From the fake emperor to the concubine

Zheng Yi didn't think much of kneeling or bowing.

After all, he was once the ruler of the world, worshipped by thousands.

However, being new here, and not yet understanding the situation, there's no need for the clan leader, Zheng Tianhao, to kneel repeatedly.

Now he understands Zheng Tianhao's thought process.

It seems this guy thought he might get angry about this and then take it out on him.

Zheng Yi was both amused and exasperated, thinking to himself, "You've got a lot on your mind, even if it's all just wild speculation."

"Get up now. When did I, your ancestor, ever say that I would depose you as the clan leader? Don't think nonsense."

Regardless of Zheng Tianhao's abilities, he is ultimately the person who knows the Zheng family best right now.

On the contrary, I was a newcomer and knew nothing about it.

Replacing the clan leader casually at this time would not be a wise move.

Zheng Tianhao raised his head in disbelief, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"Ancestor, you really won't cripple me?"

Zheng Yi glared at him. He would never have answered such a stupid question in the past.

But Zheng Tianhao's little head was starting to wander into wild thoughts again, so Zheng Yi could only give him a positive answer.

"Don't worry, you're very secure in your position as team leader." Of course, Zheng Yi didn't mention the rest of the morning.

It's very stable now.

As for the future...

Once they have found a suitable person to be the clan leader, they will naturally replace this guy.

Anyway, based on Zheng Yi's understanding of Zheng Tianhao from the time he regained consciousness until now.

Aside from being a bit decisive, he really couldn't see what ability this guy had to lead such a large family.

Three thousand enemies have already reached our doorstep.

Besides leading his people to kneel in what he called his secluded retreat place and weep, what else did he do?

He came into this world by a twist of fate.

Otherwise, what's the difference between Zheng Tianhao's actions and those of a coward?
They did not invoke the words of the so-called reclusive ancestor.

This entire family, from top to bottom, was simply waiting to be slaughtered.

Zheng Yi didn't even dare to think about the consequences.

Zheng Tianhao, of course, couldn't understand Zheng Yi's implied meaning, and immediately said happily, "Thank you, Ancestor. Please rest assured, Ancestor, I will definitely not let you down in the future."

His assurances were meaningless to Zheng Yi, who didn't bother to listen and directly pointed at Zheng Yun, asking, "Who is he? What kind of person is he?"

Seeing that Zheng Yi was still so persistent about Zheng Yun, Zheng Tianhao had no choice but to explain to Zheng Yi, "Grandpa, he is my nephew named Zheng Yun."

"This child is pitiful. Years ago, when his mother took him back to her parents' home, they were attacked by robbers, and both the mother and the child were kidnapped."

“After this incident, my father personally led a group of people to wipe out the bandits and rescue my mother and daughter from them.”

"It's a pity..." Zheng Tianhao sighed deeply as he spoke, shaking his head regretfully, "His mother was violated by the bandits, and she hanged herself a few days after returning, leaving behind only this child."

"After the man's family heard about this, they immediately wrote us a letter of divorce, and from then on, the two families severed all ties."

“His mother died, and his father was an ungrateful wretch. So this child took our Zheng family surname.”

While Zheng Tianhao was talking non-stop about Zheng Yun's background, Zheng Yi was also observing Zheng Yun's reaction.

As he spoke, Zheng Yun's eyes showed a hint of shame.

However, he quickly concealed it deeply.

That slight change came and went in a flash, but it absolutely could not escape Zheng Yi's eyes.

As for Zheng Tianhao's story...

For a moment, Zheng Yi didn't know where to begin his rant.

No wonder they've managed to ruin such a large family like this.

They didn't see any problem with something so full of flaws.

Zheng Yi didn't even need to conduct a more in-depth investigation.

The Zheng family is large and prosperous; it is certainly not a small family.

For a woman to marry into such a family, the man should at least be of equal social standing to the Zheng family, right?

A young lady from a prominent family was so easily kidnapped by robbers?
And what's more, even after the affair was exposed, this young woman was still able to be rescued with her child, completely unharmed.

There were so many problems involved that Zheng Yi simply didn't have the energy to explain them to Zheng Tianhao one by one.

