Chapter 80 - 70: I Want to Tame You into My Dog

Chapter 80: Chapter 70: I Want to Tame You into My Dog

Upon hearing this,

Zhao Yong’s face went completely pale. ’Forty taels... That’s our cost price!’

’How is this helping my business?’

’This is like he thinks the fire isn’t big enough and is deliberately pouring a bucket of oil on it!’

’The burden of five thousand more Qi Cultivation Pills has appeared out of thin air. The Yonghe Pill Workshop will have to waste so much production capacity. Our debt was already high enough, and now this...’

’Why is Zhao Ci being so ruthless? To just throw away such a great reputation...’

He grew anxious. "Father Emperor, I..."

Zhao Ci said, "Look, Father Emperor, Brother Huang is so happy he’s laughing out loud!"

Zhao Yong: "???"

"Ci!"

Zhao Huan’s face immediately darkened.

An order exclusively for the military meant that the Xingyu Pill Association’s Qi Cultivation Pills wouldn’t flow to the open market. Without cheap pills on the market, other Pill Associations would have no incentive to lower their prices.

This was undoubtedly a threat.

[Zhao Huan’s Current Wish]: To probe whether Zhao Ci has been told the truth by Gu Xiangzhu. Wish Completion Reward: Insight +100, Insight Talisman x1.

Zhao Ci: "..."

’As expected.’

Zhao Huan said in a low voice, "Going back on your word, is that also how We taught you to conduct yourself?"

’The test has come!’

An expression of indignation instantly appeared on Zhao Ci’s face. "The one who went back on their word was clearly Father Emperor!"

Zhao Yong: "!!!"

Eunuch Li, who had just returned: "!!!"

’Holy hell!’

’This Tenth Prince has some serious nerve!’

’He used to be as docile as a sheep. Even though he’s become quite bold recently after establishing his own mansion, he’s always been meek in front of Zhao Huan. Why today...?’

Zhao Huan also felt a little surprised and suspicious. ’This attitude isn’t right.’

But just then,

Zhao Ci’s emotions swelled. "Father Emperor! I was the one who proposed granting the pills, and you promised to let me handle it. Why have you only made me a Vice Envoy of the Pill Granting Mission?

Father Emperor! You know me. You know very well that with my level of awareness, I could never have thought of bringing the pills to the Northern Three Prefectures.

You must know who gave your son this idea.

You were the one who granted the marriage!

Your son is endlessly grateful to have such a fine wife.

But your son clearly performed a great service and was just thinking of becoming a hero in his beloved’s eyes.

Why did you have to turn around and strike me down with a rod?

Making me the Vice Envoy.

And him the envoy?

If you wish to transfer the marriage, you could have just said so. It hasn’t been publicly announced yet, after all.

Your son is a subject. How would I dare to utter a single word of rebuttal?

Why go through all these twists and turns?"

[Prompt]: Wish completed. Reward obtained: Insight +100, Insight Talisman x1.

[Insight Talisman]: When applied over the eyes, it allows the user to see through the cultivation and potential of the next person they look at.

Tsk!

’I’m such a damn good actor.’

’Just like that, I’ve completely rationalized my motive.’

Zhao Yong’s face turned green. ’No wonder Zhao Ci brought up the Northern Three Prefectures. It turns out Kan Luotang asked him to.’

’I’m so upset!’

’You really know how to suck up!’

’Yelling at Father Emperor because of a woman.’

’This idiot is done for.’

But unexpectedly...

Zhao Huan didn’t get angry. Instead, a smile reappeared on his face. "So, you did all this for that girl from the Kan Family. Your father was so preoccupied with the pills that I actually forgot about that. In that case, it was indeed somewhat inappropriate. Let’s have Yong serve as your Vice Envoy this time!"

"You will each manage the pills you’ve raised. When it comes to major decisions, you will take the lead."

Zhao Yong: "Fath—"

Zhao Ci cut in, "Thank you, Father Emperor! Your son will certainly do his best in alchemy and let all the people of Great Yu have access to cheap pills."

Zhao Huan smiled and waved his hand. "Then it’s settled. Both of you may go back!"

Zhao Yong: "Hey! Fath—"

Zhao Ci: "Yes! Your son takes his leave. Ninth Imperial Brother, let’s go!"

Zhao Yong: "..."

He wanted to say more, but Zhao Huan had already risen and walked toward his desk, so he could only shake his head and leave the Imperial Study with Zhao Ci.

The moment they stepped outside, Zhao Ci turned his head and said in a low voice, "The envoy position is mine, and the wife is mine too. Stop eyeing them, you useless piece of trash who can’t do anything right!"

"You!"

Zhao Yong felt a pang in his chest, and his vision went black as he nearly fainted.

By the time he recovered, Zhao Ci was already heading in the direction of Wangshu Palace.

...

「An incense stick’s time later.」

Ninth Prince’s Mansion!

"BANG!"

"HUMMM!"

"BANG!"

"HUMMM!"

"BANG!"

"HUMMM!"

With every violent impact, a twang like a celestial string would ring out from his tendons, making one’s scalp tingle.

Watching Zhao Yong pound the iron dummy to a pulp, Zhu Yan felt her heart race with trepidation.

This iron dummy was forged from Centennial Profound Iron. Many who had broken through to the Physical Body Realm couldn’t even scratch it.

Under Zhao Yong’s fists, it was as if it were made of clay.

The Emperor’s Extreme Body Refining Technique truly lived up to its name as a top-tier Body Refining Technique. Zhao Yong was also a rare genius, with a Third-Grade Flesh Soul and Second-Grade meridians. Moreover, he had an Emperor Pill saved for his first bone tempering, which would surely allow him to reach Second-Grade, maybe even First-Grade.

Never mind bone tempering.

Even without it, it was doubtful anyone below the Physical Body Realm would dare claim they could defeat him.

A physical body like this would rank among the best throughout history.

When the time comes to open his Physical Body Divine Treasure, what level of Divine Pattern would he condense?

Earth-Grade?

Or... Heaven-Grade?

She barely dared to imagine it and felt increasingly certain she had chosen to follow the right person.

’The Ninth Prince may be terrible at business, but his physical body is truly ferocious!’

But...

’Why is he so angry?’

"Your Highness!"

Zhu Yan finally couldn’t watch any longer. "Your Highness, by becoming the Vice Envoy, you have already neutralized most of Zhao Ci’s scheme to gain empty fame. Why must you..."

Zhao Yong’s expression was grim. "You don’t understand!"

Although his anger hadn’t completely subsided, he stopped his assault.

Zhu Yan breathed a sigh of relief and changed the subject. "However... Your Highness, I heard that Zhao Ci has made another big move!"

"What move?"

Zhao Yong’s gaze was dark.

"He... he’s made a move on the people from the Prefecture Examination!"

Zhu Yan’s expression was grave as she recounted what had happened at the entrance of the Tenth Prince’s Mansion that morning.

She finished by asking, "By throwing money around like this, I’m afraid everyone participating in the Prefecture Examination will go. He’s probably planning to recruit the top five candidates. Although our five Civilian Mansion Official positions are already set, this..."

"It doesn’t matter!"

Zhao Yong snorted. "He just wants to pick a few with good potential. In that case, we’ll beat all these so-called commoner geniuses into trash. Notify Bao Longtao and have him attend the banquet at the Tenth Prince’s Mansion in three days!"

Zhu Yan’s eyes lit up. "Excellent!"

Bao Longtao was from a branch of the Zhu Family—he was her paternal aunt’s son. He was also participating in this Prefecture Examination. As long as he passed, he would immediately come to the Ninth Prince’s Mansion to serve as a Mansion Official.

Among the five Civilian Mansion Officials, Bao Longtao was the strongest.

Even she might not be able to defeat him within a hundred moves.

With him going to the Tenth Prince’s Mansion to crash the party, those so-called commoner geniuses would all be reduced to nothing more than clay chickens and pottery dogs.

Then, he would like to see how Zhao Ci planned to pick his Mansion Officials from a pile of trash.

...

「Wangshu Palace.」

Zhao Ci was a little frustrated. He had actually wanted to provoke Yongzi into a fight.

After all, having just condensed a First-Grade Flesh Soul and with the enhancement of the Celestial Demon Body, he wanted to test his own strength.

’When the wind’s against me, I’m timid and cautious.’

’When the wind’s at my back, I strike with heavy fists.’

He had a clear understanding of his own flawed nature.

Unfortunately, although Yongzi had a foul mouth, he really knew how to endure!

’He can even endure that, for fuck’s sake.’

’He’s definitely destined for great things in the future.’

A pity.

His entry into Wangshu Palace was still unobstructed. The Palace Maids and eunuchs he passed all bowed, including Gu Xiangzhu’s trusted Palace Maid, Yunzhu. It was as if they knew nothing about what happened last night.

He gave a sullen acknowledgment and walked directly into the room where Gu Xiangzhu worked, carrying his bag.

"CREAK!"

Hearing the door creak open,

Gu Xiangzhu put down the book in her hand and looked over with a beaming smile. "My good boy, you’re here?"

Today, she had none of her usual reserved air of a feigned elder, nor her cold indifference toward outsiders.

Instead, there was an added touch of bright, clear charm.

Although her expression was quite proper, one could faintly sense a hint of teasing.

Whoa!

’This "young auntie" aura that makes one unable to resist the urge to be aggressive... ’

’It’s really... so damn appealing.’

Zhao Ci couldn’t help but marvel.

’This face and skin... even many sixteen-year-old girls can’t compare.’

’And her every frown and smile held a charm that young girls simply couldn’t match.’

’If she were in the entertainment industry in my past life,’

’she’d definitely be the type to dominate all the charts.’

’Virgins are the only ones who care about age.’

’Old drivers only care about the experience.’

Unfortunately...

[Gu Xiangzhu’s Current Wish]: Use words to conquer his heart and turn Zhao Ci into a little puppy who is completely obedient to me. Wish Completion Reward: Insight +1000, Dog Taming Chain x1.

Zhao Ci: "..."

’I trick you into giving me the Celestial Demon Body Refining once, and now you want to tame a dog, huh?’

’If I can exploit a bug in this wish...’

’...being a little puppy... doesn’t seem entirely out of the question.’

But...

’A "little milk dog" needs milk, otherwise it’s just a little dog.’

’If I fail to exploit the bug and just become a little dog,’

’then I’d just be humiliating myself.’

’Watch me outsmart her...’