The Ninth Lady is a rebellious person.

Chapter 507 Originally Master and Disciple, Imperial Power Changed

At the Marquis of Kaiping's residence, all things returned to silence.

A figure appeared in Lang Jiuchuan's study. When the figure saw the woman slumped over the desk, it snapped its fingers, and the woman fell into a deep sleep.

This person was none other than the Imperial Preceptor Tantai Qing, who had just left Liuyuan.

He was fully aware of the series of events that had occurred after Lang Jiuchuan returned to the capital. Judging from her behavior, it was hard not to suspect and investigate whether she was indeed his most beloved disciple.

But if it's her, then what about the imperial mausoleum...?

The Grand Advisor wanted to see Lang Jiuchuan in person to confirm his intentions before deciding on his next move. He wouldn't allow it; the game he had already laid out was about to change.

He absolutely could not allow that variable to be Lang Jiuchuan!
A falling out between master and disciple is not good.

The Imperial Advisor looked at the spirit-gathering array set up in the study, and at the faint, lingering scent of the woman lying on the desk. The scent was very faint, almost masked by the fragrance of ink and soothing incense, yet it still gave one a strange sense of familiarity.

His brow twitched, and he quickly located the talisman in one direction. He unfolded it and his thin lips pursed slightly.

He found another jade talisman, looked at the engraving technique, his eyes slightly moistened, and he sighed.

Like, really like it.

The techniques used to create these talismans and jade tokens were strikingly similar to those of the exceptionally talented disciple he remembered, yet there were slight differences.

The power displayed by these talismans was more outstanding and spiritual than the child's drawing, which shows that his talent and Daoist roots were pure and upright.

It is said that she even brought Jinlian to testify for her.

That was an unprecedented phenomenon in hundreds of years, a phenomenon that all cultivators yearned for, representing the approval of heaven and earth, and also carrying an aura of fortune that inspired envy.

Such a blessed person is truly enviable.

Upon closer inspection of the talismans, he noticed some differences, including an aura he couldn't decipher, an aura that both repelled and frightened him.

It is her, but not entirely her!
This realization caused a subtle, yet alarming ripple in his usually calm mind, and a slight sense of unease arose within him. This feeling of being unable to control it made him somewhat anxious.

If it wasn't her, it meant that there hadn't been much change in her situation; the piece was still there and remained an irreplaceable link.

But if it is her, then it proves that she has broken free from shackles and constraints, and his plan has made a major mistake and deviated from its original purpose. His foundation may even be damaged as a result, and his centuries-old scheme, which has exhausted countless efforts, will face a huge threat.

Thinking of this, the Imperial Preceptor tightened his grip on the jade talisman slightly, especially considering the faintness of the Purple Star, the abnormal decline in the nation's fortune, and the familiar divine sense he had detected through the power of his imprint on Rong Yiming's soul. All these signs, when put together, pointed to a possibility that he dared not believe yet felt uneasy about—something had happened at the Imperial Mausoleum.

He turned abruptly and left the study with a solemn expression.

No matter how much this woman stirs up trouble and causes chaos, she absolutely cannot threaten his plans and schemes. He has been waiting for this for over a hundred years, and he cannot let it all be destroyed in an instant, otherwise, it will surely fulfill the saying, "A thousand years of cultivation can be lost in a single day."

He cannot allow such a mistake to occur!
He took one last look at Langfu, then searched for Lang Jiuchuan again with his divine sense, but could not find Lang Jiuchuan's divine sense anywhere. He frowned and left, heading straight towards the imperial tombs of the Tantai clan.

……

A night breeze rustled through the eaves. Startled, Cui Shi awoke with a jolt, her heart pounding. A sudden, inexplicable palpitation made it hard to breathe, and a chill ran through her body. She rubbed her arms; despite being clothed, goosebumps inexplicably rose on them. Her brow furrowed as she looked around the study. An atmosphere permeated the space, making her feel extremely uncomfortable.

It was as if someone had been there, leaving behind an oppressive and cold aura.

Is that the child?
Cui quickly shook her head; it couldn't be her, her aura wasn't like that.

She stared blankly at the talisman paper fluttering in the breeze on the table, her mind filled with the news about the Rong family she had heard in the past few days. Every time she thought about it, her heart ached sharply. She wanted to ask Lang Jiuchuan about the truth behind it all.

But if it's really as she thinks, then the child who was tortured and killed is the little girl she despised and left on the estate. What can she use to atone for her sins?

Cui's face was icy cold. When she touched it, she realized that she had been crying without even realizing it.

She sat there until dawn, and after having a light breakfast, she went to the front yard to look for Lang Zhengping.

Lang Zhengping looked even more haggard than her, but seeing her frail and sickly appearance and her increasingly thin body, he sighed slightly and said, "Sister-in-law, you must take care of yourself too. Constantly abusing yourself will not help your lifespan."

As if she hadn't heard, Madam Cui asked, "Is there any news about her?"

Lang Zhengping's expression fell, his mouth felt dry, and he shook his head, saying, "No, don't worry, that girl is very clever. Besides, didn't the shopkeeper say that she's in seclusion for cultivation? I've heard that Taoist seclusion can last from a few days to a year and a half, or even several years. So, let's just pretend she's still being raised on the estate."

Even after saying those words, he felt awkward. It would be a lie to say he wasn't worried. Everyone was talking about the upheaval in the Rong family, and he had already learned about the scene from Gong Qi.

Lang Jiuchuan truly went toe-to-toe with the Rong family head all by himself.

Although the Rong family head has perished and the Rong family has been defeated, it is unimaginable what price Lang Jiuchuan paid in the process. The worst fear is that in order to deal with the Rong family, she might use a method that would harm the enemy a thousand while also harming herself eight hundred.

Lang Zhengping thought that his eldest niece would do the same thing, after all, she was a bit crazy at heart.

Oh, maybe my niece isn't really my niece.

But who cares? Since she already bears this identity, she is his daughter of the Lang family. Perhaps this was arranged by his second brother in the dark.

The two remained silent until the steward rushed in with a message: something had happened in the palace.

What happened?

Emperor Anhe suddenly issued an edict of self-reproach, meaning that his misconduct had brought him punishment, so he abdicated and went to guard the imperial mausoleum to pray for the well-being of the people of Dadan.

However, the person he abdicated to was only a sixteen-year-old member of the imperial clan named Tantai Yan, who was not even a prince under Emperor Anhe. Now the entire capital of Wujing was alarmed, and all the key ministers had entered the palace to prepare for the handover of the throne.

Lang Zhengping grew increasingly suspicious. Could such a drastic change be related to his niece? Why was his heart beating so fast?

The change of imperial power caused undercurrents and turmoil in the court, but it was quickly suppressed by the Holy Maiden with her absolute authority.

The Imperial Advisor stood deep within the imperial mausoleum, watching the dynasty's fortunes slip away. His face was ashen, his hands clenched into fists, and a storm raged in his eyes. His voice was barely audible, making it impossible to discern his emotions: "It really is you... Your teacher looks forward to the day we meet again!"

　Help! I've had a migraine for days, and the medicine isn't helping. It's so painful with those spasms. Plus, I have mouth ulcers all over my mouth and eczema on the back of my left hand. It's like Mercury retrograde on top of everything. Who can understand how miserable this is!

　　(End of this chapter)