Empress in her second playthrough: Something's not right with this plot!

If he were to eat a few more, his cultivation level would surely soar to new heights.

Duan Yun immediately stood up, shifted a step away, and did not accept the bow.

"Prime Minister Li, there is no need for this. Jingming Mountain has received your kindness, and this is merely a matter of settling the score."

His junior brother has already been struck by lightning; the cause and effect have been resolved.

If I were to receive this bow again, I fear I would be tainted by karma once more.

Seemingly sensing what Li Yunsheng was thinking, Duan Yun didn't give him a chance to speak.

"However, the rare medicinal herb needed to refine this Lesser Golden Elixir is now extremely difficult to find."

Therefore, this is probably the last one in the world.

Li Yunsheng understood the unspoken message and didn't bring up the matter of the Lesser Golden Elixir again.

Seeing that Duan Yun seemed a little scared, he took the opportunity to change the subject to the topic of the Lone Star.

"The Taoist priest said that I am destined to be a solitary star."

"Yes."

"But why are my guards and trusted confidants all unharmed?"

Duan Zhang once said that his parents were cursed by their fates.

But why are Wei Xiang, Liu Quan, and the others completely unharmed?

"Li Xiang's two destinies coexist in one, like the Tai Chi symbol."

The mystery behind this cannot be simply explained by the single fate of a "lone star."

Moreover, everyone's destiny is different.

Some people can withstand it, while others may not.

Li Yunsheng nodded and continued to ask.

"Is this destiny necessarily something we are born with?"

He organized his thoughts and explained in more detail.

"Is it possible that something happened to my body, and therefore my destiny changed as well?"

What he wanted to know was whether these two fates were actually his own.

It was the original owner's destiny, which he then inherited.

Duan Yun pondered for a moment before speaking.

"I have never seen such a destiny before, so I dare not make a judgment."

This humble Taoist knows only one thing: Prime Minister Li is no ordinary man.

Li Yunsheng smiled.

"You flatter me, Daoist Master. You are the true master of the world."

Wei Xiang had already told him that this Daoist Duan Yun was only a hair's breadth away from the first-grade realm.

The person sitting in front of him is a master who could very well have reached the first rank.

Duan Yun waved his hand: "This humble Taoist does not judge by cultivation level."

A look of fear crossed his face.

"Prime Minister Li may not know this, but I have calculated that you can resolve the crisis at Jingming Mountain."

But to glean even a sliver of further insight into Prime Minister Li's future would immediately shorten one's lifespan by three years.

Li Yunsheng immediately pressed for an answer.

"What did you see, Taoist priest?"

Duan Yun smiled bitterly.

"It was all foggy, I couldn't see anything, and yet I still suffered divine retribution."

Li Yunsheng wasn't too surprised by this.

After all, he was the creator god.

Chapter 59 That's what he was really thinking!

Taiji Palace.

"Stop talking!"

Jiang Qingying slammed her hand on the table and let out a cold snort.

"Why have I never heard you report on these things before?"

The Minister of War replied.

"Your Majesty, all military affairs, including troops, provisions, and supplies, will be handled by Prime Minister Li."

With Li Xiang gone, military affairs fell into chaos.

Jiang Qingying questioned.

"Minister Liu, you're a veteran of three reigns, why don't you take over immediately?"

Liu Cheng bowed and said.

"Your Majesty, military affairs have always been overseen by Prime Minister Li."

Things like soldiers, horses, money, provisions, generals, and weapons are all very detailed and complex.

This old minister wishes to share Your Majesty's burdens, but alas, I am powerless to do so.

The Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel added from the side.

"With frequent wars in the northern border, we dare not make decisions on our own and can only come to ask Your Majesty for instructions."

Jiang Qingying looked at the stack of memorials and sighed.

"Then, in your opinion, how should this be handled?"

"I believe that Your Majesty should immediately issue an edict to recall Chancellor Li to assist Your Majesty in handling urgent state affairs."

The Empress glanced at the Minister of War.

"Are you saying that without Li Yunsheng, you are helpless and military affairs will have to be neglected?"

"Your subject dares not."

Jiang Qingying waved her hand.

"Alright, leave the document here, you may all leave now."

Just as the ministers were taking their leave, she pointed at Liu Cheng and said.

"Liu Qing, please stay. I have something to ask you."

After the senior officials took their leave, Jiang Qingying looked at the old man in front of her, whose eyesight and hearing were no longer failing.

"Liu Qing, are you unable to take on this military affairs, or do you simply not want to?"

Liu Cheng lowered his head and slowly explained.

"Your Majesty, when the late Emperor was alive, there was an old Minister of the Imperial Secretariat who was in charge of military affairs."

When Your Majesty ascended the throne, Fei Su took over the southwestern border, and Li Xiang was in charge of the northern border.

Although I have served three emperors, I have never been involved in military affairs, and I am truly willing but unable to do so.

He took a breath and continued.

"I am old and my energy is not what it used to be."

"Assisting His Majesty in handling state affairs is manageable, but simultaneously dealing with military matters would likely jeopardize the nation's stability."

"Am I left with no choice but to beg him to come back?"

Jiang Qingying was somewhat unwilling.

"That would mean I've surrendered to him, and then how can I talk about ruling in my own right?"

I had boasted that I would do better than him.

Moreover, the words Li Yunsheng spoke before he left still echo in my ears.

"If Your Majesty can become a ruler like the late Emperor, who brought peace and stability to the country, then I will wholeheartedly strive to be a wise and capable minister like my father."

This clearly means she is not yet qualified to rule!

Could it be that I am unable to do what the late emperor did, and therefore must abdicate?

He must be thinking that Jiang and Li are blood relatives!

Liu Cheng was unaware of what the Empress was thinking.

"Your Majesty, with Prime Minister Li absent from court, military affairs are in disarray."

If he were in court, wouldn't he be even more terrifying to His Majesty?

Jiang Qingying's phoenix eyes narrowed.

"What does Liu Qing mean by this?"

"Does Your Majesty know why Fei Su failed to impeach Li Yunsheng and was instead sentenced to death?"

Oh--

Jiang Qingying gets angry whenever this is brought up.

"If Prime Minister Liu hadn't pretended to be deaf and dumb that day, Li Yunsheng would probably have been sentenced to death."

Liu Cheng shook his head.

"The key point is not the crime itself, but the situation."

"Your Majesty has no military power, nor the authority to command the palace guards. How can you convict Li Yunsheng?"