Chapter Sixty-One: Learning Martial Arts (Double-Length)

To avoid wounding his fragile heart, Zhu Yu had already put a good distance between himself and Jiang Yuyan. Who could have expected that she would come running over, eager to flaunt her prowess?

“Did you finish absorbing all of Yaoyue and Lianxing’s internal energy? Have you been to the Library Pavilion? What did the old man Huang Shang say?” Zhu Yu asked, his tone less than pleasant.

“Ah, well, Your Majesty told me to finish absorbing their energy before going to the Library Pavilion, but I didn’t finish. I used the Flower Shifting technique to absorb their inner strength. It went smoothly at first, but with the second person, I could only take a little before I couldn’t continue. What should I do? Should I still go to the Library Pavilion?”

Though Jiang Yuyan didn’t quite understand why Zhu Yu sounded so strange, she still asked her question cautiously.

“You reached the Upper First Class level without even finishing with both of them?” For a moment, Zhu Yu felt that the world was openly hostile towards him. Was the Flower Shifting technique truly superior to the Northern Sea Divine Skill? Impossible—these two manuals were supposed to be of equal rank.

Yet Jiang Yuyan, after absorbing just one seasoned grandmaster, was already at Upper First Class, and she didn’t even need to refine the energy. Compare that to himself: it took him five days to refine internal energy.

And to reach Upper First Class, Zhu Yu had to absorb the strength of one seasoned grandmaster, two Upper First Class experts, three Middle First Class experts, and one Lower First Class—seven people in all. He felt an overwhelming urge to weep.

He understood now: without the system, the best outcome he could hope for was a peaceful life as a puppet emperor.

His own innate aptitude was abysmal to the point of despair.

Fortunately, he still had the system. Given enough time, everyone present would be nothing more than dust beneath his feet.

“Then just keep those people for now. Focus on cultivating your Flower Shifting technique. When you feel you can resume absorbing internal energy, head to the Eastern Depot. And when you have time, go to the Library Pavilion to find Huang Shang yourself.”

Zhu Yu had accepted his limitations, but at least this prodigious woman was single-mindedly loyal to him, which gave him some comfort.

So what if her talent was extraordinary? She still did whatever he told her.

“Oh,” Jiang Yuyan pouted, lowering her head. She glanced up surreptitiously, saw that Zhu Yu had no intention of saying more, and had no choice but to bow and take her leave.

“Then, Your Majesty, your concubine will withdraw for now.”

Zhu Yu grunted in acknowledgment, waving her off and returning his attention to the affairs of state.

But after so much cultivation, and at such a high level, could Jiang Yuyan really be as naïve as she seemed?

Of course not.

She was well aware of her own rapid progress and inherent talent. From the rumors she’d heard, her cultivation speed was so fast it bordered on unnatural, even considering her energy-absorbing technique.

Jiang Yuyan hadn’t come to ask such a foolish question—she simply wanted to inform the emperor of her accomplishments and be praised.

But things had not gone as she’d hoped, leaving her feeling wronged and disappointed.

As for Zhu Yu, he wasn’t a fool; he’d just been startled by her progress at first. Now, as he recovered, he realized that Jiang Yuyan hadn’t come for advice—she was here for praise.

Understanding this, Zhu Yu couldn’t help but laugh and shake his head. Jiang Yuyan, a grown woman, still acted like a child.

“Eunuch Wu, deliver an imperial message for me: Inform Jiang Yuyan that I am greatly pleased with her cultivation progress, and that she must continue her efforts. And... come to think of it, Jiang Yuyan has been in the palace for quite some time and still has no official status, does she?”

“No, Your Majesty. Lady Yuyan still resides in the Maiden’s Palace. Only when you summon her does she temporarily move to an annex outside the palace,” Eunuch Wu replied readily—he was well aware of all these matters.

“Then forget the oral message. Draft an imperial edict: add what I just said, and promote Jiang Yuyan to Consort Yan, with the honorary rank of Noble Consort. She will reside in the Palace of Nurtured Elegance.”

