Chapter 985: Prince Jing

"You actually got the imperial decree!"

Wang Chen looked at Princess Qingyun, who had come to visit again, and felt like Hai Gonggong from the movie "Duke of Deer" receiving an order from Emperor Kangxi, his heart filled with astonishment!

He had originally thought that no matter how much Emperor Shaowu doted on his sister, he wouldn’t let Princess Qingyun act so recklessly as to take a seventeen-year-old Blood Guard Qiandu as her teacher.

It just didn’t make sense!

Yet, he never expected that Emperor Shaowu would actually agree.

Although the imperial decree wasn’t "official" and was more of a handwritten order that didn’t need to go through the court’s cabinet, it was perfect for this situation!

Wang Chen truly couldn’t understand Emperor Shaowu’s reasoning—did the emperor really trust him this much?

At this moment, Wang Chen was unaware of the marriage alliance, so he didn’t realize that Emperor Shaowu had agreed to her "outrageous" request out of guilt toward Princess Qingyun.

"Brother Emperor loves me the most!"

Princess Qingyun wore a proud expression: "Wang Qiandu, you’re not thinking of backing out, are you?"

Wang Chen smiled wryly and shook his head: "I wouldn’t dare."

Princess Qingyun giggled and suddenly knelt down: "Disciple Qingyun pays respects to Master!"

Wang Chen wouldn’t let her actually kneel, quickly reaching out to support her: "No need for formalities."

"Thank you, Master."

Princess Qingyun stood up and clapped her small hands: "Uncle Sun!"

As soon as she spoke, Uncle Sun, who had accompanied her, placed a sandalwood box on the table.

"Master, this is your disciple’s offering."

Princess Qingyun personally opened the box, revealing its contents to Wang Chen.

The box was filled with jade boxes, and inside the jade boxes were precious medicinal herbs treasured in the palace, including old mountain ginseng aged hundreds of years, ganoderma, yellow essence, and he shou wu, among others.

These highly valuable herbs had been meticulously preserved through the palace’s secret methods.

Not only that, but Princess Qingyun also presented a gold note worth one hundred thousand taels!

That was equivalent to a million taels of silver.

It must be said that the value of this offering was truly unparalleled throughout history. Although it included the cost for Wang Chen to help Princess Qingyun refine her meridians, it was still astonishingly valuable.

However, for Wang Chen, this sky-high offering meant little.

The moment he accepted Princess Qingyun as his disciple, he felt his energy connect with this princess, intertwining their fates and significantly increasing the uncertainty of his future!

[Fortune +100]

Wang Chen’s total fortune suddenly exceeded two hundred points.

Yet, he didn’t feel much joy, because such a rapid increase would only lead to a more intense backlash in the future!

Taking a deep breath, Wang Chen suppressed the turmoil in his heart and smiled: "I’ll accept the offering and will return the favor later."

His storage space held many things, including gold, silver, jewels, and profound weapons.

But nothing seemed suitable for Princess Qingyun.

Wang Chen hadn’t prepared anything at all.

"No, no,"

Princess Qingyun smiled and said, "Master, just teach me more methods."

"That will have to wait until your meridians are fully connected,"

Wang Chen thought for a moment and said, "For now, continue practicing the technique of guiding energy. In a few days, I will help you open your Upper Dantian, and then I can teach you the methods."

"Yes, Master."

Having gotten what she wanted, Princess Qingyun remained very obedient.

After seeing off the princess, Wang Chen was about to head back to the inner room when a maid approached with a letter: "Master, someone just came by and requested your presence at Spring Moon Tower tonight."

"Mm."

Wang Chen took the letter and opened it, glancing at its contents.

He couldn’t help but furrow his brow.

The invitation had come from none other than Prince Jing of Daye!

This prince was no ordinary figure; he was renowned throughout Daye, and his influence even extended to neighboring countries.

Prince Liang Shijie was Emperor Shaowu’s half-brother, ten years his senior.

However, as he was born to a concubine, his status was naturally inferior to that of the legitimate son, Emperor Shaowu.

From a young age, Liang Shijie had displayed exceptional talent in martial arts and was deeply passionate about it. At the age of thirteen, he joined Daye’s most elite army—the Tiger Ben Army.

For many years, Liang Shijie served on the front lines, battling against Da Qi and earning great merit.

As a result, many believed he was the most suitable prince to inherit the throne.

Yet, being a son born of a concubine, his path was barred.

After Emperor Shaowu ascended the throne, the Empress Dowager summoned Liang Shijie back to Daye, granting him the title of Prince Jing to prevent him from amassing too much military power, which could lead to disloyalty.

Though Liang Shijie held the esteemed title of prince, he wielded no real authority, living essentially as a figurehead.

Wang Chen’s knowledge of Prince Jing was limited, and he couldn’t fathom why this noble prince had invited him.

After some thought, Wang Chen decided to accept the invitation to Spring Moon Tower.

Daye also had its own Spring Moon Tower.

It was said that hundreds of Spring Moon Towers existed throughout Daye, synonymous with opulent pleasure dens. Wang Chen had experienced the extravagance of the one in Linjiang, and it had left a lasting impression.

The Spring Moon Tower in Linjiang was already grand, but compared to the one in the imperial capital, it was like a small witch standing before a great witch!

This tower, a twelve-story pagoda, stood tall under the night sky, its glazed lamps casting a brilliant glow that illuminated the surrounding houses and streets, creating a breathtaking spectacle.

Upon arriving at Spring Moon Tower, Wang Chen was escorted by a maid to the highest floor, the twelfth.

Interestingly, he didn’t take the stairs but a cloud platform!

The cloud platform functioned like a human-powered elevator. Once on the platform, he was smoothly lifted to the higher floors, a luxurious convenience reserved for esteemed guests.

The top floor of Spring Moon Tower had been reserved by Prince Jing for the evening.

As Wang Chen entered the hall, a wave of intoxicating fragrance enveloped him. His eyes were met with a scene of beautiful women, fine wine, and delicious food, all set amidst a vibrant atmosphere of flowers and music, creating an almost otherworldly ambiance.

Most people would have been instantly overwhelmed by such a spectacle, left speechless and unsure of how to act.

But Wang Chen, having come from a higher realm and witnessed true celestial grandeur, remained unshaken by mere worldly extravagance.

Shifting his gaze, he quickly spotted the host of the evening’s grand banquet.

Wang Chen paused momentarily.

The prince, renowned for his martial prowess, was not the fierce warrior he had imagined; the sight was strikingly different.

Seated on an embroidered cushion, Liang Shijie resembled a mountain of flesh, his body engulfed in rolls of fat, his eyes nearly hidden within the folds.

His bare arms clutched a roast chicken in one hand and a pig’s trotter in the other, as he devoured them with ravenous hunger!

He looked like a glutton reincarnated or a ravenous ghost unleashed!