Qin Shi Ambitious

Page 353

Such a combination of kindness and severity would allow Lu Wei to cherish Taoism while also maintaining a degree of respect for it.

At the same time, the sword formation will be faster than the teaching progress of the sword control technique, which means that he will only let His Highness Prince Qi learn half of the sword control technique today.

This wasn't because Bei Mingzi was pitying the Taoist techniques, but because he was pitying his closed-door disciple, Xiaomeng.

Xiaomeng will walk the path she has chosen on her own, and Beimingzi tries his best not to interfere.

However, this child is usually aloof and likely doesn't have any way to please the King of Qi. He will probably only be remembered when the King of Qi wants to try something new.

'If I teach half of the sword control technique to Prince Qi now, wouldn't Prince Qi have to go to my own disciples to learn it later?'

The over-100-year-old Taoist elder pondered the Tao with great care.

As the time it takes for an incense stick to burn gradually passed, Bei Mingzi's eyes lit up, and he suddenly raised his sword finger, which was controlling the sword control technique. Centered on Lu Wei in the arena, in addition to the standard longswords covered by internal energy, eight swords of pure internal energy appeared out of thin air at the nodes that were considered to guide the ripples.

The three spectators knew very well that the sword formation had been activated, so they were not surprised. However, Lu Wei's heart tightened, and his mind, which was immersed in learning, suddenly became tense. However, he moved slowly and deliberately, preparing to change his move with the Devouring Sea Sword. But the formation and activation of the Bei Mingzi Sword Formation were carried out simultaneously and at an extremely fast speed!

'it's over!'

Bei Mingzi, who orchestrated everything, was well aware of the power of his move: he had calculated Lu Wei's strength in advance, and while he was amazed, he did not realize that he had no chance of winning.

This move was enough to defeat the opponent, and Bei Mingzi was holding back his strength to ensure that he would not actually hurt King Qi.

'Lu Wei's reaction?' Xiaomeng frowned instantly, finally realizing something was wrong: 'It shouldn't be this slow...'

Chu Nan Gong and Xunzi also stopped smiling; something was amiss!

Whoosh! A beam of sword light burst forth from the Devouring Sea Sword in a way that exceeded everyone's expectations. Just as Bei Mingzi was about to deviate from the sword formation, Lu Wei unleashed an incredible sword strike. As the sword light left his body, it split into nine parts, each flying towards the sword formation of the Sword Control Technique.

The crisp snap echoed clearly in the empty sparring arena. Eight streams of Lu Wei's sword energy negated Bei Mingzi's internal energy sword, and the last and strongest one directly shattered the longsword that was the core of the sword control technique...

"This is... the energy channeling method of sword control!" Xiaomeng's pupils trembled: "So Master was teaching sword control..."

Now that things had come to this, she finally understood Bei Mingzi's superficial scheme.

"Such strong talent..." Chu Nan Gong grinned again, his chuckle reaching the ears of everyone present, instantly lightening the atmosphere after the competition.

"I apologize." The humble Mr. Lu sheathed his sword and bowed to the wide-eyed Bei Mingzi before turning around and smilingly responding to Chu Nan Gong's words: "Nan Gong is too kind. It is Master Bei Mingzi's excellent teaching that has helped me. However, my talent is only average, and I have not been able to learn the complete sword control technique. I have only relied on my youth and forcibly imitated the way of sword control with half of my understanding."

"It can't be considered that I've truly learned it."

He wasn't lying here. In terms of natural talent, Lu Wei was still far behind Xiao Meng. However, his inner strength was deep enough that, by using the method of "overpowering all techniques with brute force," Lu Wei was able to forcibly elevate his natural talent to an infinite level.

This swordsmanship, which relies on the circulation of internal energy, is more suitable for his style of operation.

"Your Highness Prince Qi is indeed the chosen one of destiny. Bei Ming has lost and is deeply impressed!"

