National Division

Chapter 103 Empress: ...Where is the law of the land?

The Eternal Green Pagoda, sixth floor

"We still have some time. Let's practice our martial arts skills, then go out and come back in next time to integrate and deduce our martial arts skills."

Since Shen Xian had this idea in mind, he prepared to practice his swordsmanship again.

He studied in the tower for nearly half a year, and his mastery of the "Golden Knife Technique" and the "Iron Chain Knife" became increasingly exquisite and profound.

"It's time to go out." Shen Xian felt the powerful true energy within his body, took out a long robe from his storage bag, and put away all the pill bottles.

With a thought, a bathtub appeared, and after taking a bath and changing into a simple robe, he called out "Eternal Green Pagoda" three times, just as the Taoist had instructed.

The stone gate suddenly opened, and Shen Xian stepped out.

Early in the morning, Xue Zhihua sat on a stone bench outside the tower. The beautiful woman had changed into a blue dress, and her hair was simply styled into a cloud-like bun. The sunlight shining through the window shone on her fair and delicate skin, making her appear even more exquisite and beautiful.

The old man not far away was still slumped over his desk, dozing off, as if he could never wake up.

"You're out."

Xue Zhihua's heart fluttered slightly. She looked up at the tall, slender young man who had changed into a simple brocade robe, and her eyes lit up with joy.

Shen Xian smiled faintly and said, "Miss Xue, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

At this moment, his martial arts cultivation has reached the peak of the Grandmaster level. He only needs to return to the Qilin Pavilion and integrate and develop his martial arts techniques to become a true martial arts Grandmaster.

Xue Zhihua glanced at Shen Xian and said, "Not bad, his martial arts true essence is vigorous and his blood is surging, almost like the rising sun. This is the peak of the Grandmaster realm. However, his aura is weak and some of the medicinal effects have not yet dissipated."

This is a side effect of drug use.

When it comes to martial arts skills, Shen Xian is probably only on par with martial artists who have just entered the Innate Realm.

Shen Xian smiled and said, "It's not too late to hone your martial skills slowly, but I don't have much of a clue about how to condense your martial will."

"There are martial arts notes of grandmasters and great grandmasters in the Qilin Pavilion, which you can study." Xue Zhihua's gaze was warm as she said softly, "It's getting late, let's go back soon, I'm afraid the Empress is getting impatient."

Shen Xian said, "Then let's go out."

Without saying anything more, he followed Xue Zhi and painted the Everlasting Pagoda.

After Shen Xian left, the old man rubbed his sleepy eyes, shook his head, and muttered, "I was wrong about him. He only broke through to the martial arts realm, and... even the third realm, but that nonchalant and calm demeanor..."

Little did they know that there's a saying in later generations: when you're traveling, your identity is something you give yourself.

On the other hand, Shen Xian and Xue Zhi painted the Everlasting Pagoda without any setbacks.

"Do you want to look around Xuanzhen Temple again?" Xue Zhihua asked with a light laugh.

She knew that Shen Xian was quite interested in these immortal scenes.

Shen Xian looked around at the Taoist temples and halls, fell silent, and said, "No, I won't come now. There will be other opportunities to come in the future."

Xue Zhihua hummed in agreement and said, "Then come with me to the Flying Immortal Platform of the Eight Views Palace. There is a teleportation array there."

Two elderly men, one fat and one thin, dressed in hemp robes and secretly following them, revealed themselves.

“This kid is already a martial arts master, and the demon cultivators outside can smell him from a great distance. I’m afraid he’ll die even faster.” A cold glint appeared in the eyes of the Taoist in hemp robe. “He’s just adding to the number of demons eyeing him. He’s not as good as that little girl, whose profound energy is rich and whose foundation is solid.”

"I think it's alright." The fat old man smiled and said, "It seems more like people from the Great Jing Dynasty who came in to improve their martial arts cultivation."

