Volume 9, Chapter 607 – Empress (Part 1)

“Two hundred thousand seeds. Any problem with that?”

Qi Huang asked knowingly, her tone full of mockery.

“Of course, there’s a problem! Do you have any idea how rare ghost tomatoes are? Even if you gathered every last one in the entire cultivation world, I doubt there’d be two hundred thousand. You’re not just messing with me, are you?”

Elder Zuo questioned heatedly.

“Messing with you? Why would I bother? If I wanted fun, I’d go to a brothel. Do you really think you can amuse me better than those courtesans?”

Qi Huang retorted sarcastically.

“You…”

Elder Zuo was furious but dared not lash out.

Without wasting words, Qi Huang flicked her sleeve, and in an instant, a massive pile of two hundred thousand ghost tomato seeds appeared on the ground beside her, stacked high like a small mountain.

Elder Zuo’s eyes widened sharply, his mouth opening so wide a fist could fit inside.

“Elder Zuo, take a good look. See for yourself if these are real ghost tomato seeds.”

Qi Huang instructed proudly.

Elder Zuo’s facial muscles twitched as he fought to regain composure, but his impatience soon got the better of him, and he hurried forward to examine the seeds. After a moment, he couldn’t help but gasp in awe: “Heavens above! They’re all real! Where in the world did you get these?”

“That’s none of your concern. Twenty-five taels of silver per seed. Take it or leave it.”

Qi Huang replied coolly.

Elder Zuo hesitated. If it were just dozens or even hundreds, he wouldn’t even consider it, the profit would be too small. But this was two hundred thousand seeds. Even if he only earned one or two taels of silver per seed, that was still several hundred thousand taels in profit. And yet, letting himself be gouged so badly gnawed at his pride.

“Still hesitating, Elder Zuo? Don’t you understand the principle of small profits and quick turnover? Or do you just have something against silver?”

Qi Huang asked innocently, her voice dripping with amusement.

“How about this: twenty taels per seed. If you agree, I’ll take the entire lot.”

Elder Zuo’s eyes darted shrewdly.

“It seems Elder Zuo isn’t very sincere. In that case, I won’t trouble you any further.”

Qi Huang waved her hand decisively, putting away the ghost tomato seeds and turning to leave.

“You’d better think carefully. I’m the only one in the Western Radiance Dynasty willing to buy these!”

Elder Zuo called out after her.

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“Who says I have to sell them in the Western Radiance Dynasty? If the Immortal Alliance leaders in other countries hear that Golden Fortune Auction House is buying ghost tomatoes at high prices, do you think they’ll pass up the chance?”

Qi Huang replied lazily as she walked away.

Elder Zuo’s expression shifted drastically. After a brief internal struggle, he finally compromised: “Wait! Twenty-five taels it is!”

Qi Huang stopped, the corner of her lips curling slightly.

Terrified she’d change her mind, Elder Zuo quickly retrieved a stack of silver notes worth five million taels from his storage ring and presented them with both hands. It was practically his entire life savings.

Qi Huang took the silver notes and handed over the two hundred thousand ghost tomato seeds. The transaction was complete.

Without lingering, Qi Huang left swiftly, sneering inwardly: ‘Old bastard, you’ve plotted against me countless times. Once your ghost tomatoes are planted and ready, I’ll drive the price down so low you won’t even have a scrap of cloth left to cover yourself.’

Qi Huang didn’t return home but headed straight for foreign lands instead. Her plan wasn’t finished yet.

Over the next half month, Qi Huang traveled across the Immortal Alliance branches of various nations, deliberately spreading news that Golden Fortune Auction House of the Western Radiance Dynasty was purchasing ghost tomatoes at high prices. To add fuel to the fire, she “accidentally” leaked a rumor that Elder Zuo himself was cultivating ghost tomatoes. With that, her scheme was fully set in motion. All she had to do now was wait for the entire Immortal Alliance to grow crops for her.

