I'm not a fortune teller.

Chapter 192 Whose child?

On the second day, at the beginning of the Chen hour, Zhang Rui arrived at the Suzaku Gate under the escort of Hong Lie. According to the rules, the top sixteen warriors waited in front of the palace gates corresponding to their respective areas, and brought the people they invited with them. They could enter only after being examined by the court sorcerer and the Four Spirit Lords.

As they walked, Hong Lie talked to Zhang Rui about some things about the palace martial arts performances.

"In the past, the Top 16 Martial Arts Competition was also a major game for the aristocratic families in the capital. After all, the martial arts priests in the world have considerable power and are responsible for monitoring the local warlocks. Although they are all controlled by the big sects, the aristocratic families can also cooperate."

"Cooperation?" Zhang Rui was a little curious: "Aren't they opposing forces?"

"The warlock families have the ability to remove evil spirits. When the martial artists of the sects reach a high level, they need warlocks to remove evil spirits. The official quota is limited. The initial reason was to control the number of martial artists in the big sects so that the martial arts world would not be monopolized. However, there are countermeasures for every policy. The quota given by the court is limited, and the quota for private cooperation is different. The families often cooperate with the big sects in advance and privately use the family warlocks to remove evil spirits for the disciples of the big sects, in exchange for the sects giving the children of the families convenience in the local area."

"Because there are so many martial arts sects, the early selection of the noble families can be considered a game of chance. The earlier the spots in the top 16 are, the better. Especially for the top three, they even have the right to make their own choices. This is very helpful for the noble families to plan their local businesses. The competition for the top three is usually very fierce."

As he spoke, Hong Lie looked at the palace gate in front of him and whispered, "Even if the King of Jin doesn't come this year, this year's world competition is actually a very intense year. There are three good places left vacant, namely Shenzhou in the East China Sea, Suzhou in the South China, and Youzhou in the North China Sea. They are all important cities that control local commercial waterways, with huge profits in secret. Almost every time, they are the points of secret competition among major Jianghu and aristocratic families."

"There is such a complicated relationship." Zhang Rui was surprised to hear this. If this is the case, the relationship between the aristocratic families and the martial arts sects is quite complicated. On the surface, they seem to look down on each other, but in fact, they have major interests in secret.

The aristocratic families secretly cultivate retainers to occupy local interests and have actual interests with the famous martial arts families, but they also cooperate in the general direction. And because the major martial arts sects have their own right to choose, the partners of the aristocratic families and the major martial arts sects are different in every competition, forming a very complex balance of interests today.

"We're here." Zhang Rui looked forward and frowned.

The four people in the South District are Murong Yunji, Li Lan, the eldest brother of the Sword Sect, and Li Yan, the biggest dark horse this time who eliminated Master Lingyi of the Longxiang Temple. However, the last person surprised Zhang Rui a little, as she was the one who looked strong on the outside but was actually weak: Fu Yunji.

At this time, Fu Yunji was wearing a loose Taoist robe and a simple hair accessory. She looked dignified and elegant, but she always gave people a sense of worldliness.

"Oh, Lord Hong Lie is here early." Fu Yunji spoke first with a sneer.

Everyone looked over. Hong Lie frowned slightly. In such a public place, he couldn't avoid it even if he wanted to. He could only hold his nose and salute, saying, "Hong Lie greets Uncle Master."

"Oh, I don't deserve it, I don't deserve it." Fu Yunji sneered: "He is the commander of the imperial guards, but he arrested all of us just by saying so. How can he be called uncle? I wonder what about Brother Qingyunzi? I'm curious, how did Commander Hong convince Brother Qingyunzi with a disciple like him? He is famous for hating evil."

"Okay, stop talking," a gentle voice came. Zhang Rui recognized the man at a glance. He had an immortal look and kind eyes. It was Tian Yunzi, the leader of Tianyi Sect.

"I just can't stand it. Some people have double standards. They are so strict with others, but they protect their beloved disciples who betrayed their master and ancestors."

The headmaster frowned and was about to speak when a familiar voice came from a distance: "What should I do? The headmaster's wife seems to have a lot of objections."

When Fu Yunji saw the person coming, she just snorted coldly, but did not continue to mock him. It was obvious that she was still a little afraid. The head of the sect smiled and saluted towards Qing Yunzi: "Senior Brother."

"Junior brother, you should think it through." Qing Yunzi approached and looked at Lu Chengfeng and another elder of the Lu family behind the headmaster, his eyes dim, "Our Tianyi Sect never participates in the game between the aristocratic families, and the master has always insisted on this point."

"Brother, you are right." Tian Yunzi smiled slightly but didn't say much.

