242: Chapter 242 Ancestor?! He really is an ancestor?

The commotion on the Imperial Capital's main street concluded in an extremely dramatic fashion.

The current Emperor, Wu Tiandao, personally led the way in front, his posture of bowing and scraping eerily reminiscent of an old palace eunuch. Behind him trailed a group of equally trembling and fearful imperial court guardians and elders.

As for Princess Wu Weiyang, who had been so arrogant and domineering just moments before, she was now being supported by two palace maids. Though still unconscious, her severely swollen cheeks bore silent witness to the recent brutality.

The procession entered the imperial palace in a grand and imposing manner.

Inside the Golden Hall of Supreme Harmony...

Wu Mingkong sat without the slightest hesitation upon the Dragon Throne, the ultimate symbol of imperial authority.

Xu Chen, on the other hand, sat with casual ease on the Phoenix Seat beside her... or rather, on a specially brought in Grand Tutor's armchair. He held a cup of freshly brewed enlightenment tea, sipping it leisurely.

Below, Emperor Wu Tiandao, along with all the civil and military officials, knelt in unison, prostrating themselves across the floor.

"Is this the current imperial court?"

Wu Mingkong narrowed her phoenix-like eyes, her gaze sweeping over the officials below—many with plump faces and large ears, some even reeking of alcohol. The chill in her eyes grew increasingly intense.

"Each one of you, bloated and complacent, your cultivation foundations unstable and hollow. You even dare to be late for the morning court session?"

"Grandson... this grandson..."

Sweat poured down Wu Tiandao's forehead. He wanted to defend himself but found he had nothing to say.

Ever since the ancestor fell into slumber three thousand years ago, the Great Xia Dynasty, though seemingly prosperous on the surface, had long since rotted from within.

His reign as emperor had also been one of extreme frustration. Not only did he have to balance the power of the major noble families, but he also had to guard against the covetous eyes of neighboring kingdoms. The sharp, ambitious spirit of the past was long gone.

"Enough. We will settle these accounts later."

Wu Mingkong waved her hand dismissively, her gaze shifting to the side where Wu Weiyang had just regained consciousness.

"Let's deal with the family matter first."

At this moment, Wu Weiyang knelt on the floor, her face a mask of bewilderment.

She had just woken up, her mind still foggy. But when she saw Wu Mingkong seated upon the Dragon Throne, and Xu Chen sitting beside her looking at her with an ambiguous, half-smiling expression, her memories came flooding back in an instant.

"Ah!"

She let out a sharp cry, instinctively covering her face.

It hurt!

A burning, stinging pain!

"Awake?"

Xu Chen set down his teacup, looking at this 'great-granddaughter' who had tried to kidnap him for marriage with keen interest. "Weren't you quite imposing just now? Still want to abduct a common man by force? Even wanted your own ancestor to become my concubine?"

"I... I..."

Wu Weiyang looked at Xu Chen's face, so devastatingly handsome it defied mortal and divine standards. Her heart churned with a mix of grievance, fear, and even a stubborn, lingering infatuation.

He was just too handsome!

Even in this utterly humiliating situation, the mere sight of that face made her disobedient heart pound wildly in her chest.

The [Nine Phoenix Rising Sun Body] within her, as if in heat, frantically urged her to get closer to this man. That primal, bloodline-deep craving made her legs go weak, almost to the point where she could barely keep them together.

"Still staring?"

Wu Mingkong snorted coldly, a wave of pressure directly bearing down on the Princess.

"It seems that slap was still too light."

"No! Please, don't hit her again!"

Wu Tiandao hurriedly kowtowed, pleading for mercy. "Ancestor, please calm your anger! Weiyang has been spoiled rotten since childhood. She didn't know your identity. Ignorance should be an excuse..."

"Ignorance is an excuse?"

Wu Mingkong sneered. "Then is her galloping horses through the streets and oppressing commoners also excusable by ignorance? If she hadn't run into my hands today, who knows how many more innocent people would have suffered!"

"However..."

She shifted her tone, looking towards Xu Chen. "Since my husband just said this is a family matter, then let's handle it according to family rules."

"Hus... husband?"

Hearing this form of address, Wu Weiyang's mind went completely blank.

Her eyes widened. She pointed a trembling finger at Xu Chen, as if playing an invisible zither. "An... Ancestor, you really... you really married him?"

"What? Do you have an opinion?"

Wu Mingkong raised an eyebrow.

"No! None at all!"

Wu Weiyang shook her head vigorously, but inside, a river of sorrow flowed backwards.

It's over.

Completely over.

This wasn't just about kicking an iron plate while trying to kidnap a groom; she had completely messed up the generational hierarchy.

Originally, she had planned to abduct him back to the palace to be her consort. But now, look at this—he had transformed into her own Great-Grandfather?!

How could she ever make a move on him after this?

Damn these ethics and morals!

"Since you have no objections, then address him properly."

Xu Chen, seeing her utterly dejected look, couldn't resist teasing her a little.

He leaned forward slightly, a mischievous smile curling at the corner of his mouth. "Good granddaughter, call me Great-Grandfather."

Gr... Great-Grandfather?

Wu Weiyang's face instantly flushed a deep, purplish-red.

Calling someone with such a young, handsome face 'Great-Grandfather'? That was worse than killing her!

If this ever got out, would her lifelong reputation as the Princess survive?

"What? Can't say it?"

Xu Chen feigned a sigh of regret. "It seems this child is still unconvinced. Mingkong, should we give her another couple of slaps?"

"No! I'll say it! I'll say it, alright?!"

The moment she heard about more slaps, Wu Weiyang instantly caved.

She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and shouted with a tone of grim determination:

"Gr... Great-Grandfather!"

