The outside world was full of undercurrents, but unfortunately, it had nothing to do with Zheng Yi.
On the night after the assassination, he was escorted to the Imperial Palace by the Imperial Guard.
Then he was accompanied back to his residence by a few little eunuchs, and promptly kept under watch.
Zheng Yi recognized those little eunuchs; they were the death warriors trained by Wang Zhongyi.
Each looked frail, but their actions were ruthless, like killing machines.
"The world is too dangerous, what should I do?"
He pondered this question even as he slept.
In his mind, the Yin Yang Treasure Mirror floated silently.
White Lotus Reincarnation Divine Skill!
Right now, he could only rely on this.
But... it required dual cultivation!
Moreover... there was only Bi He, a little palace maid.
Even if she possessed the White Lotus Reincarnation Divine Skill, she couldn't reveal it.
In the next few days, Zheng Yi continued to arduously train in the Five Spirits Body Refining Technique and the Eternal Spring Skill.
Then, he discovered something peculiar.
The Gold Medal Tributor, Zhao Wuji, who had been instructing him, disappeared and was replaced by another Silver Medal Tributor named Tang Jing.
Unlike Zhao Wuji, this Tang Jing was about thirty and very chatty.
When asked about Zhao Wuji, Tang Jing shook his head and said, "Unfortunately, yesterday, Your Majesty was assassinated, and Lord Zhao bravely stepped forward but was killed in action."
Upon hearing this, Zheng Yi was stunned.
The Zhao Wuji, who appeared so Grandmaster-like, was dead?
He was still teaching me martial arts a few days ago!
Thinking of this, Zheng Yi was even more determined to stay low and survive.
After all, dual cultivation with each woman increased lifespan, wasn't it akin to immortality?
With immortality in hand, he wouldn't take risks anymore!
However... could his identity allow him to continue keeping a low profile?
In the following days, Zheng Yi was always practicing martial arts under Tang Jing's guidance.
And through deliberate networking, he gleaned a lot of intelligence from Tang Jing.
For example, the Sacrificial Institute was an organization established even before the founding of the Great Yu Dynasty.
Every year, they spent a large sum to win over martial world figures and various sects, dispatching inner talents to serve in the Imperial Court.
Their tasks were simple: either protect the Royal Family or teach royal relatives and prominent families' offspring martial arts.
On the surface, it was so, but in the Martial World, the Sacrificial Institute was called the Imperial Court's hounds, with no great reputation.
Besides that, the institute was divided into Copper, Silver, and Gold Medal Tributors.
Newcomers to the Sacrificial Institute were Copper Medal Tributors, whose martial arts cultivation was at least around the level of a Third-grade Expert.
Silver Medal Tributors were evaluated based on task completion and strength, mostly around the level of Second-grade Experts.
Take Tang Jing, from Shuzhou's Tang Sect, he was also a Second-grade Expert.
Regarding Gold Medal Tributors, their martial arts cultivation was at least that of a First-grade Expert.
Grandmaster...
According to Tang Jing, nowadays, there were only two Grandmasters in the Sacrificial Institute, holding jade plaques!
Throughout the Imperial Court, these two only obeyed Your Majesty's orders!
Besides, there were many court gossips, strange anecdotes, which opened Zheng Yi's eyes.
For instance, the recent assassination, as investigated by the Imperial City Department, was committed by the Binzhou Border Army.
Emperor Zhengyong was so outraged at the Imperial Court meeting that thirteen officials above the Third grade were dismissed, including the Chief Magistrate of the Imperial Capital and Commander of the Imperial Guard!
Furthermore, he summoned part of the Dragon-soaring Army to Binzhou's aid.
The Dragon-soaring Army was Your Majesty's personal guard, also the most elite unit of the Great Yu Dynasty.
Thirty years ago, they expanded territories and seized Nanyue County, it was the Dragon-soaring Army's doing.
The Dragon-soaring Army's Commander Xu Mujun became famous in a single battle and now suppresses Nanyue County, making its old families dare not stir.
Now, to suppress the Binzhou Border Army's rebellion, Emperor Zhengyong had to recall Xu Mujun.
"Commander Xu Mujun is the first military god of our Great Yu; his strength was already that of a First-grade Expert twenty years ago, and he's almost breaking into the Grandmaster Realm now!"
Tang Jing, while drinking the Imperial Wine Zheng Yi had secretly saved, excitedly said, "Maybe he's already an Innate Expert!"
Zheng Yi, standing by, remarked, "An Innate Expert... How many Innate Experts does our Great Yu have exactly?"
"Hmm... As far as I know, the Sect Leader of Taiyii Dao should be one, and the largest organization in the Martial World, 'Mayfly Tower', should also have one, otherwise they couldn't remain unscathed under the joint encirclement of several countries."
"Mayfly Tower?"
Hearing the organization's name for the first time, Zheng Yi couldn't help but ask, "What kind of organization is that?"
"Hehehe..."
Tang Jing laughed, "Mayfly Tower, as long as you have money, they can get you anything!"
"You can consider it an intelligence organization, a business association, or even an assassin organization!"
At this, Tang Jing abruptly closed his mouth, blinked, and said, "As far as I know, the Angry-eyed Vajra Wei Yijin, who recently attempted the assassination of Your Majesty, was a Protector of Mayfly Tower!"
"Hiss... I see..."
Zheng Yi took a sip of Imperial Wine and murmured, "This Mayfly Tower is indeed peculiar."
3rd Year of Zhengyong, on the third day of August.
Commander Xu Mujun personally led the Dragon-soaring Army into Binzhou.
In the first battle, he beheaded the leader of the Binzhou rebels, Huang Fuzhi, and slaughtered seventy thousand border troops, shocking the court and the public.
For a time, impeachment memorials against Xu Mujun flew into the Great Yu Court like snowflakes.
Yet Emperor Zhengyong seemed blind to them, showing no reaction to the full-scale protest from civil and military officials, continuing to send troops and supplies to support Xu Mujun.
Moreover, he appointed Xu Mujun as the governor overseeing three states, Bin, Liang, and Ji, granting him full military command over all three.
Momentarily, Xu Mujun became the center of attention, with the world watching.
In just half a month, Xu Mujun swept the chaotic troops in Binzhou like autumn winds sweeping leaves, and engaged in a standoff with Wu Country's Third Prince at Tianbai Mountain.
A few days later, battle reports came.
Xu Mujun decisively defeated Wu Country's army, beheaded three First-grade Experts from Wu Country, and seriously injured Wu Country's Grandmaster, the Master of Yin Mountain, Mo Qingshang!
Subsequently, Xu Mujun personally led his army to reclaim twelve cities in Binzhou and invaded Wu Country's territory.
The news spread, and the nation celebrated, shocking the court and the public.
Emperor Zhengyong too was jubilant, laughing repeatedly in the Imperial Court, issuing several decrees in succession.
At this time, however, a piece of news that shocked the world and caught countless officials' attention spread from within the palace.
The current Emperor, Zheng Yuanluo of the third year of Zhengyong's reign, was a Celestial Eunuch and could not bear offspring!
The source of this news was very secretive, yet it spread swiftly throughout the capital.
Within days, it spread to surrounding states and even neighboring countries knew.
"Your Majesty is a Celestial Eunuch? Is it true?"
"Of course it's true! The Emperor is nearly thirty and still has no children..."
"I heard the concubines in the harem are still virgins."
"I've heard the current Emperor favors men; otherwise, why are there so many eunuchs in the palace?"
"Hehehehe..."
The rumors spread like a storm throughout the Great Yu.
In the court, in the temple, in the Martial Arts, everywhere people were discussing this matter.
Royal relatives, high officials, wealthy businessmen, traders, almost everyone was either worried, excited, or intrigued.
And during the escalation of these rumors, the palace remained calm.
"Bastards!"
"Damn it!"
"All deserve to die!!!"
In Jiaotai Hall, Emperor Zhengyong furiously swiped all the memorials on the table to the ground and viciously shouted, "Investigate! Find out for me!"
"Where did the rumors come from, leave no one untouched!"
"Arrest them all! Arrest them all...!"
"Yes, yes, Your Majesty! This official will do it, will do it now!"
Below the grand hall, the Commander of the Imperial City Department, Ma Jinwu, wiped his sweat, hastily retreating.
In so many years, he had never seen His Majesty so furious.
Could it be...
That matter was true?
After Ma Jinwu left, Emperor Zhengyong collapsed powerlessly onto the ground, like a deflated balloon.
"Grand Companion, who do you think leaked this matter?"