Chapter 980: Also in the Heartland

Chapter 980: Also in the Heartland

In the Great Springs dynasty's capital, Mirage City, in the early morning after rain, the sky had just cleared. Willows swayed gently, the fresh scene of spring, with greens and yellows half blended. Poets could capture this moment in verse, but common folk, though speechless, could still see it clearly. Three carriages slowly came to a halt on a street west of the capital. A group of men and women descended from the carriages. Beside them lay a lotus pond with deep, quiet waters. A tall woman in brocade clothing did not immediately head toward their destination but walked to the water's edge. She extended a hand as white as jade, resting it on the cool bluestone railing. The rain had passed, leaving a jade-green sky, and the water floated round, clustered leaves.

This woman was more captivating than the scenery itself.

She curled her fingers, rubbed her palm, casually twisted her wrist, and turned her head to look. They had not disturbed her enjoyment of the view but stood patiently at the entrance of the alley. Among them was a man with one empty sleeve hanging straight down, and beside him stood a seemingly gentle woman carrying a blade. She smiled to herself—it was quite a task to play matchmaker for them. Members of the Zhi generation of the Yao family were no longer young. The only one still unsettled was this Capital Prefect, who had lost a leg and an arm after barely surviving on the battlefield. In recent years, he had shown signs of giving up on himself. Of course, her younger brother's standards were indeed high. He naturally looked down on those power-seeking noblewomen who chased after his position and title.

This group included the Great Springs female emperor Yao Jinzhi, Capital Prefect Yao Xianzhi, and the female cultivator standing beside him, Liu Yi, whose childhood name was Yuanyang and Daoist name was "Yifu." Liu Yi was now a third-rank Imperial Tutor of the Great Springs dynasty. Not long ago, the court issued a transfer order sending her to the Mirage Capital Prefect's office to serve as Yao Xianzhi's personal guard. This was, of course, the emperor using public office for private gain, yet Liu Yi had not refused.

The new state preceptor, Han Guanghu, hailed from Golden Armor Continent. The chief imperial tutor, Liu Zong, came from Lotus Flower Blessed Land. The youth Jian Ming, whose Daoist name was Yue Ren Ge, was from Vase Bottle Continent and carried a dharma blade called "Famous Spring" under his arm. There was also a woman with crow's feet that could no longer be hidden, Yao Lingzhi—the female emperor's sister and the Capital Prefect's older sister. Ever since she lost that "Famous Spring" blade, she had completely settled down and no longer dealt with various Jianghu figures or forest outlaws.

Yao Jinzhi was going to a small Daoist temple to meet a former dynasty prince who should have called her sister-in-law, Liu Mao, now known as the Dragon Continent Daoist on the Ministry of Rites' golden jade register.

The small temple was called Yellow Flower Temple, located at the westernmost edge of Mirage City.

Yao Jinzhi walked toward the alley entrance, raised both hands, and breathed out a puff of mist. Yao Lingzhi shot her brother a look, signaling him not to stand there dumbly but to quickly lead the way for the emperor.

The Great Springs dynasty had always revered Daoism, and there were numerous Daoist temples within the capital. Yellow Flower Temple was a small temple with a long history.

It had been built early in the dynasty's founding by the Taizong Emperor as an imperial prayer temple, enshrining the Three Officials, who held a revered position in the Daoist pantheon.

Slightly larger carriages could not pass through the winding, narrow alleys.

Yao Lingzhi accompanied the emperor through the dimly lit humble alley, speaking softly. "Your Majesty, both the Directorate of Ceremonial and the Ministry of Rites have notified Liu Mao at Yellow Flower Temple to prepare for your arrival today. Originally, he was to wait at the Chen hour, but we are an hour early. I wonder how Liu Mao is handling this..."

Yao Jinzhi smiled. "At Yellow Flower Temple, including the abbot and resident Daoists, there are only three people. How could Liu Mao possibly prepare for an imperial visit? Let's just take it easy."

