Chapter 18

Feeling depressed for a while, Jiang Chen timidly asked, "Your aunt, she shouldn't be the type to hold grudges, right?"

"Hehe, she dotes on me. Whether she holds grudges against others, I don't know! Big Brother Jiang Chen, don't be afraid. If you have time, I can plead for you."

"Hmph, no pleading will work. Jiang Chen! The heir of Marquis Jiang Han, you ranked last in the preliminary exams and haven't passed any of the three basic assessments!"

Beside the artificial hill, Princess Gouyu, now dressed in a light yellow robe, appeared again. She had a cold smile on her face, "Jiang Chen, you really have the nerve to come here."

As the saying goes, a dead pig isn't afraid of boiling water. Given the situation, Jiang Chen could only stand his ground, "What? Are you going to take revenge on me?"

"Take revenge?" A cold smile curled at the corner of Gouyu's lips, "You don't even have the qualifications for me to take revenge on you. Worry about that when you have the ability to enter the final assessment."

Indeed, someone who can't even pass a basic assessment, as the first responsible person, Princess Gouyu, wouldn't lower herself to oppress him.

"Ha, this foolish woman, underestimates me too much." Jiang Chen knew that in Gouyu's mind, he was probably already labeled as "uneducated and incompetent."

Just as he was about to say something, a noisy sound of footsteps came from outside. It turned out the Woyang stones had been delivered.

Jiang Chen waved his hand and said to Princess Gouyu, "Hey, Gouyu, right? Princess Zhiruo said you dote on her. I just want to ask, can you make decisions about the harem?"

"What?" Gouyu asked coldly.

"If you can make decisions, tear down all the buildings within a hundred meters of Princess Zhiruo's boudoir. Tear down mountains and fill in rivers."

"Also, find the best craftsmen to carve this largest Woyang stone into a stone bed for Princess Zhiruo to sleep on. Preferably naked."

Jiang Chen didn't care about the black line that appeared on Princess Gouyu's beautiful forehead and continued, "The remaining eight Woyang stones, place them according to this blueprint. I'll come back next time to do some other tasks."

"Also, these sachets are for you, Zhiruo. I cut the Dragon Bone Yang Grass into nine segments and made nine sachets. Wear one with you and place one or two in the places you frequent. Although the Dragon Bone Yang Grass is a bit inferior, it's barely enough. The yang energy it produces can nourish your meridians."

"Additionally, this is the hand-drawn 'Yang Spirit Entering the Meridians' diagram, with a set of mantras. Focus on meditating and visualizing. It can help you generate yang energy in your body."

"These are the temporary measures to stabilize your condition. Remember, follow my instructions. Especially remember, no more cultivation. Otherwise, the consequences will be unimaginable."

Jiang Chen's instructions were delivered with the air of a master. This series of actions left Princess Gouyu momentarily stunned.

After saying all this, Jiang Chen didn't give Gouyu a chance to speak, patted his sleeves, and walked away confidently.

It wasn't until Jiang Chen was about to leave that she reacted, "Jiang Chen, you, who can't even pass the three basic assessments, why should we listen to you?"

Jiang Chen's gaze turned stern, and he paused, but didn't turn back, "If you really love your niece, do as I say. If you want her to die soon, then continue to cultivate with her as you did before."

It must be said that Jiang Chen had the potential to be a master. His stern words, combined with his imposing presence, left even the noble Princess Gouyu, who held the power to decide the fate of the various lords in the Qianlong Examination, momentarily speechless.

Watching Jiang Chen's back disappear, Gouyu finally came to her senses, "This arrogant brat, he's driving me crazy!"

Princess Dongfang Zhiruo smiled, "Auntie, Big Brother Jiang Chen is actually very kind. Listen to me, that day at the Heaven Sacrifice Ceremony..."

After Dongfang Zhiruo recounted everything that had happened recently, Princess Gouyu's expression became complex.

"I didn't expect so much to happen in the capital in less than a month since I left. Hearing that Jiang Chen was flogged to death and then revived, and received a divine mandate, her expression became even more complicated."

Princess Gouyu, born into the imperial family, had a broad perspective, the highest in the entire capital. Her aspirations and vision had never been limited to just one country.

