186: The Ladies of Youwei Palace

Chapter 185: The Ladies of Youwei Palace

After some threats and inducements, Princess Lingyin finally behaved herself.

She was just a little princess spoiled by her father and mother, having never suffered any hardships in life.

Now, alone in a far-off land, she still dared to act recklessly without knowing her place; in these deep palace courtyards, only death awaited her.

Zheng Yi's threats, in some ways, could be considered saving her.

Otherwise, if she offended someone she shouldn't in the future, she wouldn't even know how she died.

By then, Zheng Yi would have lost a Cauldron that provided a fire-attribute Spiritual Root for nothing.

For the next month or so, in order to obtain enough fire-attribute Spiritual Root from Princess Lingyin, he stayed in Lingyin Palace almost every day, constantly laboring on her.

After so much labor, the originally spoiled and willful Princess Lingyin disappeared, replaced by the deeply attached and longing Consort Yin.

After all, as the saying goes, there is only one passage to a woman's heart, and that is...

As for Xu Xuanwu, he had long been forgotten.

Once Zheng Yi's fire-attribute Spiritual Root also reached Medium Grade and he could no longer absorb any more Spiritual Root attributes from Princess Lingyin, he immediately channeled a strand of Innate Pure Yang Qi into her body to help her conceive.

With this,

Zheng Yi already had nine sons.

Two were already born, and seven were on the way.

Imperial Concubine Lan, Yuechan, Consort Cui, Consort Yu, Consort Jie, Consort Yu, and now Consort Yin.

Just one more, and he would be able to open the second of the three thousand worlds.

Should he just pick a random ordinary consort to have a son with?

Zheng Yi thought about it, but still shook his head and dismissed the idea.

He had a premonition that the next, second of the three thousand worlds had a massive connection to whether the boys born next possessed a Spiritual Root.

Among these next eight boys, the more of them who possessed a Spiritual Root, the higher the concentration of Spiritual Qi in the second activated of the three thousand worlds would be.

Conversely, if they were all ordinary children, then the second of the three thousand worlds would be very ordinary.

After thinking for a long time, he turned his attention to the girls in Youwei Palace who were about to reach adulthood.

Over the past half year, through continuous practice, Consort Yu's success rate in making Spirit-Testing Talismans had improved dramatically.

She had now drawn over fifty Spirit-Testing Talismans, which was enough to test these girls.

However, Zheng Yi did not plan to use the Spirit-Testing Talismans on them.

The many Spirit-Testing Talismans drawn by Consort Yu were all intended for the Shadow Guard, Imperial Guards, or members of the Emperors Party who were loyal to him.

Once anyone was detected to possess a Spiritual Root, they would be vigorously nurtured.

The remaining Spirit-Testing Talismans were also planned to be used to test his remaining five daughters.

Zheng Yi's first five daughters had already been tested for Spiritual Roots, and only two possessed them.

They were Zheng Yuyao and Zheng Yuhuan; the other five daughters had not been tested yet.

These daughters were almost five years old, and Zheng Yi planned to wait until the Tenth Princess, Zheng Yuxiao, turned five to test them all together.

He wondered who among the last five daughters would possess a Spiritual Root?

The precious Spirit-Testing Talismans could not be wasted casually.

Currently, Zheng Yuyao and Zheng Yuhuan had already begun to learn cultivation techniques under the tutelage of Consort Cui.

With his two daughters away, the palace felt much less lively.

Fortunately, he still had eight other daughters.

As for how to test whether the fifty-odd girls in Youwei Palace possessed Spiritual Roots, it was very simple.

He just had to sleep with them.

Of course, Zheng Yi was not the type to abandon them once satisfied; he gave each girl three days of his time.

Starting from the first girl, they would be drawn at random.

Under his instructions, the Jingshi Department brought up the identity tablets of the fifty-eight girls from Youwei Palace.

With a casual flip, a girl named 'Zhang Yiting' was selected.

That night, Zhang Yiting was bathed clean and sent into the White Jade Capital.

Zhang Yiting was also very beautiful, with cascading black hair, and her pair of long legs especially made Zheng Yi unable to put her down.

