When Fu Xin heard the Empress mutter those words, a look of horror crossed her face.
She seemed unable to believe that the imperial family could hold such an attitude toward Mount Xianluo.
Fu Jue, standing beside her, was far more composed.
After all, given Prince Liang’s position, he and the Empress ought to have been at each other’s throats after his loss of the succession.
Under such circumstances, the Empress had delegated countless powers to Prince Liang and even joined him in making a spectacle of attacking Mount Xianluo. Anyone with half a brain would know better than to hold any expectations for the imperial family’s attitude as a whole.
Yet the Empress’s conduct now was far more tactful than their usual impression of her.
In their memories, the Empress had always been decisive and ruthless. But just as the atmosphere began to grow tense, she suddenly smiled.
As if she had said something inappropriate, she added, “Of course, that is complete nonsense.”
“Mount Xianluo is God’s Mouthpiece. Who would dare impersonate it? That fool has been arrogant and unruly since childhood. Now he is actually questioning the Sect Master. I hope the Sect Master will be magnanimous enough to overlook it.”
Yet those casually spoken words did not completely rule out the possibility that they were impostors, making Fu Xin even more displeased.
Still, the people they had come for could not be summoned, and the Empress had limited time and energy. Naturally, she could not linger here indefinitely.
Before long, the two of them were led by the Second Imperial Daughter to the palace quarters reserved for Mount Xianluo, where they could rest.
The Second Imperial Daughter’s injuries had mostly healed. Earlier, she had joined forces with Mount Xianluo’s supporters to stir up trouble, only to fail to touch so much as a hair on the Boss’s head. Instead, she had suffered heavy losses herself. Coupled with the rumors spreading everywhere lately—
All of it had left her considerably more gloomy than before. Seeing people from Mount Xianluo now felt like clutching at a lifeline.
Naturally, she treated Fu Xin and Fu Jue with warm devotion. That attitude gave Fu Xin a far more favorable impression of her than she had of the Empress or Prince Liang, both of whom had given her the cold shoulder.
On the way here, Fu Xin had already learned of the developments at court and everything that had happened earlier.
So she condescended to say, “Rest assured, Prince You. I will make certain that person dies a miserable death and reclaim your royal consort for you.”
Even the Second Imperial Daughter, who had always viewed Mount Xianluo through a flattering filter, was displeased this time.
There were some things one ought to understand without saying aloud. What she could least bear right now was anyone mentioning, in front of her, that her husband had been taken away.
What was even harder to bear was the fact that she could not take him back, and could only play dead while the whole realm laughed at her.
The Sect Master of Mount Xianluo had loudly taken the matter upon herself. An ordinary person might have been grateful, but the Second Imperial Daughter’s deeply twisted pride could not endure hearing such words.
Her face darkened at once, and she even began to wonder whether this Sect Master of Mount Xianluo was some kind of idiot.
As it happened, she had guessed correctly. From birth, Fu Xin had been taught that she was inherently superior to others. Even the imperial family, in her eyes, was merely a mortal clan whose rule over several centuries would ultimately depend on Mount Xianluo.
Moreover, Mount Xianluo had its own well-established system of operation, nothing like the court, where everyone schemed and fought against one another.
If someone raised in such an environment was clever and perceptive, with a clear understanding of their own position, then all would be well enough.
But when it came to an idiot like Fu Xin, the result was naturally arrogance and conceit. It had never occurred to her to consider things from another person’s perspective.
It was fortunate for her that she was on Mount Xianluo. Put her anywhere else, and with that mouth of hers, she would be dragged into an alley and beaten senseless at least eight times a day.
Fu Jue listened to the exchange between the two women without saying a word.
Yet the Second Imperial Daughter could not help letting her attention drift toward him again and again.
When the Second Imperial Daughter had seen Su Yue at Prince Liang’s residence that day, she had been utterly stunned by his beauty. She had never expected there to be another man whose looks could rival his.
Moreover, he hailed from the Firstfall Mountain, carrying an otherworldly air about him. Dressed in white, he seemed like an immortal banished from the heavens.
Though they were twins and bore an almost identical resemblance, the moment Fu Xin opened his mouth, one could sense his empty arrogance and shallow mind beneath that handsome face.
