In the imperial capital, inside the grand palace hall.
State Preceptor Guo Rong looked at the court officials who had stepped forward to advise. His brow furrowed deeper, a trace of deep thought flashing in his eyes.
These people had been acting far too strangely lately.
He was not close with Grand Tutor Xu Nan, who also sneered at the Five Minerals Powder that everyone else in the capital clamored for. Thus, it made sense that the Grand Tutor would suddenly oppose him in open court.
What was bizarre, however, was the Vice Minister of Rites. Just half a month ago, the man had sent a calling card to his estate, shamelessly begging him to sell him more Five Minerals Powder. Yet today, he had actually stood up to offend him.
And it wasn't just the Vice Minister of Rites. Recently, the number of people in the capital seeking to buy Five Minerals Powder from him had dropped by more than half. Even when he sent his men to deliver the powder directly to their estates, they returned it to the State Preceptor's manor completely untouched. It was as if those days when everyone cried and begged him for Five Minerals Powder had been nothing but a dream.
“Grand Tutor Xu,” the State Preceptor's voice was not loud, but it instantly silenced the entire hall. He turned his head and stared at the Grand Tutor.
“May I ask, Grand Tutor, why are you so agitated? Do you believe the Divine Lady is unworthy of becoming the Empress of Great Yong, or do you believe His Majesty is unworthy of marrying the Divine Lady?”
Hearing this, the Grand Tutor shuddered violently.
This question put him directly on the hot seat.
Of course he could not say the current Son of Heaven was unworthy.
Even though the north was no longer under the control of the Great Yong court, the capital was still under the Emperor's feet. If he dared say the Emperor was unworthy in open court, his entire family would face execution to the ninth generation.
But to say the Divine Lady was unworthy... he dared do that even less.
The sight of Zhang Xun and the others being tortured in the Eighteen Levels of Hell, along with the bone-deep pressure of the Divine Lady sitting high upon her throne, was still fresh in his memory.
“State Preceptor,” he began with great difficulty, “the Divine Lady of the north is not an existence we mere mortals can casually discuss. If we anger the Divine Lady, I fear a heavenly punishment will rain down upon Great Yong!”
“The Grand Tutor is correct! Your Majesty, please reconsider!”
The court officials who had witnessed the horrors of Avici Hell all stepped forward, urging the Child Emperor on the dragon throne.
“The Divine Lady of the north is a true deity descended to the mortal realm. If Your Majesty rashly proposes marriage, it would be a blasphemy against the divine...”
“What you ministers say is...” Before the Child Emperor could finish, a single look from the State Preceptor frightened him so badly that he immediately changed his tune. “We feel that what the State Preceptor... what he just said is not without reason. If... if We could... propose marriage to the Divine Lady and make her Our Empress, it would be a blessing for the common people of the world...”
His voice grew stuttery. It took a massive effort just to squeeze out a complete sentence. He did not dare make eye contact with the State Preceptor below, clearly terrified of him.
“State Preceptor, in... in your opinion, which minister should We... We dispatch to Zhenbei Prefecture to... to propose to the Divine Lady?”
Upon hearing this, the Grand Tutor and the others turned pale, realizing that disaster was imminent. For a fleeting moment, they even considered simply stripping off their official caps and retiring to their hometowns. After all, losing their positions and wealth was a minor matter compared to losing their lives.
Wait, retiring to their hometowns?
“Your Majesty, cough, cough...” The Grand Tutor, who had spoken with full vigor just moments ago, began to cough violently. “This old minister... cough... is of advanced age. I beg Your Majesty to allow me to retire to my hometown and spend my remaining years in peace.”
“Grand Tutor, you...” The Child Emperor's hands clenched unconsciously on his knees. Just as he was about to speak, several more officials suddenly knelt in unison below.
“Your Majesty, this minister wishes to become a monk, to spend my days accompanying the green lamps and ancient Buddhas, praying for Your Majesty and the people of Great Yong...”
