[Fantasy] The Legend of Yingyao (Complete) - 1

Synopsis:

He is a debauched and incompetent ruler, but he is also my biological father. Watching him become a puppet emperor in someone else's hands, what should I do?

So be it! No matter what others think, I will enter the palace! I will make him the real emperor! Even if he hurts me…

This is a father-daughter H-novel about a daughter saving her father, featuring palace intrigue, martial arts, and war.

Chapter 001 Prologue:

The moon hangs high in the sky. The back mountain, which should be quiet and still at night, is now occupied by a man and a woman. The man, dressed in snow-white robes, has an unusually melancholy handsome face. His dark eyes look at the girl and he softly asks, “Are you really determined to enter the palace?” The girl's clear and bright eyes reveal a resolute determination. “Yes!” The girl's voice is very soft, but her tone is firm.

“Ying’er, it’s too dangerous there! You should…”

“I know!” the girl interrupted the man, “but I must go! My father is there! Uncle, you know Ying’er can’t leave Father there alone.” The girl’s eyes were clear as water, and she said softly, “No matter how dangerous it is, I will go to be with him! Uncle, he is also your older brother, and Aunt Fang is there too. Don’t you miss her? Please let me go!”

The man was silent for a long time, a trace of emotion flashing in his deep, dark eyes, and he said in a deep voice, “Alright, Ying’er, your uncle is proud of you. Perhaps it’s time for your older brother to see his daughter!”

==

...

Before assuming personal rule, all government affairs were handled by the regent, and the people had no idea what their emperor was like. However, when this young emperor, on whom the people placed such high hopes, issued his first edict upon assuming power, they were disappointed. The edict demanded that the ancestral system of selecting emperors every three years be changed to annual selection!

Besides this absurd decision, the young emperor also embarked on a massive construction project, building the Juxiantai (Gathering Immortals Terrace), ostensibly to worship the goddess Nuwa, but actually a place for his own amusement. It was rumored that the young emperor had a strange habit of sharing a woman with his guards, and often engaged in outrageous acts with them on the Juxiantai. Furthermore, he forcibly designated a mountain range hundreds of miles east of the capital as a royal garden, driving tens of thousands of farmers and hunters who had lived there for generations out of the mountains. To stop this tyranny, some upright ministers dared to remonstrate with him to the death, but the tyrant executed all of them in one fell swoop! Such a ruler would be impossible for the people to love. The only reason they could tolerate him was because Great Zhao had a regent, a man of great talent and ambition, skilled in both literature and military strategy, who almost single-handedly propelled Great Zhao to its peak. Some people even secretly complained about why their emperor wasn't a regent.

"Clang! Clang!" The carriage moved slowly, thankfully the streets of the capital were quite smooth, and the ride wasn't too bumpy. It was the transition between spring and summer, the most comfortable season in the capital. The streets were bustling with people—selling rice cakes, barbers, acrobats—the lively scene showcasing the strength of the Zhao Kingdom. Sitting in the carriage, Xiaoying's thoughts drifted back to half a year ago. That day, when her seriously ill mother saw her panicked state due to the onset of her first period, her mother's eyes were filled with relief. She smiled and said, "Ying'er has finally grown up! There are some things I should tell you now." She took Xiaoying's hand and asked if she wanted to know who her father was. As a child, Xiaoying always pestered her mother for a father, even often forcefully demanding that her uncle act as her father. Hearing her mother's words now, her eyes lit up with surprise and anticipation. Her mother slowly revealed her background. Xiaoying's real name was Zhao Xiaoying, and her father was Zhao Che, the current emperor—the very same tyrant the people called him!

A tyrant? Xiaoying gave a mocking smile. So what? She didn't care. She only knew that her father had deeply loved her mother, and her mother's eyes always filled with sweetness when she spoke of the time she spent with him. If he loved his wife so much, he would surely love his daughter! Whether he was a tyrant or a wise ruler, Xiaoying didn't care; all she wanted was a father who loved her!

Xiao Ying's mother, Cheng Yanyun, was the daughter of the legendary physician, Cheng Yaowang. Because she was his only daughter, born late in life, Yaowang doted on her and passed on all his medical knowledge to her. After Yaowang's death, the 15-year-old Cheng Yanyun traveled the martial arts world with her extraordinary medical skills. In just over a year, she became known as the "Purple-Clad Flower Fairy" for her skill in using various rare flowers to cure illnesses and her frequent wearing of purple. Xiao Ying couldn't understand how her father, the emperor, could fall in love with her mother. One was an emperor, the other a woman of the martial arts world; it seemed impossible for them to cross paths. Her uncle always lamented that fate was the most illogical thing!

"Miss, the palace is just ahead. Carriages are prohibited on this street, so let's get off here," the maid, Xiaolian, whispered, lifting the carriage curtain. "Okay," Xiao Ying nodded, taking Xiaolian's hand as she got out of the carriage and followed her forward. The servants followed closely behind with their luggage. Li Xiaoying was her current name; her current identity was the daughter of Li Jishi, the wealthy owner of Guang Sheng Tang. This identity was arranged for Xiaoying by Xu Qian, her grandmaster and a friend of the legendary physician Cheng Yaowang, thirteen years ago when she was just born. Xiaoying had grown up in Guang Sheng Tang since childhood and had always called Li Jishi "Father," so she wasn't worried that her true identity would be discovered by the Imperial Household Department.

This year's imperial concubine selection was even more subdued than last year's. Since the selection was changed from once every three years to once a year, the scale of the selection has been declining year by year. Who would want to send their daughter to the prison-like palace? There was even the possibility that she might be sent to the Juxiantai by a tyrannical emperor to become a victim of rape? Although the people dared not disobey the imperial decree, it didn't mean they wouldn't come up with various reasons to escape. Moreover, with the regent in Great Zhao, the administration was clean and honest, and many upright officials were resentful and turned a blind eye to those who used underhanded methods. Therefore, the scale of the selection naturally shrank.

Xiao Ying looked around and saw a few dozen girls scattered before the vermilion palace gates. Most looked dejected, but a few exuded arrogance. These girls formed a small group, one of whom, a girl with beautiful phoenix eyes, frequently swept her gaze across the crowd with haughty indifference. However, when she saw Xiao Ying, her eyes narrowed, revealing a hint of hostility. Xiao Ying smiled and looked back with interest. Those standing here had all been selected through rigorous processes; they were either from families with extraordinary backgrounds or exceptionally talented and beautiful. Judging from that girl's arrogant demeanor, she must have a powerful backer.

Just as Xiao Ying was pondering the girl's identity, a green sedan chair turned the corner and arrived directly there. Everyone present was startled. It was rare to find someone in the entire Great Zhao who could ride in a sedan chair on this street. Everyone turned their attention to the sedan chair, wanting to see who was inside. Only the girl with phoenix eyes turned her head away disdainfully. It seemed that this person was an enemy of the person in the sedan chair. Xiao Ying maliciously considered whether she should find an opportunity to sow discord within herself.

Amidst the watchful eyes of the crowd, the sedan curtain was slowly lifted by a delicate, fair hand. A beautiful and charming young woman, supported by her maid, stepped out of the sedan. Her large, bright eyes darted around, taking in the surroundings with a lively gaze. Upon seeing Xiao Ying, a flash of amazement crossed her face, and she smiled sweetly as she hurried towards her. Just as the young woman was about to reach Xiao Ying, she accidentally tripped over the heel of a girl with phoenix eyes standing nearby. Amidst gasps of surprise, the girl dramatically tumbled headfirst towards the ground in front of Xiao Ying!

