Chapter 114 - 113: High Level Miracle Treasure, Blood Lotus Fruit
In the Buddhist hall, Princess Jinping was kneeling on a Meditation Mat, chanting scriptures.
She wore a simple white palace gown, without makeup, and twirled a string of Buddha Beads in her hand, appearing pious and serene.
But upon closer inspection, one could see a special rhythm in the movement of the beads. She was clearly cultivating a profound Cultivation Technique.
"What is the situation?" Princess Jinping asked without turning her head, her voice calm and steady, speaking to Li Wan’Er who had just entered the Buddhist hall.
Li Wan’Er was still hunched over, though she had removed her Cloak. The face she presented was one altered by Disguise. "Reporting to Your Highness, this old servant has investigated thoroughly. The Crown Prince is indeed on his last legs, with half a year left at most."
"The last check said he had about half a year, and this check still says about half a year. Is the effect of that Monkey Wine really so potent?" Princess Jinping slowly opened her eyes, a chilling, heart-stopping glint flashing within them.
Li Wan’Er gave a bitter smile. "The Five Hundred Year-Old Monkey Wine is indeed exceptionally effective and has life-extending properties. Furthermore, the Crown Prince has taken many High Level Dragon and Tiger Elixirs these past few months. It’s only normal that he could live a while longer."
"What a shame. I originally planned to use his life as bait to make the Third and Fifth Princes fight fiercely for the Crown Prince’s position," Princess Jinping said coldly. "Unexpectedly, even without him as bait, the Third and Fifth are already at each other’s throats. I suppose we can let him live a few more months. We’ll observe the situation before deciding whether to send him on his way."
Listening from the roof, Xia Wuyang felt a chill in his heart. He never expected that this woman—someone he once had a good relationship with, whom he had helped many times and always pitied for her husband’s death on the battlefield—could be so malicious behind his back, having harbored intentions to harm him for so long.
"Your Highness is wise!" Li Wan’Er bowed. "The Third Prince and the Fifth Prince are currently at odds like fire and water, bashing each other’s heads in. We indeed have no need to sacrifice the Crown Prince as a pawn."
Princess Jinping stood up and slowly walked to the window.
The moonlight shone on her serene and beautiful face, yet it reflected a pair of unfathomably deep eyes.
"Things in this palace have been far from peaceful lately," she said softly. "Yun Shu is dead, the brothers Chenhua and Chenguang are dead, Ling Yi was robbed, Huan Bamboo was robbed and crippled, Xiu Min has become catatonic, and Fushou has also become catatonic... Even the prominent Xia Wuchen and Xia Wushang have been repeatedly robbed and are now fighting relentlessly. With so many Princes and Princesses meeting with disaster one after another, only a fool would believe this isn’t deliberate. Do you think this is the work of one person, or many?"
"This old servant does not know," Li Wan’Er said pensively. "I also find it strange, but all these incidents were executed flawlessly. Even Your Majesty couldn’t find any clues and could only let the matters drop."
A strange smile touched the corners of Princess Jinping’s mouth. "No matter who is making moves in the shadows, it’s a good thing for us. However, we must be extra careful not to be discovered and become the next target. The murkier the water, the easier it is for us to fish."
"Your Highness is absolutely right," Li Wan’Er said with a smile.
Princess Jinping toyed with the Buddha Beads in her hand. "How is the placement of our people coming along?"
"Reporting to Your Highness, several more Commanders of the Imperial Guard have become our people. We have also placed two confidants in the Inner Treasury, and the Red Lantern Sect is now essentially under our control," Li Wan’Er said in a serious tone. "We only need to wait for the right moment, and our chance will come."
Xia Wuyang was stunned. He never thought that the Red Lantern Sect, a group that had repeatedly caused chaos in the Great Xia Dynasty, was already under Princess Jinping’s control. Moreover, she had planted her people in critical places like the Imperial Guard and the Inner Treasury.
Quietly and without anyone noticing, Princess Jinping had amassed such enormous power, not in the least bit inferior to Third Prince Xia Wuchen and Fifth Prince Xia Wushang. In many respects, she had even surpassed them.
’What incredible methods, what a meticulous mind.’
"Very good," Princess Jinping nodded with satisfaction. "Our greatest advantage is that no one is paying attention to us. So even with the power we now hold, we cannot reveal it easily. Let the other Princes and Princesses continue to fight, especially the Third and the Fifth. When they have suffered heavy casualties, that will be our time to..."
She didn’t finish the sentence, but the ambition in her eyes said it all.
’She’s truly insidious. While the other Princes and Princesses are fighting relentlessly, Princess Jinping has been hiding and accumulating power. Under normal circumstances, she would have a high probability of being the one to have the last laugh.’
’But now that I, Xia Wuyang, know about it, the future is much less certain.’
And then there was Princess Jinping’s Cultivation Power. On the surface, she appeared to be merely a Fifth Grade princess. At her age, being a Fifth Grade princess in her sixties was quite average.
But secretly, her Cultivation Realm had already reached Second Grade Perfection. If not for the astonishing power of his Mental Force Field, he likely would not have been able to see through her hidden Disguise.
Furthermore, her Foundation was exceptionally solid. There was a high probability she could break through her bottleneck and advance to First Grade Grandmaster.
"When will the Blood Lotus Fruit arrive at White Jade City?" Princess Jinping suddenly asked.
Li Wan’Er thought for a moment. "The Blood Lotus Fruit should reach the capital in half a month at most. During this time, Your Highness can focus on consolidating and polishing your Cultivation. Once the Blood Lotus Fruit arrives, you can use its power to push for the realm of First Grade Grandmaster."
"Good. It’s a pity the Ordinary Miracle Treasures and Special Miracle Treasures in the Boundless Medicine Garden are all used up, or I would have advanced to the First Grade long ago," Princess Jinping said with some regret.
Through her surface thoughts, Xia Wuyang learned that the Boundless Medicine Garden was a fortuitous opportunity Princess Jinping had stumbled upon decades ago. It was hidden between cliffs and contained a vast amount of Exotic Flowers and Herbs and Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, including many Ordinary and Special Miracle Treasures.
It was by relying on the treasures within that Princess Jinping was able to advance by leaps and bounds. Even her Talent and Qualification broke through its shackles, allowing her to ascend to the Realm of the Gifted, firmly ranking her among the top few Princes and Princesses.
’If I get the chance later, I must seize control of this Boundless Medicine Garden.’
’And that Blood Lotus Fruit... it’s considered quite good among High Level Miracle Treasures, not the least bit inferior to the Seven Hundred Year-Old Monkey Wine or the Vermilion Fruit. If I can get my hands on it, it would save me several years of hard cultivation.’
’I’ll have to send more birds to patrol this area. I can’t let Princess Jinping eat my Blood Lotus Fruit.’
’It really is better to stay in the Imperial Palace after all. The Princes and Princesses here are all powerful and capable, and from time to time, I can harvest some good things from them.’
’Without their "help," who knows how long it would take for me, Xia Wuyang, to cultivate to the level of First Grade Grandmaster, Super Grade Celestial Human, or even the higher True Monarch Realm.’
’I originally thought it would take several years to advance to the First Grade Realm, but it’s only been a few months, and I’m already on the verge of breaking through.’
Just as Xia Wuyang’s emotions were in turmoil, Princess Jinping’s brow suddenly furrowed. She looked up toward the roof as if she had discovered something.
"What is it?" Li Wan’Er immediately became alert, preparing to rush out of the Buddhist hall to investigate.