[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-simulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten":3,"chapter-simulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten-simulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten-chapter-126":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Simulated to Reality: I Once Looked Down Upon Ten Thousand Ages?",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2347141,4587,"Chapter 126: Ghost Valley Yin-Yang, Longest-Desired Divine Aspiration","simulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten-chapter-126",126,"\u003Cp>Xie Chunan stated calmly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Beifeng sent two groups: one was the usual envoy, which is no concern. But this morning, another group quietly entered Cining Palace.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“According to our spies, they saw Tuoba Shuyi’s son, Tuoba Hongyan, inside Cining Palace.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Notably, Tuoba Hongyan was also present back then at Mount Zhongnan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Zhen nodded slightly, lost in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cining Palace is the residence of the Grand Empress Dowager; even in recent years, when he went to pay respects, he had to wait according to protocol.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beifeng’s envoys could enter Cining Palace so easily—it seemed utterly inconceivable to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Absurd beyond belief!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Zhen stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the portraits of emperors hanging in the hall, each one from Daqing’s history:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Does she truly believe this is Qianyuan, where women have ruled as emperors?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a thousand years since Qianyuan, no woman had ever claimed the throne—yet now one has appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The realm trembled; debates raged everywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this chaotic age, a woman claiming the throne is laughable!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Xie Chunan’s expression remained unchanged:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Grand Empress Dowager has no real ambition for the state; she merely cannot bear to see the empire fracture after the late Emperor’s death.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“She fears she will have no face to meet the late Emperor in the afterlife.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the late Emperor passed away,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Zhen ascended the throne in Jingcheng, while the Eighth Prince established his own domain in the Jing Wangfu  in Jiangbei, refusing to obey the Son of Heaven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Sixth Prince, Zhou Jinyu, declared himself Heavenly King, creating a three-way standoff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Zhen spoke softly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In truth, no matter what the Grand Empress Dowager does, I will not interfere. After all, I could not have sat upon this throne without her support.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused briefly, then continued:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But the current situation is not because I tolerate her—I am the one she seeks to kill.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Zhen’s gaze fixed deeply on the portraits of his ancestral predecessors—the first three.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice was solemn and resolute:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“In the founding era, Grand Emperor endured seven rises and falls, finally securing the Central Plains through the united strength of brothers from a single commandery.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“During Emperor Jing’s reign, Master Zhu assisted him in governing, promoting benevolent rule; within less than twenty years, the lands south of the river flourished.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Under Emperor Wu, five great generals followed him east and west, expanding the empire’s borders.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Zhen turned around, his expression serious: “Now, with Master Xie assisting me, even Master Zhu cannot compare.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Xie Chunan immediately bowed: “Your Majesty overpraises me—I am unworthy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Zhen’s expression grew grave, his tone earnest:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why unworthy? When the late Emperor was alive, he once said that with your talent, Daqing is too small.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Somehow,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Zhen’s address to Xie Chunan had quietly changed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From “Master Xie” to “Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From “I, the Emperor” to “I.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recalling the past, all of us princes had benefited greatly under Xie Chunan’s teachings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We all called him Master!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back then, Xie Chunan was merely a commoner from the north; when he first arrived in Jingcheng, he was just an obscure clerk in a government office.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In just five or six years, Xie Chunan rose from a lowly clerk to one of the most powerful figures in court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the dynastic change, his prestige did not wane—it grew even more solid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today, Xie Chunan is among the very few who truly hold real power in court.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He acts with caution, step by step; whether handling state affairs or navigating complex relationships, he does so with effortless ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He never reveals his intentions lightly, always seizing the perfect moment to make the most advantageous decision.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Precisely because of this!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When Xie Chunan chose the Second Prince, Zhou Zhen, most of the court followed suit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason? Simply because, over these years, this Minister Xie has never taken a single wrong step.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Zhen felt a flicker of curiosity and confusion, and asked sincerely:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, I’ve always wondered: why, after the late Emperor’s death, did you shift your support to me and decide to serve me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Previously, Xie Chunan never involved himself in factional struggles or the imperial power vortex.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He always remained detached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This Minister of Rites replied calmly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My wife, children, and family all reside in Jingcheng. For their sake, I must follow the tide and serve Your Majesty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhen did not show displeasure; instead, a knowing smile appeared on his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If a minister had no ties at all, that would be dangerous.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Zhen suddenly recalled something:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I remember, Master, when you studied in the north, you did not learn Confucian doctrine, nor Daoist arts, nor Legalist methods.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You joined the Gui Valley school, studied the Art of Vertical and Horizontal Alliances, and mastered the teachings of the Yin-Yang school.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two thousand years ago, during the Warring States period, schools of thought clashed fiercely, each offering its own views on governance and the Dao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Daoism sought unity with Heaven and Earth, striving to transcend the world through personal power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The demonic path sought to seize the world and make it part of oneself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Legalism advocated ruling by law, treating the realm as a plow and the people as oxen on a war chariot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mohism preached universal love and non-aggression, holding to the ideal of solitude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were also seventy-two external schools, each with its own strengths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back then!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wars between states were also battles of doctrines and lineages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Zhen’s face broke into a faint smile:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Years ago, Master still set up an oracle stall in Jingcheng; it was said countless people came seeking love and fortune—it was quite a spectacle.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Chunan replied honestly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Life in Jingcheng is indeed hard, especially with several children and heavy expenses.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The court’s salary is meager, insufficient to sustain us, so I resorted to fortune-telling to supplement our household income.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Zhen smiled, unconcerned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Returning to the topic, he asked respectfully:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, you advised me to bring Lu Shaobao to the capital—do you truly believe so highly in this Lu Shaobao, that he can surpass the Grand Empress Dowager?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was both a sovereign and minister, and a master and student, speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing this, Xie Chunan paused thoughtfully:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Majesty, if your goal is merely to hold onto Daqing, preserve the lands south of the river, and be a guardian emperor, building an empire like Emperor Jing’s, then my assistance alone is sufficient.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused, his gaze deepening:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But if Your Majesty harbors grand ambition—to sweep the realm and achieve feats surpassing Emperor Wu—then only Lu Shenzhou can help.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He is a peerless sword—but without a true master, he cannot be wielded. Used well, he can bring eternal peace; used poorly…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The choice lies with Your Majesty.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Chunan did not continue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Zhen fell silent for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back then, the late Emperor had merely granted Lu Chen the title of Shaobao and authority over three offices.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He suddenly laughed:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Master, you underestimate my resolve too much. Daqing has had so many emperors; to the north lies Beifeng, and all around are Da Chu, Han, and Qianyuan.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How many emperors have there been throughout history!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Zhen turned again to the portraits of his ancestors and spoke solemnly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you think I, Zhou Zhen, am too stingy to grant him the title of a non-imperial king?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zhou Zhen will make sure that, in generations to come, when Daqing’s descendants offer ancestral rites, they will pause longest and gaze longest at my portrait!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, Xie Chunan bowed deeply:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then I, Xie, shall devote my entire life’s learning to assist Your Majesty in achieving this eternal legacy!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: This line borrows a phrase from Fenghuo’s work.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1299,"2026-06-21T01:32:57.622Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","ed9ffe52441e958c08eba061bf73b506c9af590039193f161a37191c7962b5e9","simulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten-chapter-127","simulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten-chapter-125",728,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsimulated-to-reality-i-once-looked-down-upon-ten-cover.jpg"]