Chapter 47: The Young Lady Said She Is Waiting for Someone to Put It on Her

Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Xiao Mo exhaled deeply and slowly opened his eyes.

Xiao Mo had already memorized all the incantations of the Grass Word Sword Technique.

During this period, in addition to experiencing various lives within the Book of a Hundred Lifetimes, Xiao Mo would frequently detach himself from the book to recite the sword technique.

Although the Grass Word Sword Intent within his body contained the technique—allowing him to read it at any moment with a mere thought—he could only truly practice the Grass Word Sword Technique once he had fully memorized it, etching every single word into his very soul.

"Your Majesty."

Wei Xun's voice drifted in from outside the door.

"Enter," Xiao Mo said.

Wei Xun entered the sleeping quarters and bowed to Xiao Mo. "Your Majesty, I have completed the task you assigned to this old servant. To the north of the Xianxin Palace, there is a rather remote clearing surrounded by walls and obscured by a mountain gate. Hardly anyone passes through there; it is very peaceful. I have already had an altar set up. All the necessary Taoist items, such as talisman paper, cinnabar, Bagua diagrams, Yin-Yang diagrams, and peach wood swords, have been prepared. Would Your Majesty like to take a look?"

"Go," Xiao Mo nodded.

"As Your Majesty commands."

Wei Xun hurriedly withdrew to prepare the carriage for the Emperor.

More than an hour later, Xiao Mo arrived at a plaza north of the Xianxin Palace.

It was exactly as Wei Xun had described.

The plaza was enclosed by walls on all four sides, and one had to open a large gate to enter. The area was roughly the size of a football field.

The location was indeed excellent, situated in a corner of the Imperial Capital, right next to the Xianxin Palace.

The Xianxin Palace was, in truth, the Cold Palace.

After the passing of the late Emperor, all the concubines of the Xianxin Palace had been taken to be buried in the Imperial Mausoleum. Since Xiao Mo had not yet taken any consorts, he didn't even have any concubines to banish to the Cold Palace. Thus, the Xianxin Palace was currently devoid of people.

Furthermore, the Xianxin Palace had historically been a place where concubines frequently committed suicide by hanging. Due to various terrifying rumors, eunuchs and palace maids alike avoided the area. Consequently, no one ever passed through this adjacent clearing.

"Is Your Majesty satisfied with this place?" Wei Xun asked flatteringly from the side.

"Mhm," Xiao Mo nodded. "I am very satisfied."

"From this day forward, I shall cultivate here. Without my permission, no one is allowed to enter this place. Do you understand?" Xiao Mo said coldly.

"This old servant understands."

Xiao Mo waved his hand. "Go and wait outside."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Wei Xun bowed, walked out of the plaza, and ordered his men to close the gate.

*Clang.*

The gate shut tight.

Xiao Mo picked up a peach wood sword from a rack and began practicing the first form of the Grass Word Sword Technique.

For a cultivator just beginning their journey, the most important step was to guide spiritual energy into the body to open the spiritual meridians and reach the first level of Qi Refinement.

A gifted cultivator could reach the first level within an hour. Those with average aptitude usually took one to three days. Those with poor aptitude mostly only needed a month.

The reason Jiang Qingyi had failed to reach the first level even after several months was due to her missing sword bone. Being born without that specific bone left her with a congenital deficiency, making it impossible to absorb spiritual energy normally.

However, after Xiao Mo had fashioned a fake bone for her, even though it wasn't a true sword bone, it compensated for her innate deficiency. From then on, her cultivation speed became incredibly rapid, as if she were traveling a thousand miles in a single day.

Xiao Mo felt that while his own constitution was not top-tier, it could be considered mediocre.

"I must strive to step onto the path of cultivation within two days."

***

Meanwhile, at the residence of the Minister of Rites.

The old palace maid from the Imperial Palace, Lady Huang, opened her mouth and shouted to the woman before her, "Walk."

The woman moved forward with light yet steady steps, her strides small and slow—the very definition of "graceful lotus steps." Her posture remained upright as she walked, her gaze fixed straight ahead.

"Stand."

At Lady Huang's next command, the woman stopped. Her posture was tall and straight, her chin slightly tucked, and her hands were folded in front of her with the right hand over the left. Her temperament was dignified and serene, standing there like an exquisite sculpture without the slightest tremor.

"Sit," Lady Huang commanded again.

The woman sat in the chair beside her, resting only on the front half of the seat. Her back was straight, her legs were pressed together and angled to the side, her feet were together or slightly tucked under her skirt, and her hands were naturally folded on her lap.

Looking at the woman, Lady Huang nodded, extremely satisfied.

Acting on instructions from the Empress Dowager, Lady Huang had come to train this woman—the number one talented lady of the State of Zhou—in imperial etiquette.

Initially, Lady Huang had been somewhat worried. Since the lady was due to enter the palace in just a few days, the time for learning etiquette was quite short. However, she soon realized her worries were unnecessary.

One could only say that as a member of the great Yan clan, the family already taught their daughters imperial etiquette to prepare them for palace life. All Lady Huang had to do was make minor corrections.

Most importantly, every movement the woman made exuded a subtle sense of majesty.

It was said that there were voices in the imperial court suggesting that Yan Ruxue of the Yan clan was unfit to be the Empress of Great Zhou. But if a woman like this could not be Empress, who could?

"Regarding facial expressions in the palace, what is the rule?" Lady Huang asked.

"One must maintain a gentle and peaceful demeanor, showing neither joy nor anger on one's face. One must remain dignified and reserved at all times, avoiding loud laughter, clamor, unseemly weeping, or expressions of anger," Yan Ruxue replied.

"And the gaze?"

"The gaze should be lowered or fixed straight ahead. One must not look around, glance sideways, or stare directly at the Emperor or the Empress Dowager. When conversing, one must maintain a respectful, downward gaze," Yan Ruxue answered again.

"Mhm," Lady Huang nodded. "Regarding palace etiquette, the Young Mistress has no major issues, but you must practice more. You must integrate these manners into your daily life until they become unconscious."

"Thank you for your hard work, Lady Huang. Please stay for a cup of tea before you depart." Yan Ruxue nodded and instructed her maid, "Serve tea to Lady Huang."

"Thank you, Young Mistress." Lady Huang was indeed quite thirsty.

As the old maid sat on a stone stool sipping cold tea, she looked up and saw the talented lady of the Yan clan sitting nearby, gently wiping a gold ring with a piece of silk.

Ever since arriving at the Yan residence, Lady Huang had seen this woman take out that golden ring to polish it every single day. The brocade box containing the ring had even begun to rot from age.

After finishing her tea, Lady Huang left the Yan residence, escorted by Yan Ruxue's personal maid.

"Little Chun, is there something special about the Young Mistress's ring?" Lady Huang asked curiously.

"I don't know," Little Chun shook her head. "The Young Mistress wipes that ring gently every day, and she hasn't replaced that brocade box in all these years. I once asked her what was so special about it."

"And what did she say?"

"The Young Mistress said... she is waiting for someone to put it on her."