Great Zhou Martial Immortal

Chapter 26 Ambition
Lu Chenyuan has always adhered to the principle that "it's always good to have more skills," and he is willing to learn anything.

You never know when you might need it.

The sonic attack, a renowned group attack system in the martial arts world, uses sound as a medium to injure people from a distance without direct contact.

The sound blade is invisible and difficult to perceive with the naked eye or conventional internal energy, making it ideal for surprise attacks and group battles.

Especially since the person passing on his skills was no ordinary individual, and given this rare opportunity, Lu Chenyuan decided to learn diligently.

— Qiu Shenji will have to make a fuss for a while. He won't give up his position until he's completely exhausted his resources or Wu Zetian runs out of patience. That's when he'll settle all old and new scores at once.

During this period, I was able to recover from my injury and continue my studies.

Lu Chenyuan leaned back lazily against the large cat, opened the "Rhapsody on the Qin" and softly recited: "The music of the qin can reveal customs and morals, capture the soul, discern joy and anger, delight emotions, calm the mind, and bolster courage. This is the excellence of the qin. When a player is calm and upright, the listener can easily distinguish the player's playing; when the mind is chaotic and the spirit is clouded, the listener will find it difficult to discern the truth..."

The golden lion was getting sleepy from his reading, making gurgling sounds in its throat. It rubbed its big head against his shoulder, encircling him like a small mountain, and closed its eyes.

Lu Chenyuan casually scratched its chin and continued reading. He had to admit that after gaining insight, reading related books and comparing them with knowledge from later generations, he had unconsciously corrected his past mistakes.

My proficiency level is increasing rapidly.

Lu Chenyuan continued reading: "The method of playing the zither must be simple and quiet. This does not mean that the person must be quiet, but that the hands must be quiet. Vibrating fingers are called noise, while simple, light, and steady movements are called quiet. Furthermore, both hands must be in harmony, like two phoenixes dancing together or two dragons soaring together, their movements bringing the sound to the strings..."

The bright moonlight shone through the window lattice, casting a veil of light on the people and the cat.

While things were peaceful and serene here, Wu Youji was completely unable to sleep.

The study in the west courtyard of the Prince of Wei's residence.

After seeing the mess, Wu Youji, pale-faced, followed Wu Chengsi into the room.

The shattered porcelain bottle, the overturned table, and even the cracks on the wall cleaved by sword energy—all of these reminded him just how far Li Lingyue would go for that gigolo, Lu Chenyuan!
"sit."

Wu Chengsi spoke calmly and took the lead in sitting down on the only intact low couch.

Wu Youji remained silent for a long time before finally sitting down dejectedly. Fang Jing personally served him wine and dishes: three jugs of Western Region grape wine and four exquisite side dishes. He then silently withdrew and closed the door.

The room fell silent for a moment, with only the flickering candlelight.

After a long while, Wu Youji suddenly grabbed the wine pot, tilted his head back and gulped it down. The spicy wine burned down his throat, but it couldn't extinguish the pent-up anger in his heart.

Wu Chengsi ignored her, slowly poured himself a cup of wine, and said, "Youji, you've been married to Taiping for almost a year now, how can you still not understand? She has never been a woman who can be bound."

Click!

Upon hearing this, Wu Youji smashed the wine pot, spilling wine everywhere. His face flushed red as he roared, "So I'm supposed to bear the title of imperial son-in-law and just watch her keep male lovers? Just watch her send that slut to her own bed?!"

"of course not."

Wu Chengsi remained completely unaffected, his attitude still calm. "But you need to try a different approach. Will drinking alone, brooding, or complaining help?"

"..."

Wu Youji's face stiffened, then he became even angrier, grabbed the third pot and continued to pour it into his mouth.

Wu Chengsi shook his head helplessly, his face full of disappointment, and lowered his voice to say, "Think carefully, what kind of people are those who are on good terms with Taiping and who are valued by her?"

Wu Youji paused, a look of bewilderment on his face.

Wu Chengsi: "..."

Wu Chengsi sighed.