In fact, the abbot with the Daoist name "Dragon Continent," Liu Mao, had been waiting early at the temple gate, dressed in a clean Daoist robe, holding a whisk with both hands folded over his abdomen, eyes closed in meditation.

There were also two children, reluctantly accompanying their master the abbot, having woken early. They rubbed their eyes, yawned, and were dazed. The master hadn't said who they were to welcome. They had already waited nearly half an hour, which was truly tiring.

Not long ago, Liu Mao had said he was preparing to form a golden core and hoped the court could help arrange a suitable training ground.

On the temple gate were pasted two painted, majestic images of Spirit Officials, life-sized.

Through the "introduction" of the debt-collector Mr. Zeng, Han Guanghu, who had become Great Springs' state preceptor at the beginning of this spring, smiled and said, "Your Majesty, this Liu Mao's cultivation aptitude is not bad. At just over forty, he has a chance to form a golden core."

As long as one didn't compare him to those unreasonable young cultivators, this former third prince of the Great Springs dynasty, if he truly formed a golden core before forty, could be called a "genius."

Now it was up to the emperor's thoughts. Would she allow the Dragon Continent Daoist to leap over the dragon gate, or would she keep the third prince Liu Mao stuck at the Dragon Gate realm for life?

Perhaps the answer would come after the emperor met with her former "brother-in-law," or perhaps she had already made up her mind long ago, and today's "stopover" at Yellow Flower Temple was merely a formality.

It was said that every year at Yellow Flower Temple, Liu Mao would personally write green words and yellow petitions, three-official handwritten texts, and festival talismans, and have them sent into the palace. The emperor would then pass them on to some old civil and military officials still serving at court. In fact, the meaning was simple: Liu Mao took this opportunity to help the emperor prove one thing—Liu Mao, son of the late emperor of Great Springs' Liu clan, was still alive and well. The emperor's grace was immense, and Liu Mao was deeply grateful. Therefore, aside from devout cultivation, he was willing to contribute a little to the new Yao dynasty.

Unconsciously, as they walked, Yao Lingzhi switched places with the state preceptor. She, along with her master Liu Zong and the youth Jian Ming, walked at the back of the alley.

Yao Xianzhi, limping ahead, slowed his pace, turned his head, and smiled. "State Preceptor, this Liu Mao is no pushover. Since childhood, he has been deep and scheming, skilled at calculation and winning people over. If he hadn't become a Daoist, I wouldn't be the Capital Prefect. My sister's Jianghu affairs would have been handled by Liu Mao as well. This guy's talent is indeed good. Take, for example, the compilation of the 'Yuanzhen Twelve-Year Comprehensive Gazetteer' in the former dynasty, a massive work of over four hundred volumes. The chief editor who actually set the outline and led the work was Liu Mao."

"In recent years, I've kept an eye on him. He's been fairly well-behaved. And Liu Mao is also a master of arithmetic. Many mathematical works on his bookshelves looked like gibberish to me. But I think Liu Mao's cultivation of the mind over these years—maybe he had some ideas at first, but now it's not just for show. He truly intends to cultivate in peace. Last time I came here, he even spoke some heartfelt words to me. Of course, they were a bit unpleasant. Anyway, Liu Mao has always liked to speak sarcastically to those he despises at heart."

Yao Lingzhi cautiously glanced at the emperor's expression, saw nothing, quickened her pace, reached out, and pinched her brother's side, warning him not to speak carelessly about Liu Mao.

Yao Xianzhi hesitated but didn't say what he truly thought. Mr. Chen had said that Liu Mao was truly disheartened. If handled properly, within a hundred years, the Great Springs dynasty might gain an Infant Soul stage Imperial Tutor to help prolong the nation's fortune. Only because Mr. Chen had made that judgment did Yao Xianzhi dare to say this today. Otherwise, after serving as Capital Prefect for so long, did they think he was just a wine sack?

Yao Jinzhi smiled but said nothing.

Yao Xianzhi said softly, "We're here."

