Chapter 68: I Only Want a Wife

Early the next morning, Prince Jing entered the palace to request an audience with the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager was somewhat surprised to see her son, as he rarely took the initiative to enter the palace. With a kind expression, she beckoned him over, "Why have you come to the palace today? Is it still because you are unhappy about the engagement between Li Zhi'an and Cheng Xi?"

Before Prince Jing could explain, he heard the Empress Dowager continue: "It is not that your mother will not help you, but right now, Li Zhi'an alone is a headache, let alone Cheng Xi. An'er, you and Cheng Xi are truly not meant to be; let the marriage matter go."

"Mother, I did not come for that matter." Prince Jing's face changed; he dared not even think of marrying Cheng Xi now—he was going to be a medicine boy for Cheng Xi.

"Then what did you come for?" Hearing that Prince Jing was not being stubborn about this, the Empress Dowager nodded with satisfaction.

"Mother, you are aware of the Four Great Academies moving up their recruitment exams, right?"

"Fang Xun returned to Jindu for this very reason; now that it has spread everywhere, how could I not know?" The Empress Dowager looked at her son as she spoke, "Could it be that you also want to take the academy exams? Although your mother would be willing for you to go, it is a pity you have no talent."

The Empress Dowager had given birth to two sons, yet neither had any talent; one was the noble Emperor of the human realm, and the other was a royal aristocrat, yet neither possessed a connection to the immortals.

Prince Jing looked at the Empress Dowager and said solemnly: "Mother, do you still remember the matter of the Thunder Tribulation descending upon the Tongtian Division?"

How could the Empress Dowager not know? Moreover, the fact that this matter was related to Cheng Xi made it even more frustrating.

"Mother, I have a servant in my estate whose relative works at the Tongtian Division. I heard him say that Cheng Xi can summon the Thunder Tribulation and can also change a person's constitution."

The Empress Dowager's expression tightened, "What did you say? That is simply nonsense. If there were such a method, wouldn't it have spread long ago?"

"Mother, before Cheng Xi, had anyone in Jindu ever summoned the Thunder Tribulation? I heard that what summoned the thunder was an Array Diagram. Before this, who knew that Cheng Xi understood arrays? The Array Masters of the Tongtian Division have been in Jindu for many years and have never summoned the Thunder Tribulation."

The Empress Dowager's expression softened slightly, "Is this true?"

"Regardless of whether it is true or false, we must try. I have studied medicine extensively, and since Cheng Xi was able to cure the blood poison, she must also be proficient in the Dao of Alchemy. A talent like her is destined to shine brilliantly. I believe we should strike before others do; once the news spreads, I fear we won't be able to compete for the spot."

"What exactly are you trying to say?"

Prince Jing suppressed the panic in his heart and, following Cheng Xi's instructions, said with a serious face: "I heard that Cheng Xi is short of a medicine boy, and I intend to seize that position."

Empress Dowager:...

Perhaps the way she woke up today was wrong; why was her son talking nonsense?

"A medicine boy? Seize? Do you know what you are saying?" The Empress Dowager was furious, "You are a dignified Prince, a member of the imperial lineage, and you want to go be a medicine boy for a commoner girl? Do you still want your dignity?"

Prince Jing was so scared his legs went weak, but he gritted his teeth and held firm, putting on a pained expression, "Mother, the royal family has never produced a person with talent; have you never thought about why?"

"Something like talent—could it possibly be manipulated by human hands? What a joke!" The Empress Dowager's face turned iron-grey, "If that were the case, wouldn't everything be in chaos? If everyone came to manipulate it, wouldn't everyone have talent?"

"Mother, others cannot do it, but Cheng Xi might not be unable to. If I truly unlock my talent, then I will be the first in our royal family, and you will naturally have more confidence before the Emperor in the future."

The Empress Dowager's eyes flickered. If that were the case, it would be a good thing, and she could not help but ponder it.

Prince Jing breathed a slight sigh of relief, steadied his heart, and continued according to Cheng Xi's words: "Cheng Xi is destined not to be an ordinary person. If she truly achieves great things in the future, and I am by her side learning even a little bit of her techniques, it will be a good thing for Tianshuo. If I can become an Alchemist, I will certainly find a way to refine a Longevity Pill for you, Mother!"

The three words "Longevity Pill" finally completely moved the Empress Dowager.

She looked up at Prince Jing, "You have such filial piety, how could I bear to disappoint you? It is just that the path of cultivation is long and arduous; I fear your mother may not live to see that day."

"How could that be? Mother, think about the Array Diagram that summoned the Thunder Tribulation."

The Empress Dowager leaned against the soft cushion, lost in thought. Cheng Xi... she was indeed different from ordinary people; she always had surprising methods.

A Longevity Pill might not be a difficult matter, but the Empress Dowager was still somewhat unwilling to let Prince Jing be her medicine boy.

If Prince Jing became Cheng Xi's medicine boy, then who would help her keep the Emperor in check?

However, the temptation of the Longevity Pill was simply too great!

The Empress Dowager hesitated for only a moment before agreeing.

Prince Jing was overjoyed and immediately said: "Mother, to show my sincerity and determination, and so that Cheng Xi will teach me earnestly sooner, I have decided to return my title to the Imperial Court. In this way, Cheng Xi will surely be moved by my sincerity."

The Empress Dowager had not expected that her son, who usually seemed somewhat weak, would be so firm in his resolve when doing what he wanted. Since she had already relented, she did not care about a title.

"As long as you don't regret the decision you made yourself. You must know that once a title is returned to the Imperial Court, it will be difficult to obtain one again in the future."

"For you, Mother, I have no regrets!"

The Empress Dowager smiled with gratification, "My son has such filial piety. Rest assured, when you return after achieving success and fame, I will certainly bestow a title upon you again and restore your glory!"

"Thank you, Mother!" Prince Jing knelt and kowtowed in gratitude.

At the morning court the next day, Prince Jing returned his title to the royal family. Not only the Emperor but the court officials were all stunned by his actions.

Soon they learned why Prince Jing had done this: he had actually gone to be a medicine boy for Cheng Xi, and returning his title was to show his sincerity!

The Emperor called Li Zhi'an into the palace and looked at him with a strange expression, "How could Cheng Xi accept Prince Jing as a medicine boy? It's simply nonsense! She is your fiancée; you should do something about it!"

When Li Jian was alive, his prestige was heavy, and the Little Emperor had been trembling before him. But Li Zhi'an was different; although Li Zhi'an was a bit older than him, both had grown up suffering under Li Jian, so they still shared some camaraderie from those hard times.

Therefore, in private, the Little Emperor was more at ease with him and spoke more casually.

Li Zhi'an had also just learned of this matter, and his mood was quite complex. His fiancée wanted to take on a medicine boy, and it was his rival—would you say that is ridiculous?

However, he absolutely could not let the Emperor laugh at him!

Li Zhi'an said with a straight face: "Your Majesty, I cannot control her!"

Emperor:...

"Look at how useless you are. You, a grown man, cannot even control your own wife?"

"She is not my wife yet. If I try to control her too much, perhaps the wife I have in my grasp will fly away. When that happens, will you compensate me with an identical one?"

Emperor:!

"Li Zhi'an, I truly wish I could take a mirror and show you your own face so you could see it yourself!" the Emperor said angrily.

"What is the use of dignity? I only want a wife."