"The Great Jing royal family is forcing growth. This kind of reckless behavior will only lead to an unstable foundation and make them food for demons." A hint of disdain appeared on the lips of the Taoist in hemp robe. "What a waste of so many spiritual herbs."

The plump old man stroked his beard and chuckled, "Then let's continue to observe."

The two were among the most powerful beings in the world, living a carefree life in the mortal realm but not interfering in worldly affairs.

Or rather, the rules of this world don't allow it.

Shen Xian followed Xue Zhihua to the Flying Immortal Terrace of the Eight Views Palace. The terrace was shaped like the Eight Trigrams, with a sundial in the middle, pools on both sides, and various potted plants.

A middle-aged Taoist priest, holding a whisk and a handful of bait, was intently feeding the golden carp in the pond. Another middle-aged Taoist priest, holding large scissors, was tending to a potted plant. Upon seeing the two ascend the Flying Immortal Platform, he bowed and asked, "Where do you two fellow Taoists come from?"

Xue Zhihua said, "Senior brothers, we need to return to Qingxuan Cave Heaven. Please open the teleportation array."

The two Taoist priests responded, put down their work, and pressed down on the Flying Immortal Platform from the left and right. One of them moved the star needle on the sundial upwards, and the other moved it downwards. The starlight on the Flying Immortal Platform flickered and turned into a pillar of light, covering Xue Zhihua and Shen Xian.

Then they transformed into two streaks of light and left the Great Crimson Sky Cave.

……

……

Qingxuan Cave Heaven, Tianji Peak
Shen Xian and Xue Zhihua arrived at the palace they had visited earlier. They had just stood still and were still catching their breath.

A white light flew over, and a soft, joyful voice said, "Senior Sister, you're back."

Xue Zhihua looked at the crane, and at Lu Youyou and Xiong Zhuangzhuang not far away, and asked in surprise, "The three of you have transformed into human form?"

Shen Xian looked in the direction of the sound and was equally startled to see three children around ten years old standing before him.

There was a little girl in a white dress with a small pigtail sticking straight up and a delicate face; another little girl with shy eyes and a plum blossom mark between her eyebrows; and a chubby little boy with a big head and panda eyes.

"Brother Shen, you're back too." Ling'er's eyes, as clear as a spring, sparkled as she spoke. Suddenly, her delicate nose caught a whiff of something, and she looked at Shen Xian, saying, "Brother Shen Xian, you smell so good."

As she spoke, she wrapped her little arms around Shen Xian, snuggling against him and greedily inhaling the medicinal fragrance emanating from him.

"Hey, Ling'er, stop fooling around." Shen Xian quickly pushed the little girl away.

The little girl also smells sweet and innocent.

Seeing this, Xue Zhihua was somewhat helpless and said to Shen Xian, "The fragrance of the pills on your body is still lingering, I'm afraid things have been quite unsettled lately. Fortunately, the capital is prosperous and evil spirits are warded off, otherwise you would have attracted a lot of trouble."

Because Shen Xiansheng used elixirs to create a martial arts grandmaster.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Shen Xian is a human-shaped martial arts elixir, practically a walking elixir in the eyes of demons.

How long will it take for the swelling to subside?

"Don't even think about disappearing completely in less than a year or two," Xue Zhihua said.

Shen Xian nodded, his eyes lighting up, and said, "That's perfect for luring demons into a trap, ambushing them, and slaying them."

"Entrapment to gain merit points." Upon hearing this, Xue Zhihua's breath hitched, thinking to herself, "This is truly a cunning person; even this can be calculated."

Then, looking at the white crane that was still clinging to Shen Xian, she said with annoyance, "Ling'er, stop bothering me. Where is your martial uncle?"

Ling'er then released Shen Xian, raised her delicate, porcelain-like face, and said in a soft, sweet voice, "Uncle-Master went out on business and shouldn't be in the cave right now. Oh, right, Uncle-Master gave me a jade slip to record my image, saying he would give it to you when you and Brother Shen Xian come out."

Xue Zhihua channeled her spiritual energy, and a female Taoist priest, dressed in simple clothes and with an elegant demeanor, appeared before everyone.

