Chapter 737 – The Emperor Falls, Chenzhou’s Imperial City Breached (Ten)
“You still remember that I am your mother?” The Red-Clothed Woman scoffed coldly.
Wu Ma Jun was utterly terrified, quickly expressing his emotions until he teared up, “Mother, your words frighten me.”
The Red-Clothed Woman was too lazy to dwell on his sentiments, stating, “The allied forces have breached the city; it’s time for you to show your worth. Do not disappoint me.”
Faced with such merciless commands, Wu Ma Jun secretly resented her but put on a submissive front, filled with deep admiration.
“I understand, and I will not let Mother down.”
Just days prior, this woman had appeared out of nowhere, claiming to be Wu Ma Jun’s deceased mother—Empress Wang.
Wu Ma Jun certainly didn’t believe her; despite never having seen Empress Wang, he knew that the dead couldn’t come back to life.
She didn’t waste time arguing, instead gifting him Spiritual Pills and Elixirs that instantaneously healed his crippled legs.
Confronted with this fact and recalling the mysterious way she had arrived, Wu Ma Jun’s heart raced.
This was clearly a power possessed only by deities.
Regardless of whether she was truly his mother, her displayed abilities made her his birth mother in his heart.
With the influence of this birth mother, the enemy forces invading the imperial city seemed completely oblivious to this residence, allowing Wu Ma Jun to live a life of luxury.
“Your father is dead, and so are your elder brother and second brother. Now, the only one who can contest with you is the third brother.”
The Red-Clothed Woman’s lips parted as her cold gaze looked down at Wu Ma Jun, exuding arrogance as she declared, “With me backing you, others will think you are favored by the heavens. I’ve even healed your crippled legs; this is your confidence in vying for the throne—no one can compare to you. When the time comes, I will contact the Wang family to support you, and then you can secure your throne.”
Of course, the Red-Clothed Woman had no intention of actually contacting the Wang family, but her words reassured Wu Ma Jun.
With the emperor dead, the rightful heir to the throne would be the emperor’s son.
Wu Ma Jun’s heart thumped like thunder, his palms sweating from nervousness.
He had never imagined that the dragon throne he longed for was so within reach, practically at his fingertips!
All of this was thanks to the Red-Clothed Woman before him—his birth mother.
He looked at the Red-Clothed Woman and said, “Thank you for planning so carefully for your son, Mother. Once I sit on the dragon throne, I will surely honor you as Empress Dowager.”
Previously, the Red-Clothed Woman had held the Empress Dowager in high regard, but now she felt indifferent.
What of the Empress Dowager? No matter how honorable a woman may be, she was just a widow, incapable of acting freely like an emperor.
“I’m content with your filial piety.”
Above her head hung a sword known as “Liu Xi,” a Damocles sword, poised to drop and take her life at any moment.
Right now, the most urgent matter was to break this sword!
Recalling her failed attempt to disguise as a dancer to assassinate someone, the Red-Clothed Woman seethed in frustration.
Because of that failed mission, she owed the system a staggering ten billion popularity points!
In order to quickly pay off her debts, she had been frantically live-streaming tasks, even conceding to many outrageous requests from the audience.
Her self-esteem had been trampled repeatedly by the viewers, causing her hatred for “Emperor Chen” to surge while she grew increasingly resentful toward the live stream audience.
What was even more infuriating was that she couldn’t vent her frustrations on the viewers; who else would splurge for her if she offended these wealthy patrons?
Later, she had delicately discussed with the system that simply assassinating Liu Xi wouldn’t suffice.
If her son Wu Ma Jun ascended to the emperor’s throne, he could use his imperial authority to suppress Liu Xi.
Then, she could conveniently place the Ninth-Rank Loyalty Talisman onto Liu Xi, ensuring success.
If not for this, she would hardly give Wu Ma Jun, the useless son, another thought.
To heal Wu Ma Jun’s crippled legs, she reluctantly bought Spiritual Pills and Elixirs from the system in installments.
Initially, she hesitated; the popularity points required for the elixirs were excessive, and she didn’t want to add more debt for Wu Ma Jun.
However, a crippled prince has a slim chance of competing for the throne, and he might easily have to contend with a new emperor’s fear.
After persuasion from the system, the Red-Clothed Woman gritted her teeth and purchased one.
Moreover, she expended popularity points to boost Wu Ma Jun’s public image, placing invisible talismans around the residence to ensure no civilians could enter.
This not only protected Wu Ma Jun but also created the illusion that he was favored by the heavens and a beloved son of destiny.
Who else in this world was more qualified to become emperor than him?
People of ancient times were foolishly superstitious; as long as the promotion and influence were strong enough, it was akin to gilding Wu Ma Jun with a golden aura.
Now, as the royal army had taken the Chenzhou Imperial City and driven back Changshou Wang’s rebel forces, it was time for Wu Ma Jun to make his appearance.
This peculiar mother-son duo was filled with aspirations for the future, as if in the next moment they could don the imperial robe and ascend the dragon throne.
Unfortunately—
“Yo, yo, yo—definitely nine lives! Last time I shattered your neck and it didn’t kill you, yet here you are, back for more.”
A nonchalant voice drifted in from outside the door, causing both Wu Ma Jun and the Red-Clothed Woman to be startled, their expressions shifting dramatically.
As they turned towards the source of the voice, recognition changed their expressions again.
“Lan Ting?” Wu Ma Jun stared at Jiang Pengji in shock, nearly unable to believe, “Is that really you, Lan Ting?”
He hadn’t seen Jiang Pengji for several years and almost failed to recognize the red-clad silver-armored general as Liu Xi.
“Fourth Prince, long time no see.”
Jiang Pengji conversed with Wu Ma Jun while her spiritual energy focused on the Red-Clothed Woman, preventing her from making any reckless moves.
“You are my brother-in-law; we’re all family, no need to keep our distance, right? Why must Lan Ting be so formal?”
Wu Ma Jun’s instincts warned him that Jiang Pengji meant trouble, but he was unsure of her intentions and couldn’t just tear off the facade.
Thus, he could only try to bond with Jiang Pengji, making small talk to ease her suspicions.
“Brother-in-law?” Jiang Pengji laughed, scoffing, “Fourth Prince’s ‘brother-in-law’? I cannot bear such a weight.”
Wu Ma Jun felt perplexed, “What do you mean by this, Lan Ting?”
“What do I mean? You’ll have to ask the unrestrained woman beside you; ask her what good deeds she did back then.”
Jiang Pengji’s tone was icy and cruel, her gaze locked onto the Red-Clothed Woman.
Wu Ma Jun glanced at the Red-Clothed Woman, the woman who claimed to be his birth mother. He outwardly believed her but held doubts deep within.
“What do you want to ask her?”
Jiang Pengji continued, “Fourth Prince, there’s something you probably still don’t know… Do you know why Liu Huan suddenly had a difficult birth and bled to death? The rumors outside say she gave birth to a pair of ill-fated conjoined twins and died afterward. But do you know why the child was deformed? Because, you see, half-siblings from the same mother cannot bear a normal child!”
Wu Ma Jun’s eyes widened in shock, stepping back in fright.
He felt as though he were listening to the scriptures of heaven.
No, this was even more absurd than any divine text.
Liu Huan was obviously Liu Zhi’s concubine. How could she become his half-sibling?
“You are slandering her!”
