The daily life of a max-level immortal cultivator

Chapter 48 These Years as a Charlatan in the Mortal World (Part 4)

Baili Shu glanced at Liu Xingxing, then got up to open the door and greet her.

Upon seeing that it was Eunuch Li, who often served by Ji Mo Zheng Yuan's side, Bai Li Shu was slightly surprised: "Your Majesty, is there something you need to see me about so late?"

Li Si first bowed to him before saying, "Grand Preceptor, this servant is unaware. His Majesty only said to invite you over. Oh, by the way, His Majesty also said that you should bring your disciple with you."

"apprentice?"

"Exactly."

It turns out Liu Jun wasn't joking after all. What exactly did she do while he was unconscious?

"Please wait a moment, Eunuch Li, while I organize this passage."

"Alright, Grand Preceptor, please take your time. This servant will wait outside."

Liu Xingxing had been sitting there the whole time, but Li Si didn't see her because of the angle. Baili Shu closed the door briefly and then came back.

"Ji Mo Zheng Yuan wants to see me?"

The inner room wasn't big, and Liu Xingxing could hear their conversation.

Judging from Baili Shu's somewhat surprised expression, it was clear that he hadn't come simply to see him. However, wasn't Ji Mo Zheng Yuan being a bit too hasty, sending someone over so late at night?

"should be."

Liu Xingxing glanced at him with amusement and teased, "You really didn't take a single apprentice seriously before. Ji Mozhengyuan is really stubborn, sending you apprentices every year. I wonder why."

"I guess he just wants to find someone to learn my skills so that they can serve his Mo family for a long time. After all, when I agreed to become the Grand Preceptor, I told him that I might leave at any time. He was reluctant to give up my skills, but who knew that I would be doing this for more than ten years? I guess he is getting more and more afraid that I will leave."

"As you know, ordinary mortals without talent and innate ability simply cannot learn the techniques of us cultivators. It's for their own good that I don't accept them."

"Alright, let's go over our statements first, otherwise we might accidentally let something slip."

……

The moonlit night was desolate, and all around was silent.

On the slightly dimly lit palace path, two rows of palace servants carried lanterns to guide the two people in the center.

When the Imperial Preceptor travels, he is usually accompanied by a palanquin. However, if Baili Shu rides in the palanquin, Liu Jun will have to walk, which he dares not do. He is afraid that having the Ancestor accompany him will shorten his lifespan, so he cancels the palanquin and chooses to walk. In any case, Ji Mo Zheng Yuan did not ask them to rush there.

She had already made Baili Shu tremble with fear by taking on the role of his "disciple" earlier, and he figured she must have her reasons for doing so, so he didn't want to say anything more. If she were to do something so disrespectful now, he figured he would be stuck here for the rest of his life.

The Imperial Observatory wasn't far from Ji Mo Zheng Yuan's sleeping quarters, but it took several major and minor roads to get there. This was nothing for the two of them, who were both cultivators; it was just a few steps away. After all, in the cultivation world, people usually traveled hundreds of miles by flying swords or using magical artifacts.

These antique-style buildings do fit Liu Xingxing's imagination of ancient times.

Before her family went bankrupt, they bought a piece of land and built an antique-style house. She really liked that house, but unfortunately, in the end, the land was sold off and she couldn't even keep her last 30-square-meter apartment.

"We've arrived. Please wait a moment, Your Excellency. This servant will go and report to you."

"Ah."

In public, Baili Shu reverted to his former self as the unfathomable, stoic, and serene Grand Preceptor, while Liu Xingxing maintained a humble and unassuming demeanor.

A short while later, Li Si came out of the hall, still with a respectful demeanor: "Grand Preceptor, you may go in now."

Baili Shu stepped inside, and Liu Xingxing followed, but Li Si stopped her.

"Please wait a moment, young lady."

Both Liu Xingxing and Baili Shu were puzzled for a moment, but Liu Xingxing gestured for him to go in first before he felt relieved and went into the hall.

Li Si followed her into the hall, leaving Liu Xingxing alone outside. The guards outside, like Old Zeng in meditation, didn't even spare her a glance.

Liu Xingxing was so bored that all she could do was look at the stars outside.

However, there weren't many stars in the late autumn night sky. The autumn wind blew in gusts, and the grasshoppers chirped occasionally in the grass. Everything was quiet and natural.

After a short while, Li Si finally came out.

"Miss Liu, is that right? His Majesty has summoned you. Please come in with us."