"The Empress summoned Junior Brother Shen. After you finish your cultivation, come to the palace first. The Empress has important matters to discuss with you."

Then, after the light and shadow finished speaking, they turned into starlight and suddenly disappeared.

Xue Zhihua put away the jade slip containing the image, turned her head, and looked at Shen Xian beside her with sparkling clear eyes: "Shall we go over there?"

Shen Xian looked thoughtful and said, "That's fine, but I'm afraid there have been some changes in the court."

I originally intended to go to the Qilin Pavilion, but since the Empress has summoned me, it's most likely that the Cui and Lu clans have launched a counterattack.

The Empress has not seen him for several days, and she will probably look at the memorials he left behind from time to time. In addition, with the two traitors Cui and Lu dismissed as prime ministers, after a few days of fermentation, I am afraid that the opinions of the people in the court and the public will be boiling.

Xue Zhihua nodded and said, "Then let's not delay, let's go now."

As they spoke, the two left the Azure Profound Cave and headed towards the Divine Capital City.

Just as Shen Xian had predicted, the dismissal of the Cui and Lu families as prime ministers caused an uproar throughout the court and the country.

The scene is particularly vivid: the palace copy was circulated both domestically and internationally that day, and the two men, Cui and Lu, were thoroughly refuted by a scholar named Shen Xian from the Zhaowen Academy. The debate between the two sides in the court was like a war of words, and in the end, Cui Yan was refuted by the scholar Shen Xian from the Zhaowen Academy and was speechless. He resigned from his post in shame.

Within five days, Shen Xian's name had already spread like wildfire throughout the capital.

He was already the most famous courtier in the capital city.

His background was also investigated by those with ulterior motives.

The Shen family of Lanxi, son of the county magistrate of Guhe, presented the "Policy on Governance" to the Empress Dowager, and from then on rose to prominence.

Moreover, some with extraordinary abilities even managed to find the archived text of "Policy on Governance" from the Secretariat and circulated it in the capital.

After reading it, some high-ranking officials and literary talents in the capital admired it, some disdained it, some envied it, and some were jealous of it.

However, after the impeachment of the two prime ministers, Cui and Lu, at least the officials in the court believed that the Empress Dowager's promotion of Shen Xian was excessive, but it could still be considered that she had made the right choice in personnel selection.

Palace gardens, Qianyuan Hall, side halls—

The Empress, dressed in a pale yellow brocade palace gown, with her hair piled high in a cloud-like bun and adorned with jewels, sat on a cloud bed. To her left sat Gu Nanzhu, and to her right sat the Imperial Preceptor Murong Yue.

Not far away sat the Princess Zhenguo, a beautiful woman in a crimson dress, with snow-white skin, a long and slender neck, and firm breasts, exuding an air of elegance and splendor.
Gu Nanzhu parted her pink lips slightly and said softly, "Your Majesty, there is much discussion in the capital. Some people say that Scholar Shen has not made any merits, yet he has slandered and defamed the Cui and Lu families. I'm afraid his words in court will not convince the public."

"This must be the Cui and Lu families stirring things up in the dark." The Empress's jade-like face was shrouded in frost as she coldly snorted.

After all, having ruled the court for many years, these methods of stirring up trouble and creating chaos were things the Empress had already mastered.

Just then, Gao Yanfu lowered his voice and said, "Your Majesty, the people from Xuanwu Terrace said that the Cui and Lu families sent a challenge to the Qilin Pavilion early this morning. The two families are dissatisfied with Scholar Shen's appointment to the Qilin Pavilion and mentioned that Scholar Shen insulted the ancestors of the Cui and Lu families. The two families want to challenge Scholar Shen. If they lose, they will go to the gate of the two families' mansions and apologize with thorns on their backs."

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager raised her eyebrows and rebuked, "Do they think matters of the court are child's play? They even dare to challenge court officials to a private duel. Where is the law?"

