parentshiftbook Chapter 418 - 267: Father, You’ve Worked Hard
Chapter 418 - 267: Father, You’ve Worked Hard
No matter what Prince Yun has up his sleeve, since I’ve set my eyes on the Seventh Grade Cyan Lotus, it must be secured.
Li Jizhou unceremoniously stored the Cyan Lotus into his Storage Ring.
"Since my great-grandson’s wife is so courteous, I, the great-grandfather, will gladly accept it!"
Having accepted the Cyan Lotus, he glanced over the other treasures, finding them of little use to his current cultivation. They would eventually end up in Li Yuan’s treasury anyway, so there was no rush.
The moment Li Jizhou left Prince Yun’s Mansion with Fang Qingwei, everyone inside breathed a collective sigh of relief; they had finally sent this venerable ancestor away.
In the secluded chamber, Prince Yun frowned at the latest message: "The Seventh Prince’s first Celestial and Earthly Spiritual Object is the Seventh Grade Cyan Lotus?"
"How ironic that I ended up funding that little bastard!"
Prince Yun couldn’t help but feel a little displeased.
However, he eventually let out a wry smile: "Hmph, what does it matter if you have a Celestial and Earthly Spiritual Object? Without the throne, you’ll never break through to Divinity Transformation in this lifetime in the land of Qingzhou! Besides, I won’t let you live that long!"
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On the way back to Yunzhou City, Fang Qingwei kept a respectful distance behind Li Jizhou, occasionally stealing glances.
The words spoken by the mansion’s chief steward had left her shocked and filled with countless fantasies about the Seventh Prince.
Yet at this moment, Li Jizhou remained silent along the way, showing no sign of being the Seventh Prince’s supposed love interest as the steward had claimed.
"Fairy Fang, let’s not forget the terms of our agreement," Li Jizhou suddenly said, snapping Fang Qingwei back to reality.
The butler of Prince Yun’s Mansion probably misunderstood. What the Seventh Prince cares about isn’t her, but the agreed-upon hundred Wood Attribute Spirit Stones.
Li Jizhou paid no mind to Fang Qingwei’s changing emotions, and upon reaching Yunzhou City, he politely declined her family’s invitation and went directly to the office of Yunzhou Governor Han Zhen.
The affair of Black Stone City was the talk of the town, and Yunzhou City lauded the news gleefully.
Han Zhen felt a weight lifted off his mind.
Prince Yun’s Mansion was his greatest obstacle in governing Yunzhou, and today, with the Seventh Prince causing a stir, he felt elated.
Thus, when he finally met the Seventh Prince in person, a sense of reverence naturally emerged.
Han Zhen was a capable minister, loyal, someone Li Jizhou was pleased with, though he had some reservations about Han Zhen’s management of the mining district.
This meeting was intended to subtly remind him,
Yet now wasn’t the time for him to take charge or decide for Li Yuan; he merely pointed out the chaos and banditry in the mining area, noting that a monopoly required total control—there could be only one master in the entire Jiuli Dynasty.
"Your Highness, this humble servant is aware of the drawbacks of subcontracting the mining areas, but as long as the Black Stone Ore isn’t fully recovered, unification here is impossible," Han Zhen said, having grasped the mining district issue instantly after a brief interaction with Li Jizhou, who was unlike the rumors depicted before.
Upon recalling the events at Prince Yun’s Mansion, he realized the Seventh Prince was wise beyond his years and no longer concealed his thoughts, expressing them directly.
"I understand, what I said today isn’t for the present, but for the future. Keep my words in mind," Li Jizhou responded, aware of Han Zhen’s intentions.
Deliberately comparing the rest of the mining districts with Prince Yun’s Black Stone Mining District to highlight the issue to Li Yuan.
But unfortunately, the Saint Emperor Han Zhen encountered was Li Yuan, who cherished his image yet was obstinately self-willed, lacking the courage to uproot Prince Yun’s Mansion.
Han Zhen shuddered at Li Jizhou’s words.
This youth has the makings of a Saint Emperor!
Without accepting Han Zhen’s invitation to a banquet, Li Jizhou headed straight back to the Imperial City.
Though he hadn’t traversed all fifteen provinces in his travels, with witnesses from Prince Yun’s Mansion still in the Dharma Realm, he could safely return to the Imperial City.
In Yunzhou City’s large Teleportation Array, activating it once required at least a thousand Middle Grade Spirit Stones—Li Jizhou stepped onto it without hesitation.
In his three lifetimes, it was the first time experiencing the large Teleportation Array.
The large Teleportation Array in Yunzhou City was among the highest-tier in this world; as long as there were enough Spirit Stones, it could reach as far as the Eastern Desolation.
The only drawback was that such large Teleportation Arrays required linkage at both ends, or it would lead to a deadlock of spatial collapse without an accepting array at the destination.
Using the large Teleportation Array for the first time, Li Jizhou called forth Hong Luan, Cyan Dome, Cang Huang, and the Sable for safety, with the four women encircling him.
As the Teleportation Array activated, Li Jizhou felt a sensation of spatial compression; shortly after, all his senses vanished, and when he opened his eyes again, he was already standing on the Imperial City Teleportation Array.
"Greetings, Seventh Prince!" the guards at the Imperial City Teleportation Array respectfully saluted. A message would always be sent in advance whenever the array opened for teleportation between the two ends.
"At ease!"
Exiting the Teleportation Array, Li Jizhou recalled the four women back into the Dharma Realm and headed straight for the palace.
Upon receiving the report, a trace of a smile appeared on Li Yuan’s previously somber face: "My good son has returned, summon him!"
The confidential information returned by Li Jizhou this time had indeed enraged Li Yuan.
Who would’ve thought that a mere Prince Yun’s Mansion could have finances nearly comparable to ruling an entire dynasty over the past two decades?
Those who knew would attribute it to Prince Yun, but to those unaware, it would seem like a state within a state.
Everything was set; they were just waiting for Li Yuan’s command to march directly towards Black Stone City and take down Prince Yun’s Mansion in one swoop.
In a cultivation dynasty, with the Saint Emperor wielding the only Quasi-Immortal Artifact and possessing the highest cultivation, there was no possibility of military confrontation.
The only concern was how to ensure his reputation remained intact.
After months apart, seeing his seventh once more filled him with satisfaction.
"This son greets Father Emperor, wishing Father Emperor’s Immortal Dao to prosper and his longevity equal to the heavens!" Li Jizhou bowed respectfully.
"Rise, my son. You’ve truly grown during your travels! Come, share with me your greatest insights from this journey," Li Yuan stepped forward to help Li Jizhou up, patting his shoulder with visible satisfaction in his eyes.
Li Jizhou’s expression turned solemn as he earnestly said, "Father Emperor, you have worked hard!"
"Oh? What prompts you to say that?" Li Yuan’s expression paused momentarily.
"During my travels, I saw the dynasty unified and all submitting. The great legacy our Li ancestors forged has flourished even more under your rule, truly making you the greatest ruler of the ages!
At the same time, I witnessed the feudal lords’ division and foreign threats with ulterior motives. Each time I think of it, I feel that resolving so many issues so meticulously must have been exhausting for you. I admit, without your assistance, I could not achieve such a state," Li Jizhou simply flattered, without reservation.
"Hahaha, since the ancestors’ legacy was entrusted to my hands, I naturally cannot disappoint our forefathers, even if it means laboring tirelessly!" Li Yuan was indeed delighted.
Ordinary nobles’ and officials’ flattery was merely lip service, proclaiming holiness; never before had anyone spoken of his efforts.
This genuinely moved him,
Reflecting on his five-thousand-year reign, with the ancestral legacy always thriving, the entire Jiuli Dynasty remained under the Li family!
He felt gratified, seeing Li Jizhou with increasingly approving eyes.
Li Jizhou’s words and deeds revolved around the ancestral legacy and the Li family’s rule, clearly indicating he truly understood whose kingdom this was.
No matter how well one spoke, the foundation could not be shaken.
Then he thought of the Ninth Prince, and the comparison was starkly clear!
"Father Emperor, I’ve brought back the witnesses and account books from Prince Yun’s Mansion," Li Jizhou showcased his practical capabilities following his flattery.