97: My baby

Chapter 97: My Treasure

Inside a covert inn in Nanyue County, several figures were gathered together, looking suspiciously at the eunuch before them.

They were all Jinyi Guard members hidden within Nanyue County, and they had suddenly received an imperial decree to secretly investigate Xu Xuanwu.

The Shadow Guard said, "This Father-in-law is merely here to transmit the order. As for how to handle the matters and to whom to report back, you Lords will still have to rely on yourselves."

Shen Xing immediately cupped his hands and said, "Understood, Father-in-law. We will naturally deliberate on this."

"Mm, then this Father-in-law will take his leave first~"

The Shadow Guard spoke in a low voice, then retreated from the room and blended into the crowd.

Shen Xing asked with puzzlement, "What does Your Majesty mean by ordering us to secretly investigate General Xu Xuanwu? Isn't General Xu Xuanwu under orders to establish the Nanyue Military Region?"

"There are a great many people entering and leaving the military camp every day; how are we supposed to begin investigating this?"

Yang Shaoyong frowned and said, "Because of Your Majesty and Consort Xu, our energy has been entirely focused on the traces of the Baiyue Clan's High Priest and the Heiyue Clan, so we truly haven't paid much attention to this General Xu Xuanwu."

"However, if we think about it carefully, there are indeed quite a few fishy details within it."

"Oh?" Shen Xing asked, "What fishy details?"

"Why is it that every time the Heiyue Clan launches a surprise attack, they always pick the weakest spots of the Baiyue Clan?"

Yang Shaoyong stated concisely, "Furthermore, every time a call for help is sent out, the Longxiang Army is always the first to arrive, and the Heiyue Clan collapses at the very touch."

"Over the past half year or so, the Baiyue Clan has already lost three strongholds with casualties exceeding three thousand people, yet the corpses left behind by the Heiyue Clan number fewer than two hundred!"

"You mean…" Shen Xing hesitated, "Xu Xuanwu is nurturing bandits to secure his own position?"

"It's possible!"

Yang Shaoyong said in a solemn tone, "No matter what, let's first find a way to plant spies under Xu Mujun."

"Fortunately, he has constantly been recruiting soldiers and buying horses, so it won't be too difficult for us to secretly plant spies inside."

"Alright, let's do it this way!"

The 6th year of zhengyong, January 30th.

Shadow Guards Chen Zhong and Chen Yi sent back intelligence that the two of them joined forces to raid and kill the Cuihua Sect Sect Head, slaying Yue Chong, the Sect Head of the Cuihua Sect.

The 6th year of zhengyong, February 9th.

Minister Miao and Shi Heilang joined forces to breach the Cuihua Sect, slaughtering over five thousand Disciples of the Cuihua Sect from top to bottom.

At the same time, they seized over two hundred martial arts Secret Manuals such as the Cuihua Sect's town-guarding divine technique "Purple Mist Azure Light Art", which were sent back to the imperial palace's Martial Treasury for collection.

The 6th year of zhengyong, February 15th.

Minister Miao killed the Black Dragon King, one of the eighteen routes of rebel kings of the Yong Province rebels.

The 6th year of zhengyong, March 18th.

Shi Heilang killed Wulongzi, one of the eighteen routes of rebel kings of the Yong Province rebels.

The 6th year of zhengyong, April 1st.

Minister Miao and Shi Heilang's allied forces breached the coalition of the six rebel kings of Yong Province...

The rebels of Yong Province were gradually pacified.

Over five hundred thousand captives and refugees were escorted to the Yong Province Grand Canal, joining into the project of constructing the Grand Canal.

Meanwhile, Zheng Yi was inside White Jade Capital, reviewing intelligence regarding Nanyue County.

"Xu Xuanwu is nurturing bandits to secure his own position? Secretly contacting the Heiyue Clan?"

Looking at the intelligence in his hands, Zheng Yi slightly furrowed his brows.

This Xu Xuanwu really does have problems.

Nurturing bandits to secure one's own position was originally a military general's most proficient skill; one might ask, among the generals and regional commanders serving outside, which one hasn't nurtured bandits to secure their own position?

Even Minister Miao in the past had engaged in nurturing bandits to secure his position when suppressing the rioters of Bin Province and Qing Province.

However, right now…

Xu Xuanwu utilizing the power of the Shenji Camp to heavily defeat Black Mountain Pass, and Wu Country ceding the territory of the Mang Huang Two Prefectures had already spread across the world.

The prestige of the central imperial court shook greatly, and the Shenji Camp also shouldered the power of firearms and artillery, making Minister Miao recognize the facts.

Now in Yong Province, he was extremely proactive in suppressing bandits and no longer dared to engage in nurturing bandits to secure his position.

