Chapter 181: The Court Struggle

Liu Shouye was sitting in his study, staring blankly in a daze.

This time, Ruan Xing did not use her Divine Ability to snatch him over, but went to Liu Shouye's residence herself.

With a slight application of illusion, she moved through the residence unimpeded; the servants and Maids coming and going all looked right through her as if she were invisible.

It was not until she sat down across from Liu Shouye that he noticed her.

He hurriedly stood up, bowed his head, and said, "You have come."

"Indeed, I've come to ask if you have made up your mind," Ruan Xing said leisurely.

Liu Shouye did not answer, but instead pushed a thick stack of books from his desk toward her. "These are the things you asked me to investigate. Time was tight, so they aren't particularly detailed, but after hearing what you said, I did gain some insight. Every family that meets your criteria is, at the very least, a noble clan that has continued for over three generations. Therefore, I have also quietly copied a version of the noble genealogy compiled in the court to bring to you."

"Not bad, good work," Ruan Xing praised.

She had not expected Liu Shouye to have the potential to be a Huang Chao.

Stowing the books into her Storage Bag, Ruan Xing stood up to leave.

Liu Shouye asked with some unease, "When the Emperor asks me tomorrow, how should I report it?"

"Just as you said before: he fled in fear of punishment," Ruan Xing said. "Rest assured, your Emperor will have no time to bother with you tomorrow."

The facts were indeed as she said.

Sun Xian entered the palace late at night to brainwash the Emperor, telling him that he had observed the stars at night and seen the Purple Star rising in the east while the Yelang Star was usurping the sun. He claimed there were treacherous sycophants in the court and that it was necessary to establish an Inner Court, completely isolated from the previous administration, to be controlled solely by the Emperor. The officials of this Inner Court must be women, as this would borrow the power of the Weaver Star to suppress the Yelang Star.

The Emperor was already dissatisfied with the court, being suppressed by a few old ministers. As for the Weaving Case from previous years that had implicated so many people, what was the result? Only low-ranking officials of the fifth or sixth grade were punished, and hundreds of merchants and common laborers were arrested. It was all thunder but little rain. He was furious, yet he could only execute those scapegoats who came forward to take the blame.

Afterward, the ministers in the court, perhaps feeling that he, the Emperor, had grown too ambitious and difficult to control, exposed the deficit in the Household Tax Division.

Coincidentally, the people who died most in the Weaving Case were officials from the Household Tax Division.

They placed the blame directly on those who were already dead.

Let's see how the Emperor would clean up the mess; in the end, wouldn't he still have to rely on these old ministers?

The Emperor, determined to oppose the Chief Councilor, placed the Chief Councilor's newly accepted, prized Disciple directly into the Household Tax Division, telling him to find a way to fill the deficit.

Unexpectedly, this person was truly ruthless and sold out his own in-laws.

The trouble the Chief Councilor had created for him was solved by the Chief Councilor's own disciple; it truly caused the Chief Councilor to lose face.

If not for his sudden disappearance, the Emperor had already intended to promote him to challenge the Chief Councilor.

Over the years, the Emperor had also cultivated and promoted some confidants, the highest-ranking among them being Liu Shouye, the General Manager. He came from a merchant background, his family was thin, with only an older sister and a nephew, and he had no marriage ties with noble clans, making him the most suitable to be his "lone official."

Only... the person who disappeared had previously been on bad terms with Liu Shouye.

The Emperor could not help but be suspicious: was it the Chief Councilor who was dissatisfied with this disciple and made him disappear, or was it Liu Shouye who feared that the man would steal his position in the Emperor's heart and made him disappear?

This was also where Liu Shouye found himself in a difficult position.

If he handled it poorly, he would lose the Emperor's trust.

Ruan Xing's appearance gave him a third path.

If things were as Ruan Xing said, he would neither have to be overly cautious toward the Chief Councilor nor worry about the Emperor "killing the donkey once the millstone is put away."

Because of the reverence for the National Teacher Palace in the Ancestral Instruction, although the Emperor did not feel in his heart that this matter could succeed, he still agreed with what the National Preceptor had said.

Let us see how the Chief Councilor responds.

At the morning court the next day, Liu Shouye's report did not stir up a single ripple; all the ministers' gazes were fixed on the Emperor.

Establish a Women's School, appoint Female Officials, build an Inner Court.

Every single point was a massive shock to them!

"Impossible! A woman's proper path is to serve her husband and teach her children; how can they enter the Inner Court as officials? This is a betrayal of the classics and a rebellion against the path!" an old minister shouted himself hoarse in opposition.

"Is the Emperor not afraid of being stabbed in the spine by the Historian?"

"I think the Emperor doesn't want to build an Inner Court or appoint Female Officials, but rather wants to fill his harem with more people."

A young minister said with biting sarcasm.

Because of the macro-management of the Six Suns Study, members of the Imperial family could not engage in Cultivation. Having too many royal relatives was of no benefit to the Six Suns Study; as long as there was a child to carry on the line, that was enough—what need was there for so many royal relatives?