Qi Huang finally returned, but upon entering the Western Radiance Dynasty, her brows knitted tightly. News had already spread that Lin Tu had been assassinated. Worse yet, the damned emperor had died without naming a crown prince. Now, several princes were fighting viciously over the throne, throwing the palace into chaos. Rebel factions and foreign enemies alike were seizing the opportunity to stir trouble, leaving the people in misery.

Qi Huang’s original intent in killing Lin Tu was to bring peace and stability to the citizens of the Western Radiance Dynasty. She hadn’t expected things to spiral out of control like this.

‘Damn it! I’m a cultivator detached from the mortal world, and now I have to manage national affairs? Am I out of my mind?’

Qi Huang cursed aloud but quickly realized complaining wouldn’t solve anything. After all, this mess was one she’d created herself.

The most urgent matter now was establishing a new emperor. After some thought, Qi Huang concluded that among all the princes and princesses, the most suitable candidate was none other than Sixth Princess Lin Ran.

‘Lin Ran may be a cultivator, but she’s never forgotten her duty. She’s shown her love for the country and its people time and again and treats the citizens of Huangtian Commandery equally. If she doesn’t become empress, who should?’

The more Qi Huang thought about it, the more she felt her idea was sound, so she headed straight for the imperial palace.

At that very moment, the palace was rife with murderous tension. Several princes, vying for the throne, had discarded their masks of familial affection, revealing nothing but naked ambition. The air was thick with hostility.

Lin Ran had not returned to Poyun Peak. With her father’s death, the customs of the Western Radiance Dynasty required her to remain in the palace to observe three years of mourning. Leaving early would be considered grave disrespect.

“Little Ran, you should return to Poyun Peak quickly,” Consort Jin urged her daughter again.

“Why? Father just passed. As his daughter, shouldn’t I stay to mourn him?”

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Lin Ran shook her head. Though she’d long known her father was a tyrant, that was only in the eyes of the common people. To her, he had still been a decent father.

“Do you not understand? Your father died without naming a crown prince. The princes are at each other’s throats over the throne. If you stay, you’ll inevitably get dragged in.”

Consort Jin warned anxiously.

“Mother, I’m a princess and a cultivator. I can’t inherit the throne. Surely they know that?”

Lin Ran tried to reason.

“Even so, everyone knows you were Father’s favorite. Rumors have long spread that you’ll be the Western Radiance Dynasty’s first empress. Do you think they’ll simply let you go?”

Consort Jin countered sharply.

Lin Ran faltered, her delicate face twisting with pain. Her father’s sudden death had already left her heart heavy with grief, and now she was being dragged into a power struggle she never wanted. The turmoil was unbearable.

“My lady, the First, Third, Fifth, and Seventh Princes request an audience!” a palace maid reported from outside.

“What? All four of them?”

Consort Jin’s expression darkened, and she quickly turned to her daughter. “Those four are the strongest contenders for the throne. If they’re coming together, their intentions are unlikely to be good!”

“Let them in. I was looking for a chance to clear things up anyway.”

Lin Ran replied calmly.

“Clear things up? You plan to tell them you’re not interested in the throne? Do you think they’ll believe you?”

Consort Jin asked bitterly.

“How will I know unless I try? We’re siblings after all.”

Lin Ran clung to a fragile hope.

Consort Jin sighed helplessly and ordered the maid to admit the princes.

Before long, the four princes entered with their attendants.

Consort Jin’s face paled further when she noticed the attendants were seasoned martial experts. If force came to bear, she and her daughter wouldn’t stand a chance.

“Greetings, Consort Jin.”

The princes and their entourage bowed politely.

“P-please, Princes, no need for such formality. Sit down,” Consort Jin said, her voice trembling slightly.

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The princes sat casually in two rows of redwood chairs.

“Sixth Sister, have you been settling in well at the palace lately?”

The tall and lean First Prince, Lin Guo, asked with a genial smile.

