Chapter 28p2
After sending Yun Ze away, Ming Jian Su headed towards the Purple Empyrean Palace.
She flew on her sword, the sword light shining brightly, attracting attention. Whether they had read the Chaos Mirror or not, almost half of the Heavenly Court knew she was back.
This news was even more shocking than her “death.” The usually peaceful Heavenly Court was abuzz with activity, the immortal officials each harboring their own thoughts.
As for the Heavenly Emperor… he had been troubled by the selection of a new East Abode Master, but with Ming Jian Su’s return, he naturally abandoned the matter, relieved of a burden. He didn’t seem too concerned about what had happened during her disappearance.
He exchanged a few pleasantries with her and then vanished from sight. Ming Jian Su was surprised. She had expected to be forced to write a lengthy report. It was Ming Yuheng who, as they left the Purple Empyrean Palace together, explained, “The Great Yin Celestial Mother has left seclusion.”
The Heavenly Emperor, chosen by the Mandate of Heaven, represented the yang aspect of the Heavenly Dao. Whenever a Heavenly Emperor was born, a “Celestial Mother” would also be born in the realm of yin.
She would eventually become the Heavenly Emperor’s Dao companion, balancing the yin and yang, the pure and turbid energies of heaven and earth. The Heavenly Emperor might change, but the Celestial Mother remained constant. Traditionally, the Celestial Mother and Heavenly Emperor shared the responsibility of governing the Heavenly Court.
However, this Celestial Mother was different. She spent most of her time in seclusion. Because of this, her presence in the Heavenly Court had gradually faded. But now, she was back. The other immortal officials didn’t seem to care, but the Heavenly Emperor, accustomed to ruling alone, must be anxious.
“I heard that the Heavenly Emperor’s cultivation is inferior to the Celestial Mother’s. He was once reprimanded by her,” Ming Yuheng whispered, sharing gossip about the two supreme rulers.
Ming Jian Su wasn’t interested. Her gaze fell upon a Daoist priest wearing a tall hat and a long robe. She took the unusual step of greeting him first. “Immortal Monarch Jing De, it’s been a while.”
Jing De Immortal Monarch: “…” He had wanted to pretend he hadn’t seen her. What “while”? He wished he could avoid her forever. What kind of crevice on the battlefield between the Immortal and Demon Realms could trap Ming Jian Su? Why had her “death” turned out to be false? If he had known she was still alive, how could he have possibly bullied her junior sister? Well, in the end, it wasn’t Ming Jian Su who had been bullied. He twisted his stiff neck, forcing an ugly smile onto his face, and bowed.
Ming Jian Su pretended she hadn’t seen his reaction and walked past him, as if she hadn’t been the one who had called out to him.
Jing De Immortal Monarch wasn’t relieved to have avoided a confrontation. Instead, he felt a chill run down his spine. If Ming Jian Su had sought revenge right then and there, the matter would have been settled. But her inaction meant that their grudge wouldn’t be easily resolved. She wouldn’t kill him in front of their colleagues, but what about outside Kunlun Mountain?
Ming Jian Su’s return was a “tragedy” for Jing De Immortal Monarch, Ao Chaofeng, and the others, but for Chu Yi, it was a cause for “joy.”
She hadn’t gone to the Purple Empyrean Palace today, but she had heard from other sources that Ming Jian Su had fallen into a crevice on the battlefield between the Immortal and Demon Realms and received a fortuitous encounter.
“Her cultivation must have improved. If she’s willing to be my opponent, even just in the Ethereal Spirit Realm, it would be wonderful,” Chu Yi said, pacing back and forth in her hall.
Finally, she said excitedly, “Someone, bring me a piece of Fallen Star Stone from my treasury.”
It was a type of meteorite iron used to refine swords, extremely rare. But then, she frowned and waved her hand.
“Wait.”
