“If my great cause succeeds, Master Zhou shall be the first to receive credit!”
Shi Yue was greatly excited.
Although it was somewhat controversial for the son-in-law to inherit, if both of his sons were dead, there would be no problem.
Wasn’t that exactly why men like Master Zhou were brought in as advisors?
“I dare not accept such praise!”
Zhou Yuanzhen humbly declined a few words, yet inwardly he was quite pleased. These days, he had secretly contributed much to the escalating internal conflicts within the Wu family.
He secretly mused, “Back then, my master had a brief encounter with Lord Dinghou. When examining the other’s fate, he discovered the dragon’s fortune, precisely in this Dingzhou, thus painstakingly laying plans for two generations before success was achieved!”
“In my generation, finally there is hope of accomplishment! If I can assist Shi Yue to ascend the throne, my Pingzhen Dao sect could receive official recognition, and perhaps even I could become the national preceptor? I don’t ask for much, just three years of protection to enhance my Dao cultivation…”
In the Great Zhou world, the aristocrats and lords were not like the clueless daimyos in the Japan-inspired realm.
The position of national preceptor was like holding a sharp sword upside down—transferring the sacred weapon—something that would never be relinquished unless heaven collapsed and earth cracked, or the nation’s stability was at stake.
Zhou Yuanzhen calculated that even with his full efforts, he only had a fifty percent chance of success. However, if he could obtain the imperial decree granting him the title of Zhenren, it would already be considered achieving the fruit of cultivation.
Since he himself was already a Zhenren, he personally had no need for such a title.
But if he passed it to his disciple, it would increase the probability of breaking through to become a Zhenren by half with the help of fortune.
If this were passed down generation after generation, it would become the foundation of a sect! After all, this meant that each generation would have a high chance of producing a Zhenren to guard the fortune.
Of course, the prerequisite was that the Shi family must maintain their power and not revoke the decree.
“What about the Dragon Lord situation?”
“I have already met him in my Yuan Shen form. That Nu Long He Bo is quite reasonable, but…”
Zhou Yuanzhen hesitated a bit before continuing, “He mentioned the Li family in Chufeng Commandery, hinting that there might be traces of Daoist Zhenren supporting them. Please, Your Highness, be cautious!”
“Is that so? I understand!”
Shi Yue nodded gravely.
“There is also the matter of caution regarding the girl Wu Zhi!”
Zhou Yuanzhen gritted his teeth. Leaking heavenly secrets would certainly bring repercussions, but since he had already offended this girl beyond redemption, he might as well add another warning. After all, as long as Shi Yue could suppress her, there would be no backlash in the future; instead, it would be in line with heavenly fate, gaining fortune.
“Chufeng and Nanfeng form a dual phoenix situation. These two women, Zhong Lingshu of Chufeng and Wu Zhi, are blessed with phoenix fortune, decisive and capable, not ordinary people. At this moment, there is already a backlash!”
“Backlash?!” Shi Yue shuddered.
“That’s right. Through divination, I secretly learned that this girl is unwilling to submit to fate and is waiting for the right moment. It’s laughable that her father and brother are still in the dark!”
“So what should I do?”
“Just observe and let things develop, and push the situation forward! Perhaps the timing will come naturally, and this time you can gain both people and land. Allow this old man to congratulate Your Highness!”
Zhou Yuanzhen spoke solemnly.
“Your Highness… the Wu family is your in-law, and this evil person is sowing discord, which is not the way of righteousness! Please, Your Highness, execute this evil person to restore purity!”
The young scholar burst into anger.
“Cough… Mr. Zeng, you’re taking this too seriously!”
Shi Yue coughed, showing displeasure.
Zeng Yu was merely somewhat talented and had not been in the household for long. Although he was learned and courteous, in times of chaos, he was not highly regarded.
“It’s said that conquering the world is easy, but governing it is hard. Poetry, books, and etiquette will have their uses in peaceful times! But now… it’s somewhat inappropriate!”
Zhou Yuanzhen, being the chief advisor of the Marquis’s mansion, naturally had his own pride, speaking indifferently.
“Enough! Let’s return. I will host a banquet to welcome Master Zhou!”
Shi Yue turned and walked away, followed closely by a group, intentionally or not excluding Zeng Yu from the circle.
Zeng Yu stood silently for a long while before suddenly sighing:
“Different paths cannot be traveled together!”
His face showed bitterness: “In this present world, where is there still a truly benevolent ruler? Master, you advocate benevolence first. Even when people from Dingyuan Commandery heard of the troubles in Chufeng Commandery, they stepped forward without hesitation. Yet, how many people in the world truly recognize our Confucian school?”
The “Master” Zeng Yu mentioned was actually a great Confucian scholar who had once appeared at the Longmen gathering.
“Stay if compatible, leave if not… This heir of the Marquis of Ding is ultimately not a wise lord…”
Zeng Yu sighed, unfastened and threw his waist tablet on the ground, then turned and left.
Deep within the woods, after a long while, a figure slowly emerged, picked up the discarded waist tablet, and a sneer appeared on his face—it was Qiao Da from earlier.
“Just as Master Zhou predicted, this man’s proud nature made him leave directly. Trying to imitate the ancients by resigning with a seal? Hmph… Take this back to the heir, and immediately it becomes evidence to charge him with a grave offense of disrespect!”
How could the master-apprentice duo of Zhou Yuanzhen, who had been assisting the Marquis of Ding for two generations, be compared to someone like Zeng Yu?
