It Turns Out, They Are the Protagonists
Chapter 588: All Sides Mobilize, the Forbidden Lands Emerge

If Princess Yongning had told Mu Zhian she wasn’t interested in the throne of the Great Qian Dynasty, he probably wouldn’t have believed her.

He had gleaned as much from their past conversations.

Of course, even so, Mu Zhian still needed confirmation.

And Yongning did give him the answer he sought.

She wanted to become the Empress of the Great Qian Dynasty.

“What does Young Master Mu plan to do?” Princess Yongning asked, her beautiful eyes gazing intently at him. “Do you intend to have my father abdicate…? You should know that cultivators cannot interfere in the decisions of mortal emperors, otherwise, they will suffer the backlash of the national fortune, according to the rules of heaven and earth.”

This was a safety measure established by the three Daos of Heaven, Earth, and Human, to prevent the cultivation world from influencing the order of mortal dynasties.

Mu Zhian smiled faintly, “I will help Princess Yongning become the Empress of the Great Qian… As for the method, there are many, but I need to think about it carefully.”

Seeing Mu Zhian’s mysterious smile, Princess Yongning’s eyes were filled with curiosity and suspicion, and she was about to ask further.

Just then, Mu Zhian suddenly placed a finger against his lips and shushed her.

“Someone’s coming, don’t reveal my presence here,” Mu Zhian transmitted his voice. Then, before Yongning could speak, he ducked under the table.

Yongning’s shoulders trembled slightly as she felt the young man’s head resting against her lap.

“Young Master Mu, what’s wrong?” she asked subconsciously via voice transmission, her legs fidgeting slightly, an inexplicable shyness washing over her.

However, seeing Mu Zhian not responding, Yongning didn’t speak again.

The intelligent eldest princess knew that Mu Zhian must have his reasons. It seemed someone he didn’t want to see had come to the palace.

But who…?

“Your Highness, I hope I’m not interrupting your reading,” a soft, melodious voice suddenly echoed, drawing Yongning’s attention.

A woman with tanned skin and exotic attire walked in.

A casual smile played on her alluring face, her beautiful eyes gazing intently, her long and slender legs exposed, two glass bead-like objects in her hands.

“Who… who are you…?” Yongning asked subconsciously.

At this moment, she finally understood why Mu Zhian was hiding. Although she was a cultivator at the eighth rank of Nascent Soul Realm, she couldn’t sense any aura fluctuations from this woman.

“The Lord of the Immortal Forbidden Land, you can call me Isis,” the woman said with a seductive smile, gracefully walking over and sitting down beside Yongning.

Isis observed Yongning’s calm demeanor with amusement, a hint of appreciation in her eyes, “Not bad, remaining so composed after knowing my identity. You’re much better than most of the nobles in your imperial court.”

Yongning replied calmly, neither servile nor overbearing, “Thank you for your praise, Senior. This Yongning is humbled… May I know the reason for your visit?”

Isis narrowed her eyes, staring at Yongning for a long time.

For a moment, Yongning felt like she was being stared at by a venomous snake. A rare unease stirred within her, a sense of fear.

She wants to kill me…

This thought suddenly appeared in the eldest princess’s mind.

Just then, she felt a hand on her leg. The warm touch made Yongning’s body tremble slightly, and she almost cried out.

But she managed to suppress it, composing herself, lowering her eyelids slightly, and maintaining her usual calm and dignified demeanor.

Isis collected her thoughts, then chuckled softly, “It’s nothing. I just arrived in the Great Qian Dynasty and heard that the eldest princess is incredibly intelligent, so I came out of curiosity.”

“And also to ask, what does Your Highness think about the recent rumors surrounding the Great Qian Dynasty?”

Yongning replied calmly, “This junior believes the rumors about the Great Qian Dynasty’s impending doom are false. Although there’s some internal strife, it’s far from the point of collapse.”

Isis stared at the dignified and cool eldest princess for a long time, then quietly retracted her gaze and stood up.

“This Seat has other matters to attend to, I won’t disturb Your Highness’s reading any longer.”

With that said, Isis turned and vanished from sight like a phantom.

After a while, Mu Zhian crawled out from under the table and let out a long sigh of relief.

Fortunately, the Isis just now was only a wisp of spiritual sense, otherwise, even his Innate Spiritual Body might not have been able to detect her presence immediately.

“It seems the Forbidden Lands are getting restless.”

Even Mu Zhian hadn’t expected the Great Qian Dynasty’s national fortune to attract the attention of the Forbidden Lands.

“What do you think she wanted, Young Master Mu?” Yongning asked softly.

Her usually beautiful and refined face was slightly pale, a few strands of hair framing her delicate features, her lips thin and rosy. She maintained her usual dignified and elegant demeanor, but her long eyelashes trembled slightly with fear.

Compared to her usual noble elegance, she now seemed more like a vulnerable and helpless woman, even more endearing.

“If I had to guess, Isis initially wanted to support your claim to the throne,” Mu Zhian said, glancing at Yongning’s slightly trembling body, “Are you alright?”

“Please continue, Young Master Mu, I’m fine… It was just an instinctive fear,” Yongning whispered.

