summons

The New Year's Eve banquet was attended by officials of the fifth rank and above. Liuyun went to the palace early in his official uniform, leaving his three apprentices at home.

After all, it was New Year's Eve, a rare occasion for the family to have meat. Pei Yingguan went out of town and brought back a rabbit that he said had died after hitting its head against a stake. He cleaned it up, added dogwood and Sichuan peppercorns, and made a spicy dish of rabbit meat. Paired with Hu pancakes and vegetable soup, it was a far superior dinner.

Liuyun didn't return from the palace until midnight. As soon as he pushed open the gate, his face darkened. After finding Xiao Wan'er, he said solemnly, "The Emperor will summon you to the palace on the third day of the first lunar month."

These words were like a stone that caused a thousand waves. Pei Yingguan and Liu Mingyin also looked at Liuyun in shock.

Liuyun cursed: "Huai Ming, that bald donkey!"

Time goes back to the New Year’s Eve dinner.

This New Year was a bitter one for both the ruler and his subjects of the Great Zhou. His Majesty's change of reign should have ushered in a new era, but the Khitan in Yingzhou, led by Li Jinzhong, the governor of Songmo, and Sun Wanrong, the governor of Guicheng Prefecture, rebelled. The Empress dispatched generals to suppress them, but the Great Zhou army was ambushed and severely defeated by the Khitan. Now, the two sides have been at war for over half a year, and the situation remains grim.

According to reports from the front lines, the Khitan rebels were home to several shamans, including some who were transcendental, and the ambush on the Great Zhou army was linked to them. Shamans were loyal to their tribes and dedicated themselves to victory, while Buddhist and Taoist monks in the Great Zhou generally avoided worldly matters, leaving few powerful warriors among the Fengming Guards. The Empress dispatched Team C3 to join the army, but due to the disparity in strength, they were completely annihilated by the Khitan shamans.

Just when everyone was in a low mood, Huai Ming mentioned Xiao Wan'er.

"Even my first disciple is no match for her."

Liuyun really wanted to beat Huaiming up, but unfortunately this was at the Queen's New Year's Eve banquet.

"Oh, Deputy Commander Liuyun has such a master under his tutelage? I have never heard you talk about this talented disciple of yours." The Queen did indeed delve deeper.

"Your Majesty, my disciple is still young and has not even reached his twelfth birthday." Liuyun cursed Huai Ming in his heart while answering the Queen's questions.

However, the Queen was more interested in Xiao Wan'er.

"So he is still a young talent. My dear Lord Liuyun, please have your disciple come to see me on the third day of the junior high school entrance examination."

Liuyun explained what had happened, and then looked at Xiao Wan'er with great worry. However, Xiao Wan'er was not worried at all, and even comforted Liuyun.

"Master, don't worry. As long as I don't disrespect His Majesty, His Majesty won't do anything to me. I'm just a child under twelve years old," she said as she pushed Liuyun towards the kitchen. "We had spicy rabbit meat for dinner, and I saved some for you, Master. Please heat it up and eat it."

After feasting on spicy rabbit, the four masters and apprentices stayed up together to celebrate the New Year's Eve. After midnight, they began drinking Tusu wine, starting with the youngest, Liu Mingyin. Liuyun finally emptied the wine and gave the still-teenage Xiao Wan'er and Liu Mingyin a handful of silver coins each as lucky money.

At daybreak, Liuyun and Pei Yingguan donned their official uniforms to attend the grand court meeting. Because it was New Year's Day, Xiao Wan'er and Liu Mingyin had a day off, free to spend their time as they pleased. Together, they spent the day exploring the capital.

On the third day of the Lunar New Year, Xiao Wan'er, dressed in her finest attire, entered the Taichu Palace. Stepping through the Yingtian Gate, she was greeted by rows of magnificent palaces, a scene that felt like stepping into heaven. The Mingtang, still under reconstruction but nearing completion, was nearing completion. Led by a palace attendant, Xiao Wan'er skirted the Mingtang and entered the Zhenguan Hall.

"I am Xiao Wan'er, paying my respects to Your Majesty." Xiao Wan'er did not dare to look around in the Zhenguan Hall. She walked to the front of the empress with her head slightly lowered and saluted properly.

A powerful voice sounded above her head: "Get up, there's no need to be restrained, little immortal."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Wan'er looked up and met the gaze of the legendary Empress. She had heard various versions of the Empress from different people. Her mother described her as a celestial queen and a saint, while Pei Yingguan described her as a power-hungry, vicious old witch. She had imagined her appearance more than once, but when she saw the Empress's true appearance, all her previous fantasies suddenly lost their meaning—a woman who had created unprecedented miracles was what she should look like.

The empress wore a golden crown and a bright yellow round-necked robe. She was plump, with a broad forehead and wide chin. She was no longer young, but she looked far from old. Her hair was jet-black, her complexion was radiant, and her eyes were piercing. Just sitting there, she captivated everyone, truly radiant like the sun and moon she had chosen for herself. Only those nurtured by power could radiate such a vibrant energy, and only those who dared to shatter the shackles that had shackled them for millennia could possess such a powerful aura.

Xiao Wan'er lowered her head again unconsciously.

As Xiao Wan'er looked at the Empress, she too looked at her. Fifth- and seventh-rank officials received low salaries, and the Fengming Guard was a lucrative government office. Even to the Empress, accustomed to opulence, Xiao Wan'er's attire seemed simple. The girl, barely twelve, had bright eyes, a resolute face, and measured demeanor, reminding her of the first time her trusted female official had met her.

"My most capable female official is called Wan'er, and the little fairy is also called Wan'er. It can be seen that I have a connection with the little fairy." Having stood at the pinnacle of power for a long time, the queen's voice was extremely majestic, but she was somewhat kind when facing Xiao Wan'er.

"It is my great honor to have the same name as your Majesty's lady-in-waiting."

At this time, a palace maid brought a small stool and the empress asked Xiao Wan'er to sit down.

"I summoned you here not for official business, but out of curiosity about the young genius who defeated my trusted monk, I wish to meet him."

Xiao Wan'er touched her nose.

"In fact, I was lucky to defeat Master Yuankong that day. If we compete again, the outcome is still uncertain."

The Queen looked at the humble child in front of her, and then thought of Huai Ming who deliberately flattered Master Liuyun and his apprentice at the New Year's Eve banquet, and her favorability towards Xiao Wan'er increased again.

"Little Immortal, would you like to tell me about your experience after joining Biyun Temple?"

Xiao Wan'er naturally accepted the offer. Beginning with her illness at the age of five, she recounted in detail her experiences, from being taken away by her master for treatment, to becoming his disciple, and her cultivation up to that point. She spoke with effortless eloquence, and the Empress listened quietly. After a long while, until her mouth was dry, Xiao Wan'er finally finished recounting her experiences of the past few years.

As soon as she finished speaking, a palace maid came forward with water.

"Thank you, palace maid." Xiao Wan'er took the water and thanked her with a smile on her face. The palace maid's heart almost melted by her sweet smile, and she retreated with a red face.

It was already noon, and the empress asked the palace chef to prepare some cakes and bring them over. She asked Xiao Wan'er to stay and enjoy the snacks with her, and then asked the palace servants to pack up the snacks and give them to her as a reward. Then she asked her trusted palace maid to send her away.

"You are very good," the Queen said to her before she left. "You are different from your master and brothers."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." After expressing her gratitude, Xiao Wan'er left with the palace maid. She didn't completely relax until she left Taichu Palace.

When they returned home, Liuyun and the other two had been waiting there for a long time. Seeing Xiao Wan'er come back, Pei Yingguan immediately walked up to her and checked her from head to toe.

"How is it? His Majesty didn't make things difficult for you, did he?"

"No," Xiao Wan'er said, feeling bothered and helpless. "How could Your Majesty bother with a child who's not even twelve years old?"

Pei Yingguan disagreed with this statement, but he didn't refute it. Xiao Wan'er looked at his series of words and actions, and she understood what the empress said before leaving the palace.

The Queen has been fighting for power for many years. Even if Pei Yingguan was hiding something, how could she not feel his attitude?

"Brother, I am only a minor Taoist priest. There is no power conflict between you and Your Majesty. You have not committed any crime. Why would Your Majesty need to embarrass me? Brother, you are just too concerned."

With Xiao Wan'er's comfort, Pei Yingguan finally gradually put aside his worries.

But Xiao Wan'er also knew in her heart that unlike the Liu family who were convicted of official fraud, the Pei family was indeed destroyed because of a power struggle. Pei Yingguan was also over ten years old at that time, and it was basically impossible for his attitude towards the empress to change over the years.

"His Majesty asked me to stay in the palace for a lunch snack, and then packed some pastries for me to bring back. You can all try them." Since the empress looked very healthy, Xiao Wan'er put her thoughts aside and handed the pastries in her hand to Liuyun.

The pastries made by the chefs in the palace are delicious.

Liuyun opened the box, took a look at the cakes inside, and decided to use them as the main course for dinner. He then asked Xiao Wan'er to go into the main room with him.

"What did His Majesty say to you when you were in the palace?" After closing the door to the main house, he immediately asked Xiao Wan'er.

Xiao Wan'er then recounted her entire experience since entering Taichu Palace. Liuyun listened attentively, silent and silent, until Xiao Wan'er relayed the Empress's comments before leaving, and then he sighed.

"Your Majesty truly knows everything," he paused, then asked Xiao Wan'er in a testing tone, "Wan'er, do you know why Huai Ming, while not my master, is the commander of the Fengming Guard?"

Xiao Wan'er gave the answer as if reciting a book: "The Li clan revered Taoism and considered themselves descendants of Laozi. After Your Majesty ascended the throne, you promoted Buddhism and suppressed Taoism to consolidate your power. And Huaiming has followed Your Majesty since his youth, so after Your Majesty formed the Fengming Guard, you appointed him as its leader."

"You are right, but that is not the fundamental reason. His Majesty appointed Huai Ming as the commander of Fengming Guard because of his loyalty." Liuyun's answer was very simple.

Xiao Wan'er remained silent. Indeed, the word loyalty had nothing to do with Master and Senior Brother.

Liuyun didn't dwell on this topic anymore. Instead, he took out the tortoise shell and began to divine. This divination took a long time. When it was over, he showed a look of understanding, and then suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Master!" Xiao Wan'er became extremely anxious upon seeing this and rushed directly to him.

"It's nothing, it's just a normal reaction to divination." Liu Yun waved his hand, signaling Xiao Wan'er not to worry, and then assigned her a task, "Starting tomorrow, I will personally give you special training."

Xiao Wan'er was stunned. She didn't know why she was asked to increase her training volume.

After the first month of the year, the empress issued an order, ordering Liuyun, deputy commander of Fengming Guard, to lead Team A1, Team B2, Team E5, and Team G7 to rush to the northern front to join the main army in conquering the Khitan.

Team C3 has been destroyed, Team J6 is stationed in the Western Regions, Teams Ren9 and Gui10 are patrolling outside the capital all year round, and suddenly there are only two Fengming Guard teams left in the capital city.

Among the powerful people in the Transcendent Realm, the only one left is Huai Ming, the commander of Fengming Guard.