The Generational Order Is All Mixed Up

Jiang Chen vaguely saw through the princess's plan.

The sudden breaking of the engagement was precisely to lure him—or whoever possessed the merfolk women—into taking the bait, seize the two merfolk women, present them to the emperor, continue the Dragon Bone plan, and finally let the mantis stalk the cicada while the oriole waited behind.

She must have coordinated with Yun Lanzi beforehand; it simply had not appeared in the Butterfly Effect's images.

For instance, she had clearly planned to break off the engagement long ago, yet secretly accepted the beast tamer's Five-Element Beast-Taming Orb, most likely an artifact for controlling the two merfolk women.

The empress dowager was rebuking the princess for her rudeness.

It was the old emperor's first time hearing of twin mermaids, and he was overjoyed. He hurriedly chimed in:

"Consort Xiao loved merfolk women dearly in life. Since Junior Nephew once had a pair of twin mermaids, why did you choose to release them? Chan'er may have been unruly since childhood, but her heart is not bad. She would never mistreat them."

"This..."

Yun Lanzi was left speechless.

Elder Guo promptly stepped forward, his face stern as he said in a deep voice:

"To beast tamers, releasing creatures is also a way of accumulating virtue. Now that things have come to this, could His Majesty truly break off the engagement over a pair of insignificant merfolk women?"

Before the emperor could speak, Princess Ping'an leaped up in the hall in a fury, sweeping her gaze over the officials and the royal elders.

"A pair of insignificant merfolk women?

If the merfolk women cannot be recovered, I, Yuwen Chan, will never marry for the rest of my life. No one can change my mind, and if anyone dares force me, I'll die right in front of you!

No, why should I die for you to see? I'm going to cultivate at the Azure Mist Sect!"

"This..."

The emperor pretended to be troubled and turned to the empress dowager.

"I am already like a candle guttering in the wind, with one foot in the grave. Such matters should be left for the young to decide. What does Mother think?"

The princess immediately ran to the empress dowager and began to weep her grievances.

"The Beast Taming Sect should recover the two merfolk women first, then we can discuss the rest."

"The empress dowager truly does not take my Beast Taming Sect seriously!"

Elder Guo's aura abruptly turned cold. He stared directly at the empress dowager and angrily flicked his sleeve.

Yun Lanzi hurriedly said:

"Please calm your anger, Elder. This disaster was caused by your disciple, so naturally I will recover the merfolk women.

I will widely distribute notices seeking them. If anyone finds the merfolk women, please send them back to the Beast Taming Sect. We will certainly offer a generous reward.

If anyone wishes to use the merfolk women to marry the princess, they may come to the Golden Hall and ask whether my sword agrees."

With that, he left the Golden Hall with Elder Guo and found an inn in Xiyang City to stay at.

Second Dragon Gate Inn, a superior guest room.

Elder Guo had not expected the princess to suddenly break off the engagement. Once he realized Yun Lanzi had colluded with the princess beforehand, he asked:

"Are you certain that person will appear?"

Yun Lanzi said with certainty:

"This pair of twin mermaids only has value in the emperor's hands. In anyone else's hands, they are merely merfolk women."

Elder Guo was still somewhat worried.

"What if that person is stronger than you and takes the chance to marry the princess?"

Yun Lanzi said indifferently:

"The princess already has my beast-taming orb. Leave the completion of the plan to her."

Elder Guo was slightly startled, suddenly feeling that the Yun Lanzi before him was somewhat unfamiliar.

"This old man had always thought you were devoted to the princess."

Determination filled Yun Lanzi's eyes.

"This matter is of great importance. Affairs between men and women are not worth mentioning."

After watching this part of the story, Jiang Chen's gaze returned to the palace.

Princess Ping'an was serving tea to the empress dowager and emperor.

"Actually, I just don't like this Yun Lanzi. He looks like a child, yet he always puts on such a solemn face. It's utterly ridiculous.

He is far inferior to Grandmother's Imperial Physician Jiang.

