Witch God Abyss (Lily) - Chapter 12

The imperial palace, main hall, double-eaved roof.

Two people stood there.

The reigning emperor, Long Qianshan, and the National Master, Wen Li.

Wen Li said, “Your Majesty shares the same habit as the Holy Lord, fond of rooftops, fond of high places.”

Long Qianshan said, “It’s still not high enough here. I can’t see the city.”

“This is the main hall, with a three-zhang-high platform, already quite tall. It’s not a watchtower on the city walls.”

“Have you seen the rebuilt Prince Duan’s Mansion, National Master?” Long Qianshan asked.

Before ascending, the late Emperor Yuanli was Prince Duan, with his fief in Wubei.

When Yuanli became emperor, only his legitimate wife and sole legitimate son, Duan Qingxuan, entered the palace, while his concubine-born children stayed in the original Prince Duan’s Mansion.

Yuanli and the empress were both assassinated in their quarters during a coup.

Several of the palace’s great halls were struck by heavenly lightning summoned by demonic beasts brought by Duan Qingxuan, reduced to rubble.

Zhongdu Hengjing city faced a cataclysmic disaster.

Duan Qingxuan led his army to rebel, leaving the Central Plains for Wubei.

The late emperor’s concubine-born children didn’t follow but stayed in Zhongdu Hengjing, rebuilding Prince Duan’s Mansion.

Now, the mansion was managed by Yuanli’s eldest daughter, Duan Zeyu, titled Lady Huayi, Zhao Beijin’s mother.

Duan Zeyu, resentful of being a woman unable to compete with Prince Three or Prince Seven for the throne, had bided her time in Zhongdu, opening silk shops to feign greed.

In truth, most of her earnings secretly funded weapon forging, private troop recruitment, and bribing court ministers and local officials.

Wen Li said, “I’ve been there. It’s not lavish. Anything amiss?”

“It’s like a military camp.”

Long Qianshan gazed into the distance.

“Zhao Beijin is very ambitious.”

Wen Li said, “Why not go with the flow, Your Majesty, and name Zhao Beijin crown princess? It would prevent court upheaval.”

“I need to know her ambitions. If she truly cares for the empire, I can entrust it to her.”

“Zhao Beijin is only sixteen. Her ambitions are merely her parents’ teachings. But I see she’s skilled in both literary and martial arts. Her parents aren’t wicked either.”

Long Qianshan frowned.

“Just over a month in the palace, and she’s colluded with her family’s men to cause such a stir. Those three local officials must have been bought by her family to write such uniform memorials.”

Wen Li said, “Yuanli’s concubine line has held dozens of posts in the court and military over thirty years. Your Majesty honors Qingxuan, but this has indulged Lady Huayi. Suppressing her now won’t be quick.”

“That’s why I had Princess Demao from Wubei and Duan Yuanhe from Yudong send their young princesses to Zhongdu.”

When Duan Qingxuan ruled Wubei, his first act was establishing schools.

After Long Qianshan ascended, he followed suit.

Later, the two empress dowagers, hearing that Central Plains tradition allowed only men in schools, found it unjust.

“In Wubei, women are born equal to men—archery, hunting, herding, horse-riding, they’re no less capable. Female leaders are as common as men. Why can’t women attend schools here?”

Long Qianshan decreed that local officials must establish girls’ schools and convert existing schools to admit both genders.

As the saying goes, “What the ruler favors, the subjects amplify.”

Though Long Qianshan only mandated girls’ schools, this broke the Central Plains’ ancient “male superiority” tradition.

From noble families to common folk, women taking charge became commonplace.

The court saw female ministers and generals.

Old ministers and scholars, though displeased, dared not speak openly, only venting privately over drinks.

This gave Zhao Beijin her opportunity.

Duan Zeyu, unable to accept her father’s death in the coup or Duan Qingxuan’s refusal to ascend and kill the empress dowager, was the eldest daughter.

Zhao Beijin, her eldest granddaughter, excelled in both literary and martial skills.

Raised as a boy, Zhao Beijin began studies at three and mastered archery and riding by ten, matching boys her age.

By then, the court already had female ministers and generals.

Her family placed great hopes in her.

When Long Qianshan announced the selection of a crown princess, Duan Zeyu sent out invitations.

A month later, Prince Duan’s Mansion hosted a grand banquet for three days, with different guests each day.

Duan Zeyu, who usually kept family events simple, made this unprecedented.

Ostensibly a banquet, it signaled to all that they must help her daughter become crown princess.

Since Shen Yuan entered the Imperial Observatory, Duan Zeyu grew restless.

If Shen Yuan secured her position there, she and the National Master would surely support Zhou Yizhi as crown princess.

To remove Shen Yuan, they targeted the National Master.

Over the years, Duan Zeyu collected reports from local officials about rogue temples or harmful demons.

She rallied these officials to jointly impeach the National Master.

Long Qianshan, unsure of the truth in these reports, knew he had to show a stance before the court.

So, he went along with Duan Zeyu’s wishes to see her next move.

Thus, Long Qianshan decreed the dismissal of the National Master and Academic Officer Lin pending investigation, and ordered Huiyi to leave Zhongdu.

As for placing Zhou Yizhi with the two empress dowagers, it was to protect her from palace threats. It appeared as confinement but was protection.

As for the demonic rumors, he let Wen Li review the memorials and decide himself.

Wen Li took the memorials and read them.

“Your Majesty trusts me so?”

Long Qianshan’s furrowed brow relaxed, and he suddenly smiled.

“Master Li.”

Since Wen Li became National Master and his subject, he hadn’t called him that.

“Master Li, I’m only forty-eight, not senile. With your abilities, if you wanted something, you wouldn’t need to do this. Even if you did, no one could catch you. If you wanted followers or disciples—or even to kill me and take the empire—I’d likely be at your mercy.”

Wen Li said, “It’s good for Zhou Yizhi to be with the empress dowagers. But I suggest letting the three princesses live together, looking out for each other. They might become friends. If one ascends, the others could assist—wouldn’t that be better?”

Long Qianshan nodded, thinking it was also good for them to watch each other.

Wen Li tucked away the memorials.

“As for those demonic rumors, Shen Yuan will investigate. It’ll be a good experience for her. I have more pressing matters and must return to Yudong.”

Long Qianshan asked, “What matters?”

“Yudong has been unsettled lately.”