Chapter 531: Chapter 137: Sword Sect Withdraws

The old man suddenly spoke this sentence, there must be a reason.

But what does this have to do with the person in the palace?

The man furrowed his brows, carefully recalling the situation of the ten Emperors of Nanxia.

The first Emperor Yuan, experienced the turmoil of Shen Dun, was imprisoned and died in grief.

The second Emperor Ming, talented in both civil and military affairs, smart and decisive, pacified the turmoil of Shen Dun, but unfortunately ruled for only three years, dying young at twenty-seven.

The third Emperor Cheng, ascended the throne as a child, governed by the Yu Clan, died early at twenty-two.

The fourth Emperor Kang, died early at twenty-three.

The fifth Emperor Mu, died early at nineteen.

The sixth Emperor Ai, died early at twenty-five.

The seventh Emperor Fei, the only Emperor of Nanxia to be deposed during his reign, was deposed by Han Wen, and died from illness at forty-five.

This one lived quite long, but only ruled for six years.

The eighth Emperor Jianwen, died from illness at fifty-three, ruled for only half a year.

The ninth Emperor Xiaowu, during his reign, experienced Han Wen’s palace coup and the Battle of Xiajiang, ultimately saved by the Sword Sect’s intervention turning danger into safety.

But Emperor Xiaowu feared the East Mountain Sword Pavilion and the power of the Ye Family, thus supported his own younger brother to govern, entering the court as Prime Minister, this being Xia Daozi now.

Emperor Xiaowu experienced two unprecedented upheavals, could have become the most powerful ruler since the founding of Nanxia, but later indulged in pleasures, obsessed with wine and women, even forming a ’chief-minister rivalry’ with Xia Daozi.

Emperor Xiaowu died in his sleep at thirty-five.

Then came the current Emperor Xia, foolish and taciturn, indifferent to the seasons, with the government entirely in Xia Daozi’s hands.

Overall, apart from Emperor Yuan’s death for a reason, the deaths of the other eight Emperors of Nanxia are somewhat mysterious.

Except for those who died early around twenty, the others who lived to forty or fifty had very short reigns.

Could these be related to the Grand Sacrificial Officer in the palace?

Who could this person be?

The man asked, "Those few early-dying Emperors did not die due to their own reasons?"

The old man said blandly, "At that time, the Profound Celestial Sect rose, there were people from Profound Sect lecturing in the palace, those young Emperors consumed elixir pills for immortality, some even chose fasting, only consuming elixirs to enter the Immortal Sect quicker."

"It was your Eight Stone Powder!"

The man’s eyes lit up.

That Eight Stone Powder, when mixed in wine, becomes the Drunken Eight Immortals.

Even martial artists, if they consume Drunken Eight Immortals for a long time, will become addicted, and it will cause chronic damage to the body.

Unless cultivating to the Divine Illumination Realm, achieving Grandmaster, one cannot remain unaffected.

Those young Emperors were too young, even if they practiced martial arts, their achievements were not high, indulged in this, their bodies simply couldn’t bear it!

The man squinted and asked, "Could the Imperial Physicians in the palace not find this out?"

"In the whole world, those who can recognize Eight Stone Powder are fewer than a handful."

The old man said, "Moreover, dying from consuming Eight Stone Powder does not show poisoning, even those young Emperors died in a state of extreme pleasure and excitement."

The man asked, "According to this, the deaths of the others were not accidental either. What about Emperor Xiaowu’s death in his sleep?"

"That is merely the palace’s external explanation."

The old man said, "He was suffocated to death with a quilt by an attendant sent by one of his favored concubines while he was sleeping."

"A favored concubine has such boldness?"

The man did not believe.

The old man said, "His death was orchestrated by the current Prime Minister."

The man chuckled.

Upon reflection, it’s quite ironic.

The sword came down from East Mountain, the Sword Sect saved Nanxia twice from crises, yet they were not trusted.

Emperor Xiaowu trusted his brother more, ultimately dying at his brother’s hands in such a humiliating manner.

