The more you believe me, the more real it becomes.

Chapter 285 The Will of Heaven (5k)

The three people behind him each had a thousand words to say, but in the end, they could only bow and bid farewell to the emperor.

The three watched as the emperor walked away alone towards his bedchamber.

He did not go to the Imperial Study or the side hall; his final destination, from beginning to end, was the palace where the Empress resided.

In ordinary times, there is rarely a deep affection between emperors and empresses. Even for the founding emperors, the position of empress was often a matter of marriage to consolidate power and consolidate influence, and there was rarely any talk of true love between them.

But Yaoshi was an exception. His empress was personally appointed by the powerful minister Gao Huan in the past. She was neither a relative of the Gao family, nor a powerful clan, nor one of the Five Surnames and Seven Noble Families. She was just an ordinary dancer.

Gao Huan's intentions in making this arrangement are quite obvious:
It was not only to demonstrate his overwhelming power and manipulate the emperor's marriage; it was also a deliberate act of humiliation, letting the world know that the emperor's wife came from a humble background; more importantly, it was to cut off the possibility of the pharmacist colluding with other powerful clans through marriage, so as to keep him firmly in his grasp.

The late emperor's empress was originally from the Gao clan. However, after the late emperor gradually lost control and died suddenly in his prime, and Yaoshi Yuan ascended the throne in a daze, Gao Huan, whose power was becoming increasingly stable, became too lazy to send his own family members to monitor this "puppet".

Moreover, because of the late emperor, Gao Huan also realized one thing: once the empress has children, the other party will no longer be one of his own.

After all, this is less about choosing between relatives and puppets,
It's more accurate to say that the choice was between Gao, who saw himself as a pawn, and his son, who was perfectly capable of ascending the throne.

The choice is quite obvious.

If that's the case, why bother with all that effort?
It was precisely because of this unique situation that he and the Empress developed a deep affection that was unparalleled among ordinary emperors and empresses. Both of them had endured those dark and hopeless years under Gao Huan's tyrannical rule, walking on the edge of a knife and supporting each other through them.

Couples who have gone through thick and thin together understand each other's pain best and cherish each other's good qualities the most.

Later, the apothecary gradually regained power, and the court officials repeatedly advised him to depose the empress and establish a noblewoman from a prestigious family on the grounds that "the empress's humble origins are unbecoming of the royal family."

But he never wavered in the slightest, and over time, seeing his unwavering resolve, the courtiers stopped mentioning the matter.

In fact, they and the emperor both knew the key to the complete breakdown of relations between the two sides—killing the empress!
"Why has Your Majesty arrived so early today?"

At first, the Empress didn't think much of it, simply holding the freshly warmed tea and asking gently. But as soon as she finished speaking, she keenly sensed something was wrong.

Her expression immediately changed slightly. She waved her hand to dismiss all the servants in the hall. The moment the hall door closed, she quickly stepped forward and hugged Yaoshi Yuan tightly in her arms.

"His Majesty?"

Held in the Empress's arms, Yaoshiyuan could no longer hold on. All the anger, resentment, confusion, and loneliness that had been building up over the past few days poured out in tears.

He buried his face in the Empress's shoulder, sobbing like a lost child: "Sister, I am suffering so much!"

He was only nine years old when he ascended the throne, and the empress was nine years older than him. At that time, he was still an ignorant child, and when facing this wife, he only thought that she was the only sister who truly cared for him, so he called her 'elder sister'.

This title never changed, even after he seized power and became the true emperor.

Because compared to the emperor and empress, they were indeed more like siblings.

"Your Majesty, has someone once again uttered those nonsensical words in court?"

Although the Empress survived the dark years of Gao Huan's dictatorship and witnessed the scheming and intrigue of the world's powers, she was never very knowledgeable about court politics.

But the apothecary was always open with her, sharing all his worries about court affairs and the frustrations in his heart with her.

Therefore, she knew better than anyone what the heavy burden weighing on the Emperor's heart was lately.

"It's Xu Shou!" Yao Shiyuan's voice was like tattered cloth. "Xu Shou, whom I personally promoted and placed high hopes on, has also rebelled! He has joined those treacherous officials in declaring war on me!"

Since the news of "Buddha's light shining everywhere and Bodhisattvas descending to earth" came from Qingzhou, the whole world was like an anthill that had been poked open, and all kinds of rumors about immortals, gods, demons and ghosts grew wildly, springing up everywhere like bamboo shoots after a rain.

Reports poured into the capital from all the prefectures and counties, each telling him that a celestial being had appeared in a certain prefecture or county, or that a demon had been causing trouble in a certain area.