Upon her bashful appearance, Zheng Yi only received a prompt of 'Lifespan +17.'

He was not discouraged; after showing her some affection, he held her and fell fast asleep.

Three days later, he switched to the second girl, a girl named 'Liang Qiaoyun.'

Lifespan +18 again.

Next, one girl after another was sent into the White Jade Capital, changed almost every three days, with very few able to stay inside the White Jade Capital for more than four or five days.

And this practice also spread to the imperial court.

"What is Your Majesty doing? Since he has already come out of seclusion, he should naturally attend court to handle state affairs. Why is he favoring new women every single day?"

"Indeed. Currently, the world is in chaos. Although General Xu is suppressing it, the situation is ultimately deteriorating and cannot last long."

"Your Majesty! This minister must remonstrate..."

For a time, memorials from many officials, especially the remonstrances of the censors, drifted toward the Grand Secretariat like snowflakes, but unfortunately, not a single one could reach Zheng Yi's imperial desk.

Today was the grand court assembly.

Three ministers had been beaten bloody, lying prone below the main hall with ragged breathing.

The entire hall was dead silent, with no one daring to speak.

In front of the dragon throne, Liu Chengen said coldly, 'Your Majesty has rendered great services and is currently in quiet cultivation. this servant has said not to disturb Your Majesty, not to disturb Your Majesty, so why won't you all listen!'

'Not only did you present memorials to the Grand Secretariat, but you also tried to find a way to barge into the imperial palace. What are you trying to do? Rebel?!'

In the empty hall, only Liu Chengen's voice echoed.

His drake-like voice sounded extremely harsh.

'Pant, pant...'

Censor Han Yang struggled to climb up and said, 'Eunuch thief! You are merely servants, yet you dare to block us from seeking an audience with Your Majesty! What are your intentions?!'

'If you have the guts, beat this old man to death in the court today! Otherwise, this old man will impeach you again!'

'Your Majesty...!'

'Please come out and see! Today, the eunuch faction dominates the court, framing loyal and upright officials. Please wake up!'

'Hmm?'

Atop the hall, Liu Chengen frowned and said, 'You dare to slander Your Majesty? Do you really think this servant doesn't dare to beat you to death?'

'Someone, come...'

'Liu Chengen!'

Suddenly, a voice rang out, interrupting him.

Liu Chengen's eyelids twitched, filled with wariness.

Below the hall, Wang Anshi was seen stepping out slowly, saying, 'Lord Han is loyal to the people and also acts for our Great Yu Dynasty. I ask that Father-in-law be merciful and spare Lord Han this time.'

Liu Chengen suddenly smiled and said, 'Since Lord Wang is pleading for Lord Han, then this servant will naturally agree.'

'However, Lord Wang, Your Majesty indeed has important matters at hand right now. I hope the lords of the Grand Secretariat can properly manage the officials and not let them disturb Your Majesty.'

'Otherwise, if Your Majesty blames them, this servant will have no way to plead for the ministers~'

Wang Anshi frowned and said, 'Liu Chengen, this official has urgent matters to report to Your Majesty. Could you please pass word on my behalf?'

Liu Chengen smiled and said, 'Lord Wang, you must not make things difficult for this servant.'

'Your Majesty is still cultivating in the White Jade Capital. All affairs of the court are to be discussed and settled by the Grand Secretariat and the Directorate of Ceremonial. Has Lord Wang forgotten this imperial decree of Your Majesty?'

'Since the lords have no other matters, then the court is dismissed~'

With a single command, many eunuchs and palace maids withdrew, and many officials also turned and left helplessly.

'Sigh, another cancelled court. What on earth is Your Majesty thinking?'

'Your Majesty has not attended court for nearly a year!'

'If this continues, the country will no longer be a country...'

'Lord Han and the others are truly unfortunate. They merely remonstrated with Your Majesty and wanted to enter the White Jade Capital to seek an audience, yet they were beaten to such a state by the eunuch faction!'

'Sigh... quickly help Lord Han back to his residence...'

'Lord Wang.'

