Mingliang expressed surprise when he learned about the investigation that Zenki and Mengting were planning. He then asked if he could join them so that he could personally witness if his father had really changed.
Before their departure, Mingliang sat in his room, lost in thought as he reminisced about his childhood. He couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness as he remembered how his father, Zenki, had neglected him, his mother Zhenyue, and his younger sister Mengting in favor of the first empress Meiying and her children.
Growing up, Mingliang had always felt like he was living in the shadow of Meiying's children. They were favored by Zenki, and it seemed like he could never do anything right in his father's eyes. He would watch as Zenki doted on Meiying's children, showering them with gifts and attention, while he and his family were left feeling forgotten and alone.
It was especially hard for Zhenyue, who had always been a devoted wife to Zenki. She had tried so hard to get his attention and affection, but it seemed like she was always competing with Meiying and her children for his love. And Mengting, who was just a child at the time, didn't understand why her father wasn't there for her like he was for her half-siblings.
As Mingliang grew older, he started to understand why his father had acted the way he did. Meiying was his first love, and her children were a reminder of their past together. But that understanding didn't make up for the years of neglect that Mingliang, Zhenyue, and Mengting had endured.
Mingliang hoped that one day his father would truly understand the pain that he, Zhenyue, and Mengting had gone through, and that they could finally become the close family that they were meant to be.
Upon hearing the plan for their journey, Mingliang was taken aback. He had expected that his father, the king, would bring a large entourage of guards to protect them on their journey. Instead, they would be posing as mere merchants, with only a small number of shadow guards to protect them discreetly.
Mingliang voiced his concerns to his father, worried about their safety. "Father, are you sure it's wise to travel without more protection? What if something happens to us?" he asked.
Zenki smiled at his son, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry, my son. We have taken all necessary precautions to ensure our safety. Plus, traveling incognito will allow us to gather information without drawing too much attention to ourselves," he explained.
Mingliang nodded, still feeling uneasy but trusting his father's judgement. As they set out on their journey, he couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement at the adventure that lay ahead.
Throughout their journey, Mingliang couldn't help but be surprised by how much his father had changed. As far as he could remember, his father had always disdained commoners and showed little interest in their affairs. But now, he saw his father mingling with them, showing genuine concern for their well-being and listening to their problems. It was as if his past father's behavior had been erased and replaced by a completely different person.
However, it was not until they were ambushed by bandits on the road that Mingliang truly realized the extent of his father's change. He was frozen in fear as the bandits approached, but before he knew it, his father had jumped in front of him, blocking their attack.
In that moment, Mingliang's heart swelled with gratitude and admiration for his father. He could see the love and sacrifice in his father's eyes, and it was then that he knew the past was truly behind them.
From that moment on, Mingliang made a promise to himself to never take his family for granted again. He felt blessed to have a father who loved him so much, and he knew that he needed to cherish every moment they had together.
While Zenki was still unconscious, Mingliang approached Liu Yong with a renewed determination to cultivate. Though a bit surprised, Liu Yong agreed to teach him on the condition that he was truly committed to learning.
Later on, when Zenki found out that Liu Yong had also agreed to teach Mingliang, he decided to appoint him as an official martial arts teacher for the castle. It was important to mention that there was already a martial arts teacher in the castle who solely taught the children of the first empress Meiying.
After a week of diligently practicing cultivation and attending to the affairs of the castle, Zenki finally made a full recovery from his injuries. Meanwhile, under the careful guidance of Liu Yong, Mengting and Mingliang made great strides in their own cultivation. Mengting even managed to advance to Intermediate Core Formation, thanks to her natural talent and the residual potency of the Golden Root Pill.
As Zenki watched Mengting's progress, he couldn't help but sigh and say to himself, "I shouldn't compare my own cultivation to my daughter's or else I might just end up crying."
There was a sudden knock on the door of his office. Zenki looked up from his paperwork, and gave permission for the person to enter. It was Zhang Liang, looking grave.
"Your Majesty, we've made some progress on the investigation," Zhang Liang said with a hint of anger in his voice. "It turns out that some of the eunuchs I tasked to prepare for your journey were spies."
Zenki leaned forward, his attention fully focused on the matter at hand.
"What did you do with them?" he asked.
"We tried to detain them, but when they were cornered, they decided to swallow poison hidden at the back of their teeth," Zhang Liang replied, shaking his head in frustration.
Zenki inquired about the status of the shadow guards, to which Zhang Liang responded, "Your Majesty, their corpses were found in a nearby forest near your location." Confused, Zenki asked, "Why would they be there?" Zhang Liang replied, "We are currently investigating, but for the shadow guards to move, there should have been either a direct order from you or a written order from you delivered by a trustworthy person." Zenki then asked, "Is it possible that someone made a forged order?" Zhang Liang replied, "Yes, Your Majesty, that is possible."
Zhang Liang nodded in agreement. "Yes, your majesty. We have already started investigating and we will leave no stone unturned until we get to the bottom of this."
"Good," said Zenki. "In the meantime, we must strengthen our security measures. We cannot let any more spies or traitors infiltrate our ranks."
Zhang Liang nodded again. "I agree, your majesty. I will see to it personally that all the necessary precautions are taken."
"Very well," said Zenki. "Keep me informed of any developments. We cannot afford to let our guard down."
Zenki paced back and forth in his study, deep in thought. The recent events of spies and forged orders had made him realize the importance of document authentication. He needed a way to ensure that his orders and decrees could not be easily forged.
As he pondered over the problem, his eyes caught sight of a small pen sitting on his desk. An idea began to form in his mind. He had read about modern techniques of document authentication, and he had a few ideas of his own that he could incorporate.
Zenki quickly sketched out a design for a unique stamp that he could carry with him at all times. It would incorporate a series of intricate patterns that would be impossible to forge. He also decided to add a secret code that only he knew, which would be revealed by shining a specific type of light on the stamp.
Excited by his idea, Zenki set to work, gathering the necessary materials to create the stamp. He used a special type of ink that could not be easily duplicated, and carefully crafted each pattern by hand. Finally, after several days of work, he had his stamp - a small but powerful tool that could ensure the authenticity of any document it was placed on.
From that day forward, Zenki carried his stamp with him wherever he went. Whenever he had to sign an important document or decree, he would carefully stamp it with his unique pattern. And as word of the stamp spread, people began to trust in the authenticity of Zenki's documents more than ever before.
Years passed, and Zenki's stamp became a symbol of his authority and power. Even after his reign had ended, the stamp continued to be used by his successors, and it remained a powerful tool for ensuring the authenticity of important documents.
And as Zenki looked back on his legacy, he knew that he had made a lasting impact on his kingdom - not just through his leadership, but through his ingenuity and the unique stamp that he had created.
Zenki sat in his office, pondering over the recent events that have transpired. He couldn't shake off the feeling of betrayal after learning that some of the eunuchs he trusted were actually spies. And now, his shadow guards were dead, with no clear explanation as to why or who was behind it.
He knew he needed to act fast and gather as much information as possible. That's why he called for Zhang Liang and asked him to discreetly summon Caiwu Zongjian to a secret location so that they may speak personally.