At this moment, Qiao Da took the waist tablet back, saw Shi Yue, and immediately knelt down: “Your servant is incompetent… I couldn’t catch up with Mr. Zeng…”
“Damn! Could this Zeng Yu think I lack virtue and am unworthy of his assistance?”
Shi Yue looked at the waist tablet, his face as if slapped, turning red with anger.
“Zeng Yu has a proud and upright nature. Although he has some talent, he opposes my Dao. He must never be allowed to hold a high position near the Marquis of Ding!”
Zhou Yuanzhen’s eyes flashed with sharpness as he bowed and said: “Your Highness… Mr. Zeng possesses extraordinary qi; he is indeed a talent. You should chase him back quickly. This poor Daoist should go apologize to him!”
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone around nodded, thinking that Zhou Yuanzhen was quite magnanimous for speaking up for his rival, unaware that he had already thoroughly analyzed the heir’s character, hitting the nerve precisely.
“Go invite him?”
Shi Yue instinctively felt displeased: “What am I? Should I bow and scrape before a poor, pedantic scholar, apologizing?”
But the words “extraordinary qi” made him shiver inwardly: “Better I betray others than let others betray me. Since Zeng Yu won’t serve me, I must ensure no one else can have him either!”
A coldness filled his heart, and a hint of murderous intent arose.
“Ah?”
After doing this, Zhou Yuanzhen felt a slight satisfaction but also some unease, immediately alerting him: “This old Daoist hasn’t thoroughly studied Zeng Yu’s fate yet. After driving him away, this feeling of loss immediately surfaced. Could Zeng Yu actually be a great talent capable of becoming a high minister?”
Earlier, he had completely fabricated the story about Zeng Yu possessing extraordinary qi, intentionally provoking jealousy and cruelty in the heir. Now he felt a sense of irony from heaven.
“But even with the method of observing fortune, as the saying goes, a doctor cannot heal himself, and a diviner cannot predict his own fate. Entangled as I am with the fortune of the Dinghou Mansion, I cannot see clearly…”
At this moment, his heart hardened again: “Even if you are a commoner destined for high office, capable of helping Lord Ding succeed, if you oppose my Dao, you still cannot be left alive!”
He became even more determined to eliminate him.
“Report! Your Highness, we intercepted a secret letter from the Wu family in Nanfeng Commandery!”
Returning to the camp, another secret guard galloped over, handing him a sealed bamboo tube with wax.
“Hmm… Let me see how my father-in-law and those two brothers-in-law are doing?”
Shi Yue smiled as he broke the seal, took out the letter, and after reading a few lines, his face changed, becoming even darker with rage as he shouted: “What audacity! What audacity!”
The steward and Qiao Da both shrank their necks; in their memories, Shi Yue rarely got this angry.
“Qiao Da! Immediately take ten personal guards and kill Zeng Yu!”
After pacing for a few moments, Shi Yue coldly laughed, gritting his teeth, his words practically squeezed out one by one between his teeth.
“Yes, sir!”
At this moment, giving orders meant military commands—commands as heavy as mountains! Qiao Da dared not delay, immediately gathering ten men, mounting their horses, and galloping away.
“Master Zhou!”
“At your service!”
Knowing that the secret letter must have enraged the heir, leading to this decision, Zeng Yu had suffered an unexpected disaster. Zhou Yuanzhen’s expression involuntarily became even more respectful.
“There is another matter I must trouble you with!”
Shi Yue said slowly: “In Yunping County of Chufeng Commandery, there is a small family named Wu, who has some connection with Wu Zhi. I originally thought it was just a joke, but now I find they still have contact. Please go and destroy them completely!”
“Yunping County, the Wu family?”
Zhou Yuanzhen stroked his beard: “I heard that the Yuqing Dao sect has taken in a remarkable cultivator there, also surnamed Wu. He became a mage at a young age, but since he hasn’t become a Zhenren, he hasn’t truly entered the hall…”
He immediately replied: “Alright!”
“Haha… With you, I have no worries!”
Only then did Shi Yue turn his anger into joy, laughing heartily.
…
Inside the Wu family fortress in Yunping County.
“Little brother… Wu Zhi has accepted the engagement gift. It seems she will soon become a daughter-in-law of our Wu family!”
Wu Qing smiled playfully at Wu Ming.
“Sister, you’re joking… I’ve been thinking day and night and have figured out a bit of the secret to altering fate. The Canghai Yue Ming pearl is a key trigger. I’ll send it to Wu Zhi to gain her affection and obtain her aura…”
Wu Ming wore a loose robe, simply tied his hair into a bun, and wore a bamboo cap. His aura was subtle yet grand and imposing.
Cultivation means transcending the mundane.
Yet Wu Ming’s current demeanor reminded Wu Qing of the vast sky!
“Is he even a Zhenren anymore?”
Wu Qing held her forehead, eyes sparkling: “Even the Zhenren I’ve seen seem to pale in comparison to you…”
“Just a fortunate encounter!”
After all, now he could attribute everything to the Main God, so Wu Ming didn’t hold back much.
He had originally been just a step away from becoming a Tianshi. After suppressing his fortune with the Suizhou pearl, he vaguely felt a breakthrough coming.
“Hmm?”
At this moment, he looked northward, his expression shifting.
“What’s wrong?” Wu Qing asked anxiously.
“Nothing serious. Once I decided to intervene, the fortune became entangled. Someone is coming to meet their death!”
Wu Ming said indifferently, his eyes flashing with cold light.
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