By now, Wei Yuan's operations in the literary circles of Jin and Zhao had begun to take shape. The Qingming Development Bureau had been running for over half a year, yielding notable results. A pack of mad dogs had appeared across the literary worlds of both states, biting indiscriminately and terrifying anyone who crossed their path.
All manner of academic journals and periodicals were being published without a hitch, while poetry gatherings and literary salons proved immensely successful, far exceeding expectations. Wei Yuan had never imagined that two empty titular posts granted by the King of Pu, paired with complimentary room and board, travel expenses, and a modest red envelope, could draw in such a vast cohort of frustrated scholars.
Using this newly formed network, Wei Yuan disseminated news of the World's Number One Dharma Idol Assembly, aiming primarily to attract unaffiliated rogue cultivators. At the same time, he dispatched invitations to prominent clans and major sects, taking care to note that the gathering would be co-hosted by the Palace of Grand Beginning and the Sword Palace.
With Bai Kaishui around, hoisting the banner of the Sword Palace was effortless. Moreover, many Sword Palace disciples who had not cultivated a heart of invincibility were eager to attend and broaden their horizons. Those who had cultivated one were far more cautious; taking advantage of the three months remaining before the assembly, they hastily employed their sect's secret arts to patch up their hearts of invincibility, lest some mishap befall them at the gathering.
The Sword Palace's secret arts were truly one of a kind. One technique was to make the name of a dharma idol ever more specific; the longer the name, the fewer flaws the heart of invincibility would bear. For instance, the 'World's Number One Forked-Blade, Green-Gleaming, Crossguardless, Four-Tasseled Sword' Dharma Idol, among others.
A dharma idol assembly spanning the entire world was unprecedented. With two immortal sects presiding, many Dharma Idol cultivators felt their interest piqued—some wished to make a name for themselves, while others merely wanted to watch and expand their horizons. As time passed, more and more cultivators set out for Qingming.
Apart from the Palace of Grand Beginning and the Sword Palace, hardly anyone in other sects cultivated a heart of invincibility, so they had far fewer misgivings. After all, without a powerful sect backing you, cultivating such a heart easily led to sudden death.
Taking advantage of the time remaining before the assembly, Wei Yuan traveled to Zhao to seek an audience with the King of Zhao.
Given the delicate relationship between Qingming and Zhao, the King of Zhao immediately hosted a banquet in his honor, inviting the Crown Prince, Li Chengfeng, and Princess Ningguo.
The Crown Prince had been expelled from the Eastern Palace over the Sixth Princess's affair, but after concerted appeals from the ministers, the King of Zhao had been compelled to restore him to his position. Later, the Sixth Princess had been sent to Wei Yuan's side, which ironically added considerable leverage to the Crown Prince's faction, leaving Li Chengfeng disappointed once again.
In the past, Wei Yuan had always come and gone in a hurry. This was his first time attending a banquet in the royal palace of Zhao.
The feast was held in Linyuan Pavilion, nestled against the mountain and overlooking the water. Slender bamboos stood before the steps, their leaves rustling in the breeze. Clumps of Chinese roses and climbing tea roses were heavy with dew, sparkling like a scatter of stars.
Beyond the hall, vermilion balustrades wound along the water, reflecting drifting clouds upon the rippling surface. Bronze bells dangling from the eaves swayed gently in the wind, chiming softly with power to calm the mind and ward off evil.
When the supervising eunuch ushered Wei Yuan to his seat, the King of Zhao and the three royal scions were already seated. Wei Yuan bowed and sat down, taking a deliberate look at the Crown Prince.
This was Wei Yuan's first time meeting the Crown Prince of Zhao. The prince had inherited the best traits of both his parents, standing tall and straight with features fine as a painting, though his expression was distinctly conflicted as he looked at Wei Yuan.
The Crown Prince's life had once been smooth sailing. His character, looks, talent, and cultivation were all top tier, and his mother's clan wielded immense influence. Though he had many siblings, none could contend with him for the throne. The only one who had ever posed a real threat was Consort Yuan, but she had long since been married off to Western Jin.
Yet ever since he crossed paths with Wei Yuan, nothing had gone right for him. He couldn't win on the battlefield, and his attempt to issue currency had collapsed into an utter mess. The blockade of Zhao's borders had originally been his idea, only for Li Chengfeng to tear a hole in it and rake in a fortune through trade with Qingming. Li Chengfeng had used those revenues to raise troops and purchase equipment from Qingming, making the Bishui Army so formidable that it now firmly overshadowed the Crown Prince.
If that were all, he could bear it. But the Crown Prince never could have guessed that Wei Yuan would strike a chord with Immortal Ancestor Zhao Li, and that the immortal ancestor would go so far as to give his closest younger sister to Wei Yuan!
With his bitter enemy seated right before him today, the Crown Prince forced a smile, though his clenched jaw was difficult to hide.
