For several consecutive days, items were sent to Jishui Courtyard.
The once slightly dilapidated and worn-down Jishui Courtyard had been completely transformed. Even the furniture and decorations that had been used for over a decade were all replaced with new ones, and fresh, nutritious ingredients were delivered daily to the small kitchen of Jishui Courtyard.
What Lian Yue was most satisfied with were the ingredients in the small kitchen. Finally, she no longer had to go to the main kitchen every day to fetch supplies, only to end up with subpar items.
Lian Yue naturally understood the reason why the Wen family was doing this, but she wasn’t foolish enough to reject the benefits being sent her way.
During this time, the Second Madam also came to visit Wen Qiao, wanting to see if there was anything else lacking in Jishui Courtyard so she could make up for the supplies that had been previously embezzled by the servants.
However, Lian Yue sent the Second Madam away with the excuse that her young mistress was resting, leaving the items behind but not allowing the person to enter.
The Second Madam didn’t insist on seeing her. Everyone in the Wen family knew that Wen Qiao fell sick every other day and sometimes stayed bedridden for ten days to half a month. Forcing her way in to see her might instead worsen Wen Qiao’s condition—what then?
This concern was not unique to the Second Madam but was shared by the Wen family and even the world at large.
The Third Miss Wen was a sickly person who might pass away at any moment; there was no need to risk offending Emperor Chenghao for her.
Amid such concerns, Jishui Courtyard turned out to be the quietest place. As one of the protagonists of the imperial marriage decree, Wen Qiao continued her peaceful and leisurely life, free from worldly disputes, focusing solely on studying her newly awakened half-yao bloodline.
After understanding the power of the half-yao bloodline she had awakened, Wen Qiao also “recovered” from her illness and finally ventured outside.
“Young Mistress, where are you going?”
Wen Qiao replied, “To the front courtyard, to see if there are any spiritual plants.”
Lian Yue was greatly surprised but didn’t say much. She picked up a basket and followed Wen Qiao out of Jishui Courtyard.
Wen Qiao took her maid to the Wen family’s Yunling Hall.
The Yunling Hall was overseen by the Wen family’s Sixth Elder. When he saw Wen Qiao, he couldn’t help but feel a bit surprised.
Wen Qiao had always been an inconspicuous figure in the Wen family, even to the point of being a pitiable and neglected one. It wasn’t until a few days ago, when Emperor Chenghao decreed her marriage to the Seventh Prince, that people remembered that the Wen family had such a person.
It was rare to see her today. She still looked pale and sickly, standing there gracefully, as frail as a willow, evoking concern in others.
Such a pity for that beautiful face.
Wen Qiao covered her mouth and coughed a few times, then explained her purpose to the Sixth Elder.
The Dongling Kingdom, located in a remote corner of the Sacred Martial Continent, had thin Yuan spiritual energy, and spiritual herbs and plants were even rarer. However, with the Wen family’s deep foundation, it wasn’t difficult to procure some ordinary spiritual plants rather than true spiritual herbs.
As expected, the Sixth Elder confirmed, “You just want ordinary spiritual plants, not spiritual herbs?”
Wen Qiao nodded softly and replied in a gentle voice, “I want to grow some spiritual plants.”
After hearing this, the Sixth Elder thought of her poor health. With limited time for cultivation, growing some ordinary spiritual plants to pass the time wasn’t a bad idea.
Thus, the Sixth Elder assigned a junior disciple in charge of odd jobs to take her to the Wen family’s spiritual herb garden.
The spiritual herb garden wasn’t large, about one mu in area, surrounded by a Five Elements Array formed with thorny hedges. Nearby was a lion-tiger beast guarding the garden. Most of the spiritual herbs in the garden were low-grade and not very old; higher-grade and older spiritual herbs wouldn’t be planted here.
Wen Qiao first examined the thorns used to form the array. These were crimson thorns named “Red Junthorn,” as hard as iron and excellent for use as weapons.
“These are all ordinary spiritual plants without much use. Third Miss, how many do you want?” The junior disciple pointed at a cluster of spiritual plants growing by the thorn hedges.
Though he said they weren’t useful, anything infused with Yuan spiritual energy was no ordinary plant; it naturally had its own special properties.
Wen Qiao chose five plants, none of which she could name. To cultivators, they might as well have been weeds.
Lian Yue used a shovel to dig up the plants along with the soil around their roots.