Bei Mingzi was genuinely impressed that Lu Wei had forcefully neutralized the sparring match he had envisioned for months.

The difference in their strength was like heaven and earth, and their ages were vastly different, leaving no room for argument...

Chapter 458 Imperial Academy

The contest with Bei Mingzi was a spur-of-the-moment decision, because there were very few people in the world who dared to fight Lu Wei with all their might these days. Therefore, he had not had a proper fight in a long time, despite his abundant internal energy.

Lu Wei was never a martial arts fanatic. When he was young, he would always run away or avoid opponents stronger than himself, which was very cowardly and showed his extreme fear of death.

His Highness Prince Qi only dares to strike hard when bullying weak opponents, displaying utterly petty behavior and lacking any chivalrous spirit.

He recounted his decades of adventures in the martial world, mentioning that apart from fighting against the assassins of the Luo Wang when he was thirteen and fighting against Zhuang Jia, the bandit leader of Zhuang Mountain, after becoming the head of the Gonggong Hall, the only other time he shed blood was when he and Tian Guang were being tested by the Six Elders at the Tomb of the Six Sages.

The first two battles were somewhat dangerous, but the battle with the Sixth Elder was something he fought without holding back because he was sure he wouldn't die.

To outsiders, Lu Wei's life in the martial arts world may seem very rich, having challenged the hundred-win sword fight and fought against Wei Zhuang of Liusha many times. However, only he himself knows that his life in the martial arts world is far from being exciting.

Now that he has achieved the status he has always dreamed of, he can never return to the world of martial arts and erase the regrets.

'If I had another chance, having already enjoyed power, I would definitely want to truly roam the martial world once more!'

Of course, this is just talk. Immortality is a dream, and going back to life is even more of a fantasy. Even immortals can't travel through time.

Today's fight with Bei Mingzi made him break a sweat, which was quite rare.

Although Bei Mingzi showed signs of holding back at the last moment, Lu Wei ended the sparring match before he could actually hold back, leaving no regrets in what was likely the last 'battle' of his life.

After ascending the throne as emperor, his skills naturally became even more profound, and he could no longer enjoy the thrill of sparring.

"Since the three masters have come to Xianyang, they must be here to participate in my coronation ceremony."

Smiling, Lu Wei handed the Devouring Sea Sword to a nearby eunuch for maintenance. He then took a silk handkerchief, wiped his hands, and said, "There are several secluded villas in Xianren Lane in Chang'an City. The three elders stayed by my side after the ceremony, receiving support from the court. What do you think?"

Xianren Lane is a garden area near the imperial palace in Chang'an City. Lu Wei built it with the intention of inviting all the famous masters in the world, regardless of their school, to his side in the future. Now that he has encountered three old men who have walked into his trap, he is naturally unwilling to let them go.

All the talented people in the world should be under my control, so that even if someone wants to rebel against the empire, they will not be able to cause trouble in the local areas, and all the talents will be in Guanzhong.

"Since Your Majesty has made the request, I dare not refuse." Faced with Prince Qi's invitation, Chu Nan Gong, holding the jade staff, was the first to speak and express his willingness. Ever since the Mirage Tower incident, he had already made his attitude clear, and today he had even changed his form of address from 'Your Majesty' much earlier.

“Xiaoshengxianzhuang is willing to serve Your Majesty.” Xunzi did not refuse, after all, he came from a Confucian family and was quite respectful in his manners.

“I am but a hermit in the mountains and countryside, and I do not like the bustling city. Chang’an is the new capital. No matter how quiet it is, it is still too crowded, which is incompatible with Taoism.”

However, after completing his meditation, Bei Mingzi shook his head, his refusal almost palpable. But in the end, his tone softened: "However, experiencing popularity is also a form of cultivation. Therefore, please forgive me, Your Majesty, Bei Mingzi can only reside in Chang'an occasionally."

“However, I, Xiaomengzi, the head of the Heavenly Sect of Taoism, may listen to the King’s teachings on my behalf.”

