After failing the imperial examination, he began to wield immense power after entering the palace!

A hint of disgust and disdain flashed in Leng Shuangqiu's eyes, and her tone was indifferent.

"Liu Zhengsheng submitted a memorial stating that the great defeat was caused by General Zhongwu Zhang Xuan's collusion with the Tartars and the leak of military intelligence."

"Zhang Xuan has been secretly escorted to the capital and is currently being held in the Ministry of Justice prison, awaiting interrogation."

"Speaking of which, Liu Zhengsheng is the brother-in-law of the Prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture."

Li Fan's eyes turned cold.

These powerful dog clans are all related by marriage, which is why they hold high positions and control the government!

He keenly noticed that Leng Shuangqiu did not respect this high-ranking Minister of War, and it seemed that Consort Xie also disliked him.

"Lord Leng, there are steps ahead, walk slowly."

Leng Shuangqiu glanced at Li Fan coldly, her tone distant.

"It's no use trying to curry favor with me; the only thing that matters is keeping to yourself in this palace."

At this moment, Li Fan had already deeply realized the danger of this palace.

He almost got killed by a princess even if he stayed obediently in the silkworm house, so he had to shamelessly lick Leng Shuangqiu's boots.

He wanted to seize every person he could win over in order to secure his survival.

"Lady Leng, I have some questions for you."

"No need to ask."

Leng Shuangqiu didn't even turn her head, nor did she pause in her steps.

Li Fan ignored it and continued talking to himself.

"Leng Shanggong, it's about some martial arts matters."

"I am all alone in this palace, and I can only trust Lady Leng."

"Although I am not very capable, if Lady Leng needs anything in the future, please feel free to call me anytime, and I will do my best even if it means my own death."

Leng Shuangqiu's lips twitched slightly, revealing a hint of sarcasm.

She'd heard this kind of talk countless times. People in the palace would say anything, no matter how sweet, to climb the social ladder.

What use could a fake eunuch who had just entered the palace be?

It is said that men with a pure yang constitution are particularly vigorous in bed and can also nourish women.

If this matter were told to the Empress, she might very well choose him as the recipient of her sperm.

Now, there's absolutely no need to offend him; we could even try to win him over.

"I will only say this once: the path of martial arts is divided into nine ranks."

"From the ninth to the seventh rank, there are the lower three ranks of martial artists. At this level, one can break stone tablets and shatter rocks."

"With one punch, bluestone shatters and iron breaks; ordinary people of thirty to fifty cannot even get close."

Li Fan's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this.

Cracking stone tablets and splitting rocks—that's a scene straight out of a martial arts movie from the past; it's quite impressive, really.

"Ranks six to four constitute the middle three ranks of martial artists."

Leng Shuangqiu continued, "At this level, one can tear tigers and leopards apart, fight bears bare-handed, and scale walls as if walking on flat ground."

"In the martial arts world, he would already be a formidable opponent."

"From the third rank to the first rank, one becomes a martial artist of the upper third rank. Upon reaching this level, one can establish a sect and dominate a region."

"Eunuch Hai is a top-tier expert among second-rank masters, a half-step grandmaster."

Li Fan felt a chill run down his spine.

That damned old eunuch, he's actually a second-rank official? No wonder he could kill three people as easily as crushing ants.

"And what about above the first rank?"

Leng Shuangqiu glanced at him: "Above the first rank is the Grandmaster, and in the entire Great Chu, only five people have reached this level."

Li Fan wondered if Leng Shuangqiu, relying solely on clues, could claim to have a pure yang constitution, perhaps also practicing martial arts.

"Lady Leng, have you also started practicing martial arts?"

"Peak of the fourth rank."

Leng Shuangqiu uttered these four words indifferently, without intending to say anything more.

Li Fan swallowed.

This woman looks slender with long legs and a graceful figure, but who would have thought she's capable of tearing a tiger apart with her bare hands? She's not someone to mess with.

"Leng Shanggong, what's the use of that pure Yang constitution you mentioned yesterday?"

