Checking In for Sixty Years, From Puppet Emperor to Heavenly Emperor – Chapter 11

Ch 11: A Desperate Gamble

For the next half month, during the day it was with the Imperial Concubines, and at night it was Dual Cultivation with the Empress, returning to the underground secret room of Qianyang Palace in the second half of the night to cultivate the Vast Universe Art.

Under his joyous cultivation day and night, coupled with his profound Internal Force, the Vast Universe Art reached the eighth level, and his Internal Force also reached the century mark.

Now, apart from the Empress being able to increase his Internal Force a little, other women were no longer able to give him the slightest improvement, at most making him feel better.

This made Zhou An wonder if he should let Shangguan Rong and Sai Nai Mu improve their cultivation. Now that he was already at the Innate Ninth Level cultivation, self-preservation was no problem. If he also had lightness skill, as long as he wasn’t targeted by Immortal Hero and powerful Demons, he could go anywhere in the world.

More than a century of Internal Force is very rare. In the empire, only the Founding Emperor had reached it.

Shangguan Rong guessed based on the Internal Force that the Empress Dowager showed at the banquet last time, that her cultivation should be at the peak of the Houtian Eighth Level, but the Empress Dowager generally would not easily expose her trump cards, so the possibility of higher cultivation could not be ruled out.

Zhou An’s actual combat experience is now zero, and with the Empress Dowager definitely having experts around her like clouds, he still can’t crush her, so he decided to stay in the Imperial Harem.

Anyway, the Empress Dowager will take care of any problems. After solving the problem of leaving the city, he suddenly discovered that staying in the Imperial Harem was still very good, and he was calculating how to prolong this balance between the Left Prime Minister and the Empress Dowager.

Now, apart from the Western Palace, the other surface maps of the Imperial Palace have been lit up. If he wants to get improved Internal Force or more powerful Cultivation Methods, he must check-in at more valuable places.

He will have the Empress get him some books about the Imperial Palace and the Qian Capital secrets, maybe he can find a place similar to the underground secret passage of Qianyang Palace.

Inside the Left Prime Minister’s mansion, a group of ministers looked panicked. The Left Prime Minister sat on top with a hesitant expression, as if making a very important decision.

The Sixth Imperial Prince stood behind the Left Prime Minister, but instead of having a calm face, he looked at the people in front of him.

“Lord Left Prime Minister, we can’t wait any longer. That Shangguan Yuchen is using a chicken feather as an arrow. He is using all means of framing and has already arrested many colleagues who have been wronged. They are being tortured to extract confessions. If this continues, all the ministers who oppose the Empress Dowager will be persecuted to death.” A minister couldn’t bear it any longer and said to the Left Prime Minister with cupped fists.

Jiang Xian sighed and stood up, saying, “It is too early to implement it now. If we are given two more months, we will have a greater chance of success.”

“Lord Left Prime Minister, we can’t wait two months. By then, I’m afraid everyone sitting here will be trapped in prison, making it difficult to help you overthrow the Demon Empress.” Another minister said anxiously.

The Left Prime Minister walked back and forth in the hall twice, then took a deep breath and said, “Lord Xu, Lord Chen, Lord Zhu, let your people take action. Other lords, act according to plan.”

“Okay.” All the ministers immediately got up and left in a hurry.

At this time, Zhou Di said, “Lord Left Prime Minister, how confident are you?”

“At most 50%. It’s hateful that the Shangguan Family is despicable and shameless. Their methods are too despicable in order to deal with us. Otherwise, I would have at least 70% confidence.” The Left Prime Minister sighed. Now they are also forced to do so.

“Then everything will trouble the Lord Left Prime Minister. I will go and invite Duke Protector of the Realm.” Zhou Di cupped his fists, smiled slightly, turned and left. The current severe situation seemed to have nothing to do with him.

“Thank you, Your Highness.” The Left Prime Minister personally saw him leave through the back door, and then strode back to summon his retainers.

That afternoon, Zhou An, as usual, was in Changle Palace, enjoying singing and dancing with Sai Nai Mu and the Imperial Concubines, drinking and making merry.

Suddenly, the striking stick of a musician broke and fell to the ground. The music stopped abruptly. Sai Nai Mu frowned, and Zhou An smiled, seeing the figure on the beam out of the corner of his eye.

Because of the poisonous Elixir incident last time, the Empress Dowager sent four Purple Guard to guard Zhou An’s side. There were more Purple Guard guarding outside, and any food and drinks sent in would be strictly checked.

At this moment, because a musician suddenly had a problem, everyone instinctively looked at her.

As a result, the black shadow took the opportunity to land behind the Purple Guard and stabbed out with a short sword. Fortunately, the Purple Guard were all experts who had undergone strict training and had a strong sense of crisis.

When the black shadow landed behind them, they already felt something was wrong, and immediately dodged while turning around and sweeping their blades horizontally.

As a result, the Purple Guard only avoided the vital points, and the short sword still pierced through the leather armor, stabbing in a part.

The assassin was also forced back by the Purple Guard’s counterattack. Purple Guard Number 7, who was responsible for protecting Zhou An, immediately jumped out and shouted, “There is an assassin, protect The Emperor!”

