Chapter 155: Truth

"Princess Cang Yue... she's actually... Princess Cang Yue," Yun Che muttered, a little lost in thought. As a citizen of the Azure Wind Empire, Yun Che naturally knew the name Princess Cang Yue. The current Azure Wind Emperor, Cang Wanhe, has seven sons and one daughter. The crown prince is Cang Lin, known as the "Azure Dragon Crown Prince," and his only daughter is Princess Cang Yue. In his youth, the Emperor and Princess were legendary figures. Although he and Xiao Lingxi often fantasized about what the Emperor and Princess might be like, they never imagined they would one day come into contact with them.

As a boy, there was always a special fantasy associated with "princesses" because the title symbolized nobility, elegance, and beauty, representing the most perfect and esteemed women in the world. Yun Che had absolutely no idea that Lan Xueruo was the Princess Cang Yue he had yearned for and fantasized about countless times as a child, just like many other boys.

He was certain that Lan Xueruo's identity was incredibly noble, but he had never associated her with the title of "princess." Princesses, being born into the imperial family and as the Emperor's only daughter, were expected to be spoiled and domineering. Yet, not a trace of these traits could be found in Lan Xueruo; she exuded only gentleness and kindness. She was amiable to everyone, never showing any signs of arrogance, and never discriminating against or looking down on anyone. If she saw others in distress, her immediate impulse was to help. These qualities were completely different from the image of Princess Cang Yue he held in his mind. She was, in fact, more peaceful and approachable than most daughters of officials.

She was Princess Cang Yue... and he was just a wanderer from the small Floating Cloud City, with no background, no influence, and no family. Why had she been so kind to him then?

"If she's Princess Cang Yue, why was she in New Moon City at that time?" Yun Che asked, still somewhat bewildered.

Qin Wuyou didn't answer him directly. Instead, he asked, "Yun Che, are you aware of the current state of the Azure Wind Imperial Family?"

Yun Che thought for a moment and nodded slightly. "I know a little. Senior Brother Sikong briefly mentioned it before. It seems the Emperor is gravely ill, and Crown Prince Cang Lin and Third Prince Cang Shuo are secretly preparing to contend for the next emperorship, and they've each allied with the Xiao Sect and Burning Heaven Clan." At this point, Yun Che's heart tightened. The Emperor was gravely ill... no wonder such deep sorrow was always hidden in her eyes. So that was it.

"That's right." Qin Wuyou nodded, then began to explain in detail.

"Roughly three years ago, His Majesty suddenly fell gravely ill and became bedridden. The imperial physicians in the palace were all at a loss. Later, Gu Qiuhong, acknowledged as the top divine physician in our Azure Wind Empire, was invited to diagnose His Majesty. The conclusion was that His Majesty had overexerted himself throughout the years, developing numerous hidden ailments across his body. That time, he also contracted a cold, causing all these hidden ailments to erupt and damage his life-meridian. Consequently, his vitality became extremely weak. With a damaged life-meridian, there's no cure. He can only be sustained day and night with potent tonics, and there's no other way."

"Years of hidden ailments? Damaged life-meridian?" Yun Che's brow furrowed immediately. Such a condition existed?

"Later, dozens of renowned physicians from various regions were invited, one after another. Their conclusions were all that His Majesty wasn't actually ill, but merely mysteriously weak. And these conclusions directly affirmed the truth of Divine Physician Gu Qiuhong's words. Gu Qiuhong also stated that life-meridian damage is incurable. If cared for properly, His Majesty could live for at most five more years. As the foremost divine physician in the Azure Wind Empire, Gu Qiuhong has never spoken falsely in medicine. Three years have passed now, meaning His Majesty has at most only two years of life left. Last month, my elder brother even visited His Majesty in the palace and returned saying that His Majesty's complexion was extremely poor and his breathing weak; it's hard to say if he can last even a year, let alone two."

Yun Che: "..."

