The old woman ignored Yin Zhengqi's cry. Her eyes burned as she stared at Zhang Yuexuan, asking again, "Child, what is your name? From which branch of the Moon Vein do you descend?"
Looking at the elder's face, filled with excitement, Zhang Yuexuan felt an inexplicable sense of closeness. She answered softly, "My name is Zhang Yuexuan. As for which branch of the Moon Vein I belong to… I do not know. My family was destroyed by enemies when I was still very young."
"What!" At her words, a flash of anger crossed the old woman's face. Then, looking at her with pity, she said, "Child, you have suffered. Our forebears' weakness has caused you to bear their burden!"
"I didn't suffer much, actually. After my family's downfall, Shrek Academy took me in. Since then, I've always lived there." Zhang Yuexuan spoke with calmness, though in her heart she had already guessed this woman's identity—surely one of the Moon Vein's surviving elders.
"So that's how it is!" The woman nodded, then turned toward Elder Song. With surprising grace, she performed a courtly bow. "Elder sister, I am Xu Jianwei. Forgive my rudeness."
"Please, don't," Elder Song replied, stepping aside. "You are clearly older than me—I cannot accept such a title."
"Ah…" Xu Jianwei's face showed a trace of embarrassment before she smiled bitterly. "No matter what, I must still thank Shrek Academy for raising and nurturing this child."
"Then perhaps you should reveal your own identity," Elder Song said lightly. "Judging from your name, you should be addressed as the current Emperor's great-aunt."
"You've done your homework, it seems." Xu Jianwei smiled ruefully. "Yes, by seniority, I am indeed that Xu Jiusong's great-aunt. Whether he recognizes me or not is another matter. My name is Xu Jianwei. My father was Xu Yiqiu, the Emperor who was beheaded by his own cousin during the Moon-Devouring Palace Incident. At that time, I happened to be away, and so escaped with my life."
"What!" Zhu Ziyang, Zhang Yuexuan, and Elder Song all widened their eyes in shock. They had never expected to meet a direct witness of that bloody coup from one hundred and fifty years ago—let alone someone of such status.
Xu Yiqiu had been the Moon Vein Emperor killed in the rebellion, and Xu Jianwei was his daughter—the princess of the Sun Moon Empire. Encountering someone with such an identity… it was impossible to say if this was fortune or misfortune for their plans.
One thing, however, was certain: she was indeed older than Elder Song. Xu Jianwei must be at least one hundred and fifty years old, while Elder Song was just over one hundred and forty, the youngest of the four Grand Elders of Xuanlin Manor.
"In other words, you are the purest of the pure Moon Vein lineage!" Elder Song was astonished, then asked curiously, "How did you evade the Sun Vein's pursuit and even cultivate to the realm of Titled Douluo?"
"Perhaps it was fate that I did not die," Xu Jianwei said calmly. "When the coup happened, I was only fifteen years old. I was not in the palace, but here in the Moon South Archipelago, and so escaped the massacre. By the time I learned of it, half a year had passed, and all was already settled. I longed for vengeance, but lacked the strength.
"The Sun Vein never discovered me here. Thus I survived the most dangerous decade. Later, as the Sun Vein's internal struggles consumed them, I finally had a chance to breathe. I began searching for other survivors of our clan—but all I found were side branches. I thought I was the last of the main line… until I met this child."
"So you have lived here in the Moon South Archipelago for the past one hundred and fifty years?" Elder Song asked.
"Yes. Because my martial soul is also a Moon spirit, the old patriarch of the Yin Clan arranged for me to inherit the role of Silvermoon High Priestess. Since then, I have remained here." Xu Jianwei's face carried both gratitude and relief.
"Now that you've reached rank 93, did you never think of avenging the Moon Vein?" Elder Song pressed.
