Beneath the Stargazing Tower.
Zhong Li sat cross-legged in her room, quietly meditating. Her ears twitched as she heard a mess of footsteps.
At this moment, one set of footsteps sped up and stopped outside her door. A voice called out,
“Senior Sister Zhong, the Nightwatchers, under orders from Silver Gong Xu, have been instructed to escort a group of prisoners here for detention.”
Zhong Li stood up and opened the door, seeing a white-robed Arcanist standing outside.
She nodded first, and then looked towards the dim corridor entrance, where she saw a middle-aged man with a golden gong on his chest, leading a group of Silver Gongs and Bronze Gongs, escorting a group of prisoners.
Zhong Li went to meet them and asked softly,
“What happened?”
The white-robed Arcanist gave an “oh” and explained calmly,
“Silver Gong Xu and the eldest princess have rebelled. They want to lock up several princes and royal family, including the Yongxing Emperor, here at the Sitianjian.”
As an Arcanist of the Sitianjian, looking down on imperial authority was perfectly normal.
Zhong Li approached the Gold Gong in charge of escorting the princes. He cupped his fist and said,
“This official is Zhao Jin, ordered to escort prisoners. Please may Miss Zhong make arrangements for them.”
Zhong Li said,
“There are twenty rooms on this floor. Choose whichever you like.”
Song Tingfeng, hearing this, casually opened an iron door beside him and shoved Xu Yuanhuai.
“Get in!”
Xu Yuanhuai slipped and fell heavily to the floor, his head banging against the iron door, causing him to grunt in pain.
Song Tingfeng mocked him, “Useless…”
As soon as he finished speaking, he himself suddenly slipped, falling straight back and banging his head against the wall.
As a master of the Refining Spirit stage, he was unhurt, but he rubbed his head with a blank look on his face.
Zhao Jin frowned and looked at Song Tingfeng, reprimanding him,
“Careless.”
Then he slipped and fell too.
”???” Gold Gong Zhao looked bewildered.
He could not understand why, as a Fourth Rank martial artist and master of Transforming Force, he had managed to fall flat on his face without any obstacle or movement.
Gold Gong Zhao soon figured it out and looked at Zhong Li, speculating,
“Is this a formation meant to trap prisoners?”
The leading white-robed Arcanist, leaning against the wall, nodded,
“Just think of it like that.”
Afterwards, the Silver Gongs and Bronze Gongs pushed the cursing princes and the Yongxing Emperor into the rooms. In the process, both sides had people fall over for no reason, banging heads on walls or smacking faces on the ground.
Zhong Li was responsible for shutting each iron door, pressing her palm to the door to activate the formation.
Once the task was done, including Gold Gong Zhao, all the Nightwatchers edged away cautiously with their backs against the wall as they left the basement floor.
The white-robed Arcanist, still leaning against the wall, remarked,
“To think, yesterday an emperor, today a prisoner. Hehe, letting these pampered princes taste what it’s like to be a prisoner isn’t a bad thing. Otherwise, how would they ever know the hardships of the world, right, Senior Sister Zhong?”
Zhong Li was taken aback.
She stood there dazed for a long while, her eyes growing brighter, and then she said urgently,
“Go and find Silver Gong Xu at once and have him come to me.”
The white-robed Arcanist did not ask why and nodded,
“Alright, but Senior Sister Zhong, could you go back to your room first?”
He pointed at the open iron door.
Only the iron door could lock away Senior Sister Zhong’s bad luck. He did not want to be falling over every three steps, an Arcanist’s body was too precious to be put through that.
“Oh!”
Zhong Li turned and went into the room. As the iron door closed, the white-robed Arcanist heard a muffled “thud” and guessed it was Senior Sister Zhong falling over.
The white-robed Arcanist ascended from the basement to Xu Qi’an’s temporary quarters.
He was about to knock when inspiration struck him:
“Wait, the three rules for avoiding bad luck: Never follow the orders of Senior Sister Zhong; Never stay close to Senior Sister Zhong; Never touch Senior Sister Zhong’s belongings.
“I almost forgot those rules.”
With that, the white-robed Arcanist turned and left quietly.
Better to let Senior Brother Song deliver the message and be the scapegoat.
…
Sitianjian, inside the Stupa tower.
