Chapter 71
"His Highness has invited Miss Lin to dine at the pavilion in the middle of the lake."
Ye Ruoshui nodded, then strode towards the pavilion in the middle of the lake.
Inside the pavilion in the middle of the lake, the lights were bright, illuminating the surroundings. The lake water rippled gently. Inside the pavilion in the center of the lake, Xiao Minghuang sat upright, holding a white jade cup and sipping fragrant tea.
Beside her, a charming young woman leaned against her, her head bowed, pouring tea and wine for her.
The young woman was Lin Wanqiu, and she handed the wine glass to Xiao Minghuang.
However, Xiao Minghuang did not take the wine glass; instead, her gaze lingered on Lin Wanqiu's slightly flushed face.
She gently reached out and touched Lin Wanqiu's slender waist, smiling sweetly:
"My hands are busy, Wanqiu, can you feed me?"
Lin Wanqiu blushed, bit her lip lightly, and her eyes sparkled with shyness. However, under Xiao Minghuang's expectant gaze, she still handed over the wine glass.
Xiao Minghuang smiled faintly, leaned down, drank it all in one gulp, and looked at Lin Wanqiu with a beaming smile.
"Good boy!"
She reached out and touched Lin Wanqiu's head, then resumed her upright sitting posture.
After realizing her feelings, Xiao Minghuang no longer deliberately kept her distance from Lin Wanqiu, but instead followed her heart and acted freely.
Because she knew that Lin Wanqiu also liked her.
Miss Bai Xianyue, a minor character in a certain otome game.
A time traveler, completely defenseless, against a backdrop of utter ruin.
Helpless and desperate, she unexpectedly awakened the Shy System.
A plant-eating demon princess who devours everything, a blood princess from ancient times who thirsts for blood, a raging spirit representing the storm, a beast-like dog girl full of bestiality...
As long as you can make them feel shy, you can get a lot of system points to strengthen yourself—a win-win situation with no investment.
But the truth is...
This system encourages the host to use wisdom and decisiveness to navigate among them and gain a large number of points.
Bai Xianyue: Intentionally making a girl blush is already quite embarrassing...
(Shyness points increased by 1)
System:??? Bai Xianyue:???
95. Princess Ziwei, in a league of her own!
The two sipped fruit wine, enjoyed the gentle breeze, and admired the night view, savoring a rare and wonderful moment.
It was around this time.
A series of light footsteps approached.
Xiao Minghuang looked up and saw Ye Ruoshui, dressed in a light yellow dress, slowly stepping into the pavilion.
Xiao Minghuang put down his wine glass, nodded to Ye Ruoshui, and greeted her with a smile:
"Ruoshui, you're back!"
Ye Ruoshui gracefully bowed.
"Your Highness!"
Xiao Minghuang pointed to the seat to her right.
"Please sit down!"
Ye Ruoshui took her seat in response.
After several rounds of drinks and five courses of food,
Ye Ruoshui then explained her desire to purchase Spirit Gold and spirit materials.
"I have found a method to refine the alchemy furnace, Seventh Elder has agreed to provide financial assistance on the condition that he helps upgrade the grade of the Zhuanhuo Furnace."
"The alchemy furnace I plan to refine this time is a top-grade Yellow Rank furnace, and I'll need approximately this much Spirit Gold and spiritual materials..."
As she spoke, Ye Ruoshui took out a [*>] from her bosom
The paper was still warm to the touch and had a faint milky scent. She saw that it was written in neat handwriting, clearly indicating the Spirit Gold and materials needed.
Having grown up in the palace, Xiao Minghuang was unfamiliar with market prices, so she handed the note to Lin Wanqiu.
"Wanqiu, come and see how many spirit stones these materials will require."
Lin Wanqiu took the note, glanced at it briefly, pondered for a moment, then looked up at Ye Ruoshui and said:
"The cost of crafting a new alchemy furnace will be approximately 200,000 spirit stones, while upgrading the old one will only require 100,000 spirit stones."
Upon hearing this number, Ye Ruoshui gasped in shock, and Xiao Minghuang also looked astonished.
Two hundred thousand!
"That adds up to 300,000!"
This enormous sum exceeded Xiao Minghuang's entire net worth. Even if she wanted to come up with the money for Ye Ruoshui, she would likely struggle to raise it without selling all the pills she had.
Therefore, the Seventh Elder's willingness to contribute money was a great help.
Ye Ruoshui also looked relieved. Fortunately, the Seventh Elder was willing to pay, otherwise she would have felt really bad about making His Highness pay.
At that moment, the three of them clearly thought of the same thing.
They exchanged a smile, a hint of slyness in their eyes.
Lin Wanqiu smiled and said:
"The Spirit Gold and materials His Highness gave me have been stored away without being used. I'll take them out and sell them to the Seventh Elder this time."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Minghuang frowned slightly. The Spirit Gold and materials that Lin Wanqiu mentioned were actually gifts that Lin Zhengquan had given her before she left Beiyang City.
These things, though said to be gifts for her, were actually part of Lin Wanqiu's dowry.
After all, once Lin Wanqiu followed her, she could no longer marry.
Thinking about this, Xiao Minghuang found it somewhat amusing.
Back then, Lin Zhengquan was desperately trying to sell his daughter to her, but she was completely oblivious, and even kept saying that her relationship with Lin Wanqiu couldn't be defined by a marriage contract.
However, this statement is not entirely wrong; the relationship between her and Lin Wanqiu cannot be defined by a marriage contract.
After a moment, Xiao Minghuang came to her senses and said in a deep voice:
"Don't use the Spirit Gold and materials from Wanqiu. I still have some materials here, so take them and sell them to the Seventh Elder. If it's not enough, we can purchase more from Beiyang City."
Ye and Lin naturally had no objection to this and both nodded in agreement.
In the days that followed, Xiao Minghuang a very leisurely life, cultivating at home every day, occasionally strolling around the streets, and sometimes going to the Enshrinement Courtyard to observe Ye Ruoshui's weapon refining.
During this time, she also discovered several opportunities, but although she obtained them, they did not greatly benefit her cultivation.
In her spare time, she would even personally guide the children in their spiritual practice.
In the past few days, every time she visited the children, she would give them some spirit stones and pills. Although it wasn't much, the children were extremely grateful.
She possesses the Destiny/Fate of Immortal Demeanor, and even without deliberately doing anything, she can attract the favor of others, not to mention the children of Beiyang City who already hold her in high esteem.
In just a few days, he regarded her as a goddess and was utterly loyal to her.
It is worth mentioning that Li Yun'er sent a message back from Beiyang City.
The Li Family has decided to no longer collude with the Liu Wang Er families. They intend to hand over the ill-gotten gains they have obtained by oppressing the people over the years, and entrust the management of 90% of the spiritual veins and fields they control to the City Lord's Mansion. All profits will be sent directly to the Imperial City and given to Xiao Minghuang himself.
Both Xiao Minghuang and Lin Wanqiu were overjoyed upon hearing the news.
Especially Lin Wanqiu, who was born and raised in Beiyang City. The Li Family and the Lin family had been on good terms for generations and were quite close. Of course, she did not want to see the Li Family destroyed.
Xiao Minghuang knew that Li Yun'er must have played a significant role in the decision to submit to the Li Family, so she spread the word that she would bestow a Spirit Condensation Pill upon Li Yun'er's return to the capital.
However, this matter was kept secret, and only Xiao Minghuang, Lin Wanqiu, and Li Yun'er knew about it. No one else, including Ye Ruoshui, knew anything about it.
It wasn't that Xiao Minghuang didn't trust Ye Ruoshui.
However, Ye Ruoshui had been focused on refining the alchemy furnace during this time, so talking to her about these things would be of no use.
Moreover, Xiao Minghuang knew that Ye Ruoshui had a pure heart, and she didn't want to tell the little girl about these petty and sordid things, causing her unnecessary trouble.
In the blink of an eye, more than ten days have passed.
There is only one month left until the royal competition.
