"Your Majesty...!"

Bi He weakly called out, her heart filled with longing.

After all, Zheng Yi was her first man.

Even though she had long known that the man before her, sweet-talking and indulging her, was not truly Emperor Zhengyong.

But then again, was she truly a concubine?

From a young age, she had been abducted by the White Lotus Sect, trained for ten years as a killing machine, even personally instructed by a Grandmaster, brainwashed continuously.

Until the age of fourteen, she was sent into the Imperial Palace through secret channels, to act as a spy.

They even gave her the title of 'Saintess' to ensure her loyalty.

What Saintess, just another pawn?

In the Imperial Palace, there were others truly in control!

Recently, an Elder from the White Lotus Sect, whom she had only met a few times, suddenly took her and her daughter Yuxia hostage, forcing her to deceive Emperor Zhengyong to go to Yongchun Palace.

If she didn't comply, they would kill Yuxia and reveal her secrets to the world.

For the safety of her daughter, she had no choice but to agree.

Thinking of this, lying in Zheng Yi's arms, Bi He's heart was filled with even more sorrow.

She and the shadow of Emperor Zhengyong were both ill-fated souls.

Looking at Zheng Yi's anxious face, she instinctively raised her small hand, wanting to caress his face.

"Your Majesty... no, husband, your heart must be heavy too..."

Just as she was about to touch the face of the man she missed day and night, he, along with the sedan, the Imperial Garden, and the menacing cultivators, suddenly shattered like water ripples, disappearing without a trace.

In their place stood the towering and majestic Baiyu City, the dignified and noble Dragon Throne.

And, standing in front of the Dragon Throne, looking down at her with a calm and serene expression, was Emperor Zhengyong.

Bi He quickly bowed her head, only to see that her chest, which had been pierced by a flying sword, was intact, without a scratch or a trace of blood.

Still high, still smooth, still a deep, distant gorge.

Still... the creamy white snow.

"Your Majesty, this, this..."

She hurriedly took a couple of steps, wanting to explain something.

"Saintess Bi He of the White Lotus Sect."

Zheng Yi spoke first, "All you've just experienced, although it was an illusion, was borne from your true desires."

"Your love for your daughter is urgent, your love for me is sincere, I understand."

Behind him, a gray and murky painting slowly closed, and Zheng Yi grabbed it effortlessly.

This painting...

The Thousand Illusions Glazed Painting!

Using the illusion-creating ability of the Thousand Illusions Glazed Painting, entrapping a common person like Bi He in an illusion was a simple task.

Even if she had now become a Grandmaster Realm Martial Artist due to the innate spiritual qi, it was still the same!

"Your Majesty..."

Consort Bi knelt deeply on the ground, her voice choked with tears, "I had no other choice, please save me and your daughter..."

Zheng Yi stepped forward to support Bi He, speaking softly.

"Bi He, why didn't you expose me ten years ago?"

Bi He's delicate body trembled, hesitating, "I only know that you are my husband. We are both doomed souls..."

"I will never tell a third person about this, even if it means death!"

"Doomed souls?"

Zheng Yi questioned, looking at Bi He with bright eyes. He pondered for a moment, understanding what she meant, and gently touched her adorable face, saying, "Leave this matter to me."

"For now, do not return to Yongchun Palace."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Bi He responded nervously, "Then, what about Yuxia..."

"Yuxia will also be rescued by me." Zheng Yi said calmly, "Since Elder Old Ghost Bai of the White Lotus Sect, Tuoba Wufeng of the Tuoba Clan, and Vice Tower Master Fire Spirit of Mayfly Tower dared to step into my Imperial Palace, they won't be leaving."

"Tianxingzi!"

As soon as he spoke, Tianxingzi's figure emerged from the darkness, respectfully saluting, "Old Daoist Tianxingzi greets Your Majesty!"

"How are the preparations?"

Tianxingzi replied indifferently, "Reporting to Your Majesty, I've been aware of these three since they entered the Capital City, monitoring them as they entered Yongchun Palace."

"Currently, these three are hiding within Yongchun Palace, secretly holding Princess Jin Xia hostage."

"Capturing these three with the array I've set up is barely possible, but ensuring the safe rescue of Princess Jin Xia... presents some challenges."

Zheng Yi said, "My daughter will be rescued by me!"

"I've been aware of these three, and I have arrangements near Princess Jin Xia as well."

"You just need to use the array to confine these three within Yongchun Palace, ensuring they do not exceed the boundaries of the Imperial Garden."

Tianxingzi respectfully replied, "Old Daoist... follows orders!"

After Tianxingzi departed, Bi He asked softly, "Your Majesty, Yongchun Palace is extremely dangerous, you mustn't go there!"

Zheng Yi caressed her face gently to comfort her, "Don't worry, would I easily expose myself to danger?"

"I promise you, Yuxia will be fine."

"But Your Majesty..."

"Hehehe..."

Zheng Yi replied in a low voice, "Ten years ago, Emperor Zhengyong had a shadow, wouldn't I have one too?"

"Xuan Ye!"

From the darkness, another figure emerged.

A shadowy figure dressed in a dragon robe, yet wearing a human skin mask, seemingly resembling Zheng Yi by at least seventy percent.

Zheng Yi explained, "This is a Cultivation Puppet, it can replace me in going to Yongchun Palace, into their trap, and rescue Yuxia along the way."

Xuan Ye is a puppet, entirely controlled by Zheng Yi.

Regrettably, its appearance is peculiar, and any discerning person could see it wasn't truly human.

But Ma Jinwu of the Embroidered Uniform Guard provided a pleasant surprise.

After advancing to the innate realm, Ma Jinwu became a formidable figure in the Martial World.

He personally captured numerous notorious bandits and dashing thieves who ravaged the Martial Arts and Martial World.

Among them was a dashing thief known as the 'Thousand-faced Young Master.'

This individual's Martial Arts cultivation was not high, only in the Second-grade Realm.

However, his lightweight technique was excellent, and he mastered an extraordinary art of human skin masks.

Utilizing this technique, he eluded countless captures by the Imperial Court, violating the chastity of over a hundred women.

But in the end, he encountered Ma Jinwu, who effortlessly captured him.

After reporting to Zheng Yi, Zheng Yi directly issued a Holy Decree, demanding he hand over his human skin mask technique in exchange for his life.

The Thousand-faced Young Master, overjoyed, handed over the human skin mask technique, fantasizing that his skill might be valued by the Imperial Court, potentially joining the Martial Arts Department or something similar.

Once the human skin mask technique was acquired, Zheng Yi immediately ordered his men to castrate the young man and imprison him deep in the Celestial Prison.

That place, filled with heinous criminals who hadn't seen women for years.

This young man, who had ravaged so many women, aside from his skill with the mask, was also quite fair!

Such a person entering the prison surely won't keep his dignity intact.

With the human skin mask, Zheng Yi ordered a realistic mask resembling himself to be made for Xuan Ye to wear.

With the mask on, along with the broad dragon robe, sedan, and the protection and framing of Imperial Guards, from afar, he appeared nearly identical to Zheng Yi.

Originally meant to handle matters inconvenient for Zheng Yi to face personally, it found use sooner than expected.

Yongchun Palace, three late-stage Qi Cultivation cultivators, and the rescue of his daughter Yuxia.

Zheng Yi focused his mind, with divine thought surging like a tide, enveloping the entire Imperial Palace.

Especially within Yongchun Palace, those three unaware they had been detected by Zheng Yi, he coldly ordered, "Xuan Ye, go, apprehend these three for me!"

"Daring to intrude on my domain, I'll make sure they come in upright and leave sideways!"