Daoqi Huangcheng

Chapter 72, Section 71: Grand Scholar Song, Devoted to Cultivation (6.4K words - Long chapter, please subscribe)
In the Crane Palace, the eunuch had already finished reading.

The final sentence reads: "The Empress's palace attire and ceremonial guards shall follow the system of the Emperor's consort with his legitimate wife, except that the wedding ceremony and music and dance shall be temporarily suspended to conform to the regulations of the funeral rites. I and Minister Song shall observe the national mourning together, and the auspicious rites shall be held after the auspicious day."

Announce it to the world, and the envoys will hear about it.

"I admire this"

After reading the imperial edict, the eunuch quickly stepped forward, bowed, and held the edict high above his head, smiling obsequiously, "Congratulations to the Emperor Song's son-in-law."

"Emperor" refers to a female emperor; "son-in-law" refers to a husband.
Song Chen stepped forward, bowed his head, and accepted the imperial edict.

The eunuch read the imperial decree, treating the emperor as an equal. His respectful manner was also at the emperor's behest.

The person reading the decree represents the Empress, while the person receiving the decree represents the Imperial City Temple.

On the surface, although the Imperial City Temple is a sect of cultivators, it is still part of the Great Yong Dynasty, where imperial power and cultivators are on equal footing.

There was really no need for him to act arrogantly here and send the wrong signal that "the Imperial City Temple is completely dominating the Empress." That would only incite conflict, suppress the Empress's development, slow down the condensation of dragon energy, and make the people on the Turtle Platform dissatisfied.

Although Lady Qianxue was still in a daze, she reacted quickly. She hurriedly took out the money to announce the good news and tried to stuff it into the eunuch's sleeve, but the eunuch refused to accept it no matter what. Then he bowed hurriedly and took his leave.

After the eunuch left, the Crane Mansion was deathly silent.

The Empress of Dayong was unprecedented.

The idea of ​​becoming empress was something she never even dared to dream of.

But this scene, which she could never even dream of, has now become a reality, and it happened to her own husband.

And when did her husband become a Grand Scholar of the Wenqu Hall?

Lady Qianxue was quick to react. She respectfully said, "Grand Scholar Song, please come with me. Qingyue, you come with me."

The three of them quickly entered the house.

Immediately, Lady Qianxue quickly drafted and wrote a "Letter of Divorce". After finishing, she gently blew away the ink fragrance, then took a deep breath and looked at Song Chen and said: "I know that my love is very deep, and my sister and I are also extremely reluctant to part, but the Empress will never share a husband with another woman. Even if the Empress agrees, the Great Yong will not agree."

Please, my lord, sign this divorce agreement. To the outside world, I will say it was a mutual agreement signed by both parties. Because of you, my sister and I have already obtained the wealth and honor we've ever dreamed of in this world. From now on, we will uphold the virtues of womanhood and remain faithful to you.

Song Chen looked at the newly drafted divorce agreement.

He knew that if he didn't want a divorce, no one would force him to do anything.

But at that time, all sorts of unexpected events will occur, in all sorts of strange ways, and may even bring death to the Pei sisters and the entire He family.

The moment he became a confidant of the people on the Turtle Platform and the husband of Empress Fengqing, those around him were placed in a high-risk position, a risk they could not bear.

Only by removing them can we ensure our safety.

He nodded, then raised his hand to cup Qingyue's face and said, "Go to the Strange Beast Street less often, and don't contact the people there. One or two demon dogs are enough. Be a rich lady. If you need anything, come find me."

Qingyue nodded through her tears.

Song Chen then looked at Madam Qianxue.

Madam Qianxue said, "Thank you, young master, for saving the Crane Manor from its impending doom and bringing it to such a high point. If you ever need my help in the future, my sister and I will certainly not refuse!"

Song Chen pushed open the door and went out.

Outside the door, the spring sunshine is just right.

a few days later.

An auspicious day.

The Empress and the Imperial City Temple have formed a marriage alliance.

Song Chen changed into the robes of the emperor's son-in-law.

The robe, with its dark blue border and vermilion trim, is embroidered with a four-toed cloud python. Overall, it is a dark blue python robe, which matches the Empress's blood-gold dragon robe quite well.

In terms of color, one is yin and the other yang, one is light and the other dark; in terms of pattern, the five-toed phoenix claw dragon just overshadows the four-toed cloud python, which also highlights the emperor's majesty.

Because they were still observing mourning for the late emperor, the marriage between the two was kept simple, with all the ceremonies and celebrations omitted, and all the people were forbidden from celebrating. Instead, it was simply a public announcement to the world that the empress had a son-in-law, who was a young high-ranking cultivator from the Imperial City Temple.

