A Pawn's Passage-Chapter 1284: Political Marriage

At the level of Grand Master, choosing a successor was not simply a matter of closeness or personal ties. Ideological succession mattered just as much. Whether they truly shared the same vision was the key.

If the successor was aligned with the predecessor and continued their path, even carrying it further, then one’s legacy would only grow stronger in posterity.

But if the successor did not share that alignment, then the moment the predecessor departed, the successor might immediately change course and strengthen their legitimacy by denying the achievements of their predecessor. In that case, one’s historical standing would become uncertain.

Worse still, if the successor harbored resentment and, after rising to power, released a secret report exposing everything and shattering the old idol, the consequences would be grim.

Clearly, in Sage Donghua’s eyes, although Yao Pei shared blood ties with him, their ideals diverged. By contrast, Qi Xuansu suited his vision far better. Thus, Sage Donghua’s likely choice was not difficult to guess. After all, like her name, Yao Pei would always prioritize the Yao family before the Pei family.

On the other hand, although the Li family also had internal disagreements, their three generations of leadership followed a consistent overarching direction. This ensured that the Taiping Sect remained far more unified at the macro level than the Quanzhen Sect.

As for the Zhang clan, the issue was no longer unity or disunity. Instead, they faced a clear generational gap. The fact that the Heavenly Preceptor rose to power as a descendant of an Ancient Immortal already hinted at the problem. From Zhang Jucheng’s generation onward, talent had clearly begun to thin, and by the third generation, there were scarcely any capable descendants, allowing Zhang Yuelu to seize the opportunity and rise.

In truth, the Quanzhen Sect remained rich in talent. Its only problem was the abundance of competing factions.

This was no accident. It was done deliberately during the restructuring of the Three Daoist Sects.

The Quanzhen Sect accepted the most common-born disciples and offered the most accessible path of advancement, which naturally produced the greatest number of talents. The Li family followed a family-based model but supplemented itself with adopted sons and sons-in-law, keeping fresh blood flowing, placing them second. Only the Zhang family stubbornly clung to bloodline purity. Since no one but a Zhang could become Heavenly Preceptor, their gradual decline became inevitable.

Qi Xuansu himself was an example. He had advanced unusually quickly. Even without considering the competition for Grand Master, his power category had already shifted beyond the eighth-generation disciples into the sphere of seventh-generation disciples. Most of those competing with him for positions were from the older generation. Among the eighth generation, aside from the Three Daoist Prodigies and a few people like Bai Yingqiong, who ranked near the top, could compare to Qi Xuansu. Even so, Bai Yingqiong was only a few years younger than the youngest of the seventh-generation disciples.

After leaving Sage Donghua’s private residence, Qi Xuansu wandered aimlessly through Xuan City.

The good news was that Sage Donghua was willing to help him. The bad news was that his aid came with conditions.

Not long ago, Qi Xuansu had told Madam Qi that he was fortunate to have never faced a moral dilemma. Now, one had appeared before him. Though this dilemma was not overwhelming, it still demanded a choice. He could not have both. He could either gain a tangible advantage or preserve an untarnished reputation.

More importantly, everything had happened too suddenly. He had only opened Qi Haoran’s coffin yesterday, yet today, he was already being asked to take on a new master. Qi Xuansu still needed some time to process the sadness of betrayal from the only father figure in his life.

At this moment, Qi Xuansu felt the impulse to snap off a leafy branch and count its leaves to make a decision.

Accept a master...don’t accept a master...accept...don’t accept...

He would rather leave it to fate, but of course, he could not truly do so. As Sage Donghua had suggested, Qi Xuansu should first consult Zhang Yuelu, Madam Qi, and the Heavenly Preceptor.

Sage Donghua had even arranged an order for him—from easiest to hardest—beginning with Zhang Yuelu and ending with the Heavenly Preceptor.

At this moment, Zhang Yuelu was still attending the council meeting, so Qi Xuansu headed toward Beichen Hall, intending to wait for her and discuss the matter as soon as she came out.

Even if Sage Donghua had not mentioned it, this would have been the natural course. Zhang Yuelu had always been one of Qi Xuansu’s greatest pillars of support and the person he trusted most, especially after Madam Qi was forced to keep certain things from him.

When the meeting finally came to an end, Zhang Yuelu walked out alone, trailing behind. Xu Jiaorong and Lei Xiaohuan each had their own matters to attend to and did not accompany her. She immediately spotted Qi Xuansu, who was waiting for her.

Since Qi Xuansu knew that his arrival in Jade Capital could not be hidden from watchful eyes anyway, he did not bother concealing himself. He appeared openly and without pretense. After all, he had nothing to hide.

Many people recognized him. As the meeting attendees left, they all greeted him one after another. Some saluted him and exchanged a few polite words, while others offered only a nod of acknowledgment from a distance.

Qi Xuansu found himself quite busy responding to them all.

Fortunately, when Zhang Yuelu arrived, everyone tacitly understood and gave the power couple some time and space.

Zhang Yuelu asked softly. “You’ve spoken with Sage Donghua?”

Qi Xuansu nodded. “Let’s talk when we get back.”

Zhang Yuelu smiled. “Alright.”

Qi Xuansu instinctively reached out to take Zhang Yuelu’s hand, but she lightly slapped it away. “There are so many people here!”

Being rejected, Qi Xuansu could not help but feel a little disappointed. Zhang Yuelu was still too conservative. Then again, perhaps it was better this way. If she were not conservative, they might never have met in the first place.