Baiji curled up on the meditation mat, her voice soft and delicate,
“Auntie still hasn’t come. Master, let me out, I’m so bored.”
The old monk, the spirit of the tower, opened his eyes and said slowly,
“If you are bored, little one, you could join this humble monk in seeking enlightenment on the Buddha’s teachings.”
On hearing this, Baiji became alert and shouted,
“I’m from the Yao race! I was born to fight against Buddhism, how can I learn Buddhist teachings from you?”
The old monk gave his reasoning,
“To defeat your enemy, you must understand your enemy. If you study Buddhism with me, when you grow up, you will be able to find Buddhism’s weaknesses.”
Baiji paused, thinking this made sense. Her little head could not come up with any argument.
At this moment, the old monk’s ear twitched, and he smiled,
“Your master has returned.”
He flicked his finger, and a golden light shot out, blossoming inside the room. Mu Nanzhi then appeared.
She wore a lotus-green dress, her face wan and weary, her eyes full of exhaustion.
When Xu Qi’an left, he did not take the Stupa tower, leaving it on the desk with the Taiping sabre, giving the Flower God three layers of protection.
After awakening, Mu Nanzhi communicated with the spirit of the tower and was brought inside.
“Auntie!”
Baiji cheered and flew into Mu Nanzhi’s arms as a blur of white.
Mu Nanzhi caught her and sat cross-legged on the mat, pressing her palms together devoutly,
“Master, I have gained enlightenment.”
The old monk countered,
“And what have you realised?”
Mu Nanzhi, utterly devout and enlightened, declared,
“Form is emptiness!”
The old monk smiled in relief,
“Good!”
He thought to himself: Why does that sound so familiar?
Baiji wrinkled her cute pink nose, puzzled,
“Auntie, you smell strange. It’s not your usual scent…”
“You smelled wrong.”
“No, no, my nose is incredibly sharp.”
“Shut up, little brats mind their own business.”
Listening to their exchange, the old monk reached out and gently pressed his finger to Mu Nanzhi’s brow.
Her eyes instantly became blank, losing all focus. Her body slumped to the side, unconscious.
Baiji was startled by this sudden change.
“This humble monk was helping her redirect qi. If it stays blocked in the dantian, it will harm her body,” explained the old monk.
Overnight, a mighty surge of qi had formed within her body which she could not digest, causing her fatigue.
…
Wang Manor.
Wang Zhenwen had woken at five in the morning. After breakfast and medicine, he refused to sleep, as if waiting for something.
After daylight came, he vaguely heard cannon fire in the distance.
Soon, calm returned.
He waited and waited until lunchtime arrived.
Wang Zhenwen had touched no food, when at last his steward came to report that Prime Minister Qian and several other officials had come to visit.
Finally, Prime Minister Wang breathed a sigh of relief and ordered the guests shown in.
Shortly, Qian Qingshu, Minister Sun from the Ministry of Law, and several key members of the Wang Clique entered and took their seats round the table.
Qian Qingshu pulled a stool beside the bed to sit closest.
Wang Zhenwen studied their faces for a long moment before saying,
“It seems the matter is settled, but why do you all look like that?”
His old companions were silent, not grave, but with a complexity as though they did not know where to begin.
Sun from the Ministry of Law and the others exchanged glances, then all looked to Qian Qingshu.
Knowing he could not avoid it, Qian Qingshu sighed,
“It is done, but the result is not quite as expected.”
“Not as expected?” Wang Zhenwen saw him hesitate and his heart sank. He thought of one possibility and said anxiously,
“Xu Qi’an has usurped the throne?!
“That’s perposterous! The fortune of the Great Feng has not yet run out. From commoners to nobility, all still recognise the royal line. Even those rebel cliques in Yunzhou go to great lengths to claim legitimacy and are desperate for Yongxing’s recognition for this very reason.
“He built up his reputation with great effort. Why would he throw it all away?”
Anger and anxiety welled up, and he broke into a fit of coughing.
“Please, calm, calm…” Qian Qingshu helped him sit up, gently patting his back, hesitating for a moment before saying,
“Xu Qi’an did not usurp the throne. With his temperament, he would not sit on the dragon throne even if it were handed to him.
“Do you think he’s someone willing to bury himself in paperwork and state affairs?”
