A Leak
The differences between the upper and lower classes in the Immortal Court are extremely obvious.
Zhang Xuezhou had been in contact with Yao Yuanguang for a long time.
Yao Yuanguang was an outer disciple of the Immortal Court, but only the immortals in the secret realm of the Eastern Heavenly Gate recognized him. Immortals like Nezha didn't even remember Yao Yuanguang's name.
Compared to immortals with long lifespans, outer disciples are like consumable materials that are replaced one after another, with different ones every ten or twenty years.
After meeting once, you may never see this person again.
The Qin Dynasty's forced implementation of a standardized writing system caused drastic changes to the written language within just a few decades, leading to a loss of control over communication among cultivators in the Immortal Court. Even descendants of the same ancestor could lose contact because they could not recognize the written characters.
For example, Zhang Xuezhou saw an undecipherable ancient script genealogy at Tian Fen's residence.
Genealogies are usually passed down orally, and even if someone is illiterate, they can at least be told by their ancestors. However, the problem with the Immortal Court is that cultivators cannot be exposed to the light of day, and they will not easily reveal many contents to avoid attracting the Qin Dynasty's frenzied attack.
As generations come and go, things change. The Qin Dynasty may have been somewhat lacking, but the Great Han Dynasty had already passed for over a century, enough time for three or four generations to pass away. It's quite normal that Tian Fen didn't know anything about his ancestors.
"Your Majesty, this matter must not be handled hastily, lest chaos ensues!"
Zhang Xuezhou did not readily conclude that the Empress Dowager was a cultivator from the Immortal Court. Instead, he suggested that the new emperor find an appropriate opportunity to communicate with her and see if the Empress Dowager was working for the Immortal Court.
"The evidence is conclusive," Han Yan said. "Your Majesty should sever all ties as soon as possible to avoid chaos among the princes vying for legitimacy!"
Han Yan nodded politely to Zhang Xuezhou.
His opinion was completely opposite to Zhang Xuezhou's, and he suggested a swift and decisive approach.
If the new emperor is well-prepared, he even thinks that the new emperor could lead his men to Changxin Palace today, seize the Empress Dowager with lightning speed, and then strip her of all her power.
There is only one chance for this. The new emperor must succeed. If the Changxin Palace takes precautions, it will inevitably lead to a situation of division and confrontation.
"Even if the Empress Dowager's lineage is questionable, His Majesty is still a descendant of the late Emperor, and His Majesty has been recognized as the legitimate ruler by the Red Empyrean Sword. How can other vassal kings claim to be vying for legitimacy?" Zhang Xuezhou said.
"Dongfang Shuo, you wouldn't happen to be jealous that I did the best, would you?"
Seeing that Zhang Xuezhou still contradicted and advised the new emperor despite his statement, Han Yan couldn't help but feel anxious.
He worked tirelessly for over a year, enduring much hardship, reading various confidential records, and even learning local ancient scripts. All of this was to bring the truth to light and then watch the new emperor become the sole master of the Great Han Dynasty.
Han Yan didn't care much about merit, but he hoped the new emperor would achieve unparalleled success.
As a fellow practitioner of the art of movement, he will undoubtedly gain immense benefits from it and will rise through the ranks step by step.
Even if Zhang Xuezhou couldn't stop this, and even if the new emperor wasn't on this path, Han Yan would do everything in his power to push him onto it.
He glanced at Zhang Xuezhou Zhang Xuezhou launched a personal attack on him.
The two accepted the mission at the same time, and each had different targets to investigate. As long as Han Yan countered in this way, no matter how reasonable Zhang Xuezhou's argument was, it would be weaker.
"Let me think about it, let me think it over carefully. You two should not argue, and you may leave now!"
The new emperor waved his hand, indicating that Zhang Xuezhou and Han Yan did not need to fight, and also dismissed the two from the main hall of the Weiyang Palace.
"The evidence is identifiable, the witnesses are verifiable, so is it true, as Han Yan said, that we only need to try to find out the result?"
Sitting on the throne in the main hall of the Weiyang Palace, the new emperor continuously reviewed the secret records submitted by Han Yan, as well as the evidence and witnesses he could produce.
For the Empress Dowager, this was almost a dead end.
