Chapter 736: So many backup machines! [Requesting monthly votes]

The broken sword of Yan'an is currently in Bai Su's hands.

Looking at the two identical twin swords except for the material of their scabbards, Shen Tang carefully examined them under everyone's gaze. After a long while, she shook her head and said, "No, Xing Ning's broken sword is normal, but Zheng Qiao's is 'alive'."

Ning Yan made a judgment with a gloomy face, gritting her teeth and saying, "In that case, Zheng Qiao must have tampered with the broken sword."

There's no reason why two swords forged in the same furnace would be different.

Shen Tang, however, had a different intuition.

She said, "It doesn't seem like something that can harm people."

The "living thing" inside the broken sword didn't make her feel threatened at all; in fact, she felt a sense of closeness and joy towards it.

After much discussion, no consensus could be reached, and Xie Qi, who had brought the broken sword, became the focus of attention.

He pondered for a moment, then took the initiative to recount the details of when Zheng Qiao entrusted him with the broken sword: "...After the court assembly that day, Zheng Qiao sent a eunuch to call me to stay. When I saw him, he was fishing by the lake. He seemed to be in...not very good condition."

Xie Qi glanced at Ning Yan with concern and said, "...His madness is getting worse, and he seems to have no memory of Xing Ning's death."

Ning Yan's breathing became erratic for a moment.

Only by clenching his fists could he suppress the surging hatred.

Xie Qi still clearly remembered the details of that day. When Zheng Qiao was about to let him go, he thought she was testing him. But when Zheng Qiao beckoned for a eunuch to bring something, he was no longer sure. She handed him a broken sword: "This broken sword is from the same source as your senior brother's. If you have the chance to see Senior Sister Ning, give this to her. Whether she accepts it or not is entirely up to her."

Xie Qi inwardly curled his lip all the way to the back of his ear.

It would be strange if Ning Yan wanted the broken sword of her husband's killer.

Even if they were willing to accept it, they would just throw it into the furnace to melt it down as a way of venting their anger.

"I don't want this thing. If you're interested, my lord, you can take it. But it's something Zheng Qiao has touched. Before we figure out what's going on, please be careful, lest you fall into a villain's trap." Ning Yan's emotions were fluctuating wildly, and she was exhausted, so she had no mind to pay attention to anything else. But she didn't forget to remind Shen Tang that they couldn't let their guard down against Zheng Qiao, this venomous snake, for even a moment.

Based on Xie Qi's description, the whole process was perfectly normal, and even Zheng Qiao, as he described her, sounded perfectly normal.

But, can a normal Zheng Qiao really be normal?

Shen Tang nodded and put the sword box away.

Holding the sword box, he said, "I feel a strange sense of peace."

It was as if a lost piece of the puzzle had returned to her hands.

When Chu Yao heard about this, it was already very late. He had just returned from outside the city and went straight to the government office.

The government office was brightly lit. Shen Tang stared at the calligraphy brush in a daze, muttering things like, "You're already a mature calligraphy brush. Get up and do your own work, understand?"

Chu Yao smiled upon hearing this: "Yao greets the lord."

Shen Tang had no choice but to let go of the worthless brush, and looked up with a bright smile: "It's so late, Wu Hui, why aren't you resting? Is there something important? Did you come for the broken sword?"

There was no movement from Zheng Qiao's troops, and after thinking it over, the only thing that could have alarmed Chu Yao to visit so late at night was that broken sword.

Chu Yao asked, "Has my lord figured out the secret of the broken sword?"

"Not yet, that sword is too strange." Shen Tang shook her head truthfully, "We'll discuss it again when you all come back."

One person's plan is short-sighted, two people's plans are long-sighted.

Chu Yao and his companions are knowledgeable and experienced, and perhaps they can offer some insights. Shen Tang took out the sword box and handed it to him for careful examination.

"My lord, could you please elaborate on your feelings?"

After a moment of looking down, Chu Yao seemed to have some clues, but he wasn't quite sure yet and needed to verify them further. Shen Tang, unsuspecting, recounted in detail the special feeling she had when she saw the broken sword. She only took a sip of tea to moisten her lips when her throat was dry from talking.

She didn't interrupt Chu Yao's thoughts.

Quietly waiting for Chu Yao to speak, and sure enough, Chu Yao had an extremely bold idea. He asked Shen Tang, "Does my lord know what the biggest difference is between you and us?"

Shen Tang tentatively asked, "I cultivate both literary and martial arts?"

Chu Yao slowly shook his head: "No."

Shen Tang urged him, "If it's not this one, then what is it? When did Wu Hui start to like keeping people in suspense like Wang Chao?"

Chu Yao: "The biggest difference is that you are the lord."

Shen Tang instantly looked confused: "Huh?"

What kind of biggest difference is this? There's artificial intelligence living inside the broken sword, it can even distinguish the social identities of different people? While she was wondering, Chu Yao reminded her, "Has my lord considered that the 'goods' inside the broken sword might be the Imperial Seal?"

