After the spirit jade flowerpot was finished, Wen Qiao moved house. Her home changed from white jade to one carved from spirit jade.
The demon beast carriage sped along the road. Unlike when they had come, when she had been constantly drowsy, Wen Qiao was now very energetic. As a little seedling, she felt as if she did not need to sleep. Every day, she was still bright and lively; shake her leaves, and she was once again a fine little sprout.
Wen Qiao felt that perhaps this had something to do with the spiritual medicinal liquid Ning Yuzhou fed her three times a day. She was eating so well that whether she rested or not did not seem to matter much.
Just as she was thinking this, she saw her husband begin his daily routine of raising the seedling and watering it. Three meals a day, absolutely not one less—just like when she had been in human form, and he had fed her three meals a day.
After drinking the spiritual medicinal liquid, Wen Qiao shook her leaves and rubbed against Ning Yuzhou’s hand, wanting to chat with him.
Ning Yuzhou had a very good temper and asked indulgently, “What do you want to talk about?”
The little seedling’s leaves rubbed wildly against his fingers a few times.
His beautifully shaped lips curved slightly, and Ning Yuzhou smiled. “You want to talk about me?”
The little seedling’s leaves bobbed up and down, like a human nodding. Ever since she had heard Emperor Chenghao casually mention it last time, Wen Qiao had become especially curious about her husband’s past. Although she felt a little shy, she was still happy to learn more about Ning Yuzhou’s earlier years.
Ning Yuzhou held the spirit jade flowerpot and casually tossed a spirit pill to the demon rabbit that had sidled over. With a flick of his long sleeve, he brushed it farther away.
The two of them, husband and wife, were chatting. What was this rabbit doing coming over?
Ning Yuzhou was just that petty.
The demon rabbit did not mind. As long as there were spirit pills to eat, all was well. It obediently nestled in the corner, glancing now and then at the little seedling.
“…Although I could not cultivate, I was rather interested in auxiliary arts such as alchemy, talismans, artefact refining, and formations. In addition, among the bloodline inheritance I awakened, there was a relatively complete legacy involving all four of these arts, so I sorted out part of it and handed it to the Ning clan to arrange. Later, Father and the others discovered that I had considerable insight into these auxiliary methods. Although I could not practise them myself, I still had my own understanding, so they let me guide the clan’s alchemists, formation masters, and talisman masters…”
Not being able to cultivate did not mean he did not understand cultivation. On the contrary, he had been extremely intelligent since childhood, with high comprehension ability, as well as the inheritance within his bloodline. Even though he had never personally done it before, guiding those alchemists and formation masters was easy for him.
All these years, the Ning clan’s alchemists and talisman masters had been guided in their cultivation by him.
Wen Qiao thought back to their experience in Lin Tai Hunting Valley. When the Shadow Scaled Guards faced enemies, they had thrown out talismans as if they cost nothing, and they had countless spirit pills prepared in abundance. She finally understood.
At the time, she had thought the Ning clan’s foundation was simply rich enough to allow him to be so wasteful. Who would have known that these things had clearly been refined under his guidance, and that he had a share of the credit? Since they could have as many of these things as they wanted, naturally he did not treat them as anything precious.
With this, Wen Qiao also understood why the Ning clan valued him so much.
How could they not value him? A Ning Yuzhou who possessed a complete bloodline inheritance was an existence that no number of talented disciples could replace. No wonder the Ning clan protected him so carefully, even assigning a squad of Shadow Scaled Guards to protect him wherever he went. Ning Yaozhu’s jealousy of him was utterly useless.
How pitiful those uninformed people were, thinking Emperor Chenghao was foolish for protecting a useless waste.
A miraculous bloodline was a matter of great importance. Very few people in the Ning clan knew the truth; only Emperor Chenghao and a few Ning clan elders knew. Everyone else was completely kept in the dark, with not the slightest hint revealed.
Until Ning Yuzhou became powerful enough that no one could covet his bloodline power, no one would be allowed to know what role he played within the Ning clan.
