Nine dragons fight for the throne, I don't want to sit on this throne

Chapter 1612 Wu Xiuning's Episode

After the heavy snow stopped, countless messy footprints were trampled on the snow on the streets of Los Angeles.

Inside the Zuixian Tower in the East Market, the charcoal fire was burning brightly, and the rising hot air condensed into fine water droplets on the window lattices.

A dozen tea drinkers sat around the central stove, their faces reflected by the flickering flames.

"Have you heard? Something big happened in the palace yesterday!"

A bearded vendor lowered his voice, but deliberately made sure that everyone around him could hear it.

"Assassins from the Tang and Han dynasties sneaked into the outer perimeter of the imperial palace and killed more than twenty ministers!"

There was an uproar in the teahouse.

A young scholar-like man dropped his teacup onto the table with a clang, and the brown tea splashed across his blue shirt.

"Is this true?"

"Absolutely true!"

A wealthy businessman in a brocade cotton jacket came over from the next table and said, "I saw with my own eyes this morning the Imperial Guards carrying over twenty coffins out of Xuanwu Gate. It was such a scene..."

He shuddered and said nothing more.

In the corner, an old man wearing a conical hat suddenly sneered, "Assassin? Ha, I've lived in Los Angeles for sixty years, and I've never seen an assassin who could kill more than twenty important officials in the court at once."

The teahouse suddenly became quiet, and everyone's eyes were focused on this inconspicuous old man.

The fire crackled, illuminating the old man's sparkling eyes on his wrinkled face.

"What do you mean, father-in-law..." the scholar asked cautiously.

The old man picked up the tea bowl and took a sip, then said leisurely, "I didn't say anything."

Just as he finished speaking, there was a sudden commotion at the stairs.

A team of yamen runners in black garb strode in, the head constable scanning the room with lightning-like eyes:

"According to Prime Minister Di's orders, those who spread rumors must be strictly investigated!"

The teahouse suddenly fell silent.

The old man pulled his hat even lower and retreated silently into the shadows.

The captain's gaze wandered over everyone's faces, finally settling on the wealthy businessman. "You, what were you talking about just now?"

The wealthy businessman turned pale with fear and waved his hands repeatedly, "Your Excellency, I am only speaking...about the funeral procession I saw this morning."

The captain snorted coldly, pulled out a notice from his pocket, and slammed it on the table: "The court has issued a clear order. Yesterday, an assassin from an enemy country attempted to assassinate a minister. Anyone who spreads false accusations will be charged with treason!"

The scholar bravely stepped forward and read by the light of the fire, "The remnants of the Tang Dynasty colluded with Han Dynasty spies, intending to undermine the alliance between the Great Zhou and the Chu State. Fortunately, General Li Junxian led his troops to eliminate them, and posthumously awarded them the title of Martyred Minister."

"Did you see everything clearly?" The captain looked around and saw that no one dared to answer, so he left with the bailiffs.

Only after the footsteps faded away did whispers begin to be heard again in the teahouse.

The bearded merchant wiped the sweat from his forehead and whispered, "You guys are saying... Is Princess Xiuning really the daughter of the Emperor of Chu?"

"Can this be false?"

A vendor selling candy figurines interrupted, "My cousin works in the palace, and he said the princess' eyes look exactly like the Emperor of Chu's!"

The scholar stroked his beard thoughtfully. "No wonder the Emperor of Chu traveled a thousand miles to rescue the princess. It turns out she's his own flesh and blood."

"If you ask me," the wealthy businessman lowered his voice, "the Han and Tang dynasties were afraid we would join forces with the Chu State, so they sent people to assassinate those ministers who opposed the announcement of the princess's identity. Now that the princess's identity is revealed, the alliance between the two countries is set in stone!"

Everyone nodded, but the old man in the corner sighed silently.

He quietly put a few copper coins into the waiter's hand and whispered a few words of advice.

The waiter's face changed and he hurried to the kitchen.

Inside the palace, the palace servants cleared the snow to create paths.

Wu Xiuning wore thick deerskin boots, leaving a trail of small footprints on the snow.

The red suit she was wearing was particularly eye-catching in the snow, with a phoenix spreading its wings ready to fly embroidered in gold thread on the cuffs and hem.

"Your Highness!" The palace maids and eunuchs along the way saluted, but were all ignored by her.

