Chapter 55

Emperor Jinglong’s Palace incident failed, and Empress Zhang took charge of state affairs behind the veil.

Whether she becomes Empress Dowager Cixi, transforms into Empress Lü, or bursts forth as Empress Wu, it has little to do with Zhou Yi.

Zhou Yi was initially intrigued by such matters, but after seeing enough, it all became the same to him.

One day someone rises to power, the next day someone else falls.

He or they, there’s only one outcome.

They all have to die!

“It seems I’m becoming more and more indifferent.”

Zhou Yi shook his head slightly, putting worldly matters aside, and continued to ponder over encroaching into the Jinyiwei.

A mere decade is but a moment, and he has achieved notable results. Now with a foundation established, it will be much easier to plant more people inside.

The talents of most people are mediocre, promoting either A or B makes no difference. At this time, it’s necessary to have someone give a helping hand. The power of the Jinyiwei Suppressor is enough to influence promotions.

“I’ll need to rely on little Yuan more in the future. Perhaps I should make time to go see him?”

After Zhou Yi set his pieces in place, he’s always been in touch downwards. However, this morning Yuan Shun came to the heavenly prison.

Yuan Shun presented the auspicious white deer and, aided by his godfather’s maneuvers, successfully rose to the rank of a fourth-grade Jinyiwei Suppressor, holding surveillance authority over several southeastern prefectures, a position high in status and power.

This time Yuan Shun returned to the Divine Capital to escort a prisoner since the criminal was a second-grade prefecture governor, it was justifiable for the Suppressor to escort him personally.

Afterward, Yuan Shun brought the prisoner’s family to the heavenly prison, but such a minor matter could’ve been handled by someone else, there was no need for the Suppressor himself to take the trouble.

Wu Siyu and Colonel Lu carefully attended to Yuan Shun, accompanying him as he toured the heavenly prison, staying for two to three hours before leaving.

Zhou Yi watched clearly from the sidelines, Yuan Shun’s purpose in returning to the capital was to meet with him.

“Could this be a trap?”

For ten years, communication was maintained through a single line, the pieces did not know whether Zhou Yi was male or female, nor his real name, and they didn’t know how to contact him. Thus, if a piece turned traitor, the Jinyiwei had no way to start an investigation.

Yuan Shun’s actions have already broken a taboo!

“It is impossible for a large army to be deployed within the Divine Capital, the strongest force of the Imperial Court consists of six or maybe more Innate Grandmasters. Even a collective attack would merely add a few more cauldrons…”

Zhou Yi was prudent and cautious, unwilling to fight recklessly, yet had a clear understanding of his own strength.

Overestimating oneself is suicidal, but underestimating oneself is also a lapse in vigilance!

“Little Yuan has been diligent over the years, his promotion to Jinyiwei Suppressor has given him the qualifications to transform from a pawn into a player.”

Zhou Yi judged that it was nine times out of ten not a trap, but as a matter of habit, it’s best to wait a while longer. If Yuan Shun leaves the Divine Capital, that one-in-ten risk will vanish.

Waiting can dispel all traps!

…

Three hundred li to the east of the Divine Capital.

The terrain is flat and stretches as far as the eye can see.

Over three hundred soldiers march on the official road, with a flag bearing the character “Yuan” ahead.

In the midst of them, a carriage.

Yuan Shun is resting with his eyes closed, different from his usual sycophantic and greasy demeanor; his plump face with a stern expression seems somewhat incongruous.

Only when he is alone does Yuan Shun appear this way.

Once a gang’s young leader, he was a slender and handsome youth. Because his godfather Feng Zhong favored “chubby fools”, his weight doubled within just half a year.

Yuan Shun relied on more than just silver to rise to the rank of Suppressor!

Suddenly.

A voice arose beside Yuan Shun’s ear: “What seek you from old me?”

Yuan Shun abruptly opened his eyes to find an old Taoist had appeared in the carriage, with hair white as a crane and the complexion of a youth, wearing a dark blue Taoist robe that had faded to almost white.

“Who are you?”

Zhou Yi said, “The white jade palace in the sky.”

“Five Floors, Twelve Cities.”

Yuan Shun’s face lit up with joy, and he quickly bowed: “Your Majesty, I pay my respects!”

Ever since a piece had betrayed them, Zhou Yi had made each person memorize a unique code to prevent anyone from impersonating the King of Samsara.

Zhou Yi smiled and said, “How many times have I told you, we are partners, there is no need for titles such as ‘Your Majesty’.”

