Chapter 172: Your Subject Bows Three Times To His Majesty. Long Live, Long Live, Long Live!
Qichun Mountain smiled and said, “I’m here to ask if you want to be my disciple at Qichun Mountain, and if you want to be the Young Master of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion.”
Si Yuyan looked at Qichun Mountain’s calm and serene eyes and asked, “You already knew I would agree.”
Qichun Mountain nodded and said, “Although I don’t have a Wisdom Spirit Root and cannot use my life force to see the future, I do know a bit of divination. I know you seek longevity.”
Si Yuyan said, “Yes, I seek longevity.”
Qichun Mountain looked at Si Yuyan, seemingly able to see his end, and sighed softly, saying, “If it’s longevity, but with a short lifespan?”
Si Yuyan said, “I seek longevity, regardless of a short lifespan.”
He wanted to seek longevity, he didn’t want his lifespan to be as short as a morning mushroom that doesn’t know dusk or dawn, or as ignorant as a cicada that doesn’t know spring or autumn, even if his lifespan became even thinner in the process of seeking longevity.
But as long as it was his choice, he believed he would not regret it in the future, even if his lifespan was shorter than that of mortals.
Qichun Mountain raised his head slightly and said to him, “In that case, I will say no more.”
Si Yuyan said, “Thank you, Honored Master.”
Qichun Mountain’s eyes curved into a smile upon hearing this, and he laughed, “The first generation Chosen One is indeed sensible.”
The first generation Chosen One, what did that mean?
Ming Zhaoshuang furrowed her brows slightly, looking at Qichun Mountain’s placid face, not understanding his meaning.
As far as she knew, there had been many generations of these so-called Chosen Ones, so why did Qichun Mountain say Si Yuyan was the first generation? Could it be that he was the reincarnation of the first one?
Suddenly, she looked up and glanced at another man in the space.
The latter had been looking at the chess game, but for some reason, his gaze lingered when it fell upon her face.
He looked at Ming Zhaoshuang, staring at her emotionlessly for a long time.
He also had a pair of golden eyes, and when his gaze fell upon her, Ming Zhaoshuang inexplicably thought of Ming Zhaoxue.
His aura was very similar to Ming Zhaoxue’s, both exceptionally indifferent and aloof, but compared to Ming Zhaoxue, it was heavier and more majestic, like an elder.
He looked at her without saying a word.
Ming Zhaoshuang smiled gracefully at him, and the tassels by her ears swayed slightly with her movements, adding a touch of liveliness to her face.
The man turned his head away, his expression lazy, as if he found Ming Zhaoshuang very boring.
He looked at Qichun Mountain and asked, “Are you going to keep playing chess or not?”
Qichun Mountain said, “Don’t be impatient. My disciple still has some worldly ties to resolve; I need to give him some time.”
Upon hearing this, Si Yuyan’s sharp, cutting eyes involuntarily swept towards Cheng Zhaoyang. He instinctively retreated and said to Qichun Mountain, “I have no worldly ties to resolve. I can go with you now.”
Qichun Mountain chuckled and said, “It’s not her, but someone else. You can rest assured.”
Someone else was Empress Dowager Cheng.
She had rushed over as soon as she learned that Si Yuyan was leaving.
Empress Dowager Cheng was a mortal, so even though the Spirit Gathering Formation drawn by Ming Zhaoshuang was not very high, she still put in considerable effort to reach everyone.
She looked at Si Yuyan with a look of regret.
Si Yuyan was cunning and ruthless, but most importantly, he was loyal to Empress Dowager Cheng. Therefore, for Empress Dowager Cheng, he was her most capable advisor and her most admired court official.
It could be seen from the fact that Si Yuyan, a mere mortal, had reached the position of Minister of Justice at the young age of twenty-four.
Therefore, Empress Dowager Cheng was reluctant for him to leave.
However, how could the wise and decisive Empress Dowager Cheng not understand why Si Yuyan had joined her ranks and why he had chosen to seek longevity?
She could not stop Si Yuyan.
So she personally climbed this mountain forest and came before Si Yuyan to bid him farewell.
It was already evening. The sun set and the moon rose, and the sunset clouds dyed the flowing clouds with magnificent colors. Empress Dowager Cheng’s face remained dignified and beautiful in the dim mountain forest.
Her gaze was fixed on Cheng Zhaoyang, and then on Si Yuyan.
Empress Dowager Cheng did not ask Si Yuyan any questions, nor did she say any words of retention.
She merely bowed deeply to Si Yuyan and said to him, “Cheng Yanyue bids farewell to you, sir.”
Her stable position in the imperial court was inseparable from Si Yuyan’s behind-the-scenes planning.
Empress Dowager Cheng possessed the ambition to conquer the world and the magnanimity to respect talented individuals.
Si Yuyan was a capable minister, deserving of her bow.
Si Yuyan helped Empress Dowager Cheng up, stepped back a few paces, and in the vast snowy ground, bowed to Empress Dowager Cheng.
He kowtowed to Empress Dowager Cheng for the first time, “This minister bows to Your Majesty for your recognition.”