Fallen Star Stone was valuable, but it might not be the most suitable gift for Ming Jian Su. After a moment of thought, she grimaced and said through gritted teeth, “Choose a few bolts of colorful cloud brocade from my treasury.” It wasn’t that she was unwilling to part with them, but the idea of using Feng Chiyue to win over Ming Jian Su left her with a strange sense of displeasure.
Ming Jian Su was a flawless jade, while Feng Chiyue… was a blemish that couldn’t be erased.
Regardless of their true feelings, anyone who didn’t want to antagonize Dong’e Mountain sent a gift after learning of Ming Jian Su’s return. Even Ming Yuheng, Chu Yi, and the Phoenixes, who usually disliked Ming Jian Su, prepared generous gifts. Perhaps because she didn’t want to see Ming Jian Su and Feng Chiyue together, Feng Yao simply dropped off the gift and left without a word.
Zhu Wan, exhausted after sorting and storing the gifts, was left alone on Dong’e Mountain after the other attendants and officials left. Feng Chiyue was useless, and as for her Master… how could she, a mere disciple, burden her? Her Master had said nonchalantly that she could leave the gifts for now, but Zhu Wan couldn’t stand the mess, so she resigned herself to cleaning up.
“Master, those officials who left want to return to Dong’e Mountain. Is that alright?” Zhu Wan asked when she saw Ming Jian Su. She hadn’t cut off contact with them. After leaving, they had realized that Dong’e Mountain offered the best treatment. Not only did they receive their full salaries, but they were also allowed to study Daoist texts and improve their cultivation. Outside, they were constantly busy with menial tasks, serving other immortals.
Feng Chiyue sat on a swing, her toes touching the ground, her gaze fixed lazily on Ming Jian Su.
Ming Jian Su, however, seemed to have ignored Zhu Wan’s question. She held a jade plate in her left hand and a small skewer in her right, spearing a piece of spiritual fruit and feeding it to Feng Chiyue. Seeing Feng Chiyue close her eyes contentedly, a smile curved Ming Jian Su’s lips.
Zhu Wan: “…” She shouldn’t have come here.
“No,” Ming Jian Su finally answered as Zhu Wan hesitated, wondering if she should repeat her question. Abandoning her junior sister in her time of need was unforgivable. They were already being merciful by not reclaiming everything they had been given. How dare they even dream of returning?
Zhu Wan didn’t care whether they returned or not. Taking advantage of Ming Jian Su’s good mood, she asked, “Should we recruit new officials then?”
Feng Chiyue looked up and said slowly, “Humans are unreliable.”
Zhu Wan faltered, then asked hesitantly, “Then… Phoenixes?” Could it be that Feng Chiyue wanted to support her own kind and strengthen the ties between Phoenix Mountain and Dong’e Mountain?
Feng Chiyue frowned.
Ming Jian Su glanced at Zhu Wan. “There won’t be a second Phoenix in Dong’e Mountain,” she said.
“I remember now. I asked Chang Huai to make some things. You can ask her for them,” Feng Chiyue said, ignoring Zhu Wan. She looked up at Ming Jian Su and added, “I haven’t paid her yet.”
Ming Jian Su: “…”
“Besides Chang Huai, I also asked Zhu Wan to run up some debts elsewhere,” Feng Chiyue continued.
Running up debts… Ming Jian Su had never done such a thing, even in the mortal realm. Hearing Feng Chiyue’s words, she couldn’t sit still any longer. She hastily sent Zhu Wan to the Dragon Cauldron Palace to settle their accounts with Chang Huai.
However, a young Daoist boy from the Dragon Cauldron Palace saw them and excitedly told his companions,
“The East Abode Master is here to pay her debts!”
Somehow, the news spread and became distorted.
It became “The East Abode Master is cleaning up Feng Chiyue’s messes. Anyone who has suffered losses because of Feng Chiyue can seek compensation from her.”
After this news spread, both the officials from the Celestial Feather Ministry and those who had been wronged by Feng Chiyue when she was a gate emissary sent bills to Dong’e Mountain.
Ming Jian Su was so angry she laughed.
In Danxue Mountain.
