210: Fight for auspiciousness

Chapter 208: Fighting for the Auspicious Omen

Such a wonder of heaven and earth had appeared on Tianshou Mountain, and the court reacted very quickly.

At this time, he was still in seclusion, and Liu Chengen had sought an audience twice without seeing the door of the quiet room open.

Realizing immediately that Your Majesty was at a critical juncture, he hurriedly sought out Consort Cui.

As someone close to Zheng Yi, Liu Chengen had long known that Your Majesty and several imperial concubines had already set foot on the path of cultivation.

Among these imperial concubines, Consort Cui was undoubtedly the head.

"What did you say? A phantom image of a Phoenix appeared on Tianshou Mountain, and it even let out a series of cries?"

"Yes, Your Ladyship!"

Liu Chengen respectfully said, "Not only was this matter discovered by the Forbidden Army garrisoned on Tianshou Mountain, but many commoners in the capital and other counties also discovered it."

"Some say this is an auspicious omen sent from the heavens, blessing Great Yu, and many people are already rushing toward Tianshou Mountain."

"The ministers in the court are also discussing this matter and wish to seek an audience with Your Majesty."

"Where is Your Majesty?"

"this servant sought an audience twice, but received no reply. Perhaps Your Majesty is at a crucial point in cultivation."

Consort Cui resolutely commanded, "Pass down the order: the Forbidden Army is to guard all vital passages of Tianshou Mountain, and no one is allowed to enter."

"Yes!"

"Also... notify Elder Chen and have him invite my master so that we can discuss this matter together."

"Understood!"

Liu Chengen left in quick steps. After Cui Xiabing arranged palace affairs—especially matters regarding taking care of the children—she stepped out of Jiao Fang Palace right behind him.

However, just as she walked out of Jiao Fang Palace, she was intercepted by a squad of figures.

Looking closely, it turned out to be Empress Lu Liner.

Not only her, but even Liu Chengen was kneeling to the side, seemingly explaining something.

Consort Cui could not help but stop, and she respectfully bowed and saluted, saying, "This concubine greets Empress Niangniang."

Lu Liner glanced at her and asked, "Consort Cui, where are you rushing off to in such a hurry?"

Consort Cui said, "This concubine heard that there is an anomaly on Tianshou Mountain and specially intends to go investigate it. I wonder if Empress Niangniang..."

"Heh, this Palace has also heard of this matter."

Lu Liner said indifferently, "Liu Chengen, how bold of you!"

"Such a huge event has occurred at the imperial tombs of the successive emperors of Great Yu, yet instead of reporting it to Your Majesty, you ran over to Consort Cui's place. What is your true intention?"

Liu Chengen hurriedly kowtowed and said, "Spare my life, Empress Niangniang! Y-Your Majesty is in seclusion. this servant sought an audience several times, but Your Majesty would not see anyone, presumably because..."

"Hmph!"

Lu Liner let out a cold snort and continued, "Even if Your Majesty is in seclusion, you should have come to see this Palace. When is it the turn of others?"

"Don't you agree, Sister Xiabing?"

Cui Xiabing hesitated for a moment, then respectfully said, "What Empress Niangniang says is right, but this matter pertains to Cultivators, and Empress Niangniang, you..."

"So what if they are Cultivators?"

Lu Liner retorted, "Now that Your Majesty is in seclusion, state affairs of the Great Yu Dynasty should naturally be controlled by the cabinet ministers, while matters within the inner palace are naturally decided by this Palace."

"Tianshou Mountain is the mausoleum of the successive emperors of our Great Yu imperial Family, as well as Your Majesty's Family affairs and a major event of the inner palace. This Palace naturally should personally take charge of it."

"There is no need to trouble Consort Cui!"

After saying this, Lu Liner turned around and left, ignoring Consort Cui who was chasing after her from behind.

"Empress Niangniang! Empress Niangniang!"

Cui Xiabing's expression was anxious, but she was stopped by a few matrons and could only watch helplessly as the Empress walked away.

With her strength, these ordinary people were simply no match for her at all.

But after all, she was only a concubine, while the other party was the Empress. Mindful of each other's identities, it was not convenient for her to make a move.

Otherwise, once word got out, where would the imperial Family's dignity be?

Watching Lu Liner leave, Cui Xiabing could only shake her head helplessly and return to Jiao Fang Palace.

"Your Ladyship?"

The personal maid Xiaoer asked strangely, "Empress Niangniang is bullying you like this, and you are just going to let it go like this?"

Cui Xiabing shook her head and said, "Although Lu Liner is the Empress, she is ultimately just a Mortal. How could I possibly contend with her?"

"A Mortal's decades of youth flash by in an instant. In the end, this Palace is the one who has accompanied Your Majesty for the longest time."

"Then what should Your Ladyship do?"

Xiaoer asked cautiously, "Since Empress Niangniang won't let you leave the palace, what about Tianshou Mountain over there..."

"Lu Liner still underestimates the methods of us Cultivators..."

Cui Xiabing smiled faintly. With a reverse grasp, two talisman papers appeared in her hands.

"You may withdraw first."

"Understood!"

After Xiaoer left, Cui Xiabing unfolded the two talisman papers, formed hand seals with both hands, and muttered under her breath.

Streaks of mana fluctuations attached themselves to these two talisman papers.

Afterward, she folded the two talisman papers into the shape of paper cranes, and then once again formed hand seals to cast spells.

"Boundless thousand miles, heaven and earth sound transmission, haste!"

The two paper crane talismans eerily flapped their wings and flew up.

At first they were a bit wobbly, but they quickly adapted.

Immediately afterward, they turned into two streaks of fire, flying out of Jiao Fang Palace one after another and darting away in the direction of Tianshou Mountain.

Taihe Hall.

Lu Liner appeared here, accompanied by Liu Chengen, Lu Xiangqing, Wang Anshi, Zheng Xuanyue, and others.

"We ministers pay respects to Empress Niangniang!"

Lu Liner said, "You lords, rise."

"Thank you, Empress Niangniang."

"This Palace is merely a concubine of the inner palace. Logically speaking, I should not manage state affairs."

"However, this matter of Tianshou Mountain concerns the imperial tombs of our successive ancestors of Great Yu, and Your Majesty is currently in seclusion. This Palace has no choice but to overstep our bounds and handle it."

Lu Xiangqing said, "What Empress Niangniang says is very true. A Phoenix haunts Tianshou Mountain; this is a state affair of the Great Yu Dynasty, but it is also Your Majesty's Family affair."

"As the master of the inner palace, Empress Niangniang naturally has the qualifications to manage this matter."

However, Wang Anshi said, "Lord Lu, Empress Niangniang, why not wait for Your Majesty to come out of seclusion?"

Lu Liner did not speak, but instead looked toward Liu Chengen.

Liu Chengen could only say helplessly, "Lord Wang does not know, but this servant has sought an audience with Your Majesty several times, yet Your Majesty has not responded at all."

"The door to the quiet room has also remained closed all along, with no signs of opening."

"Presumably, Your Majesty is at a crucial point of seclusion at this moment and cannot afford to be distracted."

Lu Liner said, "Lord Wang has heard it. When matters are urgent, we must act expediently. This Palace can only discuss with you lords how to handle the matter of Tianshou Mountain. What do you think?"

Wang Anshi could only sigh and say, "We will respectfully obey Empress Niangniang's instructions."

"Very well."

Lu Liner said, "Now that an auspicious omen has occurred on Tianshou Mountain, the vital passages of Tianshou Mountain should be sealed off at the very first instance, and no one whatsoever is allowed to enter!"

"Yes, Empress Niangniang!"

"Also, dispatch the Jinyi Guard to enter the mountain for investigation, and it would be best to find out where that anomaly came from."

"Yes, Empress Niangniang!"

"My lords, do you have any other ideas?"

Lu Xiangqing immediately said, "Your Ladyship, this old minister believes this matter should be related to the mausoleums of the successive ancestors, and we should focus our investigation on the mausoleums of the successive emperors!"

Liu Chengen to the side abruptly raised his head, but quickly lowered it again.

Investigate the mausoleums of the successive emperors?

What is Lu Xiangqing trying to do!

This is simply... audacious beyond compare!

Lu Liner said without the slightest hesitation, "Good, then let us focus the investigation on the mausoleums of the successive emperors to find out what on earth happened."

