When the last lamp was lit, Meng Yuzhou slowly knelt down. He pulled up his sleeve, revealing his pale arm, and whispered, "Master, I... am no longer suitable to be the Imperial Preceptor."
Throughout the lineage of the Canglan Kingdom's National Preceptor, the responsibility they bear is heavier than Mount Tai. They are also exemplars of morality and purity. Only with a pure heart and body can one discern the secrets of heaven and lead the nation toward prosperity.
Therefore, as the Grand Preceptor of the Canglan Kingdom, one must be a virgin and, like a cultivator, have strict self-discipline and reverence for the sacred mission. Day after day, year after year, one must temper one's character and resist all worldly temptations and disturbances in order to better receive the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and communicate with the gods.
Feng Mingzi slowly knelt on an ancient futon. He closed his eyes and concentrated, his fingertips gently twirling several ancient tortoise shells. He said, "The Emperor Star has endured wind, frost, snow, and rain, and has finally broken free from the shackles of darkness, regaining its light."
"Your current predicament is neither accidental nor beyond human control; it is the will of heaven and earth, and a trajectory already laid out by the wheel of fate. You cannot escape it."
As soon as he finished speaking, Feng Mingzi suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze flashing with a wise light that seemed to understand the ways of the world. His voice gradually deepened: "The celestial phenomena are unusual, and purple qi is coming from the east. However, this path is not easy, and we must understand the true meaning of 'governing by doing nothing'."
"Yuzhou, although you are about to step down, you have inherited my mantle since childhood. You are not only proficient in astronomy and geography, but also care about the common people and win people over with virtue. When you step down this time, do not forget your original intention."
"Your disciple will respectfully follow your master's teachings."
Meng Yuzhou kowtowed three times to Feng Mingzi.
Feng Mingzi continued, "The late Empress had long harbored suspicions about that Feng Jun. On the day she gave birth, knowing that Feng Jun would be there, she specially ordered people to prepare a baby boy in advance. Sure enough, Feng Jun took the baby boy away and replaced him with a baby girl."
At that time, Feng Jun thought his plan was brilliant, but the Empress had already seen through it.
The Empress turned the tables on the plan. The baby girl that Feng Jun had arranged was the Empress's own child, while the baby boy was prepared by Feng Mingzi.
This is because the Feng Jun family enjoys absolute prestige both in the imperial court and among the common people. The Empress does not want the imperial power to fall into other hands, nor does she want the Feng Jun family to grow too powerful.
Therefore, while the Empress was alive, she issued a secret decree that if she died, the Phoenix King must be buried with her.
In this way, her daughter will not become a puppet.
Meng Yuzhou knew about this when he became the Imperial Advisor, and he also... personally saw the datura flower on Ah Li's waist, a birthmark unique to the Canglan Kingdom's royal family.
At that time, the Empress handed the Tiger Tally to Meng Yuzhou. Feng Jun was very proud. The Empress really valued him and her son, even giving him the Tiger Tally.
But that was only to deceive Feng Jun and those who helped him back then.
The truth is that the Empress gave Meng Yuzhou the tiger tally so that he could protect her daughter and ensure her smooth ascension to the throne should she die suddenly one day.
The Empress had already learned of her impending death from Feng Mingzi, and she had made all the necessary arrangements.
Feng Mingzi added, "However, if Yelü Su finds out about this, it means that some of the people who used to be by Feng Jun's side have defected to her. You should tell His Majesty to be careful."
"After I leave, what will happen at the Star-Picking Tower..."
"No rush. Have you told Her Majesty about your departure? Has she agreed? I heard that she seems to have summoned servants to the palace to attend to you these past few days. When you arrive, will you be able to catch them in time?"
"She summoned servants?"
"Hmm, you didn't know about this, did you?"
Feng Mingzi had lost his previous air of otherworldly wisdom and seemed ready to ascend to immortality at any moment; instead, he started teasing Meng Yuzhou more.
Meng Yuzhou's usually aloof and indifferent eyes finally became troubled. He bid farewell to Feng Mingzi and hurriedly left the Star-Picking Tower.
A cool breeze blew by, and a flash of silver light streaked across the lake.
Meng Yuzhou slowly stopped. What was he going to do now? Was he going to press her to see if she had forgotten what happened that night?
Or should he tell her that he has given himself to her and can no longer be the imperial advisor, and that she should take responsibility for him?
Would she agree?
That day, she asked him why she hadn't given birth to a princess yet. He said to let nature take its course and follow fate. He assumed she had already favored those male concubines.
But no, that's not the case.
That night, she was experiencing it for the first time, just like him; she was different from other women.
Outside the Star-Picking Tower, a young boy holding a lantern walked up to Meng Yuzhou and asked, "Grand Preceptor, what are you doing standing here?"
Meng Yuzhou said, "Let's enjoy the scenery."
The child looked around and realized that the moon had been blocked by dark clouds, and the surroundings were shrouded in darkness, with nothing to see.
But he dared not speak; he silently stood beside Meng Yuzhou, carrying his lantern.
Meng Yuzhou gradually calmed down and said, "I'm tired from the long journey. You should go and rest too."
"I will escort the Imperial Preceptor back to his room."
The boy, carrying a lantern, escorted Meng Yuzhou back home.
On the other side, the third drumbeat had just sounded.
Ah Li had a good sleep. She lifted the bed curtains and found a delicate-looking man kneeling beside the dragon bed, holding a medicine bowl in his hand. When he saw her get up, he said in a very weak voice, "Your Majesty, you are awake."
The female official then entered and said to the kneeling man, "Minister You, it's time for you to return."
In the Canglan Kingdom, only the Phoenix King is qualified to stay in the Empress's palace all night. Other male consorts are only allowed to stay for the first half of the night and must leave for the second half.
Minister You looked at Ah Li with tears in his eyes, and cried out in a drawn-out tone, "Your Majesty, are you going to send this humble subject back?"
"Step down."
Ahri didn't want to look at this man anymore. She knew she was now the Empress, but the man was too delicate and she just couldn't stand it.
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