Click—

Shen Tang snapped the handle of the armrest in half, her expression one of horror.

Chu Yao's guess was something she had never even dreamed of.

Zheng Qiao is her enemy, and the Imperial Seal is a treasure coveted by all the powers in the world. Her enemy... is sending her this thing?

It has to be said that even Gu Chi had to admit defeat when it came to Chu Yao's wild imagination: "Wu Hui, your guess is a bit terrifying."

Chu Yao didn't think so. He said, "How can the behavior of a madman be judged by common sense? However, the method to verify whether the broken sword contains the national seal is quite simple."

Shen Tang asked, "What method?"

She thought Chu Yao had some secret, but to her surprise, he brought her a pot of wine and gestured for her to drink it.

Shen Tang: "..."

Three big question marks popped into my head.

Is this his method of verification?

Chu Yao, however, was full of confidence. He said, "Back then, our lord followed the scent of the Imperial Seal while drunk and found half a step away, directly calling him a shameless thief. If the broken sword that Zheng Qiao gave to Tu Nan truly contains the Imperial Seal, we should be able to use the same method to identify it..."

The verification cost is low; a glass of wine will suffice.

Shen Tang was somewhat bewildered, but still picked up the wine cup and drank it all in one gulp.

Years had passed, and her alcohol tolerance remained unchanged; she would get drunk after just a sip. Seeing the change in her eyes, Chu Yao knew she was drunk. He pointed to the broken sword and asked, "Does my lord recognize this?"

Shen Tang rested her chin on her elbow: "Of course I recognize it."

Those four simple words made Chu Yao's heart tremble violently. He restrained himself and asked, "Is this the treasure that our lord stole?"

Shen Tang frowned in displeasure: "To name other people's items without permission, and to give them such an unpleasant name, is truly rude."

Although it wasn't a direct answer, it was still an admission.

Chu Yao then asked, "Can our lord take it back?"

Shen Tangqing coldly replied, "Now? No."

Why not?

"Because the way of Heaven is constant."

Chu Yao pondered these six words carefully.

When Shen Tang woke up, she found it was already past midnight. She got up from the table and looked up to see Chu Yao standing guard beside her. His concerned gaze remained fixed on her. She wiped her face, vaguely recalling the scene before she fell asleep, and rubbing her throbbing temples, asked, "Did Wu Hui find out anything? What exactly is that thing inside the broken sword?"

Chu Yao said, "The Imperial Seal."

The two short words exploded in Shen Tang's ears like a thunderclap, and she was instantly alert. She almost blurted out a national treasure: "Holy crap—it really is the Imperial Seal?"

Is the truth really that outrageous?

Shen Tang sat up straight, her mind filled with countless questions, the biggest of which was: "Wait, what is Zheng Qiao trying to achieve by doing this? Is he crazy? Sending the Imperial Seal to Tu Nan... Oh right, to Tu Nan, not to me..."

Her expression was so conflicted, it looked like she had swallowed a fly.

"Could it be that Zheng Qiao regrets killing Yan Xingning... and wants to make amends in this way? That can't be right. If Zheng Qiao had any conscience, he wouldn't have ruined the country like this... There must be some conspiracy here. The national seal inside the broken sword should still be in Zheng Qiao's hands before his death... Is this bastard trying to use the national seal to target us?"

Shen Tang couldn't help but think in terms of conspiracy theories.

Chu Yao: "His ambitions are probably more than just this."

Shen Tang held her breath and focused: "More than that?"

Chu Yao had a vague idea, but he wasn't sure, because it was too crazy, yet Zheng Qiao was the kind of person who would do such a thing. He said softly, "Has my lord ever considered why you were only given one piece of the Imperial Seal?"

Shen Tang: "...???"

Chu Yao's question left her completely stumped.

The national seal that Gong Shuwu received was entrusted to him by the old king of Xin. Was the national seal of Xin not just one, but many?

Hehe, there really are a lot of pieces.

Before the fall of the Xin Kingdom, it possessed the momentum to sweep across the northwestern continent, successively destroying nearby small states, including the former kingdom of Gu Chi Chu Yao and his followers. These small states also possessed national seals. After a state was destroyed, its national seal would be absorbed by the victorious state's seal, but true fusion took time. Unfortunately, due to frequent regime changes over the past two hundred years, the seals often separated again before they could be fully integrated. The Xin Kingdom was no exception.

What Shen Tang held in his hand was the original national seal of the Xin Kingdom, but the national seals of those countries that were destroyed by the Xin Kingdom were not there.

She asked, "Then where did they go?"

Chu Yao said, "They're all in Zheng Qiao's hands. Back then, the King of Xin was no match for Zheng Qiao's powerful army pressing in. In order to protect his throne, he not only ceded territory to make peace, but also bribed Zheng Qiao with the seal of a small country. But is Zheng Qiao the kind of person who would keep his oath?"