Bei Mingzi felt that he might pass away at any time, so he really hated noise. However, he still made some concessions in the face of Lu Wei's invitation and raised his palm to signal to his closed-door disciple Xiaomeng. When her master mentioned her, Xiaomeng's eyes turned decisively to Prince Qi.

"That's a real pity." Lu Wei sighed regretfully and did not insist further. "It's just that Master Beiming has had to go through so much trouble."

"Thank you for your permission, Your Majesty!" The supreme Taoist master bowed respectfully.

...

With the three masters settled, the coronation ceremony drew ever closer.

The atmosphere in Chang'an and Xianyang became tense. Fortunately, Shusun Tong had organized the enthronement ceremony and the bestowal of titles on Mount Tai for Qin Emperor Ying Zheng a few years ago, and had rich experience in large-scale events. The hurried ceremony preparations were carried out in an orderly and orderly manner.

Just as he was about to reach another peak in his life, Lu Wei remained remarkably calm. As he left, he even smiled and reassured his guards not to be nervous.

He had envisioned this scene twenty years ago, and after twenty years of hard work, he certainly didn't take it lightly: no one can achieve such success without feeling proud.

If so, it must be hypocrisy.

Yes, Lu Wei is being hypocritical.

As an ordinary person, after reaching the pinnacle of power, he began to pursue the pinnacle of fame.

Even though he is already famous, if Lu Wei wants to leave a more significant mark on history, he still needs to continue creating anecdotes about himself and leaving behind a large number of idioms and poems related to him for future generations to memorize.

After strolling around the Imperial Academy in Chang'an, Lu, who couldn't keep a low profile, would plagiarize every three to five days: he didn't dare to plagiarize before because he was worried that people would question his inconsistent writing style and the great differences between his works, but now no one dares to question the King of Qi's literary talent.

As for the operation of the Imperial Academy... as early as the Luqiu Pavilion period, Lu Wei took in a large number of exiled children to train them into literate middle-level managers.

Later, after the fall of the Tian Qi dynasty, the Jixia Academy was acquired by Lu Wei with the help of Fu Nian. Lu Wei then raised the students and teachers there in the mountains, which greatly improved the overall quality of the Dazeshan Academy.

Now that he is the King of Qi, most of the various schools of thought respect him as their master, and there is a constant supply of teachers proficient in various miscellaneous studies. Naturally, the Imperial Academy, which is dedicated to cultivating his own followers, had already recruited students and started operating in Chang'an long ago.

Talent is the foundation of a nation, which is a key reason for the rapid rise of the peasant school. Now, this principle needs to be replicated in the empire. Fortunately, the arrival of Chu Nan Gong and Xunzi has finally provided a candidate who can convince the world to fill the position of Imperial Academy Chancellor.

Xunzi served as the head of the Jixia Academy three times many years ago and had rich educational experience. Chu Nan Gong also nurtured Han Xin and Zhongli Mo, who had recently joined the Qi army and was beginning to show his talent.

Between the two, the former is more suitable for teaching ordinary students, Xunzi has more experience, and Chu Nan Gong is good at teaching elite students.

Of course, the main factor was that although Xunzi had taught Han Fei and Li Si, Chu Nan Gong was lazy, so Xunzi had to shoulder more responsibility.

Upon returning to Chang'an Palace from the Imperial Academy, before the enthronement ceremony, there was still a small problem to be solved in the harem, where beauties gathered:

So who should be the empress?

Chapter 459 The Harem's Fate Settled

Qin Shi Huang, Ying Zheng, did not establish an empress, yet his harem contained over ten thousand women, leading to the extinction of his lineage.

Lu Wei can learn from him in terms of systems, but he cannot learn from him in this aspect as well.

Upon closer inspection, His Highness Prince Qi's harem is still quite simple, with only five concubines.

With Xue Nu, Duanmu Rong, Ji Yan, Mi Lian, and Xiao Yu, such a lineup is enough to make him worthy of being called 'uninterested in women'.

