Taking advantage of the opportunity, Empress Dowager Li spoke again.
"My dear emperor, you have now reached the age of thirty. You should consider appointing an empress!"
"You need a wise empress to help you manage the Central Palace and share some of the trivial matters of the harem! Although Consort Chen is good, she is not the Empress of the Central Palace and cannot replace her position!"
Upon hearing this, Emperor Jingwu felt a bit alert and shook his head, saying,
"Mother, without the Phoenix Maiden, I do not wish to appoint an empress!"
Unsurprised by Emperor Jingwu's direct refusal, Empress Dowager Li said,
"My child, I know you're unwilling. You still long for the Phoenix Maiden who was a fleeting occurrence years ago, but a woman with a Phoenix Destiny is extremely hard to find. We do not even know her age, identity, or temperament!"
"Establishing a Central Palace Empress now would be beneficial for stabilizing the court!"
"I have also heard of the unusual signs from the East Mausoleum. Appointing an empress at this time can help alleviate some of the 'pressure' on Your Majesty!"
Empress Dowager Li spoke with a double meaning.
Upon hearing this, Emperor Jingwu frowned, but this time he did not stubbornly oppose it.
However, Emperor Jingwu felt regret in his heart. The previous emperors had not been able to find the Phoenix Maiden as an empress, and in his turn, he still missed the chance to meet her, filling him with sorrow.
Emperor Jingwu asked, "Does mother have someone in mind for the Central Palace?"
Seeing that the emperor was listening, Empress Dowager Li felt slightly pleased and continued,
"Just now, Master Dong Jue visited. She suggested a candidate for me, someone you might want to consider!"
"A suggestion from Ancestral Aunt? That is a rare occurrence!"
Emperor Jingwu was indifferent, asking casually.
"Mother, who is it?"
Empress Dowager Li replied, "The granddaughter of Uncle Shenwei, Qi Yuzhu!"
"Uncle Shenwei, the granddaughter of a count's family?"
Emperor Jingwu put down his tribute tea, frowning deeply. He had some impression of Uncle Shenwei.
Uncle Shenwei Qi Yi was one of the veteran courtiers who helped quell the Xuan Du Sect rebellion in Shanyang County. At that time, Yang Gonghu was the main general, and Qi Yi was the deputy general. Both veterans made significant contributions to the court.
In his delight, he intended to retain Qi Yi in Haojing City within the Imperial Guard to help him retrain this special force of noble offspring, while also promoting him to First-Class Divine Power General.
However, this veteran not only refused his reward but retired to the countryside, much to his annoyance. Despite multiple attempts to persuade him, he could not keep this veteran.
He had no choice but to bestow further honors, making him Uncle Shenwei, to lavishly reward this veteran, a testament of valuing talent highly.
Yet Emperor Jingwu clearly remembered that while the Qi Family had some influence in the military, they were far from being in the top tier of martial merit.
The first tier in the Daqian Court's martial merit was the Wang Family of Grand Commandant Wang Huan, the Song Family of Marquis Dingyuan, the Gu Family of Marquis Han City, the Duanmu Family of Marquis Zhenbei, and the Xu Family of Marquis Yu Bei.
These families had produced more than one member of the Three Ministers or Nine Ministers.
However, the ancestral system of the Daqian Dynasty did not dictate that empresses could only be chosen from noble families. On the contrary, it highly encouraged future emperors to select empresses from the populace, and even from local noble families.
Emperor Jingwu found it quite puzzling and directly asked.
"Mother, why would Ancestral Aunt recommend a girl from the Qi Family as empress? Is there any association with the Qi Family?"
Emperor Jingwu did not shy away from the question, although his hesitance was noticed by Empress Dowager Li.
Empress Dowager absorbed Emperor Jingwu's expression, slightly furrowing her brows.
Though the emperor was not her biological son, she had spent enough time with him to understand his disposition.
The dominance and suspicion of the emperor were traits he also possessed.
But she did not mind.
Because she knew Emperor Jingwu may dislike interference in his choices, but he is adept at weighing advantages and disadvantages.
Much like when vying for the position of Crown Prince, who would have thought that amidst the powerful Prince Rui, King Han, and King Zheng, the current emperor would emerge as the ultimate choice.
Because he excels in patience and evaluation.
As long as it's beneficial to himself, even if he's unhappy, he will comply.
"Because the legitimate wife of Scholar Zhang is the second daughter of the Qi family's second branch!"
"Qi Yuzhu is indeed the younger sister of Madam Xiao Zhang Qi!"
"This even involves Scholar Zhang?!"
