247: Negotiated terms

"What are your conditions?"

Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi thought it best to discuss all the conditions first, and then proceed with the action once they were agreeable.

"First, I want Your Highness to guarantee the safety of the Third Young Master and to give a warning to the other two young masters.

They have privately harmed the Third Young Master; I believe you must be aware of it.

After all, most of the matters within the Yi Wang Mansion are under your control."

Gu Xiaoyue paused, catching Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi's fleeting embarrassment from being caught.

She pretended not to notice and continued, "Second, you must take me into the National Treasury and let me choose three to five treasures.

This request isn't excessive, is it?"

Of Gu Xiaoyue's two requests, the first relied entirely on Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi's conscience, while the second was about him actually taking out real money from his own pocket.

Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi pondered for a moment; if it was just three to five treasures, he could part with them.

After all, Damon's National Treasury did contain many good things, but—

He had some doubts as to whether this young female Beastmaster, whose companion beast had already been uncontracted, truly possessed the ability to help him ascend to the throne.

Gu Xiaoyue saw his apprehension and suggested, "It's normal for Prince Yi to doubt my abilities, so how about this—

First, take me into the National Treasury to select three treasures, and after success, take me in again."

Although Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi was somewhat reluctant, if he were to suggest ascending to the throne first before taking Gu Xiaoyue into the National Treasury, she would certainly not agree.

"Alright, it's a deal then! As for tonight—"

"It's not necessary for me to go tonight; His Majesty should be fine.

Steward Shi must have a thousand-year-old ginseng under His Majesty's tongue, sustaining his breath.

After returning to the palace, you can take me in to offer the spiritual herb, and while we're there, we can go into the National Treasury to choose a few treasures."

Gu Xiaoyue arranged everything so clearly that Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi couldn't help but feel she had set a trap for him.

However, Bai Yu Kang had not yet established the imperial edict, and if he were to pass away just like that, it would be even more troublesome for him to contend for the throne with Crown Prince Rui and Prince Duan.

Prince Duan was cunning and treacherous; he might feign alliance with Crown Prince Rui to eliminate him first, and then get rid of Crown Prince Rui, who posed the greatest threat.

It was safer to start with Bai Yu Kang.

After they finished discussing, Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi exited Gu Xiaoyue's room.

Unexpectedly, upon looking up, he saw Yan Xinnan with reddened eyes.

"What are you doing here?"

Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi blurted out, his strange expression further misleading Yan Xinnan.

Her upbringing as a well-bred lady kept her rational; she took a deep breath, as if using all her strength to suppress the anger in her chest.

"Let's talk in the room."

The two entered the room one after another, closing the door behind them.

The soundproofing in the temporary palace rooms was decent; once inside, Yan Xinnan couldn't help but raise her voice.

"Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi, do you have no shame? Huh?

Fighting with your son over a concubine, and her age is even younger than Ruier?

How could you even do such a thing?!"

Yan Xinnan was so angry that her chest heaved violently; she wrung her handkerchief, as if to prevent her palm from striking Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi's face.

"I thought it was something important!"

Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi took off his outer robe and tossed it aside, his nonchalant tone further enraging Yan Xinnan.

"So, you actually went and messed around with her just now?"

She could accept either Bai Rongxuan or Bai Shengrui marrying Gu Xiaoyue as a concubine.

But she would absolutely not allow Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi to marry Gu Xiaoyue as a concubine!

"Don't make trouble for no reason!"

Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi gave her a meaningful look; the matter he was plotting with Gu Xiaoyue wasn't something Yan Xinnan couldn't know.

But this was a hunting palace, walls had ears, and coupled with her being so agitated—

It was too easy to invite unnecessary trouble for himself!

Yan Xinnan seemed to be blinded by rage; she didn't even see the look Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi gave her and continued to shout.

"You were intimate with that monster in the secret room, refusing to come to my room, and I turned a blind eye to that!

The sons have already proposed to father; even if that woman says she admires you, you shouldn't lay a hand on her, or the Yi Wang Mansion's reputation will be completely ruined if it gets out!

If you insist on taking her as a concubine, don't blame me for divorcing you, and all support from my maternal family will be withdrawn!

You weigh your options!"

Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi threw down an incomprehensible remark and lay down on the couch fully clothed.

He hadn't realized earlier that she was so jealous; if this blew up, wouldn't it ruin his important plans!

Better to rest early, so he could send his father back to the palace early tomorrow morning.

Seeing that Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi completely ignored her, Yan Xinnan assumed he was determined to marry Gu Xiaoyue, and she simply sat there, sobbing softly.