For this reason, she was dedicated to cultivation, determined to explore a broader and more colorful world through martial arts cultivation.

Because of her broad perspective, she understood the divine mandate more than the average person. If the average person was skeptical, she believed at least seventy percent after hearing it.

"A teenager in his teens couldn't possibly make up so many references in a hurry. Especially the secret of the Tengu eating the sun, which has never been revealed. The Yin Body, the Yin Curse?"

Princess Gouyu's mood was a bit complex. Dongfang Zhiruo was her most beloved niece, whom she had watched grow up since childhood.

She had always insisted that Zhiruo was weak and often ill, so she insisted on Zhiruo cultivating martial arts. Even if there were no results, it could at least strengthen her body, right?

However, today, Jiang Chen's scolding made her doubt her years of persistence.

"Could I have been wrong? Did everything I did for Zhiruo not only fail to help her but also harm her?"

"Divine mandate? Should I believe in this?"

Princess Gouyu was conflicted. She certainly wanted Dongfang Zhiruo to be well. But she was afraid that if she insisted on believing in a fraud, she would harm Zhiruo.

At this moment, the eunuch Xia Ting had already brought a group of people to the area.

"Your Highnesses, should we tear this down? Your servant requests your decision."

Princess Gouyu looked around, her exquisite eyes filled with hesitation. She then looked at Dongfang Zhiruo, whose eyes were full of anticipation, clearly filled with confidence in Jiang Chen.

"Teardown!"

When Gouyu said these two words, she herself found it hard to believe. Why tear it down? Why listen to that brat? Was she really fooled?

"No, no! I'm just thinking about Zhiruo. As long as Zhiruo is happy, we'll tear it down!" The competitive Gouyu quickly found a suitable excuse in her mind.

...

After leaving the harem, Jiang Chen went to see Dongfang Lu. After all, he was still the emperor, and basic etiquette had to be observed. Jiang Chen was a smart person and didn't want to leave any room for criticism.

After reporting to Jiang Chen, Dongfang Lu was quite satisfied, "Jiang Chen, I can see that you are much better than those imperial physicians."

"Your Majesty, the harem is filled with yin energy, which is not suitable for the princess's constitution. What I have done can only offset it. If the princess is to be like a normal person, she should move to a place with yang energy."

"Hmm, I will remember your suggestion. However, this is a significant matter and will take time." Clearly, such a clear violation of royal etiquette, even Dongfang Lu, would not easily agree to.

"In that case, I will take my leave. I will come to the palace once a month to check on the princess. If there are no unexpected events, her condition can be stabilized. Whether there will be any miraculous effects depends on the princess's own destiny."

Jiang Chen wouldn't explain everything, such as the 'Yang Spirit Entering the Meridians' diagram, which was a great fortune, prepared by the Heavenly Emperor for Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen naturally couldn't replicate the 'Yang Spirit Entering the Meridians' diagram, but simulating a simple version was not a problem.

If Princess Zhiruo really practiced diligently every day, over time, the effect of this diagram alone could make her no different from a normal person.

Jiang Chen wouldn't say this, leaving this move to avoid Dongfang Lu from turning on him later.

The idea of "killing the dog after the rabbit is caught" was something Jiang Chen, born into the imperial family in his previous life, was well aware of.

After leaving the palace, Jiang Chen didn't go to the usual places for pleasure or call his friends. Instead, he went straight back to the Marquis' residence.

His few close friends were also under house arrest by their fathers for causing trouble at the Marquis Jiang Han's residence a few days ago. Plus, the end-of-month assessment was approaching.

All the lords felt a sense of urgency. The last six months of the Qianlong Examination would see the final competition stage. This stage would determine whether they could maintain their lord status for the next twenty years.

Those who were sure they could maintain their status were still worried about their ranking.

In short, the fierce competition of the Qianlong Examination made all the lords cautious.

In comparison, the Marquis Jiang Han's residence had a relatively relaxed atmosphere.

Marquis Jiang Han, Jiang Feng, had never had high expectations and was always prepared to retire.

For the current Jiang Chen, the position of a lord in a country was not even in his sights.

He participated only to avoid making the Jiang family look weak and lacking the courage to participate in the Qianlong Examination.

With the current trend of lords