Wang Zhenwen thought for a moment, then conceded the point. His mood improved.
“So who does he plan to establish?”
Qian Qingshu replied quietly,
“The eldest princess, Huaiqing!”
“Cough, cough, cough—” Wang Zhenwen had another violent fit, his face turning red.
Minister Sun hastily poured a cup of hot tea and handed it over:
“Have some tea, steady yourself.”
Wang Zhenwen reluctantly took a sip to suppress his cough and then asked urgently,
“You all agreed to this?”
Qian Qingshu replied helplessly,
“We thought it would be King Yan, but it turned out that was just a feint and he tricked us all.
“By the time the arrow was nocked, we were already on the rebel ship, could we still go back?”
By the time they had shouted “Your Majesty, please abdicate,” there was no turning back.
Moreover, Yongxing and all the princes were firmly under the princess’s control, and even if the Wang Clique wanted to back out, they had no suitable candidate.
The late emperor’s brothers and assorted princes did not have enough standing.
Furthermore, judging from the attitude of the assembled princes and nobles at the time, it was obvious they accepted Huaiqing under duress, they were in no mood to take a risk.
Wang Zhenwen flew into a rage:
“A woman becoming emperor! Utter nonsense!”
Minister Sun suddenly interjected,
“It’s not entirely unacceptable. There is precedent for a female emperor from the Great Yang.
“Besides, in terms of talent, boldness, and capability, the eldest princess stands out. Her reign would be far better than Yongxing or the other princes.”
Wang Zhenwen struggled to believe it:
“What did she offer you?”
Minister Sun looked at Qian Qingshu. The new prime minister spoke in a low voice,
“Nothing special. Just those promises Yongxing had made but never delivered, always delaying under the pretence of stability.
“Also, with a reshuffled court, the posts left vacant are to be divided between the Wei Clique and us. There will be no more constant struggle between court cliques.”
Wang Zhenwen fell silent.
He knew that his opposition was useless. Huaiqing had simply offered too much for the Wang Clique to refuse.
Even though they knew she would certainly support other factions in future and would not let the Wang and Wei Cliques dominate, no one would turn down immediate and certain interests for the sake of an uncertain future.
It had nothing to do with intelligence. That was just human nature.
“A good scheme. Compared with Emperor Yongxing, she is more like Yuanjing.”
Wang Zhenwen gave a cold “hmph.” “Given that things have come to this. I can only go with the flow.”
What more could he do, confined to his sickbed?
“Still, I’ll give you all a word of advice.”
Wang Zhenwen swept his eyes across the room and said gravely,
“Female emperors, precedent or not, are not the norm. Their legitimacy is always questionable. If she wants to stabilise her reign, it will not be easy.”
Qian Qingshu stood up and cupped his hands,
“Please, Brother Wang, go on.”
…
Xu Qi’an returned to the Sitianjian and came to the door of his own bedroom, where he saw Song Qing sprawled on the ground outside.
As expected, someone came looking for me. Good thing I made several preparations…I
He muttered to himself internally, picked up Song Qing, and gave him a few slaps to forcibly wake him up.
Song Qing woke up groggily, looking confused:
“Young Master Xu, you’re back… Eh, why does my face hurt.”
Don’t exaggerate, I just gave you a couple of light slaps. Oh, but I’m already a second-rank warrior… Xu Qi’an changed the subject:
“What did you come to find me for?”
Rubbing his red and swollen face, Song Qing mumbled,
“Junior Senior Sister Zhong asked someone to bring a message. She said she needed to find you for something.”
Little pitiful Zhong Li is looking for me then. Xu Qi’an nodded:
“If it’s not urgent, I’ll come by when I have time.
“By the way, Senior Brother Song, have you been staying up late working on alchemy experiments lately? You haven’t slept for a long time, have you?”
Song Qing was taken aback:
“How did you know?”
If you were clever, you wouldn’t have taken on Zhong Li’s errand for her. It’s very simple reasoning… Xu Qi’an didn’t explain, but saw Song Qing out politely.
After watching his figure depart, Xu Qi’an wiped away the strong anaesthetic on the door, pushed it open, and entered.
The room was empty and desolate. The bedding was in a mess. Without the Great Feng’s number one beauty, the irregular stains on the sheet had already dried.