Leng Shuangqiu continued to explain: "Once a martial artist with a pure Yang constitution cultivates internal energy, it becomes incomparably pure, far surpassing that of ordinary martial artists."

"With the same amount of effort, you can achieve ten times the effect. With the same technique, others may practice for ten years, while you may only need one year."

"Moreover, those with a pure Yang constitution naturally have wide meridians and extremely fast internal energy circulation, so their reaction time when fighting enemies is naturally several times faster than others."

Li Fan was deeply moved.

Isn't this the kind of unparalleled martial arts talent described in wuxia novels?

"pity……"

Leng Shuangqiu changed the subject, looked him up and down, and her eyes showed even more regret.

"Martial arts training should begin in childhood, laying a foundation before the muscles and bones are fully developed, so that progress can be made step by step."

"Your bones and muscles are now fully formed, and although your meridians are wide, they are stiff. Even if you cultivate internal energy, you can only reach the ninth or eighth rank at most, and it will be difficult for you to achieve great success."

"Having such a good physique is too late."

"Let's go, I'll take you to change your clothes. Don't keep Her Majesty waiting."

Is it too late?

Li Fan did not believe in fate.

Roads are made by people walking on them.

If you can't take the right path, take the wrong one.

……

A while later.

Li Fan successfully entered Consort Xie's palace.

On the soft couch in front of them sat a woman of unparalleled beauty.

She had just come out of the bath, her long, black hair still wet and hanging down her shoulders, water droplets dripping from the ends.

The nightgown was made of the finest brocade, which became translucent when wet, vaguely revealing two full, white breasts underneath.

A palace maid knelt behind Consort Xie and gently wiped her hair with a dry handkerchief.

Another palace maid knelt on the ground, holding one of her feet and carefully wiping it with a soft cloth.

"Smack."

A memorial was roughly thrown to the ground by Consort Xie.

"They are all memorials demanding the swift execution of Zhang Xuan to quell the morale of the soldiers in Liaodong. Haha, Liu Zhengsheng is really popular in the court and among the people."

"Your Majesty, what do you mean?"

The sound was cold, like jade striking each other, crisp yet distant.

The palace maid spoke cautiously:

"His Majesty says that the case of Zhang Xuan needs to be resolved within three days. Please, Your Highness, investigate it as soon as possible."

then.

Li Fan knelt down without hesitation.

His gaze involuntarily fell on Consort Xie's foot.

Her feet were slender and white, her toes were as round as pearls, her ankles were so slender that they could be grasped in one hand, and her arches were beautiful, like a crescent moon.

Everyone says that Consort Xie's skin is as white as snow, but seeing her today, how can snow compare to her whiteness?

"This servant greets Your Highness, and is willing to go through fire and water for you, to serve you with utmost devotion, even unto death."

Consort Xie was taken aback.

She looked at the man kneeling on the ground, a hint of amusement flashing in her eyes.

She had heard this kind of talk countless times. Which servant in the palace didn't always say he was loyal to the Empress?

Turn around, and you might just be kneeling and kowtowing at the gate of Empress Yang's palace.

"All of you, get out."

The palace maids exchanged glances, but dared not ask any further questions, and bowed their heads as they withdrew.

Only Consort Xie and Li Fan remained in the room.

"Raise your head."

Li Fan raised his head.

Only then did he see her face clearly—cold and beautiful.

Her nose was high and straight, and her lips were thin and well-defined. She had just come out of the bath and was not wearing any makeup, so her skin had a faint pinkish-white hue.

Consort Xie looked at this handsome face, which really did resemble the young Emperor Chu. However, it was said that the young man from Runan looked even more like him.

But she had already found out that Consort Li, that slut, was secretly sending people to find a man who resembled His Majesty.

Therefore, I need to find someone to go to the palace to investigate first. In any case, I absolutely cannot fall behind Consort Li in the matter of conceiving a child.

"Why have you come to the palace?"

Li Fan knew very well that if Consort Xie were to reveal her desire to conceive, it would be suicidal; he needed to find a different excuse.

"I heard that Your Highness is unwell. Recently, you have been feeling unwell. This servant has some basic medical knowledge and may be able to treat Your Highness."