Chapter 63: The Immortal Guides the Path

That night, in Yangxin Hall.

Li Cong swallowed a pill, and his gaze gradually grew hazy. The space before him distorted at an astonishing speed, and in an instant, he found himself atop a mountain shrouded in rain and mist.

An immortal rode in on a crane, their ethereal voice echoing through the valley: “This immortal has received guidance from the heavens, saying there is a disciple with spiritual roots here who can be taught. Are you Li Cong?”

Li Cong’s body trembled slightly as he stared fervently at the immortal, exclaiming excitedly, “It is I, Li Cong. I beseech the immortal for guidance.”

The immortal’s eyes sharpened, and they said sternly, “Your worldly ties are not severed. You cannot be guided on the path. Alas, alas.”

The immortal’s words faded into the distance. Li Cong watched helplessly as they rode away on the crane. He hurriedly knelt on the ground and kowtowed. “Immortal! Immortal! Take me with you!”

The immortal ignored him and vanished into the clouds and mist.

“Immortal!”

Li Cong abruptly opened his eyes. His back was drenched in cold sweat, and his hand still stretched into the air, humbly trying to retain the immortal.

A sinister expression appeared on Li Cong’s face. He smashed the teacup onto the ground, shattering it into pieces. He stared darkly at Fang Qiutan. “What did the immortal mean by saying my worldly ties are not severed?”

Fang Qiutan frowned slightly and formed a hand seal. Realization dawned on his face. “Your Majesty, your spiritual roots have already formed. The immortal came to you in your dream precisely to take you to the heavenly court. But in the mortal world, there are petty villains by Your Majesty’s side who have stolen your opportunity.”

Li Cong stared fixedly at Fang Qiutan, squeezing the words out from between his teeth: “Who?”

A troubled look flashed across Fang Qeutan’s face. Li Cong narrowed his eyes. “Speak freely.”

Fang Qiutan hesitated. “It is the Cabinet Prime Minister, Cui Daoyuan. He has recently felt the immortal’s summons as well. It was he who stole Your Majesty’s opportunity.”

Li Cong frowned. “What? Does he have spiritual roots too?”

Fang Qiutan explained, “Cui Daoyuan naturally cannot compare to Your Majesty, but his daughter Cui Wangshu was enlightened by an immortal before she was even born. As father and daughter, with prolonged contact, he inevitably absorbed some spiritual energy from her.”

It was Cui Wangshu again. Li Cong gritted his teeth. He was clearly the pinnacle of power in Great Zhao, yet he fell short of her in governing the country and strategizing.

Seeing the murderous intent emerge in Li Cong’s eyes, Fang Qiutan lowered his gaze and said indifferently, “Your Majesty, Cui Wangshu is the enlightened one and cannot be killed. This poor Daoist has a plan: it can seize the spiritual energy from her body and transfer Your Majesty’s worldly karmic ties onto her, making her bear the consequences for you.”

Li Cong narrowed his eyes and said coolly, “Let’s hear it.”

Fang Qiutan curled his lips, a shrewd glint in his eyes, and explained it step by step. Li Cong listened and let out a cold laugh. “Do as you say.”

He had endured enough. He could not wait to escape all of this.

…

At the Cui Residence.

Cui Daoyuan’s face was cold as he glared at Cui Wangshu. “That day, you failed to convince Song Yu. Do you know how she’s been obstructing me everywhere these past three months?”

Cui Wangshu smiled lightly. “Father need not be angry. Song Yu’s actions are actually beneficial to our Cui Family.”

Cui Daoyuan narrowed his eyes at her and said coldly, “How so?”

Cui Wangshu lowered her gaze. “Father, do you still remember what I said? Only by letting the prey taste sweetness will its weaknesses be exposed.”

Her fingertip lightly traced the rim of the teacup. Cui Wangshu lifted her eyelids and gazed steadily at Cui Daoyuan. “Why has the Emperor recently favored Fang Qiutan so much? Does Father know?”

Cui Daoyuan looked into her eyes. Out of denial in his heart, he shook his head, but his words were affirmative: “Could it be you?”