Among the officials who submitted the memorial were both scions of powerful and influential families and officials from humble backgrounds whom he had painstakingly promoted.

At first, he also had his doubts: Could there really be such supernatural things in the world? Otherwise, why would all the officials in the court and the prefectures in the four directions unanimously fabricate lies?

To verify the "truth or falsehood" of this, he first issued an edict posthumously conferring the title of Duke Pinglan upon him and enshrining him in the Confucian Temple. Then, he ordered the three judicial departments to jointly try the case of Prince Anqing. Subsequently, he convened a meeting of the three provinces and six ministries and even ordered the Ministry of Works to prepare and supervise the construction of a pagoda, intending to offer it to the so-called "Bodhisattva".

He tried to follow this "rumor" and hoped to find a trace of the truth.

But what was the result? The people sent to Qingzhou to secretly investigate disappeared without a trace after three departures, and even their remains were never recovered.

Even the angel who went to deliver the imperial decree in a grand manner, who was resting peacefully at the post station the night before, suddenly fell seriously ill the next day and was bedridden and unable to move.

Even Anqing Wang, who was escorted to the capital, had already gone completely insane. He huddled in the corner of the prison cart all day, repeatedly muttering "big fish," "damned monk," "Buddha is here," and "I was really wrong," speaking incoherently and not being able to get a single useful word out of him.

Even so, he still couldn't believe that the powerful clans of Qingzhou would dare to openly deceive the emperor and even raise the banner of rebellion.

It wasn't until Pei Jingyuan, the governor of Qingzhou, risked his life to send a blood-stained letter through a secret passage that the truth was revealed: the powerful clans were using the name of "immortals and Buddhas" to plot a rebellion.

He was forced to realize, amidst shock and anger, that the local forces he thought he had firmly under control had already secretly raised the banner of rebellion. He originally intended to immediately dispatch the Emperor's Nine Guards to Qingzhou to quell the rebellion with overwhelming force.

But just as the transfer order was about to be issued, he was horrified to discover that rumors of "demons and monsters" had swept the world.

From the northern border to the southern frontier, from the eastern coast to the western frontier, reports from various prefectures and states arrived like snowflakes, all with similar fantastical narratives.

He froze instantly.

He finally realized that he couldn't move.

The Nine Guards of the Emperor were his last trump card, the foundation of the Pharmacist family's control over the world. But this trump card could not ultimately prevail over the word "world" or the restlessness of the people in the court and the surrounding prefectures.

If he insists on sending troops, he will only confirm the crime of "going against the will of Heaven" and allow more forces to stand on the opposite side of him under the pretext of "warning from the gods and Buddhas".

With no other options, he could only place all his hopes on General Xiao Jing of Zhennan.

This old general commanded over 100,000 troops and was his most trusted military commander.

He longed day and night for Xiao Jing to lead his army back to the capital in victory—as long as he held military power and the army's hearts remained with him, he would still have the confidence to fight to the end against those "wolves" who coveted the imperial power.

Just like he was back then.

However, that hope was ultimately shattered.

Xiao Jing did indeed win. He not only completely quelled the rebellion in the southwest, but also reorganized all the rebel armies, wielding considerable military power and becoming the most powerful man in the land.

Along with the good news came a rough, unremarkable mud ball made from a clod of earth. Xiao Jing said in his memorial that this was a "life-saving pill" made by the "Heavenly True Lord," and that it was this elixir that saved countless people in the southwest.

The pharmacist still remembers how he looked when he held that crudely made, seemingly ridiculous mud ball in his hands.

I remember when he put it in his mouth with some skepticism, there was no sweet, heavenly taste as he had expected, nor the earthy smell that should have been there. Instead, there was only a bone-chilling cold that slid down his throat and into his heart, which then spread into an endless sense of desolation.

He knew he was finished.

All the confidence he had built up over the years through perseverance, all the ambition to create an eternal dynasty and revitalize the world, vanished the moment that mud ball entered his mouth.

The pharmacist's family's century-old business has come to an end.

"Sister, what have I done wrong?!"

The northern border troops were the last straw that broke his back.

The pharmacist hugged his older sister, slowly knelt on the ground, and kept crying.

The backbone that once supported the entire dynasty is now bent like a reed on the verge of breaking, its cries filled with despair.

The empress was at a loss and could only hold him tightly.

"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, your older sister is here, your older sister is here! My dear, remember this: no matter what, you will always have your older sister by your side!"

Time seemed to flow backward at this moment, returning to the dark years of Gao Huan's dictatorship.

