Crane-like Form

By the time Xiao Mo's consciousness withdrew from the Book of a Hundred Lives, it was already six in the morning of the next day.

Inside the Book of a Hundred Lives, Xiao Mo had spent nearly two months.

Although the time flow in the Book of a Hundred Lives was a hundred times faster than reality, thanks to the book's protective mechanism, Xiao Mo quickly adapted to the real world's pace.

Moreover, while experiencing lives within the Book of a Hundred Lives, his physical energy had also been restored.

What made Xiao Mo frown, however, was that in the Book of a Hundred Lives, he had clearly been a Nascent Soul Realm Sword Cultivator who knew the Grass Character Sword Art.

Yet after waking up, Xiao Mo had forgotten all of it completely, unable to recall anything.

Xiao Mo had hoped to cultivate the Grass Character Sword Art in reality.

But now, it seemed impossible.

He could only wait and see how the reward distribution worked.

After finishing breakfast, Xiao Mo continued lying in bed to rest.

Since Xiao Mo hadn't fully recovered from his illness, he didn't need to pay respects to the Empress Dowager, nor did he have to attend the morning court.

In Xiao Mo's view, attending court was useless anyway—most of the court were Yan Shan'ao's people.

He was already eighteen, yet the Empress Dowager still ruled from behind the curtain, utterly shameless.

After Wang Can was exiled from the capital, no one dared to provoke Yan Shan'ao anymore.

"Wei Xun," Xiao Mo called out.

"Your Majesty," Eunuch Wei hurried to Xiao Mo's side.

"Go bring me some Daoist classics. Then tell the Prime Minister and the Empress Dowager that Imperial We will be away for a while, and the Zhou Kingdom will need their diligent care."

"Your Majesty, you are—"

Xiao Mo stood up, clasping his hands behind his back as he paced through the bedchamber:

"Crane-like form I cultivate, two sutras under thousand pines. I come to ask the Way, no more words—clouds in azure sky, water in vase."

Xiao Mo stopped and looked at Wei Xun: "From today onward, Imperial We will pursue immortality!"

"Crane-like form I cultivate, two sutras under thousand pines. I come to ask the Way, no more words—clouds in azure sky, water in vase."

Yan Shan'ao recited the poem Xiao Mo had composed and nodded approvingly: "His Majesty truly has fine literary talent."

Wei Xun kept his head down, not daring to speak.

Just now, Wei Xun had come to Lingxin Palace to convey His Majesty's intentions.

The Empress Dowager Yan sat on the high seat, calmly sipping tea, as if none of this concerned her.

Though the Empress Dowager Yan was over forty, her appearance had not faded in the slightest; she even carried a mature charm, and every gesture bore not only the dignity of an Empress Dowager but also a natural allure.

Yan Shan'ao turned to look at Wei Xun: "Is that truly what His Majesty said?"

"To report to the Prime Minister, yes. His Majesty said he wishes to cultivate immortality and asks that you and Her Majesty devote your efforts to court affairs."

"Since ancient times, Emperors have been bound by the fate of mountains and rivers—how could they possibly cultivate? Monarchs who single-mindedly sought immortality never met a good end."

Yan Shan'ao sighed.

"I'll go advise His Majesty later. He should pay more attention to state affairs."

Hearing Yan Shan'ao's words, Wei Xun's brow twitched. He thought to himself, how could this man be more shameless than a eunuch like himself?

You want His Majesty to care about state affairs?

You're probably hoping His Majesty spends all his days cultivating and never meddles in court business.

"Still, this poem is quite good. Wei Xun, spread it around and let the court officials appreciate His Majesty's talent."

"As you command, Prime Minister."

Yan Shan'ao stood up, walked over to Wei Xun, and patted his shoulder: "If anything happens with His Majesty, report to me promptly. You won't lack rewards. But if you have other thoughts, you know what the consequences will be."

"Rest assured, Prime Minister!" Wei Xun immediately knelt. "This old servant has no other intentions toward the Prime Minister or Her Majesty the Empress Dowager!"

Yan Shan'ao waved his hand: "Go. In a while, a few palace maids will be sent to the palace. Bring them to His Majesty."

"As you command, Prime Minister."

Wei Xun wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and left Lingxin Palace trembling.

After Wei Xun left, Yan Shan'ao turned around and looked at his sister with delight: "Sister, now that His Majesty is devoted to seeking immortality, what do you think?"

"Crane-like form I cultivate, two sutras under thousand pines. I come to ask the Way, no more words—clouds in azure sky, water in vase. Heh heh heh heh—"

The Empress Dowager Yan laughed coldly.

"Our esteemed Majesty has never had any ambition, and he's always been timid. Otherwise, we wouldn't have chosen him for adoption.

Last time Wang Can went to see him, you exiled Wang Can. I'm afraid His Majesty was scared out of his wits, which is why he fell ill.

Now it seems he's completely given up."

The Empress Dowager Yan lifted her eyes to look at her brother: "Having Wei Xun leak that poem was well done. Now, how many people in court still side with the Xiao family imperial house? With His Majesty devoted to immortality, what reason do they have to persist?"

"Still, Xiao Mo has managed to keep his life."

A flash of murderous intent flickered in Yan Shan'ao's eyes.

"He only sits where he is today because of us, and now he's actually meeting with Wang Can! If he doesn't know his place and behave, heh heh heh. We can always pick another emperor!"

Empress Dowager Yan glanced at Wei Xun. "Better to avoid trouble than to court it. As for Wang Can, find a way to take him out—but make it clean, leave no evidence, understand? Those censors are like dogs, and they bite the hardest."

"I know, Older Sister." Yan Shan'ao nodded, sat back down, and took a sip of wine. "In a backwater place like Lingnan, making a man 'die of illness' is far too easy."

Empress Dowager Yan lay sprawled across the soft couch. Seeing this, the maidservant quickly stepped forward, gently kneading the Empress Dowager's legs and massaging her shoulders. "Speaking of which, how are things with the Myriad Sword Sect?"

"Elder Huang of the Myriad Sword Sect will arrive in our Imperial Capital in three months. I've already thoroughly studied this Elder Huang's preferences. I've exchanged letters with him before. As long as nothing unexpected happens, we'll secure the Myriad Sword Sect as our backing."

Empress Dowager Yan nodded. She trusted her younger brother's handling of matters.

"If we can get aboard the Myriad Sword Sect's ship and make them our patron, everything will be much easier. Whatever demands the Myriad Sword Sect makes, just accommodate them as best you can.

Also, take Elder Huang to visit our Yan Family more often. I know the Myriad Sword Sect is strict in selecting disciples.

But if by chance a few of our juniors catch Elder Huang's eye, it would be an enormous boon for the Yan Family."

"Hahaha! If one of our Yan Family's younger generation could become a disciple of that Jiang Qingyi, then the entire Zhou Kingdom would truly be ours to command. Those old fossils wouldn't dare curse us behind our backs anymore. Then, Older Sister, you might even become the Zhou Kingdom's first Empress!"

Empress Dowager Yan gave her brother a flat look. "Sword Immortal Jiang has never taken a single disciple since he rose to fame. Don't waste time on such thoughts. Focus on your own tasks. Also, it's about time we selected a few Yan Family women to enter the palace. The future Crown Prince must be of our Yan blood."

Yan Shan'ao clasped his hands in a bow. "Yes, Older Sister."