A Pawn's Passage

Shi Bingyun let out a chuckle, speaking only half a sentence and leaving the rest unsaid, her tone carrying a hint of mischief.

Zhang Yuelu had already guessed her martial aunt would ask this, so she did not feel awkward and calmly replied, “We are indeed close.”

“Close, huh?” Shi Bingyun clicked her tongue. “You’re an unmarried young lady. Why don’t you seem the least bit embarrassed? Normally, a girl experiencing this for the first time should blush, look down at her shoes, and fidget with her clothes, not daring to answer directly!”

Zhang Yuelu thought for a moment and answered, “Because I’m a special breed?”

Shi Bingyun had intended to tease her martial niece with this, but unexpectedly, Zhang Yuelu gave her no opening. She felt a little disappointed and joked. “You truly are a special breed. Who else could become a third-rank Youyi Daoist master and Deputy Hall Master before turning 30? In my generation, there was still a chance to fight for the position of Sage Cihang, but with you around, there’s not even a trace of suspense. The disciples in your generation must be crying their hearts out for losing that chance!”

Zhang Yuelu smiled without responding and walked toward her seat.

As a third-rank Youyi Daoist master and a young talent with boundless potential, Zhang Yuelu was seated in a highly prominent position—right next to the second-rank Taiyi Daoist masters. Since Shi Bingyun was among the lower-ranked Taiyi Daoist masters, she was seated not far from Zhang Yuelu.

Thus, Shi Bingyun simply swapped seats with someone to sit right next to Zhang Yuelu. After all, who could refuse a small request from a beautiful Daoist priest?

Shi Bingyun leaned slightly toward Zhang Yuelu and asked, “So, what does that Qi boy do? Where is he seated?”

Zhang Yuelu answered truthfully, “He’s a Superintendent at Ziwei Hall, but he is currently undergoing training at the Wanxiang Daoist Upper Palace.”

Shi Bingyun gasped softly. “I thought this would be a classic story of a rich lady and a poor lad, but it turns out he’s also a young talent who is well-matched to you. That makes it less dramatic. Li Changge and Yao Pei are also just at the fourth rank. Is this young man Qi Jiaozheng’s son?”

Zhang Yuelu shook her head. “It’s just a coincidence that his last name is also Qi. He has no connection to the Qi family. He’s actually from the Wanxiang Daoist Lower Palace.”

Shi Bingyun’s interest was piqued again. “An orphan rising to a high position isn’t uncommon, but doing so at such a young age is very rare. Does he have a prestigious master? Which Omniscient Sage trained him?”

“Not an Omniscient Sage. His master was a fourth-rank Jijiu Daoist master who passed away many years ago,” Zhang Yuelu replied.

Shi Bingyun was genuinely surprised this time. “That means this young man must have real ability. I know Pei Xuanzhi. He has always had high standards and never tolerates mediocrity. For this boy to have secured a firm foothold in Ziwei Hall at such a young age, even with the support of powerful figures, he must be exceptionally capable himself.”

Zhang Yuelu’s attitude toward Qi Xuansu in front of outsiders was rather subtle. When Qi Xuansu was still a low-ranking Daoist priest, she would actively praise him and speak well of him. Now that he was a fourth-rank Jijiu Daoist master, Zhang Yuelu no longer praised him but instead maintained a humble and reserved attitude. Thus, she said nothing more and only smiled.

Shi Bingyun continued, “That being the case, he’s indeed a good match for you. After all, a marriage where both partners are too evenly matched in background isn’t always good. It can lead to all sorts of complications. If you were to find someone stronger than you, that would be truly difficult—the only possible candidate would be Li Changge. But given the relationship between the Zhang and Li families, that’s absolutely out of the question.”

Zhang Yuelu sighed. “I’d be thanking the heavens if only my mother could share the same perspective as you.”

“By the way, what did your master say about this?” Shi Bingyun did not act like a Sage. Instead, she resembled a nosy aunt who was only interested in matters of marriage.

Zhang Yuelu replied, “My master has met him once before, but she didn’t say much. She only asked to see him again in Jade Capital after he completes his training in the Upper Palace.”

Shi Bingyun clicked her tongue again. “So this is a mother-in-law evaluating her future son-in-law, huh? Is she growing more fond of him, or is she planning to break you two apart? But honestly, my senior sister has never experienced such matters herself. What could she possibly discern? You might as well let me take a look! I’ve met more men than you and your master combined.”

Zhang Yuelu changed the subject. “Martial Aunt, why have you returned to Jade Capital?”

The Imperial Capital Daoist Mansion has always been an exceptionally unique institution. Since the Imperial Capital was the core of the Imperial Court and the emperor’s residence, for a long time, the Imperial Capital Daoist Mansion was little more than a ceremonial entity, even less significant than the Imperial Observatory.

While the Imperial Observatory was responsible for celestial observations, the Imperial Capital Daoist Mansion mainly handled rituals such as blessings and fasting ceremonies. As a result, the Daoist Order often assigned high-ranking yet marginal figures to the office—people like Shi Bingyun.

However, in recent years, as the conflict between the three major Daoist sects intensified, the Imperial Court seemed to have intentions of intervening in Daoist affairs. Thus, the Imperial Capital Daoist Mansion suddenly became much more important.

In the past, it had always been under the control of the Taiping Sect, which had the closest ties to the royal family. But over the past year, especially when the Heavenly Preceptor and Earthly Preceptor took turns serving as the Great Sage Lunzhi, they placed a significant number of their own people into the Imperial Capital Daoist Mansion—essentially mixing in their own influence.

Naturally, the Taiping Sect countered. After much negotiation and compromise among the three sects, the selection of one Daoist Mansion Master and nine Deputy Mansion Masters was finalized. Unless another major upheaval occurred, no significant changes were expected in the near future. Shi Bingyun was among the nine Deputy Mansion Masters, ranking near the top as the Second Deputy Mansion Master.

