Chapter 30: The Empress

Sword Dynasty

Volume 1: Great Rebel

Chapter 30: The Empress

In The Same Night, A Woman Was Walking On A Stone Path.

There were several copper statues standing on either side of the stone path. These statues were carved with formations that could easily kill realm four cultivators.

This woman was extraordinarily beautiful.

The two female attendants behind her were also beautiful, but compared to her, they were young children.

Her beauty was not a delicate or sensual beauty, but a dignified and majestic beauty.

Her beauty contained an extraordinary majesty.

The vast shadows of the imperial palace seemed to shrink to either side of the path and kneel at her feet.

She was the empress of the Qin Dynasty, the mistress of Changling.

Despite her flawless and beautiful facial features, and her hairline, which looked like it had been painted by the world's greatest painter, not many people in Changling dared to truly look at her face.

At that moment, a cultivator dressed in almond-yellow brocade robes stood at the end of the path in front of her study. He was waiting for her. His face covered by a veil. He did not dare to look at her, remained bowed with extreme respect, awe, and nervousness.

While this cultivator did not dare to look up, his mental power followed her footsteps. He knew that this most noble woman in the Qin Dynasty did not like complicated etiquette or useless words. When he felt that her footsteps about to stop, this cultivator said in the most respectful tone he could muster, “Your Majesty, today, Bureau Chief Ye has inspected the corpse of Song Shenshu in the Bureau of Divinity. She confirmed it is the Nine Death Silkworm Divine Art. However, that person has low cultivation, at most Energy Refinement Realm.”

The Empress stopped walking.

Her every movement was noble, dignified, and perfect, including her slight bow as she watched this cultivator's movements and expression.

Her expression remained unchanged.

“Tell the family that someone capable of killing Song Shenshu in the Energy Refinement Realm isn't someone who simply cultivates the Nine Death Silkworm Divine Art. Also, tell the family not to be nervous and not to do anything out of the ordinary during this period. The current Qin Dynasty is no longer the Qin Dynasty of decades ago. A single person can't threaten the current Qin Dynasty as long as the dynasty doesn't make mistakes,” she said calmly, her voice filled with unparalleled authority.

“Yes.” This cultivator was shocked and then said, “Today, Marquis Xu intercepted Bureau Chief Ye in front of the Bureau of Divinity. The two fought evenly.”

The Empress said, “If that’s the case, don’t think you can rely on anyone in Changling to defeat her. Hasn’t Bai Shanshui of the Cloud Water Palace been making frequent appearances lately? Tell the family to mobilize their full strength to fight against Bai Shanshui. If they find out anything about Bai Shanshui, since Ye Celeng has returned, she will naturally be held responsible for this matter.”

This cultivator became even more shocked. He said, “Today, Du Qingjiao of White Goat Cave left the mountain and interfered in a street gang matter. The family wishes to hear Your Majesty’s opinion.”

“Has the family become more confused recently?” the Empress said. “Since His Majesty has approved Du Qingjiao’s retirement, and the White Goat Cave has paid the price for its mistake, the family doesn’t need to consider anything on this matter. Convey to the people in the family that although His Majesty is focused on cultivation and desires Immortality, it doesn’t mean he’s any different from before. His degree determines the final outcome. The family is powerful, but they are only powerful by standing behind the emperor. Don’t ever think they can overtake the emperor. Don’t even think about changing something that has already been determined.”

The empress's voice was calm, but this cultivator heard a strong threat and warning. His back broke out in sweat.

“Also, have the family warn Liang Lian that he’s too simple and crude in his actions. In Changling, this is not the same as fighting an enemy nation, one must use gentler tactics. Changling’s waters are deep. Don't think you can easily crush anyone.”

The empress began walking, passing this cultivator, towards the study.

This cultivator's clothes were soaked from sensing the empress's presence. Although the empress's actions and words today were no different from usual, and she was still so impeccable, he still felt that this mistress of the world was a little different from usual.

 

The Empress sat down on the phoenix chair in the study.