As for Xu Xuanwu, he was far away in Nanyue County and might know about Xu Mujun heavily defeating Black Mountain Pass and traversing the Mang Huang Two Prefectures.

But as for the specific circumstances, he didn't understand them very well.

That was why he dared to nurture bandits to secure his position.

However… what was he trying to secure his position for?

His father was the number one general of Great Yu.

His elder sister was also honoured as Consort Xu.

The entire Xu Family flourished because of this.

And as the only son of Xu Mujun, his future was boundless; at the very least, he could attain the rank of an earl.

But at this moment, he actually wanted to nurture bandits to secure his position in Nanyue County?

This person… definitely harbors rebellious intentions!

Zheng Yi pondered slightly and immediately said, "Chengen, draft an imperial decree."

"Summon Xu Xuanwu back to the capital, hand over the Longxiang Army to his deputy, and We have other arrangements."

"Understood!"

The imperial decree was issued.

If Xu Xuanwu obediently returned to the capital, then everything would go smoothly.

From then on, he would obediently stay in the capital and not think about going anywhere else.

If he defied the decree and refused to return, that would prove he truly had rebellious intent!

"Nanyue County, Nanyue County…"

Zheng Yi took a deep breath and muttered, "It seems it is time to take a trip to the Mingyue Palace and see what is truly different about this Yuechan from Nanyue County?"

"As for her Love Gu, heh heh heh…"

Accompanied by Zheng Yi's sneer, one Blood Moon Gu after another suddenly crawled out from the void.

At this moment, the Blood Moon Gu were already of the third generation.

The number of third-generation Blood Moon Gu born was not large, only a little over one hundred, but their overall strength far exceeded that of the second-generation Blood Moon Gu.

Their skin was blood-red right at birth, resembling delicate little blood-colored jade pendant bugs.

After being once again refined by Zheng Yi at the cost of his vital essence, these hundred-odd Blood Moon Gu grew into adulthood, and their aura became even stronger.

A single Blood Moon Gu alone could easily pierce through the protective True Qi of an Innate Realm powerhouse and bite them to death.

In other words, in Zheng Yi's hands, there were over a hundred Blood Moon Gu whose power was sufficient to rival Innate Realm powerhouses!

The pity was that his mental state, or rather his Divine Thought, was not strong enough, allowing him to command at most ten Blood Moon Gu at a time.

The other Blood Moon Gu were always kept inside an insect nest he had specially built.

They were served daily with precious medicinal herbs and meat, tending to them with utmost care.

These Blood Moon Gu had all been refined with his vital essence, so they shared a telepathic connection with him and would not betray him.

Mingyue Palace.

Yuechan lay flat on the table, gazing at the bright moon outside the window, and said with utter boredom, "Little sister, I'm so bored. I want to go out of the palace for a stroll."

"I used to think our village was so boring, but I didn't expect that this huge imperial palace is nothing more than a bigger village."

"Elder sister, don't talk nonsense~"

Beside Yuechan, the little maid said in a low voice, "Didn't the palace matrons teach you before? Without Your Majesty's command, there is no way to leave the palace."

"Even if you go out, you'll just be caught back!"

"Hmph!"

Yuechan tossed her head high: "Wanting to catch me is not that easy!"

"Your Majesty? My husband, why hasn't he come to see me for over a year?"

"I didn't expect that the density of Spiritual Qi inside the Great Yu imperial palace is actually a bit thicker than even our Nanyue County. Having been here for over a year, I actually broke through my Bottleneck."

"Qi Refining Level 3, just like the High Priest!"

"If the High Priest knew this news, she would probably be very happy~"

"It's been a long time since I last received a letter from the High Priest~"

"Elder sister, should we call the beauties next door to play mahjong?"

"No! As soon as they play mahjong, they start talking about Your Majesty. They're so annoying…"

"How about playing Chinese chess?"

"I don't want to use my brain."

"Then…"

The two young girls simultaneously lay flat on the table, staring in a daze at the bright moon outside the window.

Just at this moment, a sharp voice suddenly resounded outside the palace.

"His Majesty has arrived~!"

"Your Majesty?"

The two women sat up with a 'swish', and the younger sister even stood up excitedly.

"Elder sister! Elder sister, it's Your Majesty! Your Majesty has come to see you…"

"Sigh…"

Yuechan lay boredly on the table and said, "So what if he comes? Right now, I can't even be bothered to see him…"

"Elder sister~"

As they were speaking, a figure strode in.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!"

The younger sister hurriedly bowed in salute, and Yuechan also had to stand up, offering a perfunctory salute.

"What is wrong with my Beloved Consort?"

Zheng Yi waved his hand, signaling the serving palace maids to withdraw.

Very quickly, inside the entire room, only Yuechan and Zheng Yi were left.

