Chapter 47: Wang Yuyan, do you want to be Empress?

"How?"

Wang Yuyan stammered, "Cousin..."

She wanted to speak, yet had no idea how to phrase it.

In Wang Yuyan's eyes, this Prince Su of Great Ming was overbearing, oppressive, and relied on his power to bully others. While he seemed to offer her cousin Murong Fu two choices, in reality, there was only one.

Tragically, when faced with this fateful crossroads, Wang Yuyan realized that even with her unrealistic fantasies regarding Murong Fu, she knew her cousin harbored grand ambitions of restoring his fallen state and would never sacrifice his own life purely for her.

Her heart was filled with bitter anguish, with nowhere to unburden it.

Murong Fu perceived the hope in Wang Yuyan's gaze, but for the sake of the Murong family's grand enterprise, he hardened his heart, refusing to look at her. Instead, he forced a flattering smile: "Your Highness is a dragon among men, peerless in this world. For you to favor Yuyan is a blessing cultivated over three lifetimes! How could Fu possibly dare to obstruct this?"

Zhu Jinzhen smiled and nodded. "Hahaha, since you have parted with your beloved, I am also somewhat curious about the Murong family's Moving Flowerswood, Stacking Jade (Transferred Soul and Shifted Stars), the Participating Joint Finger (Acquaintance Piercing Finger), and the Dragon City Swordsmanship. Surely, Young Master Murong will not disappoint me?"

Hearing this, Murong Fu felt a raging fire burn within his chest, yet on the surface, he still maintained a hypocritical smile.

"Fu will present them with both hands!"

"Hmm, you are a sensible man."

Zhu Jinzhen nodded, gesturing for Murong Fu to be led away to transcribe the Murong family's three major ancestral martial arts manuals.

Only then did he turn his calm gaze toward the tearful Wang Yuyan, asking a question she would never forget for the rest of her life: "Would you like to be Empress?"

"Huh? Ah—!"

Wang Yuyan raised her breathtaking, pitiful face. Shock, panic, disbelief, and a myriad of other emotions flashed and intertwined across her features so rapidly that, for a moment, she even forgot her grief and sorrow.

"Y-You, what did you say?"

"I wish to elevate you to the throne as Empress. Are you interested?" A hint of teasing flashed in the depths of Zhu Jinzhen's eyes.

It was as if he were discussing not the fate of a dynasty and countless commoners, but merely asking Wang Yuyan whether a certain hair ornament looked pretty or not—so casual, so effortless.

Wang Yuyan was completely dumbfounded.

She had not misheard. This prince of Great Ming had just said he wanted to elevate her to the throne as Empress?!

Zhu Jinzhen paid no mind to Wang Yuyan, who was stunned into a daze. Instead, he inspected her closely as though evaluating a piece of merchandise: "Li Qiushui may be lacking in other areas, but her ability to pass down bloodlines is truly formidable. Wang Yuyan and Princess Li Qingluo of Western Xia are practically cut from the exact same cloth."

"Any minor flaws, such as deportment, etiquette, or makeup, can easily be remedied through effort and acquired training."

"Whether as a substitute or a puppet, she is utterly ideal!"

Western Xia was not large, yet it stuck in the throat like a fishbone.

Its geographical location in this world of comprehensive martial arts was extremely unique; it served as a buffer zone bordering both Great Song and Great Ming simultaneously, with Great Yuan to the west and Great Liao to the north.

Such a tiny nation ought to have been annexed long ago, yet for various reasons, neither Great Ming, Great Yuan, nor Great Liao had swallowed it up.

Thus, it had managed to survive in the cracks until the present day.

Western Xia had always maintained a neutral stance. Aside from being somewhat unfriendly toward Great Song, it displayed an attitude of closeness toward Great Ming, Great Yuan, and Great Liao alike.

However, ever since four years ago, when Great Yuan and Great Liao suddenly launched an offensive and Western Xia responded in kind, nearly plunging Great Ming into ruin...

Western Xia had already been branded with the marks of Great Yuan and Great Liao.

The longer Zhu Jinzhen looked at Wang Yuyan, the more satisfied he became. Their appearances were identical, and though she lacked the aristocratic regal aura of a true Western Xia princess, cultivating such a presence was hardly difficult.

He turned his gaze toward Yan Yimei, who stood waiting at attention: "Yimei, hand her over to you and your people. I care nothing for the process; I only want results."