This was why Zhang Yuelu found it strange that Shi Bingyun had appeared in Jade Capital. According to regulations, unless there was an urgent matter, a legitimate reason, or a summon from the Golden Tower Council, a Sage of this position would not return to Jade Capital so casually.

Shi Bingyun said, “Of course, I have official business. I came to find Pei Xuanzhi.”

“Sage Donghua?” Zhang Yuelu was momentarily stunned.

Shi Bingyun replied matter-of-factly, “As the Ziwei Hall Master, he controls personnel appointments. I still have several vacant positions under my name, so who else would I go to but him?”

This was only natural. In the past, the Imperial Capital Daoist Mansion had been largely neglected, with limited opportunities for promotion. Ambitious and capable Daoists were unwilling to go there, leaving it populated mostly by those with no hope of advancement or those enamored by the prosperity of the Imperial Capital.

This time, with the three major Daoist sects making major moves within the Imperial Capital Daoist Mansion, many people had been cleared out, inevitably resulting in vacancies.

Zhang Yuelu fell into deep thought.

At that moment, the carriage of the Great Sage Lunzhi arrived at the gates of Yuxu Palace.

The Great Sage Lunzhi rode in a Seven-Fragrance Carriage, a luxurious carriage crafted from various fragrant woods. It was so popular in the Qi Dynasty that two famous poets once wrote about the opulence of this carriage.

The Daoist Seven-Fragrance Carriage had been further modified. It was larger in size but stripped of unnecessary embellishments, making it simple yet dignified. It was pulled by four dragon-horse hybrids, with 8 second-rank Spirit Guards clearing the way, followed by an entourage of Omniscient Sages.

Upon reaching the palace gates, the Great Sage Lunzhi stepped down from the carriage. He was an elderly man with white hair and a flowing beard, exuding the aura of an Immortal. This time, the Great Sage Lunzhi was not the Imperial Preceptor, but the Heavenly Preceptor.

From New Year’s Day to June 30th of the 41st year of the Jiushi Era, the Heavenly Preceptor served as the Acting Grand Master. In the latter half of the same year, from July 1st to December 31st, the role passed to the Earthly Preceptor.

In the current 42nd year of the Jiushi Era, from New Year’s Day to June 30th, the Imperial Preceptor had assumed the role of the Great Sage Lunzhi, wielding the authority of the Grand Master. Since today was already July 15th, the Zhongyuan Festival, it was naturally time for the Heavenly Preceptor to succeed the Imperial Preceptor as the Great Sage Lunzhi and preside over the festival’s ceremonies.

The crowd in the square parted, forming a path to welcome the Great Sage Lunzhi and the accompanying Omniscient Sages into the main hall.

Inside the hall, everyone stood up in respect.

Zhang Yuelu lifted her gaze and saw her granduncle walking in. On his left were Sage Cihang and Sage Donghua, while Sage Qingwei and a Great Sage flanked his right.

This arrangement was deliberate. The Daoist Order had one Grand Master and three Deputy Grand Masters. When arranging their positions, they needed to emphasize the Grand Master’s supreme status by placing him in the center.

However, with only three Deputy Grand Masters, there would be some asymmetry if they were placed on either side. Typically, this was balanced by the Grand Master’s Daoist companion. That meant two Deputy Grand Masters would stand on the Grand Master’s left, while on the right, the Grand Master’s Daoist companion would stand closest to him, followed by the remaining Deputy Grand Master. As for who stood to the Grand Master’s left generally depended on the Grand Master’s sect of origin.

For example, if the Grand Master came from the Zhengyi Sect, then the Heavenly Preceptor would stand at their left.

The same principle applied to the Great Sage Lunzhi. The top three Omniscient Sages followed behind, leaving one vacant spot. Since the Heavenly Preceptor was not married, the Wanxiang Daoist Palace Master filled the vacant position on the right instead.

The Daoist Order did not practice kneeling rituals, so everyone simply stood and saluted. There was no sight of a vast crowd bowing in submission.

The Heavenly Preceptor walked straight toward the main seat of Yuxu Palace, but as he passed by Zhang Yuelu, he paused slightly. Zhang Yuelu had the distinct feeling that her granduncle had glanced at her. Or perhaps it was merely an illusion.

For a brief moment, Zhang Yuelu was dazed. By the time she regained her composure, the Heavenly Preceptor had already walked away.

Standing one step behind the Heavenly Preceptor’s left side was Sage Cihang, who did not look at her beloved disciple. After all, they had only parted ways less than half an hour ago. Instead, she stared deeply at her junior sister, Shi Bingyun, who was next to Zhang Yuelu.

Shi Bingyun’s gaze flickered as she avoided eye contact with her senior sister.

Sage Donghua also noticed Shi Bingyun. Being of the same generation, they naturally knew each other. He likely had an idea of why she was here but maintained an impassive expression.

Among the guests were representatives from the Confucian School, Buddhist Sect, and Imperial Court.

The Grand Libationer of the Confucian School glanced at Zhang Yuelu as he walked past her. Though he did not act out, he did not bother to hide the disdain in his eyes. As a Grand Libationer, he was not a rash person who would openly wear his emotions on his face. Thus, this expression was deliberate, meant to convey his stance.

Zhang Yuelu was entirely unfazed. Her thoughts were still occupied with matters concerning the Imperial Capital Daoist Mansion.

After the Heavenly Preceptor and the Omniscient Sages were seated, the other guests took their seats. The Heavenly Preceptor swept his gaze around the hall. With a wave of his sleeve, an ethereal projection of himself soared out of the hall, ascended the 33-tier lantern tower, and ignited the golden lantern at the very top.