I Accumulate Spirit Roots for My Next Life

Chapter 422 - 271: Laying the Cards on the Table

Consort Rong heard this and a faint smile appeared on her mature oval face.

But it was unclear whether it was a bitter smile or a joyous one.

"Indeed, the royalty receives tribute from the world. Once you enter the palace, you are above billions!" Her tone was calm, without answering Li Jizhou’s question.

"Tell me about the female cultivators you’ve met during your travels."

"Alright!" Li Jizhou nodded, while pouring water over Consort Rong’s smooth, fragrant shoulder, he recalled: "During my travels, I encountered many female cultivators, the first being the eldest daughter of Qi Stone Pavilion in Yunzhou City..."

True masters always speak the truth, but Li Jizhou hadn’t reached that level, he could only manage nine truths and one lie.

He first chose to speak of Fang Qingwei, focusing on the words ’Yunzhou’.

Caught off guard, when the word ’Yunzhou’ was spoken, Li Jizhou distinctly felt the fine pores on Consort Rong’s fragrant shoulder contract.

"Fang Fairy is indeed fortunate to be born in such a family, not being sacrificed by it, able to decide her own immortal path, wonderful!" After hearing Li Jizhou recount his meeting and familiarity with Fang Qingwei in Yunzhou City, Consort Rong smiled and nodded.

In these words, Li Jizhou spoke the truth, not even hiding that Fang Qingwei gifted him a raw stone that surprisingly yielded a Third Grade Spiritual Object.

"Hehe, Qian’Er indeed has great luck, a casual gift yields such rewards... However, Qian’Er, do you ever doubt such coincidences? Might it be a scheme by the Fang family?" Consort Rong, born into a family in the Imperial City, was most aware of such old, cunning plans, and naturally suspicious.

Li Jizhou shook his head slightly: "Rongniang, once you hear the whole story, you’ll know it should just be a coincidence."

Then he spoke of how Fang Qingwei was kidnapped by bandits, and how the Patriarch of Qi Stone Pavilion was captured by bandits, and how Fang Qingwei entered Black Stone City to seek evidence of the bandits...

Consort Rong was captivated.

Particularly when Li Jizhou recounted how Fang Qingwei told him about Prince Yun’s Mansion secretly breeding bandits in the mining district, plundering mine owners, Consort Rong’s heartbeat noticeably skipped a beat.

It wasn’t until Fang Qingwei entered Black Stone City, and Li Jizhou encountered the Crown Prince Li Qingyun at Black Stone Workshop, that Li Jizhou stopped telling the truth.

"Rongniang, do you know what Princess Consort Yun said to me after I captured Li Qingyun and threatened him with death?"

"What did she say?" Consort Rong was completely immersed in the matter, her thoughts entirely led by Li Jizhou.

"Princess Consort Yun told me that Li Qingyun is not Prince Yun’s biological son!"

"Gasp~" Consort Rong instinctively held her breath, her beautiful eyes widened in an instant.

"Is this... really true?" After three seconds of silence, she said uncertainly.

"I am not sure either," was the reply.

"Impossible, if he is not of Prince Yun’s blood, how could he conceal it from Prince Yun?" Consort Rong’s eyes flickered.

"I don’t believe it either! But one word from the princess struck me like a bolt from the blue," Li Jizhou had always been observing the changes in Consort Rong’s emotions.

"Could it be..." Consort Rong instinctively started to speak.

"Could it be what? Rongniang, did you guess something?" Li Jizhou’s voice was urgent.

"I... cannot understand, with Prince Yun’s cultivation at the Late Stage of Nascent Soul, he naturally wouldn’t be unable to sense the Crown Prince’s bloodline." Unfortunately, in the next moment, Consort Rong regained her composure, revealing no further clue.

Yet Li Jizhou was not at all disappointed; instead, he was almost certain.

The more she hid, the more guilty she seemed.

Outsiders may not know the secret of bloodline purification within the royal family, but Consort Rong must know it.

"Forgive me, Rongniang, I cannot speak further of this matter, as many royal secrets may disgrace the royal family."

