Chapter 112: Rewarding Merit

For three consecutive days, the court buzzed with back-and-forth maneuvering, during which Chu Danqing also met the Crown Prince.

His face was haggard, yet his spirit was unusually exhilarated.

With the Ghost Market as leverage, the Qiutan Faction was deeply entangled, and the Secret Affairs Office dared not speak.

Consort Zheng and Prince Fu were driven into retreat, and Emperor Taichang considered sending Prince Fu away from the capital to his fiefdom several times.

But in the end, he held firm under pressure.

Chu Danqing, by contrast, grew considerably more leisurely, spending all his time cultivating within Donggong, having refined a Five-Cloud Pill.

This elevated the Five Beasts Scripture to Level 3, nearing Level 4.

The Five-Cloud Pill contained richer and purer Five Phases energy, greatly reducing the difficulty of refinement.

Its effects were superior and efficiency higher, far surpassing the Five-Qi Pill—this allowed Chu Danqing to consume one every three days.

【Five Beasts Scripture (Inherited) LV.3】

【+100 Mana per Level】

【+100 HP per Level】

【Inherited Skill】

【Five Phases Orb (Active/Passive) LV.3: Permanently surrounds with Five Phases energy orbs, equivalent to 30 Shield Points, dealing 30 Five Phases damage to any contacted target; requires 3 Mana to reform after shattering】

【Metal Spirit Bodyguard (Passive) LV.3: Summoned entities gain +30 resistance to negative effects】

【Wood Spirit Vitality (Passive) LV.3: Summoned entities gain +300 HP】

【Water Spirit Nourishment (Passive) LV.3: Summoned entities gain +300 Mana】

【Fire Spirit Refining Soul (Passive) LV.3: Summoned entities gain +30 Attack】

【Earth Spirit Heartguard (Passive) LV.3: Summoned entities gain +30 Defense】

The enhancement of the Five Phases Orb in the Five Beasts Scripture also boosted the Lingxi and Lingzhu.

The Lingxi’s aura range and radius increased, unified to 30 meters, with effects matching the Five Beasts Scripture’s passive Five Phases bonuses for summoned entities.

Each Lingzhu’s mana reserve increased from 200 to 300, though cultivation efficiency failed to improve further.

However, Chu Danqing now possessed an additional set of Five Phases Orbs—next time Guo Ming brought him a secret technique, he could begin cultivation.

Additionally, using Donggong’s intelligence, Chu Danqing located several Dimensional Apostles.

These discovered Apostles had joined various factions, broadly divided into four camps.

The Qiutan Faction, the Secret Affairs Office, martial sects, and bandits.

Chu Danqing’s Heir Faction seemed to be a hidden camp, making entry difficult.

Because upon joining, he became a core figure; other Dimensional Apostles, though not starting from scratch, were not treated with such importance.

For these three days, every time the Crown Prince returned from court, he awarded Chu Danqing a bonus.

All were gold, silver, and treasures—of limited use to him.

He estimated better rewards would come only after matters settled.

He predicted this would take another four days; otherwise, the Paradise would not randomly require seven days to generate a new mission.

Each Dimensional Apostle arrived in the capital at different times, resulting in divergent trial missions.

Chu Danqing’s mission was to raise reputation; others’ were not necessarily the same.

This caused some Apostles to remain obscure within the capital.

“Lord Chu, the Crown Prince hosts a banquet and requests your presence.” The attendant presented the invitation; even though Chu Danqing resided in Donggong, propriety demanded it.

Chu Danqing glanced at the invitation—it was simple.

Xiong Zhigang would depart tomorrow for the frontier garrison; the banquet was his farewell.

Chu Danqing set down the invitation and immediately set out.

Frankly, he didn’t understand why the Crown Prince would do this—win, then lie low and await succession.

You know Emperor Taichang intends to suppress you, yet you dare host a grand farewell banquet for a powerful Grand Coordinator?

Even if this Grand Coordinator has always been your faction, you shouldn’t provoke Emperor Taichang at this moment.

Upon arrival, besides the guest of honor Xiong Zhigang, Chu Danqing also saw one other person.

Li Wanwu, Provincial Military Commander of the Secret Affairs Office.

From seating arrangements, Li Wanwu was also one of the banquet’s main figures.

The Crown Prince was exchanging cups with both men; upon Chu Danqing’s arrival, he invited him to join.

Clearly, Li Wanwu, Provincial Military Commander of the Secret Affairs Office, had defected to the Crown Prince.

No wonder the Crown Prince dared this—this political struggle had reached its end; the victor was the Crown Prince.

“The Emperor has ordered that after the New Year, Prince Fu shall depart for his fiefdom—he shall spend his final New Year in the capital.”

“Before the New Year, he shall remain in seclusion within Prince Fu’s mansion, not stepping a single foot outside.”

“Consort Zheng has been banished to the Cold Palace, sparing her life.” The Crown Prince was already drunk, speaking without restraint.

As for the Staff Attack case, it was quietly dropped, all blame shoved onto the dead Zhang Cai.

Everyone achieved their goals; no one cared.

Chu Danqing watched Li Wanwu, who chatted warmly with the Crown Prince, and found it amusing.

He had once planned to tell the Crown Prince the true culprit of the Staff Attack—but now, it seemed unnecessary.

Even if he told him, the Crown Prince wouldn’t believe him, and it would only harm himself.

“Lord Chu, your martial skill is formidable—why not eliminate this lingering threat?” Li Wanwu, being a martial practitioner, showed no sign of intoxication.

He fixed his gaze directly on Chu Danqing, ready to trap him.

“Are you making this decision for the Crown Prince, or is this merely your own idea?” Chu Danqing countered.

The former would be treason; the latter, he would not tolerate.

Since the assassination and poisoning incidents, the Crown Prince’s naturally suspicious nature had turned paranoid.

“I merely wish to relieve the Prince of his burdens,” Li Wanwu brushed off Chu Danqing’s question lightly.

“Let this matter be dropped,” the Crown Prince waved his hand, indicating he did not wish to kill Consort Zheng.

He was drunk, not foolish.

If Consort Zheng died in the Cold Palace now, he would be suspected.

Even if he intended to kill her, he must wait until the heat died down.

For instance, after Prince Fu departs for his fiefdom next year.

“Lord Chu, your service has been immense—you uncovered the true culprit in a single night, earning my deepest trust.” The Crown Prince rose and clapped his hands.

A maid approached, carrying a small, exquisite wooden box.

“This is a Night Pearl, tributed by the Kingdom of Boluo—containing forty-eight small pearls and one large one. I bestow it upon you.” As he spoke, the maid placed the box on Chu Danqing’s table.

Chu Danqing paid it little mind, yet he accepted it with thanks.

He casually reached out to inspect it—perhaps it held some use.

【Imperial Tribute · Night Pearl】

【Type: Treasure】

【Quality: Excellent】

【Effect 1: When gifted to a native of the trial world, raises or lowers favor based on behavior and personality】

【Effect 2: Sell to the Dimensional Paradise—full sale price: 10,000 Paradise Points; partial sale: each small pearl 150 Paradise Points, each large pearl 1,000 Paradise Points】

Upon seeing the attributes, he fell silent.

Could this thing really be worth so much?

So all his previous gold, silver, and jewels were too low-quality—the Paradise didn’t even want them.

Chu Danqing didn’t understand what use this thing had—yet selling it whole fetched ten thousand Paradise Points.

Unfortunately, the Paradise gave no answer; Chu Danqing could only store it for now.

He would inquire about its value after returning to the Paradise before selling.

If he couldn’t liquidate it soon, he’d sell it directly to the Paradise.

The next trial was the Promotion Trial—he must grow as strong as possible; what good was hoarding it?

Would he wait until death to hand it to his enemies as resources?

The Crown Prince also gifted everyone else who had participated—no one was left out.

The Crown Prince indeed had many flaws.

But he was generous with money and power—this compensated for his shortcomings.

Otherwise, who would serve a man who was both stingy and ungrateful?

One must gain something.

Though called a farewell banquet for Xiong Zhigang, it was in truth a victory celebration and a welcome for new allies.

Its nature was highly complex.

The banquet lasted until midnight before dispersing.

On the way back, Chu Danqing walked with Xiong Zhigang.

“Lord Chu, Li Wanwu is no friend—you must be cautious from now on,” Xiong Zhigang warned.

Li Wanwu’s defection was too swift—not only had Xiong Zhigang been caught off guard, even Wang Qi had been blindsided.

Such shameless opportunism was truly remarkable.

“I know.” Chu Danqing, too, had been caught off guard—he must act tonight.

Once Emperor Taichang dies, the Crown Prince will be occupied with ascending the throne; Li Wanwu will be busy helping him purge rivals—then he won’t have time to trouble Chu Danqing.

Once the Qiutan Faction, deemed an enemy, was eradicated, Chu Danqing killed Li Wanwu, preventing any retaliation from the other side.

“Sigh, I originally planned to settle you, Master Chu, in my hometown after all this—though not as bustling as the capital, it might be more comfortable.” Xiong Zhigang felt he had betrayed Chu Danqing.

Chu Danqing didn’t care—the capital was hard, but its value was high.

“Once I leave, it may be nearly impossible to meet again in this lifetime,” Xiong Zhigang continued. “I fear I can never repay your kindness.”

“I have a close friend in the capital who excels in beast-taming techniques.”

“I’ve written a letter—I hope you’ll visit him when you have time.”

“I once did him a favor, and now I’m forced to leverage it for repayment.” With that, Xiong Zhigang produced a wax-sealed letter: “Let my friend give you his family’s ancestral beast-taming method.”

Chu Danqing’s face filled with confusion: “Wait, what? You’re forcing him to hand over his own thing? That’s immoral.”

He understood Xiong Zhigang had nothing suitable to repay him, but he couldn’t harm others for his own gain.

If this letter was sent, the two would immediately break ties—no longer even friends.

Besides, he didn’t really need a beast-taming method.

He pushed the letter back gently and said, “I don’t ask for any repayment. Let it be this way.”

“Very well.” Xiong Zhigang retrieved the letter, but inwardly resolved to visit his friend that very night.

The latest battle report arrived: the Susen had assembled fifty thousand troops preparing to breach the pass—if he failed to stop them, he would have to die for his country.

Fortunately, he still had time to arrange his affairs.

He need not worry about family matters; his only lingering concern was the debt of gratitude he owed Chu Danqing and Zhao Mingqian for their escort.

Zhao Mingqian he had handled, but Chu Danqing was the harder case.

That was why he’d come up with this plan.

(End of Chapter)