Chapter 461: The Designated Empress

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The翠竹樓's structure, is entirely built of bamboo,Four bamboo pillars support the bamboo tower, each so thick that six grown men, hand in hand, could not encircle it.The bamboo framework is interlaced and staggered, forming stairs, built around the exterior of the bamboo tower, like a gracefully dancing green dragon, winding from the first floor straight to the third floor's summit, a lively and vivid presence.

Ning Zhuo followed the bamboo staircase, guided by the waiter, directly to the third floor.This area had already been booked by Shuang Jing.

"General Shuang." Ning Zhuo saluted.He had been invited by Shuang Jing for morning tea this time.Previously, Shuang Jing had tried to recruit Ning Zhuo at the Xiao Niao Tower, wishing to employ him as a retainer, but Ning Zhuo had demurred, saying he needed to consider.Shuang Jing chose another day to invite him again, the intention quite clear.

Shuang Jing bade Ning Zhuo be seated.Morning tea and pastries were respectfully served by the waiter.Yet Shuang Jing said, "No rush to eat and drink. I invited Strategist Ning today because there is a good show to watch."

Ning Zhuo was slightly taken aback, and then heard a clamor.A troop of cultivators, mounted on fine steeds, charged through the bustling streets, heading straight for the military granary opposite the Cui Zhu Lou.The leader was none other than Mu Lan.

"General Mu, please stay—" The defending cultivator had not finished speaking when Mu Lan, with a wave of her hand, sent him flying.But Mu Lan dismounted nonetheless, walked to the tightly shut gate of the military granary, and kicked forcefully.The gate was directly kicked open by her.

Ning Zhuo was surprised, "What has happened? Why is General Mu Lan so agitated?"Shuang Jing smiled without speaking.

The Head of the Military Granary rushed out, "General Mu, calm down, please calm down!"Mu Lan snorted coldly, "Where is Zhao Xi? Tell him to get out! Twice now he has held back our army's rations. Does he truly think my Hong Hua Battalion is made of mud?"

"Hmph, I, the supervising officer, am here! General Mu, do not slander others with false accusations." Zhao Xi also appeared.Mu Lan and Zhao Xi began to argue loudly.

Ning Zhuo listened and understood, realizing this was due to the Hong Hua Battalion not receiving the latest batch of military provisions."Mu Lan once publicly stormed off, very much at odds with Zhao Xi.""Afterwards, the military supplies department withheld the Hong Hua Battalion's provisions once. I had to use precious materials to resolve it.""And this time again?""It's a little strange. The main army suffered an ambush and returned to Cang Lin Immortal City with numerous casualties. They are in desperate need of provisions to maintain morale. In such a situation, Zhao Xi repeats his old trick, making things difficult for the Hong Hua Battalion. It seems unwise!"

Although Ning Zhuo had only met Zhao Xi a few times, he had gathered information and knew that while Zhao Xi was stingy and greedy, he did possess some ability,And understood the overall situation, otherwise he would not have been repeatedly trusted by the Shuang Xing Royal Family and continuously sent out on assignments.

Mu Lan was furious, but Zhao Xi was well-prepared, always using procedures and regulations to stall her. Enraged, she struck, sending Zhao Xi flying with a palm strike."Zhao dog! Your prevarication shows you have no regard for me, a General!""Today's batch of provisions, my Hong Hua Battalion will take it!"

Saying this, she charged straight into the granary."No, you cannot go in!" Zhao Xi lay on the ground, spitting blood, and shouted to stop her.The soldiers behind Mu Lan, seeing the supervising officer in such a sorry state, were greatly pleased in their hearts and followed closely behind Mu Lan, pouring in.

However, after Mu Lan charged into the granary, she found it completely empty.Her face changed slightly, sensing something was amiss.Zhao Xi got up, blocked the doorway, and shouted fiercely, "Mu Lan! You are arrogant and audacious, not only assaulting a superior officer, but also breaking into the granary!""Our army's recent provisions were intercepted and stolen by the Stone Demon Elder on the way yesterday! The military situation is critical. To prevent fluctuations in morale, I concealed the matter, only saying there were procedural issues and that you should delay receiving the provisions.""Yet you slandered me, saying I made things difficult for you!""I, Zhao Xi, have always acted uprightly and openly. When have I ever made things difficult for you?""You struck me, showing no regard for me, the supervising officer, the envoy from the royal capital. What do you intend to do? Are you trying to rebel?!"

Mu Lan's face was pale, and she turned sharply, her gaze like arrows, fixed on Zhao Xi.The soldiers behind her had not expected this turn of events, and each of them looked bewildered.Zhao Xi wore an expression of being wronged, but Mu Lan could detect the latter's smug, vicious, and gloating emotions in his gaze.

On the Cui Zhu Lou, Shuang Jing saw the desired progress and could not help but smile, picking up his cup and beginning to drink tea.Ning Zhuo, like Shuang Jing, used his divine sense to perceive the development of events."The Stone Demon Elder attacked the supply convoy? After the ambush, our side would surely dispatch strong cultivators to search everywhere. He's still here and hasn't left?!" Ning Zhuo asked Shuang Jing.

Shuang Jing showed a look of righteous indignation, "The Stone Demon Elder's methods are formidable. His earth-element techniques show no trace of escape methods, both fast and concealed.However, fortunately, the loss to the supply convoy this time was not great."

Ning Zhuo was silent.He was indeed scheming against Mu Lan, that was true, but this was not his doing!"To seize the position of the General's Mansion, this group of high-ranking officials from the Liang Zhu Kingdom actually ambushed their own supply convoy.""I didn't expect the political struggle within the Liang Zhu Kingdom to be so intense!""Shuang Jing invited me this time, letting me witness Mu Lan's current situation, is he trying to warn me with this?""So-called combination of leniency and severity, this is it. Heh heh."

Ning Zhuo sneered inwardly.Indeed, the next moment, Shuang Jing said with deep meaning, "Our country's old General Mu has been bedridden for many years. In the past, he was the military pillar of our country, leading the Hong Hua Battalion, sweeping through battlefields, pacifying the northern demon plague, suppressing the western enemy chieftains, clearing the eastern demonic influence, and suppressing the southern barbarians. He can be said to have accumulated great military achievements.""A hero in decline, this is how it is.""His only descendant, Mu Lan, is truly ambitious but lacking in talent. With mere Golden Core cultivation, how can she support the General's Mansion?"

Shuang Jing sighed deeply at this point, "Our Liang Zhu Kingdom is a small country, thus every bit of national strength must be cherished.""The General's Mansion occupies too much national strength but contributes very little.""To plan for the country, it is only right to ask Mu Lan to step down and yield to a worthy successor.""It is just that the King is benevolent and cannot bear to act. We, his ministers, who eat the King's salary and serve the King's affairs, should naturally share the King's worries.""I hope this time, General Mu Lan will be sensible and withdraw in the face of adversity."

Ning Zhuo remained silent.Shuang Jing continued, "Situations change easily, and the strong and the weak rotate. This is the common state of affairs in the human world.""In my opinion, talented young people like Strategist Ning are the future, are the hope.""Similar to a branch-perching bird, as long as it recognizes a good tree, it can achieve great things. Small trees like the San Jiang Battalion, and diseased trees like the Hong Hua Battalion, if they delay Strategist Ning's achievements, that would be truly regrettable.""What does Strategist Ning think?"

Ning Zhuo shook his head, gazed at Shuang Jing, and slowly rose.He first bowed in salute, then said, "Lord Shuang Jing, this humble subject is foolishly loyal, knows the importance of state affairs, and is devoted to the monarch. However, how can the monarch's intentions be speculated upon by others? A so-called loyal minister must speak frankly and offer remonstrance, not scheme in secret and manipulate behind the scenes. To be loyal to the country, how can one act arbitrarily and plot against others? If the monarch has not given a clear instruction, how dare one act privately? If we presume and speculate rashly, wouldn't we mislead the country and ourselves?"

Ning Zhuo's face was solemn, filled with righteousness, "Your desire to 'step down and yield to a worthy successor' is not something I can conspire with. A loyal subject can only be loyal to the monarch and assist in his rule. How can one unilaterally decide state affairs?""Different paths, not to be conspired together. Please forgive this junior for being unworthy of serving as your retainer. Ning Zhuo takes his leave now!"

With that, Ning Zhuo flicked his sleeves and walked away, stomping down the stairs with heavy steps.Shuang Jing remained frozen in place, watching Ning Zhuo walk onto the street and disappear into the crowd without looking back. Only then did he chuckle softly.

"I thought he came from a prominent family and should understand the ways of power and strategy.""Unexpectedly, he is just a young man.""Hmm, Ning Zhuo is only sixteen, full of youthful passion, which is quite reasonable. Perhaps the Ning family allowed him to travel precisely to educate this child, to let him understand the ways of the world and human hearts?""Heh heh, so be it."

Shuang Jing was interested in Ning Zhuo primarily because of Ning Zhuo's insightful poems.But divination is such a thing, even the most skilled cultivator in this art cannot be accurate every time.Shuang Jing is not like Liu Er. For him, Ning Zhuo was not a necessity, but a bonus.He is of the Shuang Xing surname and a Nascent Soul cultivator. Inviting Ning Zhuo twice and showing such an attitude to recruit him was definitely being courteous to the virtuous.Unfortunately, the second warning had the opposite effect.

Although Shuang Jing was disappointed and felt it a pity, that was the extent of it.His real target was still the Hong Hua Battalion, still Mu Lan!"Originally, I thought only after the great battle could the Hong Hua Battalion be weakened. I didn't expect an ambush would be enough.""The General's Mansion, Mu Lan, will both be mine!"

At the same time.

A demon cultivator old man stopped on a mountain peak, looking into the distance at Cang Lin Immortal City. He wore a flowing yellow and white robe, his ears were long and pointed with golden fuzz, and a fox tail trailed behind his robe.His eyes were like swirling, ephemeral clouds and smoke.After observing for a while, the demon cultivator old man nodded in satisfaction, "The destiny is flourishing, reaching this point. The time has come, finally."

He then descended the mountain and walked towards Cang Lin Immortal City.As he passed, he seemed invisible. The people around were completely unaware, and even the city gate array remained unresponsive.In the city alleys, he saw Mu Lan and others, who had not successfully obtained the provisions, leaving the city. After calculating for a while, he nodded in satisfaction again, "Destiny is declining, great disaster is imminent. Good, good, good!"

Finally, he arrived outside the San Jiang Battalion and sent out his divine sense to summon.Liu Er, learning that Ning Zhuo had gone to Shuang Jing's invitation again, was pacing back and forth in his tent, feeling anxious.Suddenly, he heard the demon cultivator old man's voice transmission, surprised and delighted. He quickly followed the instructions, concealing his presence, and quietly left the camp. He met the demon cultivator old man in a mountain forest.

"Teacher, why have you come?" Liu Er bowed in greeting.The demon cultivator old man stroked his beard and smiled, "Xiao Liu, you aspire to rebuild our Blood Slaughter Immortal Kingdom. Is there any progress now?"

Liu Er then explained his recent situation to his teacher.The demon cultivator old man nodded slightly, "You possess the King's Mandate. As soon as you come out of the mountains, powerful generals will attach themselves to you. Now it seems, Guan Hong and Zhang Hei are your left and right arms in your destiny."

Liu Er exclaimed, "Teacher, you have divined my destiny? What else is there? Will Strategist Ning leave me?""Ning Zhuo?" The demon cultivator old man shook his head, "He is not important. I have come this time for another important matter.""This is the Yin Yang One Qi Pot, a treasure of the imperial dynasty. I entrust it to you.""Next, you must make good use of this treasure!"

"Teacher, Teacher!" Liu Er was in a trance for a moment, then came to his senses. All he had was the treasure pot in his arms; the demon cultivator old man had vanished without a trace.Liu Er called out for a while, then shook his head and sighed, "Teacher is still so elusive... Alas, never mind."He put away the treasure pot and quietly returned to the camp.

The demon cultivator old man had not left. He watched Liu Er disappear from his sight. He murmured in his heart, "Liu Er, that Mu Lan is the Empress of your destiny.""With the help of the Yin Yang One Qi Pot, you will be able to propose marriage successfully and become the son-in-law of the General's Mansion, thus gaining legitimacy and escaping the awkwardness of being a half-human, half-demon, and truly integrating into the upper echelons.""The world now, ah, is already the world of the human race.""The hope for the rebuilding of my Blood Slaughter Immortal Kingdom rests on you. You must be able to bear this!"

The demon cultivator old man could not directly tell Liu Er the details of his fate reading.He inherited the legacy of the Blood Slaughter Imperial Dynasty and was very skilled in divination. He could read others' fates with six or seven out of ten accuracy.But this cultivation method also had a drawback, which was that it could not be spoken.Once spoken in advance, it would not be effective.Therefore, only after learning that Guan and Zhang had sworn brotherhood with Liu Er, did the demon cultivator old man speak the first line of the fate reading.