"Absurd. Utterly absurd..."
Three nights later, Yu Ziye sat drinking outside his study, repeating the word "absurd" between cups.
The publication of the Four Seas and Mountains Record had undoubtedly caused a tremendous stir, and no one had been more shaken than the Great Yong Emperor. Yet that shock seemed to have taken him in the wrong direction, stirring his longing for the Immortal Dao and eternal life.
Or perhaps the current Emperor of Great Yong had grown accustomed to getting whatever he wanted, and now yearned all the more for the elusive prospect of living forever, especially as his health had declined in recent years.
At the small Court Assembly two days earlier-the morning after Sima Xiao, Director of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, had spoken with him-the emperor had openly announced his wish to post imperial notices throughout the realm.
But his intentions had already changed from the previous day. He wanted not only to summon the Old Celestial Master back through these notices, but also to recruit extraordinary talents from across the realm to ease his sovereign cares. Phrases such as "arts of immortality" and "methods of remaining in this world" would feature in their wording.
During Lingzong's reign, the realm had been in turmoil, yet imperial notices had still drawn many extraordinary talents.
Now Great Yong enjoyed peace and the splendor of a flourishing age. The reigning emperor, who considered his civil and military achievements exceptionally great, naturally believed that even more extraordinary talents would come!
How could his ministers fail to understand his intentions? But the announcement had been so sudden that even Yu Ziye, who had been somewhat prepared, had found it absurd, let alone everyone else.
Factional struggles at court had become vicious. Yet as soon as the emperor made his proposal, officials led