The Storyteller System that Su Chen possessed was all-encompassing; as long as he had enough Popularity Points, any content could be exchanged.
In just a moment, he had already gained nearly ten thousand Popularity Points.
And exchanging for the complete secret of the “Battle of the Forbidden City” only required two thousand Popularity Points.
This trip alone earned him eight thousand Popularity Points.
Not to mention the large number of Popularity Points he would gain during the subsequent narration.
With this in mind, Su Chen immediately unfolded his folding fan, his gaze sweeping across the entire hall, and spoke loudly:
“Knowing the past and seeing the future, all matters of the world can be told.”
“This lecture hall specializes in strange tales and anecdotes from around the world, and this battle at the Forbidden City is indeed worth a detailed explanation.”
“However, there are three inaccuracies in what that gentleman just stated.”
“Firstly, although Ximen Chuixue’s swordsmanship is peerless, he is far from being the Great Ming’s foremost Sword God.”
“Secondly, while Ye Gucheng’s ‘Flying Immortal From Beyond the Heavens’ is exceptionally sharp, with this one move alone, he can hardly be called a Sword Immortal.”
“Thirdly, in that battle at the Forbidden City, Ximen Chuixue did not defeat Ye Gucheng. Although Ye Gucheng died by his sword, it was Ximen Chuixue who truly lost.”
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall immediately erupted in exclamations.
Countless swordsmen showed excitement, not expecting Su Chen to actually be willing to narrate this highly anticipated duel.
But after everyone heard the next few sentences, expressions of doubt appeared on their faces.
Ximen Chuixue, who once suppressed the Jianghu with a single sword for ten years, was not worthy of being called the Great Ming’s foremost Sword God?
Ye Gucheng had been famous for over twenty years, known as “A Sword Comes from the West, Flying Immortal From Beyond the Heavens,” yet he was not enough to be called a Sword Immortal?
What puzzled people the most was Su Chen’s last sentence.
In the battle at the Forbidden City, Ye Gucheng died, yet Ximen Chuixue was the one who lost. What did that mean?
When swordsmen duel, victory and defeat are often decided in an instant. If Ye Gucheng died, was it not because his skill was inferior?
If these words had come from an unknown storyteller, he would have probably been booed off the stage by now.
But Su Chen’s reputation was, after all, widespread, and although the crowd was not convinced, they only cast him suspicious glances.
On the west side private room of the third floor.
Xu Fengnian’s eyes lit up as he looked at Old Huang and said, “You really hit the mark. Ximen Chuixue is not the Great Ming Jianghu’s foremost swordsman.”
Old Huang was also quite shocked and whispered, “Mr. Su seems to have never set foot in the Great Ming Wulin, yet he even knows about that person. He truly comprehends all matters under Heaven.”
“It’s still too early to draw conclusions.”
“The person Mr. Su is talking about may not be the same one you saw back then.”
Xu Fengnian gently shook his head, correcting him.
Old Huang nodded in agreement: “Young Master is right, let’s listen first.”
In an instant, both master and servant were full of interest, looking towards the high platform in unison.
In the private room on the east side of the third floor.
Lu Xiaofeng also felt surprised, not expecting that his words would have three flaws pointed out by Su Chen.
Upon closer reflection, he found it difficult to refute, and couldn't help but become interested, saying loudly:
“What Mr. Su said is shocking. I am all ears.”
On the high platform.
Facing the expectant gazes of the crowd, Su Chen did not act mysteriously but spoke directly:
“I will now meticulously analyze the ins and outs of this Purple Gold battle for you all.”
“This battle occurred half a month ago, on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival.”
“Therefore, it is currently only circulating within the Great Ming Jianghu and has not yet spread to the Wulin of other dynasties.”
“According to rumors, this duel was initiated by Ximen Chuixue, who was at his Peak, challenging Ye Gucheng.”
“After all, Ye Gucheng became famous earlier, having already shaken the Jianghu at least twenty years ago, belonging to the previous generation of top experts.”
“However, the truth is quite the opposite.”
“It was Ye Gucheng who truly proposed the duel, arranging both the time and place himself.”
“Ximen Chuixue, devoted to the Dao of the sword, only wished for an all-out battle with Ye Gucheng and never had any objections to these arrangements.”
“But what he didn't know was that Ye Gucheng had no intention of a decisive battle at all.”
“From beginning to end, Ye Gucheng was merely using Ximen Chuixue, borrowing him to accomplish an earth-shattering scheme.”
“That was – to usurp the throne!”
As soon as Su Chen’s voice fell, a chorus of gasps immediately erupted in the hall.
Usurp the throne?
Such a major event, no matter which country it occurred in, would be an astonishing act.
Even though Jianghu people have always been unrestrained, they could not imagine someone daring to touch such a forbidden matter.
No one had expected that Ye Gucheng, who lived in seclusion on Flying Immortal Island in the South Sea, had planned an earth-shaking event half a month ago.
“Is Mr. Su joking? Ye Gucheng intends to usurp the throne?”
Someone in the crowd immediately questioned.
“Too preposterous! Ye Gucheng’s swordsmanship is indeed extraordinary, but to say he can shake the Great Ming empire, I don’t believe it.”
Another person immediately echoed.
“From what I understand, the Great Ming court has many secret agents and guards with extraordinary skills, even top figures in the Jianghu.
Just Ye Gucheng alone, I’m afraid he wouldn’t even be able to defeat these people, right?”
Another person offered an opinion.
“Is this the rumored Mr. Su? He’s just like a street charlatan, speaking such absurd nonsense.”