The junior disciple watching her actions couldn’t hold back and eventually said, “The soil in this spiritual herb garden is spiritual soil, ideal for the growth of spiritual plants. You can’t even buy this outside…”
Lian Yue was surprised and replied, “You have to buy soil just to grow some grass?”
“What grass? These are spiritual plants, and they need spiritual soil infused with Yuan spiritual energy to grow,” the junior disciple retorted, thinking that Lian Yue was truly ignorant—typical for a mortal without Yuan spiritual roots.
Of course, the junior disciple only grumbled inwardly and didn’t dare say it in front of Wen Qiao.
After returning to Jishui Courtyard, Lian Yue spoke to Wen Qiao in a low voice, “Miss, I didn’t expect your marriage to the Seventh Prince to have such an impact. That junior disciple in the spiritual herb garden clearly disliked me, acting like I was clueless, but he still had to restrain himself. If it were before, he would’ve been impatient and chased me away by now.”
As she spoke, she sighed repeatedly, feeling that although the Seventh Prince couldn’t cultivate, he still had an imposing presence that made him a true winner in life.
Wen Qiao patted the little maid’s head, knowing that while she looked brash, she was quite sharp and knew how to create opportunities for herself.
Wen Qiao asked Lian Yue to bring over five flowerpots. She planted the five spiritual plants in them, watered them a little, and placed them by the window in her room.
“Miss, are you planning to use them as ornamental plants? These spiritual plants aren’t even as pretty as the flowers in our courtyard,” Lian Yue commented.
Wen Qiao didn’t respond, which Lian Yue took as tacit agreement.
It was rare for Wen Qiao to leave Jishui Courtyard, and the fact that she returned with a few spiritual plants with no medicinal value soon spread throughout the Wen family and even beyond.
People thought the Third Miss Wen’s hobbies were rather peculiar.
That day, the Wen family received a letter.
Along with the letter came an invitation from Lingxu Pavilion. The pavilion was hosting a grand auction the following day.
Wen Xian and a group of young disciples from the Wen family happened to see the guard at the gate carrying the letter and invitation inside. Curious, Wen Xian asked, “What is that?”
“It’s an invitation for Lingxu Pavilion’s auction tomorrow,” the guard replied.
Wen Xian’s interest was piqued. “Who sent it?”
“The Seventh Prince.”
Wen Xian’s eyes widened in shock. “The Seventh Prince? Are you sure? Could it be for Third Sister?”
The guard confirmed with a nod.
As the guard carried the invitation toward Jishui Courtyard, the Wen family disciples exchanged astonished looks. Wasn’t the Seventh Prince a cultivation waste? How did he obtain an invitation from Lingxu Pavilion?
Lingxu Pavilion spanned across the Sacred Martial Continent and had a powerful background. Each branch held an auction every six months. Due to the pavilion’s special status, its invitations were not easy to come by. Could it be that the Seventh Prince had requested this invitation from Emperor Chenghao? Otherwise, as someone who couldn’t cultivate, he shouldn’t have been able to obtain one at all.
The fact that the Seventh Prince personally sent the Lingxu Pavilion auction invitation to Wen Qiao showed how highly he regarded his fiancée.
The Wen family members present had varied expressions, silently reevaluating the marriage between Wen Qiao and the Seventh Prince.
In Jishui Courtyard, Wen Qiao was also somewhat surprised when she saw the Lingxu Pavilion invitation.
Lian Yue was awestruck. “Miss, are you going? Do you think the Seventh Prince sent this invitation because he wants to meet you at Lingxu Pavilion?”
After all, since Emperor Chenghao had suddenly decreed the marriage, the two betrothed had not yet met. They were still in a situation where they had only heard of each other but hadn’t met in person.
Lian Yue had thought it would be a long time before they would meet, but now it seemed it might happen much sooner than expected.
Wen Qiao said, “Of course I’ll go.”
Upon hearing this, Lian Yue quickly began preparing her mistress’s outfit for the next day. She was determined to ensure her young lady made a good impression on the Seventh Prince, as gratitude for the benefits they had enjoyed thanks to his favor in recent days.
That night, Wen Qiao stood by the window, gazing at the five potted plants on the windowsill.
The pots contained the five spiritual plants she had brought back. Perhaps because they had just been transplanted, their leaves appeared slightly wilted.
