Chapter 1924: I Won’t Pretend Anymore, All My Cards Are on the Table
“What did you overlook?” Meng Yi asked, reflexively sitting up straighter. This daughter of his was indeed good at scheming. Many of their arrangements over the years had actually been made by her. He even had to acknowledge her skills as her father.
“We overlooked Zu An’s relationship with the empress. They definitely have a connection we didn't know about,” Meng Chan said with a sigh. “Even so, how could anyone have imagined that the empress would have such a good relationship with one of the crown princess’ competent subordinates?”
If it weren’t for both the empress and the crown princess’ joint efforts to protect Zu An, anyone else would have already had their entire clan wiped out after killing King Jin. And yet now, it was as if nothing had happened at all.
Meng Yi frowned slightly, saying, “The previous intelligence we had did fail to recognize their relationship. Chan’er, why do you think the empress would protect him like this?”
Indeed, that didn’t make sense. After all, the empress and the crown princess were like water and fire. As Zu An was an important minister of the crown princess, in theory, he should have been a thorn in the empress’ side. When they were making their plans, they had predicted that the empress would seize the opportunity to clip the Eastern Palace’s wings. Even if the empress didn’t join in and did absolutely nothing, the matter would already have been wrapped up.
And yet, things had ended up playing out completely differently. The empress had not only interfered, but actually even helped Zu An! Even though she'd done it quite discreetly, they were all old foxes here. Her intentions were already apparent enough.
Meng Chan shook her head slightly and said, “I suspect that the empress wishes to dig a corner out of the Eastern Palace’s defenses. As Zu An is the crown princess’ most capable minister, if she could successfully rope him in, the blow to the crown princess’ prestige would be unprecedented. In the future, the crown princess would no longer be able to compete with the empress.
“Even though he is an enemy, I have to admit that this Zu An is very skilled. He was clearly just a commoner, and yet he managed to climb the ranks this rapidly in the past few years, even becoming an influential figure in the court. What's even more ridiculous is that he actually became the libationer, making it so that even I'm a bit curious and want to meet this man myself.”
Meng Yi harrumphed. “That brat is just a bit more handsome than average, but he's reckless, shameless, and even a perverted bastard to boot. It's rumored that he has quite a few beauties at his side, so you should stay far away from him.”
“Father, now that you’ve said that, I'm even more curious. Just what kind of man is this?” Meng Chan asked, her eyes sparkling.
Meng Yi was speechless.
When she saw how dark her father’s expression became, Meng Chan covered her mouth and replied with a giggle, “Father, what are you thinking? I am a glorious princess; could it be that I’d actually be tempted by someone like him? It's just pure curiosity.”
“Don't be so certain.” Meng Yi harrumphed. “Even though I do not understand what kind of charm that youngster has, he seems to be very good at obtaining the favor of women. Forget about the crown princess’ favor and trust, even the empress is acting like this. Sometimes, I even wonder if the empress was left alone in the palace for so long that she ended up catching some feelings when she saw how attractive and valiant that brat Zu An was.”
“Hm? There really seems to be a possibility of that,” Meng Chan said, sinking into her own thoughts. In the past, she had never considered things from that angle, but now that it was brought up, it was as if the door to an entirely new world had opened.
“Possibility? Like hell there could be any,” Meng Yi said with a scowl. “I was just saying that in passing. What kind of status does the empress have? How could she possibly have that kind of relationship with him?”
“Why not? Father, you don't understand women at all,” Meng Chan said, wondering whether to find a chance to test that suspicion somehow.
Meng Yi wanted to say something else, but he felt discussing something like that with his daughter was a bit too awkward.
Suddenly, his expression changed and he said, “Something’s wrong. The transport formation has been activated!”
Meng Chan’s expression changed as well. Such legendary formations used a tremendous amount of ki stones, so they were only reserved for emergencies. They would only be used in the direst situations.
The two of them rushed toward the rear courtyard. With perfect timing, they ran into King Dai, who had been staggering hurriedly in their direction. When he saw them, King Dai was so moved that he almost cried. “Chan’er, father-in-law, save me!”
Meng Chan’s beautiful brows furrowed. She replied, “You are a glorious king! What kind of dignity will you have left if you behave like this?!”
This guy even wants to become the emperor in the future. How can he act so indecent?
When she thought about how she had ended up marrying someone like that, she felt a bit annoyed.
“What happened?” Meng Yi asked calmly. He knew that something major had to have happened to leave King Dai in this state.
“That Zu An… That Zu An almost killed me,” King Dai said. He recalled how those hands were just a hair away from touching him before he was transported away. In that instant, he really had felt as if he had an encounter with the reaper himself…
“How is that possible? You had so many guards, as well as other powerful cultivators. Didn’t I send you that group of followers?” Meng Yi asked skeptically. “Could it be that he brought the teachers from the Royal Academy? However, that isn’t possible… The Royal Academy has never interfered with matters of the court.”
King Dai’s head shook like a rattle. His eyes were full of horror as he replied, “No, he was all by himself! Those followers were completely wiped out; even when they joined hands, they weren’t a match for him.”
“Alone?” Meng Yi repeated. Now, he was a bit surprised; even he wouldn't be able to do something like that, right?
Madam Dai was stunned.
That Zu An really was that formidable?
She suddenly thought of something and urgently asked, “What about Sir Xu? Could it be that he didn’t interfere?”
“He did! And yet he was dealt with in the first exchange! Hmph, why did that guy even brag so much, anyway? We even spent so many resources to pamper him,” King Dai said, feeling scared and angry.