“Your Majesty, this minister's elderly mother passed away a few days ago. I must return to my hometown to observe three years of filial mourning...”
“Your Majesty, this minister also begs to resign...”
The excuses for resignation were varied and creative.
Their earnest tones and desperate eyes made it seem as though forcing them to remain in office would be their undoing.
The Child Emperor: “...”
The State Preceptor: “...”
The other clueless court officials: “...”
After contemplating for a moment, the State Preceptor asked, “Grand Tutor Xu, why are you all resigning so suddenly?”
“Alas, I am old and useless.” The Grand Tutor sighed and shook his head, tears streaming down his face. “Were it not for my failing health, this old minister would surely remain in court to share Your Majesty's burdens!”
“Your Majesty, since the Grand Tutor and the others have made up their minds, why not grant their requests to resign?” the State Preceptor said.
He did not care about their resignations. In any case, it would not affect his position as State Preceptor.
There was no shortage of people who wanted to be officials. Their departures would simply free up vacant posts for him to fill with his own trusted subordinates.
Furthermore, he could sell these official positions for money.
Now that no one was buying his Five Minerals Powder, he had to find other ways to make money.
As for the Divine Lady of the north, the Grand Tutor and his lot were muddled fools who believed any rumor they heard, but he was no fool.
The world was full of charlatans playing god. Hadn't Luo Daoqing become State Preceptor by putting on a mystical act? Even he himself had succeeded Luo Daoqing by using the exact same tricks.
However, Luo Daoqing's defeat at Xindu City proved that the Divine Lady's theatrical skills far surpassed his.
It was still best to avoid direct conflict with her.
Watching the Grand Tutor and the others depart one after another, the remaining court officials covered their mouths with their tablets and whispered among themselves.
“To think the Grand Tutor and the others would actually believe those absurd rumors from the north and view that woman as a true goddess, even going so far as to resign over it. Have they been possessed?”
“It certainly looks that way...”
The State Preceptor stepped forward. “Your Majesty, why not have the Marquis of Ningyuan travel to Zhenbei Prefecture to facilitate this joyous union?”
Everyone instinctively looked toward the Marquis of Ningyuan. Many quick-witted officials immediately saw through the State Preceptor's sinister intentions.
Who didn't know that the Marquis of Ningyuan's two sons were now followers of the Divine Lady? Sending him to arrange a marriage between the Divine Lady and the Emperor meant that regardless of whether he succeeded or failed, he would gain no benefit.
If he succeeded, his sons' efforts would only benefit the Great Yong court.
If he failed, he would be held responsible for his incompetence and face severe consequences.
Seeing this, Yun Shu turned off the system monitor.
“Host, they really have some nerve! They actually want you, the Divine Lady, to marry that puppet Child Emperor!” The little fox huffed indignantly. “If I had even half their confidence in the past, I would never have felt so insecure!”
Yun Shu patted the little fox's head. “My sphere of activity has always been in the north. Most people in the south probably don't believe in me.”
The little fox said impatiently, “Host, why don't you just put on the Sword Sovereign of the Nine Heavens set, fly straight to the Great Yong imperial palace, and use your sword to flatten all the wrinkles in their brains!”
“No rush. One step at a time.” Yun Shu raised her hand, and a beautiful White Jade Lily of the Valley appeared in her palm. “I have other things to attend to. Deliver this to Shen Yu to prevent any mishaps.”
The skill of the White Jade Lily of the Valley was to bring good fortune to people. Giving it to Shen Yu would allow the road construction to yield twice the results with half the effort.
Obediently taking the White Jade Lily of the Valley in its mouth, the little fox slipped into Shen Yu's carriage and placed it in his hand.
Shen Yu was slightly taken aback. Looking down at the White Jade Lily of the Valley that had appeared out of thin air in his hand, he asked tentatively, “Divine Lady, is that you?”
Even after a long while, he received no response.
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