Chapter 139: The Little Girl and the Mirror (I)

Inside the Qingming Hall of the imperial palace, the State Preceptor wore an expression of helplessness. “Your Majesty, asking me to stay in front of the civil and military officials will likely provoke criticism from those purists. They may accuse me of manipulating Your Majesty.”

“Are you still afraid of them?”

“Words can be daunting. This concerns my reputation both during and after my lifetime. While I do not seek to be remembered through the ages, I also do not wish to be infamous.”

“Heh heh heh...” The Emperor chuckled casually, took a sip of tea, and then turned to look outside.

Through the gauzy curtain, he could see some greenery.

There were few plants within the palace, as they feared becoming hiding places for villains and demons. However, after last night’s rain, even the scarce plants had noticeably grown taller and greener. Among the flagstones, grass seeds carried by birds or strong winds had sprouted some shoots, and eunuchs and palace maids were busy clearing them.

“This morning during the court assembly, it was mentioned that last night’s rain brought auspicious signs, with unusual growth in the city and beyond. When Minister Wei said it was a sign of good fortune, I noticed your expression. It seems you might know the reason?”

“Minister Wei is not wrong. Your Majesty is an emperor unlike any other in a thousand autumns and ten thousand generations; it is only natural for the heavens to bless us with auspicious omens.”

“Do you not wish to reveal your thoughts?”

“I am reluctant to speak.”

“Why is that?”

“I can only speculate.”

“Then please share your speculation.”

“This speculation is truly just that—speculation, as even I cannot determine the exact cause,” the State Preceptor said in a low voice. “Sometimes, not being able to predict something is in itself a form of prediction.”

“There are only the two of us here. There’s no need for such secrecy.”

“The current generation of the Hidden Dragon Temple’s heir has arrived in Changjing.”

“Oh?” The Emperor thought for a moment before it dawned on him. His expression then grew serious.

As an emperor, he had certainly heard of the Hidden Dragon Temple—not only heard of it but also had considerable connections with it.

In the final years of the previous dynasty, the world had already fractured into chaos. Various regional lords engaged in constant warfare, and warlords rose up. Demons wreaked havoc, and gods clashed. The common people were truly suffering.

The ancestors of the Great Yan were a significant force among the many, and they were considered virtuous compared to other major powers, gradually winning the hearts of the people. According to records, the founding emperor of this dynasty had been aided by a Daoist for several years.

During that time, all demons from all directions had been eradicated, and the gods from the previous dynasty who descended to cause chaos have also been subdued. It was under such conditions that the founding emperor managed to unify the world and was advised to treat the common people well, leading to the Great Yan's focus on people's livelihoods and the economy.

It was hard to say how future generations would view it, but among all the ancient dynasties, none had citizens living better than those of the Great Yan.

A century ago, however, the Great Yan began to decline. The population surged, the land was insufficient to sustain everyone, and signs of chaos emerged. Rebellions broke out in the north, and forces from all directions began to stir.

It was said that a certain Daoist could not bear to see the world fall into chaos and people displaced once more, so he offered many brilliant strategies. Additionally, Prime Minister He stepped forward bravely, leading to the revival of prosperity and even the unprecedented success we would witness today.

“How did you know this?”

“As for the encounter with the immortal on Yunding Mountain, I was curious and investigated. From the various rumors among the common people, I found the traces of the Hidden Dragon Temple’s heir coming down the mountain.”

“Yunding Mountain!” The Emperor’s eyes widened immediately. When he had heard about the immortal encounter on Yunding Mountain, he hadn’t connected it with the Hidden Dragon Temple.

Perhaps it was because nearly a century has passed since the last time a cultivator from Hidden Dragon Temple appeared before the royal family, making them long forgotten. Or perhaps the miraculous feat of “one night on the mountain equaling a year below the mountain” was so astonishing that he believed it to be the work of a true immortal, something even the cultivators of Hidden Dragon Temple could not accomplish.

“How did you know he arrived in Changjing?” The Emperor pondered. “Could it be the City God of Changjing...”

“Your Majesty is perceptive.”

“Last night...”

“I speculate it was likely his doing.”

“...” The Emperor’s eyes remained wide open. “The phenomenon of one night on Yunding Mountain equaling a year below the mountain was already a sign of an immortal's presence. And now with the heavens bestowing us such auspicious blessings, nourishing all life around the capital—could it be that the cultivator of Hidden Dragon Temple is truly an immortal?”

“To be honest, Your Majesty, I only met him yesterday.”

“You met him?”

“It was a chance encounter.”

“What does he look like? What did you discuss with him?”

“I invited him to the Stargazing Tower, where we had a few cups of tea and talked about matters of the underworld,” the State Preceptor said. “It was our first meeting, so we didn’t delve into details, only discussing the general state of the world.”

“The underworld?”

The State Preceptor said, “Rest assured, Your Majesty, the Hidden Dragon Temple is not greedy for such matters. Since the consolidation of the underworld is the trend, even if they do not lend a helping hand, they will not oppose the Heavenly Dao or the people's sentiments.

“Moreover, even children know about the underworld and reincarnation. So if they had any other intentions on the matter, my idle talk would not make much difference.”

“What did he think?”

“He seemed to just want to observe.”

“Since you were able to meet him, may I invite him to the palace for a meeting?”

“I do not know where he is staying.”

“What do you think...?”

“Hidden Dragon Temple cultivators are naturally carefree. After chatting with him for half an afternoon, I found him to be even more easygoing. Although you are the emperor, it is better to let things happen naturally if you wish to get to know him.”

“How should I let things happen naturally?”

“Your Majesty should not actively seek him out. If you happen to meet him someday, you can naturally invite him then.”

“Very well.” The Emperor narrowed his eyes and did not say more.

The State Preceptor said, “However, some heirs of Hidden Dragon Temple have fiery temperaments, and others enjoy using their power to punish the strong and aid the weak, as well as to exterminate demons and evil spirits.

“Your Majesty, there are some people in the court who bully the weak and disregard the law, and even allow demons to create chaos in the city to eliminate their rivals. To avoid offending these immortals, Your Majesty should impose more constraints.”

“Thank you for the reminder, State Preceptor.” The Emperor’s expression remained neutral, well aware of the implications.

Indeed, there were arrogant and overbearing individuals in the court. However, the State Preceptor’s remarks were not about ordinary officials but rather someone of a similar surname to him. If he was merely mentioning common court officials, the State Preceptor would have simply restrained them. There would be no need for such hints directed at him.

Even though Hidden Dragon Temple might not easily destroy the royal family, it did not mean they would fear imperial authority. Imperial authority governed the world, not the mountain dwellers. Even this State Preceptor from Fengtian Temple on Mount Luming dared to subtly advise him to restrain his descendants, let alone those who possess the abilities of immortals.