2: Yin Yang Treasure Book

Chapter 2 Yin Yang Treasure Mirror

"This is my Golden Finger?"

Zheng Yi flipped over and sat up, carefully observing the scene in his mind.

That was an ancient bronze mirror.

It was about ten inches in diameter and half an inch thick.

Looking closely, the front of the treasure mirror was a brass-colored mirror surface, as if reflecting something, yet nothing could be seen clearly.

On the back of the treasure mirror were also a large number of profound patterns, permeated with an inexplicable aura.

Looking closely, it looked like the sun, moon, and stars, or perhaps mountains and rivers, which was very bizarre.

"Yin Yang Treasure Mirror, the talent is Yin and Yang? What is Yin and Yang?"

"A yin-yang person?"

Zheng Yi muttered, recalling the eunuch Wang Zhongyi who had just walked out, his tone full of oddness and doubt.

"No matter what, the Yin Yang Treasure Mirror is my Golden Finger, I must eventually figure out its function."

"At least I am currently in the palace, still useful to the Emperor, and won't be inexplicably wiped out..."

Thinking of this turbulent world, where even the Emperor has to find a shadow to save his life, one can imagine how miserable ordinary people live.

Zheng Yi came to the window and found that the windows were all locked tight, allowing only a faint glimpse of the distant sky.

"I don't know what function the Yin Yang Treasure Mirror has; the best way is to find a safe place to hide and figure out its function... But I am inside the palace, and still the Emperor's shadow."

Danger!

Thinking of the emperors in history, as well as the fate of their shadows, he shuddered.

"I cannot just die so cheaply..."

"I want to practice martial arts!"

This world, after all, has the path of martial arts.

To avoid being killed, or accidents like dying of illness or poison, one must step into the Innate Martial Dao, becoming a peerless expert!

By then, even if there is an encirclement of tens of thousands of troops, I can still leave calmly.

Thinking of this, Zheng Yi secretly made up his mind.

"Fortunately, I am now the Emperor's shadow, and can temporarily borrow his power to Cultivate martial arts."

"If I had transmigrated into a eunuch or something, that would truly be heartbreaking; even if I could attain wealth and glory... what the hell is the use?!"

"However, the identity of a shadow is simply too awkward; at any moment, I could become a scapegoat."

"Unless I can become the real Emperor...!"

"No rush, it's safe for the time being."

"After all, I am a shadow, even if I go out, it will be under the guard of imperial guards... First, practice martial arts!"

He walked around the room and soon returned to the bedside.

Although this house was antique and very quiet, after all, it was only a little over one hundred square meters and could be seen through at a glance, which was quite boring. He could only wait for tomorrow.

Early the next morning, Wang Zhongyi indeed brought an old man with a white beard to find him.

"This person is Old Master Chen Yushu, an academician of the Hanlin Academy. Today, he will instruct you in knowledge."

"Old Master Chen was the top scorer in the eighth year of Zhen'an, you must study well under him."

"Yes, Father-in-law."

At this moment, Zheng Yi's face was already wearing a bizarre mask.

As thin as a cicada's wing, it perfectly covered his face, but on the outside, he appeared to be a middle-aged man with a stiff expression.

Old Master Chen glanced strangely at Zheng Yi. He couldn't figure out who Zheng Yi was either, but he faithfully completed his task.

"What the old man will lecture on today is 'The Analects of Confucius: Chapter 1 - Learning'..."

"Um... Old Master Chen, I don't know how to read."

"Hmm?"

Old Master Chen and Wang Zhongyi looked at each other in dismay, and Zheng Yi was also helpless.

The characters of this world were very similar to those of his past life, yet completely different.

Wang Zhongyi couldn't help but laugh dumbly. After all, he was a bumpkin from the mountains and completely alone; how could he have learned characters?

"Old Master Chen, let's start learning from the most basics."

"This... Yes!"

Old Master Chen could only nod helplessly and started teaching the most basic characters anew.

Soon, half a day flashed by, and Zheng Yi had learned over a hundred characters.

After all, they were all pictographic characters, leading to the same destination by different routes.

However, he didn't show it all off, only attempting to write a dozen characters.

"Hmm... Not bad."

Seeing this, Wang Zhongyi also nodded slightly: "Good Comprehension Ability, next you will learn palace etiquette."

This time, an official from the Ministry of Rites was swapped in to explain some necessary palace etiquette to Zheng Yi.

During this period, Wang Zhongyi was also frequently absent. After all, he was Emperor Zhengyong's confidant and could not possibly stay by Zheng Yi's side all the time.

Over the next few days, Zheng Yi kept studying the cultural common sense and palace etiquette of this world, while also being exposed to some court knowledge.

After all, since he was going to be the Emperor's shadow, he was bound to come into contact with the imperial court.

Aside from that, his meals also underwent earth-shaking changes.

Ginseng, deer antler, bear's paw, bird's nest—all kinds of precious ingredients were left for him to consume at will.

In just ten days, his figure began to fill out, and his skin complexion also changed.

On this day, led by Wang Zhongyi, early in the morning around the Mao hour, roughly five or six o'clock, dressed in a eunuch's attire, Zheng Yi actually stepped into Taihe Hall.