"However, the princess mentioned another thing, saying that since thirteen years ago, Prince Yun has been consuming a great deal, secretly purchasing numerous divine objects, possibly to forcibly alter innate constitution, but without any evidence."

"Since there is no evidence, it’s most likely slander; what on earth could change innate qualities against the heavens? Ridiculous. Best not to speak of it," Consort Rong closed her eyes again, nodding slightly, as if she didn’t care about the matter, or about Prince Yun, or about Yunzhou City.

Yet, the sudden tightening of her skin’s pores betrayed her.

Indeed... Li Chaoyang’s innate myriad thunders spirit body was forcibly altered!

No wonder it required the resources worth nearly a billion Middle Grade Spirit Stones.

Truly extravagant.

Such a vast amount of resources, if placed in Eastern Desolation, selecting a thousand extraordinarily talented seedlings, it might indeed cultivate a Refining Void Divine Monarch, at least more than enough for two hands full of Divinity Transformation Dao Lords.

Yet all was used to go against the heavens and change natural talents.

"Qian’Er, is Rongniang beautiful?" Suddenly, Li Jizhou’s hand holding the water was captured by Consort Rong, guiding it to her chest.

"Rongniang is naturally extremely beautiful!" Li Jizhou remained calm and serene.

"Then do you want..."

Before Consort Rong could finish her seductive words, Li Jizhou interrupted her, withdrawing his hand: "Rongniang, with your peerless beauty, if not for this, you wouldn’t have won father’s favor, if I seek a Dao partner in the future, I naturally will learn from father."

The matters between Consort Rong and Prince Yun he had already formed a conclusion in his heart, under such circumstances, Consort Rong would eventually have to undergo Soul Searching.

For the sake of his longevity and freedom in this life, to firmly hold the Saint Emperor’s throne, how could he be foolish?

Moreover, this matter goes against morality.

His freedom lies in acting without crossing the line, and this line is the rule in his heart.

Consort Rong’s eyes tightened, at this moment, her heart was not as serene as it appeared on the surface.

The main reason was that in the story about Yunzhou, several points had touched deeply hidden secrets within her heart, disturbing her peace of mind.

Thus she had somewhat disoriented attempts to seduce Li Jizhou.

Yet was ignored and rejected by Li Jizhou.

Especially as Li Jizhou spoke with grand righteousness, it made her seem somewhat ridiculous by contrast.

"Hehe~ Qian’Er has ambition, Rongniang wishes you to find your Dao partner soon!"

"Thank you, Rongniang."

"Qian’Er, what is your view on the Crown Prince’s matter?" The attempt to seduce Li Jizhou failed, so Consort Rong turned to probe Li Jizhou’s stance.

"Please, Rongniang, speak cautiously, eldest brother has done such things, harboring murderous intent towards ninth brother, utterly unbecoming of a brother, father has long decreed, unworthy of being Crown Prince." Li Jizhou stated decisively.

"Indeed, considering Chaoyang has always respected and loved his brother, one would not have expected he almost came to harm."

"Qian’Er, now that the Crown Prince’s position is vacant, Rongniang believes you have the best chance."

Upon hearing this, Li Jizhou’s expression turned serious: "Rongniang praises me, this is exactly what I thought as well, father has given his all, laboring day and night for nearly five thousand years, I used to believe with eldest brother’s assistance, he could relieve father’s burdens, but eldest brother was too disappointing, among our many brothers and sisters, only I am old enough, and have traveled the world, it is time to stand out as a model for brothers and sisters and relieve father from worries."

He laid it all out, no more pretense.

The matter of Prince Yun and Consort Rong must be made known to Li Yuan, Li Chaoyang is already dead, no need to feign or dissemble with them.

Moreover, laying it all out like this may even provoke Consort Rong into doing something foolish, which might be useful in exposing the secrets of Consort Rong and Prince Yun.

This might also push Consort Rong to the Dragon Aspect’s side, aligning her with them, ideally achieving two goals with one move.