Chapter 599 - 79: New Emperor of Chu Country

According to the rules set by the True Monarchs, the Great Cultivators of the Zhongzhou Cultivation Realm were completely isolated from the mortal world. Yet, at the same time, they were more closely bound to it than ever before. For instance, before Wang Ping and his group could make a move against Guangshan Temple, they had to inform the Chu Kingdom Court. Otherwise, if the Court dispatched troops and dragged the Mortal Realm into the conflict, things would become complicated.

Wang Ping had Hu Qianqian deliver a notice to Guangshan Temple in advance precisely to seize the moral high ground. If the Chu Kingdom Court were to interfere after that, they would be the ones breaking the unspoken rules everyone abided by.

「Jinhuai City.」

It was currently the largest city in the south, at least three times larger than it had been a century ago. The original city had become the present-day Inner City District, while the former suburbs were now the Outer City District. Beyond the city walls lay endless stretches of farmland and the private manors of aristocratic families.

Deep within the Inner City Imperial Palace stood a massive Observation Pavilion. The Chu Royal Family had built it later to overshadow the seven towering structures of the Daoist Palace. From the main street of Jinhuai City, one could see the Observation Pavilion just by looking up.

From the top floor of the Observation Pavilion, one could gaze out at the distant mountain range where the Six Heart Sect was located.

The third emperor of Chu, the current Emperor Yongchang, Liu Kai, had a favorite daily pastime: ascending the Observation Pavilion to survey the mountains and lands in the distance. He would often sit there for half a day at a time, for the politics of the Chu Kingdom Court were not his to worry about.

Today, this desperately idle emperor, after presiding over the morning court session, made his way to the top of the Observation Pavilion as usual. With the help of a eunuch, he shed the loathsome imperial robes and changed into a short shirt and pants. He then lay down comfortably on the Celestial Platform, which was built with a Constant Temperature Array, and gazed up at the clear, cloudless sky.

He had just settled down when the gentle notes of a guzheng began to play. A woman in theatrical makeup was performing beside him. The beautiful music was intoxicating, and the Emperor unwittingly closed his eyes.

But even the most beautiful music must end. When the melody stopped, the Emperor opened his eyes, shielding his face from the direct sunlight with his hand. "Being emperor is so boring," he said softly. ’If I had known, I never would have entered this realm. That way, I could have abdicated and passed the throne to someone else. I would’ve loved to get out and travel a bit.’

The nearby palace maids and eunuchs pretended not to hear his words.

THUMP THUMP THUMP.

The sound of footsteps suddenly echoed from the stairwell. From the sound of it, a fat man was walking in a hurry. Upon hearing it, Emperor Yongchang lazily rolled over on the cushioned lounge chair to lie on his stomach, looking toward the top of the stairs with curiosity.

Before long, a middle-aged, overweight man in a python-embroidered robe appeared in the Emperor’s line of sight. This was the Vice Envoy of the Imperial Secretariat, the only member of the Liu Family’s royal house to hold a position in the Imperial Court. He also held the title of Prince. His name was Liu Jun.

It was worth noting that the Chu Kingdom Court operated on a system of Three Departments and Six Ministries. The Central Secretariat and the Ministry of Supervision served the Emperor directly, while the Ministerial Department was a vast bureaucracy with the Six Ministries under its authority, responsible for all national affairs.

Beyond the Three Departments were the Imperial Secretariat and the Imperial Censorate. The heads of these five bodies—the three departments, the secretariat, and the censorate—could all be considered Prime Ministers, with their deputies being Vice Chancellors. Among them, the Chief Secretary of the Central Secretariat was the most revered.

"Got some good news?"

The Emperor guessed the purpose of his visit, seeing the smile that the newcomer could barely contain.

Liu Jun dropped to his knees with a THUD three yards from the Emperor. The smile caused the fat on his face to bunch up, swallowing his eyes. He spoke quickly, "Your Majesty, an envoy from Qianmu Temple arrived just now! Those old dogs stood there obediently in the sun, listening to the envoy’s proclamation. It was a truly satisfying sight to behold."

