After returning to Jinling, Wang Zhu tortured another generation of the Qi Emperor to death, and everything changed in that struggle.
"Qi Xingwei was originally a talented person, but as he grew older, he felt more and more guilty for killing Qi Bailing with his own hands. His son was even worse, completely influenced by our family's children and refused to attend court! My time is up, but my Wang family has grown into a towering tree. Our influence has almost equaled that of the Qi family! You are the future of my Wang family! Remember the admonition I leave you today, those useless clan members should be left idle. Those with rebellious intentions must not be spared! A king should remain a king, never proclaim himself emperor. If a king proclaims himself emperor, he will lose favor. You may leave now." Wang Zhu waved his hand to dismiss the nine girls kneeling below.
"Ancestor, understood!" The girls kowtowed three times and then got up to leave, filling the room with radiant springtime. Each of the nine girls had their own unique charm.
"Qi Bailing never would have imagined that one of his most loyal subordinates, Yun Zaitian, would betray him. Yun Zaitian never would have imagined that I would deliberately manipulate events to force Qiao Zainan to death. Nor could he have imagined that his sister, upon hearing the news, would jump into the river to die with him. It's a deeply moving scene, but unfortunately, I couldn't witness it in person! Betrayal was necessary for protection. But in the end, the person I wanted to protect didn't survive, and my master died as well. Even my best brothers were killed by my own hand. Truly, fate is ineffable! My Wang family has truly received great fortune from the world!" Hahaha, after reviewing the most thrilling time of my life, Wang Zhu breathed his last.
In the winter of the 771st year of the Empire, Wang Zhu, a prominent figure of three dynasties, passed away at the ancestral home of the Wang family in Jinling. The newly appointed Qi Emperor paid his respects with the proper courtesy.
That era seemed to have passed, yet it also seemed not to have passed. The legacies left by those people continued to be passed down in different ways.
In the royal garden of Fengcheng, the eastern capital, a court lady stood before the newly appointed crown prince, the sixth prince.
"Your Highness, does today's meal suit your taste?"
"The wind is a bit cold today, but the food is still delicious. Are you in such a hurry to send me off?"
"It seems you already know why the men were withdrawn, to avoid implicating them, right? You're so kind, even I can't bring myself to harm you!" The court lady stretched lazily, her body's curves quite appealing.
"Although I'm not my mother's biological child, I've been with her since I was young. Naturally, I'm not as careless as my older brothers."
"Fortunately, you're not her biological child, otherwise, you three brothers would be a handful. Who lives and who dies would be troublesome! But if you also had the blood of my Wang family, I would definitely support you ascending to the highest position." The woman seemed remarkably sincere as she spoke.
"Haha, to think I could make someone who tried to kill me treat me like this. I haven't lived in vain! There's food but no wine, doesn't it seem inadequate? Please, after Qi Chen leaves, I will remember your kindness. Bottoms up."
"Child, you shouldn't drink alcohol! But I have something else to give you. Would you like to see it?"
"You're really strict. It's regrettable that I haven't been able to drink in this lifetime! Since I'm already like a fish on your chopping board, whatever you say, I'll do!"
"You sweet-talker! I'm finding it harder and harder to kill you. Otherwise, why don't you call some people in? That way, I can pretend to be overpowered. Someone else can send you on your way! As for the gift I'm giving you." The woman tore off the mask from her face at the end.
It was a naturally enchanting face, with a beauty mark under her peach blossom eyes, giving her a unique charm. The gentle cheeks and perfectly shaped lips didn't make one think she was capable of murder. Seeing the surprised expression on the sixth prince's face, the woman also smiled with satisfaction.
"I'm called Wang Chenyu, temporarily ranking fifteenth in the Wang family. It's a pity I couldn't make it to the top nine in this lifetime. Sixth Prince, are you satisfied with my gift?"
"Chenyu, are the appearances of the top nine more beautiful than yours?" Qi Chen asked instinctively without much thought.
"Those enchantresses, with their talents and beauty. Each one surpasses me by quite a bit. Does the Crown Prince still want to meet them?" Wang Chenyu asked teasingly.
"As rumored, the women of the Wang family are all outstanding talents and beauties. Most of the men are mediocre and incompetent. It must be hard for you sisters." The prince's last question seemed to have touched on the woman's jealousy, which might be one of the reasons why she couldn't make it to the top nine! Qi Chen had seen immortals in this life, so he had no regrets. He wouldn't be unsatisfied and greedy for more things that didn't belong to him.
"I really like the way the Sixth Prince talks. I really want to hear more from you! These past few months by your side, I haven't felt the humiliation of being someone else's servant. That's all good! Just..." Before she could finish her sentence, a short sword had already pierced through Qi Chen's back.
"Just... you shouldn't have angered me. Top nine or bottom eighteen! Completely different fates! I hate it so much!"
Touching Qi Chen's gradually cold face, Wang Chenyu took out a purse and three sticks of incense from her sleeve. She placed the purse beside Qi Chen and lit the incense, inserting them into the bowl of rice.
"Safe travels." After all the incense had burned out, there was no trace of Wang Chenyu in the courtyard.
Later, in the capital city of the Empire, Qicheng.
"Qi Chen's matter, was it your family's doing again? Are you insane? He was raised by you since childhood. Besides blood ties and being his biological mother, what difference is there? You arranged for him to encounter a drama where he was rejected by a woman he desired, then attempted to force himself on her, only to be accidentally killed by the female official. Do you not feel any guilt in your heart? How are you going to explain this to Qi Shou? Which one of Qi Shou and Qi Zheng will meet their end? Just say it, and I'll have him executed!" The furious Qi Emperor yelled at the expressionless woman in front of him.
"I, your humble servant, truly had no knowledge of this, Your Majesty. But Your Majesty won't believe me anyway. Let's just go with what Your Majesty said. As for the future of little Shou and little Zheng, it's all in the hands of fate. Your humble servant has no power to control it."
Before Queen Wang could finish her sentence, the Qi Emperor had already drawn his belt. With a snap, he whipped Queen Wang. She only trembled for a moment before standing straight again.
"I... I just like seeing you pretending to be weak. Clearly, you're one of the top nine in the Wang family, clearly skilled in martial arts. Why do you always have to pretend to be a weak woman? I'm giving you a chance to fight back. You can retaliate now!"
"I've said many times, among my sisters, I'm a very special existence. I don't have any martial arts skills at all. Your Majesty can continue!"
"It seems I'll have to target your two sons to see any reaction on your emotionless face, similar to that of a dead person!"