In the Yangxin Hall, Xiao Mo deeply exhaled and slowly opened his eyes.

Xiao Mo had already memorized all the formulas of the Grass Character Sword Formula.

During this time, besides experiencing life in the Book of a Hundred Lives, Xiao Mo would often detach from the Book of a Hundred Lives and recite the sword formulas.

Although the strand of Grass Character sword intent within Xiao Mo’s body contained the sword formula, and he could read it anytime with just a thought, only by completely memorizing the sword formula and imprinting it word for word in his soul could he cultivate the Grass Character Sword Formula.

"Your Majesty."

From outside the door came Wei Xun’s voice.

"Come in," Xiao Mo said.

Wei Xun entered the sleeping chamber and bowed to Xiao Mo, "Your Majesty, the matter you instructed this old slave to do has been completed. To the north of Leisure Heart Palace, there is a relatively secluded open area, surrounded by walls on all sides, with a large gate for concealment. Very few people pass by there, making it extremely quiet.

This old slave has already had people set up an altar there, with talisman papers, cinnabar, bagua diagrams, yin-yang diagrams, and peach wood swords, along with all other Daoist items that might be needed. Everything has been prepared properly. Would Your Majesty like to go take a look?"

"Let’s go," Xiao Mo nodded.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Wei Xun hurriedly withdrew to prepare the imperial carriage for His Majesty.

After most of an hour, Xiao Mo arrived at a plaza north of Leisure Heart Palace.

It was exactly as Wei Xun had described.

This plaza was surrounded by walls on all sides, and entering this plaza required opening a large gate.

The plaza was approximately the size of a football field.

This place was indeed excellent, located in a corner position of the imperial capital.

Right next to it was Leisure Heart Palace.

Leisure Heart Palace was actually the Cold Palace.

After the previous emperor’s death, all the concubines in Leisure Heart Palace had been taken to accompany the imperial mausoleum in death, and Xiao Mo hadn’t taken any consorts yet, so there weren’t even any concubines banished to the Cold Palace.

So the current Leisure Heart Palace could be said to be completely empty.

Moreover, Leisure Heart Palace had always been a place where concubines were prone to hanging themselves, with various terrifying rumors, causing eunuchs and palace maids to avoid this place.

Consequently, even this open area around Leisure Heart Palace was avoided by everyone.

"Is Your Majesty satisfied with this place?" Wei Xun asked obsequiously from the side.

"Mm," Xiao Mo nodded, "I am very satisfied."

"From today forward, I will cultivate the Dao here. Without my permission, no one is allowed to enter this place, understood?" Xiao Mo said coldly.

"This old slave understands."

Xiao Mo waved his hand, "Wait outside the gate."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Wei Xun bowed and walked out of the plaza, ordering people to close the large gate.

"Clang."

The large gate closed tightly.

Xiao Mo picked up a peach wood sword from the rack and began practicing the first form of the Grass Character Sword Formula.

When cultivators first begin their practice, the most important thing is to guide spiritual energy into the body, thereby opening the spiritual meridians and entering the first level of Qi Refinement.

Cultivators with exceptional talent could reach the first level of Qi Refinement in one hour.

Cultivators with ordinary qualifications typically entered Qi cultivation within one to three days.

Those with slightly poorer qualifications mostly only needed about a month.

The reason Jiang Qingyi took several months without entering the first level of Qi Refinement was due to her missing sword bone.

Being born missing a bone made her congenitally deficient, unable to normally absorb spiritual energy into her body but after Xiao Mo created a false bone for her, even though this bone wasn’t a sword bone, it compensated for her congenital deficiency.

After that, her cultivation speed was extremely fast, progressing by leaps and bounds.

Xiao Mo felt that while his bone structure wasn’t superior, it could barely be considered average.

"I’ll strive to step onto the cultivation path within two days."

At the same time, at the Minister of Rites’ residence.

The old palace woman Huang Shangyi from the imperial palace opened her mouth and called out to the woman before her, "Walk."

The woman moved forward, her steps light and steady, with small and slow strides, embodying "lotus steps moving gently." When walking, her body remained upright, her gaze straight ahead.

"Stop."

With Huang Shangyi’s command, the woman stopped, her posture erect, chin slightly lowered, hands clasped in front with the right hand over the left, exuding dignified and serene bearing like an exquisite sculpture standing there without the slightest movement.

"Sit," Huang Shangyi called again.

The woman sat on the chair beside her, her hips only occupying the front half of the chair, back straight, legs together and placed to one side, feet together or slightly tucked under her skirt, hands naturally clasped on her lap.

Looking at the woman before her, Huang Shangyi nodded, very satisfied.

Huang Shangyi had received instructions from the Empress Dowager to come train this premier talented woman of the Zhou Kingdom in palace etiquette.

Originally, Huang Shangyi had been somewhat worried.

Because in just a few days, this talented woman would enter the palace, and the time to learn etiquette wasn’t really long but Huang Shangyi found her worries were unnecessary.

One could only say it was worthy of being the great Yan clan, having taught women palace etiquette in daily life to prepare for entering the palace.

Now she only needed to make slight corrections.

Most importantly, in her every action and movement, she subtly emanated a kind of dignity.

She had heard that some in the court had remonstrated, believing that Yan Ruxue of the Yan clan couldn’t serve as the Great Zhou’s empress but if such a woman couldn’t serve as empress, who could?

"Within the palace, what are the rules for facial expressions?" Huang Shangyi asked.

"One must maintain gentle composure, not showing emotions on one’s face, always maintaining dignity and restraint, never laughing loudly, making noise, crying inappropriately, or showing anger," Yan Ruxue answered.

"What about one’s gaze?"

"One’s gaze should be lowered or looking straight ahead, never looking around, glancing sideways, or staring directly at the Emperor or Empress Dowager. During conversations, one must maintain a respectful downcast posture," Yan Ruxue answered again.

"Mm," Huang Shangyi nodded, "Miss has no major issues with palace etiquette, but Miss should practice more, needing to unconsciously integrate palace etiquette into daily life."

"Thank you for your hard work, Huang Shangyi. Please have some tea before you leave," Yan Ruxue bowed her head and instructed the maid beside her, "Serve tea to Huang Shangyi."

"Thank you, Miss," Huang Shangyi was indeed somewhat thirsty.

The old palace woman sat on a stone stool drinking cool tea. Looking up, she saw the Yan clan’s talented woman sitting to one side, holding a piece of silk and gently polishing a golden ring.

Ever since she had come to the Yan residence, every day she would see this woman take out that golden ring to polish it.

The brocade box containing the ring had become somewhat decayed.

After finishing her tea, Huang Shangyi walked out of the Yan residence, escorted by Yan Ruxue’s personal maid.

"Miss Xiao Chun, is there anything special about Miss’s ring?" Huang Shangyi asked curiously.

"I don’t know," Xiao Chun shook her head, "Miss polishes that ring gently every day, and that brocade box hasn’t been changed after all these years. I once asked Miss what was special about this ring too."

"What did Miss say?"

"Miss says she’s waiting for someone to put it on her."