Xiao Mo's consciousness withdrew from the Book of a Hundred Lives.

For nearly two months, Xiao Mo had been immersed in "cultivation" every day, basically not concerning himself with court affairs.

When Xiao Mo was hungry, he would have the imperial kitchen send food over.

Anyway, as an emperor, even a puppet emperor, there were people to serve his every need.

Xiao Mo felt that even that Longevity Emperor couldn't be more of a shut-in than himself.

"Wei Xun," Xiao Mo called out.

Wei Xun, who was serving outside the palace hall, immediately walked in upon hearing the voice, "Your Majesty..."

At first, Wei Xun thought His Majesty's cultivation was just to deceive Yan Shan'ao while secretly preparing something.

For example, in Chen Kingdom, after a prince was controlled by a powerful minister, he secretly raised dead soldiers and did various things to deceive the minister. Finally, one day this Chen Kingdom prince called the minister into the palace, with dead soldiers secretly ambushing, and finally killed him, reclaiming power but His Majesty had really been cultivating during this period... And once he sat in meditation, it would be for an entire day.

"Could it be that His Majesty has truly given up on seizing power?"

Thinking of this, Wei Xun couldn't help but sigh in his heart, feeling somewhat disappointed but on second thought, it would be good if His Majesty gave up.

How easy would it be to kill Yan Shan'ao? He himself was a Dragon Gate realm cultivator.

If there was any oversight, His Majesty, far from reclaiming power, might die within the palace walls.

"Wei Xun, you look so heavy-hearted. Is there something wrong?" Xiao Mo asked.

"Your Majesty, thanks to Your Majesty's concern, what could this slave have to worry about? If Your Majesty is well, this slave is well," Wei Xun said with a flattering smile.

"Alright, alright, don't flatter me all the time. Have someone bring some food over, I'm a bit hungry," Xiao Mo said.

"The imperial kitchen has already prepared it and is on the way to deliver it to Your Majesty."

Since His Majesty began cultivating, Wei Xun had gradually figured out His Majesty's meal times.

"Mm." Xiao Mo nodded. "During this period, what has been the court's evaluation of me?"

"That..." Wei Xun hesitated.

"Speak freely," Xiao Mo looked at Wei Xun. "The truth!"

"..." Wei Xun organized his words in his mind before speaking word by word, "Many ministers have considerable criticism of Your Majesty's cultivation, feeling that Your Majesty should... should..."

"Should focus on court affairs?" Xiao Mo smiled. "Are they also calling me a foolish ruler behind my back?"

As Xiao Mo's words fell, Wei Xun immediately knelt before Xiao Mo, "Absolutely no one dares speak of Your Majesty in such a way!"

"Alright, alright, why are you so nervous? I didn't say you said it," Xiao Mo said calmly. "Get up."

"Thank Your Majesty."

Wei Xun stood up tremblingly, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead.

Those ministers cursing him mostly just wanted to display their "loyal minister" image.

Who in the entire court didn't know that Empress Dowager Yan and Prime Minister Yan controlled things from outside and inside respectively?

With no power left, how could he personally handle court affairs?

Moreover, if Yan Shan'ao felt he was a threat, that guy might really replace him with another emperor.

For an emperor, being forced to resign from this profession had only one outcome: death.

So before having sufficient strength, he had to lay low.

Before long, his first life experience in the Book of a Hundred Lives would end, and then he'd see what rewards he could get.

"Your Majesty, the Prime Minister requests an audience," a palace maid called from outside the bedchamber.

"Quickly invite the Prime Minister in," Xiao Mo said.

"Yes." The palace maid bowed outside the bedchamber, then opened the door. "Prime Minister, please enter."

"This minister pays respects to Your Majesty." Yan Shan'ao, with his sword at his waist, walked into the bedchamber and bowed to Xiao Mo.

"Foster Father, there's no need for such formality." Xiao Mo quickly got down from the bed, not even putting on his shoes, and walked forward to greet him. "Foster Father, why have you come?"

Yan Shan'ao looked at Xiao Mo's Daoist attire, "Your Majesty has been cultivating for almost two months. This minister came to visit Your Majesty and ask how Your Majesty's cultivation is progressing?"

"Ha ha ha ha... Not bad, not bad," Xiao Mo said with a laugh. "I feel that court affairs are too complex and taxing on the mind. Since beginning cultivation, my spirit has been excellent every day. As for the large and small court matters, I've troubled Prime Minister to worry about them."

"Your Majesty speaks too kindly. Sharing Your Majesty's burdens is this minister's duty." Yan Shan'ao bowed again. "However, Your Majesty, in about a month, Elder Huang from the Ten Thousand Swords Sect will come to our Zhou Kingdom. The Ten Thousand Swords Sect is the world's number one sword sect, so Your Majesty will need to personally receive Elder Huang."

"That's naturally no problem."

The original body didn't know much about the cultivation world, only vaguely having heard of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect's reputation. Beyond that, he knew nothing, not even knowing what the Ten Thousand Swords Sect Master's name was.

"Furthermore, Your Majesty is no longer young. This minister has selected some women to enter the palace. They are all daughters of prestigious families, especially from my Yan clan there is a talented woman named Yan Ruxue, who can be said to be both talented and beautiful. This minister believes Your Majesty will definitely like her."

"..." How could Xiao Mo not understand the other party's meaning? Yan Shan'ao had almost directly said "you must choose Yan Ruxue as a consort," and before long, Yan Ruxue would become empress.

"I've long heard of the Yan family's talented daughter. I will definitely pay close attention!" Xiao Mo nodded, completely obedient.

Seeing Xiao Mo being so compliant, the corners of Yan Shan'ao's mouth curved up.

In the past, Xiao Mo would still struggle with him a bit, even trying to reclaim power, but now it seemed he had completely given up.

This was for the best. Otherwise, replacing an emperor would just add unnecessary complications.

"Since Your Majesty is well in all respects, this minister will take his leave first."

"Foster Father, take care. Please also pay attention to your health in daily life. Wei Xun, see Foster Father off."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

After Wei Xun escorted Yan Shan'ao away, Xiao Mo frowned, "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river. Old turtle, you just wait for me!"

Qinghe City in the Ten Thousand Laws World.

This place was only thirty li away from Zhou Kingdom's border.

On the streets of Qinghe City, behind Elder Huang followed two people wearing Ten Thousand Swords Sect attire as "disciples."

During these days of travel, getting along with them had made Elder Huang feel like sitting on pins and needles.

Although they wore the clothes of Ten Thousand Swords Sect inner disciples, if he really treated these two as inner disciples, Elder Huang felt he must be tired of living.

These two people.

One was his own sect master, the world's number one sword immortal.

The other was the sword attendant serving the sect master, Qiu Ye.

Honestly, Elder Huang really didn't know why his sect master was going to Zhou Kingdom with him.

His diplomatic mission to Zhou Kingdom was just an ordinary matter. He would just go through the formalities and accept Zhou Kingdom as a vassal state of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect but unexpectedly, the sect master also followed him, and even concealed her identity, disguising herself as an inner disciple.

What was so special about this Zhou Kingdom?