I come to see Bai Yujing today

Chapter 251 Request the Emperor to bestow an order, appointing Chen Zhi'an as [General Lu Wu].

Inside the deep palace with its vermilion walls and golden tiles, twelve female officials of the Clothing Bureau, two needle-serving officials, and two clothing officials were already standing in front of the office waiting.

Even in broad daylight, the palace lanterns, adorned with phoenixes carrying pearls, still shone brightly, making the hundred-foot-long embroidered chamber even more luminous.

Chen Zhi'an was led by two eunuchs, who bowed respectfully, while many people from the Clothing Bureau bowed to him.

After the ceremony, Chen Zhian was led into the embroidery room. Many female officials and needle-wielders quietly observed Chen Zhian's back, feeling somewhat surprised... The person who received this favor today was so young.

Then they remembered the man's name.

—Chen Zhi'an, a master of both poetry and painting!

His poems had already made his name known throughout the land, and the female officials of the Clothing Bureau had naturally heard of his poems as well.

But little did he expect that his visit to the Clothing Bureau today was not because of his poetry.

"By the grace of the saint, I will personally bathe and dress Che Yilang."

The official in charge of clothing, Song Nanling, dressed in a crimson-purple official robe with a peacock in its beak, bowed to Chen Zhian once again.

This time, Chen Zhian did not refuse and followed Song Nanling into the Qing Dynasty palace.

Half an hour passed.

Song Nanling had already bathed Chen Zhian and changed his lining before personally bringing out a dark sandalwood and gold-decorated clothing box.

She knelt before Chen Zhian and said, "This was personally ordered by the Grand Sable Temple, and was woven by twelve gilded looms from the Clothing Bureau, with twenty-four embroiderers, two of whom used cloud-patterned pedals and silver shuttles."

"Please open this dark sandalwood and gold-painted clothing box, Cheyi Lang."

Song Nanling raised the clothes box in her hand above her head.

Chen Zhian did not hesitate and opened the clothes box.

The moment the box was opened, nine rays of light shot into the sky, illuminating the scene with golden light.

"This robe is made of Western Sea silk, embroidered with mountains, rivers, and stars using Northern Darkness silkworm silk, and has a dust-repelling bead inlaid at the collar." Song Nanling shook out the robe, and silvery light flowed from the sleeves. "Furthermore, the secret technique of the Fengzhen technique was used to sew thirteen kinds of craftsmanship treasure arrays into it—even if a Xuanlou Realm cultivator wields a third-grade Xuan treasure and strikes with all their might, they will find it difficult to break through this robe even slightly!"

Chen Zhian's gaze fell on the black robe, and he felt that this precious robe was probably comparable to a second-grade Xuan treasure.

Second-grade Xuanbao is extremely precious.

Even now, Chen Zhian only possesses the Chu Emperor's Bow.

This trip to the palace, yielding this treasure, is already quite a rewarding achievement.

"Rong Nanling, please change Che Yilang into this [Mountains and Rivers Stars Patchwork]." Song Nanling spoke again.

Several dozen breaths passed, and when Chen Zhian changed into his finest clothes and stepped out of the Qing Dynasty palace, Song Nanling stood behind him, admiring him in her heart.

At this moment, Chen Zhian's eyebrows were like sharp blades cutting through cold stars, his eyes were like deep pools reflecting the moon, his wide sleeves with black patterns hung like clouds and seas, and his jade belt wrapped around his waist locked the dragon's roar.

As he moved, illusory images of mountains and rivers seemed to flow around him, and it was as if starlight shone down upon him...

As the saying goes, clothes make the man and a saddle makes the horse. Chen Shuijun was already quite good-looking, and Li Yinxi was even more so.

Regardless of which of his parents Chen Zhian resembled, he possessed an extraordinary appearance.

In addition, over the past year, he has made progress in his cultivation, his muscles and bones have been opened, and his facial features have become more defined. Now, wearing this mountain and star patch, he looks indescribably handsome.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that it's "as bright as the sun and moon in one's embrace".

Seeing Chen Zhian's imposing presence, the two eunuchs couldn't help but offer a few words of praise before leading him to the Taiyuan Palace.

As soon as they set off, many regulations were already in effect in the Suspended Heaven Palace.

The Prime Minister, Duke Anguo, and the Imperial Preceptor, among other prominent figures, had already left their resting places in the palace and headed to the Taiyuan Hall.

The heads of the six families were already waiting in the hall.

Xie Maoxing was pale. He had attacked Chen Zhian on Xiuba Mountain, but was suppressed by the aura of Kui Xing.

In addition, he had been severely injured by Chen Shuijun before, and his injuries had not yet healed.

Lu Qinghe closed his eyes, his hands tucked into his sleeves, seemingly lost in thought.

Wang Du's body was as imposing as a mountain. He turned his head to look outside the Taiyuan Palace, and then at the magnificent Xuantian Palace.

The head of the Pei family had his white hair tied up with an ebony hairpin, his phoenix eyes, which were framed by sword-like eyebrows, were slightly narrowed, and his black brocade robe was embroidered with silver-threaded kui beasts on the collar. His eyes clearly showed some displeasure.

He was in seclusion in Fuye Prefecture, but a dozen days ago he was summoned by the Emperor and had no choice but to leave the precinct and enter the capital.

The reason for his trip to the capital was actually for this junior, Chen Zhian...

"What exactly is the sage thinking? Does he really want to hang a worthless dagger over the heads of the six clans of Great Yu, to humiliate us?"

The head of the Pei family muttered to himself, then sighed again.

The head of the Li family did not come.

The youngest of the six surnames of Dayu is the head of the Yan family.

This person actually looked like a scholar of seventeen or eighteen years old, with a fair complexion and no beard, and seemed somewhat absent-minded.

Besides these five heads of the six families of Dayu.

There are still two Grand Commanders in the Taiyuan Palace.

The person sitting at the top right row bore a striking resemblance to Prince Duanque. He was dressed in fine clothes and wore a jade thumb ring on his thumb. At that moment, he was smiling and stroking the jade thumb ring.

No need to overthink it...

This person is none other than the Great Yu [Gao Zunwang, Grand Commander of Zhongzhou]!
The reason he resembles Prince Duanque is that this Prince Gaozun is also a member of the royal family; he is both the Grand Commander and a prince.

Unlike Prince Duanque, he wielded real power, ruling over three prefectures: Zhongshenzhou, Heshangzhou, and Nanshanzhou.

Compared to the four Grand Commanders of the Five Northern Provinces, the Four Southern Provinces, the Five Northwestern Provinces, and the Four Western Provinces.

Although Gao Zunwang appears to only rule over three prefectures, these three prefectures actually guard Xuantianjing and the surrounding area, making them extremely powerful and prosperous.

Therefore, King Gao Zun was a very special figure among the five Grand Commanders.

Legend has it that King Gao Zun even had a Daoist army of over ten thousand men under his command, which was one of the strongest direct descendants of Emperor Zhao Fu in the Great Yu.

In other words... Gao Zunwang, like the Great Yu Kui Xing, is the strongest force in the hands of Zhao Fuhuang, which shows how revered he is.

Besides this King Gao Zun, there was another Grand Commander.

The Grand Commander was already white-haired and looked very old, with a look of weariness and worry in his eyes.

He didn't seem interested in the position of seal-bearer; he just frowned, seemingly preoccupied with something.

This man is none other than the Grand Commander of Xishan!

The four prefectures of Xishan are the border of Dayu. Further west, part of the area is the Western Regions, and the other part is the Dage Pass.

The Great Gobi Pass leads directly to the Great Wilderness, and beyond the Great Wilderness, stretching for 30,000 li to the west, lie the Twelve Kingdoms of the West!

The Great Qian Kingdom has already annexed the twelve kingdoms of the Western Regions.

The reason why this Grand Commander of Xishan is so distressed is probably because he is worried about the next move of the Great Qian Dynasty.

If the Great Qian were more ambitious and ignored the Western Regions, it could cross the Great Wilderness, pass through the Great Ge Corridor, and directly take the Western Mountain of the Great Yu!
Once Xishan falls, the other forty-odd prefectures of Dayu will be engulfed in war by the Xuanbing of the Xuanmen of Daqian.

It's no wonder that the Grand Commander of Xishan, who has always stayed away from the political vortex, personally came to Xuantianjing.

Besides these truly important figures, there were also more than ten heads of powerful clans and families who were allowed to enter the Suspended Heaven Palace and sit in the back row to wait.

