Yue Rujing was reprimanded and didn’t dare to reply, but still muttered with his head lowered, "How am I ignorant? I am Master’s proudest disciple. Alas, isn’t it because I’ve always stayed in the Taoist Temple serving Sanqing that my prime years have slipped by."
Although his voice was soft, the emperor heard it clearly and scoffed, "You’re still not convinced? You deserve to be under your father’s control. You say you have studied at Qi Mountain for many years, now tell me, how many skills from Qi Mountain have you learned? The State Preceptor is getting on in years, and the selection for the next State Preceptor might not be far off. As Master Tianjizi’s proudest disciple from Tianzong, do you have the confidence to compete with Huo Li?"
Yue Rujing chuckled, "Do I even need to take action myself? My master’s disciples are many and talented, we have..."
Speaking to this point, he realized he had mentioned something he shouldn’t have and suddenly stopped, adding only, "Master is not young anymore. He knows the Yue Family has only me as the sole successor, so he has never thought of making me a Taoist. He has always been laissez-faire with me. To use his words, it would be better even for the little junior brother to take over than me."
The emperor raised his eyebrows, deep in thought. Seeing Yue Rujing glance his way, he suddenly said with profound meaning, "Your master is a wise man."
Yue Rujing, looking at the emperor with unclear intentions, laughed in a ruffian-like manner, "Your Majesty, my master hasn’t come down the mountain for many years. You don’t know—he’s not wise at all. His mind has been muddled these last few years. Otherwise, would my father let me come down from the mountain? He’s just afraid that in his confusion, he might hand down his mantle to me, risking the Yue Family’s lineage coming to an end."
"Your master has become muddled?" the emperor asked, surprised, looking at Yue Rujing.
Yue Rujing replied, "Isn’t that so? He’s the senior brother to the State Preceptor, even older than him by quite a bit."
It had been more than a decade since the emperor had seen Tian Jizi. Thinking of Yu Jizi’s aged appearance with his crane-like hair, the emperor nodded somberly.
"He’s aged indeed!" the emperor muttered reflectively and then waved Yue Rujing away, signaling he could retreat.
Yue Rujing took his leave, leaving only the emperor in the vast hall.
"How could he be confused with a grand plan yet unfinished?"
He touched his own temples as if something had come to mind and suddenly yelled out, "Someone, bring me a mirror."
Soon, an eunuch about his age brought a mirror to him.
The emperor took it from him and looked at his reflection in the mirror.
At nearly fifty, he was no longer young. His slightly visible white hairs were mixed with the black, both tied up, and in the blink of an eye, half of his life had already slipped away.
The emperor gave a wry smile, recognizing his own aging appearance. As an elder who although lived longer than ordinary people, was fast approaching the end of his life.
Once Yue Rujing had left the palace, he went directly to find Jin Zijin.
Jin Zijin had openly taken up residence in the Dao Sect’s Sanqing Temple, as a prominent disciple of Tianzong. Yue Rujing was also a disciple of Tianzong, so he stayed there as well.
This place was called a Taoist Temple, but since the Taoists held a very high status in Zhuzhao Country, this temple was built to the same standards as the prince residences.
"Brother, I saw the emperor today," Yue Rujing said, bursting into the room and gulping down a cup of tea.
"Hmm, I know," Jin Zijin nodded nonchalantly.
"He was trying to catch me out in conversation. I feel like he’s still guarding against my father."
Jin Zijin replied, "Of course. The military forces stationed around the border cities make up seventy percent, and your father exclusively controls another twenty percent. The Imperial City has just thirty percent, with ten percent of it not even in the emperor’s hands. In this whole world, only the forces under your father can contend with him. Who else would he guard against if not your father?"