Wen Qiao tried channeling some of her Yuan spiritual energy into them, carefully sensing their emotions. From the feedback they provided, she could discern the names given to them by previous cultivators, their growth conditions, vitality, and the amount of spiritual essence they contained…
In no time, the five plants began growing at an incredible rate. Just as their roots were about to burst through the pots, Wen Qiao’s meager reserve of Yuan spiritual energy was completely depleted. Her complexion turned as pale as translucent jade, and large beads of sweat rolled down her forehead.
She slumped into the armchair by the window, her fingers weakly twitching as she absorbed the spiritual essence fed back from the plants.
The spiritual essence, infused with Yuan spiritual energy, nourished her meridians, slightly alleviating the discomfort caused by her energy depletion. The pain in her meridians eased somewhat, and though the effect was minimal, it refreshed her spirit, akin to taking a spiritual pill.
So this spiritual essence could actually soothe the pain in her meridians.
Wen Qiao’s complexion improved slightly. Looking at the now lush and vibrant spiritual plants, she smiled faintly.
—
The next day at noon, Wen Qiao, accompanied by Lian Yue, boarded the beast-drawn carriage arranged by the Wen family.
The carriage was pulled by a low-grade demonic beast, docile in temperament and suitable for travel within the city.
Cultivators generally had strong physiques and rarely used transportation within the city unless traveling long distances. Only someone as frail and sickly as Wen Qiao needed a carriage for outings.
The Wen family had received a Lingxu Pavilion invitation half a month earlier.
Wen Zhongqing was leading a group of young Wen family disciples to Lingxu Pavilion to broaden their horizons.
Wen Xian watched the beast carriage leave ahead of her, her gaze dimming slightly.
The other Wen family disciples, aware that the Seventh Prince had sent the Lingxu Pavilion invitation to his fiancée, couldn’t help but feel a bit envious. Though he was known as a cultivation “waste,” relying on Emperor Chenghao’s favor, the fact that he could casually give such a rare invitation to his fiancée was impressive in its own right.
“Ah Mei, why didn’t the Third Prince send you a Lingxu Pavilion invitation?” Wen Xian suddenly asked Wen Mei, who was walking beside her.
Both were direct descendants of the Wen family and similar in age. They often cultivated and acted together, making them a frequent subject of comparison.
Wen Mei glanced at her, her charming and beautiful face showing no emotion. She replied calmly, “The Third Prince is currently in seclusion cultivating.”
Wen Xian chuckled softly and continued, “I didn’t expect the Seventh Prince to care so much about our Third Sister. Ah Mei, what do you think?”
“It’s good,” Wen Mei replied with a strange look at her, as if to say, Why does it matter to us?
Wen Xian was left speechless.
Known as the “Twin Beauties of the Wen Family,” Wen Mei and Wen Xian walked side by side. Wen Mei was enchanting and charming, while Wen Xian was elegant and serene. Each had her own appeal, drawing countless gazes from young martial artists as they passed.
—
The Wen family’s beast carriage arrived quietly in front of Lingxu Pavilion.
Servants from the pavilion approached, guiding the carriage to a designated parking area.
Lian Yue helped her mistress alight and handed the invitation to a Lingxu Pavilion attendant waiting nearby. After examining it, the attendant’s face lit up with a kind and sweet smile as she said warmly, “Please, follow me.”
Lingxu Pavilion had five floors. The first floor’s grand hall was spacious and luxurious, with a central platform displaying various cultivation materials such as pills, talismans, weapons, and arrays. Though the items weren’t of high grade, their abundance made them valuable, especially in the Dongling Kingdom, where Yuan spiritual energy was scarce.
Wen Qiao didn’t pay much attention to the first floor and headed straight to the third floor with her maid.
Today’s auction was being held on the third floor.
The attendant led them to a private room and knocked on the door.
The door was quickly opened by a burly royal guard. Upon seeing Wen Qiao, he respectfully saluted her with his hands.
The attendant didn’t dare glance into the room and instead stood politely by the door.
Lian Yue felt a bit nervous and didn’t even dare to breathe too loudly, following closely behind her mistress.
Wen Qiao’s expression remained unchanged. She steadied herself and stepped into the private room.
The private room was quite spacious, with a layout that was both elegant and luxurious. It was furnished with tables, chairs, a long couch, and a folding screen. At the front of the room was a wall inlaid with reflective crystal panels. Through the paper-thin crystalline surface, the stage outside could be seen, but from the outside, no one could see into the private room.
Seated on a carved spiritual wood couch against the wall was a young man.