Chapter 2106: Dark Undercurrents

Novel:

One could smell the alcohol on them from a distance; they had clearly just returned from a banquet. No wonder they had taken so long to enter the palace after she had summoned them.

Empress Dowager Liu Ning suppressed her anger: "Do you not know what happened today?"

Although the two in front of her were her elders, she had been empress for many years and was now the empress dowager. Given the distinction between monarch and subject, she didn't need to be overly polite when speaking to them.

"Isn't it just a few clueless officials who submitted memorials criticizing the Empress Dowager? Don't worry, we'll find some subordinates to impeach those officials for insubordination," Liu Yao said with a nonchalant smile.

"Nonsense!" Liu Ning finally couldn't suppress her anger and stood up directly. "Recently, rumors have been rampant in the capital, claiming that our reinforcements sent to aid the demon race were instead ambushed and annihilated by them. The crucial point is that we genuinely can't contact the troops on the front lines. Do you really consider it a small matter when people are using this to attack me?"

At this moment, Liu Guang also spoke: "Ning'er, to be honest, I didn't approve of this matter from the start. You're too partial to that Ancestor fellow. As the dignified Empress Dowager, you listen to his every word. Who is truly in charge of this Great Zhou Dynasty?"

Liu Ning's expression darkened upon hearing this: "Do you dare say that in front of him?"

Liu Guang's breath hitched. Thinking of the Meng family's fate in the capital not long ago, he certainly didn't want to repeat their mistakes.

Liu Yao then interjected to smooth things over: "Ning'er, why are you always siding with outsiders? It's true, that Ancestor fellow is very capable, but he's not one of us, after all. We can't completely trust him with many things. Sigh, I mentioned this earlier: we should find a suitable young woman from the Liu family for him to marry. It's a pity you never agreed."

Liu Guang, annoyed, said, "Easier said than done. His previous wife, Chu Chuyan, was a renowned beauty, even rivaling Yu Yanluo's fame back then. Where in our Liu family would we find a girl suitable for such a marriage? We might not even secure the alliance and instead offend him."

Liu Yao chuckled awkwardly: "It's a pity Ning'er is already married and her status is special. Otherwise, she would be more than enough for that Ancestor fellow."

"Silence!" Liu Guang glared at his brother. Was that something to be casually said?

Ning'er was now the Empress Dowager; how could she possibly get entangled with that Ancestor fellow?

"Enough, let's not mention this matter for now!" Liu Ning's face flushed slightly. She thought to herself, *You don't need to worry; I've already done it.*

Then Liu Guang said, "Actually, not having a marriage alliance earlier might not be a bad thing. Look at how the demon race openly ambushed and annihilated our reinforcements this time. Such a blood feud will certainly be endless from now on. As the Demon Regent, that Ancestor fellow was the main proponent of sending the reinforcements this time. He can't escape responsibility for this, and he'll likely become the greatest traitor in human history. No matter how powerful he is then, his reputation will be ruined. It's a good opportunity for us to cut ties with him."

Liu Ning raised her phoenix eyes: "Are you not clear on the situation? I also agreed to this matter originally. To outsiders, it appears that this was initiated jointly by me and the Regent. Otherwise, why would officials dare to openly impeach me in court today?"

"That's precisely why we should seize this opportunity to sever ties with the Ancestor fellow," Liu Yao said. "Next, I'll instruct my confidants to launch public opinion campaigns, shifting all the blame onto him. The Empress Dowager will be portrayed as having been deceived. That way, no one will hold you, or even our Liu family, accountable."

Liu Ning's heart jolted. "Who says we need to cut ties with the Regent? Have you forgotten how terrifying the Regent's cultivation is? Is there anything he can't suppress?"

She found it inconvenient to reveal her intimate relationship with Zu An, so she could only offer these "reasonable" excuses.

"No matter how high his cultivation, can he contend against the entire human race?" Liu Guang said, somewhat dismissively. "What's more, recent intelligence suggests he has gone to the demon race's sealed land. You should know that the demon race's sealed land is a place where death is almost certain. He's been there so long without returning; it's likely he's met a bad end."

"Impossible! He will absolutely be fine!" Liu Ning immediately stood up and exclaimed.

Liu Guang and Liu Yao were both startled and looked at her with confusion.

