Chapter 25: Heaven One, Earth Two

Zhao Yi had just been thumping his chest with grand, ringing promises, but the moment that surge of ambition faded, he slumped like a deflated balloon.

The leg he had just stepped forward with was abruptly retracted, and he turned around, slowly shuffling back toward the imperial desk once more.

"Well... Your Majesty."

Zhao Yi rubbed his hands together, his face wearing an expression of extreme awkwardness mixed with a shameless, self-evident grin.

"This subject would love to go through fire and water for you, and would not shrink from a thousand deaths."

"But, Your Majesty... if you don't provide anything, this subject can't really do much."

"You must provide some men and some money, surely?"

"Without money or men, even if I had the talents of the heavens, I couldn't conjure an army out of thin air."

"Even a clever housewife cannot cook without rice, can she?"

On the dragon throne, the stunningly beautiful face of the Empress Wu Mingkong—which had just been filled with approval and ecstasy—instantly turned dark.

She looked at this scoundrel who had been swearing oaths a second ago and was now reaching out for money the next; her temples throbbed violently.

Could this jerk possibly have anything other than money and women in that head of his?

"I ordered you to assemble the Shadow Guard, not to go grocery shopping at the market!"

The Empress's voice was cold enough to chip ice.

Yet, Zhao Yi stiffened his neck, looking entirely righteous.

"Your Majesty, this is far more expensive than grocery shopping!"

"How much does it cost to buy vegetables? This is a business where we risk our heads! It is an investment! High risk requires high returns; you have to provide at least some startup capital!"

"Otherwise, if the brothers follow me and can't even afford a full meal, who is going to risk their lives for you?"

His twisted logic was presented so eloquently that the Empress found herself momentarily unable to refute it.

The Empress’s chest heaved with anger. She pointed at Zhao Yi’s nose, and it took a long time before she could squeeze a few words through her teeth.

"I have no money!"

"The state treasury is empty—you know that better than anyone!"

Zhao Yi’s eyes darted about. He leaned in close, lowered his voice, and coaxed her persuasively.

"Your Majesty, the state treasury is one thing, but your inner treasury? That is your private stash."

"If you just let a little leak through your fingers, it would be enough for me to raise a team."

The Empress looked at his mercenary demeanor and longed to kick him out.

The two locked eyes, staring each other down for a full half-minute.

In the end, the Empress conceded.

Rubbing her aching temples, she spoke with annoyance.

"From my inner treasury, I will give you thirty thousand taels at most!"

"As for the men, I will have Nangong Yue select several dozen of the most skilled fighters from the Imperial Guard for you."

"For the rest, find a way yourself!"

"Thirty thousand taels?"

Zhao Yi's face went dark on the spot.

"Your Majesty, what can thirty thousand taels do? Once I buy a house, purchase some equipment, and give the brothers their relocation allowances, there won't be much left."

"This... this is just too little."

He began to feign poverty.

However, the Empress was not buying any of it.

She did not get angry; instead, she slowly stood up from the dragon throne.

Step by step, she walked up to Zhao Yi, her beautiful phoenix eyes watching him with a look that was half-smile, half-threat.

A faint, haunting fragrance, carrying a hint of extreme temptation, instantly entered Zhao Yi's nostrils.

The Empress stretched out a long, slender finger and lightly lifted Zhao Yi’s chin, forcing him to look up.

Her voice was languid, carrying a touch of deadly allure.

"You think it's too little?"

"Officer Zhao, as long as you handle this matter beautifully for me..."

She leaned in slightly, her red lips nearing Zhao Yi’s ear, her warm breath making half of his body go numb.

"...in the future, let alone thirty thousand taels."

"How about I let you manage the entire treasury of the Great Zhou?"

Boom!

Zhao Yi felt a surge of hot blood rush from the soles of his feet straight to his skull!

This woman!

She was just too damn good at this!

Who could possibly resist this?

Zhao Yi’s breathing grew heavy, his eyes turned red, and he felt as if he had been injected with adrenaline, suddenly straightening his back.

"Your Majesty, rest assured!"

"I will obey your decree!"

"I guarantee the mission will be accomplished!"

He thumped his chest, his demeanor such that he looked ready to go and kidnap the Prime Minister, Wang Defa, right then and there.

...

When he emerged from the imperial palace, Zhao Yi’s legs were still a bit shaky.

As he reached the palace gate, a figure in silver light armor, looking heroic and spirited, was already waiting there.

The Commander of the Imperial Guard, Nangong Yue.

Behind her stood several dozen men in imperial uniforms, each with sharp eyes and a fierce aura.

Nangong Yue’s face remained her usual icy mask. Seeing Zhao Yi, she didn't waste a single word.

"The men are all here."

"The Empress has decreed that from today on, they are under your command."

"Their lives and deaths are also in your hands."

Having said this, she turned and left without a hint of hesitation.

Zhao Yi watched her capable back, then looked at the dozens of elite imperial experts before him, nodding in satisfaction.

He cleared his throat and swept his gaze over them.

"From today on, you are no longer the Imperial Guard."

"Your names and your pasts must rot in your bellies!"

"You have only one identity: you are the Empress's shadow, the Empress's blade!"

He pointed to the two most capable-looking men in the crowd.

"You, from now on, shall be called Tian Yi."

"You, shall be called Di Er."

"You two are the captains of this unit."

Zhao Yi led the group to a remote alleyway before lowering his voice and revealing the true mission in its entirety.

"Our mission is not to kill, but to listen and to watch!"

"I want you to act like a net, covering the entire city of Luoyang for me!"

"I want to know which minister is grumbling at home today, and which general's son has lost money at the gambling den again!"

"Even the idle chatter of a beggar on the street or a girl in a brothel—every single complaint could be the intelligence we need!"

"The high and the low, the peddlers and the commoners—they will all be our eyes and ears!"

These words left all the elite guards in shock.

They hadn't expected the mission to be this.

Zhao Yi tossed a heavy pouch of silver to Tian Yi.

"Inside are thirty thousand taels in silver notes."

"Tian Yi, your task is to acquire a sufficiently large estate in the city as quickly as possible. It must be discreet and draw no attention! This will be the headquarters of our 'Shadow Guard'!"

"Di Er, your task is to take the brothers, disperse into the city immediately, and at the fastest speed possible, develop informants and build an intelligence network!"

"Starting today, your monthly pay is tripled! Any valuable intelligence you bring in will be met with heavy rewards!"

"I will also have your families protected in secret; I will never let them suffer the slightest grievance!"

Zhao Yi’s voice was filled with unquestionable authority.

"I have only one requirement!"

"I want it so that from now on, nothing in the city of Luoyang can be hidden from my eyes!"

"Do you understand!"

"Understood!"

Tian Yi and Di Er, along with the dozens of experts, felt an unprecedented brilliance ignite in their eyes as they responded in unison.

...

After arranging everything, Zhao Yi stretched, feeling that life was truly as lonely as snow.

The work was done, so it was time to reward himself.

"Let’s go, time to listen to some music!"

Bai Le Tower.

It was the same private booth, the same pot of fine tea.

Today, the featured songstress was a new face.

Dressed in a light purple gown, clutching a pipa, her eyes as alluring as silk, she possessed a graceful charm characteristic of the Jiangnan water towns.

Zhao Yi listened, utterly enchanted, his mood soaring.

When the song ended, he casually tossed a tael of silver as a reward and summoned the tower manager.

"Manager Wang, what is the name of this young lady playing the pipa today?"

Manager Wang wore a fawning smile.

"In reply to Master Zhao, this young lady's stage name is Liu Ruyan."