Chapter 25 p3
The next morning.
Que Chen Yi went to the Celestial Feather Hall for her duty.
After she had cleaned the tables several times, Feng Chiyue arrived, tossing a stack of dismissal notices onto the table without a word.
Feng Chiyue yawned, sent Undefeated to handle the paperwork, and lay down on her couch, saying lazily, “Take those to the side hall and get them stamped.”
Que Chen Yi was shocked. “Dismiss everyone?” she asked. If that was the case, what was the point of the assessment?
“Keep the dismissal notices for those who passed,” Feng Chiyue said.
Que Chen Yi: “…” Did she write these dismissal notices in advance because she intended to fire all the emissaries and attendants? She offered Feng Chiyue a polite but awkward smile and left with the notices. But before long, she returned, carrying a brocade box on top of the documents.
“The Junior Minister said that you’re the Minister, so you should keep the seal,” she said cautiously, stealing a glance at Feng Chiyue.
Feng Chiyue frowned. “Can’t he even handle being a stamping clerk? Useless!” She didn’t even look at the box. “You do it,” she said.
Que Chen Yi could only obey.
She thought for a moment and understood. Bi Feng had been withholding the Minister’s seal, trying to assert his authority. However, the Minister didn’t seem to care and had simply sent him all the documents that needed stamping. Now, she was dismissing dozens of officials, a move that would undoubtedly offend many. The seal had become a hot potato. Why would Bi Feng want to keep it? With the Minister acting so recklessly, wouldn’t she be finished soon? Should she start preparing to escape?
Lost in her thoughts, Que Chen Yi stamped the dismissal notices. After stamping the last one, she turned to Feng Chiyue, who was smiling brightly. “I’ll deliver these,” she said. After spending a couple of days with Feng Chiyue, she had figured out her personality and didn’t expect a response. But as she was about to leave, a sharp sword hum rang out. Feng Chiyue had sat up at some point. She patted Undefeated’s blade and said, “Let it go.”
Que Chen Yi sighed in relief. She had been afraid of being beaten up by the emissaries and attendants when she delivered the notices. It seemed the Minister still had some humanity. But as soon as the thought crossed her mind, Feng Chiyue spoke again.
“No one would listen to you. It would be a waste of time.”
Que Chen Yi: “…” She could have kept that to herself.
Dismissing officials, especially on such a large scale, was unprecedented, both in the Celestial Feather Ministry and the entire Heavenly Court. The emissaries and attendants knew their assessment results weren’t good, but dismissing them solely based on that was too harsh. They suspected that Feng Chiyue was deliberately targeting them because they were from the lineages of Danxue Mountain, who had a thousand-year-old grudge against the Phoenixes.
Naturally, they were dissatisfied. However, Undefeated stood before them, its sword intent so powerful that it felt like it could slice their throats if they uttered a single word. No matter how angry they were, they had to accept their dismissal notices, remove their official hats, and return their seals. But they weren’t going to give up so easily. After leaving the Celestial Feather Hall, they marched towards the main office of the Heavenly Mechanism Department.
The Star Monarch of the Heavenly Mechanism Department didn’t show his face. He sent his deputy, the Junior Monarch, to deal with them. He was secretly grateful that he had gotten rid of Feng Chiyue early on. Otherwise, the main office would have been plagued by her eccentric ideas. However, this matter wouldn’t be resolved simply because the Heavenly Mechanism Department chose to do nothing. Complaints and criticisms filled both the Chaos Mirror and the real world, reaching the ears of the Heavenly Emperor.
The Heavenly Emperor: “…” He knew that Feng Chiyue had been promoted to the Celestial Feather Ministry by the Star Monarch. He had even planned to use her as an example to attract Human Immortals and wandering immortals. Who could have imagined that little Feng Chiyue would cause such a commotion?
Chu Yi, ever eager to prove herself, was the first to praise Feng Chiyue, even suggesting that all departments in the Heavenly Court should follow suit. Unfortunately, her lengthy speech was cut short by the Heavenly Emperor, his face grim.
Changing long-established practices would cause significant upheaval. He provided benefits to the immortals, and they supported him in return. He wasn’t willing to disrupt the current balance of power in the Heavenly Court.
“It’s a matter for the Celestial Feather Ministry. We shouldn’t interfere,” the Star Monarch said, his expression indifferent, as if the fate of other races had nothing to do with him.
“I actually think it’s a good idea. Perhaps the Four Seas Ministry could implement it as well,” a Dragon King chimed in, a jovial smile on his face.
“What are your thoughts, South Vermilion Lord?” the Heavenly Emperor asked. Chang Li, as a Vermilion Bird, was the most representative figure of the feathered race among the Star Monarchs and Generals.
Chang Li smiled. “All lineages of the feathered race are treated equally. It’s very fair.” She didn’t argue or try to gain any advantage for Danxue Mountain. However, as soon as she spoke, the Heavenly Emperor’s expression changed. He certainly didn’t treat all lineages equally. He intended to suppress Phoenix Mountain. That incident had humiliated him and alienated him from his friends and family. He feared the Phoenixes’ resentment.
If Feng Chiyue had been from Phoenix Mountain’s main branch, he would never have allowed her into the Heavenly Mechanism Department. However, he couldn’t voice his true thoughts.
