The saintess is pregnant, what does that have to do with me, a spoiled brat?

"Are you crazy! You dare to accept the invitation to the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet!" Li Wanning jumped up.

"What, are you scared?" Xu Nuo looked at her.

Li Wanning stamped his feet anxiously: "That's the Empress Dowager! Her tastes are so discerning that even the Imperial Kitchen gets scolded every day. We only have chicken bouillon, how can that sustain the entire birthday banquet? What if the Empress Dowager isn't satisfied? That's a crime of deceiving the Emperor, a capital offense!"

Xu Nuo picked up the teacup and blew on it to cool it down.

"Losing his head? That old dog Zhang Tingyu wants to use the Empress Dowager as a weapon, but he'll have to see if he's got the chance."

"Are you really sure?" Li Wanning looked at him suspiciously.

"Five hundred thousand taels of silver, why not make it?" Xu Nuo put down his teacup. "Go, poach all the best chefs in the capital. Money is no object."

Li Wanning gritted her teeth: "Fine! Let's die then! I'll go crazy with you!"

On the other side, at the Ministry of Revenue's office.

After hearing his subordinate's report, Zhang Tingyu was so angry that he smashed the purple clay teapot in his hand to pieces.

"Five hundred thousand taels?! Why doesn't he just rob someone?!"

"My lord, please calm down," a trusted advisor quickly advised. "This promise is clearly an exorbitant demand. But if we give it to him, he'll be sure to fall into the trap of deceiving the emperor."

Zhang Tingyu's chest heaved violently, his eyes filled with malice.

"Alright, give it to him! Take it from the Ministry of Revenue's treasury! I want to see if he'll live to spend this 500,000 taels!"

"Your Excellency is wise. As long as we tamper with the ingredients a little on the day of the birthday banquet..." The aide smiled sinisterly.

Zhang Tingyu snorted coldly: "Go and make the arrangements. I want Xu Nuo to be utterly disgraced and die a horrible death at the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet!"

The Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion.

The five hundred thousand taels of silver were delivered in full.

Xu Nuo looked at the mountain of silver chests piled up in the courtyard and a smile appeared on his lips.

"Young Master, this money is too hot to handle," Lin Hu said worriedly from the side.

"Too hot to handle? I don't think it's hot enough." Xu Nuo casually picked up a silver ingot, tossed it around, and said, "Go, exchange all this money for cultivation resources. The older the better."

Lin Hu was taken aback: "All changed? What about the ingredients for the birthday banquet...?"

"The ingredients won't cost much," Xu Nuo waved his hand. "Just do as I say."

"Yes."

late at night.

Xu Nuo sat cross-legged on the bed, with piles of the top-quality medicinal herbs he had just acquired in front of him.

Five hundred thousand taels of silver were exchanged for thirty boxes of rare and precious medicinal herbs.

The jade pendant on her chest was burning hot.

Roar!

The ancient dragon soul let out a greedy roar.

Xu Nuo closed his eyes and frantically absorbed the medicinal power.

The sixth dragon pattern began to appear faintly.

The transition from the fifth to the fourth rank is a huge watershed. At the fourth rank, one's aura can be projected outwards as armor, requiring a significant increase in physical strength to withstand it.

It lasted all night.

When the last medicinal herb turned to ashes, Xu Nuo opened her eyes.

The sixth dragon pattern is half lit up.

His physical strength surged once again, leaving him just one step away from reaching the fourth rank.

"Not enough." Xu Nuo clenched her fist.

The further you progress in the Primordial Dragon Soul, the more terrifyingly numerous the resources required become. Five hundred thousand taels of silver were only enough to illuminate half of the dragon pattern.

It seems I need to find a way to make some more money.

Outside the window, the night breeze was slightly cool.

Xu Nuo suddenly turned her head and looked out the window.

"Since you're here, don't hide."

The air was slightly distorted.

Shen Qingyi, dressed in a blue robe, appeared silently in the room.

She looked at the ashes scattered on the ground, a look of shock flashing in her eyes.

So many top-grade medicinal herbs, all absorbed overnight? What kind of monstrous technique is this?

"What are you doing here?" Xu Nuo leaned against the headboard, looking at her lazily.

Shen Qingyi composed herself and resumed her aloof demeanor.