At that time, they were also helpless and alone, trapped in the deep palace, a cage where they were surrounded by fear day and night, living in constant anxiety.

Only in each other's arms can they find a moment of peace—back then, he could only fall asleep peacefully in her arms, and now, as the emperor who reigns over the world, he still needs this warmth to let down his guard.

After crying for an unknown amount of time, Yaoshiyuan's breathing gradually calmed down, and he fell into a deep sleep in the Empress's arms.

Looking at the emperor slowly falling asleep.

The Empress gently raised her hand, her fingertips brushing against his cheek, her eyes filled with tenderness. But in an instant, that tenderness was replaced by deep entanglement and struggle, her brows furrowing into a knot.

But just as she was about to make up her mind, a voice suddenly came from behind her:

"If you want to kill him, you can tell him the truth anytime."

The sound was like a demonic chant, instantly silencing the Empress's entire mind.

She could only turn around tremblingly and ask:
"Master, really, really we can't tell you anything? My Yuan'er has suffered so much!"

The empress was actually very beautiful, and that was the only kindness Gao Huan showed at the time.

Even such a beautiful empress seemed as insignificant as a firefly under the sun in front of the person who spoke.

She was draped in a thin veil, with a feathered robe around her waist, and most strikingly, a halo of light floated behind her. This made her appear sacred and inviolable.

Looking at her reincarnated disciple, a hint of reluctance finally flashed in the fairy's eyes:
“I told you, unless you want to kill him, don’t say anything.”

"But Master, why is that?"

The Empress's voice was filled with confusion and pain. She remembered how overjoyed she had been when her master came looking for her, thinking she could finally obtain for Yuan'er what emperors throughout history had dreamed of—immortality!
But she never imagined that this would be the situation she was in, watching her beloved person gradually collapse, while she could only watch helplessly, unable to even say a word of comfort.

The fairy's feathered robes fluttered in the wind, shimmering and swirling, while the halo behind her grew ever brighter, spreading outwards and bathing the entire palace in golden light.

She didn't explain further, but slowly turned away, leaving behind a single sentence:
"Because this is the will of Heaven, and the will of Heaven cannot be defied."

The empress stood there, stunned.
-
Du Yuan wandered around Kyoto alone, looking around at the bustling city. He could find snacks and delicacies from almost anywhere in the world here.

For someone who loves to eat, this is truly a great place.

As soon as Du Yuan reached a stall, she heard:

"Did you hear that?"

"What did you hear?"

Two vendors nearby were whispering rumors.

"Young Master Wang from Wuyi Lane is back again. Remember to keep an eye on your chicken coop, don't let him steal it again!"

Upon hearing that it was actually that ancestor who had returned, the nearby vendor immediately facepalmed.
"Oh dear, this troublemaker is back again!"

"Yes, it's been a long time since we've had any peace and quiet."

Du Yuan was a little surprised to hear this. He remembered that Wuyi Lane was a place where the imperial family and nobles gathered.

If someone in Wuyi Lane is surnamed Wang, could they be from the Langya Wang clan?

Is it really that a noble young master of the Langya Wang clan would do something like this?

For some reason, Du Yuan thought of that young master Wang, which made him unconsciously touch the tassel at his waist.

This sword shouldn't be anything special, but if we happen to come across it again, we might as well let him take a look.

What if there really is some kind of explanation?

After all, Du Yuan had unexpectedly discovered in the past few days that this old sword, which seemed to be rusted and broken, was actually surprisingly hard.

Not only could he not cut it off, he couldn't even remove a bit of the rust, and he even broke several pieces of the whetstone.

That is, the hilt of the sword that he always held had been worn away by him, with a lot of rust removed.

Thinking of this, Du Yuan decided to go back and ask if there was any place that sold special whetstones.

Just then, a gentle voice came from behind:
"Brother, please wait a moment."

Du Yuan turned around at the sound of the voice and saw that the person who had called her was a handsome gentleman in a blue robe. Behind him was a little boy carrying a brand-new book box, whose eyes and brows revealed a striking intelligence.

"I wonder what brings you here, sir?" Du Yuan stopped and asked with a slight smile.

The man, accompanied by the child, slowly approached. His gaze first carefully examined Du Yuan for a moment before finally settling on the sword tied to his waist.

"Sir, you seem to be a scholar as well?"

Du Yuan chuckled upon hearing this: "He is indeed a scholar, but he has never met a famous teacher, so he cannot be considered to have a proper background. At most, he is just a self-taught person."