This place was the location where the Emperor and the civil and military officials discussed state affairs!

Waking people up at five o'clock in the morning was simply too inhuman!

If he were to become Emperor...

"Court is in session~!"

"All officials kneel!"

"Long live our Emperor, long live, long long live...!"

"State any business, retire if none!"

"This official... has a memorial to report!"

An old man wearing scarlet court robes knelt down: "Reporting to Your Majesty, Qinghe County has suffered a severe drought for three years with zero harvest, and the people are trading children to eat. Fearing major changes, I hope Your Majesty will issue a decree for disaster relief and exempt Qinghe County from this year's taxes..."

"Granted..."

"Your Majesty, absolutely not!"

Another old man jumped out: "Your Majesty! Taxes are a matter of great national importance and must not be wantonly exempted..."

Wang Zhongyi quietly retreated to Zheng Yi's side and whispered: "The first minister is Junior Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Rites Zhao Jun, of the Qinghe Zhao Family origin."

"The second person is Junior Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Personnel Tian Wenjing."

"And this person is Censor-in-Chief Wang He..."

Zheng Yi suddenly came to a realization. It turned out that his task today was to get acquainted with all these civil and military officials of the court.

Wang Zhongyi quietly said again: "These past few days, you have stayed by my side, and I will take you to recognize all these civil and military officials..."

"Yes, Father-in-law."

"Hehehe... Today, there is still a good show to watch~"

"What?"

Soon, the 'good show' in Wang Zhongyi's mouth arrived!

"Reporting to Your Majesty!"

Another middle-aged man wearing cyan court robes stepped out and said respectfully: "Tang King has rebelled, and all his accomplices have been completely captured and brought to justice. Please Your Majesty make a judgment!"

"This person is Commander Ma Jinwu of the Royal City Division, who is Your Majesty's confidant." Wang Zhongyi said: "Even this person does not know your identity!"

Zheng Yi's heart tightened: "Royal City Division? Isn't that just a secret service agency?"

Emperor Zhengyong said with a voice devoid of any emotion: "Tang King Zheng Yuanche rebelled, but after all, he is My own brother. When the late emperor was alive, he once instructed Me to be 'brothers friendly and respectful'."

"Tang King is disloyal, but We cannot be unrighteous."

"Deprive Tang King of all titles and exile him to Nanyue County."

Nanyue County was a newly developed county city of Great Yu, having submitted to Great Yu for less than thirty years.

Its land was remote, with many miasmas and poisonous gases, wild beasts roaming, and rumors of ghosts wandering about.

Moreover, the mountain folk of this place were extremely difficult to tame and frequently attacked the prefectural yamen.

Over the course of more twenty years, over a hundred officials had died in Nanyue County!

Exile to Nanyue was basically equivalent to being a dead man.

"Tang King's advisors, maternal clan, wife's clan, and all other related persons... Execute the nine familial exterminations!"

Tang King rebelled!

This was a major treason case experienced by Emperor Zhengyong after ascending the throne. Two years ago, Emperor Zhengyong ascended the throne.

At that time, the one qualified to contend for the throne with Emperor Zhengyong was none other than the then Tang King Zheng Yuanche.

His maternal clan was the Sun Family, a major clan of Langya County, and they even held the position of Noble Consort.

Tang King himself had been exposed to military affairs since childhood, honed in the army for more than ten years, and enjoyed immense prestige in the military.

Who would have thought that the one who finally secured the throne steadily was Emperor Zhengyong.

To seize the throne, Tang King even led troops to attack the imperial palace, but was defeated by the current prime minister Yang Xuansu, and was captured after his defeat!

Because his treason implicated a large number of court officials, especially the Zhenbei Army guarding Liang Province and Bin Province, it dragged on for two whole years before a result was reached.

Aside from Tang King himself being exiled to Nanyue County, all other members of the Tang King lineage were executed to the nine familial exterminations!

This was the first major event since Emperor Zhengyong ascended the throne, thus causing a sensation throughout Great Yu.

It even sparked quite a bit of discussion among several surrounding countries.

"Yang Xuansu..."

Zheng Yi glanced below the grand hall at the middle-aged man who stood at the head of all those in scarlet official robes.

This person was about sixty years old, with white hair and beard, but his eyes were bright and his spirit was high, clearly a martial arts expert.

He was none other than the current prime minister, Yang Xuansu!

Rumor had it that the reason Emperor Zhengyong was able to ascend the throne as emperor was entirely because he had obtained the support of Yang Xuansu.

The third year of zhengyong, March sixteenth.

Over six thousand relatives, including officials and advisors of the Tang King lineage, were beheaded and displayed to the public.

Heads rolled, and blood flowed like rivers.

Especially Tang King's teacher, the great Confucian scholar of the current age, Tang Xiaozu, because he cursed Emperor Zhengyong in prison, was executed by lingchi.

His clan was even executed to the ten familial exterminations!

This case shocked the world, making all officials look sideways in awe. Emperor Zhengyong's reputation was overwhelmingly illustrious and peerless for a time.