"Bang!"
In Kunning Palace, the Empress smashed the teacup in her hand onto the ground.
"What did you say? The Emperor Brother went to Consort Duann's place?"
"Y-yes, Your Majesty..."
The maid knelt on the ground, her delicate body trembling.
"Consort Duann, Consort Duann... Why did the Emperor Brother go to her?"
The Empress exclaimed incredulously, "Didn't he dislike her the most before, saying that she should obediently stay home and be a good wife and mother? How did he end up going to her tonight?"
The little palace maid softly replied, "I-I heard from the eunuch at the Imperial Household Department that the Emperor originally intended to come to Your Majesty tonight, but because Your Majesty just started your period yesterday, the eunuch removed your plaquem from the Imperial Household Department's selection."
"His Majesty casually flipped and landed on Consort Duann's plaque..."
"Ridiculous!"
The Empress clutched her stomach, her expression sour as she said, "Those useless fools at the Imperial Household Department, why didn't they remind me in advance!"
"Quick, quick, go put my plaque back up..."
In her anxious state, the Empress even forgot to refer to herself in royal terms.
"Absolutely not, Your Majesty."
The little maid hastily stopped the Empress, "Your Majesty, your period hasn't ended yet. You must not attend to His Majesty's bedchamber."
"Not only will it harm your health, but it might also displease His Majesty..."
"Ah...!"
Upon hearing the maid's words, the Empress could only sigh deeply.
She knew very well that what the maid said was true, but at the thought of tonight's honor being hers, while Consort Duann took advantage, she couldn't suppress her anger.
"Consort Duann, Xu Qingluan, I will remember this matter!"
She gritted her teeth and said, "Inform the eunuchs at the Imperial Household Department that when my period ends, they must immediately put up my plaque, understand?"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
...
Early morning, at 3:00 AM.
Xu Qingluan, dragging her inconvenient body, personally dressed Zheng Yi.
Enjoying Xu Qingluan's service, Zheng Yi felt a bit of pity and said, "Luan'er, leave such small tasks to Jian Yu and the others. You should rest a little longer."
Xu Qingluan's face was still a bit red, softly saying, "Serving His Majesty is my duty, I'm fine."
"Thank you for your hard work."
Last night, through the Yin Yang Treasure Mirror not only did he gain the cultivation technique Hundred Battle Blood Slaughter Saber from Xu Qingluan, but his root bone and martial arts talent also increased.
In great joy, he stayed on Xu Qingluan almost continuously.
If Wang Zhongyi hadn't urged him to go to court, he definitely wouldn't have gotten out of bed!
At that moment, he truly understood the meaning of "From this moment, the king no longer attends court promptly!"
Quickly tidying up, "Beloved Consort, rest first, I shall attend the early court."
"Sending off Your Majesty!"
After Wang Zhongyi led Zheng Yi away, Consort Duann also stood up with Jian Yu's support.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty, blessings to Your Majesty..."
Consort Duann's eyes showed some peculiarity as she said, "Years apart, His Majesty has indeed become so valiant."
"Especially... energetic, entirely not like the rumored weakness."
Jian Yu said, "Ah, Your Majesty, you don't often go out, so you might be unaware."
"Recently, there have been many rumors about His Majesty..."
...
Outside Xianfu Palace, Zheng Yi was resting on the sedan chair, Wang Zhongyi approached and transmitted in secret:
"Your Majesty, how was last night's enjoyment?"
"Thank you... Eunuch Wang, a humble servant will never forget it."
"Hehehe... For your majesty, a humble servant would go through fire and water. But... has Your Majesty's energy sustained amidst such laborious exertion?"
Zheng Yi was stirred, dual cultivating with the Yin Yang Treasure Mirror, without feeling tired at all.
Not to mention there were benefits to be had.
Being a bit tired, so what?
Wang Zhongyi continued, "Taiyii Dao, as the Daoist Ancestral Court, the Great Yu National Religion, has Locking Yang Secret Technique, said to handle ten women at night, Vajra Unfalling..."
Zheng Yi composed himself, solemnly saying, "Please, Eunuch, teach me."
Back at the villa, Zheng Yi once again looked at the Yin Yang Treasure Mirror.
[Life Master: Zheng Yi]
[Talent: Yin Yang]
[Lifespan: 24/95]
[Cultivation Technique: White Lotus Reincarnation Divine Skill First Level (100/100)]
[Hundred Battle Blood Slaughter Saber First Level (25/100)]
[Overall Strength: Grade Three]
From dual cultivating with Consort Duann Xu Qingluan overnight, he had unexpectedly gained 25 points of proficiency in the Hundred Battle Blood Slaughter Saber.
It must be said, the allure of Consort Duann.
Moreover, her constitution and talent were exceptional, arguably the best among harem women.
It appears that only by dual cultivating with women of stronger talent, root bone, and comprehension would he gain even greater benefits.
"It's a pity, Bi He is pregnant, the Imperial Household Department would never hang his plaque, my White Lotus Reincarnation Divine Skill is stuck at the first layer, unable to breakthrough."
"Must I truly wait eight or nine months until Bi He gives birth and finishes her confinement?"
"However, fortunately, there's Consort Duann."
"Hundred Battle Blood Slaughter Saber..."
This is swordsmanship, also an Inner Power Heart Method.
Created by the number one in the army, Xu Mujun, definitely the Slaughter Dao Cultivation Technique.
Infusing swordsmanship into the heart method is the most adept at combat killing.
In battles with others, the more one kills, the stronger he becomes, able to combine his own inner qi with evil qi, unleashing greater power!
Most importantly, this cultivation technique doesn't prioritize martial artists' root bone and talent.
As long as you dare on the battlefield to engage in combat with the enemy.
Then, the more you kill, the more inner strength, and the stronger your overall strength becomes!
Among the Great Yu Dynasty's hundreds of thousands of troops, at least half are practicing the Hundred Battle Blood Slaughter Saber!
Of course, the ordinary soldiers only practice the basic swordsmanship, lacking the Inner Power Heart Method.
But what Zheng Yi gained from Xu Qingluan is none other than the most authentic, passed down from Xu Mujun!
"Ordinary soldiers must head to the battlefield to practice the Hundred Battle Blood Slaughter Saber, whereas my battlefield lies elsewhere...!"
"Xu Qingluan!"
In the following days, Zheng Yi stayed nightly at Xianfu Palace, dual cultivating with Xu Qingluan.
Hundred Battle Blood Slaughter Saber saw rapid progress, soon advancing to the second layer.
He could feel a whirlwind of ferocious qi surrounding his dantian, ready for his command.
Meanwhile, the inner strength cultivated by the White Lotus Reincarnation Divine Skill obediently hovered in a corner, not daring to contend.
During these days, Zheng Yi also acquired quite a few insights about the Great Yu Imperial Court through Wang Zhongyi, the little eunuch, and the guards.
3rd Year of Zhengyong, October 13th.
Xu Mujun greatly defeated Wu Country's army, capturing Wu Country's border stronghold "Black Mountain Pass"!
From this point, Wu Country's interior was defenseless, tens of cities exposed to Xu Mujun's army's front.
However, just then, Yang Xuansu, citing 'urgent military supplies, two nations maintain good relations' in his memorial, sternly ordered Xu Mujun not to casually mobilize troops, and to guard Black Mountain Pass.
At the Imperial Court, Emperor Zhengyong flew into a rage.
But the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, using Qingzhou's civil unrest halting the transportation of military supplies as an argument, forced Emperor Zhengyong to order the troops to hold position.
3rd Year of Zhengyong, October 16th.
Yellow Heaven Army, White Lotus Sect, Celestial Destiny Army joined forces, launching a surprise attack on the Great Yu Army's camp, defeating the Imperial Guard led by Yang Guang, breaking through the Great Yu Army's encirclement, infiltrating Jizhou!
From then, the lands of Qingzhou, Jizhou, Haizhou, Binzhou, the Four Northern States, became a realm of rebellious citizens.
The Dragon-soaring Army was also compressed by rebels and Wu Country into Binzhou and Black Mountain Pass, with supply routes and support channels entirely cut off.
The Dragon-soaring Army became an isolated force!
Emperor Zhengyong had no choice but to issue twelve decrees consecutively, ordering Xu Mujun to withdraw troops and suppress the rebellion!
And amidst this chaos, Zheng Yi, relying on Xu Qingluan and the Hundred Battle Blood Slaughter Saber, ascended to a second-grade Martial Artist through nightly cultivation!