The door to the Imperial Study was closed.
Inside the vast hall, there were only two people.
Gu Xiangzhu stood quietly, her expression cold. Her tone held none of the fawning typical of other Consorts, and she showed no deference to Zhao Huan, the Emperor.
Her demeanor was the same as when she dealt with anyone else.
It was as if Zhao Huan were not the Emperor at all.
Yet Zhao Huan showed no displeasure. Instead, he said earnestly, "My dear consort, you should know this! Ci is my son, and he is also the son of the Marquis Zhonglie's only full-blooded sister. If not for the strict ancestral laws of the Great Yu, I would give him the very best of everything!
All he wants is to establish his own Prince's Mansion, a right afforded to any child of the Imperial Family! If you were in my position, how could you possibly refuse?"
"Oh?"
A hint of mockery tinged Gu Xiangzhu's cold voice. "If you value this son so much, how did you ever resolve to extract his blood and marrow?"
A flash of pain crossed Zhao Huan's eyes before vanishing. "For the sake of the Great Yu, I had no other choice! I owe him, and I will make it up to him in the future. The Secret Codex of Organ Exchange was provided by your sect, so why the biting words?"
Gu Xiangzhu did not argue further, merely watching him quietly for a moment. She, too, was somewhat unable to fathom Zhao Huan's true intentions.
But she knew that because of Zhao Huan, her operations in Lingge were severely restricted.
「Seventeen years ago.」
The year Zhao Ci was born, the real Princess Consort Jing, Xiang Xiaoling, had died during a difficult childbirth.
It was then that the Demon Sect made a deal with Zhao Huan. They offered the Secret Codex of Organ Exchange—a technique that could extend one's life, or even grant longevity—in exchange for a foothold to expand their influence in Lingge.
She would assume Xiang Xiaoling's identity, inheriting the connections of the Jing Chu Xiang Clan and Xiang Tiange in Lingge.
Even though the Xiang Family had almost no assets in Lingge and Xiang Tiange's direct line had been nearly annihilated in the war eighteen years prior, this identity still afforded her great convenience.
Coupled with the authority granted by the Emperor, she single-handedly expanded the Demon Sect's financial network severalfold.
But recently, the expansion had stalled.
This was because rumors were spreading that Zhao Huan intended to name Zhao Ci the new Crown Prince.
Even though any discerning person knew this was impossible, it still influenced Zhao Huan's willingness to grant her authority. Not only had he begun to tighten his leash, but the mysterious resistance her businesses faced had also grown considerably stronger.
That was why she was so desperate for Zhao Ci to be granted a fief and sent away from the capital.
But in the end, not only was he not sent away, he was even establishing his own Prince's Mansion!
To add insult to injury!
"I don't care how you dote on Zhao Ci, but you must deliver on your promises!"
Gu Xiangzhu's voice was deep as she said, "You've already experienced the effects of the Secret Codex of Organ Exchange, but the codex alone can only extend life, not grant true longevity.
The key is the Dual Cultivation performed after mastering the codex. Only I know the Secret Technique for this Dual Cultivation, and I am the only one with a compatible constitution.
You are the Martial Emperor, the Great Yu Dynasty's greatest hope of reclaiming its lost territories. You, of all people, should know what choice you must make."
Zhao Huan didn't get angry at all. On the contrary, his smile was gentle. "My dear consort is also the Saintess who props up the Demon Sect's entire financial network on her own. You should be well aware that for your people, I am a collaborator you cannot find anywhere else.
Because of Ci, there are too many eyes on you these days, which makes it difficult to delegate more authority.
But rest assured, as long as this Gongdan Conference is a success, I will give you everything you desire!"
"You'd better!"
Gu Xiangzhu's expression softened slightly. Then, with a gentle flick of her sleeve, the doors to the Imperial Study swung open.
As sunlight streamed in from outside the hall, she gave a graceful curtsy, her voice suddenly taking on a gentle, charming tone. "Your Majesty is diligent in your duties, but you must also take care of your health. This consort will take her leave."
With that, she turned and left without a hint of reluctance.
Zhao Huan watched her graceful figure retreat, a complex look hidden in the depths of his eyes—half chillingly cold, half fanatical, yet seamlessly fused together.
Outside the hall, the eunuchs and Palace Maids watched Gu Xiangzhu leave, unable to resist whispering among themselves.
"Among all the Consorts, it seems Lady Jing is the only one who can come to the Imperial Study whenever she pleases."
"Her Ladyship is breathtakingly beautiful and can even help His Majesty with his burdens. How could he possibly resist a few sweet words from her?"
"It's a shame Her Ladyship never puts on a pleasant face for anyone but His Majesty. I wonder if we'll ever see her smile."
As the topic involved the Emperor and his Consorts, they only dared to whisper a few words from a distance. As they drew closer to the Imperial Study, they quickly fell silent.
「On the carriage back to Wangshu Palace.」
Gu Xiangzhu's elegant brows furrowed. 'Of course, I hope the Gongdan Conference succeeds, but it will probably take more than a year of preparation.'
