"Is this my golden finger?"
Zheng Yi turned over and sat up, carefully observing the scene in his mind.
It was an ancient bronze mirror.
Its diameter was about ten inches, and its thickness was half an inch.
Upon closer inspection, the front of the treasure mirror was a brass-colored mirror surface, seemingly reflecting something, yet nothing was clear.
The back of the treasure mirror was covered with intricate patterns, filled with a mysterious aura.
Upon a closer look, it resembled the sun, moon, and stars, as well as mountains and rivers, quite peculiar.
"Yin Yang Treasure Mirror, is the talent Yin Yang? What is Yin Yang?"
Intersex?
Zheng Yi murmured, recalling the eunuch Wang Zhongyi who had just walked out, his tone full of strangeness and confusion.
"No matter what, the Yin Yang Treasure Mirror is my golden finger, I must understand its function."
"At least now I'm in the Imperial Palace, useful to the Emperor, so I won't be inexplicably killed..."
Thinking about this turbulent world, even the Emperor needs to seek shadows to save his life, one can only imagine how miserable ordinary people live.
Zheng Yi came to the window and found that the windows had been locked by someone, only being able to vaguely see the distant sky.
"I don't know what the Yin Yang Treasure Mirror does, the best way is to find a safe place to hide and figure out its use... But I am in the palace, still the Emperor's shadow."
Danger!
Thinking about the emperors in history, and the fate of shadows, he shuddered.
"I can't just die so cheaply..."
"I must practice martial arts!"
In this world, there is a path of Martial Dao.
To avoid being killed, or dying from illness or poison or other accidents, I must step into the realm of Martial Arts Innate, a peerless master!
At that time, even surrounded by tens of thousands of troops, I can still leave calmly.
With this in mind, Zheng Yi secretly made a firm decision in his heart.
"Fortunately, I'm the Emperor's shadow now, I can temporarily use his power to cultivate the Martial Dao."
"If I had transmigrated into a eunuch or something, that would be a real pain, even if I had wealth and glory... would it be useful?!"
"But being a shadow is really awkward, I could become a scapegoat at any time."
"Unless I can become the real Emperor...!"
"Let's not rush, it's temporarily safe."
"After all, I'm a shadow, even if I go out, I'll be under the guards' protection... let's practice martial arts first!"
He wandered around the room, quickly returning to the bedside.
Although this house was quaint and quite serene, it was only about a hundred square feet, could be seen at a glance, and had no interesting features, so he could only wait for tomorrow.
Early the next morning, Wang Zhongyi indeed brought an old man with a white beard to find him.
"This person is Elder Master Chen Yushu, a scholar of the Hanlin Academy, today he will teach you knowledge."
"Elder Master Chen was the top scholar of the eighth year of Zhengan, you must follow him and study well."
"Yes, Eunuch Wang."
At this time, Zheng Yi was already wearing a strange mask on his face.
Thin as a cicada's wing, perfectly covering his face, but outwardly a stiff-faced middle-aged man.
Elder Master Chen gave Zheng Yi a strange look; he couldn't figure out who Zheng Yi was, only faithfully completing his task.
"Today, the content I will explain is 'The Analects: First Chapter of Learning...'"
"Uh... Elder Master Chen, I can't read."
"Hmm?"
Elder Master Chen and Wang Zhongyi exchanged glances, Zheng Yi was also helpless.
The script of this world was very similar to that of his previous life, but fundamentally different.
Wang Zhongyi also chuckled silently, after all, he was a rustic villager, alone, where could he have learned to read?
"Elder Master Chen, let's start with the basics."
"This... is!"
Elder Master Chen could only nod helplessly and resumed teaching the most basic characters.
Very quickly, half a day passed, and Zheng Yi also learned over a hundred characters.
After all, they were pictographic characters, destined for the same end by different means.
However, he did not show it, only trying to write a dozen or so characters.
"Hmm... not bad."
Wang Zhongyi also nodded slightly: "Good comprehension, next learn the court etiquette."
This time, an official from the Ministry of Rites replaced him, explaining some necessary court etiquettes to Zheng Yi.
During this time, Wang Zhongyi was often not present, after all, he was a confidant of Emperor Zhengyong, he couldn't always stay by Zheng Yi's side.
In the following days, Zheng Yi kept learning the cultural knowledge and court etiquette of this world, while also getting in touch with some knowledge of the Imperial Court.
After all, he was to be the Emperor's shadow, surely he had to contact the Imperial Court.
Moreover, his meals had undergone a tremendous change.
Such as ginseng and deer antler, bear paw, bird's nest, all kinds of rare ingredients were at his disposal.
In just ten days, his physique began to fill out, and the tone of his skin changed.
