"It's a good opportunity to fill the vacancy left by the Li Party with a batch of new officials. Now it seems Li Yanfu's rebellion has actually helped us. Otherwise, if he hadn't revolted, it would be difficult for me to act against them upon my return to the capital without a justified reason. Keeping those people would have been a major hidden threat."
Zhao Douan chuckled softly, "If Li Yanfu learns in prison that Your Majesty is thankful to him, he might spit blood."
Xu Zhenguan smiled gently and changed the topic, "Over at the Divine Dragon Temple..."
Zhao Douan withdrew his hand and once again took out the wordless golden scripture from his bosom. He recounted his experiences and supplemented with some analysis from Heavenly Master Zhang.
However, he chose to conceal the matter of Zhang Yan Yi probing him about the Mubei Forest.
"As Heavenly Master Zhang said, this wordless golden scripture was left by the Moya Practitioner. Since you have received the blessing of the Worldly Venerate and the monk gave it to you, just keep it. It may be useful in the future," Xu Zhenguan suggested after some thought.
Zhao Douan acknowledged with a "Hmm," put it away, and probed a bit about matters outside Yu Country, like Mubei and the Liao Clan.
Unfortunately, Xu Zhenguan had ascended to the throne suddenly and briefly, and she wasn't aware of many secrets an emperor should know.
"In the Royal Library, I remember there are some scattered records, and within the Astronomical Observatory, star officials from various generations also know some... When you have the time, you can look into them," Xu Zhenguan said with a frown:
"Those secret places have too few records, including many that you've mentioned, such as the records of the Heavenly Hunting and Destruction of Buddha, which are scant. It's somewhat abnormal. Logically, such significant matters should have many records, but it seems they were erased by those people back then."
"When I was young, I looked at some books, also curious about the history of that year, but found that even in the royal library, the records are scant and vague, lacking in detail."
Erased? Why?
Zhao Douan frowned, his heart filled with increasing doubt.
Xu Zhenguan comforted him:
"If you are concerned, you can take your time to investigate later. Traces will always be left behind. Comparatively, what you should care about more now is your next step in cultivation."
Saying that, she beckoned, and a group of female officials outside the Imperial Study Room were respectfully waiting with small red lanterns.
Zhao Douan was stunned for a moment as he exchanged glances with the smiling Xu Zhenguan:
"Your Majesty is already prepared? Actually, there's no rush..."
Xu Zhenguan smiled and stood up, raising her hand to pull him outward:
"So many things happened today, I reckon neither of us can sleep tonight, so why not light the lanterns and view the paintings."
Going to see the murals after the Worldly Realm?
Zhao Douan's heart started thumping uncontrollably.
...
Before long.
The sovereign and minister each carried a red lantern, reaching the depths of a building called the "Weapon Vault," behind the Martial Arts Hall, attended by a large group of palace attendants.
Here, in the quiet courtyard, stood an old five-story building.
Each level housed a stele, documenting the complete "Martial God" legacy left by the Grand Ancestor Emperor of Yu Country.
Five stories, five paintings, each corresponding to the five Great Realms of cultivation.
Zhao Douan arrived for the first time, with his mortal body, visualizing the "Martial God Map" on the first level.
During his second visit, with Divine Chapter cultivation, he observed the "Six Chapters Scripture" on the second level.
Tonight, with the Worldly Realm, he would ascend the third level to see the third mural.
"Creak." Zhao Douan, following Xu Zhenguan and holding the lantern, softly asked as they climbed the stairs:
"What is the name of the third mural?"
"The Big Dream Scroll," Xu Zhenguan said as she walked, "However, tonight you can view two murals at once, the third layer and the fourth layer, corresponding respectively to the World and Heavenly Human Realm."
Being able to view two murals at once? What a privilege? Is this a special favor? Zhao Douan was momentarily surprised and asked curiously:
"What is the name of the fourth mural corresponding to the Heavenly Human Realm?"
Xu Zhenguan stopped, standing on the third floor, softly parting her red lips:
"The Human World."