Xiang Zheng was a minor official, and due to Yunshan Township’s geographical isolation, he had never aspired to promotion beyond it. Madam Chen had never imagined in the first half of her life that she would one day be asked to perform a dance.
After all, she was already thirty-six years old.
Although in the Cultivation world, aside from the Child of Destiny, ordinary cultivators didn’t even begin to achieve breakthroughs until they were at least a hundred years old, among mortals, thirty-six was an age where one could already be a grandmother. Her eldest son had his second child the year before last, and she could hardly be described as retaining her charm.
“Me, perform a dance? Are you sure, my lord?”
Madam Chen pointed at herself: “The immortal specifically requested it—it’s not that I’m unwilling, but I don’t even know how to dance!”
After Chen Xiangzheng explained the whole story, she fell completely silent.
After a moment, she hesitantly asked: “The immortal also wants to call for Ya’er?”
This time, the couple both wore expressions of dismay in unison.
The chubby girl who had been summoned rolled over on the bed. She was the daughter born to the Xiang Zheng in his old age, and had been thoroughly spoiled. Since she would never have trouble finding a husband in Yunshan Township anyway, she was allowed to eat, sleep, and laze about every day, growing as sturdy as a young calf: “Mother?”
“Don’t keep the immortal waiting—hurry up and go out!”
Xiang Zheng urged.
Half an incense stick’s time later, the two stood trembling before the feast, paying their respects to Du Xinghe.
Ya’er gazed curiously at the immortal her father had spoken of—she was even younger and more beautiful than she had imagined, and Ya’er couldn’t help but feel admiration.
Meanwhile, the immortal seated at the head of the table clasped her hands together, scrutinized the two for a moment, and asked:
“Can you dance for me in mid-air?”
Madam Chen looked dumbfounded: “…Huh?”
“The dances I usually watch in my sect are all performed in the air. Is that not possible?”
As soon as Du Xinghe finished speaking, she heard the System’s cheerful reward notification.
[Make an unreasonable request to a consort at the feast (1/1), eliciting their shock and confusion!]
“Immortal, I’m a mortal—I can’t fly.”
Madam Chen spoke timidly, afraid the immortal would make things difficult for her.
But Du Xinghe waved it off indifferently and beckoned the little chubby girl over: “How old is this child?”
“Ya’er just turned six.”
Ya’er nestled her face in the immortal’s hand while peeking upward. Seeing the fairy sister up close, she was so beautiful she seemed to glow! It’s just that the cat next to the fairy sister was so fierce! Not only was its fur puffed up, but it was also glaring at her fiercely.
System: [Detected that the female attendants at the feast are rapidly growing fond of the host. Please take note.]
Du Xinghe’s eyebrow twitched slightly.
She realized that the Imperial Harem Intrigue System seemed displeased by harmonious relations among the harem consorts—it practically wanted the host to fight everyone and harm others. A pity, then, that she was the one who got the script, and making others dislike her was hardly a challenge.
“Six years old—has she read any books or learned any characters?”
Du Xinghe pinched the girl’s cheek and slowly pulled it outward.
The little girl’s face was kneaded and squished like a ball of dough.
Xiang Zheng said: “Why would a little girl need to be literate? Sooner or later she’ll be married off—better to let her enjoy life at home while she can.”
In Xiang Zheng’s view, mortal girls who married would become another family’s daughter-in-law, burdened with household chores, so it was better to eat well, drink well, and rest well while still unmarried at home. Ya’er had seen how hard her older brother studied—she didn’t want to learn either!
But before she could speak, her cheek was squished again.
System: [The female attendants at the feast are growing less fond of you.]
“Xiang Zheng, you are mistaken. Even if one does not enter officialdom through studying, it is to understand reason and avoid being a confused person. Being illiterate will earn you disdain. I just came from Yanjing County, where girls as young as six are already attending private school. I don’t know how you can sleep soundly at night!”
Du Xinghe spoke with righteous authority, her words ringing with conviction.
Since women with Spiritual Roots could cultivate just as well as male practitioners, the Xuan Dynasty did not prohibit women from literacy. However, Yunshan Township was poor and backward. Due to blind doting, Xiang Zheng and his wife had never sent Ya’er to receive basic education.
“This…”
Xiang Zheng wavered.
Hearing she might have to study until her books wore out like her brother, Ya’er desperately wanted to protest. But Du Xinghe pressed her fingers against the girl’s cheeks, making it impossible for her to open her mouth.
She didn’t want to go to private school!
Her days of eating, sleeping, and swinging in the courtyard were perfectly comfortable.
“Furthermore, while having good appetite is a blessing, excessive obesity shortens Lifespan. I believe Xiang Zheng understands that spoiling a child is like killing them.”
Ya’er tried to push the immortal sister away.
As she waved her small hands, her sleeves slid down, revealing arms like plump lotus roots.
Though six years old was an age for growth, extreme obesity would prematurely mature her body, which was not beneficial.
Xiang Zheng resolved: “I’ve been too indulgent with my daughter, thinking she’s growing and should eat as much fatty meat as she wants while avoiding vegetables she dislikes. Now I see this was truly inappropriate. Thank you, Immortal, for your guidance.”
Ya’er felt thunderstruck. Her meat!
To prevent overcorrection, Du Xinghe added: “Meat and eggs are good foods that should be eaten, but selectively. First remove the greasy parts and skin, use less oil for frying, and include vegetables with every meal.”
Ya’er’s vision darkened.
She loved that oily skin best!
System: [The women at the banquet are deeply wounded by your vicious suggestions, nearly brought to tears.]
“After Foundation Establishment, your Lifespan greatly increases. I never expected you’d have such expertise in mortal dietary matters.”
Xiang Zheng looked admiring.
“Indeed,” Du Xinghe’s voice held no hesitation. “In our sect, this is called nutrition science.”
To mortals, cultivators were no different from living immortals. If cultivators approved of something, how could it be bad? It wasn’t that Xiang Zheng’s family intentionally deprived their daughter of education.
After Du Xinghe’s words, Xiang Zheng’s perspective shifted completely, immediately forming new plans: “After resolving this matter, I’ll send Ya’er to private school with my eldest grandson. As for diet, we’ll change starting today! Roasted chicken legs must be skinned before eating, and no more picky eating avoiding vegetables or water.”
“…”
Du Xinghe released her grip, and the little chubby girl burst into loud sobs, throwing herself into her mother’s arms.
She would never like the immortal sister again!
Immortals were awful!
Du Xinghe remained unperturbed: “No need for excessive gratitude. Look how moved the child is, crying with emotion.”
The welcoming banquet concluded with both host and guest satisfied.
[Daily mission “Attend one imperial banquet” completed!]
[Checking completion level…]
[Check complete, evaluated as perfect.]
[The women at the banquet cried until breathless, returning to their rooms to weep into their pillows, hoping never to see the host again!]
[What exhilarating imperial harem intrigue!]
【Congratulations, host, for demonstrating a vicious and ruthless, leave-no-survivors spirit in this daily task. The reward will now be issued—make a wish for the dance manual you desire! Whether it’s sexy and fiery, pure yet seductive, charmingly cute, or aloof and elegant, or even unconventional Sword Dance, Ribbon Dance, Wooden Clog Dance, or Palm Dance—all can be fulfilled!】
Du Xinghe: “Then I want a dance that can defeat all opponents across the land.”
System: […]
“It’s not like I’m asking for the moon in the sky. I just want a dance—no, a technique—that combines one of the ten great weapons and allows me to train from Foundation Establishment to the Great Ascension Stage… Is that too much to ask?”
Du Xinghe clasped her hands together and made her wish.