Turning a corner in the alley, at Yellow Flower Temple, Liu Mao composed himself, held his whisk, and walked to the center of the alley. When the emperor's group approached, Liu Mao made a Daoist hand salute. "Liu Mao, abbot of Yellow Flower Temple, pays homage to the Emperor."

After rising, Liu Mao saluted again. "Liu Mao pays homage to the State Preceptor and the Capital Prefect."

Yao Jinzhi smiled. "No need for excessive courtesy. Liu Mao, it seems we haven't met in many years?"

Compared to that ambitious and arrogant eldest prince, Yao Jinzhi had little personal enmity with this Liu Mao.

The two little Daoist boys in the temple were dumbfounded, their minds blank. They forgot all etiquette—what did they know of it anyway? Their master hadn't taught them.

Fortunately, the emperor didn't seem angry. Instead, Yao Xianzhi reached out and pressed one little boy's head, teasing, "Why aren't you acting wild? Where's that usual tough streak?"

Liu Mao's expression grew even more respectful. No longer making Daoist salutes, he performed a courtier's bow and said softly, "Reporting to Your Majesty, it has been over ten years since we last parted. Time flies like a snap of the fingers."

Han Guanghu studied the abbot. This Liu Mao, a remnant of the former dynasty, had survived under the emperor's nose until today. Clearly, there was a reason for it.

Entering the temple, Yao Lingzhi temporarily suggested going to the main hall to pay respects. As far as the group could see, there was only one offering hall and one sleeping hall. Because it was an imperial construction, though small, the temple's standards were not low. The offering hall was deep, wide, and solemn, slightly dim. The warm chamber was only three feet from the hall, separated by a yellow dragon curtain. There was a luxurious carpet and two antique armchairs, cushioned with round-dragon yellow brocade, the front dragons woven with peacock feathers. However, the offerings on the altar were simple—only three pieces of meat in a gui vessel and a few grains of millet. The ritual vessels were crude, mostly red-lacquered wood.

Liu Mao immediately fetched an incense tube. When the emperor picked out three incense sticks, everyone stepped lightly out of the main hall.

After offering incense, the emperor did not immediately leave the hall but pushed aside the yellow curtain and went to the warm chamber for a while.

In fact, Liu Mao's lineage, in the former dynasty's Great Springs Liu clan's imperial genealogy, did not belong to the descendants of Gaozu Emperor but to the Taizong Emperor's line.

So, Yao Jinzhi's deliberate placement of Liu Mao in this temple built by the Taizong Emperor might not be without intention.

Yao Jinzhi stepped over the threshold. Instead of going to the more spacious guest hall, she said she wanted to sit in Liu Mao's study. The room was small, and there were only two chairs, which looked newly made.

Liu Mao remained expressionless.

Before cultivating, as a prince, he had been surrounded by splendor, feasting and drinking, with imperial candles as thick as arms, the night bright as day, yet the host still felt it was not lively enough.

After cultivating, the mere presence of two people felt noisy.

Han Guanghu had sharp eyes. He noticed a small piece of calligraphy on the study wall, simply mounted, copying from the Daoist classic "Yellow Court Scripture." At first glance, it seemed done in one breath, naturally formed. But upon closer inspection, there were two different handwriting styles. The last sixteen characters read: "Separate the path, scatter the body, transform freely, above supplement the true person, heaven and earth born together."

The old man clasped his hands behind his back, looked carefully for a while, and commented softly, "The latter surpasses the former."

Yao Xianzhi was amused. He pulled out a chair, intending to invite the emperor to sit, but Yao Jinzhi told him to sit himself. The prefect didn't stand on ceremony. He sat down and gently pounded his leg. In rainy or snowy weather, this old leg would rebel. After years of care, it had improved a lot. In the early days when he first became the emperor's brother-in-law, it was truly miserable. Then Mr. Chen gave him two Feather Transformation Pills, carefully refined by the Qinghu Palace on Clear View Mountain. After taking one, the effect was excellent—immediate results. Mr. Chen had even joked back then, "Young man, strong vitality, your butt can bake flatbread."

