"Oh?"
Curiosity showed on the young man's face. "Who might that be?"
"Your Majesty must have heard his name," Dugu Xin replied plainly. "Chen Fangqing, Marquis of Linru County, of Southern Chen's Imperial Clan!"
"Chen Tanlang's son, and Chen Fangtai's younger brother?" Azure recognized him at once. "I know of him. An Immortal Sect recruited him—Cloudsky Sect on Great Hua Mountain, right here in our Zhou Kingdom, I hear!"
Mortal courts could administer only mundane affairs; no Immortal Sect would submit to their rule. But the powerful figures at court knew what Divine Abilities could do when brought into the world. How could they ignore the movements of the Immortal Sects?
And how could they overlook an Immortal Sect choosing a member of Southern Chen's Imperial Clan?
"Indeed." Dugu Xin nodded. "His Divine Abilities are astonishing!"
"If you hold him in such high regard, sir, he must have real talent." Azure frowned. "But however capable he is, he belongs to Southern Chen. Recruiting him may prove difficult." Then his brow eased, and he smiled. "Still, if Marquis Chen is willing to help me, I will trust him without reservation."
"That will be difficult." Dugu Xin pondered the matter. He had a plan of his own and was about to speak...
But Azure smiled. "Of course. I am only a puppet now. Everyone knows that power in the Zhou Kingdom rests with the Duke of Jin's household."
"That was certainly not what I meant, Your Majesty!" Dugu Xin hastened to apologize.
"There's no need for that, sir. You needn't comfort me with words. I've heard too many already. Besides, if I truly forget this and grow content with the throne, then I—Yuwen Yong—will sooner or later follow in my elder brother's footsteps!"
Dugu Xin sighed at his words and said no