457: appease Minister Xia

After Mysterious Clarity Master left the Imperial Study, he walked in a hurry, but he already had a plan in mind.

He did not head straight for the side hall where Situ Jun was staying; instead, he took a detour and went directly to the Ministry of Personnel.

Xia Guanglin, the Minister of Personnel, was currently in a state of utter distress—his daughter was about to be crowned Empress, which was supposed to be the supreme glory of the Family, but who could have known that after meeting the Sovereign today, she would be hurriedly sent back to her chambers with a verbal command strictly forbidding anyone from visiting her.

This sudden turn of events was like a bolt of lightning striking Xia Guanglin's head.

He had survived the treacherous waters of officialdom for thirty years, climbing from a minor seventh-rank clerk to the position of Minister of Personnel by relying on his ability to read people and plan every move carefully.

His daughter being crowned Empress was supposed to be the Peak moment for the Xia Family to climb the ranks and bring glory to their house, but this last-minute change made him sense a strong feeling of unease—this was definitely no ordinary harem rivalry; it likely involved powers he didn't dare to speculate about.

Just as Xia Guanglin was feeling distraught and desperate to barge into the palace to see Your Majesty, a subordinate official's low voice came from outside:

"My Lord, State Preceptor Xuan Qingzi has arrived."

Xia Guanglin stood up abruptly, the worry on his face instantly replaced by wild joy, as if a drowning man had caught a life-saving straw.

He practically stumbled out and grabbed the sleeve of Mysterious Clarity Master's robe, ignoring the gazes of the surrounding officials, and said urgently:

"State Preceptor! Your Majesty summoned my daughter; what on earth happened? Why... why has she been confined to her chambers?"

Mysterious Clarity Master's expression was as somber as still water. He raised his hand to gently brush away the man's hand, his gaze sweeping across the surroundings with an unquestionable authority.

Xia Guanglin took the hint and quickly dismissed everyone, even sending his personal servant out of the courtyard before inviting Mysterious Clarity Master into the inner hall.

"Minister Xia, calm yourself."

Mysterious Clarity Master slowly took a seat and took a sip from his teacup, his tone so calm it was almost cold:

"Your daughter... may have an even greater destiny."

"An even greater destiny?"

Xia Guanglin was stunned, his brows furrowed, failing to understand the deep meaning behind those words for a moment.

All he could think about was his daughter's position as Empress and the glory of the Xia Family; in this world, what destiny could possibly compare to being the mother of the nation?

"City Lord Situ of the Northern Border is a worldly expert from a hidden Sect, with a Dharma Eye as sharp as a torch. He saw that your daughter has an extraordinary skeletal structure and is a rare talent for Cultivation, appearing only once in a century. He intends to take her under his wing and bring her back to the Northern Border for careful training."

Mysterious Clarity Master said slowly.

After a pause, he continued with an unquestionable certainty:

"This kind of Opportunity, for an individual, far exceeds a worldly position like Empress. For the Xia Family, it also brings long-lasting blessings. Your Majesty is profoundly righteous and has already decided to fulfill this."

As soon as these words were spoken, Xia Guanglin felt as if he had been struck by five bolts of lightning, and his blood seemed to freeze instantly.

He stumbled back a step and crashed into the nanmu chair behind him with a dull thud.

That usually composed face suddenly turned extremely ugly, and even his lips were trembling uncontrollably.

Having spent many years in the imperial court, how could he not hear the underlying meaning?

What "Cultivation genius," what "taking her under his wing"—it was clear that Situ Jun had taken a fancy to his daughter and was seizing her by force!

And the Sovereign... the Sovereign had actually agreed!

How much effort had the Xia Family expended for this position of Empress?

Clearing obstacles, bribing the inner palace, even exhausting the Family's coffers, all to gain the tacit approval of the civil and military officials and the personal promise of Your Majesty.

With the Investiture Ceremony scheduled for tomorrow, every official and citizen in the world knew the Xia Family's daughter was about to become the Empress.

But now, not only was it all for naught, but he also had to send his daughter into the tiger's den, to that frigid Northern Border, to be a Disciple to a City Lord she had no connection with?

"State Preceptor! This... how can this be!"

Xia Guanglin's voice carried an irrepressible sense of resentment and anger, and even his eyes turned red:

"The Investiture Ceremony is tomorrow! The decree has already been announced to the world, and envoys from all nations have gathered in the Royal Capital! If it's changed like this, where will the Xia Family's face be? And where does that leave the dignity of the Tianqi Imperial Family?"

