Cultivation Simulator: Starting From The Empress' Palace

Hu Mei’Er was born beautiful, with an alluring countenance that to men, was a siren capable of inciting desire.

Moreover, Hu Mei’Er’s family was but a minor clan, with no influence in their region, certainly incapable of rivaling the likes of the Xiao Family as imperial in-laws.

Thus, upon Hu Mei’Er’s entry into the Imperial Palace, once Zhao Ji set his eyes on her, he went against the court’s opposition and named her Noble Consort.

This was also because the Xiao Family’s influence had grown far too great, even reaching into the Harem, and Hu Mei’Er was meant as a counterbalance to Xiao Yunxi.

Zhao Ji promoted Hu Mei’Er’s father to the post of Minister of Rites.

Furthermore, as Hu Mei’Er consistently pleased him, when she recommended Shi Si to Zhao Ji—

Zhao Ji, seeing that Shi Si was a First Grade Martial Artist, naturally couldn’t assign him to a minor post, so he appointed him Commander of thirty thousand soldiers of the Personal Guard Department, with the duty of defending the Outer City.

The Imperial City was divided into an Inner City and an Outer City.

Yet never had he imagined Shi Si would open the gates of the Outer City.

It was clear—he had defected to the enemy.

The ministers in Taihe Palace instantly shrank into a panic; even within the Imperial Palace, Xiao Yunqi’s men had taken over. This was truly a changing of the heavens.

Cai Si’s expression grew grave, then spoke: ”Your Majesty, the most urgent task now is to place the Empress and Noble Consort under control. Should the two noble ladies be colluding with the traitors, it may prevent them from sending messages to the enemy.”

Gao Qiu also stepped forward, urging Zhao Ji to order the Chen Mansion surrounded as well.

Is there even a need for ’should’?

With Shi Si’s betrayal, Hu Mei’Er was surely involved; otherwise, this could not be.

But just as the armored warriors inside Taihe Palace were about to depart and seize Hu Mei’Er and Xiao Yunxi—

A eunuch burst in, flustered, exclaiming, ”Re-reporting to Your Majesty, Noble Consort has led men and stormed into Weiyang Palace, taking away the Empress and Empress Fu Mao.”

Boom!

Upon hearing this, Zhao Ji, clutching his head, swayed as if about to collapse, then flew into a rage: ”What were you all raised for, to eat and be idle? So many eyes and yet you let them escape!

Wang Ze, where is Wang Ze?”

”Your servant is here.” Wang Ze walked in from outside the hall. Due to exclusion within the army, Wang Ze had been stripped of power in the Infantry Department; his authority had been completely undermined.

There was no other way—Zhao Ji could only recall him.

After all, a Second-Grade Martial Artist could not be left idle.

”I command you to apprehend them immediately. Do not let them escape.” Zhao Ji issued the order.

”Understood.” Wang Ze departed with the armored warriors.

...

On the other side.

Hu Mei’Er, leading her Black Shadow men, shielded Xiao Yunxi and the others as they made for Yong’an Palace.

Because of the statuses of Hu Mei’Er, Zhao Fujin, and Xiao Yunxi, few Imperial Guards in the Harem dared to obstruct them. And if there was resistance, Hu Mei’Er would order her subordinates to act, killing their way through.

The reason for bringing Xiao Yunxi was at the request of Xiao Yunqi.

Xiao Yunxi never imagined she would one day have to evade and hide—her phoenix hairpin had fallen in the flight, hair disheveled, her dress stained with fresh blood from the Imperial Guard soldiers. At this moment, she had lost the dignity once hers as Empress.

Xiao Yunxi also never imagined that the collaborative partner her father mentioned that day would actually be Noble Consort Hu.

And Shi Si, being Noble Consort Hu’s man and commanding part of the Personal Guard Department—no wonder her father dared to raise troops in rebellion.

”Shouldn’t we be fleeing toward the outside of the Imperial Palace? Why this route—to your Yong’an Palace instead?” Xiao Yunxi asked breathlessly, frowning as she ran.

”Yong’an Palace has a secret passage that can reach the Outer City of the Imperial Palace. Your father has his men there; once we arrive, we’ll be safe.”

These past years as Noble Consort were not wasted by Hu Mei’Er; after making Shi Si Commander of the Outer City, she had his men dig a passage leading from the Outer City to Yong’an Palace.

The Black Shadow’s infiltration of the Harem owed itself to this very tunnel.

Furthermore, this passage was Hu Mei’Er and her group’s escape route.

If their identities were exposed, they would use this passage to withdraw.

Zhao Fujin, meanwhile, was utterly dazed.

She never imagined her own grandfather would launch a coup against her father, the Emperor.

She never desired such circumstances—no matter which side prevailed, the defeated would end miserably. And both sides were those dearest to her.

For a time, she did not know whom to aid, letting Xiao Yunxi drag her along toward Yong’an Palace.

But before they reached Yong’an Palace, a group of men barred their way.

Each held a torch, the firelight glinting ominously off their battle armor, casting a chilling luster.

The torches parted in the middle; slowly, a party came forth, Wang Ze to the fore, flanked by men clad head-to-toe in heavy armor, each gripping Earth Tier treasures.

”Empress, Noble Consort, Your Highness... His Majesty requests your presence. Please come with us at once,” Wang Ze said, his face cold as frost, certain he would take them.

Yet the only reply he received was a single word: ”Kill!”

A slim shadow darted from behind Hu Mei’Er, leading subordinates straight at Wang Ze’s party; from the voice, it was a woman, exuding the aura of an Innate Martial Artist.

”Form ranks!”

”Seize them!”

Wang Ze waved his hand grandly.

The battle was primed to erupt in an instant.

...

Thousands of troops choked every road from the Outer City to the Inner Palace of the Imperial Palace, and over a hundred thousand remained stuck outside. Xiao Yunqi, clad in crimson battle armor, strode forward, raising his spear aloft; instantly, the army behind him fell silent.

”I have come to see His Majesty. Why have you not opened the gates? Which general is on duty? Show yourself! Do you intend rebellion?”

”So, it’s you—old fiend! His Majesty has treated you well, yet you’ve led soldiers into the Imperial City. What are your intentions?”

From atop the Inner City’s gate tower, an elder appeared; his hair was white as snow, yet his aura was mighty. By his side stood battle-hardened commanders, denouncing Xiao Yunqi together.

”He Mu, so it’s you, old ghost. I never thought you’d still live.”

Xiao Yunqi arched his brow, then declared, ”There are traitors in the court, causing the people of the Great Song to suffer. I bear His Majesty’s secret decree, and have brought troops to the palace to slay these villains and purge His Majesty’s side.”

The Zhao family could hold sway over the Great Song Dynasty for nearly five hundred years without collapse; aside from their fierce armies, the imperial family also cultivated many gifted youths in secret, generation after generation—producing a good number of Second-Grade and First Grade Martial Artists.

As for He Mu, he was the instructor personally appointed by Emperor Taizong to train this cohort of youths—and to this day, had lived nearly three hundred years.

Yet Xiao Yunqi did not fear him. One, He Mu was already aged; two, the Cultivation Method Martial Arts evolved with time—by Xiao Yunqi’s generation, they practiced techniques nearly perfected, with the most advanced combat techniques, whereas He Mu’s had become rigid and difficult to adapt further.

Finally, Xiao Yunqi held an absolute advantage in military force.

Yet hearing this, He Mu spat with force: ”Forging false decrees, rebelling—traitor and villain, the lot of you.”