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Xu Zhen accepted the invitation of Duke of Yan, Zhang Liang, and arrived at the Duke's Residence to enlighten the elderly matriarch. However, upon entering the inner sanctum of the shrine, she encountered the despicable schemes of the Li Family. Realizing she had fallen into Zhang Liang's trap, she felt a moment of panic but quickly regained her composure and began to think of a countermeasure.
This matter must not be made public; the more it escalates, the bolder they will become. Unfortunately, some things cannot be avoided.
Fortunately, in order to enlighten the matriarch, Xu Zhen and Moya both carried secret artifacts of Illusion and did not wish to compromise with the Li Family. She sternly admonished, "Madam, as the esteemed matron, why do you demean yourself like this?"
The Li Family, clearly having been instructed beforehand, anticipated that Xu Zhen would refuse firmly. Undeterred, they laughed shamelessly, saying, "Though you claim to be a virtuous gentleman, can you truly say that seeing my alluring figure does not stir any earthly desires? Do not put on an act; life is short, and it is important to enjoy some fun together."
Xu Zhen was taken aback by the Li Family's utter lack of shame. Feeling increasingly disgusted, she showed no mercy and scolded harshly, "I do not dare to claim righteousness; even if I indulge in romantic escapades, why must I entangle myself with a faded flower like you? If you were sensible, you would retract your attitude; otherwise, I will report this to Duke Zhang. I believe you will not fare well!"
Seeing Xu Zhen invoke her husband’s name, the Li Family could not help but chuckle. This scheme was precisely what their master had devised. They thought this young man was too naive to see through such tricks. Why bother stirring trouble in the temple? Although he was said to be quite popular recently, he was not favored by the Li Family.
"I am aware of my own reputation; though it may not be pristine and my body is hardly pure, I possess many skills for enjoyment. If you do not recognize the situation and provoke me further, I will have to raise my voice. After all, I am my husband's legitimate wife; if word gets out, you might find yourself dragged into this mess as well!"
The Li Family found Xu Zhen beautiful but could not bring themselves to act on it. Losing interest in their game, they resorted to threats. Xu Zhen remained unfazed and coldly asked, "What do you intend to do?"
With no plan in mind at that moment, Xu Zhen felt cornered while the Li Family grew more confident. They leaned closer to her and lifted her delicate chin, whispering, "You are not someone without taste; had I known this would happen earlier, I would have yielded gracefully. Now that my temper has cooled down a bit, let me give you a piece of advice: when discussing matters in court in the future, consider your words carefully and avoid making reckless connections. Otherwise, you may end up infamous in Chang'an!"
Just as this woman was teasing Xu Zhen, hurried footsteps approached from outside. It was Zhang Liang accompanied by an elderly woman who burst in upon seeing Xu Zhen so close with another person. He feigned outrage and shouted, "You shameless harlot! Coming here to seduce our esteemed guest? Let me teach you a lesson!"
Zhang Liang angrily threatened to strike while the elderly woman shouted in protest and took the opportunity to scold the Li Family. Xu Zhen could hardly bear watching their farce unfold. Seeing Zhang Liang abandon his noble demeanor and tear off his mask of civility made her lose interest in him entirely. She scoffed and said, "A dignified Duke—why must you act so hastily? Xu Zhen is merely a commoner; the political storms of court have nothing to do with me. I thought Duke Zhang was a person of integrity; yet here you are trying to cover up your intentions—it seems you're colluding with Hou Junji."
Realizing that Xu Zhen had seen through his scheme, Zhang Liang stopped pretending and boldly warned her: "Those who know how to adapt are wise; good birds choose suitable trees to perch on; wise ministers choose worthy lords to serve. Little Princess Jinyang is at a crucial juncture—why not assist us in achieving something great instead of letting Pearl fall into obscurity?"
At this point, only one thin veil remained unlifted between them. Both understood that Zhang Liang was determined to conspire with Hou Junji's faction for political chaos while supporting Crown Prince Li Chengqian's rebellious actions.
Xu Zhen was already aware of historical records but felt cold at Zhang Liang's vile schemes. With a sneer, she replied: "Duke only knows that good birds choose suitable trees; he does not understand that phoenixes do not alight on non-paulownia trees. Those who do not share common principles should not collaborate; although I may lack talent, I do not wish to degrade myself by becoming a traitor or rebel. I have heard that both Duke and the matriarch are devout believers; let us set aside today's events for now. As Xu Zhen and Zoroastrian Apostle, I cannot pretend otherwise and must show you my capabilities before we discuss how things should proceed."
Zhang Liang and his mother along with the Li Family all believed in supernatural beings and sorcery. They had heard rumors from within the military about such matters and used this as an excuse to summon Xu Zhen here. Now hearing her claim she would reveal her abilities filled them with both curiosity and concern.
Curiously, what kind of divine techniques would the Xu Zhen display? Yet, there was also concern that if the Xu Zhen truly possessed extraordinary abilities, they had provoked someone they should not have.
The Xu Zhen was equally confrontational, targeting their weaknesses. Since you all believe in chaotic deities and strange powers, I will use what you fear the most to completely crush your arrogance!
At that moment, the Xu Zhen, dressed in a brocade robe to demonstrate her innocence, rolled up her sleeves. Her long, fair hands drew another round of futile chatter from the Li Family. However, Zhang Liang's gaze was entirely focused on the iron ring on the Xu Zhen's little finger!
