The Old Woman ignored Yin Zhengqi's shouts, but instead looked at Zhang Lexuan with burning eyes and asked again, "Child, what is your name? Which branch of the Moon Lineage do you belong to?"
Zhang Lexuan looked at the Old Woman, whose face showed excitement, and a strange sense of closeness welled up within her. She replied, "My name is Zhang Lexuan. As for which branch of the Moon Lineage I belong to, I'm not very clear. My family was wiped out by enemies when I was very young."
"This!" The Old Woman's face flashed with a hint of anger upon hearing this, then she looked at Zhang Lexuan with heartache and said, "Child, you've suffered. Our ancestors' incompetence caused you to be implicated!"
"Actually, I haven't suffered much. After my family met with disaster, I was taken in by Shrek Academy and have lived in the academy ever since," Zhang Lexuan said. She had a guess about the Old Woman's identity; she was most likely one of the surviving elders of the Moon Lineage.
"So that's how it is!" The Old Woman nodded upon hearing this, then looked at Old Song, respectfully performed a court Rei, and said, "Elder Sister, this Old Woman is Xu Jianwei. I apologize for my rudeness."
"Don't!" Old Song moved aside, not accepting Xu Jianwei's bow, and said, "You should be older than me, so I cannot bear to be called 'Elder Sister' by you."
"Ah, this..." A hint of embarrassment flashed across Xu Jianwei's face, then she said, "Regardless, I still thank Shrek Academy for taking care of and nurturing this child."
"So, aren't you going to reveal your identity?" Old Song said, "From your name, you could be considered the current Sun Moon Emperor's Great-aunt."
"Hmm! You seem to have done a lot of research." Xu Jianwei gave a bitter smile, then said, "That's right. In terms of seniority, I am indeed that Xu Jiusong's Great-aunt, but I wonder if he acknowledges it?
This Old Woman's name is Xu Jianwei. The Emperor Xu Yiqiu, who was beheaded by his cousin from the same clan, was my father. When the Shi Yue Palace Coup happened, I just happened to be outside, which is how I escaped and saved my life."
"!" Zhu Ziyang, Zhang Lexuan, and Old Song all widened their eyes in surprise, looking at the Old Woman whose youthful appearance was no longer discernible. They had not expected to meet a survivor of the Shi Yue Palace Coup from 150 years ago, and one of such high status.
Xu Yiqiu was the Emperor of the Moon Lineage who was killed in the Shi Yue Palace Coup. This Xu Jianwei was his daughter, which meant she was once a princess of the Sun Moon Empire. Meeting someone of such an identity, they didn't know if it was good or bad for Shrek Academy's plans.
They couldn't yet determine Xu Jianwei's attitude, but one thing was certain: she was indeed older than Old Song, as she was at least 150 years old, while Old Song was only around 140, the youngest of the four elders of Xuanlin Manor.
"So, you are the most direct descendant of the Moon Lineage!" Old Song was very surprised, then grew intensely curious and asked, "How did you escape the Sun Lineage's pursuit and even reach the realm of a Titled Douluo?"
"Perhaps my fate was not to die. When the Shi Yue Palace Coup happened, I was only fifteen years old. At that time, I happened not to be in the imperial palace but on these Yue Nan Islands, which is how I escaped," Xu Jianwei said. "By the time I learned about it, it was already half a year after the coup ended. Everything had settled. I wanted revenge, but I had no strength.
The people of the Sun Lineage didn't know I was hiding on the Yue Nan Islands, so I escaped the most dangerous ten years. Later, constant internal strife within the Sun Lineage gave me a chance to breathe, and I began to search for other escaped clan members, but unfortunately, they were all collateral branches.
I originally thought I was the only direct descendant of the Moon Lineage left, but I never expected to meet this child!"
"So, for the past 150-plus years, you've been on the Yue Nan Islands?" Old Song asked.
"Yes, because my Spirit is also a Moon Spirit, the old clan leader of the Yin Clan arranged for me to take over the position of Silver Moon Priestess, and I have remained on the Yue Nan Islands ever since," Xu Jianwei said, a look of relief and gratitude on her face.
"Your current strength is around Rank 93. Haven't you thought about taking revenge on the Sun Lineage?" Old Song continued.
"Hehe, if I were forty or fifty years younger, perhaps I would still have the energy and idea, but I am already over 160 years old." Xu Jianwei said with a bitter smile, "My talent is not good. With the identity of the Silver Moon Priestess, I barely reached Titled Douluo at the age of one hundred. There is no hope of further improvement. Now I only want to leave a glimmer of hope for the Moon Lineage and the Silver Moon Priestess, which is why I had the Yin Clan search for Moon Lineage disciples."
