Starting as the heir of a marquis's mansion, I gained access to a summoning system.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, before dawn, the imperial city was already awake.

Dongfang Weiwo stood in front of the bronze mirror, looking at the young man in the mirror wearing a black brocade robe.

At sixteen, he was already nearly seven feet tall. His features combined the heroic outline of his father with the natural nobility of his mother. But at this moment, he deliberately concealed his sharpness, his eyes were gentle, and a perfectly timed smile played on his lips.

"Second brother, you look so gentle and harmless." Dongfang Lingyun pushed open the door and entered, dressed in a silver-white python robe with a jade pendant hanging from his waist. His temperament was as gentle as jade. He teased him.

Dongfang Weiwo smiled and said, "Brother, it's as if I'm usually fierce."

"I don't care how you cause trouble in Pingyang County, but today in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, remember one thing—"

Dongfang Lingyun walked up to him and lowered his voice, "Observe more, listen more, speak less, and don't stand out."

"Don't worry, brother." Dongfang Weiwo nodded seriously.

He had intended it this way all along. The imperial city was a bottomless pit of water, and as a junior at the Innate Realm, there was no need for him to try and make his presence known in front of hundreds of court officials and their families.

Light footsteps sounded outside the door, and Dongfang Youyu hopped in like a little rabbit. She was wearing a pink jacket and had two small buns in her hair. She grinned and grabbed Dongfang Weiwo's hand, saying, "Second Brother! Mother said you should hold my hand so I don't get lost!"

"You can still get lost?" Dongfang Weiwo pinched her little face. "You'd probably have to question everyone in the entire hall."

"That's because they like me!" the young fish said confidently.

The three siblings chatted and laughed as they left the courtyard.

At the entrance of the Marquis's residence, Dongfang Wudi was already waiting beside the carriage. Today, he was not wearing armor, but instead a deep purple marquis's court robe, with a gold and jade belt around his waist, and a resolute face. He looked no more than forty years old, but was actually over eighty—a Grandmaster's lifespan of three hundred years, in the prime of his life. His aura was as deep and imposing as a mountain, making people dare not look directly at him.

His wife, Qin Lanyin, stood beside him, wearing a long crimson dress with phoenix patterns, exuding the elegance and nobility of a princess with every gesture. She was not yet forty, but well-maintained, looking no more than thirty, and her eyes still hinted at her former stunning beauty.

"Is everyone here?" Qin Lanyin glanced at the three children, her gaze lingering on Dongfang Weiwo for a moment before she nodded slightly. "Let's go. His Majesty is hosting a banquet today, so don't be late."

The carriage rumbled toward the imperial city.

Dongfang Weiwo lifted the corner of the curtain and looked at the brightly lit streets and alleys along the way.

The capital city was exceptionally lively on the first day of the Lunar New Year. People decorated the streets with lanterns and colorful decorations, children set off firecrackers, and the air was filled with the smell of gunpowder and the festive atmosphere of the New Year.

But he knew that inside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, it would be a completely different scene.

The Hall of Supreme Harmony is the most magnificent building in the entire Xuantian Imperial City, with nine bays and five courtyards, its glazed tile roof gleaming in the morning light. In front of the hall are thirty-six white marble steps, with a bronze tortoise and crane, each three zhang tall, standing on either side, symbolizing the eternal stability of the country and the longevity of the emperor.

Hundreds of seats had been set up inside the hall, with civil and military officials arranged on both sides according to their rank, civil officials to the east and military officials to the west.

Beyond the seats, a wide passageway was left in the center of the hall, with golden-armored guards standing on both sides of the hall door. Each of them had a calm and composed aura and was actually at the Innate Realm level.

Ninety-one glazed palace lanterns hung from the ceiling, illuminating the entire hall as bright as day.

When Dongfang Wudi and his family entered the hall, many people had already arrived.

"The Marquis Who Wept Blood Has Arrived—The Eldest Princess Has Arrived—"

As the chanting and shouting began, many people in the hall looked up.

Dongfang Wudi remained composed as he strode into the hall, his steps steady and powerful, each one causing a slight tremor in the ground. Wherever he passed, civil and military officials bowed in respect. This Blood-Weeping Marquis, who had guarded the northern border for decades, though rarely in the capital, commanded immense prestige, and no one dared to underestimate him.

Qin Lanyin has an even more special status—she is the emperor's half-sister and the current eldest princess. Even the prime minister has to show her respect.

Dongfang Weiwo led the young fish behind his parents, his gaze quickly sweeping across the hall.