It wasn't that he looked down on Wu Youji because he wasn't the prince consort and was jealous of him; it was just that talking to him felt like talking to a brick wall, even more exhausting than dealing with the Li imperial family!

Wu Chengsi grew impatient and bluntly stated, "Princess Qianjin has tried to curry favor with you several times, sending so many rare treasures, but Princess Taiping has ignored them completely, her contempt evident in her words. Yet she treats Shangguan Wan'er with great courtesy. Who is Shangguan Wan'er? She is nothing more than a descendant of a disgraced official, born into a lowly family of palace maids! Her grandfather, Shangguan Yi, was executed for treason, and all the women in her family were sent to the palace as slaves—with such a lowly background, if it weren't for her poetic talent, she wouldn't even be worthy of carrying Princess Taiping's shoes!"

He suddenly leaned close to Wu Youji, his voice filled with biting sarcasm: "But this lowly servant can now come and go freely in Taiping Mansion, while you, a member of the imperial family and the imperial consort, can't even enter the princess's study!"

Wu Youji's face instantly turned ashen!
If it weren't for Wu Chengsi, who dared to stab him in the back like that, he would have had him beaten to death!

Wu Chengsi sneered, "And then there's Yuan Banqian outside the palace, who's known as a literary master, but he's nothing but an old, pedantic scholar. Princess Taiping always bows to him whenever they meet. And then there's Wang Han, a mere minor official from Bingzhou. Just because of his poem 'Liangzhou Ci,' Princess Taiping personally recommended him to her aunt. And then there's her gigolo, whose casually composed erotic poem is so well-structured! Now, do you understand?"

Wu Youji frowned, deep in thought.

Wu Chengsi didn't bother waiting for him to figure it out himself. He slammed his hand on the table and said, "She likes people with outstanding talent! Lu Chenyuan is good at poetry and painting, knowledgeable in music, and even knows some strange skills—and you? Besides being able to ride horses and shoot arrows, have you ever recited a poem with her or appreciated a painting with her?"

Wu Youji's face grew increasingly grim.

"Neither good at literature nor good at martial arts."

Wu Chengsi's last words fell like a heavy hammer, each word piercing the heart: "This is why she would rather be close to a lowly palace guard than say a single word to you!"

boom!
Wu Youji flew into a rage, slamming his hand down on the table and shattering it. His face flushed crimson with shame and anger as he pointed at Wu Chengsi and shouted, "You summoned me in the middle of the night just to humiliate me? I know you look down on me, but I won't get in your way! Farewell!"

He abruptly flicked his sleeve, turned around, and left.

Wu Chengsi sighed deeply, his voice lowering: "Good medicine tastes bitter, and honest advice is hard to hear. Don't you even understand that?"

Wu Youji paused in his steps.

Wu Chengsi slowly got up, walked to the window, looked at the cold moonlight, and his tone suddenly became desolate: "Youji, do you really think that I called you here in the middle of the night just to talk about these trivial matters of love and affection?"

He turned around, his eyes flashing with sharpness: "Our Wu family may seem illustrious now, but in reality, we're like oil on a hot pan, on the verge of collapse! My aunt is getting old, and there's no news of the elixir of immortality. Once she passes away, how do you think the Li Tang imperial family will treat us?"

His face was gloomy as he pointed to the ruins outside the house: "Taiping has tried her best to avoid conflict with the Li royal family in recent years. Do you think that once the Li family comes to power, she will still remain neutral as before, or show any leniency towards my Wu family?"

"..."

Wu Youji looked at the ruins and remained silent.

Wu Chengsi softened his tone: "We brothers are in the same boat, our fortunes are intertwined, what good would it do me to humiliate you? In terms of talent, you are indeed inferior to Lu Chenyuan, and in terms of aptitude, even I might not be able to catch Taiping's eye. Relying on ordinary means, you would never be able to win Taiping's heart in your entire life, and not just you, but I would be the same." At this point, he suddenly changed his tone, his voice filled with seduction: "But this world is never short of extraordinary means!"

Wu Youji was taken aback.

