Chapter 87: Chapter 65: Noble Consort Cui’s Secret (Part 3)

Before long, a beggar came to the place, and while no one was looking, he took the secret message and delivered it to a hidden location.

The secret message went round and round and eventually ended up in an institution just south of the Imperial Palace.

Embroidered Uniform Guard!

The Embroidered Uniform Guard, established two years ago, had already infiltrated the residences of numerous officials above the sixth rank in the city.

Especially for officials above the second rank, each household had at least three or four spies from the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard knew clearly where these officials slept with their concubines at night, what they ate, and even what underwear they wore.

The reason they hadn’t been dealt with yet was simply because the time was not right.

Right on this night, inside Qiankun Hall, Zheng Yi was reviewing a small booklet in his hands.

After he left the Capital City to head for Jinghuang Peak, information on every move of Noble Consort Cui, gathered by the two Shadow Guards, reached him.

As Zheng Yi flipped through it, his eyes gradually changed from calm to strange, from strange to speculative, and finally into confusion.

“Fourth Year of Zhengyong, November 21st. Noble Consort Cui washed up at 3:00 AM and sat quietly outside Jiaofang Hall, had lunch at Noon, and retired at 7:00 PM.”

“Fourth Year of Zhengyong, November 22nd. Noble Consort Cui washed up at 3:00 AM and sat quietly outside Jiaofang Hall, read and practiced calligraphy at 7:00 AM, and retired at 7:00 PM.”

“…”

“Fourth Year of Zhengyong, November 28th. Noble Consort Cui washed up at 3:00 AM and sat quietly outside Jiaofang Hall, read and practiced calligraphy at 7:00 AM, had lunch at Noon, and retired at 7:00 PM.”

“…”

Looking at these records, Zheng Yi’s brows furrowed into a character ’川’.

These journal-like contents…is this Noble Consort Cui’s day?

It’s too regular!

Wash up at 3:00 AM, then sit quietly outside Jiaofang Hall, after which read and practice calligraphy at 7:00 AM, truly from a scholarly family.

Hmm?

No, that’s not right!

Zheng Yi’s gaze suddenly moved, carefully examining the records.

“She mostly wakes up around four or five in the morning to meditate, but…what about meals?”

“Does she only eat one meal a day?”

“Moreover, it’s once every four or five days? What’s going on?”

In these recorded details, Noble Consort Cui mostly spends time sitting quietly, reading, practicing calligraphy, and occasionally taking walks in places like the Imperial Garden.

But the key event of eating, which is paramount to people, happens very infrequently.

Basically, she eats once every four or five days, and the meal is very simple.

Zheng Yi knew that whether low-grade or high-grade martial artists, they must eat to maintain vigor and abundant qi and blood.

Some martial artists can even consume twenty pounds of beef in one meal!

Only by eating well can the essence of food be transformed into one’s own qi and blood and energy.

But Noble Consort Cui is not a martial artist, she indeed doesn’t need to eat too much.

But she can’t eat so little!

If so little…one would starve to death!

“Unless…”

“Fasting!”

Zheng Yi recalled that only the legendary immortal cultivators did not need to frequently consume mundane food, relying only on breathing in Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.

Like Zhao Xizheng, who, when closed in cultivation for years, didn’t require a bite to eat.

When he emerged and ate, it was merely to satisfy a craving.

Additionally, he had fasting pills, taking just one could stave off hunger for seven days.

“Could it be…Noble Consort Cui is also a cultivator, using fasting pills or other methods, eating just one meal every four or five days?”

“And was that night I suddenly fell asleep also her doing?”

“Using cultivation items to make me fall unconscious?”

At this point, Zheng Yi could only speculate in such a way.

“Fortunately, she holds no malice against me, or else I would have been in trouble that night.”

Noble Consort Cui is a cultivator!

This revelation was undoubtedly monumental for Zheng Yi.

Whether it was good or bad news depended on Noble Consort Cui’s intentions.

But for now, it didn’t seem like bad news.

“Noble Consort Cui…she’s a cultivator hiding within the palace, what secret does she hold?”

“Is she deeply hidden among the masses?”

“No, that can’t be right!”

Zheng Yi frowned and said, “According to Elder Celestial Master Zhao Xi, the harem is a mundane environment with thin spiritual energy, unsuitable for providing cultivators with qi for cultivation…”

“Hmm? Wait, something’s not right!”

“My Pure Yin Qi!”

“Chen Liancang and Prince Xian have both broken through to the Innate Realm relying on Pure Yin Qi, how could she, as a cultivator, be unaware?”

“Unless…”

Zheng Yi muttered, “Could it be that Noble Consort Cui’s identity as a cultivator is still budding? Merely a novice?”

“Has she also stumbled upon a cultivation legacy by accident? And because of her status as a noble consort, she must stay in the harem?”

“Moreover, she’s been in the palace for four years now; everything seems normal, without a trace of a cultivator’s demeanor, living reclusively…”

“If that’s the case, then it all makes sense.”

Zheng Yi took a long breath, having searched for immortals for two years, returning empty-handed.

Little did he know there was a cultivator hiding right by his side!

Noble Consort Cui!

“First of all, it’s confirmed she won’t harm me; does she want to coexist peacefully with me?”

“Or is it that she can’t resist mundane luxury?”

In his heart, Zheng Yi was slowly formulating a way to handle Noble Consort Cui.

Only a novice cultivator, her power at most rivaling Chen Liancang and others, and she bore no malice toward him.

A person like this could be approached gradually.

After all, her status was that of a noble consort!

The Emperor’s consort!

“No, there’s still a possibility of trouble; I must first enhance my strength!”

Zheng Yi immediately said, “If I can advance to the Innate Realm’s power, then with Chen Liancang by my side and ten Blood Moon Gu, Noble Consort Cui would pose no threat.”

“Concubine selection…!”

“Use the selection of concubine candidates to enhance my strength!”

Zheng Yi’s eyes brightened and said, “Looks like I need to urge the Imperial Household; why is the concubine selection taking so long?”

“After the New Year, I’ll greatly expand the harem and bring the concubine candidates into the palace!”

“And who knows, among this batch of concubine candidates, maybe there’s a lady who will please me.”

“Baihua Sect’s Zhuu Wanwan?”

“Compassion Temple’s Qin Qingxuan?”

“Nanyue’s Yue Chan?”

“And the female crown from Taiyii Dao?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep