Chapter 1317: Chapter 1308: Conspiracy
“You… You…” Zheng Wu, sitting on the chair, looked utterly shocked, his trembling finger pointing at Zheng Yuanzhi and Lin Zhonghe. For a mont, he didn’t even know what to say.
“You little brat! Look at your pathetic self—how could I even have a son like you? Get over here imdiately! This is your grandfather,” Zheng Yuanzhi barked at Zheng Wu.
Realizing his father wasn’t joking, and rembering how his supposed grandfather from the Zheng family had passed away decades ago, Zheng Wu speculated that there must be a hidden tale here. Once he learned that Lin Zhonghe was indeed his biological grandfather, Zheng Wu’s sullen face regained so vigor. He quickly jogged over to Lin Zhonghe and called out, “Grandfather.”
Decades ago, Zheng Yuanzhi’s mother, Han i, and his nominal father, Zheng Yangqian, had set out from the Zheng family for a cultivation journey. On their way back, they planned to rest overnight in an abandoned temple.
At the ti, Lin Zhonghe happened to be cultivating in that very temple. During his training, sothing went awry, causing spiritual energy to rampage uncontrollably within his body. Desperately needing to vent, the only solution was to find a woman.
As Han i and Zheng Yangqian entered the temple, Lin Zhonghe imdiately attacked the two. He severely injured Zheng Yangqian in a single blow, and then forcibly took Han i. It could be said that Zheng Yangqian witnessed the entire ordeal unfold before his own eyes.
The next day, Lin Zhonghe departed from the temple. Han i, gravely shaken, brought the severely injured Zheng Yangqian back to the Zheng family. The trauma inflicted on Zheng Yangqian left him unable to speak or move entirely.
A month later, Zheng Yangqian succumbed to his injuries and passed away. After his death, Han i discovered she was pregnant. She knew the child wasn’t Zheng Yangqian’s. But if this truth were revealed to the Zheng family, her fate would have been extrely tragic.
Thus, Han i could only claim the child as Zheng Yangqian’s. The Zheng family didn’t question her story, and she successfully gave birth to the child, who is now the Zheng family’s Family Head, Zheng Yuanzhi.
Years later, Lin Zhonghe had inadvertently returned to Bei Yun City and discovered what had happened. To his astonishnt, Han i had borne him a son. Without the protection of her husband, Han i had lived in the Zheng family as though walking on thin ice.
Lin Zhonghe discreetly reunited with Han i and faked her death to take her away from the Zheng family. The reason he didn’t bring Zheng Yuanzhi along was that, at the ti, Lin Zhonghe already had a wife who held so status within the Southern Yuan Dynasty. For Zheng Yuanzhi’s well-being, he decided to leave the boy with the Zheng family in Bei Yun City.
Zheng Yuanzhi had long known he wasn’t truly of Zheng lineage. The last ti he saw Lin Zhonghe was ten years ago. For cultivators, a decade could pass like a fleeting mont, sotis spent entirely in closed-door cultivation.
Lin Zhonghe furrowed his brows at Zheng Wu’s pitiful behavior and said, “Tell everything. Leave nothing out. If you try to withhold anything, even I won’t be able to save you.”
Terrified of lying to Lin Zhonghe, Zheng Wu confessed everything, including his infatuation with Jiang Yunting and his sches involving sending n to the Flaming Rock Mountains.
After hearing Zheng Wu’s account, Lin Zhonghe exhaled deeply. If it had been soone else, he would’ve likely slapped them to death on the spot. Yet, Zheng Wu was his own grandson. “Xiao Wu,” Lin Zhonghe said, “the Princess Yunting is not soone you can covet so easily. In the Southern Yuan Dynasty, countless prodigies pursue her, and each one of them is a child of heaven.”
“I know you cultivate fire attribute techniques. If you manage to impress the alchemists from the Spiritual dicine Valley and secure a place to study alchemy there, you may beco an alchemist in the future. Once you have that status, I’ll have confidence in helping you win the Princess Yunting’s favor. After all, being an alchemist signifies imnse stature and privilege. By then, the Southern Yuan Dynasty likely wouldn’t oppose.”
