Save Great Shang?
Yun Zhongzi was rather surprised. Had mortals become this powerful already? Could they even divine the Investiture Calamity and King Wu of Qi Zhou replacing Shang?
The rise of humanity had been ordained by the Great Dao; it was heaven's mandate. But if people could calculate both the seasons and heaven's secrets, wouldn't everyone be able to become an immortal?
"Ever since Daji entered the palace, King Zhou has been bewitched by her beauty and has missed court for months. The civil and military officials are deeply alarmed. Before Grand Tutor Wen left the capital, he warned that Daji carried a demonic aura and would surely bewitch the king. He remonstrated several times, but sadly, no one took his words to heart. Now that they have been proven true, I beg you, Daoist master, to save Great Shang!"
Only after hearing Yang Ren say this did Yun Zhongzi relax. This was no calculation of heaven's secrets-merely a case of demonic mischief at court so obvious that even mortals could see it.
Yun Zhongzi nodded. "Do not worry, Grandee Yang. While gathering medicinal herbs, I saw a demonic aura enter Chaoge. That is precisely why I have come. Subduing demons and upholding the righteous path is our duty."
Yang Ren was delighted. "I shall send word to the palace at once and request an audience. You have only just arrived in Chaoge and have nowhere to stay. Why not spend a few days at my residence?"
Seeing that Yang Ren was a loyal minister, a noble man who cared deeply for the realm, Yun Zhongzi followed him home. He could also learn more about affairs at court and see whether he could unravel a little of heaven's muddled secrets.
Zi Shou was in Shouxian Palace, exchanging sweet nothings with Daji.
Just as their passion heated up, word arrived that Yang Ren had come with Yun Zhongzi, a cultivator from Mount Zhongnan under the Yuqing Saint, to request an audience.
Yun Zhongzi?
Zi Shou remembered the episode in the novel where Yun Zhongzi presented a sword to eliminate Daji.
Eliminate Daji?
How am I supposed to be a foolish ruler without Daji?
In the months since Daji entered the palace, Zi Shou had finally succeeded in being a foolish ruler. He could indulge in her beauty and legitimately skip morning court for months. His ministers had already remonstrated several times over such foolish conduct, and rumors and gossip ran rampant among the people.
It would have been perfect if Su Hu rebelled and added fuel to the fire. Zi Shou could not understand why the fellow who had written that rebel poem had made no move for several months.
Still, it would not matter much even if he did not rebel. The Beacon Tower would be finished before long. Then Zi Shou could light the beacon fires to toy with the feudal lords, cementing his reputation as a foolish ruler beyond all doubt.
That would fall right in April, when his foolishness value was tallied. With foolishness value pouring in by the handful, he wondered whether he could gulp down enough elixirs to reach the level of a Sage. Besides elixirs, he needed to exchange some for magic treasures, too. The world of Investiture of the Gods was a world where whoever had the most badass magic treasures was strongest. With a Pangu Axe in hand, even Hongjun would probably shrink back.
Now Zi Shou was counting on the system to trounce the Three Pure Ones and pummel Hongjun into oblivion. He eagerly awaited April, and no one was going to stop him.
"No audience! No audience! No audience!"
Zi Shou dismissed the messenger outright and continued cuddling with Daji.
Daji cooperated readily, though her body paid the price. But for Great Shang, for all under heaven, it was worth it.
In her eyes, King Zhou was lulling the traitors into complacency. A king who skipped morning court for months and spent every day immersed in wine and women, leaving his ministers disappointed and the people chattering amid a storm of rumors-this was the perfect moment for them to strike.
Surely King Zhou had already stationed his men. Once the traitors made their move, he could catch them all in one net and return to being an enlightened ruler full of pioneering spirit.
It must be so hard for him, mustn't it? He must be exhausted, mustn't he?
Her heart aching for him, Daji clasped Zi Shou's hand.
Feeling the touch against his palm, Zi Shou instinctively tightened his grip. What a soft hand.
"Daoist master, what are we to do?" Back at his residence, Yang Ren paced anxiously in circles. King Zhou had become so foolish that he was even refusing audiences with his ministers.
Yun Zhongzi, too, sank into profound self-doubt.
Just what sort of man is this King Zhou? According to the earlier rumors, he had plenty of blemishes on his record, but he should still have been an enlightened ruler. No matter how thoroughly a demon bewitched him, surely he wouldn't refuse an audience after hearing 'under the Yuqing Saint'?
It seemed rather unreasonable, yet somehow reasonable as well.
