"Understood."

"This subordinate takes his leave."

"Mm."

Princess Pingyang nodded and continued to pluck the strings of the zither beneath her.

In the Capital, inside the Imperial Study Room.

Jingtai had drawn a Blood Moon Covering Sky Map on his desk. Beneath the map was a grand city that, upon closer inspection, bore some resemblance to the Capital.

The blood moon overshadowed the sun's light, engulfing the entire world in an eerie and sinister aura.

Jingtai squinted his eyes, revealing a trace of coldness, staring fixedly at the position of the blood moon, with a sense of eagerness and yearning.

"Your Majesty, Eunuch Cao is here."

"Let him in."

Jingtai let out a long breath, waved his hand to put away the Blood Moon Covering Sky Map on the desk, and restored everything to its original state.

Cao Zhengxian walked into the Imperial Study Room with a grave expression, slightly bowing, "Your Majesty."

"You're here?"

"Yes."

"What's the matter?"

Jingtai gazed at Cao Zhengxian and asked.

"Prince Zhen Nan has sent a message: The Southern demon tribe is stirring. In recent times, we've discovered over a dozen incidents of demons entering the border and harming civilians. He estimates that the south may not remain stable in the future..."

As he spoke, Cao Zhengxian's expression became exceedingly grave.

The Northern Barbarians have only been a threat to the borders for the past few centuries and have become a great calamity for the Central Plains. But before that, the real scourge of the Central Plains was the demon tribe of the Southern Border's ten-thousand mountains.

The turning point was five hundred years ago. The Emperor of the previous Chu Dynasty launched a life-and-death war that lasted several years, mobilizing the entire court's strength to eradicate the demon threat from the Southern Border.

That war debilitated the Southern Border demon tribe, securing peace for about five hundred years to the present day. Although there are occasionally demonic disturbances, they haven't been as rampant as before.

However, that war also cost the previous Chu a large portion of its elite forces, laying the seeds of decline for the dynasty.

Nonetheless, due to the accomplishments of that generation's emperor, he was posthumously titled 'Martial.'

Although the demon tribe has been stable for a long time, anyone with some experience and cultivation knows that the demons have merely been recuperating for the past few centuries.

Now that there are disturbances, perhaps five hundred years of stability are about to end.

Hence, Cao Zhengxian was looking as if facing a formidable enemy.

Back when Chen Yuan was summoned to the Capital, Cao Zhengxian had such worries, and now they have intensified.

"The demon tribe...." Jingtai frowned slightly and said quietly:

"Things.... are all about to coincide."

He was just beginning his grand plan, just starting to consolidate power in the court. Everything was progressing steadily, yet the demon tribe has made such a move.

It made him doubt if his misdeeds were so numerous that not even heaven would give him a chance to revive the Great Jin?

"Indeed. Not long ago, Blood State was still causing trouble, assassinating officials from two prefectures, creating quite a commotion. The court hasn't even had the chance to deal with these Demon Dao troublemakers, yet the demon tribe has begun to cause chaos."

Cao Zhengxian sighed softly. Although he was a eunuch, he was still a Central Plains native, and he despised the scenes of demons preying on people. Fortunately, the northern hostilities have ended.

Otherwise, if both the north and south, coupled with Blood State, were to cause trouble simultaneously, the court would be unable to bear it.

"Issue an order, tell Nangong Lie that the court's support for him over the years has been extensive. He must firmly keep these demons outside of South State! The current situation cannot be disrupted."

Jingtai said with a dark gaze.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I obey."

"Additionally, send orders to the Heavenly Patrol Bureau, instruct Xiao the Great Governor to give strict orders to Jiang He, the Golden Envoy of Qingzhou, and Lu Renjia, the Golden Envoy of Shuzhou, to deploy forces to aid the two prefecture regions of Blood State. This is the court's dignity; it must not falter."

"Yes, Your Majesty, I obey."

"Also, tell Xiao Jing to transfer all the prisoners in the Heavenly Prison, regardless of their crimes, to the Imperial Prison. I have some uses for them."

Jingtai said in a stern tone.

Cao Zhengxian was momentarily stunned but, seeing the emperor's grave and somber expression, refrained from questioning the purpose of these powerful prisoners.

Could it be to execute them immediately?

"Hmm?"

"Yes, Your Majesty, I obey."

Jingtai took a deep breath and continued:

"Send some treasures from the Imperial Secret Realm to the Duke of Wei and the Duke of Zhen. Do not let there be any mishaps."

"I shall handle it immediately, Your Majesty."

"Wait a moment...."

"Does Your Majesty have any other orders?"

"Postpone the morning court for a few days. I am unwell recently and will not attend court."

"Is Your Majesty facing issues with cultivation?"

The Emperor's Heavenly Core cultivation ensures he is free from illness and ailments. It is unlikely he's unwell; Cao Zhengxian thought perhaps it's a problem with his cultivation, possibly due to increased national pressure.

"Yes, that is indeed the case." Jingtai acknowledged with a nod.

"Would Your Majesty like me to assist?"

Cao Zhengxian asked with concern.

At such a critical moment for the court, if anything happened to the Emperor, the consequences would be significant!

"No need, I can handle it."

"I understand, Your Majesty."

"By the way, what is Chen Yuan doing now?" Jingtai recalled appointing him to the position of Heavenly Divine Envoy and felt displeased. This position could be his, but it should be achieved through his schemes.

Yet now, due to cultivation issues, the morning court had to be postponed, which added to his discomfort.

Cao Zhengxian glanced at Jingtai, swiftly took out a Sound Transmission Talisman from his sleeve, paused for a moment, and then reported truthfully:

"Your Majesty, the Marquis of Wu'an has left the city."

"Left the city for what? Wasn't he recuperating?"

Jingtai frowned.

"Investigations are ongoing, but when the Marquis of Wu'an left the city, he was accompanied by Zhang Yantong's daughter, Zhang Wanshu. They exited through the South Gate, headed in the direction of Lin'an Prefecture."

"I am overwhelmed here while he takes a woman to frolic about?" Jingtai took a deep breath, increasingly displeased.

"The purpose is still unknown. I will investigate."

Cao Zhengxian hurriedly said.

"No need, proceed with your tasks. Do not focus attention on him." Just as Cao Zhengxian was about to exit the Imperial Study Room, Jingtai said coolly.

Looking back, Cao Zhengxian bowed and said:

"Yes, Your Majesty, I obey."

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