"Oh!" Old Song was not clear about the purpose of the Silver Moon Priestess that Xu Jianwei mentioned, but she knew that Xu Jianwei was not a threat to their plan; on the contrary, she was an important asset. She said, "If Shrek Academy wants to help your Moon Lineage reclaim the throne, would you agree?"
"You want this child to become the Empress of the Moon Lineage?" Xu Jianwei understood Shrek Academy's intention upon hearing this, and a strange emotion flashed across her face as she spoke.
"Exactly!" Old Song said directly, "Le Xuan is twenty-seven this year, a Rank 87 Spirit Douluo, possessing pure royal blood. With such talent, to become your Sun Moon Empire's Empress, I'm sure many people would agree."
"This... really?" Yin Zhengqi's face showed shock. Only then did he understand why Old Song had so confidently said that Shrek Academy would not control the Sun Moon Royal Family; this was their plan all along!
"Hehe, with such talent, not only will no one object, but many people will support it!" Xu Jianwei said with a bitter smile, "Why did my imperial father face rebellion back then? Wasn't it because his cultivation talent was poor, and he was only a Spirit Emperor at over fifty years old?
If your Shrek Academy truly wants to help this child reclaim our Moon Lineage's throne, then I will not object. However, before that, I need to have a talk with this child."
"Alright!" Old Song nodded, then calmly picked up the tea beside her and sipped it slowly.
"Child, are you really unsure which branch of the Moon Lineage you belong to?" Xu Jianwei looked at Zhang Lexuan, her face showing a hint of hope and longing, and asked again.
"I really don't know!" Zhang Lexuan said with sadness, "When my family met with disaster, I was only eleven, just a naive child. I only learned about our enemies through the Academy."
"I see," Xu Jianwei said, deep in thought, "Then do you still remember the names of your parents or grandfather?"
"Hmm! My father's name is Zhang Jiuling, and my mother's name is Le Xinyi," Zhang Lexuan nodded and said, "As for my grandfather, I never met him. I only met my grandmother. Her surname is Zhang, and my grandfather seems to have married into her family."
"I see," Xu Jianwei said with a look of regret, "Your father's name is indeed very similar to the royal family's naming convention, but without your grandfather's name, I can't determine which branch of the Moon Lineage you belong to. However, it doesn't matter if you don't know. You possess a Moon Spirit, so you are undoubtedly a direct descendant.
Child, are you willing to acknowledge your ancestors and return to the Moon Lineage?"
"Hmm! I am willing. My purpose in returning to the Sun Moon Empire is to return to the Moon Lineage and lead the Moon Lineage to reclaim the imperial throne that belongs to it!" Zhang Lexuan answered without hesitation.
"Good! Good! Thank you, child!" Xu Jianwei looked deeply at Zhang Lexuan, then glanced at Old Song and Zhu Ziyang, and only then said, "I and the Yin Clan will help you!"
As soon as she said this, a hint of joy flashed in the eyes of Zhu Ziyang and Old Song. Their goal had been achieved. With the support of the Yin Clan, Zhang Lexuan could gain a legitimate identity within the Sun Moon Empire, and with Xu Jianwei's support, Zhang Lexuan could directly command great moral authority.
"Thank you, Elder Xu!" Zhang Lexuan also smiled and said.
"No need to thank me. Although your seniority cannot be definitively determined, judging from your father's name, you are very likely of the 'Tian' generation. In that case, you should call me Great-grand-aunt," Xu Jianwei directly calculated Zhang Lexuan's seniority and said.
"I understand, Great-grand-aunt!" Zhang Lexuan was also very quick-witted and called out without any burden.
Hearing Zhang Lexuan's call, Xu Jianwei's face broke into a brilliant smile and she said, "Good, very good. I have finally lived up to the expectations of our ancestors and found a continuation for our Moon Lineage! Come with me, child, I will take you to pay respects to the ancestors of the Moon Lineage."
As Xu Jianwei spoke, she reached out to take Zhang Lexuan's hand. Zhang Lexuan looked at Old Song, somewhat at a loss, but seeing Old Song nod, she made up her mind. She did not refuse Xu Jianwei's action but instead took Xu Jianwei's hand in return.
This gesture made Xu Jianwei incredibly pleased, and she led Zhang Lexuan towards the back mountain of the Marquis's residence.
Zhu Ziyang and Old Song followed closely behind.