Chapter 229 - 228: A Timely Pillow

Chapter 229: Chapter 228: A Timely Pillow

Emperor Xia rose and walked to the window, gazing toward Lizheng Hall. A look of distinct apprehension crossed his face.

Even if the person backing Yun Liyue was not a True Monarch, the power and methods they had revealed were enough to leave him deeply shaken.

Even he, himself, would likely be incapable of such a feat.

This meant that in certain respects, he was no match for this person.

Unless the Old Ancestor personally intervened, there was likely no one in the vast Great Xia Dynasty who could subdue this individual.

The daughter-in-law he had once dismissed had now become a hot potato.

Furthermore, the Sword Control Skill this person cultivated was an immense temptation, and he was unwilling to simply give up on it.

"Your Majesty, in your subject’s humble opinion, we should wait and see how things unfold," Zheng Zhicang said cautiously. "Since this person is willing to act for the Crown Prince Consort, it means they have their own concerns. As long as we do not harm the Crown Prince Consort, they are unlikely to become our enemy. Once the elder Crown Prince passes, the Crown Prince Consort will likely leave the Imperial Palace, and there will be far fewer complications."

Emperor Xia was silent for a long moment before finally waving his hand. "Very well. Pass down the decree: Eradicate Xuan Nu Palace as quickly as possible. Deal with that pest."

Ultimately, he was afraid. The fate of Xuan Nu Palace was too tragic. A power with a thousand-year heritage was now on the brink of annihilation.

Annihilation was one thing, but they had also been utterly disgraced, their reputation ruined beyond recovery.

Their end was so miserable that it sent a chill down the spine of the Emperor who had ruled the Great Xia Dynasty for nearly a century.

If that mysterious expert could bring Xuan Nu Palace to such a gruesome end, there was no reason they couldn’t do the same to the Great Xia Royal Family.

After all, many of the Great Xia Royal Family’s deeds were no better than those of Xuan Nu Palace. Some of his own actions, in particular, would provoke the wrath of both gods and men if they were ever exposed.

Therefore, it was best to make a show of goodwill. As for the Sword Control Skill, he would put that aside for now. Perhaps in the future, he would have a chance to find the Thief Demon and obtain the original manuscript from him.

Or he could wait for another opportunity to acquire this Sword Control Skill.

Meanwhile, the other Princes and Princesses in the Imperial Palace were holding similar discussions.

"We can’t touch that Yun Liyue for now. I had originally planned to get the Sword Control Skill from her, but before I could even make a move, this whole disaster with Xuan Nu Palace happened." Inside the Gold and Silver Palace, the Fifth Prince, Xia Wushang, sighed to his confidant. "But as for the Third Prince, Xia Wuchen... didn’t he once possess the original manuscript for the Sword Control Skill? He might have memorized its contents. We could try to find a way to get it from him."

These days, Wude Palace is as desolate as a tomb. Xia Wuchen has become a eunuch—a cripple, even. Many of his Guests have departed, one after another, leaving very few behind.

The Third Prince, Xia Wuchen, spends his days in tears, having lost all of his former heroic vigor. Even his maternal relatives at Prince Zhenbei’s Mansion are no longer willing to support him.

Under these circumstances, dealing with the Third Prince, Xia Wuchen, would be far easier than dealing with Yun Liyue.

As this thought occurred to him, a sharp glint flashed in Fifth Prince Xia Wushang’s eyes. Thinking of the history of grudges between them, he couldn’t help but lift his hand in a delicate gesture. This was the perfect opportunity to exact his revenge.

He seemed to forget that he, too, was a eunuch, stuck at a cultivation bottleneck with no breakthrough in sight. If his own situation were to be exposed, his fate would be no better.

Similar scenes were playing out amongst the other Princes and Princesses. Even those known for their arrogance had grown much more subdued, no longer daring to make a move against the Eastern Palace, and especially not against Lizheng Hall.

’Compared to Xuan Nu Palace with its thousand-year heritage, what were a few Princes and Princesses?’

And so, Lizheng Hall experienced an unprecedented period of tranquility. Even the entire Eastern Palace grew much more peaceful as a result.

The usual harassment ceased, the clandestine spying lessened, and even the daily provisions sent over became far more generous and refined.

Yun Liyue stood beneath a flowering crabapple, savoring the rare tranquility. Of course, she knew exactly why this was happening.

"Who are you, really? Are you truly an old acquaintance of my master? Someone who indirectly benefited from the kindness of the former Crown Prince’s Mansion?" she murmured, her gaze fixed on Wenhua Hall.

A chilly spring breeze swept by, causing the crabapple buds to sway gently, as if whispering a secret known to none.

And the master of that secret was deep within Wenhua Hall. He had just finished a session of Cultivation, and as he opened his eyes, they reflected the deepening colors of spring outside the window.

His Cultivation Foundation was now consolidated, and the residual impurities in his Dantian were being continuously purged. Once they were completely cleansed, his Qi Blood and physical constitution would be strengthened to an exceptionally high degree.

That would be the time for him to condense a True Qi Seed and step into the True Monarch Realm.

Time passed slowly. Spring deepened in White Jade City. The weeping willows by Taiye Pool sprouted tender yellow buds, and along the palace walls, the first winter jasmines bloomed, forming a brilliant golden carpet.

An early-returning swallow would occasionally skim past the glazed roof tiles, a fleck of mud in its beak, searching for its old nest beneath the eaves.

Inside Wenhua Hall, Xia Wuyang was studying and refining the contents of the River Scripture, adapting it to better suit his own body. Only then could he properly break through his shackles and advance to the True Monarch Realm.

Jade-like beauties danced gracefully around him. He appeared to be lost in their soft, fragrant company, but in truth, his focus had long been on more important matters.

Just then, a kingfisher flew in from the distance, landing on the window lattice and chirping, "Zheng Zhicang has intel! Zheng Zhicang has intel!"

Xia Wuyang knew at once: the Shadow Guard Chief had left a report at their designated drop point. He would have to find time to see what it was.

He quickly paid a visit to Hanik’s Heart and did not neglect Ah Yuela either. After tussling with them until he appeared suitably "exhausted," a bevy of beauties escorted him to the Practice Room, urging him to get some rest.

But the moment the stone door of the Practice Room was bolted from the inside, Xia Wuyang put on a Disguise. He slipped out of the room through a hidden passage, silently making his way to the spot he had arranged with the Shadow Guard Chief, Zheng Zhicang, and retrieved the secret report left for him.

The report detailed several important recent events both inside and outside the Imperial Palace: the progress of Sun Wuyang’s Celestial Eye investigation, the current state of Xuan Nu Palace, what Emperor Xia was up to... One particular item made Xia Wuyang’s spirits lift, and a smile spread across his face.

’Talk about perfect timing.’

’He had been thinking that while his Cultivation Foundation was solid, he was out of Miracle Treasures. That meant he could only cultivate slowly, building his Qi and Blood Power and purging impurities. He had estimated it would take a long period of arduous training before he could finally condense a True Qi Seed.’

’But now, Zheng Zhicang had delivered a piece of good news that was exactly what he required. If he played his cards right, he might be able to condense his True Qi Seed very soon.’