Valley entrance.

"Member of the Imperial Family?"

Su Tang looked at the Fourth Prince with a highly complex expression.

As a citizen of the Second Yan Han Empire, his very blood seemed etched with reverence for the Imperial Family, almost bringing him to his knees.

But at the same time, he was reminded of his hatred.

The Su Family back then had been caught up in a major imperial scandal and had been punished almost to the point of extermination.

Along with that, he and his sister were banished to Fufeng, barely surviving.

"Please let this brother convey a message."

The Fourth Prince, needing a favor, was meticulous about etiquette. With a slight glance, the eunuch beside him passed over a Magic Artifact.

As a red envelope for the gatekeeper, a Magic Artifact was indeed no small gift, even seeming a bit ostentatious.

"The noble should wait a moment..."

Su Tang almost wanted to throw away the Magic Artifact in his hands, but thinking that these people were seeking Su Daoshi for possibly urgent matters that should not be delayed, he reluctantly answered, "I'll convey the message."

The Fourth Prince waited with a smiling face, showing no impatience.

Moments later, Su Tang came out, "Let's go... I'll take you to Huifeng Hall!"

...

Inside Huifeng Hall.

"Greetings to Mr. Su!"

Upon seeing Zhong Shenxiu, the Fourth Prince immediately bowed deeply.

"Ha-ha, Fourth Prince, you needn't be so formal... I had to use the name Shenxiu previously out of necessity. There was some deception involved, so I hope the Fourth Prince won't take it amiss," said Zhong Shenxiu, sitting cross-legged, seemingly unconcerned.

Su Tang and Su Wei stood by attentively, though they were somewhat stunned.

Although they knew this young man was from the Imperial Family, they hadn't expected him to actually be the current Fourth Prince!

"I never expected that Mr. Su was originally from the Su Family."

The Fourth Prince bowed again, taking a decree from the eunuch beside him.

This decree had a nephrite axis and a bright yellow brocade surface, covered with auspicious clouds and encircled by twin dragons. It measured three feet in length and one foot in width.

It was indeed a royal edict from the Second Yan Han Empire!

"By decree..."

The Fourth Prince clearly had no intention of making Zhong Shenxiu kneel to receive the decree, and he started reading out on his own, "The decree says: The case concerning the Su Family of Luo State, upon investigation by the authorities, has been found unjust. The falsely accused shall be publicly exonerated. Their ancestral home, family properties, and family members are to be restored. Additionally, they are to be awarded ten thousand mu of good land and a thousand liang of gold… Li Panwen and Huang Longzun, who framed and conspired against them, are to be put in prison to face charges and their families are to be implicated. So ordered!"

Zhong Shenxiu listened without much reaction.

The Su Family had actually been involved in a case of the Prince plotting rebellion back then. They deserved their punishment, so their public exoneration now almost seemed funny.

However, such are the ways of the world—victors are crowned, and losers are vilified. Power is respected, and there was nothing else to say.

As for the so-called Li Panwen and Huang Longzun, they were probably the officials in charge back then, now slaughtered by their master as a gesture of goodwill towards him.

The chief culprit, the old emperor, was dead, and Zhong Shenxiu was too indifferent to bother with them.

As for where the edict came from after the Emperor's death?

Naturally, it was issued jointly by the Imperial Family and the government. The death of the Emperor wouldn't just halt all affairs.

Facing the existence of a being who was expected to achieve ascension through self-mummification, no one would oppose such a matter, lest they provoke disdain.

"If the old emperor were still alive, things might not be so easy. After all, everyone is concerned about saving face, especially emperors; they would rather the whole world be wrong than admit a mistake themselves... But no matter, once they are dead, there will naturally be people to set things right, which is a kind of political wisdom..."

Zhong Shenxiu slightly smiled as he took the imperial decree from the Prince, "I humbly accept and thank you for the grace."

