Nanyue County, inside a hidden inn, several figures were gathered together, suspiciously looking at the eunuch before them.

They were Embroidered Uniform Guards hiding within Nanyue County, suddenly receiving the decree to secretly investigate General Xu Xuanwu.

The Shadow Guard said, “I’m just here to deliver orders. As for how to proceed and to whom to report, that depends on you, gentlemen.”

Shen Xing immediately bowed and said, “Yes, Eunuch, we will discuss it among ourselves.”

“Hmm, then I’ll take my leave~”

The Shadow Guard murmured, then exited the room, blending into the crowd.

Shen Xing asked curiously, “What does Your Majesty mean by having us secretly investigate General Xu Xuanwu? Isn’t General Xu Xuanwu tasked with forming the Nanyue Military Region?”

“There are far too many people coming and going in the camp daily, how are we to investigate this?”

Yang Shaoyong frowned and said, “Due to Your Majesty and Noble Consort Xu, our focus has entirely been on the trace of the Baiyue High Priest and the Heiyue Race, and indeed, we’ve barely paid attention to General Xu Xuanwu.”

“But upon closer thought, there are indeed quite a few anomalies?”

“Oh?” Shen Xing asked, “What anomalies?”

“Why does each Heiyue Race raid always target the vulnerabilities of the Baiyue Race?”

Yang Shaoyong succinctly stated, “Furthermore, after each call for help, the Dragon-soaring Army is always the first to arrive, causing the Heiyue Raiders to instantly collapse.”

“In the past six months, the Baiyue Race has already lost three strongholds, with over three thousand casualties, while the Heiyue Raiders’ remaining corpses total less than two hundred!”

“Are you suggesting…” Shen Xing hesitated, “Xu Xuanwu is cultivating bandits to gather power?”

“It’s possible!”

Yang Shaoyong said in a serious tone, “Regardless, let’s find a way to plant spies under Xu Mujun’s command first.”

“Fortunately, he’s been recruiting soldiers consistently, which makes it not too difficult for us to investigate and place spies.”

“Alright, let’s proceed with that plan!”

6th Year of Zhengyong, January 30th.

Shadow Guards Chen Zhong and Chen Yi reported back, jointly assassinating the Sect Leader of Cuihua Sect, killing Sect Leader Yueh Chong.

6th Year of Zhengyong, February 9th.

Miaoo Xiu and Shi Heilang cooperated to overthrow the Cuihua Sect, massacring over five thousand from the Sect Leader to the disciples.

Simultaneously, they seized the Cuihua Sect’s supreme skills, including the “Purple Mist Cyan Light Technique,” among over two hundred Martial Arts secret manuals, which were sent back to the Imperial Palace’s Hidden Martial Pavilion for collection.

6th Year of Zhengyong, February 15th.

Miaoo Xiu killed one of the eighteen Rebel Kings of the Yongzhou Insurgent Army, the Black Dragon King.

6th Year of Zhengyong, March 18th.

Shi Heilang killed one of the eighteen Rebel Kings of the Yongzhou Insurgent Army, Wulongzi.

6th Year of Zhengyong, April 1st.

Miaoo Xiu, Shi Heilang’s Allied Forces, broke through the Yongzhou’s six Rebel Kings’ allies…

The insurgents in Yongzhou began to stabilize.

Over fifty thousand prisoners and refugees were escorted to the Yongzhou Grand Canal and joined the construction project of the Grand Canal.

At this moment, Zheng Yi was in Baiyu City reviewing the intelligence on Nanyue County.

“Xu Xuanwu cultivating bandits to gather power? Secretly contacting the Heiyue Race?”

While looking at the intelligence in hand, Zheng Yi slightly furrowed his brows.

This Xu Xuanwu truly has issues.

Cultivating bandits to gather power has always been a matter that military generals excel in. Ask any General or General-in-chief who served afar, who hasn’t nurtured bandits to gather power?

Even Miaoo Xiu once did this while suppressing the refugees in Binzhou and Qingzhou.

But now…

Xu Xuanwu, leveraging the power of Divine Strategy Camp, has significantly defeated Black Mountain Pass, and Wu Country has ceded the land of Mangzhou and Huangzhou Two States to the world.

The Central Court’s prestige was greatly increased, and Divine Strategy Camp, endowed with firearms and fire cannons, made Miaoo Xiu recognize the reality.

Nowadays, he’s quite positive in Yongzhou eradicating bandits, not daring to harbor the thought of gathering power anymore.

