As for the little prince being raised in the Imperial Court now, the Emperor Jingwu had the Daoist from the Observatory Platform examine him, confident he would not be a 'Rebel Dragon'.
The Emperor Jingwu frowned, feeling a lack of support without Chao Mu by his side.
Various thoughts flashed through Emperor Jingwu's mind, but he quickly calmed down. He had plans for King Han and King Zheng.
If absolutely necessary...
Emperor Jingwu slowly stood up.
Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed in Jingtai Hall, and two little eunuchs entered carrying two jade discs.
A moment later, an elderly eunuch who served closely checked them with a special method before personally bringing the jade discs forward to report.
"Your Majesty, these are two plates of snacks sent by the Empress. The Empress said you've been eating and resting little these few days, and specially ordered the small kitchen to make some snacks for you!"
Upon hearing this, the Emperor Jingwu looked slightly surprised, but then a smile appeared on his face.
"Then I shall try them!"
His gaze fell on the jade discs; the two small plates of snacks looked simple, yet exceptionally delicate, clearly made with care!
One plate held osmanthus cake, snow-white like jade, sprinkled with some intricately cut fruits, emitting an enticing sheen, making one's mouth water at first sight.
The other plate contained steamed milk pudding, equally alluring in appearance, with a touch of sweetness.
The Emperor Jingwu greatly appreciated such sweet snacks, often eating a little after reviewing memorials, while having little appetite for formal meals.
Few knew of this habit, as Jingtai Hall was forbidden territory for concubines.
Only the Empress knew!
The Emperor Jingwu took a small bite of the osmanthus cake, and immediately a gleam appeared in his eyes.
He couldn't help but speak to the nearby little eunuch.
"The Empress's culinary skills truly surpass all the palaces; my favorite is this little piece of osmanthus cake!"
A smile appeared on the Emperor Jingwu's dignified face, seemingly dispersing all clouds in that instant.
What truly relieved him was the Empress's change in attitude toward him.
The matter involving the leakage of the Daqian Royal Family's Dragon Vein Dragon Qi, implicating the Qi Family, eventually reached the ears of Qi Yuzhu, greatly displeasing the Empress Qi.
The Emperor and Empress had been at odds over this for a while.
The Emperor Jingwu also knew that the Daqian Royal Family had not acted honorably, but as the supreme Emperor, he could not apologize to a woman of the Imperial Court.
Now that the Empress understood, it was for the best.
"Transmit the decree, departing for Zhijie Palace!"
Zhijie Palace, the Empress's bedchamber.
Upon hearing this, several eunuchs hurried to transmit the decree.
...
Qi Yuzhu, dressed in an interwoven robe of profound red and a red gauze skirt, sat quietly before the dressing mirror, gazing at her captivating reflection, her eyes showing a complex expression.
Her eyes also held a newfound strength.
"Your Highness!"
Behind her, a female official appeared worried. She had been personally chosen by Qi Yuzhu, always at her side.
As a female official in Zhijie Palace, her fate, along with many palace maids, was closely tied to Qi Yuzhu's own, sharing honor and disgrace.
Recently, the Empress's condition had worried her greatly, fearing her angering the Emperor and being cast aside.
Thankfully, the Empress had regained clarity.
"Let's go for a walk!"
Qi Yuzhu spoke slowly as she walked from the main hall. It was early spring outside, the air filled with a lingering chill.
Seeing this, the female official immediately stepped forward to drape a fur-lined cloak over Qi Yuzhu, who stepped into the small courtyard.
In the small courtyard was a small garden, where it seemed spring lasted all year, with numerous flowers blooming out of season.
This had been specially prepared for her by the Emperor Jingwu.
Particularly after learning the Fengyang Qi Family had such a garden, skilled artisans had been employed to recreate an identical one.
In these cold times, only these plants remained unfazed by the chill.
The garden was not enchanted.
Magic had no effect within the Imperial Palace; instead, it was heated by Earth Dragon, allowing for perpetual spring.
Looking at this garden, Qi Yuzhu felt much better, as if returning to the Qi Family, back to her carefree childhood with her three sisters.
Just then, the voice of a eunuch announcing loudly came from outside.
"His Majesty has arrived!"
"Your Highness, the Emperor is here!"
The female official beside her showed joy, immediately cheering up.
The Qi's face showed a gentle smile, though deep down she felt little excitement, already predicting the Emperor Jingwu's return.
With some adjustments, she dressed and stepped out of the palace, performing a grand salute.
"This concubine Qi pays respect to His Majesty!"
Clad in a profound yellow Dragon Robe, Emperor Jingwu gazed lovingly at Qi Yuzhu, gently helping her up, noticing her thinness, he frowned.
"Empress, you've grown thin!"
Qi's lips curled slightly; her features showed a hint of youthfulness, but Emperor Jingwu felt even more delighted seeing this.
That evening, Emperor Jingwu stayed in Zhijie Palace.
This action naturally disappointed many concubines of the Imperial Court, who had been observing.
East Study
Zhang Jian stepped inside at dawn's first light. Since becoming the Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, his time spent researching in the East Study Room had significantly decreased.
The Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture was often referred to as the 'Walking Minister', not without reason, as it was a fitting title.
At this moment, he was flipping through the "No-Form Scripture," surrounded by an intense illusory mask, within which the forms of all beings appeared.
Within his consciousness, a grand True Intent of the Great Dao gradually integrated, merging into the foundation of the Map of Mountains and Rivers.
In the Map of Mountains and Rivers, four true intents were already complete.
Sheji, stars, Yin and Yang, Five Elements, and now the True Intent of Illusion and Reality was the fifth realm.
