Father, who is both a heir and a descendant, is still biased; the bound system has gone berserk.

Ying Yufu was aggressive.

The crown prince smiled and left with her.

Before long, a group of soldiers rushed over and arrested the storyteller and the instigator.

The scene immediately descended into chaos, and the people scattered like birds and beasts.

Inside a private room on the second floor of the tavern, Pei Shiliang and the others stood by the window, staring indifferently down below.

"If Uncle wants to tell the Crown Prince of Beixuan about the miserable state of the deposed crown prince, he can just say it directly. Why praise him?"

"The victor is king, the loser is a bandit. Since the deposed crown prince lost to Prince Chen, he is inferior to Prince Chen."

Su Jinyu looked at Pei Shiliang with a puzzled expression.

Pei Shiliang said, "If we don't say a few kind words to that deposed crown prince, how can we gain the sympathy of the Crown Prince of Beixuan? How can we plant the seed that will make him willingly go to Dongchen?"

The Left Chancellor of Dongchen approached, frowning, and asked, "General, will the Crown Prince of Beixuan care?"

Pei Shiliang said, "He cares, he cares a lot. Otherwise, how did those Northern Xuan soldiers come?"

A fierce glint appeared in Pei Shiliang's eyes: "Since Nangong Shu dared to send away the Nine Stars Alignment and that newborn princess back then, now she will have to bear the price of losing all her relatives."

Upon hearing this, Dongchen, the Left Prime Minister, frowned deeply.

"General Pei, Empress Nangong is old and frail, about to die, while the deposed crown prince is sick and crippled, his life a living hell."

It seems unnecessary to provoke them with their only two relatives.

Pei Shiliang frowned and looked at Dong Chen, the Left Prime Minister, with suspicion. "Shan Zhongzhi, I heard that someone in your Shan family once said in public that the deposed Crown Prince was far superior to Prince Chen?"

Dong Chen stared wide-eyed, his face covered in cold sweat. "Injustice! General Pei, who framed my Shan family?"

The Shan family is loyal to His Highness Prince Chen and the Pei family, so how could they say such things?

"Slander, it must be slander!"

Pei Shiliang stared at him and sneered, "It's good that you didn't say it. Shan Zhongzhi, don't forget whose Dongchen you are now."

"Yes, yes, General Pei, the Shan family now pledges allegiance to Prince Chen and the Pei family!"

"You'd better remember that." Pei Shiliang sneered.

……

As Ying Yufu and the Crown Prince emerged from the government office, they saw several Xilin envoys rushing toward it in a flurry of activity.

Upon seeing the Crown Prince, General Xilin's face lit up with joy, and he said, "Your Highness, we were just about to report to the authorities that our Xilin National Preceptor has gone missing."

"What? The Imperial Preceptor of Xilin has disappeared?"

The crown prince looked surprised.

"Yes, our Imperial Preceptor left early this morning and has not returned yet. He was not accompanied by any attendants, and we are very worried. We beg Your Highness to help us search for him."

General Xilin said anxiously.

The Crown Prince looked concerned and said, "Don't worry, I will send people to help find the Imperial Preceptor of Xilin Kingdom right now."

"Thank you very much, Your Highness Crown Prince Beixuan." General Xilin said with gratitude.

No sooner had he finished speaking than several soldiers from Xilin rushed over.

"General, we've found him! We've found the Imperial Advisor!" one of the soldiers said.

General Xilin's face lit up with joy, and he quickly strode towards the direction from which the soldiers had come.

The Crown Prince and Ying Yufu followed with expressions of "concern".

Before long, several Xilin soldiers carried a stretcher over, on which was a person with a burlap sack covering his body.

However, the sack and clothes on the Xilin National Preceptor's body were torn to shreds by wild dogs, and his exposed skin was covered with dog teeth marks.

"Ah—this?" General Xilin's expression suddenly changed.