As for Xu Xuanwu however, far away in Nanyue County, he might know about Xu Mujun’s devastating victory at Black Mountain Pass and his dominance in Mangzhou and Huangzhou Two States.

But the specifics are not well-understood.

Thus, he dares to cultivate bandits for power.

But… what is he gathering power for?

His father is the number one General of Great Yu.

His sister is nobly an Imperial Consort.

The entire Xu Family prospers because of this.

Being the sole child of Xu Mujun, his prospects are promising, at the very least he could become a Count.

Yet now, why cultivate bandits for power in Nanyue County?

This person… must have the intention to rebel!

Zheng Yi pondered briefly, then immediately said, “Cheng’en, draft the decree.”

“Summon Xu Xuanwu back to the Capital City, the Dragon-soaring Army handed over to his deputy, I have other arrangements.”

“Understood!”

The Holy Decree was issued.

If Xu Xuanwu obediently returns to the Capital City, then everything will go smoothly.

In the future, he will stay put in the Capital City, and cannot leave anywhere.

If he refuses the decree and does not return, it proves his intention to rebel!

“Nanyue County, Nanyue County…”

Zheng Yi took a deep breath and murmured, “Looks like it’s time to visit Mingyue Palace to see what sets this Yue Chan of Nanyue County apart?”

“As for her Emotion Gu, haha…”

Accompanied by Zheng Yi’s cold laugh, several Blood Moon Gu suddenly crawled out from his cultivation space.

At this moment, the Blood Moon Gu are already in their third generation.

Although there are not many third-generation Blood Moon Gu, only slightly more than a hundred, their overall power far exceeds the second-generation Blood Moon Gu.

Their skin was blood-red right from birth, resembling delicate little blood-colored jade pendant insects.

Having undergone Zheng Yi’s Essence Blood refining, these hundred-plus Blood Moon Gu have reached a mature state, with even stronger auras.

A single Blood Moon Gu could effortlessly break through the Protective True Qi surrounding Innate Realm experts and bite them to death.

This means Zheng Yi holds over a hundred Blood Moon Gu, each with power comparable to Innate Realm experts!

Unfortunately, his spirit, or Divine Thought, is not strong, and he can only command up to ten Blood Moon Gu at a time.

The other Blood Moon Gu remain raised in his specially made insect nest.

Fed with precious medicinal herbs and meat, thoroughly cared for.

These Blood Moon Gu have been refined with his Essence Blood, hence they are spiritually connected with him and will not betray him.

Mingyue Palace.

Yue Chan was lying on the table, gazing at the moon outside the window, bored and saying: “Amei, I’m so bored, I want to go outside the palace for a walk.”

“I once thought our village was boring, had not expected this vast Imperial Palace is just a bigger village.”

“A sister you mustn’t speak carelessly~”

Beside Yue Chan, a young maid whispered, “Hadn’t the palace aunties already advised you, without Your Majesty’s order, there’s no way out of the palace.”

“Even if you go out, you will be caught back!”

“Humph!”

Yue Chan raised her head high: “Want to catch me, not that easy?”

“Your Majesty? My husband, why hasn’t he come to see me this past year?”

“I never expected the rich Spiritual Qi density within Great Yu Imperial Palace to even exceed our Nanyue County. In a little over a year, I’ve actually broken through my bottleneck.”

“Third-layer Qi Cultivation, just like the High Priest!”

“If the High Priest knew about this news, he would probably be very happy~”

“It’s been a long time since the High Priest sent us a letter~”

“Sister, do you want to call the beauties next door to play mahjong?”

“No! As soon as they play mahjong, they start talking about Your Majesty, they’re so annoying…”

“How about some chess?”

“I don’t want to use my brain.”

“Then…”

The two young girls lay on the table, staring absentmindedly at the bright moon outside the window.

At that moment, a sharp voice suddenly sounded outside the palace.

“His Majesty is arriving~!”

“Your Majesty?”

The two girls sat up with a ‘swish’, and the younger sister excitedly stood up.

“Sister! Sister, it’s Your Majesty! He’s here to see you…”

“Sigh…”

Yue Chan lay bored on the table and said, “He’s come, so what. I’m too lazy to even see him now…”

“Sister~”

As she was speaking, a figure briskly walked in.

“Greetings, Your Majesty!”

The younger sister hurriedly saluted, and Yue Chan had no choice but to stand up and make a perfunctory bow.

“My love, what’s the matter?”