Xu Qi’an’s gaze naturally fell upon the Taiping Sabre on the table.
The Taiping Sabre’s tip was pointing vertically at the side, towards the Stupa tower.
Xu Qi’an nodded, and in the next instant, his body transformed into golden light and entered the interior of the tower.
On the spacious third floor, the tower spirit, the old monk, sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, while Mu Nanzhi was slumped in a crooked heap on another cushion, fast asleep.
Baiji had approached her side and was wiggling her little pink nose, sniffing and sniffing.
“Little fox cub, what are you doing?” Xu Qi’an thought. Are you molesting my wife?
When Baiji saw him come in, she looked delighted, then puzzled, and said:
“Auntie has a strange scent on her. Hmm, I keep feeling it’s very familiar.”
… Xu Qi’an was startled. How could you possibly feel it’s familiar? You’re just a child.
Baiji stared at him for a moment, then suddenly realised:
“I remember now. Every time Big Sister Yeji finishes mating with you, she has this smell on her.”
She raised a paw and smacked the meditation cushion angrily:
“Did you mate with my auntie? She’s mine. You’re not allowed to take her.”
“Don’t worry. She’ll still hold you, and keep you company for meals and sleep.” Xu Qi’an consoled.
Giving you a nice soft pillow… he added in his mind.
Hearing this, Baiji was satisfied and perked up her fluffy fox tail.
At this moment, the tower spirit, the old monk, found an opportunity and said,
“I helped her sort out her Qi. For others, even ten years of cultivation might not be able to achieve such overwhelming vitality.”
All of this Qi had been infused into her by Xu Qi’an.
After a pause, the old monk added,
“It seems there’s another power awakening inside her. A very mysterious power. I think it must be the spiritual essence of the Immortal Tree.”
He’d also been present when they’d communicated with the Hell Silkworm that day.
Xu Qi’an nodded, picked up Mu Nanzhi, and left the Stupa Tower, returning to the bedroom.
He had come back early specifically to help her guide her Qi. As the flower goddess was incapable of cultivation, she couldn’t circulate her inner Qi by herself. Qi infused by Xu Qi’an would otherwise congeal in her lower abdomen.
If left too long, it would be harmful to her body.
Now that the tower spirit had proactively helped, it saved Xu Qi’an quite a bit of effort.
He placed the flower goddess on the bed, took off her embroidered shoes, and gazed for a few moments at her delicate, dainty white feet.
Can’t overexert a beauty.
He silently covered her with a blanket.
At that moment, he suddenly felt as if someone had hit him on the back of the head with a stick, so he habitually took out his Earth Book fragment to check.
Fishpond Number One had sent a private message.
【THREE: Your Highness?】
【ONE: We sent someone to comfort Lin’an. We found that although she was upset, she was otherwise fine.】
【THREE: Huh? Such a thing happened? I knew nothing about it.】
In the imperial study, Huaiqing looked at her Earth Book fragment and chuckled softly.
【ONE: Prime Minister Qian came to us just now and raised a few suggestions.】
Xu Qi’an didn’t reply, patiently waiting. Shortly afterwards, Huaiqing sent a long reply.
【ONE: For a woman to ascend the throne comes with immense obstruction. We can suppress the court officials and the military, but we may not be able to suppress the officials of other provinces, the guards, or the general populace’s opinions.
【Therefore, prior to enthronement, the most important thing is to control and guide public opinion. It would be good to have the city’s major inns and teahouses discuss the deeds of the Great Yang female Emperor of old, so more commoners learn of it.
【Then, we’ll parade the Yunzhou delegation through the streets, drawing popular support.
【Lastly, Prime Minister Qian suggested that if we could produce an auspicious sign on the day of our enthronement, the hearts of the people would be secured.】
To praise the previous Great Yang Emperor in advance, giving the people an idea so they’re less resistant… Parading the Yunzhou envoys is a way of rallying hearts, yes, it’s a common and effective tactic, like the mass talent shows in a so-called “free nation” in my previous life.
As for an “auspicious sign”, frankly, it’s the old Liu Bang slays white serpent trick: giving oneself legitimate justification, and this is the most important of all. Never underestimate the power of “what the people desire”.
