Immortal Dynasty Hounds

Chapter 124 Who in the world is not versed in demonic arts? (8K long chapter, please vote for me)
"Isn't it wrong of you to lie to your son like this?"

After Xia Xunyang left, the Empress slowly walked out of Bai Mei Lou.

The look in his eyes as he looked at Emperor Yongchang was full of contempt.

Emperor Yongchang was very frank: "Your Majesty, I did not lie to Xunyang, just as I did not lie to you."

"Pooh."

The Empress Dowager could only scoff at Emperor Yongchang's scumbag remarks.

"You said that to Lian Shanxin, and you said it to Xia Xunyang too. Aren't you afraid that your two sons will fight each other in Kuangshan and turn against each other?"

Emperor Yongchang said calmly, "That's how I went through it. Who hasn't gone through the same thing if they want to fight for the throne?"

"Neither of them intended to fight for the throne," the Empress said, frowning.

Emperor Yongchang shrugged: "Sometimes, whether they fight or not is not up to them."

"Your father is truly cold-blooded and heartless."

"I will take this as a compliment from Your Majesty."

Emperor Yongchang did not feel offended.

"If either Xunyang or Xin'er can truly control the Kuangshan Secret Realm, what's wrong with passing the world on to them? They are both my sons, after all, and it won't benefit outsiders."

As for etiquette, reputation, and even the status of illegitimate children, these were not important matters to Emperor Yongchang.

The Empress believed Emperor Yongchang's words were true, but she still shook her head and said, "Their backgrounds doom them to have a very small chance of seizing the throne, and no one will support them."

"I support them, and as long as they are strong enough on their own, the support from the outer court is not that important. Your Majesty, I really have high hopes for the two of them. I have many children, and among all of them, unless someone is still hiding their talents and even I have been deceived, it seems to me that Xunyang is indeed far ahead. As for Xin'er, he has his unique advantages."

"What advantage?"

"If he truly masters the Dragon Slaying Intent, he will be the only prince who could potentially pose a threat to Xunyang. The Dragon Slaying Intent is too much of a counter to the True Dragon bloodline. However, Xunyang is a major realm higher than Xin'er, and if not deliberately suppressed, Xunyang has already condensed his martial domain. All things considered, I still favor Xunyang more."

The Empress Dowager was not surprised by this: "So you only sent Eunuch Wang to fool Lian Shanxin, and you personally took charge of Xia Xunyang's case."

"Your Majesty, you still misunderstand me. Although I did push them into danger, what I gave them was the immortal destiny and future that other princes and princesses could only dream of."

"You have to be alive to fight for it."

"If we don't fight and grab, how can the throne just fall into their hands out of thin air?" Emperor Yongchang said calmly, "If you want immense wealth and honor, of course you have to fight for it at all costs. Yu the Great is facing a critical moment of life and death again, and he needs a ruler stronger than me to restore the dynasty so that he can borrow another five hundred years from heaven. Everything I do is for the peace of the world."

"It's nothing more than for the sake of your Xia family's empire." The Empress pointed out Emperor Yongchang's selfishness sharply: "You don't need to pretend to be so righteous in front of me."

Emperor Yongchang did not refute: "The Xia family and Yu the Great have become one. If the dynasty changes, the Xia family will certainly fall from the clouds and be shattered. Wouldn't that be a catastrophe for all the people? To prevent such a disaster from happening, it would be worth it even if I lost a few sons."

"Anyway, you have many sons."

"This is indeed the biggest reason why I dared to make this choice," Emperor Yongchang frankly admitted.

Even the Empress was helpless against the true villain. She could only remind him, "Don't forget the divination: the true dragon sheds blood, the righteous perish and the demons rise. It would be best to obtain the Kuang Furnace and control the Kuang Mountain Secret Realm. But knowing the divination's omen, you still put your two sons in. Aren't you afraid of losing both your sons and your army, and ultimately gaining nothing? I also believe that these may be your two most outstanding sons."

Emperor Yongchang did not immediately explain his actions. Instead, he expressed his gratitude to the Empress Dowager, saying, "Your Majesty is sensible and considerate of the overall situation. Even though you are not related to Xunyang Xin'er by blood, you are still willing to stand up for them. It is the greatest blessing of my life to have Your Majesty as my Empress Dowager."

