Mysterious mirror hanging high

"Grandmother, this [Zhao State Secret Compilation File] records everything from the founding of Zhao State to when Grandmother went out to search for immortals. Although the various secrets contained therein are merely conspiracies and calculations among ordinary people, Yuan Xi, now a cultivator, still feels the dangers within."

Zhao Yuanxi tilted his head: "It seems to be even darker than the world of immortal cultivation."

Zhao Mingyu, barely breathing, managed an ugly smile and said slowly, "You're quite right. Although strength is respected in the world of immortal cultivation, the gap between realms is huge. No matter how clever and cunning a Qi-cultivating cultivator is, or how intricate their schemes are, they are nothing more than a matter of magic to a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Therefore, although the world of immortal cultivation has strict hierarchies, cultivators are actually much more open and honest in their daily lives, and there's often no such messy things going on."

"That's what your great uncle Mingjing believed back then."

"That birthday banquet was supposed to be a time for the royal heirs to show off their talents. Even if they had no intention of competing for the throne, they at least had to save face. How could they not have any birthday gifts at all? At the very least, they should have prepared a proper Shoushan stone like the Fourth Prince Mingcheng did."

"But your uncle Mingjing didn't prepare anything, which was quite eye-catching. However, he didn't seem to care at all. I think he had already found immortality at that time and was confident that he could easily escape from the hands of the Xiantian Grandmaster."

The corners of Zhao Yuanxi's mouth curled up slightly. The woman smiled, and the ice and snow on her face melted away in an instant, revealing a bit of the playfulness and cuteness of a young girl. "My uncle has always been so reckless, but he always leaves himself a way out. Does that mean he has nothing to fear?"

"Perhaps. Actually, it's okay if I don't give a birthday gift." Zhao Mingyu raised his heavy eyelids. "Second sister Zhao Mingyue and seventh brother Zhao Mingfu are the biggest taboos."

"Especially Zhao Mingyue, who was originally drawn into the rivalry with Crown Prince Mingyang. As a woman, conceiving and carrying an heir was difficult. Among the heirs, only Crown Prince Chengyu was promising. She wished every day that everyone in the imperial capital knew that her father, Emperor Zhao Sheng, had such a 'good and holy grandson'... Later, when Crown Prince Chengyu was assassinated, Zhao Mingyue could not escape blame."

"Aunt Mingyue has no choice. Without Uncle Chengyu's help, how could she be compared with Prince Mingyang?" Zhao Yuanxi said softly.

"Yes, even though Crown Prince Mingyang has sat on the throne of the Eastern Palace for twenty years and has no outstanding achievements, being a crown prince is actually a technical job, far more difficult than being an emperor. The hardships involved are beyond the reach of outsiders."

Zhao Mingyu suddenly sneered, "The fourth brother is just lucky. He was appointed crown prince just as our father was about to die. If he had entered the Eastern Palace five years earlier, he would have been deposed long ago!"

"What about the Fifth Prince Minglou?" Zhao Yuanxi asked doubtfully, "Perhaps it's because I've never met Uncle Minglou. Just looking at his image in this file, I just feel..."

"You think Zhao Minglou is just playing it safe?" Zhao Mingyu said with a smile, "I thought so too at first. But if you spend more time with Zhao Minglou, you'll realize he's a complete idiot."

Zhao Yuanxi smiled. She had long been accustomed to her grandmother's harsh words towards her uncles and aunts. Ever since she had drawn the Qi into her body, she often came to her grandmother's bedroom. Her grandmother would tell her many things, including classics, history, vernacular novels, travel notes, the minds of emperors, royal secrets... Some were simple stories, while others were real and bloody realities.

The bedroom suddenly became quiet. Zhao Yuanxi looked at Zhao Mingyu sitting on the rattan chair and found that his grandmother had closed her eyes and was snoring softly.

Zhao Yuanxi sighed inwardly. Her grandmother had often been like this in recent years. She would often be talking one moment and suddenly fall asleep the next. Sometimes she even worried that her grandmother would sleep like this forever.

He quietly stood up and checked Zhao Mingyu's breathing and weak heartbeat. Zhao Yuanxi straightened the blanket draped over his grandmother and quietly walked out.

I saw Jing Yu standing in the yard.

"Uncle!"

Jing Yu had been in seclusion for several months in recent years, and Zhao Yuanxi rarely saw him. He stepped forward and looked at Jing Yu, and could not help but say happily:

"Congratulations, uncle, on your great advancement!"

At this time, the spiritual pressure on Jing Yu's body had just reached the level of the ninth level of Qi training, and he was already qualified to impact the foundation-building realm.

Jing Yu smiled and nodded, "Yuan Xi, how's your practice going with the [Ice Skin and Jade Bone Art] that your uncle gave you?"

"I've barely reached the third level, but I'm already feeling a bit tired." Zhao Yuanxi said, "In order to practice this body-refining technique, Yuanxi's progress in Qi training has slowed down quite a bit."

"The third floor is not bad." Jing Yu said secretly.

"Where's Yuan Chen?"

Zhao Yuanxi said awkwardly, "I went to a restaurant in Waifang with some friends early this morning to drink..."

Jing Yu frowned: "Why drink so early in the morning?"

Before Zhao Yuanchen was six years old and had his spiritual roots tested, Zhao Mingyu doted on him very much. After it was confirmed that he had no spiritual roots, Zhao Mingyu put all his energy on Zhao Yuanxi and ignored his own grandson.

Zhao Chengyan has always followed his mother's lead, and since he has to go to Xianwen Pavilion on duty every day, he has even less time to discipline his son.

Only Mu Pei still missed his biological son, but he spoiled him most of the time and was reluctant to beat or scold him. However, Zhao Yuanchen himself had no spiritual roots. Although he had the title of a cultivator's relative, he was still a mortal after all, only slightly better than the mortal servants in the market. Gradually, he gave up on himself and spent his days drunkenly and dreaming with a few friends who shared the same suffering.

Jing Yu thought to himself, before the age of six, he was the apple of everyone's eye, but after the age of six, he became different from his sister. Such a gap is not something that ordinary people can bear. Isn't it his own destiny that has led Zhao Yuanchen to his current situation?

boom--

A slight sound reached Jing Yu's ears, and his heart skipped a beat. The sound came from his third sister's bedroom!

When he opened the bedroom door, he found Zhao Mingyu lying on the ground.

"Grandma!" Zhao Yuanxi said anxiously, and subconsciously wanted to help her.

"Wait, she must have fallen down when she stood up from the rattan chair." Jing Yu held Zhao Yuanxi and stepped forward, gently helped Zhao Mingyu to her feet, fed her a pill with some nourishing effect, and sent a gentle magic power to slowly warm and regulate the old woman's body.

After a while, the unconscious Zhao Mingyu woke up slowly, opened his cloudy eyes, looked at Jing Yu with a serious expression, and an ugly smile appeared on his face.

"The oil is running out... Third sister's life is coming to an end!" Jing Yu's heart sank. He turned to Zhao Yuanxi and said, "Call your parents, your aunt and uncle, and that brother who went out drinking in broad daylight!"

Perhaps the pill Jing Yu had fed her had taken effect. Zhao Mingyu's originally stiff eyes had become a little more alert, and she was now able to speak with some effort:

"Sixth brother, help me up. I have something to say to you."