Chapter 4: Training to Have a Crane-like Body

When Xiao Mo's consciousness emerged from the Book of Hundred Worlds, it was already six o'clock the next morning.

Xiao Mo stayed in the Book of Hundred Worlds for nearly two months.

Although the flow of time in the Book of Hundred Worlds is 100 times faster than in reality, Xiao Mo quickly adapted to the flow rate of the real world because of the protection mechanism of the Book of Hundred Worlds.

Moreover, when Xiao Mo experienced life in the Book of Hundred Worlds, his physical energy was restored.

But what made Xiao Mo frown was that he was clearly a sword cultivator in the Yuanying realm in the Baishi Book and clearly knew the Caozi sword technique.

But after waking up, Xiao Mo had forgotten all of this and couldn't remember anything.

Xiao Mo was still thinking about practicing the Caozi Sword Technique in reality.

But now it seems impossible.

We can only wait and see how the rewards are distributed.

After breakfast, Xiao Mo continued to lie in bed to rest.

Because Xiao Mo's illness had not yet healed, he did not need to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager, nor did he need to attend the morning court.

In fact, in Xiao Mo's opinion, there was no point in attending the morning court, as most of the people in the court were Yan Shanao's people.

I am already eighteen years old, and the Empress Dowager is still ruling the country from behind the scenes. She has no shame at all.

After Wang Can was banished from the capital, no one dared to bring bad luck to Yan Shanao.

"Wei Xun." Xiao Mo shouted.

"Your Majesty." Eunuch Wei hurried to Xiao Mo's side.

"Go and deliver some Taoist classics, and then tell the Prime Minister and the Queen Mother that the Zhou Kingdom needs their care while I'm away."

"Your Majesty, what are you doing?"

Xiao Mo stood up and walked around the bedroom with his hands behind his back:

"I have trained myself to be like a crane, holding two boxes of scriptures beneath a thousand pine trees. I came to ask for the Tao, and Wu Yu said, 'The clouds are in the blue sky, and the water is in the bottle.'"

Xiao Mo stopped and looked at Wei Xun: "From today on, I will cultivate immortality!"

"I have trained myself to be like a crane, holding two boxes of scriptures beneath a thousand pine trees. I came to ask for the Tao, and Wu Yu said, 'The clouds are in the blue sky, and the water is in the bottle.'"

Yan Shanao read the poem written by Xiao Mo and nodded in agreement: "Your Majesty is indeed very talented in writing."

Wei Xun lowered his head and dared not speak.

Just now, Wei Xun came to Lingxin Palace and conveyed His Majesty's intentions.

Empress Dowager Yan sat on a high seat, drinking tea calmly, as if everything had nothing to do with her.

Although Empress Dowager Yan was already over forty years old, her appearance had not diminished at all, and she even had a mature charm. Her every move not only carried the majesty of an empress dowager, but also a natural charm.

Yan Shanao turned his head and looked at Wei Xun: "Your Majesty, did you really say that?"

"Prime Minister, yes, His Majesty said he wants to cultivate immortality. I would like you and the Queen Mother to take more care of the government affairs."

"Since ancient times, emperors have been influenced by the fate of mountains and rivers. How could they possibly cultivate? Emperors who devoted themselves to seeking immortality never had a good outcome."

Yan Shanao sighed.

"Then I will go and persuade His Majesty to pay more attention to state affairs."

Listening to Yan Shanao's words, Wei Xun's brows twitched, wondering how this man could be even more shameless than himself, a eunuch.

Do you want His Majesty to take an interest in state affairs?

I'm afraid you hope that Your Majesty will practice Taoism all day long and not worry about the affairs of the court.

"But this poem is indeed good, Wei Xun, please pass it on so that the ministers in the court can appreciate your majesty's literary talent."

"It's the Prime Minister."

Yan Shanao stood up, walked to Wei Xun's side, and patted his shoulder: "If there is anything happening with His Majesty, tell me immediately. You will definitely get some benefits, but if you have other thoughts, you know what the consequences will be."

"Please rest assured, Prime Minister!" Wei Xun knelt down hurriedly. "This old minister has no second thoughts about you and the Empress Dowager!"

Yan Shanao waved his hand and said, "Go ahead. A few palace maids will bring it to the palace and you can bring it to His Majesty."

"It's the Prime Minister."

Wei Xun wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and left Lingxin Palace tremblingly.

After Wei Xun left, Yan Shanao turned around and looked at his sister happily: "Sister, now that His Majesty is determined to seek immortality, what do you think?"

"I have trained myself to be like a crane, holding two boxes of scriptures beneath a thousand pine trees. I came to ask for the Tao, and he said, 'The clouds are in the sky, and the water is in the bottle, hehe, hehe.'"

Empress Dowager Yan laughed coldly.

"Our Majesty has never had any ambitions and has always been timid, otherwise we would not have chosen him as our adopted son.

The last time Wang Can went to see him, you demoted Wang Can. I'm afraid Your Majesty must have been frightened, otherwise he wouldn't have fallen ill.

Now it seems he has completely given up.”

Empress Dowager Yan raised her eyes and looked at her brother. "You did a good job in having Wei Xun reveal this poem. There are still a few people in the court who are loyal to the Xiao royal family. Now that His Majesty is devoted to cultivating immortality, what reason do they have to persist?"

"But Xiao Mo has saved his life."

A fierce light flashed in Yan Shanao's eyes.

"He's in this position today thanks to us. I didn't expect him to even meet Wang Can! If he doesn't behave himself, hehe, we can elect another emperor!"

Empress Dowager Yan glanced at Wei Xun and said, "Less trouble is worse than more. As for Wang Can, find a way to get rid of him, but do it cleanly and don't leave any evidence. Got it? Censors are like dogs, they bite people the most."

"I know, sister." Yan Shanao nodded, sat back in his seat and took a sip of wine. "In a remote place like Lingnan, it's too easy for someone to die of illness."

Empress Dowager Yan was lying on the couch. Seeing this, the maid hurried forward, gently kneading her legs and patting her shoulders: "By the way, how are things going with the Wanjian Sect?"

"Elder Huang of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect will come to our imperial capital in three months. I've already figured out Elder Huang's preferences. We've exchanged letters before. As long as nothing unexpected happens, we'll have the support of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect."

Empress Dowager Yan nodded. She was confident in her brother's work.

"If we can get on board the Wanjian Sect and have them as our backer, everything will be much easier. We'll try our best to meet their demands.

In addition, you should take Elder Huang to visit our Yan family more often. I know that the Wanjian Sect is very strict in selecting disciples.

But if some of our disciples manage to catch Elder Huang's eye, it will be of great benefit to our Yan family."

"Hahaha, if the younger generation of our Yan family can become Jiang Qingyi's disciple, then the entire Zhou Kingdom will be completely under our control. Those old guys won't dare to scold us behind our backs. By then, sister, you might even become the first female emperor of the Zhou Kingdom!"

Empress Dowager Yan glanced at her brother calmly and said, "Since becoming famous, Jiang Jianxian has never accepted a single disciple. Forget about it. Just focus on your own affairs. Besides, it's almost time to select a few women from the Yan family to enter the palace. The future crown prince must be from our Yan family."

Yan Shanao bowed and said, "Yes, sister."

(End of this chapter)