"I've heard about the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet." She looked at Xu Nuo. "Zhang Tingyu tampered with the ingredients. He bribed merchants from the Western Regions to add 'Drunken Immortal Grass' to the tribute spices."

Xu Nuo raised an eyebrow.

Drunken herb is colorless and odorless. Consuming small amounts can cause euphoria, but if mixed with chicken essence, it will produce a deadly poison.

That old dog Zhang Tingyu is ruthless.

"Why are you telling me all this?" Xu Nuo looked at her with a half-smile.

Shen Qingyi slightly raised her chin: "I told you, I can help you. As long as you agree to do things for me."

"To do things for you?" Xu Nuo stood up and walked up to her.

Shen Qingyi instinctively wanted to back down, but she forced herself to.

Xu Nuo looked down at her, so close that he could smell her faint, cool fragrance.

"Shen Qingyi, aren't you mistaken about something?" Xu Nuo's voice was soft, yet it carried a suffocating pressure. "I promise, I will never be threatened by anyone. Nor will I be someone else's dog."

Shen Qingyi bit her lip: "If you don't believe me, you will surely die on the day of the birthday banquet."

"Then I won't trouble you." Xu Nuo took a step back. "The door's over there. Goodbye."

Shen Qingyi gave him a deep look, then turned and disappeared into the night.

three days later.

The Imperial Palace, Hall of Preserving Harmony.

On the Empress Dowager's sixtieth birthday, a grand banquet was held for all the officials.

The main hall was resplendent in gold and jade, with the sounds of silk and bamboo instruments filling the air.

Various vassal kings, envoys, and important officials of the court gathered together.

Zhang Tingyu sat at the head of the civil officials' seats, holding a wine cup, his eyes occasionally glancing outside the hall, a cold smile playing on his lips.

Xu Nuo, today is your death day.

"The Empress Dowager has arrived!"

With the eunuch's shrill voice, the Empress Dowager, dressed in a bright yellow phoenix robe, slowly ascended to the main seat with the help of palace maids.

"Your Majesty, we respectfully wish you boundless happiness and longevity!"

The courtiers knelt in worship.

The Empress Dowager raised her hand: "My beloved ministers, rise. Today is my birthday, there is no need for formalities."

Although the Empress Dowager was over sixty years old, she was well-maintained and her eyes were still sharp.

"I heard that today's birthday banquet was hosted by the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion?" the Empress Dowager asked slowly.

Zhang Tingyu immediately stood up and respectfully said, "Your Majesty, that's right. Prince Xu runs a restaurant called Zuixianlou in the capital, and it's doing very well. I thought that Your Majesty might want to try something different since you're used to the Imperial Kitchen's cooking, so I recommended Prince Xu."

The Empress Dowager gave a noncommittal "hmm".

"Then let's serve the meal."

"Serve the meal—"

A line of palace maids carried in exquisite dishes one after another.

The main hall was immediately filled with fragrance.

Zhang Tingyu stared intently at the main dish on the Empress Dowager's table—"Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix."

It contained spices imported from the Western Regions, as well as promised chicken essence.

As long as the Empress Dowager takes a bite...

The Empress Dowager picked up her jade chopsticks, took a piece of phoenix meat, and put it in her mouth.

The hall fell silent instantly.

Everyone held their breath and looked at the Empress Dowager.

Zhang Tingyu's heart was in his throat.

The Empress Dowager chewed twice, her brows furrowing slightly.

Zhang Tingyu was overjoyed.

The poison has taken effect!

"Guards!" the Empress Dowager suddenly shouted in a deep voice.

Zhang Tingyu immediately jumped out and loudly accused, "Xu Nuo! How dare you poison the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet! Guards, seize Xu Nuo!"

The Imperial Guards outside the palace rushed in instantly, their swords and spears drawn.

Xu Nuo stood in the corner of the hall, arms crossed, looking at Zhang Tingyu as if he were an idiot.

The Empress Dowager slammed her hand on the table.

"presumptuous!"

Zhang Tingyu trembled with fear and immediately knelt down: "Your Majesty, please calm your anger! This humble subject was only acting for Your Majesty's safety..."

"Did I give you permission to speak?" The Empress Dowager looked at him coldly.

Zhang Tingyu was sweating profusely and dared not utter a sound.