Chapter 1309: The Throne Was Seized by Force

"By the way, will Grandma be alright?" Han Yan asked.

"Don’t worry, didn’t His Majesty say it was just a sparring match? It’s just a spar, what could possibly happen?" Yue Fanchen smiled slyly, much like his older brother.

"No, I’m not worried about that. I once heard that Grandma has a hidden illness. Wouldn’t engaging in a fight just now be risky?" Han Yan replied.

"Who did you hear that from?" Yue Fanchen asked with a frown.

"Wu Ziyue," Han Yan answered.

"No wonder. I was wondering how that old guy dared to strut around the Imperial Palace. So this is the reason." Yue Fanchen mused thoughtfully. He then cautiously glanced around and used Gathering Qi Transmission to say to Han Yan, "Actually, Empress Dowager isn’t sick, she’s injured."

"Injured? How did Grandma get injured?" Han Yan was filled with surprise and asked through Gathering Qi Transmission.

She had just witnessed her Grandma’s strength firsthand; there probably aren’t many in this world who could harm her. Besides, as the Empress Dowager, with countless experts in the palace protecting her openly and secretly, how could anyone have possibly harmed her?

"It was about two years ago. Empress Dowager said she wanted to see you, so she went to Anyun alone and got injured on her return." Yue Fanchen hesitated for a moment before speaking frankly.

"Grandma came to see me? How come I didn’t know?" Han Yan was even more astonished.

"Maybe she didn’t want you to know," Yue Fanchen speculated.

Han Yan furrowed her brows, feeling that something was amiss. About two years ago was precisely when her Bloodline Awakening occurred. Grandma chose to visit her at that particular time—perhaps there was another reason.

Recalling the assassin from the temple who attempted to kill her at the beginning of her rebirth, a thought suddenly struck Han Yan: Could it be that Grandma came to see her to check if her Bloodline Awakening would occur before she turned sixteen, and that she was injured in the process of protecting her?

"Was Grandma’s injury severe?" Though unsure of her own conjecture, Han Yan felt a sour pain in her heart and continued to ask.

Given Grandma’s status and position, a regular injury should have been healed long ago. Since it lingered for so long, it must have been serious.

"Not entirely severe, but extremely peculiar. The main concern is that the injury greatly affects her cultivation. Over the past two years, my older brother has privately consulted countless famous doctors for her, yet none could find the root cause. Her condition fluctuates.

Afraid that it might undermine the Royal Family’s foundation, we kept the matter secret from the public, even instructing those doctors that if the news leaked, they should only say Empress Dowager has a hidden illness, never mention her injury.

But it seems the news still leaked. I was puzzled why that old fox Wu Tianxiong would dare to come test his luck with Mother, now it seems he might have been testing her strength." Yue Fanchen said in a deep voice.

"Testing? Could it be that he harbors disloyalty?" Han Yan was startled.

"What’s so strange about that? Our family’s throne was seized through strength. If someone else has the strength, they could seize it too.

Back then, the Wu Family ancestor joined forces with our Zue Family ancestor to conquer Shangyue and was granted the title ’Shoulder-to-shoulder King’, second only to the Emperor. Though he was content being beneath others, his descendants might not feel the same way.

Previously, our Zue Family produced generation after generation of formidable individuals, so the Wu Family dared not overreach. But in this generation, Father, having ordinary talent, passed the throne to Older Brother early. Though he’s gifted, his youth makes it hard to intimidate the Wu Family. The throne of Zue relies solely on Mother. If it’s confirmed that Mother hasn’t recovered from serious injury, how could Wu Tianxiong not have ulterior motives?

But fortunately, Mother’s injuries shouldn’t be a problem now, so Wu Tianxiong should have given up." Yue Fanchen explained slowly, looking relieved by the end.

Is it really not a problem? Han Yan wasn’t as optimistic.

With Grandma’s strength, hurting her was challenging. But if someone managed to injure her, that person’s prowess was definitely not simple. It’s far from a casual recovery.

Feeling uneasy, Han Yan quickened her pace.

Following Lu Nianxin, they returned to the hall.

"All of you, leave." Lu Nianxin waved her hand, and the palace maids exited the hall.

Once no outsiders were around, Lu Nianxin let out a long breath, faltered a bit, and her face turned pale—she suddenly looked a decade older.

"Grandma (Empress Dowager)!" Han Yan, suspecting her grandmother’s injuries weren’t easily healed, had been watching her closely and rushed forward to support her at the first sign of trouble. Yue Fanyi and Yue Fanchen also reached out to help but were a step too late.

"See, I told you daughters are more considerate," Lu Nianxin forced a smile and said jokingly.

"Empress Dowager." Yue Fanyi and Yue Fanchen, in no mood for jokes, supported her from either side, their eyes brimming with anxious tears.

Seeing Yue Fanyi, as the sovereign of a nation, showing such filial vulnerability due to his concern for his mother, deeply moved Han Yan.

"Such dull kids, your mom made a joke, and you don’t even smile. Things were much better when you were little." seeing their worried and grave expressions, Lu Nianxin said disappointedly.

"Mother, don’t say anything more. Quickly sit down to rest, I’ll summon the Imperial Physician." Yue Fanyi managed to squeeze out a smile, more sorrowful than tears.

"There’s no need to summon those quacks. I went to great lengths to deceive the old fox, but if those plodding medics leak the news, all my efforts would be in vain." Lu Nianxin sat down, shaking her head.

"But, Empress Dowager, your injury..." Yue Fanyi hesitated, looking at his mother.

"My injury isn’t serious, I won’t die." Lu Nianxin waved her hand.

Seeing Grandma’s weary expression and knowing she might have been injured on her behalf, Han Yan felt a wrenching pain in her heart.

"Han Yan, come here, Grandma has something to say to you." Lu Nianxin patted the spot beside her and spoke to Han Yan.

"Grandma, you should rest first. I’ll accompany you later." Han Yan said with concern. Unaware of the severity of Lu Nianxin’s injury, she didn’t dare to rashly offer up an elixir, besides, surely the elixirs in the palace wouldn’t be inferior to those she had.

"It’s alright. I reckon that Fanchen has told you about these injuries of mine—they aren’t recent, and they don’t affect my health significantly. It’s just my cultivation that’s hindered. Talking a little won’t hurt." Lu Nianxin smiled and said.

Seeing her complexion had improved significantly, Han Yan knew these words weren’t meant merely to comfort her, and she sat obediently beside her.

"Han Yan, you’re aware of the issues between our Zue Family and the Wu Family, aren’t you? Fanchen probably mentioned something earlier?" Lu Nianxin inquired.

The earlier conversation between Yue Fanchen and Han Yan had been through Gathering Qi Transmission, but with Lu Nianxin’s wisdom, she could guess at least in part.

"Yes." Han Yan nodded.