On our wedding night, my wife acted strangely.

A noble concubine, exchanging fifty pigs for something? This isn't just slapping the emperor in the face!

Isn't this just slapping yourself in the face too? She's your mother-in-law, after all.

But then I thought about it again and realized that Lin Yi's move was absolutely vicious.

What is the palace most lacking right now?

It's not gold and silver jewelry, but food and drink!

Nangong Xiong was so angry that he vomited blood. The imperial physician prescribed a medicine, saying that he must eat meat to replenish his qi and blood, otherwise his body would not be able to withstand it.

When we got to the imperial kitchen, we couldn't find any meat, let alone a large bone.

A couple of days ago, a few eunuchs caught a stray cat in the Imperial Garden. They didn't care whether the meat was sour or not, and just roasted and ate it.

As a result, Nangong Xiong smelled the stench and, enraged, ordered those eunuchs to be beaten to death.

For no other reason than that these little bastards didn't give him a single bite.

There are fifty pigs now!

White, fatty meat!

If they can really be sent in, not only will Nangong Xiong be able to replenish his body, but his godson subordinates will also be able to have a taste of the broth, right?

I'm getting old, so it doesn't matter if I eat one more or one less bite, but it doesn't matter to my sons.

They are at the age when they are growing.

Most importantly, if you don't even feed them properly, how can they be expected to work hard for you?

But the question is, how do I bring this up with Nangong Xiong?

He knew Old Deng's temper best; he was extremely proud and had a strong sense of self-esteem.

If you were to tell him directly that Lin Yi traded fifty pigs for his wife, he would be so angry that he would draw his sword and kill someone on the spot.

Sun Fu paced back and forth in place.

The situation is too chaotic right now. Lin Yi is all-powerful outside, while Nangong Xiong is just barely surviving inside.

He had to walk a tightrope between the two, not offending Lin Yi, but also keeping Nangong Xiong, his nominal master, in check.

"Fifty pigs...fifty pigs..." Sun Fu muttered to himself, then his eyes suddenly lit up.

Got it!

This matter cannot be stated bluntly; it must be addressed indirectly.

Nangong Xiong needed to feel that he earned those fifty pigs through his own efforts, rather than that Lin Yi had given them to him as charity.

This deal needs to be packaged as a political game.

Ha ha ha ha...

Sun Fu sneered, folded the letter again, straightened his clothes, and took small, quick steps toward the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Walking along the alleyway reserved for eunuchs and palace maids.

The alley was narrow and long, with towering red walls on both sides, making it feel suffocating to walk through it.

As Sun Fu walked along this path, he felt no sense of oppression. He was already used to this darkness and confinement.

In the palace, survival and climbing the ranks are the only true principles.

As he passed a corner, he saw several palace maids squatting in the corner digging for wild vegetables.

The wild vegetables were dry and withered, their roots barely grown, and the women were emaciated from hunger, their eyes gleaming with a green light.

Sun Fu sneered.

Ha, so this is imperial power?

Is this the empire that Nangong Xiong is desperately protecting?

How can we talk about the big picture when we can't even get a decent meal?

Lin Yi had only been without food for a few months, yet the palace had become a living hell.

......

Outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, the sun shone brightly in the sky, making the bluestone pavement scorching hot.

Several uninjured princes knelt properly outside the palace.

The eldest prince, Nangong Ao, is crippled, as is the fourth prince, Nangong Jin. Now kneeling here are the third prince, Nangong Yu, the fifth prince, Nangong Chen, and a few other princes who are a little younger.

The Second Prince, Nangong Jie, didn't come; he's out handling some matters.

These princes were ostensibly there to pay their respects and pray for the emperor's well-being, but in reality, each of them had their own agenda.

Nangong Yu's knees ached from kneeling, and his forehead was covered in sweat. He quietly shifted his body and lowered his voice to Nangong Chen beside him, saying, "Fifth brother, do you think Father... can pull through this time?"

Nangong Chen was startled and quickly looked around before saying irritably.

"Third brother, what nonsense are you talking about! If this gets back inside, we'll both lose our heads! Besides, Father is incredibly blessed; this is just a case of anger and anxiety. He'll be fine after a few days of rest."

"Come on, there are no outsiders here. The imperial physicians have been coming in and out so many times, and they all look worried. That scoundrel Lin Yi stole all three million taels of military funds, and Father Emperor doesn't even have enough money for his coffin. How can he swallow this? I heard that Father Emperor vomited blood again last night."

Nangong Chen paused for a moment, his eyes flickering.

Actually, he was even more anxious than Nangong Yu.

If Nangong Xiongzhen passes away, who will sit on the throne?

Logically speaking, with the eldest and fourth brothers both useless and the third brother a good-for-nothing, the only ones with a big mouth now are Nangong Jie and him.

However, Nangong Jie had been rejected by his father in his early years, so this was his best chance.

But when Nangong Chen thought of Lin Yi, he felt that the throne was a hot potato.

