Chapter 173 - 172: Threatening Yan Jiuge

Chapter 173: Chapter 172: Threatening Yan Jiuge

In Ice and Fire Hall, Yan Jiuge was in the Quiet Chamber, ceaselessly refining her Essence, Qi, and Spirit.

She had hidden the seven-hundred-year-old blood ginseng in a secret compartment within a nearby hidden chamber. She was waiting until her refinement was complete to consume it and attempt to break through to the First Grade Realm.

Truthfully, using a seven-hundred-year-old blood ginseng to aid a breakthrough to the First Grade Realm was not ideal. A nine-hundred-year-old blood ginseng would normally be far more effective.

A seven-hundred-year-old blood ginseng barely qualified as a High Level Mortal Treasure. It was among the weakest and most common of its kind.

However, Yan Jiuge was attempting to reach the First Grade Realm, which truly required a superior High Level Mortal Treasure for a good chance of success.

Unfortunately, this one seven-hundred-year-old blood ginseng had already cost Yan Jiuge all her savings. She couldn’t afford a nine-hundred-year-old one, nor did she have any other way to obtain it.

Even so, someone had their eyes on her seven-hundred-year-old blood ginseng.

Two days later, at dusk, a series of urgent knocks shattered the silence.

"Your Highness, the Tenth Princess is here!" Her personal Maid’s voice was laced with panic. It was clear her visitor did not come with good intentions.

Yan Jiuge’s brow furrowed. Her relationship with the Tenth Princess, Xia Xizhi, had always been poor; they had even clashed decades ago.

However, after the Crown Prince was deposed, Yan Jiuge, who had once held the upper hand, could no longer keep Xia Xizhi in check. She had been bullied by the princess many times over the years, forcing her to hide away in the Eastern Palace and rarely venture out.

’This sudden visit can’t be for anything good.’

A terrible premonition rose in Yan Jiuge’s heart. ’Could she be here for the seven-hundred-year-old blood ginseng?’

’But I specifically told the proprietor of the Hundred Herbs Pavilion to keep this a secret. How could word have reached Xia Xizhi so quickly? Did the proprietor leak it?’

’That’s the most likely explanation. After all, my status now is far beneath the Tenth Princess. Anyone forced to choose between us would almost certainly pick her.’

Before Yan Jiuge could grant permission, Xia Xizhi had already stormed in with a large retinue of Palace Maids and eunuchs. Among them was even a Guard at the First Grade Grandmaster Level—the threat was unmistakable.

The group swaggered into the Ice and Fire Hall, making a beeline for Yan Jiuge.

Xia Xizhi wore a lavish, gold-threaded phoenix gown and a Nine Phoenix Pearl Crown, her expression dripping with arrogance.

"Yan Jiuge, I heard you acquired a seven-hundred-year-old blood ginseng. I happen to need such a treasure to advance my Cultivation. Name your price."

Xia Xizhi’s tone was contemptuous the moment she laid eyes on Yan Jiuge. ’So it really is about the blood ginseng.’ Yan Jiuge’s heart sank as her gaze shifted to the First Grade Level Grandmaster beside the princess.

As if on cue, the man released his aura, his coercive intent palpable.

But Yan Jiuge did not yield. She shook her head. "I have my own use for the seven-hundred-year-old blood ginseng. It is not for sale!"

"’Not for sale?’ Xia Xizhi sneered. ’You might have had the right to say that before, but now that Xia Wuyang is a useless wreck, you no longer have that privilege.’"

She slowly approached Yan Jiuge, her gaze turning cold. "Yan Jiuge, you should know the price for refusing me now."

The First Grade Grandmaster unleashed an even more potent aura, his chilling gaze fixed on Yan Jiuge, looking as if he might strike at any moment to snatch away her seven-hundred-year-old blood ginseng.

"Then try me." Yan Jiuge showed no fear, her expression unchanging. At the same time, her Qi Blood began to surge, as if she were about to strike Xia Xizhi herself.

Xia Xizhi’s own strength was merely Third Grade Perfection, a far cry from Yan Jiuge’s. Seeing her dare to adopt such a defiant stance under the pressure of a First Grade Grandmaster, the princess’s face changed, and she hastily retreated several steps.

Once she was at a safe distance, she said in a cold voice, "Yan Jiuge, a wise person knows when to yield. Don’t make me do this the hard way. One hundred thousand taels of silver for your seven-hundred-year-old blood ginseng. If you refuse again, don’t blame me for what happens next."

"I might consider it for ten million taels," Yan Jiuge said with a scoff. "One hundred thousand? Are you trying to shoo away a beggar?"

She had paid far more than one hundred thousand taels of silver for this blood ginseng. Xia Xizhi was blatantly trying to rob her, using her status to bully her into submission.

But no matter how far Xia Wuyang had fallen, this was still the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince’s court. She didn’t believe Xia Xizhi would dare to openly rob her here. If she did, even if Xia Wuyang was powerless to stop her, Emperor Xia would not turn a blind eye.

Seeing her threats weren’t working on Yan Jiuge, Xia Xizhi’s expression turned ugly. She lowered her voice. "Even if you aren’t afraid, I hear that old man’s health is getting worse. It would be a shame if his last days weren’t peaceful, wouldn’t it? Heh heh..."

"You dare..." Yan Jiuge’s pupils contracted. She never imagined Xia Xizhi could be so despicable, so shameless as to threaten the elder Crown Prince, a man with only a few days left to live.

Xia Xizhi sneered. "What is there I wouldn’t dare? In the Deep Palace, accidents can happen at any time, especially to someone already at death’s door."

Yan Jiuge remained silent, a grim coldness settling over her picturesque features.

Xia Xizhi toyed with the Jade Ruyi in her hand, her voice growing more sinister. "If you obediently hand over the seven-hundred-year-old blood ginseng, I can guarantee that old man lives a few more days. Otherwise, in his current state... if we were to send him a few more girls to ’drain him dry,’ he might just drop dead on the spot."

Watching Xia Xizhi’s brazen display, Yan Jiuge clenched her fists so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

She herself was not afraid of Xia Xizhi’s threats. With her Cultivation at Second Grade Perfection, she might not be a match for a First Grade Grandmaster, but she could still cause a massive disturbance within the Palace. Besides, she had other cards to play.

If things got out of hand and attracted the Palace Guards, Xia Xizhi would be forced to back down.

But given Xia Wuyang’s condition, if he were targeted, it was doubtful he could even have a dignified end.

Though the man had become muddle-headed and erratic over the years, he was still her husband. She still felt a pang of guilt over the Fire Spirit Race’s failure to help him back then.

There were still the feelings from all those years together. Even though they had a falling out, a trace of affection remained. She didn’t want to see him stripped of his dignity in his final moments.

Seeing Yan Jiuge at a loss for words, Xia Xizhi flashed a triumphant smile and turned to leave. "I’ll give you three days to think it over. If you haven’t handed over the seven-hundred-year-old blood ginseng by then, don’t blame me for what comes next."

After Xia Xizhi had left, Yan Jiuge went out into the courtyard alone, her beautiful face etched with indecision.

She gazed in the direction of Wenhua Hall, her eyes filled with complex emotions. The once brilliant and formidable Crown Prince had been reduced to a sickly, weak old man whom anyone could now bully.

"’If... if you still had even a shadow of your former glory, how would they dare act like this?’ Yan Jiuge murmured to herself, a flicker of sorrow in her eyes."