Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 808: Chapter 804: Striving for Favor

Chu Zhiyuan took the Imperial Decree with a smile and said, ”Envoy Huang, why don’t you come in for a rest and have something to quench your thirst?”

The Grand Eunuch in the purple robe, Huang Jin, laughed and clasped his hands apologetically, ”Prince Consort, I must return immediately to report back and cannot afford any delay. I will visit another day instead.”

”In that case, I won’t keep you, Envoy Huang. Xiao Zheng,” Chu Zhiyuan said.

The Prince Consort of the Phoenix Dynasty holds a low position.

Generally bestowed the rank of Prince Consort Captain, a nominal post without any real power.

Even though I am the Ninth Prince of the Jade Dynasty, upon entering the Phoenix Dynasty, I’m still made Prince Consort and given the title of Prince Consort Captain without exception from the Phoenix Emperor.

The Prince Consort Captain lacks authority and position, and has no influence, whereas the Princess has her fiefdom and officials.

This inevitably predetermines the disparity in their levels of power.

Eunuchs, as a group, typically fawn over those in high positions and step down on those beneath them. Huang Jin, being the head eunuch of the Inner Palace, smiles at me without showing any disdain—truly a diplomat of great skill.

Fu Zheng stepped forward and slipped a silver note into his hand.

Huang Jin received it with a smile, bowed, and floated away with two red-robed eunuchs.

Chu Zhiyuan watched their backs gradually disappear, the smile on his face slowly fading.

Fu Zheng carefully asked, ”Your Highness, you anticipated this outcome, didn’t you?”

”Yes, as expected.” Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

The Phoenix Dynasty doesn’t regard the Jade Dynasty highly, so of course, they wouldn’t make an exception.

Moreover, in the eyes of the Phoenix Emperor, I am merely a hostage. Why would I receive a position of power?

Fu Zheng asked, ”What do we do from here?”

Chu Zhiyuan replied, ”Keep the doors closed and focus on cultivation.”

”That’s not a bad idea,” Fu Zheng quickly added.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”It’s fine.”

My goal has always been cultivation, whether for this body or the primary essence.

Alongside my cultivation here, the primary essence’s realm advances rapidly also.

I have already touched the threshold of Ascension.

It’s a pity I can’t enter the Outer Realm Battlefield, but for me, the Demon Clan and Demon Clan are the greatest resources for cultivation.

I can’t go to the Outer Realm Battlefield, but I can make them come to me, to deliver resources right to my doorstep.

The key to achieving this lies in the Phoenix Bloodline.

Thinking this, he glanced at the Prince Consort Mansion, already viewing the Insightful Li Miaotan who was meditating cross-legged on the bed in the bedroom.

Li Miaotan wore snow-white innerwear, sitting cross-legged with a solemn appearance like Guanyin Bodhisattva, her jade face shining with a layer of radiant light.

He appeared outside the bedroom as Li Yuzhen and Li Yuchun guarded the door.

The two women saluted him.

Chu Zhiyuan waved his hand, ”Prepare the meals, we’re having breakfast.”

A voice came from inside the room, ”Husband.”

Chu Zhiyuan pushed the door open and entered.

Li Miaotan sat cross-legged on the bed, opening her bright eyes, clear and radiant, full of spirit.

Chu Zhiyuan asked, ”Have you activated the Phoenix Bloodline?”

The two had united last night, propelling his Heavenly Dragon Introduction forward by leaps and bounds.

Half a step has already entered the Fifth Transformation.

He believed by tomorrow night he will fully step into the Fifth Transformation.

He speculates this is due to the Phoenix Bloodline.

The Heavenly Dragon Introduction can stimulate the Phoenix Bloodline, and likewise, the Phoenix Bloodline can stimulate the Heavenly Dragon Introduction.

”Still lacking a bit,” Li Miaotan gently shook her head, ”The bloodline has just awakened.”

She continued, ”Father...”

”Prince Consort Captain.”

”It seems Father doesn’t want to make an exception, but Father has always been fair in his actions, rewarding and punishing clearly. I will report to him and request a position for you, your significant accomplishments can’t be denied.”

”The Emperor would rather reward me with treasures than an official position,” Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Say no more, otherwise the Emperor might think you’re siding with me, causing further displeasure.”

”Let Third Brother propose it,” Li Miaotan said.

