Chapter 314: Chapter 251: Dare to ask the great truth, is there really longevity?

Translator: 549690339

On March 16th, the imperial court finally reached a decision: The late emperor’s will nominated King Xing, Zhu Houji, a member of the royal family, to succeed to the throne.

On March 18th, King Xing met with the ministers who had arrived to relay the imperial decree, and together, they entered the Imperial City.

Yet, upon entering the Imperial City, an unexpected conflict arose. The Minister of the Ministry of Rites proposed that King Xing honour the late emperor as his royal father and himself as the late emperor’s imperial uncle — thus assuming the throne in the capacity of a crown prince. Using a precedent set by Song Chengyi’s advice to the Prince of Pu, the minister endeavored to advise King Xing. However, his advice was rejected.

King Xing told his close allies, “The late emperor’s will stated that I should succeed him as emperor, not as his son.”

The two sides remained at an impasse, and in the end, the various ministers of the court were forced to compromise reluctantly.

This new ruler, yet to ascend to the throne, had already demonstrated an astonishingly adept approach to governance, much to the astonishment of the court officials.

On April 21st, King Xing ascended to the throne, maintaining his firm stance on not inheriting his predecessor’s position, showing no signs of compromise. Surprisingly, the Prince of Xiang, Zhu Yousong, volunteered to endorse the new emperor. expressing his staunch support. and quelling many dissatisfied

voices within the royal family.

On April 26th, the new emperor issued a decree absolving the Shenxiao Sect of all past charges. All the properties, lands, etc., that originally belonged to the Shenxiao Sect were returned to them in full.

On April 27th, the new emperor issued another decree. He conferred the title of

‘Great True Immortal of Eternal Life and Profound Mystery’ to the Long Life

Son of the Shenxiao Sect, and the title of ‘Master Mysterious Qingxu’ to the Taoist of the True Martial Sect, Qingxu. He also commanded the two of them to serve as the leaders of the Taoist School, to govern all Taoist institutions throughout the kingdom.

This move provoked envy among various powers. Many factions began to form alliances, seemingly planning to replicate what Pei Xuanjing had done.

On April 29th, the Imperial Astronomical Observatory was established, with Bai Xiaosheng inaugurated as the first Superintendent.

On June 11th, Jiang Bin, the Commanding Officer of the Brocade Guards, was investigated for collusion with the Blood Demon Yang Tinghe and conspiring treason. He had previously shown great favoritism towards court officials, engaged in rampant corruption, raised a private faction, and promoted his family members.

The emperor lured him into the palace, captured him and his accomplices Xu Tai and Li Cong, and imprisoned them in the Sky Prison while the case was investigated. They were then beheaded as a warning to others.

The next day, Lin Qingyi, the former Deputy Commanding Officer of the

Brocade Guards, was appointed by the emperor to temporarily fill the role of Commanding Officer, catapulting him into the ranks of the most powerful figures in Great Ming.

On June 23rd, an official from the Ministry of War reported Hut Secretary Wang Qiong. Although the emperor initially withheld action on the report, it abruptly halted Wang Qiong — originally a key supporter in the new emperor’s succession — in his tracks.

On July 9th, the Great Ming imperial court suddenly announced to the world that the Zhang Family of Luzhou had attempted to stage a rebellion. The evidence was irrefutable, and two exalted masters from the royal family and the court personally led troops to eliminate every member of the Zhang Family. For a time, the entire kingdom fell silent.

This was because they understood that the real reason the Luzhou Zhang Family was wiped out by the court was not because they had ruled with brutality and generated public outrage. Rather, it was because the Zhangs were the most arrogant among several powerful factions. They had dared to reach out to many different parties and sought to replicate what Pei Xuanjing had done — attempting to dominate Luzhou as a local hegemony — which brought disaster upon them.

The Luzhou Zhang Family, which had had a history that spanned hundreds of years, was wiped out overnight, shocking everyone. All the other factions that were secretly forming alliances, hoping to follow in the footsteps of the Shenxiao Sect, immediately halted their activities and dared not make any further moves.

This new emperor, who had only ascended the throne less than three and a half months ago, has caused countless people to be agape at the successive tasks he has undertaken. They are at a loss for words.

Fortunately, it is precisely because this emperor is so capable that he is aware of who he can offend and who he, in his current state, cannot afford to upset.

After his ascension to the throne, during the ceremony in which he conferred titles upon Pei Xuanjing and Qingxu Taoist, the emperor showed an immense curiosity towards Pei Xuanjing.

The most surprising incident for Pei Xuanjing was that, after a night banquet, the emperor dismissed everyone else, choosing to face Pei Xuanjing alone.

The two of them held a brief but meaningful conversation in a secluded palace.

The first sentence that the emperor uttered then had caught Pei Xuanjing off guard.

“May I ask, Great True Immortal, is there truly such a thing as immortality?” At that time, Pei Xuanjing, looking at the emperor who was admittedly handsome but only sixteen years old – a mere middle school student in his previous life, solemnly told him:

“In my humble view, immortality does indeed exist.”

Upon hearing this answer, a trace of longing appeared in the emperor’s eyes and he asked the second question, “Great True Immortal, aside from practicing martial arts, are there any other methods to achieving immortality?”

A smile appeared on Pei Xuanjing’s face as he chuckled and replied, “In the humble view of myself, aside from practicing martial arts, I believe there must be other ways to achieve immortality.”

A satisfied smile appeared on the emperor’s face, and he asked again, “Dare I ask the Great True Immortal, do I have the potential to achieve immortality?”

This new emperor was clear and straightforward, getting straight to his purpose without any beating around the bush.

Pei Xuanjing pondered for a moment before he answered, “Whether you achieve immortality or not depends not on anything else, but on His Majesty himself.”

“Would the Great True Immortal care to elaborate?” the emperor asked further.

Pei Xuanjing laughed mysteriously and replied, “It’s not yet time. If Your Majesty wishes, you may have to wait a little longer.” “How long is ‘a little longer’?”

“It may be a few months, or it may be a few years.”

“Very well, I will wait for up to three years. During these three years, regardless of what the Great True Immortal does, I am willing to lend my full support. I only hope that the Great True Immortal will not deceive me.”

“Your Majesty is wise!”

After reading the reports about the actions this new emperor had taken since his ascension, and recalling their conversation in the secluded palace, a smile crept onto Pei Xuanjing’s face.

“It seems that this emperor truly desires immortality!” he exclaimed.

Although the information collected by Bai Xiaosheng suggested that the previous King Xing was fond of Taoist cultivation, which deeply influenced this emperor’s favorable view of the Taoist School,

Pei Xuanjing hadn’t really taken their conversation in the secluded palace seriously, merely dismissing it as the emperor’s probing. After all, if this emperor truly wished to seek immortality through cultivation, he would likely consult with the True Martial Sect, who had close ties with him, rather than him — a figure from the Shenxiao Sect that had caused the Ming royal family great embarrassment.

What he had said back then was just to state his position; he had no intentions to vie for power with the emperor. All he wanted to achieve through his actions was to further his cultivation, and not to invite trouble for himself.

Unexpectedly, this emperor’s current actions have indeed not caused him and his people a single bit of trouble. Even the many voices of opposition within the royal family have been suppressed by him.

With these thoughts, he took a book from the shelf beside him and beckoned

Yu Zhenzi.

“Please deliver this book to the emperor.”

Upon seeing the book Pei Xuanjing was holding, Yu Zhenzi could not help but feel shocked.. “Sect leader, are you sure you want to give this to him?”