Although Xiao Ying didn't possess any martial arts skills, she was still a genuine female knight-errant. Her lightness skill was quite impressive; according to her, if not first-rate, then second-rate… well… let's say third-rate, but still above average. Just as the young woman's nose was about to hit the ground, everyone saw a blur, and the young woman was caught by Xiao Ying, thus averting a tragedy.

"I'm sorry, Princess, are you alright?" The phoenix-eyed girl turned around to apologize, but there was no remorse in her eyes. This acting was so fake, Xiao Ying thought to herself with a slight disdain. She had clearly deliberately stretched her leg back just now; the movement was so stiff and not smooth at all. If it were me doing that… Humph! I would never do such a thing. Of course, I'd leave the task of harming others to someone else!

"I'm fine. The pig that wants to make me trip hasn't been born yet!" The girl didn't back down, rolling her eyes at the phoenix-eyed girl before turning back to thank Xiao Ying, "Thank you, Sister Xiao Ying."

"You… know me!" Xiao Ying was surprised.

Chapter 002 Princess of Xiangyang

"You… know me!" Xiao Ying was surprised.

"Hehe, this princess has seen your portrait." The girl exaggeratedly raised her chin, a smug look on her face. "The eldest daughter of Guang Sheng Tang, the granddaughter of the renowned physician Li Jishi, the child prodigy who started practicing medicine at the age of nine and treated countless patients, known as the Fairy of Medicine, Li Xiaoying—how could this princess not know her?"

Was she really that famous? A string of titles made Xiaoying's head spin. The princess, however, was quite friendly. Seeing her lost in thought, she grabbed her arm and chuckled, "Sister, do you know? I heard that when you entered the palace for the imperial concubine selection, there was a fool who couldn't eat or drink.

" "Who?" Xiaoying's eyes widened in surprise.

"My brother, Chen Tianji, the heir of the Prince of Zhennan!" The girl whispered in her ear.

“The Prince of Zhennan! Princess? You…you are the Princess of Xiangyang!” Xiaoying finally guessed the girl’s identity. It was Chen Yao, the daughter of the Prince of Zhennan, who was greatly favored by the Empress Dowager. No wonder she could ride in a sedan chair right up to the palace gate. “Wait, what’s my relationship with your brother?”

“How would I know your relationship with my brother if you don’t tell me?” A pair of large, clear eyes blinked ambiguously, her face full of gossip.

“I don’t even know your brother. What relationship could there be?” Xiaoying blushed slightly and hurriedly explained.

“What? How could you forget him! My devoted brother is so pitiful!” Chen Yao shook her arm, as if she were an ungrateful harlot who had abandoned her husband and children and eloped.

“Princess, I’ve never met your brother. How can you say I’ve forgotten him?” Xiaoying was about to go crazy.

“Never met him?” Chen Yao looked at her in surprise, scrutinizing her from head to toe with a questioning expression. Xiaoying quickly nodded vigorously. She couldn’t hesitate, otherwise this princess would definitely force a husband on her. Seeing Xiaoying's expression, Chen Yao looked disappointed. "It seems you really don't remember. Two months ago, my brother was injured and poisoned. He went to Guang Sheng Tang for treatment, and you were the one who cured him."

Two months ago? Xiaoying thought carefully. It seemed that someone came to treat his injury, and that person was... I asked, "Where is your brother's injury?"

"Left arm."

"You mean that rogue is your brother, Prince Chen Tianji of Zhennan?" Xiaoying exclaimed, her eyes wide. "You still call him an idiot? If he's an idiot, then all the rogues in the world are morons! He... he's the most despicable, shameless, vile, and cunning rogue!"

Seeing her agitated state, Chen Yao shook her head helplessly. "It seems getting you to be my sister-in-law will be quite difficult. But this princess will try her best!" She then clenched her left fist as if making a vow, while tightly holding Xiaoying's arm with her right hand and chuckled, "Sister-in-law, my brother is quite good. He's just a little smart, and a little... impulsive, yes, impulsive! When will you two meet?"

"Impulsive? He treated his injuries and... wait, don't call me sister-in-law!" Xiaoying was speechless.

"He just said: to repay the life-saving grace, he's willing to repay with his body?" Chen Yao said softly, "How about our family suffers a loss and we marry my brother to you?"

"Don't even think about it!"

"Sister-in-law, do you know how many young ladies from noble families are eyeing my brother? Don't be ungrateful!"

"Don't call me sister-in-law!"

"How about future sister-in-law?"

"No!" "Then how about prospective sister-in-law?" "No!" ... The two were talking, leaving the phoenix-eyed girl standing there feeling bored, clutching her handkerchief and unable to speak. Fortunately, an old eunuch came out of the palace gate and began calling out names to check the roster, which saved her from the predicament. The first one called was Chen Yao. Chen Yao smiled at the old eunuch and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch Qin." Since checking the roster was official business, Eunuch Qin was not allowed to bow, so he respectfully bowed as a greeting. "Princess, you don't need to be so polite. The Empress Dowager has decreed that you go directly to Cining Palace to live with the Empress Dowager." After saying that, he called a young eunuch behind him to lead Chen Yao into the palace. Before leaving, Chen Yao turned back and winked playfully at Xiao Ying, who smiled and nodded. This suddenly appearing, straightforward princess was quite a match for her temper. [Gift!] [Adult Sexual Toys for Men, Delay Spray, External Use, Long-Lasting Oil, Anti-Premature Ejaculation] Click to enter. The second person called was Deng Zhilan, the daughter of the Minister of Revenue, the very same phoenix-eyed girl. Eunuch Qin treated her very politely, sending a young eunuch to lead her into the palace. The others didn't receive such treatment. Eunuch Qin picked up his official hat and casually called out names, his expression remaining indifferent until he finished, except when he called Xiaoying's name, he glanced at her carefully. After the roll call, Eunuch Qin instructed the women not to make a sound, and to line up and follow him into the palace. The young ladies' own servants were not allowed to enter the palace. Xiaolian's eyes were red as she handed her luggage to Xiaoying; after all, they had lived together for over ten years and had a deep bond. Xiaoying patted her shoulder, "Go back and tell your uncle that Xiaoying can take care of herself, and tell him not to worry." Xiaolian nodded and cried. Upon entering the palace gates, the group wound their way through the maze of halls until they reached a grand hall. Eunuch Qin, speaking slowly and deliberately, raised his voice, “Ladies and gentlemen, for the next month, you will all be here learning the rules and regulations. You are not allowed to leave the Imperial Household Department. After this period, the Emperor will personally select the candidates. I hope you will all behave yourselves well.” He then turned and whispered a few instructions to a head eunuch before leaving. The head eunuch arranged a room and a young eunuch for each of the young ladies, explained the rules, and then dismissed them. The young eunuch assigned to Xiaoying was about twenty years old. He led her through the maze of halls to a side room. The young eunuch bowed and opened the door, “This is the room you will be staying in, number six.” The room contained only some essential items; presumably, none of them would be staying long, so there was no need for further embellishment. The young eunuch helped me put down my luggage, bowed, and withdrew. But as he reached the door, Xiaoying called out to him, “Is there anything else you need, Miss?” Xiaoying took out a silver ingot. "Thank you very much, Eunuch. I hope you will take good care of me in the future." Seeing him happily put the bag away, she asked again, "What are the rules in the palace? I hope you can enlighten me." "What kind of rules do you want to know, Miss?" Chapter 003 Rules "What kind of rules do you want to know, Miss?" " The imperial concubine selection." The little eunuch smiled, seemingly expecting this question. "The imperial concubine selection is actually about arranging the future status of the young ladies in the palace. It's done in three stages. First, the Emperor chooses, and those selected will at least be granted the title of Noble Lady. Next, the princes choose..." Currently, only the eldest and second princes are old enough. If they are favored by these two masters, at the very least they will become concubines. Finally, the Empress and the other imperial concubines will choose their personal maids. If chosen, their status will not be lower than that of ordinary stewards. Those left behind will only be ordinary palace maids. Unless they happen to be favored by the Emperor or taken by another master, they will remain low-ranking palace maids until they are sent out of the palace at the age of 30. Of course, if a court official has rendered meritorious service to the court, he can also ask the Emperor for a palace maid based on his merits. However, this is mostly an idea devised by those with connections who do not want to be trapped in the palace and suffer. Ordinary commoner women rarely have such an opportunity.” Xiaoying thought for a moment and then asked, “So the best outcome is to be chosen by the Emperor?”

