Chapter 133: Green-Faced and Fang-Bared, Fair-Skinned Skeleton

"Can members of the Yin-Yang Sect openly operate in the capital?"

Frowning slightly, Lu Sheng paid no mind to Li Wan'er's identity. Instead, he found himself far more curious about her affiliation with the Yin-Yang Sect.

After all, no matter how ambiguous the relationship between the Yin-Yang Sect and the Great Jing imperial court might be, as a remnant branch of the common people's cult and currently one of the three major sects of the Demonic Path, very few members of this sect could move about Yujing openly without facing restrictions.

The fact that Li Wan'er could appear so brightly and properly at the Hundred Flower Garden Gathering clearly meant there was another reason!

"Consort Yue could be said to be the only woman who ever left a lasting imprint in His Majesty's heart. Although she passed away long ago, her descendants are well looked after by His Majesty."

"Even though this Li Wan'er has revealed her identity as a member of the Yin-Yang Sect, no one dares to expel her."

"Over time, she has come to move freely and openly in Yujing City, and today she is already one of the public faces of the Yin-Yang Sect in Yujing."

Knowing that Lu Sheng was unfamiliar with the affairs of Yujing City, Lu Yunxi explained in a low voice. Fearing that Lu Sheng might not grasp the weight Consort Yue held in the emperor's heart, she added:

"When His Majesty was young, he once pursued the grandmaster of the current Bright Moon Sect."

"However, the Bright Moon Fairy possessed a cold and aloof temperament, never showing warmth or pleasant expressions to anyone."

"Naturally, His Majesty's pursuit bore no fruit."

"This matter even affected his breakthrough to become a Martial Ancestor."

"He had truly given his heart, and it ended up affecting his mental state!" Lu Sheng thought to himself, making his judgment while returning greetings to the people around him who were nodding to him, signaling Lu Yunxi to continue.

Noticing the bustling crowd coming and going all around them, Lu Yunxi lowered her voice even further and said to Lu Sheng:

"It was precisely because of this that those who swore allegiance to His Majesty back then grew extremely anxious."

"Consequently, they went to great lengths to find a woman among the common folk whose appearance bore a striking resemblance to the Bright Moon Fairy. After careful grooming and training, they presented her to the reigning Emperor."

"That woman later became Consort Yue!"

"Oh? Things like that are possible?" At this, Lu Sheng was finally somewhat astonished, and his footsteps came to a halt.

Nearby, Luo Liheng, who had been looking around ever since entering the Hundred Flower Garden as if searching for someone, suddenly let out a chuckle and said lewdly:

"Of course things like that are possible! The Three Immortals of the Martial World are renowned throughout the realm, and back then, His Majesty was far from the only one who did such a thing."

"Take the Revered Master Lei of the South China Sea Thunder Sect, for instance. I heard that after coming out of seclusion and having nothing better to do, he took more than a dozen wives at once, all of whom resembled those world-renowned fairies in both appearance and temperament."

"His youngest daughter, Lei Ling'er, who ranks sixth on the Prodigies Roll, looks today just like the young Bright Moon Fairy..."

"Go look for your sweetheart yourself, and stop following me around!" Having no interest in listening to such gossip, Lu Sheng interrupted Luo Liheng, shooing him off to the side, and turned back to Lu Yunxi: "As a mere substitute, why was she still favored after His Majesty became a Martial Ancestor, and even granted the title of Consort?"

Using the method of substitution to transfer one's affections onto someone whose appearance and personality bore a striking resemblance, and then severing those very emotions—

This was a detoxification technique created by those who had fallen victim to the emotional poisons of the Mortal Dust Sect.

As far as Lu Sheng knew, this technique had evolved and was subsequently used to resolve emotional entanglements.

However, the people used as substitutes rarely met a good end, whether they were directly killed or discarded once their looks and personalities changed.

Yet judging by the treatment Consort Yue had received, she had clearly shaken off the status of a mere substitute.

This brings us to the matter of her death!