Zheng Yi stared at Zheng Yun, making the other man's face turn pale.

"Ancestor...did your unworthy descendant do something wrong?" Zheng Yun asked with a forced smile and stammering.

"Will you just admit it willingly, or should I just reveal your identity directly?"

Upon hearing Zheng Yi's words, Zheng Yun's heart skipped a beat, and a huge wave of emotions surged within him.

Did our ancestors find out my identity?

How can this be?

My identity is kept absolutely secret; no one in the Zheng family knows it.

Even if this ancestor had extraordinary connections, it was impossible for him to know all the movements of the Zheng family.

Could it be that he's bluffing me, hoping I'll reveal a weakness?

The more Zheng Yun thought about it, the more convinced he was right.

How could an ancestor who had been in seclusion for hundreds of years and had only just emerged know about me? It's ridiculous.

"I...I don't know what you're talking about, Ancestor?" Zheng Yun said somewhat guiltily.

“Ancestor, you must be mistaken,” Zheng Tianhao retorted without thinking. “Zheng Yun has no other identity. He is a member of our Zheng family and was raised by our Zheng family since he was a child.”

Although Zheng Yi knew that Zheng Tianhao was no good, he didn't expect him to be this "naive".

No wonder such a large family, when faced with the prospect of extinction, could only run to the so-called secluded place of their ancestor.

They sought help from an ancestor whose life or death was unknown.

“Ancestor, you’re probably mistaken. Zheng Yun is definitely fine.”

“You’re right. I can vouch for Zheng Yun’s absolute loyalty to our Zheng family.”

Looking at these core family members, each one of them was willing to risk their lives to vouch for Zheng Yun.

Zheng Yi's feelings were incredibly complicated.

He didn't understand why these idiots had their own bloodline.

If it weren't for that, he definitely wouldn't care about these people's lives and would have just left. It's probably because he saw so many people on his side.

Zheng Yun, who was initially a little apprehensive, gradually became more confident, raising her chin and looking at Zheng Yi with a half-smile.

It was as if it were a provocation.

So what if you're an ancestor? In the Zheng family, more people still believe in me.

That's impressive!
Zheng Yi was so angry he laughed.

Who were his previous opponents?

They are not renowned masters who dominate the world, but rather those monstrous beasts that inspire fear in all who hear of them.

Now, this mere member of the Zheng family is just a little guy whose strength is barely at the Foundation Establishment stage.

How dare they openly provoke me like this?

"Kneel down!" Zheng Yi's eyebrows shot up, and he shouted sharply.

His voice was full of authority, and everyone in the main hall suddenly felt as if a mountain was pressing down on them.

Even those who were sitting in chairs felt their legs go weak and involuntarily slid off the chairs and knelt on the ground.

Almost in the blink of an eye, there wasn't a single person left standing in the entire Tang Dynasty; everyone was kneeling on the ground.

Zheng Yi's rebuke just now demonstrated his imperial authority.

Even a Golden Core stage expert would probably kneel down before Zheng Yi if he wasn't on guard, let alone ordinary people like them.

Zheng Yi walked slowly to Zheng Yun with his hands behind his back.

With each step he took, Zheng Yun felt as if someone was slamming a giant hammer into his chest.

For a moment, I felt like I was having trouble breathing.

"I've come to ask you, who exactly sent you?"

Zheng Yun's mind was actually quite clear, but he didn't know why, in front of this ancestor, his mouth seemed to have a mind of its own.

They clearly wanted to deny it outright.

But when he spoke, he said, "Reporting to our ancestor, I was sent by the Liu family."

Everyone in the hall couldn't help but gasp in surprise.

"How can this be?"

"Why the Liu family?"

"Damn it, they had planned this all along."

Zheng Tianhao was so angry that he was furious. He pointed at Zheng Yun and cursed, "You little bastard, what has my Zheng family ever done to wrong you? I never expected you to be just like your father, an ungrateful wretch."

Zheng Yun was naturally afraid that his identity would be exposed.

However, under Zheng Yi's pressure, he accidentally told the truth and then he became more accepting of it.

Faced with Zheng Tianhao's accusations, he retorted without hesitation: "So what? I admit that your Zheng family did raise me, but does that mean I have to sell my life to the Zheng family?"

