"That's natural!" Zhu Ziyang nodded and said, "My idea is to first get in touch with the Moon Lineage Remnants within the Sun Moon Empire. Although those Moon Lineage Remnants have been suppressed, I don't think they lack trump cards and contingencies. If Sister Lexuan becomes their leader, I believe they will be very willing."
"Hmm! For more than a hundred years, the Sun Lineage of the Sun Moon Royal Family has never stopped secretly suppressing the Moon Lineage. If it weren't for the lack of direct descendants of the Moon Lineage, those Moon Lineage nobles would probably have already risen in rebellion." Mu En pondered Zhu Ziyang's words and said, "It's only in the last twenty or thirty years, because of internal strife within the Sun Lineage, that the Moon Lineage Remnants have had a chance to breathe. Otherwise, they would have been completely annihilated by now.
Haha, this can be considered a kind of destiny, for the Moon Lineage Remnants, for us, and for Le Xuan, it's all the same!"
"After integrating the resources and power of the Moon Lineage Remnants, we can then try to win over nobles and forces in the Sun Moon Empire who are dissatisfied with the current emperor or are out of favor, preferably to directly control an army," Zhu Ziyang continued.
"This will require the academy's intelligence department to exert effort, and it's not something that can be accomplished overnight," Mu En commented. "You'd best start with the great nobles or major powers."
"Finally, it's natural to launch a coup, overthrow the Sun Lineage Royal Family, let Sister Lexuan ascend the throne and become Empress, and then unify the continent!" Zhu Ziyang said, extending his hand and clenching it firmly, "In this way, we can not only guarantee the interests of our Shrek Academy and use this to promote our reforms, but also achieve the goal of continental unification, allowing the Douluo Continent to achieve true peace!"
"Haha! That sounds simple, but in practice, it won't be so easy!" Mu En couldn't help but laugh when he saw Zhu Ziyang's confident demeanor. He said, "The current Emperor and Crown Prince of the Sun Moon Empire are not to be trifled with. It won't be easy to reclaim the throne that belongs to Le Xuan from their hands!"
"It's alright, Grandmaster!" Zhu Ziyang's face showed a confident smile, as if he had everything under control. He said, "Strength will be our greatest reliance!"
"Hahahaha! That's true. As long as your strength is great enough, even if you, Ziyang, directly seize the imperial thrones of the various Empires, no one would dare to object," Mu En burst into hearty laughter and said.
"Grandmaster, you know that worldly power is no different to me than a stray cat or dog," Zhu Ziyang said with an indifferent expression.
"That's true, though not very pleasant to hear." Mu En said with a smile, "Alright, go and find Le Xuan. This plan ultimately needs Le Xuan's consent to be executed. Although she will most likely agree without hesitation, it's still necessary to make her understand the significance of this plan."
"Okay, Grandmaster!" Zhu Ziyang nodded and turned to walk out of the Sea God Pavilion hall.
After leaving the Sea God Pavilion, he found Zhang Lexuan in the Inner Courtyard Martial Arts Arena. Jiang Nannan was also with her.
"Ah! Brother, you're back!" Jiang Nannan saw Zhu Ziyang and immediately excitedly threw herself into his arms, shouting joyfully.
"Hmm, Nannan, I'm back!" Zhu Ziyang showed a sunny smile, holding Jiang Nannan's delicate body, and said, "Sister Lexuan said you've made great progress!"
"Hehe, of course! I said I'd keep up with your pace!" Jiang Nannan showed a sweet smile and said, "How about it? I'm already level 59 now! Grandmaster said I can break through to the Spirit Emperor realm in half a year at most!"
"Nannan is amazing!" Zhu Ziyang, like coaxing a child, picked up Jiang Nannan, then spun around, and said, "A reward for you!"
"I say, do you two really need to be so affectionate in public?" The speaker was not Zhang Lexuan, but Tang Ya.
At this time, on the Martial Arts Arena, besides Zhang Lexuan and Jiang Nannan, there were also Tang Ya, Bei Bei, Xu Sanshi, Xue Weiwei, and other newly promoted Inner Courtyard Disciples, as well as veteran Inner Courtyard Disciples like Han Ruoruo, Ling Luochen, and Gongyang Mo. Everyone watched Zhu Ziyang and Jiang Nannan display their affection, feeling like they were being force-fed a mouthful of dog food.
"Long time no see, everyone!" Zhu Ziyang showed no embarrassment at all; instead, he greeted them generously and said.
"It has indeed been a long time, Ziyang. What have you been doing for the past six months?" Bei Bei asked.
"Nothing much, just found a place to cultivate in seclusion, and I'd say, I've gained a lot!" Zhu Ziyang said with a smile, then looked at Zhang Lexuan, "Sister Lexuan, you should be free now, right? Grandmaster asked me to call you to the Sea God Pavilion."
"Ah?" Zhang Lexuan snapped out of her daze with a pleasant surprise and immediately replied, "Oh, oh! I understand, I'll go right away!"
