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Chapter 61: Chapter 59: Oh No! The Prize Was Snatched

The instant she heard that Zhao Huan had come.

A dark cloud seemed to materialize over Gu Xiangzhu’s heart. The malice in her eyes flared for an instant before vanishing.

Finally!

’So he came after all.’

However, her smile remained composed. ”Ci, out of the carriage.”

She knew the purpose of Zhao Huan’s visit.

But she wasn’t panicked.

Because Zhao Huan had never been involved in the operations of the Xingyu Pill Association, not from the very beginning.

No matter how much he coveted the technique, he couldn’t just take it.

Zhao Ci breathed a sigh of relief. ”Perfect,” he said, overjoyed. ”Father is here! I’ll go explain everything to him now!”

Gu Xiangzhu smiled faintly. ”Let’s get out.”

With that, she pushed Zhao Ci out of the carriage.

She followed him down as well.

”I greet Your Majesty!”

The smile on Gu Xiangzhu’s face was gentle and serene, but her eyes were cold, tinged with a faint mockery.

Zhao Huan had had no part in this technique, from start to finish.

She had played the emotional card for all it was worth.

She was curious to see what excuse Zhao Huan could possibly invent to steal it.

”Greetings, Father!”

Zhao Ci bowed as well.

A beaming Zhao Huan was helped from his carriage by Eunuch Li. ”What a coincidence! I was just thinking of coming to spend time with you and your mother, and you’ve come right out to greet me. Oh? Are you... leaving the palace?”

Gu Xiangzhu scoffed silently.

’Just thinking of spending time with his wife and son?’

’Who does he think he’s kidding?’

Zhao Ci, on the other hand, answered dutifully, ”In response to Father, I am accompanying Mother back to the Tenth Prince’s Mansion.”

”The Tenth Prince’s Mansion? To get the Alcohol Refining Technique?”

”Yes!”

”You foolish boy!”

Zhao Huan’s brow furrowed, and he couldn’t help but chide, ”Didn’t I tell you? This Alcohol Refining Technique still has unresolved flaws. Rushing things like this will only bring harm to your mother, won’t it?”

Although it was a scolding, his tone was still quite gentle.

Gu Xiangzhu just sneered, waiting to see what new trick he had up his sleeve.

Zhao Ci was taken aback. ”But I don’t think there’s anything...”

Zhao Huan shook his head. ”That is only because you have not discovered them. I am the one who passed this Alchemy of Wine to you. Do you think I know less about it than you do?”

Gu Xiangzhu: ”!”

Hearing these words, her expression changed instantly, her previous composure completely gone.

A terrible premonition exploded in her mind.

’This has to be the most ridiculous joke in the world.’

’You taught it to Zhao Ci?’

’What utter nonsense!’

’If you had this technique, you never would have given it to Zhao Ci.’

’And if you truly had mastered it, why would you need to come stop me now?’

’It’s absolutely absurd!’

’But... for him to say such a thing, he must have a reason. This isn’t just an empty threat.’

’This is bad!’

She turned to Zhao Ci, her eyes freezing cold, but her smile remained. ”Oh? Ci, your father gave you this technique? Why have you never mentioned it before?”

Completely oblivious to the icy chill in her gaze, Zhao Ci asked, puzzled, ”Mother, Father didn’t tell you?”

Gu Xiangzhu: ”???”

Her head was full of question marks.

’But then again,’ she thought, ’in Zhao Ci’s eyes, I am indeed Zhao Huan’s favored consort, working on his behalf. It would make sense for him to assume I already knew.’

Zhao Ci continued, ”It’s like this, Mother! The night I established my Prince’s Mansion, I was troubled for a long time, unable to think of a way to contribute to the nation. So, I went to see Father the next day.”

”Thankfully, with Father’s careful guidance, I was set on the grand path of refining alcohol.”

”I went into seclusion to research it for seven days and finally lived up to Father’s expectations, and was able to help you, Mother!”

Gu Xiangzhu: ”...”

’I want to kill someone!’

’That counts as guidance?’

’If that counts as guidance, then any beggar on the street could ”guide” you for three days and three nights!’

But she understood.

It was precisely this absurd ”guidance” that had given Zhao Huan the upper hand.

And from the look on Zhao Huan’s face, he clearly had no intention of backing down.

’There’s something seriously wrong with this whole situation!’

”I see!”

She looked calmly at Zhao Huan. ”A technique like this certainly requires careful deliberation before being put to use. Your Majesty has arrived at the perfect time. I also wish to discuss this matter with you.”

