Chapter 176 This Unofficial History is Full of Personal Additions
Inside the inn.
Chu Xingchen and Li Xingtian both looked at Li Yingling, waiting for the so-called unofficial history she mentioned that could serve as a reference.
After all, when a dynasty writes its own history books, it always has a flavor of whitewashing peace. Moreover, if there were something real, it would not be written in the history books anyway.
Only some unofficial histories, hidden away in the wild, often contain traces of true history from the past.
Secondly, even if the unofficial history really has no truth at all, it does not actually matter.
Because widely circulated unofficial histories definitely have one characteristic—enough storytelling quality, and enough abstraction.
Among them, the romantic entanglements of the founding emperor are the most prominent, followed by those of the founding empress.
After all, food and sex are human nature.
Additionally, only wild enough unofficial histories can successfully survive the scouring of time and remain in the long river of time, becoming history that is both smelly and enduring.
Even if heard just for a laugh, it is not a loss.
Li Yingling cleared her throat, her expression serious as she began to recount the unofficial history:
"Legend has it that the name of the dynasty at its founding was actually not the Xuanwu Kingdom; it was changed later. Originally, it was called the Tangchi Kingdom. The first emperor started with an uprising and overthrew the previous dynasty."
"The reign title of Xuanwu Kingdom was also changed after the death of the Tangchi Kingdom's founding emperor, Zhao Taizu."
"According to unofficial history, the truth of this name change can actually be traced back to Zhao Taizu's wife, the founding empress—Empress Chen."
Hearing this, Chu Xingchen looked at Li Xingtian by his side.
The master and disciple both understood the meaning in each other's eyes—it was finally the moment for the delightful gossip.
This was surely an unofficial history regarding the romantic entanglements of the founding empress.
"The founding Zhao Taizu was not as depicted in the official history, winning every battle from the start with an invincible army, nor did countless heroes bow down to him."
"Unofficial history records that the real Zhao Taizu lost every battle when he first started the uprising. Less than two months into the uprising, he lost his base and was routed all the way, shedding his helmet and abandoning his armor. Even the soldiers from his hometown could not stand the cowardice of losing every battle and began to desert one after another."
"Unofficial history calls it—a path of flight for a group of wine bags and rice buckets."
"Two months after Zhao Taizu started the uprising, he was chased and hunted for a year and a half, all the way to Cangzhou."
"At this moment, Zhao Taizu had nowhere left to run; if he fled further, he would only be able to go into the sea."
Hearing this, Chu Xingchen could not help but cough lightly, took a deep breath, and then covered his mouth, which bore a slight smile, with his hand.
Could this actually be Zhao Taizu's alternative romantic affair?
I did not expect the founding ruler of the Xuanwu Kingdom to have such avant-garde tastes.
Li Yingling, who did not understand Chu Xingchen's joke, looked at her Master with a puzzled gaze.
Chu Xingchen nodded and motioned: "You continue."
Although Li Yingling found it a bit strange, she still spoke:
"In the situation where there was no retreat, the repeatedly defeated Zhao Taizu actually stabilized his position under pressure. Moreover, it was also here that the rumored guardian divine beast, the Xuanwu, quietly made its debut."
"Unofficial history says that this Xuanwu is a descendant of a true dragon, and its nature..."
Li Yingling did not finish her sentence, merely raising her eyebrow slightly.
Chu Xingchen also cooperatively raised his eyebrow, indicating he understood.
Under the gaze of the two, Li Xingtian followed suit and raised an eyebrow, looking somewhat helpless.
Without a doubt, in the story, either Zhao Taizu or Empress Chen sold something that should not have been sold.
Li Yingling nodded satisfactorily and continued: "After Zhao Taizu arrived in Cangzhou, the power of the Xuanwu first appeared, but it only guarded Cangzhou for Zhao Taizu, preserving his life, that was all."
"This situation lasted for over a year."
"It was not until Empress Chen gave birth to Zhao Taizu's second son."
"And just as this second son landed, the very next day he was announced by Zhao Taizu as the heir, who is Zhao Gaozu."
Li Yingling narrowed her eyes, tsk-tsking twice: "Master, at that time, Zhao Taizu was penniless and destitute, and was almost chased into the sea."