Two years ago, he comprehended the "No-Form Scripture" and developed a Dharma Gate called "Dreaming in the Void," practicing which allows one to perform divine travel into the void, giving rise to a dream where countless scenes of the world play out, real and unreal alike.
This mysterious technique was an appendage specifically created for evolving the Map of Mountains and Rivers.
Zhang Jian sculpted it for two years.
This time was longer than the combined duration he spent mastering the Golden Crow Fission Technique and the Five Dragons Scripture.
However, the effort yielded real benefits.
Achieving success in "Dreaming in the Void" and integrating it with the Map of Mountains and Rivers allowed him to manifest countless changes in the world with a single thought, indistinguishable between real and illusion.
Although Zhang Jian had only grasped the True Intent of Illusion and Reality through this exercise, he decided that once he advanced to the Primordial Spirit level, he would carefully refine this technique, as its perfection would be immensely beneficial.
Upon infusing the True Intent of Illusion and Reality, Zhang Jian felt a distinct augmentation of the Map of Mountains and Rivers' power.
Zhang Jian had listened to Preaching Elders of the Tongshan Dao Lineage talk about the concept of combined magic.
For instance, some powerful cultivators, given the right opportunity, could release combined magic, simultaneously casting a series of spells or forming a matrix-style release of the spells through specific methods.
To some extent, his Map of Mountains and Rivers resembled such magic.
But it was more sophisticated.
After incorporating the fifth true intent, Zhang Jian hesitated slightly.
With the integration of five true intents, the Map of Mountains and Rivers was powerful enough, but the stronger it was, the more terrifying the tribulation when proving the Primordial Spirit would be.
Zhang Jian was also worried that he might overreach and end up ensnaring himself.
"Perhaps it should stop here!"
This thought flashed through Zhang Jian's mind.
The Map of Mountains and Rivers, with five true intents integrated, was powerful enough, surely possessing unparalleled grand foundations when proving the Sheji Emperor's Primordial Spirit.
After all, the current state of the Map of Mountains and Rivers far exceeded many ordinary Yin Spirit Level techniques.
But in reality, Zhang Jian felt it hadn't reached the limit of materializing into the Yang Spirit.
Even though continuing to cultivate the sixth true intent might render the Primordial Spirit advancement fraught with danger, Zhang Jian decided to give it a try.
After all, it concerned the strength after proving the Primordial Spirit.
True Monarch Zhanmo had mentioned to him that proving the Primordial Spirit and obtaining an immortal body might seem unapproachable to ordinary cultivators.
But in truth, proving the Primordial Spirit was merely an admission ticket to the vast outer void beyond the world.
...
Within the East Study Room, Zhang Jian gathered the Void Spirit Light circulating on his surface with a thought.
This glow enveloped the East Study Room without any strange phenomena.
"Next is the True Intent of Qiankun!"
Zhang Jian's gaze swept across other bookshelves in the East Study Room.
Having succeeded in cultivating the True Intent of Illusion and Reality, his next target was the True Intent of Qiankun.
In Zhang Jian's view, this was the most crucial true intent.
The Map of Mountains and Rivers, in essence, still had the characteristics of the Void Dharma Realm, and the True Intent of Qiankun concerned whether one could possess absolute control and suppression capability.
Just like two years ago, when a Primordial Spirit Master used a mysterious technique to instantly drag several heterodox Primordial Spirits into a special void coordinate, suppressing them.
Once the Map of Mountains and Rivers was integrated with the True Intent of Qiankun, it would truly possess absolute control ability; once an opponent was suppressed within the Map of Mountains and Rivers, whatever the opponent did, he could anticipate beforehand.
But as for how to comprehend the True Intent of Qiankun, Zhang Jian didn't have a specific direction yet.
At this moment, Zhang Jian slowly refined his magical power; after mastering "Dreaming in the Void," the Yang God's Magical Power within him gradually reached a bottleneck.
"Perhaps after comprehending the True Intent of Qiankun, I should really stop and attempt to break through the Fourth Tribulation of the Yin Spirit!"
Zhang Jian's gaze fluctuated.
Just then, something caught Zhang Jian's attention; a commotion emerged outside the East Study Room, with footsteps and a distinctive youthful voice among them.
"Lady De!"
From afar, Zhang Jian could hear the voices of several female officials in the East Study Room.
"Consort Lande!"
Upon hearing the voices, Zhang Jian's brows shifted, and he stood up to leave the elegant pavilion.
From a distance, he saw a purple-robed, stately palace maiden with a face like the autumn moon stepping gracefully into the East Study Room, accompanied by an eleven or twelve-year-old young prince.
The prince wore a brocade robe, evidently marking him as a Prince!
Seeing Zhang Jian dressed in a red robe, the palace maiden's eyes flickered with recognition, and she smiled.
"Mr. Zhang is here as well?"
Zhang Jian slightly bowed and said, "Your servant, Zhang Daosheng, greets Lady De, and greets His Highness, the Third Prince!"
A smile appeared on the palace maiden's beautiful face, and she turned to the curious young prince by her side.
"Cheng'er, this is a Grand Scholar of the Sports and Arts College, the foremost scholar, also the advocate of 'Zhang's School.' You should pay your respects!"
Upon hearing this, the young prince's expression grew serious, and he cupped his hands:
"Wei Cheng greets Mr. Zhang! Several of my mentors often spoke highly of Mr. Zhang's erudition, which is admirable. I too hold great admiration, and I'm delighted to meet you today. May I ask the scholar for guidance?"
Seeing the Third Prince, thoughts raced through Zhang Jian's mind, understanding that today's appearance of Consort Lande and the Third Prince here was no mere coincidence and was most likely intended for him.