Late at night, Taihe Hall.
Emperor Zhengyong's thin figure rose from the wide table.
"What did you say? That kid still hasn't sensed inner strength?"
Wang Zhongyi laughed, "Yes, Your Majesty, that kid has been following the Gold Medal Tributor of the Sacrificial Institute, Yang Shaoyong, for almost two months, yet he still hasn't sensed any inner strength."
"His aptitude is truly worlds apart compared to Your Majesty."
"Hehe, after all, he's merely a mortal."
"Your Majesty, there's another matter I must report to you."
"Oh? What is it?"
"That Yang Shaoyong... seems to have noticed the identity of that person."
"Yang Shaoyong... a man of Taiyii Dao."
Emperor Zhengyong tapped the table, speaking blandly, "Nanyue County is unstable, send him there to take a look."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"In the future, when teaching Shadow, let the Sacrificial Institute rotate every ten days. Once he completes the 'Five Spirits Body Refining Technique' and his inner strength reaches the first level of 'Eternal Spring Skill', stop it."
Emperor Zhengyong said, "Shadow does not need too many thoughts."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
...
Zheng Yi opened his eyes again, still seeing the ancient bead curtain in front of him.
"Time to practice martial arts!"
For more than a month, his lifestyle had been very regular.
In the morning, he first cultivated the 'Eternal Spring Skill' for half an hour, followed by 100 push-ups, sit-ups, and jumping jacks, and then meals and morning classes.
In the afternoon, he practiced stance training and cultivated the 'Five Spirits Body Refining Technique'.
As for the 'White Lotus Reincarnation Divine Skill', he had no way to cultivate it; not to mention no one taught him, he didn't even have the cultivation technique mantra, so he relied only on daily dual cultivation with Bi He.
Therefore, every time they engaged in dual cultivation, he gave it his all, at least three to four times a night.
It's worth mentioning that after Yang Shaoyong left, Wang Zhongyi brought him a new teacher.
Zhao Wuji.
An old man with a somber gaze and somewhat graying hair.
Upon arrival, he skipped formalities and only taught the 'Five Spirits Body Refining Technique' and 'Eternal Spring Skill'.
After teaching, he didn't wish to stay a moment longer and left the palace immediately.
Which left Zheng Yi without a soul to speak with.
It's worth noting that even the teachers for cultural lessons had changed twice.
For fear he'd become familiar with outsiders.
And the content taught was all about rulers and ministers, parents, ethical norms, and the relationship between heaven, earth, monarch, and teacher.
To Zheng Yi, wasn't this all mere brainwashing?
This might be useful for ordinary people or the former Zheng Yi who hailed from a remote village.
But for the current Zheng Yi... utterly useless!
On the surface, though, he certainly couldn't let anyone notice and kept appearing perfectly normal.
His loyalty to the Imperial Family and Emperor Zhengyong also seemed to grow more abundant.
Not only were his teachers often changed, but also the palace maids and eunuchs serving him, and the guards at the outer sect were frequently rotated.
Leaving him without a single acquaintance!
One day, Wang Zhongyi suddenly came to him.
"For the next two days, stop practicing the 'Five Spirits Body Refining Technique', take a rest, and the day after tomorrow, head to the Grand Ancestral Temple for prayers and blessings."
Zheng Yi then recalled that when he had first been invited to the Imperial Palace, it was mentioned he would replace Emperor Zhengyong and go to the Grand Ancestral Temple for blessings.
He hurriedly asked, "Eunuch Wang, where is the Grand Ancestral Temple?"
"On the west side of the Imperial City, it's less than half an hour away from the Imperial City. Why, is there a problem?"
"No, no problem."
Wang Zhongyi said, "Zheng Yi... just do your part. Glory and wealth shall be inexhaustible."
"But should you harbor ulterior motives..."
Zheng Yi's heart skipped, and he quickly said, "Eunuch Wang, what are you talking about? How could I not be obedient?"
"It is only because of you that this humble one could come to this grand palace from that godforsaken place..."
"Good that you know!"
Wang Zhongyi flicked his duster and turned to leave.
Zheng Yi, on the other hand, continued to curse Wang Zhongyi and Emperor Zhengyong's ancestors for eighteen generations in his heart!
Third Year of Zhengyong, June 1st.
Under the service of two new maids, Zheng Yi changed into a new dragon robe.
The Five-clawed Golden Dragon.
Today, he had removed the human skin mask and showed his true face.