After a moment’s thought, Zhu Yu issued an edict that would surely send shockwaves through the harem.

Jiang Yuyan, with no status at all—not even a court lady—was being directly elevated to Noble Consort. There would surely be an earthquake in the palace.

Would the other consorts resent her and try to oppress her?

Hehe.

It hadn’t even occurred to Zhu Yu, but if it had, he would have warned Jiang Yuyan to show restraint.

Once Zhu Yu gave an order, it was carried out with incredible speed.

Jiang Yuyan had barely stepped into the Maiden’s Palace when the imperial edict arrived, delivered by Eunuch Wu himself. This was partly because Jiang Yuyan, upset, had walked slowly.

Though Eunuch Wu read the edict word for word, the other maidens, eunuchs, and palace maids in the Maiden’s Palace were left utterly stunned.

Such a meteoric rise was unprecedented in the harem.

Jiang Yuyan’s sense of grievance vanished, replaced by a warm, enveloping happiness—the feeling of being cherished.

She owned nothing worth bringing with her to the Palace of Nurtured Elegance, save for her handwritten copy of the Flower Shifting technique. After the edict was read, she followed Eunuch Wu to her new residence.

At that time, the Palace of Nurtured Elegance was still deserted. The eunuchs and maids assigned to her would take some time to arrive.

For the moment, only Eunuch Wu and Jiang Yuyan were there.

“Consort Yan, I hear His Majesty has instructed you to visit the Library Pavilion and train under Scholar Huang?” After leading Jiang Yuyan around her new palace, Eunuch Wu broached the subject.

Jiang Yuyan had been in the palace for some time now and knew that Eunuch Wu was a venerable figure among eunuchs, and the emperor’s close confidant. Zhu Yu hid nothing from him, so she felt no need to either.

“That’s right, Eunuch Wu. Do you have any advice for me?”

“You flatter me, Consort Yan. I dare not presume to advise you. But though the emperor’s order is for your own good, he misunderstands the situation.”

“Huang the Scholar practices Daoist martial arts, which are mostly for cultivating one’s character and evading danger. Of the few that involve combat, they are not particularly suitable for women.”

Jiang Yuyan frowned in confusion. “Why should the palace need martial arts for fighting or defense? Cultivation and evasion seem sufficient. Perhaps you misunderstand His Majesty’s intent.”

Though Eunuch Wu’s status and experience were considerable, Jiang Yuyan felt annoyed that he spoke against Zhu Yu’s wishes.

“Perhaps you are unaware, Consort. His Majesty has always been curious about the affairs of the martial world. I suspect that, one day, he will feel compelled to venture out himself. Besides, the palace is not always safe. You may be overthinking it.”

“What do you mean, Eunuch Wu?”

“I mean nothing by it. But as for you, in all my years, few have matched your innate talent for martial arts. It would be a pity for you to focus solely on Huang the Scholar’s techniques.”

“The emperor’s orders are not to be twisted, Eunuch Wu. What you’ve told me today, I shall report word for word to His Majesty.”

Jiang Yuyan could no longer contain herself after hearing him dismiss Zhu Yu’s directive.

Seeing her agitation, Eunuch Wu’s face softened into a kindly smile. “Do not be upset, Consort. Allow me to ask you something: If one day you and His Majesty were in danger, and there were no guards nearby, what then? Self-cultivation would be of no use, and as for evasion—would you abandon His Majesty and escape alone?”

“Impossible! I would rather die than let any harm come to His Majesty!” Before he had finished, Jiang Yuyan burst out in reply, without the slightest hesitation. Her entire being radiated resolve, as if she would lay down her life for the emperor at any moment.

Eunuch Wu’s smile deepened. “Then you think as I do. In that moment, you should stand before His Majesty and protect him from all harm. Recently, the emperor said something I quite liked: ‘The best defense is a good offense, and the best protection is to slay every enemy before you.’ That way, no one could harm His Majesty.”

