Just a Useful Pawn in the Stain Sect

Chapter 503: Hitting It Off

The Empress has arrived?

Hearing the announcement from outside the hall, Lü Yang immediately raised his eyebrows. The next moment, he saw the main doors pushed open as a beautiful, coroneted figure in splendid robes walked in.

The woman had willow-like brows and almond-shaped eyes, her jade-like face seemingly aglow. She wore a long silk dress under a wide-sleeved outer robe embroidered with golden clouds and a phoenix pattern. A jeweled Hairpin was tucked into her temple, swaying gently as she walked. Lü Yang’s eyes traveled up her form before finally landing on a tender, fair, and utterly captivating face.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

Lü Yang quickly averted his gaze and bowed. But the next moment, a heavy THUD echoed through the hall—the sound of the doors being shut again.

’What is the meaning of this?’

At that moment, the Four Treasures Daoist Canon fell deathly silent. There was only Lü Yang and the suddenly-appeared Empress, so quiet that even their breathing was clearly audible.

Immediately after, Lü Yang saw a Splendid Light emerge from between the Empress’s eyebrows. The originally dim hall of the Daoist Canon suddenly brightened, and the space itself seemed to expand infinitely. A vision appeared of vast farmlands, lush trees, and fields of grain, all encircling and protecting a central point.

Above these myriad phenomena, a true light of the Earth element manifested, Perfect and Flawless:

[Empress Ci Sheng Ling Si]

Rays of light descended. They appeared formless and intangible, yet as they shone on Lü Yang, he felt as if entire mountain ranges were pressing down on his Dharma Body.

’The Fruit of Roadside Earth.’

’Just as I thought. Everything in the Imperial Palace is supported by Emperor Jia You’s power, and this Empress is no exception. In terms of sheer Position, she’s no worse than Crown Prince Longxing....’

As Lü Yang mused, the Empress—a figure who was extremely low-key within the Dao Court’s official hierarchy, almost completely hidden behind Emperor Jia You—was also sizing him up. Her beautiful eyes reflected Lü Yang’s figure, and for a moment, it was as if she saw a world-shaking Demon Dragon, one of pure yang and unyielding power, capable of churning the very rivers and seas.

But in the blink of an eye, the vision was gone, replaced once more by the handsome young man.

’Half-man, half-dragon?’

’It’s not a simple mix of bloodlines. They’re completely intertwined... How is that possible?’

The Empress’s common surname was "Xiao," so she was also known as Empress Xiao. Though born a commoner, she was sharp-witted and possessed great Spiritual Wisdom; she could recite the entire Four Treasures Daoist Canon from memory.

Across the world, there were few things at the Foundation Establishment level that she did not understand.

Yet Lü Yang’s "half-man, half-dragon" phenomenon was so strange and unfathomable that Empress Xiao couldn’t make sense of it at all. An unbearable itch of curiosity suddenly arose within her.

However, she quickly regained her composure.

’No need to rush... This can be discussed later. I have more important matters to attend to.’

With this thought, Empress Xiao deliberated for another moment before her vermilion lips parted slightly. "I must thank you, Du Aiqing," she said softly, "for helping Longxing take control of the Celestial Wu Hall."

"It was merely my duty," Lü Yang replied, cupping his hands.

"Du Aiqing, you mustn’t be so modest."

Empress Xiao shook her head. "I know Longxing’s character well. He is overly cautious when it comes to important matters, yet he’ll risk his life for petty gains. He is by no means a truly enlightened ruler."

"If not for you, Du Aiqing, I’m afraid he would have already been manipulated by the court officials. I was even considering stepping in myself to cow the ministers and stabilize the court. But then you burst onto the scene, saving me the trouble and sparing a mere woman like myself from having to make such a public display."

"However..."

At this, Empress Xiao glanced at Lü Yang again and said quietly, "I can see that you, Du Aiqing, have the look of a wolf. I’m afraid you are not one to lie low either."

Empress Xiao’s words made Lü Yang furrow his brow.

At that moment, he was pondering a question: if he were to forcefully subdue Empress Xiao right here, how much chaos would it cause in the inner palace? Would he be discovered?

’It’s a shame the Puppet skill is useless against those at Foundation Establishment Perfection....’

If not for that, he wouldn’t need to go through all this trouble. He could have just directly controlled Crown Prince Longxing and all the ministers, easily seizing control of the Dao Court.

’Refining her into a Banner Spirit... that wouldn’t work either.’

When a Dao Court Cultivator dies, their Official Position detaches from them. So even if he refined her into a Banner Spirit, she would just become a mortal, utterly useless to him.

Meanwhile, Empress Xiao abruptly changed the subject.

"Du Aiqing, what if I were to propose a deal with you?"

