Chapter 31 p1
Seeing Feng Chiyue’s expression, Ming Jian Su knew what she was thinking. Besides, she also didn’t want to look at those annoying documents anymore. So she indulged Feng Chiyue and lay down on the bed with her.
Feng Chiyue held Ming Jian Su tightly, feeling a sense of peace settle over her. Her frustrations and anxieties vanished. Ming Jian Su was her cure.
Ming Jian Su’s heart was also at ease. Although she hadn’t been burdened by paperwork in Asura City, she had still felt restless, as if something was missing. As expected, only in Feng Chiyue’s presence could she truly find peace. Well, she could only accept her fate as a workhorse.
“When Undefeated came back, I asked it to transform into your likeness, but it couldn’t do it. How about this, Elder Sister? Can you refine a puppet that looks exactly like you and leave it with me?” Feng Chiyue’s eyes lit up as a brilliant idea struck her. Ming Jian Su was so busy. She didn’t know what to do with herself.
Ming Jian Su stiffened. Whose fault was it that she was so busy? Her amusement vanished, replaced by anger. “Why don’t you ask Chang Huai to refine it?” she asked, her face flushed.
“I want the best, and it has to be made by you, Elder Sister,” Feng Chiyue said matter-of-factly. She nudged Ming Jian Su and snorted. “It’s your fault for not wanting to use an avatar.”
Ming Jian Su: “…” Was she blaming her now? Her avatar was connected to her true body. If she was with Feng Chiyue, how could she possibly get any work done?! “Absolutely not,” she said firmly, her face serious, determined to crush Feng Chiyue’s ridiculous idea.
Although Feng Chiyue was slightly disappointed, she usually listened to Ming Jian Su in these matters. Seeing that it wouldn’t work, she abandoned the idea. It wasn’t that she liked those stupid puppet humans. It was just that her Elder Sister tended to run away when she was angry. In the past, she would hide in some cave in Dong’e Mountain, but now, she had escalated to fleeing to the battlefield between the Immortal and Demon Realms. Would she cross the Demon Abyss and enter the territory of the demons in the future? The thought filled her with anxiety. She glanced at Ming Jian Su, who had closed her eyes, and called out softly, “Elder Sister.”
Ming Jian Su was still angry and ignored her.
Feng Chiyue frowned. If Ming Jian Su wouldn’t talk, she had other methods. Her hand, resting on Ming Jian Su’s waist, slipped into her robe. When Ming Jian Su’s eyes flew open, Feng Chiyue stopped, a bright smile blooming on her face. “Can you promise me something?” she asked.
Ming Jian Su glared at her, pulling her hand out of her robe and intertwining their fingers. She snorted. “Tell me what it is first.”
“Don’t throw tantrums,” Feng Chiyue said seriously.
Ming Jian Su: “…” Did she throw tantrums? Where had she thrown tantrums? She was always kind and gentle, wasn’t she? She wanted to push Feng Chiyue away, but as her fingers brushed against her skin, she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Instead, she pulled Feng Chiyue closer, holding her tightly. She nibbled Feng Chiyue’s cheek playfully and remained silent.
Feng Chiyue’s eyes sparkled. She took Ming Jian Su’s action as an invitation, but she remembered that she hadn’t finished her important request. “Wait a moment, Elder Sister,” she said softly, then continued, “That includes, but is not limited to, ignoring me, entering seclusion for long periods of time, staying out all night, and running away.” The more she spoke, the more annoyed Ming Jian Su became. Did she have that many bad habits? Thinking about it, she had actually done all of those things, although never for long. But even if she had, why did Feng Chiyue remember them so clearly? And why did she have to list them out one by one?! Ming Jian Su didn’t want to hear it anymore. She leaned forward and silenced Feng Chiyue with a kiss.
Feng Chiyue moaned softly, her mind focused on taking control. Her lengthy complaints vanished into thin air.
—
Although they now had the Celestial Feather Career Book, it was just a list of names, useful for filling in gaps and correcting errors. It saved them the trouble of investigating, but Ming Jian Su still had to handle some matters personally.
