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

Chapter 603: Your Majesty, the Chancellor Has Arrived

In the blink of an eye, two days passed, and the day of the banquet had arrived.

On the very night Yan Shanʼao was to attend the feast.

Xiao Mo had already arrived beforehand at Qingyue Pavilion.

Tonightʼs banquet would be held here.

At this banquet, only Xiao Mo, Yan Shanʼao, and the Empress Dowager would be present.

Though, when the time came, Xiao Mo intended to have the Empress Dowager sent away.

Otherwise, once blades were drawn, weapons showed no mercy, and should the Empress Dowager, a mere mortal, suffer any harm, that would prove troublesome indeed.

After all, regardless of anything else, the Empress Dowager remained Xiao Moʼs own mother.

Though Empress Dowager Yan was not Xiao Moʼs birth mother, Xiao Mo had been legally adopted, having gone through every proper formal procedure.

In most dynasties, such a legally recognized mother held essentially the same standing as a birth mother, and within the imperial family, Empress Dowager Yan even held greater legitimacy than Xiao Moʼs own deceased birth mother.

Not to mention that the Great Zhou emperors valued ”benevolence, virtue, and filial piety,” governing the realm through filial devotion.

As emperor, Xiao Mo needed to set an example.

However the Empress Dowager might behave, Xiao Mo could not bring himself to harm her, or else he would have no way to answer to the people of Great Zhou and besides, Xiao Mo felt that this mother of his was not, in truth, such a bad person after all.

Based on Wei Xunʼs intelligence and his own time spent with the Empress Dowager recently.

Xiao Mo had come to realize that this mother of his had, for the most part, simply been swept along by her own younger brother.

In truth, she genuinely wished for a peaceful, stable life, being quite a traditional woman at heart.

Even with the Qin Kingdomʼs princess having married into the palace, vying for favor against the women of the Yan clan, the Empress Dowager had shown remarkably little favoritism.

Whatever Yan Ruxue received, Qin Siyao received as well.

And during the period when the harem had no mistress of its own, it was the Empress Dowager who had managed everything in perfect order.

Her primary concern had always been harmony within the harem, and peace within the family.

”Once this matter is settled, Iʼll let the Empress Dowager enjoy her later years in peace. She wonʼt need to worry about so much anymore, just live her leisurely life.” Xiao Mo thought to himself.

”Your Majesty.” Wei Xun walked into Qingyue Pavilion, coming to Xiao Moʼs side. Even with no one else around, his voice instinctively lowered. ”Yan Shanʼao has already entered the palace, and is on his way to Qingyue Pavilion now.”

”Mm, I understand.” Xiao Mo nodded. ”How are matters within the palace?”

”Reporting to Your Majesty, tonight it is Vermilion Bird Army Commander Xi Shanfengʼs turn on duty, and Left Divine Might Army Commander Yuan Xia is present as well.” Wei Xun reported.

”That old fox truly is cautious.” Xiao Mo gave a cold laugh.

Every single time that old wretch entered the palace, without fail, he made sure to have his most trusted men on duty within, just in case.

This time was, naturally, no exception.

”What of General Zeng and the others? How are the preparations coming along?” Xiao Mo asked.

”General Zeng and General Yue will also be entering the palace shortly. Zhang Haishen will guard the front hall. Rest assured, Your Majesty, we will not allow the Left Divine Might Army or the Vermilion Bird Army to stir up the slightest trouble.”

”As for those death-sworn retainers Yan Shanʼao keeps, General Zeng and General Yue have both sworn that, even at the cost of their own lives, they will not let them come within half a step of Qingyue Pavilion!”

Wei Xunʼs tone, too, carried a note of resolute determination.

He, too, had waited a long time for this day to come.

At first, when His Majesty had announced he would cultivate the Dao, no longer concerning himself with state affairs, even composing that poem about ”clouds in the blue sky, water in the vase,” Wei Xunʼs heart had turned to ice, feeling that His Majesty had utterly resigned himself to his fate.

Though, at the time, Wei Xun had not been entirely unable to understand it.

He had even come to feel, later on, that it wasnʼt such a bad thing after all, that His Majesty could at least pass his life in peace and safety.

