Get Rewards by Fulfilling Others' Wishes

Chapter 42: Chapter 41: I’m Already Kiting

A gratified expression appeared on Zhao Huan’s face as his two sons voiced their support.

Zhao Yong, his eyes ringed with dark circles, shot Zhao Ci a resentful glare. ’Can’t he speak for himself? Does he have to piggyback on everything?’

「A short while later.」

Eunuch Li led a group of eunuchs and Palace Maids in with lunch. As usual, the dishes were simple in appearance, but they were steaming hot and gave off a cozy, familial warmth.

”I’ve been starving all morning!”

Zhao Ci immediately picked up his bowl. He’d only had a few bites of mushrooms that morning before being poisoned and passing out. The detoxification process seemed to have drained his energy, and he had been starving during the meeting. No wonder Zhu Li had been so hungry as well.

He picked up some food with his chopsticks, mixed it with rice, and shoveled it into his mouth.

Zhao Yong couldn’t help but glare at him. ”Father Emperor hasn’t even picked up his chopsticks yet. Have you no manners?”

”We’re family. No need for such formalities when we eat!”

Zhao Huan just smiled and shook his head.

Zhao Yong quickly said, ”You are right to correct me, Father Emperor!”

Zhao Huan gave him a deep look, then placed a piece of food in his bowl. ”You haven’t slept all night,” he said gently. ”Eat up and go get some rest.”

At this sight, Zhao Yong was so overwhelmed by the favor he didn’t know what to do with his hands. He held up his bowl, stammering with excitement, ”Yes! Yes, Father Emperor!”

Zhao Ci was speechless.

He hadn’t paid much attention before, but now he realized the princes’ admiration for Zhao Huan had reached an almost fanatical level.

’All he did was put some food in his bowl, and he’s acting like some crazed fangirl blessed by her favorite idol.’

Then again, it made sense. The Great Yu had been in turmoil for centuries until Zhao Huan’s decisive victory ushered in eighteen golden years of stability. The people of Great Yu, who once lived in constant fear of their dynasty’s collapse and their people’s extinction, were now calculating when they could finally strike back.

What son wouldn’t worship such a ruler and father?

Even Zhao Ci had to admit that in his own memories, Zhao Huan was always shrouded in a towering, heroic aura.

”Yong...”

”Father Emperor!”

Zhao Yong immediately set down his chopsticks.

”Keep eating while we talk.”

”Yes, Father Emperor!”

Zhao Yong picked his bowl up again but still didn’t touch his chopsticks, his gaze fixed solemnly on Zhao Huan.

Zhao Huan didn’t press the issue and simply asked in a leisurely tone, ”Are things with the Zhu Family going smoothly?”

”Yes! They’ve delivered everything I asked for!”

”Don’t let your guard down. Some things are only yours once you hold them in your own hands.”

”I understand.”

Zhao Yong nodded gravely. Just before he had come to the palace, he had received word from Zhu Gong that everything promised had been secured and delivered to the Yonghe Pill Workshop.

In truth, however, the relevant improved techniques and Pill Formulas remained in the hands of the Zhu Family’s Alchemists.

While they could help him earn money and secure orders, getting his hands on the core secrets was no easy task.

Sometimes, he felt very conflicted.

The competition between the princely manors was, by its nature, a battleground where the Imperial Family and the seven great Merit Clans vied for power. However, a Prince who had established his own manor didn’t fully belong to either side.

He had to secure the Zhu Family’s support while also working for Zhao Huan, all while competing against other Princes and Prince Heirs. It was an exhausting existence.

”Sigh!”

Zhao Huan sighed, his expression mournful. ”I once believed that after securing the borders, the military might of the Great Yu would multiply several times over in less than twenty years. I never imagined that as the realm grew peaceful, people would grow selfish.”

While shoveling rice into his mouth, Zhao Ci mumbled, ”I think those families just aren’t enlightened enough. Father Emperor, you should train my speaking skills. Let me go door-to-door and give them some patriotic education. I guarantee they’ll hand everything over.”

Zhao Huan and Zhao Yong were both speechless.

They both stared at Zhao Ci with odd expressions.

Zhao Ci wore a look of utter confusion. ”Would that be wrong?”

’Of course, he knew it was wrong.’ The Great Yu had arisen from the untamed wilderness; it wasn’t a unified dynasty from its inception.

Back then, warlords had risen and fought amongst themselves for nearly a century, leaving only eight major powers standing. These were the seven great Merit Clans and the Zhao Imperial Family of today. Each was backed by the ruins of a previous dynasty, and their signature skills were all derived from these ancient sites.