The emperor's eyes wandered. In the brush holder were two cock-feather brushes, presumably the special brushes Liu Mao used for copying scriptures.

In fact, Yao Jinzhi knew every brush and every book in this Yellow Flower Temple, especially this study, and even where each was placed.

For example, the two cock-feather brushes inscribed with "Quiet and Secluded" and "Clear and Pure" were actually left there by the emperor during the earlier "house search," along with the banned book "Celestial Phenomena and Star Charts."

She was kindly advising this young abbot of Yellow Flower Temple that if he was in a "quiet and secluded" place, he needed a corresponding "clear and pure" heart.

When not cultivating, he could also read books like "Celestial Phenomena and Star Charts" for leisure.

Since he was a cultivator, he should look up at the sky more often and not focus solely on earthly matters.

Whether Liu Mao could understand her intention, Yao Jinzhi didn't really care. Whatever wrong the Dragon Continent Daoist of Yellow Flower Temple did, he would face the consequences.

As if she, the emperor who had already spared his life, would show him such boundless generosity again and again.

Yao Jinzhi moved to the bookshelf, pulled out this banned book, and immediately squinted. She flipped through it quickly. In the slightly cramped but silent room, only the rustling of pages could be heard.

On the front and back flyleaves, there were two pairs of seals side by side: "Boundless Reflections" and "Take a Step Back," "Contentment" and "Dissatisfaction."

Yao Jinzhi casually put the book back in its place, turned around, and stretched out her hand toward the abbot in a Daoist robe, pressing down twice. Her gaze was gentle, signaling Liu Mao to sit in the last chair.

Liu Mao hesitated. Seeing Yao Jinzhi's unchanged expression, he had no choice but to sit. Nurture habits shape the body; nurture energy molds the spirit. This former weak and gentle woman now truly possessed imperial majesty.

The youth Jian Ming stood with arms crossed, leaning against the door frame. It was strange; he had originally intended to return this national treasure to the Great Springs Yao clan. But this stunningly beautiful emperor had not taken it back. Instead, she casually gave it to him as a gift. In exchange, Jian Ming would serve as a third-rank court Archivist Imperial Tutor in the Ministry of Punishments and would participate in the upcoming mountain searches of several vassal states, with promotions based on merit. Perhaps because the old man Han had become the Great Springs state preceptor, Jian Ming could give up his Imperial Tutor status at any time and leave the Great Springs dynasty.

Yao Jinzhi walked to the desk, extended two fingers, and lightly tapped the brush holder. She smiled. "Abbot Liu, do you know that our Great Springs Imperial Workshop has recently established a Stationery Office? Among them are craftsmen who specialize in making these cock-feather brushes. The factory is located at Lotus Flower Bridge, not far from Yellow Flower Temple, next to the Ministry of Revenue's Precious Springs Bureau and the Granary Office. They are about to be sold across the entire continent north and south. I wonder how sales will be. Earlier, several official styles submitted by the Ministry of Works were not quite to my satisfaction. Something seemed lacking."

The cock-feather brushes of the Great Springs dynasty were best suited for writing small standard script and were famous across the continent. Nobles, high officials, and literati from various countries used to love buying some cock-feather brushes, paired with Falling Plum Blossom paper from Cloud Cavern Blessed Land, for poetic exchanges in letters.

This business was a joint venture between the Great Springs Ministry of Works and the Green Duckweed Sword Sect. They merely adopted a suggestion from the latter, changing "official style" to "imperial style."

With just that one-word change, the price doubled.

As one of the allies in the Great River excavation, the southern Jade Gui Sect agreed, including the entire Cloud Cavern Blessed Land and several immortal ferry ports like Green City Ferry, to pre-order thirty thousand cock-feather brushes from the Great Springs dynasty.

Liu Mao cautiously asked, "May I ask Your Majesty, what is the price of these cock-feather brushes?"

