34: Shadow Guard (Please collect and read)

Chapter 34 Shadow Guard (Seeking collections, seeking follow-up reads)

Inside the underground palace, Zheng Yi once again saw the old eunuch who had received Little Chengzi last time.

"Your humble servant Chen Liancang greets Your Majesty!"

Seeing Zheng Yi arrive, the leading old eunuch hurriedly knelt down.

"Chen Liancang..."

Zheng Yi guessed, "Is the Shadow Guard here?"

"The Shadow Guard is here!" Chen Liancang asked in confusion, "Your Majesty? The cultivation time for the new batch of the Shadow Guard has not arrived yet. Why is that?"

They were really here!

Zheng Yi stated directly, "Two months ago, Yang Xuansu rebelled, and the Shadow Guard all died in battle. I want to mobilize a new batch of the Shadow Guard for protection."

"According to Your Majesty's command, mobilizing the Shadow Guard requires the Shadow Token..."

"However, Your Majesty, the new batch of the Shadow Guard will still take a year to finish cultivation. Mobilizing them now would outweigh the gains."

"Why is it so slow?"

"Your Majesty, to Cultivate the Shadow Guard, one must select those under six years of age with excellent bone structure and train them from childhood."

Chen Liancang said, "Castration from childhood, forging strength, taking medicine to stimulate potential, and Cultivating specific Cultivation Techniques all take time."

"Their martial arts cultivation must at least step into the third Realm, and they also have to complete specific tasks... All of these take time."

Zheng Yi's heart stirred. As expected of a place where the royalty Cultivates death warriors.

What a pity.

Those previous members of the Shadow Guard had been sentenced to death by him; otherwise, they could have been a force in his hands.

However, those members of the Shadow Guard had a high probability of recognizing his identity, so they had to die!

He asked again, "How many members of the Shadow Guard are currently being cultivated?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, there are thirty-three males and sixteen females, totaling forty-nine people."

Chen Liancang said, "However, a year from now, there will only be nine slots for those qualified to serve in the Shadow Guard."

"Out of these forty-nine people, more than half will die!"

Zheng Yi was indifferent. It seemed that no matter where one went, competition existed.

"Cultivate them well..." Zheng Yi said, "Great Yu is currently in a time of needing personnel. As long as you ensure the loyalty of this group, you may discretionally lower the difficulty of their tasks."

"This..."

Chen Liancang hesitated for a moment before saying, "Understood, I strictly obey Your Majesty's command."

"Then in just half a month, this humble servant can bring Your Majesty twenty members of the Shadow Guard."

"Good, I await your good news!"

"Take me to inspect the training base of the Shadow Guard."

"Understood!"

Led by Chen Liancang, Zheng Yi and the others continued deeper into the underground palace.

This was a palace with an extremely large area, over thirty meters deep, housing over thirty palaces and hundreds of rooms.

Inside, there were not only living quarters, but also underground crystals, training grounds, and other structures.

At this moment, dozens of young eunuchs were practicing martial arts in the drilling ground.

"Your Majesty, the Shadow Guard is trained separately for males and females; the males are eunuchs, and the females are palace maids."

"The males are castrated from childhood, Cultivating the Cultivation Technique known as the Heavenly Yin Boy Skill, and externally practicing the Tendon-Dislocating Bone-Separating Hand and the Gale Sword Technique."

"The females are also selected from childhood as suitable candidates to enter the palace, taught palace rules, Cultivating the Mind-Cultivation Technique known as the Su Nu Mind-Cultivation Technique, and externally practicing the Plum Blossom-Plucking Hand and the Jade Maiden Sword Technique."

What about the female Shadow Guard?

Such a thought suddenly popped into Zheng Yi's mind.

The members of the Shadow Guard he had always seen were males, meaning eunuchs.

What about the females?

Were they all in the inner palace?

Protecting the Empress Dowager, the Empress, and the imperial concubines of various palaces?

These people were also a force.

After viewing the male training grounds, they came to the female training grounds.

Indeed, unlike those stinky eunuchs, every female trained here had at least a delicate appearance, and a few had a very good foundation, making them great beauties with just a little makeup.

Moreover, there was a strange fragrance in the training grounds here, and all of them were training diligently.

"Chen Liancang."

"This humble servant is here."

"I leave the Shadow Guard to you. I hope that in half a year, you can present me with satisfying candidates."

"Understood, Your Majesty!"

"Right, hand over a list of the currently living members of the Shadow Guard to me."

"Understood."

From Chen Liancang, he easily obtained the list of currently surviving members of the Shadow Guard.

Unfortunately, the male eunuchs had all died.

Only six female members of the Shadow Guard remained.