"I… This concubine is fine…"

As if it was the first time addressing herself this way, Yuechan was somewhat unaccustomed to it.

"Let Us guess… Are you homesick?"

"How did you know?"

"We are the Lord of Great Yu, naturally We know everything."

Zheng Yi laughed and said, "Right now, I can even guess what you are thinking in your heart."

"Oh?"

Yuechan grew interested: "Then tell me, what am I thinking?"

"You are thinking… of planting a Love Gu on Us, making Us like only you for the rest of our lives, right?"

Yuechan's mouth immediately opened into an 'O' shape, and she said in astonishment, "You, you how did you know?"

"Unfortunately, it won't work now!"

"What do you mean it won't work?"

"The Love Gu starved to death long ago~!"

Yuechan said helplessly, "Originally, I planned to plant the Love Gu on you immediately after coming to Great Yu, but who knew you wouldn't come to see me for over a year, and it's impossible for me to keep feeding it all the time…"

"So it died~!"

The corners of Zheng Yi's mouth twitched. Is this Yuechan genuinely innocent or feigning innocence?

Words such as assassinating the emperor, or rather controlling the emperor in disguise, could she just say them out so casually?

A thought stirred in his mind. Since Yuechan was so familiar with Gu insects and was also so bored, why not find something for her to do?

Over a year of time was enough for him to ascertain Yuechan's true feelings and situation.

A young girl sent by the Baiyue Clan for a political marriage—her future had long been predetermined.

"Chan'er, We have a good thing here. I wonder if you recognize it?"

"Oh? What thing?"

Zheng Yi flipped his hand, and a little bug, only the size of an index finger, entirely blood-red and as exquisite as a blood-colored jade pendant, quickly crawled up.

"A, a Gu insect?"

Yuechan widened her eyes, hurriedly pounced over, and grabbed Zheng Yi's hand to examine it closely.

Her pair of watery, large eyes were filled with puzzlement.

"What kind of Gu insect is this? Why is it blood-red?"

"It looks a bit like the Moonlight Gu, but that's not right; isn't the Moonlight Gu moon-white?"

"This aura… how strange?"

Yuechan looked up and down at the Blood Moon Gu, while Zheng Yi also looked up and down at Yuechan.

As expected of the Baiyue Clan's number one beauty, her figure was well-proportioned, her face as pure as a forest stream, and her body also emitted a pleasant fragrance of fresh grass.

Especially since she was currently wearing the Baiyue Clan's ethnic attire, revealing her tender white calves and arms.

From Zheng Yi's perspective at this moment, he could even see her quivering breasts.

For a moment, Zheng Yi's eyes were almost staring straight.

"This aura…"

Yuechan leaned in closer again, and Zheng Yi immediately felt his arm being squeezed into two bulging mounds of soft flesh.

"A Spiritual Gu?"

"This is a Spiritual Gu!"

Yuechan abruptly raised her small head, looking at Zheng Yi in astonishment: "Y-Your Majesty! Why is there a Spiritual Gu in your hands?"

"T-This is a Spiritual Gu that only Immortal Masters can raise!"

Zheng Yi's heart stirred: "You know how to refine Spiritual Gu?"

"I do…"

She nodded and said, "My Golden Silk Gu is a Spiritual Gu."

As she spoke, she flipped her hand, and a tiny bug resembling a miniature centipede suddenly burrowed out.

The Blood Moon Gu immediately detected a different aura, and the two little bugs instantly stared at each other, emitting a series of sharp hissing sounds.

"Little Jin seems a bit scared~"

Yuechan chuckled and hurriedly put away the Golden Silk Gu: "Your Majesty, the Spiritual Gu you refined is definitely very powerful; even my Little Jin has started to get nervous."

"This Spiritual Gu is called the Blood Moon Gu, refined by Us using the Moonlight Gu," Zheng Yi said. "Do you like it?"

"Mm, I like it!"

"If you like it, We'll give it to you."

"Really?"

"Of course, We still have a few more over there."

"Wow! Your Majesty, you are truly too wonderful!"

Yuechan hopped and skipped, saying, "According to what the High Priest said, you are my husband, and your things are my things, so I won't stand on ceremony!"

Looking at Yuechan, who was holding the Blood Moon Gu and couldn't take her eyes off it, a trace of mischievousness suddenly arose in Zheng Yi's heart.

"Yuechan, We have another treasure here. Do you want to take a look?"

"What treasure?"

"We have named it the Solitary Dragon Spear; it can be long or short, soft or hard, advancing it can single-handedly storm dragon lairs and tiger dens, retreating it can coil around a crouching dragon, and when the battle reaches its climax, it can even spit forth the essence of life…!"

Yuechan's big eyes instantly grew even brighter: "There is such a treasure? Quickly let me see…"

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