19: See the Assassin Again

Chapter 19: Another Assassin Appears

In the third year of zhengyong, on the second day of the eleventh month.

Xu Mujun led the Longxiang Army, leaving the Black Mountain Pass for the border troops to garrison, and personally led the Longxiang Army southward.

On the fifteenth day of the eleventh month in the third year of zhengyong.

Xu Mujun led the Longxiang Army to rout the Tianming Army, killing one hundred and twenty thousand enemies and capturing countless prisoners.

On the seventh day of the twelfth month in the third year of zhengyong.

The coalition forces of the White Lotus Sect, the Yellow Heaven Army, and the Tianming Army jointly attacked the Longxiang Army.

The Longxiang Army suffered a rout, and Xu Mujun charged into the enemy ranks alone, killing the commander of the Tianming Army while capturing the White Lotus Sect's Deputy Leader, 'Smiling Sky Maitreya'.

After these two battles, the rebel army scattered and fled like birds startled by the mere twang of a bow string, and Xu Mujun's martial arts cultivation was exposed—the Innate Realm!

The Great Yu Dynasty's second powerhouse of the Innate Realm!

When the battle report was sent back, Emperor Zhengyong was overjoyed, the imperial court was shaken, and countless people submitted requests to grant merits for Xu Mujun.

On the third day of the first month in the fourth year of zhengyong, Xu Mujun sent back a military order stating that the Longxiang Army had suffered heavy losses and would garrison Datong in place to suppress and exterminate the rebel army.

For a time, the political wind in the imperial court shifted abruptly.

But under Prime Minister Yang's command, the officials of the imperial court still submitted memorials of congratulations and bestowed rewards upon Xu Mujun.

"Big Companion, what do you think Xu Mujun... is actually thinking?"

Deep in the night, inside Jiaotai Hall.

Emperor Zhengyong supported his forehead with one hand, his tone indifferent as he spoke.

Wang Zhongyi did not dare to speak recklessly and could only say, "this servant also does not know... Perhaps the Longxiang Army has been fighting for years, suffering heavy casualties, and has no choice but to rest and reorganize locally."

"Suppressing Nanyue County, driving out Wu Country, and the riots in Qingzhou—even if the Longxiang Army were made of iron, it could not endure such a prolonged slaughter."

"Is that so?"

Emperor Zhengyong said, "That Xu Mujun is, after all, an Innate Realm expert... Taking the head of a general amidst a chaotic army is as easy as reaching into one's pocket!"

"If he were willing, how could the Longxiang Army have suffered such heavy losses?"

"Your Majesty..."

Emperor Zhengyong shook his head and said, "Has the Royal City Division sent a secret letter to him, and has a reply been received?"

"Not yet..."

"What about Prime Minister Yang's side?"

"There is no movement either... But judging from the news passed down by his subordinates, Prime Minister Yang seems to be waiting for Consort Shu to give birth..."

"Consort Shu giving birth?"

Emperor Zhengyong's expression changed slightly, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "Indeed, if Consort Shu were to give birth to a dragon son, he might compete for the crown prince's throne!"

"Fortunately, the Empress, Consort Bi, and Consort De are already pregnant."

"I refuse to believe that none of them can bear a dragon son?!"

Over the past few months, Zheng Yi had simply had no time to rest.

Every single day was spent either in the Empress's palace or at Consort Duan's place.

Moreover, taking advantage of this period, even Consort De did not escape Zheng Yi's grasp.

Regrettably, just like the Empress, Consort De was thoroughly a pretty vase.

After Dual Cultivation, it could only increase their bone structure, with no other benefits whatsoever.

"What about Consort Cui?"

Emperor Zhengyong suddenly asked, "Is she still claiming to be ill?"

"Yes... Your Majesty."

Wang Zhongyi said, "Three months ago, Consort Cui suddenly fell into the water and has been claiming illness ever since, so the Jingshi Department has not hung up her plaque."

"The Cui Family of Qinghe... Hahaha, they truly are a bunch of old foxes."

"Knowing that Prime Minister Yang's influence is vast, they don't want to get mixed up in this?"

Emperor Zhengyong sneered, "Unfortunately, living in the imperial family means one cannot act of one's own free will!"

Wang Zhongyi did not dare to reply. After a few moments of silence, Emperor Zhengyong suddenly asked again, "What is the situation over at Consort Duan's place?"

"The subsequent Empress and Consort De already have pregnancies; why is it that she still has no pregnancy until now?"

"If she were to become pregnant, presumably that Xu Mujun would also hesitate to act rashly..."

Wang Zhongyi said, "this servant also finds this matter very strange. The Shadow has visited Consort Duan's palace the most times and often stays through the night... Yet Consort Duan has unexpectedly failed to become pregnant for so long. Truly a bizarre occurrence."

