Chapter 664: The Founding Sovereign of the New Dynasty! A Tenfold Death Trap!

Miao Yu did not know that she had survived solely because she was among the Twelve Beauties of Jinling.

Anyone else—even if their Divine Numerology were exquisitely profound—would be utterly destroyed, their soul scattered, if they dared to divine Luo Fu’s fate.

In this world of Hong Lou, where the path of incense and divine authority forms the foundation of transcendence, the weight of a mortal sovereign rivals that of heavenly gods and earthly spirits, and in terms of cosmic significance, the mortal emperor surpasses even them.

Whether celestial deities of the Heavenly Court or yin spirits of the Underworld, before a mortal emperor, they are nothing but hollow shells.

Even the true deities dare not divine the future of a mortal emperor—how much less Luo Fu, the true master of the Three Realms on the verge of unifying the mortal realm?

It was precisely because of this divined future that Miao Yu grew increasingly uncertain about entering the palace.

Yet at this moment, Luo Fu was unaware of the surprise that Jia Yucun was about to bring him.

He was within the imperial palace of Jinling.

Luo Fu regarded Xue Baochai before him with keen interest.

Among the Twelve Beauties, Xue Baochai, due to Luo Fu’s sudden emergence, had been forced to abandon her original plan to travel north to the capital and returned to Jinling. By sheer accident, she became the first Beauty Luo Fu consumed.

Yet after learning of Luo Fu’s enmity with the Four Great Families, Xue Baochai knew well that even though Jia’s servants were the true perpetrators, the Xue family stood no better in Luo Fu’s eyes—they were equally guilty.

Even if she offered herself as his concubine and entered his harem, it did not mean the Xue family was truly safe.

Luo Fu was about to become the founding sovereign of the new dynasty—a man of extraordinary talent and overwhelming destiny. Even the faintest hint of his inclination would draw countless others to rush forward and tear apart the already weakened Xue family.

In truth, the Four Great Families of Jia, Shi, Wang, and Xue had almost no chance of survival.

The only opportunity lay in one thing: at any cost, seize a position within Luo Fu’s harem.

Put simply, use the power of the pillow to secure a sliver of survival for the Four Great Families.

This was the final desperate struggle many great families made when facing annihilation.

Though such an act might seem base, shameless, even vile, it was the only sliver of hope in the face of utter ruin.

As long as a woman from the Four Great Families remained by Luo Fu’s side, there might yet be a chance to secure survival for the male heirs—and if even one male heir lived, time might one day allow a reversal of fortune.

Xue Baochai thought this way—and acted accordingly.

The first she chose was Xiang Ling, the girl her brother had once killed a man to obtain.

Though Xue Baochai had now entered the palace and won Luo Fu’s favor, she still lacked any formal status, and the imperial palace was no place she could freely enter or leave.

Sending someone into the palace without Luo Fu’s permission was something she dared not—and could not—do.

Even communication with the outside world after her entry was excruciatingly difficult, let alone smuggling someone in.

With a sly smile, Luo Fu said: “Itachi wish to send your sister into the palace?”

Xue Baochai bowed deeply and replied: “Your Highness, the palace is empty. I have been close to my sister since childhood and wish to emulate the ancient tale of E Huang and Nu Kage.”

Luo Fu did not answer immediately, for the “sister” Xue Baochai referred to was not truly her sister.

More accurately, she meant one of them—but not the only one.

Indeed, it seemed some miscommunication had occurred.

After receiving Xue Baochai’s message, the Xue family learned that the true cause of Luo Fu’s uprising was the persecution by Jia’s servants. Overwhelmed with terror, Xue Yima and Xue Pan—already a widow and orphan—were utterly shattered.

To offend the founding sovereign of the new dynasty—could they possibly survive?

Especially as the very catalyst for his rebellion against the new dynasty?

The terrified mother and son immediately turned to the second branch of the family.

