Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 811: Chapter 807: The Hunt

Having detected the Emperor’s intentions, there’s no need to waste any more effort.

The murky waters of the Phoenix Court are beyond navigating.

The focus must shift towards cultivation.

In this world, cultivation is the foundation; once the realm is reached, the original problems will no longer be problems.

Over a hundred clusters of Soul Light remain in the space of the Haoyang Demon-suppressing Mirror, yet to be absorbed.

And over a hundred clusters of memories remain untouched.

Li Miaotan, with a serene and beautiful countenance, gazed at the disappearing backs of the three eunuchs led by Huang Jin, sighing lightly.

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, ”The Emperor’s concerns are not without reason.”

”...It’s infuriating,” Li Miaotan said.

Father is overly defensive, clearly distrusting him, behaving like a petty man, hurting feelings deeply.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”With so many rewards, it’s not really an injustice.”

Li Miaotan shook her head, ”I will speak to Father and ask for more treasures.”

Chu Zhiyuan immediately said, ”I need a good set of Flying Knives.”

Li Miaotan smiled, ”Sure, I will ask Father.”

If no official position is granted, treasure must compensate; only a nominal promotion and a thousand food allowances are too stingy.

At least two pieces of treasure should be bestowed.

...

The next morning, Chu Zhiyuan, accompanied by Fu Zheng, slowly left the Prince Consort Mansion.

Li Miaotan did not follow, thinking he was dispirited and needed to relax.

The two arrived at a restaurant, and pushed open a private room on the third floor, sitting before an elderly gentleman as slim as bamboo.

Fu Zheng exited the room, standing guard outside.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Uncle Nine.”

Chu Hongwei poured him a cup of wine and handed it over.

Chu Zhiyuan took the Silver Cup with both hands and clinked cups with him, both drinking it in one shot.

”Feeling aggrieved?” Chu Hongwei asked.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”I expected nothing less, so it’s not much of a deal.”

Chu Hongwei shook his head and said, ”This is why my elder brother’s calculations don’t add up. How is the Princess treating you?”

”The Princess is treating me well,” Chu Zhiyuan said, ”even sought help from the Third Prince, but unfortunately...”

He shook his head, ”The Emperor seems determined not to let me hold any official position.”

”If it were my elder brother, he would do the same,” Chu Hongwei snorted, ”So don’t think about anything else. Focus on your cultivation, ignore the court’s disputes, and be a wealthy idle man.”

He had doubts about the Emperor’s plan to have Chu Zhiyuan gather intelligence.

Setting aside the possibility of Chu Zhiyuan falling into danger, it’s utterly unrealistic.

Everyone knows he’s Prince Yujing, how could he hear confidential information?

No matter how close a couple is, they will avoid discussing court secrets.

When it comes to the court’s safety, personal emotions must be set aside.

The Twelfth Princess clearly understood this principle.

Chu Zhiyuan put down the wine cup, shook his head, and sighed, ”This is how it has to be.”

”I’ll speak to my elder brother,” Chu Hongwei said, ”How can one not know their intentions on this side?”

The wisdom and bravery of the Phoenix Emperor are not inferior to his own elder brother, how would he fall short?

”Thanks, Uncle Nine.” Chu Zhiyuan filled both Silver Cups again and drank them in one go.

”Alas...” Chu Hongwei shook his head and sighed.

Ninth Prince is too pitiful.

Sent as a Hostage, being a Prince Consort, and still further exploited to gather intelligence from the Phoenix Court.

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, ”Uncle Nine, I’m not that miserable. At least I’m a Prince Consort with a beautiful wife and two thousand food allowances, holding the title of Scattered Horse Attendant, much better than common folk and merchants.”

”Bang!” Chu Hongwei slammed the table with his big hand, ”Good! With such a mindset, things can only improve!”

This mental state is unlike that of a young man, rather like an experienced elder.

Insightful of worldly matters and content with fate.

”Uncle Nine, what price is required for activating the Candle Nether Mirror at Fengtian Palace?”

Chu Hongwei furrowed his brow, ”This is a secret among secrets; external opinions aren’t reliable—they might be a smokescreen released by them.”

”Is it possible there is no price?” Chu Zhiyuan asked.

Chu Hongwei hesitated and then pondered, ”There should be a price, and it’s considerable.”

He then said, ”You want to know if Fengtian Palace can quickly locate the Demon Clan, don’t you?”

”Can they suppress the Demon Clan? In case they deploy a Great Sky Demon.”

”Great Sky Demon...” Chu Hongwei mused, shaking his head, ”Few Great Sky Demons appear in our Human World, the Imperial City must have treasures that can suppress them.”

Yujing Imperial City has them, naturally, so does the Phoenix Imperial City.

Otherwise, dispatching some Great Sky Demons would easily destroy the Imperial City.

The situation would not be as evenly matched as it is now.

”That’s good...” Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

Chu Hongwei smiled, ”Afraid the Demon Clan would send a Great Sky Demon to assassinate you?”

”A Great Sky Demon will certainly come.”

They must have realized the Soul Pearl has disappeared, and the soul didn’t return to the Demon Abyss.

Killing him stops the Phoenix Bloodline and also prevents the Soul Pearl’s disappearance.

Therefore, they have to kill him anyway.

”The Great Sky Demon...,” Chu Hongwei solemnly said, ”Then don’t leave the Imperial City.”

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

...

The sunset casts its last rays.

The Prince Consort Mansion is draped in a layer of red glow.

Chu Zhiyuan and Li Miaotan are dining at the Jade table beside the Eight Treasures Pavilion.

Lanterns are already lit, their gentle glow intermingling with the sunset.

Li Miaotan, with graceful bearing, has a face like a lotus, growing even more charming and enchanting.

Fu Zheng, Li Yuzhen, and others stand below the pavilion steps like guardians.

Chang Xihua is in the adjacent courtyard.

Li Yuchun, dressed in a white robe, walked gracefully towards them.

With steps as light as willow branches swaying, she reached the small pavilion and took out an invitation from her sleeve: ”Your Highness, Prince Consort, the invitation from the Eldest Prince.”

”What is Eldest Brother planning to do?”

Li Miaotan put down her jade chopsticks, accepted the snow-white handkerchief Li Yuchun handed her to wipe her hands, and then took the light purple invitation.

Li Yuchun said: ”The Eldest Prince wants to go hunting outside the city and invites the Prince Consort to join.”

Li Miaotan opened the invitation and passed it to Chu Zhiyuan.

Chu Zhiyuan glanced at it, placed it on the jade table, and shook his head: ”It’s not appropriate for me to leave the city.”

Li Miaotan lightly furrowed her eyebrows: ”What’s Elder Brother up to?!”

”Your Highness,” Li Yuchun huffed discontentedly: ”The Eldest Prince is deliberately making things difficult for the Prince Consort!”

Knowing full well that the Demon Clan and others are targeting the Prince Consort and the Princess.

And still inviting him outside the city, isn’t this intentional troublemaking?

If the Prince Consort refuses, it’s a slap to the Eldest Prince’s face, seen as defiant.

This is to tarnish the Prince Consort’s reputation!

Chu Zhiyuan said: ”Just say I’m busy with cultivation and can’t spare the time.”

”That excuse... works well,” Li Miaotan laughed: ”Just like Third Brother.”

The Third Prince is a martial arts fanatic; when he’s said to be in seclusion cultivating, no one can argue.

Chu Zhiyuan said: ”If the world thinks I’m obsessed with cultivation, only then can I truly be at peace.”

Li Yuchun said: ”Prince Consort, if you say so, people will surely talk.”

Chu Zhiyuan said: ”Even if I go, people will still talk; I can’t control that.”

Li Yuchun nodded lightly: ”Prince Consort’s wisdom is profound.”

Not fearing criticism is also a skill.

...

As the three were chatting, footsteps came from outside, and a delicate maid stood at the courtyard gate.

Li Yuchun walked over.

The delicate maid spoke softly, then gracefully left.

Li Yuchun returned to the pavilion with a solemn expression, saying helplessly: ”The Eldest Prince came in person.”

”Elder Brother?!” Li Miaotan’s expression also changed, and she huffed: ”What’s this about? Could there be another matter?... I’ll go and see.”

”Let’s go together,” Chu Zhiyuan said.

He had already seen a thin, vigorous middle-aged man standing at the bottom of the stairs in the front hall.

The middle-aged man wore a bright yellow robe with strange patterns all over, exuding magnificence and elegance.

His face was thin and angular, possessing a certain ethereal aura.

This man was Li Cunren, the Eldest Prince of the Phoenix Dynasty.

Li Cunren stood with his hands behind him, examining the strange flowers beside the front hall steps.

Behind him stood an old man in a purple robe, face like white jade, beardless, with a gentle temperament.

On either side of the front hall steps was a strange flower, resembling plum blossoms from Chu Zhiyuan’s previous life, with iron branches, pink blooms, and green leaves.

The leaves were jade-like, and the flowers were pale pink, with gnarled branches resembling black iron.

Vigorous yet full of life, very striking.

A faint fragrance wafted through the air, lingered, and was refreshing.

These two strange flowers were Black Jade Flowers.

An ancient rare species, known for calming the mind and spirit, of considerable value.

Li Cunren inhaled the fragrance, admiring the green leaves, utterly at ease.

Chu Zhiyuan furrowed his eyebrows slightly.

He knew a lot about this Eldest Prince, knowing he was a strong-willed character.

With astonishing talent and powerful cultivation, though not as prodigious as Li Miaotan, he was still a prominent figure among the royal sons of all dynasties.

While Li Miaotan was strong, she was ultimately a woman and couldn’t become Emperor.

So her prodigy hadn’t given Li Cunren any sense of defeat, allowing him to proceed smoothly.

This had led to his unyielding personality and decisiveness, brooking no excuses, very hard to persuade.

Li Miaotan helplessly appeared in the front hall with Chu Zhiyuan, saluting respectfully: ”Elder Brother.”

Chu Zhiyuan cupped his hands with a smile: ”Greetings, Elder Brother.”

Li Cunren waved his hand, scrutinizing Chu Zhiyuan, then Li Miaotan, and his thin face suddenly smiled: ”You’re looking even better.”

Li Miaotan said: ”My injuries have somewhat eased. Won’t Elder Brother sit inside and chat?”

Li Cunren said: ”The conversation is short; no need to go inside, we’re not outsiders.”

”Is Elder Brother going hunting tomorrow?”

”Yes, I plan to hunt the Demon Clan and others.”

Li Miaotan was stunned: ”To deal with them?”

”Can’t always wait for them to show up for assassination, right?”

”That’s too risky... using my husband as bait?” Li Miaotan furrowed her eyebrows in dissatisfaction: ”Their next assassination will be more frenzied; even slight neglect could lead to death!”

Li Cunren chuckled: ”Little Sister, your concern clouds your judgment. When these demons storm into the city to assassinate, your husband is just as at risk.”

He shook his head inwardly.

Women, once married and attached, always side with their men.

Even one as intelligent and gifted as Little Sister cannot escape the inherent weaknesses of a woman’s nature.

She seems to have forgotten that the Prince Consort is the Ninth Prince of the Jade Dynasty, not someone from the Phoenix Dynasty.

Li Miaotan shook her head: ”But there’s a Phoenix Cauldron suppressing them in the city, weakening their power. Did Father approve of this?”

”I haven’t mentioned it to Father.” Li Cunren said: ”It’s a trivial matter, no need to trouble Father.”

Li Miaotan huffed: ”Father wouldn’t agree, and Elder Brother knew this, hence deliberately not telling him?”

Li Cunren’s face darkened: ”Little Sister!”

Li Miaotan said: ”This isn’t hunting; it’s marching to one’s death! Elder Brother hasn’t truly understood how dangerous these Demon Clan and Demon Clan elites are!”

Li Cunren’s face became grimmer, speaking coldly: ”Do I feel that our Phoenix Dynasty’s power is too great and that we need to weaken it by sending a bunch of elites to die?”

Chu Zhiyuan suddenly spoke: ”My wife, I will go outside the city with Elder Brother.”

”Husband!” Li Miaotan exclaimed: ”Don’t be reckless!”

Li Cunren’s expression softened, and he chuckled: ”Little Sister, see, it’s us men. At critical times, we must have courage!”

”Courage? That’s recklessness!” Li Miaotan said unkindly: ”Elder Brother, you underestimate the Demon Clan and Demon Clan too much. If you truly suffer a great loss, Father will never forgive you!”