Zhang Liang came from humble beginnings and had a wavering disposition, fearful of death. Initially, he followed the Wagang Army and Li Mi but was not given any significant role. Later, he joined Xu Shiji in surrendering to the Tang Dynasty. By the Year of Wude Four, when Liu Heita rebelled and Xu Shiji was ordered to suppress him, Zhang Liang abandoned Xiangzhou (present-day Anyang, Henan) in fear.
Afterward, he received a recommendation from Fang Xuanling and entered the Qin Wangfu, serving as Charioteer General in the Heavenly Strategy Army. Although he lacked military talent, he was adept at navigating social situations and governance, thus earning some favor until Li Zhi's time when he finally took a risk that made the Sovereign regard him differently.
Always by the Sovereign's side, how could he not recognize the Sovereign's possessions? The appearance of this ring on the Xu Zhen's hand further confirmed the rumors; indeed, she had a life-and-death bond with the Xuanwu Gate Incident!
Upon seeing this ring, Zhang Liang felt a chill run down his spine and secretly regretted taking the lead in this confrontation, allowing Hou Junji to act as a spearhead.
The Xu Zhen focused her mind; her eyes shone brightly as if illuminated by divine light. An otherworldly aura immediately enveloped her. The old woman had yet to witness any miraculous technique but already believed three parts of it!
After closing her eyes for a moment to sense her surroundings, the Xu Zhen walked three circles around the inner chamber with her hands clasped behind her back. It seemed she was communicating with the spiritual energy within the shrine while murmuring incantations. Her movements differed from those of a Daoist; instead of stepping with forceful intent, they subtly aligned with celestial will, making one feel as if all barriers of the room had vanished—like being in an open wilderness.
Returning to her original position, the Xu Zhen finally opened her slightly closed eyes and said solemnly: "I received enlightenment from Zoroastrianism in my dreams and learned thirty-six divine techniques. Today, however, I am insulted by you false believers and must invoke Hu Tian's might to teach you a lesson!"
Before her words fell silent, the Xu Zhen spread her empty hands; her whole body trembled as she chanted continuously as if summoning a spirit. The old woman was already frightened; her legs went weak at once. Had it not been for the Li Family supporting her strongly, she might have collapsed to worship at once.
Just as their fright began to settle down, the Xu Zhen's hands gathered what seemed like divine power. Two pale flames suddenly ignited with a "whoosh," floating above her palms like lost souls lifted by a gentle breeze. Zhang Liang's mind buzzed; his eyes were filled with that firelight. Not daring to act recklessly, he watched as the Xu Zhen flicked her fingers—the flames shot past Zhang Liang's cheek before suddenly dropping to the ground. A loud explosion erupted beneath their feet as a bright Fire Circle ignited around them!
"Foolish child! You have offended the Holy Fire Cult Envoy for no reason and summoned this purgatorial fire upon yourself! You are doomed!" The old woman rolled her eyes back and could not catch her breath; she suddenly collapsed. The Li Family and Zhang Liang were already so frightened that their limbs turned weak; they could hardly care for this old mother anymore. Had it not been for their concern over Duke’s identity forcing them to hold on, they would have knelt before the Xu Zhen long ago!
To deceive the Xu Zhen, this shrine had been arranged darkly and obscuredly. Now that it was filled with ominous energy and she suddenly summoned hellfire into reality, how could these three superstitious individuals not be terrified? They intended to frame the Xu Zhen ’s innocence but never expected it would lead to inviting disaster into their own home!
Although the Fire Circle was fleeting, the ability to summon fire with bare hands had already surpassed Zhang Liang's expectations. The so-called Earth Immortals raised in the residence appeared as ridiculous as children playing with bamboo horses in front of Xu Zhen.
Before anyone could react, Xu Zhen had stopped her chanting and, disregarding the young master, walked out to find several Bodyguards and Evil Servants binding Moya.
These seven or eight Evil Servants were usually accustomed to bullying the neighbors and were domineering. Seeing Xu Zhen appear alone, fearing for their master's safety, they quickly split into two groups. Four or five surrounded Xu Zhen while the rest rushed inside to rescue Zhang Liang.
Having been born and raised in the military, Xu Zhen bore countless scars on her body. How could she be intimidated by these three or five ruffians? As she watched them charge at her, it took no more than three punches and two kicks to bring them all down to the ground. One of them, lacking awareness, hurriedly ran out to summon more help, blocking Xu Zhen at the door with armed subordinates.
Just as Xu Zhen had freed herself from her restraints and was about to take Moya back, she was obstructed by these clueless Evil Servants. Struggling without weapons, she only had a concealed dagger at her waist but did not wish to cause fatalities or escalate the situation. She felt helpless and calculated that she would have to use her fists to get out of this residence.
As the Evil Servants were about to act, their master rushed out from within and shouted, "Step back! Do not be disrespectful to the Divine Master!"
Once Zhang Liang appeared, the Evil Servants settled down. Xu Zhen did not look back; she simply took Moya and left Duke's Residence, returning to Wuben Courtyard. The gate was securely closed, but fortunately, Zhang Liang had already made arrangements. The guards at Wuhou recognized Xu Zhen and had heard that she had risen from the streets as a Wuhou herself. They admired her greatly and allowed her entry after a brief exchange.
After sending Moya back, Xu Zhen returned to her bedroom and chatted casually with Caesar for a while. They shared a couple of cups of warm wine before lying down. However, she felt troubled and pondered how to navigate her circumstances, inevitably losing sleep.
Unable to sleep restlessly, she decided to confide in Caesar about her thoughts. Hearing about Caesar's difficult past made her feel even weaker in comparison. Determinedly, she resolved to harness the fierce winds of this conflict and ascend to the heights that everyone admired!
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