Liu Xingxing had already counted the stars four or five times before she was allowed to go in.

What exactly is Ji Mo Zheng Yuan trying to do? Is he trying to temper her character or give her a hard time?

After all, she was someone sent in by Ji Mochuan. Ji Mozhengyuan had chosen so many people, but Baili Shu didn't like any of them. Yet Baili Shu chose her as his apprentice. There would definitely be objections.

The sleeping quarters were very large and furnished. It took Liu Xingxing almost half a minute to reach the place after following Li Si.

Although it is called a sleeping quarters, the interior layout is very detailed and distinct. In addition to the sleeping area, there are various functional areas, such as those for receiving guests, for discussing matters, for dining, and so on, all of which are exquisitely and beautifully decorated.

After all, this is the residence of a monarch, so how could it be taken lightly? The more Liu Xingxing went inside, the more she felt this way.

Liu Xingxing was heading to the reception hall. At this time, apart from some palace servants, there were only two people sitting at the head of the table, chatting casually. Liu Xingxing also met the legendary Ji Mo Zhengyuan.

However, unlike the emperors portrayed on television who always wore bright yellow, Ji Mo Zheng Yuan was only wearing a silver-gray silk robe with a snow fox fur cloak. His hair was also half-tied up, indicating that he was about to go to sleep but had gotten up again.

His face was pale and he looked somewhat sick. His features were six or seven parts similar to Ji Mochuan's, but much softer. He had no imperial majesty at all and looked more like a young nobleman who was terminally ill.

"Your Majesty, Holy Ann."

Upon seeing the arrival of the person, the two people above stopped talking. Liu Xingxing also gave a simple cupped-hand salute, neither bending over nor kneeling.

Despite such rude behavior, Ji Mo Zheng Yuan did not reprimand him. Instead, he said in a very gentle tone, "This is the disciple chosen by the Imperial Advisor? He does resemble the Imperial Advisor quite a bit, except for his appearance..."

Ji Mo Zhengyuan paused for a moment, then looked at Liu Xingxing's face a few more times: "She's a bit too bright-eyed."

"Your Majesty is so complimentary."

You phrased it quite tactfully; you could have just said it was too flamboyant.

Ji Mo Zheng Yuan then asked, "What is your name, where do you live, and who are you?"

“Your Majesty, my name is Liu Xingxing. As for family, I don’t have one. I’ve been an orphan since I was a child. Later, I got a chance to work in the Prince Xu’s mansion. I heard that there were good positions in the palace, so I begged the Prince Xu to send me to the palace.”

I'm playing my cards right from the start, clearly telling you that I was sent in by that sixth brother from Jimochuan.

"Oh~ it was Prince Xu who sent you to the palace?"

"Yes, Prince Xu is such a kind person. He even said he would often send people to deliver things to me and check on my well-being. He's so good to me."

She made it pretty clear, didn't she? She was practically saying it outright.

Anyway, now that she's on Baili Shu's side, there's no need for her to worry about him. After all, they've only known each other for a few days, and she only got into the palace with his help.

Moreover, it's obvious that the sixth brother is also using her. Nobody is thinking of anyone else's good. He's just using Ji Mo Zheng Yuan to cause him some trouble so that he won't bother her all day long.

Ji Mo Zhengyuan smiled slightly, his expression unassuming: "You are indeed honest. Since the Imperial Preceptor has chosen you as his disciple, you should follow him closely. The Imperial Preceptor and I are quite close, so you can come to visit me often when you have nothing to do. From today onwards, I will appoint you as an eighth-rank mid-level scribe in the Imperial Observatory."

Eighth grade?

It sounds pretty useless, it's worlds apart from something like the Imperial Advisor. But he probably got the title because of Baili Shu.

However, having something is better than having nothing; otherwise, having only the title of the Imperial Preceptor's disciple is no different from being just a palace servant.

"Thank you for the reward, Your Majesty."

Liu Xingxing simply bowed with her hands clasped in greeting, and Ji Mozhengyuan didn't seem to mind.

However, this left Li Si, who was attending to him, completely stunned. In the entire court, only a few people who had received His Majesty's permission were exempt from kowtowing and paying their respects when meeting the emperor, and the Imperial Preceptor was one of them.

And now, this newly appointed young lady doesn't even bow, yet His Majesty still seems completely unperturbed. It seems he needs to give some of these short-sighted people a heads-up.