Emperor Jingwu smiled slightly, shaking his head, "Mother, though Mr. Zhang possesses Vast Righteous Qi, ultimately he is still a subject of our Daqian. As much as I value him, there is no need to be familial in-laws!"
Emperor Jingwu disregarded it.
In his opinion, Master Dong Jue was exaggerating.
Seeing the emperor's expression, Empress Dowager Li understood inwardly, as she had guessed the emperor's refusal.
Emperor Jingwu himself was extremely proud, which explained his reluctance to appoint an empress for so long.
No matter how tactfully put, it would still stir resistance in him.
Empress Dowager Li pondered for a moment and simply said,
"Scholar Zhang is exceptionally talented, and Master Dong Jue also mentioned that he has great potential to become a saint in the future. Not to mention he is a cultivator, and several Dong Elders of Dong Shen Temple have praised his profound Dao practice, believing his future achievements won't be inferior to Yu Saint. If someone seizes the opportunity first, it would be a loss!"
Hearing this, Emperor Jingwu's eyes showed fluctuation, he simply said,
"Throughout history, subjects have fawned over the emperor, never the other way around!"
"Even if he becomes a saint, he is still a subject of our Daqian!"
Observing the emperor, Empress Dowager Li smiled subtly and nodded, but in her heart, she had formulated a plan.
In fact, Emperor Jingwu was not as 'refusing' as he appeared!
...
At the Champion Scholar's Mansion, Zhang Jian used the Heaven and Earth Profound Sect to return to Tongshan Demon-slaying Peak. Relying on his position as the Yin Spirit Venerable and his contributions to the Sect, he obtained a Universal Talisman Book of Outer Realm Runes without obstruction.
Having acquired the Outer Realm Rune, Zhang Jian delved into its study.
In fact, the Universal Runes circulating today are closely related to the Outer Realm Runes he exchanged for.
The Universal Runes were completed through tens of thousands of years of modification by an ancient sage from the cultivation realm, later perfected by many powerful figures.
Not only are there human saints in the mundane world, but sages also exist in the cultivation realm.
This too is part of the path of enlightenment.
It has led to the gradual emergence of a systematic cultivation path, bringing forth new magic techniques and ideological trends.
Upon closely studying this Outer Realm Talisman Book, Zhang Jian realized that the runes in the "Golden Crow Scripture" largely employ Ancient Yin Text.
Ancient Yin Text is rumored to have evolved from the Turbid World Yin Text.
When the Universal Runes first formed, they are rumored to have incorporated some of the intrinsic qualities of Ancient Yin Text.
By finding commonalities, there are traces to follow in comprehending them.
...
Zhang Jian spent more than half a month and gradually mastered the intricacies of this Ancient Yin Text.
The "Golden Crow Scripture" indeed contains certain principles and wonders of the True Solar Flame.
However, after careful study, Zhang Jian could only lament that these mighty divine techniques can probably only be cultivated by a few unique innate constitutions, such as the Golden Crow Dao Body, the Fiery Sun Dao Body, and the Nine Yang Dao Body, which are legendary innate constitutions.
Because these various magic techniques have several prerequisites, one is resonance with the True Solar Flame.
The True Solar Flame is incredibly formidable; resonating with the sun could easily lead to one's vital energy being scorched away.
Second, it requires the Sun Dharma Aspect to enter the heart, or at least the Golden Crow Dharma Aspect to continually refine the spirit.
Golden Crow Refining Spirit is intensely rigorous.
Hardly bearable for the average cultivator.
Unless one possesses the bloodline of a fire-attribute divine beast like the Golden Crow.
However, Zhang Jian felt he might as well give it a try.
Though he doesn't possess the extreme Dao Body like the Nine Yang Dao Body or the Golden Crow Dao Body, he does have a Postnatal Pure Yang Dao Body, and his Yin Spirit has materialized, enabling him to withstand the refining of the Golden Crow Refining Spirit.
If successful, this might be one of the few methods to refine the essence of his Yin Spirit.
Moreover, he could cultivate the Golden Crow Dharma Aspect to comprehend the True Intent of Extreme Yang, then transform from extreme Yang to Yin arises, thereby grasping the True Intent of Yin and Yang.
Determined, Zhang Jian did not act recklessly but returned again to the Tongshan Dao Lineage, utilizing his authority to summon a batch of spirit medicine at Demon-slaying Peak capable of healing or neutralizing the toxic fire of the True Solar Flame.
This was to prevent the True Solar Flame from scorching his body, which would be a loss.
But Zhang Jian quickly discovered he was overly cautious.