The Two Sides in Conflict

Reporting only good news and concealing bad news is the easiest way to solve problems.

Zhang Xuezhou escaped the blows with lightning speed.

In matters like this, he can only report good news.

If the new emperor and others perish in Zhongnan Mountain, Zhang Xuezhou will have no more ambitions; he can only flee as far away as possible.

Seeing the Empress Dowager beaming with joy, Zhang Xuezhou knew perfectly well that he had passed the test.

The reasons for the Empress Dowager's misjudgment were quite simple.

Compared to a great cultivator Cheng Bushi, it would be impossible for a new emperor, whose cultivation and strength are Cheng Bushi's, to accomplish such a feat under normal circumstances. However, the Red Empyrean Sword is the factor that breaks the mold.

The new emperor, though weaker, is indeed weak, but the new emperor wielding the Red Empyrean Sword will not be weak.

The Red Empyrean Sword is a divine sword that can defeat the strong with the weak, and it is capable of accomplishing such a kill.

"A python soars into the sky, purple lightning flashes, wind and clouds shatter, and nine layers of light pierce the heavens; Your Majesty, having received the inheritance of your ancestral emperor, will surely possess unparalleled divine might!"

Cheng Bushi bowed respectfully, his face showing a hint of fanaticism.

Cheng Bushi had a reputation as the "Invincible General," having never suffered a defeat while guarding the frontier.

The title sounded impressive, suggesting that no one could do anything to him, but Cheng Bushi didn't like it.

Nobody likes to be beaten, and he too longed to charge forward.

The only drawback was that Cheng Bushi old, while the new emperor was not yet in his prime.

As a subject of Emperor Jing's reign, Cheng Bushi had too many grievances. He only regretted that he was born thirty years too early and could not dedicate his youth to this era.

He bowed deeply in praise, his eyes filled with an even greater delight than the Empress Dowager's.

The passing of the Empress Dowager brought a sense of oppression and heaviness to Cheng Bushi and others, while the rampant and reckless actions of the curse masters of the Xiong State also brought pressure.

The Empress Dowager's anger in resorting to the rod was not due to narrow-mindedness, but rather because the risks under the circumstances were indeed very high; the new emperor's reckless actions could easily lead to accidents.

But all of this was overshadowed by the new emperor wielding the Red Empyrean Sword.

"Your Majesty has not failed the late Emperor's teachings over the years!"

The Empress Dowager breathed a sigh of relief.

It's possible to find out who was mobilized to Shanglin Garden and what the Imperial Guards brought back, but it's difficult to learn about their private affairs.

The matter described by Zhang Xuezhou remains unknown, and even the Empress Dowager was hearing about it for the first time.

However, verifying Zhang Xuezhou's words was not difficult; the Imperial Guards did indeed bring back a batch of gray wolves, and now even the wolf pelts had been dried.

There were hundreds of these wolves. Everyone originally thought they were hunted by the Imperial Guards, but it turned out that nearly half of them were killed by the new emperor alone in a short period of time.

Some details remain unknown, but no one will delve into them.

"His Majesty's divine might is inseparable from the Empress Dowager's cultivation," Cheng Bushi.

"General Cheng is right!"

Zhang Xuezhou also chimed in with a nod.

He hadn't expected that Cheng Bushi Cheng Bushi a natural at flattery and could switch sides so quickly.

From Anle Palace to Changxin Palace, Cheng Bushi was completely unaffected and is now deeply trusted by the Empress Dowager.

Such flattery would have been met with reprimand and condemnation from anyone else, but it had Cheng Bushi effect on Cheng Bushi, and even pleased the Empress Dowager greatly.

"His Majesty's inspection tour of Zhongnan Mountain must be tiring; a grand banquet must be prepared to welcome him upon his return!"

The Empress Dowager personally emphasized the banquet's quality and even added the word "good," which was extremely rare for Emperor Jing and his wife, who always prided themselves on frugality.

She nodded in satisfaction and then announced the order.

"Dongfang Shuo, if you are not unconscious when I host the banquet, you may still attend the banquet at Anle Palace!"

When it was time to leave, the Empress Dowager extended an invitation, which Zhang Xuezhou readily accepted.