When the sun rose high in the sky, Ming Jian Su used Feng Chiyue’s Chaos Mirror to issue an announcement, requiring the elders of all lineages to compile a list of their wandering immortals, candidates for selection, and officials with formal positions, including their addresses and duties, and submit it within a specified time frame. Those who didn’t register would be considered to have abandoned their positions in the Heavenly Court and would automatically revert to being candidates for selection. Their salaries and benefits would be suspended.
This change affected not only the Celestial Feather Hall, but also the Merit Assessment Hall and the Treasury Hall. The Merit Assessment Hall was responsible for recording the achievements of officials and managing the selection and promotion process, but it had become practically useless due to the chaos in the Celestial Feather Ministry. The Treasury Hall handled the monthly salaries.
In the Heavenly Court, the salaries of all feathered immortals were calculated by the Treasury Hall, and then they would take their vouchers to the Heavenly Prosperity Palace in the Heavenly Prosperity Department to collect their payments. The Treasury Hall was also a mess. Those who had controlled the Celestial Feather Ministry in the past had issued vouchers indiscriminately. Even wandering immortals who were close to them could receive a salary.
On the Chaos Mirror.
The human immortals were watching the drama unfold, while the feathered immortals were complaining. First, they found it troublesome. Second, it affected their own interests. Regardless of whether they were losing anything, most feathered immortals were opposed to “reform.”
— What is the Heavenly Court doing? Are they just going to let Feng Chiyue run wild? She’s just a savage Phoenix. What does she know?
— What about the Heavenly Mechanism Department? What about Si Lu Star Monarch? Someone needs to control Feng Chiyue!
— Rumor has it that dozens of immortals from Danxue Mountain have disappeared. They might have been killed.
— I want to apply for reincarnation. I don’t want to be a bird in my next life.
Such drastic changes shocked not only the feathered immortals, but also Que Chen Yi, who was already working tirelessly for the Celestial Feather Ministry. How could they verify the accuracy of the reported numbers? Even if they wanted to investigate, they needed enough manpower. Even with the East Abode Master’s help, they couldn’t possibly handle everything within three days.
Que Chen Yi regretted her impulsive decision to participate in the selection process for the Celestial Feather Ministry eleven thousand times. She could only draw strength from her meager salary, which barely supported her family of dozens. Although she was afraid of seeing Feng Chiyue, she still forced her exhausted body to go to Dong’e Mountain and inquire about the situation.
The East Abode Master was diligently writing at her desk.
The Minister was arguing with other feathered immortals on the Chaos Mirror.
After voicing her concerns, Que Chen Yi lowered her head, anxiously awaiting an answer.
“Don’t worry. I have everything under control,” Ming Jian Su said calmly.
Que Chen Yi nodded absentmindedly, instinctively replying, “The Minister has–” Wait, it wasn’t the Minister who had just spoken. She looked up abruptly. Feng Chiyue didn’t even glance at her. It was the East Abode Master who had spoken, her expression composed, the Minister’s seal resting beside her hand. So this “reform” had nothing to do with the Minister. It was the East Abode Master’s idea?
Had she unwittingly become involved in a major conspiracy? Should she resign and return to her village to farm?
As she left the hall, Que Chen Yi was still distracted, almost bumping into Zhu Wan, who was feeding the birds outside.
“Sorry,” she apologized repeatedly, her head lowered.
Zhu Wan didn’t mind. “It’s alright,” she said. Looking at the exhausted and pitiful Que Chen Yi, she couldn’t help but feel some sympathy. She took out a spiritual fruit and offered it to her. “It’ll be alright,” she said, comforting her. Once you get used to it, nothing can break you.
“Thank you,” Que Chen Yi replied, instinctively drawn to the fruit. She didn’t even look closely at its variety and took a bite. It wasn’t crisp and juicy. Instead, it transformed into pure energy that flowed into her body, cleansing her bloodline. She vaguely heard a high-pitched phoenix cry.
