Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Cao the Traitor

Midnight.

Three figures—one large and two small—walked towards Qiankun Hall, flanked by several eunuchs.

Since the destruction of Jiaotai Hall two months ago, Zheng Yi had been residing in Qiankun Hall.

The number of Imperial Army and Embroidered Uniform Guard soldiers doubled.

Regrettably.

The Shadow Guard that Zheng Yi most desired had all been killed; otherwise, having a group of loyal little eunuchs guarding around Qiankun Hall would have been safer.

“Mother, where are we going?”

“Mother, it’s so big here. Is that a star? It’s Yu’er’s first time seeing it, so beautiful!”

“By the way, Mother, where is Father? I haven’t seen him for a long time.”

“Me too, me too~”

The beautiful woman hugged her two daughters tightly, unable to grieve in her heart, she could only console them, saying, “Your father… went to work for Your Majesty.”

“Really?”

“Is it the Your Majesty whom we are to marry?”

“Yes.”

The beautiful woman nodded vigorously, her eyes filled with sorrow.

She had long known of Dongyun Feng’s death, but such a matter could not be truthfully explained to her two daughters.

She could only hide this sorrow in her heart and raise her two daughters well.

Who knew that tonight, a eunuch suddenly came to her, saying that Your Majesty summoned them.

In her excitement, the beautiful woman hurriedly brought her two daughters, following the eunuch to this place.

After calming her two daughters, the beautiful woman walked quickly and quietly asked, “Greetings to you, Eunuch. May I know why Your Majesty has summoned my daughters and me?”

Liu Cheng’en, aware of his own standing, respectfully replied, “Madam, this servant is not sure.”

“However, given that Your Majesty summoned you at this hour, he must have his own arrangements.”

“Madam, you should ponder how to serve Your Majesty later~”

“Serve?”

The beautiful woman was momentarily stunned, then seemed to think of something, her delicate face blushing and paling alternately.

Her heart was desolate, yet she didn’t know what to do.

Deep within her heart emerged a faint… delight?

Their family was stationed in the Underground Palace by the Great Yu Imperial Family long ago, especially her husband who grew up there.

Day and night, they were taught how to be loyal to the Great Yu, how to be loyal to Your Majesty.

After decades of indoctrination, their family had already become Death Warriors of the Great Yu Dynasty.

Or rather… Emperor Zhengyong’s Death Warriors.

Even if Emperor Zhengyong wanted them to die, they would act without hesitation.

Just like… those little eunuchs did.

“Mother, what’s wrong?”

“Mother, nothing’s wrong, let’s hurry up.”

The beautiful woman pulled her two little girls and whispered, “Do you remember what Mother taught you?”

“We remember, we remember!”

“When you see Your Majesty, you must be respectful and obedient!”

“Yes, yes, and whatever Your Majesty wants to do, you must cooperate!”

“What Your Majesty says is the Holy Decree!”

“Your Majesty won’t be wrong… ”

The two little girls chattered, and the dark road soon brightened.

Qiankun Hall, they had arrived.

“Your Majesty, Lady Dongyun’s widow and daughters have been brought.”

Liu Cheng’en said respectfully, and the beautiful woman immediately heard a steady and authoritative voice.

“Come in.”

“Understood!”

Liu Cheng’en whispered, “When you see Your Majesty, do not raise your head, be respectful.”

“Yes, yes…”

Soon, the three of them walked into the inner chamber, where the lights were bright and the air warm.

“Your Majesty.”

“You may leave.”

“Understood.”

Liu Cheng’en withdrew, leaving only Zheng Yi, the beautiful woman, and the two little girls in the room.

“This commoner, Li Lizhen, pays respect to Your Majesty.”

“Raise your head.”

“Understood.”

Her beautiful form trembled, yet she slowly raised her head.

Under the bright lights, Zheng Yi was also moved.

Last time in the Underground Palace, the lights were dim, and his attention was on Dongyun Feng, so he hadn’t noticed the beautiful woman behind him.

Unexpectedly, this woman was so charming.

Just like a fully ripened peach.

A splash of red jade under a pair of curtains, drowsy eyes slightly hazy with wine;

Her white arms raised high, her body gracefully twisting, twin peaks pressing against silk robe.

As the saying goes, a woman looks best in mourning attire.

Dongyun Feng died for Emperor Zhengyong, and though Li Lizhen had passed the mourning period, she unconsciously wore a long, plain white dress.

Kneeling now on the ground, seen from Zheng Yi’s angle, she radiated an irresistible glow.

Widowed?

Beside her, two little porcelain-doll faces were lifted, Dongyun Feng’s daughters.

Evidently, they were beauty seedlings as well.

Well, no wonder in a past life everyone wanted to be Cao the Traitor.

It is truly… too tempting!

“Come in.”

