Upon returning to Jishui Courtyard, Lian Yue, who had been holding her tongue the entire way, finally spoke up.
“Miss, the Seventh Prince is truly a good man. Just as the rumours say, his looks are unparalleled, and few men in this world could compare. They even say that in his presence, the Third Prince pales in comparison. If only the Seventh Prince could cultivate…” She trailed off, glancing carefully at Wen Qiao to gauge her reaction, worried she might feel sensitive about it.
Over the past few days, Lian Yue had noticed the Wen family’s changed attitude toward Jishui Courtyard. Naturally, those who pursued the path of cultivation wouldn’t care about such things as marriage or worldly benefits. But in a world where most people led ordinary lives, lacked talent in cultivation, or indulged in pleasures, marriage often held significant practical value.
This marriage ensured that Wen Qiao would never lack resources for cultivation and would be protected from harm. After all, to offend her would be to disrespect the Ning Royal family. Yet, to anyone with ambitions, the prospect of spending a few decades with a mortal who couldn’t cultivate was hardly enviable.
Wen Qiao glanced at her maid and replied calmly, “The Seventh Prince is quite good.”
Lian Yue felt relieved and smiled. “I thought the same. He’s truly wonderful. Oh, and he even gave you a gift! What is it?”
Carrying the white jade box in her arms, Wen Qiao entered her room, sat by the window, and opened it.
Lian Yue curiously peeked inside, only to be disappointed. “What’s this? It looks like a plant seed.”
“A Seventh-Rank spiritual plant seed,” Wen Qiao replied, her lips curling slightly, her mood noticeably bright.
Lian Yue scratched her head, baffled. It was just a seed—what was there to be so happy about? If it were a fully grown Seventh-Rank spiritual plant, that would be worth celebrating. The Seventh Prince was strange for gifting a seed. Perhaps he’d heard the rumours and thought Wen Qiao genuinely enjoyed planting things?
She glanced at the thriving potted plants on the windowsill, their vigorous growth almost suspicious. If not for knowing they were tended by Miss herself, I’d think she had a strange obsession with weeds.
Meanwhile, Wen Qiao lovingly toyed with the seed before instructing, “Find me a flowerpot.”
Lian Yue quickly fetched one. As she set it down, she hesitated and asked, “Miss, should I go to the Spirit Herb Garden to get some spiritual soil?”
“No need,” Wen Qiao replied.
She then directed Lian Yue to move the five potted plants on the windowsill to the ground beneath the courtyard wall. Their roots were close to bursting through the pots, so it was better to let them grow freely in the soil.
As Lian Yue worked, she muttered while glancing around the courtyard, “The plants here have been growing so well lately. Even the ones in Changchun Garden aren’t as vibrant. Could it be that Jishui Courtyard’s fengshui has improved?”
Wen Qiao, sitting nearby and filling the flowerpot with soil, glanced around the courtyard upon hearing this.
To ordinary people, fengshui might seem like a vague and mystical concept. But to cultivators, it was a practical matter connected to the Five Elements and the flow of spiritual energy. Jishui Courtyard, tucked away in a remote corner, was neither particularly good nor bad in terms of energy flow.
The plants’ unusual vigour was likely because of the small amount of spiritual energy Wen Qiao leaked while nurturing her spiritual plants. The mundane plants absorbed this energy, growing exuberantly and in turn, feeding Wen Qiao with trace amounts of plant essence.
After planting the Seventh-Rank seed in the pot, Wen Qiao watered it and placed it back on the windowsill.
Lian Yue, having finished relocating the other plants, watched Wen Qiao stare at the flowerpot on the windowsill and shook her head, puzzled about what was so fascinating.
—
That night, Wen Qiao pushed open her window.
The night sky was pitch black, illuminated by a full moon hanging high above. The moonlight poured down like water, casting a gentle glow over the world.
Sitting cross-legged by the window, Wen Qiao meditated under the moonlight, cultivating for half the night. Once she’d accumulated a small amount of spiritual energy, she carefully channelled it into the seed in the flowerpot.
Her meridians, naturally thinner and more fragile than others, could only hold a small amount of spiritual energy. Exceeding this limit would cause swelling and pain; in severe cases, her meridians might rupture. Over the years, she had learned to manage this limitation, enduring the discomfort without pushing herself to the point of injury.
Even after exhausting her spiritual energy, the seed remained dormant.
Wen Qiao wasn’t surprised. The seed’s vitality was incredibly strong, and nurturing it to sprout would require far more energy than she could currently provide. Without enough spiritual energy, the seed couldn’t grow roots or sprout, meaning it wouldn’t give her any plant essence in return. The one-sided effort left her already frail body feeling drained.
Wiping cold sweat from her brow, Wen Qiao forced herself to meditate again, slowly replenishing her spiritual energy. By the time her reserves were full, dawn was breaking.
Exhausted, Wen Qiao changed clothes and collapsed into bed, quickly falling into a deep sleep.
Before drifting off, she resolved to balance her efforts between nurturing the seed and her other plants. Their plant essence was essential for maintaining her health.
—
What felt like moments later, she was woken by Lian Yue.
“What is it?” Wen Qiao asked hoarsely, her face slightly pale, her voice weak.
Lian Yue looked at her with concern, thinking she might be ill again, and replied softly, “A messenger from the palace has arrived. They wish to discuss the wedding date with the Seventh Prince. The family head has asked you to join them.”
“Oh,” Wen Qiao murmured, her long lashes fluttering as she opened her clear, dark eyes. She reached out to Lian Yue and said, “Help me dress.”
Lian Yue helped her sit up and brought clean clothes for her to wear. After tidying up and drinking a cup of warm tea, Wen Qiao felt more energized and made her way to the front hall.
—
In the flower hall, Wen Zhongqing and his wife sat with a representative from the Ning royal family, discussing the wedding arrangements.
The royal representative was Elder Ning Huayuan, a cultivator at the Yuan Spirit Realm. Typically residing in the Ning family’s ancestral grounds, Ning Huayuan rarely appeared in public.
Wen Zhongqing, whose cultivation was at the Yuan Bright Realm, felt dwarfed in Ning Huayuan’s presence and couldn’t hide his unease. He hadn’t expected the Ning family to send such a high-ranking elder to discuss the marriage, indicating their seriousness about the union.
When Wen Qiao arrived, the wedding date had already been set, awaiting her approval.
“She’s here!” someone announced.
The once-overlooked girl had now become the centre of attention, drawing the Ning family’s focus. If not for knowing that Wen Qiao was a frail young woman unlikely to live past twenty, Wen Zhongqing might have suspected some hidden agenda.
The second lady of the Wen family greeted Wen Qiao warmly, taking her hand and introducing her to the royal representative. “This is our third daughter, Wen Qiao. Such a beautiful and obedient girl!”
Wen Qiao couldn’t gauge Ning Huayuan’s cultivation level but sensed his authority from his restrained aura and the reactions of Wen Zhongqing and his wife. She respectfully bowed to him.
Ning Huayuan, a refined middle-aged man with a neatly trimmed beard and sharp, intelligent eyes, spoke kindly. “Miss Wen, there’s no need for such formalities. I’ve come to discuss your marriage with Ning Yuzhou.”
Wen Qiao nodded politely and sat quietly, her expression calm and unshaken.
Ning Huayuan observed her. Though undeniably stunning, with a graceful presence, her frailty was evident, and her cultivation—a mere mid-stage Entry Yuan Realm—was insignificant in his eyes.
What a pity… he thought. Her parents had been exceptional talents, yet their only daughter was weak and unable to cultivate effectively.
Suppressing his disappointment, he asked, “The wedding is planned for the third day of next month. Does that suit you?”
“Yes, I have no objections,” Wen Qiao replied softly.
Hearing this, both Ning Huayuan and the Wen family head looked pleased.
As the discussions continued, Wen Qiao occasionally coughed into her hand, prompting Ning Huayuan to express concern. “If you’re unwell, don’t push yourself.”
Wen Zhongqing and his wife also looked worried, given her fragile health. Now that the marriage to the Ning family was finalized, they couldn’t afford her falling seriously ill before the wedding.
“I’m fine, thank you for your concern,” Wen Qiao reassured them.
Throughout the meeting, she remained cooperative, voicing no objections and letting the elders handle the arrangements. After finalizing the details, Ning Huayuan departed.
Wen Zhongqing and his wife accompanied him to the door before turning to Wen Qiao. They hesitated, wanting to say something, but ended up simply advising her to rest well before sending her back to Jishui Courtyard.
Back in her room, Wen Qiao took a restorative pill with Lian Yue’s help. Lying in bed, she quietly absorbed the plant essence from the courtyard’s spiritual plants. Her complexion gradually improved. Now, all that remained was to await the wedding.
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