"Let us join forces to suppress the faction of the Three Ministers and help my son secure his throne. In return, my son will rule in name only, while all real power is delegated to you."

"Your Majesty overestimates me."

Lü Yang said with feigned reverence, "My only desire is to serve the Imperial Family, His Majesty the Emperor, and His Highness the Crown Prince. I have no other ambitions. Stabilizing the court for the Crown Prince is my fundamental duty."

After he spoke, Lü Yang saw an unreadable, half-smiling expression on Empress Xiao’s face.

"Du Aiqing, do you know where my Xiao Family’s ancestral home is?"

Before Lü Yang could answer, Empress Xiao continued, "My Xiao Family’s ancestral home is in the North. To this day, one branch of our family still frequently sends its disciples to the Jiangbei Demon Sect...."

Lü Yang was slightly startled by her words. He began to calculate the karmic links, and a name suddenly leaped into his mind:

’Xiao Shiye!?’

Seeing Lü Yang’s strange expression, Empress Xiao seemed to misunderstand something and smiled. "What is it? Does Du Aiqing perhaps suspect that I am secretly colluding with the Demon Sect?"

"Do you intend to investigate me?"

"I wouldn’t dare," Lü Yang said, bowing hastily.

"Enough. You may rise."

Empress Xiao took a step forward. A delicate fragrance immediately wafted over Lü Yang as she helped him to his feet, bringing him face-to-face with her beautiful eyes.

"I have always been straightforward. You, Du Aiqing, are from the True Dragon Race and must be eager to establish a foothold in the court. I, too, wish to secure more power for my own family. Yet the court officials stand in our way, and the Three Ministers’ Disciples obstruct us at every turn... Du Aiqing, you and I are already on the same side. Why must we be so coy?"

In those beautiful eyes, Lü Yang saw ambition.

’This woman is not of the Celestial Wu Royal Family. Not only does she lack Cultivation, but the Dao Court has no Heaven and Earth Fruit Position for her to attain... yet she still has the ambition to vie for a position and engage in Seeking Gold?’

’Her, plus Crown Prince Longxing... they’re both eagerly awaiting Emperor Jia You’s Ascension to Heaven...’

In the Dao Court, even if you are as noble as one of the Three Ministers or the Emperor, possessing the Position of a Golden Core Perfected Lord, you still only have a lifespan of a thousand years. When your time is up, you must step down.

When the Three Ministers step down, they must enter the cycle of reincarnation.

The Emperor, however, cultivates his own nature. After stepping down, he does not need to reincarnate. This is called "The Emperor’s Ascension to Heaven," where he ascends with his Grotto Heaven to serve by the side of the Master of Dao.

But in either case, a position becomes vacant.

And where there is a vacancy, someone will want to fill it.

After all, looking at all the Foundation Establishment cultivators in the world, who wouldn’t be Seeking Gold? Even for the faintest glimmer of hope, countless Foundation-Stage Cultivators would be willing to give up everything in exchange for it.

Thinking of this, Lü Yang changed his mind.

After all, Empress Xiao was right. The officials of the Dao Court, and especially the Three Ministers’ Disciples, were their common enemy. It was only fitting to join forces against them.

Even if they were to turn on each other, they could wait until after they had dealt with the Three Ministers’ Disciples and the court officials.

Moreover, if even Empress Xiao came out in support of him, his righteous justification within the Dao Court would be unshakable. No one would be able to find fault with him.

This was a matter of mutual benefit.

But despite this, Lü Yang would not make any explicit promises on the surface that could be used against him. He simply bowed and said, "I will heed Your Majesty’s instructions."

Empress Xiao immediately smiled with satisfaction. "Excellent!"

The two of them had come to an instant agreement.

Soon, the atmosphere between them grew much closer. Empress Xiao’s gaze fell upon the two Daoist Scriptures Lü Yang had just selected, and she asked with a smile:

"Are you looking for a Daoist Skill, Du Aiqing? Have you had any luck?"

Lü Yang shook his head. "I have yet to find a suitable one."

Empress Xiao smiled. "Why don’t you tell me what you’re looking for? I know the entire Four Treasures Daoist Canon by heart. Perhaps I can help you select a few."

"Oh?"

At her words, Lü Yang’s eyes lit up. He looked at Empress Xiao as if she were a great treasure trove. This was an unexpected boon.

’To have mastered the entire Four Treasures Daoist Canon... what an immense accumulation of Cultivation that must represent. No wonder this Empress Xiao harbors ambitions of Seeking Gold. If I could use the Heaven-Mending Skill to absorb all her Knowledge, the gains would be enormous. It would surely solve the problem of my insufficient Cultivation for Seeking Gold!’