[Fantasy] A Eunuch Breaks into the Inner Palace (Complete) - Chapter 21

Part One (Part Two) Chapter Seventy-Nine: Rebellion and Conspiracy.

In a manor more than ten miles outside Jinling City, restrictions had been set up on all sides to prevent ghosts and demons from entering.
Prince Li Xiong of Danyang stood in the secret chamber, pacing back and forth with his hands behind his back, his face frosty. He said
coldly, "That dog of a lackey, Li Xiaomin, has climbed up so fast! He's even seized half of the military power of the Nine Cities Garrison. All those Tom, Dick, and Harry have gone to curry favor with him. If this continues, I'm afraid it will greatly affect our grand plan!" Qian Song, the Right Chancellor of Southern Tang, sat upright in a grand chair beside him, stroking his long beard, and pondered, "It seems that Empress Zhou has become suspicious of us, which is why she's promoting this lackey so highly, preparing to use his power against us."
Sitting next to him was a plump military officer, Mo Shangchou, the commander of the Nine Cities Garrison. He interjected, "Could we try to bribe this kid, or use a honey trap to catch him red-handed and force him to work for us?"
As soon as he said this, he suddenly remembered that he had been caught red-handed by Qian Song in a honey trap, which was why he couldn't work for them. He blushed and stopped talking.
Qian Wulin, sitting to the side, listened with annoyance and sneered, "You think he's as easy to catch as you? Have you forgotten he's a eunuch, neither male nor female? What kind of honey trap would work?"
Mo Shangchou, blushing, argued, "Eunuchs may not be lustful, but they're certainly greedy, right? If we just give them more money, are we afraid they won't take it?"
Qian Song shook his head, "Not so easy. This little servant embezzled countless treasures from the Jushan bandits during the southern expedition. I'm afraid if we give him too little, he won't even look at it. Judging from his current extravagant spending, he doesn't seem to love money that much. I'm afraid it won't be of any use."
Mo Shangchou didn't dare argue with him, but sighed, "He doesn't love money or women, so are we really helpless against him? In my opinion, we should hire a master from the Yinshan Sect to secretly kill him, then we won't have to worry about him doing anything!"
Qian Song shook his head again, "I'll go... " " We asked Master Dongwangzi, and he only said that his magical power hadn't fully recovered, so success in one fell swoop was uncertain. And the Yinshan Sect's sorcerers haven't arrived yet, which is truly worrying,"
Li Xiong said angrily. "These Yinshan Sect bastards keep delaying, saying they're still recovering from serious injuries. If they need a hundred years to heal, are we supposed to wait a hundred years? Now Empress Zhou is ruling from behind the curtain, and that old bastard Zhou Tai's power is gradually increasing with her help. Add to that Qin Yuan's generals, and now there's this dog eunuch who's attached to both factions. If this continues, even if we assassinate Li Zhao and Li Xu, Empress Zhou will still be able to control the court. It's just that that dog eunuch uses sorcery to protect the palace; even the Netherworld Demon King can't harm anyone in the palace! After Father Emperor passes away, the Zhou family will find another puppet emperor to do their bidding, and our plans will be in vain!"
At this point, everyone's faces turned solemn, deep in thought.
After a long pause, Qian Song suddenly slammed his fist on the table and shouted, "Enough! This matter should be dealt with sooner rather than later. Let's make our move before that little dog gains a foothold in the army! Once we seize power, what trouble can that little dog cause?"
Qian Wulin was greatly encouraged and jumped up, shouting, "Uncle is right! As long as you give the order, I will lead 30,000 Imperial Guards to storm the Dragon Court, kill everyone from the Zhou and Qin families, and protect my lord as he ascends the throne!"
Li Xiong was overjoyed and laughed heartily, as if he had already become emperor.
Mo Shangchou, however, was filled with worry, his voice trembling as he said, "But there are 120,000 Imperial Guards in the main camp outside Jinling City, most of whose generals are from the Qin family's faction. What if they refuse to listen to us? The camp is only a few dozen miles from the city. If they come directly here, our army might not be able to withstand that elite force!"
Qian Song smiled coldly and said in a deep voice, "I have also asked Master Dongwangzi about this matter. He said that controlling those generals is not too difficult."
Everyone's spirits lifted upon hearing this, and they hurriedly bowed and asked for his advice.
Qian Song stroked his beard and chuckled, saying in a deep voice, "This matter is of great importance, and I need you all to go and gather all the necessary information: you may all come forward!"
Several heads simultaneously crowded towards Qian Song, each face filled with solemnity.
After Qian Song finished speaking in a low voice, beads of sweat appeared on everyone's foreheads. They were both excited and fearful. Although they were extremely wary of Dongwangzi's power, they also knew that their side was sure to win this time!
Inside the Empress's palace of the Tang Dynasty, the decorations were magnificent and exquisite, enough to inspire awe and wonder.
A woman of unparalleled beauty, clad in an exquisitely embroidered imperial robe with gold and silver threads, sat regally in the palace hall. Her beautiful face was serene, yet carried a subtle imperial majesty that commanded respect. Her noble bearing was something no one could imitate.
Surrounding her were beautiful women, and graceful palace maids, carrying fans, ruyi scepters, tea trays, and fruit, carefully attended to her.
Before her sat a young and beautiful woman, who looked about fifteen or sixteen years old, wiping away tears with her sleeve. She sobbed, "Mother, His Highness the Crown Prince locks himself in his room all day, engrossed in reading those forbidden books, and ignores me. I'm worried that something might happen to him if this continues!"
The most noble woman in the court, the extremely beautiful Empress Zhou, frowned slightly and sighed, "That child Xiao Zhao, once he starts reading, he's like a madman! Weren't those forbidden books all sealed off? How could he still get his hands on them?"
Crown Princess Wei covered her face and wept, "Although they were banned by Father, these forbidden books are still circulating secretly somewhere, and more and more are appearing. His Highness the Crown Prince sends people to buy them from outside at high prices, and then he locks himself in his room to read them, laughing like a fool, just like..."
She didn't dare to finish her sentence; if she said that the Crown Prince was like a fool or a madman, Empress Zhou would naturally be displeased.
Empress Zhou, however, understood and frowned, saying, "These books can't be completely sealed off. Why not find some people to write some for him to read as well? As long as it's not too outrageous, it'll be fine. As for Xiao Zhao, I'll send someone to instruct him; you don't need to worry. He'll only be addicted for a while, then he'll be fine. Once the Emperor's anger subsides, I'll plead for his release from confinement, allowing him and Xiao Xu to go hunting and relax. He naturally won't be so engrossed in those forbidden books anymore."
Lady Wei nodded tearfully. Suddenly, a palace maid announced that Eunuch Li had come to pay his respects.
Hearing it was a palace eunuch, Lady Wei didn't avoid him; after all, her Crown Prince's residence had many eunuchs serving her. However, remembering Eunuch Li's many legendary deeds, Lady Wei couldn't help but be curious. Wiping away her tears, she stole glances, wanting to see what this Eunuch Li looked like.
That day, Li Xiaomin, as usual, came to pay his respects to Empress Zhou to thank her for her cultivation and promotion. After paying his respects to Empress Zhou, he was to go to pay his respects to Consort Qin, and incidentally, to help her ascend to heaven a few times, as a way of repaying her for her constant care and comfort.
Hearing Empress Zhou summon him from inside, Li Xiaomin entered the room, keeping his eyes straight ahead, and knelt down respectfully, saying, "Your subject, Li Xiaomin, wishes Your Majesty a thousand years of life, good health, and boundless longevity!"
Hearing his sincere wishes, Empress Zhou covered her mouth and smiled gently, saying, "Alright, get up! What interesting things happened outside the palace today?"
Li Xiaomin respectfully stood up, boldly peeking upwards. He saw Empress Zhou's sexy figure, exquisite and shapely, hidden beneath her magnificent imperial robes. Her breasts, a pair of jade peaks, stood high, causing the embroidered golden phoenix robes to sway gracefully forward. The sight made Li Xiaomin's heart pound wildly, and he almost had a nosebleed.
Overwhelmed by Empress Zhou's incomparably noble aura, he hurriedly lowered his head, not daring to look too long lest he give himself away. A slight surprise welled up inside him at the thought of disrespecting this noble beauty. His gaze shifted, and he saw a young woman in palace attire sitting beside him. She was beautiful, though slightly haggard, with red-rimmed eyes, looking pitiful. She was staring at him blankly, a hint of spring-like desire secretly rising in her beautiful eyes.
Li Xiaomin, a man of countless women, was no longer the pitiful virgin he was in his previous life. Looking into the woman's yearning eyes, he could tell she was sexually frustrated. He sighed inwardly, "Alas, how pitiful! What's so good about being born into royalty? Even basic human needs can't be met. In this world, only I am willing to do good deeds and help those in need!"
Empress Zhou glanced at them, then suddenly had an idea. She smiled and said, "Xiaomin, this is the Crown Princess. You may go and pay your respects!"
Li Xiaomin hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed deeply before Consort Wei, saying, "Your Highness, please accept my greeting!"
Crown Princess Wei hurriedly stood up, wanting to step forward... She helped the handsome young eunuch up, but hesitated to do so in front of Empress Zhou, saying shyly, "Please rise, Eunuch Li. You have rendered such a great service; how could I accept your bow!"
Li Xiaomin stood up, secretly observing her slender figure and savoring her deep-seated allure, and said with a forced smile, "Your Highness is too kind. It is all thanks to Your Majesty's boundless blessings that I was able to achieve this merit."
Empress Zhou smiled and said, "Xiaomin, you're being glib again. What interesting stories have you heard outside the palace lately?"
One of Li Xiaomin's tasks in coming to her these days was to tell her stories to relieve her boredom. Having read so many novels, telling a story was not difficult for Li Xiaomin. He picked one at random, dressed it up in the style of the modern Tang Dynasty, and began to tell it. The two beauties listened intently, and the palace maids beside them were also captivated, their beautiful eyes sparkling as they looked at this exceptionally clever and humorous young eunuch, all wishing they had a chance to get closer to him.
Empress Zhou listened for a while, laughed with the Crown Princess, and then, feeling slightly weary, voiced the idea that had just come to mind: "Xiaominzi, the Crown Prince is currently obsessed with forbidden books and can't extricate himself. You are eloquent, so you could go to the Crown Prince's residence and advise him not to become so engrossed in these books, lest he neglect the Crown Princess. Do you understand?"
Li Xiaomin was taken aback, thinking to himself, "Those forbidden books were all dictated by me and then written down. You want me to persuade the Crown Prince not to read my books? Well… alright, the one who tied the knot must untie it. I'll go and persuade the Crown Prince not to read forbidden books. What a waste to leave such a beautiful woman by his side untouched! If I can persuade the Crown Prince to spend more time on the Crown Princess, it will be a way of making up for my apology for killing her uncle and cousin's family."
With that thought, he bowed and accepted the task.
Empress Zhou covered her cherry-like mouth with her jade-like hand, yawned softly, and said wearily, "Little Minzi, why don't you stay here and talk with the Crown Princess for a while? Let her tell you about the Crown Prince's character, so you'll have a better understanding when advising him."
With that, she stood up languidly, flicked her sleeve, and left, leaving Little Minzi kneeling on the ground, respectfully seeing off the Empress. His lustful eyes were still fixed on her alluring figure.
He was fantasizing about reaching out to touch her tempting buttocks, or embracing her slender waist and kissing her fragrant lips—how wonderful that would be! Suddenly, he felt a gentle pat on the head. Looking up, he saw the Crown Princess standing beside him, biting her cherry lips and smiling, "Little Minzi, what are you looking at again? Be careful your eyes don't pop out!" Her eyes flickered, a half-smile playing on her lips as she looked at Little Minzi, seemingly with a hint of jealousy.
Li Xiaomin chuckled twice, not afraid of her telling Empress Zhou. He stood up, bowed, and said, "Your Highness, since I have been ordered to advise the Crown Prince, I must understand the whole story. Please tell me the truth!"
Hearing him mention serious matters, the Crown Princess became attentive. Just as she was about to speak, she noticed many palace maids staring intently at Li Xiaomin, their eyes burning with desire, as if they wanted to devour him.
A thought struck her: "This little eunuch is quite charming. Looking at these maids, if I weren't here, they would probably try to befriend him, perhaps even wanting to 'share a meal' with him!"
Such "shared meals" were not uncommon between eunuchs and maids in the Crown Prince's palace. The Crown Princess had heard of such things among servants. Seeing how popular this little eunuch was, she couldn't bear to leave him in such a dangerous environment surrounded by women. Besides, she didn't want the maids to overhear what she was about to say.
She reached out her slender hand, took Li Xiaomin's sleeve, and smiled, "It concerns the Crown Prince, so it's not convenient to talk here. Let's go to a side hall." There were several side halls beside the main hall of Kunning Palace. The Crown Princess
, pulling Li Xiaomin along, led him into a secluded side hall amidst the envious gazes of the beautiful palace maids. She found a brocade couch, sat down, and called out with a smile, "Xiaomin, go and close the door!" Li Xiaomin responded and ran to close the door, also setting up a soundproof barrier. He'd been setting them up for so long that he was already quite skilled, and it was easy for him. The side hall was well-lit. Bright sunlight streamed in through the skylight, illuminating the beautiful young woman on the brocade couch. Her magnificent palace attire shone brightly, making this young and beautiful woman incredibly charming. Li Xiaomin swallowed hard, but put on an honest and reliable demeanor, standing respectfully before the Crown Princess. He said in a low voice, "Please instruct me, Your Highness, how should this servant advise the Crown Prince?" The Crown Princess smiled sweetly, "What are you standing for? Sit down and speak slowly!" Since it was just the two of them in the room, Li Xiaomin didn't care about formalities. He casually pulled over a long reclining chair with brocade cushions and sat down in front of the Crown Princess. Although it was a bit low, it was quite comfortable. The bright sunlight shone on his face, making it appear crystal white, like a snow doll, utterly adorable. The Crown Princess grew increasingly fond of him. Sitting on the couch, she reached out and took Li Xiaomin's hand, smiling gently, "Xiaominzi, how old were you when you entered the palace? Do you have any family members left?" Li Xiaomin thought to himself, "Weren't we supposed to be talking about the Crown Prince? Why are we talking about family matters?" But he dared not refuse to answer, respectfully replying, "Your Majesty, I entered the palace at a young age, about three or four years ago. I have no relatives left; I am all alone now, and the palace has long been my home. " Hearing the young eunuch's tragic past, the Crown Princess felt a surge of maternal love. She nodded and sighed a few times, then gently comforted him, saying, "Xiaominzi, don't worry. If anything upsets you, you can come to the Crown Prince's residence to find me. I'll take care of everything for you, so don't worry!" Li Xiaomin chuckled inwardly. He had long heard that the Crown Prince was weak and listened to the Crown Princess in everything. Having such a backer wouldn't be bad; at least he wouldn't have to worry about the Crown Prince's side causing trouble. A look of joy appeared on his face as he gratefully said, "I am deeply grateful for Your Highness's kindness. Even if I were to die, I could never repay you!" Seeing the joyful expression on his innocent face, the Crown Princess's heart trembled. A wave of tenderness washed over her. She raised her slender hand and stroked Li Xiaomin's face, sighing softly. She felt sorry for such a handsome and adorable young man; how could he have entered the palace and become a eunuch? Wasn't this a terrible waste of talent? Feeling her soft hand gently caressing his face, Li Xiaomin's heart fluttered. He mustered his courage, grasped her hand, placed it on his face, and whispered, "Your Highness!" " With her hand grasped by the young man, the Crown Princess blushed and bit her cherry lips, her mind racing with wild thoughts: 'This young man is so bold, could it be that he already knows about matters between men and women and has developed feelings for me?' Thinking this, her heart pounded wildly. Trying to calm her burning emotions, the Crown Princess said breathlessly, 'Young man, there are too many people here, it's not convenient. I'll take you to my residence later, and I'll treat you well!' As she uttered these words, her cheeks were already flushed, and her peach blossom eyes, brimming with admiration and fear, looked at the young man. Although she held absolute power in the Crown Prince's residence, she had never harbored any feelings for anyone behind the Crown Prince's back. If the young man hadn't been so adorable, she wouldn't have fallen for him."

Li Xiaomin was overjoyed. He had already been itching to act when facing Empress Zhou, but dared not show the slightest disrespect to the esteemed Empress in front of so many people. Now that they were alone in the room, how could he resist the urge to go to the Crown Prince's residence later to consummate their relationship? He immediately reached out his "Lushan's claws" and touched the Crown Princess 's breasts.
The Crown Princess paled. She hadn't expected this seemingly innocent and naive young eunuch to be so bold and lustful, daring to lay a hand on her daughter-in-law in the Empress's palace.
However, the sensation from her breasts overwhelmed everything. Xiaomin's skillful hands moved, as if a surge of heat flowed from her chest directly to her heart. The Crown Princess's body trembled, and she couldn't help but let out a seductive moan.
Li Xiaomin slowly stood up, reached out with his left hand to embrace her slender, soft waist, and looked down at the Crown Princess's beautiful yet haggard face, which showed a hint of panic. He lowered his head and pressed his lips to her luscious red lips.
Feeling her soft lips kiss him, her smooth tongue like a snake exploring her cherry mouth, intertwining with his fragrant tongue, the Crown Princess's mind went blank. Under Xiaomin's skillful and passionate kiss, an unprecedented sense of confusion overwhelmed her heart, making her instantly dazed. She only had time to let out a soft moan before losing herself in Xiaomin's passionate kiss.
Her hands unconsciously wrapped tightly around Li Xiaomin's neck, greedily exchanging saliva with him, until she was almost out of breath. Then she reached for his chest, desperately pushing him away, her delicate body collapsing limply onto the couch, panting heavily.
Looking at the beautiful woman panting on the bed, Li Xiaomin felt increasingly fond of her. He slowly sat down on the edge of the bed, reached out, and gently caressed her delicate body without any restraint.
The Crown Princess, having finished catching her breath, looked up at the bold eunuch. Remembering that she was born into a renowned noble family of the Tang Dynasty, with a body of golden branch and jade leaf, yet she had shared a kiss with this lowly eunuch, swallowing countless drops of his saliva in her moment of confusion, she felt a surge of shame and remorse, and tears welled up in her eyes.
Li Xiaomin lowered his head and gently kissed her snow-white neck. Ignoring her heartbroken cries, he climbed onto the bed, pressed himself against her soft body, and began to undress her.
Only when her belt loosened, revealing half of her breasts, did the Crown Princess realize that a eunuch was pressing down on her. Overwhelmed with shame, she frantically grabbed his hand, which was groping her bosom, and pushed against his eunuch-clad body, stammering, "No, this is Kunning Palace! You're a eunuch, you can't do this..." Her words were incoherent, she no longer knew what she was saying.
Li Xiaomin chuckled, grabbed her slender, white hand, and slipped it under his trousers.
Her pupils dilated instantly, her beautiful eyes staring at Li Xiaomin in utter terror. She opened her mouth to scream, but Li Xiaomin was prepared. He lowered his head and forcefully kissed her cherry lips, sucking out her smooth, fragrant tongue and biting it between his teeth, leaving her only able to utter a few muffled moans.
Stimulated by such intense pleasure, the Crown Princess was stunned into a numb state. She could no longer care that Li Xiaomin brazenly reached out to undress her. In moments, her magnificent clothes fell to the floor like petals of peach blossoms, revealing the youthful, snow-white body of the girl, her curves exquisite and her figure remarkably beautiful.
Looking at this naked, sexy body, Li Xiaomin couldn't help but swallow hard. Feeling her still bewilderedly stroking herself with her slender fingers, he leaned over her, gently pulling apart her hands and spreading her beautiful legs, slowly becoming one with her.
A wave of intoxicating pleasure and stinging pain washed over her, and the Crown Princess snapped back to reality. Her hands convulsively gripped Li Xiaomin's shoulders, her scarlet nails digging deep into his muscles. She stared in utter horror at Li Xiaomin's smiling, handsome face, but could only tremble beneath him, unable to utter a single word. The rain
stopped and the clouds dispersed. The Crown Princess nestled in Li Xiaomin's arms, sobbing softly.
Li Xiaomin held her jade-like body, gently comforting her, while simultaneously taking advantage of her breasts, slender waist, and full hips, trying to get as much as possible from this noble body.
After crying for a while, the Crown Princess raised her head, glaring at Li Xiaomin with hatred, and gritted her teeth, saying, "You damned eunuch, without saying a word, you forced me onto the bed and did this! Tell me, who else have you slept with? Confess!" Li Xiaomin was taken aback by her question. Seeing that she was interrogating him like a criminal, he was displeased and simply didn't answer. He pushed her down onto the bed and resumed their lovemaking.
The Crown Princess's body quickly softened, and she could only tremble and moan beneath Li Xiaomin. She no longer thought about interrogating him about how many secret lovers he had. Just as their passion was at its peak, their bodies entwined, and the Crown Princess was panting and moaning, the door to the side hall was suddenly flung open! The sound, though not loud, was like a bolt from the blue, throwing the adulterous couple into disarray. They looked up in alarm to see the beautiful and dignified Empress Zhou standing coldly in the doorway, her face ashen, her gaze icy and unyielding.
This cold gaze, like swords, pierced the Crown Princess's heart, leaving her filled with regret and fear. She forcefully pushed the young man off her, stumbled to the floor, and collapsed to the ground, too afraid to look up, sobbing uncontrollably.
Li Xiaomin was also at a loss. He sat on the bed, staring blankly at Empress Zhou's dignified and beautiful face. Then he looked down at the sexy young woman kneeling on the ground, her curvaceous body completely naked, prostrate on the ground, weeping. He suddenly remembered a picture he had seen online before. In this critical moment, an absurd thought suddenly occurred to him: "Is this the legendary kneeling beg, naked beg? I've often seen netizens use phrases like 'kneeling naked in the snow' to elicit pity when asking others to post pictures, novels, or movie documents. Today I've seen it with my own eyes! When it snows, I'll make her kneel in the snow!" Just as he was having this treasonous and cruel thought, he suddenly felt the cold gaze of the beautifully dressed woman piercing him. Li Xiaomin was so frightened that he hurriedly grabbed the loose robe that the Crown Princess had taken off and covered his lower body to avoid offending the Empress's phoenix eyes.
At that moment, Empress Zhou had already seen it. Her pupils suddenly contracted, she gave a cold snort, said nothing, turned around, and walked out coldly, closing the door behind her.
Seeing her leave, Li Xiaomin finally breathed a sigh of relief, inwardly regretting, "It seems laziness is a bad thing. I should have brought some things to block the door! Alas, if stronger restrictions weren't so troublesome, and soundproofing restrictions weren't so much more useful, I wouldn't have gotten into this mess!" As he was lamenting his situation, he looked down and saw the Crown Princess still kneeling naked on the ground, begging for forgiveness. A feeling of pity rose in his heart. He got off the bed, patted her bare back, and said gently, "I'll let it go this time, but don't do it again!" The Crown Princess looked up at his concerned and gentle gaze, and was not afraid at all, acting as if nothing had happened. She was both anxious and angry, throwing herself into his arms, grabbing and hitting him, crying, "It's all your fault! You forced me to do this kind of thing with you, and now this has happened! What are we going to do?" Li Xiaomin hugged her tightly, letting her cry and hit him naked in his arms. He was also pounding in his heart. Should he run away that very night? But he couldn't bear to leave this auspicious place in the palace, which was perfect for cultivation.
Then, a thought crossed his mind. Should he secretly summon the Ghost Guards to surround the entire palace and carry out a murder to silence witnesses? Just as this murderous intent arose, he suddenly heard a palace maid's clear voice outside: "Reporting to the Crown Princess, Her Majesty the Empress has decreed that the Crown Princess must return to the palace immediately. There is no need for farewell. Eunuch
Li, please remain here for now; the Empress has instructions.
" The Crown Princess, sobbing, picked up her scattered clothes from the ground and put them on her snow-white, naked body. Li Xiaomin kindly helped her dress, taking the opportunity to grope her, but she punched him several times and kicked him several times with her bare feet, venting her fear of her affair being exposed and her resentment at having her virginity taken from her.
But no matter what, she had been pardoned by Empress Zhou and could return home for the time being.
Before leaving, the Crown Princess turned back to look at Xiaominzi, her heart filled with reluctance. She feared that Empress Zhou would kill him to cover up the royal scandal. Recalling the pleasure they had just shared, and feeling a pang of pity for the handsome young eunuch, she embraced him and kissed him passionately several times. Suddenly, she saw the yearning look in his eyes and remembered how she had breathed heavily and acted wantonly when they were together, all of which he had witnessed. Overwhelmed with shame, she covered her face and wept, fleeing the room.
Li Xiaomin sighed, dejectedly picking up his clothes from the ground and putting them on.
Since he couldn't bring himself to kill him, he would have to play it by ear for what was to come.
If all else failed, he would simply flee the palace. Could any of the imperial guards possibly stop him?

Part One (Part Two) Chapter Eighty-One: Under the Empress's Skirt

Kunning Palace, in a side hall.
Sunlight streamed in through the high skylight, illuminating the entire room.
On the embroidered couch against the wall, everything was in disarray.
The brocade quilt was carelessly tossed on the bed, unfolded, and the embroidered pillow lay discarded in the middle, bearing suspicious damp stains.
Though a side hall, the room was surprisingly spacious.
The furnishings on all sides were adorned with numerous jewels, jade artifacts, and antique treasures,
gleaming brilliantly in the sunlight.
The opulent glitter filled the side hall, exuding royal luxury.
Facing the door stood a long reclining chair, upon which rested several exquisitely embroidered cushions.
Even the cushions in the palace were decorated with
unparalleled finery, a testament to the palace's grandeur. They were soft and thick, ensuring comfort even for a nap.
On one of these cushions sat a handsome young eunuch, head bowed, seemingly lost in thought.
His face was troubled, yet his eyes were sharp and alert, his dark pupils darting about as if plotting something.
Suddenly, the door opened.
Startled by the noise, the young eunuch looked up towards the door.
What he saw made him gasp, dizzy with the sheer beauty before him! The door opened, and a magnificent woman in splendid attire gracefully entered.
Sunlight streamed in, illuminating her solemn empress's robes with a dazzling, iridescent glow.
Even the jewels and ornaments in the room paled in comparison to her stunning beauty. Bathed in the radiant light of her magnificent dress, this exceptionally beautiful woman possessed an even more captivating and alluring presence.
Yet, her beautiful face remained serene, her cold gaze conveying unparalleled authority.
One couldn't help but think that she was the reigning Empress of the Tang Dynasty, revered by all, her noble bearing inspiring awe and reverence.
Her jade-like body remained as exquisite and alluring as ever, exuding mature sexiness. However, the young eunuch before her dared not entertain any further thoughts. He bowed respectfully, prostrating himself on the ground, and kowtowed deeply, saying in a respectful voice, "This humble servant pays respects to Your Majesty the Empress!" The Empress, regal and dignified, moved gracefully to Li Xiaomin's side. She lowered her head, looking at this audacious young man. Her beautiful eyes flickered, her gaze shifting constantly, as if she were hesitating over her decision.
Finally, her expression calmed, as if she had made a firm decision. She parted her lips slightly and said slowly, "Xiaomin, raise your head!" Li Xiaomin obediently raised his head, calmly gazing at the beautiful woman's jade-like face. Her stunningly beautiful face, dignified and imposing, inspired awe, yet it was utterly calm and indifferent, revealing nothing of her true feelings.
Empress Zhou's gaze remained fixed on the exceptionally handsome face of the kneeling young man, while Li Xiaomin calmly met her gaze. Neither of them uttered a word, and the entire side hall fell into silence.
After a long while, the elegantly dressed woman slowly parted her firm and beautiful lips, uttering a cold sentence: "Stand up and take off your pants!" Li Xiaomin stared blankly at her, listening to the dignified Empress, the mother of the nation, issue such an incomprehensible command. He gradually understood that this was the so-called verification of virginity.
After the verification, would he be executed, or would it be a matter of remedy, requiring another castration? Li Xiaomin had no way of knowing her intentions.
Facing this peerlessly beautiful and noble woman, and seeing her majestic and cold gaze, he didn't even have a thought of resistance. He stood up, reached for his belt, and his pants fell down to his feet.
Standing before the tall, elegantly dressed woman, Li Xiaomin was ultimately shorter than her. Overwhelmed by her imposing presence, he lowered his head in shame.
Empress Zhou's gaze slowly moved down from his handsome face, landing on his newly formed genitals. She couldn't help but gasp slightly, seemingly shocked by the size she saw.
Her flawless jade hand slowly rose, and though hesitant, resolutely reached out, gently caressing it, as if to verify that what she saw was not an illusion.
Li Xiaomin bit his lip tightly, feeling the warm, smooth touch of the jade hand on his lower body, somewhat bewildered.
Being personally verified by the dignified and beautiful Empress was a high-level treatment he hadn't expected.
In his imagination, a group of guards would rush in, not even bothering to examine his body, but instead hacking him to pieces before dragging his remains away to be burned, destroying the evidence and leaving no trace for the world to divulge.
No matter how much he pondered, a certain part of his body faithfully reflected its own will. Under the gentle caress of her delicate fingers, it became spirited and, disregarding all propriety, pointed directly at the Empress, the mother of the nation.
As if startled by this reaction, the pair of gentle, watery hands reluctantly withdrew, slowly moving upwards to land on the young man's slender shoulders. They gently pressed down, causing him to take a step back and slump onto the long chaise lounge.
Carefully sitting on the edge of the exquisite embroidered cushion, Li Xiaomin looked bewildered at the noble and beautiful woman. He watched her gentle face approach him step by step, pressing against him in a surprisingly intimate manner. Her high, jade-like breasts brushed past him, and a refreshing fragrance emanated from her, filling his nostrils and making him dizzy. He stared blankly at the breasts so close to his eyes, as if drunk.
He couldn't resist sticking out his tongue and gently licking the prominent area on the Empress's magnificent robes! Feeling the boy's soft tongue glide across her skin, Empress Zhou's delicate body trembled slightly before regaining her dignified composure. Beneath her magnificent long dress, her long, beautiful legs slowly parted, straddling the boy's bare thighs and gently brushing against them.
Feeling the smooth sensation against his knees, Li Xiaomin's eyes widened in disbelief as he looked up at Empress Zhou's stunningly beautiful face, noticing a mysterious smile playing on her lips.
Li Xiaomin's body trembled involuntarily, for in the contact of their legs, he was astonished to discover that beneath her magnificent and solemn dress, this beautiful empress, the mother of the nation, was completely naked! Just as he trembled in shock at this discovery, the elegantly dressed woman made her next move: she placed her jade-like hands on the boy's shoulders and slowly, lowered herself onto his crotch! Li Xiaomin's pupils dilated instantly, like lightning tearing through the night, creating a tidal wave in his mind, his heart pounding wildly.
His bewildered gaze met Empress Zhou's resolute eyes. A rare blush appeared on her fair and slender cheeks, yet she still gazed firmly at the bewildered young man. Little by little, she lowered her noble body until her beautiful buttocks and legs sat down, pressing tightly against his thighs.
In that instant, both of them couldn't help but let out a groan simultaneously!

Part One (Part Two) Chapter Eighty-Two: Favor On the
embroidered
couch, a handsome man and a beautiful woman were tightly embracing each other, completely naked, breathing heavily after the intense excitement.
As their breathing calmed, Li Xiaomin raised his head, looking at the slightly flushed, exquisite face before him with complex emotions. Seeing her satisfied expression and alluring eyes, he could hardly believe that the person pressing down on him, still so intimately connected to him, was the Empress of the Tang Dynasty, the most dignified and noble woman in the land.
Her bare breasts, high and firm, rose and fell with her heavy breathing, the expanse of snow-white flesh concealing endless allure. Li Xiaomin couldn't resist burying his head down, taking them full into his mouth.
His tongue teased the buds in his mouth, sucking and biting them forcefully.
Empress Zhou was not offended by the young eunuch's unrestrained behavior. Instead, she embraced his head tightly with her jade-like arms, letting out a series of alluring and seductive laughs.
After an unknown amount of time, when the two had caught their breath and were silently gazing at each other with complex emotions, the noble empress seemed to only then remember her status. A deep shyness appeared on her satisfied face as she lowered her head slightly.
Empress Zhou's stamina truly astonished him.
Even the martial arts-skilled Consort Qin and Meng Xian'er did not possess such endurance.
Li Xiaomin couldn't help but sigh inwardly; indeed, she was the empress, a noble woman who ruled the world. Even her physique and stamina were different from ordinary people.
Their passionate lovemaking had lasted for several hours, with several rounds of passion, and the sky had long since darkened.
Empress Zhou, without having eaten dinner, was able to maintain such good stamina and still have the strength to continue. This astonished even the superhuman Li Xiaomin.
If his body hadn't been transformed by immortal power, he would probably have been defeated.
As his emotions calmed, reason returned to Li Xiaomin.
He silently observed Empress Zhou, pondering: Why had she suddenly offered herself to him? Was it merely because she had been confined to the palace for so long and could no longer suppress her desires? Facing his probing gaze, Empress Zhou raised her jade-like face, her eyes gentle and alluring, and smiled softly at him, saying, "Xiaomin, are you wondering why I suddenly did this?" Li Xiaomin nodded honestly, feeling that he couldn't hide his thoughts from this intelligent and beautiful woman.
A hint of shyness flashed across Empress Zhou's pretty face as she looked at the young man with whom she had just shared a sexual encounter, his essence filling her body. She tried to suppress the complex emotions in her heart and said gently, "Because I need you!" Li Xiaomin silently looked at her, gradually understanding the meaning behind her words.
This so-called need, besides physical attraction, also included emotions and interests.
He is now the deputy commander of the Imperial Guard, commanding tens of thousands of troops. The important position of commander of the Nine Cities Garrison also allows him to mobilize several units of the 50,000-strong garrison. Aside from the 120,000 Imperial Guards stationed in the outer camps, he controls nearly a third of the city's army, making him a force to be reckoned with in Jinling.
With his current strength, even without using his ghost slaves to cause trouble, his military power alone could storm the Dragon Court. Even if he couldn't successfully rebel, he could still cripple the Tang Dynasty's central government, leaving it leaderless and unable to withstand foreign attacks.
Conversely, if he is loyal to the country and wholeheartedly aligns himself with the Zhou family, helping Empress Zhou stabilize the court, then no matter how fierce the enemy's advance, his powerful force can stand like a pillar in the court, making the enemy wary.
For the Zhou family faction, which lacks military power and has no loyal ministers or generals sincerely loyal to them, he is already a paramount figure.
Therefore, ensuring his loyalty was of paramount importance to Empress Zhou, her family, and Crown Prince Li Zhao.
If she could secure his loyalty through such intimacy, Empress Zhou, accustomed to political maneuvering, would make her choice without much hesitation.
Moreover, his youthful good looks, martial prowess, and talent were an irresistible temptation for this woman long confined to the palace.
Looking at Empress Zhou's shy and resentful eyes, Li Xiaomin was certain of this.
He slowly lowered his head and gently kissed her red lips. As he sucked on the Empress's saliva, his tongue entwined with hers, forcefully drawing it into his mouth. Their tongues intertwined tightly, refusing to let go.
After their lovemaking, Empress Zhou collapsed wearily against Li Xiaomin's chest, panting softly, yet her eyes held an indescribable allure. Looking at Li Xiaomin's handsome face, she smiled shyly.
Her imperial fingers gently circled Li Xiaomin's nipple as she whispered, "Xiaomin, is your sect a large cultivation sect?" Li Xiaomin shook his head, honestly replying, "I'm sorry, Your Majesty, I don't know any cultivators. Even if there are, they're those demonic cultivators from Yinshan, enemies of mine.
My immortal arts are all self-taught. If you're looking for a large cultivation sect to assist you, I'm afraid I can't help you.
" Empress Zhou's beautiful face betrayed a hint of disappointment and resentment, but she quickly suppressed it, gently kissing Li Xiaomin's chest with her luscious red lips, and smiled, "It's good that you and the Yinshan Sect are enemies.
According to my intelligence, the Yinshan Sect has decided to support Qian Song and Li Xiong, and they are very hostile towards us.
If they launch a full-scale attack, I'm afraid you alone will find it difficult to resist."
Li Xiaomin was also apprehensive, but facing the beauty, he naturally couldn't show weakness. So, full of pride, he said, "Don't worry, as long as I'm here, I won't let anyone bully you! My strength is no less than that of the Yinshan demons!" He wanted to pound his chest to assure him that he meant what he said, but with a naked beauty on top of him, his hand only managed to pat her back, which made her giggle. She raised her head and offered him a passionate kiss, a kiss filled with deep affection, which made Li Xiaomin's heart burn. He hugged the beauty tightly and shared a long, tender kiss with her.
Feeling his lower body swelling again inside her, Empress Zhou frowned slightly and said in surprise, "How can you still... I can't do it anymore. After today, I'll probably have to stay in bed for a few days to recover."
Li Xiaomin chuckled, filled with pride at conquering this noble beauty. Suddenly, a childlike impulse arose, and he flipped her over, pinning her beneath him. He thrust a few times inside her, causing her to pale and beg for mercy, panting, "No more, Xiaominzi! If you're still not satisfied, I'll call a few palace maids to help you cool down!" Hearing this, Li Xiaomin remembered something and frowned, "Right, I remember there were one or two palace maids peeking in when I opened the door. I wonder what they saw?" Seeing his panic, Empress Zhou smiled slightly, gently stroking his cheek with a look of affection on her face. She said softly, "Xiaominzi, are you afraid?" Li Xiaomin chuckled dryly, "It's not that I'm afraid, it's just that I'm worried that if this gets out, it will damage your reputation."
Empress Zhou chuckled sweetly, "You can rest assured, they won't gossip.
I've already instructed the maids who were serving at the door to wait outside, and the others have all been sent back.
" Li Xiaomin asked in surprise, "Have they been waiting outside all this time? Although I've set up a barrier so they can't hear anything coming from inside, won't they become suspicious of you being with me for so long?" Empress Zhou chuckled sweetly, "How could they not be suspicious! But I've given strict orders that not a single one of them is allowed to leave. If anyone steps away, their entire family will be executed! Don't worry, while we're together, they won't have a chance to tell anyone else about this."
Li Xiaomin frowned and said, "But what about the future? Can you really keep them quiet?" He looked down at the beautiful woman beneath him and suddenly saw a flash of cold light in her beautiful eyes. He realized what was happening and quickly shook his head, exclaiming, "No! Killing people indiscriminately is unacceptable!" Empress Zhou looked at him, smiling curiously, "If not, what other way is there to shut them up? I can't think of a foolproof method!" Li Xiaomin's eyes darted around, and he suddenly laughed. He leaned close to her round, jade-like ear and gently licked the warm, smooth earlobe, revealing his idea.
Empress Zhou felt a surge of heat from his lick and couldn't help but slap Li Xiaomin's shoulder, covering her mouth and giggling, "You lecherous eunuch, your ideas are so wicked! Fine, go ahead. Anyway, I'm too weak to keep you company any longer."
Li Xiaomin laughed and joked with her for a while, then helped her up. Seeing her delicate and weak appearance, he couldn't help but feel pity. He carefully dressed her, and looking at the magnificent landscape-patterned skirt, the delicate Empress Zhou was still as noble as ever, but with an added touch of pitiful charm. He couldn't help but kiss her again, his hands wandering over her gorgeous clothes, making Empress Zhou gasp for breath again. Holding this handsome young man who was even younger than her own daughter, she was mesmerized and kissed him incessantly.

Part One (Part Two) Chapter Eighty-Three Ruthless Destruction of Flowers

After a long time, the two finally separated. Empress Zhou's body was already weak and she couldn't walk. Li Xiaomin had no choice but to open the door and help her out. Seeing the panicked eyes of the palace maids waiting outside, he couldn't help but blush slightly and chuckled a few times, saying, "Sisters, Her Majesty the Empress is unwell. Please help her back to rest."
Outside the door, five or six palace maids waited, all beautiful young women ranging in age from thirteen or fourteen to seventeen or eighteen.
Some of the older girls had already guessed what might have happened inside, their faces ashen, fearing they would be killed immediately if they discovered such a royal secret.
Hearing Li Xiaomin's words, they felt as if they had been granted a pardon and hurriedly helped Empress Zhou to her bedchamber.
Li Xiaomin, however, acted as if he were an outsider, following closely behind them all the way back to Empress Zhou's bedroom.
The frail and weak Empress Zhou, supported by the palace maids, blushed and walked into the bedroom with soft steps, without scolding Li Xiaomin or telling him to go back.
Seeing that Empress Zhou did not speak, the palace maids naturally dared not say anything.
Li Xiaomin looked at Empress Zhou's magnificently decorated bedroom and couldn't help but admire it, thinking to himself, "They really spend money. Being an empress is good, and her bedroom is much better than Consort Qin's! When I have the chance, I must have my way with her here a few times, so that I can also have the true enjoyment of an emperor!" Following the palace maids into the inner room, she saw a pretty and adorable little girl lying by the bed, already half asleep.
Suddenly hearing footsteps, she hurriedly opened her eyes and, seeing Empress Zhou return, jumped up in surprise, exclaiming, "Mother, you're back! You promised to tell Anping the story, but you haven't told it yet!" Seeing her little daughter, Empress Zhou blushed and said in a tired voice, "Mother is tired today, Anping, go back and rest.
" Princess Anping pouted, about to protest, when she suddenly saw Li Xiaomin hiding behind her. Startled, she jumped up and grabbed him, shouting, "So it's you, you bad person! Tell me, what are you doing in my mother's room?" Li Xiaomin, not expecting to be seen despite his hiding, could only smile wryly, "Your Highness, how dare I come here without permission? The Empress summoned me; she has something to ask of me!" Princess Anping had been searching for him everywhere these past few days, but Li Xiaomin was slippery and always hid where she couldn't find him, making her furious.
Seeing him today, she wasn't about to let him go. She swung her small fist and struck him hard on the head, shouting, "Nonsense! You clearly have ulterior motives, yet you dare to deny it!" Empress Zhou was shocked to see her daughter and lover clashing. She quickly mustered her remaining strength and stepped forward to embrace her daughter, saying softly, "Anping, don't be reckless. Xiaomin was sent by your mother; I have something for him to do.
Xiaomin, why don't you quickly take these palace maids away and tell me what I just instructed you to do?" Seeing her wink, Li Xiaomin hurriedly bowed deeply, but before he could even kowtow, he turned and left.
Princess Anping, seeing him run away, was about to chase after him when Empress Zhou hugged her tightly, saying wearily, "Anping, don't make a scene. You want to hear a story, don't you? Your mother will tell you!" The palace maids, seeing the strange sight, were terrified and were about to retreat when they suddenly heard Empress Zhou command: "You lot, don't wander around. Go down with Xiaominzi and listen to his instructions!" The palace maids had no choice but to bow and retreat, leaving only the exhausted mother, who forced herself to tell her pouting young daughter the story she had just heard from her lover, trying to soothe her girlish heart filled with deep resentment for her unfulfilled revenge.
Li Xiaomin, accompanied by six palace maids, walked slowly through the palace. The maids followed closely behind, their hearts filled with unease, wondering where he was taking them.
Li Xiaomin walked back and forth, eventually reaching the imperial kitchen. He ordered all the eunuchs under his command to leave, forbidding anyone from remaining on duty.
The eunuchs, seeing their superior had given the order, dared not disobey and all fled, none daring to stay.
He casually set up a soundproof barrier, and standing in the kitchen, Li Xiaomin raised his head and coldly laughed: "Ladies, you all saw what happened today. Do you guess what happened?" Two of the older, beautiful palace maids, their faces pale with fright, hurriedly knelt down, saying, "What are you saying, Eunuch Li? We are just dull-witted women, mere wives, we can't see anything!" Li Xiaomin turned his head, glancing sideways at the older maid kneeling on the ground, and sneered, "Oh? How come you all seem so clever and quick-witted, knowing everything perfectly well?" Upon hearing this, the remaining four palace maids also knelt down, kowtowing and weeping, "Eunuch Li, spare our lives! We will keep our mouths shut and not let a single word slip out!" Seeing the six beautiful young women prostrate on the ground, weeping, even Li Xiaomin, whose heart was as hard as stone, couldn't help but soften slightly, sighing, "Alas, I don't want to kill you either, but Her Majesty the Empress is truly worried! There's no other way, I have no choice but to be ruthless today!" He raised his right hand, mimicking the Nine Yin White Bone Claw, about to plunge it into the head of the girl at the front, but suddenly stopped. Looking at the pale-faced girl, he laughed, "Forget it, there's no rush.
I'm starving after all this work, you must be too! Hurry up and cook me a meal so I have the strength to do the Empress's orders!" The palace maids were terrified. Only the two older maids struggled to their feet, weeping as they went to cook. The four younger maids, after a long while, finally understood, covering their faces and weeping, following their two older sisters to cook.
Li Xiaomin, seeing this, was puzzled and exclaimed, "Hey, what's wrong with you all? I'm going to kill you, aren't you afraid at all? And you're being so kind, offering to cook for me? Even if you adhere to the three obediences and four virtues, don't go this far!" A pretty girl of about seventeen or eighteen turned around from the stove, weeping, and said, "Eunuch Li, since it's the Empress's decree, even if we flee to the ends of the earth, we can't escape! We might as well die at your hands to save our families.
Perhaps the Empress will take pity on us for our years of loyal service and give us some money for burial; we'll be content then!" Li Xiaomin shook his head and sighed, deeply moved by the girls' gentleness.
Soon, the food was ready, and several girls placed it on the table, respectfully serving it to him, kneeling and offering it to him.
Li Xiaomin sat down, picked up a pair of chopsticks, and ate the food offered by the kneeling girls.
After a few bites, seeing the pretty girl still silently weeping, he felt a pang of sorrow and said softly, "Enough, enough, you don't need to kneel anymore. Get up and eat with us! You must be hungry after waiting outside for so long." The girls hesitated, not daring to get up and eat with him.
Li Xiaomin frowned and said impatiently, "A few days ago, Her Majesty the Empress issued a decree that I am now the Deputy Chief Eunuch of the Inner Palace. Apart from the old Chief Eunuch who is bedridden, I am the most powerful person in the palace. Do you dare to disobey me?" The girls hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed, repeatedly saying that they dared not. They tremblingly got up, moved a few low stools, and gathered around the table to eat with him.
Looking at the table surrounded by beautiful girls, Li Xiaomin was extremely satisfied.
He recalled his school days, when he ate in the cafeteria surrounded by monks, and how he had dreamed of being surrounded by beautiful women to eat with.
Now, that dream was right before his eyes, making him marvel at the unpredictable nature of life. He was truly grateful for having read so many alternate history novels, which allowed him to be born into this blissful world! While eating, the girls secretly observed him, wondering what abilities he possessed that could make even the Empress so exhausted, seemingly more tired than the Crown Princess when she went out.
The older palace maids, having heard a little about matters of the heart, blushed slightly at Li Xiaomin's handsome face.
After waiting for several hours, the girls were starving, and one table of food wasn't enough.
Some of the older maids prepared more, but even so, the food was devoured in a flash.
Seeing the room full of beautiful young women burping contentedly, Li Xiaomin, having eaten his fill, seemed to have replenished the energy he had expended on Empress Zhou. He stood up, patting his bulging belly, and said smugly, "Not bad, not bad at all. Your cooking skills are quite good. You must cook for me often!" Upon hearing this, the palace maids were stunned. Led by their older sisters, they immediately prostrated themselves and cried out, "Eunuch Li, save us!" Li Xiaomin stepped forward, gently stroking their hair and faces, touching each one individually, and sighed, "This matter needs careful consideration! Alright, get up and come with me!" The girls obediently stood up, wiping away their tears, like a flock of lambs to the slaughter, and followed obediently behind Li Xiaomin, walking along the dark palace road.
Two young palace maids carried palace lanterns in front, illuminating the path so that Eunuch Li wouldn't accidentally stumble and fall.
Li Xiaomin walked in the middle, surrounded by a retinue, feeling extremely pleased with himself.
He casually picked up two senior palace maids, asking them to support him, and took the opportunity to grope their breasts and slender waists, making them blush with extreme embarrassment.

Part One (Part Two) Chapter Eighty-Four: The Crown Princess's Boudoir

The group arrived at the gate of Li Xiaomin's residence in the palace.
The eunuchs who usually guarded this place had already left. Li Xiaomin gestured with his lips, indicating that the ghost eunuchs guarding the gate should leave.
The two junior eunuchs sent by the old eunuch's ghost hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed upon seeing their master return, then ran away in a flash.
Li Xiaomin, with one on each arm, entered the bedroom. Looking back at the beautiful women surrounding him, each one a vibrant and youthful beauty, he couldn't help but laugh heartily, his cheerful laughter echoing in the empty bedroom.
The palace maids lit red candles, and looking at Eunuch Li laughing heartily, they couldn't help but shrink back, their voices trembling as they asked, "Eunuch Li, you said you would save our lives and that we would cook for you often in the future, is that true?" Li Xiaomin frowned and said, "I said you would cook for me, but I didn't say I wouldn't kill you.
Actually, even when people die and become ghosts, they can still cook, do you believe me?" If they had known that Eunuch Li's magical arts were extraordinary, then commanding ghosts would naturally not be difficult for him.
Several palace maids were terrified on the spot, and one of the younger maids screamed and collapsed to the ground, already unconscious from fright.
Li Xiaomin looked down at her and chuckled dryly, "It was just a joke, why get so worked up? Alright, alright, it's my fault, quickly wake her up!" Two or three palace maids surrounded her, crying as they reached out to pinch her philtrum.
The two older palace maids supported Eunuch Li's young body, not daring to leave, and could only weep silently.
One of them, fighting back tears, mustered her courage and asked, "Eunuch Li, I have a question. Please, sir, tell me!" Li Xiaomin nodded, indicating that she could ask freely.
The beautiful girl said in a trembling voice, "Eunuch Li, you were originally a palace eunuch. Even if you became a bed-servant, it's not a big deal. It was common during the late emperor's reign.
Why does Her Majesty the Empress value this so much that she insists on silencing us?" Li Xiaomin was stunned, feeling greatly humiliated, and cried out, "Bed-servant? Do you think I'm that kind of incompetent bed-servant? This is truly insulting!" The two palace maids were stunned. The girl who had spoken earlier hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed to apologize. The girl next to him supported Li Xiaomin, not daring to let go, and also pleaded repeatedly, begging Eunuch Li to forgive her youthful ignorance and not to hold it against her.
Li Xiaomin, still furious, loudly ordered, "The Empress has decreed: all of you, strip naked and get into bed!" The palace maids were stunned. Such an order was unprecedented; they couldn't fathom why Empress Zhou would issue such a decree.
Li Xiaomin urged them several times, but seeing they still stood there motionless, he grew slightly angry and said in a deep voice, "This is the Empress's own decree. If you don't believe me, you can ask her! But if you do, I'm afraid the Empress's decree will be changed!" Hearing his harsh tone, the two senior maids hurriedly kowtowed and apologized, pulling their four younger sisters to undress and get into bed.
Inside Li Xiaomin's room, a new bed had been installed.
This large bed occupied a vast area, basically half of the spacious bedroom, which had been recently converted by having a wall removed and the outer room combined into a bedroom.
This bed was a super-wide new bed that Li Xiaomin had built according to the designs of most online novels, and it was sturdy and durable enough to withstand a boxing match without collapsing.
Watching a group of beautiful girls weeping and trembling on the bed, undressing to reveal their youthful, vibrant, snow-white bodies, Li Xiaomin felt immensely pleased, finding the scene utterly delightful.

Part One (Part Two) Chapter Eighty-Five: Forbidden Books In the Crown Prince's

residence, after a long period of silence, a guest arrived.
Normally, the Crown Prince's residence was bustling with carriages and horses, but since the Emperor issued an edict ordering Crown Prince Li Zhao and his brother Li Xu to confine themselves to reflect on their actions, no one dared to disobey. This guest, too, was acting on the Empress's orders to see the Crown Prince.
As the Earl of Annam, Li Xiaomin's entourage was vastly different from before. A long procession of carriages, with attendants in front and behind, arrived at the Crown Prince's residence. Li Xiaomin alighted from his carriage and suddenly saw a young man dressed in the Crown Prince's dragon robe standing guard at the gate. Such courteous treatment startled him, and he took a few steps forward, about to kneel in respect.
To be honest, he was unwilling to kowtow to men. If he kowtowed to a woman, he could get his revenge in bed later. But if he kowtowed to a man, how could he get his revenge later? However, Li Xiaomin felt really guilty towards the man in front of him. He had just come out of the palace after sleeping with his mother, and he also had his sister's affairs with him. Moreover, there was also the Crown Princess Wei. Even if he kowtowed to him a few times now, it would be to repay the favor he owed him, and it would not make Li Xiaomin resentful.
Crown Prince Li Zhao was greatly alarmed and hurriedly stepped forward to support Li Xiaomin's arm, firmly preventing him from bowing. He said in a flustered voice, "General Li, please don't be so polite. The Empress Dowager has already issued a decree stating that General Li has rendered great service to the country, and all princes and dukes must show him the utmost respect. No matter who you meet, you need not bow. I truly dare not accept
such a grand gesture from General Li!" Li Xiaomin suddenly understood. Hearing Li Zhao's words, he didn't bow. He thought to himself, "That beautiful woman is quite thoughtful; she knows you can't bear my bow. Otherwise, if a godfather bowed to his son, you'd probably be struck by lightning!"
Li Xiaomin was inherently kind, and looking at this frail young man, he immediately felt a connection. He secretly rejoiced that he had narrowly escaped being struck by lightning.
After exchanging greetings, the two entered the Crown Prince's residence together.
Sitting in the Crown Prince's study, Li Xiaomin chatted casually with him for a few moments before earnestly advising, "Your Highness, these matters are not usually mine to discuss, but since Her Majesty has decreed so, I must speak frankly: those books for leisure reading are fine to peruse occasionally, but if one becomes engrossed in them, one loses sight of the author's original intent!"
Li Zhao blushed slightly, nodding meekly. He was by nature timid and gentle, and even with the advice of his subjects, he dared not contradict them.
Li Xiaomin launched into a long, rambling discussion about the dangers of being addicted to books. Getting carried away, he pulled a book from his sleeve and said in a deep voice, "Take this book, for example. What's it about? It's all about men and women's love affairs. What's so interesting about it! I just don't understand, how can such trivial matters be written in so many words?"
Li Zhao looked up, his eyes suddenly widening. He snatched the book from Li Xiaomin's hand, his face filled with unbelievable, ecstatic joy. His voice trembled as he exclaimed, "This...this is the second part of 'A Eunuch's Adventures in the Inner Palace'! I've tried buying it everywhere, but I can't find it. Where did you get it, General?"
Li Xiaomin chuckled inwardly, "The first part came out a while ago, but the second part was only printed yesterday from an underground printing press. You..." "No way I could buy it! Alas, this book is the culprit that brought me to this other world. I remember it vividly. If I hadn't been so engrossed in reading that book that I forgot to sleep, how could I have suddenly fainted and ended up in this world!"
He shook his head and sighed a few times, filled with concern and worry for his fellow book lovers from the past. He silently prayed, "My fellow book lovers, when you're reading, you must be mindful of potential dangers. At least learn the distillation technique well. Don't end up like me, arriving in this other world without mastering your skills!"
Looking down at the new book that smelled of fresh ink, Li Xiaomin sighed inwardly, thinking about the hardships he had endured dictating and having others copy the book, and then he thoroughly criticized it from beginning to end.
Li Zhao nodded repeatedly, but he was holding the book and reading it voraciously, completely ignoring what he was saying.
Seeing that he wasn't listening to him at all, Li Xiaomin felt disheartened. He pulled another book from his sleeve, threw it on the table, and sighed, "This book is also poorly written, but it seems His Highness the Crown Prince doesn't like listening to me criticize these books. I'll leave it for today!"
Li Zhao's gaze was instantly drawn to it again. His pale, withered left hand, like a bird's claw, swept across the table with lightning speed, grabbing the book in a flash. He exclaimed with wild joy, "This is the latest work by the big harem! Heavens, General Li, where did you get this?"
Li Xiaomin frowned and sighed, "I copied these books from all over the place! I brought them here to admonish the Crown Prince against indulging in this kind of book, for the purpose of criticism." "If Your Highness doesn't like my critiques, I won't bring such books to your residence for criticism anymore!"
Li Zhao stared blankly at him for a moment, then hurriedly exclaimed, "General, what are you saying? Every word you said was precious, and I listened attentively. I only hope that you can come often and critique these books one by one. I will be waiting here!"
Li Xiaomin nodded and sighed, "It's rare that Your Highness is so thoughtful! Very well, let's stop here for today. Please take a quick look at these two bad books, and next time we'll critique them first, then the other books!"
Li Zhao hurriedly bowed and agreed, repeatedly reminding him that once he obtained any new banned books, he must bring them for joint critique, and he must not forget.
After finishing his business, Li Xiaomin paced back and forth in the study, looking around aimlessly. He casually remarked, "Today, it was only through the Crown Princess's request to the Empress that I had the opportunity to pay my respects to the Crown Prince. Does the Crown Princess often come to accompany the Crown Prince in his studies?"
Li Zhao, engrossed in a new book, looked worried upon hearing this. He put down his book and sighed, "I really can't stand her. She makes a big fuss over every little thing. Today, the General came and brought me these two books. I'm afraid she'll be unhappy again, and might even snatch them away and throw them into the lake!"
Recalling the fate of his books in the past, Li Zhao felt both hatred and fear, deeply terrified of the Crown Princess's iron-fisted policies.
Li Xiaomin sighed solemnly, "Alas, this misunderstanding stems from the Crown Princess's lack of understanding of the importance of criticizing these bad books. Very well, since I am here, I will go see the Crown Princess and explain in detail to His Highness, lest he be put in a difficult position."
Li Zhao was overjoyed, repeatedly thanking him and bowing as he saw him to the study door. He then instructed a young eunuch to lead him to the Crown Princess, before rushing back into his study and engrossed in reading the new forbidden books.
Crown Princess Wei, sitting alone before her dressing table in her boudoir, rested her chin on her slender hand, lost in thought, tears streaming down her beautiful face.
Suddenly, a melodious voice rang in her ears: "Your Highness, I greet you!"
The Crown Princess was startled, jumping up from the table and turning to stare wide-eyed at Li Xiaomin, dressed in general's attire. Her mouth agape, her vision blurred with tears, she almost thought she was dreaming.
Li Xiaomin made a gesture to bow, but seeing that she didn't come forward to help him, he was displeased and stopped bowing. Instead
, he stepped forward, embraced her tightly, and kissed her fragrant lips forcefully, his tongue plunging into her open mouth. The kiss brought the Crown Princess back to her senses. She frantically broke free from his embrace, crying out, "Do you want to die? There are too many people here..."
Looking around, she saw that the boudoir was quiet; the annoying maids had all vanished.
The Crown Princess, not caring where they had gone, grabbed Li Xiaomin's arm, her voice filled with panic, "How dare you come here! If you're discovered, you're dead! Go, go!"
Seeing her reach out to push him away, her face full of anxiety, as if she were worried about him, Li Xiaomin felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He pulled her into his arms, gently kissing and comforting her, "Don't worry, I came here on imperial orders. First, I advised His Highness the Crown Prince not to indulge in idle books; now, I'm here on the Crown Prince's orders..." "I've come to advise you not to stop him from reading those books."
The Crown Princess, no longer caring what books Li Zhao was reading, stared at Li Xiaomin in utter astonishment, her voice trembling, "You say you're acting on imperial orders? Does that mean you're acting on the Empress Dowager's orders?"
Li Xiaomin nodded with a smile. The Crown Princess stared at him blankly, hesitatingly saying, "The Empress Dowager discovered our affair, how could she still let you come to my residence? What... what exactly happened?"
Li Xiaomin chuckled dryly, making up a story, saying that his magical powers were so great that Empress Zhou couldn't bear to kill him. Instead, she wanted to appease him, so she covered up the matter and ordered him to persuade the Crown Prince as before.
The Crown Princess was half-believing, half-doubting, but Xiaomin was now standing alive before her, it was true. She couldn't help but hug him, crying and laughing, filled with the joy of escaping death.
Li Xiaomin looked at her beautiful face, like pear blossoms in the rain, thinking how terrified she had been, and felt pity. He lowered his head and gently kissed her lips.
The Crown Princess let out a soft moan, quickly losing herself in his intoxicating kiss. Feeling his hands caressing her body, her delicate frame flushed, she threw herself into his arms, utterly powerless to escape.
After a long while, Li Xiaomin finally left the Crown Princess's bedroom, where she lay sobbing in a daze, and led by the maids to his study.
Li Zhao was still engrossed in reading "A Eunuch's Adventures in the Inner Palace," oblivious to Li Xiaomin's footsteps.
Li Xiaomin didn't disturb him, sitting down beside him, leisurely sipping tea, watching the studious young man, and seeing himself again in middle school, secretly reading.
Li Zhao's eyes grew tired from reading, and he rubbed them. Only then did Li Xiaomin bow and say, "Your Highness, I have something to report!"
Li Zhao looked up, saw him sitting before him, and remembering the good books he had brought, hurriedly smiled and said, "General, what is it? Please speak freely."
Li Xiaomin's expression was grave as he slowly said, "When I visited the Crown Princess this time, I discovered that she seems to be possessed by an evil spirit. If it is not treated soon, I fear it will be detrimental to both her and Your Highness!"
Li Zhao was shocked and trembled, saying, "This... how could such a thing happen!"
Like any ordinary person, Crown Prince Li Zhao was filled with fear of the unknown and strange events. After a long pause, he remembered Li Xiaomin's great achievements and bowed, his voice trembling, "General, since you can see it, you must have a way, right?"
Li Xiaomin shook his head and sighed, "This evil spirit is too difficult to deal with; even I, your humble servant, am not entirely confident. The best course of action now is to have the Crown Princess leave this residence temporarily, lest it affect the Crown Prince's health, and then we can devise a better plan! I have already discussed this with the Crown Princess, and she also thinks it is a good idea. But I wonder what Your Highness's opinion is?"
Li Zhao asked anxiously, "Leaving is not difficult, but where should we go?"
Li Xiaomin was about to suggest she go to the palace so she could spend every night with him, but then he suddenly remembered that if she went to the palace, wouldn't people say she would be a threat to the Emperor? He had no choice but to change his tune, saying, "I remember there's a Taoist temple in the suburbs called Liuzhuang Temple, where all the practitioners are female Taoists. Why don't we invite the Crown Princess to go there to practice, stay for a while, and then I can gradually exorcise the evil spirits before bringing her back? Would that be alright?"
Li Zhao repeatedly said, "Yes, yes, I'll do as you say, General! You know this best, so I'll leave everything to you!"
He bowed deeply, sincerely asking Li Xiaomin to handle this matter for him. After all, the Crown Princess staying in the mansion would only hinder his reading. If he had physical needs, with so many maids in the mansion, why would he need her? If he could send her away, one less person interfering, Li Zhao would be more than happy.
Li Xiaomin bowed to him in farewell, promising to arrange the Crown Princess's retreat to practice Taoism the next day, and slowly withdrew from the mansion.
Li Zhao escorted them to the door, earnestly instructing them to bring several more "bad" books to criticize together the next day. The two then reluctantly parted; one went back to read, the other to visit his beautiful concubines and maids kept outside the palace, hoping to soothe their lonely hearts with his actions.
Deep within the palace, on a bed covered with a thick quilt, a middle-aged man coughed violently, almost unable to breathe.
Beside him, a group of eunuchs frantically held him, massaging his back, fearing they would all be implicated if anything happened to the emperor.
Several imperial physicians stood by the bed, their faces ashen and bodies trembling as they watched Li Yu cough so violently.
After coughing for a while, Li Yu, slightly out of breath, looked up at the physicians, about to speak, when suddenly he opened his mouth and spat out a mouthful of blood, which splattered onto the floor beside the bed.
Seeing this blood, Li Yu was terrified; his eyelids rolled back, and he immediately fainted.
The imperial physicians' faces changed drastically, and they rushed forward to treat the emperor, some taking his pulse, others pinching his philtrum. The eunuchs also cried out in panic, creating utter chaos.
Taking advantage of the confusion, Qian Song, the Right Chancellor who had already bribed the eunuchs and was waiting outside, rushed in, shouting and ordering the eunuchs to bring towels and hot water to wipe the emperor's face. He commanded the imperial physicians to revive the emperor, or else they would all be executed!
After a long while, Li Yu finally awoke, looked up and saw Qian Song. Tears streamed down his face as he trembled and said, "My dear minister, you're here too!"
Seeing Li Yu's aged and haggard face, his white beard stained with blood and trembling slightly in the air, Right Chancellor Qian Song couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow. He supported Li Yu's body and said sadly, "Your Majesty, this old minister has come to visit you!"
Li Yu leaned against the thick pillows on the bed, breathing weakly. He recalled the deep affection he had shared with Qian Song's daughter, only to have her leave this world so early, leaving him all alone. Now he too was old, and he couldn't help but sigh at the impermanence of life and the fleeting nature of time. Tears slowly streamed down his face. Qian
Song knelt by the bedside, silently weeping. The two, emperor and minister, faced each other, their grief unending.
Li Yu, panting for a while, said in a hoarse voice, "My dear minister, now that you've come, you must have something important to say. Speak!"
Qian Song hurriedly kowtowed and said, "I shouldn't bother Your Majesty with trivial matters, but this matter is too great to ignore. I have learned that the Chen Kingdom has deployed a large army on the western border, seemingly intending to invade our country. Furthermore, spies have reported that the Chen Kingdom has invited a Maoshan Taoist priest to infiltrate the army. I wonder if they intend to use Maoshan magic to launch a surprise attack on our army! This matter is of utmost importance. If they succeed in their surprise attack, our western border army will be caught off guard and may not be able to stop the Chen Kingdom's eastward invasion!"
Upon hearing this, Li Yu's eyes immediately rolled back, and he began to breathe rapidly, as if he was about to faint again.
The imperial physicians, pale with fright, rushed forward to treat Li Yu, patting his chest and back until he finally regained his breath. Supported by the physicians, he weakly asked, "Prime Minister, what do you think we should do?"
Qian Song, his face full of sincerity and trepidation, replied, "Your Majesty, the only solution now is to send the Spiritual Immortal Li Xiaomin westward from Jinling to supervise the western army, to prevent the Chen Kingdom from using poisonous schemes to ambush our troops with magic!"
Li Yu raised his eyes, panting, "You mean, Li Xiaomin should go out to supervise the army?"
Qian Song nodded. He replied, “Yes. Sending him west to supervise the army is not only to guard against the Chen army; moreover, I suspect that Dong Xianghu, the commander of the western army, harbors ulterior motives, and Li Xiaomin, being a palace attendant, is loyal to the country. If he goes to supervise the army, it can prevent him from making any unusual moves!”
Li Yu closed his eyes, breathing softly, and secretly recalled that he had only seen Li Xiaomin once in the dead of night. He saw him majestic and awe-inspiring, defeating the evil spirit with such bravery and terror that Li Yu couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart. Sometimes, when he saw him in his dreams, he felt that the man and the ghost were extremely terrifying. Now that the evil spirit was dead, only this man remained. Although he was his subordinate, the thought of his terrifying strength made Li Yu tremble in his heart, so he had never dared to summon him to see the emperor. If he could be sent out, that would be best, so that he wouldn't have to live in constant fear, afraid that he would bring some evil spirits to devour him.
Li Yu opened his eyes, stared at Qian Song, and gasped, "If he leaves, who will guard Jinling City? If the same thing happens again, I'm afraid the whole city will be doomed!"
Qian Song cupped his hands and smiled, "Your Majesty, rest assured! Although we suffered many casualties in the last battle, we have suppressed all the wronged souls in the city. Just look at the fact that there hasn't been a single ghost causing trouble these past few days, and you can tell. Moreover, I have invited a Yinshan Taoist priest, who is skilled in catching ghosts and exorcising demons. His Taoist name is Dong Wangzi. Commanding ghosts is his specialty. Now that all the ghosts in Jinling City have been eliminated, with him guarding Jinling, there is absolutely no chance of anything going wrong
!" Li Yu sighed, "Master, Master! The Guishan sect masters have all died mysteriously, and two Yinshan sect masters have also died. I wonder what will happen to this one!"
Qian Song hurriedly reassured him, guaranteeing that nothing would happen this time.
Originally a merchant, he was eloquent and persuasive. Li Yu was somewhat bewildered by his words and wanted to send Li Xiaomin away as soon as possible to avoid the inexplicable chill that would run through him whenever he thought of this man in the palace.
That morning, Li Xiaomin was leisurely sitting at home, idly enjoying the singing and dancing of a group of beautiful young women, when he unexpectedly received an imperial decree ordering him to go west to supervise the army. He was utterly perplexed, unable to understand what Empress Zhou was up to.
After receiving the decree, he rushed to the palace, heading straight for Kunning Palace to meet Empress Zhou. One of the palace maids on duty, whom he had previously reprimanded, blushed upon seeing him and hurriedly invited him into the inner palace to see the Empress.
Li Xiaomin, at this point, disregarded all formalities and, led by the maid, went directly into Empress Zhou's bedroom.
Entering the bedroom, his eyes were immediately drawn to a sight that caught his eye: on the bed, a beautiful woman lay huddled under the covers, her beautiful eyes glancing sideways, slightly startled as she looked at Li Xiaomin who had burst in. Her face, as delicate as a flower bud, wore an expression of infinite languidness. This picture of a beautiful woman in spring slumber filled Li Xiaomin with admiration.
Seeing such an alluring sight, Li Xiaomin disregarded everything else and immediately went to the bedside, embracing Empress Zhou and showering her with passionate kisses, making her flushed face even more fiery as she awoke.
In her dazed state, Empress Zhou struggled to push Li Xiaomin away, giving a slightly reproachful glance to the stunned palace maid beside her. The maid was so frightened that she knelt down and kowtowed, hurriedly leaving the room.
Once outside, the young woman, who had just experienced such a thing, gently touched her breasts. Recalling the scene just now, and thinking of how she and her sisters had also been driven wild by Eunuch Li in his bedroom, experiencing both pain and excitement, her face flushed with embarrassment, and her heart pounded wildly.
Inside the room, Li Xiaomin had already climbed onto the bed, quickly stripped off his clothes, and ignoring Empress Zhou's desperate pleas, lifted the brocade quilt, unfastened her undergarments, and embraced her delicate body, beginning their lovemaking.

Part One (Part Two) Chapter Eighty-Six: The Western Expeditionary

Empress Zhou had just woken up when this storm of passion ensued. Holding the young man on her body, she trembled and groaned incessantly, almost fainting from his ministrations.
Li Xiaomin kissed her red lips deeply, passionately riding her, when he suddenly remembered his purpose for coming. Annoyed, he said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, you're ordering me to leave Jinling because you don't want to see me?"
Empress Zhou sighed tremulously, "Xiaomin, don't blame me. This is the Emperor's decree. You are to go to the western army as a military supervisor to prevent the Chen Kingdom sorcerer from taking advantage of the situation to help the Chen army attack our country!"
Li Xiaomin was taken aback, asking curiously, "How does he know the Chen Kingdom sorcerer is going to attack?"
Empress Zhou moaned softly, enjoying the pleasure he brought her, and said incoherently, "It seems that Prime Minister Qian reported that the Chen Kingdom sorcerer has infiltrated the army and is making unusual moves."
Li Xiaomin then remembered that he hadn't checked the intelligence recently, so he summoned Aunt Feng, who was in charge of intelligence in the palace, and contacted her mentally, learning the whole story of Qian Song's report.
While having sex with the beautiful and alluring Empress, he was also communicating wirelessly with his lover in his mind. Li Xiaomin was distracted, pondering what Qian Song really meant.
He confided his doubts to Empress Zhou, who, panting beneath him, used her cunning to analyze the matter in detail, yet still couldn't reach a definitive conclusion.
The two continued their lovemaking while discussing the matter in detail, until Empress Zhou was drenched in sweat, her body radiating ultimate pleasure. Their final conclusion was that since this trip would increase Li Xiaomin and the Zhou family's power in the military, it was best to go west to supervise the army for the time being. As for the affairs of the capital, the ghost was handling things for him anyway, so there was no need to worry about the Qian family causing trouble.
On the western frontier,
at the Western Route Army's main camp, thousands of soldiers stood in imposing formation before the main gate, their armor gleaming, awaiting the arrival of the imperial supervisor.
At the very front of the army stood a burly, bearded man, about forty years old, fully armored—the Western Route Army's commander, Dong Xianghu.
Behind him were his trusted generals, their cold faces beneath their helmets showing a hint of unease as they patiently awaited the arrival of their supervisor.
As was customary, this supervising officer was a trusted eunuch from the palace, responsible for overseeing the commander. This particular supervising officer was extraordinary; he was said to possess exceptional magical abilities, having once single-handedly averted a raging incursion in Jinling City, eliminating a large number of malevolent spirits and saving the people from suffering. He was indeed incredibly powerful. This made the soldiers uneasy, wondering what this Eunuch Li would look like.
On the eastern road, dust billowed, as if an army was approaching.
Dong Xianghu's spirits lifted, and he whispered, "They're here! Be alert and prepare to welcome the supervising officer!"
His generals responded in hushed tones, puffing out their chests and gazing at the distant dust.
Gradually, the dust approached the camp, and brightly armored warriors on tall horses could be seen escorting a magnificent carriage slowly towards them.
Dong Xianghu spurred his horse forward, leading dozens of generals and guards, galloping ahead of the army until he reached the carriage.
He bowed and smiled, saying, "Your Excellency, I pay my respects!"
The carriage curtain was lifted, and a handsome, clean-shaven young man jumped down, cupping his hands in greeting to Dong Xianghu, "Marshal Dong, I have long admired your name. It is truly an honor to meet you today!"
Looking at this handsome young man of fourteen or fifteen, Dong Xianghu was somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected the military supervisor to be so young, but he dared not underestimate him. He hurriedly dismounted and greeted Li Xiaomin.
The other officers, seeing the military supervisor arrive, also stepped forward to pay their respects. Although they were wearing light armor, they only bowed and saluted, not daring to be negligent.
Only one military officer, of Hu ethnicity, with a rough and uncouth nature, saw Li Xiaomin's young age and slender build and felt a sense of contempt. He stood aside with his hands in his sleeves, a slight sneer on his face, and did not come forward to greet the military supervisor.
Upon seeing this, Dong Xianghu was slightly startled and shouted, "Xiao Heizi, what are you doing? Come here and greet the military supervisor!"
Li Xiaomin looked up and saw a burly man, about twenty years old, with a full beard, dressed in the uniform of a military officer, with a rough appearance. He sneered, "I've heard of this so-called military supervisor who has made great contributions. It turns out he's just a child. How dare he bow to me?"
Dong Xianghu angrily said, "Xiao Heizi, how dare you! I've always thought you were a barbarian and didn't know etiquette, but I didn't expect you to be so arrogant, openly insulting your superior. Guards, drag him away and give him ten lashes as punishment!"
Upon hearing the order, the soldiers rushed forward and dragged Xiao Heizi to the ground. Xiao Heizi did not resist, but only smiled coldly, not taking the beating to heart at all.
Upon seeing this, Li Xiaomin raised his hand and laughed, "Wait a minute! This general is quite a man of character, saying I'm too young to deserve your bow. Let me ask you, if on the battlefield, there's an elder among the enemy who sees you as young and doesn't bother with you, wouldn't you fight him?"
Xiao Heizi was taken aback and said, "What kind of logic is that? In the army, the capable are respected. Whoever is stronger deserves respect! You're not bowing to me not because you're young, but because you're just a weak eunuch with no strength to even kill a chicken. You're clearly just here to coast along. How can you accept the bow of us veterans who have fought our way through the battlefield?"
Li Xiaomin was both amused and exasperated, seeing that the other generals were all standing by with their hands folded, some even nodding in agreement. Clearly, Xiao Heizi's words struck a chord with them, revealing a clear disregard for them. They shouted, "Xiao Heizi, since you look down on me, do you dare to challenge me to a martial arts contest? If I lose to you, not only will I not need your homage, I should be the one bowing to you!" Xiao Heizi was taken
aback. He waved away the soldiers who were capturing him and said gleefully, "I didn't realize you, little eunuch, had so much courage. You're quite the hero! Alright, I admit I was wrong today. After we've fought, regardless of the outcome, I'll kowtow to you as an apology!"
Dong Xianghu was greatly alarmed, fearing that this savage might misbehave and injure the supervising officer, causing him to bear the blame. Offending the powerful forces behind Li Xiaomin would be a much bigger problem. Hastily stepping forward to dissuade him, he said in a deep voice, "Supervisor, you are of noble birth, why bother with such a rude man..."
Li Xiaomin waved his hand and smiled, took a few steps forward, grabbed Xiao Heizi's leather armor at the chest, used a slingshot, spun around abruptly, dragged him over his shoulder, and slammed him to the ground!
The movement was as fast as lightning. Xiao Heizi didn't expect him to attack so suddenly and had no time to dodge. He was thrown to the ground, groaning in pain.
The generals were all shocked. This supervisor, though young and weak, was surprisingly strong. Although it was a sudden attack, for a fourteen or fifteen-year-old boy to lift a burly man like Xiao Heizi and slam him to the ground was a force to be reckoned with.
Xiao Heizi, with his thick skin and tough flesh, only felt pain for a moment before struggling to his feet, shouting, "That doesn't count! You suddenly rushed at me, I didn't even have time to react before you struck first!"
Li Xiaomin stepped back a few paces, clapped his hands, spread his arms and bent over defensively, laughing, "Since that's the case, you come up here yourself, I'll let you strike first, how about that?"
Xiao Heizi glared at him fiercely with his bulging eyes, suddenly let out a loud shout, and charged wildly towards Li Xiaomin!
His tiger-like arms fiercely grabbed Li Xiaomin, intending to lift him up around the waist, swing him around until he was dizzy, and then throw him far away, giving him a hard slam!
Seeing the fierce approach of Xiao Heizi, Li Xiaomin didn't engage in a brute-force contest. Instead, he leaped back, and as Xiao Heizi rushed towards him, his footing slightly unsteady, Li Xiaomin flashed to his side and delivered a swift, flying kick to his knee. Xiao Heizi was immediately thrown back, his burly body crashing heavily to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
The generals watching from the side were even more astonished. The supervising officer's movements were agile and measured, clearly those of a trained fighter. This kick, targeting the enemy's weak point, seemed to have been delivered without even using full force, easily knocking Xiao Heizi down. This made the generals slightly uneasy, wondering if they could withstand such a swift and unpredictable kick.
Xiao Heizi clutched his knee, groaning in pain as he sat on the ground. Fortunately, it was just a laceration, and Li Xiaomin hadn't used much strength. It took him a while to get up, and he limped towards Li Xiaomin, shouting, "You're good at foot combat! You're small and agile, I can't compare. Do you dare fight me on horseback? If you lose, I'll kowtow a hundred times to apologize!"
Li Xiaomin smiled slightly, turned around and whistled. A pure white warhorse galloped from the rear ranks, stopped beside him, and bowed its head, appearing extremely submissive.
The generals marveled at the sight, never expecting such a human-like warhorse. They couldn't help but feel envious, thinking how wonderful it would be to have such a clever horse that would come to its master on its own!
Seeing the envious expressions on the faces of his generals, Li Xiaomin chuckled inwardly. He glanced at Lin Li, who had stealthily led his horse towards him, and watched as Lin Li tactfully stepped aside. Then, he mounted his horse, raised his gleaming silver spear, and shouted, "Xiao Heizi, mount up and fight me!"
With his spear in hand, Li Xiaomin's aura suddenly changed. His face turned grim, and a chilling killing intent surged from his body. The generals were all seasoned veterans, and they immediately recognized that such killing intent could only be forged on the blood-splattered battlefield, not something that could be acquired through solitary practice at home. Recalling the military achievements they had heard about the supervisor's southern expedition, it was clear that these achievements were not earned by hiding in the back and letting his men fight to the death. They were all filled with trepidation and had a new assessment of the supervisor.
Xiao Heizi was stunned, but refused to back down. He limped onto a tall horse, brandished his long sword, and shouted, "My lord, I have offended you!"
The warhorse galloped forward; the long sword flashed coldly, aiming straight for Li Xiaomin's horse's head!
Li Xiaomin smiled slightly, a cold glint in his eyes. His gleaming silver spear flashed out, striking the sword heavily with a loud crash. Xiao Heizi's horse darted off to the side. Xiao Heizi, still on horseback, felt a slight numbness in his arms, and was secretly astonished by Li Xiaomin's strength.
Li Xiaomin spurred his horse and gave chase, engaging Xiao Heizi, who had returned to fight, in a fierce battle. After only a few rounds, a sudden shout rang out, and the gleaming silver spear swirled up like a whirlwind. The longsword, caught in the spear's powerful swirl, couldn't withstand the force of the spear and was sent flying, landing several paces away. As it fell, it nearly wounded a soldier, who screamed and fled in terror.
The surrounding generals, their faces filled with admiration, bowed and clasped their hands under Dong Xianghu's leadership, saying in unison, "Supervisor, your might is awe-inspiring! We are truly in awe!"
Xiao Heizi, still on horseback, stared blankly for a long time before dismounting and prostrating himself on the ground. He said in a rough voice, "Supervisor, you are indeed formidable! I am useless; I dared to be disrespectful to you. Please punish me!"
Before Li Xiaomin could speak, he began to kowtow violently, the sound of his head hitting the ground resounding.
Li Xiaomin dismounted and personally helped Xiao Heizi up, laughing, "General Xiao is a true hero, so this is only natural! I am overjoyed to have met such a valiant man as General Xiao!"
Dong Xianghu smiled and led his generals to escort Li Xiaomin onto his horse, and they rode together towards the main camp. Along the way, they praised Li Xiaomin's exceptional martial arts skills, saying he was indeed a renowned general of the dynasty, worthy of admiration.
Li Xiaomin smiled humbly, knowing he was a subordinate of General Qin, and treated him with great courtesy. The generals were delighted, escorting their commander-in-chief and supervisor back to camp. After Li Xiaomin read out the emperor's decree, pigs and sheep were slaughtered to feast the entire army. The soldiers ate heartily, drank fine wine, and laughed heartily in their drunkenness, each one overjoyed beyond measure. Afterward
, Li Xiaomin settled comfortably in the western army, responsible for supervising the army's daily operations. Although Dong Xianghu was a military general, he was also well-versed in officialdom. He gave a large amount of the money and treasures he had embezzled and extorted from the army to the supervising officer, and also shared his monthly embezzled income with him. The two got along very well and could be considered a pair of like-minded colleagues.
The subordinate officers, following his example, came daily to offer gifts and flatter him, showing great respect for this capable and favored eunuch, hoping to climb the social ladder through him and achieve future success.

Part One (Part Two) Chapter Eighty-Seven: The Capital Mutiny

In Jinling City, it was late at night, and the people had all gone home to rest. No one wanted to leave their warm homes in the cold night.
Under the cover of darkness, squads of soldiers quietly marched through the streets, their officers whispering instructions to keep their footsteps as light as possible so as not to disturb the nearby residents.
Despite this, the people were still awakened by the sound of marching troops outside. Peeking through the cracks in their doors, they sensed something amiss emanating from the heavily guarded army, and a sense of unease crept into their hearts, fearing some trouble might befall them.
But fear did not avert the chaos of war!
The army moved stealthily through the streets. Ahead, the patrol teams, seemingly sternly instructed, hid in alleys upon seeing the large, dark figures moving in the night. The soldiers exchanged suspicious glances, knowing that something big was about to happen in Jinling City tonight, even though their officers hadn't explained the details.
The army stealthily advanced through the outermost districts, gradually approaching the territory not under their faction's control!
The unsuspecting patrol teams, patrolling their assigned areas as usual, were suddenly terrified to see a large force slowly approaching in the darkness. They quickly formed ranks, drew their swords, and called out for directions.
At their loud questions, a cold glint flashed in the eyes of the officer leading the stealthy army, as swift as lightning! His
strong, powerful hand gripped the hilt of his sword, and the steel blade slowly drew from its sheath, gleaming coldly in the moonlight!
The valiant soldiers, halting in their tracks, followed their commander, slowly drawing their swords and raising them high to the sky. Under
the moonlight, the longswords stood like a forest! The seasoned general, having fought countless battles, looked up to the sky and let out a fierce roar, like a raging lion, announcing the arrival of the mutiny!
A frenzied roar erupted from every soldier of the night-moving army, finally igniting the silent night!
In the eyes of each soldier, there was excitement and fear. Their steel swords were gripped tightly in their hands, their knuckles white, and their eyes, filled with a mad, fierce light, glared across the empty street at the soldiers in their uniforms under the moonlight!
The war drums thundered across the long street. The fighting spirit of the entire army surged with the exhilarating roar of the drums!
Amidst piercing cries, the night-walking army, ordered to attack, began to slowly begin to run, gradually increasing in speed until finally transforming into a ferocious force like ravenous leopards, charging at high speed across the street towards the patrolling soldiers!
The patrolling soldiers, somewhat bewildered by fear and surprise, spontaneously formed a defensive formation due to their usual training, shouting orders for the troops ahead to halt and simultaneously encouraging their own side.
The ferocious army, charging forward, finally reached the patrolling soldiers. Steel blades were swung wildly, producing a piercing clang of metal against metal in the night!
A shrill scream followed, and blood gushed from the necks of those stabbed, filling the air with the stench of blood, thus beginning this night of frenzied slaughter!
A piercing roar erupted from the throats of every soldier. With all their might, they channeled their excitement and fear into frantic sword swings, slashing wildly at every enemy who dared to stand in their path!
Kill! Kill! Kill!
A frenzied bloodlust coursed through the veins of every soldier. Steel blades flashed, felling those who resisted fiercely. Whether they were comrades-in-arms before, or even brothers-in-arms who had shared joyous nights, on this brutal night of mutiny, all that remained was loyalty to their side and a steadfast belief in their own survival!
Madness and fear flashed in the soldiers' eyes. They roared and screamed like a pack of wild beasts, tearing apart all enemies in their path. The entire army, like a torrent of steel, surged through the streets, smashing through everything in its path, advancing towards the imperial city!
Under the powerful onslaught of the mutinous army, patrols were quickly scattered, and soldiers fell to the frenzied blades of their comrades from the previous day, their blood staining the streets. The mutinous soldiers, their eyes bloodshot, brandished their blood-soaked weapons and charged towards the imperial city—the final destination of all power struggles!
Behind them, the mutinous army poured into the city, storming key departments and breaking into the homes of high-ranking officials. Amidst the terrified cries of the elderly, women, and children, they surrounded the officials, forcing them to swear allegiance to the new emperor and write personal pledges of loyalty!
Large numbers of officers, taking advantage of the chaos, allowed their subordinates to loot the city. Fires and cries rose from every house, and the entire city of Jinling, like boiling oil poured on water, quickly descended into chaos. Flames rose from all directions, smoke and flames obscuring the sky, transforming this once peaceful and prosperous city into a frenzied metropolis of chaos!
Units of troops, led by disheveled generals, rushed out from near the palace. Soldiers fought desperately, brandishing their swords to fend off the overwhelming enemy forces surging in like a tidal wave. Blood and screams echoed everywhere, turning the quiet night into a night of frenzied slaughter!
The raging mutinous army held an absolute advantage, massacring the loyalist resistance forces, scattering and killing them, trampling over the corpses as they advanced all the way to the walls of the imperial city! The
fortified imperial city, protecting the palace, had all its gates firmly closed. The soldiers of the Zhenxie Army, already deployed to guard the imperial city, stood atop the city walls, pointing at the charging rebel soldiers wielding swords and spears, shouting and demanding that they immediately lay down their weapons to beg for the Emperor and Empress's forgiveness!
The rebel soldiers, their hearts filled with frenzied killing intent, ignored these orders. They roared and charged towards the imperial city, fiercely assaulting the walls, determined to break in, capture Empress Zhou—the main target of the mutiny—and achieve great merit, securing a title, a comfortable life, and a bright future!
More than one mutinous soldier secretly fantasized about breaking into the wealthy imperial city, overflowing with gold and silver; at the very least, they could plunder a vast amount of treasure and become incredibly rich!
Driven by such fantasies, the fierce soldiers brandished their swords and spears, hacking at the heavy palace gates; others carried long ladders, climbing up the walls. If they could cross this barrier, wealth and beautiful women would be within their grasp!
However, the answer from the Zhenxie Army soldiers on the city walls was a rain of arrows and the chilling glint of blades!
Arrows rained down, their sharp tips tearing through the soldiers' armor at close range, piercing their lungs, causing them to scream and fall to the ground beneath the imperial city.
The rebel soldiers who managed to climb onto the imperial city walls, before they could even stand firmly, were met with a barrage of furious blows from the Zhenxie Army soldiers wielding gleaming steel blades. They fell from the walls, their faces covered in blood, their brains splattering onto the ground.
Lion Head Lin Zhongli roared, commanding his troops to unleash a devastating attack on the enemy soldiers attempting to seize the city with the most ferocious and direct force. Whoever wanted to capture this palace gate would have to step over his dead body!
He was originally a surrendered general from Jushan, not a direct descendant of the imperial army, but having sworn allegiance to General Annan and been promoted to deputy commander of the Zhenxie Army, he would fight to the death to repay General Li's kindness!
The same scene unfolded at the other three palace gates. Qin Mingzhen, Huyan Huoshao, and Zhang Qing were also leading their troops in a fierce battle to repay General Annan for saving their lives from Gongsun Bubai!
The majestic imperial city, a symbol of the inviolable majesty of the royal family, was once again ravaged by war this night. Flames raged from the houses on all sides, turning the night sky above the imperial city crimson!
Tens of thousands of troops converged from all directions, their murderous aura shaking the heavens and earth. Every army commander, their eyes bloodshot and their hearts filled with a frenzied rage, wanted to be the first to storm the city, plunder, find Empress Zhou and the ailing emperor, and achieve great merit!
The fortified imperial city was filled with the sounds of frenzied battle cries. A relentless rain of arrows poured down on the rebel troops outside the city, like harvesting wheat, claiming their lives in vast numbers. Those soldiers who managed to reach the city walls could not escape being surrounded and killed by the Zhenxie Army!
Large numbers of crossbows were brought to the city walls, aimed at the enemy outside, and unleashed a furious barrage of fire. One by one, the rebel generals charging at the forefront were shot dead on the battlefield by well-trained snipers, filling the rebel ranks with fear and halting their relentless offensive!
On the city walls, the soldiers, like tigers and wolves, glared fiercely at the rebels outside, their eyes blazing with fury. In the firelight, they resembled a group of enraged Vajras.
The three thousand Zhenxie Army soldiers, under Li Xiaomin's rigorous training, had become the elite of the elite. Together with the other three thousand Imperial Guards loyal to Empress Zhou and Zhou Tai, they defended the entire capital city like an iron fortress. Coupled with a large number of crossbows already prepared, they refused to retreat even when facing an enemy ten times their size!
Outside the capital, a large army gathered. Gazing at the impregnable capital ahead, every soldier's face was a mixture of anger and fear.
Beyond the battlefield, the thunderous sound of hooves surged forth. A fiery red steed galloped forward, carrying a burly general clad in crimson armor and wielding a heavy sword. Leading his personal guards, he charged towards the imperial city, standing before the city walls. Pointing at the soldiers of the Zhenxie Army on the walls, he roared, "You cowards! Seeing my army approaching, how dare you not surrender!"
His voice shook the surrounding area. The rebel army gathered outside the city echoed his own cries, adding to the commotion, making the entire city of Jinling seem to sway gently in the deafening roar.

Part One (Second Half) Chapter Eighty-Eight: The Dragon Returns

East. Qian Wulin, the former commander of the Imperial Guard and leader of the rebel army, brandished his broadsword, pointed it at the imperial city, and roared, "Zhou Tai, you dog, have formed a clique and plotted rebellion! Today, our army, under the command of the Prince of Danyang, has entered the capital to purge the court of corrupt officials, exterminate Zhou Tai's faction, and capture Empress Zhou, who has imprisoned the Emperor and monopolized power, to restore order to the court! You may quickly surrender the city and hand over Empress Zhou; this will be a great achievement for you!"
Lin Zhongli, clad in the fine armor specially made for the Zhenxie Army, stood majestically atop the city wall, pointing at Qian Wulin and cursing, "You dog, you were defeated by my general last time!" "How dare you bark here! When my general returns with his army, he will hang your dog's head above the city gate as a warning to all rebels!"
Qian Wulin roared in fury, "Zhou Tai, that dog traitor, has already been executed, and Li Xiaomin, that dog scoundrel, is far away on the border. What right do you have to dare to speak such arrogant words! If you are smart, surrender the city and we will spare your lives. Otherwise, we will attack the capital and slaughter all of you traitors without leaving a single one alive!"
Hearing the news of Zhou Tai's death, the rebel army's morale soared. They brandished their swords and spears, roaring wildly, their shouts echoing far and wide.
On the city wall, the Zhenxie Army soldiers remained unfazed. Apart from the three thousand Imperial Guards who were secretly alarmed, Lin Zhongli and the others were not concerned about Zhou Tai's death at all. After all, their lord and Zhou Tai were just allies. With their lord's abilities, losing one ally was nothing!
Qian Wulin brandished his broadsword, shouting fiercely to force the defending troops to surrender, but this only provoked the Zhenxie Army soldiers to hurl insults, their words particularly derogatory towards his family.
Enraged, Qian Wulin raised his sword to the sky and roared, "All soldiers! Hear my command! Charge forward, slay all the traitors, rescue the Emperor, and restore order to the court!"
Tens of thousands of rebel soldiers roared in unison, and led by their generals, slowly surged towards the imperial city, ready for a bloody battle, to seize the palace gates and storm the palace!
Suddenly, war drums thundered atop the imperial city. Torches blazed everywhere, illuminating the city walls.
To the astonishment of the rebel soldiers, a stunningly beautiful woman, dressed in empress's robes, surrounded by palace maids and guards, slowly walked onto the city wall. Her noble and ethereal aura, like a celestial being descending to earth, was enough to make even the bloodthirsty soldiers feel ashamed of their own appearance.
The rebel offensive abruptly halted. The entire army stood outside the city, gazing blankly at the stunningly beautiful woman atop the city walls.
The Empress, mother of the nation, stood calmly atop the imperial city, facing the raging flames engulfing Jinling. Her gaze was serene as she spoke in a clear voice: "You were once soldiers of the Great Tang, pillars of the nation. Why have you joined the rebels and brought shame upon your parents?"
Hearing this clear question, the rebel soldiers exchanged bewildered glances, a blush involuntarily rising on their faces.
General Qian Wulin, his body ablaze in crimson, spurred his horse toward the imperial city, pointing at Empress Zhou and shouting, "You vile woman! Who in the world doesn't know that you conspired with Zhou Tai to assassinate the Emperor! If you are allowed to remain in power, the Emperor's life will be in your and Zhou Tai's hands in just a few days!" Empress
Zhou's calm gaze suddenly flashed with anger as she turned to Qian Wulin, saying in a deep voice, "Qian Wulin! You were originally the commander of the Imperial Guard, deeply favored by the Emperor. Why did you conspire with the traitors Qian Song and Li Xiong to raise an army in rebellion, plotting to seize power?"
Her gaze swept across the open ground littered with corpses, landing on Mo Shangchou, the commander of the Nine Cities Garrison, who was hiding behind them. Her eyes blazed with anger as she coldly said, "Mo Shangchou! You come from a noble family, favored by the Emperor for generations. Why did you also join the rebels? Don't you have any conscience at all?"
Mo Shangchou had been trying to hide among his men, but Empress Zhou still managed to spot him. He gave an awkward smile, speechless for a moment.
Upon seeing Empress Zhou appear and her stern questioning, the morale of the soldiers plummeted. Qian Wulin, seething with rage, waved his hand and shouted, "You sharp-tongued, vile woman! You won't shed a tear until you see the coffin! Men, bring me Zhou Tai's head!"
Amidst gasps of alarm, Qian Wulin's personal guards swiftly retrieved a blood-stained box from behind.
Undeterred by the blood, Qian Wulin reached inside, grabbed his disheveled hair, pulled out the head, and held it high, roaring, "The traitor Zhou Tai is dead! The army of the Prince of Danyang is already outside Jinling City. If you do not surrender, your entire families will be executed!"
Suddenly seeing their beloved minister's head, eyes wide with fury, face covered in blood, held high by Qian Wulin, the Imperial Guards, long grateful for his favor, turned ashen-faced, their hands trembling so much they could barely hold their weapons.
Outside the city, the more than 20,000 Imperial Guards who had mutinied with Qian Wulin, along with nearly 40,000 soldiers from the Nine Cities Garrison, were greatly encouraged, shouting wildly with a ferocious momentum that seemed to overturn the heavens!
Upon seeing her father's severed head, even Empress Zhou, a woman of great courage and unwavering resolve, trembled violently, tears blurring her vision. Though she pointed angrily at Qian Wulin, she choked back sobs, unable to speak for a moment.
Seeing the situation turning in his favor, Qian Wulin laughed loudly, "Empress Zhou, things have come to this, what else can you say! If you cannot make up your mind to surrender, I will make the decision for you!"
With a wild wave of his hand, a large number of soldiers immediately escorted hundreds of elderly women and children, stumbling and staggering towards the imperial city, standing below the walls, weeping as they looked up at the city.
Hearing the cries, Empress Zhou violently shook her head, trying to wipe the tears from her eyes, letting them stream down her jade-like cheeks. Gazing around, she saw only desolation. The old and young weeping were her own mother, aunts, brothers, and nephews, all captured by Qian Wulin's troops and held captive beneath the city walls.
Five hundred axemen, brandishing their sharp blades, grinned maliciously as they stepped forward. Each grabbed a member of the Zhou family, their blades and axes aimed, ready to slaughter the once powerful Zhou family at a moment's notice!
Qian Wulin, looking up at the sky, laughed loudly, his arrogance undisguised. Pointing at the entire Zhou family, young and old, Qian Wulin roared, "Empress Zhou, look at these people! Can't you make up your mind? Do we have to bring His Highness the Crown Prince here before you'll decide?"
Crystal tears welled in the eyes of the stunningly beautiful woman. In the fierce wind, this lonely, frail woman stood tall atop the imperial city, gritting her teeth. Many gazes fell upon her, yet all sensed her strength mingled with her desolate helplessness.
The beautiful woman slowly raised her head, her gaze fixed on the distant horizon, where darkness still reigned, devoid of any light.
"If only he were here..." The thought flickered in Empress Zhou's mind. That somewhat naive young man now seemed like an unyielding mountain, her only source of strength and support!
But he was far away on the western border; how could he possibly return to save the lives of everyone in the palace?
Thinking this, a trace of sorrow flickered in the woman's eyes. She lowered her head and let out a soft sigh.
Outside the imperial city, illuminated by raging flames, General Qian Wulin, clad in fiery red armor, grew impatient and roared, "Listen up, everyone in the city! If you do not surrender obediently, I will first slaughter the entire Zhou family, then kill the Crown Prince, and charge in to wipe out everyone in the palace, leaving not a single one alive except the Emperor!"
Hearing these arrogant and treasonous words, the soldiers throughout the imperial city paled in shock!
Empress Zhou's jade-like face turned ashen, her eyes fixed on Qian Wulin, who was brandishing his sword and roaring outside the city. Even her tall, beautiful body trembled involuntarily!
Qian Wulin raised his broadsword high and roared, "Axemen, listen to my command! Raise your swords! At my command, behead the entire Zhou family, this traitorous clan!"
Five hundred axemen responded with a thunderous roar, grinning maliciously. They grabbed a member of the Zhou family by the hair, pulled him up with their swords and axes already raised high, waiting for the order to unleash a gruesome spectacle of heads rolling beneath the imperial city!
On the imperial city walls, silence reigned. The soldiers, their eyes wide with rage, glared fiercely at Qian Wulin's frenzied shouts outside the city, lamenting their own inability to charge out and slay this traitor amidst the chaos!
A gust of wind rose, battle flags fluttered wildly. Just as the soldiers of the Zhenxie Army, filled with grief and indignation, were almost unable to control themselves, their gazes suddenly lifted, fixed on a red cloud that had suddenly appeared on the horizon!
On the dark horizon, a glimmer of light appeared, gradually growing bright and lustrous like a ruby, rapidly expanding as it drifted towards them.
Outside the city, the rebel army was shouting and yelling, ordering the city's defenders to surrender immediately to avoid death. Suddenly noticing the dazed looks of the city's Zhenxie Army soldiers, they turned to look at the horizon, immediately stunned, their shouts weakening.
The weakening of their shouts puzzled the rebel generals as well. Looking back, they too were startled, staring blankly at the horizon. Even Qian Wulin stopped shouting, looking up at the red clouds on the horizon, a sense of foreboding rising within him.
As the red clouds drew closer, everyone gasped.
It wasn't a red cloud at all, but a gigantic crimson dragon, its claws outstretched, soaring high in the sky!
On the dragon's back, something was faintly visible, appearing as a small dot attached to its body. When the dragon flew closer and everyone could see the scene on its back, they couldn't help but gasp in astonishment!
Screams surged like waves atop the city walls. A pale-faced beauty, swaying precariously, her heart breaking, suddenly heard these terrified cries. A glimmer of hope rose within her. Forgetting to show weakness before the crowd, she immediately raised her jade-like arm, wiping away her tears with the sleeve of her magnificent robe. Looking up at the sky, she was stunned.
On the crimson dragon, its claws gleaming, soaring through the heavens, sat a smiling young man—undoubtedly General Annan, a First-Class Earl, Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard, and Deputy Commander of the Nine Cities Garrison, Li Xiaomin!
Terrified groans erupted from every rebel soldier. Staring blankly at the roaring dragon and the proudly seated General Annan atop it, immense fear gripped their hearts, rendering them almost immobile.
A colossal dragon soared through the clouds, arriving atop the imperial city in an instant. With a gentle pat of its body, the dragon, as if obeying a command, lowered its
head and charged towards the city. The sight of this enormous crimson dragon charging down filled the soldiers on the city walls with terror. Even with its head lowered, it appeared to be half the size of the imperial city; if it were to crash into the walls, it would shatter the entire structure!
While the soldiers, guards, and palace maids scattered in panic, a peerless beauty in magnificent robes remained steadfastly atop the city wall, her eyes filled with tears, staring unblinkingly at the descending youth. The intense emotion in her eyes seemed to melt him!
The dragon let out a soft roar, causing the earth to tremble slightly. As it approached the city wall, its speed slowed, and it gently landed outside the imperial city. Its massive body coiled slightly outside the walls; even the high city walls paled in comparison to its stout form coiled on the ground!
On the back of the crimson dragon, the dashing young man stood up. Looking at the city wall so close at hand, he smiled slightly and leaped down.
Clad in snow-white robes, he landed slowly in the fierce wind. Looking at Empress Zhou, her eyes filled with tears, he felt a warmth in his heart, his gaze filled with boundless affection as he quietly watched this delicate beauty who had waited so long for him.
Even with its head touching the ground, the crimson dragon's head was enormous, its horns several times taller than the palace gates. To the utter horror of the rebel soldiers, the crimson dragon roared, its body suddenly soaring into the air. The resulting gale sent the foremost rebel soldiers crashing to the ground.
The dragon, now in the air, circled and howled, its indifferent gaze sweeping over the rebels on the ground before turning and flying towards the horizon, quickly disappearing into the vast night.
This terrifying dragon had far exceeded the imagination of any of the rebel soldiers. Even after the dragon departed, they remained frozen in terror, their fearful gazes fixed on their nominal superiors atop the imperial city: Li Xiaomin, the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guards and Deputy Commander of the Nine Cities Garrison, and the An'nan General. The
handsome young man slowly turned, calmly gazing at the tens of thousands of soldiers standing silently beneath the city walls. He smiled slightly and proclaimed in a
clear, resounding voice, "Soldiers, you were originally sent to protect Jinling. Why have you arrived here in the dead of night, causing this chaos?" His clear voice swept over the heads of the tens of thousands of rebels, followed by a clattering sound as weapons fell from their hands.
In the firelight, a large number of soldiers knelt helplessly, bowing their heads to the ground, trembling with fear, daring not to raise their heads to meet the dignified and imposing An'nan General atop the imperial city walls.

Part One (Part Two) Chapter Eighty-Nine: Turning the Tide

Qian Wulin's shouts suddenly rang out shrilly in the deathly silent battlefield: "What are you all doing! Such a small spell has terrified you like this? Are you still the most elite Imperial Guards and Garrison Army of the Tang Dynasty?"
Before the imperial city, Qian Wulin, the commander of the Imperial Guards, brandished his broadsword, his face flushed with rage, and roared, "This is clearly an illusion, just conjuring up a red dragon to fool people! The Eastern Demon Master has already said that these things are illusions and can't harm anyone at all! You were actually fooled by such a trivial spell; it's truly shameful!"
His words offered little comfort to the trembling soldiers kneeling on the ground. What terrified them was not only the divine dragon that shouldn't exist in the world, but also the long-standing prestige of the Annan General. Within the Imperial Guard, who hadn't witnessed General Annam defeat dozens of the strongest Imperial Guard commanders with his bare hands? Even iron rods forged from fine steel could be easily twisted into pretzels by him. His incredible strength and power shocked and terrified all who witnessed it.
Although forced by orders to participate in the rebellion, secretly hoping to storm the capital and seize some gold and silver to secure their future, the sudden return of General Annam from the border filled even the most resolute Imperial Guard soldiers with immense fear. Looking at the seemingly frail but actually incredibly powerful General Annam, a sense of powerlessness welled up within them, and no one dared to harbor any thought of fighting him.
Compared to the Imperial Guard, the garrison troops were much more composed. Although they were under the jurisdiction of the Nine Cities Military Command and subordinates of Li Xiaomin, Li Xiaomin had only been with the Command for a short time and hadn't had time to frequently visit them in the camps. Most of them had never witnessed his display of power. Looking at Li Xiaomin standing atop the city wall in the distance, although they feared his ability to control dragons, they weren't overly afraid. They simply hoped that Qian Wulin's words were true, and that what had just happened was merely a deception; otherwise, their side still had hope of victory.
Suddenly, a creaking sound broke the silence of the night. From behind the rebel army, a large number of siege engines and catapults were pushed forward, slowly approaching the city. The iron plates covering the massive wooden ends of the siege engines gleamed with a metallic luster, exuding a cold aura and subtly intimidating the fortified imperial city.
On the battlefield, Qian Wulin's shrill voice rang out again: "Soldiers! Our siege equipment has arrived! All soldiers, advance together and storm the imperial city! Slay Li Xiaomin and Empress Zhou, those traitors! Whoever kills Li Xiaomin or captures Empress Zhou will be ennobled with ten thousand households and enjoy lifelong glory!"
Excited whispers began to spread quietly among the rebel army. Such a generous reward exceeded the soldiers' expectations. The rebel soldiers, who had never witnessed Li Xiaomin's prowess, were already itching for action, preparing to rush in and claim their glory after the battering rams breached the city gates!
The Zhenxie Army soldiers, however, were all fierce and stern, brandishing their swords and spears, their momentum unstoppable, eager to see the enemy charge and then slaughter them until their souls were shattered! A
night wind blew, and a handsome young man stood proudly atop the city wall, his clothes fluttering, a smile still on his face, without a trace of murderous intent. Only his lips moved slightly, uttering a silent message that drifted away on the night wind.
Almost simultaneously, many of the rebel generals trembled, their faces turning deathly pale. Their rough, calloused hands, accustomed to wielding weapons, gripped their blades tightly in that instant, a fierce glint shooting from their eyes!
Qian Wulin brandished his broadsword, standing at the front of the formation, roaring loudly, ordering his men to advance and attack the city. Suddenly, he heard the sound of horses' hooves behind him. Turning around, he saw his trusted general Han Yong, along with several Imperial Guard officers, galloping up. They gripped bronze clubs tightly, their eyes flashing with ferocity, and shouted through gritted teeth, "General, do not worry! Leave the battlefield matters to us!"
Qian Wulin was overjoyed. At this crucial moment in the fierce battle, he finally saw who was truly loyal to him. He laughed loudly, "Good! You are all fierce generals in the army and loyal ministers in the court. When the Prince of Danyang ascends the throne, he will surely give you important positions!"
He turned and glared at the smug eunuch on the city wall, brandishing his broadsword and pointing it towards the wall, roaring, "All generals, listen to my command! Lead the army and attack! Kill the dog eunuch and seize the capital!"
His impassioned words were met with a vicious blow to the back of his head!
A sudden gust of wind struck, and Qian Wulin was only in surprise before he was struck squarely on the back by the bronze cudgel. He immediately fell headfirst off his horse and crashed heavily to the ground. His internal organs writhed in excruciating pain, as if they had been shattered by the forceful blow.
At the same time, the dozen or so garrison generals who had been loyally protecting Mo Shangchou, the commander of the Nine Cities Garrison, suddenly launched an attack. They brandished their swords and spears and slashed fiercely at Mo Shangchou's personal guards with extreme ferocity. In an instant, blood splattered everywhere, and the guards, who had no idea what to do, screamed and fell from their horses, dying on the spot. Mo Shangchou was suddenly pressed against seven or eight sharp swords and spears, and his fat body shrank into a ball in fear. Looking at his former subordinates with their fierce brows and ferocious faces, he was filled with extreme terror, and he almost urinated in fear.
Han Yong jumped off his horse, ignoring Qian Wulin's continued struggles, grabbed him, and together with several colleagues, bound him tightly with ropes, making him look like a dumpling. He then turned back and shouted wildly, "Qian Wulin has rebelled and is guilty of an unforgivable crime! We have been ordered by the Commander of the Imperial Guard and General Annan to capture him here. You may follow me to hand Qian Wulin over to General Li. Do not disobey! Anyone who remains obstinate and rebellious will be executed immediately, along with their entire family!"
This sudden turn of events terrified tens of thousands of rebel soldiers, who stared in fear at their suddenly unfamiliar commander, their hands and feet trembling, unsure of whom to listen to.
On the city wall, Li Xiaomin, his face beaming with relief, clapped his hands and laughed loudly, "Good, good, good! You are all loyal ministers and generals of the country, your future is limitless!"
Qian Wulin, hunched over on his horse, was in excruciating pain. After a long while, he managed to force out a vicious question through gritted teeth: "Han Yong! I have always treated you well, why have you betrayed me?"
Han Yong and several Imperial Guard generals looked at each other, speechless. The generals exchanged glances, wisely walking away, ignoring Qian Wulin.
Only Han Yong remained. Seeing that no one was around, he leaned close to Qian Wulin's ear and said with a wry smile, "Don't blame me, I had no choice! It's all that Li Xiaomin's fault, he's a real devil. I don't know where he found out our secrets, but he used them to blackmail us. He even has evidence. If outsiders found out about this, I'd rather die than let them find out! I had no choice but to write a letter of surrender and secretly join him. I thought that once he went to the border, I would never see him again, so I felt safe to follow you in your rebellion. Who knew that this guy could fly back and stand on the city wall?" "His mouth moved, and his voice drifted to my ear, telling me to join them in capturing you and handing you over to him! Only then did I realize that these guys were just unlucky; this kid had caught them red-handed, so they had no choice but to blindly work for him. 'There's no other way. To save my family from having to jump into the river with their faces covered, I have to sacrifice you, brother!'"
Qian Wulin finally understood, and he was so angry that he vomited blood on the spot, beads of blood hanging from the corner of his mouth. His voice trembled as he roared, "Xiao Yongzi, what is it that makes you willing to die rather than let anyone know?"
Han Yong casually replied, "Actually, it's nothing, it's just that I... " "Our family..."
The words were on the tip of his tongue when he suddenly realized what he was saying. Enraged, Han Yong grabbed Qian Wulin, his eyebrows, eyes, and nose contorted with rage. He raised his fist, as big as a rice bowl, but after a long pause, he restrained himself from smashing it over Qian Wulin's head. He gritted his teeth and muttered, "Damn
it, I almost blurted it out! Let me tell you, if you hear even a single word, even if you're someone General Li wants, I'll kill you to silence you first!" On the other side, Mo Shangchou was also trembling like a leaf, his voice trembling as he asked, "You...you've all already surrendered to General Annan?"
He was surrounded on all sides, knives held to his throat. His subordinate generals of the Nine Cities Garrison had all been secretly investigated by Li Xiaomin's spies, who had gathered evidence against them, forcing them to defect. Yet, they remained silent, instead shouting with boundless pride, "We are all loyal subjects and generals of the Tang Dynasty! How could we possibly rebel with you! We were merely feigning cooperation earlier. Now that General Annan has returned and the situation is settled, we are seizing the opportunity to strike, leaving you, this traitor, no room for resistance!"
Within the rebel army, the generals roared, ordering their soldiers to immediately surrender to the court and pledge allegiance to Empress Zhou and General Annan. Anyone who disobeyed would be slaughtered along with their entire family!
Five hundred axemen, having already raised their axes and swords, ready to strike and slaughter the Zhou family, were suddenly thrown into chaos. Looking at the chaotic situation, they were bewildered, their knives resting on the hostages' necks, unsure whether to cut them or slash downwards to sever the ropes binding them.
A general from the Imperial Guard rode up, shouting and cursing, "Release all of Prime Minister Zhou's family now! Do you want to be killed on the spot?"
Seeing their superior, who usually trained them, surrender to Li Xiaomin, the executioners turned pale with fright. They hastily cut the ropes and released the Zhou family. However, several executioners trembled, accidentally cutting the hostages' skin, and were themselves drenched in sweat and trembling uncontrollably.
The Zhou family, having escaped death, embraced each other and wept bitterly. Looking towards Empress Zhou and Li Xiaomin on the city wall, they knelt and cried out, "Your Majesty, General Annan, the Prime Minister was killed by the bandits! We must avenge him!"
Empress Zhou's heart ached. She grieved for her father's tragic death, yet was also relieved that her family had escaped death. She covered her face with her sleeve and sobbed softly, regretting that there were too many people around to throw herself into Li Xiaomin's arms and cry her heart out in his warmth!
Outside the imperial city, the situation was largely settled. Rows of rebel soldiers, under their commanders' orders, reformed their ranks and loudly swore allegiance to Empress Zhou and General Annam. Even those officers not yet under Li Xiaomin's control knew they couldn't contend with the vast army controlled by their colleagues. They could only sigh and join him in managing the soldiers, hoping that Li Xiaomin would consider them among the loyal ministers who quelled the rebellion—that would be enough for them.
Outside Jinling City, two armies faced each other across the distance. Battle flags fluttered, swaying fiercely in the wind.
Both armies were strong and well-armored, their uniforms similar, both belonging to the elite forces of the Tang Dynasty. Now, however, they were clashing, fighting amongst themselves.
Prince Li Xiong of Danyang, clad in armor, stood on horseback in the center of his army formation, gazing south towards Jinling. Li Xiaomin, riding ahead, stood before his troops, his heart filled with a mixture of shock and anger. He cried out, “Grandfather! What methods did this dog eunuch use to subdue the generals of the Imperial Guard and the Nine Cities Garrison, turning our loyal troops into his own?”
Beside him, Qian Song, also clad in armor, his face ashen, rode a fine horse, his white beard billowing across his chest. He murmured, “So be it! We couldn’t have foreseen this. This scoundrel has used such methods, gaining the loyalty of so many subordinates in just a few days in the Imperial Guard and the Nine Cities Garrison! Fortunately, he has never held a military position in the Imperial Guard, and none of his troops participated in the southern campaign to quell the rebellion. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to rest easy about the Imperial Guard either!”
Behind them stood 120,000 Imperial Guards, originally stationed in a large camp dozens of miles outside Jinling, responsible for the security of the area surrounding Jinling. After much effort by the grandfather and grandson, they finally subdued the imperial guards and rushed to the city to stabilize the situation. However, upon arrival, they found the city gates of Jinling tightly shut, and no one welcomed them. They were greatly alarmed. Upon inquiring, they learned that the Imperial Guards and Mo Shangchou had been captured, and all the garrison troops and Imperial Guards who had participated in the rebellion had surrendered to Li Xiaomin!
Li Xiong and Qian Song were terrified. They set up camp outside the city and ordered the construction of siege equipment, preparing for a major assault. But instead, the city's army came out to meet them in battle. Leading the charge was none other than the young eunuch Li Xiaomin, whom they so vehemently hated!

Part One (Part Two) Chapter Ninety: Soul Control Evil Technique

Li Xiong turned around and looked at his 120,000 Imperial Guards, their imposing presence a stark contrast to the enemy's high morale, which was less than half the size of his own troops. He felt a slight sense of satisfaction, but still couldn't be entirely at ease. He turned to a middle-aged man beside him and asked, "Master Dongwangzi, how are those Imperial Guard generals? Could they have rebelled as well?"
Beside him, a middle-aged man on horseback, also riding a warhorse, wore a Taoist robe and had his hair styled in a Taoist bun. His face was gloomy. Hearing this, he sneered, "Your Highness, rest assured. Unless they don't value their own families, I can guarantee that everything will be foolproof!"
Hearing this, Li Xiong finally felt relieved. He looked at the enemy army facing off against his own forces in the distance, pondering whether he should lead his troops straight up and utterly defeat them.
Suddenly, a warhorse galloped out from the front lines, carrying an old general with white hair and beard, yet full of vigor. Clad in armor, he spurred his horse to the front, pointed at the Imperial Guards, and roared, "Lian Chengen, Song Xiangbei, you shameless bastards! The Emperor's favor is as high as the heavens and the earth, yet you dare to rebel and mingle with these wolves!"
Most of the officers in the Imperial Guards lowered their heads in shame upon seeing him.
The two generals whose names he pointed at forced themselves to ride forward, bowed respectfully, and said, "General, your subordinates greet you!"
General Qian's face darkened. He roared, "Stop pretending! Speak! What is it that you betrayed the court and conspired with Qian Song to commit treason?"
When Qian Wulin led his rebel army into Jinling, he had also sent his trusted men to surround the Qian residence, preventing anyone from escaping. Only out of fear of Qian Yuan's prestige in the army did they refrain from sending men to his residence to kill or capture him, instead placing him under house arrest. Later, Li Xiaomin quelled the rebellion and sent men to rescue everyone in Qian Yuan's household. Upon hearing of his former subordinates' rebellion, Qian Yuan was consumed by rage and volunteered to go out of the city to confront them.
Hearing Qian Yuan's questioning, the two men looked at each other, speechless. Both were generals personally promoted by Qian Yuan, enjoying his deep favor, but today's events were unavoidable. Though deeply ashamed, they had no words to reply.
Seeing the strange expressions on their faces, as if they had something difficult to say, Qian Yuan became increasingly suspicious. He shouted, "I don't think either of you are the kind of heartless people. Speak! What is it that made you rebel with Qian Song? Is it for wealth and glory?"
Song Xiangbei shook his head and smiled bitterly, "General, you misunderstand. Although I am not talented, I am not one to betray principles for personal gain. It is only because our family's lives are in imminent danger, hanging by a thread, that we had no choice but to resort to this desperate measure!"
Qian Yuan found this strange and pressed him for answers. The two hesitated before finally revealing the truth.
It turned out that the Yinshan sorcerer Dong Wangzi, whom Qian Song had invited, was skilled in using curses to harm people. Qian Song sent men to collect the birth dates and times of the relatives of the various Imperial Guard generals, and bribed his servants to steal their hair and clothing, which he then nailed to wooden effigies. Every day, Dong Wangzi would cast spells to summon the souls of the generals' loved ones into the effigies, leaving them unconscious and bedridden. The generals were filled with anxiety, seeking doctors and medicine everywhere, but to no avail; their condition remained unchanged.
Qian Song summoned the generals together, brought out Dong Wangzi, who held a large pile of wooden effigies, and coldly threatened that if the generals obeyed, their families' lives would be spared! Upon
hearing of this treasonous act, the generals refused to comply, their faces contorted with rage, almost ready to kill Qian Song and Dong Wangzi on the spot!
Qian Song was accompanied by a large number of guards, preventing the generals from getting close. Dong Wangzi, however, sneered arrogantly, simply poking a wooden dummy with a steel needle. One of their captives immediately fell into a daze, clutching his wound and groaning in pain.
The victim's relative, also a commander of the Imperial Guards, was heartbroken at the sight and dared not act rashly. For the sake of his family's lives, he had no choice but to bow his head and beg, agreeing to the treason.
The generals exchanged glances, knowing that they were in a stronger position than the others, and had no choice but to swallow their anger and agree, only hoping that Qian Song and Dong Wangzi would keep their word and that their loved ones would survive after the deed was done.
On the battlefield, the two generals recounted the incident to Qian Yuan, who was enraged and pointed at them, shouting, "You old scoundrel! How dare you devise such a vicious scheme!
You will surely suffer retribution!" Qian Song sneered coldly and said in a deep voice, "You old thief, I have repeatedly tried to establish friendly relations with you and discuss important matters together, but you always made excuses and disregarded me! Today, my army of 120,000 is at the city gates. What ability do you have to contend with my mighty army?"
Qian Yuan roared, "You may have 120,000 troops, but are they all willing to listen to you? My Jinling city has tens of thousands of soldiers, united as one, and with a fortified city as our support..." " How can you possibly break in! Just wait until the imperial army arrives the day after tomorrow, and you will all die without a burial place!"
Qian Song pondered, knowing he was right. Li Xiong, however, was furious, brandishing his sword and roaring, "Listen up, soldiers! Ahead lies a traitorous rebel who has kidnapped the emperor and intends to commit treason! If you all join forces and advance, and capture the city, you can enter for three days without any restrictions! And your families will surely enjoy long and healthy lives, without a single mishap! If any soldiers die in battle, the court will guarantee their entire families a life of comfort and a peaceful old age!"
These words contained both threat and enticement. The imperial guards were naturally excited at the prospect of entering Jinling to plunder; and the generals, hearing that their families could be saved, were also filled with longing. Some had already secretly resolved to fight to the death, even on the battlefield, to rescue their loved ones and ensure they could live out their remaining years in the care of Qian Song and Li Xiong. Anyway, Qian Song's family was wealthy. Why wouldn't he be happy to use that money to buy a good reputation?
The 120,000 Imperial Guards, each rubbing their hands and brandishing their swords and spears, slowly advanced under the command of generals whose will to die had already hardened. They were about to launch a full-scale attack, crush the enemy army in one fell swoop, and storm the city to claim great glory!
Just as tensions were high and a great battle was about to erupt, a clear, long whistle suddenly rang out from the city walls.
On the walls of Jinling, a young general in white robes and silver armor stood proudly, waving a feather fan, and smiled serenely: "Generals, why such formalities! Look, who is this?"
The generals among the 120,000 Imperial Guards outside the city all looked up at the same time, and saw that behind Li Xiaomin, a large number of soldiers, supporting the old and carrying the young, escorting many women and children to the city walls. These generals couldn't help but gasp in surprise!
Because they recognized those people—they were clearly their own relatives!
The elderly and weak who had been helped to the city wall were all dazed and unconscious. Even those who were supported and could barely stand on the wall were swaying unsteadily, as if they would fall over with a gust of wind.
Seeing the city wall filled with the elderly and weak, Li Xiong was shocked and turned around to shout, "What happened? Weren't these people in the camp? How could they have been captured?"
After shouting several times, a trusted lieutenant timidly stepped out from the crowd, knelt before Li Xiong's horse, and cried out, "Your Highness, I deserve to die: when I went to check this morning, I found the guards all dead on the ground, bleeding from all seven orifices. The men they were guarding had all been rescued!"
Li Xiong was furious, pointed his sword at the lieutenant, and roared, " "Since something happened, why didn't you report it sooner?"
The general kowtowed and cried, "Your Majesty, please forgive me: I intended to come and report, but the army has already marched. Although I arrived here, military affairs are busy, and Your Majesty and the Prime Minister have no time to see me. Moreover, there are many people around, how could I dare to speak recklessly!"
Li Xiong was still furious and shouted fiercely, "Guards, drag this useless servant away and beat him to death according to military law!"
The general cried and begged, kowtowing repeatedly, but was still dragged up by several guards and taken to the rear to be executed.
On the city wall, Li Xiaomin smiled and fanned himself, saying, "Generals of the Imperial Guards, listen up: Your esteemed relative is currently within the capital, under the protection of my Imperial Guards. You can all rest assured. Once our army defeats the rebels and kills Qian Song, Li Xiong, and Dong Wangzi and their gang of bandits, your families will be reunited. This is no exaggeration!"
Lin Zhongli, clad in armor, stood behind him and roared, "To join the rebels is a grave crime! Generals, do not make a mistake. If you pull back from the brink, you may hope the court will not punish you; but if you wholeheartedly join the rebels, your entire family will be executed! Even if you don't think of yourselves, you must think of your families!"
Faced with such blatant threats and inducements, the Imperial Guard generals turned ashen-faced. They knew they were doomed no matter which way they turned. Clearly, their loved ones were in Li Xiaomin's hands. If they led their troops in a charge, the soldiers holding them would draw their swords and behead their families on the spot. This left the generals, who already had no intention of rebelling, completely bewildered and at a loss. Only one thing was certain: even with a knife to their throats, they wouldn't lead their troops in a charge.
The three commanders of the Imperial Guard all paled. Qian Song and Li Xiong both looked at Dong Wangzi, hoping he could turn the tide and come up with a solution to the crisis.
Seeing the hostile gazes of the Imperial Guard generals, Dong Wangzi felt a surge of anger. He had used curses to kill so many people and to blackmail so many others, yet none of their relatives had dared to resist after being cursed. Today, he had failed, and the bodies of those cursed had been taken over. Even if he had methods to threaten them, the enemy also had methods to take their lives. In terms of threatening the loved ones of those cursed, the two sides were evenly matched.

Part One (Part Two) Chapter Ninety-One: The White-Clad Dharma Body

. Dong Wangzi gritted his teeth and made a ruthless decision: since those cursed individuals were already difficult to control, he might as well secretly kill them, making the generals believe their loved ones died at the hands of Li Xiaomin. Driven by hatred, they might lead their troops in a fierce attack, seeking revenge!
There were dozens of cursed individuals. Only someone with Dong Wangzi's powerful magic could control the souls of so many living people simultaneously without too much strain. There were only a few dozen wooden figures, none of them particularly small, and not enough to fit on one's body. They were all placed in leather bags, hanging from the horses' necks. Dong Wangzi reached into the bag, took out a wooden figure, and without even looking at the name and birth date written on it, secretly took a steel needle and plunged it heavily into the heart!
A piercing scream rang out from the city wall. A middle-aged woman, who had been dazed and supported by soldiers with her head bowed, suddenly raised her head as the steel needle pierced the wooden figure, screaming hysterically, her face filled with terror and pain. Her scream was enough to pierce eardrums!
The two soldiers supporting her were terrified, dropping the woman to the ground. After their initial shock subsided, they helped her up and saw that she was already dead.
A palace guard general outside the city saw this from afar, his heart breaking, and he screamed in agony, "My virtuous wife!"
Li Xiong caught a glimpse of Dong Wangzi's actions but said nothing. Instead, he gestured for his personal guards to surround Dong Wangzi, blocking the others' view. Li Xiong then raised his sword and roared, "Li Xiaomin! Seeing that the generals were devoted to the country and refused to surrender, you resorted to this cruel act! So vicious! You truly live up to your reputation as a palace eunuch known for your venomous heart!"
Before he finished speaking, an old man behind Li Xiaomin also screamed in agony and collapsed to the ground. His eyes bulged out, his face contorted with extreme pain.
The Imperial Guards roared, their eyes filled with pleading and indignation as they looked at Li Xiaomin, crying out in agony, "General Annam, don't do it! This humble general surrenders!"
Before their cries of surrender had even faded, another soldier was killed, collapsing behind Li Xiaomin, his eyes wide open, refusing to close in death.
Seeing Li Xiaomin repeatedly commit such acts of cruelty, the generals were filled with shock and rage. Those who had lost loved ones wept and cursed, almost losing their minds, leading their personal guards straight towards the Imperial Guards!
On the walls of Jinling, Li Xiaomin was also furious. He pointed at Dong Wangzi and shouted sharply, "You sorcerer, you secretly harm people, yet you try to frame me! What kind of logic is this?"
In his rage, his eyes widened, a violent aura surging from him. With a flick of his arms, three figures suddenly appeared behind him, all dressed in white, towering in the air, though somewhat blurry and indistinct.
Upon seeing the white-robed, ethereal form of the Annan general suddenly appear, the soldiers were stunned. Except for a few imperial guards officers who had lost their minds and were indiscriminately hacking and slashing with their personal guards, everyone else stopped and stared blankly at the two sorcerers battling.
Li Xiaomin waved his arms forward and shouted sharply, "You sorcerer, behold the power of my magic!"
Behind him, three white figures floating in the air also waved their arms simultaneously, pointing forward.
An extremely powerful gust of wind blew northward from where he stood. Wherever it went, sand and stones flew, so strong that the soldiers couldn't even open their eyes, only able to cover their faces, scream, and retreat in panic.
Like a roaring dragon, in an instant, the gale had crossed the wide battlefield and powerfully reached Dong Wangzi.
Dong Wangzi was rummaging through the leather bag, steel needles in his right hand, intending to kill more victims when a sudden gust of wind blew him back several steps, his clothes and fur billowing wildly. The leather bag hanging from the horse's neck was also blown backward, and several wooden figures fell out.
Dong Wangzi gritted his teeth and roared, "Li Xiaomin, don't think your tricks will work! If you really knew how to use them, why didn't you use the Illusionary Dragon you stole from the giant mountain last time? You only used it once and then stopped. Are you still not proficient enough to use it properly and can't manifest it in broad daylight?"
On the city wall, Li Xiaomin's face was icy. He didn't say anything more, but with a flick of his arms, three white-robed avatars suddenly attached themselves to his body, merging into one.
Li Xiaomin, his face solemn, formed hand seals and muttered incantations. Suddenly, he pointed forward and roared, "You evil Taoist, die!"
A white figure shot out from him like a whirlwind, hurtling forward!
This white figure moved faster than lightning, carrying a powerful wind with it as it hurtled northward. Wherever it passed, the gusts of wind it created sent the Imperial Guards who couldn't dodge flying through the air. Only after the wind subsided did they fall to the ground, crashing heavily, their bones broken and muscles snapping, crying out in pain.
Dong Wangzi, holding a wooden figure in his left hand and a steel needle in his right, was about to stab again when he saw the white figure rushing towards him. Startled, he threw aside his objects, drew his sword, and with a sharp cry, slashed down at the oncoming white figure!
In the blur, the white figure casually swung its sword, letting out a sharp whistle as it charged towards Dong Wangzi, accompanied by a fierce gust of wind!
Dong Wangzi's longsword, imbued with powerful magic, slashed down fiercely, but it seemed to strike empty air. The white figure, sword in hand, shot forward like lightning, piercing his chest before flashing past him and transforming into a streak of white light, charging backward.
The raging wind swept Dong Wangzi into the gale, and his warhorse was also blown backward by the powerful force, seemingly about to fall.
Dong Wangzi was secretly alarmed and hurriedly chanted a wind-stabilizing spell. His warhorse stopped in mid-air and landed steadily on the ground, but its mane was still whipped about by the wind, and it neighed softly, unable to even open its eyes.
The wind howled, incredibly strong. The enormous leather bag, its sturdy drawstring snapped in the fierce wind, flew backward with a sudden burst of speed. The bag's opening ripped open, and the dozens of wooden figures within it were scattered wildly by the gale. For a moment, the sky behind Dong Wangzi was filled with these rapidly flying wooden figures. On
the city wall, the relatives of the imperial guards also trembled violently, as if deformed by the wind, struggling and twisting desperately, their faces contorted in agony, screaming in agony.
Seeing their loved ones' spirit-possessed wooden figures blown away, causing them such pain, the imperial guards were terrified. They spurred their horses and galloped northward through the raging wind, their only thought to retrieve the wooden figures inscribed with their loved ones' birth dates and times!
Dong Wangzi roared fiercely in the wind, filled with shock and rage. He turned to try and retrieve the wooden tablets he had used for his spell, but they were scattered and gone without a trace. Where could he possibly retrieve them?
The whirlwind swept through, leaving the battlefield a scene of utter devastation. The Imperial Guards, having been instructed beforehand, scattered to both sides upon seeing their general about to cast a spell. Only the Imperial Guards, caught off guard, were caught in the crossfire, blown about by the gale, suffering countless injuries and fatalities. In an instant, cries of agony echoed across the vast wilderness, a scene of utter carnage.
On the city wall, Li Xiaomin suddenly emanated a chilling aura, his face turning ashen. With a sudden burst of strength, a snow-white figure shot forth from him, hurtling towards the enemy ranks like lightning!
A white figure swept swiftly across the battlefield, carrying with it an intense chill. Passing by the soldiers, many stumbled and fell, screaming in agony as their bodies turned white from the cold, their armor covered in frost.
The frigid white figure vanished in a flash, leaving only the frostbitten, screaming Imperial Guards, their faces pale with fear and disbelief.
Dong Wangzi gripped his sword tightly in his right hand, roaring and chanting incantations to protect himself. Undeterred, he focused his attention on the approaching white figure, then unleashed a powerful, ferocious thrust of his sword!
The Frost Maiden, transformed into a white shadow, exuded an extremely cold killing intent. Seeing the demonic cultivator's longsword thrust towards her, she didn't dodge, but instead let out a shrill whistle in the wind. Her entire spirit transformed into an extremely cold sword light, shooting towards the demonic
cultivator like lightning! The extremely yin and cold spirit pierced through Dong Wangzi's robe at the chest, flying northwards. Dong Wangzi instantly felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, his entire body frozen stiff and numb. He couldn't help but groan. If it weren't for his divine power protecting him, this icy sword strike would have frozen him solid!
Behind him, the personal guards and imperial soldiers sent by Li Xiong to protect him, already battered by the fierce wind, were suddenly struck by the icy air. They all screamed and fell to the ground, their bodies frozen white, covered in thick frost, like icicles, lying motionless on the ground.
Dong Wangzi roared, breaking free of the frost that bound him, only to find his magical power greatly diminished, filling him with shock and rage.
He had long known of Li Xiaomin's power; otherwise, his two senior brothers wouldn't have been killed so easily. Therefore, he had never dared to confront him directly. If Qian Song hadn't assured him that Li Xiaomin had already gone west to Chen territory and wouldn't be able to return for a long time, he wouldn't have been so greedy and reckless, helping Qian Song and Li Xiong seize power while Li Xiaomin was away. To his surprise, Li Xiaomin's prowess on the battlefield exceeded his expectations, causing Dong Wangzi to deeply regret his actions. Unable to retreat, he could only grit his teeth and endure, laughing bitterly, "Li Xiaomin, what other skills do you have? Is that all you've got?"
Atop the city wall, Li Xiaomin roared with laughter, his eyes flashing with a sharp light. He formed hand seals and pointed forward, shouting, "You'er, it's your turn!" A slender white figure flew out from Li Xiaomin's body, and
in an instant, a brilliant light shone, illuminating the soldiers on the ground. They covered their faces and cried out in pain, unable to open their eyes!

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