Zhang Yuelu changed the subject. “Have you heard?”

“Heard what?” Qi Xuansu paused. “Why does that opening sound like gossiping aunties talking about some family drama?”

“You guessed right.” Zhang Yuelu smirked. “It is family gossip, but not just ordinary family gossip.”

“How so?” Qi Xuansu grew interested.

Zhang Yuelu did not beat around the bush. “Princess Chiying has arrived in Jade Capital.”

Qi Xuansu recalled for a moment before saying, “I met Princess Chiying once back when I was serving as a superintendent of the Imperial Capital Daoist Mansion. I even had a small conflict with one of her attendants. Later, she went to the Taiping Inn to look for Li Changge. You and Yao Pei were there too.”

Zhang Yuelu nodded. “Yup, that’s her. Though she was treated like the Emperor’s own daughter, she was actually adopted from the imperial clan. After all, with Great Sage Ziji’s immortal cultivation, having heirs is difficult. Still, he is very fond of Princess Chiying.”

Qi Xuansu asked, “Why has she come to Jade Capital? To cultivate?”

It was not unusual for members of the imperial clan to join the Daoist Order. Those who were unwilling to marry often chose the religious route. Among Jade Capital’s 24 neighborhoods, Xuanyuan Place was where imperial clan members gathered.

“She’s most likely here to visit some ‘elders’ again,” Zhang Yuelu teased.

Qi Xuansu could not help but laugh.

That had been Princess Chiying’s excuse the last time she came to see Li Changge, which was plausible but honestly a bit clumsy.

Since the founding of the Great Xuan Dynasty, there had been 11 emperors, including the current one. Although the current emperor corresponded with the Daoist seventh-generation disciples, there had been several cases of emperors leaving no heirs. Some had too high a cultivation to produce offspring, some renounced the throne to pursue the Dao, while others died young. In short, the throne had passed laterally between brothers several times, resulting in 11 emperors across 8 generations.

Of these 11 emperors, 6 empresses came from the Li family. The current Empress Dowager was also from the Li family, niece to the Imperial Preceptor and cousin to Sage Qingwei. The deceased first empress of the current emperor was likewise from the Li family, a grand-niece of the Imperial Preceptor, and the same generation as Li Tianlan and Li Tianyue.

Unfortunately, Li Changge’s seniority within the Li family was absurdly high. Based on generational ranking, Princess Chiying would technically be considered Li Changge’s great-granddaughter, yet judging by age, the princess was actually older.

Of course, under normal circumstances, the two families would not calculate rank according to clan genealogy but rather by the unified Daoist generation system. The emperor and Sage Qingwei were both seventh-generation disciples, while Li Changge and Princess Chiying were eighth-generation disciples, so their ranks aligned that way.

Qi Xuansu said, “Now I understand why you said this isn’t just ordinary family gossip. From the sound of it, the Li family and the Qin family are about to arrange another marriage alliance.”

“Exactly,” Zhang Yuelu replied. “The competition has entered its final phase, and every possible alliance must be consolidated.”

Hearing this, Qi Xuansu suddenly understood why Sage Donghua had abruptly proposed that he switch allegiance to become his disciple.

If Qi Xuansu became Sage Donghua’s direct successor—effectively like a son—then his marriage with Zhang Yuelu would represent an alliance between Sage Donghua’s Pei family and the Zhang family, rather than the Yao family.

No wonder Sage Donghua had specifically mentioned Zhang Yuelu, Madam Qi, and the Heavenly Preceptor.

Zhang Yuelu was the other half of this marriage alliance. Madam Qi was his mother figure, and the Heavenly Preceptor would be the allied in-law. The opinions of these three were crucial.

Thus, this proposed apprenticeship had nothing to do with morality or cultivation level. It was entirely about the balance of power.

Qi Xuansu had been too narrow-minded, focusing only on the negative consequences without recognizing how much this could strengthen Sage Donghua’s position.

It was clear that Sage Donghua did not want to remain a mere transitional figure within the Quanzhen Sect and intended to take true control himself.

Qi Xuansu murmured, “So that’s how it is.”

“But Li Changge didn’t look very happy,” Zhang Yuelu added.

Qi Xuansu clicked his tongue. “You think everyone can be as lucky as us?”

“I heard Li Changge lived in the Imperial Palace for a time as a child,” Zhang Yuelu said. “The two of them were childhood sweethearts, in a sense. It was also the elders’ careful arrangement. But as people grow up, many thoughts change.”

Qi Xuansu summed up, “I remember a saying that childhood sweethearts can’t compete with a soulmate who falls from the sky.”

Zhang Yuelu said nothing, clearly unwilling to play along with him.

Qi Xuansu had no choice but to continue himself. “Well, for me, you’re the one who fell from the sky.”

Zhang Yuelu raised a hand. “Stop. I know you never had any childhood sweetheart.”

Qi Xuansu sighed. “You really know how to kill the mood.”

Zhang Yuelu laughed. “All this talk of childhood sweethearts and beauties falling from the sky is too lame. I can’t stand it!”

Qi Xuansu had yet to grow a beard, so he could only rub his chin. “Yeah, it’s a bit lame. It seems I’m not suited for this sort of thing.”

As the two spoke, someone approached from afar. Zhang Yuelu let out a small gasp. “Speak of the princess, here she comes!”