Dazed: On the other hand, seeing the Crown Prince’s face so grave, Gu Qingwan’s heart was filled with doubt.
Her own A-Yuan was just a neglected waste from a branch of the Chu Clan. What secret could this be??? How could it involve the Taixu Sacred Domain?
With that thought, Gu Qingwan said solemnly:
“Don’t worry, Your Highness! I will absolutely not tell anyone else. What exactly is the matter?”
Ji Xuanyuan deliberated for a moment before speaking:
“Fairy Gu, do you know how many children the current Sacred Lord of Taixu has?”
Without a second thought, Gu Qingwan replied:
“This… isn’t there only Young Master Chu Yunlan?”
Ji Xuanyuan smiled and asked in return:
“Then do you know why this Young Master Yunlan has never been formally appointed as the Sacred Son of Taixu?”
At these words, Gu Qingwan was directly stunned into silence.
The Sacred Lord of Taixu must have his reasons for not appointing Chu Yunlan as Sacred Son.
Who can fathom the thoughts of such a prominent figure?
But since the Crown Prince brought this up at this time, it must be related to Chu Yuan.
Connecting the dots, Gu Qingwan speculated subconsciously:
“Does Your Highness mean that the Sacred Lord has more than one child, and that person is Chu Yuan?”
Even as she said this, she found it unbelievable.
In response, Ji Xuanyuan nodded, then shook her head:
“Fairy Gu is only half right. This goes back to the great war a hundred years ago.”
The upper echelons of the Realm of True Emotions had never been monolithic.
The Righteous Path Alliance, the Demon Path Alliance, the Immortal Dynasty, the Taixu Sacred Domain, Medicine King Valley… all the major powers took turns on the stage, scheming against each other for centuries. On the surface, a fragile balance was maintained, but underneath, undercurrents had long been churning.
And in this intricate web of power, two people were once each other’s most trusted allies.
The Sacred Lord of Taixu, ruler of the Taixu Sacred Domain, with cultivation reaching the heavens and authority vast as the sea;
Empress Wu Yue, ruler of the Immortal Dynasty, a woman who unified the forty-nine prefectures through iron-fisted rule, never suffering a single defeat.
Hundreds of years ago, the Demon Path Alliance’s power ran rampant, and the Sacred Domain and the Immortal Dynasty, sharing a common fate, had to join forces to fight the enemy.
In that war, the Sacred Lord of Taixu and Empress Wu Yue stood shoulder to shoulder, breaking through several defensive lines of the Demon Path Alliance, nearly wiping out its high-ranking members.
It was also in that war that both paid a heavy price.
After the war, the Sacred Lord of Taixu went into seclusion for a hundred years;
Empress Wu Yue retreated to the Immortal Dynasty, and there was never any joint action between them again.
The outside world only thought the two had retired and were recovering separately, but they did not know that the wounds left by that battle had never truly healed on either side.
Empress Wu Yue’s lifespan was greatly reduced, prompting her to appoint an heir in the past decade, letting her children take over state affairs and arranging the Immortal Dynasty’s future.
Meanwhile, the Sacred Lord of Taixu’s wound was not on his body, but in his bloodline.
During the decisive battle, an elder from the Demon Path Alliance desperately counterattacked, hitting the Sacred Lord of Taixu with a long-lost “Blood Curse Forbidden Art.”
That forbidden art did not damage cultivation or foundation but precisely destroyed the root of bloodline procreation within the Sacred Lord of Taixu’s body.
From then on, the Sacred Lord of Taixu could no longer father children.
For an ordinary person, infertility might be just a regret.
But for a cultivator who controlled the Righteous Path Alliance and needed to pass on the position of Sacred Lord, infertility meant the severance of the bloodline, meaning that everything he had painstakingly built would become another’s wedding garment after his death.
The Sacred Lord of Taixu exhausted all means, searched the entire world for miraculous medicines, and spent all his heart and energy, finally barely managing to father a single son. To protect this only son, the Supreme Guardian within the domain, Fox Venerable, proposed the “Real and Fake Young Master Plan.”
On one hand, it would prevent the real young master from being assassinated by enemies, using the fake young master as a shield; on the other hand, it could also temper the real young master’s character.
Hearing this, Gu Qingwan suddenly understood everything:
“Your Highness means that A-Yuan is the true only son of the Sacred Lord?”
