"Your Majesty wishes for me to scout out the Imperial Preceptor's movements on your behalf?" Beauty Wan's aristocratic Oriental face showed hesitation. "This concubine is Your Majesty's imperial consort. Leaving the palace is fraught with immense difficulty. Even with Your Majesty's permission, frequent departures would arouse suspicion. Truly, I cannot shoulder the duty of surveillance. Still, this concubine never expected that the backer behind the Zheng family was actually the Imperial Preceptor."
Zhang Yuanqing waved his hand. "Tell Us everything you know about the Imperial Preceptor in detail. Ask no further questions."
Asking directly did not quite fit Zhao Shun's persona—after all, Zhao Shun would not have forgotten even the Imperial Preceptor. Fortunately, Beauty Wan was a death warrior whose loyalty was off the charts; she would not question His Majesty over such a minor matter.
Right now, Zhang Yuanqing had no other channel to gather intelligence on the Imperial Preceptor. Rather than asking an outsider, it was far better to ask a trusted confidante.
As expected of an imperial consort deeply devoted to His Majesty, Beauty Wan did not pry any further. Pausing to compose her thoughts, she said:
"The Imperial Preceptor was appointed by the late emperor. In his declining years, the late emperor fell gravely ill and yearned for longevity. He posted notices seeking extraordinary talents and men of wonder across the realm, hoping to obtain an elixir of immortality to prolong his life.
"An eccentric man answered the summons and presented three immortal pills to the late emperor, claiming they could extend his life by three years. After three years, he promised to erect an altar and perform a ritual to grant the late emperor another three years.
"After taking the pills, the late emperor's health indeed improved dramatically. Overjoyed, the emperor conferred upon that extraordinary man the title of Imperial Preceptor. It is said the Imperial Preceptor can not only concoct longevity elixirs, but also divine fortunes and misfortunes, foresee life and death, command ghosts and spirits, and pray for rain."
*Sounds like a hybrid of a Scholar, a Night Walker, and a Rain Master. Ancient cultivators studied an eclectic mix, so dabbling across multiple fields is completely normal. I wonder what his core class is!* Zhang Yuanqing looked solemn. An ancient cultivator of the straight-A student variety usually possessed serious skills and would not be easy to deal with.
"What happened later? Did that Imperial Preceptor perform the ritual to prolong the late emperor's life?"
Beauty Wan shook her head. "Three years later, the late emperor passed away. The Imperial Preceptor claimed it was Heaven's will—defying fate and altering one's destiny was already an affront to the heavenly order, acceptable once, but never twice."
"With an excuse like that, the Empress Dowager and the civil and military court actually tolerated him?" Zhang Yuanqing could not understand. What kind of shameless rogue behavior was this? Before becoming Imperial Preceptor, he promised an extra three years; once in the seat, it was all 'Heaven's will cannot be defied.'
"Because during those three years, the Imperial Preceptor won immense renown throughout the court and the common populace through his alchemy and healing arts. Princes and nobles flocked to him for pills. The Celestial Medicine Dispensary he founded frequently provided free medical consultations in the capital, and countless commoners received his benevolence. This concubine also heard that whenever a drought struck, the Imperial Preceptor would mount the altar to pray for rain, and torrential downpours followed every single time..." As she spoke, a trace of confusion flickered in Beauty Wan's bell-like eyes. "Your Majesty, you also used to associate very closely with that Imperial Preceptor."
*So even after the late emperor passed away, no one in the court or common realm dared—or rather, was willing—to move against the Imperial Preceptor!* Zhang Yuanqing understood, then sighed:
"Beauty Wan—no, Consort Wan. You are the confidante Empress Mother left to Us, so We will not hide it from you. Ever since We were poisoned, We have been in a daze, often forgetting past events."
Beauty Wan turned pale with fright. She grabbed His Majesty's little hand and said urgently, "This concubine will summon the imperial physician for you immediately."
Zhang Yuanqing tried to pull away, but failed to break her grip. It was not appropriate to shout "Guards!" either, so he could only reassure her:
"The imperial physician said it was caused by the lingering poison, and We will recover after some time. Continue."
Only then was Beauty Wan put at ease. Without holding back, she poured out everything she knew. "Your Majesty, when... when you were young, you studied bedchamber arts under the Imperial Preceptor, and you took the Bone-Strengthening Yang-Nourishing Pills he refined every day."
*No wonder Zhao Shun fucked heaven and earth, practically dragging any passing dog over to poke twice. No wonder every consort and palace maid in the harem had been favored.* Zhang Yuanqing had a sudden epiphany.
He had found it bizarre that Zhao Shun, as recorded in the palace activity records, had kidneys functioning at an inhuman level.
