We Agreed On Experiencing Life, So Why Did You Immortals Become Real? Chapter 429: From Now On, This Rear Palace Is Going to Get Properly Lively!

Having earned Xiao Mo’s complete trust and becoming his sworn attendant, Sili remained by his side daily.

Initially, the intricacies of palace life were a mystery to Sili.

However, after a few inquiries with the palace maid, Yang’er, Sili soon became adept at managing all courtly affairs.

It was then that Sili came to understand the profound hardships Xiao Mo faced in his current existence.

Her master, it seemed, was little more than a decorative emperor, his days occupied solely by cultivation and reading, with no substantive duties.

When Xiao Mo had downtime, Sili too found herself with little to do.

Despite Xiao Mo’s ceremonial role, Sili harbored immense pride in him.

Setting aside all else, it was remarkable that her master, after merely a year of cultivation, had achieved the pinnacle of the twelfth layer of Qi Refining, standing on the precipice of Foundation Establishment.

For a typical cultivator of exceptional talent, achieving Foundation Establishment typically required three to four years.

In any prominent sect, her master’s cultivation aptitude would readily qualify him as a direct disciple.

Yet, for an emperor to achieve Foundation Establishment—was that not an immensely formidable undertaking?

The very act of cultivation is an defiance of heavenly will.

This challenge is amplified exponentially for one who bears the imperial mantle.

In Sili’s estimation, if her master were to relinquish the throne and relentlessly pursue cultivation while still emperor, it would transcend mere defiance; it would be an act of plundering heaven’s secrets.

Sili couldn’t quite fathom why her master was determined to remain within the palace confines rather than joining a dedicated sect.

When a reason eluded her, Sili simply let the matter rest.

She resolved to find a suitable moment to escort her master away from the imperial palace and journey towards the Western Regions.

Upon their return to the Western Regions, all obstacles would surely diminish.

What power, after all, could the Ten Thousand Swords Sect possibly wield in the Western Regions?

In parallel with tending to Xiao Mo, Sili made bi-daily visits to the Palace of Spiritual Heart to apprise the Empress Dowager of Xiao Mo’s circumstances.

For these audiences with the Empress Dowager, Sili would reapply her chest-binding cloth, only to remove it upon her return and then recount the events of the Palace of Spiritual Heart to Xiao Mo.

These palace intrigues and power plays held little significance for Sili.

Given the opportunity, she felt she could eliminate all rivals and spirit her master away, or perhaps even restore the Zhou dynasty to his rightful control.

However…

The enigmatic woman residing at the National Preceptor’s Residence within the palace gave Sili pause, deterring any immediate ambitious plans.

Through her diligent inquiries and subtle probing of Xiao Mo, Sili ascertained that the veiled woman was officially an inner disciple of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect, appointed by the sect to serve as Zhou’s National Preceptor.

Yet, Sili harbored no illusions about the woman’s true standing.

How could an ordinary inner disciple possess such formidable power? Sili knew this firsthand, having faced the woman in combat.

What kind of inner disciple commanded cultivation at the Ascension Realm?

Indeed, in this entire world…

Sword cultivators at the Ascension Realm were exceedingly rare, countable on a single hand.

Among them, female sword cultivators at the Ascension Realm were unique within this world.

This singular individual was none other than Jiang Qingyi, the esteemed Sect Master of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect.

But the question lingered: why would Jiang Qingyi, the Sect Master of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect, be present within the Zhou imperial palace?

Furthermore, why would she agree to serve as National Preceptor?

Sili found herself utterly perplexed, no matter how deeply she pondered.

Yet, an undeniable intuition stirred within Sili—

This Jiang Qingyi harbored distinct intentions toward her master.

These intentions, however, manifested in a peculiar manner. Jiang Qingyi’s feelings seemed contradictory; she oscillated between seeking proximity and maintaining distance, never fully committing to either extreme. Such ambiguity was uncharacteristic of a decisive sword cultivator.

Despite this confusion, Sili had to concede.

Jiang Qingyi, the Sect Master of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect, was unequivocally imparting genuine knowledge to her master.

Just as her master had previously stated.

Jiang Qingyi truly possessed a core of warmth beneath a sharp exterior, her words perhaps cutting, but her heart inherently kind. Her constant critiques of her master’s cultivation were, in truth, a manifestation of profound concern, ensuring he never strayed from the righteous path.

Regardless, in Sili’s assessment, Jiang Qingyi remained the individual requiring the utmost vigilance.

As for the two consorts slated to enter the palace in the future…

Sili had always dismissed them as inconsequential rivals.

One hailed from the esteemed family of the Minister of Rites.

One was the princess of Qin.

Merely two mortals.

She had numerous methods to handle them.

And Xiao Mo, unable to read minds, naturally remained ignorant of Sili’s inner thoughts.

He diligently continued his daily cultivation and studies.

Yet, Xiao Mo found this "Si Li" to be remarkably useful.

She was intelligent and quick-witted, possessed a keen eye, and acted with decisive efficiency.

Naturally, Xiao Mo understood that her increasing appeal to him stemmed from her genuine loyalty.

Capability truly held significance.

However, at times, even with considerable ability, loyalty remained the foundational requirement.

Sili, though, was not entirely without her "drawbacks."

Each time she leaned over to pour him tea and water, Xiao Mo’s gaze would fall upon the delicate and exquisite expanse of her bosom.

Whenever she assisted with his attire or came into close proximity, those twin peaks of flesh would inadvertently brush against him.

She even frequently managed to dampen her collar while drinking, causing the thin fabric to cling revealingly against her full chest.

A faint blush would sometimes grace her cheeks, making her appear exceptionally alluring.

However, with two imperial consorts poised to enter the palace, Xiao Mo knew he must maintain strict self-control.

Moreover, the Empress Dowager arranged for lady-officials to periodically conduct chastity checks on Sili.

Thus, despite Xiao Mo’s awareness of her desires and her ambition to ascend, he consciously chose to feign ignorance.

As the days gradually unfolded,

the grand ceremony of Xiao Mo’s wedding drew ever nearer.

Invitations had already been dispatched from the imperial palace of Zhou, one after another.

Though the wedding had been postponed twice previously,

Xiao Mo was certain the grand ceremony would eventually take place.

With only seven days remaining until the wedding festivities, the various feudal lords of Zhou, along with envoys from allied dynasties and realms, and representatives from the mountain sects, all converged upon the Zhou imperial capital.

As the nominal ruler of Zhou—even if merely a figurehead—Xiao Mo was obligated to personally welcome them.

Consequently, from dawn till dusk, Xiao Mo engaged in meetings with envoys representing every nation and sect, leaving absolutely no time for cultivation.

Frankly, Xiao Mo recognized the validity of Fairy Jiang’s earlier pronouncements.

Disregarding the decree established by the Great Qin emperor millennia ago—stipulating that an emperor’s cultivation should not exceed the Foundation Establishment stage—

even without such a rule,

an emperor perpetually faced state affairs and intricate political maneuvering with ministers. How could they possibly allocate sufficient time for cultivation?

Unless an emperor possessed extraordinary, innate talent, how high could an ordinary emperor’s cultivation realm realistically ascend?

Indeed, when some emperors achieved high realms, it was typically because they had dedicated the majority of their lives to cultivation.

And once engrossed in cultivation, these emperors would delegate governance to their ministers, neglecting all other responsibilities.

Some would even divert resources from across the land to fuel their cultivation, ceasing to view their populace as subjects but rather as mere sustenance.

What benefit did a high cultivation realm bring to such an emperor?

The common people would endure unimaginable suffering.

Given the extended lifespans of these cultivator-emperors, the populace would face torment for a thousand, or even ten thousand years—with no discernible end in sight.

Beyond receiving the envoys, Xiao Mo also had to oversee various wedding arrangements, ensuring no aspect was overlooked or improper.

Furthermore, Xiao Mo was required to review the documents forwarded from the Palace of Spiritual Heart.

Although the wedding ceremony was a joint undertaking by the Ministry of Rites and the Empress Dowager’s Palace of Spiritual Heart, any decisions they made, regardless of Xiao Mo’s objections, would be implemented.

Nevertheless, both the Ministry of Rites and the Palace of Spiritual Heart still needed Xiao Mo’s formal assent to complete the procedural steps, thereby enhancing their own reputations and allowing outsiders to believe, “All these arrangements were personally decided by His Majesty.”

In summation, Xiao Mo genuinely felt that the act of getting married was more arduous than a decade of cultivation.

Perhaps, he mused, this exhaustion was partly due to the fact that the two women he was to wed held little genuine affection in his heart.

Had they been women he deeply loved, he surmised, he likely wouldn’t feel so drained.

Yet, at times, a sense of bewilderment would pervade Xiao Mo’s thoughts.

It felt as though none of this were truly happening.

For aside from the fabricated experiences within the Book of a Hundred Lives, Xiao Mo had never known a romantic relationship from beginning to end.

And now, he was on the cusp of marriage.

And not just one, but two simultaneously…

This was an outcome Xiao Mo had never remotely conceived.

With the wedding merely four days away, a significant portion of the invited guests had already graced the imperial capital with their presence.

Documents from the Palace of Spiritual Heart and the Ministry of Rites were no longer a hindrance for Xiao Mo, as he had concluded his procedural walkthroughs.

Consequently, Xiao Mo delegated the less critical matters within the rear palace to Sili’s capable management.

When moments of freedom arose, Xiao Mo would often find himself seated alone at the Asking-the-Dao Altar, lost in contemplation.

Initially, the Asking-the-Dao Altar had served as Xiao Mo's secluded sanctuary for cultivation, a place to keep his practices discreet.

However, as time wore on...

this very spot evolved into a genuine haven where Xiao Mo could attain inner peace.

Upon arriving at the Asking-the-Dao Altar and settling onto the cool stone bricks, Xiao Mo would gradually detach himself from the world's cacophony and complexities, discovering a sliver of serenity.

Before long, the days dwindled down to the third day preceding the wedding.

The entirety of the imperial palace was in a state of frenetic activity, bustling beyond measure.

Sili, who previously had the luxury of engaging in lighthearted banter with Xiao Mo, found herself now utterly swamped.

She was so overwhelmed that her feet barely seemed to touch the ground, constantly in motion.

She found the situation quite perplexing.

Surely, the simple act of performing wedding rituals like kneeling and bowing shouldn't be this complicated.

How could the mortal realm concoct such an intricate and burdensome affair?

What purpose did all these elaborate customs serve?

Were they edible?

While diligently assisting Xiao Mo with the rear palace's affairs, Sili often found herself silently grumbling.

Another two days elapsed.

It was now the eve of the wedding ceremony.

The grand ceremony was slated to commence on the following day.

With all preparations already finalized, only a final inspection remained, a task assigned to Sili.

This left Xiao Mo with yet another pocket of free time, which he used to return to the Asking-the-Dao Altar.

Within the serene confines of the Asking-the-Dao Altar, Xiao Mo felt adrift, unsure of how to occupy his time.

His inclination for cultivation was currently overshadowed by other concerns.

Even setting aside the fact that the sixth life in the Book of a Hundred Lives was not yet prepared, Xiao Mo would likely have declined to enter it today.

Xiao Mo simply desired a period of quiet solitude, a final moment to savor his

Jiang Qingyi cast a glance at Xiao Mo, her voice laced with a hint of derision.

"Could it be that Your Majesty isn't looking forward to tomorrow's wedding? Whether it's Yan Ruxue or Qin Mujiu, they are both peerless beauties in this world, possessing looks that could topple nations. If I were Your Majesty, I'd already be considering how to spend every night in music and revelry with two noble consorts."

"That is indeed true." Xiao Mo adjusted his sleeves, raising his head to gaze beyond the imperial palace. "But between them, one is being offered as a sacrifice by her family, and the other is for a political alliance between two realms. Even if Mujiu appears cheerful and vibrant, do they truly wish to marry me?"

"Who says they don't!"

Jiang Qingyi bit her lip, speaking softly through gritted teeth. "In their hearts, they desire it!"

"What did Fairy Jiang say?" Xiao Mo hadn't heard her clearly.

"Nothing," Jiang Qingyi replied, her tone tinged with displeasure. "What I mean is, Your Majesty is neither Yan Ruxue nor Qin Mujiu. How can Your Majesty presume to know they truly don't wish to enter the palace? Even if they didn't desire it, so what? The grand scheme is already set in motion. Does Your Majesty intend to alter it now?"

"That is also quite true." Xiao Mo offered a faint smile. "Regardless, from this point forward, this tranquil imperial palace will, at the very least, become somewhat more vibrant."

"Isn't that the precise situation?" Jiang Qingyi's eyes narrowed, her gaze sharp as a blade. "From this moment on, this rear palace is about to become truly lively!"