Upon closer look, he indeed bore a nine-tenths resemblance to Emperor Zhengyong.
Now dressed in the dragon robe, crowned, and with the bead curtain hanging, he looked almost identical to Emperor Zhengyong.
Surrounding eunuchs, palace maids, guards, ministers, and others didn't realize that Emperor Zhengyong had already been replaced!
"By the will of heaven, the emperor decrees: Heaven creates the people and establishes the ruler; the ruler serves heaven and peacefully nurtures the people... Today, I lead the civil and martial officials to the Grand Ancestral Temple for prayers and blessings..."
Under the eunuch's proclamation, countless guards, palace maids, and eunuchs accompanied the 'Emperor Zhengyong' to the Grand Ancestral Temple for blessings.
Behind him were the civil and martial officials, in full formal attire, numbering over a thousand.
On both sides of Vermilion Bird Avenue, countless commoners knelt and bowed, shouting long live the emperor.
Zheng Yi also took the opportunity to look out from the carriage to appreciate the scenic views of the Imperial City.
He saw clusters of ancient buildings within the Imperial City, with watchtowers standing tall occasionally, and numerous soldiers escorting them, giving an appearance of prosperity.
As Zheng Yi left the Imperial Palace, Emperor Zhengyong, alone in a secret hall within Taihe Hall, looked on with an incomparably somber gaze.
"Hehehe... I give you this trip as a chance."
"Let's see if any of you can seize it!"
The Grand Ancestral Temple, located on the west side of the Imperial City, is where the Great Yu Dynasty venerates the position of the previous emperors.
The Great Yu Dynasty was established 356 years ago and has gone through 21 emperors.
Under the lead of Wang Zhongyi, Zheng Yi, like a puppet on a string, continuously performed rituals and prayers, only returning as dusk approached after half a day.
In the carriage, Zheng Yi felt a bit tired but still tried his best to maintain decorum.
Just then, the procession suddenly halted, and a commotion arose ahead.
After waiting for a while without any movement, Zheng Yi felt something was odd.
This was the emperor's procession, how could it stop?
He lifted the curtain and asked, "Wang... Grand Companion, what's happening?"
Outside, he had to address Wang Zhongyi as the "Grand Companion" to show closeness.
Wang Zhongyi bowed and said, "Your Majesty, rest assured, this servant has already sent someone to check."
"Please, Your Majesty, return to the carriage and do not show your face..."
Soon, a little eunuch came running over hastily.
"Reporting to the Ancestor, the 'Chuyun Tower' ahead on Vermilion Bird Avenue has collapsed, the ruins occupy half the main road, and the procession can't continue."
"The Commander of the Imperial Guard asks if we should divert to Wenchang Road?"
Wang Zhongyi pondered for a moment then said, "It's acceptable to divert to Wenchang Road, enter the city from Wenchang Sect."
"Yes, Ancestor!"
"By imperial decree, divert to Wenchang Sect!"
The procession immediately diverted, heading toward Wenchang Sect.
However, within the carriage, Zheng Yi sensed something amiss.
"Diverting the route? An accident?"
"Vermilion Bird Avenue leads directly to the Imperial City; it is a wide road, surrounded by royal relatives and wealthy merchants, how could buildings collapse?"
"And Wenchang Sect is on the southeast side of the Imperial City, surrounded by places like the Hanlin Academy and Champion Scholar Tower, with narrow roads and many buildings, why detour there?"
"Moreover, the emperor's progression has the Imperial Guard in tow... this feels wrong!"
He quickly peered through the curtain to look around, noticing the scenery had indeed changed.
"Damn it... Could I have become the bait for fishing?"
Thinking about Emperor Zhengyong's somber gaze, Zheng Yi's heart thumped heavily.
"No, I can't stay here, but I have no way to leave... Wang Zhongyi, that old dog, I must save myself!"
He furtively glanced outside and found no sign of Wang Zhongyi, not knowing where he went.
He lifted the curtain to look outside, seeing palace maids and eunuchs accompanying.
"Pfft!"
"Pfft pfft!!"
At that moment, distant sounds of objects slicing through the air erupted, and over a dozen figures leaped from both sides, charged towards Zheng Yi's carriage.
"Kill the Dog Emperor!"
"Avenge our king!"
"Assassins! There are assassins... Pfft!"
"Protect the emperor...!"
"Ah!"
In an instant, chaos erupted, the entire procession was thrown into disarray, blades flashing, and the entire street descended into chaos.