Unless one were a fanatical devotee, any intelligent person could see at a glance what remained of this fool once the halo of Firstfall Mountain was stripped away.
Fu Jue, however, was different. He seemed to be suffused with divine radiance; every gesture he made left others feeling as though they had stepped into a celestial realm.
Such an exquisitely beautiful, ethereal man—and the younger brother of Firstfall Mountain’s Sect Master, no less.
The Second Imperial Daughter had already envied the Boss for marrying Su Yue, a man of both talent and beauty who could bring her endless advantages. Now, with Fu Jue’s appearance, other thoughts inevitably began to take root in her heart.
Fu Jue seemed to sense her gaze and appraisal. Turning his eyes, he looked directly at the Second Imperial Daughter.
Startled, the Second Imperial Daughter hurriedly offered him a gentle smile.
Fu Jue gave a slight nod, though inwardly he sneered.
Another piece of trash.
The Second Imperial Daughter, however, assumed Fu Jue had formed a favorable impression of her. Before the Boss had exposed her for beating her husband and being “incapable in bed,” she had, despite her bad leg, been quite sought-after by men thanks to her inherited good looks and gentle disposition.
As someone from Firstfall Mountain, Fu Jue had scarcely ever left the mountain in his life, much less had opportunities to meet women from outside.
In the Second Imperial Daughter’s view, men like him were easy enough to win over.
So, under the pretext of discussing Prince Liang with Fu Xin, she lingered there for a long while.
It was only near dinnertime that she finally departed, albeit reluctantly.
Although the Second Imperial Daughter had suffered countless setbacks at Pei Liang’s hands lately, as one of the major villains in the original story, her true capabilities were not actually so lacking.
On the contrary, whenever she genuinely wanted someone to develop a favorable opinion of her, she rarely failed. Otherwise, she would not have enjoyed such a fine reputation.
At the very least, Fu Xin had already been thoroughly taken in by her, believing the Second Imperial Daughter to be one of the rare reasonable people in the imperial family.
He even said to his younger brother, “What a pity. It seems Heaven has decreed it otherwise. If someone as understanding and sensible as the Second Imperial Daughter were to become emperor, it would instead benefit our Firstfall Mountain.”
Fu Jue had no patience whatsoever to explain the stakes to an idiot, so he merely nodded perfunctorily.
Seeing her younger brother’s “timid and submissive” manner, Fu Xin also grew impatient. After dinner, the two retired separately to rest.
At the next morning’s court session, everyone knew that the Sect Master of Firstfall Mountain had entered the palace the day before.
But many also knew that the Eldest Imperial Daughter had spent the entire previous day entertaining guests and enjoying herself at home; she had not entered the palace at all.
And the person summoned by the Emperor had previously visited Prince Liang’s residence. In other words—
During the morning court session, the eyes of the civil and military officials all fell upon the Eldest Imperial Daughter.
No one dared rashly challenge her any longer. One careless remark might cost them their official caps, and that was hardly worth it.
They could only shift their focus and direct their attention toward General Liu instead.
After deliberating for quite some time, one official cautiously asked, “I heard that yesterday General Liu and the Crown Princess were both invited to Prince Liang’s residence.”
General Liu nodded. “Indeed. Her Highness the Eldest Imperial Daughter received us warmly. The Crown Princess and I both felt entirely at home.”
Who the hell asked you that?
“Surely General Liu knows that His Majesty once summoned her,” the woman went on. “Earlier, the Eldest Imperial Daughter accused Fallen Mountain of now being controlled by traitors, with the Sect Master held captive.”
“Consequently, both the court and the common people have been gripped by unease these past few days. Countless people are worried about the Sect Master’s condition.”
“Now that the Sect Master has appeared in person, this is precisely the time to verify the rumors and reassure the public. How can General Liu be so lacking in tact as to monopolize the Eldest Imperial Daughter’s attention, leaving her unable to attend to such urgent matters?”
For an ordinary female official, that would have been a serious enough accusation; all the more so given that General Liu was a man.
The phrase “monopolize her attention,” coupled with the woman’s suggestive expression, carried a particularly pointed implication.
But if General Liu took offense at every veiled insult of that sort, he would have been pushed out of court long ago.
He merely gave the other woman a cool look and said, “Lady Du, a bald, mangy nun is visiting your residence at this very moment.”
Lady Du frowned. “General Liu, I am speaking to you of serious matters. Why are you making baseless claims?”
General Liu ignored her and continued, “That nun claims to be the Buddha reborn, come to save all living beings.”
Lady Du flew into a rage. “Even if what you say is true, my wife can receive her. General Liu, do not—”
A look of surprise appeared on General Liu’s face. “Lady Du, rather than returning home to discuss a matter as momentous as the salvation of all living beings, you still have the leisure to attend court?”
Lady Du’s face flushed crimson. How could she fail to realize that the man surnamed Liu was mocking them?
So any random cat or dog could say anything, and they would believe it?
Seeing this, everyone knew another great upheaval was likely to follow. Those wise enough to protect themselves had long since fallen silent.
There was nothing of consequence at that morning’s court session. After a few bland exchanges, the officials dispersed.
Before leaving, they heard that the Empress had summoned the Eldest Imperial Daughter. This time, the Eldest Imperial Daughter did not choose to avoid the audience.
She went to the Empress’s bedchamber together with the Crown Princess and the Second Imperial Daughter.
The moment they entered, they saw two figures dressed entirely in white, standing there with an air of ethereal detachment.
Pei Liang truly had a talent for mischief. At the sight of them, her face immediately took on an expression of grief-stricken reluctance.
Looking at the Empress, she said, “Mother Empress, the imperial physicians have all said that you merely need to rest and recuperate. For now, you are still out of danger.”
“Why must you make arrangements for your funeral so early?”
The Empress had naturally intended to enjoy the show. Pei Liang was taking on matters that the Empress no longer had the energy or years of life to handle herself.
If she succeeded, it would naturally be a good thing. If she failed, neither the Empress nor Great Liang would lose much; there was ample room to retreat. It was a deal in which she could only profit, never lose.
At this moment, the Empress had been watching with great interest, only to be so angered by Pei Liang’s words that she nearly failed to catch her breath.
“You—” The Empress coughed several times and shot Pei Liang a glare.
Pei Liang spread her hands, wearing the expression of someone who understood that if one wished to watch a drama unfold, one had to be prepared for its twists.
The Empress drew several deep breaths to steady herself, then said to them, “Yesterday, the two of you left the palace for amusement and did not have the opportunity to meet the Sect Master.”
She then personally introduced them to one another, emphasizing to the Crown Princess, “In the future, as the ruler of a nation, you will naturally safeguard Great Liang’s realm alongside the Sect Master.”
From the moment Pei Liang entered, Fu Xin had regarded her with an aloof, disdainful gaze. Even when the Empress spoke, Fu Xin merely gave the Crown Princess a haughty nod.
Her attention soon returned to Prince Liang. In her view, Prince Liang was the greatest threat.
All the intelligence on the Crown Princess had consistently indicated that, for the time being, she was mediocre and lacked any independent judgment. In the Empress’s presence, she naturally should not have caused any blunders.
Yet to everyone’s surprise, after hearing the Empress’s words, the Crown Princess wore an utterly baffled expression.
She countered, “Mother Empress, weren’t all the incomplete data from before compared and analyzed by your daughter? Over several centuries, apart from purging dissidents, they have made only three genuinely effective predictions of natural disasters. What gives them the nerve to claim credit for protecting Great Liang?”
The entire bedchamber abruptly fell silent. The Crown Princess’s still somewhat youthful voice seemed to linger in the air.
What gave them the nerve?
The nerve?
Fu Xin stiffly turned her head and fixed her gaze on the Crown Princess, disbelief plain in her eyes.
The Crown Princess had ascended to her current position through the support of Mount Xianluo. From an obscure imperial daughter, she had become the future sovereign of Great Liang. It could be said that this immense fortune had been granted to her entirely by Mount Xianluo.
How could she? How dare she? Turn around and attack Mount Xianluo?
Fu Xin’s gaze shifted between the Eldest Imperial Daughter and the Crown Princess. Both of them regarded Mount Xianluo’s status and very existence with contempt—indeed, even hostility.
The Eldest Imperial Daughter was one thing, but for the Crown Princess to be like this was far from a good sign.
Before Fu Xin could speak, however, the Second Imperial Daughter’s heart stirred. She realized that the opportunity she had long awaited might be right before her.
She immediately rebuked the Crown Princess, “Third Sister, do not be so disrespectful.”
“The secrets of Heaven must not be lightly revealed. Mount Xianluo has repeatedly issued prophecies and warnings; surely they must have sacrificed their own cultivation and blessings in doing so. How can you be so narrow-minded?”
The Crown Princess looked at her second sister, even more bewildered. “But that’s simply the truth. Based on the statistics gathered over the past several centuries, the Imperial Astronomical Bureau has predicted far more natural disasters than they have.”
“Through their professional research into weather and geography, they have helped Great Liang avoid losses beyond calculation. If anyone is to be credited with protecting Great Liang, shouldn’t it be the Imperial Astronomical Bureau?”
The Second Imperial Daughter choked. How the hell could those things be compared?
“Can the Imperial Astronomical Bureau predict everything without a single omission?” she demanded.
The Crown Princess replied, “Naturally, the fewer predictions you make, the greater the likelihood that all of them will be correct.”
Then, in an utterly matter-of-fact tone, she added, “Earlier, Eldest Sister and I worked it out. Comparing the number of calculations made by the Imperial Astronomical Bureau with those made by Mount Xianluo, the probability of getting every single prediction right is several tens of billions of times lower for the latter.”
“If I asked you to gamble on dice and guess high or low, would the odds of winning ten million times be the same as winning twenty times?”
“Second Sister, using that as grounds to criticize the officials of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau is unfair—and deeply discouraging to them as well.”
The Second Imperial Daughter felt as though she had been thoroughly screwed over. She had no idea how her third sister’s tongue had suddenly become so sharp. It was not as though she was especially eloquent, yet every word out of her mouth had the power to infuriate.
She glanced at the Boss. There was no question about it—this bastard had taught her.
Yet though she knew it ran counter to her own interests, the blunt comparison of data still made the Second Imperial Daughter waver.
Hearing them compare Mount Xianluo to the mere Imperial Astronomical Bureau, Fu Xin felt profoundly humiliated.
She sneered. “If Your Highness the Crown Princess questions the divine will of Mount Xianluo, then are you not also questioning the very position of heir apparent that you now hold?”
Fu Xin did not understand why the Crown Princess, who ought to have shared the same interests as Mount Xianluo, was foolishly targeting them instead.
But she knew how to seize upon this weak point. Others might be one thing, but if the Crown Princess wanted to question Mount Xianluo, she ought first to consider where her own position as Crown Princess had come from.
But to everyone’s utter surprise, the Crown Princess nodded without the slightest hesitation. “Exactly. Otherwise, how could I be so certain that none of you are reliable?”
Why should she be the Crown Princess? Her elder sister was clearly already mature in ability, learning, breadth of mind, and foresight. The more she learned at her sister’s side, the more clearly she came to understand it.
Her elder sister was the wise ruler capable of leading the people of Great Liang into peace and prosperity. As for herself, she still had much to learn.
Fu Xin: “...”
She stared at the Crown Princess as if she had seen a ghost. For a moment, she was caught entirely off guard, with the situation slipping completely beyond her control.
Then Prince Liang spoke. “The two divine edicts recently issued by Mount Xianluo are both impossible to ignore—their intent is baffling, and their errors glaring.”
“Therefore, I suspect that either the Sect Master has been controlled by traitors, and someone is attempting to use divine edicts to overthrow the court…”
“Or else—her divine powers no longer match her virtue.”
“Preposterous!” Fu Xin’s gaze sharpened like needles as she gave Pei Liang a cold smile. “I, the Sect Master, am here in person. How dare you twist black into white?”
Pei Liang glanced at her, then shifted her gaze to Fu Jue beside her.
She studied him for a moment. Just as Fu Xin and the Second Imperial Daughter both assumed that this scoundrel had set her sights on Fu Jue’s beauty—
She suddenly said, “Come to think of it, the Sect Master came to the capital this time precisely to verify her identity and reassure the people.”
“And yet, to this point, the Sect Master has offered no proof of her identity.”
Fu Xin lifted her chin arrogantly. “I require no proof.”
Pei Liang shook her head. “That makes things difficult. According to my mother, when she last met the Sect Master, the Sect Master was still a child of less than five.”