Wu Chengsi spoke with great passion and eloquence, pointing out the grand scheme of things: "In the past, when the King of Yiqu besieged Xianyang, the Queen Dowager Xuan of Qin had no choice but to submit to the barbarians, even bearing two sons; when Yuwen Huaji murdered the king in Jiangdu, Empress Xiao still had to humble herself and serve the new ruler! In this world, it has always been the victor who is king and the loser who is a bandit!"

He turned abruptly, his eyes blazing with fury as he stared intently at Wu Youji: "Taiping is right about one thing: I am not yet the Crown Prince... Once my Wu clan has secured its rule, not only will Princess Taiping be forced to submit, but all those golden branches and jade leaves of the Li Tang imperial family will be at your mercy. He who does not plan for the long term cannot plan for the short term; he who does not plan for the whole cannot plan for a part! As long as you broaden your horizons and stop being fixated on the cold stares of this mere woman, you will be able to see the glorious day when my Wu clan... reigns supreme over the world!"

The words fell.

The study suddenly fell into a deathly silence.

Wu Youji trembled all over, his heart pounding with fear as he listened!

He had long known that Wu Chengsi was the most outstanding person of their generation. Although he had been suppressed in his early years, he was able to study and practice martial arts diligently. After his aunt took power, she promoted the Wu family and passed down the royal secret martial arts. Only he and Wu Sansi could practice them and made rapid progress, winning her favor.

One was enfeoffed as the King of Wei, serving as the Left Chancellor of the Ministry of Personnel, wielding great power; the other was enfeoffed as the King of Liang, serving as the Minister of Spring and concurrently compiling the national history.

He knew he was no match for them, but he never expected that they harbored such thoughts.

The gap is too big.

It was so big that he felt a little dazed and scared.

Wu Youji was neither good at literature nor martial arts, but he still understood this simple truth.

Leaving aside others, didn't Lai Junchen rely on his aunt's favor to force the marriage of the daughter of the Wang family of Taiyuan? That's a thousand-year-old family, yet they were powerless against imperial power. If the Wu family were to take control of the country, Taiping... she probably wouldn't, and wouldn't dare to, look down on him like that again... Perhaps she could become his wife again, and he could become the imperial consort with dignity...

Gradually.

The fear in Wu Youji's eyes disappeared, gradually transforming into a kind of blazing light.

"But……"

Wu Youji frowned and said, "Although Li Dan is confined to the palace and has lost the title of 'Crown Prince,' he is still the heir apparent. None of the officials in the Crown Prince's residence have been dismissed... My aunt may not have even passed on the throne..."

Wu Chengsi didn't want to hear what he was going to say next, so he interrupted him directly: "Where there's a will, there's a way!"

Wu Youji remained oblivious, failing to notice the change in Wu Chengsi's expression, and continued, still bewildered, "There has to be a reason, Li Dan is her own son..."

Wu Chengsi sneered: "Li Xian was also her own son, but he was poisoned to death by Qiu Shenji. That was poisoned wine that she personally ordered to be given! Li Dan and Li Xian are two useless people. One had his gall bladder removed, and the other was an idiot. Only such 'good sons' can live. What does it matter if they are her own sons? If Taiping were a man, he would only end up like Li Xian!"
We are her nephews, which is both a disadvantage and an advantage. At least until she dies, we must respectfully serve her; otherwise, our authority would be illegitimate, and a second Xuanwu Gate Incident wouldn't be possible. Do you understand? Furthermore, there's another readily available reason…”

Wu Youji asked, "What reason?"

Wu Chengsi said, "Gods do not accept offerings from those who are not of their kind, and clans do not worship those who are not of their lineage."

Wu Youji asked, "What do you mean?"

"..."

Wu Chengsi sighed and turned to look at him.

Even the slow-witted Wu Youji could see the weariness in his eyes this time.

Wu Youji's face turned even redder, and he lowered his head.

Wu Chengsi patted him on the shoulder: "You should read more books... If you can't get through the classics, history, philosophy and literature, you can read some erotic books. This principle is not difficult to understand."

Wu Youji was completely at a loss.

