Reincarnation Girl Becomes Immortal

During the journey, Chunxian said that this was a normal feeling. Is that really true?

However, Xi Heng managed to suppress these thoughts and endure until the end.

After Chunxian left respectfully with a flushed face, she lay on the bed and closed her eyes to try to fall asleep, but she still had a lingering sensation of her body being constantly pressed.

He woke up during the day and was noticeably more energetic.

Xi Heng slowly sat up from the bed, raised his hands and yawned, still thinking about what happened last night.

"It's actually quite good..." she thought, "I'll come again if I have time later."

However, I probably won't have the chance in this lifetime.

She got up, dressed, washed herself briefly in the indoor basin, tidied her appearance, and then went downstairs with her sword.

In the backyard, they warmed up with a sword dance as always.

After exercising for an hour, Xi Heng returned to the building for breakfast. Before he had eaten much, he suddenly heard the sounds of carriages and people moving around outside.

The crowd stopped in front of the Flower Pavilion, followed by a sharp, piercing eunuch's voice:

"In accordance with Heaven's will and the opportune time, the eldest son of the Heavenly Emperor Haotian proclaims—"

Xi Heng rubbed her ears; she really disliked the eerie scream that sounded like a rooster's crow.

Can't you just talk like a normal person...?

The girl sighed softly, knowing that the eunuchs outside had come to escort her into the palace. She put down her bowl and chopsticks and went to the pavilion.

"Having heard that the Third Princess Xiheng has been absent from the capital for over ten years, I am greatly pleased to see her return to the capital today. I hereby order her to return to the capital and be reinstated as a Princess, bestow upon her the Sijia Palace, ten thousand taels of gold and silver, and dozens of palace maids... Moreover, because of her exceptional poetic talent, she is granted the official rank of Grand Secretary of the Hanlin Academy, a third-rank official position..."

The old eunuch bowed his head and read a long passage until Xi Heng appeared from the Flower Pavilion.

He knelt down cleanly and promptly, presenting the golden scroll and imperial edict in his hand.

"Your subject receives the decree." Xi Heng casually stepped forward and, without any manners, directly grabbed the imperial edict scroll from the eunuch's hand.

The eunuch swiftly and steadily rose to his feet with a series of precise movements, bowing repeatedly as he did morning and evening, and pointed behind him to the tall carriage with a purple background and carved with golden dragons:

"Your Highness, please."

Xi Heng glanced at the guy and felt that the other person looked somewhat familiar.

After thinking about it carefully, she remembered that this person was the old man who had led her to the imperial court to see the emperor in her previous life.

It's the same person in this life; it's like some kind of monster that leads people to their death.

Sooner or later, she will kill this person too.

Xi Heng closed his eyes to conceal the murderous intent in them, and followed the other party's guidance to the carriage.

Before leaving, I took one last look at the Flower-Filled Pavilion.

Chunxian was standing by the railing of a balcony in the pavilion, looking down at her from afar.

Because of the distance, Xi Heng couldn't see the other person's facial expression clearly, so he simply waved his hand in response.

Downstairs, the butler and many other maids watched quietly. Outsiders who overheard what was happening all cast envious glances at Xi Heng.

Xi Heng sat in the carriage and smiled bitterly. If they knew that going to the palace would only lead to their death, they probably wouldn't be so envious.

Being a princess is not as rich and wonderful as it seems on the surface... especially for a princess of a mad emperor.

As the wheels rolled, Hua Manlou was gradually pulled away and disappeared from sight.

Xi Heng leaned against the soft cushion in the carriage and began to recall the formation sequence and hand gestures of the Blood Sea Technique in her mind.

The carriage traveled for a long time, first leaving Qin Xie Lane, then wandering around in places Xi Heng wasn't familiar with, before entering the imperial city and stopping at the White Stone Square in front of the main hall of the imperial court in the center of the city.

A giant bridge is formed of white stones, with water flowing slowly beneath it. Many dragon heads protrude from the water's edge, spouting water from time to time.

Xi Heng heard the eunuchs calling from outside, pushed open the carriage curtain, and stepped down from the carriage.

Looking up, the Taixiao Palace, with its walls painted with golden dragons, suddenly appeared before them, surrounded by hundreds of golden-armored guards, constantly displaying its imposing aura.

The eunuch approached Xi Heng, bowed, and said in a shrill voice, "Please invite the Princess to court to meet His Majesty!"

Xi Heng had heard the same words before in front of the imperial court, and it felt as if he had returned to the beginning of his previous life.

But this time, she wants to go even further.

The emperor wanted to refine her into a blood spirit stone, but this time she's going to turn the tables and throw that dog emperor into a gold and silver cauldron, mix her with various medicinal herbs, and refine her into a spirit stone for her own use!

Xi Heng strode forward without hesitation, his gaze sweeping over the purple-gold dragon patterns and the celestial palace scenery around the hall, his movements becoming increasingly nimble.

Four towering pillars of fire rose high in front, and many civil officials wearing black gauze hats and holding court tablets stood in two square formations.