Jiang Yuyan’s eyes lit up. Those words struck a chord within her. Indeed—those who would harm the emperor do not deserve to live!

As he spoke, Eunuch Wu noticed that Jiang Yuyan seemed unusually excited, almost unnaturally so.

Something felt off, and so he quickly added, “Of course, all actions must be in accordance with His Majesty’s commands. Don’t you agree, Consort?”

“Indeed.” Jiang Yuyan nodded firmly.

Eunuch Wu could tell that everything she’d said was sincere.

Yet, for some reason, he felt a faint unease, a feeling he’d never experienced before.

“Eunuch Wu, you are truly a pillar of the court. Your wisdom is beyond me. I misjudged you earlier, and for that I apologize. But after all you’ve said, what is it you wish me to do?”

Guided by his reasoning, Jiang Yuyan’s thoughts had cleared. She now doubted whether visiting Huang the Scholar was a wise choice.

Besides, what was a mere scholar named Huang Shang? The name alone displeased her.

“You flatter me, Consort. I know no martial arts myself, but with my years in the Eastern and Western Depots, I have picked up a few things. Why not let me teach you instead? The moves I know are secret killing techniques of the Depots—skills even the Chiefs of the Depots don’t possess.”

At last, Eunuch Wu dropped all pretense and put himself forward as her instructor.

If the departed Chiefs of the Depots could hear this, they would surely rise from their graves to curse him—such techniques he never taught anyone. Had he done so, the power balance of the court would be unrecognizable.

But the dead hear nothing.

“You?” Jiang Yuyan was skeptical.

“Do you not trust me, Consort? As the saying goes, ‘An elder in the house is a treasure.’ Why don’t you try? If you’re still unconvinced, you can always go to the Library Pavilion and choose a manual yourself.”

Jiang Yuyan conceded that his words made sense and nodded hesitantly.

Seeing her agreement, Eunuch Wu smiled and asked, “Would you prefer to learn unarmed combat, or weapons?”

Jiang Yuyan hesitated, then said, “Weapons, I think. Weapons should be more effective than bare hands.”

Eunuch Wu’s wrinkled face twitched at her naïveté, but he decided not to bother explaining, as it would take too long.

“Do you have any requirements for the weapon you wish to learn?”

Jiang Yuyan thought at length before answering, “The weapon must be easy to carry, elegant in use, and not too bloody when killing, so His Majesty’s impression of me is not harmed. Difficulty doesn’t matter—I’d prefer to train in secret and surprise him. It should be suitable for one-on-one or many-against-one combat, so I can better protect him. And if I’m ever entangled by enemies, it should allow me to rescue others, usable at both close and long range.”

Hearing her conditions, Eunuch Wu nearly blacked out. Were these the demands of a human being?

He felt a strong urge to slap himself—why did he have to offer? Why did he get excited at the sight of a prodigy? He should have left her to the Daoist.

Just as he was regretting his decision, his gaze fell on an object in the corner of the room.

A sudden inspiration struck him. He walked over, picked it up, and showed it to Jiang Yuyan. “Consort, I have an idea. Let’s use this as your weapon. What do you think?”

“This... counts as a weapon?” Jiang Yuyan was dubious.

...

Meanwhile, after Eunuch Wu departed, Zhu Yu was alone in the imperial study.

He suddenly felt like a child left alone to do homework after his parent stepped out midway.

Absentmindedly, he tossed the less important memorials aside and let his mind wander.

After a while, his thoughts returned to his persistent dilemma.

Since the fall of the Flower Shifting Palace, his Fortune Points had reached 1,210—the highest since he began using the system.

But which martial art should he upgrade? The highest was the Nine Yin Manual (Mastered); the lowest, the Rama Divine Skill (Beginner).

Upgrading the Rama Divine Skill required only 300 Fortune Points—enough for two upgrades.

That was tempting, but he wondered: if he upgraded the Nine Yin Manual again, would he ascend to Grandmaster?

After much internal debate, Zhu Yu, frustrated, turned back to the unfinished memorials before him.