Chapter Sixty-Nine: Guidance

Imperial Palace, Imperial Study.

Zhu Yu sat in his chair, his mind restless as he pondered the murder of Consort Li. Even during the morning court, he had found himself distracted. It wasn’t that he harbored any deep affection for Consort Li, but this incident had sounded a warning bell for him, stirring up the old fear he’d felt upon first arriving in this world—weak, powerless, and suddenly exposed to the palace’s brutal reality.

Zhu Yu admitted to himself that after he’d so swiftly ascended to the rank of First-Class Superior and wiped out the Flower Shifting Palace with ease, he’d grown complacent. Yet, this event had reignited a sense of urgency within him to further strengthen his abilities.

He now saw things clearly—though “First-Class Superior” sounded impressive, it was meaningless before the true Grandmasters. Some might argue that in the vast world of the martial arts, among tens of millions, Grandmasters were but a handful, and aside from a few newly advanced Grandmasters, only a scattered few seasoned ones still roamed the martial world. In such a context, a First-Class Superior was already a figure who touched the clouds.

But one must not forget Zhu Yu’s status. Besides princes and ministers, those he associated with were all seasoned Grandmasters like Cao Zhengchun and Zhu Wushi. Zhu Yu might spare a glance for those at the First-Class Superior level, but for those below, unless absolutely necessary, he couldn’t even be bothered.

Noticing Zhu Yu’s furrowed brow, Eunuch Wu assumed the Emperor was still mourning the loss of Consort Li and stepped forward to offer comfort, “Your Majesty, please restrain your grief. Though Consort Li’s death is indeed grave, preserving your imperial health is of greater importance.”

Zhu Yu, whose thoughts had wandered far, was drawn back by Eunuch Wu’s words. He rubbed his tightly knit brows and replied casually, “I am fine, merely pondering who could possess such audacity to commit murder within the palace.”

Hearing Zhu Yu’s question, Eunuch Wu did not immediately reveal the truth, but after a brief pause, he spoke again with a gentle reminder.

“Your Majesty, though this old servant knows not who the perpetrator is and cannot offer you solace, I do have good news. Would you like to hear it? Perhaps it might lift your spirits.”

“Oh? What good news? Speak.”

The mention of good news immediately piqued Zhu Yu’s curiosity. The grief caused by Consort Li’s death lessened instantly, leaving only a faint shadow of sorrow for those who shared her fate.

“To report, Your Majesty, you have always been much concerned about Consort Yan’s progress in martial arts. A few days ago, while chatting with Chief Eunuch Cao, I learned that Consort Yan recently visited the Eastern Bureau’s secret prison again. It seems she has made significant progress in her martial cultivation.”

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yu was initially puzzled. Jiang Yuyan’s martial cultivation had improved again? Wasn’t she already at the First-Class Superior level? The next step would be… Grandmaster!

Jiang Yuyan had advanced to Grandmaster!

This was truly excellent news for Zhu Yu, regardless of the twisted state of the original plot. Simply judging from these days spent with Jiang Yuyan, her loyalty was beyond question—she was utterly devoted.

Zhu Yu, whose face had worn nothing but gloom since dawn, could not suppress the joy gradually spreading across his brow.

Yet, before that joy could blossom, Zhu Yu’s expression froze.

A serious concern struck him: Jiang Yuyan had broken through to Grandmaster!

He took a deep breath, banishing the smile from his face as he turned to Eunuch Wu. “Go and find out how Consort Li and Consort Yan got along.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Eunuch Wu accepted the order and went off to make inquiries. To his surprise, he soon uncovered real conflicts.

Back to Zhu Yu—his suspicions were not unfounded. Jiang Yuyan, with such a ruthless nature, might have changed somewhat under Zhu Yu’s influence, but one’s core nature is not so easily altered.

Moreover, Jiang Yuyan fit the profile of the murderer perfectly. She lived in the palace and would not need to infiltrate from outside, making her actions nearly invisible.

Furthermore, Zhu Yu had received no report of Jiang Yuyan visiting the Wen Yuan Pavilion, meaning she hadn’t gone to learn new martial arts. Thus, her only technique was the Art of Shifting Flowers—a detail matching Cao Zhengchun’s deduction that the killer knew no orthodox martial arts.

As for motive? Had it been anyone else, Zhu Yu might have pondered at length. But Jiang Yuyan? With her, any reason could suffice.

Not long after, Eunuch Wu hurried back and whispered a report into Zhu Yu’s ear, relaying everything he had just learned.

Zhu Yu’s reaction turned out to be quite different from what Eunuch Wu had anticipated.

“You say Consort Li used to flatter Jiang Yuyan, but now, thinking herself out of favor, went daily to Yu Xiu Palace to mock her and provoke her?” Zhu Yu looked at Eunuch Wu incredulously, seeking confirmation.

“Indeed, Your Majesty. This is well known throughout the harem; anyone could tell you so,” Eunuch Wu replied firmly.

Noticing the Emperor’s strange expression, Eunuch Wu ventured a careful probe, “Your Majesty, do you suspect Consort Yan to be the culprit?”

Zhu Yu chuckled, “Suspect? There’s hardly any need for suspicion. Frankly, Consort Li should have died long ago—how did she manage to survive this long?”

At the same time, Zhu Yu silently admired himself. This was all thanks to his own charm, he thought. To have made Jiang Yuyan restrain herself for so long—he felt genuinely proud.

“Your Majesty, you’re certain it was Consort Yan?” Eunuch Wu asked uncertainly.

“Yes, I am,” Zhu Yu replied, a smile crossing his lips that Eunuch Wu could not fathom.

“Then how does Your Majesty intend to deal with her?”

Seeing the Emperor sentence Consort Yan so swiftly, Eunuch Wu felt a surge of unease. Clearly, Consort Yan had truly fallen from favor; otherwise, Zhu Yu would never have been so quick to pass judgment in so grave a matter.

Originally, Eunuch Wu’s plan was to gently guide the Emperor to discover what Jiang Yuyan had done, weighing merits against faults and finally letting all end well. Now, it seemed he would have to change tactics—persuading the Emperor not to execute Consort Yan was now the most urgent matter.

Deal with her? Hearing Eunuch Wu’s question, Zhu Yu felt a headache coming on. He wished he hadn’t spoken so hastily; now, he had to figure out how to extricate Jiang Yuyan from this affair.

Then another thought came to him—how many more like Consort Li, foolish enough to court death, were there?

“Have there been many others provoking or causing trouble for Consort Yan recently? Aside from Consort Li,” Zhu Yu asked quickly. Though his harem was large, he couldn’t afford to lose concubines at this rate.