Taiyi Dao Fruit-Chapter 1163 - 384: Jade Emperor Dao Fruit, Jiang Li’s Doubt

"Because the Emperor does not trust the Imperial College Sacrificial Officer."

Hearing these words from Shang Jianling, Jiang Li showed a hint of surprise, then chuckled lightly: "Then how do you intend to gain My trust?"

He did not deny his distrust of the Imperial College Sacrificial Officer, or rather, he intentionally revealed his distrust to the Mo Sect, so they would follow his intentions and willingly step into the game.

As the Mo Sect Master, Shang Jianling... or rather Mo Xuankong, did not disappoint Jiang Li.

"Loyalty."

Shang Jianling slowly uttered the two words as an answer.

The root of distrust always ties back to loyalty, and in order to compete with the untrusted Confucianism, the Mo Sect naturally needed to start with trust and loyalty.

Only by gaining the Emperor's trust and support, could the Mo Sect catch up with Confucianism, which has been established in the Great Zhou for eight hundred years, or even overtake it.

"Then I look forward to your loyalty." Jiang Li said with a smile.

"Please, Your Majesty, wait and see."

Shang Jianling bowed, then turned and left, likely to seek out Jingyang Jun.

After he left, Daoist Guang Cheng could not help but sigh and said: "Before, I suspected that Shang Jianling wasn't exerting his full strength and wondered if he had ulterior motives. Yet I never expected he would be the Mo Sect Master."

"I didn't expect either that you had already seen through Shang Jianling's identity," Daoist Guang Cheng said, looking at Jiang Li.

Upon learning about Mo Xuankong's assassination of Tan Wuwei, the previous coincidences also made sense.

Over there, Mo Xuankong was assassinating Tan Wuwei, making it difficult for her to focus and observe the future through the Nine Curves Yellow River Formation, which hinted at a crisis, while over here Yin Tulong ascended, Taibai True Monarch broke through the Nine Curves Yellow River Formation, and executed a thousand-mile assault.

If you say this wasn't arranged in advance, Daoist Guang Cheng would never believe it.

Maybe the Mo Sect was straightforward about admitting it because they noticed Shang Jianling's identity had been uncovered. They might have hesitated to truly submit to Emperor Jiang if Jiang Li hadn't demonstrated profound cunning, insight, and skill.

Choices, we can only say, are mutual.

"Once my Realm reached a certain level, I naturally saw more," Jiang Li said with a smile, "Most secrets in this world are due to involved people's lack of standing."

"Seems like I also need to strive for a breakthrough to see higher vistas." Daoist Guang Cheng replied with a smile.

The Princess then spoke about the Imperial College Sacrificial Officer, "Since Your Majesty doesn't trust the Imperial College Sacrificial Officer, perhaps let him return to the Imperial College, and in the future, let him often stay within it to write and pass on Confucianism diligently."

Goodness, this intends to put him under house arrest.

It may sound like preferential treatment, but it's essentially a way to confine him in Qiong Mountain, forbidding him from leaving. If a murderous intent ever arises, he could be directly killed.

It sounds somewhat bizarre, considering the Imperial College Sacrificial Officer is a third-grade figure, and an outstanding one at that, but for Jiang Li, killing him wouldn't be too difficult.

After slaying the Heavenly Monarch and uniting the Nine Provinces, Jiang Li stands invincible upon them. Even the Great Venerable immediately chose to relocate to Wushan, unwilling to face Jiang Li directly in the Nine Provinces.

Those who could contend in the Nine Provinces and the Buddha Country with Jiang Li might only be the second-grade.

If Jiang Li truly wanted to kill the Imperial College Sacrificial Officer, he would have no choice but to accept "When a sovereign orders a subject to die, he must comply."

"Let him live. I want to see if there's anyone else behind him."

Jiang Li, changing his self-reference, the majesty faded away, and he spoke to the assembled crowd: "Although the Nine Provinces are unified, threats remain. We shouldn't just consider the Great Venerable who left, there are also the awakening second-grade True Spirits, they are threats. Moreover, the Nine Provinces are in disarray and many messes need to be addressed."

"After the Princess returns to the Divine Capital, immediately prepare for the rituals. Upon my return, I will pay respects to the ancestors of the Jiang and Ji families to console their spirits in heaven, and then commemorate the soldiers who died in battle and the innocent people, to secure the people's hearts."

These are all measures to stabilize the people's hearts, as only with the people's support can Jiang Li make the Great Zhou great again.

Additionally, there will be rewards for the Ji family kings who surrendered in this battle, bestowing titles upon the Jiang family's princes and marquises, and rewarding the soldiers to stabilize Jiangshan Mountain.

The only concern is how the Jiang family is now lacking talents, the younger generation has yet to grow up, and in the end, Jiang Li may have to rely on the soft approach, drawing individuals from the Ji family and the Gongsun Family to work for him.

"Also, widely recruit maidens, expand the harem to placate the families, and have an heir soon to satisfy the desire of the officials," Primordial Lord Rain Master said with a teasing tone, "Only by appeasing the royal family, nobility, warriors, families, officials, and commoners, will it be comprehensive."

Recruiting maidens from families would provide them peace of mind, preventing needless worries, and having an heir would assure the followers.

Although Emperor Jiang is near invincible in the Divine Country now, there's still concern among his followers since, on the surface, Emperor Jiang's lifespan is just sixty years. They aren't aware that Jiang Li is not restricted by natural lifespan, nor does he have the third-grade strong people's mental state; some contemplation is unavoidable.

Even among the court officials, ultimately they cannot escape human weaknesses.

Primordial Lord Rain Master's suggestion is indeed reasonable, but unfortunately, Jiang Li's harem is almost ablaze now, so how could he continue to add fuel to it?

"This matter shall be considered after discussing with mentors at a later time before deciding whether to proceed," Jiang Li said, giving Rain Master a glance.