Chapter 24: Cause and Effect (Vote for the Chart)

  The investiture of the Crown Prince was probably a troublesome thing for the three senior elders who were high above and despised the secular world. Therefore, after Zhou Jian's investiture was completed, the three senior elders immediately drove the Xuanguang away from the sky.

  Three senior officials viewed the secular world as dust and smoke, one hammer determined the sound, allowing Zhou Jian to ascend to the position of Crown Prince. However, this matter had a profound and enormous impact on the entire Great Zhou Dynasty.

  The first impact brought about was that Zhou Jian gained his freedom. As the crown prince appointed by the three clans, he was no longer confined and could enter and leave the imperial palace at will, visiting his maternal relatives, the Zhao family.

  "Retire from court." The emperor gave Zhou Jian a cold glance and turned away with a flick of his sleeve.

  "The old minister is incompetent, and the protection of Your Highness was not thorough. Please forgive me, Your Highness." After Zhou Zheng left, all the officials dispersed, leaving only Xiao Yun walking over to pay his respects to Zhou Jian.

  This old minister seems to have exhausted his mind, and in a short period of time, he is filled with fatigue and despair.

  Zhou Jian's heart moved, it seems that the so-called Hai Yun is indeed a dragon's lair. But would Zhou Jian blame Xiao Yun? This old minister has been running around for his sake, and if he still blames Xiao Yun, is he even human?

  It's the fault of that high and mighty King Zhou. With gratitude, Zhou Jian took a deep breath, clenched his fist in respect to Xiao Yun and said: "Human emotions are cold and warm, Elder Sir has been loyal and protected me, I am eternally grateful. Now, Elder Sir has also exhausted all efforts, but alas, the heavenly will is unpredictable, not something that human power can resist, Elder Sir need not feel so guilty."

  The Mandate of Heaven refers to the Zhou King.

  Zhou Jian's attitude was mild and courteous to his subordinates, with a king-like demeanor. But precisely because of this, Xiao Yun felt even more guilty.

  Then Zhou Jian said some comforting words. However, the old minister obviously didn't listen and finally sighed and left dejectedly.

  At this moment, everyone who should leave has left the Zhengde Hall, and only his sister Zhou Meng is still accompanying Zhou Jian. Zhou Jian was about to take Zhou Meng away, but found Zhao Wen and Zhao Deng standing not far from the Zhengde Hall.

  Zhou Jian's heart moved slightly, and he pulled Zhou Meng over.

  "Uncle, is there something you want to say to me?"

  Zhao Wen nodded slightly and looked around, his eyes hinting at Zhou Jian before heading in a quiet direction.

  Zhou Jian and Zhou Meng, Zhao Deng hurriedly followed up, after a while, the four of them arrived at a corner near a wall, which was very quiet and secluded.

  After arriving at this place, Zhao Wen still didn't speak, his palm slightly raised, the ring on his middle finger slightly shining, and four small flags immediately appeared in Zhao Wen's hands.

  "Go."

  Immediately, Zhao Wenzhi made a hand seal with both hands and shouted. The small flags on the four sides fell silently around the four people, enveloping them.

  "Alright, this formation is enough to isolate divine sense below the Golden Dan stage. Jian Er, if you have anything to ask, you can ask directly."

  After everything was set up, Zhao Wencai turned to Zhou Jian and said that he knew it had been many years since they last met, so Zhou Jian must have a lot of questions.

  "What really happened when my mother disappeared that year? Why would Sanzong help me?" Zhou Jian didn't waste any words, asking one question after another. He was most concerned about his mother's situation, and secondly, he was puzzled as to why Sanzong would help him.

  "As for what happened to your mother, let's start with the three clans." Zhao Wen sighed and said. After a long time, Zhao Wen finally calmed down and spoke with a bitter smile.

  "The winds sweep across the mainland, where numerous immortal sects stand tall. It's not just the Great Zhou, but any immortal sect, that can be said to be above the country. The prince's enthronement and the king's ascension all require the presence of the sect's elder, this is prestige. At the same time, the power of the immortal sects and the national government are clearly separated, independent of each other. And within our Great Zhou, there originally existed four major sects: Jianzong, Wudu, Qingfeng, and Yushou, you should be aware of this."

  At this point, Zhao Wen raised his head and took a look at Zhou Jian.

  "Hmm." Zhou Jian nodded, these common sense questions, Zhou Jian knew since he was a child. However, the Sword Sect was destroyed later on. Thinking of this, Zhou Jian's heart moved slightly.

  However, for a period of time, the Sword Sect broke this convention. Because our Zhao family produced an old ancestor, his talent was astonishing, and he had hopes of casting a yuan baby and becoming a great master in the yuan baby stage. So, the Sword Sect made an exception and accepted the old ancestor. However, this also ruined the rules set by all the sects on the mainland, causing the other three sects to become estranged from the Sword Sect, and buried hidden dangers. But the Sword Sect was self-satisfied with its strong power and did not fear, still doing as it pleased. Until the current King Zhou's ascension to the throne.

  Zhao Wen spoke out this secret.