"This subordinate obeys," Yan Yimei said, bowing with fists cupped.

"Wait, I still..." Wang Yuyan wanted to resist, but facing the predatory gazes of the surrounding men, she was like a frail little white rabbit, left entirely at the mercy of others with no room for defiance.

Zhu Jinzhen looked away from her. What he required was an obedient Princess of Western Xia and a future Empress of Western Xia—not a hollow vase with only a pretty exterior.

Having traveled through this comprehensive martial arts world, Zhu Jinzhen had seen more peerless, breathtaking beauties than he could count on two hands. Were it not for Wang Yuyan's unique identity and her face and figure, which were identical to those of Princess Li Qingluo of Western Xia, she would never have caught his eye.

After Wang Yuyan was led away, Li Chengen stepped forward, cupping his fists as he spoke, "Your Highness, if we are to campaign against Western Xia, the Dowager Consort Li Qiushui and the Western Xia royal family may not pose much of a problem. But should we also eliminate Xiaoyaoxi (The Carefree Son / Xiaoyao Zi), who likely stands behind Li Qiushui, so as to prevent any complications?"

Who stood behind Western Xia was a matter largely clear to the upper echelons of Great Yuan, Great Ming, Great Liao, and Great Song alike.

It was Xiaoyao Zi of the Xiaoyao Sect (Carefree Sect).

A figure who had stepped into the realm of Terrestrial Immortals three jiazi (three hundred sixty years) ago.

Even Zhang Sanfeng of Wudang had to bow in junior respect upon meeting Xiaoyao Zi.

Although he had not yet entered the realm of Terrestrial Divinity, it was rumored that a jiazi ago, he was already mere inches away from it.

Furthermore, the Xiaoyao Sect consisted of merely a few individuals, and Xiaoyao Zi, unlike other Terrestrial Immortals, was largely unburdened by worldly ties. If this threat could not be directly uprooted, a Terrestrial Immortal—or even a Terrestrial Deity—who could stir up trouble at any moment posed a threat no less severe than having a bow aimed at one's back at all hours.

"Your worries are not without reason."

"However, a Terrestrial Deity can resonate with the heavens and earth. Yet when I stepped into the realm of Terrestrial Divinity, he failed to detect me, and yesterday, when I suppressed the world with my swordsmanship, I still failed to perceive his vital aura."

"Either Xiaoyao Zi has already left the lands of the Nine Provinces and gone to some distant realm."

"Or else, Xiaoyao Zi has yet to break through the threshold of Terrestrial Divinity."

At this point, Zhu Jinzhen could not help but chuckle. If Xiaoyao Zi had indeed left the Nine Provinces, heaven knows when he would return—by which time Zhu Jinzhen might well have planted the banner of Great Ming right outside his door.

And if he had yet to ascend to Terrestrial Divinity?

What was there to fear from a mere old fellow in the Terrestrial Immortal realm?

Should he dare to show his face and cause trouble, he would simply be slain alongside the rest.

As if recalling something, Zhu Jinzhen glanced at Yan Yimei beside him: "By the way, I heard that yesterday the girl Shiyin acted on her own accord and frightened her cousin Li Xunhuan to the point of vomiting blood?"

"Indeed!"

Yan Yimei nodded and faithfully recounted everything Lin Shiyin had done the previous day.

Zhu Jinzhen wore a peculiar expression. He had assumed Lin Shiyin merely uttered some harsh words, but hearing Yan Yimei's account, he realized that good grief—Lin Shiyin had gone straight for Li Xunhuan's heart and soul!

"The Little Li Flying Dagger never misses its mark."

"I'm afraid it's about to become a swan song!"

A faint smile touched Zhu Jinzhen's lips. According to the intelligence provided by the Secret Guards, Li Xunhuan had vomited blood multiple times overnight, suffering severe damage to his vital essence. Even if he didn't plummet from the Finger Mysterious Realm, there was no chance of him recovering his peak condition anytime soon.

When would he hear the name of Li Xunhuan's Little Li Flying Dagger again? Probably not for several years.

Nevertheless, Zhu Jinzhen silently thought to himself that Lin Shiyin had done a magnificent job.

While a threat was one thing, if Li Xunhuan were to truly return to the capital, he would become a latent hazard. Lin Shiyin's proactive attitude in looking out for him and helping relieve his burdens deeply gratified Zhu Jinzhen.

As for her little ulterior motives, Zhu Jinzhen was more than happy to see them bear fruit.