Chapter 4: Practicing a Body Like a Crane
Xiao Mo's consciousness returned from the Book of Hundred Lifetimes at six o'clock the next morning.
Xiao Mo had spent nearly two months inside the Book of Hundred Lifetimes.
Although the time flow in the Book of Hundred Lifetimes was 100 times faster than reality, due to the Book of Hundred Lifetimes's protective mechanism, Xiao Mo quickly adapted to the flow of the real world.
Moreover, when Xiao Mo experienced life in the Book of Hundred Lifetimes, his physical energy was also restored.
However, what made Xiao Mo frown was that he was clearly a Nascent Soul Realm Sword Cultivator in the Book of Hundred Lifetimes, and he clearly knew Caocijian Jue.
But after waking up, Xiao Mo had forgotten all of it and couldn't recall anything.
Xiao Mo had still been thinking of cultivating Caocijian Jue in reality.
But it seemed impossible now.
He could only wait to see how the reward distribution would work.
After breakfast, Xiao Mo continued to rest in bed.
Because Xiao Mo's illness had not yet fully recovered, he didn't need to pay respects to Empress Dowager Yan, nor did he need to attend morning court.
In Xiao Mo's opinion, attending morning court was useless anyway; most of the people in the court were Yan Shan'ao's.
He was already eighteen years old, yet Empress Dowager Yan was still ruling from behind a screen; she was simply shameless.
After Wang Can was demoted from the capital, no one dared to provoke Yan Shan'ao even more.
"Wei Xun," Xiao Mo called out.
"Your Majesty," Wei Gonggong quickly walked to Xiao Mo's side.
"Go and send over some Daoist classics, and then tell the Prime Minister and Empress Dowager that during my absence, Zhou Kingdom will need them to put in more effort."
"Your Majesty, you are…"
Xiao Mo stood up, walking around his bedchamber with his hands behind his back:
"Practicing a body like a crane, two cases of scriptures under a thousand pines. I come to seek the Dao with no extra words, clouds in the azure sky, water in the bottle."
Xiao Mo stopped, looking at Wei Xun: "From today onwards, I shall cultivate immortality!"
"Practicing a body like a crane, two cases of scriptures under a thousand pines. I come to seek the Dao with no extra words, clouds in the azure sky, water in the bottle."
Yan Shan'ao recited the poem Xiao Mo had composed, and couldn't help but nod: "Your Majesty indeed has good literary talent."
Wei Xun lowered his head, not daring to speak.
Just now, Wei Xun had come to Lingxin Palace to convey His Majesty's message.
Empress Dowager Yan sat on the high seat, calmly drinking tea, as if nothing concerned her.
Although Empress Dowager Yan was already over forty, her beauty had not faded at all; she even carried a mature charm, and her every move not only exuded the Empress Dowager's majesty but also a natural allure.
Yan Shan'ao turned his head to look at Wei Xun: "Did His Majesty truly say that?"
"Replying to the Prime Minister, yes, His Majesty said he wishes to cultivate immortality and asks you and the Empress Dowager to put in more effort into the court affairs."
"Since ancient times, emperors, influenced by the Luckof the mountains and rivers, cannot cultivate. Emperors who single-mindedly pursued immortality have never had a good outcome."
Yan Shan'ao sighed.
"I will go and persuade His Majesty later to pay more attention to court affairs."
Listening to Yan Shan'ao's words, Wei Xun's eyebrow twitched, thinking how this person was even more shameless than himself, a eunuch.
Do you want His Majesty to care about court affairs?
You probably hope His Majesty cultivates immortality all day and doesn't bother with court matters.
"However, this poem is indeed good, Wei Xun. Pass this poem down and let the court officials appreciate His Majesty's literary talent."
"Yes, Prime Minister."
Yan Shan'ao stood up, walked to Wei Xun's side, and patted his shoulder: "If anything happens with His Majesty, tell me immediately. Your benefits will not be few, but if you have other intentions, you know what your end will be."
"Please rest assured, Prime Minister!" Wei Xunimmediately knelt down, "This old servant has no other intentions towards the Prime Minister and Empress Dowager!"
Yan Shan'ao waved his hand: "Go. A few palace maids will be sent into the palace later; you take them to His Majesty."
"Yes, Prime Minister."
Wei Xun wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and tremblingly left Lingxin Palace.
After Wei Xun left, Yan Shan'ao turned around and looked at his sister with joy: "Sister, now that His Majesty is single-mindedly pursuing immortality, what do you think?"
"Practicing a body like a crane, two cases of scriptures under a thousand pines. I come to seek the Dao with no extra words, clouds in the azure sky, water in the bottle, hahahaha…"
Empress Dowager Yan laughed coldly.
"Our His Majesty has always had no ambition and has always been timid, otherwise we wouldn't have chosen him to be adopted.
The last time Wang Can went to find him, you demoted Wang Can. He was probably scared out of his wits, otherwise he wouldn't have fallen ill.
Now it seems he has completely given up."
Empress Dowager Yan raised her eyes, looking at her brother: "You did very well to have Wei Xun leak this poem. Now, in the court, there are still a few people whose hearts are with the Xiao imperial family. Now that His Majesty is single-mindedly cultivating immortality, what reason do they have to persist?"
"However, Xiao Mo can be considered to have saved his life."
A fierce glint flashed in Yan Shan'ao's eyes.
"He was able to sit in this position today all thanks to us, yet he still met Wang Can! If he doesn't behave and know his place, hahaha… we can choose another emperor!"
Empress Dowager Yan glanced at Wei Xun: "One less trouble is better than one more. For Wang Can, find a way to get rid of him, but do it cleanly, don't leave any evidence, understand? Censors are like dogs, they bite the most."
"Understood, sister." Yan Shan'ao nodded, sat back down, and took a sip of wine, "In a remote and poor place like Lingnan, it's too easy for someone to 'die of illness'."
Empress Dowager Yan lay horizontally on the soft couch. Seeing this, the maid quickly stepped forward, gently massaging the Empress Dowager's legs and pounding her shoulders: "By the way, how is Ten Thousand Swords Sect doing?"
"Elder Huang of Ten Thousand Swords Sect will come to our imperial capital in three months. I have already figured out Elder Huang's preferences. I have also corresponded with Elder Huang before, as long as nothing unexpected happens, we will be able to rely on Ten Thousand Swords Sect as a backer."
Empress Dowager Yan nodded; she was confident in her brother's actions.
"If we can board the ship of Ten Thousand Swords Sect and have Ten Thousand Swords Sect as our backer, everything will be much easier. Whatever Ten Thousand Swords Sect requests, just try to give it to them.
Additionally, take Elder Huang to visit our Yan family more often. This palace knows that Ten Thousand Swords Sect is strict in selecting Disciples.
But if by chance some Disciples manage to catch Elder Huang's Dharma Eye, it would be of great benefit to our Yan family."
"Hahahaha, if our Yan family's descendants can become a Disciple of Jiang Qingyi, then the entire Zhou Kingdom will truly be completely under our control, and those old fogeys wouldn't dare to curse us behind our backs. By then, sister, you might even become the first female emperor of Zhou Kingdom!"
Empress Dowager Yan gave her brother a faint look: "Sword Immortal Jiang has never taken a Disciplesince her rise to fame; don't even think about these things. Just do your own job well. Furthermore, it's almost time to select a few Yan family women to enter the palace. The future Crown Prince must be from our Yan family."
Yan Shan'ao bowed: "Yes, sister."