Chapter 655

Our own Majesty has never seen such a thing!

Moreover, you are the Empress of Great Tang, entrusted with the mission of unifying Great Tang under one rule.

How can you be so sentimental?

Shangguan Wan could not directly advise her, but just then spotted Lian Xinluo on the list, and immediately said,

"Your Majesty! This Miss Lian Xinluo is the person I mentioned from Xiejian Sect."

I once encountered her by chance while investigating news from Yunzhou, and we became close confidantes.

Now I'm working on a plan to bring her into our Great Tang camp."

"Oh…"

Wu Zetian looked listless, murmured "oh," and said nothing more.

Shangguan Wan felt a headache coming on, and forced herself to continue,

"According to her, the leader of Xiejian Sect—that is, Qu Feiyan—has strength not inferior to Wuming's!"

The legend of Wuming Tianjian Lushenmo had long spread across the Nine Provinces.

Though he was once merely a Wu Lin myth of Yunzhou, now every swordsman in the Nine Provinces looked up to his deeds in awe.

Hearing that Qu Feiyan's strength was no less than Wuming's, Wu Zetian finally snapped back to attention,

"Oh! Really? Then how confident are you?"

"Lian Xinluo has a younger sister, said to be named Lian Nishang! In the Great Qing Wu Lin, she has a nickname: Bai Fa Mo Nü."

I plan to use her as a breakthrough—if she joins our Great Tang, then winning over Lian Xinluo is certain."

"If Lian Xinluo joins Great Tang, how far can Qu Feiyan be?"

Shangguan Wan clearly came prepared—even Lian Xinluo's sister had been thoroughly investigated.

"Bai Fa Mo Nü? Is she a member of the demonic path?"

Wu Zetian found this strange—how come Great Tang kept drawing in demonic path figures?

First came Tian Mo Cang Qu, whom I appointed as State Preceptor.

Then came the Yin Yue Imperial Court, appearing in Youzhou.

Yet so far, no further progress has been made!

"No! The Great Qing Wu Lin is extremely low-level.

Rumor has it that Lian Nishang once fell in love with Zhuo Yihang of the Great Qing Wudang.

Due to a misunderstanding between them, Lian Nishang's hair turned white overnight, her temperament changed drastically, and she became cruel and murderous.

Thus, the Great Qing Wu Lin people call her Bai Fa Mo Nü."

Shangguan Wan's intelligence gathering was nearly complete.

"From the way you speak, clearly you've already made arrangements!

Who did you send? Do you have confidence?

And does the Great Qing Wudang have ties to the Great Ming Wudang?"

Last time, the Great Ming Wudang was nearly wiped out; afterward, the Qinglong Society instructed the Great Ming court to purge nearly all Zong Sects within Great Ming.

Anyone involved in the Wudang affair—regardless of age or status—was exterminated!

For a time, the Great Ming Wu Lin was greatly weakened.

But at the same time, its cohesion grew much stronger.

Hearing that Lian Nishang was connected to the Great Qing Wudang, Wu Zetian's first thought was of the Great Ming Wudang.

"The Great Qing Wudang is actually a branch sent out by the Great Ming Wudang, led by Zi Yang Dao Ren.

But Zi Yang Dao Ren's Wu Gong is merely at the Peerless level!"

To ensure the mission succeeds without fail, I've already dispatched Sun En!"

Shangguan Wan had indeed investigated thoroughly—Wu Zetian asked anything, and she answered fluently.

Sun En is one of Great Tang's Imperial Protectors, and more crucially, he is a Tian Dao Jin Bang expert!

Early-stage Mythical Realm!

With such power, entering the low-level Wu Lin of Great Qing is virtually an all-out sweep!

Wu Zetian nodded, smiling in satisfaction,

"With you here, Shangguan Wan, I'm truly at ease!

If possible, I'd truly like to hand Great Tang over to you and go to Qinglong Dian to enjoy peace!"

Now only she and Shangguan Wan were in the imperial chamber, so she spoke with unusual frankness.

But whether or not Great Tang would be handed over, and what kind of peace could she possibly enjoy at Qinglong Dian?

Shangguan Wan could not retort—she knew this was half-joke, half-serious from her Majesty.

She chose not to respond, and simply said,

"Your Majesty! As for Sima Sanniang—also known as Yan Chixia's wife—we've already made contact.

But she is eccentric: though she is a medical sage and the wife of Yan Chixia, a top-tier powerhouse,

she indulges in pleasure with several male concubines within Shanzhuang."

Wu Zetian finally heard something that piqued her interest.

Sima Sanniang was clearly the person Shangguan Wan had mentioned before, connected to Yan Chixia.

And this woman actually had male concubines?

"Really? Then why not send her several handsome men from Great Tang as concubines?

Could she then persuade Yan Chixia to join our Great Tang?"

Yan Chixia is a master praised by Cang Qu—his strength is clearly no less than Cang Qu's!

If all it took to win Yan Chixia was a harem of male favorites, then Wu Zetian could gift her an entire palace of them!

"This… doesn't seem right!"

Watching her sovereign's bizarre train of thought, Shangguan Wan couldn't help but break into a sweat.

Who ever gives another woman's husband as a gift, then expects that woman to fight for you?

"Your Majesty! What if giving her a male favorite makes Yan Chixia hate us instead?"

"Huh… you're right!"

Only then did Wu Zetian realize she had been trying to recruit not Sima Sanniang, but her husband, Yan Chixia.

"Then do you have a plan?"

Shangguan Wan was not only Wu Zetian's closest friend but also one of her chief strategists.

Moreover, when Shangguan Wan acted, she always had a plan ready before reporting to her.

"I've investigated: Sima Sanniang hides in Despair Shanzhuang, indulging in pleasure."

Meanwhile, Yan Chixia lurks in Lanruo Temple, ignoring the world—everything seems tied to an old matter."

"The most important part is their daughter, Yan Hongye!"

"If we find Yan Hongye, perhaps we'll learn how to resolve this."

Indeed, Shangguan Wan knew far more than expected.

Wu Zetian patted Shangguan Wan approvingly and said,

"You, you! You already know exactly what to do, and you can command the Luansheng Guards directly—why do you keep coming to me for every little thing?"

"You're the Majesty…"

Shangguan Wan was utterly speechless.

Did the Empress truly not want to handle any affairs?

"Alright, alright, no need to report such trivial matters to me anymore."

"If you can decide for yourself, then decide."

"I'll only want the final reports from now on."

Wu Zetian waved her hand lazily and shifted into a more reclined position.

"…"

Shangguan Wan remained silent for a long while, then suddenly spoke again,

"Your Majesty! There's urgent news—Dàyuan seems to be stirring; I suspect they're targeting Youzhou."

"Oh? Lanruo Temple?"

Wu Zetian instantly guessed,

"If they want it, let them have it."