Beauties in Simulation Cross over into Reality

”Daughter, my dear daughter...”

At the Minister of Rites’ Mansion, Yan Zhen walked briskly into a courtyard with its gates wide open.

Yan Ruxue, who was reading in the courtyard, looked up and smiled. ”Did something good happen today, Father? You seem so happy.”

”Hahaha, today is certainly a day for celebration.”

Yan Zhen sat down on a stone stool and poured himself a cup of tea.

”You have no idea, daughter. These past few days, the Ministry of Rites has been frantic with preparations for His Majesty’s wedding ceremony. I’ve been poring over all sorts of ancient texts until my head was about to explode. Thankfully, it’s all finished today. His Majesty reviewed the plans and had no objections, so I can finally breathe a sigh of relief.”

Yan Zhen said with a laugh.

”But the thing that surprised me the most was His Majesty himself.”

”Oh? What about His Majesty?” Yan Ruxue asked curiously, sitting on a stone stool beside him.

”How should I put it?”

Yan Zhen stroked his chin.

”Well, it’s just that every word and deed, every single move His Majesty makes, carries a sense of calm and composure, the refined grace of a scholar.

And yet, when I meet His Majesty’s gaze, I feel an inexplicable tension in my heart.

That imperial authority… even thinking about it now makes me tremble a little.

Judging by his bearing, His Majesty is nothing like the ’unlearned and ignorant’ or ’muddle-headed and incompetent’ person rumored in the Imperial Court. He truly has the air of a wise ruler.

On my way back, I even found myself thinking, if His Majesty were to truly hold power, would our Great Zhou perhaps…”

As he spoke, Yan Zhen realized he had misspoken and quickly waved his hands. ”I’ve said too much, too much. Daughter, don’t take any of that to heart. Just pretend you didn’t hear it.”

”Don’t worry, Father. Of course, I understand.”

Yan Ruxue gave a small smile.

”But speaking of which, Mother told me that in your younger years, you harbored great ambitions to bring order to the nation and peace to the world. How is it that you now spend your days attending poetry gatherings and going on outings with scholars? I heard that when our clan uncle wanted to recommend you for a position in the Ministry of Personnel, you even refused?”

”Daughter, you really know how to touch a sore spot…” Yan Zhen gave a helpless smile. ”When I first entered the Imperial Court, that was indeed what I thought. But the court today…”

”Sigh…” Yan Zhen stopped himself, then shook his head and sighed. ”Never mind, never mind. It’s better left unsaid…”

”Oh, right. Daughter, this is for you.”

Yan Zhen carefully took out the Spiritual Snake Jade Pendant and handed it to his daughter.

”What is this?” Yan Ruxue accepted the Jade Pendant, cupping it in her palm.

”This Jade Pendant is a gift for you from His Majesty. This is the year of the snake, so it’s in the shape of a spiritual snake,” Yan Zhen said with a smile.

”Alright, I’ll be going now. There’s a banquet to attend.” Yan Zhen stood up and brushed off his robes.

”Take care, Father. And please don’t drink too much,” Yan Ruxue said with a slight bow.

”I know, I know. Don’t tell your mother I’m going drinking, or she’ll start nagging again.” With his hands clasped behind his back, Yan Zhen walked out of the courtyard with a carefree air.

After her father left, Yan Ruxue held the Jade Pendant up to the winter sun.

Under the warm sunlight, the gently swaying pendant gleamed with a shimmering, jade-like light.

”Miss, this Jade Pendant is so beautiful,” Chunyan said happily as she walked over. ’This is the first gift His Majesty has ever given my lady.’

”It is beautiful.”

Yan Ruxue smiled faintly and gently flicked the small snake on the Jade Pendant.

”Beautiful.

And what a coincidence.”

...

After leaving the Minister’s Mansion, Yan Zhen boarded his carriage and headed for the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.

Leaning against the soft cushions of the carriage, Yan Zhen lowered his head, lost in thought.

