Chapter 223 Xiulan's Questions

However, after confirming that Zhu Chengwu would not appear, the Grandmaster Yangshen and Junior Grandmasters hiding in the dark who were persuaded by Zhu Chengzhi and Fang Huiju could choose not to take action, so as to avoid completely offending the disappeared Zhu Chengwu, and leave room for buffer for Zhu Chengwu's possible reappearance in the future.

But the Duke of Yan, the direct line of the Prince's Mansion, and the Fang family, the main forces that destroyed the Marquis Fu'an Mansion, did not have this option.

They have offended Zhu Chengwu to death!
Fang Huiju had no plans for herself, her husband Zhu Chengzhi, or her children.

Because of their positions and identities, they were in an absolutely hostile relationship with Zhu Chengwu from the very beginning, with almost no room for easing.

In the court hall of Prince Ming's palace, the reason why Fang Huiju asked Zhu Chengwu to let Prince Ming and Princess Yunluo go was simply because of a mother's reluctance.

In fact, Fang Huiju himself understood that it was almost impossible for Zhu Chengwu to let Prince Ming and Princess Yunluo go.

After the fall of the Marquis of Fu'an Mansion, Fang Huiju has been worried about how she would be able to protect the people she wants to protect if Zhu Chengwu reappears and becomes even stronger, or even if Zhu Chengwu has achieved a level above that of a Grandmaster when he reappears.

Finally, Fang Huiqi thought of Zhao Yushan and her daughter Zhu Xiulan, who still lived with her.

Fang Huiju didn’t know whether her plan would work, but it was the best solution Fang Huiju could think of!

It is impossible for Fang Huimin to throw the baby out with the bathwater just because she is worried about Zhu Chengwu's reappearance.

Fang Huimin could only prepare some backup plans to preserve the Fang family's inheritance while the plan continued.

So even though Zhao Yushan and Zhao Yuguang tried to kill the former crown prince Zhu Chengzhi to change the situation after discovering that Zhu Chengwu had never shown up, she still persuaded Zhu Chengzhi to let Zhao go.

Unfortunately, as expected, the other purpose of this plan was never achieved.

Even though Zhao Yushan and Zhao Yuguang committed suicide, Zhu Xiulan became the concubine of her nephew Fang Shenyi, and Zhao Qingya, the legitimate daughter of the Zhao family who almost became Zhu Chengwu's wife, became Zhu Chengzhi's lover, Zhu Chengwu never showed up.

Under such circumstances, Fang Huigui could only urge her nephew Fang Shenyi to make Zhu Xiulan pregnant as soon as possible.

She used this method to try to save Fang, who had been dragged into the center of the vortex by her and Zhu Chengzhi and whose strength had been greatly damaged.

Twenty-five years ago, the Fu'an Marquisate was no ordinary force. As the absolute main force in the frontal attack, the Fang family suffered heavy losses.

It is precisely because too many elite sons and potential members of the Fang family have been lost that up to now, except for the Queen Mother Fang Huilu who married out and has always hidden her Yang God cultivation, no other member of the Fang family has achieved the status of Grandmaster Yang God. Now the Fang family does not even have the combat power of a junior grandmaster level.

Although this is reasonable, after all, it is not easy to achieve Grandmaster Yangshen and Junior Grandmaster.

What's more, the Fang family originally focused on practicing the divine way.

However, because so many people from the Fang family died when the Fu'an Marquis Mansion was destroyed, many of them were Fang Huiju's elders, brothers, nephews and nephews, and people who were extremely close to Fang Huiju.

Therefore, deep down in her heart, Fang Huiju inevitably felt a lot of guilt towards Fang.

If it weren't for Fang Huiju and Zhu Chengzhi, the Fang family would not have had to go so deep into the center of the vortex and become the main force in destroying the Fu'an Marquis Mansion, and there would have been no room for easing the situation with Fu'an Marquis Zhu Chengwu.

Therefore, Fang Huiju would try to find a way to prevent the possible extermination of the Fang family if Zhu Chengwu reappeared one day.

I have to say that Fang Huiju's calculations and preventive measures are really cruel.

Not only did this put Zhu Chengwu, who was now standing outside the main gate of the Fang family mansion, into a dilemma, but it also caused all the Fang family members, including Fang Huiju's sister-in-law and nephew, to be entangled for more than 20 years.

