I have Immortality In The Cultivation World

After Zhou Yi mastered the secret technique, he applied True Qi to massage Empress Xia.

A month passed.

The originally pale-faced Empress Xia gradually regained some rosiness, and the minor internal congestion that had plagued her also completely disappeared.

On this day.

Zhou Yi fed Empress Xia her meal, carefully wiping clean the remnants around her mouth.

True Qi circulated, entering Empress Xia’s body, following the meridian pathways recorded in the massage secret technique, running a complete cycle, and some light yellow impurities surfaced on her skin.

“Your Highness, let me wipe your body for you.”

Zhou Yi took a clean towel, soaked it with warm water, and then meticulously cleaned Empress Xia.

Eunuchs are neither male nor female and do not interfere in familial relations, so the Emperor does not avoid them during intimate acts with his consorts, hence this matter also breaches no taboos.

Suddenly, Empress Xia relinquished her fierce expression and softly said, “Your name is Little Yi?”

“Your Highness, you’re not crazy…”

Zhou Yi feigned shock, thumped to his knees on the ground, and bowed deeply, saying, “This servant has been disrespectful; I beg for Your Highness’s forgiveness!”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Empress Xia knew Zhou Yi was pretending but did not expose him, as the matter of attending to one’s personal hygiene was too embarrassing. She commanded, “I see you are quite clever, would you be willing to do something for me?”

“This servant would not dare to refuse.”

Zhou Yi agreed repeatedly, his heart stirring with excitement, knowing his opportunity had come.

Empress Xia would rather feign madness and soil herself only if there were a chance to turn the tables; otherwise, it wouldn’t be worth making such a great sacrifice.

“In a few days, when the royal child visits the Cold Palace, someone will surely attempt harm, and you must protect him well!”

“By your command.”

Zhou Yi did not ask Empress Xia about her plan, as such matters must be kept extremely secret, and he himself had only just won her favor and had yet to earn her complete trust.

Bowing, he left the room and sat down on the steps, quietly saying to Old Lu.

“The Empress Dowager isn’t crazy.”

“We know.”

Old Lu said, “A few days ago, when we went out to bask in the sun, I noticed that all the servants in the surrounding palaces had been replaced; certainly, it was Empress Xia’s manipulation from behind the scenes!”

Zhou Yi’s eyes immediately gleamed, “So the Empress Dowager’s grand plan might succeed?”

“Man proposes, God disposes.”

Old Lu turned over, speaking, “Currently, only two princes have been ennobled as kings. If the Deposed Crown Prince does not return, then it is certain that the King of Qi will ascend to the throne.”

Zhou Yi puzzledly said, “But what about the maternal family of Prince Wei? That’s the King of the Northern Defense, a pillar of the National Dynasty, commanding hundreds of thousands of troops!”

“If I were the King of the Northern Defense, I would have spoken to the Emperor long ago, to save the life of my Nine Clans, stating my disapproval of Prince Wei’s ascension,” Old Lu explained.

Old Lu continued, “So no matter how favored Consort Hua is, she is but a grasshopper after autumn, unable to revel in her enjoyment for long. The Emperor and the Zhang family have long since abandoned her!”

Zhou Yi muttered, “But she’s the sister of the King of the Northern Defense!”

“What does a sister count for? Even a daughter must be sacrificed.”

Old Lu asked with a half-smile, “Were you sold to the palace because your family faced disaster, or did your parents sell you out?”

Zhou Yi answered, “Without selling me, the whole family would starve.”

Old Lu said, “Your parents gave you up in exchange for food to survive, just as the Zhang family would sacrifice Consort Hua for the sake of their Nine Clans. It’s all the same principle.”

Zhou Yi was silent for a while, then suddenly let out a sigh.

“My reasons for struggling in this power fight have been reduced by more than half today, leaving only myself…”

“It should have been so sooner; our kind has been forsaken by our ancestors.”

Old Lu solemnly said, “We’re alone when we’re alive and we’ll be solitary ghosts when we’re dead. Little Yi, if you wish to strive, then let go of any notion of kinship.”

“The day someone threatens you with your parents, remember that you’ve been on your own for a long time!”

As Zhou Yi lay on the steps, looking up at the blue sky and white clouds, his thoughts drifted away.

