Imperial Cultivation

He really wanted to meet this Eighteenth Princess.

Regardless of whether her methods were meticulous and rigorous, her decisiveness alone proved that she was as capable as any man.

Chu Zhiyuan couldn't help but admire her prowess.

She deeply understood the three principles of stability, accuracy, and ruthlessness.

"You young people…" Chu Qingfeng sighed, "are truly different now."

In his time, he would have sacrificed his own marriage for the sake of the court without hesitation.

But looking at Chu Zhiyuan and Cheng Miaozhen, neither of them was willing to sacrifice themselves for the court.

One appeared quiet and unassuming, but who knew what wicked schemes he was brewing.

The other directly took action.

They were truly uncompromising.

He could only lament that people's hearts were no longer what they used to be, and that the current generation of young people was completely different from his.

"Grand Uncle, how are we different?"

"You only have yourselves in your hearts, not the court, not the world."

"…Grand Uncle is absolutely right."

Chu Zhiyuan greatly agreed with this statement.

But this was also inevitable; circumstances were different, and people's hearts naturally changed.

"Alas… I never thought this Eighteenth Princess would…"

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "Grand Uncle, you previously said the Eighteenth Princess was a good girl."

"…Alas, I really don't know what to say." Chu Qingfeng smiled wryly, "I can only say, it's a good thing you didn't marry her."

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "Grand Uncle, you misjudged this time."

"I misjudged her." Chu Qingfeng shook his head repeatedly, "She usually seemed gentle and virtuous, but once important matters were involved, she immediately changed. Such a girl is really not easy to deal with."

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "After this incident, Great Zhen should be quiet and no longer force me… Great Zhen's insistence on clinging to me is Wentian Cliff's idea, isn't it?"

"Hmm—?" Chu Qingfeng frowned.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Knowing that I'm unwilling, they still forcibly want to marry me, using all means of coercion. From Great Zhen to the Imperial Grandfather, it seems like they think highly of me and favor me, but in reality, it's to defeat me, isn't it?"

Chu Qingfeng's expression became solemn. He had never thought of it this way.

Because he never felt that marrying another woman was a big deal.

After all, as the heir, it was impossible to only marry one woman. Xiao Ruoling was beautiful, but that wasn't enough.

The situation with Chu Minghou and Bai Ningshuang was special because they were granted a royal mansion. Otherwise, Chu Minghou would have at least three women by now.

One primary wife and two concubines were the basic requirements for a Prince's mansion.

As a member of the Chu family, one had the obligation to increase the Chu family's population. A small population was a sin.

The more people in the Chu family, the greater the chance of a genius appearing.

They didn't expect everyone to be a prodigy like Chu Zhiyuan; someone like Chu Zhiting or Chu Zhichuan would be good too.

And no matter how fertile a woman was, she had her limits; more women were needed.

Therefore, they only usually scolded Huaiwang for being lecherous and warned him, but they didn't object to him taking more concubines.

Chu Qingfeng had never thought of it from this perspective because he underestimated Chu Zhiyuan's arrogance and personality.

Now, after Chu Zhiyuan reminded him, he was suddenly shocked, and his expression became serious. Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "Grand Uncle, is Wentian Cliff capable of doing such a thing?"

"They are absolutely capable!" Chu Qingfeng grunted through gritted teeth.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Didn't the Imperial Grandfather suspect anything at all?"

Chu Qingfeng quickly said, "The Imperial Brother probably knows, so he's been protecting you all along."

The Imperial Brother's wisdom is like the sea; how could Wentian Cliff's methods be hidden from the Imperial Brother? The Imperial Brother is likely… using a counter-plot.

He must be using a counter-plot, taking the opportunity to stimulate the Fourth Heir, strengthening his resolve, and making him more motivated.

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head: "The Imperial Grandfather probably fell for it too, never thought of this, and still thought Great Zhen was looking at me differently, after all, Great Zhen didn't know me when I was still unknown."

"Impossible." Chu Qingfeng shook his head: "If you can think of it, how could the Imperial Brother not think of it!"

He firmly denied this.

In his eyes, the Emperor's wisdom surpassed everyone in the world.

No matter how high Chu Zhiyuan's wisdom was, it was not as good as the Emperor's.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "If he really knew, why would he agree to Great Zhen?"

Chu Qingfeng said without hesitation: "The Imperial Brother probably also anticipated that the Eighteenth Princess would act this way."

Chu Zhiyuan chuckled.

Chu Qingfeng snorted: "Don't think you're so smart! You're far behind the Imperial Brother!"

"Alright, alright, Grand Uncle, then I want to visit the Eighteenth Princess, is that okay?"

"You—?" Chu Qingfeng pondered.

Chu Zhiyuan's status was too sensitive right now, especially with the marriage about to be canceled, making their relationship even more awkward.

Under these circumstances, if the two of them were to meet…

Chu Zhiyuan said: "Surely I can't just ignore it after hearing that the Eighteenth Princess was assassinated? That would be too impolite."

Chu Qingfeng said: "If you weren't her future husband, why would you visit her?"

Chu Zhiyuan pondered: "How about I go as the Left Vice Minister? After all, I was the one who received her."

Chu Qingfeng said: "I'll talk to the Imperial Brother first and see what the Imperial Brother says."

"Then I'll await the Imperial Grandfather's decree."

Chu Zhiyuan cupped his fist towards the Fengtian Hall where the Emperor was.

Sitting on the bed in Tingtao Courtyard, Chu Zhiyuan placed a Phoenix Blood Pill near his mouth, concentrated for a moment, and then swallowed it.

He was always wary of Li Hongzhao.

Only after sensing that there was no danger did he feel safe enough to take a Phoenix Blood Pill.

As soon as a Phoenix Blood Pill entered his stomach, patterns began to densely cover his skin in the blink of an eye, becoming increasingly clear and complex, with light passing through as if it were a substance.

Chu Zhiyuan then took another Phoenix Blood Pill to continue improving the realm of Refined Scales.

Just as he was about to take the third one, Zou Fang said softly outside: "Heir, Chief Eunuch Huang has come to deliver a message, saying that he is asking the Heir to visit the Eighteenth Princess on behalf of the Emperor."

Chu Zhiyuan opened his eyes: "Understood."

The Emperor had finally agreed.

Chu Qingfeng must have relayed his words to the Emperor.

His words must have worked; since it might be Wentian Cliff's conspiracy, wouldn't the Emperor change his mind?

When Chu Zhiyuan arrived at the Sifang Pavilion, the streets around the Sifang Pavilion were heavily guarded. As he walked inside, he saw Huang Shirong and the other two women in the inner circle. Huang Shirong cupped her fist from afar but didn't say much.

Wen Qianqian and Xu Mengyu also abandoned their usual cheerfulness, their jade faces tense, and cupped their fists at Chu Zhiyuan without coming over.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled at them, not stopping his steps, and went straight to the outside of the Great Zhen Pavilion.

A group of guards stood outside the Great Zhen Pavilion, each with a solemn and cold expression, not allowing anyone to approach. Seeing Chu Zhiyuan and the others appear, they didn't intend to make way.

Guo Chi snorted, greatly dissatisfied.

The four of them focused their minds, and the formation condensed their power to push outwards. Chu Zhiyuan waved his hand.

The twelve guards were being squeezed backward, but with Chu Zhiyuan's wave, they regained their footing, their faces gloomy and ugly.

Zou Fang opened his mouth and said slowly: "Please inform them that the Fourth Heir of Great Jing has come to visit the Eighteenth Princess on the Emperor's orders."

His voice was gentle, unhurried, yet steadily spread throughout the entire Great Zhen Pavilion, reaching the ears of everyone, fully displaying the cultivation of a Grandmaster at the Completion realm.