Chapter 154: A Massacre

"What are you trying to say, you rascal?" Old Marshal Qiu glared at Yun Yang, obviously dissatisfied that he was interrupting the conversation with a total disregard of the situation he was in and a total lack of awareness of his own inconsequentiality.

Did you not see us adults discussing with such conviction and ambition?

"I wanted to say that I can soothe the condition further with these pills..." Yun Yang looked at Qiu Jianhan innocently. "The mystical skill I cultivate... has a unique effect towards poisons and toxins. As long as I condition His Majesty's meridians every few days, I can suppress the poison's deadly progress. I am confident about this, didn't I already prove myself the other day?"

"What did you say?" Qiu Jianhan was rather skeptical of what he had just heard. Even his old friend, the top-tiered Saintly Physician You Tiexin, for whom he had such high hopes, was helpless and could do nothing. This child was affirming that he could tackle it? If you had such capability, why aren't you in heaven yet?

"I'm speaking the truth. I've combed through His Majesty's meridians the other day. You think His Majesty can be so level-headed today if I hadn't done that? It's because I've subdued the poison that has gone to His Majesty's head that His Majesty has regained his astuteness! Old Marshal, you can't just ignore my merits!" Yun Yang spoke with indignation of someone who has been gravely wronged.

All three listeners were stunned. Old Marshal Qiu recalled the situation previously. The young man was right, of course; the emperor had been rather muddled and was not as incisive as usual. His recovery was the direct result of Yun Yang's contribution!

Perhaps things were not as hopeless as they appeared to be.

"Why didn't you say so earlier? Don't you know how important it is?" Qiu Jianhan managed to sound angry despite being utterly delighted.

Looking at the unreasonable old thing. Yun Yang was exasperated. "Old Marshal, we have to be reasonable... That day when I began healing His Majesty's body, I've told you about the emperor's condition and the counter treatment but it was you who set things aside afterward. You've only thought of me today! No, you didn't even think of me - you only thought of the three pills! This is the third time I've spoken about this today, did you realize?"

"No, you didn't!" The old man continued to be unreasonable as he raised his hand, about to reward the young rascal with violence.

"Fine, I haven't said anything about it since you say so... Consider that I've forgotten to mention it, okay?" Yun Yang changed his words according to the situation at once and apologized, "It is my mistake, is it not? You, old sir, who are merciful and meritorious, I beg your forgiveness."

"Then what are you muttering about? Haul yourself over here to treat His Majesty, quickly!" The old marshal huffed. He seemed to be a little flustered as well; perhaps he was abashed or experiencing some other form of a malady, but it wasn't entirely clear what it was.

Yun Yang chuckled dryly and agreed subserviently at once, looking at You Tiexin who was laughing a little and the emperor whose eyes were laced with smiles.

He then went over.

I truly can't mess with this old thing.

"Let me try out your mystical skill and mystical Qi to get a feel of them." You Tiexin extended his hand.

Yun Yang knew that there must be a reason for this old man to do so; the latter was a physician, after all, his considerations must be well- rounded. Yun Yang did not refuse nor mind and directed a flow of his mystical Qi to course through You Tiexin's meridians.

Before even a single round was completed, You Tiexin grew alarmed as his expression took on worried cast.

His eyes were wide as they bore holes into Yun Yang; the old man was close to gasping out loud.

"Alright, that is enough." You Tiexin was trembling a little, his gaze towards Yun Yang tinged with wonder.

"Your Majesty, Old Marshal." You Tiexin began before mulling over his choice of words and continued again, "With these three pills and Young Master Yun's mystical skill... these pills only have to be consumed every three months while allowing Young Master Yun Yang to direct his Qi in conditioning the emperor... The poison in Your Majesty's body will remain for at least - the safest estimation would be..."

He trailed off and paused for a bit before continuing, "There isn't a need to be overly worried for at least five years. Even if Your Majesty uses mystical Qi occasionally, that would be fine as well. In addition to that, if Young Master Yun's cultivation base improves in the future, perhaps Your Majesty's poison can be gradually extinguished by Young Master Yun's unique mystical skill and be cured entirely!"

He heaved a calm sigh, "It is Yutang's fortune and that of the world at large!"

The emperor, who had long tossed the matter of life and death aside, could not help but be delighted as well.

No matter how open-minded and liberal a person was, who would really want to die if given the chance to live?

Old Marshal Qiu was thrilled! If he had not made an effort to hold himself back, he might already be dancing with joy.

He stepped forward and slapped Yun Yang's shoulder. "Good job, young man! Good job indeed. You will be the Empire of Yutang's national treasure in the future!"