“Your Majesty, there is more to this matter than meets the eye.” Gu Nanzhu took over the conversation, her tone filled with worry: “Now the two families are using this as an excuse to say that Scholar Shen is only good at theoretical discussions and that he is not a martial artist himself, but instead he is driving all the martial artists in the world. Then the accusations against the Cui and Lu families will not be credible.”

This was, after all, an era in which powerful families monopolized the discourse. The noble families in the capital mostly regarded the Cui and Lu families' loss of face as a joke.

The understanding of the four characters "Cui Lu, the traitor to the country" is still at the level of superficial and emotional perception.

The Empress frowned slightly, her displeasure barely concealed in her voice: "How can matters of state be left to their reckless pronouncements? Scholar Shen is a man of literary talent; how can he resort to violence at the drop of a hat?"

But they also knew that if Shen Xian really didn't dare to accept the challenge, then the Cui family could indeed offer an explanation.

The attack on the previous four words "traitor Cui Lu" was not as strong.

Conversely, if we win the battle...

Gu Nanzhu said, "If Scholar Shen can suppress the young members of the Cui and Lu clans in the martial arts, then the reputation of the Cui and Lu clans in the eyes of the world will be reduced by 30%."

This is like the first nail driven into the coffin lid.

Traitor Cui Lu!

It's just the end of the story; no conclusion has been reached yet.

The Cui and Lu clans are clearly about to rise up from their coffins!

The eldest princess, who was sitting not far away, brightened up and said, "Yes, Mother, if the younger generation of disciples of the Cui and Lu clans are not as good as Scholar Shen, who comes from a humble background, in martial arts, then the so-called century-old reputation of the Cui and Lu clans is nothing but a joke!"

Gu Nanzhu said, "If you can't argue it out, and you can't beat them in a fight, then it can only mean that the whole clan are good-for-nothings and traitors to the country!"

Upon hearing this, the Empress's anger faded, and she seemed somewhat moved, but still worried. She looked at Murong Yue beside her and asked, "Grand Preceptor Murong, how are Mr. Shen's martial arts and immortal cultivation?"

Murong Yue replied without hesitation, "He just joined my Tianji Peak and has just embarked on the path of immortality. However, he has some martial arts skills, and his cultivation level is only at the seventh level of the Acquired Realm."

"The seventh level of the Heavenly Realm?" the Empress murmured, her bright eyes quickly dimming as she said, "I remember now, Mr. Shen went to the Vermilion Bird Blessed Land earlier."

Gao Yanfu said, "Your Majesty, with the help of the spiritual herbs in the Vermilion Bird Blessed Land, Mr. Shen will surely be able to break through to the Grandmaster level, or even the Great Grandmaster level, within one or two years."

This is the martial arts foundation of the royal family; even if they pile up spiritual herbs, they can still create a grandmaster.

"Delaying will not solve anything." The Empress frowned slightly and said softly, "The Cui and Lu families have already issued a challenge. We can't just wait a year or two before we can have a proper duel."

A coldness settled on Gao Yanfu's fair face as he lowered his voice and said, "Then why don't I secretly strike first and severely injure the Cui and Lu clansmen..."

"Don't act recklessly! The Cui and Lu clans also have experts in both immortal and martial arts. If this is discovered, the capital will be in an uproar." The Empress's jade-like face changed slightly as she spoke to stop them, then she looked at Murong Yue and asked, "Where is Mr. Shen now?"

Murong Yue's jade-like face was filled with complex emotions as she said, "After Junior Brother Shen Xian became a disciple at Tianji Peak, he borrowed my identity jade token and went to the Eternal Green Tower in Taiqing to break through his martial arts cultivation."

Did Shen Xian foresee this all along?
Actually, Shen Xian was somewhat wronged. He wasn't so shrewd as to have calculated everything to this extent. It was more of a later generation's control and prediction of risk.

They knew perfectly well that if the enemy couldn't refute them logically, they would resort to underhanded tactics.

High-level business battles and political struggles are always so simple and unpretentious.

(End of this chapter)