*Turns out he practiced bedchamber arts.*
*I kind of want to learn too...*
Beauty Wan continued, "Not only that, the architectural plans for expanding the harem were drawn for you by the Imperial Preceptor, including the geomantic layout of the palace grounds. The Summer Palace and Sheep Palace outside the imperial city were also built for you by the Imperial Preceptor..."
Beauty Wan listed them one by one. In addition to squandering resources on extravagant palaces, the Imperial Preceptor had egged Zhao Shun into establishing the 'Fragrance-Seeking Army,' dedicated to scouring the civilian realm for beauties on his behalf, inciting widespread grievances.
Years ago, so that Zhao Shun could travel south for sightseeing, he instituted massive corvée labor, forcibly conscripting over a hundred thousand laborers to dig a canal. The workers had to bring their own rations. Because the spring planting was missed, a terrible famine broke out that year.
Furthermore, Consort De's father, the former Minister of Revenue, submitted an angry memorial berating Zhao Shun for his squandering and debauchery. Zhao Shun was furious and consulted the Imperial Preceptor. The Imperial Preceptor replied: *What use is a subject who fails to empathize with his sovereign?*
Consort De's entire family was executed.
Zhang Yuanqing's scalp prickled as he listened. Spoiling a child was killing a child; this Imperial Preceptor was practically railroading Zhao Shun straight into the eighteenth level of hell, all while bleeding the Southern Dynasty of its national fortune.
This was the feudal system's greatest vulnerability: under a wise ruler, the nation's power surged; but once a ruler became foolish and incompetent, the whole country rapidly spiraled into ruin.
What was most terrifying was that the Imperial Preceptor was far more than a mere flattering courtier or treacherous official. He knew full well how to build prestige and reputation among the populace.
He eroded the sovereign's public reputation while establishing his own virtuous fame.
Sinister intent indeed.
*But why did the Imperial Preceptor prop up the Zheng family? An emperor like Zhao Shun was the dream ruler that every powerful, fawning, and corrupt minister throughout history lusted after—a true white moonlight.*
*Killing Zhao Shun to back the Zheng family offered him no benefit; the Zheng family was bound to be far shrewder than Zhao Shun.*
*Perhaps there is some benefit I simply don't know about yet. I need to investigate before jumping to conclusions...* Zhang Yuanqing collected his thoughts, coughed lightly, and said, "Beauty Wan, tonight you will rest in Our bedchamber..."
Before he could finish, he saw Beauty Wan slipping out of her skirt.
"What... what are you doing?" Zhang Yuanqing subtly shifted his rear outward.
"Serving Your Majesty in bed, of course." Beauty Wan's bell-like eyes fluttered with coquettish charm.
Zhang Yuanqing said in a solemn voice, "We have not yet cleared the lingering poison and suffered a fright. We urgently require rest and recuperation. Beauty Wan, there is no need to rush."
Beauty Wan's face fell in disappointment. In her gruff voice, she asked, "Then where should this concubine sleep?"
"No need to sleep. Stand guard over Us." Zhang Yuanqing took the beauty's large hand, his expression tender. "Only with you here can We sleep peacefully."
A high-level player must know how to utilize every resource in a dungeon. Goujian could sleep on brushwood and taste gall; Han Xin could endure the humiliation of crawling between another man's legs. What was wrong with this Celestial Venerable sacrificing a little sex appeal?
Those destined for great deeds did not sweat the small stuff!
Beauty Wan was deeply moved, overwhelmed by the imperial favor. "Your Majesty, this concubine will guard you every single day from now on."
*That is entirely unnecessary!* Zhang Yuanqing nodded vigorously, lay down in his clothes, rolled over, and presented the back of his head to Beauty Wan.
Daybreak was only a few hours away. Once the side quest to survive twenty-four hours was complete, and the quest to find the spies was already finished, reason dictated that after braving the initial crisis, the dungeon would lift his seal and restore his cultivation. It was impossible for mortals to clear a Dominator-stage dungeon.
The restriction prohibiting the disclosure of his Spirit Realm walker identity should also be lifted. That restriction had been imposed to heighten the initial difficulty. Once the early crisis was weathered, keeping his identity secret served no further purpose.
Therefore, tomorrow morning, he should be able to identify himself to his teammates and join forces to confront the enemies in this dungeon.
Amid these drifting thoughts, Zhang Yuanqing sank into a deep slumber.
After an unknown duration, he was startled awake by the chime of the Spirit Realm notification in his ear:
[Ding! Congratulations on completing the side quest: Survive for 24 hours.]
[Ding! Congratulations on completing the side quest: Identify the spies lurking in the palace.]
[Ding! Quest reward: Unlocked Transcendent stage spiritual power and items.]
[Ding! Side quest activated: Survive for 72 hours.]
[Note: Please remember that your identity is Zhao Shun.]