A Xilin military officer hesitated before saying, "General, when we found the Imperial Preceptor, he was being torn apart by a pack of wild dogs."

The Imperial Advisor still had bruises on his body from being brutally beaten. Had the Imperial Advisor offended anyone?

General Xilin hesitated, "We've only just arrived in Beixuan, how could we have offended anyone? Your Highness, please do us justice!"

General Xilin turned to the Crown Prince and said.

The Crown Prince nodded solemnly, "In my Northern Xuan Imperial City, an envoy was actually put in a sack and brutally beaten. This is simply outrageous!"

"Rest assured, my envoys, I will thoroughly investigate the murderer and give you justice."

"Thank you, Your Highness," said the Xilin group.

No sooner had west Lin and his entourage returned to the post station than the imperial physician from Bei Xuan arrived.

After treating the injuries of the Western Lin Kingdom's Grand Preceptor, the imperial physician pointed to the mask on the Grand Preceptor's face and asked, "I wonder if there are any injuries on this face?"

General Xilin's expression immediately hardened; it was truly difficult to say.

However, the Imperial Preceptor never showed his face in public, and only His Majesty had ever seen his true appearance.

"This..." General Xilin hesitated for a moment.

Just then, Princess Chiyue walked over with two maids.

She said, "Please have the imperial physician examine the Imperial Preceptor."

General Xilin's expression changed drastically. "Your Highness, you mustn't!"

Chi Yue looked at him, raised an eyebrow and said, "General, I know what you mean, but the Western Lin National Preceptor is seriously injured. If there is any injury on his face and treatment is delayed, it could be fatal."

The imperial physician also said, "Princess Chiyue is right."

General Xilin was of medium height but burly build. He touched his thick beard and hesitated before saying, "Saving my life is the most important thing. I'll trouble the imperial physician."

The imperial physician nodded slightly and removed the mask from the face of the Western Lin National Preceptor.

General Xilin and all the Xilin envoys stared wide-eyed at the imperial physician's hand as he lifted the mask.

Princess Red Key stood to the side, her orange eyes slightly narrowed.

Finally, the holy mask was lifted, revealing the face of an old man.

The moment they saw that face clearly, everyone gasped.

The reason was simply that the Imperial Preceptor's true appearance was exceptionally handsome.

Even though he is old, his handsome appearance still shows the charm he had in his youth.

Even the beard on his face exuded an ethereal quality.

"This... Hiss!" General Xilin gasped, "The Imperial Preceptor is truly a divine being."

The other Western envoys had similar reactions.

Princess Chiyao curled her lips, a hint of mockery appearing in her eyes.

She murmured, "The Imperial Preceptor is indeed handsome."

But the imperial physician from Beixuan was stunned.

He stared at the face of the Western Lin National Preceptor, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper.

Why did he feel that the face looked familiar?

The imperial physician pondered for a long time but still couldn't figure it out. After confirming that the Western Lin National Preceptor's face and head were not injured, he picked up his medicine chest and left.

Halfway there, the prince suddenly lifted the carriage curtain and looked towards the post station.

He remembered!

He remembered who the Western Lin Kingdom's teacher resembled.

Old Marquis Weiyuan!

The deceased Marquis of Weiyuan!

Previously, the tomb of the old Marquis of Weiyuan, Ying Huanchong, was dug up, which has confirmed that Ying Huanchong faked his death.

If the appearance of the Western Lin National Preceptor is not a coincidence, then his identity is undoubtedly... the old Marquis of Weiyuan, Ying Huanchong, who faked his death and fled.

Of course, even though the old Marquis Weiyuan is dead, he is still the old Marquis Weiyuan.

But if he were to appear alive now, he would be a traitor to Bei Xuan, and his crime would be punishable by death.

The imperial physician's expression was solemn. Whether this was a coincidence or the true identity of the Western Lin National Preceptor was Ying Huanchong, he had to go to the palace to meet the emperor.

The imperial physician yelled at the coachman, "Quickly, change course and head to the palace!"