Yao Jinzhi smiled. "One imperial cock-feather brush costs one Snowflake Coin. The Jade Gui Sect's Divine Seal Peak has already ordered thirty thousand brushes from us. The deposit alone is a considerable sum. That's why I'm so troubled. I can't just let the Stationery Office of the Imperial Workshop churn out shoddy cock-feather brushes to fool the Jade Gui Sect. This matter is both trivial and serious. If Divine Seal Peak really pursues it, it won't just be a matter of returning the money."

Liu Mao was speechless. Robbery?

In the past, Great Springs cock-feather brushes came in many varieties. If Liu Mao remembered correctly, setting aside those custom-made, extravagantly luxurious ones, just the commercially available ones with the best craftsmanship and highest price were only a dozen or so taels of silver.

Imperial style? Across an entire continent, which court's inner imperial workshop could produce thirty thousand brushes in one go?

Seeing the Dragon Continent Daoist's hesitant expression, Yao Jinzhi seemed in good spirits. She pulled a cock-feather brush from the holder, twirled it quickly between her fingers a few times, glanced at the inscription—"Clear and Pure"—then slightly raised her eyes to glance at Liu Mao, who remained upright and solemn. She casually threw the brush back into the holder. "After you emerge from seclusion, if you succeed in forming a golden core, don't cultivate too quietly. While stabilizing your realm, you should also temper your heart in the mundane world. As they say on the mountains, stepping into the mundane is also cultivation. For instance, the court is about to issue new currency. Since Yellow Flower Temple is so close to the Precious Springs Bureau and the Stationery Office factory, you should visit often. Later, I'll have the Ministry of Punishments give you a suitable official status. Don't worry, it will be a clean, leisurely position."

Liu Mao quickly stood up, bowed to the emperor, and thanked her. "Your subject accepts the decree. Thank you for Your Majesty's grace."

Yao Jinzhi smiled. "Then I wish Abbot Liu success in forming his golden core. As for the training ground and protection during seclusion, Prefect Yao will finalize the details within three days at the latest."

Liu Mao turned slightly and bowed to the prefect in thanks.

Yao Xianzhi was inwardly annoyed. Privately, why weren't you so polite?

Yao Jinzhi was the first to leave the room.

Yao Lingzhi left a gift on the table.

After seeing the group out through the temple gate, Liu Mao gently tugged Yao Xianzhi's sleeve.

Yao Xianzhi stopped, lowered his voice, and asked in confusion, "Something?"

Liu Mao said softly, "Prefect, possessing banned books within a Daoist temple is against court ritual regulations. May I beg Your Majesty to have someone take back this 'Celestial Phenomena and Star Charts' and submit it to the library?"

Yao Xianzhi cursed with a laugh but agreed. He turned and caught up with the group, muttering to himself, this Liu Mao was truly a sly fox.

Walking back the same way in the alley, Han Guanghu frowned. "Your Majesty, what is Han Jiangshu of the Ten Thousand Yao Sect thinking? She keeps dragging her feet, never giving a definite answer. She paid the deposit but has yet to send a cultivator to contact the court. Is the Three Mountains Blessed Land so confident that we can't find another buyer?"

Yao Jinzhi frowned slightly. "It is strange."

Earlier, Han Jiangshu had approached her. The Ten Thousand Yao Sect planned to order a cross-continent ferry from the Great Springs dynasty. The negotiations went fairly smoothly. This female immortal of the Upper Five Realms, whose family owned a blessed land, was not at all arrogant. On the contrary, she was as easy to deal with as someone seeking a favor.

Han Guanghu sneered. "Your Majesty, in my opinion, if Han Jiangshu still hasn't replied in another month, the Ten Thousand Yao Sect can forget about getting that deposit back. No matter who comes knocking, I'll handle the reasoning for you. Even if it's her father, the sect leader Han Yushu, who comes in person, he won't get any advantage from me."

Liu Zong sighed. People really were incomparable. That was the confidence of a Martial Artist in the Stopping Realm.

Otherwise, even the emperor didn't dare to push the Ten Thousand Yao Sect too much. She had only sent a letter through the Ministry of Rites to the contact person Han Jiangshu designated in the blessed land, but it had vanished without a trace.