"Ten Emperors have changed in Nanxia, eight of them died inexplicably, yet the truth remains hidden without causing any turmoil, it wouldn’t be possible without cooperation from within the palace."

The man bowed his head, lost in thought.

Who could it be?

The Chief Eunuch Wei from the palace?

The old man said nothing.

The secrets he shared today were already many.

After a while, the man suddenly raised his head, looking at the old man with exceptionally sharp eyes, speaking resolutely, "Empress Dowager Yu?"

The old man smiled faintly, acknowledging.

"It’s actually her?"

Even after getting the old man’s confirmation, the man still found it hard to believe.

The reason for suspecting Empress Dowager Yu was because she was the only Grand Empress Dowager living in the Imperial Palace from the time of the second Emperor Ming to the present.

Yet there were still many things that didn’t make sense.

Over the years, Empress Dowager Yu had often governed, but hadn’t exerted significant influence.

Moreover, the Yu Clan, having risen due to her, became one of the four great Gate Valves, but suffered heavy losses during the eighth Emperor Jianwen, unable to recover.

If Empress Dowager Yu were truly a Grandmaster of Transformation Realm, she wouldn’t have watched the Yu Clan decline to this state.

Unless...

The man guessed a possibility, saying, "She isn’t the real Empress Dowager Yu?"

The old man nodded, saying, "The real Empress Dowager Yu died during the reign of the second Emperor Ming."

The man suddenly understood.

Now it makes sense.

This Grand Sacrificial Officer isn’t from the Yu Clan, the downfall of the Yu Clan naturally has little to do with her.

The tentacles of the Profound Celestial Sect had reached the Imperial Palace as early as the reign of the second Emperor Ming.

Stealing beams and pillars, replacing them, hidden so deeply.

With Empress Dowager Yu’s influence in the palace, covering up some palace secrets is only normal.

"Such skillful means."

The man said, "With Empress Dowager Yu’s status in the palace, even if someone noticed a problem, they probably wouldn’t link it to her, nor dare to think in this direction."

After all, she is the Grand Empress Dowager, assisted several Emperors in governing, with older qualifications and seniority.

The old man said, "Actually, someone has already guessed."

"Even if they guessed, what can they do? Who dares to touch her?"

The man said, "Moreover, she is a Returning to Void Realm powerhouse, who dares to provoke her?"

With her means, upon detecting anyone’s dissent, she could make them disappear without a trace!

The old man said, "This person not only guessed, but also plans to enter the palace to depose her."

"Hmm?"

The man was alarmed and immediately thought of someone, asking, "Sword Sect?"

Daring to act against a Returning Void Realm powerhouse, only a Grandmaster of Transformation Realm could do it!

The old man nodded, saying, "A few years ago, the Sword Sect descended the mountain for the third time, for this matter."

"Sword Sect descending the mountain, such a big matter, yet there’s no disturbance?"

The man found it hard to believe.

The old man said, "Because, the Sword Sect returned unsuccessfully this time."

The man frowned.

With the Sword Sect’s methods, once prepared to descend the mountain to act, it’s impossible to cease halfway.

During this time, something unexpected must have happened.

The man suddenly thought of something, his heart suddenly enlightened, saying, "A few years ago, the Profound Celestial Sect raided Huiji County, killed Shen Ningzhi, and captured the Sword Sect’s daughter Ye Taoyuan along with his granddaughter."

"The Sword Sect stopped due to this?"

The old man nodded, saying, "When such a big matter happened, the Sword Sect did not appear, rumors circulated, some said the Sword Sect was gravely injured. Even his daughter harbors grievances about it."

"Actually, at that time, the Sword Sect was confronting Empress Dowager Yu in the palace, unable to leave. Upon learning of this matter, chose to compromise, withdrawing from the imperial palace."

The man said, "Ye Taoyuan killed many from the Profound Celestial Sect at that time, later was returned unharmed to the East Mountain Sword Pavilion, also because the Sword Sect backed down, a mutual concession."