After completing his breakthrough and consolidating his power, Xia Wuyang returned to his Sleeping Palace. He was planning to go back to bed with the Qiuci Dancers and the stunning beauty from the Fox Race, then wake up later to continue his drinking and revelry.
Just then, he received a message that Princess Ling Yi had come to visit.
Hearing this, Xia Wuyang’s expression instantly darkened. ’I can’t believe this deadbeat is here again,’ he thought. ’She must be after my Dragon and Tiger Elixir and Celestial Water Essence, too.’
Although Princess Ling Yi didn’t bear him much ill will—she didn’t even want him dead—she was constantly asking to borrow things from him. Classical texts, Weapons, Elixirs, Palace Maids, eunuchs... there was nothing she wouldn’t try to borrow.
Borrowing was one thing, but most of the time, what she took was never returned. She didn’t just borrow from Xia Wuyang, either; she borrowed from the other Princes and Princesses as well, and rarely returned their things, earning her the reputation as the Imperial Palace’s number one deadbeat.
He wanted to throw her out, but before he could make a move, Princess Ling Yi, clad in a crimson Brocade Skirt, sauntered into the Sleeping Palace with a beaming smile. "Crown Prince Brother, I’ve come to see you again! Have you been well these past few days?"
"Sister, what brings you here today? I am doing quite well." Xia Wuyang rose unsteadily, his back hunched. His dark informal robes were stained with tea as several Qiuci Dancers helped him out of bed.
Princess Ling Yi acted as if she didn’t even see the disheveled Qiuci Dancers. She playfully tugged at Xia Wuyang’s beard. "Crown Prince Brother, I heard you just obtained a batch of Dragon and Tiger Elixirs and three portions of Celestial Water Essence. How about you lend me two portions of the essence and eight hundred of the elixirs? Once I advance to the Upper Three Grades, I’ll definitely pay you back double."
Xia Wuyang’s face darkened. ’She really has some nerve. I only received fifteen hundred bottles of Dragon and Tiger Elixir and three portions of Celestial Water Essence in total, and she’s asking for more than half of it right off the bat. Does she take me for a fool?’
Xia Wuyang said with a sigh of resignation, "Sister, you’re too late. The thousand-odd bottles of Dragon and Tiger Elixir have already been taken by Steward Wei and Nanny Liu for safekeeping. As for the three portions of Celestial Water Essence, I’ve already consumed one, and the remaining two were taken and consumed by Steward Wei and Nanny Liu. I have none left here."
As he spoke, Xia Wuyang flicked his sleeve. "If you don’t believe me, you can smell the aura on me. I just consumed a portion of Celestial Water Essence last night."
"Really?" Princess Ling Yi leaned in close and sniffed carefully for a moment. Sure enough, she caught the distinct scent of Celestial Water Essence.
She had consumed Celestial Water Essence before, so she was familiar with its aura.
"In that case, I won’t disturb you any longer, Crown Prince Brother. I’ll go find that old coot Wei Xianren and demand it from him."
Without lingering, Princess Ling Yi left Wenhua Hall and hurried toward Wei Xianren’s residence. She was aware of many of the goings-on in the Eastern Palace and believed Xia Wuyang was telling the truth.
After all, Wei Xianren had once dared to snatch the Celestial Water Essence that the Emperor himself had bestowed upon Xia Wuyang, let alone the essence Lady Xingyan had used to buy her own freedom.
’Since I can’t borrow any Celestial Water Essence from Xia Wuyang, I’ll just go demand it from Wei Xianren,’ she thought. ’He’s just a lowly servant, yet he dares to steal from a Prince. This is the perfect chance for a little dog-eat-dog justice.’
’It’s a shame I heard the news so late,’ she mused. ’It’s all that Lady Xingyan’s fault, keeping secrets for Xia Wuyang even after their separation. If not for that, I could have come immediately and might have actually gotten my hands on two portions of Celestial Water Essence.’
Soon, she arrived at a side hall of the Eastern Palace. Inside, Wei Xianren was organizing the Elixirs he had recently acquired, preparing to secretly deliver them to Wenhua Hall, when he heard a Little Eunuch cry out in pain from outside.
Before he could react, Princess Ling Yi burst in like a whirlwind of fire.
"Wei Xianren! Hand over all the Dragon and Tiger Elixir and Celestial Water Essence you stole from my Crown Prince Brother, or I swear I will teach you a harsh lesson today!"
Wei Xianren bowed hurriedly. "Your Highness, please forgive me! The Celestial Water Essence was a gift from the Crown Prince to this old servant, and I have already consumed it. The Dragon and Tiger Elixir was also a gift, but this old servant had no use for it, so I sold it. I’m still waiting for the final payment."
"You old fox, trying to wash your hands of this so cleanly," Ling Yi spat. "You just consumed Celestial Water Essence not long ago. I refuse to believe you’d dare to take it again so soon." With a sharp RING, Princess Ling Yi drew her sword and pointed it at Wei Xianren’s throat. "I can let the Dragon and Tiger Elixir slide, but you *will* hand over the Celestial Water Essence. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being merciless."
How could Wei Xianren possibly have any Celestial Water Essence? He lowered his head with a bitter smile. "This old servant is terrified. How would I dare deceive Your Highness? If Your Highness doesn’t believe me, you are welcome to search this place thoroughly. If you can find any Celestial Water Essence, I will hand it over without complaint."
"Who knows where you’ve hidden it? You’d better produce it yourself." Princess Ling Yi pressed her longsword forward, its tip nearly piercing Wei Xianren’s neck.
Terror filled Wei Xianren’s face as he begged, "Your Highness, spare my life! This old servant truly has consumed the Celestial Water Essence. I really can’t produce it!"
"It seems you plan to resist to the bitter end." A vicious look crossed Princess Ling Yi’s face as she prepared to teach Wei Xianren a lesson.
’I don’t dare to kill him, but roughing him up a bit is perfectly fine,’ she thought. ’Who would dare make trouble for a dignified Princess over such a small matter?’
"Thirty-Fifth Sister, such a temper!"
Just as Princess Ling Yi was about to make her move, a crisp, cool voice drifted in from outside. She turned her head and saw a figure clad in snowy white standing just outside the hall.
It was none other than Xia Wuyang’s Consort, Yan Jiuge, dressed in a Moon White Patterned Gauze Robe and a Silver Silk Peacock Cloak.
Unlike the aggressive Princess Ling Yi, she simply stood there quietly, like the eternal snow on a high mountain peak.
The unadorned Mutton Fat Jade Orchid Hairpin in her hair only served to accentuate her ethereal, exquisitely beautiful face.
"Sister-in-law, do you intend to interfere in this matter?" Princess Ling Yi narrowed her eyes. "This old servant stole that Celestial Water Essence from our Crown Prince Brother."
Yan Jiuge stepped forward slowly. "Though this old servant is of little use, he is, in the end, a member of the Eastern Palace. Besides, that Celestial Water Essence was a gift from the Crown Prince. If Thirty-Fifth Sister desires some, you are free to petition His Majesty for it."
’If I could get Celestial Water Essence from the Emperor, why would I have come to the Eastern Palace in the first place?’ she thought.
She had long heard rumors that Wei Xianren and Yan Jiuge were distantly related. Now, it seemed those rumors were true. Why else would Yan Jiuge step in to defend him?
"Fine. You’re so kind to the servants, Sister-in-law. Kinder, even, than you are to my Crown Prince Brother." Seeing Yan Jiuge standing in her way, Ling Yi knew she had lost her chance to get the Celestial Water Essence.
Besides, from Wei Xianren’s expression and reaction, she had a feeling he might have really consumed the Celestial Water Essence and had none left.
Since that was the case, there was no reason to stay. After delivering that one last piercing remark, she swiftly exited the side hall and departed.
On her way out, she thought of Liu Jun, the Eastern Palace’s Ceremonial Nanny. But after a moment’s hesitation, she decided against going to the nanny’s residence, because she knew Liu Jun was one of Fifth Brother Xia Wushang’s people.
She dared to offend Xia Wuyang, but she would never dare to offend Xia Wushang!