The Ten Thousand Yao Sect was already a second-rank immortal mansion. According to the Great Springs court's estimation, given the battle merits they had purchased with money, the Wen Temple would most likely not obstruct them. Therefore, within a few years, they would surely establish a subordinate sect.

But for some reason, after Han Jiangshu, as the sect's spokesperson, appeared in Tongye Continent, it was like a fleeting glance, and then no news.

The pre-order of the cross-continent ferry "Thunder Chariot" from the Great Springs court had been shelved.

Yao Jinzhi smiled. "Then let it be. No matter how large the Ten Thousand Yao Sect's power, it cannot surpass reason."

Earlier, the Great Springs dynasty had half-purchased and half-built its first cross-continent ferry, "Deer Holding Lingzhi." The most expensive part of a cross-continent ferry was the blueprint, which was listed by the major sects as their topmost secret. If it was just the cost of purchasing the ferry itself, the price wasn't shocking. The reason that sect on Grey Mist Continent was willing to sell the blueprint and a hull was:

First, the Great Springs dynasty would sign a contract not to leak the blueprint. Second, some key parts of the ferry required future maintenance. Given the current strength of the Great Springs Ministry of Works, even with the blueprint, they couldn't handle repairs. This would require long-term cooperation with the seller. Third, by selling the ferry, they effectively established the largest "ferry port" for themselves in Tongye Continent. Finally, every new ferry the Great Springs court built following the blueprint would earn that sect a share.

The Great Springs Yao clan planned to build two more cross-continent ferries in the next ten to twenty years, named "Emei Moon" and "Thunder Chariot." The Great Springs would keep one and sell one to fill the treasury deficit from purchasing the blueprint and building three cross-continent ferries. For the "Thunder Chariot," two immortal mansions were interested: besides the Ten Thousand Yao Sect, there was the Golden Peak Temple in the north. The Daoist master and disciple Bao Zhen and Yin Miaofeng and Shao Yuanyan had both been first-rank Imperial Tutors of the Great Springs dynasty. Golden Peak Temple's chief Imperial Tutor Lu Ying had contacted the Great Springs. However, Golden Peak Temple's offer was thirty percent lower than the Ten Thousand Yao Sect's.

Yao Xianzhi lightly bumped Liu Zong's shoulder, winking at the old man.

Liu Zong chuckled, pretending to be clueless.

Seeing Yao Xianzhi still not letting up, Liu Zong turned to look at the female cultivator walking side by side with his disciple.

The older ginger was spicier; the prefect immediately backed down.

Earlier, according to Liu Zong's suggestion, the Great Springs would keep two cross-continent ferries, "Deer Holding Lingzhi" and "Emei Moon." The former would travel a north-south route passing through three continents from south to north: Tongye Continent, Vase Bottle Continent, and Beiju Continent. After the second ferry, "Emei Moon," was completed, it would cooperate with the Liu clan of Grey Mist Continent to exploit the northern polar ice fields, passing through South Bodhi Continent, Middle Earth Continent, and Grey Mist Continent. It would form alliances with more than ten sects, immortal mansions, and mortal dynasties, including the Dragon Elephant Sword Sect, totaling sixteen large immortal ferry ports, signing detailed berthing agreements.

Regarding this matter, discussions in the emperor's study had already passed it.

But those in the know who were qualified to participate understood that the person who proposed this plan was certainly not Liu Zong, the chief Imperial Tutor.

And after Han Guanghu became state preceptor, the plan was revised. The main change was the route, which could now take the commercial shipping lanes through Reed Flower Island, Rain Dragon Sect, Fuyao Continent, and Golden Armor Continent.

After all, Han Guanghu had great prestige on Golden Armor Continent, with deep connections and goodwill both on and off the mountains.

Han Guanghu didn't think much of Liu Zong's proposed route, but one point he praised highly, saying Liu Zong had foresight and keen insight.

