It Turns Out, They Are the Protagonists
Chapter 519: Past Life Cuckolding, Present Life Too

The Elders’ Council. This body existed in almost every Ancient Family, and the Forbidden Zone was no exception.

The Forbidden Zone’s Elders’ Council was divided into three factions. The Forbidden Zone Lord’s wife led one faction, supporting the Forbidden Zone Lord’s younger sister, Ye Siyu, to inherit his position.

The second faction originally supported the Second Elder’s granddaughters, Ye Qing and Ye Xue. However, the two sisters weren’t particularly attached to the position of Forbidden Zone Lord, and since they had a good relationship with Ye Lingxuan, they voluntarily withdrew from the competition and supported Ye Lingxuan’s succession.

The third faction was the newly emerged radical faction, advocating for the Forbidden Zone’s expansion. They were also Ye Lingxuan’s strongest competitors.

“According to the original plan, there will be a large-scale hunting event in seven days. That will be the first time for the younger generation successors to showcase their abilities. Miss, you must seize this opportunity. This hunting event is crucial; the victor might gain the Grand Elder’s support,” a female elder said gently, reminding her.

The Forbidden Zone’s Grand Elder held a significant position. Although usually keeping a low profile, even the Forbidden Zone Lord gave him due respect. He was highly esteemed within the Elders’ Council.

It was said that he was a living fossil from the same era as the Forbidden Zone Lord, having lived from tens of thousands of years ago until now, even giving up his chance at Dao Integration to the Forbidden Zone Lord.

At the long table, a young woman in a purple dress sat with a dignified and elegant posture, but her expression was distracted.

She didn’t even seem to hear what the female elder just said.

As the Forbidden Zone Lord’s daughter, Ye Lingxuan’s powerful bloodline and talent were undeniable.

Any concerns about her being indecisive after taking over were dispelled after interacting with her during the past few days.

Although this Holy Maiden was usually elegant and polite towards her elders, she was decisive in her actions and possessed the purest bloodline in the Forbidden Zone.

Undoubtedly, if they wanted to maintain the Forbidden Zone’s strength, Ye Lingxuan was the most suitable candidate.

This was also why most of the Elders’ Council supported her.

She possessed the calmness and charisma of a leader, and during past council meetings, she always offered unique insights.

Yet today…

This was the first time they had seen this Holy Maiden distracted during a meeting.

And she kept looking down at the bronze mirror created by the Desolate Time Lock under the table…

She looked like a student secretly checking their phone during class.

“Miss, is something troubling you?” a female elder asked gently with concern.

Most of the clan members in the Forbidden Zone liked this young woman. Although she possessed the talent and pride of a genius, she was humble and elegant towards her elders.

Most importantly… she was beautiful.

And everything she did was endearing.

Hearing this, the other elders also looked at Ye Lingxuan.

Ye Lingxuan snapped out of her thoughts and forced a smile: “It’s nothing… I was just thinking about the hunting event in seven days.”

Managing to brush them off, Ye Lingxuan’s thoughts returned to her conversation with the Reincarnated Empress earlier.

She slightly regretted ‘provoking’ the Reincarnated Empress.

If she failed, it would be fine, but what if that woman really succeeded in winning over Brother Mu? What would she do then?!

Imagine, Brother Mu seeing her and saying: Sister Lingxuan, where’s the Reincarnated Empress? I want to see her.

“…”

If things developed to that point, who would be the master then?

Why create an enemy for herself for no reason?!

At this moment, the young woman was filled with regret.

However, she couldn’t ask the Reincarnated Empress to stop now, no matter what.

She couldn’t lose face.

She knew she was anxious, but she also knew she couldn’t be anxious now. She had to be calm, absolutely calm…

Despite the worry in her heart, a polite and elegant smile remained on her face.

“With the Holy Maiden’s intelligence and strength, there’s no need to worry about the hunting event. I believe you will definitely impress even the Grand Elder,” an elder comforted, thinking she was distracted due to pressure.

Ye Lingxuan smiled sweetly: “Mmm… I’ll do my best.”