At the time, the external threats were immense: demonic entities and evil forces rampaged, ferocious beasts roamed free, and there were numerous savage, untamable tribes.

Influenced by the ideal of a great, unified empire left behind in the ancient ruins, the eight great families held a conference that lasted for several months.

No one knows the specifics of what was discussed, but after the conference concluded, the Great Yu Dynasty was founded, and the eight families revered the Zhao Clan as their sovereigns.

Thus began the rise of the Great Yu. This was followed, centuries ago, by the descent of Longyuan, which led to the fall of nearly half the dynasty’s territory and a long period of precarious instability.

One could say that until eighteen years ago, the eight great families had been united in their efforts. Even while strictly guarding their own secret legacies, they all contributed desperately to the Great Yu, rarely holding anything back for selfish reasons.

Things were stable now, true enough.

’But to ask them to hand over their foundational secrets? How could they possibly agree?’

’They had sworn an oath of brotherhood back in the day. The agreement was essentially, ”We’ll continue to acknowledge you as the boss, but you can’t treat us like dogs.”’

’From the perspective of the dynasty, however, Zhao Huan wasn’t wrong.’

’Huh?’

’His feigning illness and old age, his deliberate indulgence of the struggle for succession between the Crown Prince and the Fourth Prince... it must all be a scheme to fleece those great families, right?’

’In that case, this Emperor was truly something else—a genuine Heroic Lord.’

A flicker of admiration rose in Zhao Ci’s heart, but it wasn’t enough to lower his guard around Zhao Huan. ’No matter how much of a Heroic Lord you are, you can’t be after my Waizi!’

”Ha, haha!”

Zhao Huan laughed fondly. ”If all the civil and military officials of the court had Ci’s enlightenment, how could the Great Yu fail to prosper!”

Zhao Yong chimed in, ”Exactly! The world is in desperate need of wise men like Lao Shi.”

Zhao Ci was speechless.

’Son of a bitch, is he insulting me?’

He had other things on his mind and couldn’t be bothered with Zhao Yong’s sarcasm, so he just kept his head down and ate.

「A little while later.」

The meal was over.

Zhao Huan stood up and patted Zhao Yong’s shoulder gently. ”You haven’t rested in a long time, either. Go back and get some sleep. There’s still a long road ahead of you.”

”Yes!”

Zhao Yong nodded excitedly but didn’t leave immediately. Instead, he glanced at Zhao Ci.

But after a long wait, Zhao Huan still hadn’t dismissed Zhao Ci. It was obvious he had more to say to him.

A flicker of gloom and sour jealousy flashed in his eyes. He performed a salute and finally departed.

Zhao Ci pursed his lips. ’I never would have guessed. He’s usually just annoying, but in private, he’s actually a jealous baby.’

’How ridiculous.’

He looked at Zhao Huan and asked curiously, ”Father Emperor, is there something else you wanted to say to me?”

Zhao Huan contemplated for a moment before speaking in a gentle voice, ”When I proposed lowering pill prices earlier, I was saying it for their benefit. It’s not something you should get involved in. The Xiang’s Pill Workshop is just starting out and can’t afford a price war. You must not participate, or you’ll drag down your entire business.”

’Oh?’

’So Old Deng is finally taking the bait.’

’If my only goal was to grab as many orders as possible, I should be laying low and waiting to make a big splash at the Gongdan Conference.’

’But I didn’t. I even brought Zhu Li along to make grand pronouncements.’

’That’s because, more than the orders, I care about keeping a firm grip on the Alcohol Refining Technique.’

’As things stand, without some outside intervention, the technique will eventually fall into Gu Xiangzhu’s hands.’

’If I’m going to accomplish anything, I can’t keep acting like a simpleminded fool forever.’

’No matter how good my acting is, I can’t fool Gu Xiangzhu forever.’

’The moment I’m exposed will be the most dangerous time for me in the near future.’

’Before that happens, I have to get my hands on a bargaining chip with enough weight to matter.’

’Right now, he sees me through the strongest possible ”filial son” filter. I have to be bold.’

Zhao Ci immediately put on an indignant expression. ”Father Emperor! You don’t believe me? When I said I was confident I could lower the unit price, did you think I was just joking to make you happy? I’ve already established my own manor. How could I do something so childish and absurd?”

”Oh?”

Zhao Huan’s eyes lit up. ”You really have a method?”

Gu Xiangzhu’s every move had been under his scrutiny recently. Others saw her give the Pill Workshop to Zhao Ci and simply thought she was helping her son establish his manor.

But Zhao Huan knew Gu Xiangzhu. How could a Demoness from the Demon Sect possibly hand over her lifeline to her stepson?