"Understood!"

Lu Xiangqing said again, "Your Ladyship, this old minister believes that we should go there in person. After all, hearing is believing, but seeing is real!"

Lu Liner considered for a moment and said, "L... Lord Lu, should we wait for Your Majesty to come out of seclusion for this matter?"

"This Palace is worried that once Your Majesty comes out of seclusion, blame will be assigned."

Lu Xiangqing frowned slightly and said, "We are all doing this for the Great Yu Dynasty. Since Your Majesty is currently in seclusion and cannot attend to this, we naturally should share worries and resolve difficulties for Your Majesty."

"If it truly is an auspicious omen, it is also a fortunate event for Your Majesty."

"Your Ladyship, what do you think?"

Lu Liner struggled for a moment, and after pondering, she said, "Since that is the case, this Palace will make a trip."

"However, before going... Liu Chengen, continue to seek an audience with Your Majesty, but do not be too impatient. Seeking an audience three... two times a day will do."

"this servant obeys the decree!"

Under Empress Lu Liner's orders, the majority of the Forbidden Army within the capital moved out once again, heading far away in the direction of Tianshou Mountain.

And on Tianshou Mountain, the orders from the imperial court were also quickly received.

The Forbidden Army, Jinyi Guard, and Shadow Guard all mobilized together, sealing off all vital routes up the mountain and dispatching a large number of personnel to search for something in the mountain.

Especially on the hill where the Phoenix phantom image had appeared, over a thousand people appeared, searching inch by inch.

And after ensuring the safety of Tianshou Mountain, Lu Liner's sedan chair meandered out of the palace, traveling in the direction of Tianshou Mountain.

...

Meanwhile, on a hillside in the suburbs of the capital region.

A heroic woman dressed in cyan robes and carrying a long sword on her back was riding a steed, hurrying toward Tianshou Mountain.

"A few days ago, I suddenly felt the sensation of Spiritual Qi erupting. The direction should be correct."

"Sigh, it was not easy escaping from the Family's custody. This time I must travel and experience the world well."

The woman said with bright eyes, "Originally, the first place I planned to tour was the capital of Great Yu, but I didn't expect there to be a sensation of Spiritual Qi eruption here. I wonder if my perception was wrong or if it's really like this?"

"Let's go check it out first. Perhaps we can even find a new cultivation location for our Tuoba Family."

"In that case, Grandpa will have nothing to say either."

This woman was none other than the proud daughter of heaven of the Tuoba Family, Tuoba Qingying!

"Giddyup!"

Tuoba Qingying let out a soft cry, and the steed beneath her immediately galloped, darting away in the direction of Tianshou Mountain.

Talismans brimming with Spiritual Qi were attached to the horse's two hooves, making its speed extremely fast.

Only about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea after the person and horse rushed into the capital region, Tuoba Qingying suddenly yanked the reins hard. With a neigh, the steed raised its front hooves high and came to an abrupt stop.

"Bizarre..."

Tuoba Qingying's eyes were filled with strangeness as she suddenly formed hand seals with both hands, carefully perceiving something.

After a few breaths, she flipped off her horse, constantly walking around the surroundings to continue carefully perceiving.

"So—so dense Spiritual Qi!"

"It is several times more dense than the Spiritual Qi at the Yunmeng Lake Tuoba Family's encampment!"

"Is this place really the capital region?"

She raised her head and looked into the distance, where a huge city sat at the end of her sight.

That city was precisely the capital!

And her destination was the depths of the meandering green mountains behind the capital.

"With Spiritual Qi being so dense here, could it be related to that Spiritual Qi eruption from a few days ago?"

"With such dense Spiritual Qi, could a Spiritual Vein have been born, or in other words... a revival of Spiritual Qi!"

Her eyes suddenly lit up, and she immediately flipped back onto her horse, darting away in the direction of the capital.

"Giddyup!"

"Spiritual Qi is dense and gathers without dispersing; there must be a Spiritual Vein here!"

"Hahaha, if we can occupy this Spiritual Vein, our Tuoba Family will definitely rise once again."

"Truly... the heavens bless our Tuoba Family!"

"Giddyup!"

The person and horse galloped swiftly, like a violent gale, and quickly rushed over a thousand meters away.