Chapter 1622: The Marriage of Celestial Venerable Mu
The Heavenly Court floated silently above the Ancestral Realm. The news that Celestial Venerable Fire had betrayed them, murdering the newly appointed Celestial Venerable Yin and Celestial Venerable Azure Dragon, naturally caused an uproar within the court. However, word quickly spread that Celestial Venerable Fire, guilty of heinous crimes, had been captured and executed, putting everyone at ease once more.
Even if there were any dissenting voices or rumors within the Heavenly Court, they could not stir up much trouble, because Yan Yazi personally ascended to the Heavenly Court to beg forgiveness from Emperor Hao Tian, bearing a thorny branch on his back as a sign of penance. He declared his willingness to bear the sins committed by his master, Celestial Venerable Fire.
Emperor Hao Tian, moved by his filial piety and loyalty, showed great mercy, pardoning his transgressions and allowing him to give Celestial Venerable Fire a grand burial. Furthermore, mindful of Celestial Venerable Fire’s contributions to the world and the Heavenly Court, although he stripped him of the title of Supreme Being Equal to Heaven, he still retained his title of Celestial Venerable and had him buried with the rites befitting a Celestial Venerable.
— However, Celestial Venerable Fire’s body was not intact. Yan Yazi casually found someone who resembled Celestial Venerable Fire, killed him, placed him in a coffin, and filled it with treasures.
Yan Yazi then undertook massive construction projects, building a mausoleum to bury this counterfeit Celestial Venerable Fire. Several times, he wept before the mausoleum until he fainted, even attempting to commit suicide to accompany his master in the tomb, lest his teacher be lonely.
The civil and military officials of the Heavenly Court who attended the ceremony all sighed repeatedly, saying that Celestial Venerable Fire had taken on a good disciple, one so loyal and righteous that he was not inferior to Celestial Venerable Fire in his prime.
Everyone rushed forward to stop him, preventing him from doing anything foolish.
The entire Heavenly Court was filled with grief as they buried Celestial Venerable Fire, Celestial Venerable Yin, and Celestial Venerable Azure Dragon.
— Celestial Venerable Yin’s body was not intact, so a cenotaph was used. Celestial Venerable Azure Dragon was left with only a head. Emperor Hao Tian, pitying his loyalty and righteousness, ordered a body made of divine metal to be crafted for Celestial Venerable Azure Dragon and sewn together with his head.
On the day of the burial, Emperor Hao Tian personally attended. He wept silently, wailing loudly as he leaned on the coffin. The civil and military officials wept endlessly as well. It was not until the seven most senior ministers of the Heavenly Court stepped forward, urging the Emperor to take care of his health for the sake of all living beings, that Emperor Hao Tian finally ceased his mourning.
After the funeral, Emperor Hao Tian issued new appointments and rewards. He promoted Red Emperor Qi Xiayu to Celestial Venerable of the Southern Heaven, with Yan Yazi as her assistant. The Western Emperor became Celestial Venerable of the Western Heaven. The Eastern Heaven’s Azure Emperor became Celestial Venerable of the Eastern Heaven. The Eastern Extremity Heaven was designated as the retirement home for the Supreme Emperor Tai Chu.
Emperor Hao Tian also appointed a new Northern Emperor, promoting the Yin Celestial Venerable among the Ancient Gods of Tai Chi to Celestial Venerable of the Northern Heaven, and the Sun Celestial Venerable to Celestial Venerable of the Primordial Realm.
For a time, the Heavenly Court was abuzz with discussion—some rejoiced, while others worried.
After issuing his appointments, Emperor Hao Tian returned to his palace. Someone presented a jade box. Emperor Hao Tian waved his hand, dismissing the surrounding Imperial Guards. He opened the jade box to reveal the head of the reincarnated body of Divine King Lang Xuan, Yu Cangqi.
Emperor Hao Tian smiled and said, “My brother Lang Xuan, how have you been?”
Inside the jade box, the head of Lang Xuan’s reincarnated body opened its eyes and said, “The victor is king, the loser a bandit. Why say more, Your Majesty? Just send me on my way.”
Emperor Hao Tian laughed heartily. “The Supreme Emperor knew I am naturally suspicious, yet he still preserved your soul, sealed within your head, to dispel my doubts. Brother, do you hate him for doing this?”
Lang Xuan said, “The imperial family is inherently heartless. How could there be any talk of hatred?”
Emperor Hao Tian nodded. He ground Lang Xuan’s bones to dust and scattered his ashes, then cast his soul into the Abyss of Return to be obliterated. He laughed, “Now I can rest easy!”