Mysterious Clarity Master's gaze turned cold, and his tone also grew heavy:

"Minister Xia! Think carefully: is your Family's face more important, or your lives and the survival of your Family?"

He paused, his gaze piercing Xia Guanglin like a sharp sword, as he said word by word:

"City Lord Situ's will is the will of Heaven! Even Your Majesty must follow the mandate of Heaven, let alone us. For your daughter to receive this Opportunity is her blessing and the Xia Family's destiny! Do not be obstinate and ruin your own future!"

Xia Guanglin trembled all over, his face instantly turning as grey as ash.

He knew that Mysterious Clarity Master's words were by no means an exaggeration.

He had long heard of Situ Jun's fearsome reputation—the tens of thousands of miles of the Northern Border were all under his control. Rumor had it that he had risen suddenly, his Cultivation was unfathomable, and he could move mountains and fill seas with a wave of his hand.

Such a person was someone even the Lord of Tianqi dared not offend, and even the surrounding powerful nations had to show him some respect.

If the Xia Family dared to say a single "no," the imperial decree for their execution might arrive even before tomorrow's ceremony.

Seeing his resolve waver, Mysterious Clarity Master's tone softened slightly, adding a hint of temptation:

"Furthermore, if your daughter can follow City Lord Situ to Cultivate, how can her future achievements be compared to a worldly position? Eternal youth, flying and tunneling—that is true freedom. And your Xia Family would essentially gain the support of the Northern Border. In the future, who in the Tianqi court would dare to lift a finger against you? As a smart man, Minister Xia, you should know how to choose."

These words were like a bucket of cold water and a potent medicine, chilling Xia Guanglin to the bone but also making him completely clear-headed.

Resistance meant total annihilation.

Submission would at least preserve the Family, and perhaps even allow them to rise higher by riding on Situ Jun's coattails.

However, the glory that was within reach, the honor the Xia Family had anticipated for years, had faded into darkness before it even truly began.

This immense sense of loss, anger, and frustration was stuck in his chest, nearly making him vomit blood.

He couldn't even find someone to vent to; he had to swallow his pride and force a smile to thank the so-called "imperial benevolence" and congratulate his daughter on her "immortal destiny."

Xia Guanglin stared blankly at Mysterious Clarity Master for a long, long time before he seemed to be drained of all his strength. He slumped into the chair, his shoulders sagging, his expression shifting until it finally turned into a sigh of despair:

"Everything... shall be decided by the State Preceptor and Your Majesty."

Mysterious Clarity Master nodded in satisfaction, a faint, imperceptible glint flashing in his eyes:

"Minister Xia is truly wise. This matter must be settled quickly to avoid causing a greater stir. You must immediately prepare to claim that a high-level expert from a Northern Border Sect examined Miss Xia Wei and found her to possess a rare Spiritual Root and be a talent for Cultivation, having long been designated as a Disciple by a hidden Sect. To avoid delaying her path to the Dao, Miss Xia Wei has voluntarily withdrawn from the selection for Empress."

He paused and continued:

"Your Majesty, moved by her sincerity toward the Dao, has granted her request and bestowed ten thousand taels of gold, a hundred piculs of Spirit Medicine, and three protective Magical Artifacts to honor her virtue. Your Xia Family will also be promoted by three ranks and granted a thousand hectares of fertile land for your contribution in offering your daughter."

This explanation seemed grand and dignified, but in reality, it was full of holes.

But as long as the State Preceptor and the Minister of Rites jointly endorsed it, combined with the generous rewards from the Imperial Family as compensation, it would be enough to barely smooth things over on the surface.

Turning a blatant act of forceful seizure into a story of "destined Opportunity" and "imperial benevolence."

Having stabilized Xia Guanglin, Mysterious Clarity Master did not dare delay for a moment.

He walked quickly out of the Minister of Personnel's residence, where the carriage was already waiting. The driver bowed as he saw him come out.

Mysterious Clarity Master lifted the curtain and sat in the carriage, saying in a low voice:

"To the Ministry of Rites."

The wheels rumbled, rolling over the bluestone road and splashing some frost.

Mysterious Clarity Master leaned against the wall of the carriage with his eyes closed, his mind racing.

The Xia Family was settled; next was the Ministry of Rites.

Huang Renzhong was a pedantic man who valued rules above all else. Hearing the news of replacing the Empress would surely cause him to protest, or he might not even know how to handle the situation. He had to personally arrange everything.