The eunuch in the cold palace: You get the Nine Yang Divine Skill right from the start!

Ningyue Palace, inside the courtyard.

Chu Chengjing held the secret letter, trembling with rage.

He simply couldn't understand how the Jiang family could be so cruel and despicable as to actually harm a nun who was distributing porridge. If Shen Mo hadn't intervened, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

Upon receiving the message, he immediately dispatched someone to issue an imperial decree to the Eastern Depot, determined to take down the Jiang family!

"His Majesty!"

From the shadows, the Ninth Prince appeared and advised, "It would be best to find a pretext for this matter, otherwise it might arouse suspicion from those with ulterior motives."

Chu Chengjing was somewhat displeased and replied coldly:

"Why do I need a reason to take over the Jiang family?"

"No, I'm afraid that some people with ulterior motives will doubt the Empress Dowager's identity."

The Ninth Prince lowered his head even further; all his suggestions were for the emperor's benefit.

Chu Chengjing frowned, turned his head to look at Ningyue Palace behind him, and the woman standing at the palace gate.

Jiang Ningyue!

This girl followed him when she was fifteen, and now she is only in her early twenties. She is deeply loved and trusted by him.

However, this time, things have already crossed a line.

The Jiang family must be killed. Once the Jiang family is destroyed, how could Jiang Ningyue treat him the same way as before?

"Fine, it's time to make a decision. I might as well use her as an excuse."

Chu Chengjing sighed softly and gave the Ninth Prince a look.

The old eunuch understood immediately and went outside to summon two more eunuchs, who then escorted Jiang Ningyue out, one on each side.

As Jiang Ningyue passed by Chu Chengjing, she cried out in alarm, "Your Majesty! What is the meaning of this, Your Majesty? I cannot understand!"

She screamed her heart out, because she already knew where she was being taken—to the Cold Palace.

Chu Chengjing remained silent.

The old friendship still exists, but when faced with matters of principle, even he, the emperor, has to make choices.

Or rather, no one could compare to the Empress Dowager's position in his heart; he owed her far too much.

After the sound faded into the distance, he suddenly thought of someone and asked:

"It's been quite a few years since Consort Xiang was banished to the Cold Palace, hasn't it?"

"Yes!" the Ninth Prince replied, bowing.

Chu Chengjing was lost in memories.

Jiang Ningyue and Liu Ruyan are remarkably similar; both are daughters of prominent families. The difference is that after he became infatuated with Jiang Ningyue, he gradually neglected her. Later, he was even bewitched by her to banish Liu Ruyan to the cold palace on a trivial charge.

Many years have passed since then.

He still remembered that although Liu Ruyan was shocked at the time, she did not beg for mercy, nor did she cry uncontrollably like Jiang Ning'er.

Chu Chengjing suddenly felt guilty and whispered, "Tell me, did I do something wrong back then?"

The Nine Thousand Years Old remained silent.

Chu Chengjing smiled. This old eunuch never criticized him; his silence was tantamount to agreement.

"I suddenly became very curious about what kind of magic Shen Mo possessed that made Liu Ruyan willing to plead with Le Yao for his sake."

At this moment, a secret letter concerning Shenmo arrived.

Chu Chengjing untied the pigeon leg, opened it, and became increasingly shocked as he looked at it. He exclaimed, "I really underestimated Shen Mo. He only knew how to flatter and fawn, but he's already grown to this level?"

The Ninth Prince took the secret letter he handed over and was equally shocked after reading it.

Shen Mo, surprisingly, stormed into the Jiang family's residence all by himself!

It should be noted that the Jiang family employs many skilled guards, many of whom are martial artists who run martial arts schools outside the Blood Transformation Realm. They are among the best in the Blood Transformation Realm, but they are no match for Shen Mo.

Even more terrifying, he also challenged Cao Lingkun, the head of the Eastern Depot, to a duel, defeating him despite being a whole realm above him!

It's not a sneak attack, nor is it some shady tactic like poisoning; it's winning fair and square from the front!