"Don't give me that. Your mouth can fool anyone. It might fool some stupid women in the martial arts world, but it'll do nothing to me," the Empress said disdainfully.

Even so, the diva still almost couldn't control her smile.

Emperor Yongchang also ignored the Empress's hypocrisy.

If a woman tells you to be sincere, just listen and don't take it seriously. If you actually believe her, then you're in the wrong.

You play the sincerity card, while a scumbag plays the sweet talk card. See who women choose.

Emperor Yongchang did not look at it.

He has always relied on sweet talk.

Bai Mei Lou's track record is verifiable.

"Your Majesty's concerns are valid, but I have no better choice. Although the journey to Kuangshan is fraught with peril, the opportunity to control the fragments of the Immortal Realm is right before us. If I don't let my son take the risk, am I to let Cao Fuhu and Zhang Aniu take it?"

The Empress was speechless.

From Emperor Yongchang's perspective, he did have other people he could send, but he dared not send them.

If they are both at the Grandmaster level, Zhang Aniu is definitely stronger and more capable than Lian Shanxin.

But Zhang Aniu is so capable, what if he really manages to seize control of the Kuangshan Secret Realm?
Emperor Yongchang could be lenient with his own son, but he could not give up the Kuangshan Secret Realm to other capable people.

“I do not wish to harm Zhang Aniu and Cao Fuhu. I wish to maintain a good relationship with them as ruler and subject from beginning to end. Therefore, it is best for them to stay out of this and not enter Kuangshan. Your Majesty is right. The Xia family’s empire should be paid for with the lives of the Xia family’s bloodline. Even if it means facing nine deaths and one life, this is what the Xia family’s bloodline should do.”

"If you could lead by example instead of sending your two children to risk their lives, I would truly admire you," the Empress said.

Emperor Yongchang chuckled: "My safety is of paramount importance, and I cannot take any risks. If someone in Xunyang or Xin'er were to discover the secret realm of Kuangshan, I would appoint them as crown princes, and they could then venture out on their own. Right now, the crown prince is not yet capable of supporting Yu the Great."

"You have so much confidence in Xia Xunyang?"

Empress Tian and Emperor Yongchang had been married for many years, but she could sense that Emperor Yongchang's true affection was for Xia Xunyang.

Lianshan Letter was merely a front, used to cover for Xia Xunyang. Everyone's attention, including that of the ambitious, was focused on Lianshan Letter, making it easier for Xia Xunyang to deceive everyone.

However, the Empress Dowager still did not think that Xia Xunyang was worth Emperor Yongchang's huge investment.

She was only at the top of the Hidden Dragon Ranking; although she had never held that position, she had one under her command.

I didn't think it was anything special.

Emperor Yongchang explained, “If Xunyang were just one person, even if he were exceptionally talented, he wouldn’t be able to cause much trouble. But my foolish younger brother has always regarded Xunyang as his pride, and even once wanted to pass the throne of Jiujiang to Xunyang.”

The Empress Dowager understood: "The fiefdom of the King of Jiujiang is near Jiangzhou, but his throne is just for show. How much of a show can he possibly make?"

“Your Majesty, my foolish brother’s throne is just a decoration in our eyes. But in Jiangzhou, this King of Jiujiang is still very useful. In any case, the royal palace can support five hundred private soldiers. Five hundred men are actually enough to do a lot of things.”

The Empress glanced at Emperor Yongchang, knowing full well that this scoundrel was boasting, but still sincerely praised him, saying, "You are indeed qualified to say that, after all, when you launched the Xuanwu Gate Incident, you only used eight hundred people to seize the world."

Yu the Great's martial virtue was excessive.

Five hundred private soldiers are neither a large nor a small number.

It all depends on what the King of Jiujiang can achieve.

Anyway, Emperor Yongchang set an example back then.

"If I were a prince, I could conquer the world with eight hundred private soldiers. My foolish brother is certainly not as good as me, but if five hundred private soldiers still cannot help Xunyang take Kuangshan, then I might as well give up the Jiujiang Prince's Mansion. It would give me a legitimate reason to reduce the power of the princes. After a thousand years of inheritance, even Yu the Great could not support so many useless members of the imperial clan."

The Empress Dowager glanced at Emperor Yongchang once more.

Even though they had shared a bed for decades, she still felt she couldn't see through the person next to her.

He certainly possessed great talent and ambition; otherwise, he wouldn't have captivated me in the first place, nor would he have allowed those eight hundred private soldiers to risk their lives to follow him in a rebellion.

But when he's being perverted, he really is perverted, so much so that even the diva feels a bit of a misogynist.

Regardless, the Empress Dowager felt that Emperor Yongchang was a decent emperor.

Even though he was scheming, mean-spirited, ruthless, and two-faced.

But for the emperor, all of these were advantages.

Especially for Yu the Great, who has a history spanning thousands of years, the current Yu the Great is both incredibly powerful and incredibly weak.

"Those who helped Yu the Great establish his kingdom have now become his problems. The biggest problem lies with the royal family itself. I am aware of these problems, and I want to solve them. But Your Majesty, you know I dare not act rashly. To touch them would be to threaten my own throne."

The Empress nodded slightly, and at that moment she even felt a touch of inappropriate sympathy for Emperor Yongchang.

“I know that all these troubles are your own fault, and no one forced you to seize the throne, but seeing you so distressed now still makes my heart ache. Your Majesty, your sycophantic nature is truly harmful.”

Emperor Yongchang smiled and took the Empress's hand, saying softly, "Your Majesty, this has nothing to do with seductive charm; it's simply Your Majesty's favoritism towards me."

"You've treated me fairly well, at least you haven't let those women bother me, you've given me the greatest honor and dignity, making all the women in the world bow before me." The Empress no longer spoke hypocritically: "But if you were to harm the Prince of Jiujiang, how would you face the Princess Consort of Jiujiang?"

Emperor Yongchang's voice turned cold: "What do the affairs of the world have to do with her? I spared my foolish brother back then because I always needed a few brothers to live, and it has never been her concern."

The diva sighed again.

"Does Your Majesty think I am too heartless?"

"No, I've always known what kind of person you are. I love your ambition and talent, which means I'm destined to accept your cold-bloodedness and power-first mentality. If I loved the kind of sincere love where one person is devoted to another for life, I wouldn't have chosen someone from the royal family in the first place. You can't have it all, I've always understood that."

Emperor Yongchang patted the Empress's hand with a smile again: "So even though I have had countless women, they are just women. The only one who can stand beside me and stand shoulder to shoulder with me is Your Majesty."

Which woman is looking for thrills?

Which woman is meant to be tried out?

Which woman is there to relax with?

And who can truly stand on the stage and help him take charge of the overall situation?

Emperor Yongchang made the distinction very clear.

He's a complete scumbag.

The same applies to divas.

This is the ancient palace of Yu the Great, a place with a history spanning thousands of years.

This is not a childish domestic power struggle.

In a place like this, talking only about love is too narrow-minded.

"What if the King of Jiujiang helps Xia Xunyang take control of the Kuangshan Secret Realm?" the Empress asked.

"The victor is not to be blamed."

"That's your style, it's just a pity for the King of Jiujiang. Regardless of success or failure, he's destined to be the one to benefit you."

Emperor Yongchang said calmly, "He made the wrong choice at Xuanwu Gate, and he made the wrong choice again when choosing his successor. How can one make the wrong choice twice in a row when it comes to the struggle for the throne? Choices determine destiny, and this is not something I forced him to do."

"What if Lianshan Xin wins in the end?" the Empress suddenly asked.

Emperor Yongchang chose Xia Xunyang over Lian Shanxin.

But the queen will definitely choose Lian Shanxin.

The reason is simple: Lian Shanxin was born in the Nine Heavens and was born to be her person.

Xia Xunyang's achievements today have nothing to do with her.

Emperor Yongchang was clearly prepared for this: "I was not favored back then either, but I made a last-ditch comeback. If Xin'er can make a comeback like me, then whether it's the destiny of immortality or the throne, it should be his. As long as the flesh is rotten in the pot, it's fine. As long as he is my offspring, I will not favor anyone. Sending Xunyang to Kuangshan is actually giving Xin'er an opportunity. If he really masters the Dragon-Slaying True Intent, Xunyang should be able to help him go further."

The diva was suddenly startled: "You even thought of that?"