Then Wen Qiao asked about her father, and why Emperor Chenghao had said that it was to protect her that they had let her stay alone in the Wen family.
Ning Yuzhou stroked her leaves, pondered slightly, and said, “Actually, the death of Wen Boqing and his wife was not because of a demon beast riot. There was something suspicious about it. The fire poison you were afflicted with was also left behind at that time. If not for the fact that you were poisoned by the fire toxin, the person behind the scenes probably would not have allowed you to live. Father was afraid that the mastermind who harmed Wen Boqing and his wife would not let you go, so he did not dare protect you openly. He could only leave you in the Wen family…”
Wen Qiao’s leaves almost exploded.
This was the first time she had heard such a thing.
She had always thought her parents had died because of a demon beast riot. It was said that at the time, her mother had encountered a fire-attribute demon beast, which not only caused her to give birth prematurely, but also injured Wen Qiao, who had just been born. That was why fire poison had been left in her body, making her sickly from childhood and destined to die young.
But now Ning Yuzhou was telling her that there was another hidden truth behind her parents’ deaths, and that the fire poison in her body had also been deliberately inflicted by someone.
The person who harmed her probably thought that, with fire poison in her body, she would not live past twenty, and that was why they allowed her to survive in pain.
Ning Yuzhou quickly stroked the little leaves that had bristled up and said gently, “Ah Rao, don’t be sad. Now that we are married, your parents are also my parents. I will avenge Father-in-law and Mother-in-law in the future. You can rest assured.”
Wen Qiao’s entire little seedling still looked somewhat listless.
Seeing this, Ning Yuzhou could not help sighing. “Originally, I did not want you to learn the truth too early. Our strength is still too weak right now. Even if we investigated the hatred from back then, we would not be able to take revenge at present.”
Wen Qiao knew he was right. If Emperor Chenghao had not thought she was absent and accidentally let it slip, who knew when she would have learned the truth.
Ning Yuzhou decided to change the subject. He truly did not want to see the little seedling looking dispirited. “When you were born, I saw you. It was also I who suggested setting the marriage agreement with you.”
Wen Qiao froze, and her leaves tilted toward him hesitantly.
When she was born, how old had he been? He had already decided his own lifelong marriage so casually? Was that not a little hasty?
Ning Yuzhou seemed to know what she was thinking and could not help laughing. “I was born able to remember things, and matured earlier than ordinary children. By the time I was four, I already understood reason and knew what I wanted to do. Wen Boqing and his wife saved my life. You were also quite adorable, and whenever I saw you, I felt an inexplicable sense of closeness. Naturally, I wanted to settle you early so that I would not regret it later.”
In this way, it could also comfort Wen Boqing and his wife, so they would not have to worry about their only daughter.
Wen Qiao… Wen Qiao’s whole little seedling was about to turn red again.
“In the past, I did not know why I felt such an inexplicable closeness to you. Now, I understand.” As he spoke, Ning Yuzhou placed his hand over his heart. Here, there was a drop of her essence blood, as if she herself had been placed inside his heart.
Logically speaking, no one’s essence blood could run into another person’s body for no reason, unless that person forcibly seized it and signed a blood contract with them. Yet at that time, that drop of essence blood had encountered no obstruction. It had entered his body directly and helped him break through the seal within him, as if the two of them had been naturally compatible from birth.
This was the reason Ning Yuzhou felt close to Wen Qiao.
Both of them possessed miraculous bloodlines. It was just that one had already awakened, while the other was still in a dormant state. Even so, it allowed them to feel fondness for each other. Although he still did not know what kind of miraculous bloodline Wen Qiao had inherited, he could sense that their miraculous bloodlines must once have been extremely compatible. Only then could they have been brought together by fate in this vast world.
Wen Qiao listened in utter confusion.
While she was still confused, the demon rabbit beside them, having already finished gnawing its spirit pill, saw that Ning Yuzhou was not paying attention. It leapt up and took the opportunity to lick Wen Qiao.
Wen Qiao froze.
She had been licked by the little rabbit again.
Ning Yuzhou came back to his senses. Seeing this scene, a cold glint slipped through his gentle eyes, and he mercilessly threw the demon rabbit out of the demon beast carriage.
Wen Qiao: “…”
Ning Yuzhou said, “Don’t worry. It won’t get lost.”
Sure enough, half an hour later, a little rabbit pushed open the window and climbed back in. It calmly went to Ning Yuzhou to ask for spirit pills. If he refused, it would lick the little seedling to satisfy its craving.
Fortunately, Ning Yuzhou did not know how many times the demon rabbit had licked Wen Qiao during the days it guarded her. Otherwise, he definitely would not have brought it out of Lin Tai Hunting Valley.
—
Five days later, they returned to the imperial city of Dongling.
The demon beast carriage travelled through the streets of the imperial city and entered the Seventh Prince’s residence.
The servants in the residence, who had received news of their return, all came out to welcome their master. Lian Yue stood among the maids of the Seventh Prince’s residence, stretching her neck to look around, hoping to see her young miss at first glance.
The first to step down was the Seventh Prince, Ning Yuzhou, holding a spirit jade pot.
Then came a little rabbit.
Lian Yue stretched her neck as hard as she could to look into the demon beast carriage, but no matter how she looked, apart from the Seventh Prince and that little rabbit, she did not see a second person.
Lian Yue almost cried. A bad premonition rose in her heart.
When Wen Qiao saw her thoughtful little maid, she was rather happy. But when she saw Lian Yue’s eyes instantly turn red as she stubbornly held back her tears, Wen Qiao’s heart ached. She quickly shook her leaves to remind Ning Yuzhou.
Ning Yuzhou stroked her leaves and said to Lian Yue in the crowd, “This is Ah Rao’s rabbit. Take care of it.”
Holding back her tears, Lian Yue secretly wiped the corners of her eyes with her sleeve, picked up the cute little rabbit on the ground, and followed behind him.
The demon rabbit looked obedient and adorable as it calmly nestled against Lian Yue’s underdeveloped chest.
After returning to the bedroom, Ning Yuzhou dismissed everyone, leaving only Lian Yue.
First, he placed the spirit jade pot on a side table. Then he moved over the pot of Rejuvenation Blossom by the window and placed it together with the spirit jade pot.
Without Wen Qiao using spiritual energy to stimulate its growth, the Rejuvenation Blossom had grown extremely slowly over the past month or so. Because the surrounding spiritual energy was thin, it did not look very spirited either.
When Wen Qiao saw the Rejuvenation Blossom, her spirits lifted.
“Your Highness, where is my young miss?” Lian Yue asked timidly, looking frightened, afraid of hearing bad news.
Ning Yuzhou said, “Ah Rao is not here at the moment. After some time, I will personally go and find her.”
Lian Yue stared blankly, then asked hesitantly, “Then… where is Miss?”
“No need to worry. Ah Rao is all right. From now on, you will live here. If you need anything, tell the steward. There is no need to be restrained,” Ning Yuzhou said gently. “Serve the rabbit well. Ah Rao will come back to see you.”
Lian Yue stared at him in a daze, nodded in a daze, and then left in a daze.
After Lian Yue left, Ning Yuzhou said to Wen Qiao, “Your little maid is loyal, but she is only a mortal. The fewer people who know about your situation, the better.”
Wen Qiao understood what he meant. She also understood his decision. The less Lian Yue knew, the safer she would be.
Although Lian Yue was a mortal who could not cultivate, she was the person who cared about Wen Qiao the most, no less than family. Wen Qiao would let Lian Yue live this life safely, smoothly, and without worry.
After returning to the residence, Ning Yuzhou did not rest. Instead, he activated the defensive formation and spirit-gathering formation in the courtyard where he lived.
“Ah Rao, this place is very safe. Try cultivating first,” Ning Yuzhou said.
