Inside the Imperial Preceptor Hall
Yueling struggled to raise her arm and waved to Sui Zhixu.
Seeing this, Sui Zhixu quickly went to her side and asked softly, "Yuanling? Is it really you?"
Yueling slumped against the vermilion pillar, furious. "I am! You little brat, you don't even remember your master's voice! I treated you so well, and you're heartless, heartless! I should have known better than to save you. It's a pity I'm so old and got struck by lightning."
Sui Zhixu touched the tip of her nose shyly, realizing that Yueling's current appearance was really unbelievable.
Her hair stood on end, wildly exploding in all directions, like a startled hedgehog, or a mound of weeds gnawed by a cow.
If it weren't for knowing by sound, Xu probably wouldn't have even asked; it's unbelievable.
Sui Zhixu helped the grumbling Yueling up, "Let me assure you, there's no one else in the Imperial Preceptor's Hall besides you right now, is there?"
“That makes sense,” Yueling muttered, casually running her hand through her hair. “Did I get burned like incense by the God of Thunder and the Goddess of Lightning? No…”
After baring his teeth and grimacing, Chong Cangtian sighed heavily and pointed to the side hall, "Help me over there first."
The side hall was simply furnished with a zither, a sword, a couch, and a tea set.
As Xu helped Yueling up, he glanced around the room and realized that it was no wonder Yueling had said that the Imperial Preceptor's Hall was a difficult place to cultivate. He hadn't expected it to be so simple.
Sui Zhixu placed Yueling on the bed and took a soft pillow to lean against her back.
"I didn't expect you to actually come here. It seems all my hard work has paid off; you still care about your teacher." Yueling tried to press down on her hair again, but it was no use, so she had to give up.
Sui Zhixu sat on the opposite couch and said, "I called you for a long time and no one answered, so I thought something had happened to you. Did you try to force your way out of the Imperial Preceptor's Hall? Besides, His Majesty, who I just arrived from, is still waiting at the door. It looks like he's been there for a while."
Yueling stopped caring about her hair and casually lay on the couch, letting out a comfortable sigh. "Sigh, of course he'll come looking for me if something happens in the palace. I told everyone I was in seclusion to cultivate, but when I was struck by lightning, he thought I was undergoing tribulation. Once the lightning stops, he'll leave when he sees I'm not going out. There's no need to worry about it."
Sui Zhixu nodded slightly. "What do you plan to do? Is there anything in the ceremony that would make you run out regardless of everything?"
"Don't say anything yet, I'm dying of thirst! Quick! Make me a cup of tea."
Yueling waved her hand as if nothing had happened. If Sui Zhixu hadn't seen her hair with her own eyes, she wouldn't have believed that Yueling had been struck by lightning.
"You also survived a great calamity." Sui Zhixu brewed some tea and placed it in front of Yueling.
"Hmph, I ran back as soon as Lei came, the only thing that didn't run away was my hair." Yueling picked up the tea and swallowed it without any regard for etiquette.
After drinking Yueling's medicine, my throat finally felt better, and I became more serious. "I saw you watching Nuo opera through the water mirror. At that time, I was leisurely eating, cough cough, I was eating. Suddenly I felt something was wrong outside. The atmosphere was very faint, but I realized that it was the magic of Yueshan, which is the same school as mine. So I ran out. At that time, all I could think about was that the little emperor couldn't be hurt. If something happened to him, how could I face the predecessors of Yueshan? In my panic, I forgot that I would be struck by lightning. Fortunately, it wasn't a big deal. Let him be struck."
Yue Ling was very talkative, and Sui Zhixu caught the key point: "From the same school as you? It seems that the master beside Prince Xuanping also came from Yueshan."
The two of them had previously discussed the masters serving Prince Xuanping, and knew that many people knew about the treasures of Yue Mountain. There were some rumors circulating in the martial arts world about Yue Mountain, and there were indeed people who possessed magical abilities and desired the treasures of Yue Mountain.
