133: Chapter 133 The Imperial Concubine Angrily Exposes the Partisan Scheme: The Struggle for the Throne is All a Trick!

"heavenly mandate dragon vein"

"Half a year of time"

She hissed in a low voice, her voice trembling with disbelief.

This was no recruitment; it was clearly Emperor Yuanwu and that Old Churl Chu Tiankuo treating Gu Han as an honored guest, even willing to cut their own flesh to feed a tiger.

She had schemed for years for Chu Li, and the Huang Clan of Yuan Province had exhausted their resources, setting up a net of inescapable traps, all to help Chu Li clear the obstacles on the path to the crown prince position.

But now, her own son had instead been kicked out of the line of succession.

An unprecedented wave of humiliation and rage surged from the bottom of her heart, almost tearing her apart.

Her beautiful, clear eyes were now burning with bloodthirsty flames.

There was not a shred of the Fairy's demeanor left; she was clearly a venomous snake that had been lurking for a long time, now furious after having its reverse scale touched.

"Father... he is actually this partial!"

Chu Li roared from the side, his voice hoarse, his eyes filled with monstrous hatred and unwillingness.

He could not accept that after paying such a painful price, his father had ignored it and instead courted his enemy in every possible way.

Noble Consort Zhaode turned around abruptly, her gaze like a blade, piercing straight at Chu Li.

She took a deep breath, suppressing the raging fire in her heart, but her voice was as cold as the ice of the Nine Netherworlds.

"Partial?"

"Li'er, you are too naive."

"In this world, there are only interests, no partiality."

"Emperor Yuanwu and that Old Churl Chu Tiankuo might just be wanting to use the hand of Gu Tian."

"To kick you out of the line of succession."

"They have always wanted to weaken the power of the aristocratic families."

"This is also why your good father has long refused to appoint a crown prince, and has kept letting you princes fight."

"As long as you fight for the throne, the maternal relative forces behind you will fight each other."

"The imperial Family can then sit back and reap the rewards."

"And now with Gu Tian here, it is even more so."

She paced to the front of Chu Li, a trace of imperceptible pity flashing in her eyes, but more of it was ruthlessness.

"Do you think they will truly uphold justice for you?"

"You are nothing more than a chess piece in their eyes, one that is a pity to discard but tasteless to consume!"

"Li'er, after this incident, you must be able to distinguish who is good to you and who is using you."

Chu Li's body shook violently; he had never seen such a cold side of his mother before.

Those words, each piercing the heart, made him feel more painful and despairing than the torture of the Heart-Devouring Gu.

"Then... then what should we do?"

"Does this son have to swallow this insult?"

Chu Li's voice trembled, his eyes filled with confusion and helplessness.

All his pride and reliance had been completely destroyed by Gu Han tonight.

A cold light surged in Noble Consort Zhaode's eyes.

She raised her hand abruptly, her fingertips lightly touching the faint blood-colored mark on Chu Li's chest.

A stream of pure True Qi surged in instantly, temporarily suppressing the biting of the Heart-Devouring Gu.

"How?"

The corners of her lips curled into a grim arc, her voice like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, carrying a cold temptation.

"Gu Tian destroyed your cultivation and cut off your future."

"If this hatred is not avenged, where will the face of our Huang Clan of Yuan Province be?"

"And how will I stand in this inner palace?"

"And how will I fight against that group of people?"

She turned around abruptly, her gaze looking toward the pitch-black night sky outside the palace.

"Emperor Yuanwu wants to use Gu Tian's hand to clear the undercurrents in the capital."

"Chu Tiankuo wants to use Gu Tian's momentum to revitalize the Chu Family's imperial power."

Noble Consort Zhaode sneered, her voice full of disdain and mockery for the imperial Family.

"Wishful thinking."

"Mother, then what should we do?"

"This son is now like a cripple, how can I avenge this great hatred?"

"Even the strongest retainer under this son is no match for Gu Tian."

Chu Li asked hoarsely, his eyes filled with despair.

"A cripple?"

Noble Consort Zhaode snorted coldly, her voice like a sword unsheathed, piercing straight into Chu Li's heart.

"Do you think the Huang Clan of Yuan Province, a Family with a thousand-year history, would truly have no way for you to reshape your Foundation?"

"It is merely a Heart-Devouring Gu."

"Your grandfather has plenty of methods to undo it."

Chu Li looked up abruptly, his pupils shrinking, looking at his mother in disbelief.

He had never heard of these things, nor had he ever thought that his mother's Family's background would be so profound.

The arc of Noble Consort Zhaode's lips became increasingly eerie.

She walked slowly to the front of Chu Li, raising her hand to gently stroke his cheek.

A complex light flashed in her eyes, containing both maternal love and ruthlessness.

"Although Gu Tian is strong, the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind."

"He thinks that by becoming Chu Tiankuo's lackey, he can be safe and sound."

"He wants to stir up the capital, so I will let him drown in it, never to turn over again."

"But... but the heavenly mandate dragon vein, he has obtained the heavenly mandate dragon vein, and he has also obtained a Nirvana Realm Cultivation Technique, his strength will surely advance by leaps and bounds."

"At that time, who can restrain him?"

Chu Li still had lingering fears; Gu Han's strength had left an indelible shadow in his heart.

"The heavenly mandate dragon vein? Nirvana Cultivation Technique?"

A trace of contempt flashed in Noble Consort Zhaode's eyes.

She waved her slender hand lightly, and several phantom shadows appeared in the air, all of them being existences with blurred figures and unfathomable auras.

"Although the heavenly mandate dragon vein is a supreme treasure, it is not irreplaceable."

"Although the Nirvana Realm is strong, it is not invincible."

"A mere Nirvana Realm Martial Artist wanting to become a true chess player,"

"is not qualified enough."

"My Huang Clan can still manipulate him."

"Mother, you mean..."

Chu Li's voice trembled, a monstrous wave surging in his heart.

"That is correct."

A demonic red light flashed in the depths of Noble Consort Zhaode's eyes.

"The true background of the Huang Clan of Yuan Province is far beyond what people imagine."

"Those legendary forbidden techniques, those ancient secret methods that have long been lost,"

"all have complete records left in the Legacy of my Huang Clan."

"Otherwise, how could your mother be safe and sound in this inner palace?"

"Could it be relying on your father's favor?"

"What a joke."

"There are so many concubines and palace maids that your father has favored."

"And not a few have died."

"Only by having a powerful maternal Family can one protect you."

Immediately, she slowly extended a finger, a wisp of scarlet energy gathering at the tip, emitting a heart-palpitating evil aura.

"Although the Heart-Devouring Gu was stripped away by Gu Tian,"

"its essence has been driven into your body by him, merging with your Bloodline."

"This is a crisis, but it is also a turning point, and it is also your Opportunity."

"A turning point?"

"An Opportunity?"

Chu Li exclaimed, he only felt that the torture of the Heart-Devouring Gu was worse than death, how could it be a turning point and an Opportunity?

"Gu Tian drove the Heart-Devouring Gu essence into your body, intending to make you wish for death and become a cripple."

"But he does not know that the Huang Clan's Heart-Devouring Gu has another secret!"

A strange smile appeared on Noble Consort Zhaode's face; that smile was like a flower blooming on the other shore of the Yellow Springs, beautiful and deadly.

"This Gu can turn poison into medicine, allowing for Nirvana Rebirth!"

Chu Li opened his eyes wide, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"Are you willing to abandon your current cultivation, use the Heart-Devouring Gu as a catalyst, reshape your Dao Foundation, and forge a true 'Immaculate Dao Body'?"

Noble Consort Zhaode's voice carried a bewitching magic, every word striking Chu Li's heart, making his blood boil.

"Once successful, your Foundation will surpass the past, and you will even be able to compare with those legendary 'Sacred Bodies'."

"At that time, the Nirvana Realm will no longer be an unreachable shore for you!"

Chu Li struggled to climb up, raging flames igniting in his eyes.

That was a desire for power, an obsession for revenge.

"This son is willing!"

He gritted his teeth, his voice squeezed from the depths of his throat, carrying endless hatred and determination.

"As long as I can avenge this great hatred and ascend to the imperial throne, this son is willing to pay any price!"

Noble Consort Zhaode smiled with satisfaction, that smile carrying a trace of coldness.

"Very good."

"From today on, you will go into secluded cultivation with Mother, and I will exhaust the power of the Huang Clan to help you achieve Nirvana Rebirth."

"As for the capital, if Gu Tian wants to stir up the wind and clouds, then let him stir them."

"When the time is ripe,"

"he will discover that what he has stirred up is merely a monstrous wave controlled by my Huang Clan!"

As soon as she finished speaking, the space within the great hall twisted, and a pitch-black portal suddenly opened.

Bursts of heart-palpitating, deep, and dark auras emanated from within.

Noble Consort Zhaode pulled Chu Li, her figure flashed, and they plunged into the portal, disappearing from sight.

The Zhaode Palace returned to calm, but what permeated the air was an extremely intense killing intent.