'My 'dear' son is such a handful.'
'He does nothing but cause trouble!'
'I should summon Zhao Ci to Wangshu Palace and give him a good scolding. After all, that boy has been afraid of me since he was a child. If he'd just be obedient and lie low again, maybe it would take some of this pressure off me.'
But the moment the thought surfaced, she pushed it down.
'That boy... he seemed a little off today.'
She stroked her fair, smooth neck, as if feeling the phantom sensation of hot, damp breath against her skin, making it tingle and itch.
'Forget it!'
'I'll deal with it tomorrow!'
'Once the boy starts acting normal again.'
...
In a very short time, news of the imperial decree spread to every corner of Lingge.
「Ninth Prince's Mansion.」
"What!"
Zhao Yong shot up, his eyes wide with panic. "Zhao Ci went to the Imperial Palace again?"
'He must have gone to tattle!' After all, Zhao Ci had done this sort of thing countless times before.
'But what did I even do to you this time?!'
'What is there to tattle about?'
'Are you going to tell him I took a dump at your front gate?'
'You'd tattle about that too?'
The maidservant beside him jumped in fright and stammered, "Your... Your Highness! I haven't finished wiping..."
Zhao Yong flew into a rage and slapped her. "Finish wiping? Are you implying I'm dirty? Or that I stink?"
"This servant wouldn't dare!"
The maidservant, scared out of her wits, ignored her rapidly swelling cheek and immediately dropped to her knees, begging for mercy.
She was terrified. 'His Highness used to be so humble and courteous; he's never been this violent before!'
Zhu Yan, knowing why Zhao Yong had lost his composure, patted her shoulder. "This isn't your fault. You're dismissed. Go on."
The maidservant didn't dare move, looking cautiously at Zhao Yong. Only when he waved his hand in irritation did she thank them repeatedly and flee as if escaping for her life.
Zhu Yan shook his head. "Your Highness, you shouldn't take your anger out on a mere maidservant. It wouldn't be good if word of this spread."
"Hmph!"
Zhao Yong didn't argue, but his expression was contorted.
'I don't know if word will get out or not,' he thought.
'But either way, I don't want to leave the mansion ever again.'
'It's too damn humiliating!'
'Those people on the street were outrageously audacious. I told them not to look, but they just had to stare, as if their gazes could weigh what had just come out of me!'
'Damn it all!'
Zhu Yan shook his head in resignation. "Zhao Ci probably didn't go to the palace to tattle this time."
Zhao Yong paused. "Then what for?"
Zhu Yan's voice was grave. "Zhao Ci... is establishing his own Prince's Mansion!"
At these words, the room fell silent for a long moment. Then...
"Pfft!"
Zhao Yong burst out laughing as if he'd just heard the funniest joke in the world. "What did you say? Zhao Ci is establishing a mansion? Are you sure?"
For the elite, establishing a mansion was like ascending a stairway to greatness. As long as one could build a record of achievements during the process, it would be immensely beneficial—not just for the member of the Imperial Family, but also for the noble elites and rising scholarly talents who joined their household.
But for a failure, it was nothing but a pit of self-imposed restrictions and public mockery.
This was because once a mansion was established, the Imperial Clan Court would dispatch agents to monitor it in secret, preventing the prince from using external forces to fabricate accomplishments.
Even their monthly salary would be cut, leaving them with only the stipend of a low-ranking official.
This move by Zhao Ci was akin to tightening his own belt just for the chance to get on stage and play the buffoon.
'Hilarious!'
"It's absolutely true!"
Zhu Yan nodded. "His Majesty has already posted an imperial decree, specifically to help Zhao Ci recruit officials!"
Hearing this, the smile on Zhao Yong's face instantly stiffened.
He knew that even recruiting with an imperial decree would likely have little effect. After all, everyone was in it for personal achievement; they would only care about Zhao Ci's actual capabilities, making the decree itself useless.
Still, the act of posting a decree for him sparked a pang of jealousy in Zhao Yong.
Zhao Yong let out a bitter scoff. "It doesn't matter! Plenty of princes establish mansions; Zhao Ci is just one more. The Lingge People are clever. Aside from his pack of degenerate friends, no one will be willing to join his household."
Zhu Yan didn't reply, but he nodded in deep agreement.
'Everyone is pragmatic; there's no need to throw away your future,' he thought.
Yet Zhao Yong remained uneasy. "But Father has always doted on him excessively. Who knows if he'll lose his sense of proportion this time? Zhao Ci establishing a mansion... this probably isn't a good sign. Call the maidservant back in to help me bathe. I need to see the Crown Prince later."
The maidservant had not yet returned when a eunuch from the Imperial Palace arrived first.
"Ninth Prince, His Majesty summons you!"
"Ah?"
Zhao Yong was suspicious. "May I ask, Eunuch, why is my father summoning me?"
The eunuch said calmly, "His Majesty has specially summoned an Imperial Physician to examine the Ninth Prince's... posterior."
Zhao Yong: "..."
His face darkened. 'That failure Zhao Ci... he really will tattle about anything!'