The next day
“Your Majesty, it is time to rise.”
Sheng Shizan glanced at the sky. Seeing that it was already quite late, he had no choice but to softly call from outside the hall.
“Mm, come in and attend.”
Though Xie Subing appeared to be asleep, in truth, after confirming that Lady Yi had fallen into a deep sleep, he had been cultivating all along—
Unexpectedly, breaking his pure yang body had greatly advanced his cultivation!
He had originally been stuck at the early stage of the Martial Sovereign realm for over a year. He had believed that with enough accumulation, a breakthrough would eventually come.
Yet after nearly two years of cultivation, there had been no sign of advancement!
This was precisely one of the reasons for the Taiyong Emperor’s recent irritability and violent temperament.
Thus, Xie Subing had planned to personally lead a campaign against Northern Shu, seeking a breakthrough opportunity on the battlefield. He had never imagined that after just one night of dual cultivation with Lady Yi, who possessed the Phoenix Bone Physique, his cultivation would leap two stages, instantly reaching the peak of the Martial Sovereign realm!
This was truly an unexpected delight!
At this thought, Xie Subing, who had been standing upright, suddenly turned and looked toward the dragon bed draped in pale yellow gauze. Inside, a small woman was still sound asleep, undisturbed even by the voices in the chamber.
“Azan, select two female shadow guards to follow Lady Yi at all times and protect her.”
He had initially considered promoting her rank further, but then reconsidered:
Lady Yi’s current rank was already the highest among the new concubines. Promoting her again would only attract resentment. With higher-ranking consorts still above her, it would bring little real benefit…
Thus, the Taiyong Emperor turned the jade ring on his finger and gave another order:
“Inform Nanny Luo. Send a senior female official skilled in conditioning the body to Yikun Palace to serve as chief matron. My legitimate bloodline must not come to harm. Do you understand?”
【If Lady Yi truly conceives, that will be my true golden bloodline!】
From witnessing the struggle over heirs between Consort Qi and Consort Rou during his time as a prince, Xie Subing did not dare underestimate any woman in the inner quarters.
The schemes of these women were no less vicious than his own.
Previously, he did not care whether those children lived or died—after all, they were not his. Prince Huai could seduce those women as he pleased. Aside from some initial displeasure, Xie Subing later paid it little mind. Compared to indulging in women, he preferred martial cultivation.
Thus, he allowed Prince Huai to fabricate excuses—
Treating him as a fool, claiming it was for his reputation and for the continuation of heirs…
In Xie Subing’s view, since he had no interest in those vulgar women, there was no need to force them into widowhood. Since Prince Huai harbored ambitions and sought to meddle with the harem, it was convenient—his “weakness” was being handed over for Xie Subing to grasp.
Why not take advantage of it?
Besides, wearing a metaphorical “green hat” was better than being questioned by court officials about his household affairs.
As long as heirs were born in the harem, any rumors would remain under his control.
Xie Subing himself preferred quality over quantity.
If he had not encountered Lady Yi with the Phoenix Bone Physique, he had intended to advance to the Martial Saint realm first, then fully expand the territory of Shangyi, making it ten times larger and the true foremost nation of the Martial Spirit Continent!
Originally, the only person he cared about in the palace was the Empress Dowager Yi. Now, there was one more—Lady Yi, Fu Lingxi.
Precisely because both were women of the harem, he believed their lives were even more difficult—
On a man’s battlefield, grievances were repaid openly, and battles were fought head-on.
But among women, the battlefield was silent—yet its outcomes were even more chilling than blades and blood.
“Yes, this servant will personally handle it. Lady Yi’s safety will be the top priority.”
Sheng Shizan lowered his head with a smile, accepting the order. It was clear that his master was in an excellent mood! Though his own cultivation was only at the high stage of Martial Sect, as the emperor’s close attendant, he immediately sensed the change in his master’s aura.
In his heart, he had already placed Lady Yi as the foremost mistress—
After all, her innate conditions were exceptional—the Phoenix Bone Physique!
This was a body capable of bearing a Martial Saint. No wonder his master could cast aside his aversion to women after encountering her!
Seeing the relaxed and harmonious expression on his master’s face, Sheng Shizan knew that Lady Yi’s future was boundless.
“Go carry out the task. Must you follow me to court as well? Let Lin Pingzhi attend instead.”
Xie Subing glanced at the dragon bed. Seeing that the woman had not been awakened, he did not bother reprimanding Sheng Shizan. Only after leaving the chamber did he issue the order, striding away swiftly.
This left Lin Pingzhi scrambling in haste. He did not have the privilege of attending the emperor at all times, and it was only thanks to Sheng Shizan sending a young eunuch to summon him that he managed to catch up at the Qianqing Gate.
Lowering his head as he watched the emperor’s departing figure, Lin Pingzhi felt uneasy:
Could it be that His Majesty was dissatisfied with Lady Yi’s service? After the palace was locked last night, he had not heard any unusual sounds from Zichen Hall… What exactly had happened?
Unfortunately, the keeper of the keys was not his man.
…
“Mm… Surang!”
Fu Lingxi woke groggily. As she moved, her whole body felt weak and numb. She instinctively called out a familiar name, but the moment she opened her eyes and saw her surroundings clearly, her voice caught—
【I’m still in Zichen Hall!】
Startled, she shot upright like a corpse coming back to life. The dragon bed creaked softly, and her faint murmur alerted the palace maids outside. Immediately, voices came from beyond the door:
“Has Lady Yi awakened? This servant is Hongying / Qingluo. May we enter to attend you?”
“W-wait a moment.”
Embarrassed, Fu Lingxi sat up and realized her clothes had already been changed. This time, instead of silver-red, she wore a fresh green robe… Adjusting her garments, she noticed that her body felt not only normal but full of energy—
【Eh? My cultivation… it’s really back to the Qi Refining stage!】
Though still at the middle stage of Qi Refining, she had indeed regained her cultivation!
This realization instantly calmed her. The unpleasant memories of last night were forcefully pushed aside as she composed herself and called out:
“This concubine is awake. You may enter.”
Fu Lingxi had no desire to see the Taiyong Emperor again anytime soon. Fortunately, there was no empress in the central palace, and it was neither the first nor the fifteenth day, so she did not need to pay respects to the Empress Dowagers.
After washing and dressing, she did not even take breakfast. Instead, she brought along two new palace maids and two boxes of jewelry and returned directly to Yikun Palace.
With the imperial sedan chair granted to her, she barely had to walk at all. From Qianqing Palace, passing Taihe Hall and arriving at Baizi Gate—
Once past the gate, she had left the Qianqing Palace grounds.
There, she saw Surang and Eunuch Fang waiting. Without troubling the Qianqing Palace attendants further, she returned to her own sedan chair and ordered a swift return to Yikun Palace.
As for Hongying and Qingluo, Sheng Shizan had already quietly informed her of their true identities. She directly treated them as first-class maids. After all, they were bestowed by the emperor. Without an empress, even if higher-ranking consorts had objections, could they confront her openly?
The greatest surprise was that the Taiyong Emperor had also assigned her a chief matron—
Nanny Rong.
It seemed that dual cultivation with the Purple Star truly had its benefits!