The young eunuch smiled mysteriously and said, "That's not necessarily true. Although you come from humble origins, young lady, you probably know something about the Emperor's tastes, right?" Xiaoying nodded, indicating that she knew. The young eunuch continued, "If one is granted the rank of Imperial Concubine or higher, that's a meteoric rise. But being granted the rank of Noble Lady means being sent to the Gathering Immortals Terrace!"

Although the young eunuch's words were very cryptic, a little thought revealed his meaning. The Emperor had a lewd habit of sharing a woman with his guards. Imperial Concubines and those of higher rank, representing the face of the court, could not be defiled. The Emperor didn't like ordinary palace maids who weren't chosen, leaving only the Noble Ladies, whose status was neither high nor low. Once sent to the Gathering Immortals Terrace, their status in the palace was predictable. Moreover, a woman who had been defiled could never be promoted to Imperial Concubine, nor could she be sent out of the palace at the age of 30 like an ordinary palace maid. When she grew old and the Emperor lost interest, she would only be sent to the Cold Palace.

Xiao Ying hesitated for a moment, then asked the young eunuch, "What is the current situation in the palace? Who is in charge? What are the backgrounds of the empresses and their relationships? Do you know?"

The young eunuch was startled and hurriedly replied, "We servants can't talk about the affairs of our masters. Miss, please ask another question."

Xiao Ying smiled slightly and took out a silver note, handing it to him. The young eunuch reached out to refuse, but when he saw that the silver note was worth one thousand taels, he couldn't help but gasp. Xiaoying stuffed the silver notes into the eunuch's hand. "Don't worry, sir. There's no one else here. What you say goes, I'll hear. I have no other intentions, I just want to stay safe and sound."

The eunuch gritted his teeth, peeked around, and seeing no one was around, closed the door and walked back to my side, whispering, "The most powerful person in this palace isn't the Emperor, but the Empress Dowager! Although the Emperor is cruel, it's only towards those insignificant people. This Emperor is not only as licentious as the rumors say, but also cowardly and incompetent. He's terrified like a chick if the Empress Dowager glares at him. He doesn't even dare to offend the Empress or the three imperial concubines."

Xiaoying tightened her grip on her handkerchief, trying to speak in a calm tone, "The Empress Dowager's status is higher than the Emperor's, and her brother is the Regent, so naturally the Emperor is afraid of her. The Empress is the Regent's daughter and the Empress Dowager's niece, so it's normal for the Emperor to be afraid of her. And what about the three imperial concubines? Why would the Emperor be afraid of them?"

"To discuss the imperial concubines, we must first examine the political situation. Currently, the Great Zhao has four powerful princes of different surnames: the Regent Prince, the Prince of Zhenliao, the Prince of Zhendong, and the Prince of Zhennan. Previously, these four princes served as equals in the court, but 23 years ago, the Regent Prince seized power through a single battle. At that time, the Emperor was only six years old, so the Regent Prince held absolute power, making the relationship between the four princes delicate. However, the Regent Prince is indeed a man of great talent and strategy, using both firmness and diplomacy to win over the Princes of Zhenliao and Zhendong, while suppressing the most powerful Prince of Zhennan. The position of imperial concubine is precisely the Regent Prince's means of winning them over. Consort Liu is the daughter of Liu Chi, the Prince of Zhenliao, and the sister of Liu Yi, the Minister of War. Consort Qi is the daughter of Qi He, the Prince of Zhendong, and the sister of Qi Qi, the Minister of Justice. Therefore, Consort Liu and Consort Qi are both people of the Empress Dowager, so how could the Emperor dare to offend them?"

"I see." Xiaoying nodded. "Then what is the background of the other imperial concubine?"

"This Consort Zui is an exception." The young eunuch paused, then, seeing Xiaoying's questioning gaze, explained with satisfaction, "The Drunken Consort originally had no powerful backing; her father was just a small merchant. Last year, she was selected by the Emperor during the imperial concubine selection and given the title of Noble Lady. Originally, she was to be summoned to the Gathering Immortals Terrace after being favored by the Emperor, but this Drunken Consort was quite cunning. She coaxed the Emperor into drinking, and while he was drunk and engaging in sexual relations, she managed to obtain the title of Noble Consort. When the Emperor sobered up, he realized he had unwittingly bestowed the title of Noble Consort. He wanted to back out, but after all, a monarch's word is law and cannot be changed. Considering that such an important matter as establishing a consort was done so hastily, the Emperor feared the Empress Dowager's punishment." She hurriedly ran to Cining Palace to apologize. The Empress Dowager, upon learning of this, didn't say anything, only scolded her a few times, but gave the new concubine the title of "Drunken Concubine" as a sarcastic remark. Later, this Drunken Concubine used her seductive charms to win the Emperor's favor and gained some status in the harem.

Seeing the young eunuch's incessant narration, Xiaoying felt a growing sense of unease. How could a lowly eunuch serving the young ladies know so many palace secrets, and dare to risk his life to tell a stranger on their first meeting? Even for a thousand taels of silver, it was highly unusual. It seemed the eunuch was doing this intentionally, or perhaps his master had ordered him to do so! So who was his master? Why did he want her to know these secrets? Was it to win her over, test her, or set a trap? Although her family had some reputation in the medical field, in the eyes of these high-ranking officials, she was still just a commoner. There was no need to win her over. A trap? A commoner was easily killed; why bother with such a complicated scheme? A test? Possibly! It seemed someone had noticed her. Although she wasn't sure of her value, the fact that the other party had laid bare the various factions of the harem before her clearly indicated they wanted to gauge her reaction. Xiao Ying's lips curled into a slight sneer. "This Drunken Consort is just a commoner. If she were honest and obedient, she could still enjoy some wealth and status. Her current actions are a path to her death." Actually, Xiao Ying felt quite sorry for the Drunken Consort. Rather than saying the Drunken Consort had any ambition, it was more accurate to say she was struggling for survival. But she had to make a statement, to show the master behind her: I am also of commoner origin, therefore I have no ambition, I will remain obedient.

The little eunuch smiled slightly. "Miss, you shouldn't underestimate yourself. With your superb medical skills, you will surely gain the Empress Dowager's appreciation."

Xiao Ying raised an eyebrow, a sudden realization dawning on her. The master behind her must be the Empress Dowager! It turned out that her reputation as a medical fairy had attracted the Empress Dowager's attention. The more powerful a person is in this world, the more afraid of death they are. Xiao Ying, who frequently treated high-ranking officials, naturally understood this principle. Which of these people wouldn't want a few more divine physicians by their side? Especially the concubines in the harem, who desperately needed a female physician, since some women's symptoms were inconvenient to discuss with the male physicians of the Imperial Hospital. Moreover, in a world that favored sons over daughters, female doctors were few and far between, let alone a divine physician. Presumably, she was already coveted by a group of concubines even before she entered the palace, but now that the Empress Dowager has made her move, the other concubines can only endure it. "It would be Xiaoying's good fortune to serve the Empress Dowager. Xiaoying will do her best and dare not ask for anything more."

The little eunuch nodded approvingly: "Miss, please rest assured. With your talent, you will surely be highly valued. In the future, I, Jinzhu'er, will have to rely on you."

"Eunuch Jin is too kind. We are just serving the Empress Dowager. In the future, I will need to speak well of you in front of the Empress Dowager." Jinzhu'er waved his hand without caring that Xiaoying had exposed him: "Miss, please rest well. There are still several things to do in the afternoon!"

After seeing off Eunuch Jin, Xiaoying muttered to herself: "It seems that the harem is full of the Empress Dowager's people. Father really can't win people's hearts!"

Chapter 004 Cooperation (1)

In the following days, the young ladies began to study very hard. They learned everything from the "Wanfu" (a traditional Chinese greeting) to walking, eating, and how to smile. In short, all the actions in daily life had to follow the rules. Fortunately, most of the young ladies-in-waiting were from respectable families, and many of their manners had been taught since childhood. It was just tough on Xiaoying, who, despite also coming from a prominent family, was spoiled by her mother from a young age. Moreover, being a free spirit, she hadn't learned any etiquette, and the nannies focused on disciplining her, making her learning incredibly difficult. If it were just these things, it wouldn't be so bad; martial artists are never afraid of hardship. But there was one person who constantly mocked and ridiculed her. This person was none other than the phoenix-eyed girl, Deng Zhilan, the daughter of the Minister of Revenue.

This girl's background was indeed the most noble among all the young ladies-in-waiting; her skin was as white as snow, and her beautiful phoenix eyes made her stand out. However, she was too arrogant, always surrounded by several flattering young ladies, always trying to outdo everyone else. Perhaps seeing that Xiaoying was more beautiful than her, she felt jealous, so she constantly mocked and tripped up Xiaoying, not wanting her to have an easy time. Whenever this happened, Xiaoying would retort sarcastically. She was clever and had a touch of street smarts, so she always had the upper hand when it came to teasing others. Deng Zhilan didn't fare well in their several exchanges. Finally, Xiaoying got fed up and secretly sprinkled some itching ointment into Deng Zhilan's collar, making Deng Zhilan scratch in bed for three days straight, finally giving Xiaoying some peace and quiet.

Just when Xiaoying thought she could enjoy herself for a few days, Princess Chen Yao of Xiangyang burst into her room, grabbed her, and exclaimed, "Sister Ying, Yao'er is all alone, no one to keep her company, so pitiful!"

"Pitiful? If you're pitiful, hang yourself on me!" Xiao Ying was exasperated, shoving Chen Yao away with her hands on her hips, and said with a roguish air, "What's there to be pitiful about? You're enjoying a life of leisure in Cining Palace, unlike me! I'm forced to walk around the courtyard all day, bowing as I go. If my hand is wrong, I get a beating; if my foot is wrong, I get a beating; if my waist is wrong, I get a beating; if my butt is twisted wrong, I get a beating! Damn it! When has my butt ever been hit?... Hey? You're still laughing!" Xiao Ying raised her little fist to hit her.

"Haha... Don't hit me, I... I surrender!" Chen Yao dodged and laughed. The two laughed and joked for a while, attracting the attention of people in the courtyard, before finally stopping.

"Sister, don't be angry, I'll take you out for a stroll. Today I got a decree from the Empress Dowager, the entire Imperial Garden is mine for the whole day! Sister, accompany Yao'er to go boating on the lake." Chen Yao proudly raised her chin, and seeing Xiao Ying hesitate, she pulled her back, saying, "Don't worry, the Empress Dowager has already granted you leave. Today, sister belongs to me!"

Outside the Imperial Household Department, several maids were waiting. For a young lady of the Imperial Household to have maids accompanying her showed that Princess Xiangyang was truly favored. The group followed the path, turning several corners, until a vast expanse of rippling lake appeared before them, its surface shimmering and beautiful. The two strolled along, admiring the view with great pleasure. After a while, Chen Yao led me to a boardwalk. A small boat was nearby, and the two boarded. A maid wanted to row, but Chen Yao stopped her, instructing the other maids to wait by the lake. The two of them, ignoring the maids, rowed playfully towards the center of the lake.

The small boat bobbed gently on the water, and Xiaoying stretched lazily. "You seem so carefree, aren't you worried about the selection at all?" Seeing her so comfortable she looked like she was about to fall asleep, Chen Yao couldn't help but tease her.

"What difference does it make whether I'm worried or not?" Xiaoying replied nonchalantly.

"Want to know some inside information?" Chen Yao's big eyes blinked as she stared at her.

"No!"

"No?" Chen Yao hadn't expected Xiaoying to answer so readily, and she grabbed her sleeve in frustration, yelling, "How could you say that! I went through so much trouble to find out, and you don't want to know! I'm so angry!" Her pouting made Xiaoying laugh. "Alright, then I'll listen, otherwise our little princess might jump into the lake in despair."

Hearing Xiaoying's words, Chen Yao said with a satisfied expression, "Let me tell you, the Empress Dowager has already arranged everything for this selection. One imperial concubine and two princesses have already been chosen. No matter what the Emperor and the two princes think, it has to be decided!"

The Empress Dowager's power was truly immense! Xiaoying was taken aback. It seemed that under the Empress Dowager's watchful eye, she and her father would likely have little chance of recognizing each other, and a wave of sadness washed over her. Noticing her distraction, Chen Yao nudged her and asked, "What are you thinking about, sister?"

Xiaoying snapped back to reality and smiled, "I was thinking, the choice for Imperial Concubine must be you, right?"

Chen Yao's eyes widened in disbelief. "How did you know?"

Xiao Ying leaned against the ship's railing and said leisurely, "The daughters of the Prince of Zhenliao and the Prince of Zhendong are both Imperial Concubines. If your status were lower than theirs, would your father have sent you here? Besides, with the Empress Dowager's favor towards you, it's impossible for your status to be lower than theirs!"

"Sister is so clever!" Chen Yao exclaimed, raising her thumb, and then asked, "Then, sister, guess who the other two princesses are?"

Xiao Ying rolled her eyes: "Who do you take me for? How could a commoner like me possibly guess about royal affairs? Tell me quickly, little spy!" Chen Yao chuckled, clearly quite pleased with the title of spy, "One is Deng Zhilan, the one who tripped me up last time!" Chen Yao looked disdainful, "Hmph! Her father is Deng Linzhi, the Minister of Revenue, a close confidant of the Regent. This time, the Empress Dowager promised her a position as the Second Prince's principal wife, which can be considered a sweet treat the Regent gave to her father. Just a Second Prince's wife, look how happy she is, she's never seen the world before!" Xiao Ying rolled her eyes inwardly. If even the Minister of Revenue hadn't seen the world, how many people in this world had?

