Chapter 199 - 198: The Last Purge Night

Chapter 199: Chapter 198: The Last Purge Night

"Mountains of snow, roads of white!"

Xia Wuyang said with a smile, gazing at the snow blanketing the ground.

The young woman smiled sweetly. "Your Highness puts it so well. It perfectly describes everything before us."

"I don’t just speak well, I can also compose poetry! ’In a landscape of white jade, a thousand miles are sealed in ice. Ten thousand miles of snow do fall, turning the heads of men white.’" Xia Wuyang stole a kiss from the girl and recited a poem aloud.

As soon as he finished, the young woman clapped her hands repeatedly. "A fine poem, a fine poem! Your Highness is amazing."

The surrounding Palace Attendants chimed in, their faces full of approval.

"His Highness’s poem is truly magnificent! The line, ’In a landscape of white jade,’ refers to the scenery of White Jade City. And as the next lines say, a thousand miles are sealed in ice, and ten thousand miles are covered in falling snow. It is because of this snow that so many people’s heads have turned white."

"With its literary grace, I believe this poem is destined to be passed down through the ages. The so-called poet saints of the common folk are no match for this. His Highness’s poetic talent is truly extraordinary."

"With this poem, His Highness has already established a foothold in the literary world that no one can shake."

...

Faced with everyone’s praise, Xia Wuyang beamed, seemingly enjoying it immensely.

Just then, a series of Palace Attendants arrived.

"Your Highness, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has sent over a group of Qiuci Dancers, each one a stunning beauty."

"Your Highness, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has also sent a group of Jiangnan Beauties. We guarantee you won’t be disappointed."

"Your Highness, several Shou Liji have been brought over, and they are by no means inferior to the last batch."

...

Xia Wuyang froze. ’Who wants me dead this badly?’ he thought. ’Sending so many peerless beauties from all over during the Cleansing Festival... Are they afraid I won’t die fast enough? Could something have happened with Yun Liyue? Otherwise, how would anyone dare to do this?’

On the surface, however, Xia Wuyang was ecstatic. He clapped his hands repeatedly. "Excellent, excellent! I love this! I love beauties the most! Have them come to Wenhua Hall at once. Tonight, on the Eve of Cleansing, I will be sure to dote on them properly."

"And have Su Ling’Er, Hanik’s Heart, and Jin Xiuya dress up nicely. Tonight, I plan to stay up all night long and have a proper Cleansing. I must not fail to live up to such a beautiful night and scenery!"

Hearing this, the surrounding Palace Attendants’ faces paled. A bad feeling rose in their hearts.

Some, however, sneered. ’It’s finally coming to an end,’ they thought. ’If things go wrong, tonight might just be the old bastard’s last day.’

’Taking so many beauties to bed in a single night... even if it doesn’t kill him, he’ll end up a cripple, right?’

Soon, the beauties were sent over one by one. In just over an hour, nearly a hundred women from various races had arrived: Fox Girls, Qiuci Dancers, Jiangnan Beauties, Shou Liji... There was even a Black Pearl. Xia Wuyang had no idea where they had found her, and he was momentarily stunned.

Whether in this life or his past one, he had never been fond of this "Black Pearl" type. He always found them a little strange.

But the Black Pearl sent this time was exceptionally exquisite. She had a melon-seed-shaped face, willow-leaf eyebrows, and a superb air about her. She was utterly bewitching, possessing both an exotic charm and the gentleness of a Jiangnan Beauty. He had no idea how they had cultivated such a woman.

According to what he heard from others, she was from a Western Alien Race. Due to the unusual climate there, some strange beauties were occasionally born, and the "Black Pearl" was one of the more famous types.

This Black Pearl’s name was Charle. Xia Wuyang, who had originally not planned to accept her, decided to keep her around for a while after seeing her face. If she proved to be docile, he might give her a try.

What Xia Wuyang hadn’t expected was that after using the Soul Enchantment Technique to read the surface thoughts of those around him, he was startled to discover that these beauties from various races weren’t sent by others. They had, in fact, been sent by the concubines of the Eastern Palace.

For the most part, the Ministry of Internal Affairs had only sent them over out of respect for Yun Liyue. It wasn’t that something had happened to her.

’Could it be that even the concubines of the Eastern Palace think I’ve lived for too long?’

Just as Xia Wuyang was feeling bewildered, the Ministry of Internal Affairs sent over many more fine things: several-hundred-year-old He Shou Wu, several-hundred-year-old reishi, precious custom-made Pearl Powder... and even an extremely rare White Tiger Whip.

With so many tonics, even if Xia Wuyang stayed up all night, nothing would happen to him.

This wasn’t an attempt to harm him; it was to let him enjoy himself thoroughly.

On the surface, Xia Wuyang looked delighted and senile, but inwardly, he couldn’t help but sigh. He was beginning to understand what Yun Liyue, Yan Jiuge, and the others were thinking.

"Excellent, excellent!"

Xia Wuyang laughed loudly to hide his emotions and began to enjoy the various tonics. "Tonight, I’m going to have a good time! All the beauties will stay. Not a single one is allowed to leave."

Amid his wild shouts, before night had even fallen, Xia Wuyang was already rushing impatiently toward the newly arrived beauties.

Seeing so many tonics prepared, including some that were quite rare and precious, Su Ling’Er, Hanik’s Heart, and the others finally relaxed a little. They too seemed to faintly understand something.

By the time night fell, Wenhua Hall was already in full swing, a scene of pure, earthly delight.

Thirty-six glazed palace lanterns illuminated the great hall as brightly as day, and the Underfloor Heating made it as warm as spring.

Su Ling’Er played the zither, Hanik’s Heart danced, and Jin Xiuya brewed tea. The newly arrived beauties either held ewers to pour wine or peeled fruit to serve, filling the hall with the twittering voices of women and waves of fragrance.

Xia Wuyang was toying with several beauties in his arms, having almost forgotten where he was.

"Your Highness, please drink some imported fine wine!"

A Qiuci Dancer offered him exotic grape wine. From Xia Wuyang, she had learned the meaning of "imported fine wine" and knew that the elder Crown Prince was fondest of this kind of "imported" wine, which carried the faint, youthful fragrance of a young woman.

Although it was a little uncomfortable to feed him that way, the elder Crown Prince was generous and never stingy when it came to giving out money and treasures.

"Your Highness, I have some imported grapes!"

Another beauty offered him "imported" grapes. Xia Wuyang eagerly enjoyed them, pulling her into his embrace in the process.

"Good, so good! I love it!"

Xia Wuyang accepted all comers, indulging himself to the fullest. On the surface, he appeared utterly debauched and dissolute, a picture of senility.

But what no one knew was that this so-called indulgence in carnal pleasures took up only a small fraction of his attention. The majority of his focus remained on his cultivation.

Comprehending Cultivation Techniques, Combat Techniques, Secret Techniques, and Alchemy... he never stopped, steadily improving in every aspect.

’They laugh at my madness, I laugh at their blindness.’

Some of the beauties who had developed feelings for Xia Wuyang over time felt no joy at this scene. Instead, an inexplicable sadness rose in their hearts.

From the discussions of the other women, they already knew what tonight was all about.

All these virgin beauties had been brought here by the concubines of the Eastern Palace, who had expended considerable resources and favors to do so. They had also sent all the precious tonics. The purpose was self-evident: they hoped that on this final Eve of Cleansing, the elder Crown Prince could have a bit more joy.

Apparently, in everyone’s eyes, the elder Crown Prince would not survive to see the next year. This was, therefore, his last Eve of Cleansing.