Whoever sits on it becomes Lin Yi's puppet, and even that puppetry won't last long.

"Third Brother, the situation is unclear right now. Let's talk less and kowtow more. Lin Yi is watching outside. Let's not cause trouble at this critical juncture," Nangong Chen advised.

Nangong Yu complained, "Trouble? We can't even get enough to eat right now, what are we afraid of? Look at what we're dressed like, we don't look like princes at all! Yesterday, the servants in my manor actually fought over half a stale bun! When will this ever end!"

Because the Ninth Prince's Mansion and the Imperial Palace were connected by a palace road, Lin Yi sealed off the Imperial Palace, which naturally also sealed off the Ninth Prince's Mansion.

Several young princes listened from behind and echoed in hushed tones, each with a worried expression.

Just then, Sun Fu came over from the alleyway with small, quick steps.

The princes swarmed around him as if he were their savior.

"Chief Steward Sun! How is Father Emperor today? Is he feeling any better?"

"Chief Steward Sun, we brothers have been kneeling here all morning. Could Father Emperor please grant us an audience? We are truly worried about His Majesty's health."

Sun Fu flicked his whisk and said in an official tone, "Oh dear, Your Highnesses, you are really making this old servant feel bad. His Majesty is currently unwell, and the imperial physician has instructed that he must rest quietly and not be disturbed in the slightest. This old servant will certainly convey your filial piety. It's just that I won't be able to see you for the time being."

Nangong Yu grew anxious: "Chief Steward Sun, tell us the truth, how badly is Father Emperor injured? And... has Lin Yi made any moves?"

Sun Fu sneered inwardly.

These idiots, their father is about to die, and they're still scheming about these things.

"Your Highness, you can't ask such questions. His Majesty only caught a slight cold, and coupled with the burden of state affairs, that's why he fell ill. As for the Regent... this old servant is just a lowly servant; how would I know about what's going on outside?"

Nangong Chen could tell that Sun Fu didn't want to say more, so he took out a jade thumb ring from his pocket and quietly put it into Sun Fu's hand.

"Steward Sun, we brothers are only thinking of the well-being of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Please put in a good word for us before the Emperor. If the Emperor has any decrees, please inform us immediately, Steward Sun."

Sun Fu could tell from a casual squeeze that the jade thumb ring was of good quality.

Although the gold and silver in the palace are worthless now, it's always good to keep them.

So he casually slipped the ring into his sleeve, not bothering to hide it in front of the princes.

Giving gifts to eunuchs is not shameful.

"Your Highness is too kind. This old servant is His Majesty's servant and will naturally serve His Majesty with all my heart. Your Highnesses should go back first. The sun is too strong. Don't get sick from the sun. This old servant will inform His Majesty when he is feeling better."

Seeing that Sun Fu had accepted the gifts, the princes could no longer press the matter. They could only sigh helplessly, help each other to their feet, and limp back home.

Sun Fu curled his lip in disdain.

These scoundrels, they want to be emperors? They're not even worthy to carry Lin Yi's shoes.

Back when the late emperor was alive, the nine princes vied for the throne, each displaying their unique talents and abilities.

Now... alas, the Nangong family is completely finished.

With no successor and the princes being ambitious and pleasure-seeking, the situation was dire.

If things continue like this, the Great Zhou will truly belong to Lin Yi.

Thinking of this, he turned around, took a deep breath, adjusted his expression, and strode into the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

The air in the back hall of the Hall of Mental Cultivation was not good; there was a smell of medicine, blood, and a faint scent of cosmetics. The doors and windows were tightly closed, and the dim lighting made it feel somewhat oppressive.

Nangong Xiong lay on the bed, looking emaciated. His once well-maintained face was now sunken, his cheekbones were high and prominent, his eye sockets were deep and his eyes were bloodshot.

Yang Siyu knelt by the bedside, holding a white porcelain medicine bowl.

She was dressed very plainly today, without any jewelry, and her complexion was not good.

Two young nobles were kneeling beside her, holding handkerchiefs and spittoons.

"Your Majesty, it's time to take your medicine." Yang Siyu said softly, scooping up a spoonful of dark medicine, blowing on it, and carefully handing it to Nangong Xiong.

Nangong Xiong stared at the spoonful of medicine, his eyes filled with irritation. Suddenly, he swung his hand and slammed it onto the medicine bowl with a loud crack.

"what!"

The medicine spilled out instantly, most of it landing on Yang Siyu's skirt, with a few drops splashing onto the back of her hand.

She shuddered in pain, quickly put down the medicine bowl, and knelt on the ground, kowtowing.

"Your Majesty, I deserve to die! I have disturbed you!"

Upon seeing this, the two noblemen were so frightened that they also prostrated themselves on the ground.

"Take your medicine! Take your medicine!"

"All they do is make me drink these medicinal soups! These quacks are trying to poison me!"

"The whole world wants me dead!"