From street beggar to high-ranking official

Master Zhang used some kind of lightness skill to catch up with the fleeing ghost. The ghost screamed, but no one dared to approach it. The ghostly figure rushed straight towards the temple gate.

The door god images pasted on the palace gate had begun to slowly fall off at some point. In the instant the ghost rushed in, before the eunuchs could even react, the door god images fell onto the ghost.

It was clearly just a piece of paper, but it felt like a smash. The ghostly figure fell to the ground with a dull thud. Lu Li, who had been following behind the ghostly figure, saw that the thing was covered by the painting and immediately pounced on it, pinning it down.

The ghostly figure hidden under the portrait made a series of thumping sounds, like a mouse rushing out.

"Eunuch Lu, may I borrow your blood?" Without waiting for Lu Li's reply, Master Zhang took out a thin whisk and drew a line on Lu Li's arm. Using the whisk as a brush and the blood as ink, Master Zhang drew a fierce-looking door god on the back of the portrait.

The ghostly figure covered by the portrait gradually subsided. Only then did Lu Li notice that the ghostly figure was about the size of a child. When he pinched and grabbed it, it really was the size of a child.

Master Zhang then took off another whisk and borrowed blood from Lu Li. This time, it was different. The fine whisk was inserted directly into the wound on Lu Li's arm, causing Lu Li to tremble. At the same time, a shadow of death gradually spread into his heart.

But this feeling came and went quickly. Master Zhang had already used the blood-soaked whisk as a rope to tie it up, and then took out the black sword and stabbed it in.

The onlookers all heard a sound like a sigh of relief, but no blood was seen flowing out.

"Keep the demon inside the painting, seal it with a phallus, and bury it under the floor of your Inner Palace's treasure room. It will be condemned by thousands and never escape its clutches," Master Zhang added.

Just as Lu Li was about to agree, the fourth-rank eunuch took it from him, saying, "I remember."

A flash of anger crossed Lu Li's eyes. "We've worked so hard, why should you do the easy stuff?"

Even though Lu Li knew that the distribution of credit depended on the rank of the official rather than whether you worked hard, he would still secretly keep track of the good things before they came to his door, waiting for the day he could get his revenge.

The commotion in front of Jingyang Palace had long since subsided, and all the eunuchs remained where they were, waiting. As long as they could get through tonight, everything would be fine.

Just as Master Zhang was about to leave, Lu Li grabbed his sleeve.

"Wait a moment, Daoist!"

"Is there anything else, Eunuch Lu?" Master Zhang carefully put away the lightning-struck peach wood sword, which had long been stained and discolored by years of black blood.

"Why our family?" Lu Li asked, puzzled.

He sensed that something was amiss tonight. The true masters of the palace had not appeared, and the arrival of the Plague God and the appearance of the Ghost Shadow were more bark than bite. The only one who could be considered a big shot was Master Zhang.

There must be something we don't know about this, and we might not be able to find out anything by asking our godfather. It would be best to seize this opportunity to ask him clearly.

Master Zhang didn't hide anything: "Supervisor Liu's divination revealed six ominous and three evil numbers. It's about timing, fortune, momentum, and fate. Before the altar, I asked Supervisor Liu if there was anyone in the palace who was destined for this. He accurately determined Eunuch Lu's birth date and time by examining his bones. Eunuch Lu was born in the Lesser Yang stage, when Yang energy is just beginning to rise and is gradually increasing. Right now, it's the Yin hour, which is just right for him to be in accordance with the timing and the person."

"It just so happens that Eunuch Lu's fate is marked by three inauspicious signs. Since we cannot change his fate, we may as well go with the flow."

This was the first time Lu Li had ever heard of someone being able to determine someone's birth date and time by feeling their bones through their skin. He didn't even know when he was born; in previous years, he would count the year as the New Year.

At the same time, he was even more surprised by Liu Jiancheng's abilities.

Master Zhang's abilities are evident; everyone witnessed him performing rituals, praying for blessings, consecrating objects, and subduing ghosts. Yet, Supervisor Liu, who seemed to be merely observing facial features and destiny, was able to deduce such a thing.

Liu Jiancheng once told me that Consort Wu would surely give birth to a royal heir. Is it my turn to do so now?

But Liu Jiancheng also said that even without him, the imperial heir would still be born. But the cause and source of everything seem to have changed. Does that mean the result will still remain the same?