'Lord Zheng.'

'Lord Lu...'

At this moment, several people stepped aside and bowed in greeting, as several lords of the Grand Secretariat had walked over.

Wang Anshi, Lu Xiangqing, and Zheng Xuanyue.

The three of them nodded to their colleagues around them while also discussing something in low voices.

'What on earth is Your Majesty doing? He hasn't attended court for nearly a year.'

'This old man heard people say that Your Majesty seems to be cultivating to become an immortal?'

'Cultivating to become an immortal? Utter nonsense! Where in the world are there immortals and gods? The Master did not speak of strange forces and chaotic spirits!'

'Sigh... This old man heard that Your Majesty obtained a cultivation technique from the Founding Ancestor's tomb, and is now practicing it inside the White Jade Capital with several consorts!'

'Now the eunuch faction is powerful, making a mess of the court, and the army is fighting outside. What should we do...'

The three of them were deeply worried, especially Wang Anshi and Lu Xiangqing.

Instead, Zheng Xuanyue consoled them, saying, 'The two of you need not worry. Didn't Your Majesty issue an imperial decree before going into seclusion, stating that state affairs are to be discussed and decided by us?'

'For so long, the court has operated normally, and the officials have performed their duties without any mishaps. Why do the two of you need to worry?'

Wang Anshi frowned and said, 'Lord Zheng, this is where you are wrong.'

'Now that our army is fighting outside, we must stabilize the court to ensure the smooth progress of the battles on the front line.'

'Now that General Xu has reclaimed Bing Province, General Cui Xiawu has reclaimed Shu Province, General Meng Guang has reclaimed most of Jing Province, and General Guan Shan has reclaimed Yun Province and most of Yue Province, we naturally ought to dispatch officials to manage them.'

'These political matters must be decided by Your Majesty, but now that Your Majesty actually does not attend court, how are these officials to be arranged?'

'Now, for so many official posts, who knows how many people have sought an audience with Liu Chengen. That eunuch thief's threshold is about to be worn down!'

Zheng Xuanyue's eyes flickered slightly, and he said, 'Lord Wang, we also have the authority to appoint many officials. In this old man's view, we still need to work together in unity to bring peace to the world!'

'Sigh, looking at it this way, we can only do so.'

Wang Anshi suddenly said, 'Lord Lu, I wonder if you could seek an audience with Your Majesty through Her Majesty the Empress?'

Lu Xiangqing was silent for a few breaths before saying, 'This old man will try.'

'Thank you, Lord Lu!'

In the imperial palace.

Liu Chengen walked slowly, and a little eunuch quickly approached him.

'Godfather, after today, many ministers have behaved themselves much more, hehehe, even those lords in the Grand Secretariat...'

'Nonsense.'

Liu Chengen frowned and said, 'We are all doing things for Your Majesty. If these ministers would just do their jobs obediently, this servant wouldn't have so much trouble!'

'What Godfather says is true. By the way, Godfather, several officials presented visiting cards today, saying they have important matters to discuss, and they also sent many gifts.'

'Oh?'

Liu Chengen's eyes flickered, and he said with a smile, 'Who are they?'

'There is...'

'Godfather! Godfather~'

Suddenly, a little eunuch ran over quickly, saying in a hurry, 'Yo-Your Majesty is calling for you to go over.'

'Oh? Your Majesty is calling for this servant? Hurry...'

The group hurriedly jogged toward the White Jade Capital, arriving there shortly.

'Your Majesty~'

Jogging into the main hall, he saw a young girl dressed in pink standing beside Zheng Yi. She was charming and lovely, with eyes beautiful as a painting—a youthful and gorgeous beauty.

Liu Chengen's mind spun, and he quickly remembered.

This girl was exactly the beauty sent onto Zheng Yi's dragon bed by the Jingshi Department last night. She seemed to be called... Noble Consort Yang, Yang Liuqing.

Zheng Yi held Noble Consort Yang, Yang Liuqing's small hand and said, 'Liu Chengen, issue a decree.'

Liu Chengen hurriedly bowed and said, 'Please speak, Your Majesty.'