This matter concerned the very survival of the entire Xue family; Xue Yima and Xue Pan lacked the courage to decide anything.

Even the suggestion that Xiang Ling enter the palace was never raised by either mother or son—in their eyes, not even Xiang Ling mattered. If Xue Yima herself had to be bathed and sent into the palace, she would not hesitate.

Though Xue Pan was a wastrel and foolish, he understood that matters of life and death were beyond his ability to meddle in.

Even if Xiang Ling were exceptionally beautiful, Xue Pan knew he could not let petty desires override survival.

When Xue Ke, head of the second branch, learned of this, he was stunned.

Among the Four Great Families, the Xue family was the most fallen—originally imperial merchants, their status was the lowest of the four.

Worse still, both the head of the first branch and the second had died one after another. Even now, Xue Ke and his sister Xue Baoqin remained in mourning.

And then, this catastrophe struck without warning.

Xue Ke’s mind went blank.

After a long while, he finally came to his senses and blurted: “Aunt, is this truly true?”

Xue Yima, her face etched with sorrow, nodded: “To be honest, this message came directly from Baochai after she entered the palace. That Luo Tian Emperor was merely a Licentiate from Beizhili. He was driven to rebellion only because Jia’s servants coveted his family’s treasure and left him with no escape. Itachi know well that the Four Great Families have always been bound by blood. We Xue family could never escape this.”

Pale and bloodless, Xue Ke wished he could exterminate the entire Jia family—this was pure, senseless misfortune.

He took a deep breath and asked: “Aunt, what did Big Sister advise?”

“Baochai told me to adopt Xiang Ling as my daughter and send her into the palace. That Luo Tian Emperor is quite handsome,” Xue Yima said, her face flushing slightly. “For the sake of the Xue family, we have no other choice.”

A clear voice came from the side: “Aunt, can Big Sister really arrange for someone to enter the palace?”

Seeing Xue Baoqin, Xue Yima sighed: “Whether she can or not—this is our last chance.”

As if making a final decision, Xue Baoqin said: “Aunt, send me into the palace too.”

“Sister!” Xue Ke was startled.

At this most inopportune moment, Xue Pan spoke up: “But Baoqin still has a betrothal!”

After a brief shock, Xue Ke quickly understood.

For the Xue family now, sending both Xue Baoqin and Xiang Ling into the palace was undoubtedly the best option.

Yes, Xue Baoqin was still betrothed to the Mei family.

But do not forget: as one of the Four Great Families, the Xue family was destined to be targeted by the Luo Tian Emperor. If this news leaked, even if Baoqin had already married into the Mei family, she would be treated as a token of submission—either silenced forever to show loyalty to Luo Tian, or worse.

Or… worse than death.

Anyone who knew of the hatred between Luo Tian Emperor and the Four Great Families, in this time of upheaval, would do everything possible to sever ties with them.

For Xue Baoqin, entering the palace was now the best choice.

As for her betrothal to the Mei family—should Mei Hanlin learn of the enmity between Luo Tian Emperor and the Four Great Families, he would gladly pretend it never existed.

In an instant, Xue Ke understood. He looked at his sister with quiet resignation.

Then he turned to Xue Pan: “Cousin, the betrothal between Baoqin and the Mei family ceased the moment our Four Great Families became enemies of the Luo Tian Emperor.”

Though Xue Pan was brutal, he was no fool—at least not when his entire clan’s survival was at stake.

In an instant, he grasped it. He clenched his teeth and spat: “It’s all the Jia family’s fault! Those damned bastards—if not for them, how could we be in this mess?”

“It’s useless to blame them now,” Xue Ke said. “Big Sister’s decision is our only chance to survive.”

“But… it can’t be that bad, can it?” Xue Yima hesitated. “The new sovereign has not yet destroyed every noble house in Jinling—except for the Zhen family. We…”

“That’s because the new dynasty has not yet completed its transformation!” Xue Ke said gravely. “In every era of dynastic change, when the foundation is still unstable, rulers show leniency. But once the realm is fully pacified, history shows—has any dynasty ever spared the nobility of the fallen regime?”