At that moment, a soul from his incarnation in Yan Kang flew over and merged with his primordial spirit.
Emperor Hao Tian grew angry. “Those barbaric fools from the lower realm actually dared to humiliate me like this!”
He retrieved his soul, which gave his cultivation and strength a considerable boost. He stood up, intending to personally go and kill Xing Han, but then he suddenly chuckled. “He’s quite a talent. If I could recruit him to the Heavenly Court, I could appoint him as Celestial Venerable of the Zao Fu Heavenly Palace. He can detect the flaws in my techniques, so he can be put to good use, perfecting my methods. I’ll leave this matter to Celestial Venerable Mu.”
He drew a portrait of Xing Han, summoned the Imperial Guards, and said, “Go down to the lower realm and see Celestial Venerable Mu. Have him find this person and send him to the Heavenly Court. I have important use for him.”
Several Imperial Guards acknowledged the order and immediately descended to the lower realm.
The Spiritual Energy Transfer Bridge had not yet been closed. It took the Imperial Guards a day or two to reach the capital of Yan Kang. There, they saw the Upper and Lower Capitals of Yan Kang decorated with lanterns and banners, bustling with excitement.
The Imperial Guards made some inquiries. Someone said, “Emperor Yan Xiu has abdicated. The former Supreme Emperor Yan Feng has been released from prison and has ascended the throne again. National Teacher Qin has also resigned from his position, handing it over to the former National Teacher Jiang. National Teacher Jiang has also been released from prison.”
One Imperial Guard laughed, “What’s so special about that? They just swapped back to the old emperor and national teacher.”
“You don’t know the whole story.”
People told them, laughing, “National Teacher Qin and Emperor Yan Xiu had an agreement. Once they stepped down from their positions, they would get married! There had been turmoil before, and Emperor Yan Xiu remained on the throne to honor that promise. The court officials repeatedly urged her to open a harem, select talented men to fill it, establish consorts and an empress, and bear a child or two to continue Yan Kang’s national fortune. But the emperor always rejected them. Now that the emperor has abdicated, it’s to marry National Teacher Qin!”
The Imperial Guards exchanged glances and tentatively asked, “This National Teacher Qin, who is marrying the emperor, wouldn’t be Celestial Venerable Mu, would he?”
“Who else? A National Teacher cannot marry an emperor. After the emperor abdicates, she becomes Princess Xiu, and after the National Teacher steps down, he becomes Celestial Venerable Mu, so he can marry the princess.”
Someone told them, “The Celestial Venerable said that after marrying Princess Xiu, he will return to the Yong River to be a cowherd and no longer concern himself with the troubles of the world!”
The Imperial Guards quietly discussed among themselves. “Celestial Venerable Mu is about to retire. The one in power in Yan Kang now is not him, but Emperor Yan Feng and National Teacher Jiang. How do we explain this to His Majesty? Who can capture the person in this portrait?”
“Celestial Venerable Mu’s marriage and retirement is a major matter. One of you should go back first and report this to His Majesty. The rest of us will go see Emperor Yan Feng and the Yan Kang National Teacher and have them capture this person.”
So one Imperial Guard hurriedly departed.
Emperor Hao Tian was diligently attending to state affairs, reviewing memorials. The Imperial Guard arrived, knelt, and reported the matter.
Emperor Hao Tian put down his memorial, surprised. “Celestial Venerable Mu is getting married and retiring? Have I been too harsh on that fellow? I was waiting for him to come to the Heavenly Court, grovel before me, flatter me profusely, and curry favor! Retiring now is a bit early…”
The Imperial Guard said, “Your Majesty, the Upper and Lower Capitals of Yan Kang are bustling with activity. Celestial Venerable Mu’s wedding is likely within the next day or two.”
Emperor Hao Tian laughed. “Celestial Venerable Mu is a man of great talent and strategy, and I have always admired him. It’s good that he’s retiring. It’s best if he never recovers! I don’t want him to become a second Celestial Venerable Fire. His threat level is far, far greater than Fire’s. Instruct the Ministry of Revenue to open the treasury, prepare a batch of congratulatory gifts, and send them to Yan Kang to celebrate Celestial Venerable Mu’s wedding.”
He stood up, still smiling. “Celestial Venerable Mu’s wedding must be lively and grand, a magnificent funeral… bah, a magnificent wedding!”
He sighed, but his face was full of smiles. “The era of Celestial Venerable Mu has passed just like that. It makes me sigh as well. Go back to Yan Kang and tell Celestial Venerable Mu that I am too busy with official duties to personally come and offer my congratulations. After he retires to the Yong River, I will visit him in plain clothes and drink with him happily.”
