Chapter 174 - 173: Stepping Forward

Chapter 174: Chapter 173: Stepping Forward

Over the years, she had appeared outwardly cold toward Xia Wuyang, as if the conflict from their past had severed most of their ties.

In reality, she had always been keeping a close watch on his situation. Every time she heard he was in trouble, she grew incredibly worried—otherwise, she would not have secretly helped him before.

Regarding the grievances from decades ago, while she certainly resented Xia Wuyang’s cold ruthlessness, she knew, upon reflection, that anyone in his position would have struggled to fare any better.

Even if she had been the one to face those events, she doubted she would have been any more composed than Xia Wuyang.

It was true that Xia Wuyang had been the cause of the near-complete severance of ties with her maternal clan. But in hindsight, her clan had also taken advantage of the situation.

When they saw Xia Wuyang was deposed, some members of the Fire Spirit Race seized the opportunity to kick him while he was down, unwilling to be dragged down with him.

Her situation just happened to provide them with a convenient pretext. ’Xia Wuyang’s actions may have been extreme, but weren’t certain members of the Fire Spirit Race just as excessive?’

No matter how extreme he could be, Xia Wuyang ultimately had his limits. Unlike most other Princes, he never treated them as mere tools.

This was a lesson Xia Wuyang had learned in his past life, one he had not forgotten in this one.

Otherwise, if they no longer held any affection for Xia Wuyang, women of their caliber, like Yan Jiuge and Yun Liyue, could have left the Eastern Palace long ago to seek a better life.

Now, all they wanted was to help Xia Wuyang live out his final days in peace before they attended to their own affairs.

For people whose Cultivation Power had reached their level, many of the so-called rules of the Royal Family meant nothing.

By using Xia Wuyang as a threat, Xia Xizhi had struck her right where she was most vulnerable. More than a seven-hundred-year-old blood ginseng, she wanted Xia Wuyang to be able to pass away in peace.

She wanted him to live a little better in his final days, free from any more trouble.

’So, I should just agree to her terms in three days. I can find a way to get another seven-hundred-year-old blood ginseng in the future, but once Xia Wuyang is gone, there will be no making up for that loss.’

Sighing in resignation, Yan Jiuge sat in the courtyard, staring blankly toward the distant Wenhua Hall. Her mind kept replaying tender moments from her past with Xia Wuyang.

’If only that incident had never happened... if Xia Wuyang had never been deposed, and if Mother hadn’t met with disaster... how wonderful that would have been.’

But alas, things in this world rarely go as one wishes.

Those tragedies had already occurred. There was no going back.

Just as Yan Jiuge was secretly making her decision, she was unaware that, a short time later, Xia Wuyang had learned everything that had happened at the Ice and Fire Hall through the small animals of the palace.

He also confirmed the truth of the matter through Tantai Zhan, the Grand General of the Imperial Guard.

"Xia Xizhi!"

A cold light glinted in Xia Wuyang’s eyes. This Tenth Princess had always been domineering, and the two of them had clashed on numerous occasions in the past. After his deposition, Xia Xizhi had kicked him while he was down, bringing harm to many people in the Crown Prince’s Mansion.

Now she had threatened Yan Jiuge. What was even more malicious was that she had used Xia Wuyang himself as leverage, trying to force Yan Jiuge to surrender the seven-hundred-year-old blood ginseng she had worked so hard to obtain.

Most importantly, Yan Jiuge seemed to have accepted her fate and was preparing to give in to Xia Xizhi’s outrageous demands.

Xia Wuyang knew in his heart that, given Yan Jiuge’s character, she would never bow to a threat to save her own life. She was clearly being forced into this choice because of him.

’Without me in the picture,’ he thought, ’Yan Jiuge would rather die than be blackmailed.’

Subsequently, through his animal spies, Xia Wuyang received even more information—much of it overheard directly from Xia Xizhi herself.

"That bitch, Yan Jiuge. She went through all that trouble just to get her hands on a seven-hundred-year-old blood ginseng, thinking she could break through to the First Grade Realm. Hah! She had barely even bought the thing before the Pavilion Master of the Hundred Herbs Pavilion reported the news to me. HAHAHAHA! Breaking through to the First Grade Grandmaster Realm? What a beautiful dream."

"You should have seen the look on her face! The moment I mentioned that old fossil, Xia Wuyang, her expression just crumbled. I never thought she’d be so infatuated. That old man ruined her relationship with the Fire Spirit Race, yet she still protects him. I wonder, was he just that good in bed back in the day?"

"She’s just a powerless Consort. Even the elder Crown Prince doesn’t have long to live, yet she dares to defy me. Once that old fossil is dead and they’re all kicked out of the Imperial Palace, it’ll be my turn to settle the score."

"Oh, and find a way to send some more young, beautiful Palace Maids to that old fossil. Drain him dry and make him die faster. That way, I can deal with that bitch Yan Jiuge sooner."

...

Xia Xizhi’s shamelessness was beyond imagination. One moment she was giving Yan Jiuge three days to think it over, and the next she was not only mocking her but also actively plotting to harm Xia Wuyang.

Such a degree of shamelessness was truly a rare sight.

After hearing Xia Xizhi’s words, relayed to him by the birds, Xia Wuyang could hold back no longer.

That very night, under a bright moon and sparse stars, Xia Wuyang activated his Escape Concealment Technique and silently made his way to Yayun Palace, Xia Xizhi’s residence.

Xia Xizhi herself was not particularly capable; she was short-sighted and acted with a certain madness. And while she had little hope of ever becoming the Crown Prince, her background was shockingly powerful.

Coupled with the fact that her mother, a Consort, was skilled at currying favor with Emperor Xia, she was quite doted upon in the palace, causing her to act with ever-increasing arrogance.

Her residence was quite impressive. It was designated a "Palace," making it exceptionally large and well-appointed. This was unlike most Princes and Princesses, whose residences were merely designated as "Halls"—a significant step down from a "Palace."

Within the Imperial Palace of the Great Xia Dynasty, buildings were primarily categorized into three Levels: Palaces, Halls, and Courtyards. The most powerful Princes and Princesses and favored concubines typically resided in Palaces.

For instance, there was the Crown Prince’s Eastern Palace, the Third Prince’s Wude Palace, and the Fifth Prince’s Gold and Silver Palace. Lesser Princes, Princesses, and concubines lived in Halls.

For example, Fourth Prince Xia Wulei’s Evergreen Hall was a considerable step down from places like Wude Palace or the Gold and Silver Palace.

As for courtyards, those were generally reserved for Palace Attendants. The lowest-ranking residence for a Prince, Princess, or Consort was a Hall, though there was a clear hierarchy even among the Halls.

Evergreen Hall was actually considered one of the better ones.

He slipped into Yayun Palace with ease. The Tenth Princess’s abode was utterly extravagant, a clear display of its owner’s wealth, glittering magnificently with gold and jade.

Guards were posted everywhere, and security was tight. For Xia Wuyang, however, it was as if the place were deserted. He slipped effortlessly into the depths of the palace and found Xia Xizhi in the middle of her bath.

There were several Palace Attendants just to scrub her back, and each was a handsome, exceptional-looking young Imperial Guard. ’This Tenth Princess certainly knows how to enjoy herself,’ Xia Wuyang noted.