But the current situation...
The teacup beside him was half full of water, the tea was clear and transparent, and every now and then a few drops of water would splash onto Sui Zhixu's hand as he spun it. The crystal clear water droplets landed on the tiger's mouth, and Sui Zhixu stared at it in a daze.
She chose to work for someone from Yueshan in her past life because she knew that the master beside Prince Xuanping came from Yueshan, and she also knew that Yueling was capable of dealing with him.
"That shouldn't be the case," Yueling muttered. "Tell me first what happened at the Grand Nuo ceremony in the palace?"
"The palace caught fire halfway through the exorcism ritual, leaving behind wooden pieces with strange patterns. The exorcists all escaped safely at first, but Fang Xiangshi suddenly died after the fire was extinguished. I was in a hurry and didn't find out what the patterns were. I'll ask him after I get out." Sui Zhixu snapped out of his daze, wiped the water droplets from his hand with his sleeve, and quickly answered her.
Yue Ling remained silent in thought. Outside the window, the dark clouds gradually dissipated, but the boundary between heaven and earth remained clear, and the snow could not fall into the Imperial Preceptor's Hall.
“I can’t get out. They probably noticed something was wrong with me and deliberately lured me out. Go out and tell the Emperor that you will hold a New Year’s Eve opera performance to perform a ritual to exorcise the evil spirits. After a while, everything will be fine. As for the rest, the Emperor will handle it himself. But one thing: send the Nuo master who plays Fang Xiangshi to the Imperial Preceptor’s Hall. I will personally perform the soul-crossing ritual for him. As for the patterns, find out about them first and have someone draw them. Don’t touch them lightly, be careful of a trap!”
Yue Ling's tone was serious, unusually so, and knowing this, she naturally agreed.
"Don't worry, I'll have everything arranged by tomorrow."
"Be very careful after you go out. After today's incident, they will all know that you are my disciple." Yueling looked into Sui Zhixu's indifferent peach blossom eyes with worry in her eyes.
They encompassed too much, and both of them understood that. Having too many enemies was also a problem.
Sui Zhixu put the teacup down, her tone indifferent and unconcerned, "It's alright, it'll happen sooner or later."
"Do you have any other instructions? If not, I'll be leaving. Call me through the Water Mirror if you need anything." Sui Zhixu stood up and looked at Yueling.
Yueling looked at her with a touched expression, "Don't worry! Your teacher won't wrong myself."
Sui Zhixu's lips twitched: "..."
He left the side hall directly.
Yueling didn't give Sui Zhixu a gift, fearing she'd be struck by lightning. Sui Zhixu didn't care whether she received a gift or not, but before leaving, she glanced at the plaque of the Imperial Preceptor's Hall one last time.
The Imperial Preceptor's Hall and Mount Yue.
The people of Yueshan, the so-called male protagonist system, really gave everything to Prince Xuanping.
He really has everything.
Su Zhixu sighed deeply. What exactly was the grudge between Prince Xuanping and her? How did she, a young lady of great fortune, become his subordinate when she was merely nourishment? When did she develop hatred that made her uneasy whenever she mentioned his name?
Everything was unknown. She walked out along the road and came face to face with the bright yellow figure.
"Your Majesty?"
Sui Zhixu bowed to him, and as she lowered her head, she realized that she had been in such a hurry to go in that she had forgotten to bow to the Emperor.
A voice from the head of the table said, "No need for formalities."
Sui Zhixu calmly got up, pretending that nothing had happened.
The Emperor and Cong Lan stood together. Unlike Cong Lan, whose peach blossom eyes gave off an eerie quality, the Emperor had strong features, sharp brows, and an imposing aura. As he grew older, his eye sockets deepened, making him appear even more dignified.
"Hahaha, Congqing, your young lady looks just like you. With a father like you, I wonder what kind of husband your young lady will find to catch your eye in the future." The Emperor glanced at Sui Zhixu and laughed heartily.