He turned his back on us as soon as he got the national seal.

Therefore, besides the most important Geng Kingdom's national seal, Zheng Qiao also possessed many other national seals from smaller countries. A national seal is only one in a country; others are like backups—having more is useless, not even a bonus.

There's no need for a single ruler to establish two kingdoms at the same time, is there?

Shen Tang looked at the broken sword and said, "So... the national seal inside the broken sword belongs to some unknown small country? Zheng Qiao gave it to Tu Nan not to repent or make amends... so Zheng Qiao's real target is actually me?"

"If Yao were Zheng Qiao, and seeing that the situation was hopeless and there was no way to turn the tide, what do you think Yao would do to ensure that the enemy would be buried with him after his death?" Chu Yao pointed at the broken sword and said, "The key... is probably right here."

Shen Tang: "..."

Chu Yao's voice was eerily calm. He said, "The allied forces slayed the dragon, whether for fame or profit, but ultimately it was all for a national seal. No one can resist the temptation it brings."

What if one side were to acquire all the imperial seals, creating a monopoly?

No, no, no, this is not what Zheng Qiao wants to see.

He can only truly feel happy when everyone else is unhappy.

Shen Tang took a deep breath: "So—that bastard Zheng Qiao is planning to play the 'equal distribution of favors' game?"

Chu Yao said, "We cannot rule out that possibility."

Their opponent is a madman.

Then let's try to figure it out using the most outrageous ideas.

When Chu Yao had this thought, he was startled by himself. After the initial shock, he realized that the plan was entirely feasible.

Shen Tang muttered, "He's gone mad! Does he think that if he dies, he's dead, and he doesn't care about the flood that follows him?"

A passionate greeting to Zheng Qiao's ancestors for eighteen generations.

This disaster is on a scale far beyond what a raging flood could achieve.

It's a complete mess!

"But this is also an opportunity for us to bring the 'National Seal' in our hands into the light. We were worried that if we succeeded in slaying the dragon, the loss of the National Seal would expose us. Now that everyone has a copy of the National Seal, we can make a clean getaway."

This is the only good news.

Shen Tang forced a smile, but couldn't manage it.

Chu Yao looked at the broken sword: "All of this depends on the success of slaying the dragon. If we fail, this will be our death warrant."

Shen Tang's brain was buzzing.

Chu Yao's eyes were brimming with tears as he held Shen Tang's hand and said firmly, "My lord, you must believe in yourself. Only you can truly liberate this world from endless strife."

Shen Tang had no idea where Chu Yao got his confidence from.

She only talks like that when she's bragging.

Chu Yao smiled gently and asked, "Hasn't my lord noticed?"

Shen Tang shook her head in confusion: "What did I discover?"

Chu Yao said, "The Xin Kingdom's national seal, which was half-handed over, was completely absorbed by the lord's original national seal, and the two became one. In other words, it is impossible for it to split into two pieces again. When there is only one country left on the continent, there will only be one national seal left in the world."

"The long-awaited peace and prosperity of centuries will finally arrive." National stability and steady development will make centuries of division and warfare a thing of the past. Therefore, his destiny is truly the will of Heaven!

Shen Tang forced a smile. In that instant, an invisible burden weighed on her shoulders, but she still looked at Chu Yao with unwavering determination and promised, "The road ahead is long and arduous... Wu Hui, I will not let you down!"

I will search high and low for the truth.

The secret of the broken sword is known only to a few trusted confidants.

Although Xie Qi was curious, he knew that being curious about everything would only harm him, and that sometimes being a little confused was the best way to save his life. Most importantly, he didn't have the energy right now. His wife had somehow heard about Ning Yan's ability to condense her literary heart, and she kept pestering him to send their daughter to Ning Yan as a student.

Xie Qi said helplessly, "We still don't know how Tu Nan will gather the literary hearts. Even if we send our daughter there... her methods might not work for our Lady. Why are you in such a hurry?"

The lady, who usually listened to Xie Qi, disagreed this time.

"My lord has done Tu Nan a great favor. Out of consideration for this favor, she will do her best... How can we know it won't work if we don't try? My lord also said that besides Tu Nan, a female scholar, there is also a female warrior surnamed Zhao under Lord Shen's command. My lord, why don't you just tell me where I have offended you and caused trouble for our daughter? Why bother with so many excuses?" The lady said, her anger rising.

Xie Qi hesitated, saying, "This is taking advantage of a favor to seek repayment."

"It doesn't matter when we repay this kindness, it's better to go along with her wishes than to repay it in a way that doesn't suit her."

Isn't it wonderful to have the best of both worlds?

(*￣︶￣)

I originally wanted to just post the headline "Zheng Qiao's Death," but I think I'll wait a couple of days. I'll try to make sure he gets a boxed lunch on Labor Day.

(End of this chapter)