Chapter 176 - 175: Related to the Crown Prince

Chapter 176: Chapter 175: Related to the Crown Prince

Hearing the words of her Confidant Maids, Yan Jiuge froze. She immediately thought of the nine-hundred-year-old blood ginseng from last night.

The Tenth Princess, Xia Xizhi, also had her accident last night, and then this nine-hundred-year-old blood ginseng was delivered to her Sleeping Palace. Only a fool would believe there was no connection between the two events.

’Given Yun Liyue’s recent way of doing things, it seems possible she could do something like this. But to go to such lengths for my sake... isn’t that a bit unwise?’

’Yun Liyue can barely protect herself as it is. The Xuan Nu Palace is still watching her like a hawk. If she were to offend Emperor Xia as well, the consequences would be unimaginable.’

Though she hadn’t originally planned on asking, Yan Jiuge decided to make a trip to Lizheng Hall to see if Yun Liyue was behind it.

’If it really was her, I have to give her a reminder. If anything goes wrong, she can just pin the blame on me. Besides, I need to consume that nine-hundred-year-old blood ginseng as soon as possible to break through my bottleneck and advance to the First Grade Realm.’

Filled with doubt, Yan Jiuge arrived at Lizheng Hall.

It was dusk, and the afterglow of the setting sun draped the palace in a golden veil.

Yun Liyue was in the courtyard playing the zither. Her moon-white palace dress made her look like a fairy from the moon.

But the music was somewhat disjointed, tinged with a faint air of confusion, though it was unclear what she was confused about.

Seeing Yan Jiuge arrive, Yun Liyue pressed her slender fingers against the strings, and the music came to an abrupt halt.

"Little Sister Jiuge, what brings you here today?" Yun Liyue rose to greet her, her voice as cool and clear as spring water striking stone.

Even in her own courtyard, Yun Liyue’s bearing was impeccable. Her exquisitely beautiful, jade-like face was free of makeup, her features as perfect as a painting. She was devastatingly beautiful, like a heavenly Fairy who had descended to the mortal realm.

What was most striking was her cool, otherworldly aura, as if she were an ethereal Fairy untouched by the mortal world.

Unlike Yun Liyue’s moon-like coolness, Yan Jiuge’s temperament was a perfect fusion of ice and fire.

She wore a long crimson dress, its hem embroidered with flame patterns in gold thread. A faint hint of dark red shone through her cloud-like black hair—one of the characteristics of the Fire Spirit Race.

When she stood quietly, her expression held a natural chill, like a flame burning amidst ice and snow. Yet when she spoke, the light that danced in her bright eyes carried the characteristic fiery passion of the Fire Spirit Race.

"Did Sister Liyue send that blood ginseng? And what about Xia Xizhi’s situation?" Yan Jiuge asked.

Yun Liyue was taken aback, a flash of surprise in her beautiful eyes. "Xia Xizhi? What blood ginseng?"

"This..." Seeing Yun Liyue’s confused expression, which didn’t seem feigned, Yan Jiuge raised an elegant eyebrow.

She hesitated for a moment before telling Yun Liyue everything that had happened in the past two days. Yun Liyue was stunned to hear how Xia Xizhi had tried to force Yan Jiuge to hand over a seven-hundred-year-old blood ginseng, even using Xia Wuyang as a threat.

And just as she was about to give in, Xia Xizhi had suffered a "Qigong Deviation" last night and become catatonic, while a nine-hundred-year-old blood ginseng had appeared in the Ice and Fire Hall. Yun Liyue was utterly astonished.

After a moment of contemplation, Yun Liyue said solemnly, "To be honest, Little Sister Jiuge, the reason I was able to advance to First Grade a while ago was also because of a mysterious person’s help. Many things have happened recently that were not my doing."

She recounted in detail the matter of the Eight Hundred Year-Old Monkey Wine, and how Elder Yuheng was captured and forced to expose the Xuan Nu Palace, causing Yan Jiuge’s beautiful eyes to widen in astonishment.

Furthermore, Yun Liyue also told Yan Jiuge about Mo Qianqiu being rescued and the assassination of Zhao Qi, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, leaving Yan Jiuge even more stunned.

"In that case, could it be the same mysterious person behind all of this?" Yan Jiuge’s bright eyes widened.

Yun Liyue nodded. "Based on my and Master Mo’s deductions, it’s highly likely the work of the same person."

Yun Liyue didn’t voice her other suspicion—that many Princes and Princesses had recently met with accidents one after another. It was only a suspicion, but the implications were enormous, so it was better not to mention it casually.

The two peerless beauties sat opposite each other and began to speculate about the identity of this mysterious expert. They immediately ruled out the elder Crown Prince, Xia Wuyang.

After all, even if he were hiding his true strength, it was impossible for him to possess such astonishing Cultivation. Moreover, given his current condition, it was fundamentally impossible for him to deceive the spies and moles from all sides.

"Could it be one of the Crown Prince’s former subordinates?" Yan Jiuge guessed.

Yun Liyue shook her head gently. "The Crown Prince’s old followers have either died or scattered over the years. The Crown Prince himself drove many away, and the rest are all in dire straits. It’s impossible for any of them to have such power and resources."

"Perhaps one slipped through the cracks?" Yan Jiuge guessed again.

Yun Liyue thought for a moment. "That’s also possible, but I can’t think of who it could be. Who would have such strength and influence?"

The two of them fell silent. After a while, Yan Jiuge sighed. "It must be related to the Crown Prince, though he might not know about it."

Thinking of the white-haired, dying Crown Prince, a pang of sorrow filled their hearts.

The Crown Prince who was once so brilliant and powerful, who had made countless heroes bow their heads in admiration, had now been reduced to this state.

Recalling the rumors circulating in the palace that the Crown Prince likely wouldn’t last more than a few months, both of them couldn’t help but clench their sleeves with their delicate hands.

"No matter who it is, we will remember this debt of gratitude. Once we uncover the truth, we will repay them handsomely."

Yun Liyue said softly in the end. Yan Jiuge nodded in agreement.

After leaving Lizheng Hall, Yan Jiuge walked alone on a palace path. The setting sun’s afterglow stretched her shadow long, and the streak of dark red in her black hair was especially conspicuous under the twilight.

’Thinking back on all her years with Xia Wuyang, a wave of guilt washed over her. If only she had tried harder back then, found a way to make her race spend more time and energy, and better managed her relationships with her clansmen, perhaps she could have found a cure.’

’She had thought all she could do was quietly see him off on his final journey. She never expected to receive his help even during this final leg of his life.’

"If only that incident back then had never happened."

She murmured to herself, a flicker of longing in her beautiful eyes.

Unfortunately, many things in life don’t go as one wishes, and there are no "what ifs."

"If only that mysterious person were you... that would be wonderful. But alas, that’s impossible."

With a sigh, Yan Jiuge quickened her pace.

At the same time, in Lizheng Hall, Yun Liyue stood by the window, gazing at the newly risen moon. The cool moonlight cascaded over her, adding to her ethereal aura.

"Mysterious person... If only you were the Crown Prince."

Almost the exact same words came from Yun Liyue’s lips, revealing the depth of both women’s feelings for Xia Wuyang.

Even in his current state, he remained in their hearts.

A few moments later, Yun Liyue went to the courtyard for a solitary stroll. The watery moonlight spilled onto her moon-white palace dress, seeming to cloak her in a silver veil.

After an unknown amount of time, she returned to her Sleeping Palace. She prepared to wash up before beginning her cultivation.