“You jest, First Prince. This is her home. How could she not feel settled?”

Consort Jin replied on Lin Ran’s behalf.

“You misunderstand, Consort Jin,” Lin Guo explained quickly. “Sixth Sister has lived at Poyun Peak since childhood, spending more time there than in the palace. I was just worried she might not feel accustomed.”

“That’s true. Strictly speaking, Poyun Peak must feel more like home to her,” the Third Prince, Lin Tai, chimed in.

“If Sixth Sister feels uncomfortable, perhaps she should return to Poyun Peak soon,” suggested the Fifth Prince, Lin Min, in a seemingly considerate tone.

“Are you joking, Fifth Brother? Father has just passed away, and you want me to leave the palace? Do you want me branded as unfilial and disloyal?”

Lin Ran asked in shock.

“Sixth Sister, you misunderstand. I only wish for your cultivation not to be delayed by these worldly troubles,” Lin Min said with false sincerity.

“Sixth Sister, as a cultivator, you don’t need to follow mortal customs anyway,” the Seventh Prince, Lin An, added warmly.

“No. I must remain and observe mourning. Otherwise, I would never forgive myself.”

Lin Ran shook her head firmly. Others’ opinions didn’t matter, she needed a clear conscience.

“So, do you wish to stay and mourn… or stay to fight for the throne?”

Lin Tai’s cold voice cut through the air like a blade. Silence fell instantly.

Consort Jin trembled, her wide eyes fixed on her daughter.

“Since Third Brother insists on clarity, I’ll speak plainly,” Lin Ran rose to her feet. “I’m a woman and a cultivator. I have no interest in the throne. You have no need to treat me as a threat.”

“Listen to you, talking as if I’m interested in the throne myself,” Lin Tai sneered, his smile stiff.

“Exactly. None of us care about the throne. Father has only just passed; this isn’t the time for such discussions,” another echoed.

“Yes, yes, we came here out of concern, nothing more,” added the Fifth Prince with a forced chuckle.

Lin Ran closed her eyes helplessly. Just as her mother had warned, none of them believed her. She had been far too naïve.

“What is it you want, then?”

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After a pause, Lin Ran asked quietly.

“Go back to Poyun Peak,” Lin Guo ordered expressionlessly. “A cultivator lingering in the palace will only make outsiders think we princes are incompetent.”

“And if I refuse?”

Lin Ran gritted her teeth.

“Then we’ll have no choice but to escort you out personally. And as for Consort Jin… well, no one can guarantee she won’t have a few unfortunate accidents in the palace.”

Lin Guo’s words were soft but carried a deadly weight.

The other princes’ expressions hardened, and the martial experts behind them subtly shifted, readying themselves.

“Little Ran, please, I’m begging you. Leave,” Consort Jin pleaded, her voice trembling with fear.

Lin Ran’s face contorted with struggle, but after a long sigh, she relented: “Fine. I’ll leave now. But do not harm Mother.”

“Come now, Sister, don’t be ridiculous. Consort Jin is like a mother to us all. How could we ever do something so disgraceful?” Lin Guo replied with a hollow smile.

Lin Ran could only pack her belongings and leave quietly.

“Princes, Ran has already departed. Do you still have business here?”

Consort Jin asked cautiously when she saw none of them moving.

“Steward Ma, has Sixth Princess left the palace?” Lin Guo suddenly turned to the elderly eunuch behind him.

“Reporting to First Prince, based on the timing, the Sixth Princess should have reached the main street by now.”

Eunuch Ma answered respectfully.

“Bring her back.”

Lin Guo ordered flatly.

“What? What are you planning to do?”

Consort Jin demanded sharply.

“Sixth Princess Lin Ran has left the palace during the mourning period without permission. Unfilial and disloyal. I’m bringing her back to face judgment. Is there a problem?”

Lin Guo’s lips curved into a cold, thin smile.