“More than a decade has passed. Memories may well be inaccurate. If Mount Xianluo intends to deceive us, it would not be difficult at all.”
“If the Sect Master will not verify her identity, then what Daoist Master Qiu said may still be true. The Sect Master herself knows how vital Mount Xianluo is to Great Liang.”
“So long as there is even the slightest chance that the true Sect Master is being held captive, my Pei family will not stand idly by.”
She looked at Fu Xin as she spoke. Though merely a mortal imperial daughter, she regarded Fu Xin with the haughty disdain one might reserve for an insect—
“By the day the Sect Master arrived in the capital, the army sent to Mount Xianluo should already have reached the foot of the mountain.”
Fu Xin shuddered in alarm. She had heard nothing of this. Given how deeply Mount Xianluo’s influence reached, it was impossible that an entire army had arrived at their doorstep without her knowing.
This woman could not be allowed to live. Not for another moment.
The thought had only just surfaced when Pei Liang said, “Hm? What sort of expression is that, Sect Master?”
“Wasn’t it a divine command to execute me? With the Sect Master’s immortal poise and compassionate concern for all living beings, surely you bear no personal hostility toward me.”
“Then why, just now, did the Sect Master seem to look at me with murderous intent?”
As she spoke, she abruptly stepped closer. The oppressive aura of an ultimate powerhouse—one who had slaughtered hundreds of millions of zombies and mutated creatures in the apocalypse—descended upon Fu Xin at once, making her scalp tingle with terror.
It was as though endless blood flowed within those eyes. In that instant, a single word appeared in Fu Xin’s mind—
[Die.]
She hurriedly stepped back, her face deathly pale. It took several breaths before she recovered. With the arrogance of one who was Heaven’s Chosen Daughter, she could not accept the fact that she had felt fear toward Pei Liang just now.
Yet instinctively, she reined in her expression and gaze, doing her utmost to avoid meeting Pei Liang’s eyes.
She might have been forcing herself to hold on, but her bedraggled state was already plain to see.
Fu Jue took everything in. This idiot was finished.
Prince Liang continued, “Therefore, Sect Master, what you said earlier—that you yourself are proof—does not hold.”
“Sect Master, if you wish to prove that you are not some suspicious swindler, or an imposter masquerading as the true Sect Master, then produce evidence of your identity.”
Fu Xin understood that this opponent was far more troublesome than anyone in history who had ever tried to challenge Mount Xianluo.
Though she had every confidence that she could eliminate this person, doing so required time to build the necessary conditions.
Before then, she could not allow Mount Xianluo to be stormed by the army, giving the other side an opportunity to fabricate “evidence” and seize control of the sect.
Even if Pei Liang disappeared afterward, judging by how completely the Crown Princess had inherited her principles, the aftermath would surely be fraught with difficulty. It might even destroy years of careful planning.
Thus, Fu Xin had no choice but to compromise for the moment.
She gave a cold laugh. “Though, for the sake of all living beings, Prince Liang must offer up her life, even ants cling to life—let alone people.”
“It is only natural that Prince Liang, attached as she is to the mortal world, should doubt everything.”
“If Prince Liang insists on proof before she can set her mind at ease and go willingly to her death, then what harm is there in making an exception this once?”
The hall fell silent at those words.
There had been endless wrangling, but Mount Xianluo’s predictions had always been infallible. Had there been even the slightest deviation, the imperial family could not possibly have been restrained by them for centuries.
A sharp gleam entered the Empress’s eyes. She no longer looked like an invalid at all. The Second Imperial Daughter could barely conceal her excitement, while the Crown Princess’s panic was equally difficult to hide.
Then Fu Xin’s gaze abruptly turned distant and ethereal, like that of a deity looking down upon all living beings with sorrowful mercy.
She said, “Tomorrow at noon, there will be an earthquake in the capital. Its magnitude will be moderate, and some commoners will perish.”
The Empress was horrified. Dragging her sick body upright, she sat up at once.
The others, too, sucked in sharp breaths. Seeing their reaction, Fu Xin’s eyes flashed with a trace of satisfaction.
The divine decree calling for Prince Liang’s execution had claimed that the great calamity destined to befall her would be an earthquake three months from now.
Though tomorrow’s quake was much nearer, its impact would ultimately be limited. It likely would not be enough to intimidate anyone. Yet Prince Liang had exploited this difference in timing to find fault with Mount Xianluo.
Fu Xin was just about to link tomorrow’s earthquake to Prince Liang’s disrespect toward the gods—
When Pei Liang said with a bright smile, “Oh? An earthquake in the capital? As it happens, I’ve made a prediction myself. I’d like the Sect Master to see whether it proves accurate.”
Fu Xin knew that Pei Liang would naturally try to challenge Mount Xianluo’s renowned precision in foretelling events, so she nodded.
“Very well.”
Then the other woman said, “I predict that today, Sect Master will suffer a bloody misfortune.”
Fu Xin’s expression froze. Seeing the woman’s smile grow even brighter, wearing the smug look of someone showing off before an expert, Pei Liang added, “But with your cultivation, Sect Master, you must surely have known that already, no?”
“Sect Master? Why do you look so shocked?”
Fu Xin might have been a fool, but she was not an idiot. At once, she began circulating her inner power and went on guard.
But before she could even put some distance between them, a fist slammed straight into her eye.
“Hey, you—” The Second Imperial Daughter’s scalp went numb at the sight, but the Boss had already started beating her half to death.
She was far more ruthless than she had been with Daoist Master Qiu.
And as she beat Fu Xin, she snarled, “Who the hell are you trying to impress? Why didn’t you tell us something this important yesterday?”
“For every additional death, I’ll carve another cut into your face. Let’s see how you keep pretending to be some lofty immortal with that ruined mug.”
Seeing this, the Crown Princess rushed in as well, clawing and kicking. “So many lives, and none of them matter as much as your precious act? If Imperial Sister hadn’t asked, were you planning to keep your mouth shut?”
The Second Imperial Daughter watched as the woman who had seemed like an immortal exile was beaten into a shapeless heap, yet their mother showed no sign of ordering anyone to stop.
Her expression twisted between discomfort and hesitation. If she wanted to show Mother that she cared about the people’s welfare, did she have to go over and kick Fu Xin a couple of times too?
Only after Fu Xin was practically unrecognizable did Pei Liang finally rise and stride straight out of the hall.
“Announce the coming earthquake to the entire capital. Mobilize every troop and resource available. Gather reports on the structural conditions of all buildings in the city; evacuate immediately wherever they cannot withstand it.
“Prepare mass shelters, along with food and warm clothing. Order General Liu to mobilize the garrison to assist with resettlement and maintain public order, so that widespread crime does not break out amid the chaos.
“Pay attention to the routes and distribution of the public notices. Though there are only twelve hours left until noon tomorrow, we can still minimize the damage.
“Earthquakes themselves are not frightening. What is frightening is losing our heads. The lives and property of the capital’s people rest upon all of your shoulders. Act quickly, carefully, and prudently.”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
As the officials received their orders, an impassioned feeling rose within them.
The thought of mortals standing against the decree of Heaven filled those who had been helpless and terrified by the looming disaster with a bold, defiant courage.
The Empress silently watched the Boss issue order after order, then relaxed and closed her eyes.
Whatever soul lay within her, she was an exceptionally rare talent for rulership.
A person like this—nothing could stop others from gathering around her as their center, worshipping her, and obeying her.
Certainly, the Great Liang throne could not be handed to an outsider. Yet the Empress realized that, in her heart, she had been yielding step by step.
By now, she found herself thinking that, after all, that body belonged to the Boss. Even if she broke her word and refused to return the throne to the Third, in the end the Pei bloodline would still continue.
The Empress cast a cold glance at Fu Xin’s wretched form on the floor. It was quite a pleasing sight.
Fu Jue thought so too.
He looked coldly at his twin sister, with no intention of helping her up.
Instead, his gaze fell upon Prince Liang, and a flicker of regret passed through his eyes.
After making all the arrangements, she immediately set off from the palace. Yet when she passed him, she stopped.
Pei Liang studied Fu Jue. She had never known that the Sect Master who had descended the mountain first in the original novel had a twin sister from the very beginning—and that, at this point, she existed merely as his foil.
She smiled at him. “You’d better hurry up. Then I won’t have to keep dealing with idiots.”
Fu Jue’s pupils contracted.