A black full moon mark surfaced on his forehead, and pure lunar energy surged into his body. Zhang Yuanqing's sleepiness and exhaustion were wiped away in an instant, leaving him revitalized and full of vigor.
His power had returned, even if it was only at the Transcendent stage.
After the black moon mark faded, Zhang Yuanqing sat up, opened his attribute panel, and checked his quests.
The main quest, "Repel the Northern army or defend the Southern capital," remained unchanged. The side quest to "Win the hearts of the people" also remained unchanged. The quest to "Identify the spies" was completed.
Surviving for twenty-four hours had become surviving for seventy-two hours.
*Judging solely from the quest changes, there aren't many hints, and the objective isn't clear. But no matter—the enemies in the capital have already been identified. The next step is simply gathering intelligence and probing their true strength...*
*The note reminded me to keep my identity in mind. Does that mean the status of monarch is crucial? But there's no longer any restriction against revealing my Spirit Realm walker identity, so I should be able to recognize my teammates.*
*First, summon all the teammates together. Hmm, there might be Zheng family informants in the Imperial City Division. I can't summon my teammates openly; that would be too obvious. I need to find a way for them to learn my identity without meeting me directly.*
The first thing that crossed Zhang Yuanqing's mind was the secret code exclusive to transmigrators: *Odd changes, even stays; signs depend on the quadrant.*
On second thought, there were still academic underachievers among his teammates who might not know this mnemonic. Besides, that kind of code was completely incongruous with this historical setting and hard to circulate.
Zhang Yuanqing had a flash of inspiration and came up with an idea.
He looked toward Beauty Wan, who was slumping beside the bed, head drooping as she snored away.
"Beauty Wan!"
"Snore... snore..."
"Beauty Wan!"
"Snore... snore..."
Zhang Yuanqing sighed and raised his voice. "Summon Beauty Wan to attend Our bed!"
Beauty Wan woke up instantly. "Your Majesty~"
Zhang Yuanqing reprimanded her, "We entrusted Our very life to you, yet you slumbered soundly beside the bed. Beauty Wan, you have failed Us."
*I ought to demote you to a commoner and banish you from the imperial harem.*
Beauty Wan panicked and hurriedly kowtowed. "Your Majesty, spare me! Your Majesty, forgive my offense!"
"Enough. We cherish beauty and cannot bear to punish you." Zhang Yuanqing glossed over it. Under Beauty Wan's grateful gaze, he said, "Last night, We dreamed of Lord Wenqu. He told Us that Our natural talent is extraordinary, with the caliber of a top imperial scholar..."
Before he could finish, Beauty Wan indignantly cut in, "Your Majesty is the supreme sovereign, the True Dragon Son of Heaven! How dare this Lord Wenqu disparage Your Majesty?"
"Do not fret over such minor details..." Zhang Yuanqing coughed. "Last night, We truly dreamed of a poem taught to Us by Lord Wenqu in Our sleep. Listen closely:
'Spring sleep unaware of dawn,
Everywhere hearing the songs of birds.
Night came with the sound of wind and rain,
Who knows how many flowers have fallen?'"
The poem suited the era and was easily understood. Even someone with only an elementary education would have heard this household favorite, *Spring Dawn*.
"Catchy and melodic. A fine poem," Beauty Wan said.
Zhang Yuanqing nodded in satisfaction. "We also think it is a fine poem and feel rather pleased with Ourself. However, We are the supreme ruler and disdain to play Granny Wang, boasting of Our own wares. Beauty Wan, being pure of heart and sharp of mind, surely you understand Our meaning?"
Beauty Wan understood. At Zhang Yuanqing's prompt, she hurried out of the bedchamber.
Zhang Yuanqing summoned the palace maids to help him dress, then sat in the outer hall of the bedchamber to enjoy a lavish breakfast. He keenly noticed that the palace maids had grown unusually quiet.
The eunuchs glanced at His Majesty's face from time to time, looks of confusion written across their expressions.
*The palace maids think my taste in women has shifted and are worrying about their future, while the eunuchs are starting to doubt their own aesthetic sense...* Having regained his Transcendent cultivation, Zhang Yuanqing saw through everything with pristine clarity.
*Alas, even Zhao Shun's sole redeeming quality—his good taste—has been ruined by me. Whatever, he was an absurd tyrant anyway.*
Zhang Yuanqing focused on enjoying his meal.
Once he was about seventy to eighty percent full, he had the maids clear the dishes and reclined on the soft couch in the bedchamber to take a short rest, waiting for his teammates to seek an audience.
Instead of his teammates, Attendant Li arrived.
Just as Zhang Yuanqing was about to speak, he heard the old eunuch with greying temples whisper:
"You're Yuanshi Tianzun, right?"
Chapter 849