When Nan Zhi entered Bianjing again, the scene upon the Bian Canal remained as it always was. The city's wards and markets were at the height of their prosperity, a vibrant tapestry of life.
It was as if the ghost disaster of a few days ago had never even occurred.
“Roasted yellow chestnuts! Freshly roasted white sesame! New tea made from Jiangnan olives, pits and all! To drink a warm cup of this in the autumn moonlight—would that not be pure bliss?”
“Come one, come all! See the Ding porcelain and Zhejiang lacquerware from the south! We have freshly arrived Jianzhou tea and longans from Fuzhou!”
“Step inside and take a look!”
“New designs at the gold and silver shop! The ‘Thousand Autumns and Hundred Blessings’ purple swallow and circular bat pattern! We have dressing cases, hairpins, gold crowns, silver rings, and even armlets styled after those worn by the immortals of the Demon Suppression Division!”
“Fatty skin, roasted pepper mutton, mutton-fat leek cakes, pickled mutton trotters, pickled crabs! We also have freshly arrived Jiangyin pufferfish and Linjiang yellow sparrows!”
The streets were filled with boys hawking sweets, flower girls on boats, and refined guests sipping tea or wine in the private rooms of tea houses. Porters carried sedans across the bridges, within which sat gorgeously adorned courtesan leaders clutching their pipas.
There were peddlers with firewood on their backs hurrying along the walls, wine-selling women at street stalls, and families escorting coffins out of the city for burial to the sound of flutes and drums...
Life and death were separated by only a thin layer of wood.
Bitterness and joy were nothing more than a fleeting century of time.
In the Plum Garden of Wanshou Garden, Nan Zhi met the woman who was the true power behind the Demon Suppression Division: the current Empress, Cao Lingshou.
Empress Cao was not exceptionally beautiful. She did not seem to have taken any beauty-retaining pills, appearing to be in her late thirties or early forties with slight wrinkles at the corners of her eyes. However, her expression was gentle, her palace robes exuded a regal grace, and her eyes held a warmth that seemed capable of embracing the entire world.
Just looking at her made one think of the vast, boundless sea.
Empress Cao herself was not very well-known in history, though her brother was legendary. It was said he had been enlightened by Lü Dongbin and became State Uncle Cao, one of the Eight Immortals.
Empress Cao hailed from the Cao clan of Zhending. Her first husband, Li Zhi, had been obsessed with seeking the Dao and had climbed over the wall to become a priest on their wedding night.
Unexpectedly, rumors spread that Li Zhi had entered the priesthood because Empress Cao was too ugly. Consequently, the ministers believed her "appearance is too plain to bewitch the Emperor" and unanimously recommended her to become the Empress of Renzong.
While Nan Zhi did not know Empress Cao’s life story in this game world, she felt that for a mortal woman to take over the Demon Suppression Division, uphold the ancient pact of the Shenlong Empress, and restrain the immortal sects from expanding endlessly into the mortal realm—
To judge her solely by her looks would be an insult.
“Are your injuries feeling any better?”
Empress Cao was very cordial upon seeing Nan Zhi, quickly pulling her to sit by her side and ordering servants to bring seasonal fruit tea and snacks.
“Try these. They are made from the palace's new wheat harvest this year, finely sifted several times and steamed into pancakes with maltose. They are also infused with a fragrant dew made from yellow apricots and roses. Daizi... A-Zi usually loves these the most.
She told me that during the disturbance on the Yin Yang Road, had you not sacrificed yourself to stop Huiyuan from refining the Witch Coffin, the Great Song would have been plunged into misery.”
As she spoke, a section of wisteria branch planted in a pot nearby swayed. A small purple flower at its tip bloomed in the breeze, looking exceptionally spirited.
Even turning into a vine couldn't stop that girl from acting cute.
Also, how exactly do you two communicate?
Nan Zhi: “...”
Ever since she entered Bianjing, the wisteria that had been hanging obediently at her waist had sprouted legs and run off. It turned out she had run here to Empress Cao.
“It was only my duty. Huiyuan committed many evils and tried to defy the heavens. Qinglong sought longevity at the cost of lives; this was his inevitable calamity.
I am not a foolish person. I know that if not for Your Majesty and Abbess Miaoyun, the matter of Qinglong’s death would not have been settled so easily.”
Nan Zhi was not sure why the Empress had summoned her, but she had a faint guess.
The ruins of the former Demon Suppression Monastery had been turned into a Thunder-Blighted Land by the nine heavenly lightning strikes.