Hearing this, the Emperor couldn’t help but sit up straight. "An envoy from Ancestor Changqing?" he asked.

"Yes!"

"What is it about?"

"The Ancestor is going to make an example of Guangshan Temple!"

"Guangshan Temple?"

"A medium-sized sect in Mozhou Road. According to the envoy, four of the ten who ambushed the Fox Demon Hu Xin escaped, and they’ve been hiding in Guangshan Temple."

"And that’s it?"

The Emperor frowned slightly.

Liu Jun continued with a grin, "But I estimate that Ancestor Changqing intends to wipe out the entire sect. He might even be planning to pull out all of Lishui Prefecture’s nails in Mozhou Road."

"Oh?"

"Rumor has it that the Seventh Prince of Lishui Prefecture schemed against Ancestor Changqing during the Shangjing City incident. Now that they’ve delivered themselves to his doorstep, I’m afraid not a single one of them will make it out of Mozhou Road alive!"

Liu Jun’s speaking pace quickened unconsciously. "Once the balance in Mozhou Road is broken, the balance in the Imperial Court will surely shatter as well. The Ancestor certainly has no interest in the things of the Mortal World. If His Eminence were to hand over the mortal assets in Mozhou Road to us, then..."

THUMP, THUMP.

The Emperor stood up and took two quick steps across the wooden floor of the pavilion, the boards echoing with muffled thuds. The nonchalant expression on his face turned cold and solemn. His gaze swept over the nearby palace maids and eunuchs, who obediently bowed and withdrew under his stare.

"What does the Ancestor want us to do?" the Emperor asked softly after the maids and eunuchs had left. He then raised a hand and said, "What are you kneeling for? Get up and speak!"

Liu Jun promptly and obediently rose, bowing his head with his hands clasped. "The Ancestor wants us to issue a document to all regions explaining the situation and restraining the various major families from interfering in the affairs of Mozhou Road."

"Ha... hahaha, HAHAHAHA!"

The Emperor started with a soft chuckle, which soon erupted into loud, unrestrained laughter. Liu Jun also grinned until his eyes vanished, following the Emperor around like a bootlicker.

After a good while, the Emperor finally stopped laughing. He looked at Liu Jun and said, "Those stubborn old fossils at court, they will never do as the Ancestor wishes. I can’t wait to see the looks on their faces when they end up disgraced."

"Your Majesty, with the Ancestor’s wisdom, he must have anticipated this. Perhaps this is his true goal. Should we... give things a push?"

"No need. We just have to watch the show. Back then, my uncle thought he was so clever, thinking he didn’t need Qianmu Temple’s support after taking power. And what’s the result? In another decade or so, he’ll likely die in meditation deep within the Imperial Palace, just like his father did!"

The Emperor turned his head, squinting at the sun in the sky. "They put too much faith in the rules set by the True Monarchs. But they forgot that Third Realm Cultivators have special privileges, especially an orthodox Mystic Sect Third Realm Cultivator like the Ancestor."

With that, he looked at Liu Jun. "You came to ask me to go to the Hall of Political Affairs, didn’t you?"

Beaming, Liu Jun replied, "Issuing the document requires Your Majesty’s imperial seal!"

"Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go and see. This is going to be a good show."

The Emperor walked toward the changing area. Liu Jun went to call back the departed palace maids and eunuchs to help the Emperor dress. This time, the Emperor showed a clear interest in the elaborate garments on the rack.

Once dressed, the Emperor walked out of the Observation Pavilion. Just as he was about to board the imperial carriage, he suddenly stopped. He dismissed the guards, eunuchs, and palace maids around him and beckoned to Liu Jun. "What if those old fossils suddenly wise up and don’t act according to the Ancestor’s plan?"

Hearing this, Liu Jun’s heart trembled, but he kept the smile on his face. He bowed his head with hands clasped and said, "This subject will do everything in my power to ensure the Ancestor’s plan proceeds smoothly!"