Ji Wuyi signaled Wang Wenzong with a glance. The latter understood and stepped out without a word—it was obvious he had gone to summon that Mr. Ye.
Soon after, Ji Wuyi called a maid to carry the unconscious Gongsun Ruoqian to the side room where she usually rested. After all, they were about to discuss important matters—having an unconscious Princess Consort lying here would feel rather strange.
Ji Wuyi showed a hint of apology as he said, “Marquis Cao, please wait a moment. Mr. Ye will arrive shortly. Please, have a seat.”
“Mm.” Cao Shu nodded and sat kneeling on a mat not far from the bedside. Then he said, “Your Highness, after giving it some thought, although this Mr. Ye is currently under your command, he is ultimately not a cultivator of the Great Zhou Empire. It would be best not to disclose the details of our cooperation to outsiders. After all, a Golden Core cultivator can leave whenever he wishes—and say whatever he wishes.”
An outsider was still an outsider. Within the Great Zhou Empire, he had no ties or attachments. Who could say whether he was trustworthy or harbored other schemes? If anything leaked, everything would fall apart.
At that point, all their plans could collapse—or worse, they might become enemies of the entire empire.
Ji Wuyi thought briefly before nodding. “Marquis Cao speaks reasonably. The secret of our cooperation will not be shared with him.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.” Cao Shu shifted the topic and suddenly asked, “If I’m not mistaken, Your Highness must have made a deal with Mr. Ye, correct?”
Cao Shu did not believe there was no deal. An outsider Golden Core cultivator would not help him for no reason, especially in a dangerous succession struggle like this. There had to be some hidden agreement behind it.
“Marquis Cao is perceptive. I cannot hide it from you,” Ji Wuyi sighed. “Indeed, I have made a deal with Brother Ye. If I ascend to the throne, I will bring him to cultivate in the imperial ancestral land.”
“The imperial ancestral land?” Cao Shu frowned slightly. “Isn’t there a rule that only royal cultivators are allowed to enter?”
The imperial ancestral land was a cultivation ground exclusive to the royal family of the Great Zhou Empire. Its spiritual energy was abundant, allowing rapid progress in cultivation. It opened once every ten years, and only royal cultivators were permitted entry.
However, after a new Emperor ascended the throne, it could be opened once within three months, symbolizing a new cycle, and then would follow the ten-year cycle thereafter.
Ji Wuyi rubbed his temples with a headache, his expression somewhat awkward. “There’s no other way. Golden Core cultivators are too crucial. The Duke of Ning can only serve as a deterrent and cannot be directly commanded. Zhao Si’s cultivation is also two minor stages higher than Wang Wenzong’s. In a fight, we might not win. It may look balanced on the surface, but in truth, we are slightly at a disadvantage. To bring down my elder brother, I have no choice but to violate ancestral rules.”
Ji Wuyi felt deeply helpless. Marrying the Duke of Ning’s granddaughter had only secured him a position where he would not easily lose. Wang Wenzong was still somewhat inferior. For the sake of the supreme throne, he had no choice but to break ancestral traditions and win over Ye Sulong.
And now, he even had to give his Princess Consort to Cao Shu.
If he truly managed to ascend the throne one day, he would likely become the most aggrieved Emperor since the founding of the Great Zhou Empire.
“I see.” Cao Shu suddenly understood. With Ye Sulong joining, Ji Wuyi’s chances would increase. In that case, with the late Emperor favoring him and two Golden Core cultivators at his side, he would certainly have the advantage over Ji Wuxin.
Unfortunately, the old Emperor’s sudden death—and Cao Shu’s alteration of the Royal Edict—had thrown all his plans into chaos.
Ji Wuyi looked at Cao Shu and added, “Since I have already violated the ancestral rules, after this is accomplished, if Marquis Cao is willing, I can bring you there as well.”
Cao Shu’s lips twitched slightly. First, he used the ancestral land to win over Ye Sulong, and now he wanted to use the same offer to win him over. This prince truly was a ‘filial’ son in his own way.
“Thank you, Your Highness. In truth, there is no need for you to blame yourself excessively. Although it is an ancestral rule, it does not mean it can never be changed.”
“Throughout history, wise rulers have implemented reforms. Only by winning the hearts of the people can one leave a lasting name in history.”
“By opening the ancestral land, Mr. Ye will see Your Highness’s sincerity. Perhaps he will pledge himself fully to the Great Zhou Empire and contribute his strength to the empire. At that time, Your Highness will deserve the greatest merit.”
Ji Wuyi knew it was flattery—but who didn’t enjoy hearing good words? The praise soothed him greatly, and his complexion gradually improved.
He began to feel that, aside from his excessive demands, this Cao Shu was quite good with words.
“Thank you for your kind words, Marquis Cao.”
At that moment, Wang Wenzong returned, leading in a young man with a square face, sharp brows, and star-like eyes. His temperament was extraordinary.
Dressed in flowing white robes, he appeared as elegant as an immortal descending from the heavens.
His aloof gaze seemed to regard everything in the world as beneath notice.
As if he had not seen Cao Shu at all, Ye Sulong walked straight to Ji Wuyi’s bedside and bowed. “Ye greets Your Highness.”
Cao Shu frowned slightly. This fellow was quite good at putting on airs.
It made Cao Shu feel almost invisible—but strangely, also very safe.
Ji Wuyi nodded lightly. “Brother Ye, no need for formalities. Please sit.”
“Mm.” After completing the courtesy, Ye Sulong finally noticed Cao Shu. Seeing that the man’s appearance was even more handsome than his own, he sat opposite him and asked, “And you are?”
Cao Shu replied, “My surname is Cao, given name Shu. A hereditary minor Marquis. I have now joined under Your Highness. I came today to discuss how to eliminate Zhao Si. You must be Mr. Ye Sulong.”
“Yes.” Ye Sulong nodded, then glanced around the room. “Why is one person missing today? Where is the Princess Consort?”
Previously, Gongsun Ruoqian had always been present during their discussions. Her absence made him curious.
Ji Wuyi felt a twinge of guilt. He couldn’t exactly say he had knocked his own woman unconscious and handed her over to the man before him, where she now lay in the side room waiting to be taken away. So he lied, “Ruoqian just stepped out.”
“Oh.” Ye Sulong’s tone carried a trace of disappointment.
[Ding! Interfering with a Son of Destiny will yield rewards.]
[Son of Destiny: Ye Sulong]
[Luck Level: Orange (Blue, Orange, Purple, Gold)]
[Host engaged in a power-and-beauty transaction with Ji Wuyi involving a person admired by Ye Sulong. Obtained 5,000 villain points. Luck reduced slightly.]
“Cough, cough, cough…”
The sudden notification made Cao Shu choke, and he began coughing.
A Son of Destiny—as the name implied, someone with extraordinary luck. Everything they did went smoothly. Such people were often the protagonists of stories.
When he looked at Ye Sulong, his gaze was filled with astonishment and curiosity.
So this fellow was a Son of Destiny!
And he had set his sights on Ji Wuyi’s Princess Consort!
Damn.
This was utterly ridiculous.
Suddenly, Cao Shu realized that Ye Sulong’s reason for helping Ji Wuyi was likely because he had taken a liking to Gongsun Ruoqian. Going to the imperial ancestral land was merely a secondary motive.
He had hidden it deeply. Without the system’s prompt, this truth would have remained unknown.
Ji Wuyi had agreed to give Gongsun Ruoqian to him—unintentionally interfering with Ye Sulong’s fate.
What a coincidence.
Ye Sulong asked, “What’s wrong with you?”
Cao Shu replied, “Nothing… I just suddenly… caught my breath wrong.”