……

Meanwhile, in the private prison of the Eastern Palace, Ying Hengzhi frowned deeply.

[Mythical Brother, all of Mingluan's fortune has already belonged to me, so why am I still unable to leave this private prison?]

System 008 was also somewhat doubtful, but it was still extremely confident in its judgment. It said: "Host, don't be impatient. The Northern Xuan's fortune is prosperous. As the princess of the Northern Xuan, Mingluan's fortune is very strong."

You absorbed all of her luck; the benefits will be immeasurable.

Ying Hengzhi nodded, temporarily reassured by System 008's explanation.

Suddenly, System 008's voice rang out again, this time with immense excitement: "Host, I've discovered something incredible."

[What's wrong?] Ying Hengzhi hadn't seen System 008 so excited in a long time.

Then System 008 said: [Host, the nine stars are aligned! I've discovered a clue to the alignment of the nine stars!]

【Nine stars aligned?】 Ying Hengzhi's expression suddenly became excited.

From a young age, Ying Nanyao took her to banquets at the meeting of the four kingdoms. After the banquet, the treasures of the four kingdoms would gather on the altar.

However, the alignment of the nine stars in Dongchen has never occurred.

In her past life, until her death, the whereabouts of the nine-star alignment were never found.

But now, 008 claims to have discovered a clue about the alignment of the nine stars.

"Mythical Beast, what's going on? Where is the alignment of the nine stars?" Ying Hengzhi's voice was filled with uncontrollable joy.

Her eyes were filled with greed.

System 008 said: "[It is the envoy of Dongchen Kingdom and the fake imperial tutor Han Meng. They exposed the Empress's identity.]"

Empress Hai Qiongzhang was not a biological daughter of the Hai family at all, but rather the long-lost princess of the Dongchen Kingdom.

The alignment of the nine stars disappeared along with the lost eldest princess of the Eastern Chen Kingdom.

The envoy from Dongchen Kingdom suspected that the alignment of the nine stars was in the hands of the Crown Prince.

What? The Nine Stars Alignment is in the Crown Prince's hands? No wonder the Nine Stars Alignment never happened in my previous life.

In the previous life, the crown prince died, and the alignment of the nine stars disappeared forever. But in this life, the crown prince is alive. Does that mean we have a chance to obtain the alignment of the nine stars?

[That's right, Host!] System 008's tone was excited. [As long as you get it, Host, I'm confident I can make you the darling of the world.]

Ying Hengzhi's breathing quickened slightly.

[Ding! The system has issued a long-term mission. The host is requested to obtain the alignment of the nine stars by any means necessary.]

[Alright, Myna, don't worry, I will spare no effort and pay any price to achieve the alignment of the nine stars!]

[By the way, host, there's another piece of news: Ying Huanchong has returned, and his current identity is the Western Lin Envoy.]

……

"Your Majesty, the appearance of the Western Lin National Preceptor is almost identical to that of the old Marquis Ying Huanchong, who faked his death and fled. The only difference is that he is much older now than when he was young."

The imperial physician knelt in the center of the hall and recounted everything he had seen and heard.

Emperor Cangxuan exclaimed in surprise, "I already know about this matter. Physician Zheng, you may leave. You will be rewarded."

Physician Zheng was surprised. His Majesty actually knew?

A sense of awe immediately rose in his heart. His Majesty was indeed extraordinary; he had already found out.

He bowed respectfully and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty. I take my leave!"

After the imperial physician left, Emperor Cangxuan looked at the Crown Prince and Ying Yufu beside him and said, "The Imperial Preceptor of Xilin is Ying Huanchong. What do you plan to do?"

Ying Yufu said, "Your Majesty, Ying Huanchong has asked to see me alone several times. He probably wants to acknowledge me as his father. If he asks me to meet him again next time, I will go to see him and see what his purpose is."

"Very well!" Emperor Cangxuan replied, then sneered, "I also want to know what he's up to by approaching my Northern Xuan's lucky star!"

