Daoist Jinlian rode auspicious clouds beneath his feet and drifted towards the capital with Xu Qi’an and the others.
Xu Qi’an held the deeply sleeping Li Miaozhen in his arms and turned his head to look at his dual-cultivation Dao companion.
“For the National Teacher, the struggle between Heaven and Man is a dangerous battle, but also an excellent tempering. Please do let me watch the battle.”
He knew Luo Yuheng’s temperament very well. She was strong-willed, proud, a bit addicted to acting like a queen, and especially liked being coaxed by him. So even now, Xu Qi’an had never changed the way he addressed her and still called her National Teacher.
So his care for her couldn’t be too obvious. That would make Luo Yuheng feel belittled, and she’d be unhappy.
Luo Yuheng gave an “mm” and said,
“How is the Heavenly Venerable’s cultivation?”
Xu Qi’an thought for a moment and said,
“About the middle stage of first rank, I think. Anyway, not the late stage.”
The reason he dared to boast that he would only keep Luo Yuheng alive and wouldn’t care about anything else wasn’t because he didn’t care whether she lived or died, but because once one had reached first rank, and both were Earthly Immortals, they were basically evenly matched.
The reason he dared to boast like so was that he only cared about Luo Yuheng staying alive. Both of them were first rank, Earthly Immortal, they were basically evenly matched.
Hence others only had to watch.
Moreover, the struggle between Heaven and Man was also beneficial to Luo Yuheng. The mutual complement of origins was one aspect, and tempering her cultivation was another.
Of course, during that time, I’ll still have to devote myself heart and soul to the National Teacher… Xu Qi’an added inwardly as he looked at the aloof beauty so close at hand.
Next, the biggest matter was his marriage to Lin’an.
At that thought, Xu Qi’an couldn’t help rubbing his brow.
…
The imperial palace.
Huaiqing had just finished a game of Go with Wei Yuan. She had lost again and again, but fortunately she was used to it by now. She had studied the game with Wei Yuan for many years and had never once beaten him by even half a stone.
“What does Duke Wei think of Silver Gong Xu’s marriage?”
As they drank tea after the game, Huaiqing probed.
“A good thing!”
Wei Yuan smiled gently.
“What’s so good about it?”
Huaiqing asked casually.
Wei Yuan still wore a smile. Holding his teacup, he said,
“Her Highness Lin’an is simple-hearted. Though she likes stirring things up, she isn’t good at fighting. For a woman like that to become Xu Ningyan’s main wife is better than Mu Nanzhi and Luo Yuheng. Or some other woman.”
Huaiqing felt a moment of guilt, though outwardly she remained calm, and asked in return,
“Some other women?”
Wei Yuan glanced at her, his smile deepening.
“For those other women, having a woman with little threat rise to the top is still better than anyone else.
“Enough. I can’t be bothered talking about his romantic debts.”
Wei Yuan himself was a devoted man who believed in one life, one love, one partner. But for a young man like Xu Ningyan, romantic by nature, he did not find it detestable. Among people with power and status in the world, having several wives and concubines was commonplace.
Minding oneself well was enough.
After a few casual remarks, the topic inevitably turned to affairs of state.
“The policy of schools in the Southern Marches border markets must continue. In another few years, once the foundations are laid, the county-level examinations in Yuuzhou can be opened to students of the shaman clans. This matter will carry merit through the ages. Your Majesty must keep a close eye on it.”
Wei Yuan reminded her.
“We’ll leave that to Duke Wei.”
Huaiqing pushed the work back to him again. She was now the ruler of a nation and had learned very well how to employ people.
Wei Yuan smiled and continued,
“As for the northern Yao and barbarians, the minerals, money, grain, cattle, sheep and other livestock they owe us can be collected when winter comes this year. Previously, the situation in the Central Plains was poor and we didn’t dare press the debt. Now we can collect it with interest.”
Huaiqing listened quietly. Only after Wei Yuan had finished his long speech did she sigh and say,
“Even now, we still can’t find fault with Duke Wei. In terms of handling government affairs, Duke Wei surpasses us by quite a bit. Everything Duke Wei has just mentioned, we leave in your hands.”
Wei Yuan smiled and nodded.
“Good!”
He wanted a stage on which he could realise his ambitions. Yuanjing hadn’t given him one. Huaiqing had.