Therefore, according to the Ancestral System, the Emperor's concubines could not exceed twelve in number.

In previous years, there had been a few lustful emperors who were dissatisfied with the Ancestral System and wanted to change it through various means, but none had succeeded.

This minister was using exactly this to mock the current ruler.

The Emperor was so angry his face turned blue. Over these many years, he only had three concubines in his harem, and only one child, who was still learning to babble.

This minister's words were pure, unadulterated slander! He was definitely prompted by the Chief Councilor to humiliate him!

But he couldn't just execute him for a few words; that would make the Emperor look guilty!

The ministers were chattering away, almost driving the Emperor to the point of collapse, while Liu Shouye stood in his assigned place with his head bowed, not uttering a single word.

Only then did the Chief Councilor sigh leisurely, "I wonder what gave rise to the Emperor's thoughts?"

The Emperor said confidently, "Naturally, it is what the National Preceptor said."

The National Preceptor's words carried far more weight than his own as Emperor.

After all, the Emperor still had to rely on these ministers to get things done; if a powerful official was arrogant, the Emperor could do nothing about it.

But the National Preceptor was different; many old ministers secretly hoped that after they retired, they might be favored by the National Preceptor and enter the National Teacher Palace to seek immortality.

After all, they hadn't enjoyed enough of the world's riches and honors yet; how could they bear to die?

Once these words were spoken, the hall suddenly became much quieter.

Perhaps supporting the National Preceptor could increase the possibility of being selected for the National Teacher Palace?

Some officials from long-standing noble clans might know a thing or two about the situation inside the National Teacher Palace, knowing that the National Teacher Palace was truly engaged in Cultivation, and also knowing that Cultivation required more than just being an official—there were other conditions. That was why some were willing to pay a high price just to buy a servant's spot to enter the National Teacher Palace.

These rumors were mentioned from time to time in the Capital, though some believed them and some did not.

The Chief Councilor pondered for a moment and said, "Since the National Preceptor has brought it up, we ministers must naturally provide the Emperor with a suitable plan. However, the deficit in the Household Tax Division was only just filled at the beginning of the year, and the national treasury is empty; I fear there is not enough silver to be used for this."

The Emperor could not help but sneer.

The silver that filled the deficit in the Household Tax Division had come from the century of accumulation of the Imperial Merchant Cui family.

Then what about the money originally in the Household Tax Division's pockets? Into whose hands did it go?

If not for the lack of evidence, the Emperor would truly like to raid the homes of all those vermin to see exactly how much they have embezzled!

"Since that is the case, the Chief Councilor shall find a way to draft a proposal. Court dismissed!" The Emperor flicked his sleeves and left.

The ministers withdrew from the hall one after another, and some ministers gathered in twos and threes to discuss the Emperor's unusual behavior today.

"Is it really as the National Preceptor said? But in the last hundred years, no National Preceptor has ever intervened in government affairs, right?"

Of course, previous National Preceptors, in order to ensure that the national fortune was not interfered with by human factors, would never intervene in government affairs.

But now it is different.

The head of the National Teacher Palace has changed~ A minister stopped Liu Shouye and asked with a smile: "General Manager Liu, you are usually a favorite in front of the Emperor, and we are all colleagues, why not tell us about it?"

"Official Zhang, you flatter this subordinate. Leaking the Emperor's whereabouts is a capital offense; this subordinate dares not speak nonsense." Liu Shouye gave a perfunctory reply and hurried out of the Imperial Palace.

Ruan Xing was lying on a soft couch on the Zhaixing Terrace of the National Teacher Palace, eating grapes presented by a Daoist boy.

Seeing Sun Xian return, she asked: "How was it?"

"The Emperor agreed, but that group of ministers did not," Sun Xian said. "It has been shelved for further discussion tomorrow."

Ruan Xing smiled: "You were also an official before. According to your thinking, how will it end?"

Sun Xian gave a bitter laugh, "I never reached the status of a powerful minister capable of swaying the Emperor back then. However, I think it is very difficult. If an Inner Court is truly established, it will certainly divide power. This matter shakes the foundation of the ministers. Even if it is eventually accomplished, the Inner Court might only become a mere facade."

He shook his head gently and said in confusion: "Why must the Sect Master allow women to participate in politics? Women are inherently foolish. Even if there are people as outstanding and gifted as you, that is one in ten thousand. Even if other women were given this opportunity, they would not be one ten-thousandth of you."

"You haven't even tried, how do you know they can't?" Ruan Xing said calmly, "Before I became a Cultivator, I was also told by others that children are foolish and women are weak, but don't I now have many Cultivators bowing and scraping before me?"

"Forget it, there is no point in telling you these things. You are merely my prisoner; I don't need to convince you. Rather, you need to be obedient to stay alive." Ruan Xing said blandly, not even looking at him.

"Yes, Sect Master, you are right." Sun Xian lowered his head humbly.