Wei Yuan had important business to discuss. Not long after everyone was seated, the King of Zhao said, "Realm Lord Wei, please speak freely. It will do these three useless youngsters good to broaden their horizons."
Wei Yuan glanced at the Crown Prince and said, "This matter is of great consequence. Perhaps it would be better if the Crown Prince excused himself?"
With a sharp crack, a hairline fracture appeared across one of the Crown Prince's snow-white teeth.
The King of Zhao was taken aback, then grew thoughtful. A moment later, he said, "No matter. Let him listen." With that, he glanced at the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince had no choice but to rise and bow. "There is no need for you to spare my feelings, sir. Even if this matter works to my disadvantage, it will serve as a spur and a warning to me."
Wei Yuan was rather surprised. He had not expected the perpetually haughty Crown Prince to stoop so low. Of course, inwardly the prince had likely cursed Wei Yuan hundreds or thousands of times and imagined tearing him to pieces just as often.
Wei Yuan said, "Your Highness's broad-mindedness truly earns my admiration. This matter is indeed rather unfavorable to you. Are you certain you wish to hear it?"
The Crown Prince offered a strained, twisted smile. "Please, sir, speak freely."
"Very well." Paying the Crown Prince no further heed, Wei Yuan produced several sheets of jade paper and handed them to the King of Zhao. "These outline a newly optimized welfare system, formulated after a comprehensive review of the various problems that have emerged in Zhao's current arrangements. It offers unprecedented support, with coverage vastly expanded across every area. I have given this plan careful consideration. Please look it over, Your Majesty."
The King of Zhao was already a peak Dharma Idol whose divine sense was formidable. In just a few breaths, he read through the entire plan of well over a hundred thousand words, then casually passed it to the Crown Prince beside him.
The Crown Prince read it closely. His brow gradually furrowed, yet a faint glimmer of delight surfaced in his eyes.
The King of Zhao waited a moment longer for the Crown Prince to finish. Without passing the sheets to Ningguo or Li Chengfeng, he remarked, "The plan is fine indeed—fair and meticulous. It would certainly elevate my popularity to another level. But with Great Zhao's national strength, we simply cannot shoulder it. If implemented as written, half of our annual revenue would have to be poured into welfare."
Wei Yuan replied, "The primary expenses can actually be replaced with grain. Qingming can shoulder that portion, so Your Majesty need not worry. In that way, the welfare expenditure can be cut in half."
With a sudden thud, the Crown Prince dropped to his knees. "Father, absolutely not! Your popularity is already rare across the ages; adding more would hardly make a difference. But if the common people grow accustomed to such welfare, they will never tolerate its revocation—they will not even tolerate a reduction.
"Qingming may provide grain now, but what about the future? If Qingming turns on us down the line, Great Zhao's annual revenue could never sustain welfare of this magnitude. If cuts become necessary then, not only would your popularity suffer, but civil unrest would inevitably follow! Wei Yuan harbors malicious intentions. This is a plot to topple our state! I beg Father to see through it!"
Wei Yuan looked at the Crown Prince, sighed, shook his head, and sighed once more.
Li Chengfeng didn't quite grasp the situation, but he felt the corners of his mouth twitching upward. Princess Ningguo was tanned to a lustrous gleam, though it did nothing to diminish her stunning beauty; she bit her lip hard as she stared at Wei Yuan.
The King of Zhao remained composed and said, "Since Master Wei proposed this new welfare system, there must be a reason. May I know what it is now?"
Wei Yuan said, "Lately, I have made significant progress in studying the dao of karmic luck. This new welfare system far exceeds Great Zhao's present strength. If implemented, it truly must rely on Qingming's backing, and the state treasury would struggle to balance the books within ten years. What the Crown Prince says is entirely correct: should I withdraw my support and subsidies, Zhao will inevitably plunge into civil turmoil."
For some reason, though Wei Yuan was explicitly agreeing with him, cold sweat broke out over the Crown Prince layer by layer.
Wei Yuan continued, "This version of the welfare plan brings a hundred harms and only a single benefit: once the popularity accumulated by Your Majesty reaches a certain threshold, you may use it to break through to Scenery Command!"
The King of Zhao shot to his feet so abruptly that the table and chairs shuddered, spilling a fair amount of wine!
Exercising immense willpower, he slowly lowered himself back into his seat and asked in a trembling voice, "How certain are you?"
Wei Yuan enunciated every word: "With Your Majesty's natural talent, success is guaranteed!"
With a sharp clatter, the King of Zhao reached for his wine cup, only to knock it off the table onto the floor.
***
When the banquet ended and the gathering dispersed, Wei Yuan deliberately lagged a step behind to walk beside the Crown Prince. As the two brought up the rear, Wei Yuan reached out and tilted the prince's delicate chin, making him lift his head. Only then did he remark, "You have a fine face. A pity it didn't come with a decent brain."
Princess Ningguo happened to look back at that exact moment and caught the sight, her mouth slowly falling open.
Chapter 1021