When they had been outside, there had been too many eyes around, so it had not been convenient. Whether it was Ning Yuzhou or Wen Qiao, both had restrained themselves for the time being and had not tried cultivating. Now that they had returned to their own territory, Ning Yuzhou made all preparations and then let Wen Qiao cultivate using her own method.
The cultivation methods of plant spirits were different from those of human cultivators and demon beasts.
Wen Qiao shook her leaves and, full of energy, released her perception and began cultivating.
Within her perception, there were quite a few spiritual plants within a radius of one li. The one containing the richest plant essence was the Rejuvenation Blossom in the room, and it was also the highest-ranked.
Wen Qiao tried to communicate with those spiritual plants. After receiving a response, she immediately let herself go and stimulated their growth.
Ning Yuzhou did not cultivate. He sat to one side, his eyes fixed on the little seedling on the table without blinking.
Then he saw the Rejuvenation Blossom beside her grow at a speed visible to the naked eye. Only when it had grown to the state of a ten-year-old plant did its growth finally slow.
Next, an extremely pure aura surged in from all directions. It was different from the primordial spiritual energy of heaven and earth, yet it refreshed the spirit. That pure aura rushed madly toward the spirit jade pot.
It was not only the Rejuvenation Blossom. The ornamental spiritual flowers and unusual grasses in the courtyard also began to grow rapidly.
However, they were different from the Rejuvenation Blossom. Although the Rejuvenation Blossom also grew, its growth was not especially fast. Unlike the spiritual plants in the courtyard, which madly blossomed and bore fruit, then withered. Their seeds fell to the ground, rapidly took root and sprouted again, and grew quickly.
In a short span of time, they experienced several cycles of spring and autumn, with plants withering and flourishing.
—
Wen Qiao cultivated like this for three days.
When she woke from her cultivation state, she found that the Rejuvenation Blossom had already grown to the state of a fifty-year-old plant and had become especially vigorous.
Wen Qiao was dumbfounded. She could hardly believe she had done this.
In just three days, she had actually stimulated a Rejuvenation Blossom into a fifty-year state.
“It was indeed you who did it.”
Wen Qiao twisted her leaves and looked at Ning Yuzhou beside her, somewhat dazed. Could it be that during the three days she had been cultivating, he had just sat here watching her the entire time?
As if he knew what she was thinking, Ning Yuzhou confirmed her guess and said warmly, “It’s fine. I also wanted to see whether you could cultivate with the help of the surrounding plants. Now it seems that when you cultivate in your demon form, your influence on spiritual plants is even greater.”
Through his explanation, Wen Qiao also understood the difference between cultivating in human form and demon form.
When she was in human form, her influence on the surrounding spiritual plants was limited, and the speed at which she stimulated their growth was not fast. But in her demon form, it was as if she were a natural-born sacred hand for nurturing spirits. The surrounding spiritual plants grew wildly, and the plant essence they fed back to her was also extremely abundant.
Wen Qiao could feel the power filling her body. She faintly had a premonition that if she continued absorbing plant essence, then when she reached a certain critical point, perhaps she would be able to transform.
This discovery made Wen Qiao extremely happy. She rubbed hard against Ning Yuzhou, wanting to share this happy news with him. Unfortunately, she could not speak.
But Ning Yuzhou was clever. From her reaction, he knew that the result of this cultivation had been very good.
He smiled and said, “It seems the plant essence of these spiritual plants is of great help to you.” He thought for a moment and asked, “Ah Rao, is it that the higher the grade of the spiritual grass, the denser the plant essence it contains?”
Wen Qiao shook her leaves, confirming his guess.
The highest-ranked plant here was the Rejuvenation Blossom, and the plant essence it fed back to her was also the purest and best.
Ning Yuzhou pondered for a moment, then suddenly said, “Ah Rao, I’ll take you to another place to cultivate. How does that sound?”
Wen Qiao looked at him in confusion, not knowing what he meant.
Ning Yuzhou smiled at her and said gently, “You’ll know once we get there.”
With that, he picked up the spirit jade pot.
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