On this day, under the guidance of Wang Zhongyi, Zheng Yi entered the Taihe Hall at around 5:00 AM, dressed in the attire of an eunuch.
This was the place where the Emperor and the civil and military officials discussed state affairs!
To wake someone up at 5:00 AM is utterly inhumane!
If he were to become the Emperor...
"Court session!"
"All officials, bow!"
"Long live, long live, long live Your Majesty...!"
"State your concerns or dismiss the court!"
"Your servant has something to report!"
An elder in a vermilion official robe knelt down: "Reporting to Your Majesty, Qinghe County has suffered from a drought for three years, causing countless grains to fail, and the people resorting to desperate measures for survival. It is feared that this will lead to a major upheaval. I hope Your Majesty will issue an edict for disaster relief and exempt Qinghe County from this year's taxes..."
"Approved..."
"Your Majesty, that would be inadvisable!"
Another elder jumped out: "Your Majesty! Taxes are of paramount importance to the country and cannot be exempted lightly..."
Wang Zhongyi quietly stepped back to Zheng Yi and whispered, "The first minister is Zhao Jun, Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Rites, from the Zhao Family of Qinghe."
"The second person is Tian Wenjing, Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Personnel."
"And this person is Wang He, the Imperial Censor..."
Only then did Zheng Yi realize that his task today was to familiarize himself with all the civil and military officials.
Wang Zhongyi quietly added, "In the next few days, you will follow me, and I will introduce you to all the civil and military officials in the court..."
"Yes, Eunuch Wang."
"Hehehe... there's also a good show today~"
"What?"
Soon, the 'good show' Wang Zhongyi mentioned began!
"Your Majesty!"
A middle-aged man in a cyan official robe stepped out and respectfully said, "King Tang rebelled, and all his accomplices have been captured. Please, Your Majesty, issue a verdict!"
"This is Ma Jinwu, the Commander of the Imperial City Department and a close confidant of Your Majesty," Wang Zhongyi informed, "Even he doesn't know your identity!"
Zheng Yi felt a chill in his heart: "The Imperial City Department? Isn't that the secret agency?"
Emperor Zhengyong spoke without a trace of emotion, "King Tang, Zheng Yuanche, rebelled, but after all, he is my own brother. The late Emperor taught me the virtue of 'brotherly love and duty'."
"King Tang was disloyal, but I shall not be unrighteous."
"Strip King Tang of all his titles and exile him to Nanyue County."
Nanyue County, a newly developed region of Great Yu, had been part of the empire for less than thirty years.
The journey there was far, with poisonous miasma and rampant beasts, and rumors of ghosts wandering about.
The mountain dwellers there were difficult to tame and often attacked government offices.
In over twenty years, more than a hundred officials had died in Nanyue County!
Exile to Nanyue was virtually a death sentence.
"The advisers, maternal relatives, and in-laws of King Tang, as well as others… execute the nine clans!"
King Tang rebelled!
This was the first major rebellion case Emperor Zhengyong had encountered since ascending the throne two years ago.
The chief rival for the throne against Emperor Zhengyong at the time was King Tang, Zheng Yuanche.
His maternal family was the prominent Sun Family from Langya County, also the family of a Noble Consort.
King Tang himself had been exposed to military affairs from a young age and had trained in the army for over ten years, garnering high prestige.
Yet, surprisingly, it was Emperor Zhengyong who firmly held the throne in the end.
In pursuit of the throne, King Tang even led troops to storm the Imperial Palace but was defeated and captured by the incumbent Prime Minister Yang Xuansu!
The conspiracy involved many officials at court, particularly the Northern Pacification Army stationed in Liangzhou and Binzhou, leading to a prolonged resolution of two years.
Aside from King Tang being exiled to Nanyue County, all others connected with him were executed, wiping out nine clans!
This was the first major event since Emperor Zhengyong's ascension, stirring the whole of Great Yu.
Even surrounding countries engaged in much discussion over it.
"Yang Xuansu..."
Zheng Yi glanced at the middle-aged man in the vermilion robe leading the assembly below the main hall.
This person seemed about sixty, with white hair and beard, yet with bright eyes, full of vim and vigor, clearly a martial arts expert.
He was the current Prime Minister, Yang Xuansu!
It was rumored that Emperor Zhengyong's ascension was all thanks to the support of Yang Xuansu.
On March 16, Year 3 of Zhengyong.
More than six thousand officials, aides, and kin of King Tang were executed and publicly displayed.
Heads rolled, and rivers of blood flowed.
Particularly for King Tang's mentor, the great scholar of his time, Tang Xiaozu, who was executed by dismemberment for cursing Emperor Zhengyong in prison.
His clan was even exterminated, affecting ten families!
This case shocked the world, commanded the attention of all officials, and greatly bolstered Emperor Zhengyong's formidable reputation.