There had to be some benefit at stake that he couldn’t yet see.

If he was only suspicious last night, Zhao Ci’s performance just now had finally confirmed it for him.

Zhao Ci said proudly, ”Of course I have a method!”

Zhao Huan’s smile was kindly. ”Let’s hear it.”

”Well...”

Zhao Ci suddenly hesitated. ”Mother Consort... told me not to say anything...”

Zhao Huan’s gaze sharpened as he retorted, ”You can’t even tell your Father Emperor?”

”Hiss...”

Zhao Ci looked extremely conflicted. ”Mother Consort said we haven’t perfected it yet. If something went wrong and we got your hopes up for nothing, Father Emperor, that would be a terrible thing...”

’Just as I thought.’

Zhao Huan’s heart was a mix of joy and gravity. ’So, such a method really exists. But why is it in Gu Xiangzhu’s hands?’

’With Gu Xiangzhu in the picture, the waters of the Gongdan Conference will certainly be thoroughly muddied.’

’But in turn, Gu Xiangzhu will likely be able to secure a firm foothold in the Elixir Realm.’

’This is not a good sign at all!’

’That Demoness from the Demon Sect... she truly hides her secrets deep!’

His gaze fell on Zhao Ci. ’I wonder if this foolish son of mine can manage to steal the technique from her.’

Just as he was about to ask something...

...Zhao Ci continued, ”Actually, it doesn’t matter if I hide it from you, Father Emperor. If it weren’t for your guidance and Mother Consort’s, I never would have been able to develop this Alcohol Refining Technique.”

”What!?”

Zhao Huan was stunned. ”Alcohol refining? The technique is in *your* hands!?”

He was truly shocked.

He had assumed it was the fruit of Gu Xiangzhu’s many years of accumulated effort, never imagining it was something Zhao Ci had developed.

This... This was too bizarre, wasn’t it?

’This stepson of mine has been mediocre and frail since he was a child. How have I never heard he had such an ability?’

’Alcohol refining?’

”Yes!”

Zhao Ci replied cheerfully, ”Have you forgotten, Father Emperor? The idea of using an alcohol refining method to improve the Alchemy Technique was your guidance to me!”

Zhao Huan was speechless.

’Thinking back, that did seem to be the case!’

’But many have tried that idea, and not a single one succeeded. I just mentioned it offhandedly, and you actually managed to do it?’

’This...’

’Wait!’

Zhao Huan asked, ”The specifics of this technique, does your Mother Consort know?”

Zhao Ci shook his head, looking ashamed. ”I haven’t told Mother Consort yet. It’s mainly because I’m too slow. Even with help from you and Mother Consort, I still haven’t been able to optimize the technique enough to implement it in the Pill Workshop.”

Zhao Huan was speechless.

He looked at Zhao Ci.

Zhao Ci looked back at him.

The Emperor’s gaze was burning.

Zhao Ci’s eyes were full of innocent confusion.

Zhao Huan pondered for a moment, then said gently, ”Have you run into any difficulties with the technique? Why don’t you tell me? I have many skilled artisans under my command who should be able to help.”

’Tell him?’

’In your dreams!’

A flicker of panic entered Zhao Ci’s eyes. ”No need, Father Emperor! I’ve already come up with a plan. I’ll definitely have it working around the time of the Gongdan Conference. If Mother Consort finds out I was so impatient, showing off to you before I’ve even succeeded, she’ll definitely give me a harsh scolding!”

Zhao Huan’s gaze darkened. ’That’s not surprising. How could Gu Xiangzhu possibly be willing to let go of this cash cow?’

’If I press him, the boy will have a hard time resisting.’

’But using force would likely provoke Gu Xiangzhu. Given her temperament and position, if she impulsively revealed the secret of the organ-swapping manual, no one would have an easy time of it.’

’However... Zhao Ci now believes the Alcohol Refining Technique is inseparable from my guidance.’

’That, at least, puts me in an invincible position.’

He smiled. ”Since you’re so confident, then prepare well. It won’t be too late to tell me after the Gongdan Conference. Now, go back and get some rest.”

”Yes!”

Zhao Ci nodded and, as if afraid Zhao Huan would press him for answers, trotted out of the Imperial Study.

’I won this gamble.’

’My ruthless father and my fake mother are, just as I thought, on nearly equal footing in their power struggle.’

’And for Zhao Huan, cultivating an industry disruptor to crash the price of Qi Cultivation Pills is just as important as obtaining the Alcohol Refining Technique.’

’Rashly tearing their alliance apart wouldn’t be a wise choice for him.’

’I’ve done all I can.’

’Whether it succeeds now depends on how those two fight it out.’

~~~~~~