The princes who had been training in the fields returned to the capital one after another.
Those who were already in the capital also began to become active.
The capital city, which had been like a stagnant pool, suddenly became lively.
Meanwhile, the news that Xiao Minghuang had been bestowed the title of Princess Ziwei spread rapidly.
Reactions varied from party to party.
"Princess Ziwei? Ninth Princess? What makes her worthy of this title? Is it because someone is slandering her before His Majesty again?"
This is the voice of the forces close to the Second Prince. They have the backing of the King Wu'an and are deeply rooted. If Emperor Xia had not already advanced to the Spirit Seed Realm, they probably would not have been so subtle, but would have directly criticized Emperor Xia for being incompetent and tyrannical, and for failing to recognize talent.
"Her Princess Your Highness is exceptionally talented, born with Five Elements Spiritual Root, a genius unseen in a thousand years, unparalleled in the Southern Border. It is only right that she receives this title!"
This is the voice of those close to Princess Ziwei. In fact, most of these people are the result of Lin Wanqiu's efforts during this period. Since coming to the capital, she has not been idle for a moment. Every day she has been spending her time organizing intelligence, building momentum for Xiao Minghuang, or contacting various forces.
The successful formation of sound was thanks to the secret assistance of the Emperor Xia.
Even so, the voice supporting Princess Ziwei remained weak, far outnumbering the powerful Second Prince - King Wu'an group.
"I heard that the Second Prince obtained an Earth-grade pill and has already advanced to the Spring Gushing Third Layer. This competition is probably already decided without even having to start."
96. Quantitative change leads to regression, qualitative change leads to regression.
"That's not necessarily true. The Sixth Prince has joined the Spirit Sword Sect and is now an inner disciple. He is highly regarded by many elders and will soon be promoted to a true disciple. His foundation is far beyond what the Second Prince can match."
"Have you all forgotten that Princess Ziwei is currently the most prominent figure? The fact that His Majesty bestowed upon her the title of Ziwei is itself a statement of intent, and she has probably already been designated as the Crown Prince!"
"Hmph! So what if it's predetermined? Even His Majesty cannot break the rules of the competition. The ultimate winner shall be the Crown Prince!"
Within the imperial city, rumors were rampant, and the disputes among the imperial heirs were in full swing.
Supporters from all sides argued their points in taverns and teahouses, creating a commotion and even leading to a fight over a moment of anger.
When anger surges, one may even speak recklessly, offending even the imperial court.
"Hmph! His Majesty is truly senile, taking a liking to such a greenhorn girl. In my opinion, why bother with any grand competition? Just directly appoint the Second Prince as the heir apparent!"
"Nonsense! I think you're a spy sent by the Golden Elephant Kingdom, daring to speak ill of His Majesty and Princess Ziwei. You stay right here and don't move, the Court of Justice will be here to arrest you soon!"
Upon hearing the words "Court of Justice," the man's arrogant expression vanished instantly, and he immediately fled, disappearing without a trace.
While the outside world was abuzz with speculation and rumors, the Princess Mansion remained peaceful and serene.
Xiao Minghuang sat upright in the room, with ten vortexes of energy swirling around her body. Her aura surged like a spring, and the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi condensed and did not dissipate, gathering within a zhang (approximately 3.3 meters). Thick, misty white fog continued to rise, almost condensing into liquid!
The Spiritual Qi is overflowing, condensing into liquid and manifesting outwardly—this is a sign that one is about to enter the Spring Gushing Realm!
But in the next moment...
Xiao Minghuang suddenly opened her eyes, and the ten vortexes around her body instantly disappeared, along with the thick white mist.
Her eyes were clear and bright, shimmering with golden light, as if stars were twinkling within them.
She slowly exhaled a breath of fresh air.
"Almost there..."
A hint of regret appeared on Xiao Minghuang's face.
Although it was only one step away, that one step crossed a chasm.
With her extraordinary talent, it was already so difficult for her to break through the Qi Refining stage and reach the Spring of Qi. One can imagine how difficult it must be for those martial artists with less talent to improve their realm!