He lowered his eyelids, pondered for a moment, and said, “Minister Feng’s intentions are good, but drastic changes can lead to chaos. We shouldn’t take such a big step all at once. In my opinion, it’s best to suspend the assessment for now. As for those who were dismissed, they have served diligently, even if they haven’t achieved great feats. Let them return to their positions.”
The Heavenly Emperor’s words were law. As he spoke, they formed a decree. However, before the attending Star Monarch could even touch it, it crumbled into stardust.
The Heavenly Emperor’s expression changed drastically. Silence descended upon the hall.
It was Chu Yi who broke the silence, calling out, “Mother.”
Cold moonlight flooded the Purple Empyrean Palace. A female immortal, her face as cold as ice, emerged from the moonlight, her entire body radiating a chilling aura. It was Chu Yi’s mother, the other master of this palace – the Great Yin(Taiyin) Celestial Mother.
The Heavenly Emperor shifted uncomfortably. He forced a smile and said, “Why have you left seclusion?” When he was still the Crown Prince, his Dao companion had devoted most of her energy to cultivation, spending most of her time in seclusion. He had almost forgotten her existence. The last time she had appeared in the Purple Empyrean Palace was over a thousand years ago, when the Phoenix Sovereign had fallen into the Demon Abyss. She had lashed out at him on the Phoenix Sovereign’s behalf, showing no mercy. He had been furious but helpless. Fortunately, she had returned to seclusion soon after, and the matter had been dropped.
“Return to their positions?” the Great Yin Celestial Mother asked coldly.
“You misheard,” the Heavenly Emperor denied hastily. He no longer had any interest in dealing with the Celestial Feather Ministry. He just wanted to send the Great Yin Celestial Mother back to seclusion.
Chang Li remained silent.
The matter wasn’t resolved in the Purple Empyrean Palace, and it was unlikely to be brought up again.
With the Heavenly Court indifferent and the Heavenly Mechanism Department trying to appease both sides, what would the dismissed officials do?
“Chang Li.” A voice whispered in her ear. Chang Li turned and saw Ming Yuheng, the North Star Lord. They weren’t close. She offered him a polite smile and returned his greeting. “Fellow Daoist Yuheng.”
“Many wandering immortals from Danxue Mountain have gone to look for the East Abode Master?” Ming Yuheng asked.
Chang Li was unaware of this. Surprise flickered in her eyes.
Ming Yuheng ignored her reaction and continued, “My disciple is also going. He’ll travel with the fellow Daoists from Danxue Mountain.”
Chang Li: “…” Wasn’t he implying that they were deliberately hiding Ming Jian Su? She wasn’t fond of Human Immortals who ascended from the Immortal Realm. She discreetly took a step back and nodded. “Very well.”
—
In Dong’e Mountain.
Zhu Wan scrolled through the Chaos Mirror, her mood fluctuating like a bucket on a rope.
“Immortal Monarch, they’ve filed a complaint against you with the Heavenly Emperor. The Great Yin Celestial Mother has left seclusion.”
“The Heavenly Mechanism Department is truly skilled at passing the buck.”
“Many people on the Chaos Mirror are cursing you.”
“Many wandering cultivators from Danxue Mountain have appeared on the battlefield between the Immortal and Demon Realms. They seem to be searching for a lost treasure belonging to the East Abode Master?”
Zhu Wan’s voice suddenly rose.
Feng Chiyue, who had been indifferent, sat up abruptly, her brow furrowed. “Did Elder Sister have other treasures that I don’t know about?”
Zhu Wan: “…” Were they really doomed? Was that really what she should be focusing on?
“They’re looking for Master. Are they going to silence her?” Zhu Wan asked, her voice lowered, her eyes wide with fear.
“They should be silenced. Their existence is a waste of pure spiritual energy,” Feng Chiyue said without hesitation.
Zhu Wan was speechless. “I’m talking about Master! What if she was injured on the battlefield before? No matter how strong she is, she can’t withstand a siege from those immortals!”
“Don’t think so poorly of immortals,” Feng Chiyue said, glancing at her. “Didn’t you believe that Ming Jian Su was fine before?”
It was normal to worry. Concern naturally led to fear, didn’t it? It had nothing to do with whether there was actual danger. She found Feng Chiyue impossible to reason with, but she still tried to appeal to her conscience, which was barely there. “Aren’t you worried about Master?”
“I am,” Feng Chiyue said.
Zhu Wan sighed in relief. There was still hope.
But then, Feng Chiyue continued in a melancholy tone, “Without her, I’m worried that my alchemy skills will deteriorate.”
Zhu Wan stared at her, dumbfounded. “You know alchemy?” Since she had arrived at Dong’e Mountain, she had never seen Feng Chiyue practice alchemy. Wait, something was wrong! “What does Master’s presence have to do with your alchemy?” she asked.
“Everything,” Feng Chiyue replied matter-of-factly. “The person who eats my elixirs is gone. Why should I bother making them?”
Zhu Wan was speechless. She understood. Apart from her Master, they were all unworthy. So why had she gone to the Supreme Palace to demand elixirs before? Was it just to cause trouble for Jing De Immortal Monarch because she disliked him?
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