Whichever immortal's abode Yun Zhongzi visited, he received the highest courtesy. The reason was simple: others knew Yuanshi Tianzun and knew that Yun Zhongzi was a mighty cultivator.
But King Zhou was merely an ordinary mortal. How would he know any of that?
Yun Zhongzi was an experienced immortal cultivator, after all, and this minor setback did not defeat him so easily. Once he identified the crux of the matter, he had a plan.
King Zhou doesn't know I'm a genuine immortal. All I have to do is make him realize it.
After discussing it with Yang Ren, Yun Zhongzi decided to set up a fortune-telling stall in the bustling marketplace.
The carriage stopped outside Fei Zhong's residence. You Hun stepped down and entered.
"Brother You, what brings you here today?" Fei Zhong greeted You Hun with particular warmth.
One shielded King Zhou from the ministers' remonstrations, while the other oversaw construction of the Beacon Tower. They could rightly be called his two greatest lackeys, and during these days of King Zhou's foolish absence from morning court, they had received no shortage of abuse.
Though rivals, they were also friends who huddled together for warmth.
You Hun said, "There are more and more rumors circulating in the streets. Last night, someone even smashed a corner off the nearly completed Beacon Tower."
Fei Zhong grew worried at this, too. "Yes, I've heard things as well. They say His Majesty behaves nothing like a ruler."
Both fell silent.
They were King Zhou's lackeys. When King Zhou was wise, they were favored ministers with rank and status. When King Zhou was foolish, they were treacherous villains-still with rank and status, but now subject to abuse.
The brothers Fang Xiang and Fang Bi had even tried to visit Fei Zhong a few days earlier. Fortunately, Fei Zhong had been clever enough not to have his servants open the door. Who brought sacks and wooden clubs when visiting someone?
You Hun's brow furrowed ever more deeply. "A Daoist has recently appeared in the marketplace."
Fei Zhong paused. "Oh? A Daoist?"
You Hun said, "Several days ago, a Daoist set up a fortune-telling stall in the marketplace. He claims there is nothing he cannot divine, and he charges nothing."
Fei Zhong said, "Don't tell me you..."
Without a trace of shame, You Hun said, "I had him perform a few divinations anonymously. Very accurate. He predicted that pork prices would rise, and over the past ten-odd days, I've made quite a bit by stockpiling pork. That has won the Daoist considerable popular support, too. The people all believe he is a true cultivator who has attained the Dao."
Fei Zhong said, "I'll go have my fortune told another day, too..."
You Hun shook his head. "I'm afraid you can't. That Daoist is spreading word that he has divined Consort Su in the palace to be a demon, and that His Majesty has been bewitched by her. He wants to enter the palace for an audience, eliminate the demon, and defend the Dao. I fear loyal ministers like us, who devote ourselves wholeheartedly to serving His Majesty, will be counted among the demons as well."
Fei Zhong reacted as though facing a formidable enemy. "What should we do, then?"
You Hun knitted his brows and thought for a long while, but came up with nothing. Apart from loyalty, he had no redeeming qualities.
Fei Zhong realized this, too. He was still the cleverer one, so he said, "This is difficult. His Majesty previously refused this Daoist an audience. Clearly, he is doing this to demonstrate his supernatural abilities and force His Majesty to see him."
"If I'm not mistaken, some of the high officials at court are also pulling strings and spreading rumors. They believe that once this Daoist enters the palace and eliminates Consort Su, His Majesty will become as wise as he was before."
You Hun suddenly understood. "No wonder I've seen that Daoist frequently coming and going from Senior Grandee Yang Ren's residence!"
Fei Zhong continued, "Still, this matter seems to have little to do with us. At worst, it will damage our reputations. The Daoist's target is Consort Su."
You Hun frowned. "But His Majesty dotes on Consort Su. As his ministers, we ought to..."
Fei Zhong shook his head again. "No! You must know that some things should be done, and others should not."
You Hun was struck speechless.
As a loyal lackey, he naturally could not let someone eliminate the woman his boss loved. Yet this was simply not something he could intervene in.
Stop the rumors? Useless. The Daoist truly possessed abilities; word would spread throughout Chaoge sooner or later.
Keep blocking him? Useless. Once his fame took wing, they would no longer be able to hold him back. If he came in the name of purging the court and exterminating the demon in the palace, no one could stop him.
Fei Zhong's expression turned grave. "Report this to His Majesty. This is not something the two of us can decide!"
The Beacon Tower was under construction.
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