Her previously muddled thoughts cleared instantly! She remembered the fruit’s appearance and instinctively looked back—under the peach tree, Zhu Wan was feeding several plump birds.
That fruit… a Heavenly Phoenix fruit!
It was an almost extinct spiritual fruit, considered sacred to the feathered race. Eating it could enhance their bloodline power and even allow them to transform into a Phoenix! It had once been abundant in Danxue Mountain, but now it was extremely rare. Dong’e Mountain was actually using it to feed those plump birds?! Que Chen Yi wanted to rush over and snatch them all, but she remembered her status and suppressed her envy, dragging her heavy legs away from Dong’e Mountain.
Wasn’t it just work? She could do it! She would definitely not resign!
In the Purple Empyrean Palace of the Heavenly Court.
The immortal officials were also discussing the drastic reforms in the Celestial Feather Ministry. Si Lu Star Monarch’s expression was grim. His colleagues who opposed the reforms glared at him, their gazes like daggers, as it was he who had transferred Feng Chiyue to the Celestial Feather Ministry.
He felt wronged. Who could have predicted that Feng Chiyue would do such things? And now, the East Abode Master was back, the Celestial Mother had left seclusion and declared her support for Feng Chiyue in front of everyone. He couldn’t even get rid of Feng Chiyue now if he wanted to.
“Heavenly Emperor?” the officials asked, waiting for the Heavenly Emperor to speak.
The Heavenly Emperor’s expression was also unpleasant. Knowing that the Great Yin Celestial Mother wouldn’t return to seclusion, he couldn’t bring himself to smile. “The Celestial Feather Ministry will proceed with its reforms. It will not interfere with the main office of the Heavenly Mechanism Department,” he said, his voice heavy.
He had divided the power with the Celestial Mother, securing control of the Heavenly Mechanism Department and keeping the human race under his rule. As for the feathered race… they had been severely weakened by the calamity a thousand years ago. Cutting them off would have the least impact on him. Besides, with the way the Celestial Feather Ministry was reforming, Danxue Mountain wasn’t completely out of the picture. They had even gained an advantage due to their past accumulation and still had a chance to regain control of the ministry.
The Great Yin Celestial Mother ignored the opposition. She stood up, her cold gaze sweeping across the officials. “Issue my decree: The East Abode Master will assist Minister Feng in reforming the Celestial Feather Ministry.”
The officials’ expressions turned serious. They exchanged glances, but no one dared to speak. She was using the East Abode Master’s power to forcefully push through the reforms. She hadn’t mentioned any changes for the human race. Perhaps it was just an internal matter for the feathered race? Even Chang Li, from the Vermilion Bird lineage, hadn’t objected. Why should they risk their necks?
Chang Li indeed hadn’t spoken during the court meeting. It wasn’t until the officials had dispersed that she went to see the Heavenly Emperor alone.
The Heavenly Emperor sighed heavily. “The Celestial Mother holds a grudge because of the Fall of the Phoenix pact a thousand years ago. She intends to favor Phoenix Mountain, and I can’t stop her.” He paused, then added, “But she’s not being unreasonable. She just wants fairness. She won’t hold Danxue Mountain accountable for their past actions.”
Chang Li knew he was just trying to shirk responsibility. She smiled faintly. “Accountable? What did Danxue Mountain do wrong? We acted to end the war between the Immortal and Demon Realms. If the Demon Sovereign demanded me as a captive, I would willingly surrender.”
“You’re right,” the Heavenly Emperor said, agreeing with her. Some wandering immortals who knew the truth still blamed him, but what had he done wrong? Hadn’t he acted for the sake of peace between the two realms? Sacrificing the Phoenix Sovereign was a sacrifice. Weren’t the sacrifices of other soldiers also sacrifices? Why didn’t anyone speak up for them? After a thousand years of justifying his actions, the Heavenly Emperor had forgotten the true cause of the war.
“Why has the Celestial Mother left seclusion?” Chang Li asked.
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