Because, according to Liu Zong's suggestion, for all the sects, immortal mansions, and major ferry ports along the ferry's route, the Great Springs court must insist on early price agreements and sign long-term contracts. Now in the Haoran world, most cross-continent ferries had been requisitioned by the Wen Temple. To maintain operations and ensure profitability, the ports urgently needed cross-continent ferries like "Deer Holding Lingzhi" and "Emei Moon," which hadn't been requisitioned, to dock for trade, bringing in traffic and stable revenue. Therefore, by signing contracts with the ports during this period, the Great Springs dynasty could get prices far lower than in previous years. So the longer the contract term, the less the Great Springs paid in tolls and passage fees each year. Saving money is earning money—a simple truth everyone understands.

Yao Jinzhi weighed the pros and cons. It was indeed hard to decide. After much thought, maybe she should just build another cross-continent ferry?

She had even thought of a name: Fire Pearl Forest.

Yao Lingzhi had long been married. The woman who once yearned for the Jianghu ended up marrying a scholar from a literary family. Now she had both a son and a daughter. She was the earliest of the "Zhi" generation to start a family.

Earlier, Chen Ping'an had asked Yao Xianzhi to pass on two red envelopes to her children. During the New Year's greetings not long ago, her brother's move had completely stunned the two kids.

Before, the two children were always skeptical of their uncle Yao Xianzhi's various claims. "Uncle, are you really that familiar with Hidden Official Chen? You're not just boasting, right? It's probably just a nodding acquaintance where you exchanged a few idle words, right?"

But ever since they each received a red envelope from Yao Xianzhi, the two children now treated their uncle with extreme respect. Especially after learning that their uncle had even become a nominal guest elder of the Green Duckweed Sword Sect's Founder's Hall, their eyes sparkled. They worshipped him even more completely. They'd flatter him whenever they met: "Uncle, want a shoulder rub or a leg massage? Uncle, you look younger every time we meet, even more handsome. Uncle, let me be your matchmaker with Sister Yuanyang. If you don't object, I'll just call her auntie..."

To children, among the many immortals on the mountains, sword immortals were the most fascinating, bar none.

And that young Hidden Official from the Sword Qi Great Wall was the sword immortal among sword immortals.

In fact, both the emperor and Yao Jinzhi, and even their grandfather, were happy to see this develop. But the prefect just couldn't figure it out, so things had been delayed.

Liu Yi, childhood name Yuanyang, Daoist name "Yifu," was a native of Great Springs. Her family was a local prefectural clan. She was sixty-three years old, at the Dragon Gate realm.

She looked young, which indicated her excellent cultivation aptitude.

Earlier, at the battlefields in the capital outskirts and Mirage City, Liu Yi had fought desperately, showing great courage but also great strategy. As a Dragon Gate female cultivator, she had accumulated battle merits that rivaled several Golden Core cultivators.

But in the end, Liu Yi only requested a third-rank Imperial Tutor from the Great Springs court. In fact, based on her merits, a second-rank Imperial Tutor was well within reach.

Some things—if a woman doesn't oppose, it's already an obvious signal. How much bolder could she be?

Yao Lingzhi looked at Liu Yi beside her, smiling again and again.

Liu Yi just pretended not to notice, but her ears quietly reddened.

Yao Lingzhi felt sorry for her. So she quickened her pace, stepped forward, and kicked Yao Xianzhi from behind, making him stumble. He quickly reached out and steadied himself against the wall. He turned and asked, "What now?"

Yao Lingzhi said irritably, "None of your business!"

Yao Xianzhi laughed angrily. "Sis, you kicked a cripple for no reason, and you're still in the right? I'll have to tell your son and daughter about this. Let's see who they side with."

Yao Lingzhi spat, "Cripple? Fool, more like."

No wonder she had heard that on the ferry, Grandpa and Mr. Chen had a conversation. One said Yao Xianzhi wasn't good enough for a certain lady, and the other agreed.

