I have Immortality In The Cultivation World

Chapter 599: Chapter 438: The Substitute
 

Yichun Palace.

The dragon bed shook, accompanied by incessant moans.

After more than an hour, the noises gradually subsided, and Emperor Tianshun’s voice came from behind the curtains.

“Help me dress.”

The little eunuch in personal attendance pulled aside the curtains, and together with a few other eunuchs, they helped Emperor Tianshun put on his dragon robe, while another handed him a warm bowl of nourishing soup.

Strewn across the dragon bed were more than a dozen women, lying naked, still flushed with the afterglow of pleasure.

Emperor Tianshun’s complexion was sallow and dark, with dark circles under his eyes. He took the nourishing soup, drank it down in one go, and felt streaks of warmth flowing through his meridians, replenishing his vital energy.

Feeling slightly rejuvenated, Emperor Tianshun waved his hand to give an instruction.

“Take them to the warm room, and look after them well.”

The eunuchs standing guard outside the hall immediately entered upon hearing the order, and with a pair of them per silk quilt, they skillfully wrapped up the women on the bed and carried them away.

“I want to take a walk outside.”

With the support of the eunuchs, Emperor Tianshun walked outside and sat down in the cool pavilion.

It was deep autumn, the wind was cold, and the dew was heavy.

A full moon cast its silver glow, making the palace seem even more serene and chilly.

The little eunuch fetched a fox fur cloak and draped it over Emperor Tianshun, saying in a low voice, “Your Majesty, you should rest earlier.”

“How can I sleep?”

Emperor Tianshun sighed, “Even the common people know that of all filial piety, being childless is the greatest. If I have no son, the National Dynasty will be in turmoil, and I will have no face to meet our ancestors!”

When Prince of Pingxi rebelled, Emperor Tianshun had narrowly escaped an assassination attempt by the cult of Sanyang, but both his sons were killed.

Since ascending the throne, Emperor Tianshun had worked tirelessly day and night, but no one in the inner palace had conceived.

The Imperial Medical Bureau’s physicians had taken turns examining Emperor Tianshun but found no illnesses. They could only prescribe various warming and tonic remedies, to no avail.

Now, Emperor Tianshun even began to wonder if, as the rumors among the people suggested, he was being punished by the heavens for usurping the throne by killing his mother and brother.

The True Empress was in hiding, and the False Empress Dowager had been buried with the Orthodox Emperor. The epitaph on their tomb inscribed with a love that became the model for married couples across the land.

Perhaps in a few hundred years, there would even be poems and songs praising them.

The eunuchs on either side, upon hearing this, quickly comforted him with all sorts of auspicious words, more diligent even than if they were serving their own father.

“Your Majesty is the revitalizing sovereign, and our former emperors are too joyful to be anything else.”

“Only yesterday, it was said that General Xie had won a great victory. The Southern Border has expanded by thousands of miles, all thanks to Your Majesty’s efforts.”

“Your Majesty is so vigorous and powerful, beyond the reach of ordinary men; it must be those women who are at fault. Your servants will go out to the palace to find some more.”

“The ancient sage Qi Xia Zi fathered a child at seventy, and our great ancestor was sixty when Your Majesty was born; there is still youth in your favor…”

It was well known to all that Emperor Tianshun favored his eunuchs; by making them happy, they might become his adopted sons, and he might even grant them the Zhao surname, transforming them instantly into imperial relatives.

Only the little eunuch’s eyes flickered, and he remained silent, head bowed.

Emperor Tianshun, in truth, had no issues with his health; after all, the Imperial Medical Bureau was not lacking in master physicians. But it was his ancient ancestors who secretly extinguished his virility with Yin Sha and cold qi.

Ghostly entities manipulated the Yin qi of the world and went unnoticed by ordinary people. Only Martial Arts Grandmasters who had refined the Innate Qi could sense their presence.

Originally, the Inspectorate practiced the Epiphyllum Treasure Tome. Generations of Innate Grandmasters never waned. It just so happened that the National Dynasty had faced continuous turmoil, leading to the current situation where there was no continuity of leadership.

Some days ago, the little eunuch had offered an antique from the former dynasty and successfully apprenticed himself to Inspector Wang Gonggong, gaining entry into Yichun Palace to attend to Emperor Tianshun’s daily needs.

Once the time was ripe, the little eunuch would help Emperor Tianshun consummate, and with the method of substituting one thing for another, he would restore the country.

The endless flattery from the eunuchs lightened Emperor Tianshun’s mood, and he promised, “Each of you is my right-hand man. Whoever can give me an heir, I will make a delegate of the Inspectorate!”

“We thank Your Majesty and will do our utmost.”

The eunuchs thanked him for his grace, their surprise tinged with a hint of fear.

Who didn’t know that Zhou, the head of the Eastern Depot, used ruthless measures, and no one dared to point fingers at the Inspectorate. Even if they died, His Majesty would not inquire into it.

The little eunuch’s thoughts raced, and he tapped the jade pendant sewn into his sleeve. He soon received a response from his ancestor.

“Your Majesty, your servant has an immature idea.”

“Let me hear it.”

Emperor Tianshun had a good impression of the little eunuch; he was diligent and reticent, and his martial arts talent was also exceptional. He could be of great use in the future.

The little eunuch said, “Just now, Gonggong Yu mentioned these women are inept at bearing children. Perhaps we should find some women from outside the palace who are good at conceiving; they might extend the imperial lineage.”

Gonggong Yu found the suggestion reasonable but inwardly cursed himself for not thinking of it first, and immediately spoke up.

“Those women have already lost their virtue and have no right to serve Your Majesty, contrary to palace rules!”

While it was a good idea, since it wasn’t suggested by him, he had to oppose it.

An eunuch standing by countered, “What Gonggong Yu said is incorrect. Our great ancestor’s inner palace included consorts from the previous dynasty, and many were capable of bearing children. Could it be that our great ancestor also violated the rules?”

Regardless of the specifics, the first move was to put a big hat on the other party!

“You…”

Eunuch Yu was left speechless by the reprimand, and with a plop, he knelt on the ground, “Your Majesty, my loyalty has been as steadfast as the sun and the moon.”

“I know you are loyal,” the empress said.

Emperor Tianshun watched the eunuchs fighting with a smile. If the servants didn’t fight among themselves, they would unite against their master. He patted Eunuch Yu on the shoulder and said,

“Go and find some women of good breeding, and remember to be careful.”

“This servant obeys the order,” Eunuch Yu replied.

Eunuch Yu understood the implication of the words; this matter could damage the emperor’s reputation and must be carried out in secret, even to the extent that if a child was born of these women, it would publicly be claimed as born from one of the consorts.

Little Wu Zi kept his eyes downturned, showing no displeasure on his face.

Thus, Eunuch Yu’s work was made easier, and should any of the women become pregnant in the future, no suspicion would fall on him.

Emperor Tianshun was always observing his attendants, even when tending to his duties on the dragon bed, he would pay attention to the eunuchs’ expressions and actions. Noticing Little Wu Zi’s indifferent demeanor, he was very pleased.

“He does not rely on his merits nor harbor resentment; he is a fine seedling worth cultivating!”

…

The third year of Tianshun’s reign.

Neither windy, rainy, nor sunny.

The imperial court was in a strange but harmonious balance.

Inside, Tang Mingyuan was wholeheartedly carrying out reforms, from politics to the military, from the economy to the currency, his many brilliant ideas left the officials in awe.

Outside, the soldiers, relying on firearms, swept through the Northwest and the Southern Border, and the territory of Daqing Country expanded once again.

The Eastern Depot, the Western Depot, and the Imperial Household Agency were fighting among themselves while jointly monitoring the capital and local officers; though the bureaucracy was not entirely clear and upright, at least everyone was working.

The scholars’ dream of an ideal government, letting the world run its course, was just that.

Still waters run deep, shining without dazzling.

Anyone with insight could feel an inexplicable pressure, quietly restraining themselves and waiting for a dramatic change in the court.

…

The fourth year of Tianshun’s reign.

Spring.

The main hall of the Eastern Depot.

A sign reading “A High-Hanging Mirror Reflects All” hung over the door, and on the inner walls were portraits of Superintendent Zhou, alongside handwritten inscriptions by Emperor Tianshun.

His name would be honored for hundreds of generations.

Zhou Yi sat under his portrait, with his eyes slightly narrowed, listening to the head eunuch reporting.

“Godfather, another miss,” Little Ping Zi knelt and reported, “As soon as we received the news, we immediately surrounded Ling Yun Temple, but the leader of the Three Yang Sect and the Holy Maiden had already escaped.”

Bang!

Zhou Yi crushed the teacup, his voice cold, “Who leaked the information?”

“The Chief Punishment Eunuch, Eunuch Liu,” Little Ping Zi said, “We’ve already captured Liu’s entire Nine Clans, totaling one hundred and seventy-two people, young and old, just waiting for godfather’s order to deal with them.”

Knock, knock, knock…

Zhou Yi tapped the tea table rhythmically, watching the setting sun outside, pondering which character dared to secretly oppose the Eastern Depot.

At this moment,

an old eunuch came in hurriedly, relieving Little Ping Zi of his predicament, reporting anxiously,

“Superintendent, His Majesty has taken on another godson, Little Wu Zi, who serves in Yichun Palace. They say Little Wu Zi came up with the idea to seek women of good breeding from the commonfolk, and indeed, there is a pregnancy!”

The Eastern Depot’s spies were everywhere, and even the imperial palace was within its scope of surveillance.

Whatever Emperor Tianshun meant by acting ‘in private’, it hardly meant any secrets from Zhou Yi’s eyes.

Zhou Yi asked, “Is Eunuch Wu serving as an operative for the Eastern Depot?”

“Indeed,” replied the elderly eunuch and made a slicing motion across his neck, speaking coldly, “Superintendent, should we send Little Wu Zi away before his official appointment is made?”

“The imperial court, the Three Yang Sect, His Majesty, the Nine Regular Attendants…”

Zhou Yi felt an inkling of understanding and suddenly asked, “Little Ping Zi, do you really think His Majesty wishes to rule by doing nothing?”

“I… do not know,” Little Ping Zi replied.

He was instantly covered in sweat, not daring to answer such a question. Right or wrong, death would be the likely outcome either way.

“If it were up to me, I certainly would not wish for that,” Zhou Yi took a sip of the tea his godson handed him and said lightly, “It’s one’s own realm, whether it’s well governed or poorly so matters not; what’s important is to have the power in hand.”

“No matter how well others do, it could never surpass one’s own misrule!”