"You have a grudge against her?"

"Hmph! Her father only knows how to suck up to the Regent. Every year, he embezzles the military pay allocated to our Xiangyang army by the Ministry of Revenue under various pretexts! She thinks that because her family has the Regent's backing, she can bully our Chen family and oppose me at every turn. Hmph! Doesn't she remember that back in the Northern War, it was my father who led the Xiangyang army at the forefront! Even the Regent had to be wary of my father. How dare her, a mere Minister's family, challenge him? The Regent doesn't dare to directly confront my father, so he uses her father as a pawn. If he ever truly angers my father, their Minister's family will be the first scapegoat betrayed by the Regent!"

"I see." Xiao Ying nodded knowingly. It seemed the Regent wasn't invincible after all. "Then who is the other one?"

"The other one is just a concubine of the First Prince, not particularly noble. She's Fan Ying, the younger sister of Fan Feng, the commander of the Imperial Guards." A beautiful but quiet figure involuntarily appeared in Xiao Ying's mind. She never imagined that this unremarkable girl among the other young ladies would have such a background. She raised an eyebrow and smiled, "You didn't call me out just to tell me these things, did you? What does the Empress Dowager plan to do with me? Speak up quickly!"

Chapter 005 Cooperation (2)

"Hehe, nothing can be hidden from you, sister. You're the luckiest, sister. The Empress Dowager has already ordered the Imperial Hospital to vacate a courtyard, probably for you." Chen Yao looked at Xiao Ying with envy and said, "Being the head of the Imperial Hospital is a fourth-rank official! Among the women of our Great Zhao, you are the first to reach the fourth rank." Seeing Xiao Ying's indifferent expression, Chen Yao added, "Sister, don't underestimate this official title. These court officials have a relationship of ruler and subject with their masters, not servants who can be beaten or scolded at will. Whether it's the Empress, the Consort, or the Prince, if they want to make a move on you, they must go through the Empress Dowager! This status is extremely transcendent, Yao'er is so jealous!"

"What do you have to be jealous of? If we're talking about fate, isn't yours the best? A first-rank Imperial Noble Consort! And she's extremely favored by the Empress Dowager. You can do whatever you want in this palace!"

"Tch! What favor?" Chen Yao curled her lip disdainfully, a shadow of gloom flashing in her bright eyes. "Just a hostage! Hmph, they're afraid of my father and brother's power, so they've set their sights on me! What favor? It's just the Empress Dowager putting on a show for my father. If my father's strength weren't limited, unable to deal with all three forces at once, I wouldn't have secretly come here to suffer!"

"Secretly!?" Xiao Ying was startled.

"Alas! I ran away." Chen Yao sighed and explained, "Sister, you don't know, that regent is treacherous and cunning. After swallowing up the power of two vassal kings, he started targeting my father. He used the emperor to issue an edict summoning me to the palace to test my father. If my father agrees, he will have an extra hostage; if he disagrees, he will be disobeying the edict and losing the greater good, and then the regent can lead his army to conquer me. My father loves me the most and wanted to disobey the edict, but I know that with my father's current strength, he cannot possibly fight against the regent, so I secretly ran away to the capital."

Looking at the innocent little girl in front of her, Xiao Ying felt a surge of admiration and said seriously, "Sister, you risked your life to save your father, which is truly admirable! It's just that you're going to marry someone you don't like, which is a hardship."

"I only admire my father and my brother in this world. As for other men, none of them have caught my eye! Anyway, it's all the same who I marry, so I might as well use them." Chen Yao waved her hand dismissively, but a hint of sadness was clearly visible in her eyes.

The two remained silent for a while before Xiao Ying changed the subject. "Little sister, aren't you afraid that these treasonous words you've spoken to me today will reach the Empress Dowager's ears and harm you?"

Chen Yao smiled, her eyes narrowed. "Not at all! Although Yao'er is young, her judgment of people is exceptional. With your character, elder sister wouldn't betray Yao'er. Hehe, elder sister is Yao'er's future sister-in-law!" Seeing Xiao Ying glare at her, she quickly changed the subject. "Besides, even if the Empress Dowager finds out, she won't do anything to me! As long as Father's power is strong enough, Yao'er is safe!"

Xiao Ying raised an eyebrow. "But even so, little sister, there's no need to tell a commoner like me these court secrets, is there?"

Chen Yao blushed slightly. "Hehe, I knew you'd ask that, sister. Actually, the reason Yao'er is telling you all this is because we want to cooperate with you."

"Cooperate? I'm just a commoner, how could I have that ability?"

"Sister, don't hide it from Yao'er. The power behind you is not simple." Chen Yao smiled mysteriously. "On the surface, you seem to come from an ordinary wealthy family, but no one knows that your master is the infamous Jade-Faced Wolf of the martial arts world—Chu Liang. And Chu Liang's master, who is also your grandmaster, is Xu Qian, a bandit from Jiangnan who calls himself Zuo Shan Diao! It seems you have quite a background!" Chen Yao proudly raised her chin, and seeing Xiao Ying's surprised and uncertain expression made her very satisfied. "Now you know our strength, right? How about it? Cooperate with us."

"How did you know?" Xiao Ying narrowed her eyes, a chill running through them.

“Sister, don’t worry, we found out by chance, and no one else knows.” A sudden chill made Chen Yao’s heart tremble. “Ever since my brother returned from treating his injuries, he begged Father to propose marriage at Guang Sheng Hall. Father has always doted on us siblings, so he agreed. However, we are, after all, the most powerful princes in Great Zhao, so naturally we had to investigate your identity before proposing marriage. As a result, our people unexpectedly discovered Jade-Faced Wolf Chu Liang at Guang Sheng Hall! And he’s even teaching you martial arts! Although you tried to be very discreet, we still managed to find out.”

“The Zhennan Prince’s Mansion is indeed full of hidden talents. You were able to get close to us without my master finding out!” Seeing Chen Yao shrug noncommittally, Xiao Ying asked suspiciously, “My master is a notorious womanizer in the martial arts world. He’s always been cautious and has never let anyone see his true face. How did you recognize him?”

Chen Yao’s expression was strange: “Your master once seduced my mother…” Chen Yao shifted uncomfortably. "But he didn't expect to be outmaneuvered by my mother, falling into a trap and being captured by us. That's why our people from the Prince's Mansion removed his mask and saw his true face. Later, it was your grandmaster who exchanged him for three thousand fine sabers. It was because of this that we learned the lecherous Jade-Faced Wolf Chu Liang was actually Xu Qian's apprentice!" Chen Yao covered her mouth with a handkerchief, clearly trying to suppress a laugh.

Xiao Ying scratched her head helplessly; just thinking about that clumsy master gave her a headache. Xiao Ying still couldn't understand how such an honest and handsome young man could become a womanizer. "I still don't understand. My master is just a notorious womanizer, and my grandmaster is just a despicable bandit. Compared to you, we're nothing but a drop in the ocean. What right do we have to cooperate with you?"

