We Agreed On Experiencing Life, So Why Did You Immortals Become Real? Chapter 404: Where Is Father Going?

Hearing the clamor outside the Platform of Inquiry into the Dao, Xiao Mo sighed with a shake of his head.

"Allow Her Highness the Princess to enter," he commanded.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

It was only after receiving the decree that Wei Xun opened the grand entrance to the Platform of Inquiry into the Dao’s compound.

Like a sprightly little rabbit, Qin Mujiu bounced inside, her voice sweet as she called out, "Your Majesty Brother."

"The wedding day draws near. Mujiu, you must be quite occupied these days, no?" Xiao Mo inquired with a smile. "What brings you to visit me?"

"Precisely because I am swamped with wedding preparations day and night, I came the moment I had a sliver of free time," Qin Mujiu replied, the corners of her eyes curving. "Mujiu wishes to visit a certain place today. Would Your Majesty Brother accompany Mujiu?"

"Certainly." Xiao Mo placed his sword on its rack. "And where shall we be going today?"

"To the Library Tower..." Qin Mujiu stated softly. "Mujiu once heard that a former ruler of Zhou possessed a passion for collecting books, spending vast sums to gather ancient texts from across the lands. May Mujiu be permitted to take a look?"

That was indeed the truth. While that particular former Zhou ruler may not have excelled as an emperor, he was undeniably suited to be a scholar. His love for reading was surpassed only by his devotion to collecting books—to the extent that he would readily trade an official position in Zhou for a single tome.

The state of Zhou, once possessing immense might ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★, saw its territories dwindle and its national strength wane considerably.

The decline of Zhou to its current state was, in no small part, attributable to the actions of that former ruler.

"Naturally," Xiao Mo readily agreed. "Let us depart."

"Yes, yes!"

With her hands clasped before her, Qin Mujiu walked alongside Xiao Mo.

Soon after, Xiao Mo guided Qin Mujiu into the grand Library Tower.

Qin Mujiu navigated the vast expanse of books, flitting about like a delicate butterfly.

Xiao Mo, meanwhile, casually retrieved a book and settled into a wooden chair, beginning to read.

A quarter of an hour later, Qin Mujiu finally selected her desired book and sat down next to Xiao Mo.

Xiao Mo paid her no mind, continuing to immerse himself in the text before him.

The two sat by the window, each engrossed in their reading, not a single word exchanged between them.

A half-hour elapsed. Xiao Mo concluded the book in his hands and turned his head, only to find her still meticulously turning the fragile pages.

Bathed in the warm sunlight, her slender waist was perfectly straight. Her delicate fingers softly turned each page, and occasionally, she would tuck a strand of her long hair behind her ear. In her quiet repose, Xiao Mo found himself momentarily entranced—and then, for reasons he couldn’t quite articulate, a subtle sense of inexplicable guilt welled up within him.

At that precise moment, as Xiao Mo gazed upon Qin Mujiu, she turned her head. Her clear, bright eyes blinked at him.

"Why is Your Majesty Brother staring at Mujiu? Is there something on Mujiu's face?"

"No," Xiao Mo hastily regained his composure, shaking his head and fabricating an excuse. "I was merely curious about the subject of your book, given how deeply engrossed you are."

"This book recounts the events following the descent of the celestial gods—how Zhou fractured, its rites disintegrated, and the Ten Thousand Laws world plunged into the Warring States period, along with occurrences from the later era when Ancient Qin unified the realm."

Qin Mujiu offered her explanation.

"However, given that the ancient Warring States era is exceedingly distant from our present time,

the majority of texts concerning that period are derived from folk legends. The names of many individuals were never officially recorded, and numerous names are merely constructs devised arbitrarily by scholars.

"This book follows the same pattern.

"Regarding the Ancient Qin Empress and the general, the book doesn't even bother to invent specific names. They are referred to only as 'the Empress,' and the general is known by the common moniker 'Frost King.'

"Nevertheless, a few points in the narrative are rather novel.

"Should Your Majesty Brother find himself interested, Mujiu would be happy to share these details with you—may I?"

"Mm," Xiao Mo affirmed with a nod.

Seeing Xiao Mo's assent, Qin Mujiu drew her chair nearer, placed the book between them, and leaned gently against Xiao Mo as she began to speak softly.

"Back then, after the passing of the Northern Pacification King, the Frost King returned to the Qin imperial capital.

"And one day, the ruler of Qin sent his daughter away and entrusted Frost King with a letter..."

As night descended, back at the Frost King's residence, Xiao Mo found himself alone in his chamber, opening the sealed envelope.

Having finished reading the clandestine correspondence, Xiao Mo's immediate action was to incinerate it.

Recalling the contents of the letter, Xiao Mo marveled at the sheer audacity of the ruler.

The subsequent day, Xiao Mo dispatched a message via flying sword to the Northern Wasteland.

"Qiu Wen pays her respects to the master."

Three days later, Qiu Wen materialized before Xiao Mo, offering a deep bow.

"I shall entrust you with several crucial assignments. Commit each one to memory and do not exercise even the slightest carelessness," Xiao Mo instructed, his words delivered slowly. "Firstly, summon every assassin from the Wasteland Tower currently within the Northern Wasteland to the Qin imperial capital. Secondly, command General Fang to lead fifty thousand Snow-Treading Dragon Cavalry—"

Xiao Mo meticulously dictated each instruction, as if concerned she might overlook even a single detail.

The more Qiu Wen listened, the more his expression darkened.

Once Xiao Mo concluded, he inquired again, "Did you remember all that I told you?"

"Yes, Master. Your subordinate will see to it immediately!"

Qiu Wen gave a firm nod and then vanished in an instant.

Two months elapsed.

During this period, the border remained on edge, the imperial court was preoccupied with concerns regarding the Crown Prince, and within Qin—both at court and among the populace—all appeared unchanged.

Yet, in reality, Xiao Mo, Prime Minister Li, and their associates were diligently, and discreetly, making preparations.

Xiahou Nan, Li Jing, Zhao Guang, and the other commanders stationed at the frontier also received the flying-sword message from Xiao Mo.

Upon perusing Xiao Mo's dispatch, the three commanders felt a profound sense of dread descend upon them.

Within the palace walls, the commander of the Imperial Guard, having reached an advanced age, decided to step down and return to his home.

His successor as the Imperial Guard commander was a formidable general serving under Xiao Mo—Black Big Ox, a warrior hailing from the Iron-Tiger Army.

Another winter commenced.

In contrast to previous years, the winter this time felt significantly more severe.

That particular morning, the ruler of Qin decreed the cancellation of the morning court, citing the biting cold.

When this news circulated, the civil and military officials of the court were utterly bewildered.

This was because, since his enthronement, the Qin ruler had never once called off or missed a morning court session. Even when afflicted by severe illness, he had insisted on presiding over court, reviewing memorials, before retiring to the inner palace.

Yet, on this occasion, His Majesty had canceled morning court merely due to the cold weather?

Numerous officials began to speculate on the ruler's true intentions. A considerable number even journeyed to Xiao Mo's estate or to the residences of the Three Excellencies, seeking clarification on His Majesty's plans and whether a significant event was unfolding within the court.

However, Xiao Mo, Prime Minister Li, Baili Xi, Jian Shu, and the others either sealed their gates to all visitors, maintained an unyielding silence, or simply offered, "This old man is also unaware."

Concurrently—

Inside the Qin royal palace, Qin Siyao was already hastening towards her father's chambers.

"Father!"

As Qin Siyao arrived at the courtyard preceding her father's sleeping quarters, she observed him seated upon a stone bench in the yard, engrossed in reading.

"What is it?" Qin Shengtian set his book aside and looked up, a smile gracing his features as he addressed his daughter. "Why are you in such a state of agitation?"

"Father still asks what is amiss? It is I who should be inquiring what troubles Father."

Qin Siyao exhaled a sigh of relief and quickly approached him.

"Your daughter heard that Father canceled the morning court. It greatly alarmed me. I feared something had befallen Father."

"Hahaha. What misfortune could possibly befall me within these imperial grounds?" Qin Shengtian chuckled heartily. "And it was merely a single cancellation of the morning court. Is there truly a need for such an extreme reaction?"

"Indeed, there is." Qin Siyao took a seat opposite her father and poured herself a cup of steaming tea. "Father has maintained an unbroken routine for over a century, never once canceling morning court. For Father to abruptly do so today—who would not be concerned?"

"It is not so dire. Your father merely feels that after living this long, it is time to embrace proper rest." Qin Shengtian rose and asked his daughter, "What say you? Since there are no pressing matters today, would you care to accompany your father for a stroll?"

"Very well. Then your daughter shall accompany Father on his walk." Qin Siyao agreed. "Where does Father intend to go?"

"Just a walk. We shall go wherever our feet may take us."

With his hands clasped behind his back, Qin Shengtian departed the courtyard.

Qin Siyao followed closely by his side, the father and daughter proceeding through the palace grounds together.

The Qin imperial capital had already endured several heavy snowfalls. Although the snow had ceased for the day, the entire palace remained draped in a thick blanket of white.

The father and daughter ambled along, their footsteps marking the pristine snow.

Yet, for reasons unknown, Qin Siyao found her thoughts drifting back to the day her mother had passed away.

On that fateful day, her mother had also been walking alongside her through the palace corridors...