He kowtowed to Empress Dowager Cheng for the second time, “This minister bows to Your Majesty for your support.”
He kowtowed to Empress Dowager Cheng for the last time:
“This minister bows to His Majesty, may you live for ten thousand, ten thousand, ten thousand years!”
Si Yuyan stood up, looked directly into Empress Dowager Cheng’s wise and authoritative eyes, and slowly said, “Here, Si Yuyan offers His Majesty a final piece of advice.”
“First, aristocratic families must be destroyed, and humble families must be supported; cruel officials must be used, but after their use, they must be purged.”
“Second, fish belly chronicles, bonfires and fox cries, the fated female emperor, the people believe.”
“Third, Your Majesty’s successor must be a Cheng clan daughter.”
“Si Yuyan, my words end here. May my lord reign for a thousand autumns and ten thousand generations, ushering in a prosperous era!”
Empress Dowager Cheng bowed to Si Yuyan again, her voice like iron, “Yanyue remembers. Thank you, sir.”
Snowflakes fluttered, three bows and three farewells.
You treat me as a national scholar, and I will repay you as a national scholar.
After the ceremony, Si Yuyan followed Qichun Mountain into a new space. The latter’s sleeves fluttered slightly, and the space gradually closed before the eyes of Ming Zhaoshuang and the others.
Si Yuyan looked back at Cheng Zhaoyang, his almost sharp eyes lowered.
Cheng Zhaoyang also looked at him, a hint of reluctance in her bright and resolute face, but more importantly, a heartfelt wish for her friend’s future: “A Yan, we’ll meet again next time.”
Si Yuyan nodded and smiled at Cheng Zhaoyang, saying, “Zhaoyang, you must also be well.”
The space was half-closed, and Si Yuyan did not look back, leaving only a dark silhouette.
Ming Zhaoshuang unconsciously asked, “Sister Zhaoyang, will you miss Lord Si?”
Cheng Zhaoyang seemed to find it a bit perplexing, “Why would I miss him? He has his path, and I have my Dao. We are just confidantes.”
Ming Zhaoshuang looked at Cheng Zhaoyang’s stubborn mind and thought that she couldn’t possibly say that she felt Si Yuyan’s feelings for Cheng Zhaoyang were unusual, which was why she asked.
It was a pity, though, that Cheng Zhaoyang was solely focused on sword cultivation and knew nothing of romantic love.
Seeing that Ming Zhaoshuang seemed a bit disappointed, Cheng Zhaoyang misunderstood.
She pinched Ming Zhaoshuang’s cheek again and smiled, “Alright, I won’t miss Si Yuyan, but I will miss my Junior Sister Zhaoshuang, and your Ming Ye Sect.”
Ming Zhaoshuang had had her face pinched since the morning and had no more energy to be upset.
She said, “It’s not your Ming Ye Sect, Sister Zhaoyang. Once you’ve accepted our Ming Ye Sect’s sword techniques, you become one of us.”
She was serious about establishing a sect; giving Cheng Zhaoyang the sword techniques back then was because she had long wanted to recruit Cheng Zhaoyang into the Ming Ye Sect.
Of course, she had no intention of forcing Cheng Zhaoyang.
Ming Zhaoshuang continued, “Of course, our Ming Ye Sect is a knight-errant style sect, so Sister Zhaoyang can join other sects. Our Ming Ye Sect doesn’t mind.”
In the original book, Cheng Zhaoyang had joined the Sword Sect and, on the Sword Sect’s Jade Steps of Sword Questioning, made a hundred weapons submit and ten thousand swords bow. Ming Zhaoshuang naturally wouldn’t hinder her growth.
However, the Ming Ye Sect had decided that Cheng Zhaoyang was theirs!
Not only Cheng Zhaoyang, but also the Senior Sister Xie Yanning from the Sword Sect, the Little Princess A Wei from the Beast Sect, the Demoness Tan Zhu from the Hehuan Sect, and Shen Liqian and Shen Yaobi from Lapis Lazuli Azure Sea, would all be members of their Ming Ye Sect!
Cheng Zhaoyang, who had originally inclined towards the Sword Sect, was still somewhat unwilling, but since Ming Zhaoshuang had said so, there was no reason for her to refuse further.
After all, it wasn’t uncommon for the same person to join two sects.
Therefore, she said, “In that case, it will be our Ming Ye Sect.”
Ming Zhaoshuang’s gaze was fixed on Cheng Zhaoyang, so much so that she didn’t notice that while she was chatting and laughing with others, a gaze passed through the space, which was only partially closed. Golden eyes stared at her motionlessly, quietly.
Qichun Mountain looked at the man who had been playing chess with her earlier and said, “I told you you’d have terrible luck this year, but you didn’t believe me.”
The man chuckled, “It’s nothing.”
Empress Dowager Cheng’s Side Story: This chapter doesn’t count!
I, Cheng Yanyue, am the legitimate eldest daughter of the Cheng family.
When I was young, Father often said my moon was the “enchanting moon that has a beautiful face and smiles enchantingly,” but I felt my moon was the “moon like a hook over Mount Yan, with desert sand like snow.”