Imperial Physician Jiang may be annoying, but he is at least a fine-looking man. If Grandmother did not like him so much, marrying him would not be out of the question."

To protect Jiang Chen, the empress dowager could only explain:

"Do not speak nonsense. Imperial Physician Jiang was specially invited by me to treat my pent-up melancholy. There is no other relationship between us."

The old emperor's ears pricked up, and he said meaningfully:

"Mother must cherish her health. Do not wait until you are as frail as I am, only to find regret already too late."

After saying that, he left the Golden Hall with the support of a eunuch.

The officials withdrew, and the empress dowager and princess each returned to their own palaces.

There were not many ripples in the events that followed.

The emperor retired early.

The princess continued hunting and playing.

Jiang Chen's gaze followed the empress dowager all the way back to Peaceful Palace, into the underground cultivation chamber, to see himself.

This was the first time Jiang Chen had seen himself take part in the original storyline.

The Jiang Chen in the image had not participated in the story simulation and did not know what had happened in the imperial palace.

The empress dowager roughly explained the situation to Jiang Chen, leaving him dumbfounded.

After all, the Jiang Chen in the original storyline did not know Yun Lanzi the beast tamer's entire plan.

"It seems Chan'er has taken a liking to you."

Even amid his shock, Jiang Chen panicked badly.

"How is that possible? I clearly bullied her."

The empress dowager shot Jiang Chen a resentful glance.

"Have you not bullied me as well?"

"Cough, cough. The nature of it is different."

"To a woman, there is no difference."

Jiang Chen thought, Other than pressing the princess's hands behind her back and using her as a steering wheel, I didn't do anything excessive...

"Perhaps the princess covets the two merfolk women in my possession. It seems these twin mermaids must be key figures."

The ever dignified and graceful empress dowager suddenly had an idea.

"Why not use the two merfolk women to marry Chan'er, then hand the merfolk women over to my son? We will soon know the answer."

I slept with the empress dowager, then marry the princess... that's two generations apart!

It was far too depraved. Jiang Chen did not consider it at all.

"Impossible. Wouldn't that muddle the generations?"

The empress dowager shook her head, her perspective suddenly broadening.

"They are not blood-related, and besides, it would only be an act for the occasion. As long as you have me in your heart, I do not mind."

Jiang Chen was too shocked to speak. This had completely turned into the development of a forum novel. Keeping a straight face, he said seriously:

"I will not gamble with the lives of the two merfolk women."

The empress dowager did not seem to be joking.

"If we set up restrictions in advance, not only can we preserve their lives, we may even save the lives of more merfolk women."

Jiang Chen thought, This may indeed save the merfolk women, but you're gambling with my life.

"Didn't you say we could only quietly wait for the right opportunity and could not actively intervene, lest we change the future you saw?"

Yet the empress dowager suddenly straightened her posture, clasped her hands behind her back, and said:

"You would be the one acting. I merely made a suggestion."

Just as expected of you!

Jiang Chen did not agree so easily. Holding the empress dowager in his arms, he said:

"Let's discuss it after I reach Foundation Establishment."

The empress dowager's chest rose and fell as she sighed.

"My body is weak, and my pent-up melancholy runs too deep. I fear it will be difficult for me to help you reach Foundation Establishment in a short time...

I have always seen you as bold yet cautious. Several times, you seized opportunities amid extremely dangerous conflicts and obtained cultivation arts or resources, allowing you to advance quickly.

Why have you suddenly become timid this time?"

Jiang Chen smiled faintly.

You don't understand. My simulator isn't running.

"The time has not yet come."

As he spoke, he turned and shoved the empress dowager into the pool, giving her pleasure in retaliation.

The splashing water was soft and scattered.

The human sounds were muffled.

For some reason, seeing this scene, Jiang Chen outside the image suddenly felt as though he were watching a cuckold plot.

Even when the storyline ended, the two had still not finished.

Perhaps the original storyline of choosing to do nothing was not a bad choice either.

My wife has confirmed that she tested positive. Aside from not wanting to write, I do not have any other symptoms for now.