"I really don't understand how you good-for-nothings from the Zheng family have managed to survive until today. Such a huge scheme, and you didn't see through it at all. Moreover, you've been raising the son of my enemy for decades."

"I was indeed very grateful to you before, but so what? If you knew that none of this was an accident, but a scheme that the Liu family had set up from the moment they married my mother, how would you view me?"

"So, after my father came to me and told me that if I didn't help him, he would tell you everything, I had no choice."

"You're all going to die sooner or later anyway, so I'm just giving you a gentle push from behind."

"Besides, if I can make you feel even better, shouldn't you be grateful that I guessed right?" Zheng Yun's eyes grew increasingly crazed.

The Zheng family members in the main hall had lost count of how many times they had been dumbfounded that day.

The young man, who was originally highly regarded and seen as the most promising of the younger generation, turned out to be an undercover agent sent by another family.

They were not only shocked by Zheng Yun's identity, but also felt extremely heartbroken.

Tears streamed down Zheng Tianming's face as he said with heartache, "Xiaoyun, you're so foolish! With your intelligence, can't you see that the Liu family is just using you?"

"So what?" Zheng Yun retorted without hesitation, "They're using me because I'm useful. Otherwise, would I be willing to die with you idiots?"

“Zheng Tianming, what else can you do besides daydreaming every day? When you’re teaching the younger generation of the clan how to cultivate, you’re daydreaming for at least three out of four hours.”

"The Zheng family's disciples are getting worse and worse in their cultivation, and you bear the main responsibility for that."

Seeing his younger brother unable to lift his head after being scolded, Zhao Tianhao quickly stepped forward to help: "Zheng Yun, how can you speak to your second uncle like that? Although your second uncle made some mistakes when he was teaching you, don't forget that when you suddenly developed a high fever, the doctors in the clan were helpless. It was your second uncle who carried you on his back and ran all over the twenty-six medical clinics in Zhuozhou City before finally finding a miraculous doctor who was visiting a friend and saved your life."

Zheng Yun sneered disdainfully: "I admit you've been very good to me, so you should let me choose the path that gives me a better chance of survival."

"The Liu family has given you chances before, but who told you to..."

At this point, Zheng Yun had already gone mad, and everything he said was just an excuse for his betrayal.

Zheng Yijian couldn't glean any more valuable information, so he flicked his finger, and a sword aura instantly pierced through Zheng Yun's chest.

"I don't want to hear a single word from a traitor."

How could Zheng Yun possibly withstand the sword energy unleashed by Zheng Yi?

He didn't even have a chance to defend himself before he was struck by the sword energy and fell straight down.

Upon seeing this, the Zheng family members in the main hall all rushed forward and helped Zheng Yun up.

Zheng Yun suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood, and grabbed Zheng Tianhao's hand tightly.

He opened his mouth with difficulty: "Yes, no..."

Before he could finish speaking, his hand had already slumped down in a weak fist.

The instant Zheng Yun died, Zheng Yi saw these guys release Zheng Yun and return to their positions.

The bodies of Zheng Yun's men lay motionless in the main hall.

He thought they would be saddened and indignant about Zheng Yun's death, and might even burst into tears.

After all, Zheng Yun was someone they had raised themselves.

Is this the result?

When he was alive, you were all so heartbroken, but now that he's just passed away, you're all acting like nothing happened?

"Zheng Tian's betrayal may have been a huge blow to you..."

Zheng Yi thought they were too traumatized, so he wanted to offer them some words of comfort.

In the end, Zheng Tianhao just sighed: "Zheng Yun's matter really surprised us. We never expected him to be such an ingrate."

Zheng Tianming gritted his teeth: "I was even thinking of focusing on training this kid so he could take over my job."

Another person gritted his teeth and said, "That little bastard was so infuriating just now, I wanted to slap him a few times."

If these guys hadn't had red eyes, Zheng Yi would probably have thought they didn't take Zheng Yun seriously at all, just from their nonchalant words.

Especially the one who said he wanted to slap Zheng Yun a few times. If his voice hadn't choked up towards the end, it might have been more convincing. (End of Chapter)