Xue Clan's Liaodong Xue Sect is just a small clan of cultivators in the lower cultivation world. They're most known for their crafted poisoned weapons, mutating insects, deadly toxins, and antidotes. Rumors had it that their captives are used as their testing body but no one can really prove this.
Strange may it seems, this is how they got a strong connection in the imperial palace. Back then, the emperor of the second generation finds their wicked crafts as a potential weapon to defend the empire from possible threats.
"She's your wife, how come you did not notice this?" Wang Junjie asks the emperor as he pours tea on Sect Leader Zhao's cup.
"Ah? She's not only my wife, but she's also Wenyan's too! Also, we're forced to marry each other so am I really obliged to look after her most of the time?" Yin Renshu defended himself.
Yin Wenyan on the other hand let out a sigh. He rebuts to his brother, "She's the empress, and you are the real emperor. Don't pass your obligations on me."
The prince then faces their masters, "You see, Wang-shifu, shizun, we're not really close with the empress so we haven't noticed it. My apologies."
Yin Xiulan has been thinking for some time now yet she still can't fully believe what they just discovered. She casually says, "But really, I can't believe it. She looks so weak! She doesn't seem to be the kind who can practice a cultivation method that requires a strong spiritual core."
Prince Yin Wenyan nods. "Yes, she indeed looks weak and isn't much of a threat but haven't you heard? The empress is currently sick and rarely goes out of her hall."
Her sword-like eyebrows knitted, even more, creating a wrinkle in between. "Does it mean, her illness is caused by practicing a dark cultivation method?"
Emperor Yin Renshu massages his temples. He still feels like his head is slowly spinning nonstop and the idea that pops up in his mind worsens his headache.
"Then, the incident in the town square... is she involved?" He added, "The dead eunuch... is she the one behind it? And oh, speaking of which, Shizun, we found the vicious eunuch and sealed him in his burial mound. How should we deal with him?"
"That's good to hear." Zhao Yangguang puts his teacup on the table. "If he does not cause any more trouble, then it's best if you don't exorcise him yet and keep him sealed. He's the only lead we have to find the real culprit behind this mess. Deal with him after these things are settled."
Yin Xiulan replies with courtesy, "We will do so. Thank you for the wise advice, shizun."
Zhao Yangguang stares at her and then blinks twice. "Xiulan, you've truly grown up."
Confused, Yin Xiulan forced a smile. "Pardon?"
Meanwhile, Yin Renshu being Yin Renshu, he can't help but feel salty. He's the one who captured the vicious eunuch and sealed him. Why is his sister getting the praise instead?
"Shizun is wrong. Ever since we left the Wan MoliHua Palace, Xiulan didn't get any taller, just gaining weight perhaps?"
Yin Xiulan on the other hand frowns. She asks in the back of her head, "What's his problem with me this time?"
Zhao Yangguang laughs, "Silly, don't tease your sister like that. But really, Xiulan has grown into a fine lady. She's not as aggressive as an untamed tigress in the wild anymore. I'm so proud of you."
"Shizun is wrong again." Yin Renshu commented again. The face he makes is similar to that of a storyteller who shares a horror tale, "If she was an untamed tigress back then, right now she's a ferocious beast!"
"Renshu..." The Princess General's eyebrows twitch as she opens her fan and traces its edges. "Are you feeling envious that I am the only one who Shizun appreciates?"
To Yin Renshu, this gesture is an invitation for a duel. He mockingly smiles at the lady general, "Do you want a rematch for previous our death battle?"
Yin Xiulan snorted, "Only losers ask for a rematch." She then throws a mocking smile back to her brother as she rises from her seat. "But if you insist, I will not hold back myself."
The emperor rises from his seat as well and extends his right hand perpendicular to his head. He summons his sword and in a split second, his shining black blade flies its way to his grip. Who knows where exactly does he leave his sword?
The princess laughs evilly. Whether she's just mocking his brother or it's just out of excitement, no one can tell. She sways her fan vertically and created a sharp wind blade approaching her brother. Though this is not a fatal blow, the attack is not to be underestimated. Yin Renshu on the other hand sways his sword and easily countered the approaching attack.
Yes, these two like to duel and challenge each other in a death battle. Every time they are in the mood to do so, they become so fired up that they forgot to care about their location. The last time they had a fierce fight with each other was about a few months ago. Neither of them remembers how they ended up having a duel, who challenged who, and who accepts whose challenge. They were fighting with their own lives outside the Department of War and Defense in broad daylight. And the worse thing is that Yin Wenyan can't stop them since he must not be seen in public eyes. Many have witnessed how the emperor and the princess general fought with their spiritual powers and beloved weapons. Their movements are so fast that the spectators could hardly see their every move. Every hop, dodge, and swing of weapons made it look like they were going against the rule of gravity.
They only stopped fighting by sunset after their stamina got drained. Their grave fight ends up causing a lot of casualties. It even took a week to repair the nearby structures including the Department of War and Defense.
This fight between the Emperor and the First Princess of the Eighth Generation of the current Dynasty is called 'The Legendary Royal Sparring'. Truth be told, it is so absurd to call their duel 'sparring'. Their intention of fighting each other isn't only for sparring after all but a fight without holding back.
Of course, what happened next is predictable. The sickly Grand Empress Dowager summoned the three of them to her hall. Yes, Yin Wenyan was scolded too for not stopping them. In there, even though the Grand Empress Dowager can't rise to her bed, she still had the strength to nag them.
Yin Renshu made several hand seals and a layer of red aura surrounded his person. The spiritual energy from his body flows towards his sword and it gathers onto the tip of his blade.
Zhao Yangguang whistled. He elbowed Wang Junjie that is next to him and whispered in an audible volume, "Our Renshu is now getting serious."
"Is it really alright to fine to have a duel at this time in this place?" Wang Junjie asked a rhetorical question as he looks around the hall. Although Lotus Hall is quite spacious, it is still considered cramped as a battlefield.
Meanwhile, Yin Xiulan extended her arms to concentrate the flow of her spiritual energy as she makes her next move. A huge emblem of a jasmine flower appeared in front of her. Its glowing white light is so satisfying to look at but could probably kill a person or two if it activated an attack.
And the most satisfied among the people present in the hall Zhao Yangguang. "Look at that, Ah Jie! A jasmine flower! Xiulan indeed is a proud disciple of ours."
Wang Junjie can't help himself but let out a sigh. "What are you getting excited for?"
After concentrating enough qi for their next attack, the two of them really did charge it towards each other. One attacks with a white beam of light while the other plans to counter the attack with a flare of red fire.
Yin Wenyan's eyebrows twitched. He immediately brings himself in between his siblings where their attacks would most likely collide. He made a hand seal and extended his arms towards the opposite sides. A light blue magic circle appears before each of his palms and the powerful attacks from his siblings get absorbed by it. Just a split-second delay could cause irreversible casualties.
After nullifying their attacks, he fixes his posture and said with an indifferent tone. "Enough. We have more important things to settle. You two, take your seats." Yin Wenyan walks back to his seat like nothing really happened just now.
"Our triplets are really competent, don't you think?" Zhao Yangguang grins.
"They're not ours anymore." Wang Junjie answered but Zhao Yangguang completely ignored him.
Yin Renshu and Yin Xiulan, on the other hand, look at each other and shrugs. Since the killing intent in them got disappeared in an instant, they just go back to their seats just like what their brother told them to do.
The prince clears his throat before he continues the important matter.
"I don't think the empress has a reason to do so. I can't think of any possible grudges she has." Yin Wenyan added, "And besides, she may be cultivating in a dark way but there might be also someone else who does the same."
"We can't say that. We don't know her thoroughly." Yin Xiulan sternly sticks to her instincts.
"Should we go to her now?" The emperor said, "We need to clarify things as soon as possible."
Zhao Yangguang sips on his teacup before he speaks his thoughts. In a gentle voice, he advises his three former disciples. "I suggest that you have a word with her. There might be some misunderstandings too. Try to clear everything through peaceful chat."
"Thank you for your advice, shizun. We will do as you say." Yin Xiulan said.
Sect Leader Zhao smiles. "Mn. That's great."
Wang Junjie rises from his seat. "If this is truly an internal conflict of the imperial palace, I do not think it is appropriate for us to meddle any further."
Zhao Yangguang finishes his jasmine tea before rising from his seat as well. He agrees, "I think it's best for us to go back to Wan Moli Hua Palace as soon as possible. We were away for long and pending matters must be forming a little mountain in my desk by now." He added, "Contact us if ever things go south. We will surely come for your aid."
"Many thanks, shizun, Wang-shifu." Yin Xiulan rises from her seat and clasps her hand to express her gratitude and respect. Yin Wenyan and Yin Renshu also did the same.
"Please let us see you off the palace gates. The Empress' Hall isn't far from the southern gates anyway." The princess said to the two elders.
"Great! Let's go." Zhao Yangguang said full of smiles. Wang Junjie as usual just nods silently.
"Wenyan." Yin Renshu turns to face his brother. "You should go see her and ask the questions that you think are necessary."
"Mn." He nods at him in response.
Since they can't go out at the same time, and the empress is clueless about having two emperors, only one should visit her highness and one of them must stay in the Lotus Hall.
Yin Renshu hides behind the screen before the rest of them make their way out of the Lotus Hall.
Right after the doors of the Lotus Hall slide open, Eunuch Xu and Lieutenant General Liu greeted the royal siblings.
Yin Wenyan smiles at the little eunuch and said in a gentle voice, "Eunuch Xu, something urgent requires my presence. Can we delay our lunch for a little?"
"Uh... sure, your majesty." Mingming leans closer to him and whispers, "Can you make it quick, your majesty? I'm a little hungry."