"The Empress, Consort Shu, Consort De, and Consort Bi have all become pregnant; it seems to have nothing to do with the Shadow."

"Order the imperial physician to examine Consort Duan's body thoroughly, do you understand?"

"Yes... Your Majesty!"

Xianfu Palace.

Having just finished exercising, Zheng Yi held Xu Qingluan in his arms and continued whispering sweet nothings to her.

Through these few months of companionship, the relationship between Zheng Yi and Xu Qingluan had advanced by leaps and bounds.

After all originating from a military background, Xu Qingluan loved and hated fiercely.

Especially over these past few months, Zheng Yi's robust and vigorous physique had already deeply captivated her.

Her entire heart was hung upon Zheng Yi.

At this moment, her breathing was calm, and she looked at Zheng Yi with adoration as she said, "Your Majesty, this concubine is guilty... It has been so long, yet this concubine is still unable to bear a son or a daughter for Your Majesty..."

"Who says Beloved Consort is guilty?"

Zheng Yi pinched her chin and lifted it up, saying smugly, "I still want to spend a few more days alone with Beloved Consort; how could I bear for Beloved Consort to become pregnant?"

This sentence was the truth.

The Empress, Consort Shu, and Consort De were all ordinary women, and Dual Cultivation could only enhance their bone structure and lifespan.

Through these few experiments, he had also ascertained the factors behind lifespan increase.

Whatever age the woman currently was, he would gain that exact amount of lifespan after Dual Cultivation with her.

Although Consort Bi possessed the White Lotus Reincarnation Divine Skill, she was already pregnant—and four months pregnant at that—making Dual Cultivation utterly impossible.

Consort Cui had constantly claimed illness and kept her palace gates deeply locked.

The reason he did not let Consort Duan become pregnant was, of course, for the Dual Cultivation of the Yin Yang Treasure Mirror.

After all, the Hundred Battles Blood Fiend Saber and the enhancement of bone structure were what Zheng Yi urgently lacked at the moment.

These few months of efforts, apart from making the Empress and Consort De pregnant, were all focused on Consort Duan.

Hard work pays off.

After these few months of efforts, his mastery over the Hundred Battles Blood Fiend Saber had already reached 6,520 / 10,000.

By persisting for a few more months, he would be able to achieve a Breakthrough to the third layer.

At that time, his comprehensive strength would be able to step into the First Rank!

A First-Rank Martial Artist!

Within the entire Martial Forest, he could also be considered a powerhouse of a region.

In the Great Yu military system, that was the post of a general!

Fortunately, the Hundred Battles Blood Fiend Saber involved simultaneous cultivation of both internal and external aspects and did not heavily value Internal Energy; only when truly executing the saber technique and emitting Evil Qi could it be perceived by others.

Otherwise, with Zheng Yi and Consort Duan uniting day after day, if it were an ordinary Cultivation Technique, she would sooner or later discover it.

Before his comprehensive strength stepped into the First Rank, he would absolutely never allow Consort Duan to become pregnant!

Two hours later, Xu Qingluan slowly drifted off to sleep, while Zheng Yi, accompanied by Wang Zhongyi, returned to Jiaotai Hall.

Wang Zhongyi waved his hand, signaling the surrounding eunuchs and guards to walk a bit further away, and lowered his voice to say:

"Your Majesty, this servant has already dispatched an imperial physician to diagnose Consort Duan."

"Diagnose Consort Duan?" Zheng Yi asked in surprise, "Diagnose what?"

"Now within the harem, only Consort Duan and Consort Cui remain unpregnant. this servant hopes Your Majesty will work harder..."

"I have already worked very hard, and Consort Duan has also worked very hard."

"Then work even harder."

"This... Very well..."

When the procession reached the side of the Imperial Garden, a ghostly figure suddenly lurked out from the pool on the outer side of the Imperial Garden, lunging toward Zheng Yi at an extremely fast speed.

Wang Zhongyi sensed it instantly, his entire figure immediately moving to shield Zheng Yi in front, his robes fluttering without any wind, and his entire body swiftly lunging forward to meet the threat.

"There is an assassin!"

"Protect Your Majesty!!!"

"Bang!"

In mid-air, the two palms met, and a muffled sound immediately rang out.

The figure in black retreated swiftly, while Wang Zhongyi also staggered back several steps, his expression extremely ugly, with fresh blood seeping from the corners of his mouth.

"Frigid Ice Poison Palm... Xuanming Elder?!"

"Not good! Your Majesty!"

He hurriedly looked back, only to see another black shadow leaping down from the large tree at the corner, lunging toward Zheng Yi like a giant eagle.

"Hahahaha... Old emperor, prepare to forfeit your life!"