Liu Ning realized her outburst and quickly said, "Given the Regent's demonstrated combat power, even a truly perilous place wouldn't stop him. You shouldn't make such assumptions so easily, lest you offend someone and make it irreversible."

"What else can we do? Should we really just let those people attack our Liu family's decisions as flawed?" Liu Yao was somewhat displeased. Ever since their encounter in Brightmoon City years ago, he hadn't liked that Zu An boy. It was outrageous that he had risen above him in just a few short years.

"We'll deal with problems as they arise; are we truly afraid?" Liu Ning said in a deep voice. "The situation on the front lines is still unclear, so let's not make hasty decisions for now."

Seeing her firm attitude, Liu Guang and Liu Yao exchanged glances and found it difficult to say anything more. "Then we'll temporarily follow your advice."

Liu Ning then continued, "However, the recent atmosphere feels off. I have a strong feeling something is going to happen. Be cautious these days. Father, you should frequently contact the Liu family's trusted aides and observe the court's movements. Uncle, you should deploy more people to patrol the capital, and if there's any sign of troop deployment, you must inform me immediately."

"Understood!" Both agreed, and after discussing various other matters, they finally took their leave from the imperial palace.

After they left, Eunuch Lü entered the room: "The two lords seem quite displeased with the Regent. Should we reveal a bit about Her Majesty's relationship with the Regent?"

"No need," Liu Ning said, a hint of weariness flashing across her face. "Their satisfaction or dissatisfaction won't affect the Regent in the slightest. By the way, did you investigate the information I asked you to look into earlier?"

"Your servant has already sent the spies embedded among the demon race to inquire about the Regent's whereabouts. However, currently, we only know that he entered the sealed land and there's no news of him having come out yet," Eunuch Lü replied, bowing.

Liu Ning's face showed worry: "Do you think something might have really happened to the Regent?"

Eunuch Lü bowed: "Your Majesty is simply worried. The Regent's martial prowess is unparalleled. Even if all the demon masters were to perish, the Regent would surely return safely."

Hearing his reply, Liu Ning visibly relaxed: "I hope so."

Meanwhile, after the two left the palace, Liu Yao couldn't help but say to Liu Guang, "Big Brother, Ning'er seems to have an unusual amount of trust in that Ancestor fellow. Could it be that she's fallen for him?"

Liu Guang snorted: "That Ancestor fellow is handsome and accomplished at a young age. And Ning'er herself is lonely in the deep palace, so it's quite normal for her to develop feelings for him. However, as the Empress Dowager, she should know that she cannot afford to make a single mistake."

It was no wonder he felt somewhat displeased. Since Zu An's rise to power, the boy had never specifically paid him a visit, clearly looking down on the Liu family. They weren't on the same path, so why should he bear the brunt of the attacks alongside him this time?

"That's true. Ning'er has been sensible since childhood; she definitely knows what's important," Liu Yao chuckled.

"Oh, and Ning'er's recent concerns are not without reason. Keep a close eye on things these days. I suspect the Bi family and that Prince Wu are not content to live ordinary lives," Liu Guang reminded him before they parted ways.

"Got it, Big Brother," Liu Yao readily agreed, thinking he would just send his subordinates to keep an eye on it when the time came.

As for himself, of course, he wouldn't go monitor it personally. With so many enjoyable things in the bustling capital, having finally attained his current status, why would he bother doing things himself? Wouldn't all his past efforts have been in vain then?

In White Jade Capital, Yan Xuehen was meditating in her room. Although Zu An had rescued her today, her body still required patient recuperation.

She circulated her cultivation to refine her gains from the day, silently lamenting how utterly shameful the method of her rescue by that Zu An boy had been.

As various scenes from that time flashed through her mind, the energy within her immediately became chaotic, startling her into quickly regaining her composure.

Just then, a knock came at the door, followed by Zu An's voice from outside: "Xuehen..."

Yan Xuehen's cheeks instantly flushed hot. She quickly said, "I will keep my promise to you, but not today. I... I can't take it anymore."

Zu An, from outside the door, paused.

"I just came to say goodbye."

"Ah?" Yan Xuehen was so mortified she nearly dug a three-bedroom, one-living-room apartment into the floor.