This news served as a stabilizing force, suppressing the unrest and anxiety in people's hearts.

And this is what the vast majority of officials and common people would like to see.

This marriage means that the two largest power institutions in the Great Yong Dynasty have been reunited, and everything will get back on track.

Into the night
Kunning Palace, which was nominally the Empress's palace, also became Song Chen's residence.

Empress Fengqing handled this marriage with the same attitude she would take towards politics.

But now, a problem has arisen.

There was no affection between them, and each had their own thoughts, yet they were forced to squeeze onto the same bed and consummate their marriage.

Empress Fengqing, with an icy and disdainful attitude, unceremoniously undressed and removed her robes. Then, looking at her husband on the other side, she asked, "Grand Scholar, do you expect me to undress you?"

Song Chen found this marriage strange.

He removed his python robe, leaving only his undergarments.

Both of them were only wearing their undergarments, and they sat together on the edge of the bed in the candlelight, neither of them moving.

Empress Fengqing said, "I have just ascended the throne and still need the protection of the Imperial City Temple. Logically, the Grand Secretary should be in charge. But I still have some ambition."

Song Chen said, "Then Your Majesty can be on top."

Empress Fengqing said, "Although you have some personal connections with me and my mother, don't forget that you now represent the Imperial City, while I represent imperial power. If I remain on the throne, it means..."

Before she could finish speaking, Song Chen pulled her into the bed.

"I"

"I!"

"You mustn't!"

"woooooo"

"Hmph! Watch me turn the tables."

"How are my methods?"

If a child were here and saw this scene, they would surely exclaim in alarm, "Oh no! His Majesty and his son-in-law are fighting!"

Because the two of them were really fighting.

Empress Fengqing is like a wild and ferocious clouded leopard. If you try to subdue such a clouded leopard, you will suffer its counterattack, its bites, and its claws.

In fact, Empress Fengqing was also tearing at Song Chen, her snow-white toes simultaneously scratching Song Chen's calves, thighs, and other parts of his body.

Like a starving clouded leopard seizing its prey, the prey struggles wildly while the leopard bites its neck and grabs its body, rolling on the ground with the prey, from top to bottom and then from bottom to top.

When the dust settles.

Song Chen felt as if he had just finished fighting a vicious and cunning enemy.

This enemy is a hundred times more ferocious than the Pei sisters combined.

Compared to such an enemy, the Pei sisters are like two little lambs.

Empress Fengqing lay on the couch, not snuggling into his arms.

Despite their closeness just now, she still gave off a distant feeling afterward. She turned her back to Song Chen, whose mood had calmed down from the madness, and he didn't take the initiative to approach her again.

Although the bedding still carried the faint scent of red plum blossoms, the two tacitly refrained from mentioning it again, nor did they discuss business.

Empress Fengqing said, "Grand Scholar, are you going to the Wenqu Hall tomorrow? Since the old scholar left, the hall has been empty. In addition, due to the riots that have occurred these days, many children of my royal family have been out of school for a long time."

Her body was still aching, and she still carried the scent of the man beside her, but her speech had returned to normal.

Song Chen said, "The Crown Prince's faction still has remnants. Jin State will probably take advantage of the chaos to make a move. There are also the two border vassal kings, the King of Chu and the King of Yan. They haven't even returned from the late emperor's funeral."

Empress Fengqing was silent for a moment, then smiled and said, "It's just that I can't come to accompany the Grand Scholar tonight, so the Grand Scholar will have to stay alone in his empty room."

Song Chen said, "Don't you need me to do anything?"

Empress Fengqing said, "As long as you are in the palace, the palace is safe, and so is my mother. As long as you are alive, I have the support of the Imperial City Temple. This is what I want you to do. More than what I want you to do, I must find ways to protect you."

After all, everyone knows you are the link between me and the Imperial City. If I destroy you, the Great Yong Dynasty will become even more unstable.

Song Chen said, "You may not quite understand the levels of the nine realms of Qi Gathering."

Empress Fengqing said, "I understand, but the Grand Scholar may not be aware of some of the agreements between the state and cultivators."

Cultivators are not allowed to directly assassinate the emperor; at most, they can act as assassins to kill cultivators or generals from other countries.

But nowadays, which country's general isn't a Qi Gathering Ninth Realm Grand Cultivator who failed to advance to Foundation Establishment?
Within the military camp, the general not only possesses his own strength but can also mobilize the killing intent of thousands of troops. A single strike from him is comparable to a Foundation Establishment Realm expert, making assassination extremely costly.

But what about you, Grand Secretary? You are not a general, and you are not in the military camp.