The Vermilion Birds, Bifangs, and other feathered lineages were gloomy, their faces ashen. They had hoped that the Celestial Pivot Department would intervene, but who could have imagined that Ming Jian Su would return? The Celestial Pivot Department had simply laughed it off, saying they would investigate further if they found any evidence. They wouldn’t arrest Feng Chiyue and naturally wouldn’t touch the Phoenixes. The matter could only be dropped.
Previously, some elders had doubted Feng Chiyue’s ability, but now, they were almost certain she was the culprit. After all, with Ming Jian Su, whose cultivation had undoubtedly improved, they were more than capable of killing their clansmen. Unfortunately, there was no concrete evidence, and the Celestial Pivot Department wasn’t willing to offend Ming Jian Su for their sake.
“We’ve missed our best chance. Are we just going to let Feng Chiyue get away with this? With Ming Jian Su’s support, will there even be a place for us in the Celestial Feather Ministry?” an elder asked, his voice filled with resentment.
“Feng Chiyue isn’t on good terms with the Phoenixes. Why don’t we just ignore her?” someone suggested, fear creeping into their hearts.
“It’s not about whether we want to ignore her or not. Do you know that the Celestial Feather Ministry is re-registering the population numbers of all lineages?”
“What does that have to do with anything?” someone asked, puzzled.
“You fool!” the Vermilion Bird elder snapped, furious. “There were problems with the previous registry. Where do you think those laborers who mined and harvested resources for us came from?” After Danxue Mountain took control of the Celestial Feather Ministry, most of the resources hadn’t gone to the ministry but to them. They had used the Celestial Feather Ministry’s name to benefit themselves. The ministry was crucial for their foothold in the Heavenly Court.
“Then what should we do? The East Abode Master is back. Can we still remove Feng Chiyue from the Celestial Feather Ministry?” An anxious voice echoed through the hall.
The Vermilion Bird elder pondered for a moment. “From today onwards, no official from Danxue Mountain is allowed to work in the Heavenly Court,” he said.
“That’s not a good idea. There are many candidates for selection. If we give up, we’re simply handing our gains to others,” someone immediately objected. He chuckled coldly and said, “Doesn’t Phoenix Mountain have many candidates for selection? Let’s push them forward. The Heavenly Emperor won’t allow the Phoenixes to rise again.”
“Have you forgotten, fellow Daoists? Now, everyone from the feathered race who wants to advance through the Celestial Feather Ministry has to participate in the assessment!”
The elders: “…”
“The assessment has angered many. During the court meeting in the Purple Empyrean Palace, they were going to cancel it, but it was delayed due to other matters. If the opposition grows stronger, we can definitely paint Feng Chiyue as the villain of the Immortal Realm.”
“But only we, Danxue Mountain, are opposed to it. How loud can our voices be?”
“I understand your meaning, fellow Daoist. Tomorrow, we’ll submit a petition to implement the assessment system in the Four Seas Ministry, the White Tiger Ministry, and even the main office of the Heavenly Mechanism Department! Why should only our feathered race suffer?” Either no one would be assessed, or all officials would suffer together.
In Dong’e Mountain, Feng Chiyue, who had never been eager to work, hadn’t expected those old geezers from Danxue Mountain to create even more trouble for her. She was currently preoccupied with a new problem.
Feng Chiyue was fiddling with a jade ruyi she had obtained from somewhere. She knelt before Ming Jian Su, pressing the ruyi against her collarbone, her eyes downcast. “Why is Chu Yi visiting you so often?” she asked. “Does the Heavenly Court lack worthy opponents for her? Why doesn’t she go find Ming Yuheng or Chang Li?”
Ming Jian Su was also puzzled. She had rejected the Emperor’s Daughter several times before, and Chu Yi had stopped pestering her. But after her return, Chu Yi had become unusually enthusiastic, even coming to Dong’e Mountain personally. Was it for sparring? Or did she have other motives? Ming Jian Su ignored her disheveled robes and asked instead, “Junior Sister, how many times did she visit you while I was gone?”
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