On the first day of the Lunar New Year, the sun hung white above the azure sky of the Forbidden City, its cold light shining down, making every roof of the more than nine thousand palaces gleam like a silver mirror.

Inside the warm pavilion, the Jiajing Emperor stood up and slowly paced back and forth.

Beside the vermilion dragon-carved pillar, there are two pots of precious plum blossoms, one a green calyx plum and the other a jade butterfly plum, which were just delivered from Caoqiao this morning in a warm car.

There is also the peony, which is both elegant and charming, and changes color in the morning, at 9 am, and at noon.

The Jiajing Emperor never paid attention to these flowers and plants that he had painstakingly cultivated.

Many things in the Ming Dynasty, like these flowers and plants, were of paramount importance to those below, yet he was completely unaware of them.

For example, religions.

Starting with Zhu Yuanzhang, the Ming Dynasty established Daoji Si (道纪司) in local areas, with one chief Daoji and one deputy chief Daoji, specifically responsible for handling cases involving Daoist practitioners.

After the Value Game began, Xia Kingdom also had a similar system. Zheng Qing was one of the people in charge of the Ming City player incident. After obtaining the S-level Animal Path, she was also promoted.

The Jiajing Emperor knew nothing about these unorthodox and heretical practices. Occasionally, when he heard of some evil god, he would issue an imperial edict, and before long, someone would report that the evil god had been exterminated.

With the Imperial Guards and imperial edicts combined, no evil Taoist priest could survive.

"Since this religion is an evil cult, why not destroy it?" Emperor Jiajing asked.

“Your Majesty,” Shao Yuanjie replied, “the Divine Sect is headed by the Heavenly Emperor and Empress, followed by the Five Heavenly Lords. The previous Heavenly Emperor and Empress dominated Guangdong and Guangxi. Wang Yangming killed both of them and submitted a memorial to Your Majesty.”

The Jiajing Emperor recalled this matter.

Wang Shouren did indeed submit a memorial reporting his victory in quelling the rebellions in Si and Tian prefectures. In the memorial, he even made arrogant statements such as "permanently eliminating the thorn in the side of Guangdong and Guangxi for a hundred years" and "achieving twice the result with half the effort."

What did you write in your memorial at that time?

He was scolded for his boastful and deceitful behavior, which was untrustworthy and reversal of kindness and severity.

"Wang Shouren once said that he had eliminated the thorn in the side of Guangdong and Guangxi for a hundred years. How come the cult has reappeared now?" Emperor Jiajing sneered. "I said back then that this man was a liar."

"Your Majesty is wise," Shao Yuanjie and Tao Zhongwen said simultaneously.

Shao Yuanjie looked at the Jiajing Emperor and asked, "Your Majesty, what about Li Changzhou?"

The Jiajing Emperor fell silent again. He walked to the incense burner and put his hands behind his back.

Ambergris is pure and elegant.

“Your Majesty,” Shao Yuanjie stepped closer, “Li Changzhou has somehow found a way to use evil magic within the Forbidden City. Most of what happened in the harem just now was his doing.”

"Tao Zhongwen, tell us your opinion." The Jiajing Emperor turned his back to the two men.

Tao Zhongwen bowed and said, "This humble Taoist dares not conclude that the headless evil spirit in the harem was the work of Li Changzhou, but he is the most suspicious. In addition, this person is indeed the Heavenly Emperor of the Divine Sect."

"Huang Jin?"

“Reporting to Master,” Huang Jing said cautiously in a low voice, “This servant is a mortal with no talent for cultivating immortality or refining elixirs. I know nothing of any cult, but… the matter of the evil spirits in the harem did indeed occur after True Person Li entered the inner treasury.”

He glanced at the Jiajing Emperor's expression and then said:

There are only three possibilities for this matter: one, it was done by Master Li; two, it was a coincidence; three... someone wanted to frame Master Li.

"Framed?" Shao Yuanjie looked at Huang Jin.

Shao Yuanjie possessed immense magical power, but Huang Jin was not afraid of him. The question of who was more powerful between the two depended on who Emperor Jiajing trusted more.

"Everything must be based on evidence. Even if Li Changzhou is that so-called Heavenly Emperor of the Divine Cult, it cannot prove that he wanted to harm me." Emperor Jiajing placed his right hand on the handle of the cauldron.

"Your Majesty—" Shao Yuanjie called out.

Tao Zhongwen's expression was also not very good.

Being able to use magic within the palace is one thing, but with the dragon vein within them, suppressing the Heavenly Emperor and Empress is no problem.

The key question is whether the Jiajing Emperor is willing to take action against them. That's the crucial point.

"deliver an imperial order."

Huang Jin bent down, assuming a posture of listening attentively.

Shao Yuanjie and Tao Zhongwen followed suit and bowed.

"Order the Immortal Marquis to exterminate the Divine Sect and imprison the Five Heavenly Kings of the Divine Sect in the Zhenfu Division."

Emperor Jiajing was still willing to give Li Changzhou a chance, or rather, Emperor Jiajing himself was unwilling to let this opportunity pass.

Shao Yuanjie was skilled at praying for rain and clear skies, and Tao Zhongwen was adept at exorcising evil spirits and refining elixirs, but neither of them could grant him immortality through cultivation.

"Furthermore," the Jiajing Emperor added, "Tao Zhenren has rendered meritorious service in eliminating evil spirits, and has been promoted to Junior Tutor and Junior Guardian, enjoying the salary of a first-rank official, and presiding over the Lingji Palace."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Tao Zhongwen quickly bowed.

It would be best if Li Changzhou had no ulterior motives; if he did, the Jiajing Emperor would have Shao Yuanjie and Tao Zhongwen escort him on his way.

That evening, it started snowing again.

The prostitution industry flourished during the Ming Dynasty. According to Lin Xiyuan's records during the Jiajing period, "There are now tens of thousands of prostitutes in the nine streets of the two capitals."

On the Qinhuai River in Nanjing, the sounds of oars and the reflections of lanterns create a magnificent and splendid scene.

The Eight Beauties of Jinling—Dong Xiaowan, Li Xiangjun, Liu Rushi, and Chen Yuanyuan—are well-known to later generations.

The capital city of the other capital was naturally no less impressive.

At this moment, the brothels were brightly lit, with their upturned eaves and corners standing side by side, and the sounds of women singing could be heard everywhere.

The heavy snowfall, a blend of tranquility and liveliness, creates a sense of disorientation.

"Darling, slow down!"

"Spare me, just get rid of me quickly!"

"Don't go down there. It's so cold. If you have any urine, just urinate in my mouth and I'll swallow it for you so you won't get cold. Go down there and you'll freeze."

There are also some that are more refined.

A dashing, drunken man, his robes open, listened to music and, with hazy, intoxicated eyes, admired the prostitute's alluring and seductive dance.

"The Ming Emperor has ordered the Heavenly Emperor to arrest us, yet you still dare to enjoy yourself in the capital." A dashing scholar holding a jade flute walked in.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!