"Good girl,"

Xu Chen responded with a beaming smile. Then, he casually retrieved a jade hairpin of saint-grade quality from his storage ring and tossed it over. "Even though you tried to abduct me earlier, we're family after all. Consider this your Great-Grandfather's greeting gift."

"Sai... Saint-grade artifact?!"

Wu Weiyang reflexively caught the hairpin. Feeling the terrifying spiritual energy fluctuations circulating within it, her eyes went wide with shock.

Although she was the Princess, saint-grade treasures were incredibly rare throughout the entire Great Xia Dynasty!

Her father usually treated such items as priceless heirlooms, not even letting her touch them.

And now, this newly appointed Great-Grandfather just casually tossed one over? And it was just a greeting gift?

"This is... for me?"

Wu Weiyang swallowed hard. The grievances and resentment she had been nursing in her heart instantly vanished without a trace.

The world of a superficial beauty-lover was just that simple.

Handsome *and* wealthy? That was the perfect male god!

Sure, the generational hierarchy was a bit messy, but... it wasn't entirely unacceptable.

"Thank you, Great-Grandfather!"

This time, the "Great-Grandfather" was called out with a crisp, pleasant tone, dripping with sweetness, devoid of any trace of the reluctance from before.

She even secretly lifted her head, blinking her large, watery eyes at Xu Chen with a look that said, "I'm being very good, praise me now."

"..."

Wu Tiandao and the assembled officials watched, dumbfounded.

Was this really the Princess?

That usually arrogant, willful Princess who looked down on everyone?

Just... bought off like that?

Sold for a single saint-grade artifact?

"Alright, stop making a spectacle of yourself here."

Wu Mingkong looked at her utterly shameless display, feeling a mix of exasperation and disappointment. "Take your trinket and get lost to the side. Don't block me from handling official business."

"Oh,"

Wu Weiyang responded obediently, clutching the hairpin as she retreated to the side.

But her gaze never left Xu Chen.

Her mind was now completely filled with: Great-Grandfather is so handsome! Great-Grandfather is so generous! Great-Grandfather smells so good!

That craving of the [Nine Phoenix Rising Sun Body] for his intense Yang energy made her want to rush over and cling to his leg right now.

As for ethics?

Hmph! In the cultivation world, strength reigns supreme. As long as Great-Grandfather is willing, generational hierarchies are nothing but floating clouds!

"Good. The family matter is settled."

Wu Mingkong straightened her posture once more, her gaze turning icy again as she swept it across the entire hall.

"Now, it's time to discuss state affairs."

"Wu Tiandao."

"Your grandson is here,"

Wu Tiandao trembled all over, hurriedly adjusting his kneeling posture.

"On my journey here, I observed that while the imperial capital appears prosperous, the common people are full of grievances, and the powerful nobles run rampant. Is this how you rule as emperor?"

Wu Mingkong's voice was not loud, but it carried an indisputable authority.

"I give you three days."

She held up three fingers. "Within three days, purge all the parasites from the court—those who hold positions without performing duties, those who take bribes and pervert the law. If you cannot bring yourself to do it, I have no problem doing it myself, and cleaning you out along with them!"

"Yes, yes, yes! Your grandson obeys the decree!"

Wu Tiandao kowtowed repeatedly. "Your grandson will see to it immediately! I will certainly give you, Ancestor, a satisfactory answer!"

Though bitter inside, he also felt a wave of relief.

At the very least, the ancestor hadn't directly deposed him. And with the ancestor, this great Buddha, presiding over the court, those noble families who usually paid lip service while acting otherwise were likely in for a world of trouble this time.

"Furthermore."

Wu Mingkong glanced at Xu Chen beside her, her eyes instantly softening. "From this day forward, to see my husband is to see me. His words are my imperial decree. If anyone dares to show him disrespect..."

"Execute without mercy!"

The final three words were dripping with killing intent.

"We respectfully obey the Supreme Ancestor's decree!"

The officials chorused in unison, each burying their heads low, terrified of being singled out by this formidable empress who had made such a powerful return.

Thus, the storm subsided.

But everyone knew that the sky over the Great Xia Dynasty had changed.

And that white-robed young man sitting beside the Empress had become the most untouchable existence in the entire dynasty.

...

Evening.

Inside the imperial palace's council hall.

Wu Mingkong was reviewing a backlog of memorials, her brow tightly furrowed.

Xu Chen, meanwhile, was leisurely peeling spirit fruits by her side, occasionally feeding her a piece.

"What? Still angry?"

Xu Chen asked with a smile, seeing her look of deep concern for the nation and its people.

"How could I not be angry?"

Wu Mingkong sighed, tossing the memorial in her hand onto the table. "Look at these. Constant border friction, powerful noble families growing within the country, the imperial family's prestige trampled into the dust... I only slept for three thousand years, and they've ruined the Great Xia to this state."

"Don't worry, I'm here."

Xu Chen reached out to smooth the crease between her brows. "A few noble families won't cause any real waves. As for the borders..."

A sharp glint flashed in his eyes. "If anyone dares to reach out a hand, we'll just chop it off."

Just then, a timid, hesitant voice came from outside the door.

"Gr... Great-Grandfather, Ancestor, the evening meal is prepared. Father requests your presence..."

Wu Weiyang poked half her head in, looking at them with an ingratiating expression.

She had changed out of her disheveled court attire into a light purple, flowing fairy dress. Her previously swollen cheeks, treated with spirit medicine, had returned to their original, breathtakingly beautiful state.

At this moment, there wasn't a trace of her usual Princess's airs. She looked just like an obedient little maid.

Especially the way she looked at Xu Chen—her gaze was practically sticky, intense enough to melt someone.

Xu Chen glanced at Wu Mingkong. The two exchanged a knowing smile.

It seemed this cheap great-granddaughter hadn't given up yet.