Zheng Yi waved his hand, signaling the palace maids to withdraw.

Soon, only Yue Chan and Zheng Yi were left in the room.

“There’s nothing with this concubine…”

It seemed to be the first time she used such an address, Yue Chan was a bit unfamiliar.

“Let me guess… Are you homesick?”

“How did you know?”

“I am the Lord of Great Yu, of course I know everything.”

Zheng Yi laughed, “I can even guess what you’re thinking right now.”

“Oh?”

Yue Chan became interested: “Then tell me what I’m thinking.”

“You’re thinking… of planting an Emotion Gu on me, so I’ll only like you forever, aren’t you?”

Yue Chan’s mouth formed an ‘O’ shape in surprise, “How, how did you know?”

“Unfortunately, that’s not possible now?”

“What do you mean it’s not possible?”

“The Emotion Gu starved to death~!”

Yue Chan said helplessly, “Originally, I planned to plant the Emotion Gu on you as soon as I arrived in Great Yu, but who knew you wouldn’t see me for over a year, and I couldn’t keep feeding it…”

“So it died~!”

Zheng Yi’s mouth twitched, was Yue Chan truly naive or just pretending? Could she casually speak about such a thing that would harm or control the emperor in disguise?

He thought for a moment, since Yue Chan was so familiar with Gu insects and so bored, why not find something for her to do?

A year’s time was enough to understand Yue Chan’s true feelings and situation.

A girl sent by the Baiyue Tribe for a political alliance, her future was already destined.

“Chan’er, I have something good here. I wonder if you recognize it?”

“Oh? What is it?”

Zheng Yi turned his hand, and a tiny blood-red bug, about the size of a finger, as delicate as a blood-colored Jade Pendant, quickly crawled up.

“Gu, Gu insect?”

Yue Chan widened her eyes and hurriedly pounced over, holding Zheng Yi’s hand to examine it closely.

Her big watery eyes were full of doubt.

“What kind of Gu insect is this? Why is it blood-red?”

“It looks a bit like a Moonlight Gu, but that can’t be right, isn’t the Moonlight Gu moon-white?”

“This aura… so strange?”

Yue Chan scrutinized the Blood Moon Gu, while Zheng Yi scrutinized Yue Chan.

Truly worthy of being the number one beauty of the Baiyue Tribe, her figure was well-proportioned, her face pure as a forest creek, emitting a pleasant grassy fragrance.

Especially now, wearing the Baiyue tribal attire, revealing her fair calves and arms.

From Zheng Yi’s current angle, he could even see her tremulous bosom.

For a moment, Zheng Yi’s eyes were captivated.

“This aura…”

Yue Chan leaned in closer, and Zheng Yi immediately felt his arm pressed against two soft mounds.

“Spirit Gu?”

“This is a Spirit Gu!”

Yue Chan suddenly lifted her small head, looking at Zheng Yi in amazement, “Your, Your Majesty! Why do you have a Spirit Gu?”

“This… can only be raised by an Immortal Master!”

Zheng Yi’s heart stirred, “You know how to refine Spirit Gu?”

“Of course…”

She nodded, “My Golden Thread Gu is actually a Spirit Gu.”

As she spoke, she turned her hand, and a tiny centipede-like insect suddenly emerged.

The Blood Moon Gu immediately sensed the different aura, and the two little bugs stared at each other, emitting a series of sharp hissing sounds.

“Little Gold seems a bit scared~”

Yue Chan giggled, quickly putting away the Golden Thread Gu, “Your Majesty, the Spirit Gu you refined must be very powerful, even my Little Gold is getting nervous.”

“This Spirit Gu is called the Blood Moon Gu. I refined it using the Moonlight Gu,” Zheng Yi said, “Do you like it?”

“Yes, I like it!”

“If you like it, it’s yours.”

“Really?”

“Of course, I have a few more.”

“Wow! Your Majesty, you are so good!”

Yue Chan jumped and shouted, “According to the High Priest, you are my husband, so your things are mine. I won’t be polite then!”

Watching Yue Chan holding the Blood Moon Gu and not moving, Zheng Yi suddenly felt a sense of mischief in his heart.

“Yue Chan, I have another treasure here, would you like to see it?”

“What treasure?”

“I named it Dragon Slayer Spear. It can be long or short, soft or hard, can charge into a dragon’s cave alone, and when the fight gets fierce, it can even spit out life essence…!”

Yue Chan’s big eyes lit up even more: “There’s such a treasure? Let me see quickly…”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep