Who is spreading rumors that my filial piety towards them has changed?

“There’s no need to worry about that. Princess Yongzhen, you’ve seen it, right? The one moving around on the ship right now is a puppet. You can think of it as a physical body that has been created. I’ve also prepared one for Madam Zhen. You can use this clone to try it out.”

If a puppet cannot be used as a substitute, then it's best to pretend nothing happened. A puppet can greatly mitigate the risks, and Chu Mingkong would not allow Madam Zhen herself to take such a dangerous risk.

He took out the doll of Madam Zhen and slowly placed it on the bed. As it landed steadily, her proud, full, and soft breasts swayed slightly.

Wei Qingning should have been shocked by this level of physical prowess, but the sight of those swaying, plump flesh was heartbreaking. She never expected that even hiding in her own room, she couldn't escape this heartbreaking ordeal.

Coming to her senses, Wei Qingning finally realized how formidable the puppet was. She bent down to examine it closely, gazing intently at it, and marveled at its power:

"This doll is exactly the same as Madam Zhen herself. Except for the lack of a soul, there is no difference at all. It's like she's asleep... How come it has a pulse but no heartbeat?"

Seeing Wei Qingning place the back of her hand on the ground to check her heartbeat and occasionally take her pulse, Chu Mingkong reminded her:

"I could hear a heartbeat, but the fat was a bit too thick and it was blocking it."

Wei Qingning: "..."

She felt her own heartbeat, a feeling she had always found easily since childhood...

"What do you think of this doll?" Chu Mingkong gently patted Wei Qingning's face, who was in a daze, and squeezed her cheeks together.

"Although this puppet looks very much like the original, the reforged body cannot be considered a blood relative. However, this puppet is extraordinary and may be feasible. Let's give it a try... Brother, how did you obtain this puppet? How come Princess Yongzhen has one and Madam Zhen has one too?"

In fact, Jin Yu and Empress Pei originally had one, but it was ruined in the substitution.

Chu Mingkong couldn't explain, so he could only push the blame onto Madam Zhen: "This was something Madam Zhen secretly prepared for herself and Yongzhen before she lost her memory. I don't know how she got it."

"All right......"

The girl was a little disappointed. She had been thinking that if it were easy to get, she could also get a fuller-figured body. But that was just wishful thinking. Reason told her that it was impossible to get this kind of body so easily.

Chu Mingkong put away Madam Zhen's doll and prepared to leave: "Then I won't disturb your rest any longer. I'll go find Master Yun to ask about something."

Wei Qingning nodded emphatically: "Okay."

He had only been out for a short while when Chu Mingkong returned. He had just torn a page from his thick book of notes; it was the page from when he used to contact Wei Qingning.

The only downside of paper slips right now is that they can only be used for communication between pairs of people. It's not yet possible to have one paper slip communicate with multiple paper slips. I should be able to get the new ones on this trip back to Xiling.

"I almost forgot to give this to you. You can chat with Auntie more often when you have time." Chu Mingkong tossed the note into Qing Ning's arms before going to find Yun Nongyu.

Wei Qingning took the note and quickly wrote:

[Mother, I'm feeling very depressed on my brother's spaceship, what should I do? I'm so worried!]

Chapter 158 Cleavage Suddenly Revealed (13.6/18)

When Wei's mother discovered that the note left by her daughter contained fluctuations of spiritual energy, she was puzzled for a while. Wei Qingning's words when she left were too brief, and she did not explain the purpose clearly.

Fortunately, this thing is similar to an invitation. Once you open it and see the words inside, you can naturally figure out how to use it.

After spending some time figuring out how to use it, Mother Wei gathered spiritual energy at her fingertips and wrote on the paper:

What happened? You seem very depressed. Did Mingkong mistreat you?

Wei Qingning was wondering why her mother hadn't replied yet. Could something have gone wrong? Fortunately, she received a response.

Wei Qingning: [No, my brother is very good to me and takes good care of me. It's just that the women on the boat all have rather large breasts.]

Mother Wei remained silent: "You're still young; you'll grow taller. Besides, a few extra ounces of flesh on your breasts doesn't mean anything. In fact, that extra flesh causes many inconveniences. You can ask your Aunt Gu; this difference proves nothing."

Wei Qingning: [I don't think this statement is very convincing coming from you, Mother. You and Aunt Gu aren't much better.]

The phrase "not much better" in this statement is equivalent to "not small at all".

Wei's mother didn't know how to comfort her; it seemed the older the child got, the harder they were to fool. She wrote:

You didn't come to me just to talk about this, did you? Is there anything else?

"Let's get down to business, so as not to delay your brother's affairs."

After murmuring this, Wei Qingning wrote a letter to her mother:

[It's about invoking a deity; basically, they want to bring back a woman's complete past memories and ask her some questions...]

Instead of answering, Wei's mother pressed on:

[Is this what Mingkong wanted to do? Is he asking about Empress Dowager Zhen? If so, he probably wants to know some secrets of the royal family. Is this an attempt to assassinate the emperor?!]

Wei Qingning was astonished. She had only vaguely mentioned some relationships without specifying who was involved, yet her mother had guessed almost everything based on the various things she had heard since arriving in the capital.

She had no choice but to recount what Chu Mingkong had mentioned about the emperor, the power of the dragon vein, and the inside story of the Golden Crow Phoenix Body Sacrifice to the Dragon.

The person on the other end of the paper remained silent for a long time, taking time to digest this huge amount of information.

Wei's mother's handwriting became solemn and heavy:

[I just spoke with the clan elders about this ritual, but didn't mention Mingkong's intentions. The elders said that the ritual they taught you before was the best invocation ritual the clan leader currently possesses. The Golden Crow and Phoenix Body were forced to become entangled with the dragon vein, and since not much time has passed, there should be a very high chance of regaining its former glory. However, what is invoked may not only be Empress Dowager Zhen, but may also be mixed with the lingering resentment and lingering hatred of the Golden Crow and Phoenix Body from previous generations.]

Wei Qingning's expression was serious; she hadn't anticipated these consequences:

[Will the person we invited be hostile or anything?]

Mother Wei: [This possibility cannot be ruled out, but there is no need to worry. In the end, they are not involved in any fighting, so they will not pose a threat to Mingkong and can be easily suppressed.]

In this ceremony, it would be better to invite people from the past, such as Empress Pei and Empress Dowager Zhen, to the altar as a 'prelude'. This is just a guess, but since you said there's already a physical body as a vessel, it won't affect Empress Pei and Empress Dowager Zhen.

Wei Qingning wrote it down. She didn't know that she could also call the Empress over. Was it because they were both Golden Crow Phoenix Bodies?

This flexibility is the difference between witchcraft and Taoist practices. Taoist practices evolved from witchcraft and, guided by its own spiritual philosophy, connect various techniques and methods, making their content standardized and systematic. However, witchcraft is like regional culture, varying from place to place, scattered and lacking a unified standard. Many witchcraft practices can be adjusted through experience, and cannot be fully learned simply by studying.

Having received much guidance from his mother and the elders, Wei Qingning silently noted it down. He would later find time to discuss it with his brother again and see what his opinion was.

----------

Chu Mingkong returned to his master Zuo Qiuchi's room and immediately saw her, as well as Daoist Yun Nongyu, whom she had been hugging like a bear pillow.

Yun Nongyu had become somewhat accustomed to Zuo Qiuchi's unreasonable behavior, or perhaps numb to it, and silently closed her eyes to meditate.

Chu Mingkong lay down behind Zuo Qiuchi, hugged her, and said:

"Master, could you loosen your grip? I need to discuss some matters with Daoist Yun right here."

However, Zuo Qiuchi was sleeping comfortably with the beautiful Taoist priest in his arms, making two soft humming noises and not moving, somewhat like a lazybones who didn't want to get up early after staying up all night.

Chu Mingkong had no choice but to serve them in their unique way of getting along as master and disciple. He glanced at Zuo Qiuchi's ample, snowy buttocks and said:

"Master, I'm thirsty."

Zuo Qiuchi still ignored him, but after sensing some of the traitor's movements, she opened her eyes and scolded:

"If you're thirsty, fine, but why are you spreading my legs?!"

"Looking for water!"

After Chu Mingkong finished speaking, realizing that it was almost too late, he quickly slurred a long tongue.

Soon, the ship echoed with Chu Mingkong's screams of pain as he was beaten. By the time the sounds subsided, his face was covered in bruises, and his eyes were swollen like a panda's.

In the blink of an eye, his powerful physique healed his bruised and swollen face.

Yun Nongyu stared at the master and disciple, speechless.

Zuo Qiuchi grabbed his apprentice's cheek and said fiercely:

"I really want to tear your mouth apart and tell your tongue to behave. Can't you see there are outsiders here?"

"..." Yun Nongyu thought to herself, "Does this mean that if I'm not here, you'll just let your disciple use you to get water to quench his thirst?"

However, Zuo Qiuchi still told him to discuss serious matters with Yun Nongyu first, while he sat aside to listen to what interesting things were going on. But he got sleepy again after sitting for a while, so he extorted some pastries and drinks from his apprentice and ate while yawning.

She bent over, resting her chin on her hand, her clothes wide open, her firm breasts seemingly about to burst through the fabric, revealing a deep, pink cleavage.

Yun Nongyu straightened her clothes, which had been disheveled by Zuo Qiuchi, but Chu Mingkong was already waiting, so she couldn't tidy them up properly. The result of not tucking her clothes in tightly enough was that her ample bosom seemed about to burst out, much like Zuo Qiuchi's, adding a touch of casualness to her otherwise elegant and proper demeanor.

She tightened her clothes again, but to no avail. The clothes she had just pulled closed soon opened again, revealing a captivating, snow-white slit. She had no choice but to give up and focus on the matters at hand.

"Is what Your Highness wishes to discuss with me regarding the dragon vein?"

Chu Mingkong felt that communicating with them was excessively easy; he didn't even need to say anything, and they already knew.

"That is indeed the matter. I hope Master Yun can enlighten me. This power is a bit strange. How can I restrain it? By the way, is my current position putting Master Yun in a difficult position?"

Chapter 159 Lips (13.8/18)

Chu Mingkong sat facing her, intending to have a serious conversation, but his restless attention kept getting caught up in her appearance.

Even though Yun Nongyu's face was partially obscured by an eye patch, preventing a full view of her appearance, her breathtaking beauty was undeniable. Her simple white Taoist robe, cinched at the waist with a Tai Chi symbol, and the skirt adorned with light blue patterns depicting a simplified Tai Chi fish, added a touch of elegance and nobility. Perhaps due to the eye patch, her ethereal and otherworldly beauty, upon prolonged observation, took on a slightly bewitching and alluring quality.

Unable to see her eyes, one's gaze naturally falls elsewhere on her fair and delicate face. Her nose is high and exquisite, and her full, moist lips have an even and delicate color. Even the lines on her lips seem to be the work of a master craftsman. That cherry pink color looks exceptionally moist and tempting. One bite of it might even prolong one's life.

"Your Highness, what do you find strange about this power?"

Chu Mingkong watched her pink lips open and close, her crescent-shaped white teeth appearing and disappearing, before replying after a while:

“Even the power of extreme Yin cannot crush this. I briefly exchanged blows with Eunuch Cao, who was protected by dragon energy, and he even dared to face my power of extreme Yin head-on.”

"Then you should know that the power of the dragon vein originates from the common people of the Heavenly Pole Empire?"

Chu Mingkong nodded, briefly explained his understanding of the dragon vein's influence on the country and the emperor, and then concluded, "I think this is the power of faith."

"That's right. In fact, sects and holy sites can also gather such power. However, this power mostly falls on the sect leader himself and is easily overlooked. On the one hand, the number of people in the sect is too small. Even the most outstanding sects can only be counted in the tens of thousands. On the other hand, the cultivators' faith is relatively pure, and they all want to become stronger."

In a vast and populous nation like the Celestial Empire, even the smallest acts of faith and aspiration from each citizen, when combined, create a grand spectacle. These aspirations are far more complex, ranging from prayers for drought relief, bountiful harvests, family well-being, and success in one's endeavors...

In our Taoist tradition, this can be understood as being involved in cause and effect, and moreover, the great cause and effect affecting the entire nation!

Chu Mingkong finally shifted his attention from her beautiful lips to Yun Nongyu's words:

"A tangled web of cause and effect, could this be the backlash from the dragon vein?"

Yun Nongyu nodded slightly, her tone calm and gentle, sounding like heavenly music.

"Perhaps, I haven't had much contact with the Tianji Empire. The reason I previously opened a Taoist temple and cave near the capital was to find a convenient place to observe and contemplate this matter, but it also served as an opportunity to observe the stars."

I believe the emperor will suffer a backlash from the dragon veins because they forcibly gathered and manipulated dragon energy to strengthen themselves. You borrowed power from the aspirations of the common people but refused to repay their debts. This provoked natural and man-made disasters, and the karmic retribution naturally followed.

"Then what's the story behind the royal family's long-standing practice of seeking the Golden Crow Phoenix Body to nourish the dragon vein?"

"I know too little to give you an answer that might mislead you, but if I were to guess, I have considered two possibilities."