Chapter 320: Past Events of the Chen Family

"The four great families appear united on the surface, but in reality, there are turbulent undercurrents beneath the surface.

The previous Li Family Patriarch, Li Yunping, was my foster father. When he was still alive, he was able to suppress the other families. He could be considered a qualified family head and an excellent Sovereign.

It is just a pity that not a single person in the next generation of the Li Family was capable, and with the other families constantly eyeing his position, he chose to bear the pressure for the sake of the future of the Great Xia Kingdom. Instead of picking a successor from within the Li Family, he chose me—a woman, an outsider."

"At the time, I was close with the Chen Family. Your grandfather was a kind old man; he actually disliked strife. After I ascended to this position, he led the entire Chen Family to support me together."

"However, I am a woman after all, and most importantly, an outsider. It wasn't just the Han Family and the Zhou Family who were unhappy; even within the Li Family, there was significant dissent."

"So, in the beginning, those three families often joined forces to stir up trouble. My foundation was unstable back then, and it was thanks to your grandfather stepping forward that I was able to stabilize the situation."

"With the strong support of your grandfather and the entire Chen Family, I created the Inspection Bureau, which finally allowed me to completely stabilize those three families."

"I had thought that from then on, those three families would behave themselves and stop causing trouble, but I was wrong."

Chen Che could not help but ask: "What happened?"

"I remember that night, your grandfather sent me a message saying he wanted to meet with me, claiming he had something of great importance to tell me that could change the fate of the Xia Kingdom and the world.

But I waited for him all night, and he never came. Not a single person from the Chen Family came.

I realized something was wrong and immediately sent people to look for them, but it was too late.

Overnight, not a single living soul was left in the Chen Family, and even the house was burned to the ground.

Your father had previously left the Chen Family because his marriage to your mother was opposed by the family, and because of that, he escaped the disaster.

But I never expected them to be so ruthless, and I never expected it to be the Martial Arts Alliance that went to kill you all.

Fortunately, you were found by your master and survived."

"Who are they?" Chen Che asked: "Do the three great families have a connection with the Martial Arts Alliance?"

"Smart!"

Wu Qingkui continued: "After the incident with the Chen Family, I used all my power to investigate and eventually found that it was a joint operation by the Li Family, the Han Family, and the Zhou Family. But they were too secretive, and I had no way to deal with them.

Furthermore, through you and your father being hunted by the Martial Arts Alliance, I also began to suspect the relationship between these three families and the Martial Arts Alliance.

It wasn't until your conflict with the Gu Family that I finally confirmed the collusion between these three families and the Martial Arts Alliance."

"They also know about the Stone Stele? But that's not right!"

Chen Che discovered a logical loophole, "You just said that only the Taiyi Sect has the Heavenly Book, so how did the Martial Arts Alliance get it? Since the Gu Yuanzong and the Han Family are cousins, and he has been preparing for the Ritual, it's impossible for the Han Family not to know!"

"Actually, on the day the Chen Family was destroyed, I obtained something."

"What thing?"

"A photograph." Wu Qingkui's expression dimmed, "It was a photograph your grandfather used all his strength to protect. Even though he himself was burned to a crisp, he still managed to save that photograph."

"What is in the photograph?"

Chen Che's voice was hoarse; he felt he was about to know the truth.

"In the photograph is a person, a person wearing a black robe. I have investigated, and that person's attire belongs to an organization called the Six Harmonies Divine Sect. The last time this organization appeared in the public eye was ten years ago."

"Ten years ago? That was when I..."

"That's right!" Wu Qingkui looked into Chen Che's eyes, "It was the year the Chen Family was wiped out and your father was murdered."

………

Li Qingyan poked her bottom out, pressed against the bedroom door with her ear to the crack, attempting to hear the sounds inside, but it was completely quiet inside; she could hear nothing.

"What are you doing?!"

Tang Yu'e returned from patrolling and, seeing Li Qingyan's unseemly posture, gave a low reprimand.

"Shh!"

Li Qingyan immediately held a slender finger to her lips: "Don't speak, I can't hear anything now."

"There's no sound anymore, it should be over."

Xie Wanning had also returned.

"Should we knock on the door and ask?"

Cheng Kexin pushed Song Jinhe, and they also returned slowly.