Zhao Qianyuan, dressed in a golden dragon robe and wearing a twelve-tiered crown, sat on the dragon throne and said:

"Order the prefectures of Ze, Dai, Xin, Fen, and Liao to recruit soldiers and march on Jinshi. Deploy 70,000 Northern Army troops to quickly annihilate the rebels. I want to see Fang Tiande's head within two months!"

"Your Majesty, the Northern Army cannot be completely withdrawn. The Northern Kingdom of Yanmeng has already resolved the struggle for the throne and seems to be gathering troops on the border. If they attack, the situation will be difficult to control. At most, there will be twenty or thirty thousand Northern troops!"

"Twenty thousand or thirty thousand, tell me clearly," Zhao Qianyuan said coldly.

Upon hearing this, the ministers below quickly kowtowed and said, "Your Majesty is wise. It is no easy task for tens of thousands of troops to travel thousands of miles. The amount of money and food required is enormous. The Northern Army has not moved for more than ten years. Now, there are not enough grain carts and horses to transport them. If we levy carts and horses from the surrounding areas, we can transport 20,000 troops. If we ask the Ministry of Revenue for 300 oxcarts, 1,000 pack mules, and 100,000 shi of grain, we can grit our teeth and transport 30,000 troops."

"Issue my decree to transport the supplies needed by the Northern Army. Anyone who embezzles or steals them shall be executed." Zhao Qianyuan ordered the eunuch beside him to bring the imperial edict, and immediately began to write it on the paper in a flamboyant style, then stamped it with his seal.

"The minister obeys the order."

After saying this, the other party asked for another imperial edict and handed it to a civil official beside him to draft: "I hereby issue another imperial edict, ordering half of the capital's army to leave the capital to quell the unrest in the capital region, and to widely announce throughout the land that insightful people, both inside and outside the capital, may directly advise the court on its mistakes, and that reclusive scholars and extraordinary individuals who can devise good plans to defeat the Tianliang rebels will be richly rewarded and promoted. The government of Nanhang is ordered to open its granaries to provide relief to the disaster victims, and to distribute the acquired unclaimed land to the people. Attendants will have their salaries reduced by half a month, and the Taoist temples and monasteries in the palace will be abolished..."

As he spoke, he sighed:

"Also, tear down that dragon on Mount Penglai... I will no longer seek the Dao."

The civil and military officials below were suddenly stunned as they listened, and all looked up at the emperor.

"Your Majesty is wise."

It was unclear which minister uttered those four words, but all the other officials bowed their heads in unison and repeated:

"My Holy Emperor!"

........................

Chapter Thirty-Nine: The Ultimate Dual Realm of Immortals and Mortals

Having finished discussing these urgent matters, Zhao Qianyuan, who seemed to have aged considerably overnight, wearily waved to Xi Heng, who was standing behind the assembled officials.

The civil and military officials turned to make way, and the old, white-haired eunuch who was leading Xi Heng knelt down and raised his hands towards Xi Heng, speaking in a shrill voice, almost like a theatrical opera:

"Please, Princess Rongzai, read the imperial edict again!"

Xi Heng handed the imperial edict he had casually grabbed to the other party. The old eunuch raised his hand, stood up, unfolded the edict, and repeated what he had said earlier at Hua Man Lou:

"In accordance with the will of Heaven and the times, the eldest son of the Heavenly Emperor Haotian..."

The shrill, ear-piercing sound echoed in the hall for several minutes. Xi Heng helplessly scratched his ear with his fingernail, quietly waiting for the sound, which was always unpleasant to hear, to pass.

After the eunuch finished reading the imperial edict re-establishing the title of legitimate princess and bestowing upon her an official position, he said, "Please, Princess, come forward!"

Xi Heng responded and walked towards the emperor on the dragon throne.

The atmosphere is much better today than last time I came.

No ministers had their mouths sewn shut with thick thread, and no one was tied to a pillar and slowly burned to a charcoal color; the atmosphere was obviously much more pleasant.

"For over ten years, I have been searching for a fortune, but today we are finally reunited." Zhao Qianyuan, sitting on the dragon throne, uttered words similar to those of his previous life.

However, the other party's tone was slightly different; they weren't as excited as last time, and their voice was just muffled.

"Ten years have passed since we parted. Where have you gone? And how have you been making a living?"

Xi Heng briefly recounted his experiences as before, and naturally went through this formal process.

When Zhao Qianyuan heard that Xi Heng was making a living by collecting herbs in a remote mountain village, a trace of pity appeared in his eyes: "It's good that you're back, child."

He leaned back on the dragon throne, gazing at Xi Heng, his mind filled with many thoughts.

"Today I appoint you as a Hanlin Academician. Could you compose a poem here to showcase your literary talent?" Even though he was mentally exhausted, the emperor was still thinking about Xi Heng's poem.

Xi Heng glanced at the civil and military officials around him wearing official hats, then looked up and stared at the mad emperor in front of him.

Zhao Qianyuan must still be thinking about refining spirit stones, so there's no need for me to be polite and friendly to him. Therefore, I copied Wang Guowei's poem "Linjiang Xian":

Where has the fleeting beauty of youth gone? The rustling of autumn winds blows once more. Withered grass stretches to the horizon, and evening clouds lie flat. As the setting sun shines through, a lone pagoda rests against the lonely city wall.

Alone and desolate, I find no one to confide in; turning back suddenly, I see majestic palaces. Red walls are indistinct through the mist. The lingering sunset, alone, embraces the highest level.

After speaking, Xiheng put his hands behind his back and looked at the emperor.

The civil officials behind remained silent. As they turned to look at each other, they all saw in each other's eyes a similar understanding and lingering fear.

On the surface, this poem appears to be describing a vast and solemn scene of heaven and earth, but every word in it is actually describing something beyond the scenery.

The fleeting years and the bleak autumn winds clearly reflect the past prosperity of the Great Zhao Dynasty and its current internal and external troubles.

The phrase "a tower rests on a lonely city" is even more telling. The "tower" must refer to Emperor Zhao Qianyuan, while the "lonely city" represents the people and the nation. It means that the emperor amassed the wealth of the people to support his own extravagance and debauchery.

The line "Alone in the desolate cold, who can speak?" is even more profound. It is clear that the poet had something to say but ultimately did not say it. Perhaps he did not want to say it, or perhaps he could not say it... This poem was recited in the imperial court, and what could not be said in the court was known to everyone present.

The subsequent mention of palaces, red walls, and high-ranking officials refers to the Great Zhao Dynasty, while the phrase "unclear through the fog" expresses concern about the dynasty's future...

After reciting it in his heart several times, most of the civil and military officials understood that the poem was about the Zhao state, which had reached its dead end.

The civil officials just couldn't figure out what the last line of the poem, "alone on the highest floor," meant, and who exactly was on that highest floor.

Moreover, the more I think about it, the more bizarre the imagery in the words seems, sending chills down my spine.

To recite this poem in front of the emperor while in the imperial court is an act of great courage.

So much so that when some of the military officers and generals in front looked at Xi Heng, their eyes were filled with a touch of admiration.

"..."

What the civil officials below could understand, Zhao Qianyuan, who was even more eloquent on the dragon throne, could naturally understand as well.

He clenched his right fist, his gaze fixed on Xi Heng, which gradually turned cold.

Xi Heng stood tall and fearless, meeting his gaze directly.

"Good, good, good." Zhao Qianyuan said "good" three times in a row and clapped his hands three times loudly: "My dear ministers, what do you think of the princess's poem?"

For a time, no one in the imperial court dared to speak.

It wasn't until the emperor summoned the top scholar named Wenxu to step forward and offer his comments that the man, somewhat nervously, described the poem as a landscape poem, saying things like: "The words are like paintings, the technique is amazing, the scene is magnificent, the use of each word is wonderful, the vastness of heaven and earth makes people feel insignificant; the eternity of heaven and earth makes people feel impermanent," and so on.

Only at the very end did he finally manage to utter a 'meaningful' remark.

"I share the same feeling," the emperor nodded.

"But no matter how much I think about it, I still can't understand it. What exactly does the last five words, 'exclusively possessing the highest level,' mean? Who is on the highest level? Or who is on the highest level? Is there any explanation?"

All eyes fell on Xi Heng, but she had no time to explain, and simply said, "Go and see for yourself."

Her rudeness and defiance towards the emperor silenced the court for several seconds.

Zhao Qianyuan tapped the armrest of his dragon throne, raising and lowering his index finger repeatedly.

He suddenly stopped pointing and waved his hand at Xi Heng, saying, "That's true. How can we let the poet explain the verses? It would only add to the boredom. Let it go."

"My daughter, go and wait quietly to the side. After the court session ends, I will take you somewhere."

Xi Heng narrowed his eyes.

finally come……

This time, she wasn't even given time to enjoy herself in the princess's Sijia Palace; after the court assembly, she had to go to the stone chamber where the spirit stones were refined.

Perhaps it was because the poem I copied angered the other party.

That's fine, at least she won't waste her time.

Xi Heng nodded earnestly to the emperor, stepped aside, placed his left hand on the scabbard at his waist, and waited quietly.

She carried a sword this time, which she could use to pierce the mad emperor's heart when the opportunity arose, and her hands and forearms were also imprinted with magic.

Xi Heng had already begun to mentally simulate how to draw his sword, how to exert force, and what moves would be the easiest way to deliver a fatal blow.

Afterwards, the emperor and his ministers discussed the recent unrest in the capital region and inquired about matters in the city before adjourning the court.

After watching the court assembly, Zhao Qianyuan didn't seem as crazy as before.

Moreover, he even occasionally displays an air of concern for the country and its people, making it truly difficult to understand his thoughts and intentions.

Perhaps his manic state was like an illness, sometimes calm, sometimes relapsing—Xi Heng only wanted to know.