Volume 3, Chapter 364 – Only the Empress Can Save the Chi Family

After a brief exchange of pleasantries with Chi Xiyan, Huang Shangshang turned to look at the girl beside her.

She smiled. “This must be the Second Miss of the Chi family I’ve heard so much about. Miss Chi Muxue, I presume?”

Chi Xiyan’s gaze drew in slightly. “She… yes. She’s my little sister.”

“Hm?” The wording gave Huang Shangshang a moment’s pause.

Then, a beat later, understanding crossed her face.

She had assumed that after all this time, the Fox Monarch would have long since won Chi Xiyan over. It seemed that wasn’t the case at all.

Quietly surprised, she glanced at Lu Zhuxin and gave her a small wink. “Oh. A little sister, then.”

Lu Zhuxin caught the meaning behind Huang Shangshang’s look and felt a tired resignation settle over her brow.

She hadn’t seen this girl in a while. When had she gotten so cheeky?

Lu Zhuxin had spoiled her.

Find her a wife to keep her in line and she’d settle down fast enough.

“Young Sect Master Huang.” Chi Xiyan stepped forward, smoothly positioning herself between Huang Shangshang and Lu Zhuxin.

“Xiyan has come today with a great deal of presumption and a favor to ask.”

Huang Shangshang came back to herself, remembering what her mother had asked of her.

Her task today was to help the Fox Monarch guide Chi Xiyan in the right direction.

“I’m already aware of your situation,” Huang Shangshang said.

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“The Seven Sword Sects are not a united bloc. There have always been tensions between the individual sects.”

“However, when it comes to external conflicts, the Seven Sects have always stood together as one.”

“So…” Huang Shangshang gave a soft sigh and offered Chi Xiyan an apologetic look.

Chi Xiyan’s expression didn’t change. “But that solidarity is only on the surface, isn’t it?”

“The Chi family is no enemy of the sword sects. We pose no threat to the balance within the Seven Sects.”

“And besides…” A sharpness passed through Chi Xiyan’s eyes. “Young Sect Master Huang agreed to come after reading my letter. Doesn’t that already say enough?”

Huang Shangshang’s eyes showed a flicker of surprise. She laughed. “Miss Chi is perceptive.”

“But what you laid out in that letter alone isn’t enough to move Lingxu Sword Sect.”

Chi Xiyan understood. The other side felt the terms weren’t sufficient.

She pressed on. “Young Sect Master Huang, as I wrote in my letter, I wish to bring Muxue and enter Lingxu Sword Sect together.”

“Muxue’s talent is exceptional. In time…”

“Miss Chi.” Huang Shangshang cut her off. “I think you’ve misunderstood something.”

“Both the prospect of an alliance with the Chi family and your sister’s Sacred Sword Physique are genuinely appealing to Lingxu Sword Sect.”

“But none of that is enough to push Lingxu Sword Sect into direct opposition with Lingxiao Sword Sect. Not even close.”

“And it isn’t just Lingxu Sword Sect. You could go to any of the Seven Sects and you would hear the same answer.”

Chi Xiyan’s eyes showed surprise. “Why? Is it a matter of maintaining balance?”

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“It’s because of the Venerable Saint,” Huang Shangshang said.

Chi Xiyan’s pupils shrank. “Because of Immortal Venerable Qingzhi? Because of the Immortal Venerable behind Lingxiao Sword Sect?”

“No, not because of Immortal Venerable Qingzhi.” Huang Shangshang’s expression shifted, just slightly uncomfortable.

“As long as Lingxiao Sword Sect isn’t facing a crisis of annihilation, Immortal Venerable Qingzhi won’t involve herself in matters like these.”

Chi Xiyan hadn’t noticed the brief change in her expression.

“It is because of Her Majesty the Empress.”

“Her Majesty the Empress?” The surprise in Chi Xiyan’s eyes deepened into something closer to shock.

Huang Shangshang looked at her and explained. “The disciples of the sword sects slay demons, repel foreign threats, and hold the borders.”

“The balance of the Seven Sword Sects has been maintained for thousands of years.”

“Her Majesty the Empress will not allow the sword sects to fall into turmoil over the struggle for a Sacred Sword Physique. That is the first reason.”

