Golden Embryo Motiān

Recently, quite a few Foreigners had arrived in Great Ming, especially in North Capital.

Of course, the people knew why. They had come for Ye Diantang’s funeral.

Naturally, none of this had much to do with Zhu Zhongjing, since he was no longer Great Ming’s emperor.

Though even when he had been emperor, it had not had much to do with him.

"But if Ye Zhou is dead, Great Ming’s days ahead probably won’t be easy."

As the former emperor, Zhu Zhongjing had naturally dreamed of regaining power, so he had studied several major powers surrounding Great Ming.

Compared to ordinary citizens, he undoubtedly understood Great Ming’s current awkward position far better.

What he could not understand was why Great Ming had announced it so broadly. Under normal circumstances, secretly holding Ye Zhou’s funeral would clearly have been the best option.

"Forget it."

"It has nothing to do with me anyway."

Unable to make sense of it after thinking for a while, Zhu Zhongjing gave up. He turned his gaze to the old North Capital fermented mung bean juice on the table before him.

As a native of old North Capital, Zhu Zhongjing had never tried this local specialty that gave him a faintly ominous feeling.

Frowning, he took a light sip of the subtly colored liquid, then expressionlessly set it back down.

Seeing his reaction, the middle-aged and elderly patrons, who had taken him for an out-of-town tourist, disappointedly withdrew their eager gazes.

They had thought Zhu Zhongjing would look more miserable.

But as Great Ming’s former emperor, Zhu Zhongjing certainly possessed that much composure.

Just as he was about to stand and leave, a conversation suddenly caught his attention.

". Really? You even know this kind of rumor?"

"Of course I do. My sister’s son’s classmate’s older brother is a Card Master responsible for receiving those foreigners. He said the people coming from Mughal in the south this time are no small fry."

". Don’t tell me a Hall of Fame Card Master came?"

"Heh! How’d you know?"

Hearing the voice, the old man spilling the news turned around and saw a brocade-clad man with a strange expression standing behind him.

That man was naturally Zhu Zhongjing.

Just as he was about to brush them off with a few casual words, the communication device in his hand vibrated twice and caught his attention.

It was Bai Yueming.

"What does he want with me?"

Although Zhu Zhongjing still enjoyed the treatment afforded to Diamond Grade Card Masters by the Association, the two sides did not usually have much contact.

After paying for the two old men’s breakfast, Zhu Zhongjing left the roadside breakfast shop.

Not long afterward, he returned to the imperial palace where he had lived for decades.

Looking at Bai Yueming, whose body had become far more stooped than Zhu Zhongjing remembered, Zhu Zhongjing smiled and asked, "Master Bai, long time no see."

"What did you need me for this time?"

As he spoke, he discreetly assessed the other people in the hall.

There was no need to mention Fang Wenlong and Ji Weirui. They were both Old Acquaintances of Zhu Zhongjing’s, and when he had abdicated last time, these same three Master Card Masters had been present.

However—

It was his first time seeing the youth standing behind Bai Yueming.

Of course, Zhu Zhongjing knew who he was.

Lu Su—the new Master Card Master of Great Ming. How could he possibly not know about the announcement that had recently spread across all of Great Ming?

What was more, Lu Su had directly repelled a Hall of Fame Grade Demon not long ago.

However, Zhu Zhongjing reserved judgment on that matter. According to what he knew, Lu Su had not been the only Master Card Master present at the time.

In that case, whether Lu Su alone had repelled the Hall of Fame Grade Demon, or whether the Master Card Masters present had joined forces to repel it, was something that required further verification.

Naturally, he understood why the Association had promoted it this way. After Ye Zhou’s death, they urgently needed to put forth a successor to stabilize Human Heart.

And the young Lu Su was naturally the best candidate.

But Zhu Zhongjing’s emotional intelligence was not so low that he would say any of that. He merely smiled, nodded to Lu Su in greeting, then turned his gaze back to Bai Yueming.

Seemingly not noticing his little gesture, Bai Yueming spoke at this moment. "Young Friend Zhu, we called you here primarily to ask whether you would be willing to attend Ye Diantang’s funeral."

"After all…"

The old man did not finish his words, but he believed Zhu Zhongjing could understand what he meant.

Sure enough, after hearing this, Zhu Zhongjing could not help but furrow his brows.

The man in splendid clothes instinctively refused. "This…"

"Wouldn’t that be somewhat inappropriate?"

He was now nothing more than an ordinary Diamond Grade Card Master.