After all, Zhu Xiulan's mother, Zhao Yushan, was the murderer of Fang Huirui's sister-in-law's husband and the murderer of Fang Huirui's nephew's father.

If you want to put your enemy in a dilemma, put yourself in a dilemma first!

Fang Huiqi is a ruthless person!

Boom~~

A fireball suddenly flew out from behind Zhu Chengwu and hit the main gate of the Fang family mansion in front of him.

With a loud bang, the main gate of the Fang family mansion, which was made of precious pear blossom iron wood and engraved with a spirit refining formation by a spirit refining master, was immediately shattered.

The gate made of pear blossom iron wood had just been broken, but it was already ignited by the scorching fire attached to the fireball.

Countless pieces of burning ironwood flew in the air and finally fell slowly to the ground, like a rain of fire.

"Xiu Lan, long time no see!"

Zhu Chengwu glanced at the many members of the Fang family who had walked out of the lobby of the Fang residence, and finally set his sights on the middle-aged woman who was surrounded by members of the Fang family and supported by a young man beside her.

Although the situation is difficult, we must still face it and solve it.

So, after a moment of thought, Zhu Chengwu first stepped into the Fang family mansion.

Seeing Zhu Chengwu walking in from the gate surrounded by a rain of fire, Zhu Xiulan finally opened her eyes and looked at Zhu Chengwu with a complicated look.

However, no words came out of his mouth.

However, the young man beside her, who was supporting her, looked at Zhu Chengwu, his uncle whom he met for the first time, with surprise.

"Fang Shenyi of the Fang family/…meet Lord Fu'an!"

Just as the young man who was supporting Zhu Xiulan was looking at Zhu Chengwu with surprise, all the people of the Fang family around and behind him, led by the mother of the head of the family Fang Shenyi, bowed to Zhu Chengwu.

Even some young and energetic juniors with a look of rebellion on their faces had to follow the gazes of their elders and do what they considered to be a flattering act.

Although these young people are young and energetic, they are relatively rational people who understand the general situation and know that family is the most important thing.

A truly stubborn and stubborn person, no matter how direct a descendant he is, will never appear in such a situation!
Although their positions are different, and although the Fang family was once the main force that destroyed the Fu'an Marquisate, now that the situation has changed and they have Zhu Xiulan and her son as a buffer, they must be responsible for the inheritance of the Fang family and should give in...

If a family wants to exist for a long time in the court, it needs to judge the situation!
Unless there is no room for buffer, I will swear to never surrender and seek a good reputation after my death!

"Fang family, Fang Huiyi...you guys are really good at this!"

As the Fang clan members greeted him, Zhu Chengwu had to look away from Zhu Xiulan after realizing that she had not been communicating with him.

After Zhu Chengwu glanced at the Fang clan members again, he stopped his gaze on Fang Shenyi, the current head of the Fang clan.

Facing Zhu Chengwu's words, the Fang clan members including Fang Shenyi just kept bowing and knelt without making any response.

At this moment, no matter who is from the Fang family, any response would be inappropriate!

As long as Zhu Chengwu sees Zhu Xiulan and her son, the Fang family’s goal will be achieved!
Afterwards, whether they can rely on Zhu Xiulan and her son as a backup to preserve the Fang family inheritance depends on Zhu Chengwu's decision!
As I said, this is the sadness of being inferior to others. Even if the Fang family has made more preparations, their final outcome still depends on Zhu Chengwu's expression and attitude.

This is also the fundamental reason why Zhu Chengwu always maintains the concept of strength first.

"Nephew meets uncle! Nephew..."

Just as the important figures of the Fang family at the scene remained bowing and knelt, and Zhu Xiulan was looking at Zhu Chengwu with complicated eyes, the young man who was supporting Zhu Xiulan suddenly let go of her hand, clasped his fists and bowed to Zhu Chengwu, and greeted him.

But before the young man could begin to speak, he was interrupted by a stern look from Zhu Chengwu.

"Xiu Lan, is this your child?"

After Zhu Chengwu interrupted the young man next to Zhu Xiulan, he turned his gaze back to Zhu Xiulan next to the young man.

While Zhu Chengwu asked knowingly, his eyes became gentle at the same time!
Zhu Chengwu's relationship with his third sister Zhu Xiulan was indeed not as good as that with his second sister Zhu Xiumin. After all, when Zhu Chengwu left the capital to be enfeoffed, Zhu Xiulan, Zhu Chengwu's third sister, was only three years old.