His daughter’s words, in particular, kept echoing in his mind.

”Bring order to the family, govern the state, and bring peace to the world…”

Yan Zhen murmured to himself.

After a long pause, Yan Zhen suddenly chuckled.

”Never mind… never mind…”

...

After finishing lunch with Empress Dowager Yan, Xiao Mo left her bedchambers.

Instead of immediately returning to Yangxin Hall, Xiao Mo headed to the Wendao Platform to practice his Sword Technique.

The wedding ceremony wasn’t urgent, and Xiao Mo felt that the Hundred Generations Book could also be dealt with slowly. So, he had been spending more time on the Sword Dao recently.

Xiao Mo had already reached the Qi Cultivation Twelfth Layer and was close to achieving Perfection.

Once he did, Xiao Mo could attempt to reach Foundation Establishment.

But what left Xiao Mo conflicted was the question of what to do after reaching Foundation Establishment.

In this era, an Emperor of the Mortal World could not reach Foundation Establishment.

’I may have the Breath-Concealing Technique to hide my Cultivation,’

’but when I practice my swordplay after reaching Foundation Establishment, that Fairy Jiang will be watching. I won’t be able to fool her about my Spiritual Power.’

Just as Xiao Mo was wrestling with this dilemma, a fragrant breeze drifted past his nose.

By the time Xiao Mo reacted, a graceful figure had already appeared before him.

Immediately after, a flash of sword light thrust toward the spot between Xiao Mo’s eyebrows.

Xiao Mo instantly focused his mind and parried with his sword.

Their Sword Qi raged across the Wendao Platform, though the woman’s was far purer than Xiao Mo’s.

After ten exchanges, the woman’s brow furrowed. She found an opening in Xiao Mo’s defense and knocked his longsword aside.

In the blink of an eye, the tip of her longsword was at Xiao Mo’s throat.

”Thank you for the lesson, Fairy Jiang,” Xiao Mo said, conceding defeat.

”Hmph.” Jiang Qingyi coldly sheathed her longsword and turned her head, her tone filled with dissatisfaction. ”The essence of the Sword Dao is to be sharp and incisive, with clean, decisive movements. What is wrong with Your Majesty today? Why does every one of your moves feel so hesitant and tangled?”

Xiao Mo just smiled, shook his head, and made an excuse. ”I have finally managed to reach the twelfth layer of my cultivation, but the matter of Foundation Establishment is already difficult, to say nothing of the fact that I am an Emperor of the Mortal World. I have been pondering how to break through this bottleneck.”

Jiang Qingyi shot Xiao Mo a look.

”I have said it before.

Your Majesty has been on the Path of Cultivation for only a year, and I have been guiding your sword practice for merely half a year. To have already reached the Qi Cultivation Twelfth Layer in such a short time is more than enough to prove your talent.

But ever since the time of the Ancient Qin Kingdom, the fated destiny of all emperors has been exhausted. Under the Laws of Heaven and Earth, it is nearly impossible for an Emperor to break through to Foundation Establishment. This is no fault of Your Majesty’s.

If Your Majesty truly wishes to make progress on the Path of Cultivation, the only proper course of action is to follow me to the Wanjian Sect.”

Xiao Mo politely declined. ”We can talk about that later.”

”I really don’t see what’s so great about this place.” Jiang Qingyi seemed to grow even angrier. ”Your Majesty should think it over carefully. A Sword Immortal is far freer than an Emperor.”

With that, Jiang Qingyi took her longsword, leaped over the high wall, and left the Wendao Platform.

”Princess, you can’t go in! His Majesty is in the middle of his cultivation.”

”Princess, please don’t make things difficult for this old servant…”

Just as Jiang Qingyi left, Wei Xun’s near-sobbing voice echoed from outside the gates of the Wendao Platform.

Immediately after, a bright and cheerful shout came from outside.

”Brother Your Majesty… Mujiu is here to play! Brother Your Majesty...”