Chapter 299 - 130: Zhao Ci Enters the Scheme of the Dream-Eating Gu, the Saintess Tearfully Sacrifices Her Eldest Son

Chapter 299: Chapter 130: Zhao Ci Enters the Scheme of the Dream-Eating Gu, the Saintess Tearfully Sacrifices Her Eldest Son

"Yes!"

Eunuch Li smiled and nodded.

Zhao Huan shot him a sideways glance. "What do you make of Lao Shi’s recent performance?"

Eunuch Li quickly replied, "It’s not unheard of for people to awaken their Innate Wisdom overnight. Besides, the Tenth Prince’s parents both have exceptionally strong bloodlines. It would be stranger if he remained mediocre his entire life."

Zhao Huan raised an eyebrow. "You really think so?"

Eunuch Li: "..."

Zhao Huan suddenly smiled. "I had you tailing that Witch. Did you find anything?"

Eunuch Li looked somewhat ashamed. "Lady Jing’s cultivation is profound. She comes and goes without a trace. I’ve used all my skills, but I can only barely sense her presence on occasion. I can never observe her movements."

Zhao Huan waved his hand. "She’s one of the rarest masters in the world. This is not your fault."

"However," Eunuch Li’s tone shifted, "just as Your Majesty suspected, the last two times I detected Lady Jing’s presence coincided with the Tenth Prince’s return to Lingge."

Upon hearing this, a hint of gloom flashed in Zhao Huan’s eyes.

After a long silence, he waved his hand. "Summon Ci!"

"Yes!"

Eunuch Li nodded repeatedly and hurried out of the Imperial Study.

「He returned about fifteen minutes later.」

"Your Highness, please enter!"

"Thank you."

Zhao Ci glanced into the Imperial Study, feeling a bit puzzled.

’Old Deng only summons me for two reasons.’

’Either it’s a simple meal together...’

’...or something has happened.’

’It’s past mealtime today, so it’s obviously the latter.’

’But I’ve been busy with my own affairs lately, and I haven’t heard of anything going on!’

He composed himself, walked in slowly, and said respectfully, "Your son pays his respects to Father Emperor!"

"Ci, come, sit!"

Zhao Huan’s smile was gentle. "With the recent mansion competitions, it’s been a long time since you’ve come to visit me."

Zhao Ci sighed. "Your son is ashamed. I was captivated by the idea of making a name for myself. From now on, whenever I have a moment to spare, I will certainly visit Father Emperor more often."

With that said, he looked up.

[Zhao Huan’s Current Wish]: Find out what Gu Xiangzhu is secretly meeting with Zhao Ci for. Wish Completion Reward: Insight +100, Gu Xiangzhu life-sized figure x1.

Zhao Ci: "???"

’Wait a minute!’

’There’s a problem with both the wish and the reward!’

He looked up at Zhao Huan, his mind filled with question marks.

’Old Deng!’

’You’re not a good person.’

’How many times have you tested me?’

’If you found out about me and my little auntie...’

’...wouldn’t you just explode with rage?’

’This Old Deng has some capable people around him. They can even detect traces of my little auntie’s concealment Secret Skill, which she’s so proud of.’

’What do I do?’

’How do I explain this?’

Zhao Ci was at his wit’s end.

Zhao Huan’s smile remained fatherly. "Ci, how are the mansion competitions going lately?"

"V-Very smoothly."

Zhao Ci intentionally stuttered.

Zhao Huan’s eyes lit up, and he mused, "I heard you’ve solved a series of strange cases. I never expected you to have such a talent for it. It seems I’ve been letting your abilities go to waste."

"Father Emperor, you praise me too highly!"

Zhao Ci quickly explained, "It’s just that my luck has been rather good."

Zhao Huan said pointedly, "Is it really just a matter of luck?"

"Ah?"

Zhao Ci’s expression tensed. "Y-Yes! My luck has always been quite good."

His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard.

A glint of a smile flashed in the corner of Zhao Huan’s eye, but his voice carried a new edge of anger. "Could it be... that you had no help from your mother consort?"

As soon as he said this, Zhao Ci’s face paled slightly. He forced himself to remain calm and feigned a bewildered expression. "Father Emperor, what do you mean by that?"

"Hmph?"

Zhao Huan’s brows knitted together, his anger deepening.

He said nothing, merely staring at Zhao Ci.

Being stared at like this made Zhao Ci break out in a cold sweat. He gasped for air, as if he were about to suffocate.

The father and son faced off for a long time.

Finally, Zhao Ci couldn’t take it anymore. In a voice mixed with fear and anger, he said, "Yes! My mother consort did help me! If Father Emperor wishes to punish me, then do so! But I will not admit fault this time!"

"Oh?"

Zhao Huan demanded harshly, "You’ve made a mistake, yet you refuse to admit it?"

Zhao Ci stuck his neck out stubbornly. "I was wrong, but am I the only one who was wrong? Zhao Yong tried to kill me, was he not wrong? He committed a capital offense, yet Father Emperor didn’t punish him at all. Was Father Emperor not wrong?

During the Gongdan Conference, your son was thinking only of contributing to the Great Yu, so I never thought of taking all the credit for myself.

But was that a reason for Father Emperor to also bestow an Emperor Pill on Zhao Yong?

On what grounds?

And don’t even get me started on the mansion competitions. Other princes’ Civilian Mansion Officials are all a bunch of well-trained external retainers, while I have to recruit my own.

Even for training, your son had to pay a high price to invite my own maternal uncle over.

Does Father Emperor think that’s fair?

It’s true my mother consort helped me.

But was everyone else’s success entirely their own effort?

Zhao Yong’s Pill Workshop.

The Crown Prince’s Qi Nourishing Grass.

Zhao Xie’s improved machinery.

Which of those was their own achievement?

Father Emperor wants me to admit my mistake? Fine!

But Father Emperor must first admit his own mistake to me!

Then, bring all the others here to admit their mistakes as well. Only then will your son be truly convinced and admit his own!"

Zhao Huan: "!!!"

’Uh... this!’

He was at a bit of a loss.

’I never thought the usually obedient Zhao Ci would be so confrontational today.’

’But thinking about it carefully, he does have a right to feel wronged.’

’However...’

Zhao Huan smiled and waved his hand. "Ci, there’s no need to feel so wronged. I wasn’t blaming you!"

Zhao Ci: "???"

’Wow, he changes his tune fast!’

He panted heavily.

He continued to sulk.

He clearly had no intention of taking the easy way out.

Zhao Huan: "..."

’Now I think I understand why Gu Xiangzhu has been in close contact with Zhao Ci.’

’So she’s been bad-mouthing me!’

’Judging by the way Zhao Ci is throwing a tantrum...’

’...that bad-mouthing must have worked.’

’Still, it’s only at the stage of bad-mouthing.’

’It can’t hurt my foundation.’

’And that’s good enough.’

He smiled and waved his hand. "Let’s not talk about that. Ci, how is your cultivation lately?"

Zhao Ci was clearly still fuming. He retorted, "Father Emperor actually cares about your son’s cultivation? I thought only my mother consort cared."