He reached out and patted Cong Lan's shoulder, "It's a pity I have no sons, otherwise I would have let your little lady have a good selection."
The ministers behind him stood in the wind and snow. The snow lessened, and their hearts sank. They dared not utter a single word in agreement.
His Majesty has no sons, only a princess. Having witnessed His Majesty's methods over the years, the court officials have long dared not submit a memorial impeaching him on this matter.
“Your Majesty…” Cong Lan was about to speak when the Emperor stopped her.
"No need for those flattering words to me." The Emperor waved his hand. "Although Chaoyang is in the palace, things are different now that she's married. She used to come to see me from time to time, but in the last two years she's been spending every day with her husband. Congqing, you should keep your eyes open when you're choosing a husband for Miss Sui. It's one thing for a couple to have a good relationship, but it's not good if they're too clingy."
Sui Zhixu: "?"
Is this what His Majesty said?
There was a mournful, fatherly air about him.
They chatted for a while longer, and Sui Zhixu felt that they were not in a hurry at all. No wonder Yueling said that the Emperor had a plan. Their calm and collected demeanor must have been arranged long ago.
Sui Zhixu glanced discreetly at the ministers and kings behind the Emperor and Cong Lan, but did not see anyone who looked similar to the portrait in the Prime Minister's study.
The Prince of Xuanping is not here, which does indeed clear him of some suspicion.
Only after they spoke did Xu Zhixu begin to explain that Yueling had asked the Emperor to perform a ritual to exorcise the evil spirits and to retrieve the body of Fang Xiangshi.
The Emperor smiled and said, "Of course. I will arrange the funeral of the Nuo Master, and the rest will be left to Consort Sui and the Imperial Preceptor. Cong Qing said that you are now the Imperial Preceptor's disciple. I wonder what you have learned from the Imperial Preceptor and whether you can predict when this snow will stop."
What's the meaning?
After much deliberation, Xu replied, "This humble woman is not skilled enough and can only assist my master. However, the snow should stop soon."
"It's good that it stopped. Winter is hard for people. The snow is light so that it won't cause a snow disaster that collapses houses and displaces people."
"The Imperial Preceptor's divination is accurate. Following the Lady's teachings, she will surely receive the Imperial Preceptor's true guidance. The snow in Chang'an will definitely stop soon." The chief eunuch emphasized, his eyes narrowing into slits on his fair face.
Cong Lan's smile remained unchanged as she stood with Sui Zhixu, listening to everyone's praise and occasionally declining a few words.
As Xu raised his head slightly, the emperor and his ministers chatted amiably, recounting Yueling's past achievements.
Sui Zhixu moved closer to Cong Lan and carefully tugged at Cong Lan's sleeve.
Cong Lan gave her a reassuring look.
She whispered to Sui Zhixu, "It's a pity I can't spend New Year's Eve with your mother this year. Something happened this year, and I can't slip away like I always have."
As night fell, now it was already midnight, but the New Year's Eve banquet still had to be held. The palace was brightly lit, and the emperor instructed the palace maids and eunuchs to arrange the seats for the ministers and set out wine and food.
Although Xu was a young woman, the Emperor waved his hand and arranged for her to marry the princess.
Princess Chaoyang was unwell and did not attend the New Year's Eve banquet this year, instead staying in her own palace.
Cong Lan carefully explained the matters concerning Sui Zhixu in the palace, saying, "Don't worry, Princess Chaoyang shouldn't make things difficult for you."
Sui Zhixu: "..."
Why are you speaking so uncertainly?
Before Cong Lan could say much to Sui Zhi, the palace maid who had led the way came to her.
The Emperor strode away and, seeing that Cong Lan hadn't followed, sent a eunuch to urge him on. Helpless, Cong Lan hurriedly told Sui Zhixu to take care.
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