Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan
Yuan Residence.
Wang Shun, with the help of a servant, supported the drunken Yuan Ming back to his room and laid him on the bed.
"Everyone… leave now. Tonight, without my or… orders, no one is allowed to come in."
Hearing Yuan Ming's tipsy commands, Wang Shun and the servant retreated, making sure to close the door behind them.
They did not see that after they left, Yuan Ming, who had been lying on the bed, suddenly vanished, only to re-enter the room from outside after a long while.
With Yuan Ming's current soul cultivation realm, the illusions he cast were not only undetectable by servants but likely even by cultivators of the same rank.
Yuan Ming sat cross-legged on the bed, repeatedly examining the images within the blue orb, pondering for a moment before summoning an incense burner and lighting a stick of black incense.
Amidst the hazy mist, Yuan Ming visualized the appearance of the Eighth Prince's heir and soon completed the possession.
***
At this time, the heir had just returned to the Prince's mansion and was reporting to his father in an elegantly decorated study about a recent conversation with Lin Junsheng.
Yuan Ming was already aware of these details and did not listen closely, instead taking the opportunity to observe the Eighth Prince.
He had seen the Eighth Prince before but had never paid much attention, and even the occasional encounters left little impression.
The Eighth Prince, dressed in a python robe, sat upright, his square face exuding an aura of unspoken authority.
It had to be said, this man indeed possessed a regal bearing.
Soon, the heir finished recounting his conversation with Lin Junsheng in detail.
The Eighth Prince tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest, his entire demeanor contemplative, sinking into deep thought.
Seeing this, the heir dared not speak and stood quietly waiting.
"What is your opinion of Yuan Ming?" the Eighth Prince finally asked after a long pause.
"He was once nothing more than a profligate son. The fact that he could return alive from the Southern Border and become a cultivator shows he's somewhat capable. But in the imperial city, with the National Preceptor presiding, even he wouldn't dare to stir up any trouble," the heir replied.
"You may leave," the Eighth Prince said with a noncommittal nod.
The heir seemed to want to say more to his father but dared not disobey the Eighth Prince's command and could only bow and take his leave.
Yuan Ming's possession continued, but afterward, the heir went straight back to his own courtyard, lying on a rattan chair, ordering two maids in their twenties to massage his legs and shoulders, while engrossed in a book with its cover torn off, enjoying himself immensely.
Yuan Ming followed the heir's gaze to the book in his hands, amused to find that it was "The Tales of Young Master Sheng's Journey to the South."
Thus, he gained no further useful information.
***
"I had thought that someone from Changchun Temple was behind Lin Junsheng, but it turns out to be the Eighth Prince. I wonder what dealings he has with the National Preceptor, and who was behind the attempt on my life in the Southern Border?" Yuan Ming mused to himself after returning to his own body.
Although he had some clues, he had yet to obtain key information. He then closed his eyes and continued to cultivate the Nine Elements Formula.
***
As time passed, three months flew by.
The popularity of "The Tales of Young Master Sheng's Journey to the South" had waned, and Yuan Ming's life gradually returned to normal. Aside from greeting his parents daily, he spent most of his time cultivating.
Of course, he couldn't avoid being summoned to the palace by the young emperor every now and then, or the emperor would come directly to his residence.
This had been a common occurrence in the past, so neither Yuan Ming's parents nor the servants in the residence found it strange.
During this time, Yuan Ming also possessed the Eighth Prince several times, hoping to discover who the real mastermind was. However, the Eighth Prince lived a secluded life and was quite low-key, showing nothing out of the ordinary.
Even Yuan Ming himself found it hard to believe that the assassinations were orchestrated by the Eighth Prince.
Nevertheless, Yuan Ming remained vigilant. Since he couldn't get direct information, he left subtle suggestions in the Eighth Prince's mind, making him believe that his succession to the throne might be threatened and prompting him to seek help from Changchun Temple.
As the saying goes, persistence pays off. Yuan Ming's efforts first caused the Eighth Prince, who usually kept a regular schedule, to suffer from insomnia and become somewhat irritable.
***
After several attempts, Yuan Ming, while possessing the Eighth Prince, suddenly discovered that he was being led by a young Taoist boy through a landscape of lush green mountains and clear waters, ascending a flight of white jade stairs.
This prince of the Great Jin, who ranked above ten thousand others, did not dare to show any airs in front of the ordinary Taoist boy, even as sweat soaked through his robe from the walk, he dared not complain.
Yuan Ming felt a surge of excitement but quickly calmed his mind.
After leading the Eighth Prince to an elegantly decorated room, the Taoist boy asked him to wait and left.
The wait felt excruciatingly long, with the Eighth Prince pacing back and forth in the room, visibly anxious.
Yuan Ming was not idle either, memorizing the layout of the room from the Eighth Prince's perspective.
After an indeterminate amount of time, the sound of footsteps approached from outside.
The Eighth Prince turned to look, and through the window, he could vaguely see a figure in a Taoist robe approaching. Just as he tried to get a clearer look, the black incense burned out, and the scene before Yuan Ming's eyes began to blur.
The last thing he saw was a purple-gold Taoist robe and three long whiskers hanging in front of the chest.
***
Time passed, month by month.
A few days before the succession ceremony, the entire Great Jin capital underwent the strictest martial law since the new emperor's ascension.
In addition to the 200,000 imperial guards mobilized to secure the imperial city, nearly half of the 300,000 city guards were also called upon to assist in the defense of the capital.
The city's security forces were unprecedented.
At the same time, the capital had started preparations for the succession ceremony early on. Led by the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works, the main streets of the city were extensively decorated, and the entire capital was rejuvenated.
However, since the succession ceremony was not a celebration to be shared with the people, there was no festive atmosphere in the city; instead, the military mobilization lent it a somber air.
Early in the morning, before dawn, the Shangyang Palace was already brightly lit.
Three eunuchs surrounded the young emperor, helping him into his ceremonial robes and crown. Despite his youthful appearance, he exuded the aura of an emperor.
The attendants stood by, tense, except for one person holding a tray of pastries, who looked relaxed and smiled gently at the young emperor.
After the young emperor was fully dressed in his ceremonial attire and had dismissed everyone, he rubbed his stiff cheeks and took a piece of pastry from Yuan Ming, taking a bite.
"I'm tired of these ceremonies, they're so tedious," the young emperor mumbled, chewing on the snack.
"I'll soon be free from this bitter sea, heh," the young emperor said cheerfully.
"Besides Your Majesty, who else would consider the throne a bitter sea?" Yuan Ming asked with a smile.
(Proofreader:"bitter sea" Describing endless and boundless suffering that cannot be seen at a glance.)
"What's so good about the throne? I only lost interest in cultivation after being rejected by Changchun Temple, and my father intended for me to have an heir before resuming cultivation, to pass on the throne. This time, I'm going to disappoint him," the young emperor sighed.
"You may lose the throne, but you have embarked on the path to immortality. I believe your father won't blame you. You should marry Loulan soon; she has waited for you for many years. Such a woman is rare in this world. Once you enter Changchun Temple, you two will be a pair of immortal lovers," Yuan Ming said, taking a bite of an almond cake.
"Yes, to cast aside worldly troubles and fulfill our promise with Loulan, then to cultivate together and travel to see the world's wonders—that's the life of immortals," the young emperor said, his face alight with anticipation.
"I'll take you to the Southern Border someday. The scenery there is endless, with many secret realms. I've been to a place called Snake King Valley, which holds a great secret, but I'm not strong enough yet," Yuan Ming said.
"Alright, no matter what, I will do you justice today," the young emperor said, his face regaining its commanding presence.
Hearing this, Yuan Ming felt a warmth in his heart, even though he already knew the young emperor's plans for the day.
***
Outside the Shangyang Palace, the imperial carriage awaited, carrying the young emperor to the Altar of Heaven and Earth.
Yuan Ming, without an official position, should not have attended the ceremony according to protocol, but the young emperor still defied convention and had him accompany him.
The entourage of over a hundred people made their way to the Altar of Heaven and Earth.
This place, used by the royal family to worship heaven and earth and pray for the people, was surrounded by a circular altar with a square platform inside, symbolizing the concept of heaven's roundness and earth's squareness.
Before dawn, the ministers of civil and military affairs had already arrived at the altar, lined up and waiting.
The princes and grandsons, who were rarely seen together, also dressed in court attire, gathered outside the altar.
Officials from the Honglu Temple led envoys from neighboring countries such as Yue, Zhao, and Wu, waiting outside.
When the imperial carriage arrived, grand ceremonial music orchestrated by the Ministry of Rites filled the air, and the atmosphere became even more solemn.
The Grand Libationer of the Imperial Academy, a white-haired and venerable elder, dressed in ceremonial robes and holding a scroll, sincerely recited the "Ritual to Heaven and Earth" on behalf of the emperor. Only then did the young emperor step onto the altar.
He offered sacrifices of three animals and five grains, poured fine wine, and holding incense in both hands, loudly proclaimed his achievements and reasons for abdication. He bowed in all four directions, paying respects to the heavens and earth.
Outside the Altar of Heaven and Earth, the imperial relatives, officials, foreign envoys, and all guards and eunuchs bowed, clenched fists, or knelt in salute, chanting long live the emperor.