Just as Zheng Yi expected, these six female members of the Shadow Guard were all planted within the bedchambers of the Empress Dowager, the Empress, and a few consorts.

Several imperial concubines, one for each.

Zheng Yi secretly summoned these six people and assigned each of them their respective guarding tasks.

Three days later, Xu Mujun's army set out on an expedition, and Zheng Yi went to bid farewell in person.

After a tedious ceremony, Zheng Yi took Xu Mujun's hand and said:

"Minister Xu is about to set out on an expedition. I have nothing special to give you, but I have a poem to gift you."

"This general is all ears!"

"The great wind rises, the clouds fly high; with might over the seas, I return to my hometown. Where can I find fierce warriors to guard the four directions!"

Borrowing poetry from his past life, Zheng Yi said, "The journey this time is long, and I hope Minister Xu can take care of yourself. If you can break through Wudu, I promise you eternal suppression of the northern borders!"

"Luaner and I, along with the child in her womb, are all waiting for your triumphant return!"

Eternal suppression of the northern borders?

Was this a promise?

"Your Majesty can rest assured!"

Xu Mujun's heart stirred. The emperor actually possessed such literary talent.

The great wind rises, the clouds fly high!

Such an overbearing poem!

A scholar dies for one who truly knows him!

He immediately said, "With this departure, this general will definitely break through Black Mountain Pass and strike straight at the imperial court of Wu Country!"

"Then I await your good news!"

"Your Majesty, regarding the formation of the cabinet, this general has already completed the preliminary matters. The specific appointment of ministers will still have to rely on Your Majesty."

Zheng Yi said, "I know."

"Your Majesty, this general takes his leave!"

"Set out on the expedition!"

"Woo~!!!"

Accompanied by the sound of the horn, Xu Mujun took the lead and rode away on horseback.

Afterward, the ten thousand troops of the Longxiang Army, the twenty thousand imperial guards, cavalry, and other recruited troops gradually followed behind Xu Mujun, stepping far away into the distance.

Countless ministers and officials gazed from afar at Xu Mujun's figure, not knowing what to think.

Returning to Qiankun Hall, he saw Xu Qingluan, who had been waiting here for a long time.

At this moment, she was already four months pregnant, and her belly appeared slightly rounded.

Zheng Yi hurried forward to greet her: "Luaner, your body is unwell; why did you come in person."

With slightly red eyes, Xu Qingluan said, "This... this concubine just wanted to see Father one more time."

"Rest assured, Luaner, Minister Xu will definitely be fine."

"Mhm..."

"I haven't visited Luaner's palace for a long time, and Luaner appears increasingly gentle and tender." Zheng Yi took her small hand and said, "Tonight, I will go to your palace."

"Your Majesty~"

Xu Qingluan coyly complained, "This concubine is still pregnant."

"It doesn't matter."

Zheng Yi said, "I have asked the imperial physician; a four-month pregnancy has little impact on marital relations. I will just be a bit careful."

"Your Majesty~"

In the fourth year of zhengyong, on the twelfth day of the fifth month.

An official submitted a memorial, detailing one hundred and thirty-six charges against Yang Xuansu, including treason, corruption, and dereliction of duty.

Every single piece of evidence was ironclad, leaving no room for appeal.

In the fourth year of zhengyong, on the eleventh day of the sixth month.

Emperor Zhengyong issued an imperial decree: Yang Xuansu's family would be confiscated, his entire clan executed, and he would be executed after autumn!

His subordinates were each dealt with accordingly.

Notices were posted, and countless residents gathered in front of the notice board wall outside the imperial palace to watch.

A literati read aloud loudly, "Chancellor Yang Xuansu, deeply favored by imperial grace yet harboring disloyal intentions, committed the grave crime of treason, and his entire clan shall be executed! To be beheaded after autumn..."

"Whoosh~!"

The onlookers immediately let out an exclamation, the crowd surging and excitedly discussing.

"The Chancellor is going to have his entire clan executed? This is a heaven-shaking event!"

"Served him right! That Yang Xuansu deserves to die..."

"This time, Your Majesty is going to make heads roll again..."

Just at this moment, another red-robed Father-in-law slowly walked out of the palace gate, holding a notice in his hands.

Two young eunuchs hurriedly took it from the Father-in-law and posted it on the notice wall.

"There's another notice?"

"What is it about this time?"

"Elder Scholar Liang, please read it out..."

An old man dressed in scholar's robes rubbed his eyes, leaned closer to observe carefully, and his gaze instantly changed.

At the same time, someone who could read suddenly shouted loudly, "Immortal-Seeking Token!!!"

A piece of poetry in this chapter was not used very appropriately and has been changed here. Please forgive me.