Chapter 205: Meeting a Clear Day Chapter 182: The Nation's Spiritual Pivot

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Protagonist:

Shaowei

Liu Qi

Jiang Fu sighed: "Your Majesty is the Human Emperor, governing all affairs under heaven; without Your Majesty's permission, how would this humble official dare to ascend to immortality on his own?"

The Emperor sneered again, his joy and anger indiscernible as he asked: "You deceived Us, yet still dare to swagger into the palace to see Us without any concealment... are you not afraid We will punish you for the crime of deceiving the sovereign?"

"When has this humble official ever deceived Your Majesty?" Jiang Fu sighed helplessly again: "Your Majesty once granted this humble official the right to move freely; that year this humble official merely had urgent business to attend to outside, the talk of feather shedding was their wild words, causing Your Majesty to misunderstand."

Speaking thus, he revealed a hint of a smile: "This official has handled the matter properly and was just about to return to the capital to report for duty, who would have thought he would fall into the hands of a fellow sect demonic cultivator, delayed until now, only barely managing to see the Holy Countenance again."

The Emperor let out a "heh", and then saw that habitually thick-skinned man reach out to touch the head of his disciple beside him; that disciple seemed to feel that having his head touched outside was beneath his dignity, and with a expressionless face silently tilted his upper body to avoid it; the master then salvaged his dignity by changing his hand to rest on the disciple's shoulder, smiling as he claimed credit:

"This humble official has exhausted his heart and blood for many years, raising such a fine Tianji Star for Your Majesty; even if Your Majesty is displeased with this humble official's departure without farewell, wise as Your Majesty is, now for the sake of this auspicious star, one supposes You should also dispel Your anger."

"Still such glib rhetoric..." The Emperor's voice was somewhat powerless, but he continued: "Even putting this matter aside, how do you explain that she is actually a woman? And what about Baili Youyi?"

"Baili Youyi is a famous Dao Sect surname, never falsified." Jiang Fu still smiled: "As for being actually a woman, this humble official may have deceived the world, but could not deceive Your Majesty; since Your Majesty knows the truth, one can see Your tacit consent, so how can this humble official be counted as deceiving the sovereign?"

The Emperor let out another cold laugh: "Good 'tacit consent'... so you deceive heaven and hide from earth, and it becomes Our idea."

He indeed knew early on that Baili Youyi was a woman.

This person was a Dao Sect genius with innate knowledge, and he was a lover of talent; such great talent, whether male or female was not important; these high personages act unfathomably, she had always presented as a man, perhaps due to being born different, to avoid some heavenly tribulation.

So he did not expose her.

And this person was not only a genius, her temperament was especially rare; she possessed the naturally calm and carefree air of Dao arts, and was witty and humorous, not standing on ceremony; interacting with her always made one unconsciously relax; in former leisure times, he often discussed Dao arts with her.

Recalling these now, they seemed as distant as events from a previous life.

The Emperor sighed almost imperceptibly, then looked toward the disciple.

The disciple's heart had just let down its hostility.

Shaowei had originally borrowed A He from Liu Qi, letting A He modify her appearance according to Jiang Fu's instructions, but Jiang Fu said it was unnecessary; she claimed appearance was unimportant, only innate temperament and mysterious voice could not be discarded, the more one covered up the more suspicious; moreover since she was willing to go see him, she had her own plan in mind, no need for this extra move.

Shaowei did not distrust Jiang Fu, she just distrusted the Emperor, suspecting the Emperor might blame and vent anger on Jiang Fu; Jiang Fu then smiled and told her, if it really came to that, she as the Tianji could just kowtow vigorously to plead for mercy.

Shaowei, who was very unwilling to kowtow vigorously, now seeing Jiang Fu's attitude toward the Emperor was actually so shameless, besides being surprised in her heart, also slowly relaxed.

And this Emperor had just finished questioning Jiang Fu, then came to question her: "Your master deceived Us for a long time; after she left, there was you her disciple inheriting the master's profession, deceiving your way to before Us... truly worthy of being a single-lineage master and disciple; does your sect specialize in the art of deceiving the sovereign?"

"Your Majesty, Huali never deceived the sovereign." Shaowei said seriously: "Being saved by a high person at eleven years old is the truth; this high person is this humble official's master, but this humble official initially did not know the master was the National Preceptor; she only said her surname was Jiang and given name Fu."

"Memory loss is also fact; at the time of praying for rain at the Lingxing Terrace, it was seeing Mother come to seek me, a touch in the heart, that awakened the memory."