Song Chen had never heard anyone deliberately explain this before.

But now, after hearing what Empress Fengqing said, he understands.

The dragon's energy is important to everyone. If you assassinate my emperor, and I assassinate yours, and you overturn my table, and I overturn yours, then we can't play together anymore. It's not good for anyone. Therefore, cultivators have established this rule, prohibiting cultivators from directly assassinating the emperor, so as not to shake the foundation.

After a short while, the Empress's breathing became even.

Song Chen waited a moment longer before carefully taking out the jade slip containing the "Yellow Springs Scripture".

Under the illumination of the Karma Mirror, only a terrifyingly dazzling golden aura was generated, and not a trace of the past could be seen.

Song Chen put it away again.

In the past, he wouldn't have understood.

But now, he understands.

The "True Dragon Fate Formation" is an extremely advanced "spiritual defense force." To penetrate this force and see its karma, let alone a mere Qi Gathering Realm cultivator with a Karma Mirror, even a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator with a Karma Mirror might not be able to do so, because the "True Dragon Fate Formation" garment can remain unharmed even under the karmic fire of the illusory and real realms.

With the late emperor gone, the dragon energy had not dissipated much, and it began to gather towards the empress again, and even more would accumulate. This was something that the [Karma Mirror] could not reflect.

The next morning, Song Chen woke up in Kunning Palace, but before dawn, Empress Fengqing had already left in a hurry.

After Song Chen got up, palace maids came to help him wash up and get dressed, and then took away the precious bed sheets that were stained with red plum blossoms from yesterday.
Once everything was in order and the meal was finished, a petite and charming female official arrived from outside.

She stood in the morning breeze, bowed respectfully, and said, "This humble official is acting on His Majesty's orders and obeying the scholar's commands. If the scholar has any requests in the palace, he may inform you."

Song Chen looked at her with surprise.

This female official was extremely beautiful, with eyebrows like distant mountains, eyes like stars, a delicate nose, and a curvaceous body. Her beauty was the complete opposite of that of Empress Fengqing, who was cold and unapproachable, while this female official was as gentle as a white cloud that anyone could tear at will.

"What's your surname?" Song Chen suddenly asked.

The female official said, "Reporting to the scholar, my surname is Li, my given name is Youwei, and I also have royal blood in my veins."

My mother was a palace maid in the late emperor's palace, so she was of lowly status and was not granted a title by a princess.

Fortunately, His Majesty has shown her favor and appointed her as a lady-in-waiting, to manage His Majesty's documents and to attend to the Emperor's son-in-law's daily needs.

Song Chen looked at her thoughtfully.

He could already guess what the Empress was planning, as soon as they got married.

If there is no crown prince, the people will be uneasy.

What's more, the current ruler is an empress.

The fact that there was no female emperor before was unsettling.

Therefore, the Empress wanted to establish a crown prince as soon as possible. But she couldn't give birth herself, so she specially sent a beautiful woman from the royal family with no background to replace her? Once this woman gave birth to a child, the Empress would directly adopt him and issue a gag order to everyone, making the child her descendant.

At this moment, the female official lowered her head in a humble posture.

Song Chen said, "Let's go to the Wenqu Hall."

The female official hurriedly ran out.

Song Chen stopped her and said, "Don't call for the carriage, let's walk."

Although his status was similar to that of an empress, it was still too strange to actually have him sitting on that palanquin carried by several people, surrounded by eunuchs and palace maids.

In the Wenqu Hall, the old scholar became a junior scholar.

The Li family had a large number of royal offspring. During the reign of the late emperor, many descendants of various princes were sent to the palace. The late emperor said that it was to "let the descendants study together when they are still children so that they can develop a bond when they grow up." Whether there was any intention to send "hostages" among them is unknown.

This resulted in a large number of members of the royal family residing in the Wenqu Hall.

Among them were the King of Nanxiao, the King of Chu, and the King of Yan.

Of course, cultivators are ruthless, and so is the royal family.

Even if the Empress used the descendants of the Prince of Yan and the Prince of Chu to demand that the two princes come to the capital, they would not come, not even if she killed them.

Facing a room full of more than sixty members of the royal family, Song Chen picked up the book left behind by Jiu Lingzi and began to read it slowly.

As a ninth-realm cultivator, he naturally possessed an imposing aura, and his understanding of intent allowed him to interpret the words and phrases in books with his own unique perspective, enabling him to easily answer questions from students.

He claims to be teaching students, but he is not the only teacher among them.

He taught for half a day.

Half a day later, the royal descendants went to learn archery and horsemanship.