The Empress Dowager had extended invitations more than once or twice, but she never specified a timeframe. In the early days of taking over the government, Changxin Palace was undoubtedly extremely busy, so the Empress Dowager had no leisure time to invite Zhang Xuezhou to read the "Liezi" or similar matters.

Even though Zhang Xuezhou had his own ulterior motives, he didn't choose to visit the Empress Dowager when she was busy.

Only when the banquet was held did Zhang Xuezhou have a more certain time to go to Changxin Palace.

He bowed in response, and the Empress Dowager immediately withdrew her foot in satisfaction. She did not linger in the palace where she was receiving guests, but instead turned around, arranged her imperial carriage, and began to have the phoenix palanquin driven to tour the Shanglin Garden.

"Brother Dongfang is truly remarkable!"

After respectfully seeing off the Empress Dowager's palanquin, Zhang Xuezhou heard Han Yan's baring voice.

"Brother Han," Zhang Xuezhou said, clasping his hands in greeting.

"You actually escaped a beating?" Han Yan said in pain, covering his bleeding buttocks with both hands.

"Fortunately, the Empress Dowager took pity on me and spared me this time because I am weak and sickly," Zhang Xuezhou said politely.

"You're frail, but so am I!"

Han Yan's face was contorted with pain. Ever since he suffered a backlash from practicing his cultivation techniques at the Marquis of Pingyang's residence, these past few days had been nothing short of torture.

Not only did he ruin his health, but the Empress Dowager also passed away while he was burning with rage, which led to the closure of all the brothels in Chang'an City. He had been harboring resentment for a long time and had no way to vent it.

The ban has been lifted, but he's no longer capable of sleeping with women.

The situation was spiraling out of control, with each step worse than the last, leaving Han Yan feeling both stifled and suffocated.

Seeing Zhang Xuezhou invited to a banquet at Changxin Palace by the Empress Dowager, while he himself was beaten twice, Han Yan felt that although they were both weak and sick, their treatment was worlds apart.

"Brother Han, don't worry. As long as your body can hold on, I have a wonderful method to heal your thigh injury!"

Even though Han Yan's cultivation level was relatively low, Zhang Xuezhou was unwilling to easily make enemies and cause trouble.

Seeing the pain mixed with resentment in Han Yan's eyes, Zhang Xuezhou knew very well that Han Yan's anxious state of mind was likely to lead to conflict.

He didn't laugh at Han Yan, but instead gestured that he was skilled at healing. As long as Han Yan's body could hold on, he could quickly heal Han Yan's bloodied and mangled buttocks.

"Brother Dongfang, please use your magic. I, Han, am young and far from dying from healing a buttock!"

Han Yan touched his buttocks, then looked at his robe, which was still dripping blood after the medicine was applied. He felt that he would rather die than suffer any longer.

If you don't feel pain in your buttocks right now, it's because they're numb. But when new tissue grows back, it will be incredibly painful.

There was a reason why the palace used beatings as punishment; being beaten was one kind of suffering, but the healing process was even more painful.

He had been in pain for two nights after applying medicine a couple of days ago. His old injury hadn't healed and he had been beaten again. Han Yan was a little afraid to think about how he would feel at night.

Upon hearing that Zhang Xuezhou was skilled in the Supreme Purity True Technique used by the military doctors of the North, Han Yan felt that losing a few years of life was no problem at all; what young people fear least is a short life.

"Brother Han, please remember to eat more meat and drink more water recently, and get as much sleep as possible to rest and recuperate. If you have any medicines to replenish your Qi and Blood, you can also take them in moderation!"

Zhang Xuezhou gave several instructions before letting Han Yan tear off his blood-dripping robe.

Looking at Han Yan's bloodied and mangled buttocks covered in red powder, Zhang Xuezhou felt that the conflict between Han Yan and the Empress Dowager was quite intense.

Han Yan was able to curry favor with the new emperor to avoid conflict with the magic, but he clearly didn't pay attention to avoiding the Empress Dowager, and even had a plan to investigate the Empress Dowager.

Zhang Xuezhou was also very curious about whether Han Yan would succeed or fail in the future, and what kind of forces were behind Han Yan.

Just as he had considered Ning Que's outcome, Zhang Xuezhou also wanted to see if Han Yan had the ability to break the deadlock when he was at a disadvantage in terms of luck and technique.