gone through eras of prosperity, decline, and revival, and now it’s fractured once again... No matter what, it totally replaced the previous dynasty.

Even if my mother managed to find a descendant of the previous dynasty’s royal family, how many common people today even remember the previous dynasty? How many would pledge allegiance and loyalty? It’s utterly laughable."

Zhuge Xuanji chuckled: "Girl, the rise of any dynasty depends on winning back the hearts of the people, not nostalgia.

Whether commoners or noble families, as long as most are satisfied, the dynasty will stabilize. Your mother was merely fulfilling the Mo Family’s mission—she lacked grand ambitions. It was her destiny, and it’s yours as well.

As for whether the previous dynasty could be restored, that depends entirely on whether the New Emperor you support is capable and lucky. Naturally, it also requires that elusive Heavenly Divine Fortune.

When I agreed to allow you to promote Jiang Shouzhong as the New Emperor, it was because, after years of searching, the royal descendants of the previous dynasty truly no longer exist. Secondly, that lad possesses Heavenly Divine Fortune—a true son of destiny.

And thirdly... Well, I couldn’t argue with you, girl. Ultimately, you are the heir of the Dragon Guard Clan; whoever you want to support, nobody can stop you."

At this point, Zhuge Xuanji’s expression grew melancholic.

He continued, "Of course, speaking from my personal bias, since the legitimate royal line of the previous dynasty has been extinguished, it wouldn’t be an issue if the Dragon Guard Clan ascended to the throne either. After all, the founding emperor of the previous dynasty once told your Mo Family ancestors, ’If the Emperor becomes incompetent, you may usurp the throne...’"

"I don’t believe your nonsense!"

Yeying rolled her eyes dramatically. "If that were true, why didn’t the Dragon Guard Clan seize power when the previous dynasty’s final Emperor was so decadent and incompetent? All because of some vixen, ruining everything. Why did we not rise up then?"

Hearing this, Zhuge Xuanji’s expression turned complex, a hint of bitterness flashing across his face:

"Whether that last Emperor was truly incompetent, only heaven knows. After all, history has often been written by victors."

Yeying muttered, "No amount of revisionist history could undo the fact that he was a king who lost his nation."

Zhuge Xuanji chuckled, choosing not to argue this point with her, and instead asked:

"Have you found the secret vault within the Imperial Palace yet?"

Yeying nodded slightly: "I’ve found it, but only the outer door was opened. The item you mentioned isn’t there. Inside is a dragon vein lock; the Astronomical Observatory elder has promised it’ll be unlocked within ten days. I wonder if that old man is leading me on."

Zhuge Xuanji tossed the pear core outside the door:

"That old Chief Astronomer appears loyal to Dazhou, but he’s far more interested in his own interests. As long as we meet his demands, he’ll cooperate with us.

As for the other two Saints, the Confucian Saint chose Zhou Kang, though reluctantly, but his decision wasn’t without reason.

As for the Military Saint Yuwen Lie, he sided with the Crown Prince because he remains staunchly loyal to Zhou Chang."

"Even the Empress, Luo Wanqing, has left the Capital."

Yeying suddenly remarked.

Zhuge Xuanji’s eyes flickered: "That woman won’t mourn her husband, that’s for sure. She’s likely looking for Jiang Shouzhong while continuing her pursuit of her father’s Divine Soul."

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