Chapter 235 - 213: Stay Away from Jiang Cheng
Mr. Jiang Cheng walked in the front, Prince Liang Hong was slightly behind Jiang Cheng, and Eunuch Zhang trailed at the back.
The purpose of having Eunuch Zhang from the Sleeping Palace Faction accompany them was obvious—to keep an eye on Liang Hong and Jiang Cheng and prevent them from causing any trouble.
With Eunuch Zhang’s Foundation Establishment cultivation level, he was sufficiently equipped to deal with both Jiang Cheng and Liang Hong, who were in the Qi Cultivation Stage.
However, as they walked on, even Eunuch Zhang himself began to doubt whether he should be wary of Jiang Cheng and Liang Hong.
For Mr. Jiang Cheng, who was visiting the imperial palace for the first time, behaved completely normally throughout the journey. He strolled around the vicinity of the sleeping quarters with his hands behind his back as if sightseeing.
Prince Liang Hong, meanwhile, seemed quite interested in playing the role of a tour guide.
One moment he was explaining the purpose of a certain hall, the next he was recounting the history behind a particular tree, talking excitedly with spittle flying.
With its considerable size, the tour around the Emperor’s sleeping quarters was leisurely for the trio, but eventually, even leisurely walks come to an end.
At the entrance to the sleeping quarters, Eunuch Liu, who had been left in charge, said with a laugh, “Prince Chu, Mr. Jiang, have you seen everything you wanted to see?”
Mr. Jiang Cheng replied, “Hmm, I’ve taken a full stroll around.”
Eunuch Liu continued with a laugh, “Haha, if you’re tired of it here, Eunuch Zhang can take you elsewhere to look around, it’s no trouble.”
“No need,” said Mr. Jiang Cheng.
Eunuch Liu felt a surge of relief, pondering that the troublemakers were finally about to leave.
They could finally relax their taut nerves.
Yet Mr. Jiang Cheng casually mentioned, “I’m not tired of it yet. I’ll go for another round.”
Eunuch Liu’s smile stiffened on his face. He had only meant to be polite, but Jiang Cheng had taken him entirely at his word.
Seeing Mr. Jiang Cheng set off again, Eunuch Liu quickly gave Eunuch Zhang a meaningful look, signaling him to follow closely in case Liang Hong and Jiang Cheng did anything drastic, such as breaking a window to force entry or the like.
Eunuch Zhang inwardly groaned.
He was hoping Jiang Cheng would just leave and spare them all this trouble.
On their second circuit, Liang Hong remained much more silent due to his earlier explanations, but this time, Mr. Jiang Cheng didn’t walk with hands behind his back; instead, he touched the walls and wooden windows of the Emperor’s sleeping quarters, occasionally tapping and knocking as if testing the hardness of the walls.
“Mr. Jiang, you mustn’t knock. His Majesty is still sleeping inside,” said Eunuch Zhang hastily, trying to stop Jiang Cheng.
Seizing the chance, Mr. Jiang Cheng asked, “Eunuch Zhang, you still know what the Emperor is doing, don’t you?”
Eunuch Zhang replied with a forced smile, “I was just saying; he’s ill, after all, and certainly needs plenty of bed rest.”
“Does the Emperor usually abstain from certain foods?”
“How would I know? I’m just an old thing that guards His Majesty’s door,” replied Eunuch Zhang.
“Other than us, does anyone else frequently come here?”
“Oh, Mr. Jiang, I really have no idea about that—my mind is not what it used to be with age.”
Upon seeing this, Prince Liang Hong communicated telepathically to Mr. Jiang, “Don’t ask anymore. The eunuchs who manage to survive in the palace all have a knack for staying out of trouble. You won’t get any information from them about the palace; better to inquire with my mother.”
After silently completing another round, Mr. Jiang Cheng returned to the entrance of the sleeping quarters once more.
Eunuch Liu said with a smile, “Mr. Jiang, you’ve spent quite some time on this round; you must have examined every nook and cranny by now, right?”
Eunuch Liu meant to suggest that Mr. Jiang Cheng stop wandering.
But Mr. Jiang Cheng followed Eunuch Liu’s lead, saying, “I hadn’t really noticed the seams in the wall; surely the Emperor’s sleeping chambers shouldn’t have any gaps. I’ll go look again and come back to tell you if I find any.”
Eunuch Liu had seen his fair share of stubborn people, but none quite like Jiang Cheng!
He’d already told you that you won’t see the Emperor of Liang! Even the Grand Secretary can’t get an audience if he comes in person!
You’re just a friend hanging around Prince Chu’s periphery; can’t you be a bit more self-aware?
Eunuch Liu frowned and gestured to Eunuch Zhang once again.
Eunuch Zhang had no choice but to follow Mr. Jiang Cheng again.
This time, Mr. Jiang Cheng completed the tour quickly.
He then expressed his thanks to Eunuch Liu with a smile on his face.
“Thank you for your care, Mr. Jiang Cheng has learned a lot from this visit, my leave then,” he said.
“You take care, I have official duties to attend to, so I won’t see you out,” Eunuch Liu replied.
After Mr. Jiang Cheng left, Eunuch Zhang immediately asked with concern, “Eunuch Liu, he said ‘has learned a lot from this visit’; it won’t cause trouble, will it?”
Eunuch Liu’s face showed contempt, “What trouble could there be? The Empress, the Noble Consort, the Grand Secretary—they can’t even get an audience when they come. Why worry? We just have to stand our post. If the sky falls, we have our ancestral master to support it.”
At the mention of their ancestral master, Eunuch Zhang’s wrinkled face showed a confident look.
Yes.
They had the Divinity Transformation Realm ancestral master.
That was the mighty, invincible Divinity Transformation Realm.
With power to penetrate heaven and earth!
Slaying Nascent Souls like slaughtering dogs!
Cutting down Core Formation Cultivators like killing chickens!
As long as they were within the Liang Kingdom, what was there that couldn’t be solved by Divinity Transformation?
…
Mr. Jiang Cheng and Prince Liang Hong left the range of the sleeping palace.
With an excited expression, Prince Liang Hong said, “Jiang, you mentioned ‘has learned a lot’; could it be that you’ve found a way to enter the sleeping palace, to see my father?”
Mr. Jiang Cheng shook his head, “No, the surroundings of the sleeping palace are very open, and the materials used to build the palace have been treated to block Divine Sense. Unless you enter through the main door, or someone inside collaborates from within, there’s no way to get in.”
Liang Hong sighed disappointedly, “Alas, don’t be disheartened. I’ve heard from my mother that even the Empress can’t manage to see my father. It’s perfectly normal for us not to be able to with our capabilities.”
“Ah? I’m not disheartened at all.”
“Then have you figured out a way with your talismans?”
“I don’t have a method yet; I need to understand your father’s illness before I can create a talisman.”
“But you can’t get in, how do you plan to understand?”
Mr. Jiang Cheng replied, “Indeed, I can’t get in, but your father can come out to meet me willingly.”
“What?”
Prince Liang Hong felt like he must have misheard.