It’s indeed inappropriate for her to say it directly, but Third Brother can. The higher rank for the Prince Consort benefits Third Brother as well.

The low rank of the Prince Consort is her weakness, and therefore also Third Brother’s weakness.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Trying is also good.”

He refrained from advising further, Li Miaotan is decisive, more talk would be pointless.

Li Yuzhen raised her voice, ”Your Highness, Prince Consort, breakfast is ready.”

——

Chu Zhiyuan and Li Miaotan walked together, leaving the Prince Consort Mansion, appearing at Wenhua Building.

In a private room at Wenhua Building, a middle-aged man was already inside when Chu Zhiyuan and Li Miaotan appeared.

The middle-aged man was focused on cleaning a sword, tenderly wiping the bright sword blade with a snow-white cloth as if he was caressing a lover’s face, gentle and meticulous.

Beside the middle-aged man stood a middle-aged eunuch in a green robe.

His face was clean-shaven, urbane and graceful, giving the impression of a scholar and making it hard to associate him with a eunuch.

”Third Brother,” Li Miaotan nodded slightly.

Chu Zhiyuan clasped his hands, ”Third Brother.”

The middle-aged man before them was the Third Prince of the Phoenix Dynasty, Li Chunhou.

He looked up, his round face smiling jovially, appearing gentle and affable.

He carefully sheathed the sword, rising to greet, ”Little sister, brother-in-law, please take a seat.”

”Got a good sword?” Li Miaotan asked, ”What kind of sword is it?”

”Ice Soul Divine Sword, obtained by Yao Hui.”

”Marquis Ming offered it? ... Doesn’t seem to have any Ice Soul intent?”

Li Chunhou enthusiastically explained, ”This Ice Soul Divine Sword is imbued internally, not emitting externally. It chills to the bone when stimulated by True Yuan.”

”Is it a good sword?”

”A peerless divine sword!”

”Congratulations, Third Brother,” Li Miaotan hummed, ”This morning, Father issued a decree, conferring a nominal post of Prince Consort Captain to my husband.”

”... Prince Consort Captain, aren’t all Princes Consort given that?”

Li Chunhou’s interest waned; he didn’t care much.

As for Chu Zhiyuan, getting any real position was originally unlikely.

In this regard, his exalted status as the Ninth Prince of the Jade Dynasty made him less valuable than ordinary Prince Consorts.

Li Miaotan hummed, ”Father is being unfair!”

”Why unfair? Aren’t all Prince Consorts given that nominal post?”

”How do they compare to my husband?” Li Miaotan sneered, ”Can they lead people to annihilate over a hundred elite Demon Clan warriors in one day?”

”Well...”

”If Marquis Ming achieved such a feat, how would Father reward him?” Li Miaotan hummed, ”Elevate him by one rank, perhaps?”

”... Perhaps,” Li Chunhou nodded helplessly.

”Just because he is my Prince Consort, he can’t be rewarded?” Li Miaotan scoffed, ”Are you afraid of Third Brother’s power swelling?”

Li Chunhou was taken aback, quickly saying, ”That’s not the case, it’s due to brother-in-law’s background, isn’t it?”

”Does Father not have room for the Prince of Yujing despite his vast ambitions for all realms?”

”Isn’t that too politically risky?” Li Chunhou hesitated, ”The Court will uproar, they will not allow it.”

”To reward achievements, Father has always adhered to this iron rule, is Father going to break it now?”

”...”

”Third Brother, will you stand by seeing my husband treated unfairly?”

”Sigh...” Li Chunhou said helplessly, ”What do you want your brother to do?”

”Naturally, petition Father, request him to grant rewards.”

”No matter how rewarding, real positions will not be granted to brother-in-law,” Li Chunhou looked at Chu Zhiyuan, ”Brother-in-law, it’s unavoidable.”

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”In fact, I’d rather not leave the house, concentrating on cultivation.”

”Indeed, indeed, that is truly the most delightful thing in the world!” Li Chunhou immediately clapped his hands, heartily agreeing, ”Staying indoors and focusing on cultivation, how pleasurable!”

”Third Brother!”

”All right, all right, I’ll immediately petition Father, is that enough?”

Li Miaotan smiled.

”Oh little sister...” Li Chunhou shook his head, surprised at Chu Zhiyuan.

The proud, indifferent little sister has changed so much.

This Ninth Prince must possess extraordinary skills.