Chapter 401: Back to the Palace

Li Musheng returned to the inn and tossed the jade pillow casually to the large black cat, which had been craving it for a long time, letting it satisfy its paws.

Daoist Qingyu, witnessing this, only let out a long sigh and went back to her room.

Inviting Moon Palace's First Palace Mistress Wenyue, who had followed them back, found that Li Musheng had no immediate intention of dealing with her, and dared not press about her younger sister's whereabouts. She had no choice but to get a room at the inn as well and settle in.

And so the night passed, the people of Taixuan City spending what appeared from the outside to be a perfectly ordinary evening.

The next morning, Li Musheng and the others came downstairs for breakfast as usual.

Zhao Muning, who had spent the night with her two Senior Aunts treating her younger brother's injuries, came downstairs as well once his condition had finally stabilized for the time being.

Seeing Li Musheng was also there, she immediately went to greet him.

After all, they had all been under Li Musheng's protection during this time, and his kindness was something that had to be acknowledged at every opportunity.

But what Zhao Muning found entirely unexpected was that Li Musheng glanced at her, then pointed toward Wenyue sitting alone at another table, and said, "If you have time today, go with her back to the Great Xuan imperial palace. I had a conversation with the old man in your palace last night. He has agreed to support you as the Great Xuan emperor. Go and find him."

At those words, Zhao Muning went completely blank, and for a moment did not fully grasp what Li Musheng had said.

It took several seconds before she came to herself, her eyes gradually widening as she looked at Li Musheng in disbelief, "Your Highness, are you saying... you want me to become the Great Xuan emperor?"

Shen Anran and Cang Yinyue sitting around Li Musheng were also hearing this for the first time, and both looked at Zhao Muning with expressions of wide-eyed surprise.

A woman becoming emperor. That was something the world had never seen before.

They were naturally very curious about what made this Great Xuan's first female emperor so special.

Though clearly Zhao Muning herself had only just found out, and the shock she was experiencing was no lesser than anyone else's.

"I asked you about this before, and I am a man of my word. Since I said you would be the Great Xuan emperor, I would not say it without meaning it."

Li Musheng narrowed his eyes as he spoke. Of course, this was partly him maintaining his self-image and incidentally looking impressive.

His visit to the palace the night before had been primarily to kill the Great Xuan emperor. He had simply happened to run into the Old Ancestor of the Great Xuan imperial palace and Zhao Kuang, and had dealt with the matter in passing.

Had he not run into them, he would naturally have acted as though he had never said anything, and Zhao Muning probably would not have pressed him about it.

At Li Musheng's words, Cao Gaoshan and the Inviting Moon Palace's First Palace Mistress among others all showed unusual expressions and stared straight at Li Musheng.

The large black cat in particular had its round green eyes spinning eagerly. It immediately extended a paw toward Li Musheng in a fawning display and began gesturing.

Clearly it was shamelessly trying to put in a request for an emperor's position for itself as well.

But Li Musheng remained entirely composed, the image of serene indifference, and reached out to brush the large black cat aside with one hand.

For him, the matter of Zhao Muning was like a trivial side note, of no particular weight. Of course, as far as Li Musheng was concerned, it genuinely was not worth much thought.

Zhao Muning stood frozen where she was, eyes fixed on Li Musheng, her expression shifting through a complicated series of changes. She could naturally make a reasonable guess.

The old man Li Musheng spoke of was almost certainly the Old Ancestor of the Great Xuan imperial palace. If that person was supporting her for the throne, the chances of this actually happening were genuinely quite high.

Even so, as a princess of Great Xuan, she had never thought of becoming emperor the way the princes had.

Learning of this so abruptly, she had absolutely no mental preparation for it whatsoever.

"There is always a first time. I hope you will not disappoint me."

Li Musheng seemed to read Zhao Muning's thoughts. He said those few words, then waved a hand to send her on her way.

Zhao Muning stared at Li Musheng with a complicated expression. She naturally understood this had to be something Li Musheng had arranged.

Otherwise, as an unremarkable princess, there was no way she would have entered the Old Ancestor of the Great Xuan imperial palace's field of consideration, let alone be supported by him as Great Xuan's emperor.

After a moment of silence, the look in Zhao Muning's eyes hardened with resolve. She made a deep, formal bow to Li Musheng and said, "My deepest thanks for your regard. Though I am not certain I can be a good emperor for Great Xuan, I will try my best and will not fail your intentions."

Not only had Li Musheng extended his protection to her, he had given her the throne of Great Xuan, something countless people could only dream of. She naturally could not and dared not refuse.

And beyond that, if she wanted revenge against Zhao Kuang for what he had done to her brother, relying on her sect and her own power alone would never be enough to move against someone protected by the Great Xuan imperial palace.

Only by becoming Great Xuan's emperor and taking the throne from Zhao Kuang would she have any chance of exacting that revenge.

And if she could take away Zhao Kuang's throne, that was probably more painful for him than simply killing him.

With that thought settled, Zhao Muning composed herself. The unsettled look on her face gradually smoothed, and she turned her gaze toward the Inviting Moon Palace's First Palace Mistress.

Wenyue had by now also understood in general terms why Li Musheng had introduced her to Zhao Muning.

Though it sounded utterly extraordinary, if Zhao Muning became the Great Xuan emperor, rescuing her younger sister would present no difficulty whatsoever.

"I am the First Palace Mistress of the Inviting Moon Palace. My greetings to Your Highness the Princess."

Wenyue did not hesitate much in her heart, and spoke first.

Having witnessed the terrifying power Li Musheng the great demon lord had displayed, she did not particularly doubt what he had said. After all, with his strength, a single night could see him wipe out the entire Great Xuan imperial palace.

If he wanted Zhao Muning to become Great Xuan's emperor, unconventional as it was, it was not impossible that he could actually make it happen.

She also understood clearly that by introducing her to Zhao Muning, Li Musheng intended for her to lend the princess a helping hand.

After all, Zhao Muning was only a princess, with a shallow foundation and no power to speak of. She still needed capable people and backing to support her.

At this, Zhao Muning returned Wenyue's greeting with a slight bow, "My greetings, Great Palace Mistress. Please wait a moment while I return to my room and prepare, and then I will go back to the palace together with the Great Palace Mistress."

At those words, Wenyue gave a slight nod, and her impression of the Great Xuan princess rose a notch.

That the woman could remain composed and composed after receiving news this suddenly, without any of the flighty anxiety one might expect, said something about the qualities she had for accomplishing great things.

Zhao Muning went back upstairs to her room, and before long came back down with the two elderly women who had been with her, having changed into a dignified palace dress. Her bearing had transformed entirely.

Zhao Muning then took her leave of Li Musheng, and she and the Inviting Moon Palace's First Palace Mistress departed from the inn.

Watching their retreating figures, Shen Anran and Cang Yinyue exchanged a glance, each catching the unusual look in the other's eyes.

Then Cang Yinyue's eyes shifted faintly and she asked, probing tentatively, "Your Highness, when did you become so close with that princess?"