Celestial Longevity Mountain witnessed such a celestial phenomenon; the Imperial Court reacted swiftly.

At this time, he was still in closed-door cultivation. Liu Cheng'en requested to meet twice, but the door of the quiet chamber remained closed. Realizing Your Majesty was in a critical moment, he quickly sought out Noble Consort Cui.

Liu Cheng'en, being close to Zheng Yi, was already aware that Your Majesty and several consorts had embarked on the cultivation path.

Among these consorts, without a doubt, Noble Consort Cui was the foremost.

"What did you say? A phoenix apparition appeared on Celestial Longevity Mountain and emitted a series of cries?"

"Yes, Noble Consort!"

Liu Cheng'en respectfully said, "This matter was not only discovered by the Imperial Guard stationed at Celestial Longevity Mountain but also by many citizens in the Capital City and other counties."

"Some say this is a celestial omen, Heaven blesses the Great Yu, and many have already headed towards Celestial Longevity Mountain."

"Cabinet ministers are also discussing this matter, seeking an audience with Your Majesty."

"What about Your Majesty?"

"The servant requested to meet twice but received no response, most likely due to the crucial stage of cultivation."

Noble Consort Cui decisively said, "Issue orders for the Imperial Guard to defend all key access points of Celestial Longevity Mountain, no one is allowed to enter."

"Yes!"

"Also... notify Elder Chen, have him invite my master so we can discuss this matter together."

"Understood!"

Liu Cheng'en quickly left, and Cui Xiabing, having arranged palace affairs, especially matters concerning childcare, followed out of Jiaofang Hall.

But just as she stepped out of Jiaofang Hall, a group of people blocked her way.

On closer inspection, it turned out to be Empress Lu Lin'er.

Not only her, but even Liu Cheng'en was kneeling beside, explaining something.

Noble Consort Cui had no choice but to halt and respectfully saluted, "I greet Empress!"

Lu Lin'er glanced at her and asked, "Noble Consort Cui, where are you rushing off to?"

Noble Consort Cui replied, "I heard Celestial Longevity Mountain was unusually active, so I took the liberty to investigate; does the Empress..."

"Ha, I heard about it too."

Lu Lin'er said calmly, "Liu Cheng'en, you overstep!"

"The ancestral Imperial Mausoleum of the Great Yu saw such a significant event, yet rather than report to Your Majesty, you approached Noble Consort Cui. What are your intentions?"

Liu Cheng'en hurriedly kowtowed, "Spare me, Empress! Your Majesty is in closed-door cultivation, and I sought an audience several times without success, presumably because..."

"Hmm!"

Lu Lin'er snorted coldly and continued, "Even if Your Majesty is in cultivation, you should have come to see me, not anyone else, right?"

"Is that not so, Sister Xia Bing?"

Cui Xiabing hesitated for a moment and still respectfully said, "The Empress is right, but this matter pertains to cultivators; Empress, you..."

"What about cultivators?"

Lu Lin'er retorted, "Now that Your Majesty is in closed-door cultivation, state affairs should naturally be managed by the Cabinet Ministers, while in the harem, it is I who am in charge."

"Celestial Longevity Mountain is the ancestral Imperial Mausoleum for the Great Yu Imperial Family, also Your Majesty's family matter, moreover the harem's business, so naturally, I should personally command it."

"No need to trouble Noble Consort Cui!"

With that, Lu Lin'er turned and left, ignoring the pursuing Noble Consort Cui.

"Empress, Empress!"

Cui Xiabing appeared anxious but was still blocked by several ladies-in-waiting, helplessly watching the Empress walk away.

Given her strength, these ordinary people were no match for her.

But after all, she is just a Noble Consort, whereas the other is the Empress; considering their statuses, she couldn't make a move.

Otherwise, if word got out, what would happen to the Royal Family's dignity?

Watching Lu Lin'er leave, Cui Xiabing could only shake her head helplessly and return to Jiaofang Hall.

"Mistress?"

Her maid Xiao'er curiously asked, "The Empress just bullied you like this, are you going to let it go?"

Cui Xiabing shook her head, "Lu Lin'er might be the Empress, but ultimately, she is just a mortal. How could I rival her?"

"A mortal's decades of youth flash by, in the end, it's still I who accompanies Your Majesty the longest."

"Then what will you do, Mistress?"

Xiao'er cautiously asked, "The Empress doesn't allow you to leave the palace, then over at Celestial Longevity Mountain..."

"Lu Lin'er underestimates the means of us cultivators..."

Cui Xiabing smiled indifferently, flipping her hand to reveal two talisman papers.

"You may go now."

"Understood!"

After Xiao'er left, Cui Xiabing unfurled the two piece of talisman papers, forming hand seals while muttering incantations.

Waves of magical power attached themselves to the two pieces of talisman papers.

Then, she folded them into the shape of origami cranes, performing incantations again.

"Infinite distance, Heaven and Earth transmit sound, go!"

The two origami cranes bizarrely flapped their wings and took flight.

Initially, they wobbled a bit but soon adjusted.

Then transformed into two streams of fiery light, swiftly flying out of Jiaofang Hall, heading towards Celestial Longevity Mountain.

Taihe Hall.

Lu Lin'er appeared there, accompanied by Liu Cheng'en, Lu Xiangqing, Wang Anshi, Zheng Xuanyue and others.

"We greet Empress!"

Lu Lin'er said, "Rise, my Lords."

"Thank you, Empress."

"Though I am a consort of the harem, it is not my place to manage state affairs."

"However, the matter of Celestial Longevity Mountain concerns the Imperial Mausoleum of my ancestors. With Your Majesty in closed-door cultivation, I am compelled to overstep my bounds this once."

Lu Xiangqing said, "The Empress speaks rightly; the phoenix sighting on Celestial Longevity Mountain is indeed a matter of state for the Great Yu Country, but also Your Majesty's family matter."

"As the Empress and Master of the Harem, she naturally has the authority to manage this matter."

Lord Wang Anshi replied, "Lord Lu, Empress, why not wait for Your Majesty to emerge from seclusion?"

Lu Lin'er said nothing but looked towards Liu Cheng'en.

Liu Cheng'en could only reply helplessly, "Lord Wang, you are unaware, but I have requested an audience with Your Majesty several times, yet there has been no response."

"The doors to the quiet chamber remain closed, with no sign of opening."

"Presumably, His Majesty is at a crucial point in seclusion and cannot be distracted."

Lu Lin'er said, "Lord Wang, you heard, given the urgency, we have no choice but to discuss with the esteemed lords on how to handle the matter of Celestial Longevity Mountain, how about it?"

Wang Anshi could only sigh and say, "We humbly obey the Empress's commands."

"Very well."

Lu Lin'er said, "Now that there are auspicious signs at Celestial Longevity Mountain, all key routes should be sealed immediately, and no one is allowed to enter!"

"Yes, Empress!"

"Also, dispatch the Embroidered Uniform Guard into the mountain for investigation, ideally to trace the source of the anomaly."

"Yes, Empress!"

"Honored lords, do you have any other suggestions?"

Lu Xiangqing immediately said, "Empress, this elder believes the matter might be related to the ancestral mausoleums, focus should be placed on investigating the mausoleums of the former emperors!"

On the side, Liu Cheng'en raised his head abruptly but quickly lowered it again.

Investigate the mausoleums of former emperors?

What is Lu Xiangqing planning!

Truly... daring!

Lu Lin'er was without hesitation and said, "Good, then emphasize investigating the mausoleums of the former emperors to find out what exactly has occurred."

"Understood!"

Lu Xiangqing said again, "Empress, this elder believes we should go personally, as hearing is false, seeing is believing!"