“The first exchange?” Madam Dai exclaimed, her red lips hanging wide open and her eyes full of disbelief.
King Dai scowled miserably and said, “Strictly speaking, even before he could use a single move, he was already…”
Suddenly, several people rushed over, and a servant cried out in alarm, “Master, master, bad news! Someone has invaded our manor!”
Meng Yi was about to blow up with anger, but when he heard the second part, he calmed down and asked, “Who is it? Could it be that Zu An?”
The servant was stunned, replying, “How did master know? Master, hurry and come back! That person has already unleashed a mad slaughter!”
King Dai’s entire body started trembling. He said, “Chan’er, father-in-law, let’s hurry and run. We still have time…”
Meng Chan gave him a cold look and retorted, “You only know to run in this kind of situation? He’s just one person, and yet you’re already scared that badly?”
Meng Yi also said sternly, “The Meng clan is not the same as other places. Ping’er, do not worry and come with me. I promise you that he will not be able to return after coming here.”
After saying that, he hurriedly rushed out. Meng Chan also followed him.
King Dai stood there alone with a conflicted expression. A lot of internal battles played out in his mind, but in the end, he clenched his teeth and followed along. He could only feel safe at Chan’er’s side.
…
Not long after they left, the group quickly heard several miserable screams. Meng Chan looked into the distance and saw a large group of guards surrounding a tall, handsome blue-clad man...
No, it actually seemed more as if that man was the one single-handedly surrounding hundreds of guards.
As he walked forward step by step, the man’s expression remained calm. He didn’t even move his hands, but a golden flying sword darted around. Wherever it went, it spilled the blood of several guards, causing them to lose all fighting strength. Whether they used shields or helmets, nothing could stop his attacks.
A look of surprise flickered through Meng Chan’s eyes.
Is this that Zu An? No wonder father said that he had such luck with romance and gained the favor of many women.
King Dai said with a trembling voice, “That guy is the devil! I already said that we should run, right?”
Meng Yi remained aloof. He said with a snort, “There is no need to frighten yourself. He is merely relying on the flying sword talisman he stole from King Jin Manor’s Elder Chen.”
However, he also found that a bit strange.
The power of this brat’s flying sword seems to be much stronger than Chen Xingchao’s…
He cleared his throat and asked, “Sir Zu, what are you doing right now?”
Zu An calmly said, “I want to kill people. Can you not tell?”
The corners of Meng Yi’s lips tilted upward. He coldly replied, “Sir Zu, we are currently at the foot of the rightful son of heaven, inside the capital city. You first publicly attacked King Jin Manor, and you have now unleashed a slaughter on this old one’s manor. Do you know that you have already committed tremendous crimes? Even if you manage to escape from this place through some fluke, you will still become a fugitive of the court. Not even your identity as the libationer will be enough to pardon you for these crimes.”
Chan’er, do you see? Our plan has finally succeeded.
All of our provocations and attempts to upset him were to make this guy lose all reason. Now, we’ve won.
As long as we kill him, the Eastern Palace will become much easier to take down.
Meng Chan, however, had a worried expression. Even though everything had turned out according to her very own plans, she was a bit puzzled.
Why do I feel a vague sense of unease, then?
“Oh? You want to talk about rules with me again?” Zu An retorted, a hint of mockery appearing on his lips “The reason why I played along with you guys earlier was only because I didn’t want to let down those two’s principles. That, and I didn't want to involve myself in the corruption and filth of the court. And yet, how could I have known that you guys would take a mile when given an inch?
“In that case, I won’t pretend anymore. All my cards are on the table. Starting today, I'm the one who will have the final say in this capital city!”
Even though Zu An spoke calmly, a mysterious pressure spread outward in all directions. Many people trembled deep down inside.
Even Meng Yi could vaguely feel all of his fine hairs standing on end. However, since the situation was still to his advantage, there was no way he would back down even half a step. He replied, “Hahaha, did this old one hear incorrectly? Even a brat still wet behind your ears dares to say something like that? Who do you think you are? Do you even know just how many in this capital…”
Before he could finish his sentence, Zu An vanished with a flicker. In an instant, he reappeared with his hand around Meng Yi's neck... and then that hand twisted gently.
Crack!
Meng Yi’s entire head leaned to one side, his eyes wide open. He had never expected Zu An to actually be this fast, to the point that he didn’t even have the time to react.
Zu An casually flung the corpse onto the ground. Then, he took out a handkerchief to wipe his hands, saying, “He really knew how to spout bullshit.”
A deathly silence fell over the whole area. The jaws of all those present practically reached the ground. A glorious Central Secretariat Supervisor, the clan leader of one of the world’s most influential clans, someone who shone like a sun in the sky in the imperial court… The Meng Yi who could turn the clouds and bring down rain with a turn of his hand had died just like that?
Was there something wrong with the world when it started this day?
There was only one person who reacted quickly. The instant Zu An vanished, Meng Chan grabbed her husband and escaped some distance away, thinking that even if her father couldn't win against Zu An, he should have been able to hold him up for a bit. Then, once they activated all of the preparations they had in the manor, they would definitely make this guy pay. Of course, that sounded great, but killing him just like that did seem like a bit of a pity.
However, who would have thought that a second later, her father would have his neck snapped? Her entire mind went blank.
Her father, who had demonstrated rigorous schemes and deep foresight ever since she was young, someone who had endless countermeasures for everything, had died just like that? A man who had master rank cultivation?!
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