Chapter 175 - 174: Dealing with the Tenth Princess

Chapter 175: Chapter 174: Dealing with the Tenth Princess

Xia Wuyang waited until Xia Xizhi had finished her bath and had her fun with a group of handsome Imperial Guards before he made his move.

A single Soul Enchantment Technique was all it took for Xia Xizhi to lose consciousness.

Immersed in an Illusion, she began to practice her Martial Arts. But in the process of her Cultivation, she inexplicably recalled the events that had just transpired. Her face flushed, and she became lost in the memory.

It was during this moment that, with one "careless slip," the Qi Blood in her body grew agitated, surging through her system and rushing into her mind.

Because Xia Xizhi had not yet opened her Sea of Consciousness, it could only be called her mind. Only those whose Spiritual Power had reached a certain level and opened their Sea of Consciousness could truly be said to possess one.

"Ah...!"

With a piercing scream, Xia Xizhi collapsed in the Practice Room. A lingering flush still colored her face, and her body contained traces of various substances, including some aphrodisiacs.

These things would serve as better evidence of Xia Xizhi’s debauchery, as well as the cause of her Qigong Deviation.

While she was lost in the Illusion, Xia Wuyang had already learned the location of Xia Xizhi’s secret stashes. However, to avoid arousing suspicion, he only took a single prized possession: a High Level Miracle Treasure, the Blood Lotus Fruit.

That’s right. Xia Xizhi actually possessed a High Level Miracle Treasure—and it was a Blood Lotus Fruit, the same kind Xia Wuyang had consumed before. Its value far surpassed that of a seven-hundred-year-old blood ginseng, something truly unimaginable.

Xia Xizhi had obtained this Blood Lotus Fruit several years ago and was saving it to help her break through to the next Grand Realm. The official story she put out was that she had consumed it long ago, a lie meant to prevent others from coveting it.

Now, it had fallen into Xia Wuyang’s hands, and taking it wouldn’t raise any suspicion.

In addition to the Blood Lotus Fruit, Xia Wuyang also plundered several other treasures unknown to the outside world.

Though few in number, their value was immense. The trip had been more than worthwhile.

With all this done, Xia Wuyang prepared to leave.

After his handiwork, Xia Xizhi would now be just like Princess Xiu Min—a living vegetable, able to think and feel but unable to do anything at all.

She couldn’t even twitch an eyelid. She was helplessly trapped inside her own body, a fate so horrifying it was chilling just to imagine.

It was a fate worse than death.

’Enjoy your new life as a vegetable.’

Casting a cold glance at the collapsed Xia Xizhi, Xia Wuyang returned to the Eastern Palace. Instead of going directly to Wenhua Hall, he went to the Ice and Fire Hall. There, he quietly left the nine-hundred-year-old blood ginseng he had obtained from the Inner Treasury inside Yan Jiuge’s Sleeping Palace.

This nine-hundred-year-old blood ginseng was far more effective than the seven-hundred-year-old one and would be able to help Yan Jiuge break through to the First Grade Realm.

If it weren’t for him, Yan Jiuge would not have been in such dire straits all these years. This was the least he could do for her.

Inside her Sleeping Palace, Yan Jiuge tossed and turned, unable to sleep. She had just given away the seven-hundred-year-old blood ginseng she had worked so hard to obtain. Even though she had made the decision, her heart still ached.

Just then, she felt as if something had passed through the hall. Her expression flickered. She carefully extended her senses but discovered nothing.

’Did I just imagine it?’

Yan Jiuge’s elegant brow furrowed. After a moment of hesitation, she got out of bed. She quickly noticed that something new had appeared on her nearby dressing table.

As a Grandmaster at Second Grade Perfection, she knew the layout of her Sleeping Palace like the back of her hand. She could instantly tell if anything was added or missing.

Yan Jiuge walked over and was stunned to find an exquisite Cold Jade Box.

After a careful inspection to confirm there were no traps, she cautiously opened the Cold Jade Box.

In that instant, a rich medicinal fragrance wafted out, causing her expression to change as she nearly cried out in shock.

’A nine-hundred-year-old blood ginseng!’

Lying quietly inside the Cold Jade Box was a nine-hundred-year-old blood ginseng. It was crimson red, its rootlets trembled as if alive, and a faint radiance flowed across its surface. It was easily ten times more precious than the seven-hundred-year-old blood ginseng she had just acquired.

"This... this..." Yan Jiuge was speechless. She hurriedly scanned her surroundings but found nothing.

The visitor’s Cultivation was so high, and their Concealment skill so strong, that it was utterly astonishing.

’It must be a Grandmaster above First Grade, one with exceptional skill in this area.’

Thankfully, the person had no ill intentions toward her; otherwise, Yan Jiuge would most likely have been unable to defend herself.

’But who was it? Why give me such a precious nine-hundred-year-old blood ginseng? Looking at the people I know, no one seems to have both this level of power and such generosity.’

’No, wait, there is one person—the Crown Prince Consort, Yun Liyue, who has recently been making huge waves in the Jianghu.’

’First, she broke through to the First Grade Realm in a single stroke. Then, she effortlessly played the Xuan Nu Palace for fools, turning them into a laughingstock. She should have that kind of power and wealth, and she might be willing to give me a nine-hundred-year-old blood ginseng.’

’But if it was her, why wouldn’t she give it to me directly? Why place it secretly in my Sleeping Palace? Does she not want others to know, or is there some other hidden reason?’

’But from what I know of Yun Liyue, she doesn’t seem like that type of person. Perhaps I should find some time to go and ask her.’

Carefully putting away the nine-hundred-year-old blood ginseng, Yan Jiuge now felt a great sense of confidence. With this, she could break through her shackles and advance to become a First Grade Grandmaster.

As for whether to ask Yun Liyue, she was still hesitant.

After all, if Yun Liyue had indeed sent it, her deliberate concealment meant she likely didn’t want anyone to know.

But if it wasn’t Yun Liyue, then who could it be?

Inexplicably, the image of the elder Crown Prince surfaced in her mind. Back in the day, only he would give precious Miracle Treasures to them, his concubines. The other Princes and Princesses barely had enough for themselves; how could they possibly give such treasures to the person sharing their bed?

It was precisely because of this that they, his concubines, had been able to improve so quickly, far surpassing the imagination of ordinary people.

But the elder Crown Prince was already... in his current state. How could he possibly have such power, let alone such wealth?

As she tossed and turned, unable to sleep, a commotion erupted outside. Soon, her Confidant Maid rushed in to report.

"Your Highness, good news! Wonderful news! The Tenth Princess suffered a Qigong Deviation during her Cultivation last night and is now a complete cripple! She can’t move, can’t stand, can’t even sit up. She can’t so much as move an eyelid! It looks like she’ll be bedridden for the rest of her life, unable to do a single thing."

"They say it was caused by the Qigong Deviation, but some are also saying that the Tenth Princess was playing too rough with a group of Imperial Guards last night. She didn’t even clean herself up before cultivating, which is what led to the accident. They say there was still evidence on her body when she was found."

"The palace is already trying to suppress the news, but the story has spread like wildfire. Those Imperial Guards who were... intimate with the Tenth Princess have all been arrested, which basically confirms it!"

"It seems even the heavens are on your side, Your Highness! The Tenth Princess had just been here to threaten you, and in the very next moment, this happens! You finally don’t have to worry about this matter anymore."

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