Chu Chengjing asked, "What do you think?"

After taking a deep breath, the Ninth Prince used only four words to evaluate the situation:

"The potential to become a grandmaster!"

Many grandmasters displayed extraordinary talent when they reached the Body Refinement Realm and Blood Transformation Realm, enabling them to kill enemies across borders.

Shen Mo has already demonstrated the qualities of a master.

Chu Chengjing nodded and sighed, "What's even more remarkable is that he only has a third-class aptitude. No wonder he's so eager for me to reward him with the Glazed Ice. Speaking of which, Cao Lingkun is really getting worse as he gets older!"

"Why doesn't Your Majesty go with the flow?"

"You mean... Fine, then take my imperial edict to the national treasury."

.........

The Imperial Study.

"Your Majesty, Shen Mo requests an audience!"

"allow!"

After receiving permission, Shen Mo went inside and saw the emperor bent over his desk reviewing memorials. The emperor looked up, a half-smile on his face, and said, "Little Mo, you're certainly making a grand entrance tonight!"

Shen Mo's mind stirred slightly. He figured that once the Jiang family was in death row, they would have confessed everything, and what happened that night would naturally not be hidden from the emperor. So he said:

"Your Majesty, please forgive me! My original intention was to make an example of Marquis Jiang and avenge Consort Xiang! I did not know that Your Majesty would also target the Jiang family."

He certainly couldn't use Duanchen as an excuse, otherwise, if the emperor knew that he had gotten so angry over a nun, it would seem absurd no matter how you looked at it.

Liu Ruyan is perfect for taking the blame.

Judging from the methods he used to arrest the entire Jiang family, he probably wouldn't hold a grudge against Liu Ruyan for it.

Chu Chengjing rolled his eyes and snorted coldly, "I have long had evidence of the Jiang family's crimes. I let them off the hook before because of Consort Yue, but I didn't expect them to become even more outrageous. In a fit of anger, I also banished Consort Yue to the Cold Palace."

Consort Yue was a daughter of the Jiang family.

Upon hearing this, Shen Mo felt a huge weight lifted from his heart.

The worst-case scenario is that the emperor is only dissatisfied with the Jiang family, but if he keeps Jiang Ningyue by his side day and night, whispering sweet nothings in his ear, things will become very difficult.

The emperor's heart is unpredictable; serving a ruler is like serving a tiger—this saying is absolutely true.

Chu Chengjing waved his hand and said, "Let's not talk about the Jiang family anymore. Little Mozi, I heard that even Cao Lingkun was defeated by you?"

"I won by luck. If we were to fight again, I have no confidence in winning again."

Shen Mo's words were half modesty and half truth. After both sides figured out each other's tactics, it was still uncertain who would win if they were to fight Cao Lingkun again.

Chu Chengjing was satisfied with his answer and nodded, saying, "Do you still remember the agreement you made with me?"

"Your subject will never forget!"

Shen Mo bent his waist even lower.

The two had agreed that if he reached the threshold of the Blood Core Realm within a year, the other party would reward him with the royal treasure, the Glazed Ice, which could upgrade his root bone.

Now that I'm in the mid-stage of Blood Refining, I'm not far from the late stage. It's a certainty that I'll reach the threshold of Blood Core Realm within a year.

Chu Chengjing took out a jade box that exuded a cold aura and opened it in Shen Mo's direction. Inside was a transparent, ice-like object that emitted a precious light.

"Liuli Ice?"

Shen Mo's eyes lit up; this was undoubtedly the legendary Glazed Ice.

Chu Chengjing said calmly, "Judging from your performance, I have lost! I will bestow this Glazed Ice upon you in advance. You only need to put it in your mouth but do not swallow it, and then circulate your cultivation technique to devour it."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Shen Mo happily accepted it, knowing that this would allow him to further improve his physical constitution.

Physical attributes have always been his weakness.

Chu Chengjing suddenly said, "This glass ice of mine isn't so easy to obtain. You have to do something for me."