Yun Xiu ascended before reaching thirty, making him the youngest ascendant in the entire Yagu Continent.
When Murong Chao went to the Xuantian Sect, Yun Xiu had already ascended nearly ninety years ago.
Now that she had returned to a hundred years earlier, Yun Xiu was only eighteen or nineteen, just reaching adulthood and in the prime of his youth. Could this mean she had the chance to compete with Yun Xiu?
This realization stirred some excitement in Murong Chao’s heart.
It seemed her goal could be slightly adjusted: find Yun Xiu, compete with him, and see who would ascend first to the Three Islands and Ten Continents.
Unfortunately, the Xuantian Sect’s secrecy was too effective. She didn’t know when Yun Xiu had become a disciple of the Supreme Elder, nor did she know where he came from. Finding Yun Xiu wouldn’t be easy.
But at least there was a chance, wasn’t it?
Chu Xinlan twitched her lips upon hearing her words. This was the first time she had heard someone so confidently declare themselves lazy, adding “very” to emphasize it, as if afraid others wouldn’t realize how truly lazy she was.
With her appearance, it was obvious she was lazy—exceptionally lazy. Having met twice, she hadn’t seen her leave this rocking chair.
Three days ago it was like this, and today it remained the same.
But laziness in body didn’t mean laziness in mind, right?
Indeed, she was the hidden strategist concealed by Chen Qingyang. Even in such circumstances, she wasn’t blinded by wealth and glory, instead instantly articulating the fate of a royal heir.
“Your Highness, the Empress and the Imperial Consort have missed you every moment for sixteen years.”
Chu Xinlan wasn’t lazy, but she also feared trouble. Now, bringing her back was the priority, no matter the method.
She had never sensed any spiritual fluctuations from the Crown Princess. Could it be that without exceptional cultivation talent, heaven compensated her with a clever mind and sharp intellect?
Impossible. The Empress and the Imperial Consort were both outstanding figures; their child couldn’t possibly lack cultivation talent.
Unless…
Chu Xinlan’s gaze subtly swept over Murong Chao.
“That’s their incompetence.” If they couldn’t even protect their own child, what else could it be?
Having experienced deceit and betrayal, her heart had turned cold as frost. Don’t try to bind her with familial affection.
Moreover, her laziness was genuine; she even refused to waste any emotional energy. Especially after repeated betrayals, for her now, any kind of emotion consumed mental energy and hindered cultivation.
Murong Chao sighed inwardly. Indeed, betrayal was an excellent method for creating cold-heartedness and ruthlessness. Guardedness and cold-bloodedness were already ingrained in her bones.
Since her spirit had returned a hundred years earlier, could she cultivate the Path of Emotionlessness?
It seemed the Path of Emotionlessness suited her quite well.
And Yun Xiu cultivated the Path of Emotionlessness—she was truly following Yun Xiu’s footsteps!
Chu Xinlan silently worried for the Empress and the Imperial Consort’s future. The Empress and the Imperial Consort incompetent? This was the first time she had heard that.
The Crown Princess harbored great resentment. She appeared gentle and lovely, but her nature was unruly and defiant. Such a Crown Princess returning would be quite challenging for them.
“Can you give me a reason that convinces me to go to the Chiyue Kingdom?” Murong Chao turned to look at Chu Xinlan.
Chu Xinlan was nearly amused by her words. Did she need to provide a reason to return to the Chiyue Kingdom? It was obvious—who would refuse?
Not to mention others, even among the royal family, those women with better talents all hoped the Crown Princess would die outside, so they would have a chance to ascend to the position of Crown Princess.
But since she had asked, she had to give her a reason she couldn’t refuse to return. What reason could make her unable to refuse?
“Your Highness can accomplish anything you wish to do,” Chu Xinlan carefully replied. Though this statement was rather clichéd, it was broad in meaning—it all depended on how one interpreted it.
She understood clearly that using familial affection or emotions would not move the person before her. To make her return, she had to target what she desired.
Murong Chao looked at her and asked, “Including not wanting an Imperial Princess Consort?”
Chu Xinlan’s gaze darkened. If she still didn’t realize Murong Chao was just teasing her, she might as well find a block of tofu to crash into.
She had not become the Prime Minister of Chiyue Kingdom solely based on her past friendship with Her Majesty the Empress.
Without showing any change in expression, she replied, “Including that. However, if Your Highness returns, aside from Her Majesty and the Imperial Consort, the Imperial Princess Consort will be Your Highness’s closest person. Are you sure you don’t want one?”
Murong Chao scoffed inwardly. The closest person did not mean someone she could trust. It sounded as though Chu Xuanhe was particularly eager to become her Imperial Princess Consort. If he truly were, why hadn’t he come to fetch her?
Actually, this was fine. She didn’t trust anyone either.
Murong Chao smiled, her stunningly beautiful face blooming like a peony in an instant, so radiant it was impossible to look away.
“That depends on whether he has the capability.”
A flicker of admiration passed through Chu Xinlan’s eyes. She had to admit that the Crown Princess’s beauty could be described as peerless. If it were solely based on appearance, only that boy Xuanhe would truly be a match for her.
Unfortunately, Xuanhe’s ambitions had never lain in such mundane matters. Moreover, he cultivated the Path of Emotionlessness, where romantic feelings between men and women were nothing but shackles to him.
And this Crown Princess before her, though merely a sixteen-year-old girl who had been wandering outside for sixteen years, possessed an innate aura no less imposing than that of the Empress.
Little did she know that Murong Chao’s imposing presence had been cultivated within the Xuantian Sect.
A hundred years later, her identity would be that of the direct disciple of Xuantian Sect’s Sect Master, Wei Xiangyuan. Though it was unclear why Wei Xiangyuan had dug out her spiritual root, during her six years in the Xuantian Sect, as the youngest disciple, Wei Xiangyuan had treated her exceptionally well on the surface.
The status of the Xuantian Sect on the Yagu Continent was such that it was revered by all major powers and royal families. Many royal descendants took pride in becoming disciples of the Xuantian Sect.
Most emperors and Reserve Sovereigns of various kingdoms were disciples of the Xuantian Sect, which was also the main reason why the Xuantian Sect had always remained the top sect.
And those princes and princesses in the Xuantian Sect all flattered Murong Chao, the direct disciple of the Sect Master. Over time, she naturally developed an aura of superiority over them.
Chu Xinlan was unaware of all this and inwardly marveled at how the Murong royal family was truly blessed by heaven. Even though she had been born and raised outside, she still retained the nobility of royalty in her bones.
She could hardly imagine what would happen when such a Crown Princess met Xuanhe.
“Your Highness makes a valid point.”
Chu Xinlan pretended not to grasp the underlying meaning in Murong Chao’s words. As long as she could persuade her to return, she could endure anything.
As for the rivalry between her and her nephew Xuanhe—let them fight it out. Whoever came out on top didn’t matter; that was their own affair.
“Seeing once is better than hearing a hundred times. The number one Prime Minister of the Yagu Continent is indeed extraordinary,” Murong Chao said, enunciating each word clearly.
This statement carries profound meaning as well; the restraint shown by Chu Xinlan is something not all those in high positions can achieve.
One must understand that the higher one’s status, the more importance they place on face.
The person she disdains is Chu Xinlan’s own nephew, the pride of the Chu family, yet she was able to endure it. Truly, she is no ordinary person.