If the Empress Dowager does not acknowledge any connection to this immortal Lineage, or denies her illegitimate daughter, the new emperor can simply respond by executing her.
The fact that the Empress Dowager could accept this meant that she bore a heavy responsibility for the Immortal Court, and that she had to endure even the death of her family members.
The Empress Dowager's inability to accept this implies that she indeed has a connection with the Immortal Court, leaving her with no other choice.
"This testimony and evidence are indeed without problem, I..."
The new emperor, recalling Emperor Jing's entrustment, almost felt a surge of tyrannical malice.
"Why did Dongfang Shuo advise me to endure this? Why should I endure such a thing?"
If Han Yan were the only one by his side, the new emperor was certain he would draw his sword, and he summoned Li Guang, Cheng Bushi, and others to surround Changxin Palace.
The Empress Dowager was not the Grand Empress Dowager, and her power was indeed inferior. The new emperor only needed a simple setup to successfully rebel.
However, the new emperor was indeed someone who listened to advice, especially since he had consulted Zhang Xuezhou on many issues in the past, and the answers to these questions were quite good. Han Yan, on the other hand, did not belong to the category of remonstrating officials.
If we compare Zhang Xuezhou and Han Yan, the new emperor is indeed more willing to listen to Zhang Xuezhou's advice.
As he pondered how to use the secret records and evidence, the door to the main hall of the Weiyang Palace was suddenly pushed open.
Without the new emperor issuing an order to summon his ministers, only one person could push open the gates of the Weiyang Palace.
"Mother?"
The new emperor jolted awake from his throne, quickly swept the secret records and evidence from the table into his sleeve, and then looked at the woman in a plain robe standing at the entrance of the hall.
The person who came was indeed the Empress Dowager.
The Empress Dowager came alone, without any other high-ranking cultivators or imperial guards following her.
"What brings you here?" The new emperor quickly changed his expression and smiled.
"If it weren't for the Empress Dowager's arrival, His Majesty would probably have taken his men to Changxin Palace!"
The Empress Dowager took a deep breath and stepped into the main hall of the Weiyang Palace.
Without waiting for the guards to close the main hall doors, she rolled up her sleeves, and the two tall, heavy bronze doors were slammed shut by her.
This startled the new emperor, who felt that the Empress Dowager's cultivation was complex, and that her magical cultivation had been combined with the methods of a martial arts practitioner. The strength she displayed was so formidable that it was somewhat unfamiliar to him.
Why does Your Majesty say such a thing?
The new emperor gave an awkward laugh, then quickly stepped down from the throne and approached the Empress Dowager.
He hesitated for less than a second before taking the Empress Dowager's right hand and choosing to walk together.
"Does Your Majesty know the late Emperor's character?" the Empress Dowager asked.
"My father was a man of great talent and extraordinary strategy; his heart was as vast as the ocean..."
"No, he is mean-spirited, fickle, and vindictive," the Empress Dowager said. "Anyone or anything that poses a threat to him will be eliminated immediately!"
"Well?"
The new emperor was taken aback, never expecting the Empress Dowager to have such a resentful assessment of her husband.
Not to mention that the new emperor never thought that way, even if he did have such thoughts, he would never say them.
"The late emperor's original crown prince was not you. You should know what happened to that crown prince," the Empress Dowager said. "He could even watch his own son, whom he had raised for many years and whom he had personally chosen as crown prince, die. Do you think he had any gratitude in his heart?"
"That was a grave mistake made by Prince Li..."
"Without his permission, who would dare to truly punish a former crown prince, and who would dare to force him to commit suicide in prison? You yourself have become the emperor; you should be very clear about the procedures involved!"
"This..."
"Why does he trust the Empress Dowager so much, given his harsh and ungrateful nature? Why has he kept her alive all this time, and even allowed her to nurture and support you?"
Before the new emperor could even head to Changxin Palace to launch his attack, the Empress Dowager had already arrived at the main hall of the Weiyang Palace.
The main hall of the Weiyang Palace was a place of unspeakable secrets, and the matters discussed inside could not be overheard by a third party. However, it was a place that Emperor Jing and his wife had managed for decades, and the Empress Dowager's regency also brought about some changes.
The new emperor's gaze fell upon the Empress Dowager's seat, and he felt that the secret matters discussed by Han Yan after his return must have been leaked.