Sovereign Power, Ministerial Power, and Yin Zhong's Nighttime Talk

"Ah? The Jianghu Monthly Report was backed by the Azure Dragon Society? Then didn't that mean it was under your command, Adoptive Father?"

"Yes! Did you still want to go after the Jianghu Monthly Report?"

Naturally, Zhou Ming did not dare say that he wanted to go after it, but on second thought, this was a good thing.

The Jianghu Monthly Report had incredibly strong publicity capabilities.

If he used the Jianghu Monthly Report to promote his new book, why would he need to ride anyone else's wave of popularity?

I am the wave of popularity!

Thinking this, Zhou Ming hurriedly said, "In that case, Adoptive Father, when my new book is released, could you have the Jianghu Monthly Report help me out?"

"You're still going on about that trashy book of yours!"

Pei Ju angrily struck out with his palm, and invisible force surged toward him.

Zhou Ming shifted his feet and sidestepped the attack.

"Hmm?"

Pei Ju narrowed his eyes and beckoned with his hand. The force he had just sent out circled around and came rushing back.

As though he had eyes in the back of his head, Zhou Ming spun around and dodged it again.

"Lingbo Weibu... You had actually mastered it already? You could even use it so freely that you dodged my attack?"

Pei Ju snorted. "Hmph! You only have a bit of talent when it comes to martial arts!"

Although it had merely been a casual strike from him.

At their current distance, given his realm of cultivation, even a grandmaster might not have been able to dodge it.

Yet Zhou Ming, who was only at the Innate True Qi Realm, had easily evaded the attack on its way out and back.

It was clear just how exquisite his movement technique was.

Zhou Ming smiled ingratiatingly and did not dare mention his novel or the Jianghu Monthly Report again. He quickly changed the subject.

"Adoptive Father, now that power has been returned to the Emperor, Cao Zhengchun and Zhu Wushi probably won't be willing to accept it, will they?"

"Correct." Pei Ju nodded.

Zhou Ming said, "Then, Adoptive Father, what are your plans?"

"What plans? I'll simply sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight..."

"Adoptive Father is wise."

Zhou Ming now understood that Pei Ju's position in the current court was practically invincible.

The power within the court could be simply divided into sovereign power and ministerial power.

The realm was jointly governed by the Emperor and his ministers. As the Grand Secretary and leader of the civil officials, Pei Ju firmly held ministerial power in his grasp.

As for sovereign power, it had previously been divided among Cao Zhengchun, Zhu Wushi, and Pei Ju.

Returning power to the Emperor now merely meant giving back what had originally belonged to him.

And it was being returned bit by bit, not all at once.

Pei Ju had relinquished sovereign power, but he still held ministerial power.

By contrast, although Cao Zhengchun commanded the Eastern Depot and Zhu Wushi commanded the Dragon Guard Manor, neither of them actually possessed any other authority.

The Eastern Depot had only a few hundred men.

The Dragon Guard Manor might have been more formidable, but it only had around a thousand men openly, and perhaps more than ten thousand in secret.

But what use was that?

If the two of them handed over the authority in their hands, they would basically have nothing left.

Thus, when Yang Yuxuan first submitted a memorial requesting that power be returned to the Emperor, Pei Ju agreed, Zhu Wushi remained ambiguous, and only Cao Zhengchun firmly rejected it.

Because Pei Ju was a minister, Zhu Wushi was the Emperor's uncle, and only Cao Zhengchun was a eunuch.

If he handed over his authority, he would become nothing more than the Emperor's dog.

However, the ministers jointly submitted a memorial, Pei Ju supported it, and Zhu Wushi seemed to have changed his mind during the Lantern Festival.

That left Cao Zhengchun with no choice but to agree.

But how could Cao Zhengchun possibly accept this willingly?

He would certainly retaliate viciously.

Even Zhu Wushi would be the same.

It was only that the two had different temperaments and circumstances. Cao Zhengchun's retaliation might be open and aboveboard, but Zhu Wushi's would only be carried out in the shadows.

