Chapter 237
"Xuan Jizi?"
Zheng Yi took a deep breath and said, "Is it true?"
"I am not sure, but the trace of alien magical power extracted from Chen Li's body is exactly the same as the Yin evil magical power cultivated by me, all of which is Yin Sha power."
Cui Xiabing said, "There are not many cultivators practicing Yin Sha magical power in Great Yu, and those attracted by my magical power must be from the same origin of the Pure Maiden Yin Sha Technique, otherwise it would not be so simple."
"Xuan Jizi..."
Zheng Yi calculated in his heart, Xuan Jizi had said years ago that she would return to Great Yu, but he didn't expect it to drag on until now.
What he didn't expect was that she wanted to steal his Ghost Spirit Grass and was defeated by his subordinates.
Zheng Yi said strangely, "I remember, you said before that your master's cultivation is about the sixth layer of Qi Cultivation, just one step away from reaching the late stage of Qi Cultivation?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"And Xuan Jizi has traveled the world for many years, most skilled in searching mountains for medicine, and has rich combat experience?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Then why... was she defeated and captured by Chen Li and others?"
Zheng Yi asked, "Also, your master has now sealed herself in a huge ice sculpture, is that your master's method?"
"I don't know either."
Cui Xiabing smiled bitterly, "My master and I lived together for only two years before she continued to travel."
"I don't know much about her either."
"I only know that my master seems to have had some friends in Xueyun Country, I often heard her mention it."
"The spell to freeze oneself might have been learned from Xueyun Country too."
Cui Xiabing said, "Your Majesty, please let me take a look at her, in case it's my master, I can still speak a few words."
"No need."
Zheng Yi shook his head and said, "You have been separated from your master for five years, and in these five years, you both have gone through a lot, how deep is the master-disciple relationship?"
"Beloved consort, rest first, after I have dealt with her and ensured absolute safety, then you can go to identify her."
"If it is indeed Xuan Jizi, beloved consort, you will come forward."
"If not, I will have to use other methods."
"I... comply with Your Majesty's will!"
After bidding farewell to Noble Consort Cui, Zheng Yi returned to Baiyu City and began preparations on how to deal with Xuan Jizi.
At the same time, in Kunning Palace.
Chief Eunuch Lu Fu swiftly entered the bedroom and respectfully said, "Empress, the name of Noble Consort Cui's son has been decided."
"Oh? What's it called?"
Lu Lin'er hurriedly sat up, the maid behind her still holding Zheng Chengji, coaxing him to sleep.
"To report to the Empress, Noble Consort Cui's son has been named 'Zheng Chengqian' by Your Majesty."
"Zheng Chengqian? Qian? Heaven and earth? Qian Tongtian? It means the emperor, does His Majesty intend to establish Noble Consort Cui's son as the Crown Prince?"
"To report to the Empress, it's not the Qian of heaven and earth."
Lu Fu quickly said, "It's the Qian of dormant."
"The Qian of dormant?"
Lu Lin'er finally breathed a sigh of relief and said softly, "I was wondering, how could it be the Qian of heaven and earth."
"The name Qian, well, it's not bad."
"It seems Your Majesty also has high hopes for Noble Consort Cui's child, but it's still incomparable to my Ji'er."
"Forget it, I'm tired, help me rest."
"Yes~"
The two close palace maids immediately said, one holding Zheng Chengji to the nurse's room, the other helping Lu Lin'er onto the bed.
"By the way Lu Fu, pass on the naming of Noble Consort Cui's son to my grandfather."
"I humbly comply with the decree!"
The news of Noble Consort Cui giving birth to a prince once again stirred up a wave in the Imperial Court, with many people whispering in discussion.
Even though the Cui Family had been suppressed significantly, a centipede dies but never falls down completely.
There were still many officials and forces related to the Cui Family in the entire court.
With the birth of Zheng Chengqian, another group of people began to gather in secrecy.
Passively or actively.
In this situation, Zheng Yi also began to prepare for Xuan Jizi.
He first sent her to the depths of the underground palace for imprisonment.
This place was a dungeon specially prepared by Zheng Yi for cultivators, and Fayuan was imprisoned here, spilling all the intelligence he knew.
At this time in the underground palace, the assassin Xuan Jizi, still frozen in an ice sculpture, was bound tightly with layer upon layer of iron chains.
At the same time on the ice sculpture, a series of grenades were strapped, connected by a fuse.
All around the dungeon, ceilings, even the ground, had holes with strong crossbow mechanisms set within.
With the slightest movement from the other party, hundreds of sharp crossbow arrows would instantaneously shoot out.
Even if she was a cultivator, without the protection of a magical shield, she would surely die!
Besides grenades and crossbow arrows, there were traps like poisonous gas, logs, waiting for the imprisoned person.
Aside from these basic preparations, Zheng Yi also awakened Chen Liancang and six innate Shadow Guards to guard the surroundings.
Finally, Zheng Yi also let six Blood Moon Gu climb on the ice sculpture, ready to strike.
Xuan Jizi, a Qi Cultivation Sixth-layer Cultivator.
The protective magical shield was broken, the magical artifact confiscated, even if released, with these preparations, Xuan Jizi would not be able to stir up much trouble.
After making these preparations, Noble Consort Cui had almost fully recovered.
Choosing a warm day, Zheng Yi brought Noble Consort Cui to the depths of the dungeon.
