"Although Master hasn't said it outright...
I can tell she's already started having doubts in that regard."
"Of course she has! If it were me, I'd be suspicious too."
Ouyang Ye understood the situation perfectly. Ever since she and Sister Handong had brought the Chiyan Young Lord impersonated by Sister Ling'er to meet Daozun Feiyan three or four months ago, the old lady's condition had visibly improved.
Both of them had been overjoyed at first. However, when Sister Ling'er impersonated the Chiyan Young Lord, she had been far too nervous—especially when facing Daozun Feiyan. She was as nervous as could be; during that meeting, she was so tense she could barely speak.
Worried that Sister Ling'er might give herself away if they met again, they had only taken her that one time. For subsequent visits, they hadn't brought Sister Ling'er along. Once or twice was fine, but as time dragged on, the old lady was bound to grow suspicious. During the last few visits Ouyang Ye accompanied Han Dong on, Daozun Feiyan would intentionally or unintentionally bring up the Chiyan Young Lord, repeatedly expressing her desire to see him again.
Just a few days ago, the two of them were still fretting over this matter. After all, Sister Ling'er was pregnant, her belly growing bigger by the day. If she met Daozun Feiyan, there was a high chance the ruse would be exposed.
But now, things were looking up.
With Lao Jiu—a Chiyan Young Lord impersonator so convincing it was hard to tell truth from fiction—they believed he definitely wouldn't slip up in front of Daozun Feiyan.
However, Han Dong still seemed somewhat worried. "Yeye, do you think he can pull it off?"
Han Dong had never met the real Chiyan Young Lord before. She had only learned about this remarkable genius emerging in the Four Great Regions three years ago, after the Nine Flowers Alliance was destroyed. As for whether that Lao Jiu's impersonation was convincing or not, she had no idea.
"Sister Handong, I can tell you with absolute certainty."
Ouyang Ye said seriously, "If I didn't know that bastard Gu Qingfeng died three years ago, I'd suspect this Lao Jiu fellow was actually Gu Qingfeng in disguise. This guy is just too similar to Gu Qingfeng—it's like they're the same person. Not only would your master be unable to tell if he's real or fake, even I can't distinguish whether he's Lao Jiu or Gu Qingfeng anymore. Since your master is already suspicious, why don't we just take him to see her tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow?"
"Don't worry, Sister Handong. Trust me. Lao Jiu's impersonation of the Chiyan Young Lord is absolutely flawless."
Noticing Han Dong's lingering concern, Ouyang Ye took her hand and asked, "Sister Handong, if you don't have confidence in Lao Jiu, do you at least have confidence in me?"
"No! Yeye! It's not that I lack confidence in you, it's just..." Han Dong paused, her expression filled with profound worry. "I always thought Master's spirits improved because she learned I had formed a Dao Companion bond with the Chiyan Young Lord, and that the Chiyan Young Lord, with his great abilities and mysterious background, could help me overcome this crisis."
"Wasn't that the reason for her happiness?"
"I thought so too, until recently when I realized the reason wasn't just that."
"What else could it be?"
"It's also because the Chiyan Young Lord is hailed as the successor of the Chixiao Monarch."
Ouyang Ye clearly couldn't quite grasp this. "What's wrong with that?"
"Yeye, you should know that when the Chixiao Monarch was young, he once lived in seclusion at our Yao Yue Palace, right?"
"Is that all? Sister Handong, have you forgotten? The Chixiao Monarch is my idol! How could I not know about the Monarch's affairs? I don't just know he lived in seclusion at your Yao Yue Palace; I also know about the matters between the Monarch and Empress Zhuoyue. I'm well aware of all the entanglements between him and your Yao Yue Palace. But what does that have to do with what you just said?"
"Back when the Chixiao Monarch lived in seclusion at our Yao Yue Palace, besides Empress Zhuoyue, my master also knew his true identity."
Han Dong seemed to be recalling something. "I've heard Master mention it. Back then, the Monarch was besieged by many experts from the Great Northwest, severely wounded and unconscious. He was rescued by Empress Zhuoyue and my master. At first, Empress Zhuoyue was merely curious about this person and kept him by her side. But as time passed, she developed feelings for the Monarch. The Monarch's heroic spirit, his free and easy demeanor, his untamed nature—they deeply attracted Empress Zhuoyue."
"However, while the flower was willing, the stream was heartless. Empress Zhuoyue had feelings for the Monarch, but the Monarch did not feel the same way toward her. At the very least, when Empress Zhuoyue confessed her feelings, she was rejected by the Monarch. When she tried to persuade him to stay, she was also refused."
"I've heard about these events too," Ouyang Ye continued, "but I still don't see what this has to do with Lao Jiu impersonating the Chiyan Young Lord."
"Let me finish. Back then, when my master learned of this, she also tried to persuade Empress Zhuoyue, but it was useless. Empress Zhuoyue's heart was completely devoted to the Monarch at that time. In fact, back then, Empress Zhuoyue was even willing to abandon Yao Yue Palace for the Monarch, ready to elope with him..."
"Empress Zhuoyue was the hope of Yao Yue Palace. My master always regarded her as her own daughter. Unable to persuade Empress Zhuoyue, she went to persuade the Monarch instead, but was similarly rejected. In a fit of anger, Master threatened the Monarch."
"Threatened the Monarch?" Ouyang Ye interjected at this point. "The Chixiao Monarch was born with an unruly, free-spirited nature. One of the things he hated most in his life was being threatened. If your master threatened him, it would probably only backfire..."
"Yes...
So Master did something she deeply regrets to this day, something she has never been able to forgive herself for. It's because of this incident that Master has lived in profound self-blame and guilt ever since."
"What happened?"
"Yeye, do you know who it was that exposed the Monarch's identity back when he was living incognito at our Yao Yue Palace?"
"Wasn't it the Third Elder? The rumors say the Third Elder admired Empress Zhuoyue back then. After secretly learning the Monarch's identity, he exposed the matter."
"It was indeed the Third Elder who exposed it. But do you know how the Third Elder found out?"
"I don't know about that..." As soon as she finished speaking, Ouyang Ye seemed to realize something, asking in shock, "Could it be... it was your master?"
Han Dong nodded. "After failing to persuade Empress Zhuoyue and then failing to persuade the Monarch, Master, left with no other choice, finally revealed the matter to the Third Elder. Master originally thought that once the Monarch's identity was exposed, experts from the various major sects of the Great Northwest would come to besiege him. At that time, Master would lead the elders of Yao Yue Palace to step forward and spare the Monarch's life."
"In her mind, that was the only way to make the Monarch stay at Yao Yue Palace. Only if the Monarch stayed would Empress Zhuoyue stay. But..." Han Dong shook her head with a sigh. "But Master underestimated the Monarch's strength. She underestimated his courage, his resolve, and also... his heartlessness."