Chapter 19
Feng Chiyue left a parting remark, flicked her sleeve, and departed, as if she had merely been passing by.
Throughout the day, the other gate emissaries had been thoroughly spooked, their complaints echoing through the heavens. However, they didn’t have the time to deal with Feng Chiyue. The immortals who had previously bribed them with Cinnabar Jade and rare fruits were also furious. They refused to listen to any explanations and demanded the return of everything they had given, along with compensation for their losses. It took several days for the gate emissaries to resolve the situation, their faces covered in soot and ashes.
Seeing Feng Chiyue’s carefree and contented demeanor, their resentment grew. They joined forces and submitted a petition to the Heavenly Mechanism Department, demanding her removal from office. They couldn’t use the rules against her, as their own actions had been improper. Instead, they accused her of negligence, laziness, and not fulfilling her duties as a gate emissary.
The Star Monarch of the Heavenly Mechanism Department had long wanted to get rid of Feng Chiyue. However, the Morning Sun Assembly, on whom he had placed his hopes, had been completely wiped out. He could only find another way. Receiving the petition from the other gate emissaries, he seized the opportunity and summoned Feng Chiyue to the hall for questioning.
Feng Chiyue, as always, showed no respect for authority. Upon arriving at the Heavenly Mechanism Department’s Dharma Hall, she casually pulled up a chair and sat down, looking even more imposing than the Star Monarch. The Star Monarch was furious, but he needed her cooperation. He forced down his anger and said sternly, “You’ve been accused of negligence. What do you have to say for yourself?”
Feng Chiyue raised an eyebrow. “Have I? I wasn’t aware.”
The Star Monarch: “…” He had never met an immortal with thicker skin than Feng Chiyue. He gave a signal, and an official beside him cleared his throat. “Since you became the Morning Sun Emissary, not a single cultivator has ascended. This is unprecedented.”
Feng Chiyue glanced at the official, her fingers tapping the armrest of her chair. “Does the Immortal Monarch think the Emperor’s Daughter has too much free time and needs some new members for the Morning Sun Assembly to practice on?” she asked casually.
The official was speechless. He tried again. “By registering their names and keeping them in the Heavenly Mechanism Department until they’re assigned a position, we prevent them from falling astray.” He sounded unconvincing, not even believing his own words. They had kept a few ascending cultivators from the Morning Sun Continent in the past, but without exception, they had all run away after a few months, showing no respect for authority.
“Alright,” Feng Chiyue said, as if she believed him. She stood up and said slowly, “I personally handled every ascension at the Morning Sun Gate, following the instructions of the Merit Mirror without any deviation. If there are no ascending cultivators from the Morning Sun Continent, perhaps they should reflect on themselves. The standard is set by the Heavenly Dao. How is it too strict? After all these years of cultivating their bodies and minds, have they truly been sincere in their efforts?”
The official: “…” He had no response. He turned helplessly to the Star Monarch.
Who actually followed the rules these days? Those who were too exemplary were the odd ones out.
“The Heavenly Mechanism Department punished some gate emissaries before, but they knowingly violated the rules. It seems they didn’t take the Star Monarch’s words seriously,” Feng Chiyue added, her tone icy, her intention to sow discord clear.
The most disobedient person in the entire Heavenly Mechanism Department was Feng Chiyue!
Disgust welled up inside the Star Monarch. He glared at the officials below, annoyed by their disobedience. At a time like this, they couldn’t even restrain themselves. Were they idiots, or were they doing this on purpose? His gaze slowly shifted to Feng Chiyue, and he deliberately released a bit of his aura. However, it was immediately met with a surge of sharp sword intent. With a loud crack, the Star Monarch’s seat shattered. Everyone gasped, including the Star Monarch himself. He stared at Feng Chiyue, who remained calm and composed. A buzzing sound filled his ears. He saw a blue sword hovering beside her.
It was Ming Jian Su’s Undefeated.
The Star Monarch’s pupils constricted. He masked his fear and said, “As the Morning Sun Emissary, you shouldn’t leave your post during your duty.”
Feng Chiyue replied calmly, “Then add that rule.” There was no strict attendance policy in the Heavenly Court. After all, some immortals sent their avatars or disciples to handle their duties while they stayed in their secluded retreats, focusing on other matters. She was the most dedicated and well-versed in the law.
The Star Monarch: “…” He felt a wave of exhaustion wash over him. His desire to get rid of Feng Chiyue intensified. After a moment of thought, he said, “Immortal Monarch Feng, being a gate emissary is a waste of your talents.”
Feng Chiyue looked at him, surprised. “Is the Star Monarch planning to step down and yield his position?” she asked, offering him a sweet smile. “How self-aware of you.”
The Star Monarch felt dizzy with anger, regretting his decision to handle this personally. He should have just delegated the task to his subordinates. Now he was stuck facing Feng Chiyue, unable to argue or fight back. He forced a smile onto his stiff face. “The previous official in charge of the Celestial Feather Ministry has been promoted, and the position is currently vacant. We haven’t been able to find a suitable candidate. Would you be interested, Immortal Monarch Feng?”
The Celestial Feather Ministry was a department within the Heavenly Mechanism Department that managed the affairs of the feathered race. It oversaw the appointments and transfers of all feathered immortals and had a high degree of autonomy. The claim that they couldn’t find a suitable candidate was a lie. In reality, the feathered race had been fighting tooth and nail for this position. It had originally been promised to the Vermilion Birds, but Chang Li had played him, and he intended to return the favor. They wanted to fight? Fine, let the feathered race sort it out themselves!
Feng Chiyue knew the Star Monarch’s malicious intentions. She raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Very well.”
The Star Monarch: “…” Just get rid of her already.
Although Feng Chiyue hadn’t been completely kicked out of the Heavenly Mechanism Department, at least she wouldn’t be causing trouble at the heavenly gates anymore. The other gate emissaries sighed in relief. They had lost their desire for revenge and were now eager to see what new drama would unfold. The position of Celestial Feather Minister had always been held by a Heavenly Immortal from the four feathered lineages of Danxue Mountain. Now, for the first time, it had fallen into the hands of a Phoenix. Would the Vermilion Birds accept this?
When the news spread, the Vermilion Birds were indeed furious.
However, no one in Phoenix Mountain was celebrating either. They would have been happy with any other Phoenix taking the position.
But it was Feng Chiyue…
This wasn’t an opportunity for the Phoenixes to rise again. It was a nightmare they didn’t want to relive.
“Why her?” Feng Yao complained. After being scolded by Feng Chiyue before, she refused to go to Dong’e Mountain again. Feng Chiyue was doing just fine. She didn’t need their help. She had told the elders about Feng Chiyue’s words, but they had fallen into an eerie silence. Feng Yao realized that the past might not be as she knew it. The truth might shatter their understanding—but what did that have to do with Feng Chiyue? What right did she have to say those things?
In Asura City.
Ming Jian Su took out the Chaos Mirror as usual.
Many people were still discussing Chu Yi’s annihilation of the Morning Sun Assembly. No one mentioned her.
She searched for news about Feng Chiyue. Good, there were no rumors about the Emperor’s Daughter being entangled with her junior sister.
As she read, Ming Jian Su suddenly noticed something was amiss.
Why had Feng Chiyue been promoted? Had the Star Monarch gone senile?
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