As for the Emperor, although he had recovered a portion of his authority, he had also offended both Cao Zhengchun and Zhu Wushi.

Under such circumstances, whom could he rely on?

Naturally, there was only one person who had supported returning power to him.

The current Grand Tutor, the Grand Secretary, Pei Ju!

This was Pei Ju's scheme.

Advancing by retreating—nothing could exemplify it better!

"Over the next few days, those two will surely make their move. Whether you can uncover the true identities of the Dragon Guard Manor's Four Great Secret Agents will depend on you."

Pei Ju said, "If you do well, I can have the Jianghu Monthly Report give you a hand."

"Yes, Adoptive Father."

Zhou Ming left the study and headed toward his residence, only to run into Yin Zhong.

"Second Uncle."

"My worthy nephew!"

Yin Zhong said, "Have you learned the Sword Qi Finger I gave you before? I said that if you had any questions, you could come ask me directly. Why haven't you come by in all these days?"

Zhou Ming cupped his fists. "Thank you for your concern, Second Uncle. It is only that your nephew has a little talent in martial arts. I have already learned the Sword Qi Finger."

"Oh?" Yin Zhong said in surprise. "Is that so? Then demonstrate it for me. How about it?"

"It is this nephew's good fortune that Second Uncle is willing to offer guidance."

The two arrived at the training grounds, and Zhou Ming began to demonstrate the Sword Qi Finger. With the flick of his fingers, sword qi flew in every direction. True qi coursed through his five viscera, erupting into sword qi of the five different attributes: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth.

Afterward, he displayed the Seven Absolutes Sword Forms, every one of their various wondrous applications executed with flawless mastery.

Yin Zhong watched with repeated praise. "Excellent! I never expected you to cultivate the Sword Qi Finger to such a level in only ten days. If your cultivation had already reached the Innate Gang Qi Realm, I'm afraid you would already be able to condense qi into a sword, wouldn't you?"

"You flatter me, Second Uncle. Your nephew merely has a little talent in this area."

"Hahaha, you do not merely have a little talent. You are truly very talented. Even in other areas, you are no slouch—far better than Tianqi!"

As Yin Zhong spoke, he smacked his forehead. "Right, you know who Tianqi is, don't you?"

"I do. Second Uncle mentioned before that he is Eldest Uncle's son, the heir of Imperial Sword Manor, Yin Tianqi!"

Yin Zhong nodded. "Yes, he is the heir of Imperial Sword Manor. Unfortunately, Tianqi has poor aptitude for martial arts and lacks strength. That would be one thing, but he is also bad at managing affairs. His nature is even rather naïve. He is nearly twenty years old already, yet he still... does not understand the dangers of the martial world!

"I once told my elder brother to let Tianqi go out and gain experience, to make something of himself. Whether he succeeds or fails, he will at least accumulate some experience."

At this point, he could not help looking at Zhou Ming.

"Worthy nephew, strictly speaking, I should not be the one saying this, but as an elder, I still have to offer a few words... Your situation is actually similar to Tianqi's, though yours is even more perilous. I see you every day... Young people should have some ambition at times. Do not fear failure. With your adoptive father behind you, what is there to fear?

"Even if not for anything else, you should do something for your own sake. As the saying goes, better to have your own than rely on what your parents have. There are some things your parents may not understand or support, but if you yourself want to do them, you cannot simply give up, can you? You must do them yourself!"

"Sigh! When one gets old, one likes to ramble about nonsense. If you do not enjoy hearing it, worthy nephew, just pretend you never heard it."

Zhou Ming hurriedly cupped his fists. "Thank you, Second Uncle, for your teachings. Your nephew has benefited greatly!"

"Hahaha, I told you that you are far better than Tianqi."

Yin Zhong laughed. "When you have time in the future, you may come find me at Imperial Sword Manor in the Ancient Shu State. Then I'll introduce you to Tianqi. Also, there is a later portion of the Sword Qi Finger. If you come, I can have my elder brother teach it to you."

"Thank you, Second Uncle. Your nephew will visit in the future!"