The Imperial Guard hurriedly departed.
Meanwhile, the Imperial Guards who had remained in Yan Kang went to see Emperor Yan Feng and National Teacher Jiang Baigui.
Emperor Yan Feng hastily received the envoys. The Imperial Guards presented Emperor Hao Tian’s portrait. Emperor Yan Feng respectfully accepted it, placed it on an altar, burned incense, and offered sacrifices before carefully unrolling the painting and examining it. He fell into deep thought.
National Teacher Jiang Baigui stepped forward and also studied the portrait. The ruler and his minister were both lost in thought.
The Imperial Guards said, “You two, His Majesty wants this person captured, not killed. He intends to appoint him as the Lord of the Zao Fu Palace, the Celestial Venerable of Zao Fu. It’s his good fortune! Why are you putting on such an act?”
“Three envoys.”
Emperor Yan Feng said with difficulty, “His Majesty’s painting is divinely inspired, a heavenly script. The reason we are hesitating is that we cannot quite understand it.”
The three Imperial Guards sneered. They stepped forward to look and also fell into hesitation.
Emperor Hao Tian’s painting was too impressionistic. The figure in it was crooked and indistinct, making it impossible to discern his features. By his feet was something that looked like a dog but had no tail, or perhaps a box.
The only thing that could be identified was Emperor Hao Tian’s handwriting, which read: “This person’s name is unknown, but his appearance closely resembles the divine artifact Imperial Celestial Venerable, in his youthful form.”
National Teacher Jiang Baigui said thoughtfully, “Closely resembles the divine artifact Imperial Celestial Venerable? Where are we supposed to find someone like that? Envoys, please return to His Majesty and tell him that Yan Kang will do its utmost to search for this person. As for whether we can recruit him…”
He wore a troubled expression.
The three Imperial Guards understood. Relying solely on Emperor Hao Tian’s painting to find this person would be like searching for a needle in a haystack.
Moreover, since even Emperor Hao Tian didn’t know the man’s name, the search would be even more difficult.
The Imperial Guards took their leave. Emperor Yan Feng quickly said, “My daughter, the princess, is to marry Celestial Venerable Mu in the next few days. There’s no need for you envoys to rush back. Please stay and partake in the wedding feast first. I also need to prepare some gifts, which will take a day or two, as an offering to you envoys.”
The three exchanged glances and slowly nodded. “Celestial Venerable Mu is the Celestial Venerable who transmitted the art of longevity. His merits are boundless. It is only right that we stay to observe his grand wedding.”
They took up residence. Emperor Yan Feng treated them to fine wine and meat, and ordered various rare treasures to be prepared and sent to their lodgings.
Emperor Yan Feng also arranged for the three Imperial Guards to visit the largest manufacturing bureau in Yan Kang, allowing them to choose any divine weapons produced there. The three were delighted, thinking, “This Emperor Yan Feng is a sensible man.”
Emperor Yan Feng said to National Teacher Jiang, “Celestial Venerable Mu’s wedding can buy us some more time and also let Emperor Hao Tian let down his guard. In the coming days, the Heavenly Court won’t wage war on Yan Kang. The negotiations between the Heavenly Court and Yan Kang can also be dragged out for a few more years.”
“Your Majesty should not be too optimistic.”
National Teacher Jiang said, “Yu Chenzi has taken Yan Kang’s most eloquent and muddle-headed negotiators to talk with the Heavenly Court. According to the original plan, it could be dragged out for a few years. But now, Emperor Hao Tian has eliminated Celestial Venerable Fire. Tai Chu doesn’t dare to show his face or compete with him for benefits. Ancestral God King, Celestial Venerable Void, and the Ancient Gods of Tai Chi are even less of a concern! Now, the Heavenly Court has only one power, and that is Emperor Hao Tian! Yu Chenzi’s delaying tactics will probably no longer work.”
Emperor Yan Feng frowned. “That’s why Celestial Venerable Mu and Yu Xiu abdicated and got married, letting us take the stage, hoping to buy a few more years.”
National Teacher Jiang nodded. “Their marriage and retirement are forced by the pressure Yan Kang is under. It’s hard on Princess Xiu.”
Emperor Yan Feng’s expression turned strange. “I think she’s quite happy. These past few days, she’s been completely relaxed, looking smug whenever she sees anyone… A daughter can’t be kept forever, you know—”
— Well, I solemnly announce to everyone: Little Mu Mu is getting married!!!