The emperors of past generations all vied for fame!
Take Emperor Wuzong, for example. When he reclaimed the thirty-six northern provinces, his name was etched into history, becoming a source of pride for his lineage.
Li Miao not only wanted his name to be recorded in history, but he also wanted to leave a mark in the cultivation world, earning the reverence of billions.
âAlright, letâs do as the Immortal Master says!â
After only a moment of hesitation, Li Miao made his decision.
As he watched the mist surrounding the Immortal Master dissipate, he comforted himself in his heart, thinking, âOnce I achieve great success, the entire cultivation world will belong to the Tang Dynasty. By then, they should be grateful to me, grateful for the prosperous era I will have created for their descendants!â
But he never consideredâwould those people even have descendants left?
In the imperial palace, at the Zhanxian Tower.
Wei Jiuxian walked alone to the gate, only to be stopped by guards.
âWei Protector, Lord Nanshan has instructed you to go directly to the southern city wall. Thereâs no need to come to the Zhanxian Tower anymore!â
The two guards at the gate were new faces.
Wei Jiuxian, his body hunched, didnât argue. He turned to leave, but before he did, he paused and, without turning his head, said calmly, âTell Nanshan not to damage my chessboard!â
After that, he left directly.
In the southern city.
At the division of the Zhanxian Guards.
âCommander, are you just going to let that scoundrel Nanshan do whatever he pleases? Heâs actually sending me to Shanhai County to oversee the refugees from the Jiang Kingdom. If I leave, Taiâan City will truly be under his control!â
Chang Fengâs face was full of frustration.
As the second-in-command of the Zhanxian Tower, he had always only followed Wei Jiuxianâs orders. Now that Nanshan was in charge, it was hard for him to accept.
Moreover, sending him to Shanhai County was clearly a move to sideline Wei Jiuxian.
Wei Jiuxian, with a calm demeanor, poured a cup of tea and pushed it towards Chang Feng, saying nonchalantly, âThen you should go to Shanhai County.â
âButâŚâ Chang Feng hesitated, but when he saw Wei Jiuxianâs relaxed expression, he seemed to understand something. Lowering his voice, he said, âCommanderâŚâ
âMy arrangements are not to be questioned. Even if you guess the plan, do not speak of it. Just do as instructed!â Wei Jiuxian handed a brocade pouch to Chang Feng.
After receiving the pouch, Chang Feng nodded heavily. He had always trusted the commanderâs strategies. After finishing his tea, he accepted the order and left.
It was only after returning to his residence that he opened the brocade pouch.
Inside was just a short line of words, but after reading them, he was left utterly puzzled.
âChen YuanâŚâ
He casually crumpled the paper, closing his eyes in contemplation.
Many things had happened in the court today, creating an air of uncertainty that even permeated the city.
That night.
At the Zhanxian Tower.
The powerful members of the Chiyang Sect, who had been captured by Wei Jiuxian, were released, though they no longer possessed the immortal fortunes they had brought with them.
There was no need to askâWei Jiuxian had taken those.
âTonight, the northern gate will be left open for you. Follow this route to leave the city. Once youâre outside, someone will guide you!â Nanshan, sitting on a rattan chair, waved his hand dismissively. âGo now!â
âŚ
At the Princessâs Mansion.
Tonight, the halls were filled with esteemed guests, the atmosphere bright and vibrant!
Chen Yuan was about to be appointed as the Inspector, heading to the nine southeastern counties.
This was an imperial envoy, essentially a promotion. Upon his return, he would likely be elevated at least two ranks. Moreover, heading to Mangshan County, Chen Yuan would hold substantial regional power as a high-ranking official.
Naturally, many came to offer their congratulations and bid him farewell.
Tonight, Chen Yuan truly experienced the glory of being surrounded by esteemed guests.
Some were friends, while others were colleagues or superiors.
For example, some of the officials from the Six Ministries held positions higher than his, which showed how much face they were giving him.
The banquet lasted until late at night. Chen Yuan, slightly tipsy, saw the guests off one by one at the door. Of course, he did not involve the princess in this task.
After all, she was of noble birth.
Moreover, the relationship between Chen Yuan and the princess was more like a partnership; they didnât interfere with each otherâs affairs, and each took care of themselves.
After the guests were gone, Chen Yuan let out a long breath, the smile on his face fading away as he walked alone towards his study.
He usually stayed in the East Courtyard, while the princess resided in the West Courtyard. They each had their own separate areas of activity.
In the West Courtyard, there were many small courtyards where male companions were kept, as well as some pavilions for entertainment, making it a lively place.
The East Courtyard was much simpler, with only a small bamboo grove and a few scattered courtyards.
Within the bamboo grove stood a pavilion, which was Chen Yuanâs study. This place was his sanctuary, and he had ordered the servants not to enter.
Familiar with the path, he pushed open the door, but his brows furrowed.
Someone was sitting in the main seat of his study.
The figure was shrouded in darkness, making it difficult to see their face.
However, Chen Yuan recognized the person at a glance. Either they were too familiar, or this person had left a deep impression on him.
âWhat are you doing here?â Chen Yuanâs tone was laced with impatience.
Seeing this person made his heart feel uneasy.
The shadowed figure scoffed, mocking him, âNow that youâve become a prince consort, have you forgotten your old brother?â
âHmph, donât pretend to be close to me. We settled our scores long ago. If thereâs nothing important, get lost!â
âTsk tsk, how heartless!â The figure in the shadows shook their head, then cut straight to the point, âIâm here on orders. Thereâs something I need your help with.â
Upon hearing that they were on orders, Chen Yuanâs frown deepened. He turned to close the door and lowered his voice, âIs it about the Mangshan County affair?â
âYes.â The shadowy figure nodded before continuing, âThe selection for the journey to Mangshan County has been made. You will be accompanied by a team of imperial guards and a squad of Immortal-Slaying Guards. What you need to do isâŚâ
After finishing the instructions, the shadowy figure revealed a sinister smile.
âBrother Chen Yuan, if you handle this well, your future path will be much smoother!â
As the voice faded, the shadowy figure also disappeared.
Chen Yuan was left alone in the pavilion.
It took him a while to recover, but before he could sit down, another shadow entered the pavilion.
âThe Princessâs residence is quite lively today!â
The newcomer was masked and sat in the same spot where the shadowy figure had just been, startling Chen Yuan.
âWho are you to dare trespass in the Princessâs residence!â Chen Yuan immediately shouted in anger.
The masked person playfully responded, âWhat can a little Princessâs residence do to me? If I can come in, I can kill you. Do you understand?â
This was a blatant threat. Chen Yuan hesitated for a moment, then his breath immediately calmed down.
âI knew this time wouldnât be peaceful.â
Feeling helpless, Chen Yuan smiled bitterly and said, âAlright, tell me, which great deity are you, and what instructions do you have?â
âStraightforward!â The masked person clapped their hands and said bluntly, âFirst, ensure Yang Xiaoâs life is protected. Second, once you reach Mangshan County, do not interfere with Yang Xiaoâs actions!â
âWas it Wei Jiuxian who sent you?â Chen Yuan immediately guessed the origin of the visitor, then sneered, âYour information is really fast. I just found out that Yang Xiao would be joining the team, and here you are right after.â
Now that he had guessed the identity of the visitor, Chen Yuan was no longer afraid. After all, he was now a government inspector and didnât believe Wei Jiuxian would dare kill him.