Chapter 11: A Change of Dynasties

Su Chen returned to the Library.

The night had passed.

Everything had settled.

However, the Imperial City was destined to be restless; there was no telling how many powerful figures involved would see their families ruined and their lives ended.

The sky was just beginning to brighten.

Su Chen was awakened in the Library by a faint scent of blood.

In the courtyard, Zhang Gui stood still, quietly watching the few herbs Su Chen had planted take root and sprout, pushing through the thick white snow to reveal new green shoots.

"Are the herbs ripe?"

Su Chen felt a touch of joy.

After all, this Grade 2 Heart-Devouring Powder was his most potent weapon.

"You weren't arrested?"

Su Chen found it incredible.

Regardless of anything else, as a Deputy Chief Eunuch of the Inner Palace, Zhang Gui had participated in the palace coup last night. Even if he had kept a low profile, it would have been easy to settle scores with him.

"The old Emperor doesn't have much time left to live."

Zhang Gui spoke suddenly.

Su Chen was puzzled.

Last night, the rebellions of both princes had been suppressed, and with the First Purple-Robed Supervisor present, how could the old Emperor...

"Did the Black Abyss make a move?"

Su Chen looked at Zhang Gui, probing.

"That's right."

"In the Imperial Study, the old Emperor was stabbed in his demonic heart, reverting to that dying state. I fear he will pass away today."

"This was a grand gift from the Black Abyss to the two princes."

"But who would have thought that the First Purple-Robed Supervisor could counter-kill the strongest of this generation's Celestial Master Mansion, the peak Grade 1 Daoist Ziwei? Both princes were also killed..."

"Now, the Chief Eunuch and the Second Red-Robed Lord have already gone to see the new Emperor..."

The old Emperor was dying.

This was something no one had expected—not even the First Purple-Robed Supervisor, who had been so valiant last night, unleashing a sword of wind and snow to slay a peak Grade 1 expert.

But the two princes in white with dragon patterns had already been executed.

How could there be a new Emperor in the Imperial City...

"There is one."

Perhaps guessing Su Chen's confusion, Zhang Gui sighed and offered a slight hint. Su Chen instantly recalled the noble-looking young man who had once tried to solicit a formula from him.

"The Seventh Prince?"

Zhang Gui left.

He, too, was going to support the new Emperor.

Whether it was sincere or feigned, no one could say.

At the very least, the Library had returned to peace.

"Tides rise and fall; what does that have to do with me?"

"I hope that blade of grass never has to be used."

Su Chen dug up the herbs and injected three strands of Longevity True Qi into the main ingredients of two portions of Heart-Devouring Powder. In an instant, century-old precious medicines were born.

Following that, a second and third bottle of Heart-Devouring Powder appeared.

At the same time, Su Chen clearly felt that the recovery speed of the Longevity True Qi in his body had slowed down significantly.

"So, as the Longevity True Qi is used, the speed at which it recovers becomes slower and slower?"

Su Chen didn't mind; he had a long life ahead to recover his True Qi.

In a flash, a few more days passed.

There was still no news of the new Emperor ascending the throne or the old Emperor passing away.

Instead, Su Chen's "Six-Zhang Golden Body Technique" had reached the late stage of Grade 5—that is, seven times the blood and qi of a martial arts prodigy at the Flesh Realm perfection. His surging blood and qi seemed as if they wanted to boil and burn.

Even after scouring the classics, Su Chen could not find a single record of such a situation.

Even the old demon Gu Jue did not seem to have had such an anomaly when he was at the fifth realm.

It seemed that in this fifth grade, the Flesh Realm, he was one of a kind.

Winter finally passed.

The 24th year of Tianwu, the first day of the second lunar month.

A full month had passed since the palace coup that night, and the heavens had changed.

"The new Emperor ascends the throne!"

"Long live His Majesty, long live, long live!"

Separated by dozens of miles, Su Chen looked toward the Golden Throne Hall from afar. He could almost see the Seventh Prince, sitting on the throne in a daze, enduring the kowtowing of the ministers filling the hall.

He was merely a puppet.

Because he had not received the recognition of the First Purple-Robed Supervisor, that peak Grade 1 master who suppressed the world.

But the change of dynasty was real.

The concubines of the old Emperor were either sent to the Cold Palace or ordered to die to accompany the late Emperor.

The harem was much emptier.

But it wouldn't be long before new palace maids would enter, becoming beauties, concubines, or even noble consorts and empresses.

"These things have nothing to do with me."

Su Chen began to fiddle with his flowers and plants again.

Naturally, they were all poisonous.

"Master Su."

Xu Xiaohan walked into the Library.

Consort Zhang was already a thing of the past.

But even without the Fifth Prince, with Consort Zhang as his backing, and being a Grade 3 expert and Deputy Chief Eunuch of the Inner Palace, the young Zhang Gui had already grown into a mountain himself.

Zhang Gui had been promoted again.

Or rather, the Red-Robed Chief who managed all affairs of the Martial Bureau had committed an offense, and now all matters, big and small, were held in Zhang Gui's palm.

Even Xu Xiaohan was in high spirits.

Dressed in a blue eunuch's uniform, with a group of black-clad young eunuchs behind him, he looked at Su Chen with awe. They were clearly confused as to why a eunuch in black would make their Manager Xu so respectful.

"Has the new Emperor's era name been set yet?"

Su Chen wiped his mouth. His appetite had become picky lately; he wasn't interested in the dazzling array of meat dishes, only tasting a few vegetable dishes lightly.

"That person won't allow it..."

Xu Xiaohan lowered his voice.

The First Purple-Robed Supervisor.

By now, he had become an emperor who stood above the Emperor.

The old Emperor could still suppress him, but the new Emperor was too immature—a dissolute prince who only knew of romance and had accomplished nothing, yet had inexplicably picked up a throne.

How could he reclaim power from the hands of a Grade 1 master who suppressed the world?

"Leave. I want to rest."

"When you have time, have Zhang Gui collect more seeds of exotic flowers and herbs for me."

"I understand."

"The perfume and soap business all fell into his hands after the Fifth Prince died. He is undoubtedly the richest merchant in the Great Liang now, so I won't give him any money."

Su Chen gave his instructions.

This left the young eunuchs who had followed Xu Xiaohan into the courtyard trembling with fear.

Eunuch Zhang Gui was practically a Chief Eunuch of the Inner Palace.

How could this person dare to speak like that? And he was wearing black robes, appearing to have no cultivation or power at all.

Was he not afraid of death?

"Yes."

"Master Su, is there anyone here you find pleasing? Shall I have him stay to serve you?"

Xu Xiaohan gestured for Su Chen to pick one from the new eunuchs, but Su Chen waved him off. He didn't like having people in the Library, and he liked having someone stay with him even less.

After all, he had too many secrets.

Xu Xiaohan left with the young eunuchs.

"Manager Xu, who exactly is that? Such airs. I saw he was only wearing black; he's clearly at the very bottom just like us..."

A young eunuch asked.

"Don't ask."

"You only need to know that Master Su could easily obtain the green and red robes of a Deputy Chief Eunuch if he wanted to. It's a pity he didn't take a liking to you; you've missed a chance to soar to the heavens."