Just then, a messenger from outside reported that an envoy from the Southern Barbarians was requesting an audience.

Why say, "Your Majesty, the envoys entered the palace without imperial decree; they may have ill intentions"?

Emperor Cangxuan snorted coldly, "The Southern Barbarians have become increasingly arrogant in recent years, relying on the terrain which is easy to defend and difficult to attack, the miasma that is everywhere, and the countless Gu worms."

If that Chihuo Gu didn't originate from their Southern Barbarian tribes, who else could have obtained it?

The Crown Prince said, "Father, why don't we summon them in and see what they're really up to?"

Emperor Cangxuan nodded, his expression indifferent, and said, "Summon them in."

Before long, the envoys from the Southern Barbarians were summoned in.

The people who came were two high priests from the Southern Barbarian tribes, Lan Yan and Xuan Feng.

The two said, "Greetings to His Majesty the Northern Xuan, His Highness the Crown Prince, and Princess Anguo."

Emperor Cangxuan, his expression unreadable, asked, "What important matter has the envoy from the Southern Barbarians brought to see me? Why wasn't the Ministry of Rites sent to inform him?"

High Priest Lan Yan said, "Your Majesty, we have come here without any other choice."

However, we have an urgent matter that requires Your Majesty's assistance!

Emperor Cangxuan was genuinely surprised this time, and asked curiously, "What is it?"

Lan Yan looked at Xuan Feng.

Xuanfeng said, "Your Majesty Beixuan, we have come here today to ask you for one person."

Sure enough, as soon as he said this, Emperor Cangxuan's expression turned cold.

Lan Yan quickly said, "Your Majesty Bei Xuan, although we want to ask you for someone, we won't take it for free."

"Whom do you want?" Emperor Cangxuan stared at the two and asked in a deep voice.

The Crown Prince and Ying Yufu were also surprised.

Lan Yan said, "Your Majesty, we heard from that little girl Wu Lingduo that the High Priest of Xuanling of the Southern Barbarians once transformed into Xuanjing and became a monk in the Huangjue Temple of Beixuan for eighteen years in order to seek revenge."

The High Priest Xuanling still has a trace of his bloodline in Beixuan. Now the Xuan clan's bloodline is dwindling. Therefore, we wish to bring the High Priest Xuanling's bloodline back to Nanman. We hope Beixuan will grant our request!

Therefore, we, the Southern Barbarians, are willing to offer ten of each of various rare and precious herbs, two pairs of each of the most valuable Gu worms of the Southern Barbarians, in addition to one million taels of silver and one thousand catties of rare jade.

Emperor Cangxuan's heart stirred.

The only living bloodline of Xuanjing is Ying Hengzhi.

However, Ying Hengzhi is still in the Eastern Palace's private prison.

Considering how much the Southern Barbarians have given them, they can give Ying Hengzhi as well.

However, the Crown Prince mentioned last time that the other person who possesses the divine artifact is Ying Hengzhi.

If we were to send Ying Hengzhi back to the Southern Barbarians, it's hard to say whether it would be a blessing or a curse.

Meanwhile, Ying Yufu was also communicating with Xiao Dian.

【Host, give them to them! Give them the people! Let Ying Hengzhi, this lucky star, wreak havoc on the southern barbarians!】

Xiao Dian's tone was full of schadenfreude.

Ying Yufu narrowed her eyes slightly. It seemed that even if Ying Hengzhi possessed an unknown fortune, she still couldn't change her fate as a harbinger of misfortune.

She smiled slightly and said, "Your Majesty, I think the envoy from the Southern Barbarians is very sincere."

The Crown Prince also said, "Father, the envoys from the Southern Barbarians are indeed very sincere."

Although Ying Hengzhi was the concubine of the Second Prince, he is now dead, and she is the only remaining bloodline of the Southern Barbarian Xuanling High Priest. Why don't we do her a favor?"