As soon as she saw the ice sculpture, Noble Consort Cui immediately walked up quickly.
"Master!?"
"Your Majesty! It's indeed my master... Although her appearance has changed somewhat, there's no doubt she's my teacher!"
Cui Xiabing spoke with a strange tone: "But she's a Qi Cultivation Middle-stage cultivator, how could she be captured by a mortal martial artist?"
Over the past few days, Zheng Yi carefully inquired about the scene when Chen Li fought Xuan Jizi, and explained: "I asked Chen Li to reconstruct the battle scene, and I came to a conclusion."
"The reason Xuan Jizi was defeated and ultimately had to freeze herself in this manner boils down to two reasons."
"First, she underestimated the enemy."
"She thought Chen Li and the others were just ordinary martial artists and could be easily defeated. She did not use magical artifacts to kill them but resorted to ordinary magic."
"In doing so, she lost the initiative in the battle."
"As for Chen Li and the others, knowing Xuan Jizi was a cultivator, they fought for their lives from the outset without holding anything back."
Zheng Yi continued, "The second point, grenades."
"Grenades?"
"Yes," Zheng Yi nodded and said, "I issued grenades to the Embroidered Uniform Guard to particularly protect those spirit grasses."
"When Chen Li was forced back in close combat by Xuan Jizi, he seized the opportunity to throw two grenades at her feet."
"At the time, Xuan Jizi did not know what they were, allowing the grenades to explode near her, directly breaking her protective magical shield."
"This was the fundamental reason for her failure."
"If she hadn't underestimated them, if it weren't for Chen Li and the others being equipped with numerous grenades, Xuan Jizi could have easily slaughtered them."
"Even if Chen Li is an Innate Realm martial artist, he's no match for Xuan Jizi!"
Cui Xiabing said respectfully, "Your Majesty, I have an audacious request, and I ask Your Majesty to grant it."
"Oh? What is it?"
"I ask Your Majesty... could you spare my master?"
Cui Xiabing said, "After all, she is my master, and she has bestowed wisdom upon me..."
Zheng Yi held Cui Xiabing's small hand, saying, "Dear concubine, what are you saying?"
"Your teacher is naturally also my teacher, how could I act against my own teacher?"
Zheng Yi said, "The only question is, how should we deal with this ice sculpture that protects Xuan Jizi?"
"Should we wait for it to melt on its own, or should I have someone try using explosives?"
"Please, don't, Your Majesty!"
Cui Xiabing hastily stopped Zheng Yi, "I seem to have heard my master mention this technique, let me try."
With that, Cui Xiabing walked in front of Xuan Jizi and carefully sensed something.
After a long time, she opened her eyes and said, "Your Majesty, this ice sculpture is formed by condensing Yin Evil Qi into ice, and it not only serves to protect her but also has healing capabilities."
"My master used this technique to seal herself, protecting herself while healing."
Zheng Yi shook his head and said, "Whoever invented this technique is a fool..."
"Why does Your Majesty say that?"
"Like Xuan Jizi, sealing oneself in ice seems safe, but if caught by the enemy, your life and death are in their hands."
Zheng Yi said, "For example, I can now completely suppress her."
"And if I wanted to kill her, it would be simple, just throw her into a volcano."
"I think, even as a cultivator, she would surely die!"
Cui Xiabing could only say, "Your Majesty is wise."
"My beloved concubine, can you melt this ice sculpture?"
"Now?"
"As soon as possible."
Zheng Yi said, "While your master is still severely injured, I want to have a good talk with her."
Cui Xiabing reluctantly said, "I obey Your Majesty's command."
"However, I have just given birth and don't know how long it will take to completely melt it."
"I'm in no hurry, my dear concubine. You can take your time, prioritizing your health."
Zheng Yi said, "Additionally, I will order the Shadow Guard to keep a strict watch over this place, and the Blood Moon Gu will also accompany you to suppress it."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
After arranging how to deal with Xuan Jizi, Zheng Yi returned once again to Baiyu City.
His time was also very tight.
The Blood Sacrifice Reincarnation Nine-child Fruit, the ritual practice of the Thousand Illusions Glazed Painting, and the Puppet Xuan Ye, all required a lot of time, but couldn't be rushed, so he had to take his time, grinding away.
While practicing and performing blood sacrifices on these treasures, time flowed by like water.
A month later, Zheng Yi was awoken by Liu Cheng'en.
This time Zheng Yi was well-prepared, as one month coincided with the time for Consort Yu and Consort Chan to give birth.
Sure enough, Liu Cheng'en called him to wake up, precisely because Consort Yu was about to give birth!
"Your Majesty! Consort Yu is about to give birth, and I had to wake you up early."
"Oh?"
Zheng Yi was not surprised, saying, "I too have been calculating the time of Consort Yu's delivery. How is it now?"
Within Baiyu City, Zheng Yi slowly emerged from the underground palace.
Liu Cheng'en followed closely by his side, cautiously saying, "Reporting to Your Majesty, the midwives have already entered, but there's one more thing I need to report."
"What is it?"
"Taiyii Dao's Zhao Suling is currently waiting outside the hall."
"Zhao Suling? What is he here for?"
Zheng Yi thought for a moment and said, "Let him in."
"Yes!"
"Summon Taiyii Dao, Zhao Suling!"