Wei Yuan went on,
“Recently, we’ve heard some rumours. It seems that some at court hope Your Majesty will establish a Crown Prince soon.”
Huaiqing’s face darkened, and her tone turned cold.
“The rebel army has only just been wiped out, and some people are already thinking about ‘restoring proper order to the court’.”
Huaiqing had not yet married—no—not yet taken consorts and established an empress, so where would any heirs come from?
As for this so-called establishing a Crown Prince, the one they meant to establish was of course Yongxing’s offspring, or the Fourth Prince’s offspring.
With Xu Qi’an steadying the realm and the court of the Great Feng, no one dared openly oppose Huaiqing. But after Huaiqing, shouldn’t the throne be returned to the orthodox line?
“A country cannot go a single day without a ruler, nor can it be without an heir. Establishing an heir concerns the foundation of the state, so there is no fault to pick in that. But is Your Majesty willing to return the throne to Yongxing, or to make a descendant of Prince Yan the Crown Prince?”
Wei Yuan stared at her with burning eyes.
Huaiqing said flatly,
“We are in the prime of life. There is no urgency in establishing an heir.”
Wei Yuan let out a sigh, as though he understood something.
“Understood. In that case, Your Majesty must give birth to an heir as soon as possible, so as to silence the babbling of the masses.”
Then he probed,
“Mm, is there someone Your Majesty favours?”
Huaiqing subconsciously straightened her back. Noble and elegant, she said lightly,
“We have not yet found anyone we favour.”
Feeling guilty… Wei Yuan slowly nodded and said in a serious tone,
“On matters of marriage, your servant will not offer idle comment. So long as Your Majesty knows your own mind, that is enough.”
As he spoke, he set down his teacup.
“We’ve nearly finished the tea as well. Your servant takes his leave.”
…
After seeing Wei Yuan off, Huaiqing took out the Earth Book fragment and sent a message:
【ONE: How are Two and Seven?】
【SEVEN: Thank you for Your Majesty’s concern. Your servant has already returned to the Sitianjian, and is currently drinking tea with Brother Yang in the Stargazing Tower.】
Li Lingsu replied with great enthusiasm. After all, he wouldn’t be returning to the Heaven Sect any time soon, and the Holy Son planned to secure some official post at court and spend a dull stretch of life surrounded by wives and concubines.
【ONE: What about Li Miaozhen?】
【THREE: Her soul was injured and she’s still unconscious, but it’s nothing serious. This punishment looked like it was meant to kill her, but in fact it was helping her.】
Xu Qi’an’s words left everyone stunned. Chu Yuanzhen hadn’t been involved in this matter, and understood even less what Xu Qi’an meant, so he sent a message to ask:
【FOUR: What do you mean by that?】
【THREE: Li Miaozhen seemed to have taken some kind of pill not long ago that strengthened the soul. The medicinal power had settled in her body and was hard to refine. Bingyi Yuanjun’s two lashes of the thunder whip just happened to disperse the medicinal power. It was risky, but the effect was good.
【If the Heavenly Venerable had truly been determined to kill her, why would he have let Bingyi Yuanjun punish her with the thunder whip? So I guess he was helping her.】
Huaiqing felt what he said made sense, but also somehow didn’t, and sent a message:
【ONE: So the Heavenly Venerable had no intention of killing Li Miaozhen? Then what was the point of making such a huge fuss?】
【THREE: No idea. But earlier I noticed one detail. Miaozhen’s Earth Book fragment was in Bingyi Yuanjun’s hands. Holy Son, then why were you able to use the Earth Book to ask us for help?】
Because I cleverly and bravely stole it out… Li Lingsu’s heart stirred:
【SEVEN: I saw Master hide the Earth Book fragment in a wooden box in his room.】
Given the wits of the Heaven and Earth Society members, no further explanation was needed.
This had been done deliberately so that the Holy Son could ask them for help.
【EIGHT: If the Heavenly Venerable didn’t want to kill Li Miaozhen, he could’ve just let her go. There was no need to go to all this trouble, unless he had some other purpose.】
【FOUR: Perhaps Li Miaozhen contradicted him and he couldn’t climb down, so on the surface he sentenced her to death to preserve the Heaven Sect’s dignity, while in secret he let Bingyi Yuanjun perfect her through the punishment of the thunder whip, and had the Holy Son ask us for help?】
Chu Yuanzhen analysed.
