Chapter 1889

"I still hope for your guidance, elder," Zu'an muttered inwardly. "If I already knew, would I need to ask you?"

"Oh, by the way, I haven't yet asked for your esteemed name, elder."

"There's no esteemed name to speak of. I've long forgotten my own name; I'm just a nameless old man," the old servant said, waving his hand dismissively.

Zu'an was bewildered.

Nameless? Could this demeanor suggest he's a hidden master?

"Young master, please sit." The old servant set his broom aside, then found the tea stove in the room and began to brew tea. Only then did he slowly begin, "Although the Great Zhou Dynasty is prosperous now, its foundations were largely established by the former Meng Dynasty."

"The Meng Dynasty's rule was ultimately usurped by the Zhao family because its second and third emperors were both short-lived and had few heirs. This led to child rulers ascending the throne, fostering an atmosphere of distrust between the young sovereign and his ministers. The Zhao family gradually hollowed out the government and seized control."

"Although the Libationer was a member of the Meng imperial family, he fell in love with the Empress of the Meng Dynasty's second emperor, his elder brother's wife. This caused him to be constantly suppressed and mistrusted by the Meng imperial family. Dejected and unfulfilled, he found solace only in nature."

Zu'an listened with a sigh of melancholy. Loving someone you shouldn't often marked the beginning of tragedy. When ethical principles were involved, it was simply not something human power could change, and not everyone could be as unconstrained as the protagonists he'd read about in novels in his previous life.

Even novel protagonists had to be mindful of censorship.

The old servant poured a cup of the brewed tea for Zu'an. "This is Sparrow Tongue Silver Tip, produced from that mother tree," he explained. "The Libationer usually can't bear to drink it. Young master, you are indeed fortunate today."

Zu'an accepted the cup and tasted it. There was indeed a faint, elegant fragrance.

It also subtly contained a wisp of primordial energy, which explained why the Libationer treasured it so much.

However, he truly couldn't discern the tea's profundity. To him, even the finest tea was like casting pearls before swine.

"Hmm, it doesn't taste as good as the milk tea and 'happy fat house water' from my previous life," he thought.

The old servant then continued, "The Libationer was traveling abroad when he learned that the country had been usurped by the Zhao family. Although displeased, he considered that the Chen imperial family had all met early deaths in recent years, believing it to be destiny, and so he somewhat resigned himself. Furthermore, the Zhao family treated the Libationer with greater respect than he had received even in the Meng Dynasty, which led him to acquiesce."

"However, a few years later, the Libationer unexpectedly discovered that the various sudden deaths of Emperor Zhaodi's descendants, the third emperor, seemed to have hidden circumstances."

"The deaths of others might have been overlooked, but Emperor Zhaodi was *that woman's* son. The Libationer couldn't ignore it and quietly investigated."

"He finally discovered that those imperial princes had all been secretly murdered by the Zhao family's subordinates, leading to their early deaths."

"However, there's no such thing as an airtight wall. The two young eunuchs who handled the matter back then, whether out of sympathy or fear of retribution from the Meng imperial family, secretly replaced an imperial prince and sent him out of the palace. This provided them with a backup plan, lest they be silenced."

"Things remained peaceful for many years. However, due to the Libationer's investigation, the Zhao family also vaguely became aware of the matter, leading both sides to investigate."

"That prince married and had children among the common folk. However, whether due to a combination of fear and anxiety or injuries sustained in his youth, he did not live long and died young, leaving behind a posthumous child."

Zu'an asked, "So, did you manage to save the imperial grandson later?"

Although the old servant spoke calmly, Zu'an could fully imagine the thrilling battles and strategic struggles hidden within those words.

The old servant looked deeply at him, then continued, "The Libationer arrived a step too late. The Zhao family's lackeys had already found the orphaned mother and child. They killed the poor mother and were about to kill the prince when, in the nick of time, the Libationer arrived and saved the imperial grandson."

"Unfortunately, the imperial grandson had already been afflicted with an extremely sinister curse by the enemy. Even if saved, he was doomed to be childless, posing no further threat to the Zhao family's rule," the old servant sighed.

Zu'an's expression changed. "Do you know what kind of curse that was?" he asked.

"The Great Yin-Yang Pulse Severing Hand," the old servant slowly uttered.

Zu'an was stunned upon hearing this, his face paling slightly.

At this point, the old servant continued, "Because the imperial grandson was still young and his body too fragile at the time, the Libationer couldn't lift this curse. To deceive the Zhao family's lackeys, he had to fake the scene, creating the illusion that the imperial grandson was dead."

"Additionally, he took the imperial grandson to Brightmoon City and fostered him with a family named Zu. The original intention was for him to live a happy life, free from imperial grievances. Never did he expect that, through unforeseen circumstances, that person would still come to the capital, not only breaking the curse himself but also turning the capital upside down."

Zu'an was speechless.

At this moment, a torrent of exasperation surged through him. He had come to watch the drama unfold, only to find himself at the center of it.

He recalled how, in the secret realm, he had repeatedly confirmed with the Libationer that he was *not* the imperial grandson. This old fox had schemed against him!

The old servant then continued, "The Libationer then felt that all of this was destiny's arrangement, believing that the Chen family's fortune had not yet run out. He then fully resolved many matters he had previously hesitated on."

Zu'an fell silent. It seemed that the Libationer's decisive "Purple Mountain Bo Lang Strike" was due to him. He wondered if he had inadvertently harmed the Libationer.

At this point, the old servant rose and respectfully bowed to Zu'an. "Now, young master, you should understand your identity. This old man greets the imperial grandson."

Zu'an felt a surge of irritation. "Words are baseless," he countered. "The Libationer clearly said before that I wasn't the imperial grandson. Is there any evidence?"

"That was likely a desperate measure by the Libationer, fearing the imperial grandson wouldn't accept it right away," the old servant slowly replied. "As for evidence, I don't believe anyone who hadn't personally witnessed it could know that you were afflicted with the Great Yin-Yang Pulse Severing Hand."

"Who knows how you knew that? Do you have any other evidence?" Zu'an had actually already believed it in his heart. He finally understood why the Libationer, whom he had never met before, had proactively helped him conceal his affair with the Crown Princess and had subsequently shown him inexplicable goodwill.

"Other evidence..." The old servant paused, clearly surprised that someone would refuse an imperial identity. "Well... back then, to prevent information leaks and protect your safety, the Libationer deliberately removed all items that could prove your identity."

Zu'an snorted. "So, there's no evidence then."

As a transmigrator, wouldn't it be better to live this life freely and without worries? He had no desire to get involved in the grievances of the previous generation.

The old servant's brows furrowed. After a moment's thought, his eyes suddenly lit up. "Oh, right," he said. "Among those who participated in the murder of the former dynasty's princes were Imperial Physician Ma An, and the young eunuchs Xiaowei Zi and Xiaomi Zi. There should be clues with them, but these individuals seem to have all disappeared."

Zu'an's heart skipped a beat. Xiaowei Zi and Xiaomi Zi must refer to Wei Dan and Old Man Mi. Their ages certainly matched, and he never imagined that these two had such a deep connection to him.

At the time, they had also left behind storage bags, the seals on which he had never broken. He wondered if there would be any clues inside.

And then there was Ma An, who had also tried to harm him and was subsequently killed by him. What a fated connection!

"These people have either disappeared or died. Aren't you just saying this with no one to verify?" Zu'an said calmly, clearly unwilling to accept this burden.

What does the matter of the Chen family's imperial grandson have to do with me?

The old servant said gravely, "These people are indeed untraceable. However, one person who participated in the murder of the imperial princes back then is still alive. We can obtain information from him."

"Who?" Zu'an instinctively asked.

"Bi Qi, the Right Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Personnel and the current Crown Princess's biological father," the old servant slowly uttered.

Zu'an was speechless.

It was truly a case of what you feared most coming to pass. Just moments ago, he was pitying the Libationer for falling in love with someone he shouldn't, trapped in ethical shackles that personal ability couldn't resolve.

How had it become his turn so quickly?

Bi Linglong's father was actually the murderer of his kin!

This was utterly unbelievable!

Zu'an abruptly stood up. "Alright, you don't need to tell me any of this," he declared. "I don't care if this imperial grandson you speak of is real or fake. I have my own life, and I'm very happy right now. I don't want to bear anyone else's mission. If you want to be this imperial grandson, then be him yourself."

It was quite ironic, really. An imperial prince of a fallen dynasty was worse off than an ordinary person. Not only would he not enjoy any of the benefits of an imperial prince, but he would also have to bear a huge pile of inexplicable obligations and risks. Only a fool would take on such a role.

Seeing him about to leave, the old servant grew anxious. "Imperial grandson," he pleaded, "do you know how many loyal ministers and righteous individuals have paid with their lives to protect the Meng Dynasty's bloodline over these years? And how many more have spent their entire lives guarding this secret?"

Zu'an remained perfectly calm. "What does that have to do with me?" he asked.

The old servant's breath hitched. "Even if you don't care about those people, can you ignore the vengeance for your own birth parents?" he pressed.

"Your father was injured in his youth, leaving him with a hidden ailment that led to his premature death."

"Your mother was also targeted by assassins because of you, and she desperately protected you even until her last breath."

Zu'an frowned upon hearing this. In the end, he said nothing, simply turning and walking down the mountain.