Chapter 13 013 Can't I be jealous? Am I really jealous...?
Overnight, many temples under construction appeared throughout the Yunchi Kingdom.
Because this year's Ascension Ceremony stipulates that at least one thousand temples are required to qualify for participation, many lesser-known worshippers who did not meet the standard have been frantically raising funds to build temples during these three months, trying their best to elevate the deities they worship to the qualifying threshold.
Among the many temples under construction, a group of temples stands out as particularly special.
These temples were built at night, brightly lit all night long, making almost no noise. When dawn broke, construction stopped and the temples fell silent again.
Curious onlookers gathered around, only to discover that the construction sites were all surrounded by protective barriers, making it difficult to see inside. Some curious individuals estimated that there were approximately a thousand such temples in total.
There are no secrets in this world, and rumors began to circulate that Her Highness the Eldest Princess was about to promote a new deity.
For a time, this matter became the hottest topic of conversation during leisure time.
"A thousand temples in one go, as expected of the eldest princess."
"Heh, all that's being wasted is the hard-earned money of ordinary people..."
"But isn't Her Highness the Eldest Princess a devotee of the Azure Origin Immortal? Why would she suddenly be promoting a new deity?"
"Oh dear, that's ancient history! I heard that last time Immortal Qingyuan manifested himself at Yunji Mountain, he offended the Princess because he didn't go to the back mountain for a private meeting. Since then, the Princess has stopped adding incense to Immortal Qingyuan's offerings, and even many Qingyuan Palaces built in her name have been closed down..."
"Tsk tsk, isn't Her Highness the Princess far too arrogant and dissolute? She actually tried to force a celestial being to meet with her in secret... She has no shame whatsoever..."
"So this new god... could it be that he was elevated to such a high position because he slept with the eldest princess?"
"Shh! Are you all out of your minds?! What nonsense are you spouting!"
It's hard for rumors and gossip among the common people to not reach the palace.
Taking advantage of Zhiwei's absence from His Highness's side that day, Chunxi finally couldn't help but remind him, "Your Highness, for the sake of this Heavenly God Zhiwei, do you really not care about your reputation?"
At this moment, Yun Tianjiao, dressed in a wide-sleeved black casual robe, was sitting upright at the table, writing with one hand. Hearing this, he didn't even raise his eyes, but lazily asked, "Oh? What's going on outside?"
Chunxi twisted her handkerchief forcefully, "It's all the same old stuff... how they talked about you and Qingyuan Immortal Venerable back then, and how they're talking about you and Zhiwei Heavenly God now..."
Yun Tianjiao finally finished writing, put down his pen, and gave a slight smile.
"There's nothing new to it, it's all old news, even the censors are too lazy to comment."
“I know you don’t care about these things, but… but that Zhiwei Heavenly God, knowing full well that making you do this would damage your reputation, still tricked you into undertaking large-scale construction projects for him. Is it worth it for such a person? Aren’t you afraid of raising a second Qingyuan Immortal Venerable?!”
Yun Tianjiao's eyes turned slightly cold as he glanced at Chunxi.
The young palace maid was so frightened that she knelt down with a thud and dared not utter another sound.
It wasn't that she had forgotten the proper hierarchy between master and servant; it was simply that she felt sorry for her eldest daughter, the princess!
The world only slanders and defamation against His Highness, but she knew that His Highness was clearly not what they said he was...
"My reputation... I don't even care about it, so why should I let others care?"
The hall was quiet, and after a while, a barely audible chuckle came from the Princess.
"Alright, get up."
Yun Tianjiao did not pursue Chunxi's matter. He simply called Fuman in, handed him the papers on the table, and instructed him: "Go to the General Works Department and find a skilled officer to make a spirit tablet according to my inscription. Use the best wood and craftsmanship."
"yes."
Fu Man took the paper, looked down at it, and saw that it only had four words written on it: Zhiwei Tianshen (知微天神).
The font is bold and unrestrained, with strokes reminiscent of dragons and phoenixes.
Seeing that Fu Man hadn't left immediately, Yun Tianjiao raised an eyebrow. "What, is there something else?"
Fu Man looked conflicted. "Your Highness, it's a celestial attendant from Immortal Venerable Qingyuan's side, who has come to request an audience..."
"Didn't I say that I would never see the immortal attendants around Immortal Venerable Qingyuan again?"