No need to worry about falling asleep one night and never waking again but in truth, speaking honestly from the heart.

Wei Xun had, of course, still hoped that his own emperor might one day rise to the occasion and in the end, not only had his emperor risen to the occasion, ”pretending” to cultivate immortality to deceive Yan Shanʼao, he had, remarkably, truly cultivated immortality as well!

And now His Majestyʼs cultivation level had reached the middle stage of the Cave Mansion realm!

Compared to the emperors of every other nation in this world, who among them could possibly reach the Foundation Building realm?

His own emperor was, without question, blessed by the mandate of Heaven!

And what did it matter, thinking back on all the grievances he himself had suffered over the years?

What did it matter, that others cursed him behind his back as a wretched eunuch?

To Wei Xunʼs mind, he was, after all, a eunuch of the imperial house!

Even if he was but a dog, he was a dog belonging to generations of the House of Zhouʼs emperors!

He was His Majestyʼs dog!

And who exactly was this Yan Shanʼao?!

Did he truly believe he could order Wei Xun around?

Still though...

Deep in his heart, Wei Xun could not help but feel a certain worry.

Worried that His Majestyʼs cultivation level might not be sufficient.

Unsure whether His Majesty could truly overcome Yan Shanʼao.

After all, Yan Shanʼao was a cultivator at the middle stage of the Dragon Gate realm...

”Your Majesty, are you truly going to face Yan Shanʼao alone?” Wei Xun raised his head, asking. ”Perhaps we could ask the National Preceptor for help. At present, the Ten Thousand Swords Sect no longer supports Yan Shanʼao as strongly as before. Perhaps the National Preceptor could assist us...”

”Not appropriate.” Xiao Mo waved a hand, shaking his head.

”Setting aside that the Ten Thousand Swords Sect has its own rules, that the National Preceptor they dispatch cannot interfere in court affairs, this is, moreover, our own internal matter. It should naturally be resolved by ourselves. If we were to ask the Ten Thousand Swords Sect to handle it for us, we would only incur an even greater debt of gratitude in the future, one we could never fully repay.”

”I know what youʼre worried about, you old fellow.” Xiao Mo rose to his feet, hands folded behind his back. ”Rest assured, I have a plan in mind. Go now, and proceed according to plan.”

”Yes, Your Majesty...”

Since His Majesty had spoken so plainly, Wei Xun said no more.

His Majesty had always been a cautious man.

Wei Xun trusted that, since His Majesty dared to face Yan Shanʼao directly, he surely had some contingency in place.

Not long after Wei Xun left Qingyue Pavilion, Empress Dowager Yan arrived.

Xiao Mo hurried forward, guiding the Empress Dowager to her seat.

”So, has my brother not yet arrived?” the Empress Dowager asked.

”Mother, the Chancellor has already entered the palace, and will be here shortly.” Xiao Mo said with a smile. ”Itʼs been a while since Mother has seen the Chancellor, hasnʼt it?”

”Indeed, it has been quite a while.”

The Empress Dowager nodded, her tone carrying a note of genuine reflection.

”In truth, this younger brother of mine does possess real ability, otherwise the previous emperor would never have valued him so highly back then. Itʼs only that time truly can change a person, he... ah... never mind, never mind, letʼs not speak of it...”

The Empress Dowager, realizing she had spoken somewhat carelessly, said no more, and Xiao Mo, too, pretended not to have heard a thing.

To Xiao Moʼs mind, whether or not Yan Shanʼao possessed real ability, and whether or not he had truly changed.

Tonight, this matter would be settled, one way or another.

”Your Majesty... the Chancellor has arrived...”

Just as a certain heaviness had settled over the atmosphere within Qingyue Pavilion, a maid entered, bowing to make her announcement.

”Quickly, invite the Chancellor in.” Xiao Mo said hurriedly, appearing genuinely delighted.

”Ha ha ha... no need to invite me, Your Majesty. This old subject has taken the liberty of coming in himself.”

The moment Xiao Moʼs words fell, before the maid had even turned to leave, Yan Shanʼao had already pushed open the doors of Qingyue Pavilion, laughing as he strode inside.