“Your Majesty.”

Two little palace maids walked in and said respectfully.

“Take the two girls down first and have the Imperial Kitchen arrange some snacks for them.”

“Yes.”

Although the two little girls were full of interest and surprise, they still obediently followed the two palace maids down.

“Ahem…”

Zheng Yi lightly coughed and said, “Lady Dongyun, Dongyun Feng died suppressing the rebellion, and the instigator has already been imprisoned in the Celestial Prison. Soon, the nine clans will be executed.”

“I have avenged your husband’s death for you.”

Li Lizhen’s delicate body trembled, and she quickly knelt to the ground, saying, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Ssss…

This angle.

“Rise, take a seat.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Li Lizhen gracefully rose and cautiously sat on the nearby Eight Immortals chair.

Yet her mind remained tense, only daring to sit on half of the seat, with her upper body staying still.

Zheng Yi’s eyes were filled with greed as he continued, “I called you here tonight because I have important questions to ask.”

“Please ask, Your Majesty. I will speak of everything I know.”

“Do you know about your husband Dongyun Feng’s background, his cultivation technique, or any secrets of the Cultivation Realm?”

Zheng Yi suppressed his inner excitement and said, “Moreover, did he leave anything behind?”

“Calligraphy and paintings? Books? Jade pendants? Jade bottles?”

“I want all of them!”

“Secrets of the Cultivation Realm?”

Li Lizhen tilted her head and said, “Your Majesty, I know little about the secrets of the Cultivation Realm.”

“But when my husband was alive, he had me memorize a book, saying it was the ancestral secret manual of the Dongyun Race.”

“Ancestral secret manual?”

Zheng Yi’s eyes suddenly lit up and said, “Is there a book or notes existing in the world?”

“No.”

Li Lizhen shook her head and said, “My husband said, said…”

As she spoke, she carefully glanced at Zheng Yi.

Zheng Yi immediately said, “I pardon you of any guilt, speak!”

“Yes.”

Li Lizhen said softly, “My husband said that he once transcribed that secret manual, but it was destroyed by the late emperor, and he was punished by the late emperor…”

“Since then, my husband never dared to transcribe any book again.”

“I see…”

Zheng Yi tapped the table with one hand and said, “Can you transcribe it?”

“I can.”

Li Lizhen said, “But the book is lengthy and contains many obscure words and passages that are not easy to understand, I need three… no, one day to do it.”

“One day?”

Zheng Yi nodded and said, “I can wait for a day, after you return… no, just stay in Qiankun Hall, don’t rush, write slowly, make no mistakes, I can wait.”

“Yes!”

Li Lizhen quickly stood up and said, “I will obey.”

“No need for formalities,” Zheng Yi said. “Is there anything else?”

“My late husband once mentioned something, something about the Mayfly Sect, great changes in heaven and earth, the dispersal of Spiritual Qi.”

After thinking carefully, Li Lizhen said, “It seems he mentioned that the entire continent used to belong to the Mayfly Sect…”

“The Mayfly Sect?”

Zheng Yi was also moved in his heart. On the night Yang Xuansu rebelled, he heard Emperor Zhengyong mention the words “Mayfly Sect remnants.”

What is the connection between the Mayfly Sect and the Mayfly Tower?

Is the latter the leftover organization of the former?

Mayfly Sect remnants?

Could it be that the Great Yu Imperial Family, or other royal families of countries have records and books about the Cultivation Realm?

He was unsure because of his shadow status.

And also…

According to Li Lizhen’s account, along with his speculation,

this continent, or this continent in the past was a world dominated by a cultivation sect called the ’Mayfly Sect.’

But due to great changes in heaven and earth and the dispersal of Spiritual Qi, the Mayfly Sect collapsed continuously, subsequently invaded by other sects or forces.

Dongyun Feng’s ancestors were clearly one of those branches as well.

Ultimately, after thousands, even several thousands of years of reproduction and evolution, it became what it is now?

“Your Majesty~ This is all I know, and I hope Your Majesty will forgive me…”

“No problem, you have been a great help to me.”

All these matters need to be verified and investigated by him one by one.

Today, there was another more important matter.

Zheng Yi gazed at Li Lizhen with a burning look and said, “Meeting you today, Lady, is a heavenly blessing.”

He took two steps forward and looked down at Li Lizhen, grabbing her warm small hand.

“Lady, would you be willing to share a meal and a bed with me tonight?”

Li Lizhen’s whole body trembled, her heart was pounding furiously.

She looked at Zheng Yi in disbelief, then quickly lowered her head.

“It is my greatest fortune to serve Your Majesty…”

The red candle and warm bedding, the turning tides of passion.

An hour later, on the surface of the Yin Yang Treasure Mirror, a line of text caused Zheng Yi to suddenly open his eyes!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep