Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 824: Chapter 820: Cooperation

Chu Zhiyuan’s face turned somber.

There is actually such a strange item as the Silent Blood Pill, which can cause the bloodline to become dormant.

He had considered that the activation of the Phoenix Bloodline would cause great disturbances, not only involving the Demon Clan and the Demon Clan but also prompting reactions from the Jade Dynasty and the Yuanzhen Dynasty.

The Yuanzhen Dynasty sent people with schemes, which were ultimately thwarted by himself.

Yet he never expected the Jade Dynasty to also try to thwart this.

If they truly wanted to thwart it, why agree to this marriage alliance?

First, they agreed, then they reneged, making me into the villain.

Moreover, to truly prevent it, there’s no need to use the Silent Blood Pill, which requires such great effort.

They could simply let me succumb to a Qi deviation, unable to assist her in activation.

In preventing the Phoenix Bloodline activation, using the Silent Blood Pill poses endless future troubles, whereas a Qi deviation is of little concern.

The nobles and the Emperor of the Jade Dynasty should clearly understand this reasoning.

Yet they still force me down this path.

How could he not feel disheartened?

A flash of insight appeared in his mind.

Thought after thought emerged, then extinguished.

Finally, he suddenly realized.

This actually forced me to take a stance now, to decide which side to stand on.

If I refuse, they will determine I have already betrayed the Jade Dynasty and will no longer support me.

It is foreseeable that by then, the Inspection Department will no longer assist me.

They would leave me isolated and dependent on fate.

...So what should I choose?

Chu Hongwei turned his head to glance in the direction of the Wenhua Building, gaining insight into how Chu Hongwei sat motionless in the private room.

Fixing his gaze intently on the wine pot on the table, he poured a cup and downed it in one go, cursing angrily, ”A bunch of bastards!”

Chu Zhiyuan sighed inwardly.

His heart grew even colder.

Uncle Nine sympathized with me, but unfortunately, he ultimately stood on the side of the Jade Dynasty.

It’s understandable.

As the Ninth Prince, my reputation has been too poor previously, and the Emperor does not favor me.

How could Chu Hongwei feel any goodwill?

After coming to the Phoenix Imperial City, we have met a few times, changing the original impression only slightly.

These few meetings were not enough to develop deep feelings, far from enough to overshadow his years of loyalty to the Jade Dynasty.

”Your Highness?” Fu Zheng, seeing his heavy expression, said softly, ”Is it bad news?”

Chu Zhiyuan looked at her.

Fu Zheng blinked her bright eyes, looking at him in confusion.

Chu Zhiyuan’s gaze made her uneasy, as if he were looking at a stranger.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Trouble is coming.”

”What trouble?” Fu Zheng asked curiously. ”It actually stumped Your Highness?”

”The Court wants me to prevent the Princess’s Phoenix Bloodline activation.”

Fu Zheng was surprised, ”Isn’t this pushing Your Highness into the abyss?”

If there was no hope, it would be fine, but now that the Phoenix Bloodline is about to activate, stopping it suddenly is more hateful than having no hope.

Your Highness, as the Prince Consort, was originally under suspicion, and the people of the Princess Mansion and the Prince Consort Mansion were just suppressing their doubts.

If Your Highness does this, it will inevitably lead to a fallout with the Princess and become enemies.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”If I do this, I’ll fall out with the Princess, if I don’t, I’ll fall out with the Court.”

He had been observing Fu Zheng’s insight.

Watching the changes in her mind.

The human heart is unpredictable, even if they have been purified by me, felt my methods.

It is still difficult to ensure complete loyalty.

Fu Zheng furrowed her delicate eyebrows, her bright eyes flashing, ”Hmm...”

Choosing the Princess’s side is equivalent to betraying the Jade Dynasty, but choosing the Jade Dynasty’s side is betraying the Princess.

One has to betray one side, stand with the other.

She sighed lightly, ”Your Highness, don’t you actually have no choice?”

Your Highness, as the Ninth Prince of the Jade Dynasty, should choose the Jade Dynasty’s side.

Even if standing with the Phoenix Dynasty, the Phoenix Dynasty would not fully trust him.

There will still be suspicion, and they will isolate him.

So, in fact, there is no choice, and he can only betray the Princess.

Thinking of this, she felt an inexplicable sadness.

Chu Zhiyuan and Li Miaotan seem harmonious, a loving couple.

But now, this loving couple will be torn apart by reality, set to turn against each other.

What a tragedy!

Chu Zhiyuan chuckled, ”Do you really think so?”

”Your Highness is so wise, I need not say it,” Fu Zheng looked sad, ”It’s just surrendering.”

She could understand Chu Zhiyuan’s anger, resentment, and helplessness.

The Court doing this, especially the Emperor, was essentially sacrificing him.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”Surrender?”

”What else can Your Highness do?” Fu Zheng sighed shaking her head, ”There is no choice.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Let’s see.”

”Your Highness plans to defy orders?” Fu Zheng asked hastily.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”Let’s discuss it with my wife first.”

Fu Zheng’s bright eyes widened instantly.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled, ”Let’s hear what my wife says.”

Sometimes, sincerity is the most powerful.

The premise is that the other party believes in you and recognizes that they are worth your sincerity.

”Really tell the Princess?!” Fu Zheng asked hastily.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

Fu Zheng quickly said, ”Your Highness, think it over.”

This move is tantamount to betraying the Jade Dynasty.

One misstep may lead to lifelong regret.

Regretting in the future would be too late.

Your Highness has unparalleled talent, is extremely intelligent, but no single person can match the entire Jade Dynasty.

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”It’s impossible to keep secrets forever; my wife will eventually find out, so I might as well tell her now.”

”...If the Princess leaks it, our Court will definitely find out.” Fu Zheng said hastily, ”What will Your Highness do then?”

Chu Zhiyuan said, ”At worst, I’ll just leave; the world is vast, where couldn’t I go? It’s still quite difficult to kill me.”

This body is just a clone, not the true self; even if it’s gone, it doesn’t harm the essence, just a little unfortunate.

Fu Zheng opened her mouth but found herself speechless.

Not everyone can have such a carefree mental state, so free and easy.

As a Prince, can he really abandon wealth and honor?

She contemplated and concluded that she could never do it.

...

Chu Zhiyuan and Li Miaotan lay side by side on the couch.

They had already changed out of their soaked inner clothes into new ones.

The brocade quilt covered Li Miaotan’s graceful figure; her jade face was charming and beautiful, radiant and glowing.

After hearing what Chu Zhiyuan said, Li Miaotan giggled softly and shook her head.

Chu Zhiyuan looked at her beautiful face with surprise, ”Wife, you aren’t surprised?”

Li Miaotan giggled, ”What’s so surprising about it?”

”Do you also know about the Silent Blood Pill?”

”Yes, I knew.”

”Then do you also know what the Jade Court wants me to do?”

”Yes.”

”...Indeed, the Listening Wind Pavilion is impressive!” Chu Zhiyuan shook his head and sighed.

He had always known that the Phoenix Dynasty’s infiltration of the Jade Dynasty was powerful, and the Listening Wind Pavilion had vast divine skills.

But he did not expect such secret matters to be discovered by the Listening Wind Pavilion.

Li Miaotan’s bright eyes sparkled as she spoke softly, ”Actually, husband, you might as well follow what they say.”

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head, ”Since we’ve married, we are husband and wife; I won’t do that.”

”Then how will you account to the Jade side?”

”Just tell them directly,” Chu Zhiyuan said, ”If they want to confront the Phoenix Dynasty, fine, let them, but you are my wife, and they cannot harm you.”

”But in their eyes, I am not your wife but merely the Twelfth Princess.”

”That’s their problem,” Chu Zhiyuan said, ”As a prince, if I have to harm my own woman, wouldn’t the world laugh their heads off?”

Li Miaotan sighed softly, ”They won’t relent, they will label you a traitor.”

Chu Zhiyuan laughed, ”Let them; if they care about face, they won’t publicize this, and besides, since I’ve arrived here, do I still hope to return to the Jade Dynasty?”

Li Miaotan gently shook her head, ”Husband, still, play along a bit; don’t be too rigid.”

”Then how to play along?”

”Delay the activation of the Phoenix Bloodline a little,” Li Miaotan said, ”Then administer the Silent Blood Pill to me.”

Chu Zhiyuan frowned.

Li Miaotan said, ”Then just say the Silent Blood Pill didn’t work.”