Eastern Palace Courtyard.
Dongfang Liuli sat cross-legged, her five hearts facing the sky as she meditated on the fortunes of the Wilderness. It wasn’t until the sun set and the night sky was filled with stars that she slowly opened her eyes.
Golden dragons intertwined with imperial phoenix intent flashed deep within her eyes.
Dongfang Liuli glanced sideways at Meng Qingzhou, who was cooking in the kitchen. Wu Die was helping to light the fire, while Su Qingqiu was diligently chopping vegetables and passing seasonings.
“Imperial Dao Codex.”
Her red lips parted slightly, and before her, golden threads wove together into a wordless heavenly book.
Dongfang Liuli stared in disbelief.
The Imperial Dao Codex had absorbed the fortunes of the Wilderness, undergoing a drastic transformation. The originally white, almost transparent book had turned golden, exuding supreme majesty.
“Decree.”
With a slight flick of her finger, Dongfang Liuli pointed at the mutated fish in the pond.
In an instant, chains formed by the laws of heaven and earth bound the fish, rendering it immobile.
“Each decree contains the laws of heaven and earth…”
“To speak the will of heaven and have it manifest is nothing more than this.”
Dongfang Liuli took a deep breath, waved her hand to disperse the Imperial Dao Codex, and rested her chin on her hand as she gazed at Meng Qingzhou in the kitchen, murmuring to herself:
“Husband, why do I find it harder and harder to see through you?”
“Who exactly are you?”
Recalling the various secrets Meng Qingzhou had shared, it was as if he was recounting his own treasures.
Thinking back, he even knew the goals and plans of the hidden manipulators, deducing that the ‘Buddha’ might be one of them.
This couldn’t be explained by mere knowledge and insight.
Even Li Guanyan and Wang Xianjia were likely unaware of these secrets.
Thinking of the Heavenly Strategy General and the Black-Robed Prime Minister, Dongfang Liuli remembered the scene of them kneeling before Meng Qingzhou, addressing him as master.
Her memory drifted back.
In Present Village, he knew the affairs of the world, unconsciously pushing Great Jin step by step to the pinnacle, overcoming numerous crises.
The sound of pouring rain seemed to echo in Dongfang Liuli’s ears, and she envisioned a dilapidated temple on a rainy night. Back then, a ragged boy had firmly declared that ‘Qin Liuli’ would ascend as Empress.
Past events wove together into the image of a smiling young man, now shrouded in mystery.
“The crisis of my lifespan that troubled me before was resolved by Qingzhou’s words, and then recognized by the Heavenly Dao. The fortunes of the Wilderness even elevated my cultivation to the level of divine soul synchronization.”
“My lifespan is no longer a concern, but a new problem lies before me…”
“Ascend as Human Emperor, or retire to the countryside.”
Dongfang Liuli’s beautiful eyes lowered, her expression somber.
As Meng Qingzhou had said, once she chose the path of becoming an emperor, it would be fraught with thorns and enemies. Even if she succeeded, attaining the position of Human Emperor, she would be a slave to the Heavenly Dao.
Would the enslaved Dongfang Liuli still be the same Dongfang Liuli?
“However, Qingzhou was right.”
“The authority of fortune is the greatest opportunity in the world. I only absorbed one-tenth of the Wilderness’s fortune, not only elevating my cultivation foundation to the half-step Sky-Reaching level, but also allowing me to suppress any opponent below the Sky-Reaching Realm… except for Qingzhou.”
Dongfang Liuli was an extremely self-reliant woman.
Since entrusting her heart and soul to Meng Qingzhou, she had been striving to surpass her husband. She didn’t want to be like ordinary women, hiding behind a man seeking protection; she wanted to protect Meng Qingzhou.
But…
Dongfang Liuli glanced back at Meng Qingzhou’s figure and sighed softly.
Even after absorbing the fortunes of the Wilderness and being recognized by the Heavenly Dao, obtaining a pass to the path of the Human Emperor, she still couldn’t see through Meng Qingzhou.
As her strength grew, she understood more and more just how formidable her husband was.
Dongfang Liuli even felt that even if she broke through again, in a battle of the same realm with Meng Qingzhou, she would likely be defeated in less than three moves.
“Dinner’s ready, come and eat,” Su Qingqiu called out, carrying several dishes.
“Coming,” Dongfang Liuli responded with a smile, lifting her dress and quickly running to help serve the dishes.
Meng Qingzhou took off his apron, carrying a hotpot in both hands, and said:
“Today, I’m treating you all to something new—hotpot!”
“Hotpot?”
The three women were puzzled.
Moments later, the four of them gathered around a stone table in the courtyard. Su Qingqiu picked up a slice of meat, dipped it in the boiling spicy pot for a few seconds, then placed it in her mouth. Her eyes sparkled as she gave a thumbs up and said:
“Delicious!”
“Master! Even if you resign and return to the countryside, with this cooking skill, you could definitely support us and Miss.”
Meng Qingzhou shook his head with a smile. “Resign and return to the countryside? Liuli wouldn’t agree to that.”
Hearing this, Wu Die secretly glared at Su Qingqiu, scooping a large piece of beef tripe into her bowl, and scolded:
“Can’t you keep your mouth shut while eating?”
Su Qingqiu stuck out her pink tongue and tapped her head, realizing she had misspoken.
Dongfang Liuli lifted her mask, using her robe to cover herself as she took a sip of the fizzy drink Meng Qingzhou had made, and suddenly said:
“You haven’t asked, so how do you know your wife wouldn’t agree?”
Knowing her identity, Meng Qingzhou understood the conflict in Dongfang Liuli’s heart, so he smiled and said:
“A great era is approaching, an unprecedented change in ten thousand years. As the situation progresses, a Human Emperor will inevitably emerge, but whether the next Human Emperor will be a wise ruler or a tyrant, no one knows.”
“My wife once traveled the rivers and lakes, seemingly just for sightseeing, but I know she was witnessing the suffering of the people. Wherever she went, it wasn’t famous scenic spots, but bloody battlefields, cold borders, and desolate places where people were cooked and eaten.”
“Witnessing these things solidified her resolve.”
“She hopes for a world without suffering, and I want to help her fulfill this wish.”
“As her husband, if I were to selfishly erase her dream, then…”
Meng Qingzhou paused slightly before continuing, “Do I truly love her, or do I love myself?”
Clatter.
The jade chopsticks in Dongfang Liuli’s hand fell to the ground. Her phoenix eyes stared blankly at him, her heart feeling as if it had been struck by a heavy hammer, suddenly stopping its beat, her eyes gradually reddening.
“Sigh…”
Wu Die suddenly felt that the delicious food had lost its flavor. She looked up at the starry sky with empty eyes and sighed:
“I fear I’ll never get married in this lifetime.”
“Me too,” Su Qingqiu said, though her appetite remained, her feelings echoed Wu Die’s.
With the master setting such a high standard, who could they possibly find appealing?
“Your wife must have used up all her lifetime’s luck to meet you,” Dongfang Liuli said.
Meng Qingzhou’s mouth twitched slightly.
If he didn’t know her identity, it would be fine, but knowing it, hearing this sentence…
Hiss, it felt really strange.
“Actually, I’m not that great.”
“Liuli… cough, cough, she can cultivate too, but she can’t keep up with my pace for now.”
“And I’ve cultivated to this extent, destined to witness the peak of the world. If Liuli were to retire to the countryside with me, focusing on being a housewife and neglecting her cultivation, then in the future, who would share the years with me?”
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