“The second: Immortal Venerable Qingzhi has never involved herself in matters of power and politics. For a thousand years, she and the Empress have maintained an unspoken understanding. But what if a second Venerable Saint were to emerge from within the Seven Sects?”

“Could that not give certain people reason to question the Empress’s rule?”

Huang Shangshang’s gaze drifted to the girl beside Chi Xiyan. She smiled ruefully. “To speak plainly, Lingxu Sword Sect is not among the strongest of the seven. We do not have the confidence to shelter you under so much pressure…”

“How can that be…” Chi Xiyan’s pupils trembled faintly.

She had believed the terms she held were more than enough to convince Lingxu Sword Sect. She had never imagined there was yet another layer to all of this.

With some reluctance she said, “But the secret of Muxue’s constitution is known only to us and Lingxiao Sword Sect… and Lingxiao Sword Sect won’t disclose it any time soon…”

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“Miss Chi.” Huang Shangshang shook her head. “That is wishful thinking. You are deceiving yourself.”

“Her Majesty the Empress governs the entire human race. To maintain the order and balance that currently exists, she will not allow any destabilizing element to take root.”

“So, Miss Chi, it isn’t just that Lingxu Sword Sect cannot help you. The entire Seven Sword Sects cannot help you.”

Huang Shangshang let out a quiet sigh. “Lingxiao Sword Sect saw through this long ago. As long as Immortal Venerable Qingzhi still lives, they will never allow your sister to cultivate to the level of Venerable Saint.”

Chi Xiyan bit her lip. “Is there truly no other way?”

“I’m sorry…” Huang Shangshang said. “At least, not one that Lingxu Sword Sect can offer. Unless you are willing to seal away your sister’s potential to ever become a Venerable Saint.”

Chi Xiyan opened her mouth, and the bitterness on her face was plain. “I had it wrong. It seems I’ve had it wrong from the beginning. ‘The one who can save the Chi family is not in Beihe Commandery.’ So that’s what it meant.”

Huang Shangshang stayed silent and offered nothing further.

Chi Xiyan had now seen the situation clearly. That was all her task required.

Chi Xiyan gave a quiet, rueful laugh. “My thinking was too narrow from the start…”

“The real heart of this problem was never the sword sects. It was the Empress all along.”

“It seems that to truly save the Chi family, to truly save Muxue, one would need the Empress herself to eliminate every last destabilizing factor.”

She turned to Huang Shangshang and clasped her hands. “I apologize, Young Sect Master Huang. I’ve troubled you for nothing.”

Huang Shangshang smiled. “What passed between us today must not reach other ears.”

Chi Xiyan nodded. “Of course.”

Huang Shangshang tilted her head. “So what are your plans from here, Miss Chi?”

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“…” Chi Xiyan was quiet.

Even knowing where the root of the problem lay, she had no idea what her next step should be.

Only the Empress could save the Chi family. But how was she supposed to persuade the Empress? The terms she had to offer might be enough to move a sword sect, but persuading the Empress, persuading a Venerable Saint, would surely require far more than that.

And beyond that, the Empress held a rank and power far beyond anything Chi Xiyan could approach. Enshrined in the Human Emperor’s Palace, she was not someone a girl from an ordinary great clan could simply request an audience with.

“Does Young Sect Master Huang have any suggestions?”

Huang Shangshang said, “If you want to approach the Empress directly, there happens to be an opportunity right now.”

“Are you aware, Miss Chi, that the Empress is selecting consorts?”

Chi Xiyan stared. “The Empress is selecting consorts?”

“Yes.” Huang Shangshang continued, “Her Majesty the Empress is on a southern progress to select consorts, and all eligible young people of the great clans are permitted to participate.”

“Regardless of background. Regardless of gender.”

She looked steadily at Chi Xiyan. “Miss Chi, if you want to meet the Empress, this is your best chance.”

Chi Xiyan listened, her eyes flickering rapidly as she took in what Huang Shangshang had just told her.

Lu Zhuxin watched Chi Xiyan with quiet, comfortable interest.

She was rather curious to see what Chi Xiyan would choose to do next.

This was already the final step on the Chi Xiyan route.