Chapter Forty-Two: The Onset of Trouble

The Next Day, Imperial Palace.

Upon receiving Duan Tianya’s reply, Zhu Wushi hurried into the palace to report the news to the Emperor. When he entered, Zhu Yu was chatting with Cao Zhengchun. Zhu Wushi wished to report privately, but Zhu Yu, fully aware of his intent, refused and told him directly that Cao Zhengchun was no outsider and that he could speak freely.

At these words, Cao Zhengchun straightened up inexplicably and snorted coldly at Zhu Wushi. Zhu Wushi ignored him completely and reported to Zhu Yu the news of the Empress Dowager’s death.

“What? The Empress Dowager is dead? Found at the State Guesthouse?”

Zhu Yu feigned a look of great shock at the report.

“The people from Izumo are truly wicked. Your servant requests permission to lead the Eastern Depot to hunt down these traitors!” Cao Zhengchun, having heard the news, eagerly stepped forward to seek the assignment.

Zhu Yu ignored him and asked instead, “Are there any unusual movements among the Izumo delegation?”

“No, everything is as usual.” Zhu Wushi and Cao Zhengchun both replied in turn with the same words.

At this, a faint smile played at Zhu Yu’s lips. He thought to himself, It’s not the same—today that Karasuma hasn’t rushed to request an audience as he usually does.

After pondering for a moment, Zhu Yu said, “They must have some plot for abducting and killing the Empress Dowager. In recent days, Karasuma has been at the palace gates requesting an audience every day. Today, we’ll grant their wish. I want to see what they’re really after.”

“Your Majesty, that must not be! Knowing full well the Izumo villains bear ill intent, you must not put yourself in danger,” Cao Zhengchun exclaimed in alarm, hastening to dissuade him.

“Director Cao is right. Karasuma’s martial prowess is formidable, and I have yet to fully gauge his skills. I beg Your Majesty to reconsider,” Zhu Wushi also interjected in dissuasion.

This was one of the rare occasions when Zhu Wushi and Cao Zhengchun were of one mind.

Yet Cao Zhengchun shot Zhu Wushi a sidelong glance and spoke again, “Your Majesty, rest assured. Should Karasuma make any move, I will use my years of cultivation in the Heavenly Gang Boy’s Art as a shield and stand in front of Your Majesty.”

Zhu Yu ignored their rivalry and declared, “My decision is made. There’s no need for further persuasion. Are you two grandmasters not capable of protecting me? It’s settled—be ready to seize Karasuma on my command.”

He ordered the two to make arrangements for receiving the Izumo envoy and had Eunuch Wu convey an imperial edict, summoning Karasuma to the palace.

With the imperial will set, Zhu Wushi and Cao Zhengchun could say no more. They took their leave and began thorough preparations for what was to come.

As Zhu Yu watched Zhu Wushi’s retreating figure, a cold glint flashed in his eyes. After returning to the palace last night, his anger had subsided, and reason had returned.

Once he became aware of Cheng Shifei, Zhu Yu realized this was the plot of “The First Under Heaven.” Though he had pondered half the night without recalling the exact storyline, he managed to sort through his thoughts.

From what he knew of “The First Under Heaven,” Zhu Wushi was a major villain commanding an organization loyal only to him; the protagonist was Cheng Shifei, who practiced the Invincible Diamond Art; then there was Zhu Wushi’s forbidden consort—a woman whose name he had forgotten, but remembered she was in a state of feigned death, required Heavenly Fragrant Cardamom to survive, and was Cheng Shifei’s mother and Gu Santong’s wife.

There were also sundry fragments of memory, but those did not bear recounting.

The key point was, even if Zhu Yu could not recall the specific plot, he knew that everything in “The First Under Heaven” was either directly tied to Zhu Wushi or shadowed by his hand. This matter was no exception.

After reflecting last night, Zhu Yu suddenly realized a serious problem: in the original plot, Zhu Wushi only made his move after killing Cao Zhengchun and seizing sole authority in court.

Now, however, things had diverged from the original storyline. Back then, only Cao Zhengchun stood in Zhu Wushi’s way. But now? Cao Zhengchun, Yu Huatian, Liu Xi, and even Zhuge Zhengwo—all formidable in their own right. Could any of them be easily dispatched?

Not to mention individual martial prowess; just considering the Eastern Depot, Western Depot, and Six Doors, these organizations were no weaker than the Dragon Guard Villa.

Openly contending for power, Zhu Wushi would have only the First Under Heaven Manor on his side, which was of no use in court. Should he reveal his ambitions, he would lose most of his support from the Manor and the Villa, leaving only his secret faction to rely on.

The difficulty had multiplied, proving that Zhu Wushi could not follow the original sequence—eliminate rivals first, seize sole authority, and then rebel.

Thus, Zhu Wushi had changed from a ticking time bomb into one whose explosion could come at any moment.

But Zhu Yu was no longer who he once was. Previously, he had thought to nurture Jiang Yuyan, letting two villains clash. Now, not only did he feel no fear, he was eager to test himself.

This was not only because the system could quickly enhance his strength, but also because Huang Shang, a grandmaster, was hidden within the palace. What threat could Zhu Wushi, a mere seasoned grandmaster, pose?

So what Zhu Yu cared about was not Zhu Wushi’s threat per se, but rather when he would reveal his fangs. As long as Zhu Wushi did not make the first move, Zhu Yu could not act. After all, Zhu Wushi’s cultivated persona was too perfect.

At present, Zhu Wushi was like a mosquito buzzing everywhere—Zhu Yu knew he would suck his blood, but unless the mosquito landed, there was no way to swat it.

Time passed. Cao Zhengchun arrived to invite Zhu Yu to the Hall of Auspicious Clouds, informing him that Karasuma was already waiting.

“Long live the Emperor!”

Upon entering the Hall of Auspicious Clouds, everyone present, including Karasuma, knelt to pay their respects. Only after Zhu Yu was seated did he gesture for all to rise.

“You have all traveled far from Izumo. I trust the envoy and Princess Rishuu found their rest at the State Guesthouse satisfactory?” After the courtesies, Zhu Yu addressed Karasuma.

“Thanks to Your Majesty’s boundless grace, all is well. My visit is not only to express gratitude on behalf of Princess Rishuu, but also to deliver a few questions she wishes to ask Your Majesty,” Karasuma replied, adding an unexpected statement.

“Oh? Speak freely.”

“Princess Rishuu has come to Jingguo to marry for peace, journeying a great distance to the capital. She does not wish to reside long at the State Guesthouse, but hopes to enter the palace. The reason she declined the marriage proposal from the Eastern Isles and chose to ally with Jingguo is her admiration for our civilization and etiquette. She hopes Your Majesty will wed her soon and confer upon her the title of Noble Consort, lest she be disappointed. Otherwise, I fear...” Karasuma trailed off, leaving his sentence hanging in the air.