Yin Wenyan puffs a laugh and nods. "Yes, yes. It won't take long. Actually, we're going to visit the empress so you can wait for me at my hall."
"Yes, your majesty."
Xu Zhengming was about to leave and head towards the emperor's hall but he subconsciously stops his steps after seeing a familiar face. A complicated expression filled his entire face. It's a mixture of surprise, disbelief, confusion, and hope.
He tries to calm himself down by breathing deep but his heart won't relax. He clenches his fist on his side as he gathers all the courage he could in such a short period of time.
He holds Wang Junjie's wrist. "Sir Taoist, may I have a word with you?"
Wang Junjie on the flip side looks like he had seen a ghost. Though he still can't get rid of his shock, he tries his best to look collected but he doesn't know what to say. The truth is, he knows Xu Zhengming by face. This remarkable face is not easy to forget after all.
Wang Junjie subconsciously reaches for Zhao Yannguang's waist and pulls the sect leader closer to him. Zhao Yangguang on the other hand looks at him with a confused face. Just what is happening here?
Yin Xiulan hurried to Wang Junjie's side, "Eunuch Xu, you are being rude to my shifu."
"Eunuch Xu?" Yin Wenyan got confused with Xu Zhengming's strange actions. And this little eunuch of his looks serious too. What business could he have with his shifu?
Zhao Yangguang looks intently at Xu Zhengming's face and he indeed looks familiar to him. "This young man looks familiar to me. Do you know him, Ah-Jie?"
However, he didn't receive any response from him. Not even a single word nor a silent nod or shrug.
Xu Zhengming is now certain that this man in front of him is the man he saw that very day. He can't be wrong with this one. He asks desperately, "I am so sorry if I am being rude but can I please have a word with you?"
Yin Xiulan gets in between again. This time, her voice has an authoritative tone. "Eunuch Xu, you're already disturbing my masters. Will you please behave yourself?"
Sect Leader Zhao raised his hand, "Xiulan, it's okay. He might be someone we know."
Yin Renshu noticed the commotion by the Lotus Hall's doorway. He peeps above the screen and made sure no one can see him in his current position. He whispers to the thin air, "What is he making a scene for?"
Emotions can barely be kept inside Xu Zhengming's heart. He's just so desperate to know his father's whereabouts. He didn't even bother himself with the formalities in front of the royal twins. He said, "But I need to know my father's whereabouts! You all can punish me if I truly made a mistake. I don't mind if you banish me but please let me know where my father is!"
Princess Yin Xiulan is finally at the edge of her patience, "Who's your father anyway?"
"My father... My father is a cultivator. He also wears white robes the same as you! He must be a cultivator in your sect! His name is Xu Lin, have you seen him?"
"Xu Lin..." Zhao Yannguang's face reveals that he got overwhelmed after hearing the name and got drowned with his flooding thoughts.
Yin Xiulan gives it a thought, "Xu Lin... Xu Lin... this name rings a bell to me."
Meanwhile, Yin Wenyan's face got filled with disbelief. "Eunuch Xu, your father's name is Xu Lin?!"
"Xu Lin... Xu Lin-dage?" The princess finally realized what her brother did. She also can't believe it. "You're Lin-dage's son?"
"Lin-dage?" The emperor withdraws himself and sits on the edge of his bed. He intertwined his fingers together and said to himself anxiously, "He's actually Lin-dage's son?"
Hearing that the royal siblings know his father, a little hope ignited in his heart. He asks, "Your majesty, your highness, do you know my father? He's gone missing for years! I do not know his whereabouts and am looking forward to finding him before I die."
They know him. That's the exact reason why they can't answer him. They just can't find the right words to say.
"Please answer me!"
He was about to reach for Yin Wenyan but Wang Junjie taps him somewhere in his nape using his index and middle finger and the eunuch immediately lost consciousness.
"Eunuch Xu!" Yin Wenyan caught him in his arms on time.
Wang Junjie, "He'll wake up after an hour or two."
Yin Wenyan carried Xu Zhengming back to the Lotus Hall and went straight behind the screen. He carefully laid him down on the bed.
The prince then looks at his brother the emperor, "Renshu, tell me... did you know that he's Lin-dage's son?"
Yin Renshu shakes his head. "I only know that his father is missing for so many years but I didn't know that he was talking about Lin-dage."
Anxious, the princess asks the elders, "Wang-shifu, shizun, how will we explain everything to him?"
It took some time before Wang Junjie responded. "I didn't know he has a child. It's a long story. I don't even know how should I explain it to him."
"I know what to do. However, after that, I don't think I can face him again." Zhao Yangguang said with a solemn expression on his face.
He grabs a light blue-colored tassel from his sleeves. The said tassel has a small sphere-shaped bell attached to it near the main chord. He laid it in the pillow near the unconscious eunuch's head. He closes his eyes and made a couple of hand seals.
After doing so, the sect leader opens his eyes again. "He'll know everything before he wakes up."