Yun Yang stepped aside to move to behind the emperor and rolled his eyes discreetly before beginning to treat His Majesty.

National treasure? This older brother has always been a national treasure!

The Emperor , who had consumed a pill and recuperated by Yun Yang's Endless Divine Art, stood up with good spirits. He felt lighter and more at ease than ever before this period of time as he said good-naturedly, "Looks like I shouldn't die yet! The heavens have sent me a savior."

His Majesty had actually made a joke. Qiu Jianhan could only feel the rock that was pressuring him being taken off.

"Still, Your Majesty shouldn't be careless..." You Tiexin advised, "Your Majesty should still be very cautious for the duration of time especially in what Your Majesty eats... If the perpetrator were to realize a turn in Your Majesty's situation, they might change their tactics. We're fighting an invisible enemy, after all, it's better to be wary."

The old saintly physician did not finish speaking but the old marshal and the emperor had both understood what he meant.

His Majesty nodded gently and said grimly, "I naturally understand this."

Just these five words had the hearts of You Tiexin, who had been used to life and death, and Lord Supreme Cloud, who had been flirting with death, jumped slightly.

...

On the same night, a severe case of treason erupted in the palace.

Some three hundred eunuchs, a hundred maids, including all chefs in the royal kitchen, and His Majesty's three favorite consorts and their families, as well as numerous eunuchs and maids from the royal study and royal bedchamber, were all banished within this night!

All of them had been beheaded in public

This wave had seen a total of over eight thousand people dead.

This unforeseen incident had elements of aggressiveness but what had turned heads was the strength of counterattack the targeted crowd possessed.

Firstly, the inner court guards had unexpectedly faced a strong resistance when they were capturing a few head eunuchs in the palace; seven to eight of those eunuchs actually had fifth to sixth level exceptional skills. After a big fight, the inner court guards had only managed to seize all of the eunuchs, at the cost of countless casualties.

They actually did not seize all of them because there were three eunuchs who had fled, wounded, charging through the defenses based on their skill & abilities.

As for the maids of the three favored consorts, some of them were rather skilled too. One had managed to flee while the others were killed on the spot after a tough battle.

For the consorts' families, two families had been captured entirely, being caught off guard while another actually had several thousand members of the personal army. They had openly fought against the royal guards who had come to seize them and not only were they not at the lower hand, they seemed to be able to turn the tables around. It was only when the city soldiers had summoned a thirty-thousand strong troop that the family could be annihilated.

After the battle, the capital city fell into a hotbed of blood and blades; the thick copper scent of blood in the air did not dissipate even after a number of days.

Once the emperor was infuriated, it was true that there were many corpses scattered everywhere while blood streamed in rivers.

The whole of the capital was trembling in fright.

All the civil and military officials were holding their breaths, not one dared rebel.

This rebellion had come so abruptly that it was extinguished even more brusquely.

The fourth prince, who had entered the palace to pay his respects, was initially fine. For some reason, he had asked about this incident and the emperor had replied chillingly, "My son is rather concerned about this, is he? I wonder which close subordinate of yours has had their benefits being removed that my son has to come and ask for himself. Since you're so concerned about it, isn't it better if you sit on this throne of mine?"

"Could it be that I need you to question me on how I handle things? Are you going to go further and manage a level higher just because you asked?"

Facing such penetrating and exposing words, the fourth prince had fled the palace soaked in sweat and petrified beyond belief.

He had left the palace and gone back to his residence, but he was still pale. His colors refusing to return to his face.

The fright was immense as he got sick soon after.

Not only was the threat implied in His Majesty's words menacing, its core implication struck right at the fourth prince's ulterior motive!

Almost all the members in the palace were reorganized.

On the second day, the new chef from the royal kitchen had somehow violated the emperor's taboo and His Majesty had flipped the dining table out of rage. The chef was beheaded in public and a new chef was inserted in the afternoon.

There was also hearsay that the empress had pleaded mercy for one of the consorts and the reply had only been the icy-cold gaze from His Majesty. After that, the empress was grounded and had never exited Longevity Palace ever since.

It was also hearsay that she might not be able to come out for the following year!

...

"There is only about half that has been annihilated this time..."

The emperor and Old Marshal Qiu had met in secret on one of the nights after the incident had passed as the former said bluntly, "I know... who the rest are but we can't wipe them all out now."

Qiu Jianhan replied in a comforting manner, "It's already an absolute delight to have Your Majesty's health saved. We have lots of opportunities to work out the accounts with these fellows in the future. There is no need to be impatient indeed. It would utterly fail if we roused their alert instead!"

"Agreed!"