"Son-in-law Ying Wuji, I greet my father-in-law!"

Although it was a bit sudden, the tense atmosphere in Chongli Palace suddenly relaxed.

Zhao Ji looked at Ying Wuji, although his face was still stern, the joy in his eyes couldn't be concealed.

He couldn't help but ask, "You voluntarily revealed the Lihuo Palm technique earlier, aren't you afraid of retaliation from the Wei and Han families?"

"It makes me angry just talking about it!"

Ying Wuji cursed, "I didn't provoke them before, but they all wanted to kill me. Since that's the case, why can't I make them suffer a bit? Besides, I will soon become the son-in-law of the royal family. I believe my father-in-law will not allow them to bully me!"

Zhao Ji didn't intend to joke about the marriage matter. After all, his future son-in-law had already shown his attitude. He knew that the royal family's reform would inevitably intensify the conflict with the aristocratic families. So he decided to take the initiative and completely stand with the royal family.

Since the young man had shown sincerity, he couldn't be indecisive.

He smiled and said, "Tell me, which daughter of mine do you like?"

Ying Wuji didn't answer immediately, but instead asked, "No matter which daughter of yours I like, are you willing to marry her to me?"

Zhao Ji pondered for a moment and nodded, "Of course!"

To be honest, when he said these words, his heart was a little uneasy.

After all, Zhao Ning was also his daughter.

But thinking about Zhao Ning's secret, only his true confidant knew about it, and Ying Wuji couldn't possibly know.

If he joked about it now, it would seem insincere.

What Zhao Ji wanted was the long-cherished wish that the Li Kings of past generations had been unable to fulfill. How could he allow any cracks to appear?

Ying Wuji finally smiled and said, "I have heard that our Ying family has a blood oath passed down through generations. How about you make a solemn oath?"

Zhao Ning: "???"

Zhao Ji: "???"

Seeing Zhao Ji's face gradually darken, Zhao Ning quickly grabbed Ying Wuji's wrist and said, "Brother Ying, you can't do this. How can you ask my father to make a solemn oath on the first day of meeting him?"

Ying Wuji grinned and quickly clasped his hands together, "Please don't be angry, Father-in-law. Although my request is a bit excessive, I believe Father-in-law can see my sincerity. I have voluntarily distanced myself from the throne of my motherland and even offended the two major families of Li Kingdom. Although I may have a small mind, I have a good heart. So I can only put myself first before being a gentleman. Although the blood oath of the Ying family is strict, as long as I don't violate the oath, it won't have any impact. As long as Father-in-law promises to give me some guarantee, I can also make a blood oath. As long as the Zhao family doesn't let me down, I will wholeheartedly assist the Crown Prince in realizing the long-cherished wish of the Li Kings of past generations."

Although some parts of his words were not pleasant to hear, they were extremely sincere.

Moreover, the oath only involved marriage, so it wasn't too excessive.

Zhao Ji's expression eased slightly after hearing this, and he gave Ying Wuji a slight glare before making a cut on the back of his hand with his fingers.

Blood floated in the air and condensed into a round blood bead, which then emitted an amber light.

Under the light, according to Ying Wuji's words, Zhao Ji made a solemn oath.

Indeed, the blood oath of the Zhao family was like this. Regardless of intentions, as long as the oath was not violated, it would have no impact.

"Father-in-law, well done!"

Ying Wuji smiled and made the same gesture, also making a blood oath, "From now on, I, Ying Wuji, will be the son-in-law of Li King Zhao Ji, and I will do my best to assist Crown Prince Zhao Ning and eradicate the stubbornness of the aristocratic families!"

After making the oath, the blood bead dissipated and merged into their hearts.

As long as they violated the oath, their hearts would instantly collapse, and even the immortals would find it difficult to save them.

The two oaths were not very detailed.

But it was enough. The old man agreed to marry his daughter, and the young man emphasized his utmost effort. These were what they both wanted the most.

Ying Wuji smiled contentedly and then curiously asked, "By the way, where is the Crown Prince? Such a big matter between our two families, and yet the Crown Prince, who is both my brother-in-law and my uncle, is not present?"

Zhao Ji casually said, "Ning'er is in seclusion. He has already broken through the thirteenth level of essence and energy and is preparing to impact the first-grade spiritual fetus. He won't come out recently!"

"I see!"

Ying Wuji was a little amazed, "I didn't expect that the Crown Prince, who is busy with political affairs all day, would have such profound cultivation. I'm afraid there are few young people in the world who can surpass him!"

Hearing this, Zhao Ji secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Looking at the young man's appearance, he probably didn't know about Ning'er's secret.

That's good!

Zhao Ning finally let go of the slight worry in her heart. She had doubted herself a bit just now, wondering if she had inadvertently revealed her identity as a daughter.

Zhao Ji impatiently waved his hand, "Hurry up and tell me which daughter of mine you want to marry. Don't dawdle. You're not as good as your father in this aspect!"

Ying Wuji clenched his hand and put on a slightly embarrassed look, "Can you let all your unmarried daughters come out and let me choose..."

"Outrageous!"

Zhao Ji glared at him angrily, "They are all princesses of the country. How can you choose them like goods? If you continue to be disrespectful, don't blame me for using family law!"

Although strict, he used the term "family law."

Ying Wuji also felt a bit floaty and said, "Then... let's choose the princess with the highest status?"

Zhao Ji snorted, "I don't even know which one has the highest status!"

That's right!

One is Zhao Ling, who has become the Crown Prince's right-hand man in politics.

One is a mysterious princess with extremely high cultivation talent.

Even if Ying Wuji had to compare, it would be difficult to say whose status was higher.

To be honest, he was also having a hard time choosing.

And judging from Zhao Ji's actions, there was still a hidden meaning. If he didn't show some real talent, he was afraid Zhao Ji would still give him the runaround.

He smiled and waved his hand, "Since that's the case, let's not dwell on this issue for now. After all, marriage is a matter between the two families. My father once said that within a month, an important person from the Great Gan Dynasty will be sent to discuss the marriage. It's not too late to bring it up then."First, show your own value, then use the power of Kingdom Qian to restrain and draw a portrait of the woman you want to marry on the spot.

Don't be afraid of your future father-in-law playing tricks.

Hehehe...

This young master is truly a genius.

Zhao Ji nodded: "That's good! I will draft the imperial edict later and make the marriage announcement to the public. As for which princess it is, let's not mention it for now, so as not to cause trouble for you this month!"

"Father-in-law is wise!"

Ying Wuji smiled happily.

Zhao Ji gave him a disdainful look: "I heard from Ning'er that you have a business worth tens of millions, can it solve the financial crisis of the central government?"

He was really interested in this business.

Kingdom Qian, with its war machine, would not be financially strained even if it was not prosperous as a whole, because King Qian almost controlled all the financial power.

But Kingdom Li was different. The major families of Kingdom Li all had their own fiefs, and it was impossible to collect all the taxes from these fiefs.

Even the Zhao family was the same.

Because the royal family was not the same as the imperial family.

The interests of the imperial family overlapped the most with the royal family, but they also had their own interests. If the royal family's decisions did not benefit the imperial family as much, they would also encounter a lot of resistance.

At least in the construction of the Great Li Academy, there would definitely be many people in the imperial family who opposed it.

The royal family had very few direct means of accumulating wealth. The main way was to increase taxes. But if taxes were increased, the ones who would suffer the most would definitely not be the royal family, but they would be the ones who received the most criticism.

Doing business was indeed a choice.

But what kind of business could earn tens of millions?

Ying Wuji nodded with a smile: "Indeed, there is such a business!"

Zhao Ji asked, "Tens of millions?"

Ying Wuji nodded: "Tens of millions!"

"Really? I don't believe it!"

Zhao Ji raised an eyebrow, feeling that his son-in-law was bragging.

There were many powerful families in Kingdom Li, and they had many ways of accumulating wealth, but he had never heard of anyone earning tens of millions with just one business.

Although Zhao Ning didn't want to doubt Ying Wuji, he couldn't help but ask, "Brother Ying! We are not doubting that you can't do the business, but how much silver does Kingdom Li circulate in the market every year? You said tens of millions, does that mean the entire Great Li will stop buying everything and only focus on your business?"

Ying Wuji smiled and nodded: "Who said I only do business in Great Li?"

This sentence made the father and daughter silent for a while.

If this business spread to various countries and could be done successfully, then tens of millions would not be an exaggeration.

But when doing business between countries, each country would protect its own industries. Could it really be so successful?

Seeing that the two didn't believe him, Ying Wuji directly took out a greased paper package from his pocket: "Your Majesty! Brother Zhao! Take a look at how much this thing is worth."

Zhao Ji took the greased paper package and opened it, only to find a piece of milky white object.

He couldn't help but ask curiously, "What is this?"

"Jade soap! You can think of it as a high-quality soap nut!"

"Soap nut?"

Zhao Ji raised an eyebrow. The nobles paid attention to their appearance. If the cleaning products were good, they would definitely have a market.

Putting aside the effectiveness of this thing, as long as it was passable, with its clean appearance, it should be able to attract many people's attention.

But to say it was worth tens of millions, it was still a bit too exaggerated.

Ying Wuji didn't say much and directly took a basin of water and a piece of pork belly. He rubbed his hands on the pork belly, making both sides of his hands greasy, and then rubbed them on the ground. In the end, his hands were dirty and oily.

Then he dipped his hands in the water and started rubbing the soap.

This time, the father and daughter's expressions finally became serious.

If it could quickly clean something so dirty, it was indeed a bit terrifying.

Ying Wuji smiled. Although the soap he made was not as good as in his previous life, it was still fine for washing hands. He had been doing this during his free time these past few days when he had nothing else to do.

In just a moment, he finished washing.

He rinsed off the foam, and his hands were exceptionally clean.

The hall fell into a long silence.

After a while, Zhao Ji took a deep breath: "Three questions!"

Ying Wuji smiled: "Please, Father-in-law!"

"What is the cost of this thing?"

"Just this piece, less than two hundred wen!"

Zhao Ji: "..."

Zhao Ning: "..."

As they both held the power of the royal merchants, they had some understanding of business. How could they not understand what this cost meant.

Price increase!

Crazy price increase!

As long as those nobles didn't know the cost and could afford it, they would definitely buy it.

Zhao Ji's tone was no longer as calm as before: "What about the production volume?"

Ying Wuji thought about the current situation of the livestock industry in Kingdom Li and smiled: "As long as we are willing to invest manpower and resources, we can have as much production volume as we want."

Zhao Ji: "..."

Zhao Ning: "..."

Producing on a large scale was definitely not cost-effective. As long as the production reached about half of the consumption of the nobles in the world, it would achieve the maximum benefit.

There was no limit on the production volume, which was a great thing.

Zhao Ji took a deep breath: "The third question! After the Hundred Families Gathering, the construction of the Great Li Academy will immediately begin. The construction period cannot wait for anyone, and the construction funds cannot wait either! Before the first batch of construction funds are used up, this part of the order must be in place!

You have a lot of tricks. Last time, you used Luo Yan's name to make your own books well-known.

So, who are you planning to use this time?"

Ying Wuji smiled: "This time, there is no need to borrow anyone's name. As you said, the Hundred Families Gathering is imminent, and the royal family will definitely send people. Before the gathering starts, there will definitely be a ceremony to clean the hands and face. At that time, we can distribute a small piece to each participant for free, and the reputation will naturally spread."

"Brilliant!"

Zhao Ji no longer hid his smile, and his gaze towards his son-in-law became even more affectionate.

Arranging a cleansing ceremony was natural, but in fact, it could be even more extreme. As long as some benefits were given to the people sent by the royal family, directly linking the jade soap with the ceremony would also be possible. At that time, whenever there was a formal occasion in the world, a piece of jade soap would be used.This is crazy, isn't it?

He stroked his beard and laughed, "That's great! Later, you will bring the craftsmanship to me. There will be a grand gathering of the Hundred Families soon, and there will be many participants. We must hurry..."

"No rush!"

Ying Wuji smiled, "I have already prepared the jade soaps needed for the grand gathering. As for the craftsmanship, there's no need to rush. We can wait until the representative from Kingdom Qian arrives and discuss it together with the marriage!"

After all, Zhao Ji only promised the marriage.

Although he had already decided to be on the same boat as the Li royal family, there were different roles on the boat. There was a captain, a first mate, and also a little third-class who could be kicked off the boat and fed to the fish at any time.

The soap business was a money bag that must be held in his own hands.

Otherwise, he would truly become a useless son-in-law.

In Ying Wuji's mind, scenes from three years later involuntarily appeared.

He was bullied in various ways, slapped by Zhao Ji, slapped by Zhao Ning, and slapped by his mother-in-law. Then he condensed the supreme spirit fetus, and millions of soldiers from Kingdom Qian welcomed the ascension of the new king of Kingdom Qian. He smiled crookedly and said, "Kingdom Li is not worth waiting for!"

Thinking of this scene, the corner of his mouth couldn't help but curl up in madness.

Zhao Ji looked at him deeply and said, "That's right! After all, our families are joining through marriage. We will have to do business together in the future. We should sit down and have a good talk."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Ying Wuji changed his address directly. Although the Li king was a bit secretive about the matter of marrying his daughter, his magnanimity was truly extraordinary.

He originally thought that he would be troubled in the matter of craftsmanship.

But he didn't expect Zhao Ji to have no intention of troubling him at all.

This father-in-law is so warm, I'm touched.

Zhao Ji laughed and scolded, "You brat, you change your words quickly!"

"It's only right!"

Ying Wuji smiled and said, "Now that I call you Father King, no one will dare to bully me anymore!"

He looked at the two golden orbs on the Li king's head, as well as several red and blue skill orbs. His mouth was about to split from smiling.

As a Wushen realm expert who mastered two divine abilities, he was only one step away from reaching the Saint realm. And there were also so many heavenly and earthly spells.

Plus, the faces of the courtiers just now...

Whether it was personal cultivation or position of power, this was undoubtedly a worthy thigh to hold onto. Why wait to tightly embrace it?

Zhao Ji smiled and shook his head, "Do you have anything else to say? Just say it all at once!"

"Yes, I do!"

Ying Wuji didn't beat around the bush. He came here this time for two things.

One was the marriage alliance, and the other was Hua Wanqiu.

This unstable factor must be eliminated quickly.

Just as he was about to speak, the voice of a eunuch announcing came from outside the door.

"Your Majesty! Luo Xiang and his new bride Hua Wanqiu are here to see you!"

"Let them in!"

"Yes!"

Soon, the old and dignified Luo Yan, along with Hua Wanqiu, entered the side hall hand in hand.

"Your Majesty!"

Luo Yan's voice was excited. When he saw Zhao Ji, he didn't even care about his wife and quickly walked over, bowing.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Ji was even more excited than him. Before he could bow, he supported Luo Yan's arm, his eyes slightly red, and said with some emotion, "Luo Xiang, you don't have to be so polite! It hasn't been long since we last met, how did you become so old!"

This relationship between monarch and minister truly moved people.

Ying Wuji sighed lightly. He didn't think this was an act, after all, if one knew a little about their past, they would know that this monarch and minister had truly gone through the most difficult times together.

The reason why Zhao Ji could confidently go into seclusion and hand over the government affairs to Zhao Ning was also closely related to Luo Yan.

He couldn't stand Luo Yan, but as a minister, Luo Yan couldn't be faulted in this aspect.

Luo Yan sighed lightly, "My cultivation talent is mediocre, so I naturally appear old. Your Majesty is still so young and strong, while I..."

Zhao Ji felt a bit emotional, "Luo Xiang, you don't have to worry! Since I have come out of seclusion and can't just watch you grow old! Moreover, you are about to get married, how can you be willing to drag this old body? Rest assured, I have made great progress in my cultivation and will definitely find the cause of your aging and completely eradicate it!"

As he spoke, he intentionally or unintentionally glanced at Hua Wanqiu several times, making her feel uneasy.

Luo Yan's expression tightened, "It's just a small matter, Your Majesty. I will take care of myself."

These days, although Hua Wanqiu didn't show any signs of exposure, the frequent probing from the Crown Prince had made him realize that something was amiss.

He just wanted to quickly change the topic.

"How can that be?"

Zhao Ji smiled, "The Great Li still needs Luo Xiang's concern in the future, even if I search for all the spiritual medicines in the world, I must let Luo Xiang live to be a hundred!"

"This, this..."

Luo Yan was a little flustered for a moment, but soon calmed down. He took a deep breath, "This old minister probably doesn't need to live that long!"

Zhao Ji frowned, "What do you mean, Luo Xiang?"

Luo Yan's expression became firm, and he solemnly clasped his hands, "Recently, I have had many exchanges with the Crown Prince. Although he hasn't revealed any specific information, judging from today's situation, he is probably going to take action against the major aristocratic families!

I believe that the problems of our Great Li aristocratic families are deep-rooted diseases that must either be cured or completely eradicated with drastic measures!

The ambitions of the Wei and Han families are soaring, and the Li family is waiting for an opportunity to make a move. This disease has reached the point where it must be treated.

Throughout history, every reform has resulted in rivers of blood.

This old minister is about to die, and I am willing to die for the Great Li!"

His words were sincere and heartfelt, and the atmosphere in the side hall became somewhat silent.

Zhao Ji's expression was complicated, "Does Luo Xiang really think so?"

Luo Yan's gaze was resolute, "After serving Your Majesty for so many years, Your Majesty should know what I think, right?"

"Ah..."

Zhao Ji sighed deeply.

Luo Yan clasped his hands, "Your Majesty, after you suppress the Wei and Han families in a few days, I believe you already have a plan for the reform. If Your Majesty trusts this old minister, I will do my best!"

Zhao Ji nodded, "Since Luo Xiang is willing, then let us join forces again. This reform..."

"Your Majesty!"

Luo Yan hurriedly interrupted, looking at Ying Wuji with a strange expression.

His meaning was clear. It was not appropriate to discuss the details of the reform in front of outsiders.

"Tsk..."Ying Wuji snorted, "The initial draft of your reform, I should at least be considered a co-first author. You, an old man who is just a helper, dare to act like the main author?"

Zhao Ji smiled, "No worries! Wuji is not an outsider."

Wuji?

Not an outsider?

Luo Yan was stunned. Why did he call him so affectionately? Why was he not an outsider?

He hesitated, "Your Majesty..."

Zhao Ji smiled, "The marriage alliance between Li and Qian is imminent. Wuji is willing to bring a large business to our Great Li and become a son-in-law. From now on, he will be one of us!"

Li Qian marriage alliance?

Large business?

Luo Yan's eyes brightened. This was good news!

So, he really was one of them.

He couldn't help but take another look at Ying Wuji.

Suddenly, his eyebrows twitched, and he instinctively said, "Your Majesty! I have an unreasonable request!"

"Speak, Luo Xiang!"

With Zhao Ji's approval, Luo Yan became hesitant.

He opened his mouth, scratched his thinning hair anxiously, and looked quite worried.

Ying Wuji glanced at him, wondering what this old man was up to.

Could it be about Hua Chao?

Although Luo Yan's performance during the public trial had somewhat improved Wuji's impression of him, his disgust towards Luo Yan hadn't diminished much.

If he dared to make any unreasonable demands regarding Hua Chao, Wuji would really lose his temper on the spot.

Zhao Ji couldn't help but smile, "Luo Xiang, please speak!"

Luo Yan took a deep breath and stammered, "Young Master Wuji is willing to become a son-in-law of our Great Li, which is undoubtedly a great thing. In terms of reason and emotion, as the son-in-law, apart from the princess, he cannot have any other wives or concubines. However, I dare to request Your Majesty to allow Hua Chao to marry Young Master Wuji as a concubine!"

Zhao Ji: "..."

Zhao Ning: "..."

Ying Wuji: "..."

To be honest, he was dumbfounded by this request.

This old man had used many dirty tricks to force Hua Chao to leave him before, even though Luo Yan had shown some improvement during the public trial, Wuji's disgust towards him hadn't diminished much.

But now, he was requesting Zhao Ji's permission for Hua Chao to become his concubine?

He furrowed his brows slightly, "Xiang Bang! Are you playing some sinister trick?"

Luo Yan didn't look at Ying Wuji, but instead looked at Zhao Ji with a sorrowful expression, "Your Majesty should also know that I have rarely done anything wrong in my life, but I have left many shadows on her and her daughter... sigh! Hua Chao has had a hard life. Because of me, she has experienced many hardships. It's truly fortunate for her to meet a man she doesn't dislike. In the past, I thought that Wuji would bring her harm, so I used many underhanded methods. But I never expected that Wuji would willingly put himself in danger for Hua Chao. It really makes me ashamed. Now that Wuji has become one of us, it is a blessing for both Li and Qian. It's just that my daughter..."

Luo Yan's words were filled with deep emotions, and even tears welled up in his muddy eyes.

Zhao Ji's expression became complicated as he listened. He had been close to Luo Yan for many years and had shared his innermost thoughts with him more than once. Naturally, he understood what Luo Yan was thinking. Hua Chao and her daughter were probably the only people who made him feel guilty.

Taking a concubine as a son-in-law did indeed damage the dignity of the royal family, but it wasn't a big problem. Moreover, his own princesses were not that important, so it wouldn't hurt to make a small sacrifice.

The key was that as long as he agreed to this request, Luo Yan would be in charge of the reform, and there would be no other worries.

He was about to nod when Ying Wuji stepped forward.

"Luo Xiang, are you too eager to make decisions for Hua Chao?"

Ying Wuji looked at Luo Yan's slightly hunched figure, feeling both amused and angry, "Do you think you understand Hua Chao so well that you can decide what will make her happy?"

Luo Yan opened his mouth but fell silent.

Of course, he thought so.

But he had thought he understood Hua Chao well before, yet every decision he made had the opposite effect.

He gritted his teeth, "Doesn't Young Master Wuji think so? You risked your life to save Hua Chao, I believe..."

Ying Wuji sneered, "That's between her and me!"

Luo Yan's breath hitched, "Don't you want to marry her?"

Ying Wuji's expression grew colder, "In your eyes, is treating her well the same as taking her as a concubine? Luo Yan, when you promised to take Hua Chao's mother as a concubine, did you feel like you had made a great sacrifice for them?"

Luo Yan: "..."

Ying Wuji: "Then let me ask you, what was her reaction when you said you wanted to take her as a concubine?"

Luo Yan: "..."

What was her reaction?

She almost stabbed me in the throat with a sword!

Not to mention becoming a concubine, Hua Chao couldn't even be a regular wife. If he told her as a friend, a confidant, or even a kind of relative, "Hua Chao, I want to marry you, but I might betray you."

Ying Wuji guaranteed that Hua Chao would explode in front of him, showing him how a demonic seed exploded.

He still remembered when he was discussing the play "The Deer and the Cauldron" with Hua Chao. She said she liked the character Wei Xiaobao and then changed all the female leads except for Shuang'er to villains, and then killed them one by one while holding his hand.

Luo Yan's throat moved, and he didn't know what to say anymore.

"You don't need to worry about Hua Chao. I will take care of her. If you really want to treat her well..."Ying Wuji paused for a moment, and pointed directly at Hua Wanqiu with his finger, his voice becoming extremely cold: "In front of me and His Majesty, kill this evil person who was taught by me!"

"What!"

Luo Yan was shocked and his eyes were filled with panic and astonishment.

He turned his head and glanced at Zhao Ji, only to find that the King Li had no surprise at all. He suddenly felt cold all over, and finally confirmed that Zhao Ji had deliberately brought him into the palace with a new bride, specifically for Hua Wanqiu.

Hua Wanqiu was startled and instinctively took a step back in fear, saying in panic, "Taught by me? What does that mean? I, I don't know, please don't kill me..."

She had just been scolded by Ying Wuji in the morning, and now she was even more terrified.

Zhao Ji did not show any anger, just calmly looked at Luo Yan and sighed softly, "Lao Luo, tell me!"

The term "Lao Luo" made Luo Yan stunned for a long time.

He struggled a bit, their relationship as monarch and minister was close, and when there were no official duties, Zhao Ji often called him Lao Luo.

Now, calling him like this, it must be to put aside the national law and give himself a chance to admit his mistake. After all, on the surface, the court officials were prohibited from having any contact with the "for me" cult.

Luo Yan remained silent for a long time. "Your Majesty! I can tell you everything, without any reservation, but... can Wanqiu temporarily avoid it?"

"Alright!"

Zhao Ji nodded and called a few palace maids to take Hua Wanqiu out.

Hua Wanqiu was both frightened and confused. When she left the side hall, she looked back several times.

This scene made Ying Wuji frowned. Why did it feel like... Hua Wanqiu's identity was even more complicated than he had imagined?

And it seemed that Zhao Ji had already guessed something.

"I am guilty!"

Luo Yan knelt down directly, his face full of shame. "I privately contacted the demonic people from the 'for me' cult. I deserve to die. Please punish me, Your Majesty!"

Zhao Ji helped him up and said, "Speak properly when there's something to say. Even if you want to kneel, you have to wait until I get angry. Let's talk about the matter first. Tell me in detail, what is Hua Wanqiu's identity and why is she so similar to the person from before?"

"Ah..."

Luo Yan sighed deeply and glanced at Ying Wuji. "I don't know how you know that she is related to the 'for me' cult. You may think that she is a member of the cult, but that's not the case."

Ying Wuji impatiently said, "Stop beating around the bush, just say it!"

Luo Yan's expression became serious. "Young Master Wuji, have you ever heard of a supernatural ability called 'Soul Crossing through Painting'?"

"Soul Crossing through Painting!"

Explore the extended edition on pawread.com.

Zhao Ning, who hadn't spoken for a long time, suddenly exclaimed.

"Soul Crossing through Painting... I said earlier that the woman's soul was incomplete and didn't look like a living person. It turns out to be it!"

Zhao Ji's tone was as if he had expected it.

Ying Wuji frowned. He considered himself somewhat knowledgeable and had learned about many supernatural abilities from the information, but he had never heard of this "Soul Crossing through Painting".

"What kind of supernatural ability is this?"

"It's normal for Brother Ying to not know!"

Zhao Ning's emotions were a bit unsettled, but he suppressed his fear and explained slowly, "This supernatural ability last appeared during the Shang and Zhou War. It has now become a forbidden secret. Even in the royal families of various countries, very few people know about it."

Ying Wuji suddenly realized that the Shang and Zhou War was indeed a forbidden topic, and it was not surprising that he, as a hostage, didn't know about it.

Zhao Ning continued, "According to legend, before the Shang and Zhou War, there was a madman in the Eastern Barbarians who claimed to be the Lord of the Nine Hells, in charge of the cycle of life and death. He used reincarnation as bait to gather an extremely powerful force. That's why King Zhou sent troops to suppress the Eastern Barbarians.

Later, people discovered that the so-called reincarnation was actually a scam. This person did comprehend a kind of supernatural ability, but this ability did not allow the deceased to be reborn with memories. Instead, it used the blood from the heart of a loved one to paint a physical body using the art of painting. The newly born person would then obtain the memories of the deceased and have a personality extremely similar to the deceased."

"This..."

Ying Wuji was also shocked by this strange supernatural ability. Using blood from the heart as nourishment, no wonder Luo Yan suddenly aged so much.

He couldn't help but ask, "Does this new person have any connection with the deceased?"

Zhao Ning shook his head. "Naturally, there is no connection! Let me give you an example, Brother Ying. If you use your heart's blood to paint a deceased colleague from your bookstore, this colleague will know everyone in the bookstore and behave just like a real person. But if you send him back to Kingdom Qian, he won't be able to find his way home, let alone recognize his own wife and children. Because Brother Ying, you only know that he is from Kingdom Qian and has a wife and children, but you don't know where he lives or what his wife and children look like!"

Ying Wuji suddenly realized, "So this new person is just a projection of the memories provided by the blood from the heart, not even a real person!"

"That's right!"

"Then why do people still believe it?"

"Because the more the blood provider knows about the deceased, and the more blood providers there are, the closer the new person will be to the deceased, and even achieve the effect of deceiving others."

"Isn't that just deceiving oneself?"

Ying Wuji scoffed, "Luo Yan, why would you be willing to do such a stupid thing?"

Luo Yan looked dazed, and his lips moved slightly. "Young Master Wuji, let me ask you a question. If the deceased was Hua Chao, and now there is a person who looks exactly like Hua Chao, behaves like Hua Chao, and is the same in every aspect as Hua Chao, even treating everyone the same way Hua Chao did, how would you treat her? If Hua Chao treated you a certain way, she would treat you the same way. Is she Hua Chao?"

Ying Wuji took a deep breath, finally feeling the horror of this question.

This was like a philosophical question from his previous life: If there was a technology that could teleport you instantly, disassembling you into particles, transmitting the information data of your arrangement at the speed of light to another place, and then reassembling you in the same arrangement, would it still be you?

If someone wants to teleport Ying Wuji like this, he would definitely refuse. He would feel that the person who is being sent over is not himself, but a new person.

But from another perspective, the human body is constantly undergoing metabolism. When all the particles are replaced by half, does it mean that you are no longer yourself?

If two people exist at the same time, they can still forcibly distinguish between true and false.

But what if the original person is already dead?

When the new person stands in front of them, how can their loved ones ignore her?

"No!"

Ying Wuji suddenly reacted, "The Hua Wanqiu just now was clearly a young girl, and she didn't have any memories from before. Are you kidding me?"

Luo Yan shook his head, "That's because not enough heart blood was provided. As long as..."

Ying Wuji cursed, "There's no 'as long as'! This person can't be considered Hua Wanqiu at all. You're just stupid. Why did you create such a situation? If you drag Hua Chao into this mess, how will she handle it?"

Luo Yan fell silent for a moment, "I know that Hua Chao hates me. The only person she cares about is her mother. When I die, I will offer all my heart blood. As long as Hua Chao takes out a little, Wanqiu will..."

"Can you stop blabbering!"

"I just want to give her mother back to her..."

"Fuck your dog shit!"

Ying Wuji cursed, "You don't understand Hua Wanqiu at all. The new person you created with your heart blood, is she really Hua Wanqiu? And give Hua Chao's mother back to her? Tell me, if this Hua Wanqiu hears that you want her to be your concubine, will she angrily leave? Will she leave Jiangcheng and live on her own without seeing you?"

No! Even now, when she realizes that she is just a substitute for someone else, she doesn't even give you a slap and leave!

You think she is Hua Wanqiu, but she is not. She is just a product that you, a despicable man, created to move yourself!

You want to give her back to Hua Chao? Will Hua Chao be happy? Will she be happy?

Hua Chao is innocent.

Even this Hua Wanqiu is innocent.

Only you, Luo Yan... you really deserve to die!"

Luo Yan: "..."

With each curse from Ying Wuji, Luo Yan's head lowered a bit more.

By the time Ying Wuji finished cursing, his head was almost unable to lift up.

Zhao Ji and Zhao Ning were also stunned. Their future brother-in-law had such a sharp tongue. They were initially caught off guard by Luo Yan's question, but they didn't expect that every word Ying Wuji said hit the nail on the head.

After this conversation, there was no room for debate on this issue.

Zhao Ji sighed, "Lao Luo, how do you think we should handle this matter?"

Ying Wuji snorted, "Judging from Luo Xiang's appearance, he probably doesn't know how to handle this matter. Let me say something objective and fair. The deceased should stay in the coffin. Some people may seem human, but they are actually a kind of spiritual creation. They should return to their original form."

Although his words were somewhat tactful, the meaning of killing was undeniable.

To be honest, when he said these words, there was a hint of reluctance in his heart. Because after the setting of the Danqing Duhun, it was unlikely that Hua Wanqiu would be a puppet of the Wujiao. She was just a tool used to control and coerce Luo Yan.

Therefore, her kindness towards Hua Chao seemed genuine.

Her significance to Luo Yan.

Is like the Aoi Yuuki that a hikikomori fantasizes about.

She herself is not guilty.

But this kind of unstable factor should be destroyed as soon as possible.

Zhao Ji nodded, "Very well!"

Luo Yan was a little panicked, "Your Majesty..."

Zhao Ji was also angry, "Luo Yan! You were once a loyal minister of the Great Li, with an unyielding will. Just because of a trick like the Danqing Duhun, you have become so weak? I thought that even for the Wujiao, you were worthy of being their prime minister. I didn't expect you to be so vulnerable in front of them!"

"I am terrified!"

Luo Yan was sweating profusely, but he still gritted his teeth and said, "Your Majesty! I was ignorant and arrogant. I actually trusted the Wujiao and fell into this mess. But Wanqiu is a living person. The Wujiao intended to control me with her lifespan, but I have long been prepared to die!

Last time we made contact, I had already exchanged three years of her lifespan.

Therefore, in this crisis of reform, I will not live for more than three years. I will not give the Wujiao any chance to threaten me.

I only hope that Your Majesty can give her a way out. I will confine her to the mansion and no longer harm anyone!

It is my sin!

I hope to repay it with death!

Please grant me this, Your Majesty!"

After these words were spoken, everyone present fell into silence.

No wonder Luo Yan was so eager to participate in the reform. It turns out he had long been prepared for this.

Ying Wuji didn't know what to say.

He could only say that Luo Yan was both foolish and cunning.

After discovering that he had been deceived, he immediately decided not to live anymore.

If I don't even want to live, how can you threaten me with lifespan?

Roughly speaking, it's like I got a free figurine of my deceased wife!

This is a real figurine of my deceased wife!

The whole thing is just absurd!

Seeing that no one was speaking, Luo Yan bowed again, "Please grant me this, Your Majesty!"

Zhao Ji took a deep breath. Since the words had reached this point, there was indeed no reason to refuse. He was about to nod, but then he heard Ying Wuji's voice.

"Father, I have something to say!"

"Speak!"

"Luo Xiang's promise is undeniable, and if I insist on forcing him to kill Lady Xiang, it would seem like I am being unreasonable. But I hope Luo Xiang can agree to two conditions for me."

Luo Yan quickly said, "Please speak, Marquis!"

Ying Wuji's expression was cold, "First, Luo Xiang's promise of confinement must be strictly enforced!"

"Of course!"

"Second, tell Hua Wanqiu the truth. She is even more pitiful than Hua Chao in this matter. Let her know that her feelings for Hua Chao are actually her shackles, so that she won't influence Hua Chao through other means."

"...Alright!"

Although it was difficult, Luo Yan still nodded.

"I'm done speaking!"Ying Wuji let out a sigh of relief, feeling much lighter.

When he returned, he would tell Hua Chao everything. Today, he had finally figured it out. Even if this person looked exactly like her mother, they were completely different on the inside. As long as he explained clearly, he could help Hua Chao unload all her burdens.

From then on, they would never meet again, and they could live more freely.

Zhao Ji smiled, "Luo Xiang! Get up!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Luo Yan took a deep breath and slowly stood up.

Zhao Ji's gaze towards him softened a lot, but the slight curl of his lips became murderous, "So, tell me quickly, what is your purpose for trying so hard to control my Prime Minister of the Great Li?"

~~~~~~

Rest assured, there won't be any melodramatic plot where Hua Chao treats "Hua Wanqiu" as her mother and then gets hurt and abused by the villain.

In the subsequent plot, Hua Wanqiu can be considered as an independent individual, just a simple pitiful person, and a tool to lead to the major storyline in the later stage. She won't turn evil or be involved in any melodrama.

Please enjoy with confidence.

(End of this chapter)