Ming Imperial Palace.
"Eunuch Cao Zhengchun kneels before His Majesty. I have brought Liu Xi's head."
Cao Zhengchun trembled as he knelt before Zhu Houzhao.
"Toss it aside. I want none of Liu Xi's faction left alive. Did you hear me?"
Zhu Houzhao's voice was indifferent.
"Also, go receive one hundred strikes. Let it serve as a lesson."
"Always remember your place."
"If it weren't for your past merits and the fact that you served me since my days as crown prince, I would've had you executed alongside him."
Hearing the punishment, Cao Zhengchun felt relief rather than fear.
His Majesty punishing him meant the matter with Liu Xi had passed.
If there was no punishment at all, that would have been the true punishment.
Even the Head Eunuch of the Eastern Factory could have been completely stripped of power.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for sparing my life."
Cao Zhengchun wept with joy.
"Now get out and do what you're supposed to do."
Zhu Houzhao gave him a sharp reprimand to keep him from getting too bold.
He was not the same Zhu Houzhao from the drama series. With his current strength and position, killing a mere eunuch required nothing more than a word.
However, this one was still useful.
So he let him live.
The court needed loyal officials, virtuous ones, capable ones, and diligent ones. But it also needed cunning and treacherous ministers.
Cao Zhengchun was one of those villains.
There were some things the upright ministers could not do, which made him the perfect candidate.
That was Zhu Houzhao's philosophy when it came to selecting people.
———
Huaqing Palace, Inner Court.
This was where Zhu Houzhao's consorts resided.
At that moment, Zhu Houzhao strode in confidently.
In the courtyard sat a stone table, beside which a stunning young woman played a zither quietly.
She looked to be around seventeen or eighteen.
Delicate and fairy-like, her beauty was radiant and ethereal, with skin as pure as crystal. She seemed like a celestial maiden from the heavens.
"Long'er."
Seeing the young woman, Zhu Houzhao smiled with satisfaction.
"Brother Su Yi."
When she saw him, although her expression remained calm, a trace of joy still showed in her eyes.
Yes, it was Little Dragon Girl.
The current head of the Ancient Tomb Sect on Zhongnan Mountain in the Southern Song Dynasty.
Zhu Houzhao met her by chance during a journey through the Southern Song.
At the time, he had been heading to Zhongnan Mountain to explore.
Unexpectedly, the Quanzhen Sect was under attack from powerful Yuan Dynasty martial artists.
Even the Ancient Tomb Sect was caught in the chaos.
Both sects were nearly annihilated.
Little Dragon Girl herself was almost fatally wounded.
Naturally, Zhu Houzhao could not stand by. He stepped in and eliminated the Great Grandmasters who had attacked the Ancient Tomb.
He then took Little Dragon Girl away and personally healed her.
With his charm and skill, how could a pure and innocent girl like Little Dragon Girl possibly resist?
In a short time, she fell deeply in love with him.
And so, he brought her back to the palace.
She was officially made an imperial consort.
What about Yang Guo and his future story?
That was no longer his concern.
The consort Liu Xi had tried to kidnap earlier was none other than Little Dragon Girl.
He had wanted to use her to cultivate some so-called energy-absorbing technique. He must have had a death wish.
"Long'er, I'm sorry you were frightened before. That disgusting worm who harmed you has already been dealt with."
"With Brother Su Yi here, I'm not afraid. Besides, the Ice Lotus Heart Art you taught me is amazing. That eunuch couldn't hurt me at all."
Little Dragon Girl smiled sweetly.
Zhu Houzhao nodded in understanding.
The Ice Lotus Heart Art was derived from the Azure Lotus Immortal Scripture.
He had created it especially for Little Dragon Girl.
Liu Xi, being only a Great Grandmaster, could never match someone of her level.
Indeed, with Zhu Houzhao's guidance, how could Little Dragon Girl remain ordinary?
She had already stepped into the realm of Great Grandmaster.
Unless a Land Immortal appeared, she was in no danger.
"Come, I have time today. Let's train the Jade Maiden Pure Heart Sword Method together."
"I've improved the technique. It can now be cultivated even at the Land Immortal level."
Hearing this, Little Dragon Girl was overjoyed.
She felt her current life was countless times happier than the lonely days in the tomb.
As long as she could be with Zhu Houzhao, she would never feel lonely again.
———
Time passed by day after day.
During this time, the Golden Rankings had not opened again.
It will refresh in one more month.
Meanwhile, across the lands of the Nine Provinces, storms began to stir.
Undercurrents surged in every corner.
Even the Ming capital was no exception.
Capital City's Top Tavern.
Haozailai Tavern.
Countless martial artists came and went during this period.
Drinking heavily and feasting heartily.
It was lively and bustling.
Discussions about the major events in the martial world filled the air.
In one corner of the tavern, Iron Hand, one of the Four Great Constables under Divine Marquis Zhuge, sat in plain clothes.
Nearby, voices of various martial artists could be heard.
"Have you heard?"
"Under the full moon, Ximen Chuixue and Ye Gucheng are going to duel atop the Forbidden City to determine who's the number one swordsman in Ming!"
"Seriously?"
"Those two sure are arrogant."
"Probably trying to make a name for themselves thanks to the Hidden Dragon Ranking."
"The news is already spreading like wildfire. Who in the Ming martial world doesn't know?"
"Hmph, ridiculous."
"The Forbidden City is the heart of the imperial palace. They're openly defying royal authority. Don't tell me Dragon Guarding Manor, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Eastern and Western Factories, the Six Doors, and Zhuge Divine Marquis Mansion will all just look the other way?"
"With Iron Courage Divine Marquis and that eunuch Cao constantly at odds, and the Six Doors and Zhuge Divine Marquis Mansion also fighting behind the scenes, the Western Factory and the Embroidered Uniform Guard can't stand each other either. Do you think they care about martial arts duels?"
"Hey, watch your mouth! Even if they're infighting, it's not something we can talk about casually. Want to get yourself killed?"
———
Western District of the Capital, Yuelai Inn.
Ye Gucheng polished his treasured sword over and over, eyes calm and composed.
"Eunuch Gao, how are the preparations?"
Sheathing the sword, Ye Gucheng addressed a shadowy figure in the room.
"Everything is ready."
"Tomorrow at midnight, the inner palace guards will be drawn away for fifteen minutes. During that time, you can bring the young prince straight to the emperor's bedchamber."
A sharp and shrill voice responded.
"Good. Once I see the Ming emperor, I only need three breaths to kill him. Even a Great Grandmaster won't be able to stop me."
Ye Gucheng clenched his fists in excitement, his expression proud.
His eyes were filled with confidence.
The emperor?
Before his sword, he was nothing but a rotting corpse.
This duel at the Forbidden City was merely a legitimate excuse for Ye Gucheng to enter the palace.
If they succeeded in their plan, everything would change.
The entire Ming Dynasty would be theirs.
"Eunuch Gao, once the plan succeeds, the prince will not forget you."
"Nor will I, Ye Gucheng."
"Thank you, Lord City Master, for your guidance."