Chapter 372: Chapter 326: Tuoba Lingyun (Part 2)

"The Tuoba Clan has a legacy spanning a thousand years, predating the founding of Great Yu. Such thoughts are quite normal."

Zheng Yi coldly said, "But times have changed, and I will not allow the Tuoba Clan to remain independent from Great Yu!"

"Where are those two? I shall go see."

"Qingying Palace!"

"To Qingying Palace!"

"Yes!"

Qingying Palace is located in the northeast of the Imperial Palace, constructed by specialists from the Ministry of Industry.

The entire palace is situated above a small lake.

The water shimmers with light, and thousands of lotus flowers bloom, creating a tranquil atmosphere.

Crossing the bridge leading to Qingying Palace, Zheng Yi arrived at the palace.

"Your servant greets Your Majesty!"

Numerous palace maids and eunuchs hurriedly came out to pay respects, led by the head maid.

Zheng Yi frowned and asked, "Where is the person in charge here?"

The head maid quickly replied, "Reporting to Your Majesty, the Imperial Noble Consort has been in seclusion for cultivation, and has not left the palace for six months."

"Currently, it is the two relatives of the Imperial Noble Consort."

"I am Tuoba Wugou, greetings Fellow Daoist Zheng."

At this moment, a gentle voice echoed as a middle-aged woman in a grey Daoist robe stepped forward.

Behind her followed a young girl, seemingly of mischievous charm, in her prime.

The girl wore a pink dress with red tassels, a goose-yellow sash tied at her waist, without any makeup, yet possessing a tender freshness akin to a budding lotus, evoking fondness.

It seemed these two were Tuoba Wugou and Tuoba Lingyun.

Zheng Yi said, "I presume this is Fellow Daoist Tuoba Wugou and Fellow Daoist Tuoba Lingyun?"

"Correct."

Zheng Yi suddenly asked, "How is my Imperial Palace?"

Tuoba Wugou was unsure why Zheng Yi asked such a question, but replied loyally, "The Spiritual Qi is abundant, a land of people with talent and resources, truly a Grotto Heaven Blessed Land."

"Oh? If it is a Grotto Heaven Blessed Land, then why is the Tuoba Clan still unwilling to relocate?"

"Please forgive me, Fellow Daoist Zheng, Yunmeng Marsh is, after all, the ancestral land of the Tuoba Clan. Some within the clan have emotions about leaving, and we are still soothing them." 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"A thousand years ago, our Tuoba Clan has always lived here, with a million commoners under our command..."

"Commoners?"

Zheng Yi shook his head, "They are my people, not the Tuoba Clan’s."

"This..."

Tuoba Wugou gritted her teeth and said, "Your Majesty, please forgive us, it is merely homesickness."

"I grant the Tuoba Clan two Spirit Qi-rich peaks, sufficient to support thousands of cultivators and disciples from your clan, an enormous favor that other sects and families do not have."

Zheng Yi unceremoniously said, "Mere common people are not a reason for the Tuoba Clan’s reluctance to leave!"

"Speak, what is the real reason?"

Tuoba Wugou’s expression changed, ultimately speaking helplessly:

"My elder brother is gravely injured and hasn’t recovered even till now; the elixir I refined cannot completely heal him."

"My elder brother doesn’t have much time and does not wish to leave Yunmeng Marsh before he dies."

"Hmm?"

Zheng Yi was surprised, "Tuoba Wufeng is still alive?"

"What are you saying!"

Nearby, Tuoba Lingyun furrowed her brows and suddenly said, "Uncle was injured by you, wasn’t he? And Qingying Aunt was also forcefully taken by you, and now you want us to leave Yunmeng Marsh."

"It is truly... so hateful!!!"

"Lingyun!"

Tuoba Wugou’s face changed, quickly pulling her aside.

"Lingyun is still young, naive and has spoken out of turn, please forgive, His Majesty the Sea King."

Zheng Yi said aloofly, "I wouldn’t hold a grudge with a little girl, but I still need to clarify."

"Tuoba Wufeng attempted to assassinate me and killed many of my subjects and subordinates. Not killing him is already a great favor from me. What more do you want?"

"As for Tuoba Qingying, it is the same."

"Losers should pay the price. According to you, should your uncle, your aunt want to kill me, I should meekly offer my neck?"

"Ah, this..."

Tuoba Lingyun was stunned, wishing to say something, but was unable.

Zheng Yi immediately thought of something, it seems the Tuoba Clan has not conveyed the true circumstances of the events to Tuoba Lingyun.

Or rather, has altered the version.

This aroused some hostility in Tuoba Lingyun toward Zheng Yi, yet she dared not say anything.