After saying this, she suddenly felt that many things began to make sense.
For example, a few days ago, why the Great Elder of Chu risked offending the Crown Prince to insist that Chu Yuan return home.
It was to preserve the Sacred Lord’s only bloodline.
Ji Xuanyuan nodded:
“Regarding this matter, I only sensed it the night that Great Elder of Chu demanded him back. Besides, Young Master Yuan’s heart belongs to you. Rather than take away what you love, it’s better to see you two together.”
Now Gu Qingwan understood completely.
The Crown Prince wanted to use her as a pawn—not only to lay plans in Medicine King Valley but also to set up schemes in the Taixu Sacred Domain.
As the future Empress of the Immortal Dynasty, her actions were completely reasonable.
However, Gu Qingwan still had doubts, returning directly to the original question:
“Your Highness, A-Yuan and I are in love. Why would you say that my relationship with A-Yuan will not be smooth?”
Ji Xuanyuan cut to the chase:
“Because of the Supreme Guardian’s lineage in the Sacred Domain! That Fox Venerable!!!”
According to memories from her past life, this Fox Venerable often overstepped into the Sacred Son’s daily life.
As for the selection of the Sacred Son’s consort, Fox Venerable would naturally scrutinize strictly.
Ji Xuanyuan began to fuel the anxiety:
“With Fairy Gu’s current status, I’m afraid you’ll become a thorn in Fox Venerable’s eye! For someone with an abnormal need for control, Young Master Yuan, as the future ruler of the Taixu Sacred Domain, cannot have an ordinary Dao partner.”
Gu Qingwan faltered: “Your Highness, what do you think should be done?”
Ji Xuanyuan tapped the wooden box in her arms with her jade-like finger:
“Becoming the Saintess of Medicine King Valley is one of the necessary conditions! And before that, I will help you guard Young Master Yuan as a romantic rival, so no other reckless admirers will dare to make a move on him. How about that?”
Gu Qingwan was wary: “Your Highness, you won’t develop feelings for A-Yuan again because of this, will you?”
Ji Xuanyuan rolled her eyes at her:
“If I had such thoughts, why would I go to the trouble of having this secret talk with Fairy Gu? Moreover, given my identity, Fox Venerable would also be wary and not allow me to take things further with Young Master Yuan.”
Gu Qingwan thought about it and found the reasoning sound.
A dignified Crown Prince of the Immortal Dynasty, if she truly wanted to compete for Chu Yuan, she wouldn’t waste time playing these mind games with her.
Gu Qingwan clasped her hands:
“Then I leave it to Your Highness!”
With these words, she essentially gave Ji Xuanyuan moral permission.
In this way, she could stay by the junior brother’s side in the guise of Gu Qingwan’s assistant.
Ji Xuanyuan raised an eyebrow:
“You’re welcome! Mutual help is only proper. So, Fairy Gu, what are your plans next?”
Gu Qingwan looked at the wooden box in her arms:
“Secluded cultivation! I want to use this limited time to thoroughly study this ‘Classic of Longing Love.'”
Ji Xuanyuan nodded slightly:
“During this time, I will keep an eye on Young Master Yuan for you and make sure no other woman gets close to him! I will definitely use this opportunity to help the junior brother and Fairy Gu become a couple!”
She made a secret resolve: ‘It seems Fairy Gu will miss the upcoming Divine Hunt Grand Ceremony!’
Letting go of that resolve, absolutely no one would…
Looking out the carriage curtain, the smile on Ji Xuanyuan’s lips deepened by a few degrees.
But hidden in that smile was a calculation that Gu Qingwan could not see.
The imperial carriage slowly began to move, wheels grinding against the bluestone road, producing a rhythmic sound.
Street lanterns flickered past one by one, casting dappled light and shadow on Ji Xuanyuan’s heroic yet charming profile.
As the saying goes, let’s focus on two separate threads.
Inside the auction venue, the lights gradually dimmed.
Through the Fox Venerable’s projection, Chu Yuan could see outside the venue, Ji Xuanyuan inviting his childhood sweetheart into the carriage. He thought to himself:
‘What is this Crown Prince doing taking my Wan’er away?’
‘What bad move is she planning?’
‘Will she harm Wan’er?’
Just then, Su Xuanxuan asked:
“Your Highness, should I send someone to check?”
Chu Yuan pondered and shook his head:
“No! No need!”
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