Outside the door, White Gaze heard their argument clearly.

Actually, earlier that night, White Gaze had shared his pet's invisibility skill, and he wanted to go tell Gu Xiaoyue the good news.

He happened to see Yan Xinnan not far from Gu Xiaoyue's door, so he didn't approach.

It wasn't until he saw Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi come out of the room that Yan Xinnan seemed quite upset.

White Gaze believed Gu Xiaoyue, but he still instinctively concealed himself and secretly followed them.

Fortunately, it was dark by then, and there were many plants in the temporary palace.

White Gaze found a suitable spot while invisible, then revealed himself to eavesdrop.

Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi kept a monster in a secret room and was intimate with it—

White Gaze felt as if struck by lightning when he heard this; could the monster Yan Xinnan spoke of be his own mother?

He was both excited and somewhat sad, as he seemed to have found his mother's whereabouts.

His mother had been confined in a secret room for nearly twenty years; what an inhumane life that must have been!

White Gaze returned to his room invisibly, then went next door to find Gu Xiaoyue.

"You said you've already shared the stealth skill?"

She nodded in satisfaction; she hadn't wasted her efforts cultivating White Gaze, as being able to share invisibility in just over half a year meant he now had a life-saving skill.

White Gaze pondered for a moment, then recounted everything he had overheard outside Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi's room to Gu Xiaoyue.

"Sister, I want to rescue my mother—"

This time, White Gaze spoke without a sobbing tone; instead, he was calm and resolute.

Gu Xiaoyue smiled slightly; in such an environment, White Gaze had indeed grown rapidly.

"There's no rush for that. He cares so much about your mother and your grandparents. To rescue them, it might require a long-term plan."

White Gaze nodded, then spoke of the Thunder Winged Golden Peng's appearance today.

He didn't know Gu Xiaoyue was present at the time.

"I think he is my maternal grandfather, brought by my father—Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi—to injure His Majesty."

"That's not impossible. I met Jiang Mengfei today, that scar-faced man.

He revealed to me that Prince Duan also intended to feign an assassination attempt on His Majesty.

Ultimately, it's all about getting His Majesty to quickly issue the imperial edict!"

White Gaze remained silent; such rotten affairs in the royal family were commonplace, and he had only lived in the Yi Wang Mansion for a little over half a year.

He would also read books like national histories and biographies of great figures when he had nothing to do.

The methods of Prince Yi and Prince Duan were despicable but effective.

"Alright, go back and rest. We'll be heading back early tomorrow morning."

Gu Xiaoyue patted White Gaze's shoulder, urging him to go back and rest.

After he left, it was her time to act.

Gu Xiaoyue changed into her night clothes and stealthily arrived at the entrance of Bai Yu Kang's bedchamber.

She pried open the door crack and peered inside; the palace maids guarding Bai Yu Kang were all drowsy.

Steward Shi, meanwhile, was kneeling by Bai Yu Kang's bed, his eyes bloodshot from staying up.

Gu Xiaoyue subtly waved her hand, and Steward Shi and the palace maids heard Bai Yu Kang's hoarse voice telling them all to rest.

Everyone was stunned for a moment; Steward Shi still insisted on staying, but after being scolded by Bai Yu Kang a few times, he obediently left.

Now, only Bai Yu Kang was left in the bedchamber.

Gu Xiaoyue took out several hua yu fruits from her Yu Beast Space, eating them while performing Water Therapy to treat him.

She needed him to not show obvious improvement, yet still sustain his breath.

This balance was difficult to achieve.

Gu Xiaoyue only treated him for six or seven minutes before withdrawing her hand.

It was a pity there were no ten treasure berries left; a small sip of its juice should have been enough.

Otherwise—

She looked at the hua yu fruit in her hand, squeezed a few drops of juice into Bai Yu Kang's mouth, thinking this should be foolproof!

At least he could hold on until they returned to the palace; then she would give him a proper treatment and have him write the imperial edict.

The next morning, everyone who came for the hunt left the same way they arrived.

This hunting trip had been for nothing.

Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi and Gu Xiaoyue didn't even return to the Yi Wang Mansion; they directly stayed with Bai Yu Kang until he returned to his bedchamber.

"Mr. Gu, what do you think—"

Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi was somewhat anxious; he saw that Bai Yu Kang's condition was no different from yesterday, his face ashen, looking as if he could pass away at any moment.

Could he even issue an imperial edict in this state?

Prince Yi Bai Jin Yi even wanted Gu Xiaoyue to treat him first to prolong his life; as for the treasures, he had promised and would naturally fulfill it.