During this time, all the concubines of the late emperor that Song Chen had seen when he first arrived were gone. These young concubines did not dare to interact much with this Grand Scholar.

The smell of blood on the Empress's blood-gold dragon robe had not yet dissipated. Even though the Empress Dowager had no designs on Song Chen, no one dared to stand under the precarious wall or approach the Empress's husband, lest they lose their heads by accident.

In the afternoon, Song Chen had some free time.

Only two people remained in the vast Wenqu Hall.

Lady Youwei was boiling water to make tea for Song Chen in the courtyard of Wenqu Hall.

She watched intently as the tea boiled.

Butterflies fluttered down onto her clothes, then flew away again, dancing around her as if she were more fragrant and beautiful than any flower.

The tea was ready shortly afterward.

Lady Youwei carefully placed the teacup on the tea boat with the floral pattern, and served it with some afternoon tea snacks that the Imperial Kitchen had just baked for the Emperor's son-in-law, served on the same porcelain plate. The whole thing was placed on a lacquered tray, and then she carefully went to the Wenqu Hall and nervously knocked on the door.

"Grand Scholar." She tried her best to keep her voice calm.

no respond.

咚咚
She tapped it again.

Still no response.

Lady Youwei was stunned for a moment. She maintained her lifting posture and waited in place for a good half incense stick's time before curiously looking inside through the crack in the window of the Wenqu Hall.

The hall was dimly lit and appeared to be empty.

She placed the tray down and peered inside through the window from different angles.

She finally confirmed that Grand Scholar Song was not in the room.
An indescribable fear and awe arose in her heart.

She had realized that Grand Scholar Song was like a devil to her, yet also like a god.

She gripped the silk fabric of her skirt tightly with both hands, her petite body trembling, yet she murmured to herself, "I can do it, I can definitely do it."

As for Song Chen, since his superiors all knew that he possessed the "Yellow Springs Scripture" and could create ghost realms, he didn't stand on ceremony and used it openly in the Wenqu Hall.

He summoned the Yellow Springs, sank into the White Wraith Ghost Realm, and placed the "Black Yama Edicts, which had been largely consumed in the process of breaking through the Little Dream Ghost Realm," into the Time Treasure Box.

He hesitated a bit when he put it down.

He hoped that the Time Capsule would only restore the Black Yama Edict, but not the time when the Black Yama Edict "still had Crane Ancestor's name written on it".

However, he soon felt a kind of unseen control.

He can control the nodes that go back in time.

All he needs to do is hold the treasure box of time and convey his "intentions" into it.

This method of transmission had already been taught to him by the people on the Turtle Platform in the jade slip containing the [Substitute Puppet].

Song Chen tried it cautiously.

Almost instantly, the Black Yama Edict was completely restored.

A sense of joy rose in his heart.

From now on, any treasure with a limited number of uses, or any treasure that is subject to great wear and tear, will be a good treasure to him.

With the intact Black Yama Edict, Song Chen felt even more secure.

After all, if things go wrong, he can use the Yellow Spring Escape technique to escape faster than a rabbit.

He then took out one of the four maps he had previously obtained in the "Niangniang Temple Secret Realm".

He first took out the "mysterious bridge map," after all, he felt that the "teleportation" of the Niangniang Temple was really fast, much faster than the Yellow Spring Escape.

After most of the day had passed, he had grasped another key point.

This is the limit of his energy.

The next day, Song Chen grasped a glimpse of the meaning.

Eighteen days later, he completed his comprehension of the "mysterious bridge map".

Clearly, "twenty" is both the construction requirement of the Five Meanings Pagoda and the limit of the meaning that such a picture can provide.

The twenty lines of meaning caused a slight qualitative change in his "bridge map shifting" meaning. Originally, the "shifting" meaning could only be used on the enemy during combat to cause the enemy's spells to deviate, but now Song Chen can use it on himself.

As long as he imbues himself with the meaning of "bridge diagram", when he takes a step, it's as if he's crossed a bridge and arrived at the other side directly. This can be described in a simple and easy-to-understand way: teleportation.

Each teleportation only allows for a few feet of movement, but it truly is a teleportation.

Song Chen was quite satisfied with his ability to run faster.

As for why the intention could produce such an effect, Song Chen, after receiving guidance from the people on the Turtle Platform, could understand.
This "meaning" comes from the person who drew the picture in the past, and it has been imbued with a bit of that person's supernatural power, so naturally it can bring blessings to others from the inside out.

Of course, he was also very clever.

Because when a person dies, their will dissipates.

Such a diagram is only useful if the person who drew it is still alive and powerful.