Zheng Yi glanced up and down at Tuoba Lingyun, suddenly smiling, "Lingyun is still young, and I find her quite appealing. Why not stay a few more days at Qingying Palace?"

"Besides, the Fairy Peak and Azure Dragon Peak prepared for your Tuoba Clan by me are also worth visiting if you have the time."

"Hm! We don’t need you to tell us; we will wait here for Aunt to finish her retreat."

"Return now."

"Yes!"

Watching Zheng Yi’s departing figure, Tuoba Wugou sighed silently in her heart.

Is this the demeanor of an emperor?

The Celestial Longevity Mountain, which she secretly investigated, is incredibly abundant in Spiritual Qi, ten to even thirty times more than their Yunmeng Marsh!

Celestial Longevity Mountain is the main peak, surrounded by ten other peaks guarding it.

And to win over their Tuoba Clan, Emperor Zhengyong is even willing to grant them two peaks.

Fairy Peak and Azure Dragon Peak.

Their abundance in Spiritual Qi is in no way inferior to the Celestial Longevity Mountain.

There’s even a Spirit River beneath Fairy Peak, the most abundant area in Spiritual Qi among the ten branches.

Such a great favor has it been granted; if it were in the past, the Tuoba Clan would have long integrated entirely.

These grants are all given by Emperor Zhengyong for the sake of Tuoba Qingying.

However, the eldest brother Tuoba Wufeng is now badly injured and near death, unable to move easily.

And considering the Tuoba Clan has lived in Yunmeng Marsh for millennia, attempting to leave abruptly would be costly.

As a result, the clan even split into two factions, constantly arguing.

This time, she brought along Tuoba Lingyun to the Capital City to seek Tuoba Qingying’s advice.

Being a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, and the only one within the entire Great Yu territory, her opinion weighs heavily in the Tuoba Clan.

With her word, the future of the Tuoba Clan is almost set.

"What’s the big deal!"

Tuoba Lingyun pouted, "Auntie, this emperor is so rude, totally unlike anyone in the clan..."

Tuoba Wugou shook her head, "Though Emperor Zhengyong is the emperor of Great Yu, he is being lenient because of your Aunt Qingying."

"Beware of what you say in front of him; if you offend him, our Tuoba Clan might collapse at any moment!"

Aside from the Tuoba Clan, Yunmeng Marsh now contains the Great Yu’s hundred-thousand navy.

If the Tuoba Clan shows any sign of movement, the hundred-thousand navy would occupy the entire Tuoba Clan immediately.

Under such pressure, she had to head to the Capital City to seek help from Tuoba Qingying.

Tuoba Lingyun pouted, "Lingyun knows, but when will Aunt Qingying end her retreat? We’ve been waiting for over a month."

"Soon, soon..."

Tuoba Wugou suddenly thought of something, then said nervously, "I heard Emperor Zhengyong is quite lecherous, with seventy-two consorts in his palaces, and he seemed to have taken an interest in you just now."

"Ah..."

Tuoba Lingyun panicked, "He—He’s Aunt Qingying’s Daoist Companion. By relation, I should call him Uncle; how could he be interested in me?"

"Auntie, aren’t you overthinking..."

"No."

Tuoba Wugou shook her head, "I secretly investigated; Emperor Zhengyong is very lecherous toward women. In the palace, three concubines are mother and daughter and even live together."

"Ah..."

"He also retained over a hundred old palace maids about to leave the palace, insisting on defiling them before allowing them to go."

"Ah..."

"So, given all this, you may not wander freely within the palace and never be alone with him."

Tuoba Lingyun became anxious, "Then, what should I do?"

Tuoba Wugou’s eyes rolled, quickly thinking of something.

"Like this, from now until we leave the Imperial Palace, you must stay within your Aunt Qingying’s Qingying Palace and not leave it."

"Within Qingying Palace, Emperor Zhengyong might refrain due to your aunt’s presence, but I cannot be certain about elsewhere."

"Then, what about you, Auntie?"

"Me?"

Tuoba Wugou blushed, glaring at her, "Auntie, I am too aged; Emperor Zhengyong, however desperate, would not take an interest in this old body."

"Moreover, this elder has to visit Celestial Longevity Mountain once."

"Celestial Longevity Mountain? Auntie, haven’t you been there before?"

"Last time, I went secretly. This time, I have Emperor Zhengyong’s permission, so naturally, I’m going openly."

"Not only Celestial Longevity Mountain, but the Yuelong Palace I discovered also lies beneath it."

"Your Aunt Qingying previously sent a message, mentioning there is a cultivator with the Gold Attribute Celestial Spirit Root within Yuelong Palace!"