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Grannie Cai looked deeply at her mistress.
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing suddenly summoned the Dragon Shadow Guard with a flick of her wide sleeves.
A sense of foreboding arose in Grannie Cai's heart, and she anxiously asked, "Imperial concubine dowager... What are you planning to do?"
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing looked at the Dragon Shadow Guard in front of her like a killing tool and commanded in a cold voice, "Head to Renshou Palace and assassinate Empress Dowager Zhuang!"
Grannie Cai was utterly shocked, "Imperial concubine dowager! You can't do this! If you're discovered, you'll have no way out! You will also be buried with Empress Dowager!"
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing coldly stared at the Dragon Shadow Guard, saying, "Do it discreetly, without being detected. Otherwise, don't bother coming back!"
The Dragon Shadow Guard was more than capable of infiltrating Renshou Palace and carrying out assassinations.
They hadn't done so before because it wasn't necessary. Empress Dowager Zhuang and the Emperor were constantly at odds, and her days were far from pleasant. Wouldn't it be better for her to suffer alive than to kill her?
However, the Dragon Shadow Guard remained motionless.
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing furrowed her brows. "I told you to go to Renshou Palace and kill the Empress Dowager, Zhuang Jinse!"
The Dragon Shadow Guard still didn't move.
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing repeated her order, making sure the Dragon Shadow Guard had heard it, but the Dragon Shadow Guard still refused to carry out the order.
When the Dragon Shadow Guards were assigned to her, the Emperor had given them the order to obey her every command.
However, she knew that the commands given to the Dragon Shadow Guards had a hierarchy.
Their first priority was to obey the late Emperor's orders, and the second was to obey the reigning Emperor's orders.
When her commands conflicted with the orders previously given, the Dragon Shadow Guards would not carry out her commands.
Ever since the Emperor placed the Dragon Shadow Guards under her hands, he hadn't spoken to them again.
In other words, someone had given orders to the Dragon Shadow Guards before she received them–– they were not to harm Zhuang Jinse.
Who gave the Dragon Shadow Guards this order?
Was it the current Emperor? Or was it the late Emperor?
If it was the late Emperor, what was the meaning behind that imperial decree then?
If it was the present Emperor, the late Emperor had passed the Dragon Shadow Guards to him before his death, at a time when his relationship with Empress Dowager Zhuang was already deteriorating. Yet, he still ordered the Dragon Shadow Guards not to harm her?
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing couldn't understand. She didn't know which of these two men was protecting Zhuang Jinse. It was clear that Zhuang Jinse was so unworthy!
As a wife, she had never truly loved her husband. She had used the late Emperor her entire life, turning all the imperial concubines of the late Emperor into her pawns.
As a mother, she hadn't wholeheartedly supported her own son. She held the reins of power, occupying the court and making the Emperor a laughable puppet Emperor.
Zhuang Jinse was a calamity to the nation, an embodiment of evil. Everybody wanted her dead!
"Imperial concubine dowager... Imperial concubine dowager..." Grannie Cai saw that Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing's expression was becoming increasingly abnormal. Worriedly, she approached and gently held her arm. "You're tired. Don't think about anything. Let me help you to bed for a rest."
Imperial Concubine Dowager Jing raised her head blankly, but the moment she turned around, her blood surged, and she spat out a mouthful of blood——
……
Renshou Palace.
Empress Dowager Zhuang was very joyful today.
Not only had she slapped her foolish son a few times, but she also received five sweet candied fruits she had worked hard to earn. No, counting yesterday's, there were a total of ten!
She took out her little candy jar and ate only five, saving the remaining five for later when she ran out of food!
The all-powerful demon empress was truly so witty!
Gu Jiao left Renshou Palace after having lunch there.
Eunuch Qin arranged for a carriage to take her back.
But Gu Jiao didn't return to the medical hall. Instead, she told the coachman a different destination.
The carriage maintained a speed that was neither too slow nor too fast, just enough to keep Gu Jiao comfortable without excessive jolting.
Indeed, the coachman from Renshou Palace was very capable. Gu Jiao was very satisfied with the ride.
Gu Jiao was in a good mood today. She hummed a few lines from a tune she had heard from Gu Chengfeng, it was just that her singing voice was only decent when it came to popular songs from her past life, and now, singing opera, it was really a bit lacking.
The coachman almost lost control of the carriage several times!
The carriage stopped at the entrance of the Narcissus Embroidery House.
The coachman said, "Young Miss Gu, I'll wait for you here."
Gu Jiao said, "No need. I'll go back on my own later. You can return to the palace."
Those who came out of Renshou Palace were astute individuals, and he could tell that Gu Jiao had her own business to attend to. Hence he didn't insist and drove the carriage back to the palace.
Gu Jiao walked into the Narcissus Embroidery House and arrived at the underground martial arts arena through the dyeing workshop.
Old He had been pacing back and forth at the entrance for a while and finally saw Gu Jiao. He let out a long sigh of relief. "Ah, you scared me, Little Brother Gu. I thought you weren't coming!"
Gu Jiao had already changed her clothes and put on a mask while in the carriage.
She took out a small notebook and quickly wrote: ‘Is it my turn to go on stage today?’
Old He hurriedly replied, "Yes, it's your turn! Don't worry, the first match won't be difficult. I've arranged it, and with your skills, there shouldn't be a problem. I've explained the rules to you before, right? Do you remember them?"
Gu Jiao nodded.
The rules of the underground martial arts arena were similar to those of the Taihe Martial Arts School— with a promotion system. However, they were stricter and more brutal here. There were ten levels, from level one to level ten. Taking novices as an example, they would advance one level for every ten matches won.
Challenging opponents of higher levels was allowed, but winning wouldn't directly transfer the opponent's achievements as it did in the martial arts school.
Gu Jiao looked at the prominent wall in the martial arts arena where a black and gold bas-relief board hung high, displaying a series of small wooden plaques in order.
Gu Jiao wrote: ‘What is that?’
Old He looked over and showed a deeply respectful expression, "That's the leaderboard of the underground martial arts arena. The top one hundred names are on the list."
Gu Jiao wrote again: ‘What happens if you get on the list?’
Old He smilingly said, "You'll receive offerings from the underground martial arts arena."
Was it a stipend?
Gu Jiao's eyes lit up. She wrote: ‘How much is the offering?’
Old He patiently explained, "Those ranked below fifty don't receive much, ranging from one to ten taels of silver per month. Those ranked above fifty receive twenty taels per month. For those ranked in the top forty, it's fifty taels per month. For those ranked in the top thirty, it's one hundred taels per month. And for those in the top twenty, it's based on their individual value."
Gu Jiao quickly wrote: ‘What's the highest amount?’
Old He thought she was just curious and casually replied, not thinking that her ambition would be so great, "There's no limit."
Gu Jiao wrote: ‘So, it's as much as one's worth?’
"Right, it’s as much as one's worth. As far as I know, there was a top-ranked individual who received this amount for one month." Old He said, raising a finger.
Gu Jiao wrote in astonishment, ‘One thousand taels?’
Old He’s smile deepened, "In gold."
Gu Jiao looked at the fiercely competitive martial arts arena, narrowed her eyes slightly, and licked her lips.
She liked it here.
Raz P.'s Thoughts
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