"Aside from the nine relations being able to inherit, there was truly nothing good to inherit."
"Moreover, at that time, the rule was to establish the eldest and not the youngest. This was an incomprehensible order, but it was from this point on."
"Zhao Taizu seemed to change into a different person. He began to possess both courage and strategy, becoming capable of anything in leading troops and fighting. From then on, he embarked on a journey to pacify the whole country within three years."
"And whenever there was a crisis or a critical moment, a phantom projection of the Xuanwu would come to assist!"
"After Zhao Taizu established the Tangchi Kingdom, residents near the capital often heard that inside the imperial palace, there were frequent beastly calls, and they sounded very..."
Li Yingling raised her eyebrows again, signaling she would finish the thought, then continued speaking:
"And occasionally, a phantom of the Xuanwu would appear. Also, it was said that Zhao Taizu was often depressed and pale during that time."
"And what was even stranger was that after founding the nation, Zhao Taizu no longer liked to sit but preferred to lie on his stomach."
"Zhao Taizu passed away just a few years after establishing the Tangchi Kingdom, and the second prince successfully ascended the throne."
"The very next day, the name of the country was changed to the Xuanwu Kingdom, and the Xuanwu was designated as the Guardian Divine Beast."
"The unofficial history did not reach a final verdict on this matter; it only provided a summary."
"The unofficial history calls it—The path of a turtle acknowledging a father to found a nation."
Li Xingtian listened for a long while. Seeing that his Senior Sister finally finished telling this absurd unofficial history, he could not help but retort:
"This unofficial history was definitely written by an orphan of the previous dynasty."
How is this like any unofficial history? This is clearly pointing at someone's nose and blindly fabricating rumors!
By this account, this Xuanwu is also a bit too...
...willing to eat both men and women?!
According to this unofficial history, other than being able to endure, didn't Zhao Taizu know nothing at all?
The child was not his, his original wife was yielded to someone else, and he even offered himself up.
Did he turn the tables entirely by being able to endure?!
Moreover, the emperor sitting on the throne now does not actually share Zhao Taizu's bloodline, does he?!
Isn't this summary purely insulting people?
This unofficial history is full of personal biases, right?
Li Yingling spoke indifferently; after all, she was not the one being spoken of:
"Unofficial history is like this. There are even more explosive ones, but those lack logic entirely. Only this unofficial history sounds quite real and can be corroborated somewhat with the official history books."
"Regardless of whether this unofficial history is true or not," Chu Xingchen said, "it has provided us with a clue. Yingling, you are responsible for inquiring about information regarding the Xuanwu and summarizing it."
"Time is tight. Regardless of right or wrong, Xingtian, you and I will go to the water veins together to set up a little surprise."
"Things must be done step by step. We will discuss the next move after your Senior Sister clarifies the intelligence."
"After all, whether we succeed or not sometimes depends on luck, or rather, on your Senior Sister."
Hearing this, Li Xingtian looked confused...
Rely on Senior Sister's unofficial history?
Xuanwu Kingdom, Cangzhou. Above the Cangzhou River.
Qinghe tightly gripped Xie Lingyu's arm, looking warily in all directions.
Xie Lingyu spoke somewhat helplessly: "What exactly are you afraid of...? Did Master not explain it clearly to you?"
Qinghe's expression was serious and solemn: "Have you ever seen White Granny smile at me like that?"
Xie Lingyu thought for a moment and replied: "I remember when Master first scooped you up and brought you back to the sect, she seemed to be smiling exactly like that."
Qinghe: "..."
How can that be the same? Moreover!
White Granny did not scoop her up at all!
She quickly recited in her heart that this person was a protective charm she had worked hard to obtain, so she could not get angry...
Qinghe was truly afraid. If something happened to her, White Granny would be too lazy to travel so far to save her...
Only by bringing along White Granny's precious heart—Xie Lingyu—
...could Qinghe find a sliver of security in the face of White Granny's seamless face-changing.
Only a foolish dragon would believe White Granny's claim that it was very safe and they were just going over to simply pick up a bargain!
Qinghe felt that at the very least, she would lose a layer of dragon skin!
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