Half a month ago, the Northwest Circuit Demon Suppression Monastery had been taken over by members of the Demon Suppression Division. Demon suppressors from the three neighboring circuits were stationed there to investigate old cases and thoroughly search the Northwest Circuit for victims who had suffered due to Qinglong’s crimes.
The Qingjing Sect’s flying ship had hovered near Dingyuan for seven days before suddenly vanishing one day, leaving the people of the Northwest Circuit gossiping.
She estimated there must have been some kind of exchange of interests between the Demon Suppression Division and the Qingjing Sect. She just didn't know what role a small pawn like herself played in it.
“You are young, yet you think quite a lot,” Empress Cao said with a playful, reproachful look. She smiled.
“Do not worry. The Qingjing Sect is the one in the wrong this time. Qinglong’s perverse actions invited the heavenly tribulation; he brought it upon himself.
The Qingjing Sect may be overbearing, but this is the mortal realm, and they are restricted by the ancient pact. Even they do not dare to act recklessly.
The site of the Northwest Circuit Demon Suppression Monastery has become a Thunder-Blighted Land and is now under the control of the Demon Suppression Division. As for the victims of the Qinglong case, Lord Bao of the Kaifeng Prefecture has already taken charge. Once everything is settled, the Qingjing Sect will naturally have to provide an explanation to the Great Song and the Demon Suppression Division.
As for you, little girl, with Senior Sister Miaoyun mediating and the fact that you represent our Demon Suppression Division, the people of the Qingjing Sect dare not do anything to you.”
“Then I can rest easy.”
Nan Zhi put on a look of relief and said with a long face, “Huiyuan and Qinglong were truly detestable. One framed me for refining an evil treasure, and the other plotted to snatch my soul. If I hadn't accidentally broken the Two-Form Inversion Formation that day, I would probably be dead in that monastery by now.”
“I know you have suffered. You won't be walking away from this empty-handed.”
Empress Cao smiled. Two palace maids holding wooden trays stepped forward, presenting two storage bags.
“The first is an apology gift from the Qingjing Sect. Inside are five hundred mid-grade spirit stones, three pieces of top-grade Lightning Struck Spirit Marrow, ten pieces of low-grade Lightning Struck Spirit Marrow, three hundred Origin-Restoring Pills, three hundred Spirit-Absorbing Pills, one hundred top-grade talismans, three hundred mid-grade talismans, and five hundred low-grade talismans. There is also a sword formation set and an entry token for the Miaoling Secret Realm in the Ten Directions Mountains.”
An unexpected surprise.
This was absolutely an unexpected surprise.
Nan Zhi didn't let it show on her face, but the little person inside her heart could barely contain her joy.
She had thought that secretly keeping Qinglong’s personal storage bag was enough to be happy about, but who knew there would be such a bonus?!
As if fearing Nan Zhi wouldn't understand, Empress Cao specifically added:
“The apology gift is decent enough, but the most precious item is that entry token for the Miaoling Secret Realm, which Senior Sister Miaoyun requested for you.
The Ten Directions Mountains are located in the Northern Seven Islands, within an ancient secret realm from the Great War of Witches and Demons. There is a wondrous place within it containing countless dharma treasures and life-bound swords. It is where the Foundation Establishment disciples of various sects go to seek their swords and treasures.
This secret realm opens once every ten years. Since you have already reached Foundation Establishment, if you have the heart to pursue the immortal path, you can take this token and go. You might even find a suitable life-bound treasure for yourself.”
“Thank you for the explanation, Your Majesty.”
Nan Zhi nodded. She felt even more grateful to Abbess Miaoyun, but she also felt a bit of doubt.
Why would the other party be so good to her for no reason?
“Senior Sister Miaoyun cultivates the Buddhist path. Once she attained enlightenment years ago, she shed her silken robes and entered the priesthood. Sometimes even I do not know what she is thinking.”
Empress Cao saw Nan Zhi’s confusion and shook her head with a smile.
“Perhaps Senior Sister Miaoyun saw that you carry a great destiny and could save many lives. The Buddhist dharma is profound; it is difficult for us to fathom.”
Nan Zhi suddenly realized something.
If, as Qinglong said, Miaoyun was the Empress Dowager Liu from the legend of the Civet Cat for Crown Prince mystery, then by seniority, wouldn't Empress Cao be Miaoyun’s...
Daughter-in-law.
Mother-in-law and daughter-in-law becoming fellow Daoists.
They truly are cultivators of the Dao.
So, this really isn't the Great Song she was familiar with.
Rate on N.U.
