Zhu Yanyi smiled faintly. "Based on what just happened, I can guess that this emperor has long wanted to eliminate the State Preceptor. But she is a mortal ruler, while the Preceptor might be an evil spirit, a demon, or a cultivator. Regardless, she is not ordinary. So, even though the emperor’s position is high, it only works on mortals. She cannot handle the Preceptor directly. Thus, she hides and waits for a chance to find someone suitable to deal with her."
"How did he know there would be a chance?" Yuan Yanqiu asked curiously.
"The Huangfu family has the medical jade pendant from the Sage Academy. The current head of the Huangfu family knows this. I believe the royal family also left some records about it." Zhu Yanyi hinted gently.
The Huangfu family served as the emperor’s wet nurse. If the emperor didn’t know about their affairs, Zhu Yanyi would not believe it. Previous emperors likely left clues for their descendants. So, it is understandable that the current emperor knows.
Emperors are complex. Their minds are full of twists and turns, unlike straightforward people. In her past life, Zhu Yanyi was an author. She read many such novels and even wrote a few palace intrigue stories, some of which were published and adapted into films. Because of this, she studied historical materials and admired the emperor’s art of ruling.
Clearly, this emperor used the same method. He did not openly oppose the Preceptor because he had few people he could trust. But having few does not mean having none. He likely had one or two trusted aides. With them, he could execute his plan.
First, he secretly harmed the old Master Huangfu without being noticed. Then, he ensured the old master was saved. This forced the old Mrs. Huangfu to use the jade pendant to seek help from the Sage Academy. Once the Sage Academy arrived, they would naturally discover everything.
The emperor must have researched the Sage Academy. Therefore, he had his own calculations.
If executed well, the Sage Academy would clash with the Preceptor. The emperor could then reap the benefits without effort.
Zhu Yanyi did not need to explain further. Yuan Yanqiu understood after a moment’s thought. She raised her eyebrows slightly. "Since this emperor is so cunning, why do you still want to help her?"
"Emperors have always been suspicious. If I were a mortal, he would fear my abilities and plot against me. He might suspect I am another wolf invited into the house. He would not feel safe.
But now it is different. I am not a mortal; I am a cultivator. Cultivators do not care about mortal affairs. We can meditate for hundreds of years. Longevity, which others desire, is not difficult for us. So, even if he is suspicious, he will not try to harm me. He knows I do not care for mortal things. I do not value mortal wealth or glory."
Zhu Yanyi looked at Yuan Yanqiu with a light smile. "Moreover, I had a plan. One option is to beat the emperor. If she is a tyrant, beating her might make him清醒 (clear-headed). If that fails, I will purify this world. Or, if I meet a capable person, I might support them to become the emperor of this plane.
If neither works, I will simply destroy this plane. In short, I will not allow evil spirits to appear here."
Zhu Yanyi looked serious. Regarding evil spirits, she knew her current strength. She could not defeat top-tier evil spirits. However, that did not mean she could not handle low, medium, or high-level ones. Especially since the evil spirits here were still growing and not fully formed, she would not allow any traces of them to remain.
Yuan Yanqiu remembered the evil spirits in the Linlang Training Ground. Wherever they passed, nothing grew, and the sky turned dark. She understood Zhu Yanyi and disliked such evil spirits too.
"If this place continues as it is, within ten years, evil spirits will breed, and the Dayu Dynasty will be destroyed completely." Zhu Yanyi carried the Human Book. Its function was to ferry souls, but it could also see everything that was about to happen in the world. As long as there were living beings, there were souls, and souls knew everything.
Yuan Yanqiu did not know how Zhu Yanyi knew this, but she trusted her. Since Zhu Yanyi said so, it must be true. She did not need further explanation and made up her mind. "Junior Sister Yanyi, since that is the case, let us help support this mortal emperor."
Zhu Yanyi smiled lightly. "I just said that the State Preceptor is our responsibility. We can handle non-mortal matters, but we cannot interfere in mortal affairs."
Yuan Yanqiu understood this point. They were not mortals, so they could not interfere in mortal matters. Doing so would violate the Heavenly Dao’s principle of natural growth.
Zhu Yanyi looked at the sky. It was gray and lifeless, which moved her heart slightly.
Whether in the human world, the cultivation realm, or other planes, the Heavenly Dao always existed. This place was filled with foul air. The Heavenly Dao could not be unaware unless someone blinded its eyes. Blinding the Heavenly Dao was not easy. If it was not blinded, then the Heavenly Dao itself must be in trouble.
Zhu Yanyi thought for a moment and then said to Yuan Yanqiu, "Senior Sister Yanqiu, do you know how a cultivator or a mortal could blind the Heavenly Dao?"
"Blind the Heavenly Dao?" Yuan Yanqiu was confused. She did not understand why Zhu Yanyi’s thoughts jumped so quickly.
Zhu Yanyi nodded. "I heard my husband say that except for the Divine Realm, even the Immortal Realm has the Heavenly Dao. Even the Immortal Realm is supervised by the Heavenly Dao. Why has the Heavenly Dao not reacted to the foul air in this plane?"
Hearing Zhu Yanyi’s words, Yuan Yanqiu was stunned for a moment, then nodded. "You are right. Even I can see that this place is obviously hiding something from the Heavenly Dao. Since the Heavenly Dao has not sent punishment, it means something is covering up everything in this world."
Zhu Yanyi thought for a moment and then said, "Wait, let me contact Senior Brother Tianyun."
Then, Zhu Yanyi took out her communication token and called out, "Senior Brother Tianyun, are you there?"