Hearing this, Mu Zhian couldn’t help but shake his head with a smile, “You don’t trust me, Your Highness?”

He said calmly, “I said I would help you ascend the throne, and I will protect you until the very end.”

As he spoke, he extended his hand towards her gracefully.

Yongning subconsciously glanced at Mu Zhian. His expression was calm, as if speaking of something completely ordinary, yet his words brought an inexplicable sense of security.

After a moment, she placed her hand in Mu Zhian’s, letting him hold it.

The warmth of his hand made the eldest princess lean subconsciously against Mu Zhian. She glanced at him sideways, noticing he was also looking at her, and her heart fluttered slightly. She quickly looked away.

Then, she changed the subject, “You said earlier that the lord of the Forbidden Land initially wanted to support my claim… Then why did she suddenly become hostile?”

“You’re very clever,” Mu Zhian smiled, “But Isis doesn’t need you to be clever.”

“Ultimately, for Isis, and even the other Forbidden Zone Lords, their goal from the very beginning wasn’t to support a certain prince or princess, their goal is the Great Qian Dynasty’s national fortune,” Mu Zhian continued.

“If I had to guess, after approaching you, Isis will also go see the others and ask if they’re interested in the throne.”

Feeling the young man’s warmth beside her, Yongning’s trembling subsided. A strange glint flickered in her eyes, and she said softly, “You mean, the Forbidden Lands will all approach members of the imperial family?”

“Not might, but will,” Mu Zhian smiled. “Of course, their goal isn’t truly to support someone’s ascension. Ultimately, what the Forbidden Lands truly want is the national fortune, which also seems to be what the Heavenly Dao needs.”

Yongning’s delicate brows furrowed slightly. Then, understanding the implication of Mu Zhian’s words, it was like a thunderclap in her mind. For the first time, a strong emotion flickered across the eldest princess’s usually calm and elegant face.

“The Forbidden Lands’ goal… is to completely destroy the Great Qian Dynasty?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly, her gaze fixed on Mu Zhian’s eyes.

This was the obvious answer. Rumors of the Great Qian Dynasty’s impending doom had been spreading recently. After that, people from all over came to the Great Qian Dynasty, hoping to get a share of the spoils… Even the usually reclusive Forbidden Lands had sent representatives. This was enough to prove something.

Yongning had been puzzled by one thing before.

Although there was internal strife within the Great Qian Dynasty, it wasn’t anything they couldn’t handle. Such internal strife had happened before.

Then why did the Imperial Astronomer, after observing the celestial signs, predict the Great Qian Dynasty’s downfall?

Now, the answer was clear.

The various factions, and even the Forbidden Lands’ involvement, were the true reasons.

Seeing Mu Zhian nod gently, Yongning still found it hard to believe, “But wouldn’t doing so incur the backlash of the rules of heaven and earth…?”

Great powers couldn’t interfere in the affairs of mortal dynasties; this was a rule set by the three Daos of Heaven, Earth, and Human.

“Perhaps they have some way to avoid the backlash,” Mu Zhian shook his head. This was beyond his knowledge.

Perhaps Miss Heavenly Dao would know.

After all, the Forbidden Lands were the Heavenly Dao’s creation.

Yongning calmed herself, then looked up at Mu Zhian and said softly, “What are your plans, Young Master Mu?”

“I’ll stay in the capital for now and wait and see,” Mu Zhian said.

Before confirming how many Forbidden Lands were involved and stabilizing the situation, he couldn’t leave the capital yet.

Yongning hesitated, then said softly, “If you don’t mind, Young Master Mu, you can stay in my palace for a few days…”

Mu Zhian was stunned, “That’s not very appropriate… If people find out, it might cause gossip. I’m staying at an inn in the capital, it’s not difficult for me to meet with Your Highness.”

More importantly, he was a bit worried about being alone with her. If he accidentally couldn’t control himself and did something… it wouldn’t be good.

Mu Zhian knew himself well. He had certainly had thoughts about this dignified and mature eldest princess… But he had promised to help Yongning, and if he stayed in the palace with her, and couldn’t resist making a move… would she refuse?

Probably not. After all, this concerned the fate of the Great Qian Dynasty. Even for her kingdom’s sake, this eldest princess wouldn’t refuse.

But that would make their relationship feel transactional, as if he was coercing her.

Mu Zhian hoped for their relationship to develop naturally, not through coercion or similar methods.

“Is Young Master Mu looking down on this Princess, thinking it’s beneath you to be with me because of my low cultivation?”

Mu Zhian noticed the Princess’s eyes dim slightly.

Mu Zhian said helplessly, “Your Highness misunderstands, I just don’t want our relationship to be tainted by this matter.”

“Tainted…?” Yongning looked at Mu Zhian, puzzled.

“Just staying in Your Highness’s palace wouldn’t taint it, but…”

Mu Zhian suddenly leaned closer and whispered something in her ear.

Yongning’s eyes widened slightly, a blush quickly spreading across her face. She glanced at the young man beside her, then lowered her head, not saying a word.