This calm demeanor alarmed the nearby young eunuch, but he was helpless in the situation.

He was a Primordial Spirit expert, whose lifespan could perhaps exceed that of an entire dynasty. If he chose not to give face, he truly wouldn't, and what could be done about it?

That he was willing to speak politely at all was already quite commendable.

Zhong Shenxiu casually handed the imperial decree to Su Wei who stood beside him, the girl's eyes brimming with tears as she knelt on the ground with her brother. She bowed in the direction of Fufeng, "Mother, Father... do you see? Our Su Family has finally cleared its name..."

"The Su Family has cleared its grievance, truly a cause for celebration!"

The Fourth Prince, with a smiling face, then took out another imperial decree, "Why not... add glory to glory?"

He then read aloud, "The decree says: Su Daoshi has achievements in his Daoist Skill, stabilized dangers, defeated enemies, and exterminated foreign invaders... He has contributed to the state and is specially granted the title of 'True Monarch' and bestowed with the title 'Donghua', respect this!"

"Congratulations, Mr. Su, this title of 'True Monarch' is of the highest distinction, exceedingly honorable, and for a Primordial Spirit to be ennobled, it is truly rare through the ages..."

The Fourth Prince's face was filled with smiles, his eyes even carrying a hint of nervousness, as if fearful that Zhong Shenxiu might reject the decree.

'Is the court trying to win me over?'

'Yes, that makes sense. After all, I have grown, and I have not made an enemy of the court... As for the Supreme Dragon and Tiger Sect? They have already retracted and closed their gates, the biggest obstacle has disappeared...'

'This action by the court, is it the prelude to severing all association with the Supreme Dragon and Tiger Sect and beginning to engage with other Daoist schools?'

'Donghua True Monarch, only two characters for a title, that's normal enough, just a bit mean. But the name 'Donghua', it does suit my liking very much!'

Historically, the more characters in a True Monarch's title, the more prestigious.

For example, Dharma Body True Monarch, Qingwei Dao Miao, Taiping Guangmiao, etc., all have four characters.

A Primordial Spirit conferred the title of True Monarch, with two characters, is about the same.

It seemed a bit stingy, Zhong Shenxiu could guess the subsequent schemes, like when there was a celebration for all under heaven, or during the next awarding of titles, they could add two or four more characters, like 'Qingyuan', 'Dragon Tiger', 'Supreme Above All', etc., an effortless grace.

All in all, full of schemes.

He deliberately paused without moving, and sure enough, he saw the Fourth Prince's expression grow more urgent as he continued, "Moreover, after being conferred as a True Monarch, you may enter our Imperial Treasury of Daoist Knowledge, to peruse the Daoist writings of the entire world..."

"Oh? The Imperial Treasury?"

Zhong Shenxiu's face showed a slight smile, interested.

During the height of the Second Yan Han Empire's power, it was natural to gather the Daoist knowledge of the world.

Perhaps, they might even possess the Dharma methods of the Three Sects level!

Just as Zhong Shenxiu regretted the Taiping Sect's path of the Dharma Body a moment ago, an opportunity to compensate appeared.

Seeing that they were among familiar faces, he accepted the imperial decree, "If that is so, I shall assume this title of Donghua True Monarch..."

"Thank you, True Monarch!"

The Fourth Prince rejoiced, for with this new member of the Imperial Family's Primordial Spirit, his side naturally gained a powerful force.

After all, it was he who read the imperial decree, representing a significant inclination.

In the battle for the highest throne, this would be a heavy weight!

However, the Fourth Prince still felt it was somewhat risky, so he probed further, "True Monarch is not yet married? This Prince has a sister, who shares a destined connection with the True Monarch. She is Lord Qingyuan, and she has fallen deeply in love with the True Monarch at first sight. May I know if the True Monarch is interested?"

Zhong Shenxiu looked at the Prince, his expression gradually turning strange.

Was he trying to play matchmaker?

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