Zhao Huan beamed. ”It is rare for my dear consort to be so diligent. Let’s discuss it inside!”

With that, he gestured toward Wangshu Palace.

Seeing his chance, Zhao Ci quickly said, ”With such an important matter in your hands, Father, and yours, Mother, I can rest easy. Why don’t I... head back to my mansion now to organize the technique, so I can be of help as soon as possible!”

’The two main players are about to go at it!’

’Isn’t this the perfect time to make a run for it?’

’I’ll just go back and wait for the outcome!’

’Ideally, they’ll remain at a stalemate, and I’ll get to keep the technique.’

’If they reconcile and decide to develop it together, there’s nothing I can do about that either.’

’After all, I’m just a small fry right now. All I can do is my best.’

’As long as I can avoid the brunt of the fallout and wait for Gu Xiangzhu to cool down, my situation should improve considerably.’

Zhao Huan smiled and nodded. ”Very well. Ci, you should hurry back.”

”Yes!”

Feeling as though he’d been granted a royal pardon, Zhao Ci turned to leave.

However, Gu Xiangzhu said with a faint smile, ”Not so fast!”

”Ci, you’ve just had a breakthrough. Your foundation is still a little unstable. Your mother needs to help you solidify it. Let’s all go back to Wangshu Palace and wait together!”

Zhao Ci: ”...”

’The smile on this woman’s face was as beautiful as ever.’

’All technique, no feeling.’

His heart sank, and a chill ran down his spine.

’Old Deng, stop her, quick!’

Zhao Huan laughed. ”Oh? So Ci had a breakthrough? In that case, it would indeed be better for you to rest in Wangshu Palace.”

Zhao Ci: ”???”

’So you don’t care if I live or die, huh?’

However, it was far from the worst-case scenario.

He collected himself and smiled. ”Yes!”

Then, he boarded the carriage.

The eunuch driver cracked his whip, and the carriage turned back toward Wangshu Palace.

「Aboard the carriage.」

Gu Xiangzhu watched Zhao Ci, her voice laden with meaning. ”I didn’t expect your father would actually show up.”

As if he hadn’t heard the unspoken meaning in her words, Zhao Ci replied, ”Yes! It’s mainly because I was being reckless. Father was worried I’d burden you with an immature technique.”

Gu Xiangzhu: ”...”

’Something feels off.’

’And yet, it doesn’t.’

She wasn’t sure what Zhao Ci was thinking.

But one thing was certain... she was in a very bad mood.

She didn’t say anything more, just sat there quietly.

Upon arriving at Wangshu Palace, she signaled for a Palace Maid to take Zhao Ci to rest, then she and Zhao Huan entered the main hall.

BAM!

The doors of the main hall closed.

Zhao Ci let out a small sigh of relief. As long as the two heavyweights were fighting, there would be much less heat on him.

Still, his scalp tingled with unease.

The only reason he dared to play this game was because he was still protected by his ”Filial Piety Aura.”

There are many smart people in this world.

But almost no one would immediately suspect someone of being a transmigrator.

Preconceived notions were crucial.

This was his novice protection period.

He didn’t think he could keep up the act forever, though. Gu Xiangzhu was no fool. She was driven by self-interest, and when she realized someone was holding a death grip on what she wanted, she was bound to get suspicious.

Now, his novice protection period was likely coming to an end.

Although he had already prepared countermeasures, he couldn’t help but feel a little nervous.

Because there had been too many surprises.

Especially after being forced by Gu Xiangzhu to undergo the Celestial Demon Body Refining. That level of sunk cost might just be the final straw that broke the back of her reason.

’But what can I do?’

’Run for it?’

Zhao Ci glanced at the Palace Maid beside him.

The Palace Maid smiled at him and gestured for him to proceed.

Her attitude was very respectful.

But she stood very close.

Not like she was trying to lead the way.

More like she was afraid he would run.

[Yunzhu’s Current Wish: Do not let Zhao Ci escape before the Saintess returns! Reward for Completion: Comprehension Value +10, Escape Talisman x1.]

’Saintess?’

’Me?’

’So they really are from the damn Demon Sect.’

’Well, then.’

’Guess I’ll just wait.’

Zhao Ci smiled at the Palace Maid, went back into the room, and found a spot to lie down.

’I’m powerless right now anyway.’

’So I might as well wait patiently.’

He half-closed his eyes, gesturing idly with his hands.

’Got to say, she really has nice feet.’

...

「The Main Hall.」

Gu Xiangzhu looked at Zhao Huan with a cold smile. ”Emperor, you certainly have a talent for swooping in to claim the prize.”