38: Strange People (Please collect and read)

Chapter 38: Remarkable Individuals (Please bookmark and keep reading)

"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Joyous congratulations, Your Majesty!"

Liu Chengen flattered, "Your Majesty's sincerity has moved Heaven itself, which has finally sent down cultivators to guide Your Majesty onto the Grand Dao of immortality!"

"Save the flattery," Zheng Yi laughed. "Where are the people who accepted the call?"

"In reply to Your Majesty, those who accepted the Immortal Summoning Order are three individuals who arrived together. At this moment, they are staying at the post house outside the imperial city, awaiting Your Majesty's summons at any time!"

"Three people?"

Zheng Yi had originally thought there was only one, but to his surprise, there were three!

"Have them enter the palace right now... Wait a moment."

Zheng Yi frowned and said, "Three days from now. Three days from now, I will receive them in the Hall of Neutral Harmony."

"Also, go to the underground palace and tell Chen Liancang to come."

Only during his last visit to the underground palace did he learn that Chen Liancang, the old eunuch commanding the Shadow Guard, was actually an expert of the Grandmaster Realm!

As expected, crouching tigers and hidden dragons resided in the imperial palace; who knew if there were other hidden powerhouses?

"Also, tell Zhao Su Ling of the Hall of Offerings to come as well."

With two Grandmaster Realm powerhouses secretly protecting him, even if these three had ulterior motives, he would have nothing to fear.

Besides, Zhao Su Ling could be considered a Daoist, so regarding the matter of immortal cultivation...

Hmm?

Zhao Su Ling!

The Taiyi Sect!

How could he have forgotten about the Taiyi Sect?

Within the Taiyi Sect, there was an Old Ancestor who was over a hundred years old.

Would they know about immortal cultivation?

"As you command!"

Three days later, the Hall of Neutral Harmony.

The Empress, Consort Duan, and Consort De sat near the head of the hall, chatting idly.

In the right corner sat a beautiful woman as well.

Li Lizhen.

Under Zheng Yi's orders, aside from Consort Shu and Consort Bi who were recovering from childbirth, all the beauties of the inner palace were present.

Today was the day Zheng Yi was to test the three extraordinary men who had taken down the Immortal Summoning Order. Bringing several of his imperial consorts along was also meant to relieve their boredom.

"Sister Consort Duan, you've been pregnant for nearly four months, yet your belly doesn't show any signs of pregnancy at all?"

As the Empress, Lu Liner was naturally qualified to sit at the primary seat... to the left.

"This truly makes me so envious~"

Today, the Empress attended in full ceremonial dress. Her bright red Phoenix gown was adorned with golden threads, making her look all the more dignified and opulent.

Meanwhile, Consort Duan, sitting opposite her, was still dressed in a moon-white robe that concealed her slightly bulging abdomen. Dark red eyeshadow at the corners of her eyes gave her an even more heroic and spirited appearance.

"Your Highness the Empress speaks too gravely. I used to practice military martial arts, so my Physique is naturally stronger than that of ordinary women."

Consort Duan said naturally, "If Your Highness needs it, I can offer some body-tempering methods for women to Your Highness."

"No need."

Lu Liner still smiled brilliantly like a flower as she said, "Women should stay at home, assist their husbands, and educate their children. Fighting and killing—what proper decorum is that? Fortunately, Sister Consort Duan married His Majesty~"

Consort Duan's brows furrowed; she truly disliked such occasions.

However, His Majesty had issued an order, so she had no choice but to come, able only to sulk quietly in secret.

"Your Highness the Empress, that is not entirely correct,"

Consort De suddenly spoke up. Consort De was the daughter of Li Changfeng, the Minister of War in the Ministry of War.

Although she did not practice martial arts herself, she was on good terms with Xu Qingluan, who came from the Longxiang Army. She immediately retorted, "Several months ago when Yang Reverse rebelled and mutinous soldiers stormed the inner palace, it was thanks to Consort Duan organizing the palace eunuchs and maids to drive them back."

"And during the previous assassination attempt on His Majesty, it was also Consort Duan who protected His Majesty."

"If possible, I would even like to practice martial arts as well!"

"You..."

Lu Liner was speechlessly furious. The number of imperial consorts in the inner palace was simply too small.