That was what Zhu Zhongjing believed, but he also knew there was a label he could never wash away: Great Ming’s former emperor.

He truly feared that these Association Master Card Masters before him intended to break their previous promise, lure him into a trap, and get rid of him.

But Zhu Zhongjing immediately realized he had overthought things. After all, any one of the people present could easily kill him.

As if he had expected this response, Bai Yueming shook his head with some regret. "Since Young Friend Zhu is unwilling, then forget it."

"I apologize for making you come all this way."

Bai Yueming’s attitude left Zhu Zhongjing somewhat baffled.

After hesitating, he asked, "Master Bai, could you tell me what exactly you intend for me to do?"

If it was merely attending Ye Zhou’s funeral, Zhu Zhongjing felt that he could agree to it.

Facing his question, Bai Yueming exchanged glances with the others behind him before shaking his head with a bitter smile. "As expected, we couldn’t hide it from you, Young Friend Zhu."

"Our original thought was that, if you were willing, we would leave some future negotiations with certain countries to you."

"After all, some people’s identities are rather sensitive, so it would not be appropriate for us to approach them directly."

Hearing this, a guess surfaced in Zhu Zhongjing’s mind.

He tugged at the corner of his mouth and tested the waters. "The Mughal Empire?"

At those words, the Master Card Masters, including Lu Su, were stunned. None of them had expected the man before them to guess their target.

No, perhaps it had not been a guess.

The group secretly exchanged looks, wondering whether Zhu Zhongjing had still been observing the Association’s every move from the shadows.

However, before they could reach any conclusion, the brocade-clad man repeatedly shook his head. "No, no."

"Master Bai, you should ask someone more capable."

He had no intention of confronting a Hall of Fame Card Master for the Association. From what he knew, the Golden Embryo of the Mughal Empire had a rather eccentric temperament.

Now that things had been said this clearly, the Association’s higher-ups could hardly force Zhu Zhongjing to do something he did not want to do.

Bai Yueming could only sigh softly before turning to his disciple. "Xiao Luo, then we can only trouble you."

Lu Su did not feel dissatisfied upon hearing this. After all, counting the Soul King, he was now Great Ming’s strongest combat force.

That was also why they had initially wanted Zhu Zhongjing to handle the negotiation.

Everyone knew that the Association and the Imperial Court were locked in a life-or-death struggle, but they should not forget that, on the surface, Zhu Zhongjing had voluntarily abdicated in favor of the worthy.

Thus, Zhu Zhongjing, a "worthy man" in name like the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, was instead the most suitable candidate by status.

He could both demonstrate Great Ming’s regard for Hall of Fame Card Masters and avoid appearing too fawning.

They could even use it to subtly disgust the Mughal Empire in return.

However, after hearing Bai Yueming’s arrangement, Zhu Zhongjing suddenly became interested, because he was genuinely curious about Lu Su’s true level.

Honestly, after ceasing to be emperor, he felt that he had vaguely developed the mentality that people on social networks called a troublemaker’s mindset.

Besides, no matter how eccentric that Golden Embryo was, he would not directly start a fight in Great Ming… would he?

Thinking this, Zhu Zhongjing hesitated before speaking again. ". Master Bai, if you are willing to let me go together with Master Luo, then I can agree."

After saying this, he thought briefly, then added, "Of course, Master Luo will still handle the main negotiations."

Just when Zhu Zhongjing himself felt that he might be being too shameless, Bai Yueming unexpectedly agreed at once. "Then it’s settled."

"I’ll have to trouble you afterward, Young Friend Zhu."

The old man’s reason for agreeing was simple. Sometimes, there were things one could not avoid merely because one did not wish to do them.

Since Zhu Zhongjing had chosen to step into this vortex himself, what followed would no longer be up to him.

What was more, even setting aside all those factors, Bai Yueming would still have agreed.

At the end of the day, it was best if Ye Zhou’s funeral had no flaws. After all, before the Imperial Court had been overthrown, this Hall of Fame Card Master had protected Great Ming as a whole.

Zhu Zhongjing’s attendance at his funeral would count as giving the matter a fairly perfect conclusion.

After watching Zhu Zhongjing leave, Bai Yueming turned and patted Lu Su on the shoulder. "I have no idea what our former emperor of Great Ming has up his sleeve. I’m afraid you’ll have to keep a closer eye on things afterward, Xiao Luo."

Lu Su nodded at this.

However, based on his judgment, Zhu Zhongjing might not actually have any complicated intentions.