  "I know that back then, Zhou Zheng was the eldest son, but there were two older brothers born out of wedlock above him, and Zhou Zheng was in a very weak position. It was my maternal grandfather, General Zhao Bo, who personally supported Zhou Zheng's ascension to power and also gave his daughter, who is my mother, to Zhou Zheng in marriage."

  Zhou Jian nodded, he also knew about this matter.

  "That's right, my elder brother Zhao Bo helped Zhou Zheng ascend to power. Actually, this isn't a big deal, because the Sword Sect is still powerful and our family's old ancestor has already reached the peak of Golden Dan cultivation, going out to explore and seek opportunities to break through to the Nascent Soul stage. But the key is that Zhou Zheng's betrayal."

  Zhao Wen sneered and a few hints of ferocity appeared on his face.

  "Is it 'the lofty beam shakes the master'?" Zhou Jian's face showed a look of sudden realization as he said.

  "It's true, his achievements overshadowed the master. My elder brother was loyal and dedicated, just like the venerable minister Xiao Yun of the imperial court, who advocated for the establishment of a clear line of succession. Moreover, Zhou Zheng had been pretending to be pitiful and downtrodden back then. So my elder brother, with a heart full of passion, helped Zhou Zheng rise to power and even married his daughter off to him. But once everything was settled, that Zhou Zheng began to fear my elder brother. He joined forces with the other three clans to deal with our Zhao family, the Sword Clan."

  At this point, Zhao Wen's hands clenched tightly, and his eyes flashed with boundless anger. His brother, so loyal and devoted, had met such an end - how tragic, how tragic!

  Tears also welled up in Zhao Deng's eyes. A man has tears, but does not easily shed them, only when the heart is deeply wounded. Father was the most loyal person in this great Zhou dynasty, yet...

  Looking at Zhao Wen and Zhao Deng's excited appearance, Zhou Jian's mind also involuntarily recalled the face of his grandfather, Zhao Bo, a very kind-hearted person.

  "Alas." Zhou Jian let out a sigh.

  "It was first my elder brother and sister-in-law who went missing outside, and then your mother also disappeared. This matter eventually reached the Sword Sect. The Sword Sect was naturally outraged and sent people to investigate. As a result, they were ambushed and annihilated by the Qingfeng Sect, Wàn Dú Sect, and Yù Shòu Sect without any defense. Zhōu Zhèng also turned against you, imprisoning you and Mèng'ér. That's why I say this matter is likely related to that Zhōu Zhèng."

  Under Zhao Wen's explanation, Zhou Jian finally understood what had happened that year.

  So that's it, so that's it. The cause of everything was just Zhou Zheng's suspicion and doubt. It led to the three sects besieging Jianzong, the Zhao family being defeated, and he also became a prisoner.

  "I didn't expect it would be like this. I even suspected that I wasn't Zhou Zheng's son, but it turns out I really am Zhou Zheng's biological son, haha."

  Zhou Jian burst out laughing, his laughter self-deprecating.

  Indeed. Zhou Jian had suspected this before, otherwise what kind of father would imprison his young son for over a decade?

  There is a saying that "a tiger does not eat its own son", let alone talk about the heartlessness of royal families, most emperors only kill their sons when they have committed a fault.

  Normally, he would never be quiet and kill his son. But just now, Zhou Zheng also wanted to drive him out and kill him.

  But what about Zhou Zheng? Why couldn't Zhou Jian suspect him? It wasn't until now that Zhou Jian finally knew the real truth, but it was just paranoia, and yet they had let their brother and sister be imprisoned for over ten years.

  Ridiculous, ridiculous.

  "But why is Sanzong helping me today? Is Mother's and my uncle's disappearance his doing? Are they still alive?" Although angry, Zhou Jian was more eager to know the truth, especially when he mentioned Mother, his voice was trembling.

  A gentle and elegant woman with a kind face appeared involuntarily in his mind. Zhou Jian was not from this world, so he naturally didn't fit in. It was because of this woman's care that Zhou Jian blended into this world.

  But when he was five years old, this woman disappeared. This is his mother. Her whereabouts became a heart disease in Zhou Jianxin's mind.

  "Empress Dowager."

  The face of Zhou Meng, who had been hiding beside Zhou Jian all along, revealed a look of longing. Although Zhou Meng had never seen Queen Zhao before, she had heard about the queen's affairs from Zhou Jian since childhood and also yearned to see this loving mother figure.

  "After your mother, the disappearance of your uncle is not clear whether it was Zhou Zheng's doing. The changes back then were too rapid, our Zhao family didn't have a chance to react and fell behind. Naturally, we don't know if your mother, uncle, and grandmother are still alive either. As for the three clans."

  As he spoke, a cold smile appeared on Zhao Wen's face, and he sneered: "The Sword Sect has been destroyed, and the Zhao family is also in decline. For the three sects, whether Jian Er becomes the crown prince or not is an unimportant matter. The high-and-mighty Immortal Gate, are they still afraid that a small crown prince will turn the world upside down? They simply fear trouble."