Consort Shu's father was suspected of treason, and she herself had given birth to a princess; she was now banished to the Cold Palace, never to come out for the rest of her life.

Consort Duan and Consort De shared similar backgrounds and had long formed an offensive and defensive alliance.

As for Consort Bi and Noble Lady Zhen...

She glanced at Noble Lady Zhen, who sat at the lower right seat holding her two daughters nervously, and her brow could not help but furrow.

Emperor Brother truly was something else.

Giving imperial concubine and Noble Lady titles to just anyone—it truly degraded the dignity of the royal family.

Fortunately, her aunt had come up with an idea to hold a draft selection of palace maidens for Emperor Brother.

When that time came, although she would have to share Emperor Brother with other women, it would solidify her own position.

On the whole, it was still a good bargain.

Consort Duan and Consort De sat together, whispering something, completely ignoring the Empress.

"I heard three remarkable individuals took down the Immortal Summoning Order posted by His Majesty. I wonder if they are truly immortal cultivators?"

"I heard people say that these three each have their own extraordinary skills, and over the past few days, they have made quite a big name for themselves in the capital!"

"Oh? What abilities do they have?"

"I heard one of them is skilled at using the Palm Thunder, able to summon heavenly thunder."

Li Changle whispered, "I heard someone saw it with their own eyes—with a single palm strike, he blew a tree as thick as two men embracing into two halves!"

"Hss... That powerful?"

"And another one is adept at raising Spirit Beasts. He has a wolf-dog under his command that can understand human speech and does whatever it's told."

"What's so strange about that?" Xu Qingluan wondered. "There are beast tamers in the military who can also make beasts this obedient."

"No, no! I heard people say that wolf-dog can even write human characters!"

"Hss... That amazing? What about the third person?"

"The third person seems to know feng shui detection and techniques for finding dragon veins and pointing out gold."

"Feng shui? Dragon finding? This person truly doesn't fear death... How dare he come before His Majesty to attempt to enlighten a true dragon?"

The two women whispered among themselves, causing the Empress to repeatedly glance over sideways.

She wanted to join their discussion, but feared losing her dignity; in her frustration, she kept taking it out on her handkerchief, nearly tearing it in half.

"Mother, what are we doing here?"

"Mother, this pastry is so delicious! Can I take some back with us later?"

Dongyun Jie and Dongyun Yu huddled close to Li Lizhen, whispering softly.

Li Lizhen, meanwhile, not only had to sit upright to maintain proper posture, but also had to constantly whisper reminders to her two daughters not to be too unruly, leaving her feeling deeply anxious.

Were it not absolutely necessary, she truly did not wish to interact with the other consorts in the palace.

After all, she knew her own identity very clearly; being granted the title of Noble Lady was already a monumental grace.

In this life, all she wanted was to raise her two daughters and marry them into good families.

"His Majesty arrives~!"

Right at that moment, Liu Chengen's loud call echoed from the doorway, and everyone hastily stood up.

Soon after, Zheng Yi stepped into the Hall of Neutral Harmony, and everyone bowed in greeting, "Your concubines pay respects to Your Majesty!"

"All of you may rise."

Zheng Yi strode over to sit at the primary seat, followed by two figures who quietly melted into the shadows behind the dragon throne.

Chen Liancang.

Zhao Su Ling.

"My Beloved Consorts, today is a grand event ever since I began seeking immortality. These three individuals rumor has it possess immortal arts; this is a blessing for our Great Yu."

Zheng Yi said, "Chengen, summon these three for an audience."

"As you command!"

Liu Chengen called out loudly, "Summon the three who accepted the Immortal Summoning Order for an audience!"

"Summon the three who accepted the Immortal Summoning Order for an audience!"

"Summon the three who accepted the Immortal Summoning Order for an audience..."

The decree was passed down, and soon three men of distinct appearances hurriedly walked in under the lead of a eunuch.

"Lei Mingzi, a man from beyond the worldly realm, greets Your Majesty!"

"This commoner Chen Gouer pays respects to Your Majesty!"

"I, Hu Bafeng, greet Your Majesty."

Upon entering, the three behaved differently as they all bowed and offered greetings.

Zheng Yi asked, "The three of you took down the Immortal Summoning Order issued by me together. Do you know each other?"

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