Zhu Chengwu and Zhu Xiulan were unable to communicate with each other at all, and there was little sibling affection between them.

After that, Zhu Chengwu and Zhu Xiulan never met again!

It has been decades since we last met, and Zhu Xiulan’s children are now in their twenties!

Although there is not much affection between them, Zhu Xiulan is Zhu Chengwu's biological sister after all.

Moreover, Zhu Xiulan’s current situation is somewhat related to Zhu Chengwu.

Therefore, it is difficult for Zhu Chengwu to remain ruthless towards his third sister Zhu Xiulan.

"Brother, I just want to ask you one question, why did you disappear 25 years ago?"

However, Zhu Xiulan did not appreciate Zhu Chengwu's genuine kindness, which was extremely rare.

After looking at Zhu Chengwu with complicated eyes for a long time, Zhu Xiulan only asked Zhu Chengwu this question.

This is a question that not only Zhu Xiulan wants to ask, but also Zhao Yushan wants to ask.

Looking at Zhu Xiulan's complicated and solemn expression, Zhu Chengwu's friendly expression also changed.

Zhu Chengwu looked at Zhu Xiulan with deep eyes!
Hearing the conversation between Zhu Xiulan and Zhu Chengwu, the people of the Fang family who had been kneeling around them became nervous.

Although Zhu Chengwu ignored them just now, his friendly expression towards Zhu Xiulan made them optimistic about overcoming today's difficulties and preserving the Fang family's inheritance.

They are not important, or rather, they have long understood that the Fang family, as the main force in the destruction of the Fu'an Marquis Mansion, would never get a good look from Zhu Chengwu.

As long as Zhu Chengwu maintains a brotherly relationship with Zhu Xiulan, that's enough!

Zhu Xiulan and her son are the key to the Fang family's inheritance.

But now Zhu Xiulan's questioning words to Zhu Chengwu shattered their optimistic expectations!
Especially some of them couldn't help but explore their thoughts in their hearts. They raised their heads slightly, and after catching a glimpse of the change in Zhu Chengwu's expression out of the corner of their eyes, their optimistic expectations deep in their hearts were shattered!

Everyone in the entire Ming Dynasty knows that after disappearing for twenty-five years, Fu'an Marquis Zhu Chengwu's mentality has changed and he has become more and more of a "demonic tyrant"!

Even Zhu Chengwu's closest second sister, Princess Min'an, was seriously injured by him due to a disagreement, let alone Zhu Xiulan, the third sister who was not very close to Zhu Chengwu.

"You, you guys, really want to hear me say it myself?"

However, just when the people of the Fang family were worried that Zhu Chengwu, the invincible martial arts legend of the time, would no longer care about the relationship between brother and sister after Zhu Xiulan asked such questions, Zhu Chengwu's answer suddenly and unexpectedly rang out.

"I do, I do, and mother wants it even more! We all want to hear from you, big brother, the reason why you suddenly disappeared!"

Faced with Zhu Chengwu's answer which was a question instead of an answer, the complexity in Zhu Xiulan's eyes turned into determination.

Determined to know the answer.

More than 20 years ago, Zhu Chengwu sealed the city of Xuzhou, and Zhu Xiumin also escaped from the Ming Palace and went to Xuzhou City.

In the Ming Palace, the mother and daughter Zhao Yushan and Zhu Xiulan depend on each other for survival. The mother-daughter relationship between them exceeds that between Zhu Chengwu and Zhu Xiumin.

Especially after Zhu Chengwu disappeared, under the strong pressure from Zhu Chengzhi and Fang Huiju, and in the dilemma, the mother-daughter relationship between Zhu Xiulan and Zhao Yushan became even stronger!
Therefore, Zhu Xiulan, who understood the importance of the Zhao family in Zhao Yushan's heart, would take the initiative to agree to give up the Zhu family's royal status and go to the Fang family to become Fang Shenyi's concubine.

If it weren't for the bond of mother-daughter love, Zhu Xiulan would rather die than become Fang Shenyi's concubine and give birth to a child for him!

Emotional bonds are so terrifying!
This is also the reason why Zhu Chengwu has always avoided giving his absolute sincerity!

Zhu Chengwu doesn't want to be bound by emotions.