“Itachi mean…” Xue Yima’s face paled. “All these people in Jinling… they’ll all…”

Xue Ke nodded firmly: “Aunt, don’t harbor false hopes. Don’t imagine the founding sovereign will be merciful to the old nobility. Even if we send both Baochai and Baoqin into the palace, our Xue family will have no chance of revival for one or two generations.”

Xue Pan’s eyes widened in horror. “Then why send anyone at all?”

Xue Ke gave his cousin a weary glance. Though he knew Xue Pan was unreliable, and though “Stupid King” was a mild nickname, others called him even worse: “Xue Big Head.”

Only a big head—no brain inside.

“Cousin, if we don’t send Baochai and Baoqin, our entire Xue family will be exterminated—never to rise again.” Xue Ke spoke heavily.

Xue Pan was now terrified.

After deliberation between the first and second branches, all agreed: Xue Baoqin and Xiang Ling would be sent together to the Jinling palace.

To further curry favor with Xiang Ling, Xue Yima hastily adopted her as her daughter.

Had it not been for Luo Fu’s rise and the sudden emergence of the Luo Tian Army,

under normal circumstances, Xiang Ling, if adopted by Xue Yima, would have been recognized as a true Xue family daughter.

But now, both Xiang Ling and Xue Baoqin were merely tools for the Xue family to demonstrate submission—nothing more than the last hope of preserving their lineage.

Within the Jinling Imperial Palace.

In response to Xue Baochai’s request, Luo Fu said nothing.

Xue Baochai spoke so openly, revealing her intent without concealment, because after learning Luo Fu’s history, she understood: the Four Great Families, bound to Jia, were already criminals in the new dynasty.

Worse—crimes beyond pardon.

Under such circumstances, there was no room for manipulation.

And how could a sovereign like Luo Fu, who had overthrown the old order, fail to see through such a transparent ploy?

In a sense, Xue Baochai’s honesty was a form of self-degradation, meant to beg for the faintest sliver of pity from Luo Fu.

As a condemned remnant of the old regime—with deep enmity toward the new sovereign—failing to show sufficient submission would only bring total annihilation. And Luo Fu need not lift a finger.

He need only hint at his hostility toward the Four Great Families, and they would be torn apart by a frenzy of new nobles and former officials desperate to prove their loyalty.

The new nobles sought to align themselves with Luo Fu; the former officials seized this rare chance to jump ship.

In a sense, offending Luo Fu had placed the Four Great Families in a tenfold death trap. Their only sliver of hope lay in letting Luo Fu fully savor the satisfaction of vengeance.

And the best way to show this? Lie willingly upon the chopping block.

He glanced at the gift list presented by Xue Baochai.

The list included the Xue family’s donations: vast quantities of gold and silver, treasured relics from their vaults.

These donations were presented under the guise of Xue Baochai’s dowry.

Aside from these riches, the two most prominent names on the list were unmistakable.

Xue Baoqin. Xiang Ling.

The former was Xue Baochai’s legitimate cousin—the daughter of her father’s full brother.

But Xiang Ling was merely a name attached to the Xue family.

The Xue family had not concealed this—nor dared to.

Normally, a dowry included maids and servants.

Yet, this gift list did not include them, for the Jinling Royal Palace, as the temporary residence of Luo Fu, the founder of this new dynasty, was bound by strict protocols—how easily could one enter?

Even if the Xue family wished to send them, they first needed Luo Fu’s permission.

He casually placed the gift list back in front of Xue Baochai and said, “Then let your two younger sisters stay with Itachi for now.”

Xue Baochai’s heart leapt with joy, and she promptly thanked him.

Soon after Luo Fu received the first two names from the Secondary Twelve Beauties register, Jia Yucun presented him with another pair of Golden Beauties—one principal, one secondary.

(End of Chapter)