As for the Yin-Yang School's four members and Xiaomeng, although they were also allowed to be picked by Lu Wei, they did not have official status because these women also held identities from various schools of thought.

If we were to choose the empress from these five, Yuki-onna would be the first to be eliminated. This has nothing to do with her character, but only with her background as a dancer.

Making the dancer empress would not only tarnish Lu Wei's reputation, but more importantly, it might set a bad example for future generations, so it was not considered.

Duanmu Rong can also be ruled out.

Her identity as a descendant of a medical family was well-known in the martial arts world, but in the strict imperial court, there was not much difference between a martial arts practitioner and a dancer. Moreover, most importantly, the other three competitors were all daughters of noble families from a country or region, and the gap between them was too great.

Princess Mi Lian, representing the State of Chu; Ji Yan, daughter of Lord Xinling, representing the State of Wei; and Xiao Yu, representing the Shu Mountains.

Any one of these three would be acceptable:

Mi Lian's status is undoubtedly the most noble. Changping Jun's anti-Qin righteous act was lamented by the people of Chu. Now, if her daughter can become empress, the Chu faction, though its power is scattered, will undoubtedly be closer to the court.

Ji Yan's status as a descendant of Lord Xinling had some effect in the early days, but now it is negligible. However, she is still a benchmark. The people who would be happiest if she were made empress would not be the Wei faction, but the peasant faction.

Ji Yan also has another identity: the head of the Four Mountains Hall.

The emperor is the leader of the knights, and the empress is the head of the hall. How could the disciples of the peasant school not be happy?

Xiao Yu is slightly inferior. She is of a different race, and while Shu Mountain is said to be the faith of the Shu region, its strength has its limits, and there are no other options. Therefore, although Xiao Yu is important, she is far from being worthy of being made empress.

However, on the bright side, if Xiao Yu were made empress, she would be unfamiliar with the Central Plains and would find it difficult to collude with the outer court, thus avoiding the situation of the empress interfering in politics.

Faced with this choice among the three, Lu Wei did not let them fight it out themselves, but instead directly assigned Ji Yan to the task.

The reason is simple: Xiao Yan'er's abilities can help him with his daily affairs, so among the three, he prefers Ji Yan the most, and it is only natural that he favors her.

As for Xiaoyan'er's excessive ambition, this is not actually Xiaoyan'er's problem, but rather the problem of her master's ability to drive her.

It is normal for anyone in the world to have ambition. As the most ambitious person who rose from deserter to emperor from the state of Zhao, he was confident enough to manipulate the ambitions of others, and therefore was not afraid of potential backlash.

When Lu Wei announced the candidates for Empress, the women in the harem reacted in different ways. Ji Yan suppressed her excitement and knelt down to pay her respects to Prince Qi. It would be impossible for the other four who were not chosen not to be disappointed. Apart from Xiao Yu, who was in a better mood, the others all looked unwell.

Xiao Yu had only been there for a few days, and she didn't think she could ascend to the throne as a newcomer from the start. With low expectations, she naturally wasn't too disappointed.

Xue Nu and Duanmu Rong understood why they had failed to be chosen, and the one who became empress was Ji Yan, whom they had watched grow up. Therefore, after their initial discomfort, the two quickly recovered and congratulated Xiao Yan with smiles. There was some sincerity in their congratulations, but also some jealousy that needed more time to wear down.

Mi Lian had been trained by Ji Yan for many years and had always been subordinate to her, so she was naturally unwilling to accept defeat this time, but she also quickly adapted because she was used to it.

The four members of the Yin-Yang School, who were not in the ranks of imperial concubines but had their own palaces in the harem, along with Xiaomeng, had given up the competition from the beginning, so they did not make any clear statements on the matter.

The Moon Goddess has a son, and if she so desires, she could become a higher priority candidate for Empress than Ji Yan. After all, no matter how low her status is, the existence of offspring is undeniable.