The head of the civil officials, Chancellor Wang Chongyuan, was over sixty years old. His hair and beard were gray, his face was thin, his cheekbones were high, and his triangular eyes were slightly narrowed with drooping eyelids, making him appear drowsy. However, when he occasionally opened his eyes, a sharp glint flashed in them, as sharp as a knife, making people's hearts tremble. He wore a purple robe and a gold belt, and although his back was slightly hunched, he possessed the air of someone who had long held a high position.

To his left were the six ministers, each with a distinct posture:

Zhao Chongwen, the Minister of Personnel, was in his fifties. He had a round, slightly plump face and a friendly smile, giving him the appearance of a kind old man. However, a shrewd glint would occasionally flash in his small eyes.

Qian Xisheng, the Minister of Revenue, was nearly sixty years old. He was thin and with long, claw-like fingers. He wore a faded official robe and looked rather shabby, but everyone knew that he was in charge of the nation's finances and had connections that reached the highest levels.

Sun Zhengyan, the Minister of Rites, was over forty years old. He was fair-skinned and beardless, with elegant manners and an upright demeanor, but his eyes were somewhat rigid. He was an old scholar who strictly adhered to etiquette.

Li Huai-ren, the Minister of War, was in his early fifties. He was broad-shouldered and burly, with a face full of scars and a voice like a broken gong. He was a typical military general who had been transferred to a civil post. Although he was dressed in civil official robes, he looked like a butcher no matter how you looked at him.

Zhou Jitong, the Minister of Justice, was over sixty years old. He had a sinister face, deep-set eyes, a hooked nose, and extremely thin lips. He exuded a cold aura, as if he were a judge who had crawled out of the underworld.

Wu Youwei, the Minister of Works, was in his fifties. He was short and stout with a round face and big ears. When he smiled, he looked like Maitreya Buddha, but his eyes were darting around, and he was clearly a shrewd and calculating man.

On the military officer's side, the leading men were dressed in armor or the court robes of marquises.

One of them was a burly man with fierce eyes, thick eyebrows, and skin as black as iron; he was none other than Marquis Zhenbei, Wu Lie. He sat upright in his seat, his back ramrod straight, his hands resting on his knees, his knuckles as thick as iron pincers, exuding an aura of iron-blooded strength from a hundred battles.

When he saw Dongfang Wudi enter, he nodded slightly in acknowledgment. The two of them were stationed in the north, and although their relationship was not particularly close, they were comrades who had fought side by side.

Standing next to Wu Lie was a young girl, his eldest daughter.

The girl was about sixteen or seventeen years old, tall and slender, a head taller than most boys her age. She wore a silver-white outfit with a bright red cloak over it, and her long, black hair was tied up high, revealing her smooth, full forehead. Standing there, she was like a drawn sword, sharp and imposing, her aura so fierce that many people around her instinctively gave way.

Her gaze swept across the hall with a cold, predatory look, as if all the civil and military officials in the hall were insignificant in her eyes.

The moment Dongfang Weiwo's gaze fell upon her, a cold, mechanical voice echoed in his mind—

"Ding! One of the chosen ones has been detected: Wu Zetian, eldest daughter of the Marquis of Zhenbei. 15 points of Destiny Wheel can be plundered. Plunder?"

Dongfang Weiwo was startled, and his steps almost came to a halt.

The chosen one?!

He had read countless novels in his previous life and knew what "the chosen one" meant—it was a protagonist favored by heaven and earth, the only darling of an era, who turned misfortune into good fortune, faced difficulties into auspiciousness, had endless adventures, and grew at an astonishing speed.

But how could there be a Chosen One here? And—the system said "one of the Chosen Ones has been detected," meaning there are others? Just how many Chosen Ones are there in this world?

His heart was in turmoil, but he only showed a slight surprise before regaining his composure. Years of forbearance had honed his ability to remain impassive.

He suppressed his shock and silently recited in his mind: "Plunder."

"Plunder successful, gained 30,000 energy points."

150,000! 150,000 energy points were plundered from just one person!

Dongfang Weiwo was both delighted and astonished. He was delighted by the surge in energy points, but astonished by the sheer abundance of Wu Zetian's fortune—the ability to produce 150,000 energy points meant that her life wheel was extremely valuable, and her future achievements were likely limitless.

He resisted the urge to turn back and continued walking forward, leading the young fish.

But the same question was already swirling in my mind:

The chosen one... what exactly is going on?

How many secrets does this world hold?