Chapter 23: The Arsenal's Secret Manual
Flower and Calyx Pavilion.
Zheng Yi sat upon the dragon throne as Wang Zhonghai respectfully reported the affairs within Xingqing Palace.
“Your Majesty, the two hundred and thirty-five maidens who entered Xingqing Palace half a year ago have all been summoned to your presence. Thirteen have been granted the title of Beauty.”
“With the addition of the previous two Beauties, Xiao and Chan, there are now fifteen Beauties in the entirety of Xingqing Palace. I have already sent word to the Imperial Household Department at Taiji Palace for record-keeping.”
“Starting next month, the Imperial Household Department will distribute the appropriate monthly stipends and provisions according to the number of Beauties in Xingqing Palace.”
“Very well.”
“There is another matter, Your Majesty. With only thirteen Beauties chosen from among the two hundred maidens, what should be done with the remaining ones?”
“Let them remain in Xingqing Palace to serve as palace maids and attendants. Move them all out of the Beauties’ residences and arrange new quarters.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
Zheng Yi nodded. “And what of the other matter I instructed you about?”
“Your Majesty, the Taiji Palace Armory is now guarded by the Divine Martial Army at your command. Within are stored over a hundred and twenty martial arts manuals, gathered since the founding of our dynasty.”
“Over ninety percent have now been transcribed, and the remaining manuals will be completed within half a month at most.”
“Half a month…”
Zheng Yi asked, “How many of these manuals, according to the records, enable one to reach the Innate Realm?”
“There are three, Your Majesty.”
“Have they been fully transcribed?”
“They have, Your Majesty.”
“Once all the manuals are copied, deliver them to the Flower and Calyx Pavilion.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
Zheng Yi then inquired, “Has anything significant happened in the former dynasty?”
“Your Majesty, the rebel forces led by Yang Shaoyong, Prefect of Wildlands, and the Divine Martial Army under General Shen Tuhao have fought several fierce battles in Wildlands. The outcome remains undecided, and all eyes are on these events.”
“Oh? Who has the upper hand?”
“I do not know, Your Majesty.”
“And Luocheng?”
“Luocheng has once again been besieged by General Xu Zheng. Chong Heihu still puts up desperate resistance.”
Zheng Yi was silent for a moment, then waved his hand. “You may go.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Wang Zhonghai withdrew, while Zheng Yi gazed in the direction of Taiji Palace.
After more than ten years of war, it was by his hand that the nation of Yu was unified in the Central Plains.
Now, the people of Yu long for stability, and behind him stands the Changhe Sect.
Whether it is the Prefect of Wildlands, the deposed Crown Prince’s third son Zheng Hongyuan, Chong Heihu, or the thirteenth prince of the former Jin, Jiang, they are all like grasshoppers after autumn—incapable of lasting long.
His next goal remained unchanged: to obtain cultivation methods for true immortality.
For this, he had conceived another plan.
His ability to absorb spiritual energy stemmed from the Longevity Cultivation Technique. After infusing it with dozens of strands of worldly essence, he gained the capacity to sense spiritual energy.
If he were to infuse a large amount of worldly essence into other techniques, could he not perhaps push them to the extreme, transforming them into true cultivation methods?
Thus, he had sent people to the Taiji Palace Armory to take its treasured volumes.
That armory had been amassed at the founding of Yu, containing martial arts techniques gathered from all the sects under heaven—over a hundred in number.
Among them were not a few capable of reaching the Innate Realm, like the Purple Haze Technique.
When he requested these manuals, Emperor Wu hesitated, but soon agreed.
The originals could not be removed, but Zheng Yi’s men were permitted to transcribe them.
Over the past half year, aside from summoning the two hundred maidens to select those who could increase his worldly essence, he had spent his time waiting for the transcription of the manuals.
Two hundred maidens in half a year, but only thirteen possessed worldly essence and were thus granted the title of Beauty.
The rest became palace maids, serving him and the fifteen Beauties.
Regrettably, among all the maidens, only Qin Yuyao possessed a spiritual root!
This alone showed how rare and difficult it was to find someone with a spiritual root.
“In these months, I have neglected Yuyao in my search for those with worldly essence. From now on, I must treat her well…”
With that, he called out, “Attend me.”
“Your Majesty.”
A young eunuch hurried in, bowing low. “How may I serve you, Your Majesty?”
“Summon Beauty Yao to attend me tonight.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
The eunuch immediately accepted the order, then added, “Your Majesty, Beauty Chan has sent word that she has prepared for you a lotus seed porridge, which is said to warm the kidneys and invigorate yang, dispel cold, and drive away dampness.”
“Beauty Chan…”
Zheng Yi’s mind conjured the image of that charming, innocent palace maid, but recalling Qin Yuyao’s unique status, he shook his head. “Have her send the porridge here. I shall visit her another time.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
Soon, after bathing and dressing with care, Qin Yuyao was escorted by the palace maids to the Flower and Calyx Pavilion.
“Your humble concubine Qin Yuyao greets Your Majesty.”
“Rise, my Beauty.”
Zheng Yi quickly stepped forward to help her up, smiling. “On such a fine night, with the Imperial Kitchen sending Spring Apricot Wine, I am reminded of your sword dance, which lingers in my memory.”
“Might I ask you to perform another sword dance this evening, so that I may again delight in your artistry?”
Beauty Yao’s eyes sparkled and she nodded. “Yes, Your Majesty. I have recently learned a new dance called the Red Silk Sword Dance. Allow me to perform it for you tonight.”
“Hahaha, excellent! Beauty’s sword dance and fine wine—what greater pleasure in life could there be?”
Agarwood Hall.
Beauty Chan, upon hearing the eunuch’s message, scowled prettily. “What did you say? The Emperor asks only for the porridge—what about me?”
The young eunuch replied softly, “Beauty, His Majesty did not summon anyone else to attend him tonight…”
Beauty Chan’s eyes narrowed. “Who, then, was summoned?”
The eunuch hesitated. The matron behind Beauty Chan stepped forward, slipping a piece of silver into his hand. “Do not worry, sir. My lady only wishes to know which sister has been so fortunate as to be summoned to the Flower and Calyx Pavilion.”
The eunuch glanced around nervously, then quickly pocketed the silver and whispered, “Beauty, tonight it is… Beauty Yao who attends His Majesty.”
“Her again!”
Beauty Chan’s expression changed, but she quickly smiled. “Thank you, sir. I will send the lotus porridge to the Pavilion myself and trouble you no further.”
“No trouble at all,” the eunuch replied, bowing and leaving.
“Holy Maiden, what now? If we cannot enter the Flower and Calyx Pavilion…”
“Why are you so anxious?” Qiu Chan shot the matron a look and turned toward her chambers.
“The Pavilion is not going anywhere. There is time enough. So long as His Majesty summons me just once, I can use the sacred church’s Bewitching Mercy Powder and our sect’s charm techniques to confuse his mind.”
“How could an old man possibly resist the dual power of the Mercy Powder and our arts?”
“Then, not only will searching the Pavilion for the cultivators’ secret treasury be within reach—even searching the entire Xingqing Palace will be a simple matter.”
The matron laughed. “You are indeed thoughtful, Holy Maiden. I shall inform the Four Sacred Attendants and Elder Red Lotus to remain patient and await your signal.”
“Very well.”