The handsome gentleman immediately waved his hand, his tone somewhat serious:

"Ah, that's not quite right! Since you and I are both Confucian scholars, we cultivate the way of sages and saints, so how can you say we're 'unorthodox'?"

Du Yuan didn't take these words seriously, and simply bowed slightly, saying:

"Thank you for your kind words, sir. But I still don't understand why you called me back just now."

Mr. Junlang then smiled and said, "My name is Meng Chengyuan. I called you back just now not because of anything important, but because I was overjoyed to see a fellow traveler."

As he spoke, he pointed to the old sword at Du Yuan's waist and said:

"It seems you've already begun practicing swordsmanship, brother?"

Du Yuan nodded and replied simply, "I guess so."

"Yes, with great changes imminent in the world, it is only right to have several good swords for protection."

Meng Chengyuan nodded, his tone somewhat pertinent.

"The path of sword cultivation is indeed difficult. If you only want to learn it for self-defense, that's fine. But if you want to delve deeper, then it will be difficult."

"We Confucian gentlemen should also learn swordsmanship, but for us, it is ultimately not the proper and righteous path."

Du Yuan gently touched the tassel at her waist, then smiled and said:
“You said that sword cultivation is difficult, that is true, but you said that from the perspective of Confucianism, it is ultimately not the proper and righteous path, which I think is biased.”

This amused the other party, who said:
"The sword cultivator lineage almost became the fourth religion. It's related to my Confucianism, but it's a completely heretical sect!"

If the sword cultivators hadn't had their backbone broken and the Great Dragon destroyed back then, they probably would have become the fourth sect long ago, ahead of the military strategists.

Although Li Shiyi's final performance was stunning, he ultimately couldn't carry the weight of the world alone, and his appearance was ill-timed.

Du Yuan simply shook her head and said:
"The so-called unity of knowledge and action, and the principle of benefiting all when one achieves success, means that we read the classics not for ourselves, but for all people. Since that's the case, as long as it's all for the sake of the common people, isn't practicing swordsmanship and reading books the same thing?"

Upon hearing this, the other person froze instantly, their heart surging with emotion.

He only saw that Confucianism and sword cultivation were two different paths, but the other party said that he was underestimating his own.

He wanted to say something in his defense.

He opened his mouth for a long time, but couldn't utter a single word.

Du Yuan's words were brief, yet in just a few words, she negated almost every aspect of his previous understanding.

Furthermore, the unity of knowledge and action?!
After silently reciting it in his heart for a long time, Meng Chengyuan bowed respectfully and said:
"Been taught a lesson!"

This scene surprised Du Yuan a bit; he had only said a few words casually.

What's wrong with the other person?

“Sir, you don’t need to do that. I was just saying it offhand.”

The other party said with care:

“You’re wrong. You may think it’s just a casual remark, but you’ve taken it for granted, while I haven’t. I’ve failed to live up to my years of hard work. Ah, now that I’ve received your guidance, I must give you something in return.”

Having said that, the other person carefully took out a purple stone about the size of a thumb from their pocket and said:
"Your sword is a bit dull, so I'm giving you this as a return gift. I think this piece will be enough for you to sharpen it!"

He couldn't tell what kind of sword it was, but he thought it must be pretty good.

Therefore, he gifted Du Yuan a sword-washing stone.

This item is a treasure of sword cultivators. Don't underestimate this small piece; once it's taken out, countless sword cultivators will be green with envy!

Du Yuan was overjoyed; it was just like a pillow appearing when you're sleepy!
"Thank you very much!"

Meng Chengyuan didn't say much, but simply cupped his hands again and said:

“My name is now Cui Yuancheng, and I live in Wuyi Lane. If you want to find me, you can go there. Just tell me my name. By the way, I am from the Cui family of Boling, not the Cui family of Qinghe. Don’t go to the wrong house.”

After saying this, both parties took their leave.

After watching the other person leave, Du Yuan picked up the purple stone and tried to sharpen her sword.

With just that one stroke, the thumb-sized stone melted directly on the sword.

As for the rust, not a single bit came off!
This scene left Du Yuan somewhat taken aback, to the point that she wondered if she had used the wrong method.

On the other side, the young boy, who had already walked quite a distance, couldn't help but ask his master:

"Sir, your stone is so small, can it really be used to sharpen that sword? You're running so fast, are you afraid people will say you're stingy?"

These words almost made Meng Chengyuan so angry that his nose almost crooked.

He grabbed the child's ear and said:
"That's a sword-washing stone. One piece like that is enough to not only sharpen a sword, but also enhance a sword cultivator's natal immortal sword."

(End of this chapter)