Could it be that Liu Jiancheng, the fortune teller, has transformed himself into a diviner, his prophecy predicting that he will be at the end?

Lu Li couldn't understand it, and he couldn't figure it out.

......

Qianqing Palace.

Eunuch Lü of the Directorate of Ceremonial stood silently behind Emperor Yongxi until the emperor, who had been sitting still, made a slight movement to rise. Only then did Eunuch Lü bow and say, "Your Majesty, it is three-quarters past the hour of Yin."

"How is the situation at Jingyang Palace?" Emperor Yongxi opened his eyes slightly, and Eunuch Lü promptly presented him with a damp, warm towel.

This hot towel is made of silk, soft and gentle on the skin, and should be replaced after each use.

"Your Majesty is blessed! Consort Wu has successfully given birth to a prince, and all twenty-four children are safe and sound." Eunuch Lü briefly reported, "The Crown Prince has been waiting for Your Majesty in the side hall for quite some time."

"Then let's go," said Emperor Yongxi.

......

Wangxing Pavilion.

It was built by the Imperial Palace Attendants Bureau under the special order of Emperor Yongxi for the Imperial Observatory. Its original purpose was for the princes to observe the stars, but now its use has changed, and it has become a beautiful spot overlooking the palace.

Crown Prince Li Sheng followed his father respectfully until they ascended the pavilion, at which point he looked in the direction of Jingyang Palace, following his father's finger.

All the palaces in the inner palace were pitch black, except for Jingyang Palace, which was brightly lit.

Consort Wu and the prince are safe and sound. Presumably, the eunuchs who came to announce the good news are still crowded in the office of the Directorate of Ceremonial.

"Tell me, what should we do with those thieves next?" Emperor Yongxi asked.

Crown Prince Li Sheng had already planned everything out in his mind. Everything in the harem was within Emperor Yongxi's plan, all for the purpose of using the birth of a royal heir to seduce the experts left behind by the remnants of the previous dynasty.

Otherwise, why would news of Consort Wu's pregnancy spread so easily beyond the palace, with officials even trying to win over and promote her family, and various regions presenting rare treasures to celebrate the imperial heir?

If you really want to protect your offspring, the best way is to keep no information from leaking out of the palace. This grand display is just to lure you in.

This tactic almost always works. The remnants of the previous dynasty harbor deep hatred for the Li imperial family. In the past, Emperor Yongxi's brothers and cousins ​​all harbored evil intentions to curse, kill, maim, fool, and curse them.

Even Emperor Yongxi's children were no exception, and Princess Zhaoyang, who fell seriously ill after marriage, is a living example. Emperor Yongxi had originally planned to give up, but unexpectedly, the divine physician Su Shou took the initiative to come to his door.

There are countless martial arts techniques in the world. Even the increasingly prosperous Great Qian Dynasty cannot control the strange martial arts techniques that are emerging everywhere. Some techniques are hidden among the people, or even passed down to a single person. Some techniques even originate from outside the Great Qian Dynasty, and it is almost impossible to find them.

The main force of the Hidden Martial Pavilion has already been mobilized, and they have been keeping an eye on the powerful figures who intend to harm the inner palace through the Imperial Kitchen and the Palace Attendants. The incident at Jingyang Palace is just a minor episode.

In Emperor Yongxi's view, the death of one of his twenty-four sons in exchange for the complete annihilation of that gang of strongmen was a huge win.

Even if Consort Wu really died at the last moment, Emperor Yongxi had already repaid any debt he owed her. Isn't it enough that you can live comfortably and freely in Jingyang Palace?

"Accept what you can, and execute those who refuse to submit, even at the cost of their lives," said Crown Prince Li Sheng.

He'd seen this kind of thing many times before and knew how to answer it.

"Do you think I'm too cold-blooded and heartless?" Emperor Yongxi glanced sideways. After all, even tigers don't eat their cubs. Emperor Yongxi actually used his concubines' children as bait. Such ruthlessness made Li Sheng, who first learned of this, almost unrecognizable as the diligent and people-oriented father.

The Crown Prince bowed and said, "Your Majesty's thoughts, ideas, actions, and deeds are all for the benefit of future generations. He has the intention to sacrifice himself to feed tigers and cut off his own flesh to feed eagles. His merits are unprecedented throughout history."

Emperor Yongxi made no comment on these words, simply saying, "To die for me, is that not what one should do?"