Seeing this, Mu Zhian couldn’t help but smile. He didn’t expect Yongning, who could even remain calm before Isis, to be so easily flustered by a few words… How interesting.

“Your Highness, if there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”

Mu Zhian stood up, intending to leave.

Just then, a hand gently grabbed his clothes.

“If you really have those thoughts, it’s fine… After all, it would be my choice.”

A barely audible whisper echoed through the quiet library.

A shy yet alluring smile appeared on Yongning’s face.

She whispered again, “I know my strength is nothing in Young Master Mu’s eyes… If you’re worried that I’m only being intimate with you because of some ulterior motive, there’s no need. I don’t have any designs on you. Ever since that day in the Forbidden Zone, when Miss Lin kept praising you, I’ve been paying attention to you.”

In a way, it was thanks to Keyu. If it weren’t for her constantly praising Mu Zhian’s good looks and talents that day, she wouldn’t have been secretly observing him since then, and wouldn’t have fallen for him.

And this time, he even came to the Great Qian Dynasty for her sake.

Unlike the other Forbidden Lands, he wasn’t here for the national fortune.

But to sincerely help her…

No girl would dislike a hero who came to her rescue in her time of need… Even if he already had a Dao Companion.

Before Mu Zhian could react, a soft body embraced him from behind, Yongning’s arms wrapping around his waist.

“It’s fine even here, Young Master Mu.”

…

Isis, her figure ethereal, quietly left the library, intending to meet with the envoy from the Immortal Forbidden Land.

Just then, she noticed a woman’s figure not far away in the distance.

The woman’s attire was simple, her face covered by a veil, not emitting the slightest aura.

Isis couldn’t help but look twice.

She seemed familiar…

But it didn’t matter. Her priority was the Great Qian Dynasty’s national fortune; everything else could wait.

Unless Mu Zhian was also in the Great Qian Dynasty, there was nothing more important than its national fortune right now.

It was just a pity that Mu Zhian was currently in the Two Polarities Sect, there was no opportunity to make a move…

Thinking of that young man with the Transcendence Realm Innate Celestial Furnace, Isis recalled the Demon Empress’s slap in the Forbidden Zone earlier, a ripple of emotion disturbing her usually calm heart.

Shi Zixuan…

Heh, you might be arrogant, unafraid of offending anyone… But if you knew Mu Zhian was in my hands, would you still be so haughty?

It will be interesting to see… A cold glint flashed through Isis’s eyes, and her figure vanished from the imperial palace.

…

Within the library.

Sunlight streamed through the window. Mu Zhian slowly released Yongning’s lips. The eldest princess, meticulously dressed today, her brightly colored rouge now smeared, her face flushed a deep crimson.

But her eyes sparkled with excitement.

As the always elegant Princess Yongning, she had never been in love before, let alone kissed someone in a public place like the library… or even let him do that.

Earlier, she was both worried about being seen, and also inexplicably thrilled by that very worry.

This feeling was addictive.

“Are you still planning to find an inn?” Sensing Mu Zhian’s burning gaze, Yongning lowered her eyelids slightly and asked softly.

Mu Zhian smiled, “Since Your Highness has extended such a gracious invitation, how could I possibly refuse?”

“Still calling me ‘Your Highness’?” Yongning gave him a seductive look, a hint of resentment in her eyes.

Mu Zhian was stunned, then smiled, “Yongning, let’s go.”

Shortly after leaving the library with Yongning, Miss Heavenly Dao, in her simple attire, silently appeared beside the young man.

She glanced at Yongning emotionlessly, then said to Mu Zhian calmly, “The Lord of the Immortal Forbidden Land just noticed me.”

“She discovered your identity?” Mu Zhian asked.

Miss Heavenly Dao shook her head, “That’s impossible. No one in the Nine Provinces can detect my identity.”

“However, Master, I can only offer you support, I can’t directly intervene,” Miss Heavenly Dao reminded him. “This is a constraint of the rules of heaven and earth. Unless they violate the rules, I can’t act.”

Mu Zhian smiled and nodded, “I know, you’re like a referee… and referees can’t participate in the game.”

He couldn’t help but feel a twinge of regret.

If Miss Heavenly Dao could directly intervene, it would be a complete game-changer.

After all, the Forbidden Lands were the Heavenly Dao’s creation.

Even for Transcendence Realm Human Emperors, the Forbidden Lands were formidable opponents.

But for Miss Heavenly Dao, facing the Forbidden Zone Lords would be like a mother disciplining her children, a complete one-sided beatdown.

Just then, as if realizing something, Mu Zhian’s thoughts stopped, and he stared at Miss Heavenly Dao’s expressionless, beautiful face.

“What’s wrong, Master?” Miss Heavenly Dao tilted her head slightly, asking in confusion.

Mu Zhian quickly came back to his senses, “Mmm… I was just thinking, if the Heavenly Dao’s will is the referee who judges everything in this world, then naturally, you can’t casually interfere with the Nine Provinces’ cultivators, as it would violate the rules of heaven and earth.”

He paused, looked at Miss Heavenly Dao, and suddenly asked softly, “But what if someone attacks the referee first?”