Yao Jinzhi paid no attention to the commotion behind her. She continued discussing business with the old state preceptor. "The Stationery Office can't rely solely on the cock-feather brush business. Within the Great Springs dynasty, there are several old inkstone quarries that have been sealed for years. For that matter, new quarry stone isn't necessarily inferior to old quarry stone. Take the Tao River on the southern border. When I was a child, I often followed Lingzhi and Xianzhi to play in the inkstone quarries. The quarrying started quite early, producing a moist, jade-like stone for making inkstones. In my opinion, its ink-producing quality is no less than other famous inkstones. It has a history of over twelve hundred years. But it has been abandoned for years, located in a remote border area, so it's quite rare."

Yao Xianzhi nodded. "But the main pits are all at the bottom of the deep Tao River. Without a certain number of Qi refiners, ordinary stonecutters would find it too difficult. The biggest problem is that there are no dedicated books recording it. In our Great Springs, even the Tao River inkstone's fame is hidden, let alone selling it to other countries. Otherwise, those Mei Zi pits we often visited as children, as well as Temple Front Green and Temple Back Red—the quality of the stone is genuinely good. It's a pity that both on and off the mountains prefer to value the past over the present. If the price were right and the quantity large, the court could simply continue quarrying in the old pits and make a considerable profit."

Liu Zong stroked his beard and smiled. "I heard that several hundred years ago, there was a book called 'Pure Record of Cavern Heavens' that promoted famous old inkstones from various places in Tongye Continent. It listed more than a dozen precious inkstones. Why don't we have the court republish an official edition? Find a few literary talents from the Hanlin Academy to write with good style. Sneak in an article about the 'Tao River Green Inkstone' and make the inkstone sound wonderful and difficult to mine. Add a few supernatural traces. Rich scholars like to value the past over the present, don't they? Well, that would make it 'ancient.'"

Yao Jinzhi turned to look at the chief Imperial Tutor.

Yao Lingzhi was even more astonished. Had her master, after reaching the Far Traveling realm, suddenly gained business acumen?

Yao Xianzhi suppressed a laugh, enjoying himself. He gave Old Man Liu a thumbs-up. Nice, impressive.

Han Guanghu thought for a moment and nodded. "A venture that yields a thousandfold profit can be pursued. If handled properly and the brand is established, in addition to the continent's own market, we can use the cross-continent ferries and the cock-feather brushes, along with other Great Springs specialties, to sell to other continents. That would be a considerable source of income."

The old state preceptor looked at Liu Zong with new respect. This guy wasn't just a freeloader.

Liu Zong stroked his beard and smiled. Thinking back to his youth, his nickname "Little Zhu Lian" wasn't for nothing.

Back at Yellow Flower Temple, the two little Daoist boys squatted under the eaves, chattering excitedly. The emperor was really beautiful!

In the study, Liu Mao opened the small brocade box on the table. Inside was an imperial round ink stick, gold-washed. On the front was the clerical script "The noble person cultivates good fortune." The header read "Nine Long Lives Ordered." The intaglio was filled with green. On the back was a "Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth" five-element diagram.

Liu Mao let out a long breath. He had to admit that getting through this crisis really required thanking that person surnamed Chen.

Approaching the carriages, the emperor took a detour to return to the lotus pond railing where she had stopped earlier. She was silent for a moment, then asked the old state preceptor beside her, "I heard that the latest Three Teachings Debate is about to begin?"

Han Guanghu nodded. "It had been delayed for several years due to the great war."

Yao Jinzhi hesitated, then asked, "With your status as state preceptor, are you able to sit in on the debate?"

Han Guanghu laughed dryly and shook his head. "I'm just a Martial Artist. I don't have that qualification. Even when I was on Golden Armor Continent with a state preceptor title, I couldn't participate in such major events."

Yao Jinzhi nodded, seeming a bit regretful.

Perhaps mentioning Golden Armor Continent stirred a bit of homesickness in the old man.

Everyone has someone in their thoughts, separated by great distances.

Yao Jinzhi's gaze also became distant, her expression dazed. The person was far away, yet also in the heartland.