Killing Dao Fruit
Chapter 264 - 261: Bloodbath in the Harem, Five Great Martial Saints

Chapter 264: Chapter 261: Bloodbath in the Harem, Five Great Martial Saints

Great Yan Imperial City, Linhua Palace, the residence of Consort Shu, mother to the third Prince.

The chill of deep autumn was growing stronger.

The palace’s flowers, however, were blooming brilliantly, and the floor heating burned top-quality, smokeless coal fire. Through the thick wool carpet on the ground, the warmth was conducted throughout the grand hall.

Even wearing only summer silk garments and walking barefoot, one would not feel the slightest chill.

In the details, bejeweled ornaments and curious toys were found in abundance—a true feast for the eyes in wealth and opulence.

Although the master of this imperial city, Zhou Wenrui, had for over a decade led by example in advocating frugality.

Unfortunately, he most likely would not set foot in the harem for months at a time, and by the time he did visit, naturally, he wouldn’t see any of these things.

In a warm pavilion specially set up inside Linhua Palace, light pink curtains fluttered frivolously.

A stunningly beautiful woman with a slightly plump figure, almond-shaped eyes, and peach-like cheeks lay reclining on a low couch upholstered with white deer fur, draped in a bright red, sheer silk garment.

She popped a peeled grape into her mouth with her delicate, jade-like fingers.

Without a doubt, this was the mistress of Linhua Palace, Consort Shu, mother to the third Prince, Su Yuru.

Even though she was already in her early thirties—an age at which, if she were a commoner, she might call herself an "old woman"—

this well-maintained Noble Consort oozed only the ripe charms of a mature woman.

Such a captivating beauty, even those castrated eunuchs found hard to resist.

The two little eunuchs on the couch, doing their utmost to serve her, probably had the most to say about it.

After a long while,

Consort Shu, her face slightly flushed, let out a wistful sigh:

"Sometimes, men are even less useful than a couple of cucumbers!"

Her bright eyes moved beyond the curtain towards the outside of the palace, her tone reproachful:

"That old dog Lv Jingde, going out on duties for so many days, said he would bring me a big surprise when he’s back.

Taking so long to return, he really is an unreliable old dog!"

Although her words were scolding, her expression was as if a lovestruck girl was coyly complaining to her lover.

Clearly, that Inner Official Lv, who ventured dangerous situations for her "happiness," had a special place in her heart as well.

Then, looking back at the two little eunuchs who, other than being pleasing to the eye, were utterly useless, she suddenly found them irritating and kicked them off the couch with a flick of her foot.

The little eunuchs, not knowing what they did wrong, knelt on the floor, kowtowing like pounding garlic:

"Forgive us, Your Highness! Forgive us, Your Highness!"

The impatient Consort Shu waved them off:

"Off with you, go check the Treasure Bureau and see if Inner Official Lv is back!"

However, just as the two little eunuchs who felt like they had received a great pardon were about to scurry out of the warm pavilion with their clothing, their bodies suddenly stiffened.

Consort Shu frowned, about to scold them, but her pupils abruptly shrank.

Thump! Thump!

With two dull thuds, shining sword tips unexpectedly pierced through both little eunuchs’ backs.

Immediately after, a cacophony of screams, people running for their lives, and the clashing of metal on metal came from outside...

"Ah! Don’t kill me!"

"Spare my life, please!"

"..."

Consort Shu, who could not believe her eyes and ears, was still reeling in shock when she saw someone part the curtains in front of her.

Two female Daoist Soldiers walked into the warm pavilion at a measured pace, not only failing to salute, but also looking her up and down with sharp, blade-like gazes.

Realizing her attire, which was more provocative than wearing nothing at all, Consort Shu quickly grabbed the luxurious clothing from beside the couch and wrapped herself haphazardly.

Seeing the fresh blood dripping from their swords and the two little eunuchs’ corpses on the floor, rage boiled within Consort Shu, her eyebrows inverted:

"Profound Crane Guards, how dare you slaughter recklessly in my palace? You have quite the nerve!"

The thirty-six camps of the [Profound Crane Camp], all staffed by women, were responsible for guarding the harem.

Normally, they were all very respectful to the Consort, and she could never have imagined that these guards would dare to kill people so indiscriminately in Linhua Palace.

Her amply filled chest heaved with anger.

However,

those guards paid no heed to the Noble Consort’s tirades.

Amidst her piercing screams, they proceeded to kill every palace maid and eunuch within the Linhua Palace, not sparing even the two pet thrushes used for viewing.

They then quickly cleaned up the palace afresh and locked up the palace, leaving the stunned Consort Shu alone inside.

They also locked away her cries of, "I want to see His Majesty! I want to see my son Jing Liang!"

At the same time,

A heavy layer of dark clouds seemed to envelop the skies above Yunjing City, suffocatingly oppressive.

The Emperor, as the epicenter of the entire empire’s [Dragon Qi Prohibition], dictates the nation’s fortunes.

The weather above Yunjing City not only reflects God’s mood but sometimes also mirrors the Emperor’s temperament.

For example, right now, Zhou Wenrui’s mood was even more somber than the dark skies over Yunjing.

His cousin Zhou Jinhuan was, after all, one of the mere three princes of the dynasty.

The memorial Zhou Jinhuan sent, after much difficulty, had finally reached Zhou Wenrui’s hands, bypassing Prime Minister Xue.

The very first report written on it turned Emperor Jianming’s face ashen, nearly spitting blood.

"Lv Jingde, you lustful old dog with the audacity of heaven, I will exterminate your entire clan!"

"And Su Yuru, you shameless woman, disparaging the imperial family with your indecency. Had you not given birth to the third prince, I would have granted you three feet of white silk to atone for your sins with death!"