“Your Majesty has helped me exact revenge; I dare not presume too much.”

Yuan Shun had been in Jinyiwei for ten years and was thoroughly familiar with the unwritten rules of the bureaucracy. When a superior or patron speaks of mutual cooperation and equal relations, it signifies great esteem for you.

Should one truly become complacent and place oneself on an equal footing, doom was certain!

Zhou Yi nodded slightly, “Enough of that. What brings you to this old man?”

“There is no longer a matter.”

Yuan Shun explained: “Jinyiwei’s Zhong Tongzhi is a man of the Retired Emperor, and he has been removed from his post and his property confiscated due to corruption and bribery. I have returned to the Divine Capital hoping to vie for the position.”

Zhou Yi asked, “So you have failed now?”

The position of Jinyiwei Tongzhi is ranked as a fourth-grade official, equal to that of a Zhenfushi. However, a Tongzhi stationed in the capital’s yamen often receives summons for inquiries from His Majesty and is merely a step away from becoming a Commander.

Should Yuan Shun rise to the position of Tongzhi, Zhou Yi’s chess pieces would find it easier to get promoted within the Jinyiwei system.

Although this move would expose the identity of the chess piece, Yuan Shun would not and dare not refuse. By rallying a group of like-minded subordinates and distributing them in local prefectures, it would be of great use in the struggle for the position of Commander.

Moreover, the miserable death of Zhu Yue remained vivid in memory!

Yuan Shun sighed: “My competitor is Marquis Qi’s grandson, Chen Yang. My godfather cannot show too much favoritism, and in the end, it was Chen Yang’s greater merit that won him the position of Tongzhi.”

“Marquis Qi, Chen Yang.”

Zhou Yi recalled for a moment and said, “The reason for your defeat is not a lack of merit. If promotions were based on merit, you wouldn’t even qualify for the rank of a hundred households.”

Yuan Shun asked in confusion, “I implore Your Majesty for guidance.”

“When Marquis Chen was still a Duke, his niece—that is, Chen Yang’s aunt—married the then Crown Prince as a concubine, and was later honored as a Virtuous Consort by the Retired Emperor when he ascended the throne.”

Zhou Yi said, “Chen Yang is distantly related to the current Emperor.”

The Retired Emperor is Emperor Jinglong; the current monarch inaugurated the Orthodox era, and in two months it would be the Orthodox first year.

Yuan Shun realized: “So Chen Yang went through His Majesty’s connection. No wonder I lost.”

“Foolish!”

Zhou Yi shook his head: “It’s not that Chen Yang used the Emperor’s connection, but that the Emperor is intentionally courting the old followers of the Retired Emperor in order to contend with the Empress Dowager ruling from behind the curtain, and to ultimately secure his succession to the throne!”

“The Emperor, the Empress Dowager…”

Yuan Shun, upon hearing this, wore a look of shock, viewing Zhou Yi as if he were a monster, then he remembered this was indeed an old monster who had lived for an unknowable length of time.

The complexity of the Imperial Court’s situation was nothing but a simple affair in the eyes of this weathered old monster.

Yuan Shun said helplessly: “Your Majesty, I am certain to be out of favor with His Majesty in the future, making it difficult to seek promotion.”

Feng Zhong, after the Renyin upheaval, was promoted by Chancellor Zhang, and currently belonged to the steadfast Empress Dowager’s faction. As his godson, Yuan Shun was labeled likewise.

The Orthodox Emperor was, after all, the widely recognized Emperor. Plus, with Chen Yang belonging to a line of military nobles, his promotion to Jinyiwei Tongzhi was a clear elevation of a confidant, but something the Empress Dowager couldn’t overly obstruct.

Zhou Yi said somberly, “So, you have come to this old man to seek the death of Chen Yang?”

“I have no other choice.”

Yuan Shun, sensing the cold murderous intent, hurriedly explained: “It’s also in order to get promoted quicker so I can better serve Your Majesty. Many secrets of the National Dynasty can only be found in the records of the Divine Capital’s yamen.”

“Hmm.”

Zhou Yi snorted softly, “To kill a man, there’s no need to do it yourself. Sometimes, by stepping back, you can ascend even higher.”

Yuan Shun fell to his knees in the carriage, lacking all dignity of a Jinyiwei Zhenfushi, and prostrated himself.

“I beg Your Majesty for instruction.”

“In casual conversation with my godfather Feng Zhong, I learned some secrets about Emperor Chongming, related to the legendary cultivators…”