Jiao Tu walked.

In the cold, clear, deep palace, only Xuan Su’s cries remained.

Xuan Zhen hugged her dust whisk and calmly surveyed the scene, her gaze finally falling on Bai Li. “I didn’t expect the County Lord to still have people who miss her even after falling into Jingyang Palace. Truly good.”

Bai Li ignored her, only struggling to crawl to her feet and heading towards the back hall.

Xuan Zhen smiled. “How about you replace Xuan Su in managing affairs? If you are willing, I can give you a Daoist title today: Xuan Ji.”

Bai Li stopped and stood with her back to her, without saying a word.

Before she could answer, Xuan Su, despite the pain in her eyes and right hand, got up and crawled to Xuan Zhen’s feet. “True Person, I have served you for so many years. I did whatever you asked. You cannot just ignore me like this.”

Xuan Zhen looked down at Xuan Su at her feet and said, “You have disturbed my peace time and again! I see that your upper corpse has already eaten your brain, disturbing the muddy pill camp and clouding your divine consciousness. Your middle door has eaten your heart, blocking the palace and making the heart fire difficult to descend. Your lower corpse has eaten your abdomen, congesting your dantian, causing your true essence to scatter. The three corpse worms are entwining your body; there is no medicine to save you!”

Xuan Su opened her only remaining eye and turned to look at the crowd of Daoist nuns behind her. They stood in the dim great hall, their expressions obscured by shadows.

She quickly turned her head back and said, “True Person, I still have one good eye, and this arm will heal very soon. I can pour tea and serve water for you. No one can serve you as well as I can. I promise not to disturb your cultivation again. Please save me. I have suppressed them for too long in the past. If you ignore me now, they will tear me apart, True Person.”

Xuan Zhen asked doubtfully, “When did I ask you to bully them?”

Xuan Su quickly said, “No, no, it was all my own decision as a villain!”

Xuan Zhen sighed softly. “Born by Heaven, killed by Heaven, that is the principle of the Dao. It seems this is the disaster you must bear!”

Having said that, she raised her head and looked at the crowd of Daoist nuns. “Take Xuan Su back to the back hall and let her rest well!”

The Daoist nuns rushed forward, grabbed Xuan Su’s right arm, and forcibly dragged her back to the back hall. Xuan Su wailed miserably, her voice gradually fading away.

“Xuan Zhen, you are the true demon in this Jingyang Palace. You evil demon will not die a good death. The Three Pure Dao Ancestors will definitely punish you.”

Xuan Zhen didn’t hear and turned her head again to look at Bai Li’s back. “County Lord, have you thought about it? Do you want to replace Xuan Su in managing all the affairs of Jingyang Palace?”

Bai Li remained silent.

Xuan Zhen said lightly, “You haven’t been here long, so you don’t know what needs to be managed! Besides the daily morning lessons and reciting scriptures, you also allocate food, manage monthly silver, host fasting rituals, write the annual ‘Record of Merit and Demerit’, check everyone’s lessons, contact the inner court eunuchs… These are all rules, and within every rule is hidden great power!”

She pointed her dust whisk at the tribute fruits on the offering table and laughed. “Precisely these tribute fruits – limes, bananas, oranges, grapes, peaches – after they are removed, who gets to eat them and who doesn’t is all according to procedure! As long as you are willing to listen to me, all of this will be your power!”

Bai Li said softly, “I cannot do it!”

Xuan Zhen slowly put away her smile. “County Lord, the palace guard is now the Troubles-Relieving Guard, not the Secret Service! The inner court has already divided power. The Troubles-Relieving Guard belongs to Wu Xiu, and the Secret Agents belong to the Inner Minister! It’s still good that power is just divided; everyone still maintains some face and decency! After a long time, the Troubles-Relieving Guard will all be Wu Xiu’s people. It will be absolutely impossible for Jiao Tu, the Secret Agent zodiac, to move freely again!”

Xuan Zhen continued to analyze the situation slowly. “I have been in Jingyang Palace for over thirty years. Few people who have come and gone can be counted! County Lord, you and I still have to stay here for several decades. Why must we be enemies?”