In front of her there was a spring.

As the water bubbled out of the spring, it emitted a large amount of visible milky-white spirit energy, which could nourish the five energies within the cultivators' bodies.

Within this spirit energy were numerous flawless white lotus flowers.

Above the spirit spring was a skylight.

The starlight for miles around seemed to reflect and fall into this spirit spring when they were reflected by some crystals on the roof.

“The tallest tree in the forest will be destroyed by the wind. A person who is too extraordinary and does extreme things will easily become the target of the world's envy.” The Empress looked silently at the spirit spring and said softly, “The greatest crime is knowing only what you want, and not what others want. I don't know what you were thinking before you died, or whether you realized it. But since you've been dead for so many years, can't you rest?”

She slowly lifted her head. Her gaze seemed to penetrate through the starlight and extend outward toward the flat, straight streets of Changling.

Her expression slowly became imperfect, becoming unusually cold. A silent flame seemed to rise in her eyes.

“Even if you leave something behind, you should hide it well. That way, you won't be completely erased and you can leave a mark on the world. That way, people in the future will know that you once existed in this dynasty.

“After all, it was because of you that we were able to destroy the Han Dynasty, destroy the Zhao Dynasty, destroy the Wei Dynasty, and have this Qin Dynasty, and have this Changling.”

Her enchanting beauty, extraordinary dignity, and her overly perfect forehead, as cruel as the gods in the temple, made her seem more like a deity than a mortal woman.

She continued to speak to herself in an even colder tone, “You must understand that there are no gods in this world. Everyone is made of flesh and will have emotions and desires. People who don't live for themselves are truly disgusting.”

Then anger appeared on her perfect and flawless face. She even showed great hatred and disgust, “And you have an heir… you left behind your Nine Death Silkworm. Your Nine Death Silkworm, your sword essence. If you were to pass it on, it should have been passed on to me. You passed it on to someone else, not to me!”

 

Just like usual, Ding Ning woke up at sunrise, and watched Zhangsun Qianxue comb her hair.

He quickly washed his body and helped Zhangsun Qianxue make rice porridge.

When it was almost cooked, he brought it to a boil, then took his coarse porcelain bowl to the shop to buy noodles.

The reason he did this was because Zhangsun Qianxue was obsessed with cleanliness. She disliked eating outside food. And during her long cultivation, she had grown accustomed to this kind of bland and simple food.

Besides making wine, Ding Ning took care of all the work in the wine shop and also the food for Zhangsun Qianxue.

Ding Ning was exceptionally meticulous and willing to do this. Helping Zhangsun Qianxue slowly make porridge, watching as the flames spat and flicker, looking at Zhangsun Qianxue walking around nearby, he would feel very warm and happy.

It was best not to think of some things. However, some people should be cherished.

The person who had died had not seen Zhangsun Qianxue clearly and did not have enough time to see her. But he saw clearly.

After finishing a large bowl of noodles in red soup with intestines, Ding Ning washed his bowl while watching Zhangsun Qianxue slowly sip her porridge. He said softly and seriously, “Wang Taixu's people will be here soon to take me to the White Goat Cave… I promise I'll be back. I'll come back and cultivate with you, so don't panic. You know the situation last time was very dangerous.”

Zhangsun Qianxue glanced at him without speaking, still slowly sipping her porridge.

Seeing her eyes, Ding Ning could not help but laugh.

He knew she had agreed.

The sound of a carriage came from the quiet alley, and then it stopped in front of the wine shop door.

It must have been the carriage Wang Taixu had sent to pick Ding Ning up.

However, Ding Ning sat there motionless, waiting quietly.

Zhangsun Qianxue’s brow furrowed slightly. She finally could not help but look up and ask, “Since you've already decided to leave, and they're here, why haven't you left yet?”

“I’m waiting for you to finish and wash the dishes before I left.” Ding Ning looked at her deeply and said softly, “You don't usually do these household chores.”

Notes:

This novel is not my work... I just translated it from a Chinese web novel written by Wu Zui

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