The Immortal Seeker: Legend of Bronze Mirror

"Minister..."

The old emperor chuckled and said, "What crime does Xu Qing have? Everything he says and does is for my realm, truly a gentleman-scholar. I have said before, I do like such people. Alas, I am old now, so there are some things I cannot do as he advises."

In his youth, he too dreamt of reviving Great Yu.

Only at his age now did he understand, all the so-called great achievements are worth nothing before the decline of old age.

Only while he lives do all these things have meaning.

Once he is gone, all will vanish like smoke.

Xu Qing is still a young man, with a long future ahead, his heart harboring the whole world.

While he, at the twilight of his life, can only harbor himself.

However, managing the kingdom well is also a way to extend his lifespan, their goals are temporarily aligned.

"Your Majesty is magnanimous and generous..." the Chaotian Temple Master praised.

The old emperor waved his hand, then told the eunuch beside him, "Chen Zhong, about today's discussion with Xu Qing, even if it gets out, there's no need to delve into it."

"Lord, this might not be good," the eunuch Chen Zhong said, startled.

He came out on top through palace strife, so how could he not understand the old emperor's intention.

This was the old emperor using his reputation to pave the way for Xu Qing, aiding him to become a Saint of the era.

What virtues and abilities does Xu Qing have to make the old emperor make such a sacrifice?

Unbelievable.

"Dao can be spoken, not the eternal Dao; names can be named, not the eternal names..." the old emperor said slowly, seated on a bright yellow cushion, the curtain gradually closing, as if like the painting of the Three Pure Taoist Ancestors in the front hall, his spirit wandering the immaterial.

The Chaotian Temple Master tiptoed out of the hall quietly.

His opinion of Xu Qing rose even higher.

This young man came to the Capital for the examinations, and the toughest of them all, he just breezed through.

Having passed the rendezvous with Your Majesty today, at least before Your Majesty changes his Heart Intent, no one in the Capital could touch Xu Qing.

Yet upon closer thinking, Xu Qing had no tricks today, only sincerity.

Because the words Xu Qing spoke, the actions he did, truly exemplified Unity of Knowledge and Action.

If the old emperor wanted to take away Xu Qing's wealth and properties, the Chaotian Temple Master believes, Xu Qing would hand them over without hesitation. But that would never happen.

Because who else, except Xu Qing, could handle money better?

Even if Xu Qing handed it over, he could quickly have them called back.

At that time, wouldn't it be the Emperor's face that's lost?

Amid the court and nobles, many lowly characters in comparison, even if Xu Qing looked ordinary, in the old emperor's eyes, he was the most clear-eyed and handsome.

Today's event, any spirited young man would probably remonstrate bluntly, talking about "ignoring the living to ask about spirits."

But Xu Qing's words implied that, yet every phrase was filled with utmost sincerity.

There was no defiance against the old emperor at all.

Moreover, the words Xu Qing said, if followed by the monarch, wouldn't say it would lead to a perfectly governed world but at least the nation's decline could be staved off.

Such loyalty was beyond expression.

How could a traitorous official speak such loyal words to Your Majesty?

And the way he answered, too, was very acceptable, not like those seeking a Court Beating, bluntly admonishing to seek personal fame.

"Known in the Emperor's heart, unmatched by anyone else." The Chaotian Temple Master thought; having followed the Emperor for many years, he had never seen anyone grasp the Emperor's intentions as thoroughly as Xu Qing.

Because Xu Qing used the sincerest "Dao."

...

...

Yanyue Hall.

Since the Emperor had no intention of hiding today's discourse with Xu Qing, naturally, the Grand Secretary was the first to receive the news.

The Grand Secretary was very curious about the dialogue between Xu Qing and the Emperor.

He immediately reviewed the record.

After reading, the Grand Secretary was rendered speechless.

He thought he had understood the Emperor well enough, but seeing Xu Qing's brilliant responses, he also felt the poignant realization of "I am aged."

"This presentation bears the genuine emotion and reason of Memorials like 'Departure Memo' and 'Emotional Plea Memorandum'; truly, truly sincere..." the Grand Secretary exclaimed with deep feeling.

A thought even sprang up in his heart.

What a fortune for the world to have Xu Qing.

If after Your Majesty reigns for ten thousand years, and it's Xu Qing governing the world then...

Inside the Grand Secretary's heart, a thought jumped wildly.

He couldn't help but recall a secret record from the palace he had obtained not long ago.

"The late Emperor often roamed among the common folk, favored a common girl who bore him a son, who later disappeared without a trace, suspected to be adopted by the Xu Family of Jiangning..."

This was an event from decades ago and though the age naturally didn't match up with Xu Qing, it matched Xu Qing's father.

The reason behind the Xu Family's annihilation.

The Grand Secretary couldn't be sure, who exactly was behind the Xu Family's extermination, nor could he be certain of the message's authenticity.

But a devilish thought emerged in his mind.

"If Lord views this, not resembling a sovereign. Should Your Majesty reign for ten thousand years, then for today's plan for the world, it must necessarily be discarded," he recalled his confidante Cheng Guang privately advising him.

The Grand Secretary's devil thought grew stronger.

Still, he suppressed his devil thought.

"If Xu Qing were to focus on Cultivation, he would not be amiss as a reincarnation of Chongyang True Master. But his ambition's sincerity, even Yan Hui and Zengzi cannot add more," the Grand Secretary made his judgment.

From every perspective now, Xu Qing meets the standards of ancient sage kings and Saints.

Duke Zhou feared rumors of the day, Wang Mang was humble before his usurpation.

Even if Xu Qing ultimately is such.

But now, he indeed has won people's hearts.

While Xu Qing had engaged in many reform activities, offending many people, besides winning the people's hearts, he also gradually won the hearts of many nobles.

Though it sounds absurd, it's also true.

The Grand Secretary knew well that a force was gathering around Xu Qing, although temporarily loose, it was becoming increasingly cohesive and influential.

Because in the distribution of benefits from the reforms, no one had done better than Xu Qing.

More and more people were being drawn to Xu Qing.

...

...

"If heaven had not created Xu, eternity would be like enduring the night!"

In the Recovery Society of the Capital, Yan Shan banged the table and said to the society members.

He was ready to lead the charge in Sitting Hall, seizing the ground of public opinion!