Fu Yunji sneered at the side: "Some people are clinging to the power of the court, how can they have the nerve to teach others a lesson?"

Qing Yunzi glanced at Fu Yunji coldly, and seemed unwilling to argue with her in public. He snorted coldly and walked aside.

Zhang Rui looked at this scene with a strange feeling, and stepped forward to salute: "Greetings, senior."

This woman, Fu Yunji, doesn't have any negative energy around her. She gives him the feeling that she is not controlled by the Lu family. However, her actions seem to be helping Tian Yunzi and others to put on a show. Could it be that she is completely unaware that Tian Yunzi and others are being controlled?
Or rather
Just as he was thinking, he saw Fu Yunji looking at another young man: "You are so young, but you are so ruthless. No matter who is behind you, I will not let Yuqing off the hook!"

Having said that, he took the two people from the Lu family and the two people from the Tianyi Sect directly into the palace gate.

Zhang Rui and Hong Lie were stunned by this scene, and even Li Yan, who was warned, frowned.

This woman, doesn't she know her own weight?

If you brag now, aren't you afraid that you will be lined up together in the palace later?

Hong Lie also had a strange look on his face, and whispered, "Yesterday I went to see Yu Qing, and like Ling Yi, his body was broken. This Li Yan suddenly appeared out of nowhere, and I don't know what he was thinking when he offended two major martial arts sects in a row. However, his strength is obvious to all. I think he can compete with Ling Feng or Zhang Lingyu. Little Murong should be careful if he meets him." "Don't worry." Zhang Rui nodded, "I'm ready."

"Those people recommended by Li Yan?"

Zhang Rui was also very curious about this dark horse. He didn't believe that this was just a kid from a wild background. There must be some powerful force behind him.

"This..." Hong Lie's expression became even more strange as he said, "The four people he invited are all princes."

Zhang Rui: “.”

"Is this allowed? Isn't the prince temporarily detained by the major families?"

"Theoretically, it is not allowed, but for some reason, the noble families who detained the prince chose to release him this time."

"Which princes are they?" Zhang Rui asked curiously.

"The third prince Li Yu, the fourth prince Li Yan, the seventh prince Li Qi, and the fifteenth prince Li Yi."

"Huh?" Zhang Rui was stunned.

The first three are easy to deal with. The third prince Li Yu is an important chess piece of the Qin family. Bringing him into the palace may be the Qin family's intention, which means that Li Yan may be backed by a Qin family member.

The fourth prince Li Yan’s fiefdom is in the north. He was an important suspect in the previous case of the Lord of the Painting Spirit. He was placed under house arrest by the Qi family. The Qi family and the Lord of the Painting Spirit might also be behind this.

The seventh prince Li Qi was the person Zhang Rui suspected the most at the beginning. His fiefdom was in southern Xinjiang. He was the least favored prince, but also the most likely one. If there had been an early plan, and even the Lord of Painting Spirit had many southern Xinjiang families behind him, it meant that Li Yan might be supported by the southern Xinjiang families.

Choosing princes for all four places would obviously confuse the public, but it is also basically certain that the Lord of Painting Spirit must be among them.

But what Zhang Rui found strange was the fifteenth prince Li Yi.

This child is not yet an adult. He is the younger brother of the third prince Li Yu. He was previously under the care of the Zhou family. He was a prince that no one paid any attention to. After all, he was too young, and his mother was Concubine Qin, so almost no one would suspect that he would be the owner of the painting.

Why did Li Yan invite this person?
Li Yu, who came to Suzaku Gate at this time, seemed a little surprised. He took a look at his brother, who was born to the same mother, and his expression became a little strange.

His mother didn't like him, but she was very kind to her younger brother.

When I was a child, I was jealous of my younger brother, but when I grew up, I became more open-minded.

The mother couldn't be affectionate to herself because she would definitely be used as a pawn. She could only use her motherly love on her younger brother. The family probably also promised that they would not touch her second child, so she invested all her affection on her younger brother.

This makes sense.

But this time, Li Yan insisted on bringing this younger brother into the palace. What was his plan?
"My queen, everyone outside the four palace gates has arrived. We should leave now."

A handsome eunuch asked respectfully in Concubine Qin's bedroom, while at this time, Concubine Qin slowly walked out of the bedroom with the help of palace maids.

If Li Yu were here, he would definitely be scared.

I haven't seen my mother for just a few days, and her belly has grown bigger!
This is clearly a sign of pregnancy!

The palace maid who was supporting him also looked pale and was sweating profusely.

Concubine Qin is pregnant, but she knows it is definitely not His Majesty's. His Majesty has not allowed Concubine Qin to sleep with him for several years. Whose child is this?

(End of this chapter)