However, the "Mysterious Bridge Map" had long been in ruins, which foreshadowed that the mapmaker might have met with misfortune. Even if he understood the map, he could not possibly comprehend its "meaning." But the [Treasure Box of Time] changed everything.

He was able to grasp some meanings that "no longer exist".

Today, at dusk.

Song Chen pushed open the door of the Wenqu Hall once again. He had thoroughly comprehended the "Bridge Diagram". This peaceful cultivation environment made him feel very comfortable. He was in a good mood. He walked into the courtyard, grabbed the snacks prepared by Lady Youwei, ate them comfortably, and then drank some tea.

He can appreciate the finer details in pastries and tea.

To ensure that this "emperor's son-in-law" could enjoy these delicacies, Lady Youwei and even the Imperial Kitchen had put a great deal of effort into preparing them.

Song Chen stretched and said, "Let's go back to the palace."

Ms. Youwei hurriedly walked to his side and followed cautiously. During this time, she tried hard to raise her head and say a few words to the man beside her, but she just couldn't bring herself to do it.

Upon arriving at Kunning Palace, Lady Youwei whispered, "Scholar, His Majesty said she needs to go out for the next few days and won't be returning."

Song Chen responded.

His marriage to the Empress felt really strange; this strong sense of self-interest was even more pronounced than that of the Pei sisters.

The two of them slept on the couch, and even when they engaged in marital relations, it was as if they were performing a ritual.

For an ordinary woman, her husband and even her family occupy a large part, or even the whole, of her heart, but for the Empress, these things are probably just casually piled up in a corner.

The Empress is first and foremost an empress, and only then a woman.

Or rather, whether she is a woman or not is actually not important.

Those who sit in that position and still desire wisdom are destined to be ruthless, ruthless, and ruthless again.

夜晚
Song Chen lay alone on the couch.

A rustling sound came from the window.

It's raining.

Spring rain.

In the spring rain, peach blossoms bloom, and all kinds of flowers bloom. The night breeze carries the fragrance of exotic flowers and herbs, along with the moist scent of earth, through the cracks in the windows and doors of Kunning Palace.
Suddenly, Song Chen heard footsteps that were trying to sound calm but were actually quite nervous.

He knew immediately that it was Lady Youwei.

The petite young woman arrived at the door, took a deep breath, and then entered the hall, calling out, "Scholar?"

Song Chen turned his head to look at her.

But she was only wearing a thin silk apricot-patterned cloak.

Seemingly sensing his gaze, Lady Youwei loosened her grip, and the apricot-blossom cloak slipped off her alabaster-white body. Like a little lamb, cold and frightened in the dead of night, she said in an almost tearful, pleading tone, "It is His Majesty's decree."

He remained silent upon seeing Song Chen.

She cried out again, "Please!"

Song Chen looked at her quietly.

He had already used the Karma Mirror to learn about the past of this young lady, Youwei, who had royal blood but had not become a princess.

Let me put it this way: this young lady has a very tragic past. Her mother, a palace maid, was imprisoned somewhere and died suddenly.

She was originally intended to be sent to the State of Jin for a marriage alliance because of her appearance. However, the war between Dayong and Beiwu had just begun. Although Dayong won a great victory, it also suffered a significant loss of national strength. Naturally, they had to take action against the State of Jin, which was eyeing them covetously.

Arranged marriage is one of them.

The young lady's marriage partner had already been chosen: the Kangtai King of the Great Jin Dynasty, an old vassal king who was already over sixty years old.

This prince was a smooth talker and had served as an envoy from the Great Jin to the Great Yong, and had taken a liking to this princess.

The late emperor saw this and, after the war against the Northern Witches, secretly sent envoys to communicate. The Kangtai King agreed to the marriage alliance and promised to convey the goodwill of Dayong to the Jin King, saying that "Dayong's conquest of the Northern Witches was not to expand its territory, but to avenge the humiliation of the past and the rebellion of the Northern Witches thirty years ago."

Actually, the person was almost there.

The matter of Jintao Mountain was a distraction, and then the change of imperial power occurred.

After Empress Fengqing ascended the throne, upon seeing the young lady Youwei, whom she was about to send away, she found her appearance quite appealing and changed her mind. She then bestowed upon her the official position of female historian, allowing her to serve the emperor's son-in-law and bear him children.

If she fails, the young lady will continue her original duties and be sent back to the Great Jin Dynasty to marry the Prince of Kangtai. As for her fate, it's obvious that it will be extremely tragic.

Note: The name of the realm has been slightly modified. The original "Qi Master Realm" has been changed to "Foundation Building Realm". This realm does indeed mean building a foundation in the karmic fire and establishing a foothold in the realm between the real and the illusory.

(End of this chapter)