Daoist Master of Qing Xuan

Zhao Xun recovered quickly as he was still the emperor. To date, he had been through a lot more than what a commoner could have experienced in three generations. Furthermore, in terms of calmness, he was not below cultivators.

He stroke the golden sleeves of his golden dragon robe to calm himself down. He put down the teacup and spoke softly, “How so?”

Shen Lian saw his reaction, while he had known him for a long time, he still felt that he was admirable. Even though he was the emperor, he did not have the cruelty emperor carried, at the same time he was determined and calm. If he pursued cultivation, he could be successful. It was no wonder that why the Empress was willing to pass on her throne to him.

After the Empress fought with Zhao Xiaoyu, she was severely injured and hence could no longer borrow Qi of dragon and wishes of the masses to cultivate. It then became a heavy burden to her and hence she just followed the flow and retired. If not, in her ways, just a mere Prime Minister would not be able to move her.

Zhao Xun was steadier. Even after succeeding the throne, he did not act callously to clear the rebellions, but he allowed the Prime Minister to retire. To others, he seemed cold and heartless, but he actually protected him. While it seemed a meritorious service to dethrone the existing and brought in the new emperor, such a person usually did not end well.

Shen Lian smiled, “Since Your Highness began to manage the political affairs, your sister, Princess Yingyang had helped a lot. If not because of her who got rid of your mother’s old followers, I am afraid you won’t sit in your seat so comfortably. However, I think your sister will lead about half of the imperial court in the future.”

Zhao Xun knew what Shen Lian said was true. While he managed to resume the calmness without a purge of the old governors, but it also led the imperial court to be split into two groups, one half was led by the Prince and the other have was led by Princess Yingyang.

Shen Lian changed the tone, “I suppose Your Highness is thinking that the sister will help you balance the situation in the imperial court.”

Zhao Xun said, “Qingxia, I know you are out of this world and are rather otherworldly, and hence you have the insight towards this. I am in the midst of it and hence I can’t see it clearly. You can just be direct with me.”

Shen Lian replied, “I will be direct then. You are the emperor but this is not your fate. Your sister has power, but she is just the stepping stone to the Crown Prince. If the Crown Prince decides to kill your sister, what will you do?”

Zhao Xun had thought about it, but since birth, he had had enough of the slaughter within the family. He did not want to think about it and he was not willing to consider the possibility.

Others would be mad at Shen Lian’s frankness, but as Shen Lian was in the rank of celestials, even if his order could command a city to be besieged, or for many to be killed, or even move mountain and river, at such distance, he could do nothing to Shen Lian. He then could understand what his mother was chasing after, as there were emperors, but there were also cultivators who went against the world’s principles.

There were always this bunch of people who were not restricted by the emperors. Even if it was the palace, they could just come and go at their will.

Zhao Xun said, “I can’t stop this from happening, just like I can’t stop you from being here.”

Shen Lian was extremely smart as he understood that Zhao Xun was still an emperor and had the desire to be in control of everything. It was not unlike other emperors.

Shen Lian spoke lightly, “If Your Highness is aware of it, then please note that it will be your death when this happens. You are not your mother who can be Taishang Huang.”

Zhao Xun said, “Mister, this is enough. If you want the imperial seal from me, it is as easy as that. The reason why you’re saying so much is to get permission and make use of the imperial seal to do what only you lot can do. Zhen will agree.”

Shen Lian took out a piece of jade from his sleeves and said, “If and when emperor faces any difficulties, you can take this out and call my name.”

Zhao Xun accepted it and said, “Nothing else?”

Shen Lian smiled and said, “As long as you are sincere in your promise to lend your imperial seal to me.”

After he finished, he then disappeared and the pavilion was gone. Zhao Xun felt a light breeze and when he opened his eyes, it was his close servant, “Emperor, you’re awake.”

He was at his desk, and it seemed that he fell asleep on it.

When he saw the jade in his hand, it was apparent that he got it from Shen Lian, and then he knew it was not just a dream.

He said nothing and he ordered his servant to leave the room. He opened the box where he kept the imperial seal and it was empty. There was only a note that said, “I will return what I owe you.”

The feeling of being bothered then disappeared.

To him, whether the imperial seal was real or not did matter. It would not be an issue even if he made a fake one. As he thought about what Shen Lian said in the dream, to use the imperial seal to suppress a real dragon, it did not seem to be a lie. He had some longing towards it.

Shui Liang Hall in the Daming Palace had always been the Empress’ residence even after her dethroning, first of all, it was serenity, second of all she did not want to be bothered by the external affairs, Daming Palace was quiet and rarely visited by any.

The Empress saw that there was a Buddhist scripture on her table, along with a piece of paper. It was made of the bark of rosewood. With its natural vein lines, not even the top calligraphers would use such a paper to write as it was too precious. To be able to write in such a way that matched the vein lines was not easy and one would only do it if he was at his peak.

Someone indeed wrote one, and on top of it was a Buddhist passage.

“There is an unlimited number of techniques in the world, it would be difficult even if one were to experience all the misfortune. Today I had the opportunity to be taught, and I hoped I could grasp the true meaning of Rulai.”

A young looking cultivator was sitting in front of the Empress, it was Shen Lian.

When the two’s eyes met, it felt that the air in the room went through a ripple. It was going up and down in the void, and it was also akin to two top swordsmen, discussing Dao.

She kept her glance, and the Empress said, “There isn’t any other Buddhist passage that I like more than this. It is great and I like it a lot.”

“I haven’t seen you in many years. Empress, you seem to gain new perspectives,” Shen Lian smiled.

The Buddhist passage was written by Wu Zetian, who shared a similar experience with the Empress. Both took the position of the emperor as a woman and they were not any worse than men.

“If not because of you, I won’t live until today. I always say that I will repay you, and it is still valid now.”

Shen Lian said, “I didn’t need your help then, but now I do. I hope you can find a way for me.”

The Empress squinted her eyes and asked, “What does that mean?”

“You can enjoy the wishes of the masses for as wide as thirty thousand miles. By unifying the Water Clan and becoming the River Deity, you can be immortal. Will you be interested?” While Shen Lian delivered this in a calm way, they were all shocking facts.

The smoke began to rise at the corner, and not even the breeze that came along could blow it away.