We Agreed On Experiencing Life, So Why Did You Immortals Become Real?

Chapter 602: Seeking Instruction on the Dao

Lingxin Palace.

Empress Dowager Yan lay upon her jade bed, while maids gently applied hundred-flower balm, brought from the Western Regions, across her jade-like body, massaging her with measured pressure.

Though the Empress Dowager was nearing forty, thanks to her careful upkeep, her skin remained as smooth as a woman in her twenties.

The maids, touching the Empress Dowagerʼs skin, could not help but feel a certain envy and these maids genuinely found it remarkable.

In any other dynasty or nation, an empress dowager in her position would surely have kept who knew how many favored male companions in the palace by now yet their own Empress Dowager had, from beginning to end, known only one man, the previous emperor.

Even after the previous emperorʼs passing, the Empress Dowager remained steadfastly proper, holding herself to strict personal virtue, managing the harem with meticulous order.

They felt that, in her position, they themselves might not have been able to manage the same.

”Empress Dowager, His Majesty, Consort Xue, and Consort Mu request an audience.”

Just as the Empress Dowager was enjoying her massage, a maid approached her side, speaking softly.

”Oh?” The Empress Dowager paused slightly, then said with a smile, ”All three of them coming to visit me at once, how unusual indeed. Have them wait in the front hall with some tea first. Iʼll be along shortly.”

”Yes, Empress Dowager.”

The maid bowed and withdrew.

With the help of her other attendants, the Empress Dowager rose and sat within a pool scattered with flower petals, the maids helping to rinse her clean, and finally dressing her in a fresh set of robes.

Emerging from the bathhouse, the Empress Dowager made her way gracefully to the main hall of Lingxin Palace, where she found Xiao Mo and his two wives already seated, waiting.

”Well now, what wind has blown the three of you here?” Stepping into the hall, the Empress Dowager said with a smile.

Hearing the Empress Dowagerʼs voice, the three of them quickly rose and bowed, “We pay our respects to Mother (Empress Dowager), and ask after Motherʼs (the Empress Dowagerʼs) health.”

”Iʼm well, quite well every day.” The Empress Dowager smiled, taking hold of her two daughters-in-lawʼs hands and sitting them down. ”Ruxue, Siyao, tell me, what special occasion brings you to visit this old woman today? And youʼve even dragged His Majesty along.”

”Is the Empress Dowager old? The Empress Dowager isnʼt old at all. The Empress Dowager looks just as young as Siyao.” Qin Siyao did not answer the Empress Dowagerʼs question directly, instead nestling close to her, speaking in a coquettish tone. ”Whoever says the Empress Dowager is old, Siyao will tear their mouth apart!”

”Ha ha ha...” The Empress Dowager laughed heartily, pinching Qin Siyaoʼs nose. ”Still the sweetest tongue, this girl.”

”Siyao isnʼt sweet-talking. Siyao is telling the truth.” Qin Siyao said with feigned seriousness.

”Ha ha ha... fine, the truth, the truth...” The Empress Dowager patted the back of Qin Siyaoʼs hand.

”So, is there truly no particular matter behind your visit today? Youʼve simply come to see this old woman?” The Empress Dowagerʼs gaze turned toward Xiao Mo.

”Reporting to Mother, this child has come today for two reasons: first, to visit you and pay my respects, and second, I wish to host a banquet.” Xiao Mo said to the Empress Dowager.

”A banquet?” The Empress Dowager asked, puzzled.

”Yes.”

Xiao Mo nodded, appearing somewhat bashful.

”As Mother knows, these past two years, this child has devoted himself to the Dao, and the Chancellor, being a great cultivator of the Dragon Gate realm, surely holds no small insight into the path of cultivation as well. And so this child wishes to invite the Chancellor to share a drink, and seek his instruction on the Dao.”

”But the Chancellor is a busy man, and if this child were to invite him into the palace directly, I fear he might decline. And so I hoped Mother might help extend the invitation, framing it as an ordinary banquet. Surely the Chancellor would not refuse then.”

”Ah... Your Majesty... you really are single-minded in your pursuit of the Dao these days. If only Your Majesty could turn this same devotion...”

The Empress Dowager wanted to say more, but in the end, fell silent, pressing her lips together because the Empress Dowager did not know what else she could say.

Ask His Majesty to turn his devotion toward matters of state?

But how could His Majesty possibly devote himself to state affairs now?

Was it not because His Majesty had given up the struggle for power against his own younger brother that he had turned to the Dao in the first place?

For a moment, the Empress Dowager could not help but feel a certain self-reproach and guilt, feeling that she had indulged her own younger brother far too much, resulting in the current state of affairs.

She even found herself wondering.

If His Majesty held real power now, might things be considerably better?

Would history, in ages to come, remember her as a wise and virtuous empress dowager?

”Mother? If the Chancellor truly has no time to spare, itʼs no matter. This is not something I wish to press.” Seeing the Empress Dowager lost in thought, seemingly hesitant, Xiao Mo said, employing a strategy of yielding ground to advance further.

”No trouble at all, itʼs a small matter.” The Empress Dowager finally came back to herself, nodding. ”Iʼll write a letter to the Chancellor shortly, inviting him into the palace for the banquet, so he and His Majesty can have a proper discussion about the Dao.”

Hearing the Empress Dowager agree, Xiao Mo hurried to rise, appearing deeply grateful, “My thanks to you, Mother!”

…

The Great Zhou Chancellorʼs residence.

Yan Shanʼao was feeding his birds.

Yan Shanʼao enjoyed feeding birds.

While feeding them, especially while listening to their cheerful chirping, Yan Shanʼao would feel a sense of calm settle over his heart but lately, things were different.

Lately, Yan Shanʼaoʼs heart remained perpetually troubled, so much so that even feeding the birds could not settle it.

The main reason for this was that Yan Shanʼao felt the current court was growing increasingly beyond his control.

At first, with the backing of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect elders, those court officials had felt a certain fear but now, the Ten Thousand Swords Sect seemed to have adopted a stance of neutrality, which left no small number of officials growing restless.

Though the Yan faction still remained the largest power at court, occupying no small number of important positions, Yan Shanʼao still felt uneasy.

”My lord.”

Just as Yan Shanʼao was absentmindedly feeding his birds, the steward of the Yan residence approached his side.

”What is it?” Yan Shanʼao asked flatly, without turning his head.

”My lord, the Empress Dowager has sent a letter, inviting you to attend a banquet within the palace, the day after tomorrow.”

”A banquet? Why would my sister suddenly want me to come?”

Yan Shanʼao asked, puzzled.

Lately, Yan Shanʼao had held no small resentment toward his own sister.

Mainly because, in matters he needed to accomplish, his sister had once been quite accommodating, but recently, Yan Shanʼao could clearly sense that she had grown somewhat inclined toward Xiao Mo instead.

”The Empress Dowager didnʼt mention any particular matter, only saying it had been too long since sheʼd seen you, and wished for the family to share a meal together. His Majesty, too, wishes to seek your instruction on certain matters of cultivation, Chancellor.” The steward answered honestly.

”Heh heh heh, our own emperor really does have it easy, cultivating the Dao all day long. I must say, I find myself rather envious of our emperor.”

Yan Shanʼao laughed.

”Go, then, tell the maid from the palace that I will certainly attend the banquet, punctually, the day after tomorrow.”