Keyboard Immortal

h is protecting the crown prince and supervising his studies.
Don’t put too much weight on what you heard today.”

Zu An bowed.
“Understood.”

“Oh, one other thing.
Can the Phoenix Nirvana Sutra really grant immortality?” the empress asked suddenly.

Zu An was taken aback.
All that rambling earlier on had been a smokescreen.
This was her true objective.
“His Majesty has already declared that there is no such thing as immortality in this world.”

The empress smiled.
“You and I both know that he only said that to convince the masses.
That’s why I am now asking you personally.”

“I have already offered the Phoenix Nirvana Sutra to His Majesty,” replied Zu An.
“If the empress is curious, why don’t you ask His Majesty for it, so that you can examine it for yourself?”

The empress’ expression altered slightly.
She had indeed asked him about it, but he had told her that the scriptures existed in a spiritual form, and that it could only be read three times.
Eunuch Mi had read it once, Zu An had read it once, and the emperor had now read it once, causing the scriptures to vanish.
That was why he couldn’t show them to her.

At the time, she had assumed that he just didn’t want to tell her, so she didn’t probe any further.
However, there was no way for her to know that Zu An’s ‘Hat of Forgiveness’ was only valid for a one-time use.
After using it, it would turn into an ordinary hat, and its spiritual contents would scatter.
Zu An had thought of this three-time restriction to explain this, and managed to convince the emperor.
He did not expect to fool the empress with it as well.

When Eunuch Lu saw the empress in deep thought, he spoke up in her place.
“When the empress asks you a question, you reply immediately.
Why are you bringing all this up? Are you the one questioning Her Highness, or is she questioning you?”

Zu An scoffed disdainfully inside. What a masterclass simp.
Keep white-knighting.
You still won’t get her. “Practicing the Phoenix Nirvana Sutra does not grant immortality.
The emperor would not have let me live otherwise.”

The empress nodded.
She had suspected as much.
“Fine, I won’t ask you any more about this matter.
There is something else I wish to know.
Where did Wei Dan go?”

Alarmed, Zu An quickly said, “I do not understand the question, Your Highness.
Who is this Wei Dan? Why are you asking me?”

The empress said indifferently, “Eunuch Wei served for several years in the Palace of Peace and took good care of me.
Later on, he was transferred to His Majesty’s side.
His Majesty might not feel sentimental about those around him, but I am different.
I want to find out the truth.

“In the past, Eunuch Mi betrayed us and escaped with the Phoenix Nirvana Sutra.
We never received any news about his whereabouts.
Only recently did we hear that he seemed to be in Brightmoon City.
His majesty sent Wei Dan to capture Eunuch Mi, ordering him to bring back the Phoenix Nirvana Sutra.
Both Eunuch Mi and Wei Dan have both gone missing, while the Phoenix Nirvana Sutra is with you.
If I do not ask you about this, then who else would I ask?”

Zu An smiled bitterly.
“Does your highness think that I killed him? Even though I arrived in the capital not long ago, I have already heard many people praising Eunuch Wei for his profound cultivation.
How could I possibly kill a master rank cultivator like him?”

“You’re not going to deny that you know him anymore?” said the empress with a snort.
“Even though your cultivation isn’t high enough to challenge Wei Dan, you might have interfered in his battle with Eunuch Mi.
You could have killed them both to steal their treasures.”

Zu An said, “Your Highness thinks too highly of me.
They are both masters.
No matter how badly wounded they are, I could never consider going up against either of them.
I only came into possession of the Phoenix Nirvana Sutra because Eunuch Mi passed it on to me before his death.”

Eunuch Lu cried out in surprise.

“From the sound of it, Old Mi was the one who killed Wei Dan,” the empress exclaimed.
“But how is that possible? Wei Dan’s cultivation is above Old Mi’s.”

Zu An said, “Your Highness has forgotten that Old Mi had cultivated the Phoenix Nirvana Sutra for several decades.
He was already a very different person.
However, Wei Dan’s cultivation was still extremely profound.
Even though Old Mi was able to kill Wei Dan, he suffered a mortal blow as well.
Old Mi and I were both in the Chu clan, and had developed a close relationship.
That’s why he decided to pass it on to me.”

Most of what he said was the truth.
He wasn't afraid that they would find out what really happened.
Either way, everyone knew that he had the Phoenix Nirvana Sutra.
It was fine as long as he didn’t reveal Old Mi’s plan to possess his body.

However, the one thing he had been worried about was exposed.
“Rubbish!” exclaimed Eunuch Lu with a snort.
“Mi Lianying has always been a cunning and treacherous man.
He would rather take the Phoenix Nirvana Sutra with him to the grave than allow anyone else to have it.
Why would he help someone else?”

Zu An sighed. It takes one eunuch to know another. This fellow could be considered quite close to Old Mi.
Of all people, he would know that Old Mi did not have such a magnanimous side to him.

While he was thinking of a response, a cry of alarm was raised from outside.
“Assassins!”

As soon as the warning was shouted out, several dark glints streaked through the windows, flying straight towards the empress inside.