"A South Sea Pearl..."
At that moment, the old Palace Maid let out a soft cry. Inside a Purple Sandalwood Box on the lowest level of the Treasure Pavilion, a pearl the size of a pigeon’s egg was emitting a faint blue glow.
Her withered, old hand caressed it greedily as she thought, ’This South Sea Pearl must have been a gift from Your Majesty many years ago. Should I steal it?’
’If I’m discovered, it’s very likely a capital offense. This is a gift from the Emperor, after all.’
’Fortune favors the bold. Besides, I’m a dead woman walking anyway. The Eastern Palace is as leaky as a sieve; who would know that I was the one who stole this South Sea Pearl?’
Just as the old Palace Maid was about to put the South Sea Pearl into her pocket, she suddenly felt a chill on the back of her neck, and an enraged voice boomed.
"You damn old hag, how dare you steal my South Sea Pearl!"
The old Palace Maid’s face changed drastically. Just as she was about to beg Xia Wuyang for mercy, she felt herself flying, yet her body was clearly still squatting on the ground. Then, she knew nothing more.
Xia Wuyang, holding the Longquan Sword, roared at those outside, "All of you, get in here! Who let this old hag in? If there is a next time, I will kill you all without exception!"
Xia Wuyang decided to use this opportunity to establish his authority, lest someone else try to steal from him in the future—right under his nose, no less.
To be so audacious was the height of contempt for him.
Stealing was one thing, but if they were to discover his secret, that would be disastrous.
A large group of Palace Attendants rushed into Wenhua Hall. Horrified, they stared at the beheaded old Palace Maid, their faces as pale as gold leaf. They all fell to their knees in unison, and a series of dull thuds echoed as their foreheads hit the Cyan Jade Bricks.
"Your Highness, calm your anger! This old servant will have someone clean this up immediately. We will not dare to let such a lapse happen again."
"There is a side door to Wenhua Hall. This old Palace Maid had the key; she most likely entered through there."
"We servants will stand guard day and night from now on. We won’t even let half a fly get in."
...
Xia Wuyang looked down with a cold gaze at the trembling figures below him, a drop of crimson still dripping from the tip of his Longquan Sword.
The sound of the blooddrop hitting the floor was exceptionally clear in the deathly silent hall.
Seeing that he had re-established his authority and, at the very least, made these Palace Attendants too afraid to enter Wenhua Hall without permission again, Xia Wuyang felt slightly more at ease. He ordered them all to get out.
After some careful consideration, he realized that while this act would significantly reduce the chance of similar incidents, given his current situation, very few Palace Attendants were truly loyal to him. There would inevitably be other oversights in the future.
Even if no one else stole from him, what about the Palace Maids he favored? If they discovered his secret, would he have to kill the very women he shared a bed with?
’I have to find a solution.’ He recalled that the Imperial Palace Inner Treasury seemed to contain some Combat Techniques and Secret Techniques related to the spirit that could solve this problem.
Coincidentally, his Spiritual Power was now formidable, making him well-suited to practice such Combat Techniques and Secret Techniques.
Since that was the case, he should resolve this matter as soon as possible.
Having made up his mind, Xia Wuyang wasted no time and immediately ordered his carriage to be prepared, heading for the Inner Treasury.
Although he had fallen from favor, he was still the Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace. It wouldn’t be a problem for him to go to the Inner Treasury and browse some Cultivation Technique Scriptures.
The study in Wenhua Hall had many scriptures, but none of this specific type.
Upon learning that Xia Wuyang was going to the Inner Treasury to browse scriptures, the many Palace Attendants exchanged glances, but no one said a word. After the major incident that had just occurred, who would dare to speak out of turn?
The vermilion wheels rolled over the cyan bricks of the Imperial Dao, their pace neither fast nor slow.
The Eastern Palace was not far from the Inner Treasury. At the speed of the carriage, the journey would only take the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.
Along the way, many Palace Attendants showed expressions of surprise upon seeing his carriage.
"It’s been a while since we’ve seen the elder Crown Prince’s carriage. This is the first time in half a month."
"I heard the elder Crown Prince has been spending his days and nights in Wenhua Hall in debauchery, losing track of day and night. He must be on death’s door."
"I wonder why he’s even come out. It looks like he’s heading for the Inner Treasury. Did he run out of Dragon and Tiger Pills?"
...
The former Xia Wuyang would not have been able to hear these discussions, but now that he had recovered his Seventh Grade Cultivation, his five senses were exceptionally sharp, and he naturally overheard them.
Most of it was scornful laughter; there were very few kind words.
Xia Wuyang couldn’t be bothered to pay them any mind. ’There will be a time for reckoning in the future.’
"Crown Prince Brother, where are you going?"
As they neared the Inner Treasury, a group of people blocked their path.
Following the voice, he saw it was his forty-sixth younger sister, Princess Yun Shu. Her wide sleeves fluttered like flowing clouds, and she looked at him with a mocking, quizzical expression.
Xia Wuyang’s relationship with her was average. He waved his hand dismissively. "I have been overexerting myself these days. I’m going to find a Secret Technique to recuperate."
"Crown Prince Brother can still practice Cultivation?" Princess Yun Shu was now somewhat stunned, thinking she must have misheard.
Xia Wuyang sneered, "Just because my Foundation was destroyed doesn’t mean I can’t cultivate. Some Dual Cultivation Skills don’t require a Cultivation Foundation. Let’s go."
Not bothering to deal with her any further, he feigned anger and left, a look of displeasure on his face.
Once Xia Wuyang’s carriage was far in the distance, Princess Yun Shu let out a derisive laugh. "Heh, so it’s just as I thought. He’s overindulged so much his body can’t take it anymore, and now he thinks he can use a Dual Cultivation Skill to continue his debauchery. Truly delusional."
Her slender fingers gently touched the hairpin at her temple, its golden phoenix holding a pearl glinting dazzlingly in the sunlight.
The Palace Maids and eunuchs behind her also began to laugh. "The Princess is absolutely right. Given the elder Crown Prince’s physical condition, even if he found the best Dual Cultivation Skill in the world, he wouldn’t be able to last long."
"I hope he passes on soon. At his age, isn’t it tiring just to be alive?"
Princess Yun Shu flicked her sleeve, and the jadeite bracelets on her wrist clinked together, making a crisp, clear sound.
As she turned, the hem of her skirt dragged across the stone slabs in an elegant arc, as if writing a silent mockery.
Although Xia Wuyang was her eldest brother, given his actions, what right did he have to be called that?
Xia Wuyang’s very existence was a desecration of the Royal Family’s dignity.
Even though there was no conflict of interest between them, every day Xia Wuyang remained alive, he was a stain on her and the Royal Family. It would be better if he just died and relinquished the position of Crown Prince to a more suitable Prince.
Any of the top ten Princes were ten, even a hundred times more outstanding than Xia Wuyang. The two couldn’t even be mentioned in the same breath.
’I don’t know what Father is thinking. Xia Wuyang’s mother was murdered long ago, yet he’s still allowed to keep his position as Crown Prince. Does Father really intend to wait until he’s dead to strip him of the title? That would be letting him off far too easily.’
’If the opportunity arises, maybe I should... lend a hand? For example, I could have some more of those bone-sucking, marrow-draining exotic beauties from the Alien Races sent to the Eastern Palace. Perhaps in a few months, that old fool Xia Wuyang won’t be able to take it anymore.’
As these thoughts swirled in her mind, Princess Yun Shu’s eyes lit up. She already had an idea.
However, this matter would require the help of others. She couldn’t expose herself, lest she incur her father’s wrath.