At times, he remembered the affection of his parents when he was a boy; at others, the excruciating pain of being castrated; and occasionally, the loneliness of life in the palace would flash through his mind, before he suddenly asked in a low voice.

“Old Deer, is there a cultivation technique in this world that can make up for physical deficiencies?”

Old Deer’s eyes were gently closed, seemingly asleep, and it was a long while before he uttered a single word.

“There is!”

…

Early spring in February.

The Cold Palace welcomed a new occupant, the Deposed Crown Prince, Zhao Ye.

Zhao Ye, now over sixty, was considered elderly in this era, his hair completely white, walking with a trembling gait.

Zhou Yi saw his frail appearance and doubted whether he could outlive Emperor Hongwu.

Inside the room.

Zhao Ye burst into tears as he saw the deranged and struggling Empress Xia, crying out as he threw himself at her.

“Mother, your son has been unfilial!”

Empress Xia seemed not to recognize her son, uttering ‘Wu wu wu’ in a beast-like howl, like a rabid dog guarding its meal, with saliva freely dribbling from her mouth.

Zhao Ye retreated in fear, lest his mother bite him.

At heart, Zhao Ye held little respect for his mother, after all, she had been the informant during his first attempt at rebellion.

His pretext of taking care of his mother was merely a means to return to the palace and get closer to his father, thereby possibly getting another chance at the throne, thus he outwardly appeared very affectionate.

Zhou Yi took out a warm towel, expertly wiped away the drool from Empress Xia’s mouth, and spoke softly.

“Your Highness, Her Majesty doesn’t recognize anyone now. If you visit more often, she’ll grow accustomed to you and won’t act like this!”

“Yes, yes, yes, little Yi has worked hard,” Zhao Ye responded.

Seeing the snarling and grimacing appearance of his mother, Zhao Ye no longer had the heart to pretend, he casually praised Zhou Yi and fled the room as if escaping.

A glint of realization flashed through Zhou Yi’s eyes–a true understanding of the bonds within the Imperial Clan.

Empress Xia dropped her ferocious demeanor and commanded, “Remember to protect Zhao Ye well.”

“As you command.”

Zhou Yi was puzzled by Empress Xia’s feigned madness but did not inquire further; instead, he hinted obliquely, “Your Majesty, some strangers have arrived in the surrounding palaces. Do you want your servant to take care of them?”

Empress Xia suspected nothing, assuming Zhou Yi was eager to perform well and thus gain future rewards.

“No need, that is arranged by my own palace.”

———— Damn, I’m a bit stuck on the text today, a few hundred words short. Please wait, and I’ll make up for it.

Empress Xia seemed not to recognize her son, emitting ‘Wu wu wu’ snarls like a vicious dog protecting its food, with saliva running unchecked from her mouth.

Zhao Ye retreated repeatedly, fearfully dreading his mother’s bite.

Deep down, Zhao Ye lacked substantial respect for his mother, since it was she who had reported his first conspiracy to rebel.

However, pretending to take care of his mother was merely a pretense to re-enter the palace and be near his father, thus slightly increasing his chances at the throne, so he outwardly expressed considerable affection.

Zhou Yi took out a warm towel and skillfully wiped away the drool from Empress Xia’s mouth, whispering softly.

“Your Highness, Her Majesty does not recognize anyone now. If you come to visit more often, she will get used to you and won’t react like this!”

“Very well, very well, little Yi is diligent,” replied Zhao Ye.

Upon seeing his mother’s bared teeth and distorted face, Zhao Ye lost any inclination to pretend, he threw out a casual compliment to Zhou Yi and hastily left the room.

A flicker of insight crossed Zhou Yi’s eyes, as he gained a tangible understanding of imperial familial affection.

Empress Xia put away her menacing look and instructed, “Make sure to take good care of Zhao Ye.”

“Understood.”

Zhou Yi was questioning why Empress Xia continued to feign madness, though he did not directly ask. Instead, he ventured cautiously, “Mistress, there are some unfamiliar faces in the neighboring palaces. Shall I send them away?”

Empress Xia was not suspicious, making the mistake of thinking Zhou Yi was just being zealous in his duties, hoping to earn future rewards.

“There’s no need, that is my own arrangement.”

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