Bai Li was silent for a long time, finally raising her head to look at the majestic images of the Three Pure Dao Ancestors in front of her. “True Person, I don’t have to be enemies with anyone. It’s just that my father taught me from a young age not to do to others what you don’t want others to do to you, and also taught me to distinguish right from wrong, to understand people and matters. Sometimes I also think, having come to this kind of place, what’s the point of being a good person? Where do good people get good rewards? But although I no longer want to be a good person, I also don’t want to be a completely evil person. It’s best if you and I stay out of each other’s way.”

I only fear it’s not yet your turn to tell me to stay out of your way!

Xuan Zhen tightened her grip on the dust whisk. “County Lord, perhaps you feel you have Jiao Tu as a backing and can rely on him, but you still don’t understand the principle of this world. Sometimes you don’t need a knife to kill someone, and you don’t necessarily need to see blood to kill someone… It’s okay, I’ll wait a little longer. Perhaps after a few days, you will change your mind!”

Having said that, she turned and walked deep into the side hall. The large door of the side hall closed with a boom behind her. Bai Li returned to the back hall.

She stood barefoot outside the door threshold and looked into the hall. Xuan Su was being held down by several Daoist nuns and forcibly pressed into a toilet bucket.

There were no candles lit in the hall; only the moonlight from the sky shone on the green bricks in front of the door.

The door threshold of the back hall was like a wall, and also like teeth inside a blood basin’s wide mouth. Inside was dim, outside was moonlight.

When the Daoist nuns saw her return, they merely glanced at her casually before continuing to speak viciously to Xuan Su. “Xuan Su, you have this day too. Do you remember last winter when you made me stand in the snow and recite Daoist scriptures?”

Another person said angrily, “Do you remember when you made me pick steamed buns out of the tear bucket to eat?”

Still another person was angry. “Do you remember when you made me wash your feet every day?”

Those Daoist nuns who had been accustomed to silence were finally no longer silent! Bai Li stood outside the door threshold and was silent for a long time. Finally, she lifted her foot and stepped inside.

She climbed onto the bunk bed without a word and sat leaning against the wall.

Zhu Ling Yun moved to her side with interest and said, “Sister, do you feel better?”

Bai Li hugged her knees and watched Xuan Su reaping what she sowed, but felt no joy. She said softly, “Ling Yun, remember this scene and tell yourself a thousand times not to be like them!”

Zhu Ling Yun softly said “oh” and also sat leaning against the wall beside her, but the light in her eyes could not be contained.

After the Daoist nuns finished tormenting Xuan Su, no one cared about her broken right hand. One by one, they sat by the bunk bed and said, “Go, boil water for us to wash our feet!”

Xuan Su’s right hand hung down powerlessly. She cried and said, “My right hand is broken! Can you wait until I’m better? I will definitely boil water for you to wash your feet one by one, I will definitely serve you well!”

The Daoist nuns insisted, “No, go boil it now, otherwise you won’t sleep. Stand by the bunk bed and recite Daoist scriptures. Stop when it’s dawn.”

Xuan Su could only limp and turn to the side room one by one.

Bai Li closed her eyes slowly, feeling tired, but she didn’t sleep. She had to guard against Xuan Su’s revenge.

Zhu Ling Yun saw the fatigue on her face and whispered, “Sister, you sleep for a while. I’ll help you watch. I’ll call you if anything happens!”

Bai Li thought for a moment and finally nodded, her eyelids drooping drowsily.

She didn’t know how long had passed, but a fat, dark shadow holding a piece of red-hot charcoal with fire tongs silently came to the front of the bunk bed and looked at Bai Li fiercely.

Bai Li was asleep, sitting on the bunk bed leaning against the wall. Zhu Ling Yun’s head was resting on Bai Li’s shoulder, and saliva was dripping from the corner of her mouth.

Xuan Su used the fire tongs to hold the red-hot charcoal and moved it towards Bai Li’s face to burn her.

However, just then, a hand slapped the fire tongs, and the red charcoal fell onto the bunk bed with a thud.

