The Huntian Divine Mirror said,
“You have already witnessed my abilities. I can silently and soundlessly seize the target’s primordial spirit and, through the primordial spirit, control the physical body, turning the person into a puppet.
“In the past, the great monarch relied on me to subdue many great yaoguai. But now, I can only seize the heavenly soul, causing the body to die slowly.
“Hm, if the target is an ordinary mortal or has extremely shallow cultivation, I can still control them. It is not necessary to be face-to-face to seize the heavenly soul, you can even forcibly control someone from ten thousand miles away.”
To control someone from ten thousand miles away is as perverse as taking someone’s chastity from that far… Xu Qi’an could not hide his astonishment, thinking it a little unreasonable.
The Huntian Divine Mirror added,
“The further away you are, the weaker the control. Normally, beyond ten thousand miles, I can only control beings without much intelligence. Now that I am damaged, this ability can no longer be used.
“The downside is, I can’t hide the fact that they were puppets, they would be recognised at a glance by those with high cultivation or those well-versed in the realm of primordial spirit.”
If the distance was too great, even mortal people would be hard to control.
Xu Qi’an had a great realisation.
“My second ability is to illuminate all under heaven, regardless of distance. However, some special places cannot be spied upon, such as the Buddhist holy mountain, Ananda.”
The Huntian Divine Mirror sighed, “Now that I am broken, I can no longer illuminate the entire world. But within a two-thousand li radius, it should be no problem.”
“How do I use you? A drop of blood to make you recognise me as your master?” Xu Qi’an asked.
The Huntian Divine Mirror sneered,
“Do not compare me with those low-level magical artefacts. As long as I approve of you and am willing to cooperate, you can use me. If I am unwilling, even a blood ritual is useless.”
There’s some heavy shade being thrown at the Earth Book fragment… Xu Qi’an let out an “oh”, suddenly thinking that although both were damaged magical treasures, why did the Earth Book fragment lack self-awareness?
Only a two-thousand-mile radius, that means you cannot see the situation in Yunzhou. Hm, let’s try it out first. Xu Qi’an immediately asked,
“Can you show me the capital of the Great Feng?”
The Huntian Divine Mirror hesitated, “The capital has a first rank martial artist and a first rank arcanist, I cannot see through.”
“No matter, that martial artist died hundreds of years ago, and as for the first rank arcanist, he probably won’t bother with you.”
Xu Qi’an patted the mirror, signalling it to get moving.
It seemed not to know the secret that a bearer of fortune could not attain immortality. As Xu Qi’an was thinking this, the bronze mirror changed, its bronze texture disappeared, becoming as clear as a glass mirror.
Within the glass, a magnificent capital city was reflected.
Having overlooked the capital several times, Xu Qi’an recognised at a glance that the scene below was the capital.
“I feel like someone is watching me…”
The Huntian Divine Mirror transmitted this thought.
It must be the Jianzheng… Xu Qi’an nodded, “Ignore him, he’s just a decrepit old fellow.”
Hope the Jiangzheng can’t hear me. He added this mentally.
The Huntian Divine Mirror ignored it, saying proudly, “Now you see how powerful I am, don’t you?”
The capital was still within two thousand li of here.
“Locate the capital… move seven hundred feet north, another hundred… alright, alright, can you see through houses?”
After some communication, the mirror showed the scene of Shaoyin Palace, inside Lin’an’s bedroom.
She was not in Shaoyin Palace, unclear where she had gone.
“Can you set a location? Hm, so that next time you can go directly here without me guiding you.”
“You seem to doubt my abilities.”
The Huntian Divine Mirror conveyed a displeased mood, then said, “Do you need me to locate the bath? I know all males like to watch females bathe.”
I’ll come back tonight… Xu Qi’an said sternly, “Nonsense. I am different from the males you know.”
The Huntian Divine Mirror asked in surprise, “You like watching males bathe?”
Are you just here to act the fool?! Xu Qi’an had the Huntian Divine Mirror locate the Xu residence. This time, it tactfully locked directly onto the bath.
Isn’t this Second Uncle and Auntie’s room… Xu Qi’an nearly froze, then snapped,
“No, there’s no need to locate the bath here. Are you really a proper magical treasure?”
