A Pawn's Passage

For thousands of years, there has been an ironclad rule. If a problem could not be solved, then deal with the person who raised it.

Qi Xuansu could not possibly reverse the main branch’s attitude toward Zhang Yuelu, but he could certainly subdue the juniors who had jumped out to cause trouble.

Lingzhi Garden was very quiet. Aside from the rustling leaves in the wind, no one voiced any objections.

The Zhang family youths were not street thugs but young masters of a noble family. Starting the fight themselves and resorting to a revolving-door-style battle was already disgraceful. Losing on top of that was even worse. If they kept running their mouths after losing a group battle, it would not just be shameful; it would be downright shameless.

Young noblemen did not behave that way.

“I assume none of you have any more objections,” Qi Xuansu said, turning and walking away.

Zhang Chiyue quickly followed behind Qi Xuansu, his feelings conflicted. Though he had hoped for Qi Xuansu’s victory, he did not expect their peers to lose so miserably. As a fellow Zhang, he naturally felt embarrassed.

However, Qi Xuansu acted as if nothing had happened. “That fight took a bit too long. Let’s hurry up and meet the Palace Master.”

Sanxing Hall was the Zhang family patriarch’s residence, but the Heavenly Preceptor was a bachelor without a partner or children. Since he disliked the loneliness that spacious quarters brought, he typically resided in Weiyu Study, which was fully equipped and large enough for him. As a result, Sanxing Hall had long been occupied by Zhang Jucheng.

This was where Zhang Jucheng met with Qi Xuansu.

The Dazhen Mansion had been expanded from the Zhang family’s private estate, with multiple layers of courtyards, making it easy for one to get lost.

Fortunately, with Zhang Chiyue leading the way, they soon arrived at Sanxing Hall. Upon entering the courtyard, they were greeted by a screen wall inscribed with the Confucian maxim that read, “Each day, I reflect upon myself.”

Behind it lay a spacious courtyard, with an arched bridge at its center spanning a manmade lake. Ornamental fish swam in the water, and a white crane stood tall in the shallows.

The main hall had nine rooms with high, glazed tile roofs. Hanging over the entrance was the name of the hall, written by the Ancestral Heavenly Preceptor himself. Long corridors extended from either side of the hall, connecting the front gate to the back garden.

Of the three sacred lands of the Daoist Order, the Dazhen Mansion and the Zhenjing Courtyard were expanded from the private estates of the Zhang and Li families, respectively. Thus, they were limited in scale. In contrast, the Chongyang Palace of Immortality had once served as the Daoist auxiliary capital, making it far more expansive.

However, every object here—plant, stone, brick, and tile—was an antique. By contrast, the Chongyang Palace of Immortality’s original structure had long been destroyed in war. The current palace was rebuilt on the old site after the revitalization of the Daoist Order, so it was only 200 years old. Its historical depth paled in comparison to the Dazhen Mansion and the Zhenjing Courtyard.

Since Qi Xuansu’s visit was expected, he encountered no obstacles along the way. After crossing the arch bridge, Zhang Chiyue stopped, and Zhang Jucheng’s secretary came out to greet him.

Such was the nature of secretaries. High-ranking Daoist priests rarely had a clear distinction between work and personal life, and it was common for official matters to be handled at home. Over time, secretaries came to manage not only administrative tasks but also aspects of daily living, bearing a resemblance to the inner court attendants of former dynasties. Some even specialized in personal service rather than official work, which had gradually become a shortcut to advancing in rank.

However, for chief secretaries at the Palace Master level, being experienced in handling official duties was a must.

Among the 36 Omniscient Sages, the highest ranks were held by the heads of the Three Great Halls, followed by the other six Hall Masters, then the Daoist Mansion Masters, and lastly the Palace Masters. Therefore, for a Palace Master to be promoted, one must first serve as a Daoist Mansion Master, then enter Jade Capital to serve as a Hall Master. Sage Cihang, Sage Donghua, and Sage Qingwei have all held regional posts. Sage Cihang was once the Jiangnan Daoist Mansion Master, Sage Donghua was the Zhongzhou Daoist Mansion Master, while Sage Qingwei had a deep influence in the Qizhou Daoist Mansion for many years.

Great Sages serving as Palace Masters or Mansion Masters were considered high-spec appointments and not subject to the standard hierarchy, like the Wanxiang Daoist Palace Master.

The highest-ranked Daoist Mansion was likely the Borneo Daoist Mansion, which boasted not only one Omniscient Sage and two first-rank Spirit Guards, but also a Great Sage. The Fenglin Daoist Mansion was slightly inferior but not far behind. It was expected to soon surpass the Borneo Daoist Mansion with the appointment of a Sage Commander.

Recent rumors suggested that Zhang Jucheng would be appointed as the Jiangnan Daoist Mansion Master. This was mainly because he needed to also manage the Zhang family affairs, much like how Sage Qingwei had to manage the Li family and thus held the Qizhou Daoist Mansion Master position for many years. Now, the situation was becoming clearer. If the Heavenly Preceptor intended to support Zhang Yuelu, then he would most likely assign her a position as the Second Deputy Wuzhou Daoist Mansion Master while also letting her handle some Zhang family matters to build prestige. Zhang Jucheng could then let go and take an external post to seek a higher position.

Qi Xuansu followed this secretary, who was similar in role to Gong Jiaojun, toward Sanxing Hall.

