Who is spreading rumors that my filial piety towards them has changed?

This is bad! Chu Mingkong was just about to draw his weapon to fight.

From her chest, the extremely yang energy belonging to Empress Pei emanated its aura, and the "gaze" disappeared, seemingly indicating that she had completely trusted Chu Mingkong.

"Would you say I was saved by Jinyu?"

Chapter 51 Aunt, does it feel good?

Chu Mingkong thought about it again and realized that it might not be so.

Of course, he didn't mean that this was unrelated to Jin Yu's contribution, but rather that it wasn't necessarily only the Empress's extreme Yang method that helped him get in; he guessed that Jin Yu's extreme Yang method could also help.

"Although Empress Pei is the head of the harem, the true ruler of this country is the dog emperor. An empress is unlikely to be able to affect the palace's protective barrier. If she were, Yongzhen would definitely have told me, after all, she is the daughter of the previous empress."

"So the Empress's extreme Yang power wasn't the key; the aura of the royal family was! Even without the Empress's extreme Yang power, Jin Yu's was enough to protect me and get me in."

"It's just that Empress Pei's understanding of the extreme yang principle is more profound than Jin Yu's, so she can react faster than Jin Yu."

Chu Mingkong didn't act rashly; it's better to think things through before taking action.

The palace is a very important place; caution is advised!

He didn't stand there in a daze at the palace gate; he moved over and sat down cross-legged.

"Could Consort Wan be plotting against me? She didn't tell me that besides the imperial clan token, there were other 'eyes' watching the palace gates."

Chu Mingkong shook his head in denial.

"It shouldn't be that bad. If she really wanted to scheme against me, she must have harbored hatred towards me. I've already hurt her child, so she definitely won't show me any filial piety."

In other words, there was another 'eye' watching the palace all along, and even the concubines were unaware of it?

"I'll have to ask Jinyu about this later."

Although he hasn't encountered any enemies to fight yet, Chu Mingkong's mind is more tense than in any previous battle.

So nervous it was like...

He's "Old Wang next door" who sneaks into his neighbor's house to steal someone else's wife; if he's not careful, the male homeowner might find out!

After some calm reflection, Chu Mingkong set a few goals for this exploration of the harem.

Having a goal makes actions more decisive and prevents confusion.

They certainly won't forget their original purpose while browsing, and won't treat it like visiting a brothel and going into a concubine's courtyard to look at her buttocks...

Although no Old Wang system gave him any tasks, Chu Mingkong had already drafted a template in his mind.

mission target:

First, open a map and determine the fastest, shortest, and safest escape route if discovered by your neighbors. Also, familiarize yourself with the locations of the "Emperor's Palace," "Empress's Palace," "Princess's Palace," and "Consort Wan's Palace."

Second, investigate the location of the Fifth Prince and observe his movements. If possible, go to the Imperial Stables.

Third, go to Consort Wan first, and then go to Jinyu.

Fourth, confirm whether there will be an opportunity to see the Empress's peach-shaped buttocks.

5. (Hidden Mission) Infiltrate the emperor's palace to see if he's faking illness or if he really is, then poop on his head!

"We need a mission name. Since it's a harem infiltration operation, let's just call it..."

Rear

Input

Row

move

Only then did Chu Mingkong begin to properly examine this royal grotto-heaven.

As far as the eye can see, the red palace walls stretch out in endless rows. The marble floor tiles are laid out in neat rows, each one exactly the same, and the palaces that these tiles support also look identical.

This is somewhat like the middle-class villa community that Chu Mingkong knew, where every house is arranged in a square and neat manner, with the same shape.

The palaces he saw were the "dormitories" of ordinary concubines and female officials. Their residences were not entitled to special treatment; only those of higher status had them.

"These palaces are just one room each. They don't have their own courtyards or even independent names. They're not even as good as my mansion."

That's fine; seeing a separate palace is probably what I'm after.

The stables should be located near the palace gate; anyone with a brain wouldn't place such a transportation facility too far away.

......

Not long after, Chu Mingkong cursed:

"Damn! I'm lost! This place is huge, and every room is full of people. No wonder Jinyu said that she has lived here for so long and there are still concubines she doesn't recognize."

Let's change our plans and find Consort Wan to be our tour guide!

The palace of the Imperial Concubine was much easier to find. He climbed onto the roof and looked around. If he saw any special buildings, he could just run in that direction. After searching two palaces, Chu Mingkong confirmed the location of Huaxian Palace, where Imperial Concubine Wan lived.

The palace was always guarded by palace maids, and it was several times more magnificent than the "backup dormitory" that Chu Mingkong had just seen.

The difference in their residences alone was enough to make the emperor's concubines fight to the death. If the palaces of the imperial concubines were like this, then the empress's palace must have been even better.

He walked straight in, and the palace maids and eunuchs who passed by felt a gust of wind, as if someone was striding past them, but none of them saw anyone so reckless as to walk so arrogantly in the imperial concubine's palace.