“So you really do prefer males!” the Huntian Divine Mirror said, suddenly enlightened.
Xu Qi’an could not be bothered to explain to a lunatic. He set the view to the main hall of the Xu residence.
“Eh? Is Lingyin about to go out? Off to school?”
In the image, he saw Xu Lingyin carrying her little cloth “schoolbag”, hair styled into a child’s bun, being reluctantly led out by Xu Erlang.
Auntie was at her side, carefully instructing her about something.
The Huntian Divine Mirror could not transmit sound, only images.
Auntie still hasn’t given up on Lingyin’s studies, what great maternal love, not even countless setbacks and disappointments could make her give up her dream of her daughter’s success.
Xu Qi’an jested, and after locating the Xu residence, had the mirror switch to Lingbao Temple.
The image shifted to a grand Daoist temple, then locked onto a tranquil courtyard. In the courtyard, above a pond, a stunning beauty dressed in feathered robes and a lotus crown was sitting cross-legged in meditation.
Her eyes were closed.
Suddenly she opened her eyes, looking directly at Xu Qi’an.
In the next moment, the image shattered, and the Huntian Divine Mirror shrieked,
“I’m blind, I’m blind… that woman is an earthly immortal!”
It had suffered a backlash.
The National Teacher is one step closer to crossing the tribulation, even the Huntian Divine Mirror mistook her for a first rank earthly immortal… Xu Qi’an was both pleased and anxious.
Pleased her cultivation had improved further, about to become a earthly immortal.
Worried because this shark could never be tamed, even if he recovered his cultivation, how could a third rank martial artist control a first rank?
The fish in his pond would never have their day in the limelight.
…
The capital!
Today, Xu Erlang had specially returned home for a meal, as he needed to pick up Xu Lingyin and take her to the palace to study.
This was how it happened: after finalising the matter of the donation, Emperor Yongxing summoned Xu Erlang to the imperial study, praised him profusely, and expressed his intention to promote him.
He encouraged Xu Erlang to work harder and not let down the hopes of the court.
At the end of the conversation, Emperor Yongxing, whether intentionally or not, said:
“I hear Lord Xu’s younger sister is at just the age for her first lessons. She is about the same age as the princes and princesses in the palace. Why not have the young lady come to the palace to study, personally taught by the Grand Tutor?”
Xu Erlang immediately realised that Emperor Yongxing was showing goodwill and trying to win his favour.
For a subordinate’s child to be able to study in the palace was a tremendous honour, usually only granted to princesses of the imperial clan, heirs, and the children of nobility and high officials.
But Xu Erlang did not want such a “favour” and hurriedly declined.
Emperor Yongxing was not pleased and ignored Xu Erlang’s refusal, issuing the order regardless.
How could a minister refuse kindness from the emperor when he wished to draw someone in? Moreover, although he outwardly showed his favour towards Xu Erlang, everyone could see who he was truly targeting, so Emperor Yongxing simply did not care about Xu Erlang’s opinion.
Imperial orders could not be defied, so Xu Erlang had to accept.
When he got home and told his mother, Auntie was overjoyed, thinking, Has my silly daughter finally turned her luck around?
After all, the Grand Tutor was the one who taught the princes and princesses. If he was the one to teach Lingyin how to read, surely there would be no problem.
She still regretted the last time Lingyin was expelled from the palace for hitting a noble.
Inside the carriage, Xu Erlang glanced at his little sister, who was sitting obediently on the bench, and said:
“Once you’re in the palace, no matter what the Grand Tutor… teacher asks, you must say you’ve never read a book and know nothing. Do you understand?”
Xu Lingyin nodded vigorously:
“Mm!
“I’ll study hard, and get first place in the imperial exams like Second Brother.”
No, I just hope you spare the Grand Tutor’s damned life… Xu Erlang muttered inwardly.
After thinking for a moment, he patted Xu Lingyin’s head and said:
“If anyone bullies you, just hit them. If something happens, your big brother will take care of it.”
After a pause, he hurriedly added, “But mind your strength, don’t use your full force.”
She might actually kill someone otherwise.
“Okay!”
Little Pea nodded innocently.
Xu Erlang finally felt at ease. Under normal circumstances, Lingyin was actually very well behaved. She had a good temper and rarely got angry, unless her food was taken away.
Soon, the carriage entered the imperial city and was stopped outside the palace gates.
After Xu Erlang explained the situation, the Yulin Guards went into the palace to report. Before long, a eunuch came out, bowed to Xu Erlang, and led Xu Lingyin into the palace.
The place where the princes, princesses, as well as heirs and princesses, had their lessons was called the “Upper Study.”
Xu Lingyin looked around curiously. Although she had been to the palace once, for a child, a single visit was far from enough to satisfy their insatiable curiosity.
As they walked, she suddenly saw a figure in a simple, elegant long dress approaching from afar.
“Sister, sister…”
Little Pea cried out in delight, completely ignoring all decorum as she shouted and waved at the figure in the elegant long dress.
Huaiqing turned at the sound. Upon seeing the chubby little girl, she was momentarily stunned, but then approached with a gentle smile:
“You remember me?”
“When my big brother died, you came to our house,” Xu Lingyin said loudly.
That sounds wrong… Huaiqing smiled and nodded:
“What brings you to the palace?”
Xu Lingyin’s chubby face showed a hint of confusion: “What do you mean, bringing?”
“I mean, what are you doing here?” Huaiqing rephrased.
“To study, of course! Mum told me to come here and study.”
Little Pea answered every question with innocent honesty.
Huaiqing glanced at the eunuch, who said,
“His Majesty has specially permitted Miss Xu to enter the palace to study.”
Huaiqing replied, “I’ll take her to the Upper Study.”
The eunuch dared not refuse and withdrew with a bow.
“Let’s go!” Huaiqing looked gently at Little Pea.
She had had little interaction with the younger Xu daughter, only meeting her once at Xu Qi’an’s funeral and had not paid her much attention since.
After all, no matter how close she was to Xu Qi’an or how much she admired Xu Erlang, it was impossible to pay attention to a child of six or seven in their household.
She did not even know that Lina had taken Xu Lingyin as her disciple, nor did she know how impressive Little Pea was.
Number One was always aloof and did not mingle much, none of the Heaven and Earth Society members talked to her about these everyday matters.
“You’re so pretty, Sister.”
Little Pea walked beside Huaiqing, looking up and saying this.
Huaiqing smiled.
“You’re so pretty, Sister.”
A while later, she said it again.
Huaiqing glanced down and saw that the little girl’s big eyes were sparkling with a flattering look.
“What do you want to say?”
Huaiqing narrowed her eyes, easily seeing through her little scheme.
“Can I go to your house and have cakes?”
Little Pea revealed her true motive.
Huaiqing laughed: “You may.”
She had always admired clever people, and clever children too. Besides, this child was not only quick-witted, but also bold.
Before long, Little Pea followed Huaiqing to the Upper Study.
Inside the spacious hall were twelve desks, where twelve children sat well-behaved behind their desks, eyes focused, attentively listening to the Grand Tutor before the hall giving a lecture.
The Grand Tutor was nearly eighty, a veteran of three reigns, the second place “Bangyan” in the palace exams during the reign of Emperor Zhende. He had taught Emperor Yuanjing, taught Huaiqing and Lin’an, and was now set to instruct the new generation of royals.
Back when Emperor Yuanjing neglected his duties for Daoist cultivation, the Grand Tutor had stormed into the palace and berated the foolish emperor outside the imperial study.
Afterwards, disheartened, he went into seclusion in the capital.
After Yuanjing’s death, as one of the few who knew the secret behind it, he resolved his inner turmoil and returned to the job he loved, devoting his remaining years to service.
“Grand Tutor!”
Huaiqing led Little Pea across the threshold and bowed.
“Greetings, Your Highness.”
The Grand Tutor returned the bow.
“Greetings, Your Highness.”
Over a dozen princes, princesses, and heirs all rose to pay their respects.
Huaiqing nodded slightly and looked at Xu Lingyin:
“Please look after this child, Grand Tutor. She is Xu Qi’an’s younger sister. None of you are to bully her.”
She brought Xu Lingyin mainly to warn the royal juniors, to prevent this silly child from being bullied here.
The Grand Tutor smiled: “Your Highness needn’t worry. This child is formidable.”
He then recounted Xu Lingyin’s previous exploits.
Huaiqing shot a surprised glance at the chubby, adorable girl and smiled:
“We have worried unnecessarily.”
The Grand Tutor said meaningfully,
“Your Highness has become too detached from palace affairs.”
Huaiqing smiled and said no more, taking her leave.
The Grand Tutor beckoned for Xu Lingyin to come forward and asked,
“Last time, I didn’t have a chance to test you before you left the palace. Where did you receive your first lessons? Who was your first teacher?”
Little Pea tilted her head and thought for a while, then replied honestly,
“I forgot.”
? The Grand Tutor was momentarily stunned. Had she forgotten who taught her? Or had this child never had any lessons at all?
He paused, then asked, “Can you recite Three Character Classic?”
“I can, I can!”
Xu Lingyin nodded excitedly.
The Grand Tutor’s expression softened and he smiled: “Then recite it for me.”
…
After leaving the palace, Huaiqing visited the Hanlin Academy and relayed Xu Qi’an’s instructions to Xu Erlang.
Emperor Yongxing was extremely wary of her, as well as her own brother, the Fourth Prince, so this matter had to be raised by Xu Erlang.
If Emperor Yongxing discovered that Xu Qi’an maintained close contact with her in private, it would certainly stir up fresh suspicions.
A new emperor’s accession was always the most sensitive period, and Huaiqing did not want to invite trouble.
“Ah, three feet of ice is not formed in a single day.”
Xu Xinnian was full of emotion.
“Governance is like cooking a small fish, it requires patience and a gentle approach. But if a nation is already gravely ill, what should be done then? Neither His Majesty, nor Prime Minister Wang, nor any of the officials at court, have any experience in this,” Huaiqing said lightly.
“Sir Xu, do you still remember the wager we made during our board game that day?”
Xu Xinnian put on a serious look and hesitated for a few seconds. “Of course I remember.”
Huaiqing nodded. “Let us wait and see.”
After a pause, she changed the subject. “In three days will be the great ceremony to offer sacrifices to Heaven. His Majesty will call for donations on that occasion. Sir Xu, how much silver do you intend to donate?”
Xu Xinnian understood that this was a veiled reminder, and replied, “Rest assured, Your Highness, I have already discussed this with my brother.
“I will donate three months’ salary, while my elder brother will donate five thousand taels of silver.
“This way, I will not bring impeachment upon myself for donating too much, nor will anyone accuse me of urging others to donate while being stingy myself.”
For an ordinary Hanlin Bachelor to donate five thousand taels of silver was bound to spark trouble.
But if he did not donate, he would be met with a storm of curses.
“This will do.”
Huaiqing was finally reassured and went on, “On my way here, I ran into your younger sister in the palace.”
Hearing this, Xu Erlang’s face was full of concern, and he sighed, “If Your Highness has no urgent matters today, could you perhaps keep an eye on her in the study?”
Huaiqing smiled. “Is Sir Xu afraid she might be bullied?”
It is for the safety of the Grand Tutor that I am concerned… Xu Erlang sighed again, and proceeded to relate all of Little Pea’s ‘glorious deeds’ one by one, ending helplessly, “I have already politely refused His Majesty, but His Majesty insists on having his own way. Sigh.”
Huaiqing was dumbfounded by what she heard.
She caused the scholars of Qingyun Mountain to avoid her at all costs, made Li Miaozhen grit her teeth in anger, had Chu Yuanzhen’s face turn iron-grey, and even made the talented Wang Simu cry her eyes out…
“It seems your sister is just pretending to be foolish and uninterested in her studies,” said Huaiqing.
“If only she were pretending, the academy’s teachers, Daoist Li, Brother Chu, and even Simu would not be so frustrated and discouraged, or be moved to tears by their sense of defeat.”
Xu Xinnian smiled bitterly.
Precisely because she truly could not learn, it made them feel that they had failed and were unworthy of the title of teacher.
That led to intense self-doubt and self-denial.
If Lingyin were merely pretending, they would just laugh it off, and would not be so affected.
Huaiqing was half convinced, half doubtful, and returned to the palace. She had just set foot in the palace gates when news reached her:
The Grand Tutor had fallen seriously ill and was bedridden!
Huaiqing was shocked, thinking, the Grand Tutor was perfectly fine just now, how could he suddenly be ill…?