As she spoke, she turned and walked towards the Golden Ancient Tree. Seeing this, Zhu Ziyang couldn't help but rub his forehead. First, he squeezed Jiang Nannan's small hand, then said to the others, "Everyone, I'll take my leave first. We'll gather tonight!"
He caught up with Zhang Lexuan and followed her back to the Sea God Pavilion hall.
"Le Xuan, you've been at Shrek Academy for over ten years now, haven't you?" Mu En looked at Zhang Lexuan, who was respectfully standing before him, and suddenly felt a deep sense of emotion, sighing as he spoke.
"Fifteen years, Elder Mu," Zhang Lexuan didn't understand Mu En's intention in bringing this up. She only felt that Mu En seemed to have grown so old, as if he could close his eyes and leave them forever at any moment, so her voice naturally carried a hint of softness as she replied.
"Fifteen years, that's not short!" Mu En sighed again. "Le Xuan, have you thought about what you want to do in the future?"
"Elder Mu, you..." Zhang Lexuan felt a sudden sense of unease when she heard Mu En say such words. Her voice trembling, she asked, "Elder Mu, are you trying to send me away?"
"Ahahaha, how could that be?" Mu En laughed, a very happy laugh. After about ten seconds of laughter, he said, "I'm old, I always overthink things. Le Xuan, do you still remember your parents or your family?"
"Huh?" Zhang Lexuan was momentarily unable to follow Mu En's train of thought, her face showing confusion. But then, she revealed a complex array of expressions: shock, fear, anticipation, and more. She said, "Elder Mu, could it be that someone in my family is still alive?"
"I'm afraid not," Mu En said with a regretful expression. "However, it's actually not far off."
"Hmm?" Zhang Lexuan tilted her head, her pretty face, which had been full of disappointment, now showed a confused expression. She said, "Elder Mu, what do you mean?"
"Le Xuan, do you know the origin of your family?" Mu En asked.
"Elder Mu, you know me. I was only eleven or twelve when my family had an accident, a naive little girl who knew nothing of the world. How would I know anything about my family's origins?" Zhang Lexuan first gave a bitter smile, then pouted at Mu En, "Elder Mu, just tell me directly what you want to say, don't keep me in suspense."
"Hahahaha, alright, no more suspense." Mu En laughed heartily and said, "Now, what I'm about to say, I hope you can remain calm."
"Elder Mu, I'll try my best." Zhang Lexuan vaguely realized that what Mu En was about to say might cause her great distress, but she considered her psychological resilience strong enough, so she said with a smile.
"You are actually the Princess of the Sun Moon Empire!"
Zhang Lexuan hadn't expected that a single sentence from Mu En would break her composure, causing her to display expressions she had never shown before: shock, doubt, anger, mockery, and speechlessness. All these emotions converged into Zhang Lexuan's current state of mind. If the other party hadn't been Mu En, Zhang Lexuan might have slapped him directly.
She, Zhang Lexuan, the Senior Sister of the Shrek Academy Inner Courtyard, an Inner Courtyard Assistant Instructor, and a prospective Sea God Pavilion member, was actually being told that she was the Princess of the Sun Moon Empire. This was truly a huge joke!
Zhang Lexuan would naturally think so, but this statement came from the highest leader of Shrek Academy, the Sea God Pavilion Master, her most respected Dragon God Douluo, Elder Mu. Then this was a matter of immense terror.
"E-Elder Mu, are you joking?" Zhu Ziyang clearly heard Zhang Lexuan's voice trembling. She was scared.
"I know this is cruel for you, but it's the truth!" Mu En said in a heavy voice, "Child, listen to me slowly. Once you know the whole story, I believe you won't be so pained."
Mu En told Zhang Lexuan their conjectures and plans in detail. At the end of his words, he comforted her, "Girl, this whole matter is purely our ambition. You don't have to get involved. If you don't agree, I won't force you, and Ziyang won't force you either."
"I..." Zhang Lexuan felt her mind was in chaos, completely muddled. Mu En's words greatly troubled her. Should she shoulder the ambitions of Elder Mu and Ziyang, and impersonate—no, it wasn't exactly impersonation. She might truly be a member of the Sun Moon Empire Royal Family, so saying she was a Princess of the Sun Moon Empire wasn't wrong.
So, did she really have to go? To become the Empress of the Sun Moon Empire? Zhang Lexuan was utterly bewildered.
"Sister Lexuan, there's no need to rush a decision. You can take your time to think, and it's not too late to tell us once you've made up your mind," Zhu Ziyang also said.
"Okay, I'll consider it carefully!" Zhang Lexuan, her mind in turmoil and her face full of distress, left the Sea God Pavilion hall.
Zhu Ziyang and Mu En exchanged glances. They were eighty percent confident that Zhang Lexuan would agree, but placing such a heavy burden entirely on a woman still made them feel a pang of sympathy.