Hearing Lin Zhonghe’s words, Zheng Wu eagerly nodded. “Grandfather, rest assured. When the alchemists from the Spiritual dicine Valley arrive in Bei Yun City, I will do everything I can to stand out and beco their disciple.”
In Zheng Wu’s mind, if he could marry Jiang Yunting, he’d not only beco the emperor’s son-in-law of the Southern Yuan Dynasty but also gain the prestigious identity of an alchemist. With such status, it wasn’t impossible for him to soday even ascend to the throne himself. Such possibilities thrilled Zheng Wu, erasing all traces of his earlier disgrace. His eyes now shone with urgency and ambition.
Zheng Yuanzhi added, “Father, the Princess Yunting doesn’t know about the connection between us. Outside the Star Moon Tower earlier, that kid with the giant black sword—his words carried an obvious threat. If the Princess really calls for reinforcents, once the alchemists from the Spiritual dicine Valley leave Bei Yun City, it might spell our doom.”
Lin Zhonghe waved dismissively without concern. “That kid? He’s nothing but a cocky bug. I suspect he’s already figured out so sort of connection among us, which is why he held back earlier.”
“But do you think I’ll let Princess Yunting successfully summon reinforcents? The Southern Yuan Dynasty’s people might co, but that depends on who is notified. There’s soone in the Dynasty with not only high status but also a love for Princess Yunting. If he shows up, all we need to do is fan the flas by suggesting that bug has designs on Princess Yunting.”
“By then, we won’t even have to lift a finger. That bug and the Cang Lang rcenary Group will all be wiped out. Due to that person’s unique status, even if he goes on a rampage, the Princess wouldn’t dare act against him.”
“Grandfather, this plan is brilliant! We’ll just watch them rip each other apart,” Zheng Wu said, his eyes flashing with a sinister gleam. His hatred for Ye Chenfeng ran deep.
Zheng Wu then asked, “Grandfather, what if that kid had asked you to act against our Zheng family earlier? What would you have done then?”
Lin Zhonghe’s gaze turned icy. “My Divine Sense already covered everyone present. If he dared make such a demand, I’d have sent everyone present—including Princess Yunting—straight to Yama’s Palace without delay.”
To Lin Zhonghe, Zheng Yuanzhi and Zheng Wu, as his son and grandson, still held value. Furthermore, in the vast Southern Yuan Dynasty, he only had one daughter and one granddaughter. If it ca down to it, he would slaughter every witness, including Jiang Yunting, and release Ye Chenfeng on purpose, framing everything on him. By then, Ye Chenfeng wouldn’t even have a chance to clear his na.
Indeed, Lin Zhonghe was a seasoned scher. Every move on this chessboard had been calculated ticulously. No matter what Ye Chenfeng chose, the outco was entirely within his grasp.
Learning that Jiang Yunting had appeared in Bei Yun City, Lin Zhonghe had seized the opportunity to visit the alchemists from the Spiritual dicine Valley and hadn’t yet had a chance to see Zheng Yuanzhi. First, he went to find Jiang Yunting.
Wearing an expression of confidence and control, Lin Zhonghe said, “Fortunately, I arrived just in ti. If you, Yuanzhi, had killed that boy earlier, today we’d have no choice but to openly clash with Princess Yunting.”
To Lin Zhonghe, if he’d arrived a mont later, Ye Chenfeng would have undoubtedly died at Zheng Yuanzhi’s hands. He didn’t believe for a second that Zheng Yuanzhi could have been killed by Ye Chenfeng.
“Grandfather, your wisdom is truly admirable,” Zheng Wu flattered.
Lin Zhonghe waved his hand dismissively. “Alright, in the next two days, focus on diligently practicing your fire attribute technique. Don’t embarrass yourself in front of the alchemists from the Spiritual dicine Valley.”
Zheng Wu nodded emphatically, fully accepting Lin Zhonghe as his grandfather. To him, the Zheng family couldn’t compare with the Southern Yuan Dynasty. Naturally, he was delighted to have a grandfather like Lin Zhonghe. With such a powerful backer, Zheng Wu’s confidence soared, washing away all signs of despair.
Now, Zheng Wu had only one thing on his mind: finding a way to impress the alchemists from the Spiritual dicine Valley!
…(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian to cast your recomndation votes and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian to read.)
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