Xu Jianwei gave a weary smile. "If I were forty or fifty years younger, perhaps. But now I am over one hundred and sixty. My talent was never great. With the High Priestess' resources, I barely reached Titled Douluo at age one hundred. To advance further is impossible. All I can do now is leave behind some hope for the Moon Vein and the Silvermoon faith. That is why the Yin Clan has been searching for Moon Vein descendants."
"Oh!" Elder Song finally understood. Far from being a threat to their plan, Xu Jianwei was a valuable ally. "If Shrek Academy wishes to help the Moon Vein reclaim the throne, would you agree?"
"You mean to make this child the next Moon Empress?" Xu Jianwei asked, her expression flickering with deep emotion.
"Yes," Elder Song said directly. "Yuexuan is twenty-seven years old, already an eighty-seventh rank Soul Douluo, and she possesses the purest royal bloodline. With such talent, surely many would support her ascension."
"What?!" Yin Zhengqi's face froze in shock. Now he finally understood Elder Song's earlier confidence that Shrek would never control the imperial house—they intended to crown their own Empress!
"Haha… with such talent, far from opposition, she will earn widespread support," Xu Jianwei said bitterly. "Why did my father fall to betrayal? Because even at fifty, he was only a Soul Emperor. But this child is already a Soul Douluo at twenty-seven.
"If Shrek truly intends to help her reclaim the throne, then I will not oppose it. But before that, I must speak with her."
"Of course," Elder Song nodded, calmly sipping her tea.
Xu Jianwei turned to Zhang Yuexuan. "Child, you truly do not know which branch of the Moon Vein you belong to?"
"I truly don't," Zhang Yuexuan said sadly. "When my family was destroyed, I was only eleven years old, an ignorant child. I only learned the identity of our enemies later from the Academy."
"Then do you remember your parents' or grandparents' names?" Xu Jianwei asked.
"Yes. My father was Zhang Jiuling, and my mother was Le Xinyi. As for my grandfather, I never met him. I only knew my grandmother, whose surname was Zhang. My grandfather, I heard, married into her family."
"I see…" Xu Jianwei looked regretful. "Your father's name does follow the imperial naming pattern. Without your grandfather's name, I cannot determine your exact branch. But it doesn't matter. With the Moon Martial Soul, you are indisputably of the main line.
"Child, would you acknowledge your ancestors and return to the Moon Vein?"
"Yes! I would. I came back to the Sun Moon Empire precisely to return to the Moon Vein, and to lead it to reclaim the throne that belongs to us!" Zhang Yuexuan replied without hesitation.
"Good! Good! Thank you, child." Xu Jianwei's eyes shone as she glanced at Elder Song and Zhu Ziyang. "The Yin Clan and I will aid you."
At this, joy flashed in Elder Song's and Zhu Ziyang's eyes. Their goal was achieved. With the Yin Clan's support, Zhang Yuexuan could gain legitimate recognition within the Empire. And with Xu Jianwei's backing, she could claim the righteous mandate of the Moon Vein itself.
"Thank you, Senior Xu!" Zhang Yuexuan said gratefully.
"No need. Though your exact lineage is uncertain, judging from your father's name, you are most likely of the Heavenly generation. In that case, you should call me 'Great-Grand Aunt.'" Xu Jianwei smiled.
"I understand, Great-Grand Aunt!" Zhang Yuexuan replied sweetly, without hesitation.
Hearing this, Xu Jianwei's face blossomed into a radiant smile. "Good, very good. At last, I have not failed our ancestors' expectations. Our Moon Vein has found its continuation! Come, child. I will take you to pay respects to the spirits of our ancestors."
She reached to take Zhang Yuexuan's hand. For a moment, Yuexuan looked uncertainly at Elder Song. But when she saw the elder nod, she made up her mind and clasped Xu Jianwei's hand in return.
The old woman's eyes glistened with relief as she led Zhang Yuexuan toward the back mountain of the Marquis' Mansion.
Zhu Ziyang and Elder Song followed close behind.
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