“Speaking of which, a group of cultivators who intended to cause chaos in the Eastern Continent seem to have been captured by the Forbidden Army outside the Forbidden Zone today. One of them seems to be Mu Zhian?” an elder suddenly asked.

“Mmm… I also heard about this. It seems the young lady directly took Young Master Mu out of prison. Although it’s understandable from an emotional standpoint, logically, it’s not quite justifiable…”

This elder seemed to be from the radical faction, using this opportunity to criticize Ye Lingxuan’s actions tonight.

Ye Lingxuan glanced at the elder and said faintly, “Elder Sun, have you forgotten his relationship with the Jade Empress?”

As soon as these words were spoken, silence fell upon the Elders’ Council.

The name “Jade Empress”, even the entire Forbidden Zone had to take seriously.

After all, she was the first Transcendence Realm expert in the Nine Provinces and had openly protected Mu Zhian several times before.

Plus, the Jade Empress recently visited the Forbidden Zone. Imprisoning Mu Zhian now was indeed inappropriate.

“However, that wedding was just a ruse for the Jade Empress’s Transcendence Tribulation, they’re not truly Dao Companions, right?” an elder questioned.

Someone beside him shook their head, “Although that’s true, judging by the final result, the Jade Empress doesn’t mind being married to Mu Zhian… That’s a fact.”

Ye Lingxuan corrected him, “They didn’t actually get married, they’re not Dao Companions. It was just a trick to fool outsiders. You elders are all experienced, would you believe such nonsense?”

“But of course, their close relationship is real, so releasing him from prison was also out of consideration for the Jade Empress,” the young woman added.

The elders exchanged glances. They were all old foxes and naturally knew why the young lady said this.

Although she usually acted mature and calm, when it came to Mu Zhian, she became like a lovestruck teenager, at a loss.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t be deliberately emphasizing that the Jade Empress and Mu Zhian weren’t Dao Companions now.

The elders remained silent, tacitly understanding each other.

“In that case, I’ll have someone settle Young Master Mu in the guest quarters for a few days. Having him stay in the young lady’s bedchamber isn’t very appropriate,” the Sixth Elder said.

Ye Lingxuan frowned slightly.

She knew this elder meant no harm, it was just ingrained old-fashioned thinking.

Some elders in the Forbidden Zone knew about the relationship between Ye Lingxuan and Mu Zhian, but they didn’t really approve.

“He’s helped me a lot in the past. No matter what, we should treat him well,” Ye Lingxuan said.

“That’s why I said to have him stay in another bedchamber and treat him well,” the Sixth Elder said with a chuckle.

Ye Lingxuan frowned. She usually listened to the elders’ suggestions with an open mind, but when it came to Mu Zhian, she rarely compromised.

Besides, this was something the clan members would have to face sooner or later.

She was about to speak.

Just then, the Sixth Elder chuckled and said, “Actually, I know how you feel about Young Master Mu, but you will be the future Empress of the Forbidden Zone. How can the Empress of a top power be the wife of a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator?”

W-wife?

The young woman was thin-skinned. Hearing this, she blushed and lowered her head, but a glint of excitement flickered in her eyes.

After a while, she coughed lightly and said demurely, “Do Brother Mu… ahem, do Mu Zhian and I really look like Dao Companions?”

“Anyone with discerning eyes can see it. If you want to pretend, Miss, at least make it more convincing,” an elder shook his head helplessly and sighed.

“I see, I’ll pay attention to it later,” Ye Lingxuan nodded politely, desperately suppressing the smile that threatened to spread across her face.

So we look that much like a couple… I didn’t even notice before.

The elders all sighed inwardly.

They really didn’t know what was so good about this Mu Zhian, that their young lady was so smitten with him. If they didn’t know better, they would think he was a Dao Integration Realm expert.

But since Ye Lingxuan cared so much about Mu Zhian, they naturally couldn’t dissuade her.

Instead of targeting Ye Lingxuan, it would be easier to have Mu Zhian give up himself.

The elders exchanged glances, seemingly having made up their minds to talk to Mu Zhian alone later.

Just then, a spy hurriedly pushed open the door and entered.

“Can’t you see the meeting isn’t over yet?” an elder frowned.

The spy knelt on one knee, panting, seemingly suppressing his excitement. After a while, he calmed down and said urgently, “Elders, the Empress of Yu State is requesting an audience outside the Forbidden Zone.”

“The Pill Emperor?!”

The elders all stood up. The Fourth Elder immediately reacted and said, “Have someone welcome the Pill Emperor… No, have them wait, I’ll personally go.”

The Fourth Elder was mainly responsible for external relations, but the Forbidden Zone was always reclusive, so he usually didn’t have much to do.

Even if he did, he would have his subordinates handle it.

But the Pill Emperor was different. She was a quasi-immortal alchemist!

Just this identity alone was enough for everyone in the Nine Provinces to actively befriend her.

“Ahem… Old Four, you’ve worked hard enough with your cultivation, there’s no need for you to personally handle such a small matter, I’ll go for you.”

Just then, an elder with a white beard coughed lightly and stood up, intending to leave.

“Get lost, maintaining external relations is my duty, are you trying to overstep your bounds?”

The Fourth Elder glared at the elder who spoke.

Then, he glanced at the other elders, seeing the envy and jealousy on their faces, and cupped his hands with a satisfied smile, “Everyone, I’ll take my leave then.”

If he could use this opportunity to befriend the Pill Emperor, perhaps he could ask her to help refine pills to extend his lifespan in the future.

For cultivators, lifespan meant endless possibilities, and those low-grade life-extending pills became less effective the higher one’s realm.

At their age, only high-grade pills could extend their lifespans.

And this was when the advantages of those high-grade alchemists were fully displayed.

The Fourth Elder naturally wouldn’t give this opportunity to befriend the Pill Emperor to anyone else.

However, just as the Fourth Elder stood up, the spy hesitated and said in a low voice, “Elder, the Pill Emperor said there’s no need for a special welcome. She came to the Forbidden Zone to see someone and will meet with her old friend afterward.”

“See someone? Did you ask who?” the Fourth Elder asked, frowning.

The spy glanced at the elders and hesitated, “Mu Zhian.”

A deathly silence fell upon the Elders’ Council.

Astonishment filled the Fourth Elder’s eyes.

After a long while, someone broke the silence in a daze, “When did the Pill Emperor of Yu State become involved with Mu Zhian?”

Within the Nine Provinces, Yu State held a special position, because there were too many alchemists in Yu State, and their Empress was infinitely close to an immortal-grade alchemist.

Not just the elders, even the Dao Integration Realm experts of the major powers in the Nine Provinces were willing to befriend this Pill Emperor.

Yet now, she had come to the Forbidden Zone specifically for Mu Zhian?

Ye Lingxuan silently watched the silent elders, not saying a word.

Only she knew the real situation.

Luo Tan had probably refined the Nine Cauldrons Nascent Soul Pill and personally delivered it to Mu Zhian.

If they knew that the Empress of Yu State had just offered her Innate Celestial Furnace to Mu Zhian without reservation, she didn’t know how they would react…

A faint smile couldn’t help but appear at the corner of her mouth.

For some reason, although she should be jealous, Ye Lingxuan inexplicably felt a bit of anticipation thinking about the elders’ expressions after learning about that.

I wonder how Brother Mu is doing…

The young girl casually glanced at the bronze mirror under the table and the scene displayed within.

As if seeing something, Ye Lingxuan’s smile faltered for a moment, her gaze freezing.

…

Fifteen minutes ago.

After circulating his Spiritual Energy for a full cycle, Mu Zhian’s aura stabilized somewhat.

He opened his eyes, emerging from his meditative state.

He sensed another person quietly standing in the room.

He followed the aura and saw the cool and aloof beauty standing quietly by the bed, wearing a simple, dark, fitted dress, a sash outlining her slender waist and full, perky bosom.

What a figure, tsk tsk…

She’s Lingxuan’s past life, but why is her chest bigger than Lingxuan’s…? Mu Zhian couldn’t help but steal a few more glances, thinking inwardly.

“The Master hasn’t fully developed yet. In her past nine lives, her chest developed very well after reaching adulthood,” the cool beauty said in a flat, emotionless tone.

Mu Zhian was stunned: “You can read minds?”

“I just roughly guessed your thoughts,” the Reincarnated Empress said faintly.

She looked like an emotionless robot, but she actually had self-awareness…

“Why are you here?” Mu Zhian asked, “Don’t you need to stay by Sister Lingxuan’s side?”

“The Master won’t be in danger in the Forbidden Zone. She’s worried about you, so she asked me to stay and protect you,” the Reincarnated Empress explained.

Most of the rules in the Forbidden Zone didn’t apply to Forbidden Zone clan members. The higher their status, the more rules didn’t apply.

And Ye Lingxuan, as the ‘reincarnated one’ of this generation, was naturally completely unaffected by the Forbidden Zone’s rules.

On the other hand, Mu Zhian might be in some danger.

Of course, these were just excuses. The real reason was a certain bet between her and her Master.

Mu Zhian nodded thoughtfully.

“Is Sister Lingxuan doing okay in the Forbidden Zone?” he asked.

The Reincarnated Empress nodded gently, “She’s doing well.”

At first, some people in the Forbidden Zone did give the Holy Maiden a hard time, hoping their own descendants could inherit the position of Forbidden Zone Lord, but later they were all won over by Ye Lingxuan’s charm.

Currently, there wasn’t anything troubling Ye Lingxuan in the Forbidden Zone.

But then, she remembered Ye Lingxuan’s instructions earlier and added, “But not particularly well.”

“Well, but not particularly well?” Mu Zhian frowned, puzzled, “Isn’t Lingxuan’s father the Forbidden Zone Lord? Could someone in the Forbidden Zone be making things difficult for her?”

The Reincarnated Empress hesitated, “The Forbidden Zone Lord won’t help his daughter too much. After all, they’re all his clan members, and the position of Forbidden Zone Lord is something she needs to earn herself.”

Mu Zhian murmured to himself, “So what she said about encountering some troubles is true?”

He was initially skeptical about the truth of Ye Lingxuan’s troubles, but since even this cool and aloof beauty said so, it must be true.

After all, this woman, who always followed Ye Lingxuan like a shadow, wouldn’t lie.

The Reincarnated Empress nodded: “She needs your help.”

Mu Zhian nodded slightly, “I’ll do my best to help her obtain that position.”

Mu Zhian had a dream.

He hoped to live a leisurely and comfortable life every day without having to work hard, chatting with rich milfs, and rightfully eating soft rice.

This dream was mostly realized now.

He imagined that after all the fish in his pond grew into big sharks, he could live such a life.

And the only problem now was that the girls around him seemed to have a slight risk of turning yandere, so he had to improve his strength a bit, lest he be locked up in the little black room one day, watching helplessly as they discussed breaking up and dividing his body parts, without any power to resist…

For this, he still needed to resolve a few more matters…

For example, helping Lin Ling transcend as soon as possible.

“I heard from Sister Lingxuan before that you have the memories of your past eight lives?” Mu Zhian suddenly asked, his gaze lingering on the cool beauty’s porcelain-like face for a moment, then quickly scanning down from her full and perky bosom to her long, snow-white legs, before retracting his gaze.

“Are you asking me if I know the whereabouts of the Flower of the Great Dao?” the cool beauty asked calmly.

Mu Zhian was silent for a moment, “You can read minds, can’t you?”

This was the second time this woman had guessed his intentions.

“I don’t know mind-reading, you’re just easy to read,” the Reincarnated Empress sized Mu Zhian up and continued, “I know where the Flower of the Great Dao is hidden.”

Mu Zhian suppressed his excitement, staring at the woman, waiting for her to continue.

However, she didn’t say anything more.

“Where is the Flower of the Great Dao?” Mu Zhian finally couldn’t help asking.

An almost imperceptible smile appeared at the corner of the Reincarnated Empress’s mouth.

His curiosity was piqued. Now, it was time to state her conditions…

The woman recalled the contents of The Art of Managing Your Husband. Then, after composing herself slightly, a bright, ice-breaking smile suddenly appeared on her cold and beautiful face:

“Telling you where the Flower of the Great Dao is hidden is no problem.”

“However, I have a condition.”