Historically, generations of Heavenly Preceptors and Great Heavenly Preceptors had lived there. Even Yan Feiqing, the only non-Zhang Heavenly Preceptor personally appointed by the Holy Xuan, once resided in this hall. At that time, the Zhang family retreated to their private quarters.

Zhang Wuhen had also spent a while here with her older brother in her youth.

Qi Xuansu vaguely recalled that Zhang Yuelu once mentioned that the Heavenly Preceptor moved out of Sanxing Hall not long after Zhang Wuhen’s incident. Notably, Zhang Wuhen’s husband was the one who lured her into stealing True Lord Taiyin’s legacy. After the matter came to light, the Heavenly Preceptor personally executed her.

This clearly showed that although the Heavenly Preceptor appeared kind and gentle, he was also a decisive and ruthless man.

Qi Xuansu silently reminded himself not to become arrogant just because the Heavenly Preceptor seemed to hold him in high regard. After all, these great figures could kill without batting an eye.

Sanxing Hall faced south. Upon entering the main gate, one would see a large folding screen placed against the north wall. It was plain white without illustrations, inscribed only with the Primordial Daoist Ancestor’s Five Thousand Words Classic. Below the screen stood a set of sandalwood table and chair, marking the host’s seat. Opposite this were eight sandalwood guest chairs arranged in a winged formation to the left and right.

Zhang Jucheng was already waiting there.

Qi Xuansu stepped over the threshold but did not take another step forward. He bowed respectfully and said, “Greetings, Palace Master.”

Zhang Jucheng was not arrogant. He stepped forward and motioned for Qi Xuansu not to stand on ceremony. “Deputy Hall Master Qi, there’s no need to be so formal.”

After the greeting, Zhang Jucheng spoke amicably. “Today is a family gathering, and we’re discussing personal matters, so there’s no need to treat this like a formal audience. Qing Xiao’s father is my cousin, making me her uncle. If you don’t mind, you may call me Uncle as well.”

Qi Xuansu readily accepted it. “Then please call me by my courtesy name—Tian Yuan.”

Generally, not all elders were permitted to address one by their given name. Typically, only one’s parents could do so, while other elders used the junior’s courtesy name. But for a revered elder like the Heavenly Preceptor, it no longer mattered.

With their new forms of addressing each other, Zhang Jucheng and Qi Xuansu’s relationship instantly grew closer. At the very least, Zhang Jucheng openly showed no objection to the marriage and even seemed to approve of it.

The two took their seats apart from each other and did not jump straight into the main topic. Instead, they made small talk about other matters.

As two men who had just become acquainted, they naturally did not discuss trivial domestic affairs but instead focused on formal Daoist matters. Zhang Jucheng knew a great deal about the Anchor the Monkey operation, so when discussing it, he mentioned True Lord Ziguang.

This incident could not be concealed since True Lord Ziguang had injured Prince Liao, suppressed the eunuch ancestor of the Xuanhui Court, and even encountered Li Changge.

Qi Xuansu certainly could not reveal that Zhang Yuelu had already taken control of the Ziguang Society network. He could only claim that he had been knocked unconscious by Prince Liao before the divine descent and awoke on Wuxing Mountain, watching fireworks.

Fortunately, Zhang Jucheng had no intention of probing further. He brushed over the topic and moved on to discuss the war in Fenglin, mainly speaking in broad terms.

In Zhang Jucheng’s view, if the Daoist Order wished to govern Fenglin, it could no longer cling to the Confucian dichotomy of civilized versus barbarian. Confucian standards relied on three criteria: bloodline, geography, and etiquette. Although Fenglin was indeed influenced by the Imperial Court of the Central Plains, it had long developed its own systems independently and was an isolated overseas region.

Fenglin had never truly been ruled by the Central Plains Imperial Court. Consensus on those three standards was impossible, and without resorting to mass slaughter, integration would be extremely difficult.

Then, a different path should be taken, where those with virtue shall rule the world. Virtue was a broad concept, but if one must quantify it, then it would mean that rulers who could improve the lives of the governed were fit to rule, regardless of their bloodline or background.

To put it plainly, if the Daoist Order was more advanced, civilized, and ethical than the Tenmon Sect, and its governance of Fenglin would be better, then the Daoist Order would be considered one with virtue and should therefore rule.

Of course, these two ideologies were not rigid and were often adopted based on whichever benefited the ruler most.

The upheaval in Fenglin served as a wake-up call for the Daoist Order. They must shift their ideological approach and implement it fully in Fenglin, altering the prevailing mindset there in order to fundamentally eliminate the notion of revering the emperor and expelling the Dao.

Qi Xuansu had little knowledge in this area, so he could only listen quietly. He had to admit that anyone capable of becoming an Omniscient Sage was no mediocrity. They not only studied the arts of longevity but also explored the ways to govern the world, talented all around.

By noon, the two shared a meal in banquet style, showing how seriously Zhang Jucheng regarded the occasion.

Only at this point did Zhang Jucheng finally get to the main subject.

Just as Madam Qi had predicted, Zhang Jucheng wanted to talk about the future of the Zhang family.

However, Zhang Jucheng was not in a rush for Qi Xuansu to make a statement. Instead, he hoped Qi Xuansu would go back and have a proper conversation with Zhang Yuelu.

Qi Xuansu understood. Zhang Jucheng was essentially asking him to act as a messenger.