Li Lingsu added a word:
【The thunder whip punishment wasn’t the Heavenly Venerable’s idea, it was proposed by Senior Uncle Bingyi. I understand now. The one the Heavenly Venerable was helping wasn’t Miaozhen, but Senior Uncle Bingyi.】
Not one of them, including Xu Qi’an, understood what he meant.
What did this have to do with Bingyi Yuanjun?
Li Lingsu explained:
【Miaozhen is Senior Uncle Bingyi’s mortal heart. Now that master and disciple have completely severed ties, Senior Uncle Bingyi has nothing left to hold her back and can advance to second rnak. She’d already reached the peak of third rank. The spirit pill she used earlier to save Miaozhen was exactly what she’d prepared for breaking through to second rnak.】
Daoist Jinlian sent a message:
【Bingyi Yuanjun wanted to advance to second rnak, but couldn’t bear to cut off her feelings for Miaozhen, and so had delayed making the breakthrough. Miaozhen spent three years in the jianghu and came to see herself clearly. Her temperament was not suited to the Heaven Sect’s Supreme Detachment from Emotion. The Heavenly Venerable took this opportunity to help both master and disciple.】
After hearing Daoist Jinlian’s explanation, the members of the Heaven and Earth Society finally understood.
【THREE: I think there’s another reason. Li Miaozhen really has become entangled in too much karma. When the great calamity comes, she’ll be a ticking time bomb, so the Heavenly Venerable simply drove her out of the Heaven Sect.】
Then why didn’t the Heavenly Venerable help me too? Also, what does ticking time bomb mean… Li Lingsu muttered inwardly.
At this moment, Master Hengyuan sent a message:
【In that case, does that mean Fellow Daoist Li Miaozhen has no hope of third rank?】
Since she couldn’t practise Supreme Detachment from Emotion, she naturally couldn’t cultivate the Heaven Sect’s subsequent mental methods.
Master Hengyuan had come from a Warrior Monk background and had once experienced the helplessness of having no hope of advancement, so he was particularly sensitive to this matter.
That’s right. Li Miaozhen was the Heaven Sect’s Holy Maiden, with the bearing of the beyond-mortal. If she left the Heaven Sect, wouldn’t third rank be forever beyond her reach… The Heaven and Earth Society members all felt their hearts sink.
That was no good thing.
Daoist Jinlian sent a message:
【No matter, no matter. She can simply transfer into my Earth Sect. With the power of merit she has accumulated, advancing to third rank will be no difficulty at all.】
【THREE: Li Miaozhen comes from the Heaven Sect. She can switch to the Earth Sect’s cultivation method?】
Xu Qi’an asked the question everyone wanted answered.
【NINE: Naturally she can. The Heaven, Earth, and Human Sects all come from the Daoist school. Our cultivation systems are the same. Before stepping into the beyond-mortal realm, there is actually no distinction between “Heaven, Earth, and Human”. In the Human Sect’s method, only upon reaching third rank does one suffer karmic fire scorching the body. Likewise, in the Heaven Sect one must comprehend Supreme Detachment from Emotion before advancing into the beyond-mortal. As for the Earth Sect, it is only at third rank that there is the danger of karmic backlash.
【As long as Li Miaozhen has not stepped into the beyond-mortal realm, she can transfer into either the Human Sect or the Earth Sect. This poor Daoist thinks that, given Miaozhen’s temperament, entering my Earth Sect would clearly be better. Once she wakes up, this poor Daoist will have a talk with her. We needn’t tell Luo Yuheng about this.】
Has Daoist Jinlian been waiting for this day for a very long time… This thought arose spontaneously in the hearts of the Heaven and Earth Society members, and they felt it was highly likely, eighty percent the truth.
With Jinlian’s discernment, he could definitely tell that Li Miaozhen was excellent material for cultivating the power of merit. If anyone said Daoist Jinlian wasn’t coveting such a good seedling, they wouldn’t believe it.
Xu Qi’an thought Daoist Jinlian was far too scheming. With an attitude of criticism and condemnation, he wrote on the surface of the small jade mirror:
【The Earth Sect’s cultivation method is too dangerous. I think Li Miaozhen should enter the Human Sect…】
He had only written halfway when the Holy Son’s message arrived:
【Miaozhen should of course transfer to the Earth Sect, what’s she going to the Human Sect for? To be wrapped in karmic fire and then wait for Xu Ningyan to sleep with her? As her senior brother, I firmly object!】
【ONE: Mm, we also think Two is better suited to the Earth Sect’s cultivation methods.】
【FOUR: The National Teacher’s tragedy mustn’t be repeated with Miaozhen.】
【SIX: This poor monk also thinks Fellow Daoist Li Miaozhen is indeed suited to the Earth Sect.】
【EIGHT: In the near future, the Heaven and Earth Society will give birth to a new beyond-mortal.】
With things already put like this, Xu Qi’an could only silently erase what he had written.
Li Lingsu, clean your arse out and wait.
Daoist Jinlian looked at everyone’s messages and revealed a satisfied smile.
【FIVE: So does that mean Daoist Jinlian’s tragedy can be repeated instead?】
The smile on Daoist Jinlian’s face slowly vanished.
Everyone pretended not to have seen Lina’s message and continued chatting.
【ONE: In another ten days, it will be the day Xu Ningyan marries Lin’an. You may as well come to the capital and have a cup of wedding wine.】
【EIGHT: Isn’t Three Luo Yuheng’s dual cultivation partner? She’ll let you marry another woman?】
Al-Asura expressed his surprise.
【SIX: This poor monk only hopes that on the day of the wedding feast, we can peacefully and safely drink a few cups of wedding wine.】
【FOUR: Ah, the Oiran of the Jiaofangsi and the unmarried women of the capital are probably going to be heartbroken.】
Ah, let’s just hope I can get through the wedding smoothly… Xu Qi’an sighed inwardly.
He could practically picture the wedding scene already.
Luo Yuheng would be holding a sword, pointing it at his throat. At that moment, that sword would be only 0.01 centimetres from him.
Luo Yuheng would say:
“Who exactly do you want to marry?”
At that very instant, Mu Nanzhi would take off her bracelet in full view of everyone:
“Think carefully before you answer.”
Li Miaozhen would sneer:
“I’m only here to watch the fun. Do carry on.”
Huaiqing would say:
“If Silver Gong Xu is unwilling, we can make the decision to break off the engagement, and guarantee there won’t be any awkward situations.”
Chu Caiwei would throw herself over Zhong Li’s barely breathing body and cry out:
“The National Teacher accidentally injured Senior Sister Zhong, quick, save her!”
After the demons had all danced wildly, Xu Lingyue would softly say:
“Brother, they’re all so frightening.
“Unlike me, I only know how to feel sorry for brother.”
Thinking of this, Xu Qi’an rubbed his brow.
It’s all fucked!!
…
Xu Manor.
Lina sat by the stone table in the courtyard, gripping her Earth Book fragment and banging it against the tabletop, thump thump thump.
She suspected there was something wrong with her Earth Book fragment. She was always unable to receive other people’s messages, especially after she sent one herself, the Earth Book fragment would stop working.
When she wasn’t sending messages, she could still receive the other members’ messages normally.
She and Xu Lingyin had returned to the capital together with Xu Ningyan. Master and disciple were both very excited, and inside the Stupa tower they had been discussing whether they ought to start going hungry from now on, so they could eat to their hearts’ content on the wedding day.
What they hadn’t expected was that before the wedding feast even began, they had nearly ended up attending a funeral feast first.
As soon as Xu Lingyin got home and saw her mother, she rushed straight at her without a word, tears bundled with her, amid a faint tremor of the ground.
Fortunately, Lina was quick-eyed and swift-handed. She pinned her unfilial disciple to the ground and saved Auntie’s life.
Auntie had survived disaster, but that little joy of reunion after a long parting had all turned into lingering fear after the calamity.
At present she was in the main hall beating her youngest daughter.
…
Sitianjian, Bagua Platform.
Li Lingsu put away the Earth Book fragment and looked at the white-clad back not far away, saying in a low voice:
“Brother Yang, our chance for revenge has come.
“That dog Xu Ningyan is about to marry Lin’an!”
Yang Qianhuan said slowly:
“How is that a chance? I’m not going. If I go, I’ll even have to give that surnamed Xu a wedding gift. I’m not giving him a single coin.”
Yang Qianhuan, who had no interest in women, did not react in time.
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