The Emperor's drooping eyelids glanced askance: "No matter how reasonably you speak, it still cannot prove you never lied... however one can see you prepared your sophistry excuses early on for when the truth came out."

Shaowei's attitude was meticulous: "This humble official truly did not."

The above is merely the other party's conjecture; after all it is not factual evidence.

Jiang Fu sighed and spoke: "Your Majesty as the Son of Heaven can naturally discern loyalty and treachery, right and wrong... if not discussing deception, no one here deceived the sovereign, only I deceived this disciple; the Tianji is young and pure, spiritually true and genuine, I could not help but use some means to draw her into the capital, so she could naturally benefit Your Majesty, benefit Great Qian, benefit the common people."

At the end he said: "If Your Majesty wishes to punish, punish Jiang."

The Emperor neither agreed nor disagreed: "You dare enter the palace to see Us, that means you are certain We will not punish you."

When she was in the capital before, she had also slightly modified her appearance, but the greatest concealment was still cross-dressing as a man, and he had always known this matter, therefore at close range he would certainly be able to recognize her.

And since she was the Tianji's master, he could not help but associate her with the National Preceptor who prophesied the Tianji's manifestation back then.

Compared to being exposed by him, her coming to meet him so undisguised was instead a kind of frankness that eliminates future troubles.

And speaking of her prophesying the Tianji back then...

The Emperor's gaze fell between the master and disciple.

If it were anyone else, he would surely suspect this was a collusive scam.

But Jiang Fu came to see him calmly, and that Huali's ability, he saw more clearly than anyone; what kind of influence she ultimately brought, he also had a clear account in his heart.

Such natural marvelous ability absolutely cannot be faked; and as early as when the substitute in Xian Tai Gong was struck by an arrow with life and death uncertain, he had already associated with this age-matching Huali in his hesitation.

A truly extraordinary person who can bear the Tianji of a nation must have marvelous manifestations that cannot be concealed.

As for Baili Youyi using feather shedding to disguise her departure from Chang'an back then, the reasons behind it, he could understand...

It was merely at the wrong timing; when one should retreat, one retreats, going to preserve one's own Dao.

Many tacit old matters need not be spoken so clearly.

Times change, storms and hearts have both calmed; now is the right timing, so she appears again.

Body heavy with illness, recalling the past, thinking of what was seen in dreams, and Liu Fu's strange death, a trace of melancholy loss emerged in the Emperor's heart, lingering without dispersing.

"The National Preceptor's Dao, We have truly understood..." Looking at that white-haired woman with carefree brows and eyes, the Emperor's voice was dry, hoarse, and raspy: "Baili Youyi has departed as an immortal; from now on, with this original appearance, continue to be Our National Preceptor."

Jiang Fu smiled faintly.

"Your Majesty's high regard, Jiang Fu is overwhelmed with gratitude." She spoke frankly: "Leaving the master's sect back then, descending the mountain to enter the world, was precisely to seek the method to stop the chaotic world's great calamity; now the mission is already perfectly fulfilled, this body's strength is also entirely exhausted..."

"As the saying goes, 'Excessive love inevitably leads to great expense; excessive hoarding inevitably leads to much loss; therefore knowing contentment avoids disgrace, knowing when to stop avoids danger, one can endure long.'" Jiang Fu smiled looking at the girl beside her: "The remaining matters should also be handed over to these children."

The woman before him was like formless silent clear wind and orchid snow; the girl beside her like tall vigorous green bamboo in the mountains.

The monarch who had long resided in the Imperial City had not seen such natural scenery for far too long.

Knowing contentment avoids disgrace, knowing when to stop avoids danger, one can endure long.

Each generation has its mission; excessive love and excessive hoarding are both a kind of unwillingness to let go, an obsession and greedy desire.

The Emperor fell into long silence, weakly closed his eyes, and said slowly: "The National Preceptor's cultivation has reached the realm of perfection, yet still comes to see Us in this body; is this also telling Us that in this world there is no method of ascending to immortality, no longevity medicine..."

There were no secrets in Pengzu's Tomb; the demonic cultivator who exhausted his mind setting up an evil formation and Liu Fu also could not escape bodily illness and pain; Gao Ming, skilled in divination and cultivation to the pinnacle like the National Preceptor, similarly had white hair and a weak appearance...

"Your Majesty, in this world there may be no longevity medicine, but as a monarch, there is certainly an eternal life method."

With Jiang Fu's words, the Emperor slowly opened his eyes.

Those snow-white brows and eyes seemed to contain the supreme divine mechanism; she smiled and said: "The Human Emperor, internally, purifies and settles the mind's thoughts, perfects the self's mind, so the Heart Dao can live forever undying; externally, plans for all under heaven, leaves a name long in the history books, and fame naturally becomes immortal for ten thousand generations."

The Emperor was silently silent.

Jiang Fu likewise did not speak further.

That year she sensed the world's Qi mechanism was about to change, and once implicitly advised this monarch to guard against the worry of "suspicion bringing calamity to the divine master."

But at that time the ailing Emperor was already wrapped in unease, and no longer easily joked and bantered with her; the whole person was no longer humorous, boring to death. When an emotionally rich person no longer has the mood for humor, this is absolutely a very dangerous omen.

The Emperor felt enormous coercion from the Ling clan; whoever walked closer to the Ling family, whoever spoke a good word for the Ling family, even if it was an implicit reminder, would also be suspected by him as a running dog of the Ling family.

The long-brewing storm was no longer stoppable by human power; she, who already bore the suspicion of being a Ling family running dog, naturally should promptly dig a hole and flee, and seek another heavenly mechanism.

That year it was to advise, fail to move, then run; now meeting again, the hearts' waves have calmed, the monarch is no longer that monarch with zero sense of security, and taking advantage of Prince Liang's corpse not yet hardened through, the Emperor's heart and spirit weakly guarding, only then could she speak these heart-summoning words.

The Emperor did not express a stance, only said: "Not doing this National Preceptor is also fine, but since you are in the Capital, if Immortal Lord Jiang has leisure, then occasionally also come to the palace and speak a few words with Us, discuss the Dao a bit……"

Jiang Fu smiled and agreed.

"The Tai Puzhe's merit, Our heart understands clearly." The Emperor looked toward the kneeling girl: "Also considering you came to save your Division, the sentiment is pardonable…… We hereby open the net on one side, this time not as a precedent, you must remember, in the future toward Us there must not be any more concealment."

The girl bowed her head and agreed, auspiciously obedient.

In her heart, however, she rebelliously supplemented: At most after five sentences she would resume her old trade.

She also thought, this trip truly was to first interrogate for crimes…… Jiang Fu's words were not wrong, even if interrogating for crimes, it certainly would not result in a conviction.

The monarch's tolerance stems from her value; the monarch's dignity lies not in trivial concealment, but in the control of interests.

"You this trip have consecutively established great merit, the Heavenly Mechanism identity has also become clear; We want to heavily reward you." The Emperor said: "House, gold, silver — these need not be mentioned; do you have any other desired bestowal?"

"Replying to Your Majesty, this subject has one."

Looking at that reply extremely fast, extremely impolite raccoon dog, the Emperor somewhat amusedly said: "Then speak for Us to hear."

Shaowei: "What this humble subject wants as heavy reward is — Your Majesty not using the Crown Prince Consort position as heavy reward."

The Emperor "oh"ed a sound, noncommittally said: "We also never said the Heavenly Mechanism must be Crown Prince Consort, merely the people below wildly speculated."

The girl's expression was candid: "This subject also heard others speak nonsense, merely fearing Your Majesty might suddenly issue an edict; if this subject's heart is unwilling, it would not be conducive to sovereign and subject being of one heart and harmonious."

"Then We must thank you for preventing trouble before it happens." The Emperor laughed a sound, asked: "But why is the Tai Puzhe unwilling, could it be she feels Great Qian's Crown Prince Consort position and Our Crown Prince are not worthy of the Heavenly Mechanism?"

"This subject merely thought, Your Majesty this Zicheng Emperor Star is still present; the Heavenly Mechanism with one heart and one virtue guarding the state is sufficient." Shaowei, who guards her own intent with one heart and one virtue, with one heart and one virtue spoke these righteous-sounding words against her will.

The Emperor for a moment did not speak.

He naturally understood clearly; if bestowing marriage on the Heavenly Mechanism and Crown Prince Cheng, it would be proclaiming to all under heaven that Crown Prince Liu Cheng is the immovable Zicheng Emperor Star; from then on everything would have no retreat for change.

At this moment recalling recent events in his mind, the Emperor's heart surged a long, unclear, melancholy sigh.

He ultimately did not immediately agree to the flower raccoon dog's request, only said: "This matter, We still need to properly think a bit more……"

When Shaowei withdrew from the Inner Hall, many gazes surrounded toward her; those were Liu Qi, Rui Ze, Guo Shi, Liu Cheng and others guarding outside.

Five days later, gazes from the same people once again gazed upon the same girl.

Atop the Early Court Grand Hall, the hundred officials knelt on two sides, Shaowei knelt in the hall center, respectfully listening to the eunuch proclaim the edict.

"Imperial Edict Censor——

We inherited Great Ancestor's foundation, served the Ancestral Temple's heavy sacrifice, seventeen years. Yet virtue thin brought disaster, mistakenly trusted demonic Dao, caused yin and yang to lose order, causing Capital Region great drought; this summer pestilence qi ran rampant, the common people suffered hardship, We are deeply ashamed.

You, Tai Puzhe Huali, Feng Shi Shaowei, inborn nature penetrates the divine, thoroughly fathoms the Heavenly Mechanism; all prophecies, afterwards all verified. At the great drought's juncture, first suppressed epidemic qi, then detected dark water flowing secretly in earth veins, dug open sweet springs, saved countless people.

Further had merit of exposing demonic Dao harming the state; drought sacrifice grand ritual, with Heavenly Mechanism's sincerity reaching up to heaven, prayed several days of drenching rain, relieved the people's distress, shared Our worry, merit recorded on bamboo and silk.

Formerly Great Ancestor's pact: no merit no marquis; yet you fathom the Spirit Pivot's profundity, distinguish yin and yang's mechanism, possess the Kun Spirit's quality, truly are heaven-sent precious auspiciousness; now specially breaking convention, promote you to Guanzhong Marquis, title Ling Shu, grant gold seal purple ribbon, retain Tai Puzhe as before, additionally specially grant food fief of one thousand two hundred households——"

Inside the Grand Hall a moment arose many surprised sounds; Liu Cheng's heart suddenly plummeted, many days' hope and joy instantly fell empty, enormous loss flooded in, couldn't help but fixedly stare at the silk in the eunuch's hand.

Enfeoffed as Marquis?

How could it be enfeoffed as Marquis?

Before wasn't it all said……

The eunuch's voice did not stop, finally chanted high: "——Hope you forever hold the sacrificial rites, above connect with spirits, below pacify the people, do not disappoint Our intent, revere it!"

In everyone's gazes, the girl thanked for grace and received the imperial edict.

Amid the clamor, Liu Qi's eyes carried a tranquil smile, looking at that incomparably brand-new Ling Shu Marquis.

Ling Shu means divine mechanism.

And the so-called Guanzhong Marquis refers to a marquis without fief, not inheritable; person dies, title extinguishes; its rank is below like the former Marquis of Changping, and Lu Marquis and such inheritable Liehou by one grade, yet also only second to Liehou and the various Vassal Kings.

Great Qian has had precedent of women enfeoffed as Marquis; family has Marquis, its mother, wife, daughters all can inherit the title; Consort Qu also once enfeoffed her own blood younger sister as Marquis.

Even so, countless surrounding gazes were still hundreds of kinds of astonished amazement——this Ling Shu Marquis at this moment, age not yet ten?

But her merits enumerated, are not beneath ordinary military merit; praying for rain to pacify the people, cracking the demonic Dao and Prince Liang's conspiracy, also no one can deny.

Moreover her person bears the Heavenly Mechanism name, extraordinary; enfeoffing her as Marquis, making her guard the Wang Ji region, is also to cut off the Capital's outside remaining forces' coveting of the Heavenly Mechanism Star.

Only originally all rumors said the Heavenly Mechanism would be bestowed marriage as Crown Prince Consort……

Some secretly exchanged glances, or looked toward the Rui family people.

Some only looked at that Ling Shu Marquis respectfully listening to the holy edict; such youthful extraordinary talent, just looking at her, makes people's hearts give birth to vigorous hope.

Some already quietly congratulated the Lu Marquis, saying the Lu Marquis who hasn't asked about court affairs for long, how did he enter the palace today.

"One family two Marquises, supreme exceptional honor……"

"The Lu Marquis's family's young son born extraordinary……"

The Lu Marquis who never understood restraint and reserve did not humble himself; all was basking in reflected glory, laughing heartily stroking beard and nodding, a pair of bright old eyes looking at his own child.

After a bout of clamor, waiting for court dismissal, the Lu Marquis who hadn't ridden a horse for long even more disregarded everyone's dissuasion, insisted on leaping onto horseback, personally clearing the way for the flower-canopy treasure carriage behind him, all the way toward the Shen Ci.

White-haired, the Jiang Marquis drove his horse in front clearing the way; in the flower-canopy carriage the girl Junhou sat peacefully; wherever they passed, people gazed.

?? Good evening everyone, good night everyone!