Chen Sansi really didn't know about these things.
He joked, "So you're saying I actually picked up a bargain?"
"Brother Shi, you're still making fun of me?"
Gu Xinlan said indignantly, "Anyway, I've come to understand that there's nothing good about being part of the Imperial Family. It's not bad to be ordinary people either, and our family is living quite well now."
"The Imperial Family..."
Chen Sansi recalled everything that happened on Ziwei Mountain.
Once part of the Imperial Family, fathers and sons, brothers turn into enemies.
The Old Emperor was not a good person.
But one thing was true, he was very lonely and had no friends.
Could be seen from the fact that he always talked to him about the past.
"What happened then?"
Chen Sansi asked, "Where did your sister go afterward?"
He was actually curious about the spiritual energy within the Empress's body.
The Empress had disappeared for many years,
Until, two years ago, during the coup, she accomplished a great feat in one fell swoop.
Gu Xinlan recalled carefully, "She fled with the elders of our clan and couldn't even return within Qing Country's borders. She had to hide everywhere and wait for an opportunity. I'm not very clear about where exactly she went."
This aunt of his, she must also be a cultivator.
Otherwise, how could she become the ruler of a country at such a young age?
Having more or less covered all topics, Chen Sansi suddenly remembered as if he had completely forgotten about his own son.
"Ah, I don't remember either."
Gu Xinlan turned to look at the cradle and found that it was already empty, "Today I was only focused on your return, and Gui Ti was also discussing matters, so I forgot."
Chen Sansi switched on both his "Tracking" and "Qi Observation Skill" to full, and while searching for his son inside the house, he finally found him in the backyard, not knowing when he had been left on a wicker chair, quietly asleep.
Was the Empress in a black robe, stretching out her crimson rouged hand gently onto him, spirit light circling, before she murmured somewhat disappointedly, "Another mere mortal."
"Your Majesty, Emperor Qing."
Chen Sansi called for Si Qin to take Du He away, testing, "Why does everyone you speak of count as a mere mortal?"
This guy seemed to have no intention of hiding his cultivation practices.
"Well, you're not considered one,"
The Empress said emotionlessly, "A disciple of Sun Xiangzong, who can take the path of entering the Dao through martial arts."
Chen Sansi sat down in front of her and asked, "You've come all this way, aside from recognizing your sister, is there something else?"
If it was just for recognition,
There was no need to wait for his return.
An emperor's infiltration into enemy territory comes with great risks.
After all, she isn't the only cultivator in the world.
The title "sister" visibly made the Empress uncomfortable, but she didn't deny it. As long as she still recognized her sister, the man before her indeed qualified as her brother-in-law, nominally.
She looked down from on high at her sister's husband, "I am taking her away. Out of respect for sister, I waited until your return to inform you.
"What are you saying?"
Chen Sansi looked directly into her eyes, "Even if you want to return to Qing Country, it doesn't mean your sister is willing, right?"
"What she says doesn't count,"
The Empress said coldly, "Chen Sansi, you might not know yet, but Liangzhou will soon be in dire straits."
Chen Sansi thought hard and could only associate one thing that might result in such disastrous consequences—
The Luotian Mountain Range!
When he first arrived in Liangzhou, on his first hunting expedition into the mountains, he had seen the black miasma rising to the sky, along with various beasts mutated from infection, which the people from Seeking Immortal Tower called Evil Qi.
It had all been brewing for some time,
And his fourth senior brother had mentioned that their master was also dealing with this matter.
But was it this serious...
The Empress lightly said, "I cannot foresee how things will unfold, but one thing is certain, her staying here with you is ultimately unsafe."
"What exactly is in the mountain range?"
Chen Sansi inquired, "Liangzhou has sufficient military forces, with several Martial Saints among them. Can they really not handle the situation?"
"If you dare, go see for yourself,"
The Empress did not elaborate and dropped the topic after leaving those words behind.
"I naturally intend to see,"
Chen Sansi was already planning to enter the mountains to hunt beasts and cut down Ghost Vein Wood.
While his mind was occupied with this matter, he didn't forget to instruct Si Qin and the others to prepare meals.
Having returned home after being away for half a year, it was natural to gather together.
However, the Empress did not socialize with others, staying in Sister Lan's room without eating or drinking, doing who knows what.
While Chen Sansi was thinking about the situation in the Luotian Mountain Range, he had to first visit the military camp, knowing that when he returned, there would be lots of matters requiring immediate attention.
The expansion of the camp was almost complete, with nearly the required number of troops gathered, all squeezed out from garrisons elsewhere. They only needed training before they could be used, but they hadn't been formally assigned to units yet, waiting for the military officers to be transferred over as well.
At the moment, including the Xuanjia Army, he had over four thousand men under his command, but they were still not officially Hongze Camp, just the Reserve Camp.
Along with Yan Changqing, Lu Shuhua, Xie Sishu, Bai Thingzhi and others,
Who had been transferred away.
He no longer commanded them.
Having so many talented people, three of whom were Bodies of Martial Saints, naturally, they couldn't remain as his subordinates. The previous battles were essentially trials.
Chen Sansi still had to rely on his own men.
Xia Cong, Xiao Zheng, and You Jike, three Meridian Passage experts.