Zhou Wenrui was indeed not lecherous.

But as an all-supreme Emperor, how could he tolerate this?

I might not give out governmental grain, but you cannot be unfaithful, not even with an eunuch!

However, so long as no lives were involved, even the grossest scandal in the harem would not shake the foundation of the dynasty’s rule.

Zhou Wenrui considered the scandal merely a disgrace, and after ordering the extermination of all the palace attendants to prevent the scandal from spreading, he set it aside.

But the secret reports that followed enraged him while also filling him with deep apprehension.

Someone was spying on the great treasure!

They had touched his reverse scale!

Perusing the contents of the memorial over and over, Zhou Wenrui’s face gradually darkened and from between his clenched teeth, a bitterly cold wind seethed:

"Water Virtue Flood Dragon! Xue Donglou is not only the Water Virtue Flood Dragon, but also the ’Little Ming King’ put forward by the rebel ’No-Life Dao’!"

Xue Jiexi, oh, Xue Jiexi, I have truly underestimated you.

Serving by my side for nearly thirty years, you have hidden yourself far too well!"

If Zhou Jinhuan had merely spouted nonsense in his memorial or simply tried to slander Prime Minister Xue, Zhou Wenrui would not have believed this son whom he didn’t quite like.

Even if there had been numerous listed evidences of corruption and malfeasance, he might not have taken them to heart.

But attached were also the conversation between Monk Liaoxing and Xue Donglou, and the sketch.

Comparing these with the memories deeply buried in his heart, it all fit together without a single flaw.

Zhou Wenrui’s heart suddenly grew cold.

"Am I on the throne only because of the No-Life Dao?!"

He slowly looked up at the pair of wood tools hanging on the wall of his study—a pair of carpenter’s axe and chisel that had been hanging there since his ascension, for fifteen years.

Ordinary palace attendants simply thought that the Emperor sympathized with the hardships of commoners, seeking to understand the trade of carpenters, and none paid mind to the odd placement of the axe and chisel amidst the other decorations.

Little did they know, these were the key assets that enabled ’Huo Langlong’ to successfully steal the Wood Element Dragon Scale Armor!

In truth, at that time ’No-Life Dao’ hadn’t openly deployed a single ’Yellow Seal Mage’, not to mention a ’Red Seal Magician’.

They merely strategized behind the scenes for Xue Jiexi.

And at the heart of the theft plan was this pair of tools that had cut down countless trees.

Just as butchers inherently harbor killing energy, and generals carry the aura of battle.

Tree demons are naturally afraid of carpenters and woodcutters who have killed countless of their kin.

Once combined with the unassailable ’Defamation Technique’, even an Azure Dragon can be restrained.

The ’Defamation Technique’ was already widespread among carpenters, a common practice among ordinary people—effigies in conflict, bricks accompanying mourning rituals, burning dragon bones... even those without any knowledge of magic could wield it.

That’s because this very spell was one of the few on earth that could harm the nobility with its curse.

And the quintessential practitioners were the court itself throughout the ages!

Zhou Wenrui had always believed that he ascended to the throne entirely because of his own intelligence and wisdom.

Yet now, fifteen years later, he realized he actually sat on the throne given to him by a group from ’No-Life Dao’.

Was I the easiest among my brothers to manipulate back then?!

What a grave dishonor! What a grave dishonor indeed!

This was even harder to accept than being cuckolded by an eunuch.

Bang!

Zhou Wenrui slammed the memorial onto the desk, his mind consumed with how to take down Xue Jiexi—a figure with deep and widespread influence—with minimal cost.

He could no longer bother to trouble Zhou Jinhuan.

Even if this troublesome son had learned the secrets of the past, it made no difference.

Opening the ’Living Dragon Gate’ to release Qingyan came with exorbitant conditions indeed.

Zhou Wenrui never truly believed that Zhou Jinhuan, a mere warrior, would possess the capability.

The ’Living Dragon Gate’, ’Yunhe Bridge’, and ’Flood Dragon Sea’ under the watch of the ’One-Eyed Stone Man’—each represented nearly insurmountable obstacles.

It didn’t matter that he only had ’Long Water Camp’ under his command, even if he were to be given three or five ’Daoist Soldiers’ it would be in vain without the key insight.

The confinement was not because Zhou Wenrui held his son in high regard, but to prevent any unforeseen incidents.

How could he know, with Wang Yuan orchestrating behind the scenes, the rescue plan was essentially ready, lacking only a favorable moment?

Even this memorial was nothing but a trouble-stirring stick thrown into the mix by the brothers, worried that he was getting restless.

Zhou Wenrui, clutching his forehead, deeply contemplated before penning several edicts to transfer personnel, resolved to dismantle the power under Xue Jiexi’s command; then his pen paused slightly.

"And there’s the prophecy from the Winter Official.

On the second day of the second month during ’Fish Jumping Dragon Gate’, the ’No-Life Dao’s One-Eyed Stone Man’ will surely appear.

As long as we can execute it in time, whether it’s the foreseeable rerouting of the Turbid River, the decay of the north, or the ’Yunhe Bridge Falling Dragon’, nothing will pose a problem."

"Among the five remaining ’Martial Saints’ of Great Yan, my family’s ancestress, ’Leaf’s Dance on the Ground’ Xu Chuanyun, is nearing the end of her life span and cannot be easily disturbed.

But as long as the other four ’Martial Saints’—the Marquis, Zhou Xinglou, Pei Yulou, Xie Tianke, and Jiang Baimei—are in my hands, Great Yan can still sweep away any sect in the world with a wave of the hand!"

Zhou Wenrui’s expression was one of ruthlessness:

"No-Life Dao, Xue Jiexi, Long Qingyan... No one! No one can take away my throne!"