At this shout, the Purple Guard outside immediately rushed in. At this time, the musicians pulled out weapons from their instruments and rushed up. At the same time, the Imperial Concubines around Zhou An pulled out the specially made hairpins on their heads and rushed up as daggers.

Purple Guard Number 7 waved his blade, shaking away these hairpins, and then swept backhand, the blade tip cutting across the throats of two approaching Imperial Concubines.

But the blood that spurted out was actually purplish-black, and the blood stained on the blade actually made a hissing sound.

“Poison!” Purple Guard Number 7 was shocked. These Imperial Concubines were chosen to be those without Martial Skill. He didn’t expect that what was sent in were Poison People.

Sai Nai Mu exclaimed and had the Western Region beauties block behind The Emperor, and pulled Zhou An, shouting, “The Emperor, please come with me. I know a place not far from Changle Palace where we can hide.”

Zhou An didn’t hesitate and escaped with her from the back door. Purple Guard Number 7 frowned, but was now desperately blocked by these Imperial Concubines, and she couldn’t follow up to protect him for a while.

In great anger, Purple Lightning Internal Force was poured into the blade, and the blade swept across, and a dozen Purple Lightning Blade Qi appeared, beheading the four Imperial Concubines around him.

But the poison volatilized by these bloods made Purple Guard Number 7 begin to feel dizzy, and he saw double images of everything, and he also lost his sense of balance, and he couldn’t even walk steadily.

Zhou An followed Sai Nai Mu to the palace next to Changle Palace, and looked up to see the three characters “Yikun Palace” written on the plaque.

The two entered this desolate palace, and the yard was overgrown with weeds.

Zhou An looked at this place, heard the fierce fighting outside, and smiled, saying, “It really is you.”

Sai Nai Mu was surprised, and showed a bit of guilt, saying, “The Emperor, since you know, why did you still follow me?”

“I wanted to see what trump cards the Left Prime Minister has arranged. You really know how to choose a place. This Yikun Palace has been abandoned for more than 30 years. It is where an Imperial Concubine of the Late Emperor lived. It should be considered a Cold Palace.”

Zhou An swept his eyes here, took out the Hundred Poisons Pearl from his belt and said, “Since you are an assassin, why give me this? It’s not convenient for you to poison me.”

Sai Nai Mu suddenly knelt down and said, “The Emperor, this servant is not from the Left Prime Minister, but the Sixth Imperial Prince sent us here, the purpose is to protect The Emperor.

The Sixth Imperial Prince issued a secret order to take you from the secret passage under the well here to leave the Imperial Palace, and escort you out of the Qianyuan Empire, never to return. This servant will always follow and serve The Emperor for the rest of my life.”

“Sixth Brother Zhou Di? Are you doing this for the Hundred Witchcrafts Country?” Zhou An asked.

“Yes, the Sixth Imperial Prince promised that after he ascends the throne, the first thing he will do is to deal with the problem of Western Sorcery Poison, and if the Witchcraft Poison cannot be solved, the Sixth Imperial Prince promised to allow the Hundred Witchcrafts Country to enter the Qianyuan Empire’s territory and become citizens of the Qianyuan Empire, to rebuild Hundred Witchcrafts City for us.” Sai Nai Mu said.

“What do you mean, what you and I discussed before were all acting, and you never thought that I could help you.” Zhou An smiled and looked at her.

Sai Nai Mu showed a bit of embarrassment, but still said firmly, “The Emperor is too restricted by the Empress Dowager, and this servant can see that The Emperor really likes women. Even if you regain Imperial Authority, it will be difficult to achieve anything.”

Zhou An laughed loudly, and hearing the approaching footsteps outside, said, “If it weren’t for this Imperial Robes of mine, it seems that no one would believe that I am an Emperor. That’s not bad, take me to see the secret passage.”

“Yes.” Sai Nai Mu thought that Zhou An had agreed, and immediately took out the prepared rope and lowered it.

As a result, Zhou An jumped directly from the well, scaring her to exclaim, and quickly pulled the rope down.

Seeing that Zhou An was standing safely at the bottom of the well that had long been dry.

Zhou An walked to a stone wall, his fingers slid across the gap, and pressed on a stone brick, the stone door in front of him turned, revealing a passage.

Sai Nai Mu looked at Zhou An in disbelief, breaking out in a cold sweat. She suddenly realized that she didn’t understand this Emperor at all. The Sixth Imperial Prince told her about this secret passage. The Sixth Imperial Prince said that this was a secret passage left by the Late Emperor, and only the Late Emperor and the Imperial Concubine guarding here knew about it.

“What are you still stunned for? If the Purple Guard catch up, you will be dead. It’s hard to say whether Sixth Brother will admit it then.” Zhou An walked into the secret passage, and Sai Nai Mu showed a surprised look, looking at Zhou An’s back, suddenly feeling strange and uneasy.

She thought that she had figured out this Emperor these days, but now she realized that she must have also been deceived by the Emperor’s appearance. She gritted her teeth and followed in, and the stone door behind her closed.