Xuan Su looked in shock and saw Yong Chun Princess with disheveled hair, laughing foolishly. “Don’t play with fire. Mother Empress said playing with fire will make you wet the bed!”

Xuan Su was too shocked. “You…”

Yong Chun Princess’s movement woke the sleeping Daoist nuns. They slowly crawled up and looked at the red charcoal burning the bunk bed mat black.

One person said coldly, “Still dare to harbor revenge? Hit her.”

Bai Li looked at Yong Chun Princess.

Yong Chun Princess then patted the red charcoal to the ground and sat down beside her without caring, saying crazily, “Bodhisattva, sleep. If you sleep, you can go to another world and see the people you want to see!”

Bai Li was silent for a long time. “Aren’t you sleeping?”

Yong Chun Princess parted a strand of messy hair and looked at her through the gap. “I don’t need to. The person I want to see isn’t in a dream. He’s waiting for me on the other side of the Naihe Bridge!”

Bai Li suddenly asked, “Are you truly crazy or pretending to be crazy?”

Yong Chun Princess giggled, not answering the question directly. “Don’t beg! You are not the same as them. There is no one in their dreams anymore, but there is still someone in your dream!”

The bell from the Bell Drum Tower rang far away again. Bai Li opened her eyes and turned her head, only to see Yong Chun Princess still wide-eyed, having not slept all night.

Xuan Su knelt in front of the door. As the Daoist nuns passed by her, someone kicked her with a foot. “Kneel straighter.”

Xuan Su fell to the ground and then quickly propped herself up.

When Bai Li passed by Xuan Su, Xuan Su said mournfully, “County Lord, I also had no choice. I just followed Xuan Zhen’s intentions and gradually became like this… Please save me.”

Bai Li said casually, “Why should I save you?”

Xuan Su quickly said, “You need me. Xuan Zhen’s methods are vicious. Without me, she will torment you to death!

Bai Li ignored her, pulled Zhu Ling Yun, and walked outside.

Xuan Su quickly said, “County Lord, today is the fasting ritual. None of them reminded you. Today everyone must submit a copy of the blue word to the Inner Court Divine Palace Supervisor. If you don’t submit it, you will be punished! There are many rules in this deep palace. If newcomers are not obedient, just those unclear rules can kill people. Jiao Tu can’t help you either, but I can!”

Bai Li stopped at the door threshold. “I can write the blue word, but you are reminding me now, and it’s already too late!”

The blue word is the prayer text or memorial presented to the gods during the fasting ceremony in the Daoist court, written with vermilion pen on green vine paper, hence called “blue word”!

Xuan Su crawled two steps on her knees to Bai Li’s front. “Although it’s too late today, you will still need it later. You still haven’t seen that evil demon’s truly vicious side. County Lord, I am useful to you alive. Don’t let them torment me to death.”

Bai Li stepped over the door threshold and continued to walk forward, leaving only Xuan Su kneeling inside the door threshold and sobbing loudly.

When she arrived at the main hall, she saw an elderly eunuch in a red robe standing in front of the main hall, with Xuan Zhen standing quietly beside him.

The red-robed eunuch said with a smile, “His Majesty was very satisfied with the blue word submitted last time. He specially ordered me to send several boxes of pastries made by the imperial kitchen this time! In addition, I have also brought all the things you entrusted me to buy from outside the palace!”

There were still two small eunuchs standing outside the main hall of Jingyang Palace, carrying a box containing close-fitting clothes, rouge and powder, silver mirrors, bronze mirrors, and other small items.

Xuan Zhen lowered her head slightly. “We are cultivating here. Thank you for His Majesty and Commander Adult’s care!”

The red-robed eunuch laughed heartily. “As long as you write the blue word well, it’s better than anything!”

Xuan Zhen waved her dust whisk, and the Daoist nuns presented their well-written blue words. The red-robed eunuch took them and flipped through them one by one, praising the magnificent writing. “Good, good, good, this time it’s written even better than last time.”

Having said that, the eunuch raised his head and looked at Bai Li and Zhu Ling Yun in front of the Three Pure Dao images. “What about yours?”

Zhu Ling Yun explained in a panic, “No one told us that we needed to write the blue word.”

Xuan Zhen smiled slightly. “I just told you all the day before yesterday. How could you not remember!”

The red-robed eunuch’s face slowly became cold. “Writing the blue word is a matter assigned by His Majesty. In Jingyang Camp, except for Yong Chun who doesn’t need to write, no one else is allowed to be lazy.”

Zhu Ling Yun still wanted to argue, but Bai Li pulled her and bowed to the red-robed eunuch. “Commander Adult, we accept the punishment. It will never happen again!”

The red-robed eunuch chuckled coldly and said softly, “Kneel in front of the Three Pure Dao Ancestors. Kneel for a day and a night to remember. If you commit it again next time, it won’t be so simple!”

Xuan Zhen cupped her hands and said, “Commander Adult has gone to trouble. It is my neglect in teaching. I am willing to be punished together!”

The red-robed eunuch laughed and waved his hand. “Where are you saying that, True Person? How can we punish you? I still have to hurry and send the blue word to His Majesty. You all get busy!”

Xuan Zhen looked at the red-robed eunuch’s back and said without turning her head, “County Lord, I will ask again. Do you want to take the position of managing the affairs of Jingyang Palace?”

Bai Li did not answer, only silently pulled Zhu Ling Yun to kneel in front of the Three Pure Dao Ancestors image.

Xuan Zhen smiled. “It’s okay, let you think about it again!”

Having said that, she turned and returned to the side hall. “Everyone else disperse. Today’s morning lesson is canceled. Go and get the things you want to buy!”

The Daoist nuns left the main hall excitedly and happily, picking and choosing from the box. Someone held up a silver mirror. “Look, indeed, the silver mirror from Shui Xin Pavilion is the brightest. This gold inlay and silk craftsmanship on the back, other workshops can’t learn it!”

“What’s the use of looking in a mirror in this palace? You’ll just see your own appearance, neither human nor ghost. Buying hand cream is the most useful. You can even use it as lip balm when the weather is dry. Don’t use mine if your lips crack then!”

“Look at you, so capable. I’ll serve True Person well, and next time I’ll just entrust a eunuch to buy new hand cream!”

Zhu Ling Yun knelt on the mat and turned her head to look outside the hall. She didn’t expect that the Daoist nuns inside this palace prohibition could still entrust eunuchs to buy these things!

She turned her head to look at her sister. Bai Li was just kneeling on the mat, her eyes closed, not knowing what she was thinking. The sun slowly rose above the main hall, and the hall gradually quieted down. Only Bai Li and Zhu Ling Yun were left kneeling until their legs were numb and the pain was unbearable!

The vermilion lacquer door of the side hall opened again, and Xuan Zhen, holding her dust whisk, slowly walked to the side of the two people. “Bai Li County Lord, I will ask you again. Are you willing to take the management position?”

Bai Li still did not answer.

Xuan Zhen smiled again. “It seems you are still too comfortable. Then don’t kneel on the mat, kneel on the green bricks!”

She called the Daoist nuns and removed the mat from the main hall.

Bai Li and Zhu Ling Yun knelt on the hard green bricks and couldn’t bear it after just one incense stick’s time. Zhu Ling Yun twisted her body, but no matter what posture she changed to, it was still agonizingly painful!

Zhu Ling Yun looked at Bai Li and begged in a low voice, “Sister, why are you suddenly listening to her again? Don’t you have Jiao Tu as a backing? Let’s fight Xuan Zhen. She definitely wouldn’t dare to hit us!”

Bai Li closed her eyes and remained silent until the sun set in the west and the main hall was dark.

The vermilion lacquer door of the side hall opened again, and Xuan Zhen came to the side of the two people and asked calmly, “County Lord, I will ask you one last time. Are you willing to do things for me?”

Bai Li shook her head and said, “Not willing!”

Xuan Zhen was somewhat puzzled. “Why not willing? Because of your so-called good and evil? There is no good or evil here, only orders.”

Bai Li knelt in front of the Three Pure Dao Ancestors and said softly, “I only fear that if I do those things, I won’t be able to face him again when I get out!”

Xuan Zhen was stunned, then laughed. “You still want to get out? Yesterday you were still seeking death, but today you want to get out again. What a big joke.”

After she laughed wildly for a while, she lowered her head again to examine the two young girls in front of her. “Good, very good! Zhu Ling Yun, since your sister is not willing to take the management position, then you take it. As long as you take it, you don’t need to kneel here and can go back to rest alone!”

Zhu Ling Yun smiled slightly. “Don’t think you can provoke me and my sister. I’m happy to kneel here.”

Xuan Zhen said meaningfully, “It’s okay. Before dawn, my words are all effective. You can go back to sleep anytime!”

The night was deep and quiet. The cold wind outside the hall poured into the hall. Zhu Ling Yun shivered from the cold, and her knees ached agonizingly. From time to time, she looked at the tightly closed door of the side hall, and then turned her head to look at the desolate palace path outside the hall.

Zhu Ling Yun said softly, “Sister, let’s go back to sleep. Everyone is fast asleep by now. No one will know if we sneak away!”

Bai Li raised her head and looked at the image of the Three Pure Dao Ancestors. Her voice was ethereal. “Ling Yun, Father said before, rules may seem kind, but they can devour people. Before you have the strength to break out of these rules, you can only first live within these rules. Whoever wants to use rules to kill you, you use rules to kill them! But before you use it, you must have no flaws yourself!”

Zhu Ling Yun hesitated for a moment, then suddenly said softly, “Sister, that Xuan Zhen is definitely asleep. I’ll secretly go back to sleep for a while. I’ll definitely be back before the bell rings! It’s not that I want to take that management position, it’s really that my knees hurt unbearably!”

Bai Li was silent for a long time. “Go!”

Zhu Ling Yun propped herself up and staggered towards the backyard.

Only Bai Li was left. A deep laugh came from the side hall, seemingly mocking Bai Li’s stubbornness. “County Lord, you are still young, you don’t understand what the human heart is! When you understand, you will be just like me! Jingyang Palace has a kind of magical power that makes everyone the same!”

Bai Li bowed her head, her forehead sticking to the cold green bricks.

She didn’t know how long had passed until the three more drumbeats sounded outside the hall.

She suddenly heard a soft sigh above her head and immediately raised her head. The Upper Pure Spirit Treasure Heavenly Venerable on the left seemed to be looking down at her.

Bai Li subconsciously closed her eyes tightly, then opened them again to look. The Upper Pure Spirit Treasure Heavenly Venerable had returned to normal, as if the previous moment was just an illusion.

The next moment, a piece of white jade leaf drifted down lightly from the sky. It was rolled and flipped by the wind, drifting like nothing through the dark night clouds, through the golden roof of Jingyang Palace, and fell on Bai Li’s head.

She slowly closed her eyes until the morning bell of the Bell Drum Tower rang again. Then she opened her eyes again, a touch of golden light flowing and turning in her eyes.

Bai Li bowed her body in front of the Upper Pure Spirit Treasure Heavenly Venerable. “Believer Bai Li has received this official chance. I am willing to cultivate diligently and attain true constancy early! I pray that the Dao will exist forever, and the Dao court will prosper forever!”

Having said this, she hesitated for a moment, then opened her mouth and asked softly, “It’s just that this disciple still has one puzzling matter. Please Heavenly Venerable explain… Did I misunderstand Chen Ji?”

After Bai Li finished speaking, she picked up the divination cups on the offering table and threw them onto the green bricks.

One yin and one yang, meaning the Heavenly Venerable indicated: Yes!

She threw the divination cups onto the green bricks again, one after another, three times, all one yin and one yang!

Bai Li took a deep breath and said softly, “Thank you, Heavenly Venerable!”

She bowed her body, her forehead touching the green bricks. The tears she had endured for who knows how long fell onto the green bricks along the tip of her nose.