Cui Wangshu curled her lips. “No, but precisely because our people in the court have been repeatedly demoted, the Emperor has become complacent, thinking he has the court in his grasp, and has turned to pursuing immortality arts. Father, do you think there really are such immortality arts in this world?”

Cui Daoyuan frowned slightly. He had originally not believed it, but recently, an immortal had frequently appeared in his dreams…

Cui Wangshu’s profound gaze fell on his face, a meaningful glint sliding through her eyes.

Staying away from the Capital City and letting the prey taste sweetness indeed allowed many things to be done without anyone knowing…

Cui Daoyuan said nothing, his expression somewhat grave, seemingly pondering the credibility of Cui Wangshu’s words. Over these three months, Song Yu had submitted memorials to dismiss many officials related to the Cui Family.

Most were scions of aristocratic families, closely tied to the Cui Family’s interests.

These scions held positions without doing any work, drawing salaries without ability, mostly just to secure a post so their family reputations wouldn’t decline.

Excluding these people from the Cui Family’s core interests was merely a favor to the various aristocratic families for alignment and recruitment. They weren’t that important to the Cui Family; instead, they were often used by the Emperor’s side as leverage.

Cui Wangshu persuaded him patiently. “Father, we originally pulled in the aristocratic families to bolster our wings, but now, with the powerful families in the court firmly in our grasp, are those who drag us down still important?”

“These so-called aristocratic families have already declined. They’re like grasshoppers after autumn, unable to hop much longer. Does Father still worry about not being able to handle a few mediocrities?”

Cui Daoyuan stroked his long beard. “That’s true, but they are still aristocratic families after all. Song Yu’s actions have already stirred their dissatisfaction, and they’re all coming to me for explanations.”

Song Yu had not been in office long and did not participate in court struggles. Both sides wanted to win her over but also did not want her to have an accident—she was key to checking the other.

If Cui Daoyuan moved against Song Yu, the Emperor would certainly not agree, especially since the Emperor had originally favored her.

Song Yu, barefoot and fearless, was impervious to both cajolery and threats. The aristocratic families could do nothing to her, so the pressure fell on Cui Daoyuan.

Cui Wangshu curled her lips. “Why not abandon them completely, Father?”

Cui Daoyuan furrowed his brows tightly. This step was too risky. The more declining an aristocratic family, the harder they were to deal with when united—like a stubborn plaster, once stuck, impossible to shake off.

Seeing Cui Daoyuan still hesitating, Cui Wangshu sighed. “Father, you can’t hesitate any longer. When I was young, you taught me: discard a chess piece when it must be discarded.”

Cui Daoyuan raised his hand and rubbed his brow. “Enough. I’ll consider this matter carefully. You don’t need to say more.”

Cui Wangshu lowered her gaze and said, “Yes.”

Before leaving the study, Cui Wangshu slightly lowered her eyes and glanced at Cui Daoyuan’s study. The freshly applied wood wax oil made the room appear even brighter.

Cui Wangshu curled her lips and walked out of the study.

She did not stay overnight at the Cui Residence but returned to the Shangshu Residence.

In the Shangshu Residence, Cui Wangshu sat at the desk and said casually, “Have you spread the message as I instructed? Are the personnel ready?”

The woman kept her head low, her face hidden in the shadows, and bowed. “My lord, everything is prepared.”

Cui Wangshu held the letter paper to the candle flame. The black pupils reflected the burning fire, but her gaze was icy cold.

“Then, begin.”

Cui Wangshu tossed the burned letter into the brazier and stared coldly at the flames.

After the woman left, Cui Wangshu went to the Bath Palace. She relaxed as she soaked in the pool, but Jiang Chenbi’s face appeared before her eyes…

The two of them had bathed together here multiple times. Traces of Jiang Chenbi’s life lingered everywhere in this residence.

Lying on the bed, Cui Wangshu raised her hand and placed the back of it over her eyes. She had been away from the Capital City for so long that all the bedding in the residence had been replaced. Jiang Chenbi’s scent was gone from it.