Sighing softly, Lu Yunxi said:

"Back then, somehow word got out that His Majesty had obtained Consort Yue. This managed to attract the attention of someone from the Seven Disasters Sect who harbored an old grudge against His Majesty."

"That person was extremely cunning and did not strike immediately. Instead, after His Majesty had transferred his affections, they inflicted the Azure Face Palm upon Consort Yue!"

"The Azure Face Palm! They must have wanted to ruin Consort Yue's appearance and make all of His Majesty's efforts fall short of success at the very last moment!" Lu Sheng said.

The Azure Demonic Qi of the Seven Disasters Sect could intertwine with a person's life force, stimulating chaotic growth within their body.

The Azure Face Palm was a vicious martial art that used azure demonic qi to afflict a person's face, turning them into a hideous creature with a green face and fangs.

Furthermore, because it bound itself to the victim's life force, even if the azure demonic qi were cleansed, the person's vitality would inevitably suffer a devastating blow.

As a mere substitute, Consort Yue's martial arts proficiency could not possibly have been very high. Once the azure demonic qi was dealt with, her vitality would undoubtedly be severely damaged, leaving her frail and emaciated—

Once her appearance altered, she would no longer be able to serve as a substitute for the Bright Moon Fairy.

"So, Consort Yue didn't manage to completely resolve the Azure Demonic Palm, but instead found someone to suppress the azure demonic qi, maintaining her appearance all along?" Pondering this internally, Lu Sheng guessed.

Lu Yunxi replied: "Indeed. At that time, His Majesty was at a crucial juncture and could not afford any disturbances."

"Neither Consort Yue nor those around His Majesty wished to see all his efforts wasted at the threshold of success."

"Therefore, Consort Yue had someone suppress the azure demonic qi, keeping the matter strictly confidential."

"As time accumulated, the azure demonic qi within her body became like maggots nesting in bones, entangling inextricably with her life force—"

"Ultimately, it became incurable!"

"So that's how it was..." Slowing his pace, Lu Sheng furrowed his brow and said, "Could it be that His Majesty felt a pang of guilt upon learning the truth later on, leaving a mark in his heart?"

"Not at all!" Shaking her head, Lu Yunxi said, "His Majesty has experienced countless brushes with life and death throughout his life; how could he ever be moved to emotion by the death of a single woman?"

"The real reason he remembered Consort Yue was that after realizing her condition was incurable, Consort Yue invited the Aged and Flourishing Elder to transform the azure demonic qi infesting her body into withered demonic qi—"

"Thus, the moment she passed away, she transformed instantly from a beautiful woman into a pile of skeletons—"

"This gave His Majesty an immense shock, leading him to comprehend the principle that pinky-white beauty is nothing more than powdered bones."

"From then on, no other woman could ever leave a trace within His Majesty's heart."

"And the most radiant, beautiful version of her from her final moments remained forever etched in His Majesty's mind!"

"This is the primary reason why His Majesty posthumously conferred upon her the title of Consort Yue and kept her forever engraved in his heart after ascending the throne!"

"Hah..."

Halting abruptly, Lu Sheng let out a long breath and murmured with emotion:

"What an extraordinary woman!"

"Don't you agree, Li Wan'er?"

His gaze shifted toward a beautiful woman walking toward him.

Her features bore a faint, subtle resemblance to Si Mingyue—

Thinking about it, she must undoubtedly be the biological niece of that Consort Yue, the Yin-Yang Sect disciple known as Li Wan'er!

"Hehe!"

Covering her mouth with a light chuckle, Li Wan'er approached with graceful steps and said:

"My aunt, Li Xiaoyue, was naturally an extraordinary woman!"

"Otherwise, how could she have captured the interest of Prince Jin?"

As she spoke, she leaned in slowly, pressing close to Lu Sheng's ear, and whispered softly:

"It's just that I wonder... are you interested in her niece, Prince Jin?"

Her body suddenly turned pliant, and she slumped softly against Lu Sheng.