“I do not wish for such a thing to happen, but if I had to choose between the death of a few sons and the death of tens of millions of people, I would not hesitate to sacrifice a few sons.”

Having many children gives you confidence.

The Empress was speechless: "I even suspect that if Lian Shanxin wins this time, you might deliberately send him to weaken the power of the feudal lords later."

Emperor Yongchang laughed out loud: "Your Majesty understands me best."

The Empress looked at Emperor Yongchang in shock: "You really have this idea?"

"Why not? Is there a more suitable candidate than a prince who has mastered the true meaning of slaying dragons to reduce the power of the princes?" Emperor Yongchang retorted.

Queen of Pop: "..."

She discovered that the extent of her husband's perversion exceeded her expectations.

"However, I still have more faith in Xunyang. His advantages are too great. If Xunyang succeeds, it means that destiny is on his side. Coupled with his unparalleled talent, he has a greater potential to become the restorer of the dynasty. Compared with Xunyang, Xin'er's talent is still far inferior."

The Empress thought of the Candlelight Pavilion's evaluation of Lian Shanxin and wanted to say that perhaps Lian Shanxin's talent lay in killing the Xia family.

However, after thinking about it, she swallowed her words.

This assessment is extremely unfriendly to the Xia family's entire clan.

……

Xia Xunyang also felt that Emperor Yongchang's perversion far exceeded his imagination.

After leaving the palace, Xia Xunyang returned to the Prince of Jiujiang's residence immediately.

Actually, the real Jiujiang Prince's Mansion is in Jiangzhou.

With Emperor Yongchang in control, after the Xuanwu Gate Incident, he had completely eroded the courage of the other princes of the Xia family. He had no intention of imprisoning the families of the other princes in the capital city.

Most of the princes' families lived in their respective fiefdoms.

However, Princess Jiujiang spent most of her time living in the palace in Shenjing City.

Xia Xunyang used to think that his father was always careful because he had participated in the coup that year and did not stand on Emperor Yongchang's side, fearing that others would find fault with him.

After talking with Emperor Yongchang today, Xia Xunyang realized that he might have been thinking too naively.

He already believed about 80% of what Emperor Yongchang said.

He needed to verify the remaining ten percent with his mother.

The answer from the Princess of Jiujiang completely disillusioned Xia Xunyang, but it also fueled his growing ambition.

“Xunyang, your mother is also a woman, and your mother also has needs.”

Xia Xunyang: "..."

Can someone teach him how to respond to that?
Thinking of how good the King of Jiujiang had been to him, Xia Xunyang mustered his courage and said, "Mother, Father is also a man."

Princess Jiujiang replied without hesitation, "Your father is too far away to help."

Princess Jiujiang's words have once again put Xia Xunyang in a difficult position.

Princess Jiujiang sighed softly: "If your father were a normal man, why would your mother have had an affair? Xunyang, don't look down on your mother. Your father... being born into the imperial family puts too much pressure on him, and he's become somewhat abnormal. If your mother had any other options, she wouldn't have gone to His Majesty."

Xia Xunyang thought of what Emperor Yongchang had just said:
"She has been married to your father for three years, but it doesn't compare to the pleasure of one night with me."

Xia Xunyang didn't believe it before, feeling that Emperor Yongchang was just bragging.

Now he's starting to believe.

Emperor Yongchang was quite something.

Of course, it's also my father's fault for being so incompetent.

"Father... could it be that he, like the Crown Prince, suffers from an illness?"

Princess Jiujiang sighed again: "I don't want to talk about him anymore. Xunyang, did His Majesty tell you about your background?"

"Correct."

Why did he suddenly tell you this?

"He asked me to do something, saying that if I succeeded, the crown prince would be mine."

As Xia Xunyang spoke, his gaze remained fixed on the Princess of Jiujiang.

Seeing the sudden change in Princess Jiujiang's expression, Xia Xunyang breathed a sigh of relief. He could understand if his father wasn't as favored as Emperor Yongchang in his mother's eyes, but he feared he himself wasn't even as favored as Emperor Yongchang in his mother's eyes.

However, judging from the mother's expression, she was more concerned about her own safety.

"Mother, how credible do you think His Majesty's words are?"

"At most three points," Princess Jiujiang said without hesitation.

Xia Xunyang felt reassured: "I thought it was only one point, but it's actually three."

Princess Jiujiang looked at her son with pride in her eyes: "Xunyang, those two points are all because you are too talented. Even if His Majesty's dozens of children are combined, none of them can match you. It's not that he feels indebted to you, it's that you are too outstanding, so outstanding that he simply cannot ignore you."

"Mother, it seems you don't blindly trust His Majesty."

"Of course, I never dared to trust His Majesty. His Majesty is a sage ruler who wouldn't be swayed by personal feelings. My relationship with His Majesty ended the moment I spoke up to protect the Prince. Xunyang, His Majesty's promises are always worth risking your life for. Do you really want to fight for them?"

Xia Xunyang said helplessly, "Mother, His Majesty has already spoken. Sometimes, whether I fight or not is not up to me. Who told me to bear the surname Xia?"

Princess Jiujiang sighed softly, "Fine, you're right. Xunyang, I only have one thing to say: wealth and glory can only be enjoyed with life. If things are hopeless, you must prioritize saving your life. At worst, I'll go and beg His Majesty again."

"No, I won't let my mother suffer that humiliation again." Xia Xunyang clenched his fists.

Princess Jiujiang said softly, "Xunyang, your mother is not humiliated. In fact, your mother is quite happy."

Xia Xunyang: "..."

Father, how can I save you?

……

"Water God, the Crown Prince requests your presence."

Xiao Shunzi found Lin Ruoshui at the orphanage.

Looking at Lin Ruoshui surrounded by a group of children, Xiao Shunzi's eyes were filled with admiration.

Although the profession of eunuch can easily lead to a twisted mind, one will still feel ashamed in the face of absolute goodness.

Lin Ruoshui is the kind of person who is absolutely good.

The Crown Prince has already instructed the Miaoyin Pavilion to gather all the information about Lin Ruoshui after she entered the capital.

Since defeating Qi Shiyun, Lin Ruoshui has been doing good deeds and helping the poor and needy.

She seemed to be born to save others.

Considering Lin Ruoshui's previous acts of kindness wherever she went, everyone in the Eastern Palace came to the following conclusion:
Lin Ruoshui wasn't faking it.

In other words, she might be faking it, but the Crown Prince's intelligence capabilities wouldn't be able to detect it.

Either way, it shows that Lin Ruoshui did a lot of good deeds.

He deserves the respect of everyone who still considers themselves human.

Xiao Shunzi still felt like a human being.

Lin Ruoshui greeted Xiao Shunzi with a smile when she saw him.

"Your Highness, did you summon me to discuss matters concerning the orphanage?"

Previously, the Crown Prince had promised that as long as Lin Ruoshui defeated Qi Shiyun, the Crown Prince would urge the Ministry of Revenue to renovate all the orphanages in the capital.

Xiao Shunzi respectfully said, "Your Highness is right. Please, Water God, come and have a chat."

"Okay, please wait a moment, father-in-law, while I say goodbye to the children."

Xiao Shunzi's admiration grew even stronger.

Even when summoned by the Crown Prince, he still had to say goodbye to the children in the orphanage first. This is the true spirit of a chivalrous knight-errant who is unyielding to nobles and proud kings.

Some people are faking it.

Lin Ruoshui is real.

She gave Xiao Shunzi the feeling that, in her eyes, the Crown Prince was not as important as these children.

Less than half an hour later.

Lin Ruoshui finally met the Crown Prince at the Eastern Palace.

The Crown Prince greeted him with a smile: "I have long admired the name of the Water God, but today is the first time I have met him. Indeed, meeting him is even more impressive than hearing about him."

Lin Ruoshui knew what she looked like.

I have also seen countless gazes, some burning and some greedy.

However, the Crown Prince's gaze made her feel both comfortable and somewhat uncomfortable.

Because in the Crown Prince's eyes, she seemed like a wooden doll.

When I looked at her, there was no emotional fluctuation in my eyes.

It seems to have completely masked her beauty.

Lin Ruoshui gave the Crown Prince a deep look and nodded in greeting: "Your Highness is too kind. Your Highness's ability to renovate all the orphanages in the capital is unmatched even by contemporary Buddhist monks. You should be a role model for the world."

The Crown Prince's smile became even more genuine: "I dare not say that. Father Emperor is the true role model for the world."

Lin Ruoshui smiled slightly: "I have never met the Emperor, only the Crown Prince. I am a woman of the martial world and do not know etiquette. If I have said something wrong and offended the imperial family, please forgive me, Your Highness."

"Ignorance is no excuse, Water God, please come in."

"Thank you, Prince."

The two had a good impression of each other at their first meeting.

However, Lin Ruoshui felt that something was off about the Crown Prince.

Any man who has no feelings for her must have something wrong with him.

After the two sat down, Xiao Shunzi served tea and snacks and then disappeared from the room.

The prince went straight to the point: "This is the document the water god wants."

Lin Ruoshui took the document, which clearly stated that the Crown Prince was urging the Ministry of Revenue to renovate all orphanages in the capital city, and it was also stamped with the seal of the Eastern Palace.

It's not a big deal.

It does not involve power struggles or vying for profit.

With the Crown Prince involved, the matter is basically 98% successful.

Seeing this, Lin Ruoshui cupped her hands again: "Your Highness always keeps your word, I admire you. I'll offer you a cup of tea instead of wine."

"it is good."

The Crown Prince did not stand on ceremony, nor did he deliberately make things difficult for Lin Ruoshui by insisting on exchanging the item for wine.

After they both finished their drinks, the Crown Prince cut to the chase again: "Would the Water God be willing to cooperate with me once more?"

Lin Ruoshui looked at the Crown Prince: "I would like to hear the details."

"The orphanage is not only in the capital city. If the Water God is willing to help me this time, I will urge all regions of the world to repair their orphanages, regardless of success or failure. At the same time, I am willing to donate 100,000 taels from the Eastern Palace's treasury to help abandoned children all over the world."

The crown prince was the first to offer his bargaining chip.

Lin Ruoshui was moved: "Your Highness is chivalrous and benevolent, truly a Buddha reborn, with great compassion."

"Water God, you flatter me. I am not like you. I do this because I have other purposes."

"Even so, as long as it is done for good, it is a righteous act. What are your orders, Your Highness?"

"I hope the Water God can go south to Jiangzhou to protect a man named Lianshan Xin."

"what?"

Lin Ruoshui's tone changed slightly.

His gaze also became somewhat subtle.

He took another deep look at the Crown Prince.

The prince was so normal in front of himself.

Yet she was so nervous around another man.

Moreover, she pushed her own stunning beauty towards another man.

Sure enough, this crown prince is very abnormal.

"Your Highness, could you please explain yourself clearly?"

The prince nodded and told Lin Ruoshui everything about the strange events at Kuangshan.

Lin Ruoshui was greatly shocked upon hearing this: "A celestial artifact has actually appeared in Kuangshan? Such a major event, and His Majesty has assigned Lian Shanxin, a mere late-stage True Intent Realm cultivator, to be in charge? Your Highness, isn't something amiss?"

"Of course not. Ah Xin is just a smokescreen. Father's real trump card is someone else."

At this point, a murderous glint flashed in the Crown Prince's eyes.

Emperor Yongchang's deliberate flattery of Xia Xunyang at the banquet today certainly achieved its purpose.

All of Emperor Yongchang's descendants now have a bad impression of Xia Xunyang.

Including the prince.

Unlike the other princes and princesses, the Crown Prince's dislike for Xia Xunyang had a deeper reason.

"If I'm not mistaken, Father has placed his bets on Xia Xunyang."

"Xia Xunyang?"

Lin Ruoshui's tone was slightly different.

She was familiar with this name.

She has consistently ranked first and second on the Hidden Dragon List for the past few years.

"Yes, Xia Xunyang, currently the top of the Hidden Dragon Ranking, and the number one Grandmaster in the eyes of the world. Apart from the Water God, I really can't think of anyone who can be Xia Xunyang's opponent in the Grandmaster realm."

Lin Ruoshui's answer surprised the Crown Prince: "Your Highness, if we are both at the Grandmaster level, I may not be a match for Xia Xunyang."

"What? But the Water God was clearly superior to him in their previous duel." The Crown Prince frowned.

Lin Ruoshui explained, "I could tell he wasn't using his full strength. I wasn't using my full strength either, but I don't know how much he was holding back."

The Crown Prince's expression turned serious: "Xia Xunyang has been hiding his true abilities so well. No wonder Father Emperor thinks so highly of him and even took him with him..."

"Where did you go?" Lin Ruoshui didn't understand the Crown Prince's words.

But the crown prince did not continue speaking.

"Water God, since that's the case, we need you to come out of seclusion even more. With Xia Xunyang's strength, how can Ah Xin be his match? If Xia Xunyang were to obtain the immortal artifact... how could I possibly face him?"

"Xia Xunyang is merely the second son of the Prince of Jiujiang. Why is Your Highness so wary of him?"

The Crown Prince hesitated for a moment, thinking that if Lin Ruoshui did not take action, he would not have any other suitable people to mobilize, so he decided to be honest: "I suspect that Xia Xunyang is the Emperor's illegitimate son."

Lin Ruoshui's hand trembled slightly.

She really lost her composure.

Taking a deep breath, Lin Ruoshui said in a deep voice, "Your Highness, I didn't hear a word you said just now."

The Crown Prince calmed down instead: "It's alright. Father always thinks he controls the world, but in my opinion, he just treats me like a fool. Not only does he treat me like a fool, but I guess he also treats Xia Xunyang and A Xin like fools. It's nothing more than making us kill each other. Whoever can break through the encirclement will be given an important position by Father."

At this point, the Crown Prince said with a self-deprecating smile, "But this is also an open scheme. I really dare not let Xia Xunyang monopolize the immortal destiny of Kuangshan."

"What if I take it?" Lin Ruoshui asked, "Will Your Highness also attack me?"

"The water god is different."

"How am I different?"

“Even though Xia Xunyang is not related to my father, he is still of royal blood. He poses a danger of replacing me. The Water God’s ambitions are not in the world. I have carefully investigated the Water God’s information. You want to be a saint and have no interest in power.”

Lin Ruoshui's gaze shifted to one of appreciation.

The Crown Prince's spirits lifted: "Therefore, I believe that even if the Water God controls the Kuangshan Secret Realm, it will not harm the world, and the people of Jiangzhou will even benefit from it. Moreover, there is A-Xin. The Water God must promise me that he will protect A-Xin's safety while Xia Xunyang is spying on him."

"Your Highness values ​​Lian Shan Xin so highly?"

“He saved my life and gave me a second chance. If I abandon even my savior, who will be willing to serve me in the future?” the Crown Prince retorted.

Lin Ruoshui thought to herself that the life-saving grace must be genuine.

The claim of being saved is complete nonsense.

Even though the thousand-year-old snow lotus was clearly fake, the prince's health had miraculously improved.

She had just examined the Crown Prince's meridians and found that he was no different from an ordinary person, and his aura was even stronger than that of an ordinary grandmaster.

This doesn't look like someone who is seriously ill at all.

How did the snow lotus achieve its century-old form?

Before Lin Ruoshui could figure it out, the Crown Princess's voice came from outside the room.

"Your Highness, you are hosting a banquet for other women at the Eastern Palace without informing me. Isn't that showing a great disrespect to me, your principal wife?"

The crown prince frowned.

Lin Ruoshui rose and bowed to the approaching Crown Princess: "This humble subject, Lin Ruoshui, greets the Crown Princess."

"You are Lin Ruoshui, who is known as the 'Water God'?"

The Crown Princess looked at Lin Ruoshui with malice.

Lin Ruoshui is a rising star in the martial arts world, while she is a noblewoman from a wealthy family in the capital city.

However, this is not the reason why the Crown Princess dislikes Lin Ruoshui.

The real reason is:

"So it was you who defeated Shiyun?"

Lin Ruoshui chuckled: "The Crown Princess is already pregnant with His Highness's child, yet she still holds a grudge against me because of Qi Tanhua. The Crown Princess is truly sentimental."

"How dare you!" The Crown Princess's expression changed drastically.

This was not the real reason for her sudden change in expression.

She also heard Lin Ruoshui's other voice: "Crown Princess, is the medicine you gave the Crown Prince still working?"

　An 8000-word chapter has been delivered. Thank you to Rainy Night Whispers for the 500 Qidian Coins reward, and thank you to Dusk Dawn, Young Marshal's Trace, and Pending Sincerity for their rewards.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)