Chapter 006 Grandmaster

Xiao Ying scratched her head helplessly; just thinking about that clumsy master gave her a headache. She still couldn't understand how such an honest and handsome young man could become a womanizer. "I still don't understand. My master is just a notorious womanizer, and my grandmaster is just a despicable bandit. Compared to you, we're nothing but a drop in the ocean. What qualifications do we have to cooperate with you?" "

Your power is indeed not great, and we don't need it." Chen Yao wasn't impatient with my question and patiently explained, "We just need you to help us persuade your grandmaster to become the guest minister of the Zhennan Prince's Mansion." She carefully observed Xiao Ying's expression and tempted her, "Although the rank of the prefectural minister is not high, his real power is high. He is the number one person in the several provinces of Jiangnan, second only to my father! Moreover, he is a guest minister. If he is not satisfied, he can leave at any time."

Chen Yao's words made Xiao Ying secretly startled. Her grandmaster, that lewd old man, was actually worth the Zhennan Prince's high regard! "Um... that... what exactly is my grandmaster's background? Why do you value him so much?"

Chen Yao widened her eyes and looked her up and down as if she didn't recognize her, until Xiao Ying's face turned slightly red. "I really admire you. You have to ask others about your own grandmaster's background!" This remark made Xiaoying a little embarrassed and angry. She glared at Chen Yao, giving her a "take it or leave it" look. "Fine, I give up." Chen Yao organized her thoughts and slowly said, "Your grandmaster was born into a small family in Jiangnan. He was intelligent and quick-witted from a young age, known as a child prodigy. Later, he was trained by the head of the first Taoist sect in Jiangnan, the Immortal Sect, Yi Yang Zhenren. After completing his studies, he left the mountain. Yi Yang Zhenren's evaluation of him was: 'This child is a great sage of our time. Whoever obtains this child will obtain the world!' Later, this evaluation reached the ears of the late Emperor Zhao Wen. At that time, the Great Zhao was plagued by northern border troubles and the Yangtze River floods. The court was also in turmoil and the political situation was unstable. Emperor Wen urgently needed a great sage to assist him, so he went on a private visit to your grandmaster. After a long talk, Emperor Wen was overjoyed and appointed your grandmaster as the Grand Preceptor of the Great Zhao." "My grandmaster lived up to Emperor Wen's expectations. Upon assuming office, he devised a method to establish flood diversion zones, eliminating the Yangtze River's flooding problems. He also invented stirrups and saddles, established a machine-made battalion, and forged a large number of high-quality steel sabers. In particular, his invention of the crossbow played a crucial role in the northern war more than twenty years ago. Our Xiangyang army relied on these inventions to achieve a victory against overwhelming odds and quell the northern threat in one fell swoop. My father once said: 'The Great Zhao was able to overcome internal and external troubles and become as powerful as it is today entirely thanks to your grandmaster!'"

These words stunned Xiaoying, who couldn't reconcile the image of that sleazy, greedy old man with that of a great sage. In her mind, her grandmaster was just a bandit leader hiding in the mountains. Every time she visited him, he would impart a philosophy called Thick Black Theory to her. What was Thick Black Theory? In her view, it was the art of turning a gentleman into a scoundrel! Yet he always lamented that he hadn't mastered this lesson, resulting in the loss of wealth and honor. Such a scoundrel, yet the Prince of Zhennan speaks of him so highly—Xiaoying felt a sense of unreality. She muttered to herself, "How can this old man have such a great reputation? With such abilities, why would he hide away and become a bandit?"

"I do know some reasons for that!" Chen Yao smiled and explained to me, "Back then, the Great Zhao Dynasty was beset by internal and external troubles, fraught with crises. Most of the power in the court fell into the hands of Prime Minister Leng Zhan, and Emperor Wen's throne was in jeopardy. It was at this time that your grandmaster suddenly appeared. Relying on your grandmaster's achievements, Emperor Wen gradually regained power and received the secret support of our Xiangyang Army. Later, Leng Zhan died of illness, and his son Leng Xiao inherited most of Leng Zhan's power. At that time, Emperor Wen already had an absolute advantage and was about to defeat Leng Xiao, but at this moment, Emperor Wen suddenly passed away! Not long after, your grandmaster disappeared along with the Mechanized Battalion he had built. My father speculated that Emperor Wen's death was related to Leng Xiao. Your grandmaster was afraid of Leng Xiao's revenge, so he fled with the Mechanized Battalion. My father had searched for him, but there had been no news of him for so many years. Even when he saved your master, he only saw his letter. I didn't expect to find a clue here with you, sister."

Xiao Ying said irritably, "So, that's why you deliberately approached me?" Her tone was slightly disappointed.

"Sister, don't misunderstand. I genuinely like you, sister. The first time I saw you, I thought you were my sister-in-law. You have no idea how much my brother likes you. I've never seen him like someone so sincerely!" Chen Yao blinked her big eyes frantically, trying to show how innocent she was. But Xiao Ying rolled her eyes inwardly. Who would believe that?! "Alright! Stop talking about your scoundrel brother! He's just a filthy old man. I'll sell him to you, but what benefits are you going to give me?"

This blatant act of selling off her grandmaster left Chen Yao utterly dumbfounded. Chen Yao was stunned for a moment before saying, "Sister, you have another purpose in entering the palace, don't you?"

Xiao Ying's expression changed slightly as she replied, "Yes, I entered the palace so that Guang Sheng Tang from Jiangnan could successfully establish a branch in the capital. That's why I'm here to secure a place for myself in the future."

Chen Yao smiled slyly and said, "Sister, don't deceive me. If you enter the palace under your public identity, everyone will think the same thing. I admire your arrangements, even the usually cautious Empress Dowager was fooled. However, I've deduced from your true identity that your real purpose is for the Emperor!"

Xiao Ying appeared calm, but inwardly she felt as if struck by lightning. The Emperor was her biological father, and this secret could not be revealed to anyone. She asked calmly, "Why do you think that?"

"Because your grandmaster was not only the Imperial Preceptor, but also the Crown Prince's tutor. According to my father, your grandmaster and Emperor Wen were as close as brothers, and Emperor Wen's death was inextricably linked to Leng Xiao. Therefore, if your grandmaster wanted to avenge Emperor Wen, if he didn't want to hide anymore, he had to overthrow the Regent. And the best way to overthrow the Regent was to help the current Emperor regain power. Sister, you entered the palace to contact and help the Emperor, right?" Hearing Chen Yao's analysis, Xiao Ying secretly breathed a sigh of relief, her heartbeat quickly calming down. It seemed her father's secret hadn't been revealed yet.

"Alas!" Chen Yao sighed regretfully. "It's a pity, sister, you shouldn't count on this emperor. Actually, after the emperor assumed power, we also wanted to use him to overthrow the regent. My father observed and tested him many times back then, but unfortunately, he's just a muddle-headed and incompetent man, completely incapable of being helped! Sister, you should give up on him and cooperate with us."

Regarding Chen Yao's assessment of the emperor, Xiao Ying wore an ambiguous expression, avoiding the topic and asking, "You haven't told me what benefits you're going to give me?"

Chen Yao smiled knowingly. The more Xiao Ying avoided the question, the more certain Chen Yao was that her guess was correct. "Hehe, although this palace is full of the Empress Dowager's people, our Zhennan Prince's Mansion has been passed down for generations and managed for over a hundred years. There are some hidden forces in this palace, and even the Empress Dowager has our people around her! These spies can cooperate with you in the future, sister."

Xiaoying's beautiful eyes lit up, and she laughed, "Sister, you've given me a great gift. I heard that the Xiangyang Navy is famous throughout the world. My grandmaster always said he wanted to build a big ship to travel the world. That old man, what's he doing playing around at his age? But being able to go to the Zhennan Prince's Mansion, his wish to build a big ship can be fulfilled. It seems that his entry into the Prince's Mansion is also thanks to my grand-disciple, me."

Chen Yao smiled, but in her heart, she fiercely despised the shameless beauty in front of her who had betrayed her grandmaster. "Of course, my Xiangyang Navy is the most powerful. They are all my mother's old subordinates when she was the leader of the Yangtze River Gang. Building a big ship is nothing." After saying that, Chen Yao smiled smugly, but what happened next made her stop smiling.

Chapter 007 Fighting (1)

Chen Yao smiled, but in her heart she looked down on the shameless beauty in front of her. "Of course, our Xiangyang Navy is the most powerful. They are all my mother's old subordinates when she was the leader of the Yangtze River Gang. What's a big ship?" After saying that, Chen Yao smiled smugly, but what happened next made her unable to smile.

"Sister, do you think the Empress Dowager will be happy that we are so close?" Chen Yao heard Xiao Ying's soft voice. Then she felt her little bottom being kicked hard and fell into the lake!

Xiao Ying picked up the oar and smiled at Chen Yao, who was still struggling in the lake. "Sister, look, won't I gain the Empress Dowager's favor this way?"

"You bitch! You dare to kick me! I'll skin you alive!..." Leaving behind Chen Yao's hoarse curses, Xiao Ying rowed the boat back to the shore without looking back. As soon as she reached the shore, she angrily shouted at the stunned maids, "Your princess actually called me a slut! I'm a concubine too, with class!" Then, she arrogantly spat into the lake before swaggering back to the Imperial Household Department.

Princess Xiangyang had been kicked! And kicked into the lake! The entire palace was stunned by this news!

When the soaking wet Princess Xiangyang was helped back to Cining Palace by the unfortunate maids, the Empress Dowager's jaw nearly dropped to the floor. After a brief moment of shock, the palace erupted in chaotic inquiries. When it was learned that the one who dared to kick the princess was actually a newly arrived concubine, everyone's expressions were incredibly varied: some were surprised, some gloated, some were angry, and some were suspicious. In short, Xiaoying became famous. Almost everyone in the palace, and even some court officials, knew that a newly arrived palace maid named Li Xiaoying had kicked the arrogant Prince Zhennan's beloved daughter, the Empress Dowager's favorite Princess Xiangyang, into the lake.

Of course, after such a serious incident, the Empress Dowager couldn't allow Xiaoying to remain leisurely in the Imperial Household Department. Almost immediately after Xiaoying's return, the Empress Dowager's decree of reprimand and punishment was issued. Because of Li Xiaoying's insubordination, she was punished by being confined to the Imperial Household Department and forced to kneel for ten days. This decree shocked many who were eager for a spectacle. Was this considered punishment? The mere act of premeditatedly harming a princess was enough to warrant a death sentence, yet this decree only imposed ten days of kneeling. Confinement? This was hardly a punishment; palace maids were not allowed to leave the Imperial Household Department in the first place. Just who was Li Xiaoying? However, some observant people simply laughed it off, finding this punishment quite normal.

Xiao Ying rubbed her aching knees; she had been kneeling for seven days straight. Even though she was trained in martial arts, it was taking its toll. As she rubbed, she cursed the Empress Dowager inwardly: "You damned old woman! Why make me kneel? All I did was kick the princess! Ten days of punishment?!" If anyone in the palace knew her complaints, they'd probably think she'd lost her mind—such a light punishment, and she complained it was too much!

For the past seven days, Xiao Ying had only been able to sleep briefly at night; the rest of the time she was forced to kneel in the side hall. It was both arduous and boring. Only Jin Zhu'er had visited her once. He claimed to be there to supervise on behalf of the Empress Dowager, but it seemed more like a visit. He ignored Xiao Ying's attempts to sit on the ground and chat with him, engaging her in conversation with subtle hints of probing and courting. Xiao Ying, of course, flattered him. Her Machiavellian skills hadn't gone unused; she used them now, making Jin Zhu'er nod repeatedly and become more talkative, even revealing some information about the palace to her. When Xiaoying heard Jin Zhu'er say that Chen Yao cried and made a scene after returning home, then fainted and stayed in bed sick for three days, she rolled her eyes inwardly. This little brat was such a good actress! The Princess of Xiangyang was notoriously wild in Jiangnan, practically always hanging out with her mother in the Yangtze River Gang. Everyone in Jiangnan knew that the Prince of Zhennan had a daughter known in the martial arts world as "Water Lotus," always swimming in rivers and lakes. How could she possibly fall ill from such a small amount of water?

Perhaps Jin Zhu'er, quite pleased with himself, said something to the head eunuch when he left the Imperial Household Department, because in the following days, the matrons of the Imperial Household Department treated Xiaoying with much more respect. Now, as she sat on the ground rubbing her knees, the matron supervising her pretended not to see.

"I really can't believe this wild woman is so audacious..." Whispers drifted in from outside the window, and Xiaoying knew without a doubt they were talking about her.

"Hmph, dogs fighting, a mouthful of fur!" A clear, triumphant voice rang out. The voice was all too familiar; it was Deng Zhilan, the one who had been opposing her. This wasn't a whisper; it seemed Deng Zhilan was afraid she wouldn't hear it.

Xiao Ying sighed inwardly. This brainless woman was here to cause trouble, but since she was being punished, she could only pretend not to hear. Just then, with a series of chaotic footsteps coming from outside, an even louder, arrogant voice rang out, "Which dog is barking here! Get out of my way!" Chapter

008 Fight (2)

The courtyard suddenly fell silent. Clearly, no one dared to talk back to this young lady, not even Deng Zhilan. Xiao Ying smiled bitterly to herself. It seemed she had to put on an act again. This Princess Xiangyang had suffered a loss; if she didn't get revenge, no one would believe her, right? Alas, she was truly unlucky; even in acting, she had to play the role of the one who gets beaten up!

Sure enough, the door to the side hall was kicked open with a loud "bang!" and Princess Xiangyang stormed in, pointing at Xiaoying's nose and yelling, "You bitch! You dare kick me? I'll kick you back today!" She then raised her foot and kicked at Xiaoying with all her might! Startled, Xiaoying quickly dodged to the side, but before she could even catch her breath, Princess Xiangyang unleashed a barrage of martial arts moves. If it weren't for her excellent lightness skill, allowing her to dodge repeatedly, she would have been knocked over by Princess Xiangyang. Xiaoying immediately regretted kicking her into the lake; judging from the girl's posture, she was definitely here for revenge.

However, Xiaoying was a martial arts practitioner herself, and seeing that Princess Xiangyang's martial arts were clearly superior, she knew she couldn't possibly withstand it. Her only option was to run. So, relying on her lightness skill, she darted east and west, dodging attacks from all directions.

This put the Imperial Household Department in a terrible predicament. The two women were leaping and bounding about, fighting fiercely until the world seemed to spin out of control. One was a daughter of a military family, highly skilled in martial arts; the other was a chivalrous woman from the Jianghu, with exceptional agility. These two martial arts masters fought from the side hall to the main hall, then from the main hall to the front yard, and finally to the back yard. Tables and chairs were destroyed, flowers and plants were scattered everywhere, and in the end, neither of them landed a hit on the other! However, Deng Zhilan, who was watching the spectacle, took two punches to the face, leaving her with a bruised and battered face! Now Deng Zhilan hated Xiaoying to the core: "If you're going to hide, why don't you hide in a spacious place? Why do you always run around me? Are you using me as an obstacle? That Princess Xiangyang is a martial arts expert; can anyone withstand her punches? What did I do to deserve this? I got hit twice for no reason!"