Consort Wan had just been "invited" away from the Fifth Prince and had only recently returned to her palace.

She leaned back in the chaise lounge, her head slumped on the cushion, her eyes slightly red as she gazed at the sky outside the window. Her beautiful face looked heartbreakingly haggard.

Chu Mingkong stood beside her for a while without saying a word, because he didn't know how to start the conversation.

In this situation, wouldn't it be better to let her grieve first and wait until she calms down before talking to her?

Judging from this, Rong'er was probably right. The Fifth Prince must have blamed his birth mother for making her sad.

Shangguan Rong is quite good at judging people.

Before long, Consort Wan calmed down. She found two bottles of pills in her room and summoned a palace maid.

"Send these two bottles of healing pills over there. Give one to him in person. If he doesn't want it, don't explain the other one to my son. Give it directly to the imperial physician who is in charge of changing his dressing. This medicine is better than any medicine the imperial physician can get."

"Yes, Your Highness!"

After the palace maid left, Chu Mingkong stopped daydreaming and gently closed the window.

The fact that the doors and windows closed "automatically" stunned Consort Wan.

Just as she was about to call out for help, she suddenly felt her face and mouth being covered.

Consort Wan reacted quickly; she tried to bite the large, transparent hand, but... she couldn't bite it—the skin was too thick.

"It's me, Chu Mingkong."

Chu Mingkong spoke softly, afraid of startling the palace maids outside. Seeing that Consort Wan had calmed down and wouldn't suddenly shout a deafening "Indecent assault!", he slowly released his grip.

Consort Wan did not move. She quickly scanned her surroundings but found no one or any trace of her.

"How...how did you do that?"

"You don't need to worry about that." Chu Mingkong had no intention of revealing the Dust-Free Talisman.

Curious, she wanted to confirm whether Chu Mingkong was the legendary "soul leaving his body" or had truly become invisible, and subconsciously reached out to touch him to see if he had a physical form.

With that touch, her slender hand grasped a strange object.

Is it some kind of hidden weapon? How come it gets bigger in her hands...?

Chu Mingkong's body stiffened uncontrollably.

"Auntie, how does it feel?"

Chapter 52 Fulfilling Your Filial Piety (25/43)

Perhaps because she was heartbroken over the Fifth Prince's affair, Consort Wan reacted somewhat slowly.

As her slender hand traced down the hilt of the menacing, sturdy dagger, she touched...

head.

Hmm, I found a head.

Consort Wan was shocked to realize what a terrifying thing it was, and withdrew her hand as if she had been electrocuted.

It was probably this jolt of fright that temporarily freed her from the gloom that had been weighing on her heart, restoring a degree of calm and composure.

She took a few cautious steps forward, stepping out of Chu Mingkong's reach, turned around, and although she couldn't see him, she still managed a weak smile in his direction.

Chu Mingkong was able to see Consort Wan Hua in her calm state. If it weren't for the earlier incident, her smile would likely have been one of composure and equanimity, a mature and charming quality. Her fair face was adorned with a touch of crimson, her delicate features like bright peach petals, and her demeanor possessed the elegant grace of a royal orchid, noble and refined.

She silently offered a gesture of thanks, presumably to thank Chu Mingkong for showing leniency towards the Fifth Prince, and then said softly:

"Mingkong came to the palace to find me...but what business does he have with my aunt?"

She hesitated on the issue of how to address relatives by seniority. For others, kinship is about bringing people closer, but for Chu Mingkong, it carried a hint of resentment.

But considering that he had just teased her by calling her "aunt," she decided to go along with him for the time being.

Chu Mingkong, hearing her awkward way of addressing him, didn't insist.

"Consort Wan, please take me to see the stables later... May I ask, you seem to have a great deal of tolerance for the Fifth Prince, but I've heard he's not very filial?"

"Born into an imperial family, he has no special circumstances. He's just stuck in a rut after experiencing setbacks. He used to be a very upright and cheerful child. He has... his own difficulties. He will be filial when he grows up and matures."

Chu Mingkong looked at her expression, which was trying to force him to believe, and wanted to shake his head, but remembering that she couldn't see, he didn't bother with any more gestures and said:

"I hope so, but Consort Wan, are you really willing to trade your life for the life of a heartless ingrate? That seems unbelievable to me."

"Living in this deep palace, one enjoys a wealth and glory that outsiders can hardly attain, but only those within can truly understand the desolation within... My child is one of the few sources of color for me. I do not ask him to ascend the throne, but only that he can laugh freely and happily. I would consider that a gift that is priceless."

Chu Mingkong said with a complicated expression, "This is just a hypothetical situation. What if the Fifth Prince is so willful that he treats Consort Wan as an enemy?"

The woman in front of him froze, seemingly never having considered this possibility.

No, I definitely thought about it, but I just didn't want to admit that such a thing could happen.

She asked with difficulty, "Mingkong...why would you ask that?"