Lu Lin'er considered for a moment and replied, "Oh... Lord Lu, should this matter wait until His Majesty emerges from seclusion?"

"I'm worried that once His Majesty emerges, he might hold us accountable."

Lu Xiangqing furrowed his brow slightly, "We are all here for the Great Yu Court, His Majesty is in seclusion and cannot face the situation, naturally, we should be alleviating His Majesty's burdens."

"If it's truly auspicious, it would be a blessing for His Majesty as well."

"Empress, what do you think?"

Lu Lin'er hesitated, pondered for a while, then said, "Since that's the case, I shall make a trip."

"However, before I go... Liu Cheng'en, continue requesting an audience with His Majesty, but don't be overly impatient, request thrice... twice a day will suffice."

"The servant obeys the decree!"

Under Empress Lu Lin'er's command, a large part of the Imperial Guard in the Capital City mobilized again, heading in the direction of Celestial Longevity Mountain.

And above Celestial Longevity Mountain, orders from the Imperial Court arrived swiftly.

The Imperial Guard, Embroidered Uniform Guard, Shadow Guard deployed together, sealing off all key routes up the mountain and dispatching a large number of personnel to search within the mountain.

Especially on the mountain where the phoenix shadow appeared, more than a thousand people searched inch by inch.

And Lu Lin'er's sedan, after ensuring safety at Celestial Longevity Mountain, slowly set out from the palace, heading in the direction of Celestial Longevity Mountain.

...

Meanwhile, on a slope outside the Capital Region.

A woman dressed in a blue robe, carrying a long sword, and full of heroic spirit was racing on a fine steed towards Celestial Longevity Mountain.

"A few days ago, I suddenly sensed a burst of Spiritual Qi, the direction should be correct."

"Sigh, finally escaped family oversight, this time I should truly explore."

The woman's eyes brightened, "Initially, the first place to visit was Great Yu Imperial City, unexpectedly there is a sense of Spiritual Qi here, I wonder if my perception is wrong or truly so?"

"First, investigate for a bit, perhaps find a new cultivation site for my Tuoba Clan."

"In this way, even grandfather would have nothing to say."

This woman was none other than the proud daughter of the Tuoba Family, Tuoba Qingying!

"Hyah!"

Tuoba Qingying shouted delicately, and the steed beneath her immediately sped up, galloping towards Celestial Longevity Mountain.

The horse thundered, with its hooves enchanted with abundant Spiritual Qi, causing its speed to be incredibly fast.

When she and the horse charged into the Capital Region just a short time later, Tuoba Qingying abruptly pulled the reins, causing the steed to rear up with a high-pitched 'nee' and come to a sudden stop.

"Strange..."

Tuoba Qingying felt full of peculiarities, suddenly forming hand signs, carefully sensing something.

After a few breaths, she dismounted continuously pacing around, continuing to sense intently.

"Good, such a dense Spiritual Qi!"

"It's several times more intense than the Spiritual Qi at my Tuoba Family residence in Yunmeng Marsh!"

"Is this really the Capital Region?"

She raised her eyes to gaze afar, where a massive city lay at the boundary of vision.

That city was the Capital City!

But her target was the sprawling blue mountain depths behind the city.

"The Spiritual Qi here is so dense, could it be related to the recent burst of Spiritual Qi?"

"Such dense Spiritual Qi, could a Spirit Vein have been born, or could it be... Spiritual Qi Revival!"

Her eyes flashed suddenly and mounted her steed once more, speeding towards the city.

"Hyah!"

"Dense Spiritual Qi gathered but unscattered, there must be a Spirit Vein here!"

"Ha ha ha, if I can seize this Spirit Vein, the Tuoba Family will surely rise again."

"It's truly... Heaven's blessing upon my Tuoba Clan!"

"Hyah!"

Horse and rider sped rapidly, like the wind, swiftly covering a distance of over a kilometer.