The commotion at the Imperial Household Department naturally attracted the attention of the Imperial Guards. Strangely enough, as soon as the Imperial Guards arrived, the two women immediately stopped fighting, as if they had planned it. Xiaoying, in particular, ducked into the crowd, looking meek and obedient. The guards scanned the area and saw only a mess, but no one was fighting. They questioned the crowd about who was causing trouble, but after waiting for a while, no one dared to speak. The guards grew impatient and questioned again. At this moment, Deng Zhilan couldn't hold back any longer and bravely pointed out Xiaoying and Chen Yao, gleefully revealing the fact that the two had fought.

Zhilan was incredibly brave, but the guards were incredibly foolish! The guard pointed at Deng Zhilan and shouted, "Where did you get those injuries on your face? I think you're the one causing trouble!" Before Deng Zhilan could defend herself, the guard swiftly and decisively escorted her away. As he left, the guard muttered to himself, "Offending the Minister of Revenue is much better than offending both the Prince of Zhennan and the Empress Dowager!"...

The fight had become a hot topic, and the guard, surprisingly polite, led the injured Deng Zhilan to the Cining Palace to be dealt with by the Empress Dowager. He deliberately slowed his pace, assuming the Empress Dowager was aware of the incident, before leisurely bringing Deng Zhilan before her and briefly recounting what had happened: Deng Zhilan had caused a fight at the Imperial Household Department. This muddle-headed guard was truly admirable. Only Deng Zhilan had fought; who had she fought with? Had she fought herself? He failed to address such a glaring flaw, thus solidifying Deng Zhilan's charge of fighting.

However, the Empress Dowager neither questioned nor punished Deng Zhilan. She even summoned the imperial physician to treat her injuries, only to utter a seemingly random remark at the end: "This child, she's really being reckless!" It's unclear who she was referring to with the word "reckless." Ultimately, this matter, which began with great fanfare, ended quietly.

Chapter 009

: Master and Disciple In the Jiangnan region of the Great Zhao, there was a mountain inhabited by a strange band of bandits. Although these bandits ruled the mountain, they never robbed anyone or harassed the surrounding people. They simply crafted various novel and useful items, such as farm tools, kitchen utensils, and furniture, and then exchanged these items with the surrounding people or passing merchants for money and daily necessities. Rather than bandits, they were more like a group of craftsmen. Because they never committed evil, the local government never made things difficult for them, and the two sides lived in peace. Even the local constable obtained his large sword from them. The bandit leader was a small old man; people only knew him as "Mountain Eagle," but no one knew his real name.

This bandit leader was none other than Xu Qian, Zhao Xiaoying's grandmaster. At this moment, he was leisurely enjoying tea in his mountain stronghold. Opposite him sat a handsome young man with beautiful, almond-shaped eyes, who respectfully poured tea for Xu Qian.

"Achoo!" Xu Qian, who was enjoying the aroma of his tea, suddenly sneezed. Rubbing his nose, he muttered, "Who's talking about me? I have a bad feeling, like I've been sold out." After rubbing his nose, he suddenly remembered something and said to the young man, "Xiaoying has been in the palace for almost a month now, hasn't she? As her master, you should go to the capital to look after her. Although she's full of tricks, she's all alone in the palace, and I'm still worried." "Disciple

has already arranged for someone to buy a house in the capital. Guang Sheng Tang will be moving north in the next few days, and disciple will contact Xiaoying in the name of Guang Sheng Tang." Seeing Xu Qian nod in satisfaction, the young man couldn't help but ask, "Since Master is worried, why did you agree to let her enter the palace?" This young man was none other than Xiaoying's master: Jade-Faced Wolf Chu Liang.

"Alas!" Xu Qian sighed and said, "When I was the Imperial Advisor, I also taught the current emperor. Although it wasn't for long, we were still master and disciple. When Emperor Wen passed away that year, I fled alone and felt guilty towards him. Now that I can let them meet, it can be considered as repaying that debt. Besides, I've been hiding here with the Mechanized Battalion for over twenty years. We can't hide forever, can we? This time, let's take this opportunity to see if we can unite with the current emperor to overthrow the Regent, so that we can have a peaceful old age."

"Support the emperor and destroy the Regent?" Chu Liang shook his head in disbelief and said, "Disciple doesn't think that emperor is someone who can be supported. Besides, the Regent has absolute power, and he has won over several vassal kings. It's probably impossible to destroy him."

"You brat! Shut up! I've only just started to have an idea and you're already spouting these discouraging words! Damn it! Why am I so unlucky? Everyone else who transmigrates gets tons of beautiful women and endless wealth, why am I stuck as a bandit? It's so unfair! Damn it! Heaven! Don't push me too far, I'm going to build guns, cannons, and tanks! I'll storm the capital and become emperor, and then I'll marry all the beauties in the world..."

This master has gone mad again! Every time it's a bunch of incomprehensible ravings. Chu Liang rolled his eyes inwardly, but put on a simple, honest expression and said, "Master, please keep your voice down, don't let the mistresses hear!"

Xu Qian jolted awake, instinctively glancing around before sighing when no one was nearby, "Ah! Too many women are such a hassle. My disciple, the other day, the young lady Fengxian from Chunfeng Tower was taken by someone. Was it you? You're supposed to be a handsome young man, how come you're not learning anything good? You've become a womanizer!"

"Master, you know perfectly well that my Nine Yang Skill can't be practiced without women!" Chu Liang complained bitterly, "When you took me in, you said that following me would make me a peerless martial artist and lead me to great success, but you didn't teach me any martial arts, only this Nine Yang Skill that drives you crazy without women. Am I supposed to just wait to die if I don't go and pick them up?"

"This..." Xu Qian blushed and argued, "You can't blame me for this. When Master Yiyang taught me, he didn't say I'd go crazy. I only heard that learning the Nine Yang Skill would allow me to have ten women in one night, so I fell for that old guy's trick. Later I found out that the old guy had never practiced this skill at all; he was just using me as a test subject! And he called it 'fate'! Damn it! Now I have to beg your many mistresses every day... cough! Don't complain. I'm just afraid you'll get caught by the righteous sects one day."

'You got tricked, so you try to trick me? If I hadn't been starving to death back then, I wouldn't have followed you!' Chu Liang inwardly rolled his eyes, but his face grew even more respectful. "Master, rest assured, I only frequent brothels and courtesans. It's nothing evil. I've been extra careful, so those righteous sects won't bother with a nobody like me."

"Hmph! You still dare to talk? What happened with the Princess of Zhennan last time? She caused me to lose three thousand fine steel knives! How much silver is that?!"

"This..." Chu Liang blushed. "How could I have imagined that a princess would frequent brothels?..."

"Sigh! You don't need to explain. I just wanted you to be cautious." Xu Qian interrupted Chu Liang seriously. "You must be even more careful this time in the capital! Especially Xiao Ying's identity must be kept absolutely secret. It concerns Xiao Ying's life, as well as the lives of hundreds of people in our Guang Sheng Tang and the mountain stronghold. It might even implicate the emperor! Do you understand?"

"I understand. I will be extremely careful this time!"

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[Fantasy] The Legend of Yingyao (Complete) - 1

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