Father had countless meritorious deeds and was a renowned general.
However, his talent for Peak Grade Gold Spirit Root did not pass to my elder brother, who only had an ordinary Mid Grade Gold Spirit Root.
Father could only have my brother study literature, planning for him to follow the path of a civil official.
My brother was very intelligent and never disappointed Father.
But in his heart, there was always a sense of regret, a feeling that something was missing.
This sense of lack stopped only when I appeared.
Because I have a Top-grade Gold Spirit Root.
My talent test filled the Spirit Testing Stone.
Father looked at me and laughed heartily, but this laughter became increasingly bitter.
Because I am a woman.
Women of the Cheng family cannot cultivate the Dao; they can only enter the palace.
I knew this from a young age.
I didn’t understand or comply. Despite Father’s repeated persuasion, I persisted in my cultivation and even went to the battlefield, hiding it from Father.
The Third Heaven and the Devil Realm intersect, and Demon Quelling Pass is the bottleneck. The Cheng family has guarded it for generations, but they are subject to the Emperor’s suspicion. Cheng clan women have married into the royal family for generations, without exception.
The battlefield was chaotic and stretched for thousands of miles. I saw the moon over Demon Quelling Pass.
It was cold, lonely, and stained with blood.
That year, I was fourteen years old and already at the Golden Core Mid-stage cultivation.
When Father found me, he didn’t stop me. He just looked at me and let out a heavy sigh.
Father looked at me and asked, “Don’t you regret it?”
I said, “I don’t regret it. I only hate.”
I hated that I wasn’t strong enough, and I hated that the world did not tolerate women of my Cheng clan.
Father smiled.
A year later, after my Coming-of-Age Ceremony, on the way back to the capital, I received news of His Majesty’s death.
At that time, white banners stretched for miles, and the world was in mourning. Yet, I excitedly flew on my sword for three hundred miles and returned to Demon Quelling Pass.
No matter what the world thought, I knew I had three more years.
At eighteen, I broke through to the Nascent Soul Stage, becoming the youngest Nascent Soul Stage cultivator since the founding of the Great Sui Dynasty.
At the same time, I achieved great military merit and was enfeoffed by the New Emperor as Marquis Changning, with a stipend of three thousand households.
The day after receiving the enfeoffment, I severed my own meridians and entered the imperial palace.
By then, my father had decided to retire and return home, and my elder brother had finally climbed to the position of Prime Minister.
The Cheng family remained as prominent as ever.
I disdained the late Emperor, considering him incompetent and difficult to manage.
However, this did not stop me from smiling every day and devising ways to please him, thereby wresting some power from his hands.
The New Emperor often said my beauty was unparalleled, worthy of being the moon in the sky.
He loved the power of my Cheng family, loved my alluring appearance, and loved my body, which had been cultivated to the point of difficulty in conception.
This would make him feel no threat.
But the New Emperor was wrong.
I, Cheng Yanyue, detested being the moon, whether it was the enchanting moon or the moon over Mount Yan, I hated them equally.
Because women of my Cheng clan are meant to be the brilliant sun.
In this way, I lay low, endured, for over a hundred years, outliving the New Emperor into an old one.
The old emperor had low cultivation and never reached Golden Core Formation before his death.
In the last thirty years of his life, knowing he could not break through, he began seeking alchemists, finding only heretical paths, in pursuit of longevity.
As a result, his governmental affairs were gradually handled by me, the Empress.
Of course, the Cheng family’s status was too high, and he was still wary, so he supported a eunuch.
To my surprise, this eunuch was incredibly audacious and dared to covet me, a mere Empress.
This was perfect.
I played with this eunuch like one plays with a dog or a cat, colluding with him to sideline the old emperor and completely turning the imperial court and harem into my domain.
The old emperor didn’t even know that while he was critically ill and could barely open his eyes, the eunuch and I were engaged in intimacy behind a curtain.
Later, the old emperor died, and his youngest child became the New Emperor.
As Empress Dowager, I held court behind a screen.
However, the eunuch who had been handling court affairs with me became too much of an eyesore. It took me three years to finally get rid of him.
Thirty years later, I sat firmly as Empress Dowager, controlling both the imperial court and the harem.
At that time, the people cursed me for a hen crowing at dawn, the officials cursed me for monopolizing state affairs, and even my most respected father said I had debased myself to a eunuch, usurped power through influence, and was unchaste and disloyal.
But what need did I have for those empty titles?
I only saw that under my governance for a hundred years, the population of the Great Sui had increased by fifty percent, the administration was clear, the national treasury was full, and everyone had enough to eat and wear, and the strength to fight the devil race.
I said I had no regrets. Although I severed my meridians, the lifespan of a Nascent Soul cultivator was enough for me to accomplish everything I wanted to do.
Later, the Cheng family welcomed another female infant, whom I named Zhaoyang.
Even if the world is unjust, and even if shackles are heavy, we women should be like Zhaoyang.
In the 3621st year of the Great Sui Dynasty, Empress Xi He ascended the throne, changing the dynasty’s name to Great Ning and the era name to Guangxi.