Their expressions varied, and despite their best efforts to conceal it, they could not hide the anger in their eyes.

Then, the Duke of Anguo and the Imperial Preceptor entered the Taiyuan Hall, and everyone rose to greet them. Both were dressed in black and appeared unfathomable.

Another sedan chair was carried into the Taiyuan Hall.

Today, Prime Minister Song is unusually dressed in his "Nine-Patterned Crane Robe," with a jade belt around his waist.

His usually messy hair was now meticulously styled.

He stepped down from the sedan chair, and in the palace, the Duke of Anguo, the Imperial Preceptor, the heads of the six families of Dayu, and even the Prince of Gaozun, Prince Duanque, and the Fourth Prince all stood up and bowed to Prime Minister Song.

Song returned the greeting, and shakily took his seat at the first table.

Prime Minister Song took his seat, and a few breaths passed...

"A sage has arrived!"

The ceremonial gate behind the jade platform of Taiyuan Hall opened wide, and a golden light wafted in, accompanied by the lingering sandalwood incense.

Wearing golden silk and jade shoes, Emperor Zhaofu strode across the nine-zhang-long brocade imperial road, walked step by step up the jade platform, and sat on the dragon throne.

He leaned against the armrest of the imperial carriage, his eyes deep-set beneath the black crown.

The ministers bowed.

Emperor Zhaofu raised his hand to signal the officials to rise, but his movements appeared somewhat hesitant and slow.

"Rise... Summon Chen Zhi'an into the palace."

Emperor Zhaofu half-closed his eyes and whispered.

The main gate of the palace reopened. Outside, the wind and snow raged, but not a single snowflake fell into the palace.

Everyone turned to look outside the palace, only to see Chen Zhian with a sword at his waist and wearing a robe with mountains and rivers and stars, walking step by step up the nine hundred and ninety-nine steps and stepping into the Taiyuan Palace!
The heads of more than a dozen powerful families looked at Chen Zhian with intriguing expressions.

Xie Maoxing and Lu Qinghe stared at the table in front of them, refusing to look at Chen Zhian.

Wang Du, the head of the Wang family, seemed to sense the increasingly surging blood energy on Chen Zhian's body. A trace of blood energy also lingered around his fingertips, just like a blood-red thumb ring.

When the head of the Pei family looked at Chen Zhian, he still had a frown on his face.

The only one with a very young appearance, the head of the Yan family, had a hint of curiosity in his eyes.

"Is this person Chen Zhian?"

He thought so in his mind.

Chen Zhian walked into the palace step by step, the swords at his waist were dazzling, especially the Yazi on the scabbard of the Tiger Soul Sword, which was glowing with blood and seemed to be against the rules.

Xie Maoxing and Lu Qinghe finally noticed the sword and knife at Chen Zhian's waist.

The Yun Chuan Sword is a treasure of the Xie family.

Xie Wuju gave the sword to Chen Zhian, but ultimately died at the hands of Chen Shuijun.

The Tiger Soul Blade was bestowed upon Li Bodu by the Crafts Bureau, and now it has fallen into Chen Zhian's hands.

Xie Maoxing's eyelids drooped slightly as he thought of this...

"This Chen Zhian is already tainted with far too much killing intent," he thought to himself.

Wang Du and the head of the Pei family lowered their heads again.

Chen Zhian was not the only one vying for the position of seal-bearer.

Noble figures such as Li Guiwan, Yan Hemian, Xie Beitu, Pei Nanshu, and even Wei Lingyu all participated in the struggle for the seal of office.

Several powerful families personally dispatched their strongest warriors to eliminate the evil spirits and demons causing havoc in several prefectures.

Those prominent families became their pawns...

Originally, these aristocratic families would have engaged in much competition for the position of seal holder.

Until Chen Zhian left the capital and went to the nine prefectures in the south...

At that time, several prominent families already knew that the position of seal holder belonged to Chen Zhi'an!

The number of the six families of Dayu who died at Chen Zhi'an's hands already exceeded two palms' worth!
The Wang, Xie, and Lu families suffered greatly as a result.

Even the Li and Pei families were affected.

More than a dozen powerful clans in the southern nine provinces suffered heavy losses because they rashly tried to stop Chen Zhi'an.

