"Mother, you must help Wang Zhong, or he will die."
In the courtyard, Zhu Yaning, who had returned home first, held a cup of hot tea and took a light sip.
Her bright eyes cast a sideways glance at Zhu Zhuyun, who stood before her, her face filled with anxiety, grasping one of her hands and pleading with her, almost like a spoiled child. Behind her stood her three sisters, their gazes filled with supplication. Zhu Yaning shook her head and asked, "Zhuyun, do you know who this Cai Ensi is?"
Zhu Zhuyun's red lips were tightly pursed, and her pretty face showed a struggle.
"He is a Platinum Bishop of the Spirit Hall. Within the Star Luo Empire, even the Emperor must show him respect."
"What Wang Zhong did was no mere trifle. He acted with deadly intent, aiming to kill Cai Ensi!"
"Such actions are outrageously bold, practically an act of war against the entire Spirit Hall!"
"Although the Zhu family has some status and position in the Star Luo Empire, compared to the Spirit Hall, we are but tender infants, easily crushed with a flip of a hand."
Setting down her teacup, Zhu Yaning gently stroked Zhu Zhuyun's beautiful hair and sighed softly, "Zhuyun, if we save Wang Zhong, it means pushing the entire Zhu family to the opposite side of the Spirit Hall."
"Perhaps in the next instant, everyone in the Zhu family will face furious retaliation, even a purge, from the Spirit Hall!"
"I, your father, Zhua, Zhuyi, and even Zhuqing, could all meet with misfortune at any moment! Have you truly considered such consequences?"
A soft sigh escaped her lips, filled with powerlessness.
Wang Zhong's ferocity and ruthlessness were truly beyond her expectations. Even though she was nearby at the time, she never imagined that Wang Zhong would act so decisively, capable of being described as a violent brute who would kill at the slightest disagreement.
"Mother!"
As she softly savored the word, Zhu Yaning's eyes trembled at that moment.
The root cause of Wang Zhong's sudden actions stemmed from these two words. The people and emotions represented by this word had become the most precious and cherished existence in his heart. Anyone who insulted it even slightly would face the fiercest retaliation.
Such pure and cherished family affection was too dazzling, too scorching, and even somewhat painful in the Zhu family, bound by imperial power.
Sister against sister, parents watching from the sidelines – in such a cruel and heartless family rule, where could there be any so-called mother-son affection? It was merely a fantasy, a distant dream.
The current dependence of Zhu Zhuyun and the other four on their mother was merely fleeting smoke. Once Zhu Zhiya and Zhu Zhiyi turned twelve, and one of them was married to the Second Prince, the cold-bloodedness and cruelty born of the family rules would utterly destroy everything.
As she envisioned such a future in her mind, Zhu Yaning felt an unbearable pain and suffocation, along with an irrepressible hatred and ferocity surging from her bloodline.
Netherworld White Tiger!
It was this Spirit Fusion Skill that brought the Zhu family their most tragic and inescapable fate!
"Mother, is there truly no way?" Zhu Zhuyun's voice trembled with an inexplicable fear.
"Mother, please help him!" Zhu Zhiya stepped forward and took Zhu Yaning's other hand, pleading.
Zhu Zhiyi also stepped forward. She didn't speak, but the anticipation in her eyes was unmasked.
"Mama."
Zhu Zhuqing immediately pounced into Zhu Yaning's embrace, tightly clutching her neck and shamelessly acting spoiled.
The similar attitude of the four sisters made the guess in Zhu Zhiya's heart solidify even further. She was both amused and furious about this matter.
The children she had personally raised had developed feelings for the same man, and disregarding the future of the family, they were begging her to oppose such a colossal power as the Spirit Hall.
So, women were destined to look outwards, right?
"But my children! If the Zhu family were truly under my control, if I had the final say, those damned and ossified family rules and regulations would have long since turned to dust and been buried in the history of the Zhu family."
"That old hag in the Zhu family who refuses to die, and that old immortal clinging to life in the Dai family, they are the true powers behind the scenes of the Zhu and Dai families, and the enforcers of the family rules."
"I am merely a puppet, unable to choose the person I love, nor can I do anything a mother should do. That emperor surnamed Dai, though he appears glorious, has no say in any major matters."
With her eyes lowered, Zhu Yaning's face held a chill that was almost icy, cold and ruthless.
No response was the best answer!
Zhu Yaning had no desire to get involved in this matter.
For the first time, the four sisters saw such a cold and almost emotionless expression on Zhu Yaning's face, and they were all stunned.
"You are not young anymore."
"You should understand what a family is, and what family rules are!"
"An outsider has caused you to disregard the family. Can you still be considered disciples of the Zhu family!"
The merciless scolding, laced with a bone-chilling coldness, startled the four sisters, who slowly dispersed from Zhu Yaning's side, not daring to breathe.
"Alright, do not mention this matter again. You may leave!"
With a flick of her slender hand, Zhu Yaning coldly dismissed the four.
This completely different demeanor from before shattered the sisters' perception and image of Zhu Yaning. Her chilling gaze, as if she were looking at strangers, terrified them, and they retreated backward.
Only after reaching the outside of the courtyard did they seem to awaken from a dream.
Zhu Zhuyun looked at Zhu Yaning in the courtyard, sipping her tea leisurely. Her silver teeth clenched tightly, and finally, after thinking of something, she resolutely walked out of the Zhu family.
Zhu Yaning and Zhu Yiyi exchanged a glance, then, pulling Zhu Zhuqing, who was still nervously staring at the courtyard, they chased after her and asked, "Big Sister, where are you going?"
"To the Imperial Palace, to find Dai Wei!" Zhu Zhuyun's eyes were persistent and resolute. Even if she had to beg the person who disgusted her from the bottom of her heart, she had to save Wang Zhong.
Her hand tightly clasped her chest, where a golden spirit coin worn as a necklace was hidden deep within.
"Ah, but Sister..."
Zhu Zhiya and Zhu Zhiyi exclaimed in unison. Zhu Zhuyun's aversion to Dai Wei had become increasingly apparent since meeting Wang Zhong, and recently, even mentioning him would displease her.
Under such circumstances, she never imagined that Zhu Zhuyun would go to see Dai Wei for Wang Zhong!
However, as the group reached the entrance, the four sisters encountered Wang Zhong.
Zhu Zhuyun's eyes suddenly trembled, Zhu Zhiya and Zhu Zhiyi also looked surprised, while little Zhuqing, with a hint of joy, suddenly pounced into Wang Zhong's arms.
She asked in a clear, sweet voice, "Brother Wang Zhong, you're back!"
He gently stroked the little one in his arms and chuckled, "Of course. With cute Zhuqing here, why wouldn't I return!"
After comforting Zhu Zhuqing, Wang Zhong then looked up at the three women, Zhu Zhuyun and the others, and said softly, "How was it, didn't I tell you?"
"I'm fine!"
His confident and gentle smile momentarily dazed the three women.
He had actually walked out of the Spirit Hall completely unharmed.
They were not the only ones who were shocked. Seated in the courtyard, Zhu Yaning's pretty face was also filled with surprise, even disbelief.
"You're saying Wang Zhong walked out of the Spirit Hall completely unharmed!"
"Yes, Family Head!"
Her bright eyes flashed with light, and she said coldly, "Go and pay attention to the movements and personnel changes of the Spirit Hall during this period. If there's anything different from usual, report it to me immediately!"
"Yes, Family Head!"
In the courtyard, Zhu Yaning stood with her hands behind her back, her expression grave and solemn.