Chapter 123: The Imperial Siblings, Emperor Xu Jiawei and Xu JiujiuBai Wanning was completely stunned. She looked at her son as if truly seeing him for the first time. The bold words from yesterday were not a joke—he genuinely intended to overturn the mountain of the main lineage that had oppressed their mother and son for over a decade!"Rebellion! Rebellion! Guards! Seize this unfilial wretch! Seize him!" The Zhu Man was so enraged she nearly fainted, pointing at Dai Youheng and shrieking in a sharp voice.Three figures with powerful auras instantly swept in from outside the hall. All were Spirit Emperor level guards, forming a triangle formation around Dai Youheng, their Spirits already manifested.Just as the tension peaked, a leisurely voice carrying an invisible majesty came from the doorway, "Heh heh, Zhu Man, your Dukes Mansion's breakfast today is quite novel and lively."Nebula Douluo Man Yi had appeared at the doorway sometime unnoticed, dressed in red with hair as white as snow. She watched the chaotic scene inside the hall with a half-smile. Her gaze swept over the Zhu Man and her two sons, who were covered in vegetable soup and looked utterly wretched, finally settling on the calm and composed Dai Youheng.The Zhu Man forcibly suppressed her cough and rage, forcing out a smile uglier than a cry, "Ne—Nebula Your Excellency, why have you suddenly honored us with your presence?"Man Yi said lightly, "I have been commanded by Her Highness the Princess to escort Young Master Youheng into the Palace for a discussion."She didn't even bother with pleasantries, looking directly at Dai Youheng: "Youheng, are you ready?"Dai Youheng straightened his collar, which hadn't been ruffled at all, and smiled faintly, "I am ready to depart at any time. Thank you for waiting, Your Excellency."He didn't spare the Zhu Man another glance, calmly following Man Yi out.Man Yi completely ignored the three Spirit Emperor guards frozen in place and the ashen-faced Zhu Man. As a staunch supporter of the Xu Family, she naturally held no goodwill toward the Zhu Family or even the main lineage of the Dai Family who sought to restore the old system.Dai Youheng was not worried about the safety of his mother and younger brother after his departure. No matter how foolish Duchess Zhu Man was, she wouldn't dare strike at a concubine and servant in broad daylight immediately after a conflict. That would be tantamount to alienating herself from Dai Hao and public opinion.At most, she would use petty, underhanded tactics to harass them within the Dukes Mansion later on.And if she were truly pushed to the point of desperation, Bai Wanning and Dai Luoli were secretly protected by Ling Ya, who would "help" her complete that most crucial step when the time came.Currently, the Zhu Family has no Titled Douluo, so no one is a match for Ling Ya.This morning's breakfast incident was a provocation he had meticulously planned. The details of this conflict would soon be relayed verbatim to Xu Jiujiu through Nebula Douluo Man Yi.For the Xu Family, which yearned to centralize imperial power and weaken the Dai Family, a person who had completely broken with the main lineage and whose conflict was sharp——and who deeply "admired" the Princess—this Dai Family illegitimate son Genius was simply the most perfect chess piece gifted by the heavens.Dai Youheng followed Man Yi to the Star Luo Imperial Palace, his gaze calmly sweeping over the extreme luxury and solemn austerity.Nebula Douluo Man Yi, who was leading the way, stopped before a heavy Zitan wood door carved with a star crown totem. She turned slightly, her voice extremely low but perfectly clear, "Youheng, please wait here. His Majesty and Her Highness the Princess are currently reviewing today's memorials. I will inform them."Dai Youheng nodded, standing quietly outside the door.His gaze passed through the slightly ajar door, catching a glimpse of a corner inside the hall. It was not the magnificent main imperial court hall he had imagined, but a more private side hall, permeated by an interwoven atmosphere of scholarly refinement and authority. On the massive agarwood desk, memorials were piled up like mountains, nearly submerging the figures behind the desk.Emperor Xu Jiawei's trust in Xu Jiujiu truly surpassed that which he held for anyone else.Dai Youheng mused inwardly. Allowing a princess to participate in court affairs was already rare among the royal families of the various countries on the continent, but allowing her to jointly review memorials was practically equivalent to sharing imperial power.He recalled the rumors about the Star Luo Imperial Family: although the offspring were numerous, most were half-siblings on the father's side.Only Xu Jiujiu was the full sister of Emperor Emperor Xu Jiawei, sharing the same mother. What was more noteworthy was the nearly thirty-year age difference between them. After their mother passed away early, Emperor Xu Jiawei had been almost a father figure as well as a brother to his younger sister. This rare sibling affection within the deep palace might be the cornerstone of this astonishing trust.And Xu Jiujiu had certainly not failed this trust. She not only displayed outstanding political wisdom and skill but also tightly integrated her loyalty to her Imperial Brother with her plans for the Empire's future.She openly priced her marriage, treating it as one of the most effective bargaining chips for consolidating imperial power. This level of clarity and resolve was enough to shame many men.It was no wonder Emperor Xu Jiawei had privately sighed that Xu Jiujiu was the most outstanding successor the Star Luo Imperial Family had seen in a hundred years; her Heart-Nature and ability far surpassed those of the numerous princes.Inside the hall, Man Yi silently approached the desk and saluted respectfully, "Your Majesty, Your Highness the Princess."Xu Jiujiu did not immediately look up. Her slender fingers held a vermilion brush, smoothly writing the last few words of annotation on a memorial, the strokes sharp and steady. She set down the brush and then raised her eyes. Her deep, star-sea-like eyes held a trace of fatigue, but more keenly, the sharpness of one focused on state affairs. "Grandmother Man Yi, has he arrived?"Her voice was calm, betraying no emotion."Your Highness, Young Master Youheng is waiting outside the hall for your decree," Man Yi replied. She paused briefly, lowering her voice further, "Furthermore, this morning at the Dukes Mansion was not peaceful. Young Master Youheng clashed again with the Zhu Man and her two legitimate sons, causing quite a commotion."Next, Man Yi recounted in detail the news she had gathered that morning: how Dai Youheng had verbally sparred with Duchess Zhu Man, how he had flipped Dai Huabin with a single palm, and how he had forcefully overturned the table, showing no respect whatsoever to his Legal Mother or older brother.Her narration was objective and calm, devoid of any emotional color, yet she described every detail vividly.Xu Jiujiu listened quietly, her fingertips unconsciously tapping the smooth surface of the desk. After Man Yi finished speaking, a faint curve appeared at the corner of her lips."This is not surprising," she said steadily. "In those years, he was weak, merely an inconspicuous illegitimate son in the Dukes Mansion. He, along with his gentle mother Bai Wanning and young brother Dai Luoli, walked on thin ice within the residence. Dai Huabin was arrogant and overbearing, and his open and covert bullying never ceased. Duchess Zhu Man is narrow-minded, jealous, and vengeful; as the Legal Mother, harsh criticism and deliberate difficulty were commonplace. That Dai Yueheng, seemingly steady, was actually indifferent, never truly intervening. At best, he would later put on the airs of an older brother, lecturing Youheng to keep to his duties and respect his Legal Mother. The resentment accumulated year after year like this has long been ingrained in his bones."She picked up the warm tea beside her and took a small sip, her movements utterly graceful."Now that his wings have grown and his strength has surged, and he has glimpsed the opportunity to control the Dukes Mansion, how could he still be willing to endure? This anger was bound to erupt sooner or later. For us, the deeper his conflict with the main lineage and the greater the rift, the more beneficial it is. A chess piece that is estranged from its former Family and must cling tightly to the Imperial Family is the most useful chess piece."Emperor Xu Jiawei, seated on the throne, had been listening silently. At this moment, he slowly nodded, his eyes showing approval. "My sister Jiu is absolutely right. The core members of the Dai Family and Zhu Family main lineages have never truly extinguished the desire for restoration deep in their hearts. However, many collateral lines are content with the status quo and have less ambition. Their internal struggle is not a bad thing for the stability of the Empire. Let them fight first. When necessary, you can secretly give Dai Youheng some support, making his blade sharper and more reliant on the one who wields it.""Imperial Brother is wise," Xu Jiujiu slightly bowed, then turned to the inner attendant, "Have him enter.""Announcing—Young Master Dai Youheng granted audience!" The inner attendant's sharp voice pierced through the heavy hall doors.