After not seeing her elder brother Zhu Chengwu for more than 20 years, Zhu Xiulan couldn't help but recall the difficulties and dilemmas she and her mother Zhao Yushan faced at that time, as well as the days when they wiped their tears in secret and swallowed their anger.

Therefore, Zhu Xiulan naturally wanted to help her mother Zhao Yushan, and also help herself solve the biggest doubt in her mind at the time.

Perhaps this doubt was not really a doubt, as they had already guessed the reason for Zhu Chengwu's disappearance.

I just haven't heard Zhu Chengwu's own words, so I haven't given up!
"At that time, the Yang Lei Zhen Yan had not yet fully formed. I had to stay at the place where the Yang Lei Zhen Yan was born. No accidents could happen to the Yang Lei Zhen Yan!"

Since Zhu Xiulan wanted to know and mentioned Zhao Yushan, Zhu Chengwu didn't mind repeating the reason that almost everyone had guessed by now.

"No accidents can happen to Yang Lei Zhen Yan. What about my mother, Zhao, me... and the Fu'an Marquis Mansion?

If something unexpected happens to us, can you accept it, brother?
Big brother, do you know that because of your disappearance, the Fu'an Marquisate was destroyed, my mother died, and my cousin Qingya and I..."

After hearing Zhu Chengwu's own account, Zhu Xiulan finally gave up.

My eldest brother Zhu Chengwu disappeared twenty-five years ago, not because of any accident, nor because of the legendary spirit Narcissus.

The disappearance of eldest brother Zhu Chengwu was entirely his own decision. He disappeared voluntarily.

But this desperation made Zhu Xiulan excited.

"Xiu Lan, if I were given another chance to choose, I would make the same choice!
Nothing can happen to Yang Lei Zhen Yan, because it is related to my achievement of becoming a Grandmaster!
Even if the Fu'an Marquis Mansion is destroyed, as long as I am alive, I can rebuild it at any time!

Of course, the dead cannot be resurrected, but I can avenge them and you!

As long as I am still here, as long as I become stronger, I can solve all the hatreds by myself!
But if I were gone, then there would be no help from heaven or earth!

There is not even one person to avenge you!"

This was the first time Zhu Chengwu answered so earnestly.

Because in Zhu Chengwu's eyes, Zhu Xiulan at this time is no longer just Zhu Xiulan, she also has the shadow of her mother Zhao Yushan.

"Revenge? What good will revenge do? Can what has already happened be changed?
Above the Grandmaster, is it so important to be above the Grandmaster?
Okay, even if being above Grandmaster is really that important!

Big brother, can’t you achieve more than a Grandmaster through other means?

Must the Yang Lei Zhen Yan disappear at that critical moment?"

Hearing Zhu Chengwu's words, Zhu Xiulan's tone became lonely and silent.

“To achieve Grandmaster status, you must have two high-level treasures of heaven and earth that are compatible with each other as boosters!
Moreover, there is a time limit for achieving the Grandmaster level. Once the time limit is exceeded, even if one obtains two high-level treasures of heaven and earth that are compatible with each other, one will not be able to achieve the Grandmaster level anymore!
This is also the reason why even talented people like Yin Kui Tianmo, Shaolin Bodhidharma, and Wudang Sanfeng could never achieve the level above Grandmaster!
Now that I have a chance and see hope, I won’t give up!
And you see, now I have only initially gained power above the Grandmaster with the help of these two high-level treasures of heaven and earth, the Earth Core Fire Lotus and the Yang Thunder True Flame. I have not yet truly achieved power above the Grandmaster, but I have been able to make all the strong men bow their heads, destroy the Shaolin Temple, make Fang Huiju self-destruct his soul, and return in vain with the help of the Ming Dynasty's national destiny!

In this case, can you still say that Yang Lei Zhen Yan is not important?
There is an old saying: If people survive and the land is lost, both people and land survive; if people lose and the land survives, both people and land are lost! "

Zhu Chengwu carefully explained everything to Zhu Xiulan, who had the shadow of Zhao Yushan.

For Zhu Chengwu now, there is no need to keep hiding many secrets any longer.

Moreover, explaining everything to Zhu Xiulan, who has the shadow of Zhao Yushan, is also necessary for Zhu Chengwu to resolve the knot in his heart and make a breakthrough to become a master.

(End of this chapter)