Li Qingyan looked at the gazes of the others all fixed on her and said in surprise: "You don't want me to knock on the door and ask, do you?"

The others were noncommittal.

"What if it's not over yet? What do I do then?"

Li Qingyan scanned the faces of the others, all of whom wore expressions of "it has nothing to do with me."

"No way? We are fellow disciples after all, blood is thicker than water!"

Seeing that the others still didn't react, Li Qingyan simply walked to the side, "Anyway, I'm not asking."

Xie Wanning and Tang Yu'e exchanged a glance and smiled wickedly.

"Master's wife, the third one wants me to ask if it's over yet?"

Xie Wanning shouted loudly.

Li Qingyan's eyes widened, looking at Xie Wanning in disbelief.

Master Senior Sister... she truly is the Master Senior Sister!

The room remained peaceful; not a single sound came out.

"Let's wait a bit longer."

Tang Yu'e said, leaning against the wall nearby.

Xie Wanning subconsciously muttered: "Why is it taking so long?"

This soft mutter was heard by Li Qingyan, who, seizing the opportunity to redeem herself, immediately said: "Master Senior Sister, you don't know how capable Chen Che is. Once you try it yourself later, you'll know why it takes so long."

Xie Wanning's expression froze: "Are you saying you've tried it?"

"Of course, do you want me to tell you the specific details?" Li Qingyan looked eager to try.

Xie Wanning's face flushed red, and she turned her head away: "Shameless!"

"Master Senior Sister, don't be shy; we're all our own people, there's nothing that can't be said. Perhaps in the future, you'll even take the initiative to ask me for advice."

Seeing Xie Wanning not speaking, Li Qingyan became even more brazen, "I'll tell you while I have the chance now, otherwise once this village is passed, there won't be this shop. If you want me to speak later, I'll have to charge tuition."

Xie Wanning was red-faced and speechless; facing Li Qingyan's relentless pressing, she had no choice but to walk away again.

Inside the room.

In fact, both Chen Che and Wu Qingkui had heard that shout from Xie Wanning, but neither of them had the heart to care about anything else at this moment.

Chen Che frowned, his thoughts spinning rapidly; after hearing Wu Qingkui's words, he was extremely shocked inside.

He had originally thought that he and his father were just unlucky and had suffered an unprovoked disaster, but now it seemed they had long been embroiled in a conflict.

"And then?"

Chen Che asked in a hoarse voice.

"They never returned. That organization never appeared again; even if I wanted to investigate, I couldn't find anything."

Wu Qingkui changed the subject, "However, by investigating the Li, Han, and Zhou families, perhaps there will be clues about this organization."

"What do you mean?"

"What follows is my speculation."

Wu Qingkui paused and continued, "Your grandfather must have discovered matters regarding this organization, which is why he was silenced. Since those three families were all involved, it means they have an unclear and ambiguous relationship with the Six Harmonies Divine Sect.

Furthermore, I suspect that the reason Gu Yuanzong had the Heavenly Book Stele and the murals is very likely because the Six Harmonies Divine Sect gave them to him."

"Are you saying the Six Harmonies Divine Sect is the Taiyi Sect?" Chen Che thought of a possibility, but the moment the idea emerged, he felt a chill run down his spine.

"That shouldn't be very likely."

Wu Qingkui shook her head, "The Taiyi Sect was founded by your master; no matter what, they wouldn't do something like silencing someone. Moreover, you know the style of the Martial Arts Alliance; since the Six Harmonies Divine Sect supported the Martial Arts Alliance, it can't be any better than them.

So I suspect that during the time your master was away, something must have happened to the Taiyi Sect. As for what exactly it was, I am not clear."

Chen Che nodded in realization, "It seems the only way to know the truth is to find the Taiyi Sect."

"The Taiyi Sect was founded a long time ago; even if you are the Sect Master now, it won't be easy to find it."

Wu Qingkui said casually.

"Then let's start with those three families first."

Chen Che raised his eyes to look at Wu Qingkui, a sharp light flashing in his pupils, "Master's Wife, I have a way to give you a reason to investigate those three families in a legitimate manner..."

Wu Qingkui met Chen Che's eyes; those deep pupils seemed to have magic, causing this world-renowned empress to fall into them unconsciously.

Her expression was dazed, and she actually nodded in subconscious compliance, "Alright, I'll listen to you."

………