【Actually no, these father and son were staunch royalists. When they noticed Concubine Xian Zhou and the Ninth Prince harboring ambitions for the throne, they even tried to dissuade them.

Later, Zhou Yan detected something amiss from Concubine Xian Zhou’s vague remarks and secretly uncovered her and the Ninth Prince’s plot to poison the Crown Prince. This led him to discover the Tan Family and Little Madam Zhuo, exposing Concubine Xian Zhou’s true identity.

Before the father and son could report their findings, the Crown Prince passed away.

They then attempted to inform Emperor Mingxi, but Concubine Xian Zhou caught wind of it and falsely accused them of colluding with foreign forces.

Guess what? The senile, poison-addled emperor actually believed her. The entire Zhou family—except for married-off daughters—was exterminated.

Meanwhile, Concubine Xian Zhou gained a reputation for "righteously exposing treachery" and became even more favored, along with her two sons!】

Emperor Mingxi, labeled by the system as "senile and poison-addled": Is this something I’d do years from now? How much of Zhou Yunxin’s poison did I drink to believe every word she said?

"This Zhou family didn’t raise a daughter—they raised an enemy! One who wipes out her entire family! Doesn’t this sound familiar? It’s just like that Yu Ningrou!"

The Yu father and sons, especially Yu Qinchun, were once again reminded of their own painful past. Suddenly, they felt a kinship with Zhou Yan’s plight.

【Exactly! They enjoyed no blessings but suffered every misfortune.】

Zhou Yan: The Sacred Artifact truly understands their suffering.

Meanwhile, Zhou Qingyu steeled himself, stepped forward, and declared, "Your Majesty, this subject, Zhou Qingyu, humbly requests the revocation of the imperial plaque bestowed upon our family, 'Adding Fortune and Longevity'!"

Emperor Mingxi promptly responded, "Why so, young Zhou? The Zhou family, as the maternal relatives of the Ninth Prince and with Concubine Xian Zhou having borne royal heirs, deserved that honor."

Zhou Yan instantly grasped his son’s intent—this was the perfect moment to sever ties with Concubine Xian Zhou. He knelt and proclaimed, "Your Majesty, this unworthy subject Zhou Yan confesses to the crime of deceiving the throne!"

With that, he solemnly removed his official cap and placed it on the ground. Zhou Qingyu followed suit.

Father and son pressed their foreheads to the floor, awaiting the emperor’s judgment.

Emperor Mingxi, ever the adept performer, saw this as the perfect cover to maintain the illusion that history was unfolding as originally recorded. The Zhou family was handing him the perfect excuse.

Adopting a grave tone, he said, "Zhou Qing, since you admit to deceiving Us, explain your crime. As an official of the court, why would you dare such a thing?"

Zhou Yan knelt upright and clasped his hands. "Your Majesty, eight years ago, the Ministry of Rites carried out Your Majesty’s decree to select eligible daughters of fifth-rank officials and above for the imperial harem. My three daughters were among the candidates.

Later, my second daughter, Zhou Yunxin, was chosen to serve Your Majesty—an honor for our family. However... recently, my wife, Madam Zhuo, fell gravely ill. Believing her end near, she confessed a terrible secret!"

"And this secret is the reason for your deception? Continue."

"Yes, Your Majesty. My wife revealed that Concubine Xian Zhou is not our biological daughter. Her true father was a scholar who died over twenty years ago, and her mother has since remarried.

Zhou Yunxin, though not a Zhou by blood, entered the palace under our name. This subject failed in managing his household and deceived the throne. I beg for Your Majesty’s punishment!"

"Little Pearl, didn’t you say the Zhou father and son wouldn’t learn of Concubine Xian Zhou’s true identity until eight years later? How do they know now? And they’re announcing it in court!"

【I don’t know either! The Great Yan Records I referenced were compiled centuries later by the Wei Dynasty. Maybe historical accounts were flawed over time?

Or perhaps your presence here, Master, has altered events—like a butterfly’s wings stirring unseen changes.

Since you became the Junior Mentor, many things have diverged.

The Immortal Lord once taught us that all things are in constant flux. We must view the world with evolving perspectives, not rigidly cling to recorded history.】

Yue Fuguang nodded. 「Perhaps you’re right. Though I’ve forgotten much of Master’s teachings, remind me often.」

Emperor Mingxi and his ministers exhaled in relief. They’d nearly been exposed, but the ruse held.

An uninformed minister, unaware of the inner monologues, stepped forward. "Your Majesty, this subject believes Minister Zhou’s offense hardly qualifies as deception.

The Zhou family raised Concubine Xian Zhou. Whether by blood or adoption, she is a Zhou daughter—thus eligible for selection."

The key point: if her name was entered into the Zhou family registry, she was legally a Zhou.

Zhou Yan gave the pleading minister a complicated look and bowed. "Out of guilt for concealing Zhou Yunxin’s origins, my wife prevented her from being added to the registry. Over time, I neglected the matter. Thus, Concubine Xian Zhou’s name does not appear in our family records."

In short: let someone else claim this family-destroying calamity. The Zhous wanted no part of her!

After a long pause, Emperor Mingxi pronounced judgment. "Given your prior ignorance and your loyal service, Zhou Yan and Zhou Qingyu are demoted one rank but retain their posts. Madam Zhuo’s noble titles and rewards are revoked. She is to copy The Virtues of Women a thousand times and reflect in seclusion for one year."

The Zhou father and son inwardly sighed in relief. Their family had survived the ordeal.

They kowtowed three times—to the emperor and, silently, to Yue Fuguang.

Without the Sacred Artifact and the young immortal, the Zhous would have met their tragic, preordained end—wiped out long before the Great Yan’s fall.

Some officials secretly envied the Zhous. Though demoted, they’d been endorsed by the Sacred Artifact as loyalists. The emperor would surely restore them—and they’d earned the future Crown Prince’s favor. A blessing in disguise!

Others gazed eagerly—yet apprehensively—at Yue Fuguang. They longed for glimpses of their futures but dreaded what they might hear.

Every court session was a pendulum between mourning and worship.

Today, the Zhous had swung from grief to gratitude.

Soon, news reached the inner palace. When Concubine Xian Zhou learned of it, her joy at soon seeing her children’s father was dampened.

After court, she adorned herself meticulously and brought a nourishing tonic to the Emperor’s study.

The Crown Prince was already there, discussing the day’s revelations with Emperor Mingxi and his ministers.

So much had been unveiled—it demanded thorough deliberation. First-time attendees buzzed with excitement, silently thanking Yue Fuguang’s ancestors for granting them this privileged insight.

This ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌‌‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‍could be considered their entry into the inner circle of His Majesty's "trusted confidants." However, there were still three individuals who, it was said, had once been able to hear the divine messages but later lost this ability when the heavens revoked it due to their resentment toward The Immortal Lord.

How dare they harbor such ill will against the one who could save Dayan—and them along with it? Who gave them the audacity?

Serves them right for having their privilege taken away by the heavens!