Wu Chengsi said, "This is a saying from the *Zuo Zhuan*, meaning that gods will not accept sacrifices from those of different surnames, and common people will not worship ancestors of foreign tribes. The ancestral temple of the Li Tang dynasty is dedicated to the ancestors of the Li family; even if the descendants of the Wu clan kneel and worship, it is all in vain! Conversely, now that my Wu clan has ascended the throne, the world should naturally worship our Wu clan ancestors. How can we allow the Li clan to occupy the ancestral temple again? Although my aunt is the emperor, she is ultimately surnamed Wu. If the throne is passed to Li Xian or Li Dan, would they truly worship the Wu clan's ancestral temple? After my aunt's death, the Wu family will surely be purged! Only if my Wu clan descendants succeed to the throne can we rightfully and legitimately ensure the continuation of the Wu clan's lineage; otherwise—"

He smiled coldly: "'Gods do not accept sacrifices from those of different surnames, and people do not worship the spirits of foreign tribes.' At that time, you and I won't even have the right to offer sacrifices, so what's the point of talking about wealth and glory?!"

Wu Youji broke out in a cold sweat upon hearing this, finally understanding the source of Wu Chengsi's ambition.

This is not only a struggle for power, but also a struggle for patriarchal orthodoxy!
If this line of reasoning is followed, then the Wu family truly deserves the right to continue the Great Zhou Dynasty…

Wu Youji's eyes lit up.

But such a major event...

Wu Youji knew his own limitations; this was not something he could get involved in. Wu Chengsi had suddenly summoned him and said these heartfelt words, so there must be a reason.

Wu Youji cautiously cupped his hands in greeting: "I wonder why my cousin summoned me here..."

Wu Chengsi didn't waste any more words with him and went straight to the point: "To seize the position of Crown Prince, you need to do two things. First, depose Li Dan. Second, relieve your aunt's burdens. Leave Li Dan to me. Think twice before you try to please your aunt. As for you, your main task is to keep an eye on Taiping's every move. When you succeed, she will definitely be yours!"

Wu Youji shook his head bitterly: "You overestimate me. I can't even get into her study..."

Wu Chengsi: "I know."

Wu Youji: "..."

Wu Chengsi said, “The princess’s residence is impenetrable. I have planted many people to find out the whereabouts of the two commanders who are searching for the elixir of immortality, but so far there is not a single clue. The highest-ranking person now is the one who sweeps in front of the Xuanji Pavilion… Her methods of managing the residence are indeed impressive! That Yuan Qingshuang is not easy either. It will take too long for these people to grow up! You are different. After all, you are her nominal consort, so her subordinates will not make things too difficult for you.”

Wu Youji gave a bitter smile, looking at his hands, and muttered to himself, "Back in Bingzhou, I could still swagger around with my limited skills and family protection. But once I entered the capital, I realized that people like me are everywhere... Do you know? The craftsmen serving the bamboo grove in front of the Xiaoxiang Pavilion at the Princess's residence are all at the third realm... It's not that her people don't make things difficult for me, it's that they completely ignore me... Even if they were tipping me off right under my nose, I wouldn't understand! You want me to monitor her? I'm not you. I can't master the 'Twelve Mountains and Rivers Seal.' Even if countless rare treasures were piled up in front of me, I wouldn't be able to use them..."

Wu Youji looked dejected.

He was a member of the royal family, a prince consort, and of noble status, yet no one in the world respected him.

Officials outwardly respected him, but secretly mocked him as a figurehead prince consort; his nominal wife ignored him completely, brazenly bringing male concubines to his residence.

He was in the capital city, surrounded by people, yet he felt as if he were in an empty valley, like a monkey only there to amuse everyone.

This time, Wu Chengsi didn't mock him. Instead, he sighed, "You envy me, but I also have people I envy. Heaven and earth are truly unfair in creating people! Taiping's male favorite probably possesses the legendary 'Insightful Eye,' which is why he was able to ignore all the mechanisms in the passage and break through the [Nine Palaces Thousand Mechanism Lock], which contains 34,000 variations, in one fell swoop. Such a pair of eyes is actually on a lowly person; it's such a waste..."

(End of this chapter)