Ruan Xing placed a medicine bottle on the table and instructed: "Tomorrow, see who opposes it most fiercely in the court, and throw the contents of this bottle into their family's well."

Sun Xian took it, opened it, and sniffed, asking in confusion: "This is... poison for mortals?"

"Yes, a little trinket I made when I was a mortal. I thought it would expire before I ever found a use for it. Just as well, don't waste it," Ruan Xing said casually. "I'm heading back. I'll come to inspect your work tomorrow."

"Respectfully sending off the Sect Master."

By the time Sun Xian looked up again, Ruan Xing was already gone.

When Ruan Xing returned to the Fengling Yueying Sect, Hu San happened to be looking for her.

"What is it?"

Hu San presented several Storage Bags, "These are the spoils of war collected from cleaning up the battlefield, as well as the Spirit Stones, Dharma Artifacts, Pills, materials, and other resources from the treasury. They are all in these Storage Bags. Please take a look, Sect Master."

Ruan Xing probed inside with her Divine Sense and gasped.

Whoa, quite wealthy! There are over two hundred thousand Spirit Stones alone.

After all, the Six Suns Study receives remittances from transactions everywhere every year. However, the disciples of the Six Suns Study do not engage in production; they all stay in the Sect to focus on cultivation and do not go out, so the gap in resource consumption is large. These Spirit Stones are probably just enough for all their Golden Core disciples for a year or two.

She wished she could dump it all into the Simulator.

However, she suppressed this thought. She still has over eighty thousand points and over one hundred thousand Spirit Stones. It is not yet to the point where she has to take everything for herself and leave the entire Sect living a miserable life.

Of course, if one day she is critically short of Spirit Stones and points, she will just have to say sorry to all the disciples.

"You keep them for now. Distribute the Basic Qi Refining Pills among them to the disciples who did the work as a reward."

Hu San replied: "Yes."

"But there is one more thing," Hu San had a look of embarrassment on his face, "The Spirit Herb Garden on the mountainside, and the Spirit Field at the foot of the mountain... I don't know how to care for them, so I let the disciples water and fertilize them according to the methods of mortal farming. It seems to have been counterproductive these past few days..."

Ruan Xing understood immediately, "How many died?"

Hu San said in a small voice: "Eighty percent."

"Phew... I really thank you for not killing them all."

Hu San's reporting order of praising first and then criticizing is truly terrifying.

Ruan Xing supported her forehead.

In her memory, she had grown Spirit Rice in a Simulation, but she couldn't possibly let a Sect Master farm the land herself!

Half a lifetime of wandering, and upon returning, I'm still farming.

She thought for a moment. In the first few Simulations when she arrived in Yunyang City, there were indeed a few usable talents. The pharmacy that took her in at the beginning, and that alchemist who taught her alchemy, were both good people in her impression.

"You go to Yunyang City and find an alchemist surnamed He. He should be at Qi Refining Layer Nine now. Tell him to come to our Sect to be an alchemist, and we will provide him with Foundation Establishment Pills for free.

There is also the Chen Family Pharmacy. Invite the owner, his family, and his apprentices over. They understand medicinal properties and have experience in planting ordinary low-grade Spirit Herbs and Spirit Rice. If they are unwilling to join the Sect, paying them wages to teach our disciples for a few months is also fine. However, if you only pay them wages, don't let the Demon Cultivator disciples meet them."

Seeing that Ruan Xing did not blame him and had even come up with a remedy, Hu San felt relieved, let out a breath, and replied: "Yes, Sect Master."

He hurried down the mountain to handle these two matters.

Meanwhile, Ruan Xing was thinking about how to improve the disciples.

The Demon Cultivator disciples are easy to handle; later, I'll just build a few more free Righteousness Manors and graveyards in the Xumi Realm.

The Demon Cultivator disciples actually cultivate better inside Xumi.

The Immortal Cultivator disciples are not quite as good. Even if they are fully stocked with Pills, I'm afraid it will take at least several years before a Foundation Establishment disciple appears.

Moreover, she won't show special favoritism to any one disciple by fully stocking them with Pills; that wouldn't be very fair. If all disciples were fully stocked, her economic strength wouldn't be able to keep up.

Or should she just make them each a Dharma Artifact? Anyway, she also needs to practice her artifact refining, and the tree roots left over from the explosion on the back mountain are quite hard, plus there are many materials left in the treasury.

Perhaps during this time of reorganizing the Xumi Realm, she can slowly arm the disciples.

Thinking this, Ruan Xing returned to the main hall and lay down on the soft bed in the side chamber.

Mmm—comfortable!

I've been busy for several days; I should just lie here and enjoy it.

Huh? Wait?

Ruan Xing sat up all at once.

What was it that I came back to do again?

Aren't you going to Yunyang City and Huayang City to take up your new posts? You even have to change into a different appearance.

Hey, it's all Hu San; the moment he came back, he placed over two hundred thousand Spirit Stones in front of her, making her forget what she was even supposed to be doing.

Thanks to Mei You Chi Bao 233 for the monthly ticket~ (End of chapter)