"Ever since His Majesty's life-meridian was damaged and he became bedridden, turmoil has erupted within the imperial family. Crown Prince Cang Lin began subtly pressuring His Majesty to abdicate in his favor sooner. Third Prince Cang Shuo, having coveted the throne for a long time, initially engaged in various clandestine struggles. But as the struggle escalated, it turned into an open conflict known to everyone in Azure Wind Imperial City. The Crown Prince has the support of the Second Prince and Seventh Prince, while the Third Prince is supported by the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Princes. Both have been using various means to win over factions within the court, even gradually eroding His Majesty's core power base. The two sides have always been evenly matched, neither able to completely suppress the other."

"Originally, this kind of struggle for the throne is perfectly normal within the imperial family; almost every new emperor's succession is preceded by such a prelude. The Emperor had always allowed it. However, what no one expected was that Crown Prince Cang Lin, in order to suppress Third Prince Cang Shuo's influence, actually borrowed the power of the Xiao Sect. Third Prince Cang Shuo, to counter him, then borrowed the power of the Burning Heaven Clan."

"Alas," Qin Wuyou sighed deeply, saying, "All along, the Xiao Sect and Burning Heaven Clan have harbored hidden ambitions, coveting the power to control the world. The imperial family has been carefully navigating their interactions with them over the years. Furthermore, the imperial family is allied with the Heavenly Sword Villa, and with the Heavenly Sword Villa's restraint, the Xiao Sect and Burning Heaven Clan dared not truly usurp the imperial family's power. But their active seizure and the imperial family's active borrowing of their power are two entirely different concepts. With the latter, they can gradually infiltrate their influence into the imperial family through Cang Lin or Cang Shuo. At that point, although the imperial family would still bear the Cang surname, the sovereignty would be controlled by the Xiao Sect or Burning Heaven Clan. Even the Heavenly Sword Villa would be unable to say anything."

"In that case," Yun Che said calmly, "it's more likely that the Xiao Sect and Burning Heaven Clan actively enticed Cang Lin and Cang Shuo."

"Precisely," Qin Wuyou nodded. "When His Majesty learned of all this, he was furious, but it was already too late. Because by then, the influence of both Crown Prince Cang Lin and Third Prince Cang Shuo had permeated the imperial court. Even as their father, he could no longer forcibly shake their positions. Not to mention the Xiao Sect and Burning Heaven Clan secretly aiding both sides. In fact, if not for His Majesty's remaining deeply entrenched core faction and the protection of the Heavenly Sword Villa, Crown Prince Cang Lin and Third Prince Cang Shuo might have already forcibly dethroned him."

At this point, Qin Wuyou's face was filled with indignation. After calming himself, a pained expression appeared on his face. "In recent years, Crown Prince Cang Lin and Third Prince Cang Shuo have become the main figures of the imperial family, while His Majesty, confined to his bedchamber year-round, has been practically forgotten. Among His Majesty's seven sons and one daughter, in the end, the only one who truly cared for him wholeheartedly and stayed by his side was his only daughter, Princess Cang Yue. Alas... these three years have truly been hard on her. It's also fortunate that she is just a girl, with no power or threat, otherwise, she might have already suffered secret persecution from the Crown Prince and Third Prince. Alas."

"She wanted to stop the Crown Prince and Third Prince from 'leading wolves into the house'?" Yun Che asked with a frown.

"She tried, but she gave up, because she simply couldn't stop it," Qin Wuyou shook his head wistfully. "In this struggle, our Azure Wind Profound Palace remains neutral, pledging allegiance only to His Majesty. At the same time, we've become Princess Cang Yue's sole backing. However, the will of the disciples is beyond our control. More than half of the hundred inner palace disciples have been drawn into the factions of Crown Prince Cang Lin and Third Prince Cang Shuo, including Feng Bufan, ranked second on the Inner Palace's Heavenly Profound Ranking, and Fang Feilong, ranked third."