After all, the Imperial Court’s momentum was gone. Even if Zhu Zhongjing truly intended to oppose the Association and restore Ming, he would need the strength to do so.

Great Ming’s only four remaining Master Card Masters all belonged to the Association.

Perhaps some remnants of the Imperial Court still lurked in secret, but under these circumstances, they clearly would not dare show themselves.

Could it be that after meeting the Mughal Empire’s Hall of Fame Card Master, Zhu Zhongjing would simply kneel before him and cry, "I want to be emperor so badly"?

Unaware of Lu Su’s thoughts, Bai Yueming turned to another matter. "Right, Xiao Luo."

"The personnel sent by Great Britain and the Tsardom of Russia are both people you know, so those two will be left to you as well."

Hearing his teacher’s words, Lu Su truly wanted to explain that he was not acquainted with Lyon at all. In fact, through a strange twist of fate, he had even taken materials that Lyon needed.

But in the end, he gave up on explaining and nodded in agreement.

The next day.

Lu Su waited for Zhu Zhongjing outside the imperial palace gates.

Fortunately, Zhu Zhongjing was also punctual, so Lu Su did not have to wait long.

"My apologies, Master Luo. I’m late."

"It’s fine. I only just arrived as well."

After exchanging simple greetings, Lu Su prepared to head with Zhu Zhongjing to where the Mughal Empire delegation was staying.

Since Great Ming no longer had an emperor, the former imperial palace was used to receive visitors from other countries.

Zhu Zhongjing had no complaints about this. Honestly, although the palace was large, there had not actually been many places he could command when he had been emperor.

After all, the former Imperial Court had never trusted him to regain access to power.

But although the palace was vast, it was nothing to high-level Card Masters like Lu Su and Zhu Zhongjing.

Before long, the two arrived outside the palace where the Mughal Empire delegation was staying.

Lu Su beckoned over the Great Ming Card Master stationed there and said softly, "Tell them that Myriad Manifestations Lu Su has come to visit."

"Yes, Master Luo."

Even though a Hall of Fame Card Master was inside the hall, Great Ming naturally still had to station people outside.

Part of it was to conveniently meet the other party’s needs, while another part was naturally for surveillance.

Though to that Golden Embryo, such surveillance was no different from having none at all.

Very soon, a fair-skinned young man followed behind the Great Ming Card Master who had gone to announce their arrival and came before Lu Su and Zhu Zhongjing.

The man looked Lu Su up and down with no trace of respect, then asked disdainfully, "You’re Lu Su?"

Seeing the Mughal Empire envoy behave this way, Zhu Zhongjing subtly shifted a step backward.

He was afraid blood would splatter on him. In his perception, the man before him was merely a small Jade Grade Card Master, yet he dared speak to Lu Su, a Master Card Master, in such a manner.

Yet Lu Su’s expression did not change in the face of the provocation. He merely said calmly, "Lead the way."

He was just a minor character. Lu Su did not even feel insulted.

The White-skinned Envoy wanted to say something else, but then remembered his lord’s instructions. He snorted coldly, turned, and led Lu Su and Zhu Zhongjing into the hall.

As the heavy doors were pushed open, a heart-palpitating aura abruptly flowed out from within.

Glancing at Zhu Zhongjing beside him, whose face had gone slightly pale, Lu Su released some Spiritual Power to shield him.

Sensing the youth’s aura, Zhu Zhongjing quietly thanked him. "Thank you, Master Luo."

Lu Su gave a slight nod, signaling that it was nothing, then took the initiative to walk forward.

Seeing this, the White-skinned Envoy’s expression abruptly changed, and he hurriedly chased after him.

Unfortunately, he was too late.

Lu Su had already seen the target of this visit.

In his eyes, a handsome young man rested his head against his right hand, studying him from head to toe with great interest.

At that moment, the White-skinned Envoy, who had just reached Lu Su’s side, suddenly shouted sternly, "You stand before the Lord! Why do you not kneel?!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he reached out, intending to force Lu Su to kneel.

Watching the Golden Embryo Motiān show no reaction at all, Lu Su could not help sighing inwardly. He finally understood what an eccentric temperament meant.

Then he turned to look at the White-skinned Envoy.

The envoy shuddered under Lu Su’s gaze, and his outstretched hand froze in midair.

But soon, embarrassment turned to anger, and he reached out again to force Lu Su to kneel.

Yet before he could touch Lu Su’s body, a scream suddenly rang through the silent hall.

"Ah!!"