Cui Wangshu sighed and got up. She retrieved a bundle from the wardrobe, which contained only one magnificent Cloud Brocade White Skirt.

It was the gown she had personally removed that day in Luozhou when Jiang Chenbi sneaked into the study to see her as the beauty in the portrait.

She had preserved the garment meticulously, and it still carried Jiang Chenbi’s alluring fragrance. Cui Wangshu hugged it to her chest, her bosom heaving a few times as she buried her face in the fabric…

Only when one falls in love does lovesickness arise, and it torments.

She must have gone mad, suddenly feeling an impulse to rush to Luozhou immediately, heedless of everything, just to catch a glimpse of Jiang Chenbi.

Cui Wangshu lifted her head and returned to the bed with the garment in her arms.

The next day.

After the morning court session, Li Cong kept Cui Wangshu in Yangxin Hall.

His meaningful gaze swept over Cui Wangshu’s calm face, and a surge of impulse rose in his heart to tear apart that composed demeanor.

Staring at Cui Wangshu, Li Cong narrowed his slender eyes. “Wangshu, you were indispensable to the success of this Myriad Nations Conference. Tell me, what reward do you desire?”

Cui Wangshu replied steadily, “Your Majesty, this subject seeks nothing else.”

Li Cong coughed lightly and said coolly, “Do you have someone in mind? How about We grant you a marriage?”

Cui Wangshu raised her eyes, a shadow darkening her gaze. “This subject only wishes to serve the court at present. Matters of romance are not in my considerations.”

Li Cong hummed and continued, “Then how about We reward you with ten thousand taels of gold and a hundred mu of good farmland?”

Cui Wangshu performed a salute. “Your Majesty, this subject does not care for such external possessions.”

Li Cong narrowed his eyes, his voice turning cold. “You want neither this nor that. What? Do you look down on Our rewards?”

Cui Wangshu immediately performed a grand salute. “Your Majesty, pardon this subject. Your imperial grace is vast; how dare this subject refuse.”

Li Cong’s probing gaze slid over her face. “What if We insist on rewarding you today?”

Cui Wangshu lowered her gaze. “Then this subject must boldly request a decree from Your Majesty.”

Li Cong raised an eyebrow. “What decree?”

Cui Wangshu looked up. “From this day forward, this subject’s marriage shall be decided by herself, without regard to parental orders or matchmakers’ words.”

Li Cong curled his lips. Interesting…

“We approve.”

“Thanks to Your Majesty’s great kindness.”

After Cui Wangshu rose, Li Cong mentioned casually, “Lately, the court officials have grumbled about Our favoring of Fang Qiutan. What do you think?”

Cui Wangshu stood tall and said indifferently, “Your Majesty possesses sagely wisdom. The court officials do not understand the truth of the matter; their words are mere delusions.”

Li Cong chuckled lightly. “So, you believe there are immortality arts in this world?”

Cui Wangshu nodded. “Matters of the world do not arise from nothing; it depends on the perspective. To leave one’s name in history and be remembered for ages is also a form of immortality.”

Li Cong hummed and stared at Cui Wangshu. “And if We speak of physical immortality? Would you believe that?”

Cui Wangshu paused briefly before replying steadily, “There are cultivators in this world. Your Majesty, as the sovereign of the nine and five, senses the call of heaven and earth. If there is a fortuitous encounter, it is guidance from the Heavenly Dao.”

Li Cong let out a giggling laugh, coughed, and said coolly, “But if Our path to immortality requires the Heart’s Blood of Our beloved subject, is that also guidance from the Heavenly Dao?”

Cui Wangshu looked up, meeting Li Cong’s sinister gaze. She hesitated before feigning composure. “Serving Your Majesty is this subject’s duty.”

Li Cong narrowed his eyes and stared at Cui Wangshu for a long time, trying to spot a flaw on her face.

But Cui Wangshu kept her eyes forward, her brows and eyes cold and serene, showing no emotional fluctuation whatsoever.