She recalled what Xu Erlang said earlier, and suddenly felt her heart sink, and hurried over to visit.
Lifting her skirt, Huaiqing ran to the study, where she saw the Grand Tutor lying on a couch, with several imperial physicians in attendance.
“Eldest Princess, Your Highness.”
The physicians all saluted.
Huaiqing waved her hand, her cold and exquisite features stern. “How is the Grand Tutor’s health?”
One of the physicians said, “Please do not worry, Your Highness, the Grand Tutor is not in danger, he simply experienced a sudden headache and dizziness, and will recover after several days of bedrest.”
Another physician added, “But he must not be subjected to any further stress during this period, and must recuperate quietly.”
To put it in simpler terms:
The Grand Tutor was fine, he just had a sudden spike in blood pressure!
Huaiqing walked over to the bed and, looking at the weak Grand Tutor, gently probed, “What happened to you, Grand Tutor, what has troubled you?”
The Grand Tutor replied weakly,
“Help this old man up, I am still fine, I do not believe there is anyone in the world so hopelessly stupid.
“Today, I must make her memorize the Three Character Classic, or all my years of studying the sages will have been for nothing.”
Huaiqing was moved, and gently held the Grand Tutor’s withered hand. “Grand Tutor, this is too hard on you.”
The Grand Tutor said, agitated,
“No, even if it kills me, I will make her memorize the Three Character Classic.
“I taught the late emperor, I have taught your highnesses, I must not lose my reputation at the end.”
Not so not so, your death would truly be worthless then… For a moment, Huaiqing did not know how to comfort him.
At this point, the Grand Tutor rolled his eyes and passed out.
…
Xiangzhou!
Dongfang Wanrong sat grandly in her litter, parading through the city, surrounded by dozens of disciples of the East Sea Dragon Palace.
By her side sat Dongfang Wanqing, identical in appearance but with a chillier aura.
“Master, we have already gathered eight Dragon Qi hosts. Should we send them to Mount Jing City?” Dongfang Wanrong asked.
“No need!”
Nalan Tianlu’s voice sounded in her mind, gentle and calm:
“The strands of Dragon Qi attract one another. The more Dragon Qi hosts we gather, the more likely it is we will draw other hosts to us.
“If we send them back to Mount Jing City, we would lose our magnet for this haystack.”
Dongfang Wanrong nodded, then asked, “Why not simply possess the body of one of the Dragon Qi hosts? They are all lucky individuals, blessed with great fortune.”
Nalan Tianlu laughed. “Their fortune is nothing special. In the eyes of beyond-mortal experts, they are merely people who have had a bit of luck. If your master is to seize a body, it must at least be of the beyond-mortal level.
“If not, a peak fourth rank will do, someone like you, for instance.”
Dongfang Wanrong giggled, “Disciple is willing to sacrifice herself for Master.”
Nalan Tianlu shook his head. “You are far too slick with words.”
A peak fourth rank was rare, but not hard to find. There was no need to take a disciple’s body.
Besides, this disciple was a young woman, and Nalan Tianlu had no interest in living his next life as a woman.
Dongfang Wanrong considered this, and then asked curiously, “If you could possess Xu Qi’an, would that not make him truly fortunate?”
”…”
Nalan Tianlu shook his head, laughing. “That young man is beset on all sides by fate. I would rather remain a wandering ghost than possess his body.”
After a pause, he continued,
“In all of Jiuzhou, the only one I know who can use her spiritual essence to create a perfect body is the Nine-Tailed Fox of the Wanyao Kingdom.
“If a bargain could be struck with her, your master would have no need for possession.”
The side effects of possession were severe: the body and spirit would be at odds, and even after several centuries, they would not be fully attuned.
In other words, for centuries he would be unable to progress in cultivation.
Dongfang Wanrong mused,
“We are collecting Dragon Qi hosts, the Buddhist sect is also collecting Dragon Qi hosts, and there is Xu Qi’an as well.
“Master, do you think all sides might one day clash dramatically at some time and place?”
Nalan Tianlu answered affirmatively,
“We certainly will. It will be a grand occasion.
“When that happens, your teacher will lend you a hand.
“Wei Yuan conquered Mount Jing City and killed my son; I will kill the protege he valued most, and thus conclude this chain of karma.”
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