Wu Fiona was well aware that the Wu family members all harboured selfish motives.
The Wu family was divided into five branches, each overseeing one of the five military governor offices. This structure had been established by Wu Fiona herself, akin to five enfeoffed princes. Although they were all subjects of the emperor, in their hearts they would certainly not place the emperor’s commands above their own personal interests.
Therefore, the five military governor offices might not truly be searching for Lin Wan’er with utmost effort.
For the five military governor offices, they genuinely did not care that much about Lin Wan’er’s whereabouts or fate.
Although they were all Wu Fiona’s juniors and everything they enjoyed today relied on her, they understood clearly that their current prosperous lives were actually built upon the foundation of the five military governor offices.
As long as the five military governor offices endured, even if Wu Fiona died, the Wu family could still live lives superior to ordinary people.
In comparison, Wu Fiona being alive posed a greater threat to the Wu family members, because she acted without regard for cost or consequences, and the Wu family could easily be swept up by her will.
Lin Wan’er concerned Wu Fiona’s life and death, but if Wu Fiona died, it would not necessarily be a bad thing for the Wu family.
If the emperor above the five military governor offices were gone, then each grand governor of those offices would be an emperor in his own right.
Wu Fiona understood this principle in her heart. Since the Wu family did not care that much about her survival, fine then, she would let these family heads taste the allure of longevity.
Wu Tony also understood Wu Fiona’s intentions, so he said respectfully, “Your subordinate will convey the Lord’s verbal order to the five grand governors.”
Wu Fiona frowned slightly and added, “Notify the three elders that I have matters to instruct them on.”
Wu Tony was surprised in his heart but did not dare ask more. He immediately said respectfully, “The Lord, please wait a moment. Your subordinate will go notify the three elders at once.”
More than ten minutes later, three elders, each nearing two hundred years old, arrived together outside Wu Fiona’s palace chambers.
The leading grand elder, Wu Paulo, said respectfully, “Lord, your subordinate Paulo, along with Bowen and Bozhong, request an audience.”
“Come in,” Wu Fiona said indifferently.
The three immediately pushed the door open and entered, approaching Wu Fiona at a measured pace before bowing respectfully. “We pay respects to the Lord!”
Wu Fiona nodded slightly and said, “I have called the three elders here today to synchronise a few matters with you.”
Wu Paulo immediately said respectfully, “The Lord, please give your instructions!”
Wu Fiona looked at each of them in turn and said, “I have already instructed Tony to issue the order. Throughout the entire Poqing Society, whoever captures Lin Wan’er will be rewarded with countless gold and silver, and their entire family with a hundred years of lifespan. However, given the current strength of the three elders, unless we find the Evergreen Pill or I help you open your Niwan Palaces, even I, Wu Fiona, lack the ability to grant you an additional hundred years of life. Therefore, the three elders need not trouble yourselves with this matter.”
The three exchanged glances, unsure of Wu Fiona’s underlying meaning.
If she was telling them not to bother, then why call them here to say this?
Moreover, regarding the matter of opening the Niwan Palace, each of them harboured some resentment. They had been in seclusion for a century and needed only to persevere another ten or so years to successively open their Niwan Palaces. Once opened, living beyond two hundred years, even two hundred and several decades, would be entirely possible.
But all of that had been interrupted by Wu Fiona. Once the momentum was broken, regaining it would not be a matter of just ten or so years. Wasting an additional ten or twenty years would be commonplace.
Wu Paulo reacted quickly. He dared not dwell on it in his mind and simply stepped forward, knelt on one knee, cupped his hands, and said, “Your subordinate has always served the Lord without seeking reward. As long as the Lord gives the word, we three are willing to ascend mountains of swords or descend into seas of flame. How could we quibble over gains and losses? We implore the Lord to issue the order permitting us three to leave the island and search for Lin Wan’er’s whereabouts!”
Only then did the other two suddenly understand.