The seven-year-old princess had a stern face, and anger burned in her amber eyes - these eyes were exactly the same as Chu Ning's.

After turning a corridor, Fengyi Palace is right in front of you.

Zhao Yu, who was guarding the palace, saw his disciple approaching angrily and quickly saluted with his spear across his shoulders: "Greetings, Princess Xiuning!"

"Get out of the way!" Wu Xiuning's voice was childish but full of majesty: "I want to see His Majesty!"

Zhao Yu looked embarrassed.

As a general of the Chu State, he naturally knew that important matters were being discussed in the hall, but as Wu Xiuning's master, he could not bear to reject this little disciple who had just learned about his life experience.

The muscles beneath the armor tensed. "Your Highness, without His Majesty's permission, I cannot let you in privately."

"Master!"

Wu Xiuning's expression suddenly changed, blinking her big, watery eyes: "I just want to ask my mother a question, okay?"

Zhao Yu's hand holding the gun trembled slightly.

Just when he was in a dilemma, the palace door creaked open.

Chu Ning's hearty laughter came from inside: "It's freezing outside, come in."

Wu Xiuning's face tightened and she rushed into the hall.

Incense was curling in the Fengyi Palace. Wu Zhao was standing in front of the window, and the sunlight shining through the window lattice cast mottled light and shadows on her face.

Chu Ning sat at the table, playing with a white jade chess piece in his hand.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

Wu Xiuning got straight to the point, her hands clenched tightly: "Everyone knows that I'm your daughter, but I'm the only one who's been kept in the dark!"

Chu Ning put down the chess piece and exchanged a glance with Wu Zhao.

The empress sighed softly, turned around and was about to speak, but Chu Ning raised his hand to stop her.

"Xiuning," Chu Ning squatted down and looked his daughter straight in the eye. "Do you know how many people would want to harm you if your identity was revealed earlier?"

He pointed out the window: "Just like those assassins this morning..."

"Liar!"

Wu Xiuning suddenly slapped out with his palm, and the wind from his palm actually caused the documents on the desk to rustle. "There is no assassin at all!"

Chu Ning dodged the sudden attack with ease and grabbed his daughter's wrist with his backhand.

A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes—a seven-year-old child actually had such skills.

"How dare you!" Wu Zhao shouted, "How dare you talk to your father?"

Chu Ning smiled, released her hand and rubbed the top of Wu Xiuning's head: "Good skills! You are worthy of being my daughter, Chu Ning."

He turned to Wu Zhao and said, "It's a good thing for a child to have a temper. It means he has his own opinions."

Wu Xiuning turned her face away stubbornly, but the anger in her eyes had mostly disappeared.

Chu Ning took the opportunity to take out an exquisite wooden box from under the table and asked, "Look, what did your father bring you?"

When the box was opened, inside was a miniature version of the Longquan sword. The scabbard was inlaid with seven gems, sparkling in the sun.

Wu Xiuning's eyes lit up for a moment, but he quickly turned stern again: "Don't think you can bribe me like this."

Chu Ning laughed and hung the sword on his daughter's waist. "I promise you, after the Lantern Festival, I will take you back to Chu. I will give you an army and form a women's army. You will train them yourself. How about it?"

"Really?" Wu Xiuning looked up suddenly, unable to hide the excitement in his eyes.

"Sir, I'm not kidding." Chu Ning held out his pinky finger: "Do you want to pinky?"

Wu Xiuning hesitated for a moment, then finally stretched out her hand. The moment their fingers intertwined, a smile appeared on Wu Zhao's tense face.

But when she looked out the window, her brows unconsciously frowned again - the representatives of the eight major families should have received the news by now.

Chu Ning followed her gaze and the smile on his face gradually faded.

He gently patted his daughter's shoulder and said, "Go find your master to practice swordsmanship. Your mother and I have something important to discuss."

Wu Xiuning nodded sensibly and skipped away.

After the palace door closed, Chu Ning said in a deep voice: "The eight great families have been making frequent moves recently."

Wu Zhao walked to the table and unfolded a map. "I just received a secret report that the Lu family of Fanyang and the Cui family of Qinghe have already sent out their assassins."

She pointed her fingers at several key locations: "They will not sit idly by and watch the Great Zhou and Chu form an alliance."

Chu Ning stared at the map and suddenly sneered, "Just right, I was just worried about having no reason to deal with them."

"According to the time, their family head should arrive in three days. I will meet them in person then!"