"Princess Cang Yue, realizing her limited power and inability to thwart the ambitions of the Crown Prince and Third Prince, has remained by His Majesty's side. Two years ago, to fulfill one of His Majesty's regrets, she joined the Azure Wind Profound Palace under the alias 'Lan Xueruo.' She left a month later, then exited the imperial city, traveling to various branch profound palaces across the country, searching for someone who could help her father fulfill his wish."

At this point, Qin Wuyou looked steadily at Yun Che.

"So I'm the person she found?" Yun Che said, his face unreadable. "What is her father's wish? Why did she choose me? Why did she believe I could help her father fulfill this wish?"

"The Azure Wind Ranking Tournament." Qin Wuyou uttered five words calmly.

These five words caused Yun Che's heart to suddenly tremble, and he blurted out, "Could it be..."

"Alas," Qin Wuyou sighed once more. Mentioning the "Azure Wind Ranking Tournament," his expression also turned rather dim. He stood up, clasped his hands behind his back, walked to the bamboo window, and slowly said, "Speaking of the Azure Wind Profound Palace, everyone knows it was established by our Azure Wind Imperial Family, and it's the largest profound palace in the entire Azure Wind Empire. It is the dream destination for countless young profound practitioners to cultivate profound energy. However, the Azure Wind Empire is home to numerous sects and countless strong individuals. In the eyes of those major sects, our Azure Wind Profound Palace is nothing but a joke."

"The Azure Wind Ranking Tournament was originally held every ten years, then it was shortened to every five years. A century ago, it was again shortened to every three years. From the first Azure Wind Ranking Tournament until now, exactly ninety-nine sessions have passed. As the core political power of the nation, the Azure Wind Imperial Family naturally receives an invitation to every session. But, over ninety-nine sessions, no one from the Azure Wind Imperial Family has ever been able to enter the top one hundred. Never! What a joke and humiliation this is. When the current Emperor ascended the throne, his greatest wish was to see the Azure Wind Imperial Family break into the top one hundred of the Azure Wind Ranking Tournament during his reign... Yet, after nearly twenty years on the throne and six Azure Wind Ranking Tournaments, this wish has remained unfulfilled. Now that his life span is nearing its end, this has become the regret of his entire life. To help him realize this wish before his passing, Princess Cang Yue left the imperial family, searching for a genius profound practitioner who could represent the imperial family in the tournament and secure a spot in the top one hundred. After two years, she chose you."

"...So... that's how it is." The mystery of why Lan Xueruo had been so kind to him, even risking immense danger to save him, was finally resolved. Knowing the truth, he couldn't describe the taste in his heart.

"The Azure Wind Imperial Family possesses a special profound art called 'Emperor's Heart Art.' Only those with imperial bloodline and a pure, benevolent heart can cultivate it. Among the seven princes and one princess, Princess Cang Yue is the only one who has mastered the 'Emperor's Heart Art.' With the 'Emperor's Heart Art,' one can, to a certain extent, glimpse a person's destiny and fortune. Princess Cang Yue likely saw extraordinary destiny and fortune in you through the 'Emperor's Heart Art,' and combined with your astonishing performance at New Moon Profound Palace, she unhesitatingly chose you."

Yun Che: "..."

"Now, do you understand what I meant by 'resolve'?" Qin Wuyou turned around, speaking meaningfully.

"I mostly understand. At the very least, I need to participate in the Azure Wind Ranking Tournament on behalf of the imperial family, for her," Yun Che said, his expression calm, lost in thought.

"No, that alone isn't what I'd call true resolve. After all, participating in the Azure Wind Ranking Tournament is only about success or failure, not life or death," Qin Wuyou continued. "Two years ago, Princess Cang Yue left the imperial city for more than just finding a suitable person. The more important reason was... to escape from a terrifying individual."

"Who?" Yun Che looked up slightly.

"The fourth-place finisher of the previous Azure Wind Ranking Tournament—Feng Juecheng, the eldest son and young master of the Burning Heaven Clan leader, Feng Duanhun!"