Some even loudly accused, believing Su Chen was nothing more than a fraudulent Jianghu charlatan.
In an instant, the hall became noisy and chaotic, with endless arguments.
Even the few listeners who had previously believed in Su Chen implicitly were now silent, merely gazing quietly at the stage.
They firmly believed that there must be a reason behind Su Chen’s words.
In a private room on the north side of the third floor.
Two women, beautiful as Heavenly Immortals, as if they had stepped out of a painting, sat by the window, their gazes fixed on the movements on the stage.
If anyone from the Great Ming Jianghu saw them, they would be utterly terrified and dare not linger for a moment.
Because they were none other than the Twin Beauties of E-Hua Palace, famous throughout the Great Ming Wulin.
The Great Palace Lord, Yaoyue.
The Second Palace Lord, Lianxing.
Upon hearing Su Chen’s earth-shattering words, even Yaoyue, who was always as cold as ice, couldn't help but show a slight change in expression.
“Sister, do you think this Su Chen is truly knowledgeable, or just putting on a show?”
Lianxing asked softly.
She had met countless people in her life, yet she could never fathom the depth of the person on the high platform.
Yaoyue pondered, “We were present at that battle, and the situation at the time was indeed somewhat peculiar; perhaps there is another hidden truth.”
“But even if a struggle for power truly happened back then, how did Su Chen know about it?”
“He seems to have always stayed in Zhenbei City. Could he really be able to glimpse the secrets of Heaven?”
Lianxing raised her doubts.
Yaoyue said indifferently: “There are many extraordinary people in the world; one shouldn’t be surprised. Just keep listening, and you’ll know the truth.”
Lianxing nodded slightly, a faint smile appearing at the corner of her lips, “I do hope this Mr. Su is truly skilled in the Dao of mystery; that way, the matters we need to investigate will be much easier.”
The two of them came to Zhenbei City this time precisely to investigate an old case—a tragic murder that occurred twenty years ago.
If Su Chen truly understood divination and the ways of Heaven, he could help them uncover the truth behind that tragic case from back then.
Thinking of this, Lianxing and Yaoyue both focused their gazes on the high platform, with a hint of expectation in their eyes.
On the high platform.
Yu Youwei felt the questioning gazes coming from all directions, and fine beads of sweat had already seeped onto her forehead.
Fortunately, she had some experience with such situations and managed to steady her mind, gently picking up the teapot and refilling Su Chen’s cup with clear tea.
Compared to the slightly nervous Yu Youwei, Su Chen remained calm, smiling as he said:
“This secret indeed sounds unbelievable and hard to credit.”
“Leaving aside that Ye Gucheng is merely an overseas rogue, even if he truly killed the emperor, he wouldn’t be able to ascend the throne and become emperor.”
“Just the act of assassinating the emperor itself is incredibly difficult to accomplish.”
“The Great Ming court’s power, with its Imperial Guard and Imperial Secret Police, shakes all four directions.”
“Underneath it are powerful organizations such as the Dragon Protecting Villa, the Eastern Depot, the Western Depot, the Six Fan Gates, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard.”
“Among them, Zhu Wu Shi, the Master of the Dragon Protecting Villa, Liu Xi, the Chief Eunuch of the Eastern Depot, and Grandmaster Guo, the Chief Constable of the Six Fan Gates, are all highly renowned experts in the Jianghu.”
“Although Ye Gucheng’s swordsmanship is unparalleled, his strength may not necessarily surpass these few individuals.”
“Therefore, this conspiracy to seize power and usurp the throne could absolutely not have been accomplished by Ye Gucheng alone; there must have been multiple forces jointly involved behind the scenes.”
“And the one at the head of them all was none other than the Nanping Wang of Great Ming!”
“Although this Nanping Wang was a prince, he was not favored by Emperor Zhu Houzhao; he only managed to have an audience with the emperor a few years ago.”
“It was precisely during that meeting that the Nanping Wang discovered a shocking secret—Zhu Houzhao’s appearance was almost identical to that of his own son.”
“Thus, he conceived an extremely bold idea.”
“That was to assassinate Zhu Houzhao, place his son on the throne, and then manipulate him to achieve the goal of controlling the world.”
“However, to assassinate the emperor, he first had to bribe the emperor’s trusted confidants, so he found Grand Eunuch Wang.”
“This Grand Eunuch Wang was always greedy for wealth, so he naturally agreed to join this rebellious act.”
“But the plan still lacked a core figure, which was the assassin to carry out the assassination.”
“Zhu Houzhao was the ruler of a nation, not only guarded by numerous imperial bodyguards but also with hidden masters on standby at all times.”
“Therefore, only a top-tier expert from the Jianghu could ensure foolproof success.”
“Speaking of which, I presume you have all guessed that Ye Gucheng was precisely the third conspirator.”
“I ask you, in this world, how many people could withstand the assassination attempt of Baiyun City Lord Ye Gucheng?”
Silence!
The Zijin Tower hall was utterly silent.
Everyone was stunned and their scalps tingled from these words.
No one had expected that this conspiracy to usurp the throne was not only real, but personally led by the current prince!
Especially after listening to Su Chen’s analysis of the entire conspiracy, the martial arts heroes present couldn’t help but secretly marvel at their own shallowness.
Court struggles were far more bloody and sinister than they had imagined; for imperial power, any horrifying thing could happen.
Those Jianghu individuals who had initially questioned Su Chen’s judgment now had to change their perception.
According to the plan described by Su Chen, this conspiracy to usurp the throne indeed had a high chance of success.
After all, the emperor’s status was noble, and only a handful of people could approach him.