"Yes, I sent him away the last few times he came, but this time, the celestial attendant said that if Your Highness does not receive him, the Celestial Venerable Qingyuan intends to come in person."
Yun Tianjiao snorted coldly, "What, are you threatening me now?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the paper that Fu Man was holding suddenly flew out of his hand.
"Oh dear, oh dear..." he exclaimed in surprise, only to see the paper move on its own without any wind, floating to the side of the desk.
A burst of golden light blinded him, revealing the man's slender figure, which gradually solidified.
The paper fell into the man's hands and he unfolded it.
"Zhiwei God..."
The man softly read out the unfamiliar divine inscription, and Chao Yuntianjiao looked over.
"It's only been a few days, and Your Highness already has a new deity to worship?"
"Qing... Qingyuan Immortal Venerable!"
All the palace maids in Chang Le Palace knelt down. Although Chunxi and Fuman often complained about Qingyuan behind her back, they dared not show any disrespect in front of the person in question, and they also knelt down.
After all, as a celestial being second only to the Three Divine Lords, one must never offend him.
Yun Tianjiao didn't give Qingyuan a friendly look. Her face, without any makeup, looked colder than when she was dressed up. Wearing a black robe, she appeared even more aloof and proud.
She walked over, snatched the paper from Qingyuan's hand, and handed it back to Fuman, emphasizing again, "Don't forget what I said: we need the best wood and the best craftsmen."
Fu Man accepted the gifts, and at Yun Tianjiao's signal, he and Chunxi and the other palace maids respectfully withdrew.
Only Yun Tianjiao and Qing Yuan remained in the hall. The aloof and otherworldly immortal finally softened his attitude, no longer as cold and aloof as he had been in front of everyone.
"Your Highness."
He walked over and tried to grab Yun Tianjiao's hand, but Yun Tianjiao dodged him without hesitation.
"Immortal Venerable, please have some self-respect."
Qingyuan sighed, "Is Your Highness still upset because we didn't meet at the back mountain that day?"
Yun Tianjiao laughed and said, "Immortal Venerable Qingyuan is joking. You have many worshippers, and this hall is just one of them. How could I dare to disturb you and presume to ask for a private audience?"
"Looks like he's still angry."
Qingyuan looked at Yun Tianjiao with doting eyes, as if she were just a child throwing a tantrum. He gently pulled up the shawl hanging from her arm.
The begonia-colored tulle was the only bright spot on her outfit today. But how could it possibly outshine her naturally beautiful pink blush and lips?
The shawl twirled between his fingers, and his tone became ambiguous.
"Then what should I do to gain His Highness's forgiveness?"
Just then, the palace door was pushed open.
"Your Highness..."
Zhiwei was holding a tray with what looked like food on it. Her gaze was fixed on Qingyuan's hand that was holding Yun Tianjiao's shawl, and her eyes were fixed on it.
Yun Tianjiao quickly pulled the shawl out of Qingyuan's hand, took a step back, and increased the distance between himself and Qingyuan.
"Zhiwei, where did you go so early in the morning?"
"This humble servant went to make rose-flavored rice balls for Your Highness." Zhiwei lowered her eyes, walked over meekly and placed the food on the table. When she pulled her hand away, she gasped as if she had been hurt by something.
He hurriedly covered his hands with his sleeve, but Yun Tianjiao still noticed them.
"How did this happen? Did you burn yourself while cooking?"
Zhiwei looked away, lowering her eyes to avoid looking at Yun Tianjiao, and said softly, "It is because I am useless."
Qingyuan had been staring at Zhiwei with hostility ever since he entered, and finally couldn't help but sneer: "A burn? That's really strange. This is the first time I've ever heard of a god getting burned."
Zhiwei remained calm and composed, his attitude neither humble nor arrogant: "Imperial Venerable, please forgive my humble divine power. To this day, I have only Your Highness as my sole pilgrim. It is no wonder that I cannot compare with Your Highness's divine abilities."
Yun Tianjiao ignored Qingyuan and said only to Zhiwei, "I have ordered someone to make a divine tablet for you. Once the tablet is finished, have everyone in Chang Le Palace offer incense for you. This will definitely greatly help increase your divine power."
Zhiwei looked over slowly, her peach blossom eyes seemed to be shimmering with water, making her look pitiful.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Seeing that Yun Tianjiao treated him with disdain while showing tenderness and care to this wandering immortal who had appeared out of nowhere, Qing Yuan's expression turned extremely ugly.
"Your Highness, you have neglected me these past few days, even going so far as to stop my incense offerings and dismantle my temple, all for such a pretentious and lowly thing?"
Yun Tianjiao found these words extremely offensive and his face turned completely cold. "Immortal Venerable Qingyuan, please show some respect. Zhiwei is now a celestial being I worship, not some thing you're talking about."
Qingyuan scoffed, "A mere Venerable One doesn't even qualify to participate in the Ascension Ceremony. If it weren't for some low-class flattery, how could he possibly catch His Highness's eye?"
Yun Tianjiao sneered, "Now, he's qualified."
Qingyuan was utterly incredulous. "So the rumors are all true? You really built a thousand temples for him, sparing no expense and suffering the scorn of others?"
Yun Tianjiao was too lazy to argue with Qingyuan any longer, and said seriously, "Qingyuan, I am no longer your pilgrim. I have offered my worship for seven years, and I have sent you here. That is enough. From now on, we are even. Please do as you please."
Qingyuan thought Yun Tianjiao was just throwing a tantrum for a few days, but he didn't expect that she would really abandon him. In an instant, he lost control of his divine power, and his killing intent condensed into three sharp energy nails, which shot towards Zhiwei's vital points.
Yun Tianjiao reacted extremely quickly, drawing out his "True Words" to deflect the attack, sending the air nails flying. By sheer coincidence, one of the air nails shot back towards Qing Yuan, grazing the back of his hand.
"How dare you act so presumptuously here! Qingyuan, do you really think that just because you are now a Celestial Venerable, I cannot do anything to you!"
Qingyuan clutched his injured hand, his voice trembling with excitement, "Your Highness, this person's flattery and infatuation with you are nothing but for the sake of offerings and the temple. Can't you really see that?"
Yun Tianjiao scoffed, "It's as if you're not doing this for any other reason."
Qingyuan choked, his gloomy gaze meeting Zhiwei's.
At this moment, the man being protected by the princess was no longer the submissive, weak, and easily bullied man he had been when he first entered the room.
Those peach blossom eyes, which had been tender and affectionate when facing the princess, now looked at him with coldness and contempt. The disdain and contempt in them were undisguised, as if he were the high and mighty god between them, and he was just an ant.
Qingyuan's heart skipped a beat, and he blurted out in surprise, "You, who exactly are you?"
The man smiled slowly, "This humble god is wise and insightful, fortunate to have been bestowed a divine title by Your Highness."
In the blink of an eye, the other party reverted to his cautious and timid demeanor, as if all the arrogance just now was Qing Yuan's illusion.
“Your Highness, this person’s origins are unknown. Although you no longer intend to worship me, we have a seven-year bond, and I cannot watch you be bewitched by evil spirits.”
"Walk."
"Your Highness!"
Yun Tianjiao waved his hand impatiently, as if swatting a fly: "Do I have to tell you to get lost?"
At this moment, Zhiwei whispered to Yun Tianjiao, "Your Highness, your shawl... is dirty."
Yun Tianjiao looked down and didn't find anything dirty, but the thought that Qing Yuan had touched the shawl earlier made him feel disgusted, so he simply pulled the shawl out and threw it on the ground.
"Okay, then we won't take it."
Qingyuan: "..."
Zhiwei's peach blossom eyes crinkled with laughter, perfectly embodying the phrase "spoiled and arrogant."
Qingyuan could no longer bear such humiliation and left in anger.
After the figure disappeared, Yun Tianjiao finally released the anger in her chest. She patted Zhiwei's shoulder and teased, "I didn't realize before that you were so good at pretending to compete for favor."
Just then, the sunlight shifted, and the light and shadow in the hall changed. Zhiwei's face, which had been brightly illuminated, disappeared into the shadows, becoming deep and inscrutable.
"Your Highness." He grasped her wrist, his dark eyes gazing at her with unfathomable depth, a smile playing on his lips. "Can't I... really be jealous?"
Yun Tianjiao's eyelashes trembled slightly, but she finally broke free from his hand and laughed, "Stop acting, or I might take it seriously."
A note from the author:
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