According to the original charter... the merits of all the young people who participated in the competition for the seal of office should be recorded on plaques, which would then be selected by the esteemed officials.

However, because of Chen Zhian's astonishing killing prowess, the emperor instructed that these procedures be simplified as much as possible, which ultimately resulted in Chen Zhian alone entering the palace with a sword.

At this moment, Chen Zhian stood respectfully below the steps, his eyes fixed straight ahead.

"What a fine young man!"

King Gao Zun suddenly clapped his hands and laughed, saying, "Having such a young man hold the seal is a good thing for our Great Yu... Don't you agree?"

As he finished speaking, his gaze swept over many prominent families.

The palace suddenly fell silent.

The purple-robed sable attendant, who served the sage, stepped down from the jade platform and whispered something in Song Xiang's ear.

Prime Minister Song nodded slightly, then personally took up his brush and wrote many words on the Luoshen paper on the table.

After a short while, the woman in purple robes presented the Luoshen paper to the emperor, who glanced at it and nodded slightly.

Then, Ziyi Diaosi returned the Luoshen paper to Song Xiqu.

Song Xiang took the Luoshen paper and recited it slowly and deliberately. For a moment, the area became even quieter. Many family heads remained silent, but the sound in their ears was no less than thunder!

Chen Zhian's expression also changed slightly.

But all we heard was Prime Minister Song reciting it aloud!
[The world is in chaos, demons and ghosts abound. The Wang family, father and son, act like jackals, slaughtering people for lacquer and feeding their corpses on bamboo sludge. Yuan Zao, an official, willingly serves as their henchman, offering the people as provisions and conspiring to forge weapons. Zhuo Weiyan, relying on his strength, bullies the weak, intercepting refugees on the river; Wang Zhu, refining treasures in a valley, gathers demons and ghosts to devour people. Even worse, the River God engages in licentious worship, throwing infants into the turbid stream, and the people, misled by demonic teachings, nearly lose their conscience. All evil fills the sky, and wickedness obscures the sun; truly, it is an outrage against both gods and men, intolerable to heaven and earth! Furthermore, thirteen powerful clans in the nine southern provinces, ignoring the demons and ghosts, allow their descendants to rot into bones, transforming into demons and ghosts, wreaking havoc on the world!]

With Chen Jun in charge of peace, receiving the Emperor's personal command! He executed Wang Ji to warn the wicked noble families; he beheaded Zhuo Weiyan by the riverbank, and destroyed the evil formation of Tiefeng Valley. He robbed the ill-gotten gains to aid the needy, and refined the Elixir of Immortality to save the people. He swept away the filth of Sui Prefecture, cleansing the evil influence from the powerful clans; he destroyed the treacherous worship of the Qingyuan River God, and rescued infants from the clutches of demons. Furthermore, he used Yuan Zao's skull to scare away corrupt officials; wherever he went, monsters fled, and demons submitted to the law!
Praise:

With a sharp sword, I cut through the turbid world; with a loyal heart, I illuminate the universe!
With a swing of the sword, the floating clouds vanish, and demons flee westward.

He grieves for the weak and orphaned, and punishes the wicked with thunderous wrath.

Do not boast of your achievements, but welcome the spring of the world.

"Your subject, Song Xiqu, humbly request Your Majesty to bestow upon Chen Zhi'an the titles of 'Fourth-Rank Senior Magistrate of Ye,' 'Fourth-Rank Grand Master of Xuanzhong,' and 'General of Luwu,' so that he may henceforth receive the 'Luwu Mirror,' to survey the filth of the world and cleanse it of all evil spirits and demons!"

Shangye Order.

Master Xuanzhong.

Merit rank, general rank!
Despite seemingly holding no real official position, they enjoyed astonishing respect.

But what truly inspires fear... is the General Lu Wu, whom Chancellor Song mentioned at the end!
I will survey all the filth in the world and cleanse it of all evil spirits and demons!
Filth, demons, ghosts...

Many members of prominent families looked somber.

They all knew that Song Xiqu's words were directed at nothing more than their aristocratic families and powerful clans...

And now.

After killing many Chen family scions who were the direct descendants of powerful clans, he was to become General Lu Wu and from then on monitor all the powerful clans in the world!

(End of this chapter)