Xu Qi’an analysed silently, then sent:
【Prime Minister Qian is a true statesman.】
【ONE: This, in fact, was the idea of the former Prime Minister Wang Zhenwen.】
【THREE: Your Highness is telling me this because…?】
【ONE: As for an auspicious sign… we have thought it over and over, and not found a suitable idea.】
You can’t ask me about this, I’m just a crude warrior… Xu Qi’an made a friendly complaint to himself, then offered a suggestion:
【What about letting the spirit dragon carry Your Highness on a flight over the capital?】
【ONE: The people of the capital wouldn’t recognise the spirit dragon. Like winking at a blind man.】
【THREE: I’m skilled at beast mastery, I could summon all the birds to pay homage, forming a “hundred birds to the phoenix” scene.】
But no sooner had he spoken than he rejected his own idea.
The capital wasn’t in the south, there were hardly any birds in winter, and this winter was especially cold, so even many hardy birds had frozen to death.
Even if he worked himself to death, the birds he could summon would be limited. Such a small show would have no impact and wouldn’t bring out the magnificence of a female emperor’s enthronement.
【THREE: What about you holding the Sovereign Sword and riding the spirit dragon for a lap around the capital?】
【ONE: Anyone with imperial blood can hold the Sovereign Sword. Besides, the people’s eyesight is limited. If we fly too high, they can’t see us; if we fly too low and circle the capital, it would look like we’re just showing off.】
Huaiqing imagined the scene and found it rather embarrassing.
Go see the Arcanists or Confucians if you want flashy ideas, they’re flamboyant. I’m just a crude martial man… Xu Qi’an frowned slightly,
【Sorry, I have no other ideas.】
【ONE: Forget it!】
In the imperial study, Huaiqing put down the Earth Book fragment and sighed softly.
Below the throne, Qian Qingshu immediately asked,
“Your Highness, does Silver Gong Xu have any ideas?”
He didn’t recognise the Earth Book fragment, assuming it was a communication tool used by the Sitianjian.
Huaiqing shook her head slightly.
Left Capital Censor Liu Hong said,
“If there’s really no other way, we could have Zhao Shou summon an apparition of dragon and phoenix singing together at Your Highness’s enthronement.”
Auspicious signs of this kind were beyond civil officials, they could only turn to the beyond-mortal experts. Since Xu Qi’an was stuck, Zhao Shou was the only option left.
Qian Qingshu pondered and said,
“This method is passable, but the scene falls a little short; not impressive enough.”
Zhang Xingying, for once, agreed with the Wang clique leader,
“Your Highness’s enthronement is an unprecedented event in our dynasty and must be suitably grand. As such, the omen should be as magnificent as possible.”
What they wanted was an auspicious sign that would shock the whole capital.
The civil officials had searched the history books and reviewed the methods of past sages, and found three possible methods. Dragon and phoenix in harmony was the best, but Huaiqing still wasn’t satisfied.
Of course, if it was a natural phenomenon, there would be plenty of ideas, but natural phenomena weren’t necessarily auspicious.
In reality, most large-scale natural omens were portents of disaster.
Such as earthquakes, thunder and lightning, or blood rain…
…
Surely the greatest auspicious sign would be me carrying you around the capital on my back. I’m the most famous auspicious beast in the Great Feng… Xu Qi’an grumbled inwardly as he put down the Earth Book fragment.
Suddenly, he smelled bursts of floral fragrance and the fresh scent of grass and trees.
Astonished, he looked around. The room had completely changed. Mu Nanzhi was lying in the midst of a bed of flowers. Colourful blossoms and verdant grass had grown from the bed, from underneath the blanket,
From the bath tub, from the tea table, from the pillars, from every piece of wooden furniture.
For a moment, Xu Qi’an wondered if he was sitting not in his bedroom, but a flower house.
This… this is just absurd… Xu Qi’an was completely dumbfounded.
To tell the truth, even among beyond-mortal individuals, such abilities were one in a million. The spiritual power of the flower goddess was truly terrifying.
As he fretted about how to clear all the flowers and grass from his room, a thought struck him. He took out the Earth Book fragment again and sent Huaiqing a message:
【Your Highness, I have an idea that could have auspicious signs descend from the heavens on the day of your enthronement, enough to enter the annals of history.】
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